Houston, B.C. author DebiLyn Smith has taken a firm stand against cancer and earnestly suggests you do the same.
“Not after diagnosis, but right now!”
In her book Running From Cancer: a Tilted Memoir, Smith relives her recent battle with breast cancer through chapters like Prepping For The Vein Drano and Hair Loss 101.
“You don’t want to end up on this road,” she warns.
The statistics? The Canadian Cancer Society (CCS) reported in 2012 that 500 Canadians a day were diagnosed with cancer and of that 200 a day died. Like the CCS, Smith believes those numbers can be greatly reduced.
How do we get cancer?
“Everyone has the ability to make cancer cells. They are just normal cells that go haywire and refuse to die when they’re supposed to. Like little forest fires they get bigger and start to grow. Your body is continually stamping those fires out. If you have a strong immune system, no problem; it could kick cancer’s butt all day. But if you’re not fueling your body with the right fire retardant, then the blaze can get out of control. Cancer cells divide at a much faster rate than normal cells, so the fire intensifies, overwhelming your defences.”
The good news? Today cancer patients have a fair chance of surviving, especially when caught early like Smith’s.
She adds, “The key is information and prevention; understanding that cancer is like a lottery. We’re all born with tickets. Everyone has cancer cells waiting for something to kick them off and multiply into tumours that can take your life. The key is to reduce the extra tickets you’re playing with. If you smoke, give yourself another ticket. Are you overweight? Get a ticket. Drink more than seven alcoholic beverages a week for women and 14 for men? Get more tickets. More tickets spells more chances of winning the cancer lottery; whether cancer runs in your family or not.”
The Secret? “The secret is to stop cancer growth in the first place. Merely hoping cancer won’t catch up to you is not enough. It’s never too early to start fighting for your life,” she says.
Running From Cancer: a Tilted Memoir lists 10 ways to reduce your risk of battling the disease.
“It’s mostly common sense,” Smith said.
“But as Voltaire said, ‘common sense is not so common.’”
“The average mature adult is not doing enough to prevent becoming a statistic” Smith cautions, “It’s going to take more than a tablespoon of ground flax seed on your oatmeal every morning, but with time and knowledge you too can stop running and learn
to stand up to cancer.”
DebiLyn will be attending most of the northern Canadian Cancer Society’s Relay for Life events.
Her book will be available with proceeds being donated to the fundraiser. Check www.debilynsmith for contact information, scheduling and book signing events.
In Quesnel, she will be at a book-signing at Caryall Books, May 24, 1 – 3 p.m. and at Relay for Life in LeBourdais Park, May 25, 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. with the team Fighters for Life.
