Combining approaches for lung cancer - by one of our beneficiaries

Today's blog is from Suzanne*, 66, from Cornwall who writes about her experiences putting together a integrative plan following her diagnosis with lung cancer in 2012.

When I was first told I had cancer my heart sunk like a stone. This information was given to me by GP who also told me I could cough, haemorrhage and die (!) I met a friend and we went straight to the pub for a glass of wine, followed by shock and tears.

I had no symptoms prior to coughing up blood, but soon developed excess sputum and coughing, although no breathlessness. Lung cancer was confirmed with a CT scan, MRI scan and bronchoscopy, all arranged at two weekly intervals and I was finally diagnosed in June 2012. 

The consultant thought the tumour could be removed with surgery; I was thrilled and saw this as a cure. I couldn’t wait for the operation which happened in August 2012 but unfortunately the thoracotomy failed as I had cancerous nodules.

At this point I have to say I resisted orthodox treatments until December 2014. I pursued all the complementary I could and believed what I did helped enormously until my last scan, which showed that the cancer had spread from my lung to my spine. I then felt I should try chemotherapy alongside the complementary therapies I was doing.

I was, and still am, well looked after whilst continuing with chemotherapy – scans, blood tests, consultations, and I am happy to have support from my team to continue with my complementary care.

I have been on a huge journey trying different approaches including the Budwig diet, Alkaline diet, Journey work, meditation, Reiki, Japanese acupuncture, coffee enemas, green juices, cutting out sugar, dairy, processed food and the nightshade family, detox baths, supplements and HBOT.

This journey has often featured conflicting information and at points has been confusing and depressing. I am now settled with guidance from a nutritionist on the Ketogenic diet and am taking recommended supplements including Vitamin C. I try to exercise when I’m able to including going to yoga twice a week.

Running alongside my maintenance chemotherapy and Denosumab injections, I am on a trial of four generic drugs from the Care Oncology Clinic in Harley Street. 

I first heard about Yes to Life when I was having IV Vitamin C at the Vision of Hope Clinic. I spoke to someone very friendly and helpful on the Yes to Life helpline, which comforted me as it was the beginning of my journey and I felt there was help out there after all and support for someone who wanted to take a different route.

Yes to Life offered information on diet and exercise and funded a consultation with Patricia Peat of Cancer Options. I found this very helpful and she offered good advice on what supplements could benefit me. 

Yes to Life have continued to support me by sending me a monthly supply of Liposomal Vitamin C, which helps me support my immune system. This is of great help as it means I am able to still afford other therapies and approaches.

I think Yes to Life is an amazing charity, which helps to give people choice. The support I have had, not only financial, has been informative and friendly and has been a strong crutch to me. I see Yes to Life as an organisation who I can ask for support from like a second family.

With awareness rising and demand for our services at an all-time high we need your backing more than ever.  Donate today and help us support more people like Suzanne*

(*name has been changed)

The eclipse of cancer - by Maria Paraskeva

One of our lovely beneficiaries, Maria, talks about her personal cancer journey and how she nurtured herself back to health.

I found my medical file, dated 2010. In it there were scan results confirming a diagnosis of aggressive stage 4b NH Lymphoma with multiple “metastasis in the liver and peritoneum”. It was my eclipse, the sun blotted out by the moon, earth into a long night. There was plenty of light available to me, but I couldn’t see it at the time. I had just lost my mother to cancer, and the news of my cancer arrived just after my Mum’s funeral. All I wanted and needed at the time was to be left alone to grieve, to pay appropriate respect to her memory. She was my whole world and I was heartbroken. This determined very much what I chose to do next. Had I not lost mum I may have taken a different route.

The family had gathered around Mum’s bedside. Unbeknown to me, the hospital had tried a few times to contact me with the results of an MRI on the kidneys showing the spread of cancer. There followed more scans. I recall going to the hospital after Mum’s passing. The consultant was very sympathetic when he gave me my results and asked me, how was it that I was still standing? He insisted that I was admitted to hospital there and then. I was shocked to say the least. But I had known on a deeper level that things hadn’t felt right for some time. The effort to look after my dear mum had taken its toll and I was weary, scared and had a sense of impending doom.

I listened to my consultant and went back in the afternoon for admission into hospital. The hospital planned to perform immediate multiple biopsies to discover the primary tumours. I turned up to the ward and just as I was walking along the corridor, a cup that I’d brought with me, which had been given to me by my Mum, seemed to fly out of my hand and the little cat’s head on the cup split in two. That was enough for me to walk out of the hospital. I was nervous enough and very jittery. It was a good move as I had time then to research the best person to do the biopsy. I requested that person to perform the procedure a few weeks later, giving me time also to digest the news. The female consultant performing the biopsy, asked me if could she go in a second time and take more samples. I replied that once should be sufficient. I had a fear of too many biopsies spreading the cancer further. And most of all, I needed to feel comfortable at every stage of my decision making.

