Stay Away from Cancer - Eng

STAY AWAY FROM CANCER Understand Cancer, Conquer Cancer! Dr. Jessie Chung, MD, ND Doctor of Medicine (Clinical Integrate Chinese Medicine and Western Medicine-Oncology) Innovative integration of Chinese and Western natural therapy Thousands upon thousands have regained their health, our results speak louder. This book gives you a deeper understanding about cancer and how you can conquer cancer to regain health: What is cancer? The truth about cancer. Make health your choice. Complete detoxi cation anti-cancer strategy. Various types of cancer and their therapies. Health as a lifelong investment Regaining health Is no longer a dream. \"A slice of white bread with jam a day can increase 7Natural cancer risk 50%; 5 teaspoons of sugar, 70%; Therapies 2 glasses of sweet beverages, 90%” for Cancer — The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition Innovative & Comprehensive “Consuming 1500 IU of Vitamin D on a daily basis is capable of reducing the mortality rate of cancer by 29% and total cancer incidence by 17%\" — French National Cancer Magazine

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The Truth 9

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Preface 11

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Forewaord 13

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Chapter 1 Getting to Know Cancer Getting to know cancer In order to understand someone completely, one has to understand his past. To comprehend an issue, one must probe into its origin. Similarly, we cannot obtain an extensive understanding of cancer unless we trace back into its history. Many books bring up on the subject of cancer, but few mention its history. By this very reason and my own innate curiosity, I went ahead and delved into the past for any footprints of cancer. Indeed, history nev- er fails to impress, and I’d like to shed some light on the history of cancer here. An article in the International Journal of Paleopathology reported the discovery of a mummy of an ancient Egyptian who died from prostate cancer about 2,250 years ago.1 This report forced me to reconsider the notion that cancer is a disease that exists only in modern times. The truth is, cancer has been around since primitive times; this was something that I’ve never known and I decided to dig deeper. On the other side of the world in Peru, Incan mummies who once had bone and skin cancers were also unearthed.2 Furthermore, around 400 B.C., Greek physician Hippocrates, who is considered as the “Father of Medicine”, identified abnormal swellings as carcinos (malignant tumour), meaning lumps and crabs respectively in Greek. The names were given due to the appearance of dark veins around the cancerous part, akin to the legs of a crab. Later on, from those Immunocytes attacking cancer Greek roots, a Roman encyclopaedist Au- cells 20 Stay Away From Cancer

lus Cornelius Celsus gave the disease its Latin name, cancer. Another term oncos, used by another Greek physician Galen is now used as a part of the name for cancer specialists – oncologists.3 Cancer as understood by the ancient Chinese Evidence from many other countries also prove the existence of cancer in ancient times. In China, records of various cancers had already existed more than 3,500 years ago. During the Yin and Zhou Dynasty, when the ancient Chinese were still using oracle bone scripts, the Chinese character for tumour ც
(liú)
was already discovered in some of the an- cient scriptures of that period.4 At that time, the ancients observed that tu- mours had the characteristic of remaining in its place permanently, hence tumours were named ც, which resembles and has the same pronunciation as the character႐, meaning “to stay”. Later, the Yellow Emperor’s Inner Classic systematically categorized tumours and gave them different names such as hard lumps௜ც (xī liú), vascular tumours኎ც
KwO
MJr , stom- ach lumps ሤᐐ
(jī jù), stony lumps ᆂტ
(shí jia), ovarian tumours ᐥ ᘊ
(cháng xùn)
and breast cancers ˽ࡷ
(ru yán).5 The description of the symptoms of these diseases are very similar to the various cancers that we are familiar with today. As time progressed, ancient physicians grew in their understanding of cancer and from there, accumulated cancer-battling experience. Two of these “cancer-fighting heroes” from the ancient times really impress me. The first is Liu Wan Su, a famous physician who was best known among the four great masters of medicine during the Jin-Yuan Dynasty. He advocated for the “Cooling Method”, which contributed to the research on heat re- duction and detoxification. Since many cancer patients exhibit symptoms of excess heat when the disease reaches a certain stage, usage of heat reduc- tion and detoxification therapy at this stage has been very effective. 6 Mod- ern pharmacological research shows that cool and cold-natured Chinese herbal medicines for heat reduction and detoxification also contain active substances that fight cancer.7 Getting to Know Cancer 21

Another physician whom I really admire, also among the four great masters of medicine during the Jin-Yuan Dynasty, is Li Dongyuan. He advocated for the principle of “strengthening and consolidating body resistance” during treatment, and this provided an important direction for the modern treatment of cancer that integrates Chinese and Western med- icine. By regaining healthy energy (healthy qi), the pathogenic factors (evil qi) will naturally dissipate. As long as the patient’s body immune system recovers, especially if the number of T-cells and natural killer cells (NK cells) within the system is maintained, the growth of cancer cells will be effectively regulated and the patient’s quality of life will be improved. 8 History and development of cancer treatment As time passed, the types of cancer increased. The good news is, cancer treatment methods are developing rapidly with technological ad- vancement. First, there was the discovery of “laughing gas”—nitrous ox- ide—by the English chemist Humphry Davy in 1799, which led to the de- velopment of anaesthetics.9 Then on October 16th, 1846, with the help of William Morton’s effective anaesthetic, Dr. John Collins Warren publicly demonstrated the first painless removal of a tumour from the neck of a young man.10 Since then, surgery became a key method for treating cancer. The discovery of radioactivity by Henri Becquerel in 1896 lent a great leap forward to the treatment of cancer. In 1901, Henri Becquerel placed a tube of radium in his waistcoat pocket, allowing it to remain there for several hours; a week or two after, the portion of his skin close to his waistcoat pocket broke out with severe inflammation.11 Following Bec- querel’s discovery, two physicists, Pierre and Marie Curie, observed the effects of radiation on the body and discovered that radiation could cure cancer and skin ulcers.12 These ground-breaking discoveries laid the foun- dation for radiotherapy used in modern cancer treatments today.13 Not long after, World War I broke out, and one of the deadliest chemical weapons—mustard gas—was deployed into the battlefield, leav- ing up to 10,000 people dead. During World War II, researchers feared 22 Stay Away From Cancer

for a recurrence of the attack, so they tried to create antidotes, but the development was far from what they expected. Louis Goodman and Alfred Gilman learned that mustard gas has the ability to effectively kill mutated cells that split rapidly. Although it is lethal towards hair Radiation Therapy and gastrointestinal mucosa cells and causes a number of side effects, its effect in controlling cancer cells is undeniable. 14 Hence, chemotherapy gradually established its own footing among the three main cancer treatments. The continual development of technology gave rise to a variety of advanced cancer treatments such as laser therapy, tumour ablation thera- py, interleukin-2 therapy (IL-2), interferon therapy, stem cell therapy and gamma knife therapy. However, no matter how advanced and effective these therapies may be, an ounce of prevention is always worth a pound of cure. Who’s afraid of cancer? Many people fear cancer but not all understand it. According to psychology, ignorance and helplessness often give rise to fear.15 This is sim- ilar to the fear of death, as many are ignorant about the world after death and are helpless when faced with something they cannot avoid. I have met people who do not fear death, as they are confident about where they are going when they cross to the other side. So, is cancer really that frighten- ing? To be honest, as you come to understand cancer thoroughly, you will find that it is not at all frightening. Getting to Know Cancer 23

