You can now register for our October 17th Motorcycle Run for a Cure in Queens Village, NY online. The first 200 riders and passengers who register will receive a free t-shirt!

Click here to register and learn more about the event.

You can also download the form on our Events page to register via snail mail.

More good news! We are also now accepting donations via active.com!

Preview of 2009 Run:

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AFTER YEARS OF TELLING PEOPLE CHEMOTHERAPY IS THE ONLY WAY TO TRY (‘TRY’, BEING THE KEY WORD) TO ELIMINATE CANCER, JOHNS HOPKINS IS FINALLY STARTING TO TELL YOU THERE IS AN ALTERNATIVE WAY.

Cancer Update from Johns Hopkins Hospital:

1. Every person has cancer cells in the body. These cancer Cells do not show up in the standard tests until they have Multiplied to a few billion. When doctors tell cancer patients That there are no more cancer cells in their bodies after treatment it just means the tests are unable to detect the Cancer cells because they have not reached the detectable Size.

2. Cancer cells occur between 6 to more than 10 times in a person’s lifetime.

3. When the person’s immune system is strong the cancer Cells will be destroyed and prevented from multiplying and Forming tumors.

4. When a person has cancer it indicates the person has Nutritional deficiencies. These could be due to genetic, But also to environmental, food and lifestyle factors.

5. To overcome the multiple nutritional deficiencies, changing Diet to eat more adequately and healthy, 4-5 times/day And by including supplements will strengthen the immune system.

6. Chemotherapy involves poisoning the rapidly-growing cancer cells and also destroys rapidly-growing healthy cells In the bone marrow, gastrointestinal tract etc, and can cause organ damage, like liver, kidneys, heart, lungs etc.

7. Radiation while destroying cancer cells also burns,scars and damages healthy cells, tissues and organs.

8. Initial treatment with chemotherapy and radiation will often reduce tumor size. However prolonged use of Chemotherapy and radiation do not result in more tumor destruction.

9. When the body has too much toxic burden from Chemotherapy and radiation the immune system is either compromised or destroyed, hence the person can succumb to various kinds of infections and complications.

10. Chemotherapy and radiation can cause cancer cells to mutate and become resistant and difficult to destroy. Surgery can also cause cancer cells to spread to other Sites.

11. An effective way to battle cancer is to starve the cancer cells by not feeding it with the foods it needs to multiply.

*CANCER CELLS FEED ON:

A. Sugar substitutes like NutraSweet, Equal, Spoonful, etc are made with Aspartame and it is harmful. A better natural substitute Would be Manuka honey or molasses, but only in very small amounts. Table salt has a chemical added to make it white in color. A better alternative is Bragg’s aminos or sea salt.

B. Milk causes the body to produce mucus, especially in the Gastro-intestinal tract. Cancer feeds on mucus. By cutting off milk and substituting with unsweetened soy milk cancer cells are being starved.

C. Cancer cells thrive in an acid environment. A meat-based diet is acidic and it is best to eat fish, and a little other meat, like chicken. Meat also contains livestock Antibiotics, growth hormones and parasites, which are all harmful, especially to people with cancer.

D. A diet made of 80% fresh vegetables and juice, whole grains, seeds, nuts and a little fruits help put the body into an alkaline environment. About 20% can be from cooked food including beans. Fresh vegetable juices provide live Enzymes that are easily absorbed and reach down to cellular levels within 15 minutes to nourish and enhance growth of healthy cells. To obtain live enzymes for building healthy cells try and drink fresh vegetable juice (most vegetables including be an sprouts) and eat some raw Vegetables 2 or 3 times a day. Enzymes are destroyed at temperatures of 104 degrees F (40 degrees C)..

E. Avoid coffee, tea, and chocolate, which have high Caffeine. Green tea is a better alternative and has cancer fighting properties. Water-best to drink purified water,or filtered, to avoid known toxins and heavy metals in tap water. Distilled water is acidic, avoid it.

12. Meat protein is difficult to digest and requires a lot of digestive enzymes. Undigested meat remaining in the intestines becomes putrefied and leads to more toxic buildup.

13. Cancer cell walls have a tough protein covering. By refraining from or eating less meat it frees more enzymes To attack the protein walls of cancer cells and allows the body’s killer cells to destroy the cancer cells.

