I think you and I might have a thing or two in common.

I’m going to take a wild guess and assume cancer has touched either your life or the life of someone you love. But, like me, maybe you’re ready to move past the (completely justified) wallowing-in-self-pity pit stop and climb aboard the fresh chapter train, so you can write your brand new post-treatment story.

My name is Terri Wingham and six months after I turned 30, the words, “you have cancer” changed my life forever. A year and a half, three surgeries, and four rounds of chemotherapy later, cancer “ended”. When I walked out of a Vancouver hospital after my final surgery in January of 2011, a nurse told me how to dress my wounds, but no one told me how to cope with the challenging emotions I faced on my way to survivorship. Well-meaning friends and family talked endlessly about how excited I must be for treatment to be over. But I didn’t feel excited.

Like many of the 12+ million cancer survivors in North America, I was tossed straight from treatment into a post-treatment void. I felt like I had lost my sense of belonging to my pre-cancer world; my connection to myself and to my friends and family; and my sense of certainty about life. Everyone else in my life had moved on from cancer except me. No one wanted to talk about my fears of recurrence, my worries about how returning to a stressful job could increase my risk of developing a secondary cancer, or my sense of loss over my breasts and my carefree past.

Thankfully, a 6-week volunteer trip to South Africa gave me a unique opportunity to heal from my experience with cancer by allowing me to:

• Escape 16,000 km away from where treatment took place;
• Take care of a beautiful group of 1-3 year olds (instead of being taken care of);
• Meet fellow volunteers and staff who had no expectation for me to “get back to normal” and who gave me the space and time to redefine myself;
• See locals who had no access to basic healthcare and who had endured a lifetime of struggle, which gave me a new perspective on my cancer experience;
• Write a new story for my life about something other than cancer.

After I returned home from Africa, I hatched an even bigger dream of a volunteer trip around the world. So, two and half months ago, I embarked on an “Adventure of Hope” to volunteer with 7-10 organizations on five continents. (As I type this post, I am about to wrap up a 2-week placement at an orphanage in Rwanda where I have crashed head over heels in love with a beautiful group of Motherless Children). My long term dream is to create a Foundation to help other cancer survivors volunteer internationally as a way of healing from cancer.

The knowledge I gain on this “Adventure of Hope” will allow me to from partnerships with the best volunteer organizations in the industry. Then, I hope to build strategic alliances with a number of cancer support organizations across North America so that we can work together to provide survivors with opportunities to select, fundraise, and prepare for their own overseas volunteer trips.

Like the team at First Descents, I want to ensure that no other survivor walks out of the hospital, on his or her final day of treatment, feeling alone and like the support has ended. Instead, I want each of us to have the opportunity to set off on new adventures and write new chapters in our stories and I am SO grateful to have First Descents as a Silver Sponsor on this Adventure of Hope.

If you want to learn more about volunteering internationally or would like to follow my Adventure of Hope, please come visit me on my blog, A Fresh Chapter, www.afreshchapter.com. Or – let’s meet in person! Why not sign up for a First Descents Camp? I am thrilled at the opportunity to rock climb with the FD team September 16-21st in Utah and I would LOVE to see you there.

More and more we are seeing some organizations step up to raise awareness for cancer in young adults.  Look at the Keep A Breast foundation.  They started the branding of products towards young adults in raising awareness for breast cancer.  Any awareness is great but teens were attracted to the style and the color of the bracelets. Not to mention they said  “I LOVE BOOBIES.” What teen would not want to wear that around their wrist? Even better than that, high schools started to ban them, telling kids they were not allowed to wear a bracelet that said boobies on it.    This made young adults want the bracelets even more! You always want what you can’t have.  Students continue to fight against teachers, principles, and school districts even today but courts ruled that banning the bracelets in schools is unconstitutional and a violation of first amendment rights. Some students wear them for the trend; others wear them for a family member.  Unfortunately most of us out there have been affected by breast cancer in some way.   More bands started to follow in the footsteps of these bracelets and it also became cool to have the “x- rated” factor on merchandise like the bracelet or on other clothing items such as t-shirts. Young adults are drawn to it because it’s funny as well as cool. What is great about the bands is that all the money for Keep a Breast Foundation is going back to the cause of breast cancer.

