When it comes to cleaning, I’ve noticed people tend to settle into two different camps. They love it or they hate it. They let it build up until they can’t stand it anymore (or they have guests over), OR they have a militant cleaning schedule and can’t do anything for the day until the cleaning is done. Learning how to clean your house with Norwex products brings a joy and simplicity to cleaning that I’ll talk about in this post.

Since we were both raised in a stricter cleaning environment, my husband and I tend to lean the other way- towards TIDY but “oh, there’s a pink mold ring in the toilet? Ok, I’ll get the toilet brush…” mentality.

We have always struggled with maintaining a cleaning schedule because with the little amount of downtime we have, we don’t want to spend it cleaning!

Until now. Cleaning is SO MUCH EASIER and FASTER and I love Norwex.

**GO STRAIGHT TO NORWEX CATALOG HERE**

Post updated November, 2022. Originally published March, 2017.

Toxic Cleaning Products and Cancer

It is well known that conventional cleaning products are horrible for both us and the environment. Like REALLY REALLY awful. Over 80,000 new chemicals have been introduced into our homes and environment in the last 50 years. That’s CRAZY. Even crazier is that the majority of them have never been tested for their long-term impact on human or environmental health.

When I was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 2008, my husband and I came upon study upon study linking lymphomas to chemical exposure. All of our household cleaning products had to GO, especially after we decided to purse non-toxic treatment.

Ineffective Natural Products

You can see in an older post I wrote, that for years I used basic, non-toxic ingredients to clean my home. The problem was that these products took a lot of WORK to become effective. Since a vinegar and water mixture was my main cleaning product, I couldn’t reuse kitchen cloths because they would leave my house constantly smelling like vinegar. This meant we went through A LOT of paper towels each day to wipe down counters.

Scrubbing with baking soda and Dr. Bronner’s soap was effective in the shower, but it took a LONG TIME and tons of scrubbing (which I avoided for way too long.)

Cleaning just wasn’t fun and took a lot of work and time to be semi-effective.

Why I Love Norwex Microfiber Products

Enter Norwex. A friend of mine bought me a simple Norwex Envirocloth and Window Cloth as a thank you and I haven’t turned back. I became obsessed with how much just these two cloths could clean!

They replaced both my glass cleaner (think: Windex) and my all-purpose cleaner (think: Fantastic, Clorox Clean-Up, or in my case vinegar/water mix) which during my pre-cancer days cleaned the majority of my house.

I also love because you only use WATER with them, they are completely non-toxic and you ONLY BUY THEM ONCE! No need to buy a bunch of cleaning products every few months.

How does it work you wonder?

Norwex microfiber is woven with microfiber 1/200th the width of a human hair. It clings and grabs EVERYTHING. Once wet with water, it works to pick up bacteria by actually GRABBING it and holding it in the cloth until you rinse the cloth under very warm water. It removes up to 99% of bacteria and contaminants.

Even more fascinating to me is that antibacterial silver is woven throughout the microfiber to create a self-purifying fabric. My microfiber usually lasts a week without stinking or washing! It’s. Just. Plain AWESOME.

Norwex microfiber can be used on all surfaces you currently use your all-purpose cleaners: kitchen, bath, shower, external toilet area, floors, cars, and outdoor furniture.

***Here are some AMAZING before and afters using Norwex microfiber.***

My Norwex Favorites!

1. Basic Package (Envirocloth + Window Polishing Cloth)
2. Safe Haven 5 Set with Ultra Power Plus Laundry Detergent (envirocloth, window cloth, dusting mitt, laundry detergent, cleaning paste)
3. Superior Mop Starter System w/Rubber Brush – Blue/Green
4. Tile Mop Pad- Large
5. Just Add Water Package w/Ultra Power Plus Laundry Detergent (Envirocloth, Window Cloth, Dusting Mitt, Detergent, Mop, dusting Mop, Dryer Balls, Mop Brush)
6. Fruit and Veggie Scrub Cloth
7. Bottle Brush and Envirosleeve
8. EnviroSponges (for washing dishes)
9. Counter Cloth Set + Kitchen Cloths
10. EnviroScrub (for bathroom and shower)
11. Body Cloth for Body or Face (Takes all of my makeup off and cleans my crusty-faced kids SO easily!)
12. Facial Makeup Remover Pads
13. Optic Scarf for Glasses Cleaning
14. Pet to Dry – Unicorn (comes in different designs)

Did you know Norwex Consultants earn 35% on all sales or personal purchases?

Interested in getting more involved with Norwex? As a consultant, you have the opportunity to earn the $200 starter kit for FREE and also earn 35% on personal purchases and sales you make. See more info on that HERE.

Clean Your House with Norwex Products

Which Norwex Products Should I Start With?

That is definitely up to you and your household’s individual needs, but here’s a run down of what I love and how I use it to make my cleaning routine simple, 100% non-toxic and QUICK.

For a more in-depth demonstration of the Norwex products I use in my home, check out this Facebook LIVE video where I talk about all of these products and see them in action with all the quirkiness that comes along with me. You can see quick individual demos in the descriptions of the products below.

My Must-Have/Replaces-All-Your-Cleaning-Products Favorites:

EnviroCloth + Window Cloth:

The Basic Package: This includes a Norwex Envirocloth and purple Window Cloth. This alone will reduce your household chemical use by 70%. (This is also the package I was gifted when I was first introduced to Norwex- I definitely had the “Where has this been all of my life!!?” reaction. See a video of me using the Envirocloth and Window Cloth HERE.

The Dusting Mitt:

The Dusting Mitt: Although you can use the Envirocloth wet or dry to dust, the Dusting Mitt is really nice and ergonomically molded to your hands subtle movements to get in the tiniest little areas to dust around picture frames, etc. I feel like a dusting MACHINE when I have the mitt on, lol. Gets the job done very quickly! See a video of how to use the dusting mitt HERE.

(You can also get the above Envirocloth + Window Cloth + Dusting Mitt in the Household Package.)

UPP Laundry Detergent:

Ultra Power Plus Detergent: All Norwex cloths maintain their integrity best when used with a laundry detergent with no fillers, dyes, fragrances, phosphates, or preservatives. I have found that the Norwex Ultra Power Plus detergent works the absolute best in keeping my Norwex products from deteriorating and holding onto kitchen smells. One of these bags will last you 100 loads in an HE machine and 66 loads in a top loading machine.

The Norwex Mop:

The Norwex Mop: Just when I thought my life was completely changed by the Envirocloth and Window cloth, I discovered that if you use your Envirocloth on your floors, MAGIC happens. I didn’t know it was possible to get my floors so clean WITH JUST WATER. The mop offers all of the brilliance of the Envirocloth but in mop form to save your back. And the included dry mop pad is BRILLIANT, using static electricity to draw dirt and dust into the mop. This has changed my life, cutting down sweeping and mopping time by 75% and allowing me to sweep my downstairs floors in 5 minutes and mop in 10. I am so GRATEFUL. See a video of how to use the mop HERE.

*****You can get the mop and the rest of the above items included in the Just Add Water Package which includes my top 4 favorite products above + the rubber brush for the mop and 3 wool dryer balls HERE. You won’t have to buy a cleaning product again for 5 years or more! This is my MUST HAVE bundle to begin to clean your house with Norwex. (See pic below.)**

You can also view some of the other Norwex Collections HERE.

