Story Of A Brave Heart And A Cancer Survivor: An Interview With Varshaa Jain

Zuvius: What were the circumstances that made you decide to go for a check-up?

Varshaa: My mom is a cancer survivor herself and when she had been detected with breast cancer; her surgeon had warned that some women tend to have the genetic tendency to pass it on to their daughters so as her daughter I too was warned to be alert. Since the doctor was a family friend he was insistent the we learnt to self-examine and thus taught us the skill of self-examination but at that young age of the twenties one doesn’t apprehend that you can fall victim to such a dreaded disease. Mom would constantly remind to self-examine and one such day when I was in the middle of celebrating Christmas and gearing up for New Year’s Eve, I just recalled my mom’s repeated reminder’s to self-examine. I did so and felt a tiny lump like thing on my left breast but dismissed it as an illusion and apprehension as it didn’t feel or hurt or pain or anything of that sort. It just existed there. Strangely and sadly when I had been taught the skill to self-examine, I had been informed that cancer creeps in silently majority of the times, yet I chose to be an educated ignorant and let the next ten fifteen days go by in merry making. At the end of that period I suddenly recalled that tiny lump and checked immediately to find out if it actually existed and I was shocked that it had turned into a very obvious big lump about the size of a peanut embedded deep, immediately we rushed for sonography.

LIFE LESSON 1:  Ignorance isn’t bliss…be aware…be alert and be responsible for your personal self too because Jaan hai toh Jahaan Hai

Also read: Yuvraj Singh – The Biggest Test Match Of His Life

Zuvius: What was your immediate response on learning you had Cancer?

Varshaa: The sonography report didn’t look too good and so a needle biopsy was insisted upon (Mamography hadn’t been invented at that time in life). We waited restlessly for the biopsy report and since mom had been through this process about ten years prior to this, she was restless and probably sure of what report could be expected. The crazy news was broken to me, my mom and my husband with a verdict that I had to be admitted right away that very moment. My world came crashing down because this was the last I could have expected. My son was two years old back then and I pleaded to be allowed to go back home for a couple of days to digest this fact and to be with my son. But the doctor who was closely known to us refused to budge an inch probably because he knew what havoc a needle biopsy could play after being inserted into a deadly malignant lump of a galloping nature. I had no choice but to give in to the pressures of the doctor and my husband and mom.

LIFE LESSON 2: Accept facts for what they are instead of resorting to denial because denial just delays whereas acceptance can accelerate arriving at the solutions faster and more effectively.

Zuvius: How did you decide which hospital/doctor to consult for further treatment? Did you think of taking a second opinion?

Varshaa: The hospital I went to was the last place I would ever allow anyone I know to ever get admitted there. I feel it’s like Yumraj, who takes away everyone you know who had been admitted there directly to the Death Valley, I assert so because I lost my father to that hospital’s carelessness. In the subsequent year I too was there and would have probably gone to the deadmen’s place too but there was a strange incidence on the day of my surgery. It was as if God’s Grace showed me the shining light when I got locked in the hospital’s washroom and when they tried to unlock, the knob came off leaving the lock pretty much jammed at its place. It took the hospital about 45 minutes to cut the door around the locked area and get me out. I threw a fit and refused to be operated that day due to the negative indications that universe was sending out to me. They had no choice but to postpone the surgery to the next date i.e. 19th January 2002 which also happened to be my father’s 1st death anniversary who had been operated in this same hospital on the 18th i.e. the same date that I was originally scheduled for surgery and this day was when he had left us for heavenly abode at the young age of 53 years. But I wasn’t giving up so soon I stuck my neck up and refused to be operated on the 18th, this sounds abstract but maybe that was a strong gut intuition and my zest for life that saved my life. Just two years later I lost even my mother in law in this crazy place so I personally hate that hospital.

