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2nd opinion for breast cancer, affirmations, exercise reduces breast cancer risk, gratitude, helplessness feeds cancer, meditation reduces stress, nature reduces stress, stress reduction to reduce breast cancer risk, yoga for stress reduction
Every day, our bodies are exposed to cancer-causing agents in the air, food and water we’re exposed to. Typically, our immune system recognizes those abnormal cells and kills them before they produce a tumor. There are three important things that can happen to prevent cancer from developing — the immune system can prevent the agents from invading in the first place, DNA can repair the abnormal cells or killer T-cells can kill off cancer cells.
Research has shown that stress can lower the body’s ability to do each of those things, according to Dr. Lorenzo Cohen, Ph.D., assistant professor of behavioral sciences at the University of Texas, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. “Part of the reason stress may be linked to cancer,” he said, “is simply that when people are under pressure they make poor choices — they begin smoking, stop exercising, start eating unhealthy foods — all factors that are also linked to cancer. I think it’s fair to say that stress could be one of the many components in lowering immune systems and therefore making us more susceptible to cancer and a faster progression of the disease. It’s not necessarily the stress itself as much as the way people handle stress that may be linked to disease.” (excerpted from Stress, A Cause of Cancer?)
We all know what we need to do, but how many of us are actually making a daily practice of yoga, time in nature, gratitude, deep breathing and affirmations? How do we get and stay motivated? Hopefully the articles and links below will offer just the right mix of insightful studies and inspiration…
- EXERCISE
Exercise Cuts Breast Cancer Risk For All Women Everywhere
How Walking May Lower Breast Cancer Risk
- NATURE
Spending Time Outside Relieves Stress
Reduce Stress In The Great Outdoors
- YOGA
Yoga helps fatigue, inflammation after breast cancer, study says
- MEDITATION & DEEP BREATHING
Just Breathe: Body Has A Built-In Stress Reliever
Meditation and Breathing Exercises to Reduce Stress
- AFFIRMATIONS
“Lessons to Be Learned” Positive Affirmation Video
35 Affirmations That Will Change Your Life
- GRATITUDE
What It Takes To Get Through Tough Times: How a little advanced gratitude can change everything
- EMPOWERMENT
Thank you SO much for this. I had forgotten that I subscribed to this (diagnosed in March 0 stage grade 2 DCIS – no radiation but on tamoxifen 😦 – and very stressed – this post couldn’t have come at a better time!
XO Erinne