You can also check out the entire Norwex catalog online HERE. It’s like Christmas morning year-round for crunchy folks like us.

-Cortney

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See more posts on anti-cancer lifestyle and diet and alternative cancer treatments HERE.

The post How to Clean Your House With Norwex (non-toxic cleaning) appeared first on Anti-Cancer Mom.

If you’ve been studying alternative or holistic cancer treatment for any length of time, you may have pondered how you would introduce it to a friend who hasn’t yet considered it or doesn’t know of it as an option for healing.

It can be a bit nerve-racking to think of offering such controversial “unsolicited advice.”

But when your friend or family member is diagnosed with cancer, you KNOW what they are going to be told by their oncologist, and you want them to know other options. I know for me- it feels like if I didn’t, I would be doing them a great injustice!

If you have been following my blog or simply have been researching on your own about the business-side of the pharmaceutical cancer industry for a while, then you would know that the conventional recommendations for cancer are pretty standard and (for the most part) really tough on the body. There is a time and a place for conventional care, but a dietary and lifestyle change as a first step is reasonable and important.

So how do you talk with them about dietary and lifestyle changes prior to beginning treatment? And how do you bring it up without getting push back or feeling like you’re overstepping boundaries?

How Do I Share With Others About Alternative Cancer Strategies?

There was a time when even I didn’t know how to approach this conversation, even after being on the receiving side of the information when I went through cancer 12 years ago.

Your loved one will be told that unless they agree to chemotherapy, radiation, or surgery, their cancer will get worse and they will most likely die. I was told that these were my only options as well. We now know that this is NOT TRUE. There are hundreds if not thousands of testimonials of people who have healed from cancer without pharmaceutical intervention. You can see even more here.

In most cases oncologists aren’t mean-spirited. They just AREN’T taught about the benefits of nutrition change, detoxification, herbal remedies, emotional healing, and other alternative therapies. It wasn’t part of their pharmaceutical industry-funded medical school curriculum. Non-toxic strategies are not in their tool belt.

My first oncologist told my husband and I this when we first asked about natural therapies. He simply said that natural treatments weren’t really studied, he didn’t know anything about them anyways, and didn’t feel comfortable recommending it to us. So we moved on.

How to Share:

• Approach Your Loved One Humbly and Lovingly. It’s very important to approach them in a loving and helpful way. They DESERVE to know this information and make their decision from there. Leave it in their court. You’re not trying to win them over to anything. It’s THEIR decision to pray about, research and make.

• Offer SPECIFIC help. Give them specific options and ideas to choose from. DO NOT SAY “Let me know if I can do anything to help.” They most likely will not ASK. Find some great, healthy ideas here —> 25 Healthy Ways to Help Someone With Cancer. You could also purchase the Square One Holistic Cancer Course for them or purchase it for yourself and loan it to them. There’s also the 20 Questions for Your Oncologist Guide, and the Survivor Stories E-book  by Chris Wark that speaks for itself.

• After that, if you pray…PRAY PRAY PRAY, because the pressure they will have on them to follow doctor’s orders is heavy. But have HOPE, because each day many are choosing natural therapies as a first line of defense in healing from cancer.

“It’s easy to get passionately excited and overzealous, but stay calm and LISTEN…”

Sample Email and Ideas for Conversation:

Here’s a great tool for you to help you formulate dialogue in an email or in your head before you talk to the person affected by cancer. Take note that the writing in italics and (parentheses) are my notes to YOU! Copy and paste as needed.

Remember, the warmer, more personable, and better listener you are, the better! Be yourself!

—————————————————-

Hey there friend, (insert name or whatever you’re comfortable with)

I heard recently about (your dad’s, your mom’s, etc.) cancer diagnosis and am so sorry to hear this.

I can imagine it comes with all kinds of emotions and also big decisions that will take some time to process and work through. Please know you are on my mind (heart) and I want to help how I can. (or you’re in my prayers, thoughts, etc…)

How can I help lighten your load? Would you be ok with me bringing dinner by one night this week? What night works best for you? (Be prepared to do this and bring something healthy. You can find plenty of recipes on my Pinterest page. You could also grab some To-Go meals from your local Whole Foods or healthier restaurant or just something that they love. Depending on how well you know their habits, you can even say “We would love to bring you some smoothies for breakfast one morning.” Also- if they are out of town, you may want to ask for their address and favorite grocery store and send a gift card for some healthy groceries or an Instacart order. Just offer some way to help!)

I also wanted to share with you something I’ve been learning about for a little while now. I’ve been reading the stories of quite a few people who were diagnosed with cancer and decided to choose dietary and lifestyle options to both support the body before their treatment began and during treatment. Some chose to continue their lifestyle changes as their treatment exclusively and did really well and healed completely. I included links to their stories in this email as I feel that this information is valuable to you.

It’s quite amazing what nutrition and other natural strategies can do to help our bodies. It’s definitely worth looking into, and no matter what you decide, I am here for you!

Here are the links:

www.anticancermom.com/how-i-beat-cancer

www.chrisbeatcancer.com/category/natural-survivor-stories/

www.cancercompassalternateroute.com/testimonials/

www.healingstrong.org (these are local support groups for people using integrative or holistic treatment.)

(I of course could include many more articles and links, but remember- you don’t want to overwhelm them! If they’re interested, they’ll ask for more.)

You are on my mind and I hope you find this so helpful! Again, let me know a day next week I can bring dinner by!

All My Best, (praying for you…love you, etc.)

<Sign YOUR NAME>

——————————————————–

What NOT to do:

Now that you know what to do, here are a few pointers on what NOT to do:

• DON’T overwhelm them with information and passionate stories of people healing cancer naturally. It’s easy to get excited and overzealous, but stay calm and LISTEN. Don’t ask too many questions, but a general “Where are you guys at right now in this?” should get you an idea of how much they know about their situation and what their timeline for diagnosis and treatment is.

• DON’T get angry or offended if they don’t listen to you. They will have a LOT of pressure on them to follow doctor’s order. They may even have pressure from a doctor in their family. They will be VERY afraid of dying in most cases and leaving behind their children and loved ones. Most won’t want to “take chances” with an “unproven therapy” and they will buckle under the pressure to take the “safe road” of following doctor’s orders, but it’s still worth giving them the information.

• DON’T scare them. Offer information about alternative therapies as an option for them to research. Don’t say anything negative about chemo, as it could be the best option for their circumstances. But if they ask about what you know about chemo and its toxicity and effectiveness, that is a great opportunity to send them to talk with them and send them additional studies or articles.

I’d love to hear your thoughts! Leave a comment below or on my Instagram or Facebook pages. 

If you’re looking for more posts and recipes about healing cancer naturally, check out my Get Started Page.

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The post How Do I Share About Alternative Cancer Treatment? appeared first on Anti-Cancer Mom.

Comparing Water Systems to Find Your Best Fit

Do I Really Need to Filter My Water?

Do you want me to just cut to the chase? Our tap water in the US is not safe to drink. We are going on 175 years, post-Industrial Revolution now, of dumping chemicals into our water supply – none of which belong in our bodies.