Helping to start Besties with Testies we had a similar reaction to our bands in high schools.  A student, Anthony, was selling our bands for us that say Besties with Testies and got called into the deans office at his high school who told him he needed to take the bands off and stop selling them. He said they were inappropriate and a distraction to students.  Anthony explained why he was selling the bands and told the dean that testicular cancer kills one-man everyday and it is the most easily treatable cancer. He also told him that it mostly affects men in the age range of 15 to 35, which includes all his friends at school. The dean was impressed and ended up telling him good job for spreading the word for a great cause.

These bracelets may be a trend that will soon fade away but they could also save lives.  Let them serve as a reminder for men and women to be self- checking on a regular basis.

Until next time,

Ashley

BPA, Phthalates, and Xenoestrogens are three common chemicals known to be hormone disruptors, estrogen mimickers, and endocrine disruptors which are wreaking havoc on human’s health today!

Recently, the U.S. FDA is expressing concerns about possible health risks from bisphenol A, or BPA, a widely used component of plastic bottles and food packaging. The agency declared BPA safe in 2008.

Even Low Levels of BPA have been linked to:

• Prostate cancer and breast cancer
• Diabetes and obesity
• Altered immune function
• Early sexual development in girls and disrupted reproductive function
• Learning and behavioral problems, including hyperactivity
• Decreased Sperm Count and other related fertility problems
• Abnormal heart rhythms and cardiac abnormalities

10 Tips to Help You Minimize Your BPA Exposure

Until there are regulations to protect you, here are a few things you can do to protect yourself and your family:
1.)  Boycott plastic shopping bags!!!   Use reusable canvas or cloth varieties instead. (This also applies to the plastic produce bags in the grocery store.)
2.)   Store your food and beverages in glass containers, not plastic.
3.)   If you choose to use a microwave (which has it’s own health issues) don’t microwave food in plastic containers.
4.)   Stop buying and consuming canned foods and drinks (the can linings contain plastic chemicals.)
5.)   Avoid using plastic wrap altogether.
6.)   Replace your plastic dishes and cups with glass varieties. And never drink a warm/hot drink from a plastic cup.
7.)   Avoid using plastic cups, utensils, dishes, and food storage containers. There are some containers being labeled “BPA-free,” so keep an eye out for those if you choose to use plastic.
8.)   Avoid drinking bottled water. Instead, filter your own water and put it in a glass bottle.
9.)   Before allowing a dental sealant to be applied to you or your children, ask your dentist to verify that it does not contain BPA.
10.)  Use only glass baby bottles and dishes. Use cloth diapers instead of plastic. And give your baby non-plastic toys, like varieties that are made of fabric.

**  The following link is a great article from Dr. Mercola regarding more on BPA.   http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2010/02/04/fda-shifts-position-now-has-concerns-about-bpa-risks-.aspx

Phthalates (plasticizers) are a group of industrial chemicals used to make plastics like polyvinyl chloride (PVC) more flexible and resilient. They’re one of the most pervasive of the endocrine disrupters.