Someone once described cancerous cells as a bunch of barbaric bandits, a metaphor which I find really appropriate. Cancer cells multi- ply uncontrollably in suitable environments. As the proliferation of cancer cells require the consumption of an overabundance of nutrients, these cells will relentlessly deprive the patient and deplete the nutrients from his or her body, thereby causing the rapid decline of the patient’s health. 16 In addition, some cancer cells are quite nefarious, not only will they “rob” the patient, but also release a gamut of toxic chemicals, causing a series of discomforting symptoms. 17 If these “bandits” are left untreated, they will forcibly occupy territories by spreading to other areas through metasta- sis. Finally, the patient, unable to resist the cancerous attack, will emaci- ate gradually. If nutrient deficiency is not addressed the patient will die of complications such as organ failure. Balance is key Scientists discovered that cancer originates from the proto-onco- gene (C-onc), a gene found in every person on earth. This c-onc is primar- ily responsible for the differentiation and reproduction of cells; without it, humans cannot mature physically. Under normal circumstances, cells will split and reproduce in an orderly manner. However, with the intrusion of carcinogenic factors, c-onc will provoke and mutate normal genes, changing normal cells into cancerous cells.18 Some people may falsely reason that since everyone has c-onc in their body, doesn’t this mean that everyone is destined to get cancer? On this subject, I can- not cease to be mesmerized by the mechanisms God has cre- Conducting experiments in the laboratory 24 Stay Away From Cancer

ated for us. Although our bodies possess this “time bomb” in the form of c-onc, God has also provided us with “bomb disposal experts” in our bodies—the anti-oncogene. Many cancer patients face the multiplication of cancer cells in their bodies because their anti-oncogenes are deactivated, which has made the body unable to obliterate cancerous cells. 19 In fact, every single body contains a certain quantity of cancer cells at any given time. Often times, clinical manifestations of cancer will not register within the body, but that does not mean the body is completely free of cancer cells. Autopsies have revealed significant traces of cancer within the bodies of people that had never exhibited any cancer signs during their lifetime. Cancer cells are synthesized daily; hence, cancer prevention is an affair that must be dealt with on a daily basis. Every single cell in the human body has a life cycle. Aged or dam- aged cells will die naturally, and simultaneously new cells will be produced. During this complicated cycle, defective cells will undoubtedly be created from replication errors, and these cells with incomplete differentiations are called precancerous cells. However, a normal functioning immune system should be able to effectively eliminate these precancerous cells and prevent the development of cancer. In a research conducted by the scientist in Wal- ter and Eliza Hall Institute in Melbourne, Australia concluded that your immune system spots and destroys cells that could easily go on to become cancerous each day.20 Only when the body’s normal function is disrupted will the cancerous cells have the opportunity to breed in the body. With ag- ing cells, the error frequency in replication will grow while the anti-cancer function will diminish.21 As time continues on, cancer will have a higher chance of tipping the balance and inflict harm on a person’s health. Chinese medical studies show a deeper level of research in regard to this point. Chinese medicine emphasizes on the balance between “Yin and Yang”; the body will be in a state of ill health if the Yin overcomes the Yang, or vice versa. Chinese medical concepts are based on the thinking that all disease occurs and develops through the conflicts between evil qi (patho- gen) and healthy qi (beneficial energy). The evolution process of cancer, the worsening of an illness, or the recovery from a malignant condition are Getting to Know Cancer 25

all determined by the equilibrium be- tween “healthy qi and evil qi”. There is a classic saying that goes, “With the pres- ence of healthy qi in the body, evil qi will not cause a disturbance”. This means that the immune system of the body plays a significant role, in that, if the immune system is healthy and strong, all the can- cerous cells can expect is their demise. Maintaining physiological balance is extremely important A chronic disease: cancer Typically, ten years will elapse by the time a seemingly cancer-free individual will start showing symptoms. Unlike the flu or inflammation, cancer is not an acute disease and will not take a person’s life promptly. Cancer is a chronic disease, just like hypertension, high cholesterol, and type-II diabetes, and is brought about through long-term unhealthy life- style and habits. Patients with chronic diseases will typically go through longer periods of time before dying. Since cancer attacks at a slower rate comparatively, we humans have enough time to reverse the situation be- fore it reaches an irreparable state. It is absurdly unwise to start panicking and doing something only after the cancer enters into its final stage, as the growth of cancerous cells by then would often be much more rapid than what most people would normally assume. It is a well-known fact that many cancer cases detected at an early stage are reversible and cur- able. Hence, middle-aged individuals (i.e. 40 years old) must receive rou- tine check-ups regularly as a form of prevention. Cancer cells are derived from our own cells, cells which have turned mutinous and abnormal. Why would that happen anyway? Clinically, he- reditary cancer cases are few in number; therefore, the bottom line is, poor lifestyle and habits as well as adverse mental and emotional states are the main causes of cancer. 26 Stay Away From Cancer