It is very interesting looking back at things from 7 years ago. It’s a real eye opener. I’ve forgotten how tough those days were. In this medical file, there are letters to and from consultants. My sister was good enough to take notes during my appointments. I didn’t trust myself, in the heightened state of mind that I was in, to actually take in all the facts. I was trying to assess all the time how I was feeling. What felt right and what didn’t. This was very frustrating for the doctors and for my family. I even signed a consent form to begin chemotherapy, twice in 3 months. Each time backing out. Each time I got close to accepting chemotherapy, I changed my mind. I was presented with worse case scenarios and foregone conclusions, that I wouldn’t make it beyond 2 or 3 months.

The first time I signed a consent form to begin treatment, the professor of the clinic I was in, took hold of his head and made as if to bang his head on the wall because he was despairing at my response. I had felt very sorry for him. Another scan had revealed possible intrusion into another organ. My family, father, brother, sister, began to push me to accept treatment. They argued convincingly that one death was enough, having lost Mum, they didn’t want to lose me too. I signed a second consent form. And again I backed out.

I faced a lot of resistance. The specialist in Alternative medicine was very clear too. In his opinion, the cancer was of the type and grading which made it difficult to be successfully treated with alternative means, even if I travelled to the best clinics in Europe. This wonderful doctor explained to me that his conscience would not allow him to do anything else but recommend chemotherapy. At first, he was reluctant to accept me as his patient.

Looking at this file now, I realise I couldn’t have acquired all the information without a lot of help. My sister was particularly good at research. And my brother and sister were good at keeping my spirits up. I listened as best I could. And each time I’d consider what I felt comfortable doing. There was no one around me who did not put pressure on me to start chemo.

In the folder I still have the protocol which I followed for a few months, devised by the doctor working in the Alternative cancer field. This was a very tough regime for me to follow… It involved intense juicing and lots of supplements. I administered coffee enemas daily to clean the liver. It was intense and I became worn out even more by simply trying to follow it. The alternative doctor was great though and he tailored it further, so that I wouldn’t abandon it altogether.

The pressure continued from all sides. It was difficult not to submit to the medical model, which could take over my care and simplify everything, and stop all the internal voices telling me that I wasn’t thinking straight. This was very compelling for me at the time. But I had a nagging doubt that I would not survive chemotherapy. There was the NHL and tumours in the liver and peritoneum. I realised that the primary organ to deal with the drugs administered, was the liver. And if the liver was in such a bad way, why injure it further? Somehow it didn't add up. And all along I didn't feel right about it, yet I did try so hard to convince myself otherwise.

I felt an overwhelming need to cultivate a feeling of safety, and to promote a sense of ease within. I had read the leaflets, listened to the experts, chased down the cancer survivors, friends who were on the way to recovery. I followed the dietary recommendations but felt uneasy about cutting out so many of the foods I enjoyed. It’s hard to say which of the practical things I did helped. But all this effort to keep things going was very draining. I was juggling it all whilst standing on my head upside down. That’s what it felt like. I couldn’t see myself in the scrabble for the facts and in the “doing of it all”. I was so driven to survive, to beat cancer, that I was in danger of undoing any good that I had achieved. I felt enormous pressure, which was a far cry from feeling at ease. It was inevitable that I would soon have to slow down.

It was a turning point of orientation, a shift, which in my opinion was the clincher. I had a new focus. I began to rediscover my practice of Qi Gong. The teacher of my style of Qi Gong (“Hua Gong”) taught me simple techniques of how to repair, contain and settle myself and make space for the real essence (life energy) to return to the body. I had quite a few “one to one” healing sessions with him also. I discovered the value of experiencing insubstantiality, a deep connection to source, whilst remaining deeply grounded. My energy field had been like a bucket with holes in it. Whilst on a Qi Gong retreat, my dreams returned to me and were very lucid. Through working with these dreams, I knew I was going in the right direction. I attended some shamanic ceremonies also but I’ll talk about this another time. Art therapy brought in the element of play and creativity. I didn’t have to paint or draw like Rembrandt. I simply let my unconscious reveal itself and had a lot of fun doing it, whether it was a scribble or something finer. (I’ve had some brilliant art therapists, who were so good, and helped me greatly, that it was like magic.) Art and all creativity was a seam of gold and still plays a massive role in my recovery.

So, I slowly nurtured myself back to health. I was less fearful and I had a sense of being at ease. And this flickering light of peace and feeling safe, and supported by the universe was the single most valuable feeling I could hold on to. I have a very close friend who has been living with untreatable cancer for many years. Her vitality, her clarity of mind is truly inspiring. She has advised me that the best thing I could do for myself was to get out of my own way. Very wise words. In fighting cancer, without realising it, I became the biggest obstacle to my own healing.

Looking back now, I realise that I simply gave my body a better chance of coming back to itself. I know of people who have also achieved miraculous recovery through chemotherapy. I can only describe my own journey, as it is so individual a journey. The turning point of orientation brought in freshness. I still try to immerse myself in nature, to be amongst trees. Getting fresh air as often as I can. Cultivating good friendships. Not holding on to grievances. I also found myself a good talking therapist and I have regular acupuncture, (I found a good healer who uses both acupuncture and herbs). Friendship, laughter and the full expression of joy, allowing grief and sadness to appear and dissolve, all play a huge role in recovery. And actually, is a good way to live, cancer or no cancer.

