“Thriver Soup saved my life!” –Jacqui Roell, RN
Heidi Bright, an aggressive end-stage cancer survivor, knows the terror and powerlessness of a difficult diagnosis.
After managing two years of cancer treatment, using carefully selected integrative therapies, and healing her life, Heidi entered Radical Remission in 2011.
If you are ready to transform and heal your life, get started with her FREE “10 Quick-start Healing Solutions.”
Her bestseller Thriver Soup: A Feast for Living Consciously During the Cancer Journey is endorsed by physicians and nurses. click here to see the book.
Cover art by Keith and Margaret Klein
This interview with CBS in New York City, #WFAN, includes numerous practical tips from Thriver Soup: 1BWWX_3 Bob Salter show
Click here to see weekly blog posts.
Click here for an introduction to a guided visualization for healing.
One-third of all women in the United States risk developing cancer. About 750,000 women are diagnosed with cancer each year. The median age at diagnosis currently is 66 years. These women will want to know right away what to do to protect and prolong their lives.
Every day in this country, almost 1,600 people are expected to die of cancer. Cancer is the second most common cause of death in the United States.
People don’t need to become victims of the Big C in such massive numbers. When people are empowered with valuable information about how to survive cancer, they stand a better chance of thriving beyond such a deadly diagnosis.
More than half of people aged fifty and older reported using complementary and alternative medicine.
Find out in Thriver Soup what you can do to heal your life!
Headline speaker, Annie Appleseed conference, March 2018.
Preview for Thriver Soup on What’s Happening in Health
Heidi Bright featured with Thriver Soup on Local 12 WKRC Cincinnati. Start around minute 16.
I need your help to give genuine hope with options to others. Please read and share this website about thriving beyond end-stage cancer. Thank you.
Clearing Chemo Brain
Do you have difficulty with simple mental tasks and short-term memory? Do you feel like your brain is all fuzzy and foggy? Like you’ve got glue between your synapses and the thoughts can’t make the leap into clarity?
I struggled with this for a long time after 42 days of chemotherapy infusions spread out over two years, not to mention anesthesia from seven major surgeries. When I finished my final chemo treatment, I could barely string three sentences together.
A lot of this furry focus cleared up during the first year, but it still persisted. A friend of mine, who only had six treatments, was told she went from being very, very smart to being very smart.
Not good enough. I am a traditionally published author. I need to be able to think and make connections. I need clarity and focus.
The first helpful idea, thanks to Julie Loewenstine, was to take a teaspoon of Brahmi leaf (water hyssop) every day. After a year of faithful supplementation, I made noticeable improvement, but I was still frustrated with that gluey sensation gumming up my synapses.
Less than a year ago I talked to my medical Qigong practitioner, Lani Lee, in Columbus, Ohio. She recommended a full month of eating two cups of organic parsley or cilantro every day. I had read that these herbs help pull heavy metals out of the body, and my brain probably had a lot of platinum stored in it from my eight cisplatin treatments. (I call myself the million-dollar miracle woman because of how expensive these treatments are—and I’m worth every penny!) And who knows what else was sticking around in my noggin. So I ate lots of Mexican dishes with cilantro piled on top and drank lots of chicken broth with parsley stirred in.
That helped tremendously, but I still wasn’t there yet.
During the spring I discovered, from reading about how to recover from trauma as part of my research for my next book–Grieving an Addict–that neurofeedback can help. So I started with Kristin Wooten during the summer. It involves sitting in an easy chair with electrodes on the head and listening to music from a computer that is designed to help the brain see what it’s doing and self-correct. Each correction is noted with a blip in the music.
After about twenty sessions, I found this was helping me make that last jump into being able to fully think once again. I am enjoying how my writing flows much better than before, and also has greater clarity.
Of course, many other aspects of my life have helped me clear out chemo brain. And for my writing, my editor, Mary Langford, has made a huge difference. She worked with Master Storyteller Sidney Sheldon for five years and he told her that, in some areas, she was a better writer than he was. I feel most fortunate to have access to her skills through grants from the Ohio Arts Council.
