Inspire Others by Sharing Your Story with Us! |
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Nothing is more inspiring than hearing personal epiphanies of cancer survivors, their families, and class attendees who have been empowered by a greater understanding of how diet deeply affects health and quality of life. We’d like to hear your story, and share it with The Cancer Project community.
Just go to The Cancer Project Web site and click on Personal Stories. Tell us your survival story, what your experience with the Food for Life cooking classes was like, or how understanding the link between your diet and your health has changed your life.
Below is Deborah Pace’s story, in memory of her daughter, Chandra Lynne Solivais (Feb. 27, 1970 to Feb. 9, 2007).
Dear Cancer Project,
When my 34-year-old daughter was diagnosed with Stage IV colon cancer in July 2004, her gastroenterologist suspected a genetic link. When DNA testing did not support that theory, he told us it was apparently just "bad luck."
 Since my daughter’s death in February of this year I have been trying to figure out why such a young, spirited woman was felled by a disease that is most prevalent in people over 50. My questioning led me to study the link between diet and cancer and I have now read numerous books on the subject.
When my children were growing up, most of our meals centered on animal products, as mine did growing up. Then, for most of her adult life, my working-mom daughter primarily ate fast food. I will never know if poor diet caused her disease, but authors like T. Colin Campbell, John Robbins, and Neal Barnard certainly make a convincing argument for drawing that conclusion.
Because of what I have learned, I adopted a meatless diet. I sincerely hope my family and friends will heed my warning about the proven connection between animal products and disease and consider changing the way they eat as well.
After Chandra's long battle with cancer, I wanted to make a donation to help others, but I didn't want to throw more money at the same research that has been going on for decades while cancer deaths continue to rise. Because of everything I've read about the link between diet and disease, I made a donation to The Cancer Project in Chandra's memory to help the organization educate people about some very simple ways they can take control of their own health.
Thank you to The Cancer Project for taking a stand and doing this important work.
Yours truly,
Deborah L. Pace
The Cancer Project News, Winter 2008
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