If only I had known about this amazing charity, “Yes to Life”, before. I may have run around a little less. I’m now an ardent supporter of theirs. All the money and the focus go on treatments. A charity such as “Say Yes to Life” provides a life jacket for all those who need support through diagnosis to remission to recovery and wellbeing.

In honour of a wonderful woman, Nina Joy

Today's post is in honour of a wonderful woman, Nina Joy, who sadly passed away this week. Nina was a huge supporter of Yes to Life and tackled her relationship with cancer with great humour and grace. We have selected one of her early blogs which reflects her wonderful, upbeat personality. We are really going to miss you, Nina.

Me and my breasts have always had a pretty good relationship. Maybe a bit smaller and perter would have been nice… but that was not my destiny. Think of Marilyn Monroe morphed with Jordan (not the fake tan or pink legwarmers though!) and that would be me then. I was always happy to be a voluptuous girly girl….. because that’s just me. So when they didn’t look quite right, I knew instinctively that something was obviously very wrong………… this was real cause for concern.

So – off I set on the round of appointments and referrals. Of course you always hope that it will be one ot those “95% of lumps turn out to be benign” situations. But because of the change to my nipple, I didn’t think that was the case for me. The GP said to me – “I think you will be fine, cancer does not normally present like this”. I didn’t really believe that to be so. Not because I’m a pessimist – the exact opposite in fact! But just because I did.

When I went to the breast clinic for the first time, I had lots of offers to come with me. No I said….. thinking it would be long and tedious which it was and that I wouldn’t find anything out until I came back for the results, at which time I would ask someone to come with me. How wrong could I be!

I had been in with the consultant about 10 mins max before he pronounced “ooh yes – this is definitely cancer”. When he did the biopsy – taking 6 or 7 samples from the tumour in my very sore and tender right breast – he held the samples up to the light saying “yes – this is definitely tumour”. Gulp. How life can change in a heartbeat.

When I went for my results, with my sister with me for moral support, it all seemed quite academic. I knew it was bad – a large tumour in my right breast which had spread to the lymph glands. This would mean a likely mastectomy, or if the chemo (over the next 5 mths) shrunk it enough, possibly a lumpectomy. Then radiotherapy perhaps. And then 5 years on Tamoxifen.

Deep joy. I had very strong feelings against chemo anyway, and the thought of being butchered and burned (how I see surgery and radiotherapy) well – what can I say. I was devastated by the prospect.

On the other hand – if this is what would cure me, then so be it. I knew that many women before me had got through it and survived and even thrived. If they had, I could.

I needed to get rid of my many negative feelings about chemo – and I began to reframe my thoughts around this. I even had my hair cut really short in preparation for chemo. I thought it would be helpful to be less attached to my blonde locks. My friends and family rallied around me, offering practical and emotional support, all ready for the chemo and getting me through that. This is the path that so many cancer patients take, it’s known, it’s understood. We all know someone who has come through it, and this end justifies the means. Or does it? Deep down I wasn’t particularly convinced, but I didn’t really have many options did I?

Re-purposing old drugs for cancer: sometimes old ‘uns can be good ‘uns

Today's post is from our chairman Robin Daly who discusses how the re-purposing of drugs could unlock new potentials for treating cancer.

The re-purposing of old drugs for cancer is making headline news this year. So is this really ‘new’? Is it even ‘newsworthy’? Or is it simply yet another of those endless ‘cancer breakthrough’ stories so beloved of the media?

To answer the first question: this is far from a new idea. The incidental positive effects of some old, safe, tried and tested drugs on cancer has been noted for many years. For example, metformin, given to people with diabetes to control their blood sugar levels, has the striking effect of transforming their risk of developing cancer from higher than normal healthy people to lower. The thing that is new is the level of interest around this phenomenon.


You might have expected, given the appalling, runaway cancer statistics and the spiralling cost of treatment, that an observation such as this effect of metformin might have been heralded as potentially another groundbreaking medical breakthrough along the lines of Fleming spotting the mould in his petri dish that led to penicillin. But in the event, this, along with dozens of other similar observations, was noted as ‘interesting’ and relegated to a ‘footnote’ of medical history.

Fortunately, a few pioneering doctors have noticed these medical ‘footnotes’ and begun using these drugs as part of their integrative protocols to control cancer. One of the most instantly striking features of the drugs is their extraordinary diversity. Apart from metformin, they include an anti-parasitic drug called mebendazole; a statin, one of a class of drugs developed to lower the risk of heart attacks but increasingly seen to be ‘barking up the wrong tree’; an old antibiotic, doxycycline; and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen. On the face of it, this is a
completely random collection of unconnected medicines. Certainly within the current orthodoxy of cancer as a genetic disease, caused by defects in the genes leading to changes in DNA and cell mutation, it’s hard if not impossible to make sense of it all.