Phthalates are found in, among other things:

• Processed food packaging
• Hoses
• Raincoats
• Shower curtains
• Vinyl flooring and wall coverings
• Lubricant and adhesives
• Detergents
• Beauty products like nail polish, hair spray, shampoo, deodorants, and fragrances (look for “parabens”)
• Toys

Here are a number of practical techniques you can use to limit your exposure to endocrine disruptors and other common toxins:
1.)    As much as possible, buy and eat organic and free range foods, especially meats, dairy and produce,  to reduce your exposure to pesticides and fertilizers.
2.)   Rather than eating conventional or farm-raised fish, which are often heavily contaminated with PCBs and mercury, supplement with a high-quality purified fish or krill oil, or eat fish that is wild-caught and lab tested for purity.
3.)  Eat mostly raw, fresh foods, steering clear of processed, prepackaged foods of all kinds. This way you automatically avoid artificial food additives of all kinds, including dangerous artificial sweeteners, food coloring and MSG.
4.)  Store your food and beverages in glass rather than plastic, and avoid using plastic wrap.
5.)  Have your tap water tested and, if contaminants are found, install an appropriate water filter on all your faucets (even those in your shower or bath).
6.)  Only use natural cleaning products in your home. (Check out Earth Friendly Products at http://www.ecos.com/)
7.)  Switch over to natural brands of toiletries such as shampoo, toothpaste, deodorants and cosmetics. The Environmental Working Group has   a great safety guide to help you find personal care products that are free of phthalates and other potentially dangerous chemicals.
8.) Avoid using artificial air fresheners, dryer sheets, fabric softeners or other synthetic fragrances.  This group is high in chemicals!!
9.)  Replace your Teflon cookware with ceramic or glass cookware. Or use cast iron when appropriate.
10.)  When re-doing your home, look for “green,” toxin-free alternatives in lieu of regular paint and vinyl floor coverings.
11.)  Replace your vinyl shower curtain with one made of fabric.

** For more information on phthalates, check out  http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2010/08/07/are-cleansers-linked-to-breast-cancer.aspx

Xenoestrogens are synthetic chemicals that mimic natural estrogens, and have been linked to a wide range of human health effects.

There are so many of them, and they’re used in so many common consumer products that trying to avoid them may seem like a fruitless struggle. For example, you come in contact with hormone disrupting chemicals through:

• Pasteurized dairy, which commonly contains bovine growth hormones
• Soy products, which are loaded with hormone like substances
• Plastics – many of which contain bispenol A
• Personal care products that contain phthalates
• Cooking with Teflon-coated pots and pans

And now you can add certain common food additives to the list, including one called propyl gallate, which has been used for decades as a preservative and now found to cause many problems in gene expression.

It is commonly found in: hair products, soaps, lotions, cosmetics, adhesives and lubricants, processed meats and meat products and potato products, chicken soup base, chewing gum and candy, dried milk, baked goods and more.

In addition to being an endocrine disrupter, based on this latest analysis, the results in a previous study by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services showed that propyl gallate caused various types of cancer and other health problems in rats, including:

• Thyroid tumors in male rats
• Rare brain tumors in low-dose females
• Prostate inflammation
• Mostly benign tumors of the preputial gland (glands that produce pheromones)
• Pancreatic tumors
• Adrenal gland tumors in low-dose males

If you have children, xenoestrogens are clearly something you will want to avoid. Here are some measures you can take to protect you and your children from common toxic substances that could cause them to go into puberty more than a decade before they were designed to:
1.)  Store your food in glass containers whenever possible, as it is the most inert container you can use.
2.) Only use natural cleaning products in your home. Most health food stores will have these available or you can search online for them.
3.) Buy and eat, as much as possible, organic foods, especially milk and other dairy products which are frequently contaminated with bovine growth hormone (bgh).
4.) Avoid processed foods.
5.) Avoid artificial food additives of all kind, including artificial sweeteners and MSG.
6.) Avoid all varieties of ‘unfermented” soy and processed soy products.
7.) Switch to natural brands of toiletries.  You can find these at either your local health food store or you can search online.