14. Some supplements build up the immune system (IP6, Flor-ssence, Essiac, anti-oxidants, vitamins, minerals, EFAs etc.) to enable the bodies own killer cells to destroy cancer cells. Other supplements like vitamin E are known to cause apoptosis, or programmed cell death, the body’s normal method of disposing of damaged, unwanted, or unneeded cells.

15. Cancer is a disease of the mind, body, and spirit. A proactive and positive spirit will help the cancer warrior be a survivor. Anger, un-forgiveness and bitterness put the body into a stressful and acidic environment. Learn to have a loving and forgiving spirit. Learn to relax and enjoy life.

16. Cancer cells cannot thrive in an oxygenated environment. Exercising daily, and deep breathing help to get more oxygen down to the cellular level. Oxygen therapy is another means employed to destroy cancer cells.

1. No plastic containers in micro.

2. No water bottles in freezer.

3. No plastic wrap in microwave.

Johns Hopkins has recently sent this out in its newsletters. This information is being circulated at Walter Reed Army Medical Center as well. Dioxin chemicals cause cancer, especially breast cancer. Dioxins are highly poisonous to the cells of our bodies. Don’t freeze your plastic bottles with water in them as this releases dioxins from the plastic. Recently, Dr Edward Fujimoto, Wellness Program Manager at Castle Hospital, was on a TV program to explain this health hazard. He talked about dioxins and how bad they are for us. He said that we should not be heating our food in the microwave using plastic containers. This especially applies to foods that contain fat. He said that the combination of fat, high heat, and plastics releases dioxin into the food and ultimately into the cells of the body. Instead, he recommends using glass, such as Corning Ware, Pyrex or ceramic containers for heating food. You get the same results, only without the dioxin. So such things as TV dinners, instant ramen nooldes and soups, etc., should be removed from the container and heated in something else. Paper isn’t bad but you don’t know what is in the paper. It’s just safer to use tempered glass, Corning Ware, etc. He reminded us that a while ago some of the fast food restaurants moved away from the foam containers to paper The dioxin problem is one of the reasons.

Please share this with your whole email list…………………….

Also, he pointed out that plastic wrap, such as Saran, is just as dangerous when placed over foods to be cooked in the microwave. As the food is nuked, the high heat causes poisonous toxins to actually melt out of the plastic wrap and drip into the food. Cover food with a paper towel instead.

This is an article that should be sent to anyone important in your life.

http://www.Renataonline.com

http://optimumhealthwithrenata.blogspot.com/

August Newsletter by Renata langner AADP, HC

Looking from a Holistic prospective good nutrition is especially important if you have cancer because both the illness and its treatments, can affect your appetite. Cancer and cancer treatments can also affect your body’s ability to tolerate certain foods and use nutrients.

Eating well while you are being treated for cancer can help you:

• Feel better
• Keep up your strength and energy
• Keep up your weight and your body’s store of nutrients
• Tolerate treatment-related side effects
• Lower your risk of infection
• Heal and recover faster

Eating well means eating a variety of foods that will give you the nutrients you need to protect your health while fighting cancer. These nutrients include protein, carbohydrates, fat, water, vitamins, and minerals.

Knowing what to eat and what to avoid can be helpful on your healing process. Today I will handle alkaline foods and the consumption of Soy.

According to extensive research on the subject, Cancer thrives in an Acid-rich environment so when you eat a diet that is more Acid than Alkaline, you turn your body into an “All You Can Eat” Buffet for Cancer cells.  Conversely, when you eat a diet that is more Alkaline than Acid, you not only limit one of Cancer’s favorite fuels, but you simultaneously turn your body into an environment that is downright unfriendly to Cancer.