This is where another old idea comes to the rescue: in 1924, the scientist Otto Warburg put forward the notion that cancer has essentially one root cause - damage to the cells’ energy generators, known as mitochondria1 (1).  Again, this looks like one of those breakthrough scientific observations - and indeed Warburg eventually received a Nobel Prize for making it - but all too soon it found itself relegated to the category of  an interesting observation, merely an effect of the basic genetic problem. But if we dust off Warburg’s theory and use it to illuminate these random pieces that appear to come from completely different jigsaws, we can start to see how they do in fact fit together in a way that makes complete sense. We can see how all these drugs have a disruptive effect on the ‘hallmark’ feature of all cancer cells - their damaged metabolism.

The reason for much of the recent media exposure is that a group of scientists and oncologists have launched a low budget trial in London* in which they are enrolling late stage patients with any type of cancer on a programme of four re-purposed drugs. This programme can be added to existing standard treatments. Very unusually, the trial facilitators take an active interest in all the ‘integrative’ approaches a patient may be using such as dietary interventions, oxygen therapies, vitamin C infusions or heat treatment (hyperthermia), and take careful note of these.

Since they are fully signed up to the metabolic theory of cancer, such non-toxic approaches make complete sense as additional ways of targeting cancer’s trademark metabolic features, whilst simultaneously supporting healthy cells. I understand that early results look very promising and that the trial is still open to further applicants.

How could we have overlooked such a potential goldmine of methods to control cancer? The combination of a statin and metformin alone has been observed to reduce cancer risk by a staggering 80% (2). There is a serious danger of the trial results making the best of cutting-edge cancer treatments look ridiculous - not to mention ridiculously expensive. The problem of course is that the main driver for healthcare innovation is business, and sadly health is only a secondary consideration for business. Their interest is in profits, and there are clearly no big bucks for the corporates in this particular goldmine. Out-of-patent drugs are cheap. The four drugs in the trial come in at less than £20 per month, hardly worth mentioning alongside something in the order of £5000-£20,000 per month for targeted gene therapy.

The obvious fact that we cannot afford to entrust the health of our nation to corporations must be assimilated and acted on by our government if we are to turn around the headlong long rush into multiple chronic conditions. For too long the food and pharmaceutical industries have been profiting at the expense of our nation’s health. To begin to turn the tide, we need strong government initiatives to drive unprofitable research into cheap solutions and to control the parameters of what is allowed into our food supply.

To return to the other two questions I asked at the outset: I’d say re-purposing of drugs  certainly is newsworthy. In fact I’d say it needs as much exposure as it can get to alert the public to the realities of 21st century ‘cancer research’. And as news, I think - I sincerely hope - it just might be a real ‘cancer breakthrough’ this time.

Read more blogs from Robin here

* Care Oncology Clinic: http://careoncologyclinic.com

1. Warburg, O. (1956) On the origin of cancer cells. Science 123 (3191), 309-314.
Warburg, O., Posener, K, and Negelein, E. (1924) Ueber den stoffwechsel der tumoren. Biochem Z 152, 319-344. OpenURL

2. Khurana, V., Sheth, A., Caldito, G. and Barkin, J.S. (2007) Statins reduce the risk of pancreatic cancer in humans: a case-constrol study of half a million veterans. Pancreas 34 (2), 260-265.
DeCensi, A. et al. (2010) Metformin and cancer risk in diabetic patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Cancer Prevention Research 3 (11), 1451-1461.

Top tips for reducing digestive symptoms related to cancer treatment

Today's post is by Sophie Tully BSc MSc, a Nutrition Scientist at Igennus Healthcare Nutrition on how you can improve your digestion following cancer treatment.

You've probably been hearing a lot in the media recently about the importance of the gut in promoting overall health. Researchers are increasingly linking our digestive function and the health of the ‘good’ bacteria that live in the gut to everything from mental health, energy, autoimmunity, autism, allergies and of course cancer. As such, supporting digestive health is important for everyone who wants to improve or protect their health. Undergoing treatment for cancer puts a huge strain on the body and in particular can lead to some very nasty digestive tract side effects that leave you feeling worse than is often necessary, as well as leading to further potential complications of treatment. Supporting the digestive tract is vitally important, not only to help reduce the severity of symptoms but also to help ensure your treatments can work as well as possible without further reducing your body’s natural defences.



There are a number of foods and nutritional factors that can easily be added into the diet to help ease digestive discomfort, reduce nausea and diarrhoea and reduce the long-term impact of treatment on digestive health and function. Here are my top  tips for promoting digestive health during and after cancer treatment and reducing the severity of associated symptoms:

1) Boiled bones for better bellies

Cancer treatments can leave you feeling very sick and uncomfortable so that the last thing we want to do is eat. Homemade broths, made from leftover chicken or beef bones, are a great way of ensuring you are still getting some good nutrients into your system without the need to eat huge amounts of food in one go. Bone broths contain a range of nutritional factors, in particular glutamine, collagen and glycine, that directly help heal damage to the lining of the digestive tract caused by cancer treatments; they also support the digestion of food, making it easier on the stomach when you do eat something and promote detoxification helping you to process treatment-related chemicals in the body. Consuming a few sips of warm (not hot) bone broth at every given opportunity will therefore not only help you feel more comfortable after eating other foods, but will also help reduce the severity of your side effects by protecting the gut lining itself and reduce the time the body is exposed to chemical toxins that directly cause these side effects. Pretty impressive stuff!