Nothing caused my husband and I to realize the importance of toxin-free water more than my cancer diagnosis in 2008. We started learning that practically EVERYTHING in our modern world can lead to an environment that encourages cancer growth including our chemical-laced public tap water.

In the U.S. and other developed countries clean water and proper sanitation has been essential to the decline in infectious disease incidence starting in the early 20th century. This has been significant in the overall decline of mortality, but with this addition of chemicals to our water supply to kill off pathogens has come a different problem – the cumulative effect of toxic chemicals in our drinking water and an increase in chronic disease.

Because of this (in addition to our diet, lifestyle choices and environmental factors,) chronic diseases such as cancer, inflammatory diseases like asthma, and other disorders have become prevalent and considered normal in our culture.

Chemicals from automobiles, lead, chromium, viruses, bacteria (including anthrax and salmonella,) and pharmaceutical residue dumped or urinated into the water supply are all easily detectable in our water supply (and our blood tests) in addition to the things that are intentionally ADDED to our water such as chlorine and fluoride.

Comparing THREE Popular Options: Boroux Filters, Aquatru Reverse Osmosis, Water 4 Life Alkaline Ionizer

This guide will help walk you through our own decision-making process for the right water filter for our family. I have had experience with all three units over the years, so I’ll share my honest opinion and decision making as we go.

Filter	Removes Fluoride	Removes PFAS	Alkalizes Water	Installation	Price Range	Maintenance
Boroux	Yes	Yes	No	None (gravity)	$$	Low
AquaTru	Yes	Yes	Yes No	Countertop plug-in or under counter	$$-$$$	Moderate
Water4 Life Genesis Alkaline Ionizer	Yes	Not Verified	Yes	Countertop, gravity or under-sink options	$$$	Low–Moderate

My family’s journey into better health has been a long one, beginning with my cancer diagnosis in 2008 and our decision to address it using non-toxic methods. The need to find a better water filter became one of our first changes.

At the point of my diagnosis we were using a simple Brita hand-held filtering container. We learned that although it removed chlorine and odor, it did not remove many of the other more harmful substances like PFAS forever chemicals, pharmaceutical runoff, fluoride, or microplastics.

After much research and the persuasion of a few people we respected, we purchased an alkaline water ionizer. We loved and enjoyed the heavenly tasting water from this system for 7 years, but when it stopped working in 2016, we knew we needed to do some new research. Buying another alkaline ionizer would be expensive and there were many other options available. There were also some questions on how thorough the contaminant removal and filtering certifications were.

 After much debate we now use Boroux gravity-fed water filters and this post discusses why we made that choice.

I also include the two other options we compared them against and why those may be a better option for you depending on your circumstances. There’s also some nuance with the relationship between the popular Berkey brand filters and Boroux filters, and I will discuss that as well.

Can you explain the relationship between Boroux and Berkey?

Some of you may know that I recommended Berkey water filters for years — and for good reason. They are identical to all of the qualities of the Boroux filters I spoke about above. In 2022, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) slapped a “stop production order” on Berkey for claims made about its ability to filter microorganisms. In order to do so, they would have to be classified as a “pesticide” and they did not have this type of certification. This put many Berkey distributors out of business and made it very difficult to find replacement filters. Today they are no longer in production and any Berkey black filters still for sale are inventory produced prior to the EPA stop-sale ban.

The family who owns BerkeyFilters.com, (who I purchased my Berkey filters from,) decided to pivot and launched Boroux independently from Berkey. This means they now have full control over the design, manufacturing, and testing of their filters. I love this company because they have sought out ongoing testing and have received multiple certifications that Berkey never underwent. They are essentially a better, more transparent Berkey filter. Same filter technology (carbon/coconut shell), but they aren’t making claims without backing it up with testing and certification.

Boroux filters are fully compatible with old Berkey systems, so if you already have a Berkey unit, you can use Boroux filters perfectly (we do.)

What We Use: Boroux Gravity-Fed Water System

The Boroux water filter system is a non-electric, portable, gravity-fed water filtering system that filters 99%+ of contaminants such as viruses, bacteria, environmental pollutants, pesticides, and pharmaceuticals from our water supply.

We have used Boroux/Berkey black gravity-fed filters since 2016 and have found this system to be the easiest, most thorough, and most cost-effective solution to filtering our family’s water.

8+ Reasons I Love Boroux Water Filters

#1. Filtering Capabilities and Certifications:

As I mentioned above, very little compares to the filtering capabilities of the Boroux water filter system. You can read the third-party reports of their filtering capabilities to get started on your research below. Just reading them again makes me so thankful it is what we filter our water through everyday. They are also one of the most highly and thoroughly certified water filters you can buy. Boroux filters are tested by ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accredited laboratories and adhere to NSF/ANSI Standards 42, 53, and 401. Here’s a quick rundown of what it removes and percentages:

BOROUX Foundation Filter Contaminant Removal Chart (Source)

#2. PRICE

Compared to other options for filtering water, you cannot beat the Boroux on price.

A stainless steel Boroux system has no mechanical parts and will last a lifetime with a ~$300 investment + filters every few years (if you need fluoride filters they will need to be replaced more frequently but we will get to that below.)

Each black Boroux foundation filter only needs to be replaced every 12-months (or technically every 6,000 gallons.) Each Boroux liter of water costs an average $0.02 per gallon. Compare this to $0.20 per gallon in a Brita filter and up to $2.00 per gallon for bottled water!

Over the course of 3 years, the Boroux filter system will only cost you your initial ~$300 while other water systems you have to keep buying filters. For a Brita filter this adds up to around ~$500 for three years (and counting!) Bottled water will cost you hundred per month for a family.

PURCHASE a BOROUX system for 20% off using code ACM20

Daily Cost Comparison (1 gallon/day)

Compared to ~$3,500 alkaline or hydrogen water systems, $8,000+ all-house systems, and ~$350+ reverse osmosis systems that require twice yearly filter replacement and often professional installation, you cannot compete with the simple investment in a gravity-fed system.

You also don’t have to worry about anything breaking or how long your warranty lasts.

#3. Filters Last a Long Time!

I mentioned this above, but each Boroux filter lasts 6,000 gallons. A set of 2 (which is typical use) is 12,000 gallons! Depending on how much water you or your family uses, these can last longer than 12 months, although they are warrantied for only a year and that is when the company recommends replacement. If filtering slows down, simply remove your filters and “prime” them by scrubbing them gently and running water through them again using the priming tool (“blue” or “tan”) – included with your filters. 

This refreshes flow and maintains performance. Clean the stainless steel chambers with water and vinegar monthly (1 to 3 ratio vinegar to water,) and scrub the filters every 6 months or so.

We aren’t perfect on this maintenance routine, but it’s worth it to protect our investment!

#4. Taste of Water

I will be honest here. I loved the taste of my alkaline water ionizer. Boroux does not win in this category because the pH of the water is not altered (it will stay the pH of your tap water,) and it’s not ionized. But the water still tastes so clean and fresh! People come over to our house and comment all the time on how great our water tastes. 

This makes me more attuned to the horrible, chlorine-taste of water whenever I’m out at a restaurant or someone else’s house (even if they have a Brita or another kind of filter!) I can especially taste the plastic leaching in certain bottled waters!