And I feel deeply gratified that I finally have my brain back.
Another advantage of neurofeedback has been its help with persistent insomnia. The local sleep clinic was unable to help me. I haven’t arrived where I want to be yet, but I’m moving in the right direction.
What have you tried that helped you regain your brain?
Photo: Clearing chemo brain is a crowning achievement. Photo by Judy Peace while we celebrated my nine years free of cancer.
Panel Presentation on Gynecological Health Care
Topics to be discussed:
Options to treat uterine fibroids: when is surveillance acceptable
Surgical treatment options available for women with uterine fibroids; traditional surgical hysterectomy and myomectomy (vaginally or abdominally), laparoscopic hysterectomy, and myomectomy, and laparotomy using a small incision in the abdomen
Use of power morcellation- what you need to know
Importance of imaging findings in guiding approach
Importance of following up on tissue diagnosis: leiomyoma/fibroids vs presence of cancer
Risk factors for uterine sarcoma / leiomyosarcoma
Lessons to be learned from those experienced in treating uterine LMS
docs.google.com/document/d/1ORaJRVl3x9YISH6tH7jwRrwxJNzW-G0rza6kG-bR79s/edit
Gynecological Healthcare Panel Discussion
docs.google.com
Illuminating Patient Knowledge and Awareness FOR GYNECOLOGICAL HEALTH CARE Best Decisions come from being your Own Best Advoc...How to reduce inflammation #10
“Flax seeds are a rich plant source of omega-3 fatty acids which reduce inflammation, and of lignans, which can retard the growth of cancerous cells. Researchers found that women who consumed the most lignans had the lowest risk of breast cancer. Lignans also appear to enhance the benefits of the chemotherapy drug tamoxifen. Flax seeds need to be ground and immediately consumed for humans to gain access to their nutrients. Eating cereals and chips containing flax seeds probably won’t provide the benefits for which you might be looking. They might, however, provide more fiber, which is useful.”
Thriver Soup, Pg. 126
(Always discuss with your doctor before starting anything new)
9 YEARS FREE!
This month I am celebrating nine years free of any evidence of cancer and free of any kind of cancer treatment! After being told to get my affairs in order.
So grateful for my life and to be alive and well!
Currently I am doing neurofeedback and BodyTalk, and advancing in tai chi, along with all my usual self-healing techniques. And drinking daily green sludges–er, smoothies. And as the nurse said yesterday, “still taking 150 supplements.”
Recently did a fun corn maze with my son near Dayton. They had a sunflower patch, symbol of sarcomas.
Delighted!
the-beck-bookstore.myshopify.com
Thriver Soup is one of the best books of navigating the confusion of battling what is considered a "terminal" cancer. Heidi had the wisdom early on that medicine could possibly get her to remission but she would need more than just medicine to survive. When time is short, and every wrong decision co...How to reduce inflammation #9
“Coriander seeds appear to relieve constipation as well as help prevent colon cancer. Their // anti-inflammatory properties protect against nerve damage. They also might lower blood sugar and increase the release of insulin from the pancreas.”
Thriver Soup, Pg. 125-6
(Always discuss with your doctor before starting anything new)
Quick 10-minute WomensRadio interview on healing our lives.
www.womensradio.com/2020/08/start-your-healing-journey-today/
How to reduce inflammation #8
“Pomegranates are full of polyphenols, are anti-inflammatory, contain antioxidants, and have other anti-cancer components.”
Thriver Soup, Pg. 124
(Always discuss with your doctor before starting anything new)
So true...
cancer.osu.edu/news/more-dietitians-needed-in-cancer-centers-to-help-patients-stay-well-nourished...
cancer.osu.edu
Keeping patients as healthy and strong as possible throughout cancer treatment is vital to coping with side effects to minimize disruptions to care andHow to reduce inflammation #7
“Citrus fruits have anti-inflammatory flavonoids and stimulate the detoxification of carcinogens by the liver.”
Thriver Soup, Pg. 124
(Always discuss with your doctor before starting anything new)
How to reduce inflammation #6
“Bay leaf contains parthenolide, shown to slow the appearance and growth of breast tumors in mice in a Russian study. This anti-inflammatory is a potent anti-oxidant.”