As far as the second opinion is concerned, my doctor was my mom’s surgeon and a family friend so he was completely trustable. He was a doctor from the new school of thought with a double degree from the U.S. and a prominent doctor with 2 well-established and leading hospitals in Mumbai as well as association to a mission hospital for charitable treatment. So going with him was the natural course since mom had been treated well. But the shock came when he announced that just removal of the lump wasn’t the solution to my case and I would have to go through Mastectomy for the breast and Lumpectomy for the infected lymph nodes. I refused to believe that such a major surgery was needed and assumed that the family friend doctor had become greedy and was trying to make me the scape goat for his monetary and experiential benefits, I refused to sign the papers for consent to surgery and insisted on a second opinion but mom, hubby, family all requested to keep my faith in the doctor who had cured my mom. But I refused to give in and so even though I was refused to travel to another doctor from another hospital, my reports were shown to other doctors by family and well-wishers and the surgery was advised by one and all. Even after knowing that a major surgery was the only way out I still refused to sign the papers because……come on….28 years was no age to lose a breast for a young girl who loved herself and loved life. Mom, relatives, college friends, doctors and hospital team all tried to convince me all through those days, urging me on the seriousness of my condition and the life threat that I was facing. I eventually relented on the tenth day when my husband came up and whispered “That’s my property and I will make do with one…so you have no right to resist losing it and I would rather lose one than lose you!” I was speechless and over powered by my respect for him that had just multiplied a million times.

LIFE LESSON 3: This episode in my life taught me two major lessons…Firstly doubt is a direct by-product of fear and apprehension for the unknown, thus don’t let it cloud your mind and decisions else you will be responsible for your own destruction. Secondly Love is something that cannot be contained in a preconceived pre-defined notion because the way of expression varies from person to person. In all those six years of being married my husband may not have been expressing his love as per my pre conceived notion thus making me assume that he didn’t love me enough but what he said that day reflected the depth of his love for me. For a cancer patient to survive and heal faster the mandatory essential of treatment is love and affection from friends, family and loved ones.

Zuvius: Can you tell us what kind of Cancer you had, the stage and what was the procedure of treatment prescribed?

Varshaa: I had second stage third grade cancer of galloping nature and thus the speed at which it could grow was multi fold faster than the other kinds of cancers. The cancerous cells had thrived even in the lymph nodes wherein 11 lumps were removed of which 2 to 3 were badly infected. In short, if a few more days would have passed without removing them then it would have spread into the inner organs and in all probability I wouldn’t have been around writing this. The post-surgery treatment comprised of 20 days to recoup, heal the surgery stitches, arm rotation exercises to ensure that the arm pit didn’t get jammed after removal of the lymph nodes, new dressing and checking the stiches at the end of those twenty days. After this all the blood tests had to be done to ensure that I was up to the count for taking a chemotherapy. Thankfully my WBCs were pretty low at the end of 20 days so chemo was postponed for another 15 days.  I lived my life in those 15 days since I knew I would be living hell for the next 8 to 9 months due to my 6 cycles of chemotherapy that was prescribed with a gap of 40 days between two cycles. Since mine was a very advanced case the doctors didn’t want to take a chance so the dosage of chemo medicine prescribed was very high meaning higher magnanimity of the after effects of the treatment. During those 15 days I went back to my son for a few days and played with him as it was the greatest stress buster, I watched 3 movies in the theatre with my mom and my grandmom because I knew that public places, outside food etc. would be banned for me for the entire year or maybe more. I have always hated being pitied upon so people who called or visited to express pity and sympathize would be shocked with my positive stance and anti-pity attitude. I had seen my mom suffer from the horrible treatment but there’s a whale of a difference between seeing and experiencing yourself, but I guess I was ready to take it on with a strong mind.

LIFE LESSON 4: Never fear the unknown as your apprehensions magnify the ill effects and trauma you go through.

Zuvius: What were the physical changes seen in yourself, in your daily life and how did you cope with those?

Varshaa: OMG….the first cycle of chemotherapy, it was like my veins, blood, my entire inner body was set on fire. I vomited all night, was constipated the next morning and nauseated and vomited all day again, it felt like my entire inner system was pushing to turn inside out. My mom contacted our homeopathy doctor and got some pills to take care of these side effects. Those homeopathy medicines were a blessing in disguise as I could eat without nauseating or vomiting. Over and above that constipation was taken care of so I could sleep without feeling like I was on fire, Two to three days after my chemotherapy, I woke up one morning and found some strands of hair on my pillow so I went to the wash room to check on the status of my hair. Much to my dismay, my hair came off with roots as easily as one would be able to take a piece of the cotton candy (widely known as budiya ke baal or pink candyfloss).