While the accepted wisdom has long held that the healthiest diet is the one that is Acid/Alkaline Neutral, there is now a growing body of evidence suggesting that a diet that is more Alkaline than Acid is a powerful weapon in the fight against Cancer.  And that is why knowing the Ph Levels (the Acid or Alkaline concentrations) of what we eat is vital information for Breast Cancer Warriors

To help you get a handle on this whole Acid/Alkaline Ph issue, I would like to give something practical that you can use on the daily basis. So, print out the chart below put in our refrigerator use and share with others. Each one is assigned a number which mirrors its approximate relative potential of alkalinity (+) or acidity (-) existent in one ounce (28.35g) of food. The higher the number, the better it is for you to eat. Keep in mind that not only cancer patients can benefit from this chart, when people ingest too many acid forming or acidic foods, excess acid corrodes tissues and organs, which leads to illness. In addition, acid also provides a favorable environment for harmful bacteria and other micro organism that can damage glands and organs.

For a more detailed listing of the relative Ph Levels of many more food items, go to: www.balance-ph-diet.com

Soy and Breast Cancer warriors

Some studies have looked at how soy affects the risk of breast cancer. And those studies tend to suggest that a diet high in soy is protective against developing breast cancer. The concern in cancer survivors is that soy has some estrogenic properties, so to women with hormone-receptor-positive cancers there’s some concern that soy could actually contribute to recurrence. So, I usually tell my clients that they don’t need to avoid soy completely after a diagnosis of breast cancer, but I would not recommend megadoses of soy or specific supplements that include soy.

I would add that, at this point, soy foods in moderate amounts, of intake which would be typically no more than 1 to 2 servings a day of soy foods such as tofu, tempeh, soy sauce, or soy beans are considered part of a healthy diet and even acknowledged by the American Cancer Society as being safe for breast cancer survivors.

As I said before, good nutrition is very important part of the healing process but not the only factor. In holistic medicine we see life as “Whole” and we consider all aspects of your life as important.

Keeping a healthy mind is KEY for overall health and healing.

Please, take a look at the alternative article written by Bernie Siegel: Waging a War Against Cancer Versus Healing Your Life

Be well,

Renata langner,
Holistic Health Practitioner
Registered Yoga teacher

Mother Teresa, when asked to attend an anti–war rally refused, responding to those requesting her attendance by saying, “But if you ever have a peace rally let me know and I will attend.”

We are not killers, consciously or unconsciously, and yet when you listen to the language of medicine you hear words like; poison, blast, kill, amputate, destroy, eliminate, assault and more. Unfortunately doctors are not taught how to communicate with patients and so our words and the words given to patients to read induce negative side affects. The words are coming from an authority and have an hypnotic influence. They tell you all the things which can go wrong but do not tell you what can go right. So wordswordsword are swordswordswords. Yes, they become swords which can kill or cure as a scalpel can. If we told patients that their treatment was therapeutic and then explained there were side affects but they do not happen to every patient you would go home with a different feeling and option then being told all the side affects and none of the benefits. When given placebos patients have had their hair fall out and tumors shrink because they were told that is what would happen.

We also have to remember that all the side affects of cancer are not bad. There are blessings to be found in every curse. When accepting your mortality redirects your life and helps you to heal your life and find the ability to love you will understand what I mean.

Dave, a Quaker and friend of mine with cancer, went to see his oncologist. His oncologist said to him. “I am going to kill your cancer.” Dave answered, “I’m a Quaker. I don’t kill anything.” And he walked out the door. Dave lived for twelve years doing alternative therapies. I do a lot of work with drawings and imagery and tried to get Dave to think of his immune system as soldiers or police cleaning out the cancer but Dave could not work with those aggressive images. His drawing shows his white cells carrying his cancer cells away. He wouldn’t hurt anything.

When we focus on waging a war or fighting a battle versus healing our lives and bodies we are interfering with the healing process. Another patient I know had a large mediastinal tumor and she was told by someone to image her white blood cells as dogs eating it up. Nothing happened. One day she shared that she was not comfortable being aggressive and saw her tumor as a block of ice with God’s light melting it and then it literally began to melt away.

I also see in these drawings people showing God as the source of radiation therapy and in the operating room, or holding them in the palm of His hand while they receive a bone marrow transplant. Studies show these patients are more likely to survive and have fewer side affects. I have also seen the horrendous side affects of radiation upon a woman who said, “When they put me in the room and shut the door it reminded me of the gas chamber in the concentration camp I had been in.”

When our minds and bodies are involved in a battle and a war our response is one of protection. That means we are prepared to run for our lives as our blood is diverted to parts of our brain and bodies which help us to escape. Stress hormone levels are elevated and immune function is suppressed during this time.