Thriver Soup, Pg. 127
(Always discuss with your doctor before starting anything new)
How to reduce inflammation #5
“Curcumin works against cancer development in at least ten different ways, affecting each stage of the disease. It offers powerful antitumor, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. It stimulates the immune system. It blocks the formation of blood vessels to tumors while promoting the flow of blood to wounds. Turmeric intensifies the anti-cancer activity of other plant-based nutrients, especially green tea and black pepper. It enhances the effectiveness of chemotherapy.”
Thriver Soup, Pg. 119
(Always discuss with your doctor before starting anything new)
How to reduce inflammation #4
“Blueberries are high in flavonoids, which have powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.”
"Thriver Soup," Pg. 117
(Always discuss with your doctor before starting anything new)
www.healio.com/hematology-oncology/sarcoma/news/online/%7B28102d3c-c28b-4f98-950f-daa7db22f27d%7D...
First-line doxorubicin plus trabectedin effective, safe for metastatic leiomyosarcoma
www.healio.com
Doxorubicin in combination with trabectedin appeared to be an effective and safe first-line therapy for metastatic leiomyosarcoma, according to results of the phase 2 LMS-02 study presented during the ASCO20 Virtual Scientific Program.“Soft tissue sarcomas are rare and heterogeneous tumors wit...How to reduce inflammation #3
“Moving our bodies can help balance our hormones, reduce blood sugar levels, reduce inflammation, decrease fatigue, protect our immune systems, and reduce the risks of recurrence.”
"Thriver Soup," pg. 172
(Always discuss with your doctor before starting anything new)
Association of Frequency of Organic Food Consumption With Cancer Risk
JAMA Internal Medicine, 2018
Original Investigation
RESULTS: Among 68 946 participants (78.0% female; mean [SD] age at baseline, 44.2 [14.5]years), 1340 first incident cancer cases were identified during follow-up, with the mostprevalent being 459 breast cancers, 180 prostate cancers, 135 skin cancers, 99 colorectalcancers, 47 non-Hodgkin lymphomas, and 15 other lymphomas. High organic food scoreswere inversely associated with the overall risk of cancer (hazard ratio for quartile 4 vs quartile1, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.63-0.88;Pfor trend = .001; absolute risk reduction, 0.6%; hazard ratio fora 5-point increase, 0.92; 95% CI, 0.88-0.96).
CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: A higher frequency of organic food consumption wasassociated with a reduced risk of cancer. Although the study findings need to be confirmed,promoting organic food consumption in the general population could be a promisingpreventive strategy against cancer.
Findings From the NutriNet-Santé Prospective Cohort Study
JAMA Intern Med. doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2018.4357Published online October 22, 2018
www.medicosadventistas.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/JAMA-ORGANIC-CANCER-1.pdf
How to reduce inflammation #2
In apples, the flavonoid #quercetin "has demonstrated anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant effects. Quercetin turns the twelve milligrams of vitamin C in the apple into the equivalent of 1,500 milligrams of vitamin C.”
Thriver Soup, Pg. 114
(Always discuss with your doctor before starting anything new)
How to reduce inflammation #1
“Tart cherries are high in antioxidants, which help reduce inflammation.”
"Thriver Soup," Pg. 124
How can we help protect ourselves from Covid-19 when our bodies are already vulnerable because of cancer?
Almost every disease in older adulthood is made worse by inflammation in our bodies, according to Chris Fagundes, an assistant professor of psychological sciences at Rice University. [www.forbes.com/sites/daviddisalvo/2018/10/30/new-research-on-inflammation-shows-how-extreme-emoti...]
Inflammation appears to play a role in Covid-19. This virus turns deadly when the body overreacts to the invasion and creates a “cytokine storm.” According to Randy Cron, M.D., Ph.D., University of Alabama at Birmingham, “Cytokines are inflammatory immunologic proteins that are there to fight off infections and ward off cancers… But when they are out of control, they can make you very ill.” [www.forbes.com/sites/claryestes/2020/04/16/what-is-the-cytokine-storm-and-why-is-it-so-deadly-for...]