References 1) Prates, Carlos, et al. “Prostate metastatic bone cancer in an Egyptian Ptolemaic mummy, a pro- posed radiological diagnosis.” International Journal of Paleopathology 1.2 (2011): 98-103. 2) Urteaga, B., and George T. Pack. “On the antiquity of melanoma.” Cancer 19.5 (1966): 607-610. 3) Retief, F. P., and L. Cilliers. “Tumours and cancers in Graeco-Roman times.” Acta Theologica 26.2 (2006): 200-212. 4) Li, Peiwen. Management of cancer with Chinese medicine. Donica Pub Limited, 2003. 5) Veith, Ilza. The yellow emperor’s classic of internal medicine. Univ of California Press, 2002.᳦ ࣚЮፂገ᫇
̠ඞӻၶѢྟᇪ, 2005. 6) Liu Wan Su (1186);Shang Han Zhi Ge 7) Wang, Shanshan, et al. “Angiogenesis and anti-angiogenesis activity of Chinese medicinal herbal extracts.” Life sciences 74.20 (2004): 2467-2478. 8) ː̈́ࣻృˋ‫ۓ‬ழาၸ෴ᐸცÿๅ෇˖ӝఽং
37.9 (2002): 398-398. 9) Davy, Humphry. The Collected Works: Researches, Chiefly Concerning Nitrous Oxide. Ed. John Davy. Johnson, 1972. 10) Pernick, Martin S. “A calculus of suffering: pain, professionalism, and anesthesia in nineteenth century America.” (1994). 11) From Roentgen to radiation Therapy: A Tumultuous History, Advance for Imaging and Radi- ation Oncology, November 29, 1999. 12) University of Alabama at Birmingham Comprehensive Cancer Center, History of Radiation Oncology 13) From Roentgen to radiation Therapy: A Tumultuous History, Advance for Imaging and Radi- ation Oncology, November 29, 1999. 14) Goodman, Louis S., et al. “Nitrogen mustard therapy: Use of methyl-bis (beta-chloroethyl) amine hydrochloride and tris (beta-chloroethyl) amine hydrochloride for Hodgkin’s disease, lym- phosarcoma, leukemia and certain allied and miscellaneous disorders.” Journal of the American Medical Association 132.3 (1946): 126-132. 15) Freud, Sigmund. A general introduction to psychoanalysis. Boni and Liveright, 1921. 16) DeBerardinis, Ralph J., et al. “The biology of cancer: metabolic reprogramming fuels cell growth and proliferation.” Cell metabolism 7.1 (2008): 11-20. 17) Oliff, Allen, et al. “Tumors secreting human TNF/cachectin induce cachexia in mice.” Cell 50.4 (1987): 555-563. 18) Kroemer, Guido. “The proto-oncogene Bcl-2 and its role in regulating apoptosis.” Nature med- icine 3.6 (1997): 614-620. 19) Weinberg, Robert A. “Oncogenes, antioncogenes, and the molecular bases of multistep car- cinogenesis.” Cancer Research 49.14 (1989): 3713-3721. 20) Afshar-Sterle, Shoukat, et al. “Fas ligand-mediated immune surveillance by T cells is essential for the control of spontaneous B cell lymphomas.” Nature medicine 20.3 (2014): 283-290. 21) Ames, Bruce N. “Endogenous DNA damage as related to cancer and aging.” Mutation Re- search/Fundamental and Molecular Mechanisms of Mutagenesis 214.1 (1989): 41-46. Getting to Know Cancer 27

Chapter 2 The Truth Astonishing data As we look back to the 1800s, people were apprehensive about tu- bercle bacillus (commonly known as tuberculosis), an infectious disease which was lethal back then. During the 1900s, pneumonia and flu, tuber- culosis, and gastrointestinal infections were the top three causes of death worldwide.1During those days, no one could have imagined that this dark horse—cancer—would become today’s leading cause of death. With improvements in medical technologies and treatments, mor- tality rates of infectious diseases have declined dramatically. After World War II, social stability has brought wealth to an increasing number of peo- ple, but it has also promoted the development of many lifestyle diseases. Cardiovascular disease became the leading cause of death worldwide and it remained so for a long period of time, becoming known as the deadliest disease in the history of mankind.2 However, since the 21st century, cancer mortality has increased consistently; about 7 million people have lost their lives due to cancer in 2012.3 In 1900, the percentage of deaths from can- cer worldwide was 4 percent, and the figure has since risen to the current 20 percent. WHO estimated that by 2030, cancer deaths worldwide will increase by 72 percent as compared to the death toll from 2008, with the number of deaths reaching 13.2 million!4 How did such staggering statistics come about? Some people claim that the reduced mortality of infectious diseases and extended lifespans due to advancements in medical technologies have naturally increased the risk of people developing cancer. 5 Others have stated that humans brought this upon themselves in their invention of all kinds of carcinogens, and 28 Stay Away From Cancer

even in embracing a cancer-inducing lifestyle. As a result, humans have created a trap for themselves with the development of civilization.6 Nevertheless, there is no way to escape from this global, high risk environment, which is why we need to devise a plan to survive in our toxic world. Who is more poisonous than me? Nowadays, carcinogens are ubiquitous, yet many people have fallen unknowingly into this biochemical trap as they are completely oblivious to their harms. I have seen many people involve themselves ignorantly in a cancer prone lifestyle or environment, which really worries me. Therefore, my wish is that this book would help raise public awareness regarding the importance of healthcare and prevention and keep cancer at bay through suitable methods. Sun Tzu’s Art of War states: to be successful in every war effort, we must ful- ly grasp our own strengths and weaknesses as well as our enemies’.7 Hence, I hope that everyone will begin to have a better under- standing about some of the most common Dioxin can permeate anywhere carcinogens. I still remember the time when I read about the existence of an extremely dangerous substance, “hailed” in an article as the most poi- sonous chemical on the planet. The article’s title “Who is more poisonous than me?” caught my attention, and as I read on, I soon learned about this brutal substance—Dioxin. Dioxin is a colorless, odorless, fat-soluble substance that resides si- lently among us, and is dubbed “the most deadly poison in the world”. 8 The International Agency for Cancer Research lists it as a Group-1 carcin- ogen for its lurid makeup.9 Dioxin’s toxicity is 900 times that of arsenic;10 one ounce of dioxin (28.38g) is enough to kill one million people.11 How come such a deadly toxin like dioxin is allowed to run rampant in this world? Sadly, most dioxins are created through human activities such as The Truth 29

iron and steel smelting, the decolorization process during paper-making, the incineration of plastic waste, and the manufacturing processes of her- bicides and insecticides. All these are the works of human beings. During the Vietnam War in the 1960s, to avoid the guerrilla tactics of the Viet Cong, the U.S. military sprayed a huge amount of defoliants called Agent Orange over forested battlegrounds. Af- ter the end of the war, series of Herbicides contain large quantities of dioxin horrible images emerged in Viet- nam—the births of a great number of deformed babies. There were also a number of U.S. soldiers who suffered from heart disease and Parkinson’s disease; some even had miscarriages or gave birth to deformed babies after withdrawing from Vietnam. U.S. medical research institutions believe that these terrifying phenomena were all caused by the use of Agent Orange, which contained large amounts of dioxin. 12 Even more terrifying is that this toxic substance has a tenacious characteristic. Once it enters into the human body, 13 dioxin will be ab- sorbed by fat tissues, which makes it very difficult to be dispelled from the body. In addition, dioxin cannot be decomposed normally in the natural world. Scientists also discovered that most human exposure to dioxin ex- Plastic bottles release dioxin under Do not leave high temperatures, therefore, it is plastic bottles advisable not to expose poor quality in your car plastic bottles under sunlight. Leaving plastic water bottles in parked cars are health-threatening mistakes commonly PDGHDVWKHJUHHQKRXVHHઊHFWLQVLGH the car raises temperature and releases dioxin from plastics. 30 Stay Away From Cancer