I was staying with my mother during the course of my treatment as my mother in law wasn’t in a state to nurse my extreme condition and more over she had to take care of my 2 year old son and home too. My mom was much more agonized than me to see me losing the hair. For the next 3 days every morning I would wake up to a pillow full of hair and a highly emotional mom. After losing my father exactly a year before my surgery, I couldn’t add to her trauma each living day for something as trivial as my hair that would grow back some day after my treatment was over. So on the 4th or 5th day of this repeated ordeal and emotional days, I woke up, went to the wash room and stood in front of the mirror and caressed my hair by running my fingers from the root down for them to come off in as much bulk as were ready to come off once and for all. Surprisingly all of them just came off completely. I carried that entire bunch and handed it over to mom and joked that I will get a wig made out of those waist length hair and would wear a bandana till then. She gave me an old scarf that used to be my school time favourite and she had stored that away as fond memories, wow seeing that scarf was nostalgic as all those memories of those lovely picnics and holidays came flooding back wherein I had worn that favourite scarf of mine. Bandana on my head became a style statement from that day on at least that’s what most who weren’t aware of my illness assumed.

But even if I would have projected that I am strong and cool and facing all that treatment with ease and acceptance, the fact was that I was living  hell and chaos and trauma and helplessness deep within. As a chatterbox my greatest challenge was to refrain from expressing my pain and trauma to my loved ones and since I was portraying a tough side it was adding to my emotional trauma along with the physical trauma of losing a breast, losing all my hair, losing my eyebrows, nails turning blue and ready to fall off with the slightest of impact. But did I have a choice? No, I couldn’t escape it as I was in no condition to walk or step out of home for those days in between two chemo cycles. I couldn’t express all the hell and helplessness to anyone since I had to stay tough for my Mom, my son and my hubby so I resorted to penning down my emotions, confusions, trauma, hope etc. and Voila!! Guess what? I discovered the poet in me who had always existed but the potential had gone unnoticed and unfathomed. This was the initiation of a new life, a new beginning with a new skill to explore with a new purpose and optimism to life.

LIFE LESSON 5: Who am I to decide what I want out of my life? It’s all God’s Grace. He always has bigger designs, all that’s needed by mortals like me is to understand those designs and fill in the appropriate colours. Once the right fabric of life is self-woven, the drape will feel perfect and complementing

Zuvius: Who and what kept your spirit up, gave you the strength and confidence to go through this difficult phase of treatment without losing hope?

Varshaa: I guess it was a combination of multiple things, firstly it was my love for life, my self-confidence, my mother’s love, nursing, nurturing and past experiences, my husband’s love and attention, my son’s innocent questions, affectionate and healing hugs which I got in rationed doses, not because he would catch some infection but because I could catch and infection due to my extremely low WBC. It felt like I was the newborn baby in the incubator that even kids weren’t allowed to touch due to fear of infection.  Over and above this I was blessed to have parents who were loved by neighbours, relatives and community members so when they got to know of my illness they would call me, visit me, pamper me by getting some interesting homemade food like soups and interesting desserts which helped me stay distracted and occupied. In my alone moments my poetry writing was my pillar of strength and the 1st poem I created in my life at that age of 28 is titled “Zindagi Ke saath Khushi se Chal Chalaa Chal….haan Khushi se chal chaala chal….”

LIFE LESSON 6: One has to seek happiness within and not around and once being happy becomes a way of life, and then any tragedy or trauma however huge can just shake you up a bit but will never succeed at uprooting you.

Symptoms Related To The Deficiency Of Salivary Secretions

Reductions in the Quantity of salivary secretions or Quality – changes in the properties of saliva are responsible for a host of related oral and dental problems which impact directly upon the Quality of Life .

These include:

  • Difficulties in eating and speaking
  • Alterations in taste (dysgeusia)
  • Increased plaque formation
  • Increased risk of dental caries, dental erosion, and periodontal diseases
  • Mucosal abrasions and mucosal irritation
  • Halitosis
  • Candidoses
  • Impaired retention of full dentures.