Therefore, perhaps a good defense against Covid-19, and cancer, is a good offense: reduce inflammation in the body.
In addition to my 26 tips for improving immunity to help prevent contracting the virus (which you can find on my blog, thriversoup.com/blog/, all from my book, THRIVER SOUP), I will next be offering dozens of tips for reducing inflammation in our bodies to help us all stay a little healthier.
Here is a primer on inflammation, which is one of hundreds of reflections I offer in THRIVER SOUP:
“When threatened by wounds, irritation, or infections, cells inflame to assist with the transition back to health. A molecule called nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kB), which normally resides in cell cytoplasm, moves into the cell’s nucleus (hence the name ‘nuclear factor’) and generates redness, heat, swelling, and pain. When the body heals, the NF-kB molecules return to the cell cytoplasm.
“NF-kB, however, also provokes the genes involved in creating chronic inflammation, which generally does not help the body heal. Instead, long-term heat and swelling becomes an open invitation to cancer. One-sixth of all cancers are directly linked to chronic inflammation. Most, if not all, cancers have unusually high levels of active NF-kB. This protein is considered their missing link. Researchers, for example, found that NF-kB regulates the inflammatory cascade necessary for breast cancer cells to proliferate and metastasize.
“Fortunately, inflammation can be smothered through diet and supplements. NF-kB can be suppressed by phytochemical-rich spices, vegetables, and fruit. Antioxidants can block the proteins so they don’t move into cell nuclei. Vitamins C, D, and E, curcumin (found in the spice turmeric), the herb ashwagandha, pomegranate extract, garlic extract, ginger root, green tea, omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil, and isoflavones found primarily in beans can be effective cellular firefighters. I found such a diet helped reduce my discomfort during treatment, decreasing my need for pain medications.
“When brought back under control, NF-kB provides the body with important healing mechanisms…. Keep the chronic flames doused with an anti-inflammatory diet to help preserve your internal landscape.
“Thriver Soup Ingredient:
“Ask your doctor to measure inflammation markers in your blood (C-reactive protein and albumin). ‘Patients with the lowest level of inflammation were twice as likely as the others to live through the next several years,’ according to long-term studies by oncologists at the Glasgow Hospital in Scotland.
“Talk to your oncologist about what anti-inflammatory foods and supplements work well with your treatment choices.”
“Thriver Soup,” Pg. 174
Improving Your Immunity #26
“Don’t sprout alfalfa seeds, said Sally Fallon in 'Nourishing Traditions.' The resulting sprouts promote inflammatory illnesses and suppress the immune system.”
“Thriver Soup,” pg. 133
Improving Your Immunity #25
"Probiotics in general can facilitate digestion, help the gut maintain regular bowel movements, stabilize the immune system, and assist with detoxification."
“Thriver Soup,” pg. 140
Improving Your Immunity #24
“Reishi mushrooms can increase white blood cell and tumor-fighting cell production, cut off the growth of new blood vessels to tumors, and reduce the migration of cancerous cells. They have been known to decrease the toxicity created by chemotherapy drugs. When looking for a supplement, select one with a higher level of triterpenoids, which provides the most benefit. The more bitter the tea or tincture, the more potent it is. The recommended dose is three to five grams per day, or ten to thirty drops.”
“Thriver Soup,” pg. 134
With a little more freedom now in some locations, maybe a little celebrating can safely be done?
Improving Your Immunity #23
“So maybe having a treat every so often is a way to increase the joy in life and give a little boost to the immune system. Denying myself an occasional treat isn’t terribly nurturing for the soul.”
“Thriver Soup,” pg. 150
Improving Your Immunity #23
“According to Donald Yance, herbalist and certified nutritionist, licorice also blocks tumors and enhances the immune system. If you have any high blood pressure issues, I suggest using licorice in which the DGL (glycyrrhetinic acid) has been removed.”
“Thriver Soup,” pg. 149
www.grievinganaddict.com • www.preservefamilymemories.com
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