When we are involved in healing and see life as a labor pain of self birthing then the side affects are diminished and our body is reprogrammed to grow and heal as the stress level is reduced and immune function enhanced. What impressed me years ago and has kept me involved in mind body work is learning from the people who don’t die when they are supposed to.

Women live longer than men with the same cancers and so do married men compared to single men. The reason is not female hormones and sleeping with them but their relationships and

connections. I knew a mother of nine who said, “I have nine kids and I can’t die until they are allmarried and out of the house.” Twenty three years later her ninth kid left home and her cancer came back. It amazed me that she could do that but sad that when she wasn’t a mother her life had no meaning. What I want everyone to do is find your unique, authentic self and not live a role or a life imposed upon you by others.

Another patient of mine was a landscaper who developed stomach cancer when he retired. He delayed surgery, because it was spring time, to go home and make the world beautiful, “So if I die I’ll leave a beautiful world.” When I told him post-operatively that I couldn’t remove all the cancer and he needn’t chemotherapy and perhaps radiation he said, “You forgot something. It’s still spring time; I am going home to make the world beautiful. So if I die I’ll leave a beautiful world.” John died at age ninety-four with no sign of cancer.

These were people who were living each day and not involved in avoiding dying. They accepted their mortality and lived meaningful lives. How many of us truly do what feels good for us to do and are capable of saying no to things that we do not want to do?

When you heal your life and find peace of mind your body gets the message too. Everything I am saying is scientific. We are capable of genetic changes and spontaneous reversals just as bacteria, viruses and plants do to resist antibiotics, vaccines and environmental changes. Our genes become active in response to the internal environment. Most women with a gene for breast cancer do not develop it. Twin sisters with the gene for breast cancer do not both develop the disease. The sister more likely to do so is the one who internalizes her anger and spends her life pleasing her parents and everyone else.

I am not saying this to place blame but to awaken you to the choices you have in your life. We are changed internally by the way we act. If I put you in a play, as an actor, I can enhance your health in a comedy and damage it in a tragedy. I know two patients who tired of their therapy, went home with extensive cancer and “Left their troubles to God.” And their cancers disappeared. No wars just peace.

So go and find what is right for you as treatment for your disease. If you are afraid of dying then do everything everyone suggests. If it is doing what is right for you and what brings you peace then go with it and know you will have fewer side affects when you decide which labor pains are worthwhile and of your choosing. I meet people who hate vegetables and would prefer chemotherapy as treatment so they can enjoy their meals at home with the family. The choice of the road to healing is yours.

Remember we all die some day and if you do things to not die you will be very bitter when you get to Heaven. The way to beat cancer is related to how you live your life and the experience and what you teach others. None of us will live forever. Death is neither a failure nor losing the battle though again, the way most doctors talk you would think it is.

© Bernie Siegel, MD 2009

As the weather becomes warmer, the sun brighter, and all of the flowers and trees bloom, we all want to spend more time in the beautiful outdoors.  It is extremely important to protect your skin from the sun year round, especially when the sun is at its strongest. Sun protection is important regardless of whether you are taking medications that cause sensitivity to sunlight or not. The immediate effects of excessive sunlight include painful sunburns and blisters or sun poisoning. The long term effect is premature aging as manifested by discoloration and uneven tone (both dark and light spots and patches), blood vessel formation, sun-induced acne (solar comedones), loss of elasticity, uneven or rough texture of the skin, and wrinkles. Most worrisome of all is the development of skin cancer which is the most frequently occurring of all types of cancers in the United States.

The damaging rays from the sun peak between 10 AM and 4 PM. These damaging rays are in the invisible form of ultraviolet light known as UVA and UVB. The ozone layer in our atmosphere protects us from much of the UV light. Due to depletion of the ozone layer by greenhouse gases and also due to seasonal variations, the amount UV radiation that we are exposed to varies. UV radiation can be high even on cloudy days. The UV Index was created by the National Weather Service and the Environmental Protection Agency to indicate the strength of the solar UV radiation on earth. It is rated on a scale from 1 (low) to 11+ (extremely high). You can check your local weather forecast or go to www.epa.gov/sunwise/uvindex.html to find out the UV index in your neighborhood on any given day.