1 Do not microwave your food in plastic containers or plastic bags, especially foods with high fat content. 2 Do not microwave food with the plastic wrap on. 3 Do not store water in plastic containers in the refrigerator. The Johns Hopkins Hospital ists through the consumption of food. Due to its stubborn nature, dioxin can be absorbed from the soil into plants and enter livestock that consume those plants. Finally, if humans consume those livestock, dioxin will ac- cumulate in the human body. This situation is already a cause of concern among the international community. If agricultural products or livestock are found to contain exceeding levels of dioxin, they will be eliminated.14 Dioxin is also present in our lives in the form of materials such as plastic and PVC. If these materials are incinerated, dioxin will be released from the smoke and disperse to the surrounding as tiny particles.15 Coun- tries around the world are now implementing a ban on the incineration of rubbish, with the aim to prevent the notorious poison from spreading into the atmosphere. Phony foods everyw here It’s safe to say that food is constantly on the minds of humans, espe- cially gourmets, who are especially particular about the perfect combina- tion of colour, aroma, and taste of their food. Food must attain such stan- dards before they can be considered a delicacy. Food suppliers understand this consumer mentality and hence would try to alter the colour, aroma and taste of their products. Before long, food additives such as colourings, flavourings, essences, MSG, expanding agents and bleaching agents started to exist in our foods in abundance. When I was in university, one of my professor joked, “Look at this delicate biscuit. It looks nutritious, but it The Truth 31

only satisfies two of your organs—your eyes and your mouth.” The facetious statement isn’t completely unfounded. If you read the food labels, you will notice a large amount of chemical additives included in its content. Scholars have calculated that if you eat bread purchased from the supermarket over a long period of time, consistently in every meal, you would have eaten a few kilograms of food additives. Cancer mortality rates were only 3 percent in 1900; however, a hundred years later, the death rate has risen exponentially to 20 percent. There must be something strange happening with all these occurring. Read through the following historical events, and thank your lucky stars that you can finally see carcinogens, especially those contained in processed foods, in their true colours: In 1879, the first packet of saccharin (artificial sweetener) was accidentally synthesized by American chemists.16 In 1908, Japanese chemists managed to extract MSG from seaweed and recreate the isolated substance chemically.17 In 1903, the United States successfully hydrogenated vegetable oil, thus launching cheap trans-fats into the market by 1911.18 In 1939, A Swiss scientist invented the pesticide DDT and received the Nobel Prize for the invention later in 1948. 19 In 1941, diethylstilboestrol (DES) was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a drug to treat menopause.20 In 1947, U.S. researchers discovered that livestock weight and fat level in- creased after adding hormones in the feed. 21 In 1971, many girls were inflicted with a rare vaginal cancer. After investi- gation by U.S. researchers, diethylstilbestrol (DES) was suspected to be the culprit. 22 In 1972, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency labelled the pesticide DDT as a human carcinogen. 23 32 Stay Away From Cancer

In 1977, the U.S. Food and Drug Adminis- tration (FDA) corroborated that diethylstil- bestrol (DES) was a form of carcinogen and banned the substance in the United States.24 In 1987, the first Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant began operations in Beijing, Chi- Chemicals have virtually LQÀOWUDWHGDOORXUIRRGV na. Since then, other fast food restaurants began spawning in China.25 In 1995, a research done by the University of Southern California School Of Medicine indicated that nitrite in hot dogs is closely linked to leukae- mia in cancer.26 In 2007, cancer became the number one killer in China.27 In 2008, many brands of powdered milk in China were found to contain high levels of melamine, a poisonous substance.28 In 2010, China’s cancer incidence rate increased significantly compared to 30 years ago; it was also during that period when fast food restaurants first “invaded” China. In 2010, Germany’s Federal Office for Consumer Protection and Food Safety discovered that the market was filled with dioxin-laden eggs, chick- en, and pork; the findings led to a nationwide panic.29 In 2010, it was uncovered that the F&B industry in China had been recy- cling waste oil to produce “gutter oil”, a knock-off cooking oil. Laboratory tests show that this type of oil contains astronomical levels of carcinogens such as aflatoxin and benzopyrene.30 In 2011, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) finally admitted that chicken feed produced by a certain company in the United States was mixed with a highly carcinogenic arsenic compound, and this feed is being sold worldwide.31 In 2011, the “plasticizer scare” broke out in Taiwan; plasticizers, harmful to the liver, kidneys and reproductive system, were being used as a food additive.32 The Truth 33

1 Remember, “You are what you eat”. Reduce or refrain from processed foods and opt for fresh and natural foods. 2 Be a smart consumer by developing the habit of reading product labels and learning to identify carcinogens. Do not allow yourself to be kept in the dark. 3 If you have to come into contact with processed foods in your meals, then abide by the rule of “What goes in must come out” by detoxifying and eliminating the toxins from your body. From the events mentioned above, it’s not hard to figure out that the market is currently flooded with food overloaded with harmful sub- stances, and unknown adverse effects of these substances are still being uncovered every now and then. A hundred years ago, through the use of scientific technologies, humans began to invent an assortment of fake foods. Perhaps at that time, these people were simply trying to contrib- ute to society; however, little did they know that they made matters worse by endangering human health. Time and time again new inventions were being announced, and time after time, mistakes had to be rectified. Isn’t it time for us to ditch our old ways and return to nature, where nothing is uncalled-for? Pollution has gotten the better of us Back in August 2004, a shocking report was published in the Unit- ed States. 287 types of chemical toxin, of which 180 were known carcino- gens, were found in the umbilical cord blood of new-born babies in U.S. hospitals.33 U.S. scientists also estimate that urban dwellers have at least 700 types of chemical toxins in their bodies, most of which are toxins still not yet fully understood.34 34 Stay Away From Cancer

Humans have always pursued technological advancement, but at the same time, improvement brought on severe environmental pollution. A group of scientists who conducted a series of chemical analyses on soils near busy roads and cities across the United States discovered that these soils exceed the safety limit of heavy metal content, including lead! In 1956, a mercury pollution incident happened in Minamata, a city in Japan, and many locals were affected by the onslaught of the terrifying “Minama- ta disease”. 35 In China, the degree of environmental pollution is getting more and more worrying. Recently, many cases of severe pollution involv- ing heavy metals occurred, and countless children had exorbitant amounts of lead in their bloodstreams. Although many people are affected by toxins, there doesn’t seem to be much reaction in most of the population. This is because the symptoms of the toxins are nuanced and subtle. The most common symptoms include fatigue, headaches, muscle aches, shivers, constipation, hyperactivity, de- pression, nervous system disorders and dizziness.36 Most frightening of all, these toxins tend to enter into your body and accumulate in your brain, bones and kidneys when you least expect them. Once that happens, clear- ing them out would be quite a hassle. Our daily lives are constantly bombarded with a deluge of toxins. In our homes, electrical appliances emit hazardous positive ions and elec- tromagnetic waves.37 Outdoors, we are in contact with billows of polluted air, smoke, vehicle exhaust, industrial waste gas, dust, haze, and cooking fumes at virtually all times. On the streets, we have to endure noise pol- lution generated by vehicles, crowds, drilling from construction sites, and acoustic shockwaves from jets flying overhead. While having a meal, we have to worry about unsafe foods, recycled cooking oil, chemical additives, pesticide-laden vegetables and fruits, and meats that contain hormones. Don’t you think we need to detox our bodies? The Truth 35

