Anticancer Lifestyle Program

Welcome to the Anticancer Lifestyle Newsletter,
packed with insights, recipes, and resources
curated especially for you!

The course was originally designed to answer the question “What now?” asked by so many cancer survivors, often at the completion of treatment. Typically, survivors are given little to no advice about lifestyle behaviors, leaving them with a sense of powerlessness and inability to contribute to their own well-being. This information gap flies in the face of scientific evidence which suggests that lifestyle choices are responsible for at least 40% of cancer cases,

While the information and recommendations we provide in the course are based on studies concerning lifestyle and cancer, the behaviors we promote are also effective in terms of overall prevention. Healthy lifestyle habits have been shown to decrease the odds of several chronic illnesses in addition to cancer — most notably, diabetes and cardiovascular disease.  

Our course provides the tools and information participants need to make sustainable lifestyle changes in the areas of Mindset, Diet, Fitness, and Environment. All course modules contain inter-actives, videos, animation, text, and helpful quizzes. Each is guided by a subject matter expert credentialed in their field. Participants can take any and all modules they like and go at their own pace.

In addition to our course, we offer bi-monthly newsletters, monthly webinars, and monthly “learning circles” which are informal online meetings that welcome anyone (whether or not they are enrolled in the course) who would like to pose questions to our subject matter experts. Also available to all are our module “Toolkits” which provide additional apps, videos, books, tip sheets, articles, and more, to help participants create and sustain a healthy lifestyle.

We are honored to have earned the trust of countless doctors, nurses, registered dietitians, social workers, and other health care professionals, who regularly refer patients to the Anticancer Lifestyle Program. They count on us to deliver evidence-based lifestyle recommendations that can:

• Decrease inflammation
• Boost the immune system
• Lower the risk of cancer, cancer recurrence, and chronic illness

The Anticancer Lifestyle Foundation is guided by a stellar professional Board of Directors and Advisory Board. Our course has received rave reviews from participants and medical professionals alike. We have been gratified by the outstanding response to the course from the medical community. Providers trust us to deliver evidence-based information, resources, tools and tips that promote a healthy lifestyle for their patients.

Our goal is to reach as many people as possible with this important information that has the potential to foster healthier and more productive lives. There is simply nothing available today that rivals or duplicates this course. Our course and programming form a reliable and high-value resource for patients, their caregivers, and those interested in overall prevention and better health.

Whether you’re recovering from treatment, living with a chronic illness, or taking a proactive approach to prevention, we have free resources tailored for you.
View Video >

Learn more about our Ask the Expert sessions here.

Meg Cadoux
Anticancer Lifestyle Foundation Founder

I ate well, walked every day, never smoked, and still got cancer.
So much for the benefits of a healthy lifestyle.

At the Anticancer Lifestyle Program, we hear this comment a lot. And it’s reasonable to ask. Why spend time learning about healthy lifestyle behaviors when so many of us, in fact, had good habits when we first heard those dreaded words, “You have cancer”?

The reality is that you could live like a monk in a remote mountain cave – meditating, eating organic food, and drinking pure water from a mountain stream –- and still get cancer. Or, conversely, you could sit around every day watching TV and chain smoking while you knock back a pint of Jack Daniels — and never get cancer.

Cancer is mysterious and inescapably complex, and there are never any guarantees against this disease. In most situations, nobody knows why any particular individual gets a cancer diagnosis. But here’s what we do know: healthy lifestyle behaviors can reduce the risk – often significantly – of getting cancer or cancer recurrence.

Many people assume that cancer is just a bad roll of the genetic dice, but in fact, inherited genetic factors cause only about 10% of cancers.  According to the American Cancer Society, approximately 50% of cancers are due to lifestyle behaviors, and some experts claim that the true stat is much higher.

This is why our team works hard to provide actionable, evidence-based tools, tips, and information about key aspects of healthy living, such as how to eat a healthy diet, integrate fitness into daily life, and reduce stress. Most people have a basic understanding of why healthy behaviors in these areas can be beneficial.

But when it comes to our environment module – where we teach ways to decrease daily exposures to toxic chemicals in the home – even our most eager participants experience some confusion, distress, and overwhelm. The question of “Why bother?” rears its head again: “If these toxic chemicals are everywhere and basically not regulated, why should I go to the trouble of trying to avoid them?” The reaction often mimics some of the classic stages of grief: first denial, then anger, then panic, and finally…not acceptance exactly, but something more like resignation.

But as we teach in our Program, the degree of exposure to environmental chemicals doesmatter. Look at it from the other end: we often find cancer clusters among people who work in factories making toxic chemicals, or who live in communities near chemical manufacturing (think the movie Erin Brockovich), or among farm workers who routinely use pesticides.

However, these types of extreme exposures are not the main worry for most people. Instead, the common concern is with the toxic chemicals lurking in our homes, which off-gas from products such as household cleaners that contain fragrance and other harmful chemicals, and daily activities like cooking, heating, and cleaning. In fact, according to the EPA, indoor air is typically anywhere from 2-100X more polluted than outdoor air.

By becoming conscious consumers, we can learn to choose products that contain zero toxic chemicals, and “vote” with our dollars for companies trying to do the right thing. Reducing our exposures makes sense—and can make a difference.

One small example: a study done on 100 teenage girls in California found that when they switched to healthier personal care products, the concentration of potent hormone-disrupting chemicals such as phthalates, parabens, triclosan, and benzophenone-3 (BP-3) in their urine decreased anywhere between 27 to 45 percent, after only three days. Several of these chemicals have been linked with cancer. Never think your choices don’t matter!

Learning to make healthier home purchasing decisions – for cleaning products, personal care products, food cookware and storage, carpets, furniture, and so forth – can seem overwhelming at first. But over time, you will get better at reading labels and looking things up, and learn which brands you can really trust.