2) Fermented foods = effective fixes 

These contain the ‘good’ bugs that live in abundance in the digestive tract and support immune function and digestive health. Chemo-, radio- and pharmaco-therapies are very harmful to these bacteria and as a result many of them die off during cancer treatment, leaving you more prone to stomach cramps, upset and sickness, as well as more vulnerable to bugs or infection. When you are feeling up to it, try to consume some fermented foods such as pickles, kombucha or kefir to help repopulate your digestive tract and keep your GI tract happy. If you aren’t a fan of fermented foods, which can be an acquired taste, or you find they cause irritation, then natural organic yogurt and a probiotic supplement can also be used with great effect, reducing side effects and promoting immune function.

3) Soothing solutions for stubborn sickness

If you, like so many others, feel sick following treatment then there are a few things that can help to soothe the stomach and ease the nausea, giving enough respite to get some much needed rest. Fresh ginger and mint teas (taken separately) can be very soothing on the stomach and are commonly used to ease nausea occurring for a range of reasons. Just a few slices of fresh ginger in some warm water or a good bunch of mint leaves sipped throughout the day will not only promote hydration – also very important for helping you to feel better – but can significantly help reduce nausea, leading to a more settled stomach. 

4) Real results to reduce reflux

If you are struggling with persistent burning or indigestion-type sensations as a result of your treatment, chewing slippery elm tablets or taking it as a powder with lots of water can be very helpful. Slippery elm provides a soothing action the whole way down the oesophagus and into the stomach, helping to ease the discomfort and burning experienced almost instantly, allowing you to eat and sleep without feeling constantly like your stomach is on fire. Slippery elm needs to be taken with lots of water so make sure you are constantly sipping at some fluids according to your tolerance.

5) Move the body, move the bowel

For many people, cancer treatments can result in reduced digestive transit, leaving you feeling bloated, uncomfortable and even in pain. It is important to keep hydrated and try to consume fibrous foods whenever possible, as low levels of both fluids and fibre will reduce the volume and consistency of the stool, making it harder to pass. Drinking the above-mentioned teas, water whenever you can and consuming small amounts of legumes, green leafy vegetables, fatty fish and a few prunes can all help to aid transit and prevent things getting backed up. Lack of movement can reduce the blood flow to the digestive tract, reducing its natural peristaltic actions and slowing bowel transit. Trying to move as often as possible can help promote bowel movements so going for a gentle walk might be worth a try to get things moving.

6) Follow my 4Rs for reducing side effect risk: 

1. Rest is vital to make sure your body has the time to repair and recover following treatment. Whilst it may be easier said than done, allowing yourself the time needed for your body to deal with the body-wide damage treatment causes is as important as the treatment itself. Too much extra stress and activity will divert energy and resources away from where it is needed, making side effects potentially worse.
2. Rehydrate regularly to make sure you are able to flush out the potentially harmful chemicals produced in the body as a result of treatment, as well as keep the digestive tract moving and fluid levels stable for carrying nutrients to the cells.
3. Refuel as often as you can with natural whole foods. This is important to ensure you provide your body with the energy and nutrients it needs to process the treatment and its impact on your cells. Prioritising plant foods, proteins and healthy fats and of course your bone broth is the best way to support the body’s needs.
4. Relax! Stress is your worst enemy at this time as it will compete with your immune system for resources, potentially worsening side effects and reducing treatment effect. Stress is also a major contributor to digestive symptoms, so whilst worrying and getting stressed is a natural part of undergoing cancer treatment it’s important to try to engage in regular relaxation and calming activities that take your mind off things and help you stay calm and happy. Mindfulness, meditation, gentle exercise such as yoga or walking, sitting outside and listening to audiobooks can all be great ways of keeping stress in check. 

If you would like to know more about any of the above, please feel free to call Nina, Sophie or Kyla, all of whom will be very happy to answer your questions.

They can be reached at 0845 1300424 (not a premium rate number) or you can email them at education@igennus.com. You can also find out more on the Igennus website.

Don’t forget all Yes to Life blog readers are entitled to 15% discount with Igennus and for every purchase made using the coupon code ‘YesToLife’ Igennus will donate a portion back to Yes To Life to help fund our ongoing support for you.

8 top tips for looking after your genes

Today's post is by Sophie Tully BSc MSc, a Nutrition Scientist at Igennus Healthcare Nutrition with some sound advice about how you can take care of your genes for better health.