1 Avoid plastic utensils whenever you can, as most plastic materials are not heat resistant, and utensils with cracks or scratches are prone to release toxic chemical substances. 2 Choosing organic food can reduce the chances of pesticide exposure. 3 In places with severe air pollution, remember to wear a mask over your nose and mouth to protect yourself. The inevitable “occupational” cancer I once met a patient who was a warehouse keeper. At the age of 45 years old, he was diagnosed with nasopharyngeal cancer. I looked at his past lifestyle and dietary habits, but there weren’t any problems as he ate quite healthily. So how did he develop cancer? A speedy check on his family medical history did not reveal anyone that was susceptible to cancer. Fur- thermore, with regard to his occupation-related environment, warehouse keeping couldn’t possibly be the cause of cancer. Nothing could explain his problem, but a fine man won’t be inflicted with cancer for no reason. After an in-depth inquiry, he soon admitted that he had travelled to a foreign country illegally to work as a painter when he was young. At that time, the work environment was terrible, and his workplace doubled as his bedroom; hence, he was exposed to the smell of paint all day long. After working for a year or so, he was betrayed by his friend and was repa- triated. This was when his nose started to give him problems. For example, his nose tends to get stuffy or runny whenever the temperature drops or whenever he stays in an air-conditioned room. Twenty years later, he went to see a doctor after his nose bled for days. It was then that he was diag- nosed with nasopharyngeal cancer. The background in our growing-up years may also be the main cause of cancer. A survey that revealed those who live in dry mountainous 36 Stay Away From Cancer

areas are more prone to oesophagus cancer, and those who live in the wet and humid tropi- cal coastal regions are more susceptible to liver cancer. For people living near the “lymphoma belt” in Africa, Burkitt lymphoma is at a high incidence. There are currently 118 carcinogens categorized by the International Agency for Research on Cancer.38 Apart from chemical food additives, cell damaging drugs, and en- vironmental pollution such as plastic, cooking Those who are constantly in contact with chemical toxins fumes and tobacco smoke, all of the carcino- must ensure that they are well gens among the list are associated with indus- protected during work. trial production. In other words, a number of industrial occupations come with a higher risk of cancer. For exam- ple, more than 200 years ago, the British medical community had already discovered that most workers who had long-term contact with rust-proof agents were diagnosed with cancer. Cancer and occupation are intrinsical- ly linked, as shown by Steenland’s research in The New England Journal of Medicine.39 In a highly carcinogenic work environment, you must rein- force personal protection by wearing protective gear such as mask and gloves. You should also wash your hands often, shower and change your clothes regularly. Take note of per- sonal hygiene, consume more foods rich in antioxidants and get body check-ups regularly. If you notice any bizarre symp- toms or changes in your body, consult a doctor immediately. The Truth 37

Blood stasis constitution Even though we are all humans, God created everyone unique. You might have noticed that some people suffer from internal heatiness just by eating a tiny bit of spicy food, but others show no adverse effects even after wolfing down a big, spicy meal. Some people can’t drink herbal tea as it weakens their legs afterwards, while others are just fine even after drink- ing lots of herbal tea. According to Chinese medicine, these varying body types are called constitution. Chinese medicine classifies humans into nine different body con- stitutions, which are: Yang-deficiency (cold & pale), Yin-deficiency (dry fire), qi-deficiency (weak energy), qi-depression (blue discomfort), damp heat, phlegm dampness (heavy & humid), blood stasis (poor blood circula- tion), balanced, and special diathesis (allergic). Each of these constitutions has their own characteristics and needs. Understanding what kind of con- stitution you have is extremely important. If you discover that you belong to the “blood stasis” constitution group, then you have to be very careful, as cancer tends to develop in those with blood stasis constitution. A study in China recorded the observations of the tongues of 12,448 cancer patients. 53.44 percent of the cancer patients observed had tongues with blood stasis—tongues that were dark red and purple in colour. An- cient Chinese medical experts believed that if qi and blood are clogged in the body for long periods of time, poor blood circulation tend to result and accumulate as a lump, which is also known as a tumour. I have come across a family where everyone had blood stasis con- stitutions. They all had poor blood circulation and did not like to exercise. Later, the mother was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and passed away. Soon after, the elder daughter died from lung cancer. Shortly after the elder daughter passed away, the second son was suddenly diagnosed with final stage stomach cancer and passed away. Later, the third son was diagnosed with bladder cancer and the youngest sister had a tumour growth in her uterus. Only the eldest son is still alive and well. I was curious about what set him apart from the rest of his family. It turned out that he was a sports enthusiast. 38 Stay Away From Cancer

Those with blood stasis constitutions, please do not be despaired, because most constitutions can be altered with lifestyles. What we eat de- termines what kind of body constitution we will have. For instance, those who have a soft spot for spicy foods and frequently stay up late typically develop a Yin-deficiency constitution. Those who like to drink iced water by the buckets and munch on raw and cold foods will most likely exhibit a Yang-deficiency constitution. If you are not very fond of exercising, you tend to develop a qi-deficiency constitution and blood-stasis constitution. Those who are constantly around flour-based, sugary, or fried foods will most likely develop a phlegm-wetness constitution and damp-heat consti- tution. If you are petty-minded, envious of others or chronically pessimis- tic, you tend to get a qi-depression constitution. If we intend to wipe out these suboptimal health constitutions, we must adhere to a healthy lifestyle and habit. After identifying your constitution, select the cor- rect remedy and tackle your problem through various methods. ,QGLYLGXDOVZLWKTLGHÀFLHQF\\DQG<DQJGHÀFLHQF\\FRQVWLWXWLRQV VKRXOGFRQVXPHPRUHWRQLFSURGXFWVDQGWKRVHZLWK<LQGHÀ- ciency constitutions should consume less spicy food and drink more herbal tea. People with qi-depression constitution should try to relax, those with blood-stasis constitution should exercise more, while those with damp-heat constitution should clean their colon more often. People with phlegm-wetness constitution should lose weight, and people with special diathesis constitution should avoid allergens. Cigarettes are your w orst nightmares It is a well-known fact that cigarettes are harmful to humans. Even so, there are still people who are willing to pay to smoke regardless of the ominous warning labels and prohibitive price tags. That’s the power of ad- diction. Just how many toxins are packed into one cigarette? While smok- The Truth 39