#5. Easy to Refill

Different kitchen setups will create different strategies for refilling your Boroux system, but I found the best thing is to keep it close to your sink so you can refill it with your extendable water sprayer in your kitchen. I can extend mine up to the top of the unit and let it sit there until the water is at the top. We do this every night as we’ve found that is a good rhythm to making sure we have clean, filtered water for the entire next day!

Another option is to fill a large Vitamix or blender container or another water pitcher with water and make as many refill trips as needed to refill your Boroux system.

PURCHASE a BOROUX system for 20% off using code ACM20

#6. No Need for a Plumber + Easy Setup + No Electricity Needed + Better for the Environment

That pretty much says it all. For the first 7 years after my cancer diagnosis we had an alkaline water system because someone told us that it would help us with fighting cancer and my acidic internal environment by alkalizing it.

This system required special installation and if the power was out, we couldn’t use our machine and didn’t have clean water.

The same goes with a reverse osmosis system, many of which also require fancy installation to a degree and wastes ~2 gallons of water per 1 gallon of filtered water it makes.

We are grateful for the simplicity and steady-nature of the gravity-fed, non-electric Boroux system.

And I am especially grateful for the amount of plastic bottles the Boroux system helps reduce, especially since latest reports are that only 9% of our plastic actually gets recycled (with the rest going to landfills.) 2025 preliminary reports are showing that number closer to 5%.

#7.  Filters Fluoride

Even though updated science is consistently showing that internally consumed fluoride today has no benefit in overall dental health, 70% of municipal water plants in the US still add fluoride to their water supply.

Not only does evidence show that internally ingested fluoride does little to help teeth, it is an extremely toxic substance linked to many health issues including endocrine disorders, allergies and cancer. (Source) 

Most developed countries including Japan and 97% of Europe do not fluoridate their water. It is an outdated practice based on outdated science and needs to be addressed.

You can check your area’s fluoride status HERE.  If it shows that fluoride is added to your water, you will definitely want to consider adding a Boroux fluoride filter to your system when you purchase it. These simply attach in the bottom container to the top black filters in the above Boroux container and need to be replaced every 1,000 gallons. I found my county’s fluoride additive percentage to be above even government recommendations.

The only modern studies to show benefits from fluoride have always been in topical fluoride used as a treatment in dental offices and perhaps some evidence that topical fluoride toothpaste has helped.

#8. Comes in 3 Colors to Matchy Matchy your Kitchen!

This is such an added perk with the Boroux! If you prefer a matte black or matte white finish instead of the standard stainless steel, you can add it for an additional $20! They are beautiful units!

PURCHASE a BOROUX system for 20% off using code ACM20

Boroux Cons: (that are minor in my opinion…)

So, not everything’s perfect and this wouldn’t be a realistic or honest portrayal of my experience with the Boroux system if I didn’t have a few opinionated cons. Here are a few things that were I wish were a bit different (but honestly just reflect on my lazy tendencies…

• Priming the Filters- All water systems require some sort of priming, so you really can’t get away from this. Boroux makes it easy though! All filters come with a priming tool which makes the process super easy!
• Sometimes it needs a babysitter– So, unlike other filters, the black Boroux filters need to be consistently used or they dry out and will need to be re-primed. This is true if you are going on more than a weekend long vacation. Check out the storage guidelines below.

          Boroux Official Guidance on Storage:

• • Weekend trips (a few days): No special prep needed—filters in the system are fine. If flow slows a bit upon return, a quick prime is all that’s needed.
  • Away 7–10 days: Remove filters from the chamber, place them in a zip‑top bag with a little water, and store in the fridge (ideally the door) to keep them moist—Boroux notes they can stay in the fridge for up to 30 days.
  • Away long-term (>30 days): Let the filters air-dry completely (3–5 days), then store dry in their packaging—dry storage prevents mold and odor issues.
• Cleaning your Boroux – Just like with anything, every month or so I clean out both Boroux top and bottom reservoirs with vinegar and water spray and some paper towels or a Norwex cloth. Sometimes I go two or three months and have never noticed a change in taste or smell.
• Its LARGE presence – Whenever new people come to my house they are immediately drawn to asking questions about my water system. You can see what it looks like in the picture above. It is a LARGER presence on your counter. I personally like it because my health journey and lifestyle is something I enjoy talking about!
• Having to manually refill- I don’t mind this so much because we just stick to the routine of doing it every night before bed and checking at lunchtime, but I imagine for someone just used to grabbing water from the tap, this would be annoying. But it’s SO worth it to me knowing I’m getting the BEST water.
• Only a few sizes available – Boroux is currently only available in two sizes: 3 gallon and 1.5 gallon. Berkey still does sell their larger-sized units (4.5 and 6 gallon units) if 3 gallons isn’t large enough for you. Another tip is to just buy the 3 gallon Boroux unit and get 4 filters so your water filters faster and then make it your routine to refill twice a day.

Where Can I Buy a Boroux Water Filter System?

You can purchase a complete 3-gallon Boroux Water Filter system starting at around ~$350. Shipping is FREE. If you are just looking for replacement filters for your existing Berkey unit click HERE.

For our family of 8, we go through a day’s worth of water (~6 gallons) using an old Berkey 6-gallon model in about a day. The 3-gallon Boroux model would need to be refilled twice a day for us.

***Make sure to add on your fluoride filters if needed!

PURCHASE a BOROUX system for 20% off using code ACM20

(pic)

Another Great Option: AquaTru Reverse Osmosis System

The AquaTru is a plug-in, reverse osmosis (RO) water filtration system that removes 82+ contaminants, including lead, fluoride, PFAS, chlorine, and microplastics, using a four-stage purification process. Its countertop model offers a clean, efficient alternative to under-sink RO units – without requiring a plumber or permanent installation.

This is a great choice for those who prefer easy installation with the added instant fluoride removal and purification of RO technology. Under sink options are also available but require a plumbing expert for installation.

4 Reasons to Consider the AquaTru RO Filter

#1. Reverse Osmosis + Certified Performance (Source)

AquaTru’s 4-stage RO system removes the most common and dangerous tap water contaminants, including:

It is NSF-certified to Standards 42, 53, 58, 401, and P473 – even more than the Boroux above. 

A big perk of the Aquatru is not having to fuss with adding additional fluoride filters. Reverse osmosis machines naturally do that. With Boroux and alkaline water machines you will need to purchase additional filters and install them.

#2. Easy Setup, No Plumbing Required

One of the things I love most is that AquaTru sits right on your countertop and doesn’t require installation. You just fill the tap water tank, press a button, and it filters your water into a separate tank, ready to pour. It plugs into a standard outlet and fits in most kitchen spaces. It’s plug and go! It wins the “ease of set-up” award over Boroux.

#3. Filter Replacement is Easy

AquaTru uses three compact filters that snap in and out – no tools needed.

• Pre/Carbon Filter: lasts 6 months
• Reverse Osmosis Filter: lasts 2 years
• VOC Carbon Filter: lasts 1 year

The machine will let you know when it’s time or you can set a calendar alert. Compared to other RO systems that require 2–4 filter changes a year, AquaTru is refreshingly low maintenance.”

#4. Alkaline Water is Also an Option

For a marginal additional fee you can grab the alkaline water unit in both of the countertop sizes that AquaTru offers.