Our genes contain the complex code that programmes every single function of our cells and body but, despite what you may have been led to believe, our genetic instructions are not set in stone. Throughout our lives, the way our genes are ‘read’ can change as a result of environmental, emotional and nutritional ‘edits’ made to how our genes are accessed and translated.

Along our strings of genetic code are a number of tags that act as signposts, guiding the cellular processes responsible for reading our genes to focus their efforts on the right sections. Much like you might highlight or add a coloured post-it note to a page of a book, these tags allow for quick and easy access to the right sections of our genetic code, so that they can be easily read and activated.

Until relatively recently, it was assumed that we were all born with our genes fixed, with all the right tags in the right places; however, over the past decade or so, Epigenetic research (Epi meaning upon or above)- the study of changes to cellular and physical traits caused by external or environmental factors that lead to switching genes ‘on’ and ‘off’ and how cells read genes - has increased exponentially. Today we know that everything - how stressed you are during pregnancy, whether you were bullied as a child, what’s in the air you breathe, how often and in what way you move, the foods you choose to eat - has the power to alter these genetic tags and subsequently the way our genes are activated. Far from our fate being ‘written in our genes’, epigenetic changes with the potential to alter our genetic expression, occur throughout our lives and can even be passed down through the generations.

It is now understood that the risk of diseases such as cancer, mental illness, neurodegeneration and even cardiovascular disease all increase with certain epigenetic changes and so, more than ever, we need to understand which factors in our environment have the power to alter these genetic tags, for better or worse, and what can be done to manipulate this for personal gain.

If you want to find out more about epigenetic mechanisms this is a good place to start. 

What can we do to safeguard our genes and reduce the potential for negative health outcomes associated with epigenetic changes? 

Here are my top tips for supporting healthy genes and preventing activation of unwanted, rogue tags:

1. Avoid stress and deal with historical trauma

Recent advances in the field of epigenetics show that stress, throughout our lives, can lead to significant epigenetic changes and increase our risk for numerous negative health outcomes. Daily stress management such as mindfulness, spending time in nature and deep breathing exercises can be really helpful to combat stress and overwrite detrimental epigenetic changes with beneficial ones that seek to promote and improve our long-term health. Addressing and dealing with historical emotional and physical trauma is also important to reduce the impact this can have on our genetic tags, as well as our likelihood of passing these on to our children.

Check out these links for more information and support:
Head Space
Stop Breathe & Think App
The Abundant Energy Expert

2. Check your fatty acid levels and consume healthy fats

The foods we eat have a huge impact on how our genes are tagged and, when it comes to fats, it’s important to include enough of the right fats in our diets. Research consistently links high total fat and saturated fat intake with adverse genetic alterations. Consuming healthy fats such as those from nuts, seeds, coconut, oily fish, olives and their oil and free range organic eggs, whilst avoiding vegetable oils, margarine, intensively farmed animal fat and dairy, is the best way to ensure you have a healthy balance. Ideally, fats should be consumed with most meals and snacks in moderate quantities (approx. 10-20g at a time). Testing cholesterol and triglycerides, as well as red blood cell fatty acids, can help you determine if you have a good level of healthy fats in your body.

The Igennus Opti-O-3 is a convenient home test kit and comes with a free consultation to help you interpret your results.

3. Measure homocysteine and supplement with B Vitamins

Homocysteine is the by-product of our methylation cycle, a process vital for looking after our DNA and where the tags are placed. If we over or under methylate, this can be problematic and leaves us susceptible to a range of health issues such as fatigue, poor cognitive function, reduced detoxification and diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular conditions. The B vitamins, in particular folate, vitamins B12 and 6, with the help of B2 and 3, are the most important when it comes to a healthy methylation cycle and high homocysteine levels may indicate low levels of these nutrients, or a block somewhere in the process. Eating a range of leafy greens, beans, pulses and good quality animal proteins will help keep these nutrient levels topped up. If you feel you need a little extra support, choosing a good B vitamin complex that does not contain very high levels of each ingredient can help provide gentle support for healthy DNA methylation.

4. STOP taking folic acid – opt for 5-MTHF instead

Those of us with issues throughout our methylation pathways often struggle to use folic acid, the most commonly used form of folate in supplements. Recent research now links folic acid use with a range of adverse effects from increased cancer risk to autism. Folic acidis the synthetic form of folate and people with certain alterations in their genetic code tags are less able to absorb and process folic acid, which can lead to accumulation, causing toxicity. Without testing, switching your folic acid for folate-rich foods and supplements containing Quatrefolic (such as the products mentioned above) is the safest way to avoid the risks of folic acid use and provide gentle support for healthy methylation.

5. Support your SIRT genes

Our sirtuins, controlled by SIRT genes, are superstars when it comes to epigenetic regulation and play an important role in promoting the health of not only our DNA but of the whole body. Many plant-based whole foods are packed with polyphenols that help activate SIRTgenes, so these foods are a safe and exciting addition to any gene nourishing diet. Commonly available and delicious, adding just a few ‘SIRT foods’ to your meals and snacks can help support optimal genetic tagging and healthy cell activities. Examples you might like to try include: cocoa, kale, buckwheat, red onions, parsley, red grapes and matcha green tea. Find out more here. 