Also read: Saliva Circadian Rhythm

 

These oral problems may in turn influence medical status, in that patients lose interest in eating and may suffer from malnutrition as a consequence.

While the causes of Xerostomia may vary from simply being adverse side effects of medication , auto-immune disease like Sjogren’s Shyndrom , to that because of adverse effects of Radiation Therapy during treatment of the Head & Neck Cancer, resulting from the destruction of the Salivary Glands.  Even Cancer Chemotherapeutic Drugs may cause transient Xerostoma. Xerostomia is observed even during Cancer Chemotherapy treatment.

Whatever the reason, Xerostomia has a devastating effect on the patients’ wellbeing.

Drug classes associated with causing xerostomia.

Salivary Glands & Extent of Salivation

Un-stimulated Salivation:

Salivary Gland at rest: 0.5 L to 1.7 Liters of Saliva produced per day (basal rate) – (Others Report 0.7 to 1.5 Liters/day)

Major Salivary Glands:

Sub-mandibular and Sublingual Glands: 70% of Saliva

Parotid & Sub-mandibular: 90% of Saliva produced – i.e. Parotid Share ~ 25 % (Unstimulated) – Minor Glands: 5 % Saliva Production

Yoga and Cancer

Yoga is a branch of the 5000-year-old traditional Indian practice of medicine. It basically means unison of the mind, body and spirit in a perfect state of balance which helps one connect to their inner-self.

The inner-self is free from fear and greed, unmoved by joys or sorrow. This encourages stillness, calmness, deep breathing and positive thinking which are proven to be important elements for healthy living.

Yoga has created ripples through the centuries with tales of its miraculous healings. But it’s the 19th century, when yoga began to climb atop the global chartbuster. From being a trending practice for weight loss to the being the key of good health, yoga has re-emerged as the modern-day panacea!

Also know: Saliva – A Very Important Secretion

Yoga and Cancer: A complementary cancer therapy

Yoga is not a cure for cancer.

But yoga plays a crucial role in winning the fight.

Researchers shared evidence of its efficacy in managing high blood pressure, heart health, metabolism, bone health, pain management and other physiological disorders. Yoga is a proven tool for managing stress, depression, panic and anxiety. Regular practice of yoga boosts sleep, appetite and overall well-being.

This makes yoga a very helpful therapy in coping with cancer during and after treatment.

Here are some of the proven benefits of yoga that aids the cancer fighters and survivors:

1. Combats stress

Cancer is exhausting, not only physically but also emotionally and mentally! Many cancer patients suffer from bouts of anxiety, stress and depression caused by the trauma of facing a life-threatening disease.

Stress can only worsen the condition by the damage it does to the body!

Hence, stress management has emerged as a bigger challenge in cancer patients. Several studies have validated the role of yoga in battling stress in cancer patients. One study found that daily yoga practicing can reduce “mood disturbances” by about 65%.

Managing cancer stress with yoga improves appetite, sleep and quality of life.

2. Fights fatigue

Cancer treatments are exhausting physically.

Patients often complain of fatigue and weakness while undergoing cancer treatment. Research shows that Yoga can help in alleviating fatigue in cancer patients. A study published in the NCBI quoted that yoga interventions may be beneficial for reducing cancer-related fatigue!

Another study reported 22 – 37 % improvement in cancer related fatigue achieved through daily practice of yoga. This resulted in better sleep quality and day time functioning.

3. Improve physical functioning

Yoga is known to improve flexibility and mobility.

Cancer as well as cancer treatments can affect the ability to move. Long durations of hospitalization and bed rest can make the body stiff and sore, making it difficult for patients to move.

Practising gentle forms of yoga under the guidance of a professional trainer or instructor can help in restoring mobility and agility. Yoga is also a proven pain reliever. A review of several studies found that yoga can improve functional well-being in both cancer patients and survivors.

4. Enhances sleep

Sleeplessness and restlessness are common complaints in cancer patients.

Cancer can cause sleeplessness and sleeplessness hinders healing. Thus, it is a vicious cycle which needs to be broken for the treatment to work. Yoga is well-known for curing insomnia.

Several studies and researchers have attributed its calming properties to boost quality and quantity of sleep. Regular yoga practice improves sleep patterns by reducing disruptions.