AquaTru RO Cons: A few things I don’t like…

• Needs Electricity: I have perhaps an irrational fear of the power going out and not being able to get fresh, filtered water, but this is a legitimate concern for some. I prefer the Boroux water system to the Aquatru for this reason.
• Filter replacement often: There are 3 filters and you’ll need to keep track of when they need to be replaced.
• Wastewater: Although much more efficient than under-sink RO systems, AquaTru still produces some wastewater, about 2 gallons of wastewater per 1 gallon of filtered water.
• Appearance: Its white plastic presence in my otherwise stainless steel and black kitchen is not a deal breaker, but I like the stainless steel, or white or black matte appearance of the Boroux.
• Minerals Removed: Like all RO systems, AquaTru removes minerals from the water. If you want them back in, you can add mineral drops or use AquaTru’s Mineral Boost add-on.
• Refilling often: The largest-sized countertop Aquatru (or any reverse osmosis machine) I have seen doesn’t even go up to a gallon. Compared to the 3-gallon Boroux, you would be filling up more than 3x as much! This would be a lot for our family. An undersink, faucet model would be a better choice if choosing RO.

Where to Buy:

Shop the AquaTru Countertop RO system. Check for sales HERE.

***AquaTru also has under counter options and alkaline options that I have NOT tried on their website.

(pic)

Water4 Life Genesis Alkaline Filter

The Water4Life Genesis is a high-end, electric alkaline water ionizer that connects directly to your kitchen faucet and produces both alkaline and acidic water through a process called electrolysis. The Genesis uses advanced filtration combined with powerful ionization to adjust the pH of your water, remove contaminants, and produce antioxidant-rich alkaline water for drinking, cooking, and wellness.

We used a Genesis-style ionizer as our family’s main water system for over seven years — especially during the early years of my healing journey — and I have a lot to say about the pros, the cons, and the ideal use cases for a system like this.

7+ Reasons I Love the Genesis Alkaline Water Ionizer

#1. Ionized, Alkaline Water with Antioxidants

The primary benefit of an alkaline ionizer like the Genesis is that it doesn’t just filter water –  it transforms it. Using electrolysis, the machine separates water into acidic and alkaline streams, and you can choose the pH level you want. This gives you control over water pH, ranging from about 3.0 (acidic) to 10.5+ (alkaline) depending on your local tap water.

The alkaline water produced contains molecular hydrogen, which is a powerful antioxidant and may support cellular health, hydration, and detoxification. The acidic water can be used for cleaning, skin care, and disinfecting.

#2. Built-In Filter for Contaminants

Before ionization, the Genesis runs your water through a high-quality internal filter. This reduces:

• Chlorine
• Chloramine
• Sediment and rust
• Some VOCs and organic contaminants

While it doesn’t filter as thoroughly as a reverse osmosis or gravity-fed system like Boroux, it does improve taste and removes the basics. Many families choose to pre-filter their water (especially for fluoride or heavy metals) using a whole house or under-the-sink filtering system.

#3. Easy and Instant Alkaline Water

Once installed, the Genesis makes it easy to get alkaline water on demand. You simply press a button on the touchscreen panel to select your desired pH level, and water flows immediately. A genteel voice chimes in “Alkaline water in 1st step” and you can adjust the level for your needs.

There’s no waiting like with gravity systems, and no refilling of tanks. This is great for large families, high water usage, or people who want alkaline water throughout the day for tea, smoothies, and meals.

#4. Build Quality and Warranty

Genesis ionizers are designed and made in Korea to last. The internal plates (which perform the electrolysis) are solid titanium coated with platinum, and they’re self-cleaning to avoid mineral buildup. 

They also come with a 5-year warranty and 60-day money back guarantee.

#5. Health Benefits of Alkaline + Acidic Water

While I always recommend listening to your body, many people (myself included) report improved hydration, digestion, and energy levels when drinking alkaline water consistently. It’s hard to tell with me because so much of my diet and lifestyle changed during that cancer healing season all at once, but I felt amazing drinking this water and making my daily smoothies and tea with it!

Even the acidic water output is useful! We’ve used it for:

• Cleaning produce
• Disinfecting cutting boards and sponges
• Spraying on skin breakouts or irritation

#6. Sleek on the Countertop

The Genesis is designed to sit next to your sink and looks sleek and high-tech with its touchscreen controls. While it does take up counter space, I’ve found that guests are always curious — it becomes a conversation starter, just like our Boroux system.

Installation is relatively simple for anyone comfortable with a few tools or can be done by a handyman in under an hour.

#7. No Plastic Waste + Unlimited Water

One major bonus: no more plastic water bottles! The Genesis provides a steady flow of purified, ionized water without needing to buy and dispose of bottled alkaline water — which is expensive, wasteful, and often not even truly ionized.

If your family drinks a lot of water, you’ll love the fact that the Genesis provides unlimited water on tap.

What About Fluoride?

One of the biggest downsides of ionizers like Genesis is that they do not remove fluoride. If you live in an area with fluoridated water (you can check your ZIP code here), I highly recommend using a pre-filtration system that removes fluoride — such as an AquaTru RO system or fluoride-specific gravity filters like Boroux.

Once fluoride is removed, your Genesis can still ionize the water beautifully.

Genesis Water Ionizer Cons: What I Wish Was Different

• Lack of testing certification and transparency: Although the sales page claims the machine filters out 99.99% of impurities and contaminants (not fluoride,) there is no testing or certification provided. This was standard process years ago when we bought the machine, but nowadays in order to be considered trustworthy, testing and PROOF is needed.
• Requires Electricity: If the power is out, the unit can’t ionize water.
• Installation Can Be Tricky: Some faucets may not be compatible, and you may need adapters or a plumber.
• Doesn’t Remove Fluoride or Heavy Metals: The filter is great for chlorine and taste, but not enough on its own.
• Price Tag: Most Genesis units start around $2,000–$3,500, which is an investment. However, it replaces bottled water and expensive alkaline brands over time.

Where Can I Buy the Genesis Alkaline Ionizer?

You can find the Genesis through Water4LifeUSA.com, and it’s often bundled with extra filters, pH drops, or pre-filtration add-ons. They also have good customer support and payment plans available.

Make sure to measure your faucet setup and consider whether you’ll want a pre-filter system to get the most benefit out of your Genesis.

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This is my super honest, experiential review of Freely Funded: The Debt-Free Healing Strategy. These have to be some of the best fundraising ideas for cancer treatment. Not often do I get to be a part of the inner workings of such a great project as this, but my husband Kevin and I got to be around from the start. And you know I love stories, so let me tell you how.

We chose to be a part of this project because over the past 10 years since my cancer diagnosis I have met many MANY people whose #1 obstacle to healing was their ability to pay for the treatment they wanted. The need for this program is IMMENSE!

In this review, I will talk about the origins or Freely Funded, my thoughts as I watched and completed each module, and the pros and cons of purchasing a course like this.

Freely Funded: The Debt-Free Healing Strategy

If you have read my cancer story, then you know it was really my husband, Kevin’s conviction about my cancer treatment that led us down the path of alternative treatment options. I was the reluctant one afraid of going against the doctor’s recommendation and the beliefs of many of our friends and family.

