It seems there is someone battling cancer everywhere we turn these days. What used to be a shocking diagnosis has become so common, it’s disheartening. We know many contributing factors to cancer already and hopefully heed the warnings—don’t smoke, use sunscreen, don’t drink to excess, eat right, avoid chemicals, exercise… The list goes on and on, and it seems as though the recommendations are, as well.

This month, we break down the basics of naturally preventing and healing cancer, in “Live Cancer-Free”, on page 26. Learn about the importance of comprehensive prevention, avoiding inflammation and living a healthy lifestyle. Dr. Andrew Weil’s anti-inflammatory food pyramid further breaks down his recommendations for eating to avoid illness.

Don’t forget: a positive mindset is also key to health! On page 44, we meet Social Psychologist Ellen Langer, who describes “How Changing Your Thinking Changes Everything”. Mental constructs can have a huge impact on the outcomes, Langer explains: “When a physician makes a diagnosis, most people take it as a certainty and behave accordingly. Assuming that pain, decline or failure is inevitable can cause an individual to give up hope of complete recovery. But science only suggests probabilities, and if we understand this, we’ll go to work on a solution.”

As always, our local Tucson experts are on hand to provide their own words of advice and encouragement. Starting on page 30, Lynda Witt explains a better way to screen for cancer—and detect it earlier—with thermography, and Patti Thompson describes how hypnotherapy works for medical support with cancer patients, easing the side effects of chemotherapy, decreasing pain and more.

It is my sincere hope that these resources can be of some help and comfort to those currently going through cancer treatment, those helping loved ones through it and those hoping to prevent its occurrence.

In health,

Holly