ing, the smoker inhales highly corrosive acetic acid and toluene, which will lead to lung damage. A key ingredient in cleaning products, ammonia, which is pretty much greywater mixed with fertilizer and urine, will also be inhaled and absorbed. At the same time, smokers inhale arsenic, a key toxin in white arsenic (arsenic trioxide), a poison used for execution in ancient times. DDT, a teratogenic pesticide, is also present; this means that the toxin will be passed down to the smoker’s next generation, increasing the chance of deformed babies. Smokers also inhale formaldehyde, the preservative used in mak- ing animal specimens, as well as urotropine, the key ingredient in manu- facturing cyclonite (RDX), a more powerful explosive than TNT. Hydrogen cyanide, the poisonous gas used by the Nazis during the genocide of the Jews in World War II, can also be found in cigarettes. In ad- dition, cigarettes contain naphthalene, the key ingredient found in moth- balls that we use to drive away cockroaches and other pests. Besides these substances, you will also find stearic acid, the hardening agent for candles, in cigarettes. Worst of all, lighting a cigarette will burn the PVC contained within, releasing dioxin, a notoriously poisonous substance touched upon previously. The most potent carcinogen in a cigarette is tar, and smokers tend to have brownish-yellow teeth because of it. The more tar deposits you accumulate in your body, the more your immune cells lose their functions. Besides, polonium found in a cig- arette is a highly carcinogenic radioactive element. A piece of Polonium with just the weight of a salt granule is enough to kill Cigarettes cause a great deal an adult weighing 70 kg. What is more RIKD]DUGRXVH੔HFWVLQKXPDQV frightening is that once polonium enters into the body, it can never come out! 40 Stay Away From Cancer

Lastly, the most malevolent substance found in cigarette’s wicked formula is nico- tine. Nicotine is a chemical substance that can cause addiction in smokers; it is like a leash, relentlessly pulling them back every time they try to quit. The various types of carcinogens Quit smoking for the sake mentioned above are actually just a small of your loved ones fraction of the 4,000 chemical substances released when a cigarette is burned. So, does smoking cause cancer? Yes, according to American Can- cer Society, smoking accounts for at least 30 percent of all cancer deaths in the United States, and 87 percent of all lung cancer deaths. Cambridge University once carried out a research on lung cancer patients who smoke 25 cigarettes a day. The results revealed that three sticks were enough to mutate one gene. Life is precious and a healthy life is even more valuable; so please, put down that cigarette. Cigarettes do not only harm yourself but also the people around you. Think about this, who will be suffering when you fall sick? You or the family that you love deeply? To quit smoking, detox first Some smokers are afraid that if they quit smoking, their bodies will GLVSOD\\DGYHUVHHઊHFWVWKDWPD\\HYHQHQGDQJHUWKHLUOLYHV7KLVLV a blatant misunderstanding! Many of my patients have success- IXOO\\TXLWWHGVPRNLQJWKURXJKGHWR[LÀFDWLRQ7KH\\GLGQRWVXઊHU DQ\\DGYHUVHHઊHFWVDQGEHFDPHKHDOWKLHU0DQ\\SHRSOHWU\\WRTXLW smoking on their own, but without much success. That is because they lack the nutrient supplements and lack psychological or spiri- tual counselling. Use the correct methods, and quitting would be a breeze. The Truth 41

Obesity does not equal prosperity Many elders holds on to the concept that plumpness reflects pros- perity, which is why they desire for their descendants to eat more. They say this because many have lived through World War II, when times were hard and having enough to eat was not easy to come by. Conversely, urbanites today have so much food to spare, they are not hesitant to waste exorbitant amounts. Children wolf down so much food, that their age group is seeing a spike in obesity rates never seen before. As a result, lifestyle diseases are affecting younger generations. By the time they hit middle age, they are already walking around with big, round bellies. Is this really a blessing, or is it a tragedy? Not only does obesity cause a multitude of chronic diseases, it also raises the incidence and death rate of cancer significantly. A group of on- cologists revealed that 20 percent of all cancers are associated with obesity, especially liver cancer, pancreatic cancer, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and myeloma. In Beijing, breast cancer has established itself as the top cancer among women, and the incidence rate among obese women is much high- er than women with normal weight. In addition, an obese breast cancer patient has a much lower five-year survival rate than a normal-sized breast cancer patient after operation. If not taken care of properly, obesity can kill. A healthy way to slim down To slim down healthily, one must have a correct concept of nu- trition. Slimming down in a healthy manner and refraining from ORQJWHUPIDVWLQJLVEHQHÀFLDO$OWKRXJKSURORQJHGVWDUYLQJPD\\ produce quick results, it also leads to a high probability of malnu- trition and adverse reactions. I have been doing research on slim- ming for more than 20 years, and I believe that the healthiest way WRVOLPGRZQLVWKURXJKDQLQGHSWKFHOOGHWR[LÀFDWLRQWRHOLPLQDWH the body of toxins, while taking good care of your body with diet therapy. In this way, your body will slim down naturally and will not show any adverse reactions. 42 Stay Away From Cancer

Obesity is a major risk factor of colon cancer, postmenopausal breast cancer, endometrial cancer, kidney cancer and oesophagus cancer. Scientists explained that having an excess of fatty tissues creates an excess of oestrogens, which increases the risk of cancers in women, in- cluding breast cancer and endometrial cancer. In addition, obese people secrete an excess of adipokines, which facilitate cell proliferation and fuel the growth of tumours. In short, if obesity is a problem that you currently have, slimming down would reduce your risks for cancer. 1 Detoxify regularly and allow the body to maintain in a healthy state. 2 Perform aerobic exercise every day, and let your fat burn! 3 Take time to study nutrition, get to know foods and nutrients WKDWZLOODઊHFWERG\\ZHLJKW 4 Persevere, and persevere further! Nothing is impossible for the determined! The pow er of psychological moods Some people may be surprised to hear this and ask, “What does bad mood have to do with physical health? There is indeed a direct link between a person’s emotions and physiological functions. A report in the newspapers, “Super-Strength: daughter rescued dad pinned under car”, can prove it. One day, while a teenage girl’s father was repairing his BMW 525i, the jack slipped and the whole vehicle came crashing down on the man, breaking five of his ribs and part of his sternum and vertebrae. Seeing this, his daughter, in desperation and without giving much thought, lifted up the approximately 1.5-ton car and rescued her father! After the incident, reporters asked the young woman to re-enact the feat, but she could no The Truth 43

longer lift up the 1.5-ton vehicle. How did she manage to have the strength to perform the extraordinary feat earlier? From a medical perspective, that was due to the power of adrenaline. However, why is this rush of adrena- line not displayed in normal times, but only in times of emergencies? The young woman’s potential was activated when she had the feeling of “want- ing to save her father at all costs”. This is the power of emotions. Since emotions can positively affect the body, it can similarly cause a negative impact on the body. We all know that a person’s emotions can be classified as optimistic and pessimistic. “A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.” This shows that optimism and good mood are all important to a patient. On the other hand, pessimism and bad mood will develop or worsen illness. According to a clinical statistics, many cancer patients are found to exhibit bad moods or mental states. The American Cancer Society has stat- ed that mental factors significantly affect a person’s immune system during its fight against cancer. Negative mental factors, which include pessimism, depression, inferiority complex, loneliness, anxiety, disappointment, de- jection, fear, stubbornness, jealousy and anger, can be the inducing factors of tumours. Researchers once conducted a sur- vey and discovered that 56.5 percent of people diagnosed with oesophageal cancer displayed negative emotions such as anxiety and melancholy. Also, another report said that those who tend to suppress their emo- tions have a higher chance of developing lung cancer; those who have experienced Having a joyful outlook setbacks in their younger days and are in- is the secret to good health ward-looking and melancholic have a higher chance of developing stom- ach cancer; those who like being alone and find it hard to live in harmony with others have a higher chance of developing digestive tract cancer and lymphatic system cancer; those who keep unresolved hurts in their hearts for long periods of time have a higher chance of developing breast cancer. 44 Stay Away From Cancer