The best protection from the damaging sun rays comes from either avoiding prolonged outdoor activity during these hours or by taking measures to protect yourself and your loved ones.

One method of protecting yourself when you are in the sun includes employing physical means such as protecting clothing. For the pool or at the beach you can also easily find fashionable swim shirts for men, women, and children that have an Ultraviolet Protection Factor or UPF to protect against the sun. Using an umbrella, wearing a solid wide brimmed hat, large UV protective sunglasses, and tightly woven clothing with long sleeves, long skirts, or long pants would be one of the best ways to protect yourself. But this isn’t always comfortable or practical, and may not be the look that you’re going for.

Another method involves application of sunscreen. It has often been said that it does not matter whether the SPF is 15 of 100. If the application of the sunscreen is liberally applied every two hours, then this is technically correct. A typical 4 ounce bottle of suncreen should last the average sized adult two full applications. Since most people do not apply the sunscreen in this manner and since most do not reapply every two hours, you are better off using the product with the higher SPF. Be sure to reapply your sunscreen every two hours no matter which SPF you are using, especially if you have been perspiring or swimming. Also remember to apply the sunscreen in the less obvious places such as behind your neck and ears, tops of your feet and toes, the backs of your legs.

Many sunscreens protect against the so-called “burning rays” but still allow the “tanning rays” to go through. In order to be fully protected, be sure to purchase sunscreens that specifically state on the front label that the protection is against UVA and UVB rays. You can also check the ingredients list to make sure that the product contains Parsol 1789.

For those with sensitive skin, the choice of sunscreen active ingredients is between titanium dioxide and zinc oxide. Zinc oxide covers the full spectrum of UVA and UVB rays better than titanium dioxide, but it is difficult to find and feels thick and sticky when applied.

New sunscreen label guidelines were released by the Food and Drug Administration in May. These guidelines will specifically rate the UVB protection in the form of SPF and the UVA protection in the form of a number of stars and make it simpler to choose the product that suits your needs. It is not yet known when sunscreens in the stores will reflect these changes.

If you do accidentally develop a sunburn, cover and remove yourself from the sun as soon as possible, keep yourself well hydrated, use ice or consider taking an anti-inflammatory medication such as ibuprofen if needed and call your doctor. It has been suggested that antioxidants may reduce some of the inflammation and damage that occurs after sun exposure. The best sources of the antioxidants are from natural sources such as fruits and vegetables.

So how can you protect yourself without looking like an alien or feeling sticky and gooey? A combination of both protective clothing such as a large hat, sunglasses, and a cover up that you might wear at the beach along with sunscreen that is reapplied frequently works best. Enjoy the beautiful weather!

Diana Sun, MD, FAAD
Diplomate, American Board of Dermatology
Clinical Assistant Professor of Dermatology, State University of New York at Stony Brook
Consultant Dermatologist, Veterans Administration Medical Center at Northport

H2M

575 Broad Hollow Road, Melville, NY 11747

119 Cherry Hill Road, Suite 200, Parsippany, NJ 07054

175 Pinelawn Road, Suite 308 Melville, NY 11747

Press Release

Immediate Release Contact: Ann Marie Snyder

January 18, 2010 asnyder@h2m.com

631-756-8000 x 1135

H2M Helps Raise Money For Rocking the Road For A Cure

(Melville, NY) – H2M, a multi-disciplined Architectural, Engineering, Planning and Environmental service firm, held an employee raffle to raise money for a local charity called Rocking the Road for a Cure.

“H2M supports charities that make our community a better place.  Rocking the Road for a Cure provides many families with the programs and support they need. It is our pleasure to support such a great organization,” said John J. Molloy, P.E., President and CEO of H2M.

Rocking the Road for a Cure Inc., is a New York community-based non-profit organization founded to provide free educational and homebound wellness programs, case management, counseling, recreational therapy and other support services for women and men going through the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer. Their mission is to restore strength and confidence, as well as rebuild spiritual, emotional and physical well-being.  They are a network of culturally diverse volunteers and professional, licensed and certified women and men who understand some of the challenges that you face today. There may be services that we can provide for you to make your life a little easier during this transitional period.

