In Fat and Fine With It? I wrote about how I’ve been heavy for years now, even though I am physically active.
When I was going through chemo a neighbor stopped by with info about a healthy eating program. It was basically a raw vegan diet. She said she did it and it works for her. She’s never had cancer, nor has she ever had a weight problem.
I know she meant well, so I accepted the pamphlets and thanked her for stopping. However, I was a bit miffed.
She never asked what kind of cancer I had. She never asked what I ate. For all she knew I could have been a vegan who loved indulging in French fries too much!
And I don’t know if being overweight contributed to my cancer or not. Wayne likes to harp on me that it probably didn’t help and I need to take better care of myself in that respect. He may be right. And I do appreciate his concern.
However, from 2007 into 2008, especially 2008, I experienced some of the most intense stress I’d ever faced. It was all self-induced. I shouldn’t have let things get to me like I did.
Still, it happened. And I remember often feeling my blood. A few times I felt my heart hurt in ways I was sure was a sign I was about to have a heart attack. I also remember saying often that I was so stressed and upset it felt almost toxic. How I could feel my blood burning at some points.
I wasn’t all that surprised to learn lymphoma was a cancer of the blood. It made sense to me. I knew the feelings I’d had had been toxic! I’m convinced it was the stress that led to the cancer.
Which for me is why I place as much value on my mental health as I do my physical health. I even came up with the affirmation “Happy cells are healthy cells” to remind myself of this. I’m determined to never let myself feel that kind of stress ever again!