Generally, people who are inward-looking and melancholic are much more at risk in contracting cancer than people who have a cheerful personality. Some people are really unfortunate. They encounter major setbacks in their lives and cannot cast off the dark shadows of their tragedies. In the end, they have to live in darkness for the rest of their lives. Some lose both parents at a very young age, or carry emotional wounds from broken rela- tionships during their teenage years, or lose their spouse or child at an old age; these traumatic shocks may cause them to develop negative mental traits such as depression and self-pity, become uncommunicative, and lose passion for living. Research agencies also say that when a person is experiencing acute high stress traumatic shock, all systems within their bodies will be in a state of disorder, resulting in an imbalance of the internal environ- ment, hence boosting cell mutation, ultimately leading to cancer. If you are trapped in pessimism, you must get out of it as soon as possible and escape from the clutches of darkness. The link betw een personality and cancer There are also many other cancer-causing personalities besides pes- simism and depression. Many cancer patients share a common mental trait even before their diagnosis of cancer—the unwillingness to change. Stub- bornness is a vital catalyst for cancer. Although their family and friends have been telling them to change their lifestyle and habits, many persist in their views or disregard advice. Hence, the seed of health consciousness is unable to take root in their lives. Such stubborn personality is most unde- sirable as one refuses to accept suggestions or advice from others. In the end, he will reap what he sows. Another type of personality that leads to cancer is ignorance. There are some people who care nothing about health matters. They come into contact with carcinogens every day and think that it is not a big deal. When diagnosed with cancer, they are completely oblivious about how it came about. It’s a pity that their ignorance eventually led to cancer. However, The Truth 45

another type of person that is even more pitiful exists. People belonging to this group are not ignorant, but believe in wrong teachings and listen to unscientific health theories. Only when they are diagnosed with cancer do they realize that the regimens they have been following are completely false. I would like to say that the best regimen is one that is balanced in all ways. Focusing on just one particu- lar regimen is insufficient and limited. For instance, some people know that exercise is good, so they focus solely on the gym and neglect the importance of proper diet and nutrition by eating whatever they feel like eating. It’s not that exercise isn’t good, it’s just that these individuals are enjoying a tiny portion of a big pie and missing out the majority of the pie. Some people make sure that they eat a good diet, take health supplements regularly and follow good sleeping habits, but they do not exercise The most important thing due to a busy work schedule. This is not in life is to search for the truth. balanced either. Maintaining good health is not about adapting the most superior method but about utilizing a combination of different methods at the same time. Only then can we really walk on a comprehensive and balanced path of healthy living. A joyful heart is good medicine No matter what is happening in your life, you should approach it with an optimistic outlook. One of my favourite ways to ease my HPRWLRQVDQGUHOHDVHVWUHVVLVWRÀQGDTXLHWSODFHIDFHWKHVN\\ and pour out to God the things that are weighing me down. 46 Stay Away From Cancer

References 1) Department of Commerce and Labor, Bureau of the Census. Mortality Statistics, 1900 to 1904. Washington, DC: US Department of Commerce and Labor, 1906. 2) CDC, NCHS. Underlying Cause of Death 1999-2013 on CDC WONDER Online Data- base, released 2015. Data are from the Multiple Cause of Death Files, 1999-2013, as com- piled from data provided by the 57 vital statistics jurisdictions through the Vital Statistics Cooperative Program. Accessed Feb. 3, 2015. 3) International Agency for Research on Cancer. “World cancer report 2014.” Geneva: WHO (2014). 4) Jemal, Ahmedin, et al. “Global cancer statistics.” CA: a cancer journal for clinicians 61.2 (2011): 69-90. 5) World Health Organization. World health statistics 2010. World Health Organization, 2010. 6) Bukhtoyarov, Oleg V., and Denis M. Samarin. “Pathogenesis of Cancer: Cancer Repar- ative Trap.” Journal of Cancer Therapy 6.05 (2015): 399. 7) Tzu, Sun. “The Art of war, translated by Samuel B. Griffith.” New York: Oxford Uni- versity 65 (1963). 8) Cox, E. A., and E. E. Finnecy. “Dioxins and waste disposal: the UK experience.” Che- mosphere 15.9 (1986): 1543-1548.. 9) Steenland, Kyle, et al. “Dioxin revisited: developments since the 1997 IARC clas- sification of dioxin as a human carcinogen.” Environmental health perspectives (2004): 1265-1268 10) Whelan, Elizabeth M. “Deadly Dioxin?.” Rational Readings on Environmental Con- cerns (1992): 223. 11) Deng, Li Fang, et al. “The formation and control of secondary pollutants during ther- mal treatment of municipal solid waste.” Advanced Materials Research. Vol. 518. 2012. 12) Yi, Sang-Wook, et al. “Agent Orange exposure and disease prevalence in Korean Viet- nam veterans: the Korean veterans health study.” Environmental research 133 (2014): 56- 65. 13) Geyer, H. J., et al. “The relevance of fat content in toxicity of lipophilic chemicals to terrestrial animals with special reference to dieldrin and 2, 3, 7, 8-tetrachlorodiben- zo-p-dioxin (TCDD).” Ecotoxicology and environmental safety 26.1 (1993): 45-60. 14) Huwe, Janice K. “Dioxins in food: a modern agricultural perspective.” Journal of agri- cultural and food chemistry 50.7 (2002): 1739-1750. 15) Sun, Ren-De, et al. “Suppressing effect of CaCO 3 on the dioxins emission from poly (vinyl chloride)(PVC) incineration.” Polymer degradation and stability 79.2 (2003): 253- 256. The Truth 47