6. Remove toxins

When we are thinking about healthy genes it’s important to also consider what can contribute to unhealthy tagging. We are regularly exposed to dietary and environmental factors that have the potential to change our epigenetic markers and even encourage DNA breaks. Certain chemicals can also mimic or block natural compounds that would otherwise promote health. Removing chemicals and toxins from your environment is an important step in protecting your genetic health. Swapping to natural cleaning and cosmetic brands (such as Method and Green People) can help reduce your exposure to numerous DNA damaging chemical. It’s also important to keep fatty food away from plastics and aluminium foil, especially when hot. Choosing organic products, or growing your own where possible, will also help reduce the amount of toxins in your food.

7. Control inflammation

High levels of inflammation can not only lead to epigenetic changes but also increase the risk of subsequent disease developing. It can be hard to tell if you are ‘inflamed’ as many of us walk around with no symptoms. Whilst swelling, pain and allergies suggest a higher than normal inflammatory load, any form of mental or physical stress, cell damage or infection can lead to inflammation being triggered. Without adequate cellular capacity to resolve inflammation, or in the presence of persistent inflammatory triggers such as regular exposure to foods you might be sensitive to, your body may fail to switch inflammation off and this can lead to long-term health issues as well as unwanted DNA tagging. Consuming lots of anti-inflammatory foods such as omega-3 fats, herbs and spices including turmeric, brightly coloured vegetables, fresh berries, pineapple and green tea can be really helpful in controlling inflammation.

8. MOVE

Exercise is a very powerful therapy and even better when conducted outside in nature. Studies show that exercise elicits many of its health-enhancing benefits (beyond getting fitter and leaner) via epigenetic mechanisms, many of which are linked to improved cellular processes, enhanced metabolism and longevity. A lifestyle that incorporates movement as often as possible is associated with better health, longevity and quality of life. Find out more about how to get active here. 


If you would like to know more about any of the above, please feel free to call Nina, Sophie or Kyla, all of whom will be very happy to answer your questions.

They can be reached at 0845 1300424 (not a premium rate number) or you can email them at education@igennus.com. You can also find out more on the Igennus website.

Don’t forget all Yes to Life blog readers are entitled to 15% discount with Igennus and for every purchase made using the coupon code ‘Yestolife’ Igennus will donate a portion back to Yes To Life to help fund our ongoing support for you.

Read more top tips from Igennus here.

Combining approaches for lung cancer

Today's blog is from Suzanne*,66, from Cornwall who writes about her experiences putting together a integrative plan following her diagnosis with Lung Cancer in 2012.

When I was first told I had cancer my heart sunk like a stone. This information was given to me by GP who also told me I could cough, haemorrhage and die (!) I met a friend and we went straight to the pub for a glass of wine, followed by shock and tears.

I had no symptoms prior to coughing up blood, but soon developed excess sputum and coughing, although no breathlessness. Lung cancer was confirmed with a CT scan, MRI scan and bronchoscopy, all arranged at two weekly intervals and I was finally diagnosed in June 2012.

The consultant thought the tumour could be removed with surgery; I was thrilled and saw this as a cure. I couldn’t wait for the operation which happened in August 2012 but unfortunately the thoracotomy failed as I had cancerous nodules.

An invitation to share your life changing stories

Today's post is from Delyth, co-founder of an app we love called 'This Changed Me' - a space for people to share anything that has inspired change in their lives. Delyth got in touch with Yes to Life following her own experience with cancer in her family and would like to share the story of how this changed her life too.

It was nearly two years ago that my mum was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma, to say that we were shocked is an understatement. I felt my world dissolve under my feet, I allowed the terror to come in and had a couple of complete melt downs. I remember seeing mum for the first time after we received the diagnosis and weeping on her shoulder, she stroked my hair.  I was very much her child and feeling like a child in that moment, not the 40 year old I was at that time.

Mum was amazing and still is.

The way she dealt with the diagnosis and the treatment was head on; her positivity and belief throughout was inspirational. Mum is a glass half full woman. She is incredibly positive and her mindset was strong and infallible even in dark moments.

The way I dealt with this was immediately to search for information – WHAT CAN WE DO to encourage the best outcome. I discovered that there was a lot that we could do – an incredible amount – this was empowering and gave us hope. What I uncovered was life changing in terms of how we managed mum’s treatment and how we are now.

8 top tips for looking after your genes

Today's post is by Sophie Tully BSc MSc, a Nutrition Scientist at Igennus Healthcare Nutrition with some sound advice about how you can take care of your genes for better health.

Our genes contain the complex code that programmes every single function of our cells and body but, despite what you may have been led to believe, our genetic instructions are not set in stone. Throughout our lives, the way our genes are ‘read’ can change as a result of environmental, emotional and nutritional ‘edits’ made to how our genes are accessed and translated.