His confidence never wavered that we were supposed to take a road less traveled, and 10 years later THIS MONTH- here we still are, cancer-free with a 4th child due in February. I’m so grateful for him and his inclination towards challenging the status quo.

This still doesn’t mean that we didn’t use a LOT of our own money to heal and at times were overwhelmed by the expense.

***********************************************

Last year, Kevin teamed up with two other families who also took roads less traveled in their cancer diagnoses, both having their own fundraising stories and challenges. Their combined experience along with ours came together to create a course that helps with one of the biggest concerns I get from readers of this blog:

How am I going to pay for all of these alternative or integrative treatments not covered by insurance???

 

Together with the tried and true strategies of The Cancer Shift’s Ryan Luelf (who raised $200,000 for his cancer treatment) and the amazing contributions of the Vida Protocol‘s Theo Hanson (who helped guide his wife Kim through her cancer journey in 2014- she was in remission from Stage II breast cancer in under 4 months), they created Freely Funded: The Debt-Free Healing Strategy, a course to help people eliminate medical debt, reduce stress, and heal on their terms.

Everyone is talking about all the ways you can heal from cancer, but no one is talking about how to pay for it.”

What is Freely Funded?

The short answer is that it’s a proven strategy to help you pay for the kind of treatment you believe in and get out of medical debt.

The longer story is that it’s a passion project by cancer survivors to help those with medical debt raise funds to get the treatment they choose and not have to pay for it for the rest of their lives.

Nothing like Freely Funded has ever been done — an online program created by survivors and their families, FOR survivors and their families to equip those facing significant medical debt or expenses (be it a cancer diagnosis, someone who needs an organ transplant, couples facing infertility, and the list goes on) with the tools and strategies they need to raise the money they need.

In it you will find a step-by-step plan to guide you towards and through your fundraising goal.

When I first began watching the modules I thought….’this is more like a masterclass than a course.’ The quality and ease of use is lovely.

One of my favorite parts of the course is that it is designed for patients and their advocates: friends and family members who want to take a lead on fundraising for their loved one.

Also, for often reserved people like me (who have a hard time asking favors of people), so much of the course has people like us in mind. There are dozens of strategies that are not only given, but are guided through.

Our family knows what it is like to heal in a way that is right for the individual, when the costs of treatments, supplements, and medicines are not covered by insurance. We believe that money or health insurance shouldn’t decide what kinds of treatment you can access.

Learn more about Freely Funded HERE

What can you expect from Freely Funded?

I went through the actual course to help you truly understand what you’re signing up for with Freely Funded. Here are some of my thoughts as I went through both the online video modules and the corresponding workbook.

Introduction Module:

• First impression of the course interface- WOW. Super professional and honestly the best I’ve ever seen in an online course environment.
• This module explains what the course is going to address and what is required of the participant.
• Make sure to print out the workbook if you can or didn’t order the hard copy version. It is long (100+ pages,) so you may need to save it and bring it to a copy store or be prepared to use some ink at home. If printing it home, I would note that there is lots of blue ink used in the document, including several title pages that are almost completely made of blue ink. May want to print in grayscale if you want to conserve your “blue.”
• A summary of the workbook lesson is also available on each Freely Funded module page.

Module 1: The Mental Shift

• Ryan speaks as a coach, encourager and empowerer, not as an expert and I like this. Everything he says makes me believe that I can do this (and I don’t think I just am feeling this about fundraising but about healing, too!)
• At times, I find myself emotional- as if he gets where I’m coming from. He addresses what will be coming in the upcoming modules and the attitudes that can get in the way of being successful on our journey.
• Love this —-> “Choose healing and life over the potential pride of what someone might think or some of the criticism you might get back.” Ooooh this is so convincing to me! I often think that I’m inconveniencing others by asking for help.
• Overall I feel like I could watch Module 1 three times to gather all of the encouragement and value here. I found myself so emotional during this session and as if I went through a therapy session to a degree. I had to sit and pause a few times just to soak in everything he was saying.
• After Module 1, the workbook really helped me digest my thoughts and admit openly some of the beliefs that I know would hinder my fundraising (and ultimately my own healing…) I had already taken a lot of notes, but the workbook helped me organize my thoughts and summarize them and also to move me into action steps.
• After Module 1 I suggested the need for a course transcript to my husband, although the workbook does contain a lot of what Ryan discusses. There is just SO MUCH richness already.

Module 2: How to Ask

• (Without giving away too much detail) this module addressed ALL of the details in how to ask for people to donate to your cause.
• There were at least FIFTEEN specific suggestions around how to paint your story to your potential donors to move and inspire people to give to your cause.
• Ryan paints out examples and ideas for how to write down your “story” and your plan for healing to help your potential donors understand how their money would be used.
• Just like module 1, I wanted to take notes faster than I could. He offered so many tips  and examples I wanted a transcript to underline and highlight and write on.

Module 3: The Easy Button

• This module teaches you how to prepare for receiving funds: digital options, non-technology options, making sure people have multiple ways to give. There were many ideas I hadn’t ever thought of.
• Ryan addresses the fear of technology and how to problem-solve this problem.
• Creating a “team” around your fundraising- asking other people to be involved.
• SO MANY IDEAS. Feeling excited
• HOLY COW- this is where the workbook really kicks in! It details an exact plan for setting up a successful online fundraising presence. TONS of examples that you can be inspired by and grab from for creating your own fundraising platform, step-by-step.

Module 4: The Magic of 37

• This is the first module I found myself pushing back against the effort I would have to put in. It challenged my weakness of having to “keep trying” and having to “ask” more than once or “bother” people.
• Using social media to reach out and how to stay in touch.
• You have to keep reminding people——–37 impressions is the number.
• This is where the course pushes against my tendency towards laziness and wanting things to “just happen” without any effort.
• How to get past the self-doubt and just go for it and keep trying, keep pushing addressing self worth again.
• Understanding the mindset of giving everyone the “permission to say NO.” The power of freely giving.
• The feelings and emotions that go into asking so many times…
• How to engage with people in social media and how to bring value to people through your story…
• Direct asking and how it differs from social media (and how to approach.)
• How to extend your network through your current network. “You are in control of how visible your story is.”
• Stay multidimensional, give updates often even if it’s not the best news.

Module 5: Gratitude

• This module begins with walking us through the shift from entitlement to gratitude. Seeing the wonder in humanhood and surrender. Again, this one is a lesson in attitude shift.
• Like I said before- a lot of the strategy in successful fundraising comes with emotional healing and attitude shift and this module continued to teach me things I never would have thought of without begin told.
• Shifting to gratitude for the OPPORTUNITY to heal and recover vs. the entitlement to be well.
• Ryan talks about his strategy of short-term need fundraising (in his case, raising $25,000 in one week.)
• How to respond personally to every gift.

Module 6: Facebook is Not Enough

• This was a module I was very curious about because when my husband shared with me about the idea for Freely Funded, I honestly thought “What else is there besides Facebook and GoFundMe? I learned there is MUCH to be learned.
• Ryan cautions between “all or nothing thinking” and coaches how to shift to “all AND.”
• Ryan shares for strategies to use within several different platforms.
• Making video updates and “touching base” – strategies around staying effective within a short update.
• The option of “starting a blog” or update page and letting a loved one update for you from their perspective.
• The WORKBOOK is what really shines in this module. So many ideas!