16) Miller, Sanford A., and Victor P. Frattali. “Saccharin.” Diabetes Care 12.1 (1989): 75- 80. 17) Sand, Jordan. “A short history of MSG: Good science, bad science, and taste cultures.” (2005): 38-49. 18) Fernández, María B., Gabriela M. Tonetto, and Daniel E. Damiani. “Hydrogenation of sunflower oil over different palladium supported catalysts: Activity and selectivity.” Chemical Engineering Journal 155.3 (2009): 941-949. 19) Griswold, Eliza. “How’Silent Spring’Ignited the Environmental Movement.” The New York Times (2012): 5-7. 20) Meyers, Robert. “DES: The bitter pill.” (1983). 21) Raun, A. P., and R. L. Preston. “History of diethylstilbestrol use in cattle.” J Anim Sci (2002). 22) In 1971, many girls were inflicted with a rare vaginal cancer. After investigations by U.S. researchers, it was suspected that the cancer was related to diethylstilboestrol (DES). 23) Turusov, Vladimir, Valery Rakitsky, and Lorenzo Tomatis. “Dichlorodiphenyltrichlo- roethane (DDT): ubiquity, persistence, and risks.” Environmental health perspectives 110.2 (2002): 125. 24) Zervos, Constantine, and Joseph V. Rodricks. “FDA’s Ban of DES in Meat Production.” The American Statistician 36.3b (1982): 278-283. 25) Kreck, Lothar A. “US Fastfood Operations in Beijing: All Well at the Great Wall?.” Journal of College & University Foodservice 2.3 (1996): 15-23. 26) Nöthlings, Ute, et al. “Meat and fat intake as risk factors for pancreatic cancer: the multiethnic cohort study.” Journal of the National Cancer Institute 97.19 (2005): 1458- 1465. 27) Ministry of Health, the People’s Republic of China. Report on the Third National Sam- pling Survey of Causes of Death. Beijing: The People’s Health Press; 2008. 28) Gossner, Céline Marie-Elise, et al. “The melamine incident: implications for interna- tional food and feed safety.” Environmental health perspectives (2009): 1803-1808. 29) Kupferschmidt, Kai. “Dioxin scandal triggers food debate in Germany.” Canadian Medical Association Journal 183.4 (2011): E221-E222. 30) Mou, Yi, and Carolyn A. Lin. “Communicating Food Safety via the Social Media The Role of Knowledge and Emotions on Risk Perception and Prevention.” Science Commu- nication 36.5 (2014): 593-616. 31) Lies, Big Pharma, and Healthy Living. “What Women Must Know To Protect Their Daughters From Breast Cancer.” 32) Yang, Justin, Russ Hauser, and Rose Hannah Goldman. “Taiwan food scandal: The illegal use of phthalates as a clouding agent and their contribution to maternal exposure.” 48 Stay Away From Cancer

Food and Chemical Toxicology 58 (2013): 362-368. 33) Houlihan, J., et al. “Body Burden—The Pollution in Newborns a Benchmark Investi- gation of Industrial Chemicals, Pollutants, and Pesticides in Umbilical Cord Blood.” Envi- ronmental Working Group, Washington, DC (2005). 34) Onstot J, Ayling R, Stanley J. Characterization of HRGC/MS Unidentified Peaks from the Analysis of Human Adipose Tissue. Volume 1: Technical Approach. Washington, DC: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Toxic Substances (560/6-87-002a), 1987. 35) Harada, Masazumi. “Minamata disease: methylmercury poisoning in Japan caused by environmental pollution.” Critical reviews in toxicology 25.1 (1995): 1-24. 36) Arena, Jay M. Poisoning, Toxicology Symptoms. Thomas, 1976. 37) Mezei, Gabor, et al. “Household appliance use and residential exposure to 60-hz mag- netic fields.” Journal of exposure analysis and environmental epidemiology 11.1 (2000): 41-49. 38) Agents Classified by the IARC Monographs, Volumes 1–114.” Iarc.fr. International Agency for Research on Cancer, 26 Oct. 2015. Web. 5 Jan. 2016. 39) Fingerhut, Marilyn A., et al. “Cancer mortality in workers exposed to 2, 3, 7, 8-tetra- chlorodibenzo-p-dioxin.” New England journal of medicine 324.4 (1991): 212-218. The Truth 49

Chapter 3 Change Your Lifestyle and Habits Watch out for funguses Back when I was living in Guangzhou, I had to get rid of all the fungus whenever spring came around. During that particular season in that location, the weather is relatively humid, which provides the perfect environment for funguses to germinate. The reason why people often over- look them is because funguses prefer to hide in obscure places near cor- ners, on the undersides of tables, behind sofas, and even on the clothes and blankets kept inside wardrobes. Researchers have also discovered that the pillows we sleep on typically contain more than one million fungal spores per pillow. 1 These funguses do not only cause allergies in the human body, but also pass through the brain and cause problems in the nervous system. If they enter into the lungs, they may induce bronchial problems such as coughing. The most frightening thing about funguses is that they release mycotoxins, which will lower the body’s immune system and even dam- age the organs in the body, resulting in the body’s inability to deal with all kinds of diseases, including cancer.2 An Italian oncologist, Dr. Tullio Simoncini, classified fungus as one of the main cancer-causing factors. 3 Hence, you must dehumidify your home and make sure funguses do not gain a foothold there if you live in a humid region. The perils of picky eating For decades, nutritionists have been searching for the best diet for healthy eating. Some propose a high protein diet while others advocate 50 Stay Away From Cancer

a total vegetarian diet. Each has his own opinion, and the debate has not ceased. I wanted to answer this question, so I conducted a five-year clinical experiment involving more than a hundred people. I reached this conclu- sion at the end of the experiment: A balanced diet is crucial for health. Al- though a vegetarian diet can cleanse and purify the body in the short run, many people actually start exhibiting vitamin B12 deficiency syndromes after years of living on a pure vegetarian diet. The symptoms manifested include fatigue, a shorter attention span, memory decline, sleep disorder, mood swings, depression, irritability, anaemia, breathing difficulties and migraines. Do take note of this. I truly admire traditional Chinese diet which has been passed down through the generations over the past 5,000 years. Although this diet does not have a specific guideline, its central idea is the most comprehensive out of all other diets. Chinese medicine concept places emphasis on the four characteristics and five flavours of food, and it asserts that one should take moderation in choosing what foods to eat, rather than having inclinations towards some foods. If a person has a special liking for a certain type of food and consumes it every day, the result will be an imbalance of qi as well as yin and yang, thereby leading to various illnesses. Modern research has shown that people who frequently eat hot and spicy foods have a higher risk of developing oesophageal cancer,4 those who frequently consume foods high in fat have a higher risk of breast can- cer and prostate cancer,5 and those who like to chew betel nuts have a high- er chance of oral cancer. 6 My conclusion is, a balanced diet is crucial for health. Even if a certain type of food is beneficial for health, an excessive consumption of it will still cause problems. However, you should not turn up your nose at any kind of healthy food. All in all, don’t be a picky eater. You must diversify what you consume, as long as the source of the food is healthy and natural. Steer clear of second-hand smoke Smoking is one of the worst habits for health, but did you know that second-hand smoke is even worse? If you are a smoker, please do not Change Your Lifestyle and Habits 51