Review  Our Stolen Future, probably the best resource on this topic

** For more information on xenoestrogens, check out mercola.com at

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2009/03/19/two-food-additives-found-to-have-estrogenlike-effects.aspx

Natural fatty acids like omega-3 oils are one of the most important nutrients that our body needs.  Unfortunately, our bodies can’t produce omega-3’s so we have to get them from the foods we eat (and then from supplements, if you can’t keep your levels up.)
There are many plant and animal sources of essential omega fatty acids and it’s important to know that in plant sources our body needs to convert them into long chain fatty acids — this means you may need to eat more plant sources of omega 3’s if you don’t eat the animal ones.  But, regardless of how you get them, getting them is a must.

Here are 7 reasons why you may want to choose building up your omega 3 stores as a focus for your health in the next few months…

1. Reduces Depression
Studies have confirmed that omega 3 oils can decrease the symptoms of depression. Most research points to the EPA and DHA as the factors that contribute to getting you in a better mood.
Omega 3 oils have also been effective for helping new moms with postpartum depression. The process of pregnancy can leave a mom pretty depleted of many nutrients and omega 3 oils is one that can help once the baby is born.

2. Promotes Smooth, Healthy Skin.
Ingesting these oils can help build strong and plump skin cells that give you a glow that no cosmetic can match.  You can also use these oils externally to protect and feed your skin, since this massive organ loves to feed itself with healthy oils.

3. Reduces Brain Fog.
It’s important to know that 60%( or more) of your brain is fat.  The majority of that are essential fatty acids.  When you’re deficient,  you’re brain just doesn’t work properly. When you don’t give your brain enough of this essential nutrient,  your thinking conditions can change dramatically.

4. Eases joint pain.
Many people think joint pain is simply a normal aging process.  To some extent this can be true due to issues such as overuse.  However, most joint pain can decrease or go away completely when you have ample omega 3 in your diet.

5. Prevents Disease such as Cancer Cell Growth
Your level of inflammation is one of the biggest factors you can use to predict your chances of disease.  People with higher levels of inflammation are more likely to have heart issues, diabetes, and cancer. (Thermography is a screening tool that you can use to see if you have excessive inflammation in the body.)
Lower your inflammation with high levels of omega 3’s, an alkaline based diet, and stress reduction and you will lower your chances of disease or return of disease.

6. Boosts your immune system.
And, if you can reduce inflammation, you also can boost your immune system.  By reducing the inflammation in the body, you also increase immune system efficiency.  Increasing omega-3 fatty acids will give you a higher amount of “eicosanoids”,  which are responsible for regulating immune and inflammation responses.

7. Lower your risk of heart disease.
Omega 3 oils have also been shown to lower triglycerides, which are fats in the blood. This is good news for anyone who has a high risk of heart disease.  A lower level of triglycerides in the blood allows your hormones to function properly and keeps your arteries safe from potential clogging.

Proper hormone function is also key to avoiding disease.

So, what are the best sources of Omega 3 Oils?
There are many places to get your omega 3 oils and it’s up to you to find out which one works best for you.
Decisions that you need to make are if you want plant sources or animal sources (or both) and if your body is actually able to absorb and use the kind you’re taking. (Plant sources many times require conversion in the body that some people do better than others.)

Food sources of omega 3 fatty acids include…
Plant Sources:

• Raw walnuts
• Algae (sea weeds, spirulina, chlorella)
• Sacha Inchi (a nut oil from Peru)
• Flax Seeds, Flax oil (only if no existing hormone or thyroid issues)
• Chia Seeds

Non-Plant Sources:

• Fish (wild caught!)- to avoid Mercury choose fish such as wild salmon and fresh water trout!
• Krill (contains natural astaxanthin, a super antioxidant!)
• Eggs (ideally organic, free range)

(Please note: Farm raised fish usually have little omega 3 oils due to a primarily corn fed diet. This is the same for non-grass fed beef and eggs.)

Depending on your diet preference, be sure to eat enough omega 3’s daily from whole foods!   Then, if you need to supplement, you can choose from fish, krill, algae, flax or sacha inchi oils.

More and more, researchers are discovering ways that herbs and spices boost health.  They provide benefits for various health concerns from cancer to Alzheimer’s disease.