Module 7: Secret to Success

• Module 7 includes a review of the prior modules plus over 15 additional fundraising ideas that target specific needs.
• What to do when you get discouraged, how to push through (this part was really helpful!)
• Why your fundraising must support both KNOWN and UNKNOWN costs (asking for more than you think you’ll need- you need a cushion.)

Bonus Module #1: Inspired vs. Required Effort

• This module was shorter than the others (about half as long) but dealt with more of the emotional perspective of how this journey has us feeling and WHY we need to listen to those internal messages.
• This is some SERIOUS bonus material. Several of the ideas Ryan offered in this module made a few of the other modules click for me. So much of this program has to do with confidence and self-worth, things that needed strengthening for me.

Bonus Module #2: The Advocate Perspective

• Ryan’s wife Caroline joins him for this module which is twice as long as the other 9 modules (~20 minutes)
• This module is AWESOME. I chuckled, I got teary-eyed thinking about my own husband’s support, and learned SO MUCH. I think this module will truly tap into so many people’s concerns and apprehensions about fundraising.
• Caroline shares HER fears about fundraising.
• WOW…this was so beautiful to hear. Caroline discusses how proud she was of Ryan, that even though he was confined to his recliner or hospital bed, he viewed fundraising as the way he could help support his family and take the medical expense burden off of HER and help support their family. That is quite a shift in perspective.
• How to deal with setbacks when the money is gone and the treatment didn’t work. Asking for more…
• OK- off topic, but I can’t help but acknowledge that Caroline is ridiculously beautiful and is somehow in her late 30’s and looks 25!? I’ve met her in person and continue to be amazed by her strength and intelligence. She is a model example of being a supportive spouse.

What is included in the Freely Funded course?

• Online access to the 10 video modules teaching you Ryan’s strategies for fundraising.
• A 100 page workbook to get you implementing the strategies.
• Email support from the Freely Funded team

And it is ZERO risk to you. Freely Funded guarantees you will raise at least TEN TIMES the cost of the course within 30 days or your money back. No questions asked.

THAT is awesome.

Who is Freely Funded For?

When my husband first brought this idea up to me, I had plenty of questions and concerns. As a people-pleaser who hates to ask for favors or help, publicly asking for money is an extremely uncomfortable and anxiety-producing task.

I would say Freely Funded meets you where you are. No matter your age, level of health (Ryan fundraised from his recliner!) or level of technology knowledge, you can form a plan for fundraising that works for you!

The course also helps you form a support system around you and how to also fundraise from the perspective of an advocate.

Participants have raised anywhere from $1,000 in a few days to over $50,000 in a few weeks.

ANYONE can benefit from this course.

Conclusion:

Overall, this is so much more than a fundraising course. At times, I felt it was the cross between meeting with a wise, confident friend and a life coach empowering me to my greatest potential. It addressed many of the tendencies I know I have but didn’t realize were holding me back from believing I was “worth it” and that I couldn’t put a price tag on my life.

I will say however, after going through the course myself, I can see how it demands action and change. Each module gives you ACTION steps that will require time and effort of you and/or an advocate. It is not for people who just want things done for them without having to put in the work. Perhaps the same could also be said about choosing a unique path of treatment and healing or fighting cancer in general.

There is absolutely NO REASON someone should not purchase this course. The empowerment and hope this course gives is something difficult to put a price tag on.

Purchase Freely Funded HERE

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The post Fundraising Ideas For Cancer Treatment (Review of Freely Funded) appeared first on Anti-Cancer Mom.

You see, when I originally wrote this post I lived in a 1,000 square foot apartment in Atlanta. You wouldn’t think I would have much potential for gardening, but one look at this picture and you can see my mini-vegetable jungle in full bloom!

Several years ago I began my gardening adventures with a single plant. A tomato plant. At least that’s what I thought until it began to grow cucumbers. True story.

For the first THREE weeks I thought maybe tomatoes were elongated and green in their infancy. Nope, only if they are cucumbers!

Starting Your Own Container Garden:

Basics:

I bought a few books on the topic of container garden after my tomato/ cucumber mishap. There is really only one I recommend you buy if you are getting started, and that is McGee & Stuckey’s Bountiful Container.

I found that this has all the information ANY container gardener would need to know! Here’s what I learned from both the book and from my experience with successful container gardening.

1. You Need Drainage

It may sound elementary to some of you, but to start your own container garden the first thing you will need is a pot with holes in the bottom for water drainage. No drainage= PROBLEMS! When deciding on size, you need to know the adult size of the plant you want to grow. Of course, aesthetically, you may want to coordinate your pots. This year. I went thrifty and turned anything I could into a container. (Sorry neighbors!) I even had stools and garbage cans from IKEA that I drilled holes in the bottom of to make cheap pots!

2. Healthy Soil

The right DIRT is very important in container gardening. Make sure to buy an organic POTTING MIX. I learned this the hard way. Buying garden “soil” or even potting “soil” will lead to a stunted and rotted container garden. The “soil” will compact and it makes it difficult for water to drain through and roots to grow in a container. Buy Potting MIX.

3. Time Your Planting

Check your area’s planting schedule for when and what you will be able to plant HERE. You will need to enter your zip code into the box and then click on your Zone number.

4. Start With Transplants

If you’re a newbie gardener, I would start with “transplants.” These are baby plants that you buy at your local gardening store or nursery. Simply remove them from their temporary container, and “transplant” them into the containers they will grow to maturity in. This year my tomato plants were transplants and the first of my garden babies to produce (no, not a cucumber) a true TOMATO! Needless to say, I felt super awesome this time around. (:

5. Jiffy Pellets- What??

If starting plants from seeds, know that many seeds actually need to be started inside in smaller containers or even a Jiffy pellet kit. I learned this from the lady at my local Pike Nursery, but there are TONS of videos about this on You Tube as well. Jiffy pellets are what I used to start growing my pepper plants and all but one of the 12 I started with have survived and are beginning to flower and sprout REAL peppers! (And it’s super easy!)

6. Buy Organic Seeds

If you can find ORGANIC seeds in your area, I would use these for your garden. This way you can guarantee no pesticides are lingering, especially if you plan on using organic farming methods to maintain your garden. Also, you never know what is a GMO these days!

7. Feed Your Plants

You will need to feed your plants often with a good organic plant food or fertilizer if you want an abundant crop. I like E.B Stone for under $10.00 which should last you the whole season.

8. Water Water Water

Water daily. Filtered water is great, but don’t beat yourself up if you don’t. Rain water isn’t filtered either. We have THIS FILTER for our garden hose.

9. Make your Own Organic Pest Spray

If you NEED to use pesticides, look up some organic, natural pest control methods online or read about them in the book I recommended. These can be as simple as some peppermint oil and cayenne pepper diluted with water and castile soap in a spray bottle. Container gardens are much less likely to have pests since they are not in-ground. It also helps to keep them on a cement slab or patio to avoid pests even further. I feel “slack” for not telling you guys what miracle organic pesticide has worked for me, but I haven’t had a bug problem yet!