Along our strings of genetic code are a number of tags that act as signposts, guiding the cellular processes responsible for reading our genes to focus their efforts on the right sections. Much like you might highlight or add a coloured post-it note to a page of a book, these tags allow for quick and easy access to the right sections of our genetic code, so that they can be easily read and activated.

Until relatively recently, it was assumed that we were all born with our genes fixed, with all the right tags in the right places; however, over the past decade or so, Epigenetic research (Epi meaning upon or above)- the study of changes to cellular and physical traits caused by external or environmental factors that lead to switching genes ‘on’ and ‘off’ and how cells read genes - has increased exponentially. Today we know that everything - how stressed you are during pregnancy, whether you were bullied as a child, what’s in the air you breathe, how often and in what way you move, the foods you choose to eat - has the power to alter these genetic tags and subsequently the way our genes are activated. Far from our fate being ‘written in our genes’, epigenetic changes with the potential to alter our genetic expression, occur throughout our lives and can even be passed down through the generations.

'I thought cancer counselling was self indulgent and wouldn't help'

Today's post is from Karin Sieger, a BACP registered and accredited psychotherapist based in Richmond who specialises in supporting people affected by cancer (including family and friends) as well as other life changing health conditions. Karin is one of Yes to Life's Practitioner Supporters and we are grateful to her for sharing her expertise on our blog.

I thought cancer counselling was self indulgent and wouldn't help.

This is a common view about counselling and therapy. People affected by cancer are no exception. What's the point in dwelling on it? It's too upsetting. Others are worse off. It won't cure me.

Cancer like any other life-changing or life-shortening illness impacts everything in our lives - not just our bodies, but also our mental and emotional well being, our relationships, our faith and values, our finances, our future, our trust in our bodies and our trust in the world. This does not stop when treatment ends. It is normal to feel like this and it makes sense.

A  cancer diagnosis throws our lives into one almighty crisis, which can cause a whole range of emotional responses, like fear, depression, anger, rage, loss and grief, irritability, self pity, loneliness, guilt, resentment and hopelessness to mention just some.

'Words, Words, Words' - A play exploring grief, by Lowri Amies

Today's blog is from Lowri Amies on bereavement, the theatre and her upcoming play "WORDS, WORDS, WORDS" which is on at London's King’s Head Theatre on the 17th & 18th April and Leicester Square Theatre from the 16th-21st May.

When my mum passed away, I was performing my first ever solo show, ‘Those who can’t…LEARN’ at the Miller Pub. It was the most bizarre experience to stand on the stage the day after and try to be funny. I had no idea how ill she was, which was stupid really because she had been diagnosed with terminal Cancer of Unknown Primary (CUP) four years previously and given only months to live. However, she had fought the disease with such strength and determination that I thought nothing could stop her. Until it did.

She had helped me work on the show while she sat in bed recovering from her latest bout of chemo, worked on draft after draft with me and supplied jokes. Although she never got to see the finished product, she was a huge part of it. She was also a huge part of me and, after she died, I had no idea who I was or how to exist in a world where she didn't. I partly believed so vehemently that she would eventually beat the cancer because I didn't know how I would survive if she left me.

The Reset Button

Today's blog is from cancer survivor John Hagger, who writes a very moving and inspirational account about his experience with terminal cancer and the Gerson Therapy.

Preface

This is a story of my experience with the disease, malignant melanoma, a particularly virulent and fast spreading form of cancer. To be truthful, this is more an interim account of my experience with the Gerson Therapy after 12 months of the 2 year regime and an expression of the fundamental movements that have occurred in the deepest part of my life since having the original cancer diagnosis 21 months ago.

Max Gerson

Initially, I was able to carry on my life as normal until 9 months later I was told that the cancer had spread to my lymphatic system and I was not expected to survive a year.  It would be far too presumptuous to celebrate a cure at this stage but instead of following the normal pattern of swift destruction I am still alive. After 4,745 freshly pressed juices and 1,288 coffee enemas I am in good health.  All visible cancer symptoms have disappeared and I am confident, most of the time, that I will survive another 12 months.

This work is dedicated to Lesley, my wife, to my dear family and friends who love me and have carried me through the darkest times, and supported me emotionally, physically and financially; to the compassionate and loving healers who continue to work with me and, of course, to the memory of Dr Max Gerson and his daughter Charlotte who continues his work uncompromisingly.

Anti-cancer diets & the benefits of wheatgrass

Today's post is from Dr Britt Cordi PhD from Live Wheatgrass, which supplies top quality, nutritionally valuable organic superfood juices throughout the UK, Europe and USA.

You might have seen the recent Daily Mail article about what to eat to beat Breast Cancer.

I have dug down into some published medical research articles that review the evidence for an Anti- Cancer Diet. It is totally exciting research and I hope the whole world will read this.

One article, written by research scientist Michael S. Donaldson, entitled "Nutrition and cancer: A review of the evidence for an anti-cancer diet", starts off by summarising the findings having reviewed an impressive 238 published articles on the topic.  It concludes from the review that between 30-40 percent of all cancers can be prevented by lifestyle and diet alone!