5. Lowers risk of recurrence

Yoga helps in lowering the risk of recurrence by maintaining a lean body. Obesity is one of the biggest risk factors for cancer recurrence. Regular practice of yoga ensures lower risk of recurrence.

Yoga also fights off the ill-effects of stress. It enhances mood, sparks positivity and helps people in coping with cancer post treatment. Yoga is effective in improving the quality of life post treatment.

By regulating diet, sleep, mood and lifestyle yoga reduces the risk of cancer recurrence.

Yoga postures that helps fight cancer

Our research scientist Dr. Ulhas Ganu often shares his insights on several yoga postures that brings relief to cancer patients.

In his blogs, he elaborated the benefits of Shanmukhi Mudra in reducing stress,
Pranamudra in enhancing immunity, Parvatasana in improving mobility, Ganesh Mudra for muscular strengthening, and Pranayama for relieving anxiety and depression.

There are several yoga techniques designed to benefit the body in different ways. Consult with your doctor and a professional yoga instructor before starting yoga as your daily ritual. When done wrong it can cause pain and other problems. Hence, expert guidance is necessary.

Cations for yoga in cancer

  • Do not practice yoga alone at home unless you are a trained practitioner.
  • Enroll in professional yoga training programs designed for cancer patients.
  • Consult your oncologist before enrolling.
  • Discuss your medical problems with your instructor.
  • Stop if any posture causes pain.
  • Go easy with the postures.
  • Drink plenty of water after every class.

Diet and Cancer

Cancer is a genetic disease caused by a mutation in the DNA. This mutation can be triggered by a range of factors; genetic inheritance, environmental factors, lifestyle choices and food preferences being the major contributors.

Diet plays the role of a double sword in cancer. It can feed cancer or kill cancer. Several foods are labeled as carcinogens (cancer causing substances) and several are hailed for having cancer-fighting properties.

Choosing proper dietary nutrition is very crucial not only for prevention of cancer but it is also important for management and treatment of cancer.

Here are a few things about diet and cancer that you must know.

Also Know: Yoga and Cancer

Why diet matters so much?

We are what we eat!

Every cell of the body is made from the nutrients that we derive through food.

So, food plays a very important role in keeping us healthy and hale.

While the right food choices nourish our body, the wrong ones can wreak havoc. Faulty eating is the main reason for obesity, diabetes, and all kinds of gastro-intestinal troubles. Diet is also one of the major causatives of cancer.

Cancer is one of the leading causes of death globally. And research suggests that about 30-50% of cancer deaths can be prevented just by making the right food choices. There is a growing body of evidence claiming that dietary habits can increase or decrease cancer risk.

Food can lower the cancer risk by:

  • regulating hormones
  • slowing cancer cell growth
  • preventing inflammation
  • curbing damage from free radicals

Food that flames your cancer risk

Scientists suspect that diet may play an elemental role in turning normal cells cancerous. It is the high consumption of certain food items cooked in certain ways that’s linked to increased cancer risk.

However, nutrition is a complex concept. It is not only what you eat, but how you produce, store, cook and eat that matters. Food produced in a healthy environment, stored in the right way (without processing), cooked in less oil and heat, and eaten in a peaceful calm manner is optimal for the body.

Here is a list of foods that researchers have marked as probable cancer causing!

  1. Sugar and Refined Carbs
    There are several studies probing on the association between sugar and cancer. Several studies found that a diet high in refined carbs, which causes high blood glucose and insulin increases the risk of colon cancer by 50%.
  2. Red meat and Processed Meat
    The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has cited processed meat as a carcinogen. A large review of studies found that consumption of red meat or processed meat can increase colorectal cancer risk by 20-50%. Also, another study suggested regular consumption of red meat or processed meat is found to increase the risk of colorectal cancer by 18%.
  3. Dairy Products
    Clinical studies claim that high consumption of dairy products can increase the risk of prostate cancer. Increased intake of dairy products like butter, cheese, or sweet desserts contributes to obesity which is a known cancer risk.
  4. Overcooked Food
    Research shows that certain foods when cooked at high temperatures, (grilling, frying, sautéing, barbequing) can produce harmful compounds in the body. Excess accumulation of these compounds can lead to inflammation which may play a role in the development of cancer. Foods like processed red meat, cheese, butter, oils and nuts should never be overcooked.