Plus, there are so many great, affordable options these days, and it’s easier than ever to find healthy products. Apps like EWG’s Skin Deep and Guide to Healthy Cleaning, or Clearya, or Yuka, make shopping for healthy products quick and easy. And don’t worry about breaking the bank! For one thing, in our Program we encourage the use of fewer products overall and suggest simple and inexpensive options (such as vinegar and water for cleaning many items in your home).

No one is perfect at any of this. Thirty years after starting this process, I am still learning new things about healthy living, and still making adjustments. I recently baked a birthday cake and noticed that my old cake pans were Teflon-coated. I used them anyway and made a mental note to replace them with stainless steel at some point. In the other areas of fitness, diet, and mindset, I am constantly “falling off the wagon” and straying from my goals, but I just keep re-adjusting and re-starting. I am always learning, and improving my well-being bit by bit. It’s been a fun and interesting journey. I feel good about making healthy choices and don’t feel like I’m sacrificing anything in the process.

In the Anticancer Lifestyle Program, we encourage people to “look back – but don’t stare.” It’s fruitful to review lifestyle habits that might have increased inflammation and that did not contribute to your overall well-being. But in this process, try to focus on what you can change, not what you can blame. We hope you will take advantage of all the expertise offered in our many free resources, and learn how to best support the miraculous healing powers of your body. Knowledge is power!

LEARN YOUR WAY: Discover our free eBooks, webinars, online course, recipes, and more to create your healthy, Anticancer Lifestyle.

Are you looking for ways to improve your health and reduce your risk of cancer?
Mindset 101: Learning to Manage Your Stress eBook.
Dive into the world of mindfulness and its many benefits. This eBook offers insights into the mind-body connection, the types of stress that can be harmful, and the effects of chronic stress on health. Learn practical mindfulness tips and techniques to help you manage stress and cultivate an Anticancer Mindset. Download the eBook.

Mindfulness for Coping with Cancer Webinar Replay:
Dr. Linda Carlson, PhD, shares the concept of mindfulness and its application for individuals with cancer. Discover the Mindfulness-Based Cancer Recovery program and learn how mindfulness meditation can aid in managing emotions and fears related to cancer. Watch Now.

14 Mobile Apps for Cancer Prevention and Healthy Living: Our experts have curated a list of their top app recommendations designed to improve your diet, boost your fitness, manage stress, and reduce toxic exposures. Dive in and discover how a touch of modern tech can support your health journey.
Read Now.

Live an Anticancer Lifestyle with confidence.
We are here to support you every step of the way!

The cancer world is chock full of misinformation–especially about food. Does sugar cause cancer? What about soy and dairy? Can juice cleanses really cure cancer? With click-bait headlines regularly popping up on our screens, it’s no wonder most of us are confused about which foods actually reduce cancer risk and which foods would be best avoided.

In this free webinar, Registered Dietitian Crystal Pace will bust through some of the most common cancer food myths and share tips about foods that can – truly – reduce cancer risk.

Fitness Q&A: Peter Pace, Fitness Instructor
Tuesday, May 7, at 4 PM PST / 7 PM EST
Peter Pace is an exercise physiologist for the Anticancer Lifestyle Program. He has a Master’s degree in Nutrition and Exercise Physiology at Columbia University. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics from Arizona State University, along with the Nutrition and Dietetics Technician credential. He is a Certified Personal Trainer and has extensive experience training in collegiate and private sectors.

Please join us for a Q&A session with exercise physiologist and fitness instructor Peter Pace.

Are you interested in learning easy ways to improve your strength? How exercise affects the likelihood of cancer recurrence? Tactics for creating and sticking to a fitness plan? Be sure to bring your fitness-related questions to this informative session!

While it’s beneficial to familiarize yourself with the Fitness module of our online course beforehand, it is not required.

Submit your questions when you register, or feel free to ask them live during the session.

Can’t attend live? No problem! Register anyway and we’ll send you the replay

Creating a Body Cancer Doesn’t Like
May 22, 4 PM PT / 7 PM ET ET
Dr. Lise Alschuler and Karolyn Gazella, co-authors of  The Definitive Guide to Thriving After Cancer and The Definitive Guide to Cancer, will introduce you to ways to reduce the risk of cancer and cancer recurrence by optimizing the health of 5 key pathways: immunity, inflammation, insulin regulation, detoxification, and hormonal balance.

Podcast co-hosts, Dr. Lise Alschuler and Karolyn A. Gazella, have much in common beyond their mission to support and empower cancer survivors.  Not only are both women cancer survivors, but Dr. Alschuler and Karolyn have each lost a parent to advanced pancreatic cancer.  The two have co-authored The Definitive Guide to Thriving After Cancer and The Definitive Guide to Cancer, and co-host a podcast, Five to Thrive Live!. Both women have dedicated their professional lives to holistic wellness: Dr. Lise Alschuler is a naturopathic doctor with board certification in naturopathic oncology, a clinical professor at the University of Arizona – Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine, a recognized expert and highly sought-after speaker; and Karolyn A. Gazella is the publisher of the Natural Medicine Journal and a highly respected expert and writer on wellness.

Learn which lifestyle strategies — such as diet, mind/body practices, physical activity, and key supplements — can transform your body into one that cancer doesn’t like.

There will be a live Q&A at the end of the webinar.

Interested in the topic but can’t attend live? Register anyway, and we’ll send you the recording.

READ Sugary Drinks Tied To Higher Liver Cancer Risk In Women

TIP SHEET Understanding Food Contact Materials: A Comprehensive Guide to Reducing Cancer Risks

LEARN YOUR WAY Resources for Supporting an Anticancer Lifestyle

ACCEPTS VIRTUAL CLIENTS