If you have any questions or would like to volunteer call Dawn Frey, President and Founder of Rocking the Road for a Cure at (516) 417-1911 or visit their website www.rockingtheroadforacure.org.

For further information about H2M please call 631-756-8000 or visit the website at www.h2m.com.

Photos Attached: John J. Molloy, P.E. President and CEO and presenting the donation to Dawn Frey, President and Founder of Rocking the Road for a Cure.

Founded in 1933, H2M has grown to be one of the most respected professional consulting firms in the Northeast, providing full-service engineering, architecture, planning, environmental services, and laboratory analysis.  H2M consists of Holzmacher, McLendon & Murrell, P.C., H2M Labs, Inc., H2M Associates, Inc., H2M Architects & Engineers, Inc.; and has offices in Melville, New York and Parsippany, New Jersey.

You can now purchase tickets through paypal for this event!

Full-Length “Wellness For Life” Conference Video:

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Illustrations depicting different stages of Breast Cancer, from AstraZeneca.

Here is a suggested article for winter skin care, written by Diana Sun, M.D., F.A.A.D.

Your skin may need extra care when you are receiving chemotherapy or radiation during the winter months.   The amount of oil that your glands naturally secrete to lubricate and protect your skin may be reduced when you are taking some chemotherapy medications. In addition, the cold winter air and the hot dry air from heaters can further reduce the moisture of your skin.  This can cause dryness, itching or flaking, and may sometimes lead to rashes.

There are some simple steps that you can take to not only keep your skin soft and supple, but also make it beautiful and radiant as well.

Maintain good health.  Be sure to keep yourself well hydrated and be sure to eat nutritious foods.  Drink plenty of fluid, especially water.   Unless your medications or medical condition requires the restriction of certain food groups, be sure to have a diet rich in whole grains, fruits and vegetables of all different colors (greens, reds, oranges, yellows, blues), and protein from a wide variety of sources (fish, poultry, beef, pork, lamb, beans and legumes, nuts, dairy).  Exercise regularly if you are feeling up to it.  And seek the emotional support of your family and friends and support groups.

Keep your showers short and avoid very hot water.   If your bathroom is steamy and foggy when you are done, then it is too long and too hot.  Wash your face and body gently each day using cleansers that are free of fragrances or dyes.  You may wish to gently massage your skin with a clean washcloth or gentle body scrub once or twice a week to exfoliate the dead surface skin.   Avoid exfoliating areas where the skin is sensitive, such as recently healed surgical sites, radiation sites, port sites, and the like.  These areas can be gently massaged with just your fingertips.   Check with your doctor about the care of these areas.

Immediately after your shower, apply a generous amount of moisturizer all over your face and body.  For very dry skin, heavy emollients such as Aquaphor ointment, Eucerin Cream, or even Vaseline Petroleum jelly applied lightly to wet skin can “lock in” moisture and leave the skin soft and smooth.  You can also consider natural alternatives such as safflower oil or shea butter, which are available at natural and organic food stores as well as many grocery stores and pharmacies.    For those with normal to dry skin, look for any fragrance-free, dye-free moisturizer.  Some excellent creams include CeraVe cream (which contain ceramides to replenish your skin) and Cetaphil cream.

When going outdoors, be sure to generously apply sunscreen to all of your exposed skin.  Use a sunscreen that has a high SPF number (at least 45) and check the label to make certain that it protects your skin from both UVA and UVB rays.   Look for ingredients such as micronized zinc oxide as the sole ingredient, or if several sunscreen agents are used, then  look for Parsol 1789 (also known as Avobenzone).

Finally, if your skin is very sensitive, protect it from the cold and wind.  Apply a generous amount of moisturizer with sunscreen before heading outside on a windy day.  You can also protect your skin by wearing a hooded coat or jacket, or by wrapping a scarf loosely around your lower face.

Written by:

Diana Sun, Dermatologist
Diana K. Sun, M.D., F.A.A.D.
Diplomate, American Board of Dermatology
Clinical Assistant Professor in Dermatology, SUNY at Stony Brook
Consultant Physician, Veterans Administration Medical Center at Northport