Foods that help cope with cancer

Several studies on the impact of diet in preventing and coping with cancer have revealed cancer-fighting properties in certain foods. Scientists revealed that eating an optimal healthy diet may reduce the cancer risk by 70%.

  1. Foods rich in anti-oxidants
    Any food rich in anti-oxidant is good for fighting and preventing cancer. Antioxidants scavenge free radicals and repairs the damages done by them. Anti-oxidants also boost immunity, energy, and overall well-being which is crucial while undergoing cancer treatment.
  2. Vegetables and Fruits
    Many vegetables and fruits contain antioxidants and phytochemicals that help in fighting cancer. Fruits and vegetables can play a preventive as well as a curative role in managing cancer.
    Studies suggest that a person’s daily diet must include at least two and a half cups of fruits and vegetables. Eating high amounts of fruit may lower the risk of stomach and lung cancer.
    Different vegetables too can lower the risk of lung, mouth, pharynx, larynx, stomach, and oesophageal cancer. Moringa, a superfood, is a proven anti-cancer food that is now studied in preparation for anti-cancer drugs.
  3. Seeds and Spices
    Several seeds and spices are also said to help fight cancer. Cinnamon has anti-cancer properties. Curcumin a compound found in turmeric is now used to treat cancer. Flaxseeds too have cancer-preventive properties; it is said to inhibit the growth of cancer cells.
  4. Beans and Legumes
    Beans and legumes show protective properties against cancer. A study in 3500 people concluded that regular consumption of beans and legumes can lower the risk of certain types of cancer by 50%.
  5. Water and juice
    Drink lots of water and fluids throughout the day. It helps flush out toxins from the body, improves hydration and soothes symptoms caused by cancer. Drinking ample liquids also keeps the body energized and fresh.

Apart from these nuts, fish, garlic, olive oil and healthy eating habits are considered important for fighting cancer. It is not one single food but the overall diet that makes the big difference. Also, it is always best to extract the nutrients directly from foods rather than taking supplements.

Fruits and vegetables you must add to your diet

Vegetables like carrots, Brussels sprouts, and squash contain carotenoids may reduce the risk of lung, mouth, pharynx, and larynx cancers. Cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cabbage, may help protect against stomach and esophageal cancer.

Oranges, berries, peas, bell peppers, dark leafy greens and other foods high in vitamin C may help prevent esophageal cancer. Tomatoes, guava, and watermelon contain lycopene such as tomatoes which may lower the risk of prostate cancer.

Food, Blood Sugar and Cancer

Certain foods are identified to spike up the blood sugar levels. And high blood sugar is associated with an increased risk of several types of cancer including cancers of the stomach, breast and colorectal.

People with high blood sugar have 22% higher risk of developing colorectal cancer. Insulin stimulates the growth of cancerous cells and speeds up its spread. High blood glucose also leads to inflammation which can result in genetic mutations causing cancer.

Food, Obesity and Cancer

One of the biggest modern-day disaster is obesity. More people are dying of overeating than malnourishment. Obesity opens the door to several chronic conditions including stress, depression, diabetes, arthritis, cancer etc.

After smoking and drinking, obesity is the third biggest risk factor for cancer. Obesity is linked to 13 different types of cancer, including cancers of the oesophagus, colon, pancreas, breast and kidney.

Obesity impacts cancer risk in three key ways:

  • Excess body fat can lead to insulin resistance.
  • Obesity can cause chronic inflammation.
  • Fat cells contribute to increased estrogen levels.

Diet tips to curb cancer risks

  1. Do not cook oils on high heat.
  2. Opt for healthier cooking methods like baking, boiling, or steaming.
  3. Store oils in a cool dark place in airtight containers.
  4. Avoid foods that turned moldy. It might contain aflatoxin, a strong carcinogen.
  5. Avoid processed, fried, fast foods.
  6. Prefer boiled foods over raw or overcooked foods.
  7. Flavor your food with immune-boosting herbs and spices.

Diet and Cancer: Which is the best Cancer diet?