The main reason they are health benefitting is due to the high concentrations of phytochemicals they contain. Phytochemicals are powerful substances found in plants that have health boosting qualities such as anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and immune boosting.

Try adding liberal amounts of these spices and herbs  to your foods daily:

1) Cinnamon. Cinnamon helps keeps bllod sugar down and is anti-inflammatory.  It helps the body buffer the acid glucose and in turn helps to reduce the body’s need of acid binding cholesterol, which may protect from heart disease and diabetes and improve the health of those already suffering from these acidic symptoms. Cinnamon may also help in weight loss by reducing dietary and metabolic acid.

2) Cilantro. Like other dark, leafy vegetables, cilantro is high in vitamins A and K, as well as beta-carotene. It also contains a natural antibiotic called dodecenal, which was shown in a study to be more effective than a prescription antibiotic at buffering acid and biologically transforming the bacteria Salmonella.

3) Garlic. Ancient Egyptians used garlic to treat heart disease, and modern science has found it to be a potent antioxidant which lowers dietary and metabolic acid and thus is anti-thrombotic.

4) Ginger. Ginger is a powerful anti-inflammatory which combats dietary and metabolic acids that cause inflammation. It also soothes queasy acid stomachs due to motion sickness, morning sickness and post-operative nausea – all acidic conditions.

5) Parsley. Parsley has high amounts of lutein and zeaxanthin that promote eye health as well as large amounts of vitamins A and K. It may be useful in combating the acids that cause cancer, heart disease and allergies.

6) Rosemary. The phytochemicals or anti-acids in rosemary cut the cancerous-inducing acids contained in all meats. It may also aid diabetics and slow the aging process by reducing dietary and metabolic acids.

7) Turmeric. The active ingredient in turmeric, curcumin, is an extremely powerful anti-inflammatory. It may play a role in buffering the acids that cause ALL cancerous conditions and reducing the buildup of acidic plaque in the brain associated with Alzheimer’s.

**  To get a lot of these in one power punch, try making a pesto with cilantro or parsley and add garlic,ginger, and maybe even turmeric!

(For pesto, also combine in a food processor with raw soaked nuts such as cashews or walnuts and use fresh extra virgin olive oil.  Store in glass jar in fridge!)

Our amazing supporters and TeamFD Athletes Michael Kantor and Don Bowie are taking on an incredible TeamFD Challenge. They will be climbing the highest volcano in the world (22,615ft) carrying mountain bikes to the summit.  They will then ride down the mountain and 187 miles across the Atacama Desert to the ocean, setting multiple world records in the process.

You can read more about the expedition at www.donbowie.com.

Please donate now to help Don and Michael reach their goal of raising $115,000.  That’s $5 for every foot they are attempting to first climb, then descend on mountain bikes. Your generous support helps send all of our participants on their OWN week-long first descent.

DONATE HERE. - http://teamfd.firstdescents.org/2011/fd/summit2sea/kantor/

We are so thankful at First Descents for athletes like these two who take on a challenge that will inspire others to do the same.

What better time than the New Year (post holidays) to spend a week doing a light cleanse and get back on track with eating a healthy diet.  This “plan” can be simple and flexible, as no need to get stressed about it.  This is not about portion control or counting calories, instead it is about eating clean!

Foods to Avoid:

Refined white sugars, added sugars
Refined flours, wheat products
Deep-fried foods
Meats, especially highly processed and non-organic
Dairy, especially non-organic
Fast food
Refined salt (ie. regular table salt)
Overly processed and packaged foods
Coffee (especially non-organic) and heavily caffeinated drinks
All chemicals in foods and beverages (ie. artificial sweeteners and alcohol)

Recommended Menu:

-Upon waking drink large glass of warm or room temperature filtered lemon water
-Drink a cup of mint, licorice, or green tea
-Have a clean fruit/vegetable smoothie with hormone free whey protein, raw nuts and seeds, nut milk, greens, etc for breakfast
-Have a large glass of filtered water before and between meals
-Have a clean vegan soup, green salad with lots of veggies, seeds, sprouts, and olive oil, sprouted veggie wraps or sandwiches for lunch and dinner
-Enjoy a cup of peppermint tea before bed

After a week or so you should feel better, lighter, clear headed, and realigned with healthy eating habits!

Feel free to reach out to me with any questions!  Happy New Year! – Googley (zenfitnut@gmail.com)

Team FD has yet again broken its fundraising goal for 2011. With a record number of participants at the ING New York City Marathon raising more than $100,000 at the event, Team FD pushed past the $750,000 mark for the year – well beyond our original $300,000 goal.

Twenty Team FD runners took to the NYC streets on November 6, including seasoned runners, first time marathoners, past FD participants, cancer fighters, survivors and family members. Together, the runners raised a total of $113,677 at the NYC Marathon.

“This is the second year Team FD has participated in the NYC Marathon, and this year our team really went above and beyond to raise the fundraising bar. Each runner brought in more than $5,000 each! Altogether the team will send 113 young adults fighting and surviving cancer to a First Descents week-long program,” says First Descents Founder Brad Ludden, who also ran the marathon. “Team FD is a huge part of the reason we’ve totally crushed our fundraising goal this year. This is why First Descents continues to grow even in a down economy.”

Team FD is made up of athletes and cancer survivors at all levels of competition, each sharing the goal of supporting First Descents and the young adult cancer population. Team FD is all about challenge. It’s about each individual picking an activity which represents a challenge to him or her, training for it, setting a fundraising goal and completing that challenge. For more information on joining Team FD click here.

We had an amazing Team FD presence at the NYC Marathon on Sunday! The weather could not have been more perfect for our 20 runners in the race.

A special thanks to Gary Alecusan, Noah Bremen, Courtney Ludden, Brad Ludden, Eva Ho, Rebekah Koenigbauer, Joel Appel, Jamie Malin, Andy Glick, Marty Janis, Rich Rhodes, Kelly Gallagher Crowe, Dan Crowl, Lindsay Snow Osborn, Kammi Reiss, Kyle Costello, Tricia Staible, Abby Staible, Julie Wellman, David Gordon, Brian Novak– who ran a combined 497.8 miles and have raised over $113,000 to date! 

If you haven’t already seen the NY Times late edition from Sunday click on the link below. Team FD was on the front page!!  Way to represent Team FD Kammi!! http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2011/11/06/sports/07marathon_ss.html?ref=newyorkcitymarathon

Are You Ready to Accept the Challenge?

What is it?  Denver Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon & 1/2 Marathon

When is it?  October 9, 2011

The Details:  First Descents is proud to be an Official Charity Partner at the 2nd Annual Denver Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon & 1/2 Marathon. Challenge yourself to 26.2 or 13.1 miles and listen to great music while running. In order to receive a guaranteed First Descents entry* you must commit to raising a minimum of $300 for First Descents.  

Team FD Schwag:  The $300 you raise covers your race entry fee and in addition to that you will also receive a Team FD t-shirt, the exclusive Team FD Tech Shirt and a pair of Teva shoes – YES, shoes!  See below and click on the link for more details. AND everyone who signs up by Sept 30th will be eligible to win an IPAD 2!!  We will be having a raffle on October 1st and everyone who registers with Team FD – Denver Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon & 1/2 Marathon has a chance to win!

Training: For the first time ever we will be offering training sessions for all of our runners who live in the Denver area! We will start our training sessions on August 3rd, if we have enough people signed up.  These group runs are for seasoned runners and those new to the running world. We will continue to meet every Wednesday up until the Big Event. If you can’t meet us in person, no worries, our amazing trainer has offered to do on-line training help as well!

For more information, or to receive a registration form*, please e-mailTeamFD@FirstDescents.org.