There are several fad diets that trend for some time and then fizz out. Alkaline diet, Ketogenic diet, vegetarian diet, vegan diet, Palaeolithic diet are some names that are linked to cancer prevention.

It is shown in several studies that plant-based diet may lower the risk of cancer, but again, it is the overall healthy eating practice that matters. Eating a plant-based diet and binging on fried and salts foods won’t help!

There is no food that can assure the prevention of cancer, neither there is enough evidence to cite one as a certain causative. To date, observational studies have linked some foods to increase cancer risks and some to lower cancer risks. But further studies and research is needed to better understand the role of food choices in cancer.

However, it’s the simple practice of eating healthy foods in a regulated manner that works best. Food choice should be a personal decision. However, abstaining or controlling foods that cause damage while adding the healthy alternatives is the best way to fight cancer.

5 proven Cancer-causing foods you should stop eating right now

You are what you eat!

Fresh foods flourishing with nutrients when eaten in the right way ensures that you lead a healthy, disease-free life. But if your plate is filled with foods that do not come from an organic source and is impregnated with toxins, then every morsel of that food can be building a bridge for diseases to come sliding.

While many foods can be categorized under the column of ‘harmful’ but not all are carcinogenic.

Though every now and then the news flash with some breakthrough research claiming the possible carcinogenic property of famous foods, but not all gets validated. For any food or drink to be labeled carcinogenic, there must be strong evidence to justify the association.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classifies carcinogens. They check how likely they are to cause cancer, with the scale divided into five groups: known, probable, possible, unclassifiable and probably not carcinogenic.

Here are 5 common foods that come under the category of known carcinogens:

Alcohol

Alcohol metabolism produces acetaldehyde. It’s a chemical compound that may cause damage to DNA. This might lead to cancer. Research verifies the association of alcohol to an increased risk of developing head and neck, esophagealliverbreast and colorectal cancer.

That’s why experts say its best to abstain from alcohol to avoid the risk. However, the second-best option is to limit the alcohol consumption to not more than two servings per day for men and one serving per day for women.

Processed Meat

There is enough evidence to label processed meat as a carcinogenic food. Meat preserved by curing, salting or smoking, or with chemical preservatives can increase the risk of cancer. It’s the nitrate in these processed meats that causes the damage.

You must check for the nitrite content while buying Bacon, sausage, hot dogs, pepperoni, prosciutto, beef jerky and salami. Research says that eating 50 grams of processed meat every day increases the risk of colorectal cancer by 18 per cent.

Red meat

Red meat like beef, veal, pork, lamb, mutton, horse and goat are linked to increased risk of colorectal, pancreatic and prostate cancer. Also, the way you cook the meat can raise the risk of cancer.

Meats cooked at high temperatures, like barbequed, contain chemicals that may cause changes in DNA. This may lead to cancer. Eating a lot of over-cooked meat is linked to an increased risk of colorectal, pancreatic and prostate cancer.

Soda pop

Soda pop is another popular food that has been linked to causing cancer. Loaded with sugar, food chemicals, and colorings, soda pop acidifies the body. It literally feeds cancer cells making them grow aggressively.

The soda pop contains the chemicals 4-methylimidazole (4-MI). This chemical has been specifically linked to causing cancer.

Sugar

Another very popular food that has been under the radar of cancer-causing food is the ‘sweet sugar’. Though it is not directly linked to cancer because it does not contain any such chemical that can be labeled as carcinogenic, but sugar is the culprit of obesity which is a proven risk for cancer.

Obesity has been linked to 13 types of cancer. Cutting added sugar, specifically refined sugar, is one way to reducing the risks for cancer. Eating sweet fruits and vegetables are fine. Even indulging in sweet treats once in a while is fine, but the key here is moderation.

Following a well-balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, pulses, nuts and seeds is the key to living in a healthy body. Limiting ultra-processed foods, such as packed baked foods, snacks, fizzy drinks, sugary cereals, ready-to-eat meals is another way of limiting the cancer risk.

Conclusion

Cancer can be caused by several factors. Some knowns and some unknowns. A few uncontrollable and some preventable. Whatever, be the cause, food may play a multi-role. It can be causative, preventive, supportive as well as curative in cancer, depending on what you choose to eat!