10. Enjoy and Cherish

Take time to sit in and enjoy your garden! My daughter and I are so proud of ours and it has become a ritual for us everyday to water our garden together and say “hello” to the plants. No matter how totally hippie that sounds, we love it! This year we have successfully grown tomatoes, banana peppers, bell peppers, basil, lavender, parsley, carrots, radishes, beans, chard, and cucumbers.

If you got to the end of this list and still feel overwhelmed, please know that I felt the same way in the beginning. My green thumb surely evolved over time and from trial and error. Start with your one plant. Just one! And perhaps your love of container gardening will grow.

I’m curious what you guys would add? How many experienced container gardeners out there?

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Searching for online alternative cancer support? I’ve learned that it’s  pretty normal to feel alone when you choose to treat your cancer naturally. It comes with the territory.

You eventually get used to it- feeling a bit like an outcast amongst even your closest loved ones. But it’s our doctors and medical team that can be the most discouraging since our choice is one that goes against mainstream belief about cancer treatment. A community of cancer “thrivers” who are coming from a similar place as you are would be amazing, right? Thankfully nowadays this is totally a reality.

I would have loved to have known about the below online groups when I chose to treat my cancer naturally in 2008.  It would have brought such peace and comfort to me to know that others were feeling the same way I was: alone at times, doubtful at times, scared at times, empowered at times- a range of emotions to deal with mostly on my own and questions I didn’t know who to ask.

If you’re dealing with cancer or helping a loved one, spend some time checking out these groups. And if you are a member of an alternative cancer group that is not in this list, feel free to drop the URL in the comments below and I’ll add it to the list!

FACEBOOK GROUPS:

You need to have a Facebook.com profile to access and become a member of each of these groups. If you are not a member of Facebook yet and privacy is a concern, know that you can change your security and privacy settings so that people can’t search for you on Facebook and you’ll only be active in the groups you choose to become a member of.

(And a quick side note, you can LIKE the Anti-Cancer Mom Facebook PAGE while you’re there.

Bill Henderson Protocol Support Group:

This group is newly created and moderated by me with permission from the late Bill Henderson. Expect all topics related to the Bill Henderson Protocol and very honest conversation about what it’s like to try to live a normal life while on the BHP.

Gerson Therapy Support Group:

This group has over 18,000 “Gersonites,” or members supportive of the Gerson Therapy as of the time of this post. It is a very active and positive group that seem like family to each other.

Anti-Cancer Mom Facebook Page: My Facebook page with wonderful people and conversation.

HealingStrong_Connect: An online group connecting members of HealingStrong natural healing support groups around the world. Find local support groups in over 100 cities around the world at www.healingstrong.org/groups. 

ChrisBeatCancer: Chris Warks website/ blog with excellent conversation and helpful information from someone who actually lives the anti-cancer lifestyle. His Facebook page also has excellent community and conversation.

Survived Breast Cancer Alternatively:

Started by a natural breast cancer survivor, this group is exclusively for natural/alternative breast cancer support.

Breast Cancer- Curing Through Nature:

This group is very active and worth checking out if you’re looking to connect with other women with breast cancer.

Breast Cancer Alternatives:

Yet another wonderful breast cancer group. These ladies know their stuff! Lots of excellent resources here.

Natural Healing and Cancer Cures Research: Over 25,000 members.  A lot of questions being asked and ideas bouncing around.

Curing Cancer Naturally: A very active group of all things alternative cancer.

Alternative and Holistic Cancer Support:

Shares supportive information about alternative cancer therapies. Questions are usually answered quickly by natural cancer survivors or cancer coaches.

Cancer 101 – Healing from Cancer – Testimonials, Resources, and Discussion:

This one is exactly as it says and has over 2,000 members.

I Cure Cancer:

Ian Jacklin’s group, who created the I Cure Cancer documentary. This group’s daily feed features articles relating to Alternative Cancer Therapies and Survivor stories.

The Cellect Program:

Cellect is a multi-mineral supplement that many OBSERVE is effective in reducing cancer symptoms and healing cancer. Many of its members are using Cellect as a last resort after conventional treatment did not work for them, but there are also those who are using Cellect first to see if it will work before beginning chemotherapy or radiation.

Essiac Tea Users Facebook Group: Essiac Tea users support group. Very active with lots of conversation daily.

YAHOO GROUPS:

Just like with Facebook, you will need to have a Yahoo.com username to join.

Budwig Support

Started in 2002 and with over 20,000 members, this group discusses the Budwig Protocol and discusses all kinds of topics relating to it. Use the search bar to search for particular issues you might be having or testimonies of people healing from certain diseases.

CancerCured Alternative Cancer Treatment

Support group for those using alternative treatments to heal. This one has been around since 1999, so there are plenty of posts to search through, or ask your own new question.

Black Salve Support Group

For those wanting to discuss/research the effectiveness of black salve on melanomas, breast cancer, and other lesions.

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So, Chris Wark’s Square One Healing Cancer Coaching Program is BEAUTIFUL. Inspiring, incredibly well put together, covers everything you need to know about choosing a natural healing path or support for cancer. FULL OF HOPE.

The nutritional, spiritual, practical. EVERYTHING.

At times I found myself emotional when watching it. I am SO GRATEFUL for it! I wish it would have existed when I began my path to heal naturally from cancer in 2008. It would have saved both my husband and I so much doubt about our given path (and not to mention the research time and overwhelm!)

I can’t imagine anyone who couldn’t benefit from SOMETHING in it.

The unique thing about Chris’s program is that it is experienced coaching from a SURVIVOR, someone who has lived the anti-cancer lifestyle for over 13 years. Chris beat his Stage III colon cancer without chemo or radiation in 2004.

To give you an idea of what is in the program, here is a:

List of the Square One Modules:

Module 1: First Things First

Module 2: Why You Have Cancer & How to Eliminate the Causes

Module 3: Implementing the Anti-Cancer Diet

Module 4: The Anti-Cancer Diet Part 2

Module 5: How to Detoxify Your Body & Environment

Module 6: How to Eliminate Stress & Heal Your Heart

Module 7: Spiritual Healing

Module 8: How Exercise & Rest Activate Healing

Module 9: Cancer Healing Herbs, Teas & Supplements

Module 10: Testing & How to Monitoring Your Progress

You can check out the TRAILER to get an idea of what to expect and why Chris created the program.
I am so happy to be able to share this program with all of you! Let me know your thoughts in the comment section.

You can PURCHASE Square One HERE.

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See more posts on anti-cancer lifestyle and diet and alternative cancer treatments HERE.

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The post Review of Chris Wark’s Square One Healing Cancer Coaching Program appeared first on Anti-Cancer Mom.

My friend and fellow holistic cancer survivor, Chris Wark has created what I wish I would have had after my diagnosis, a FREE guide giving you the MOST IMPORTANT questions to ask your oncologist:

 20 Questions For Your Oncologist

It’s unsettling to know that 1 in 2 men and 1 in 3 women will get a cancer diagnosis in their lifetime. That’s CRAZY when you think about it. For me I think about my two sisters and me. ONE of the three of us got cancer. I’m so grateful that me getting cancer (and healing it naturally) prompted them to drastically change their diet and lifestyle.

20 Questions For Your Oncologist is great to send to a loved one or a parent of your childhood best friend or your high school English teacher, or anyone who has been impacted by cancer and you are helplessly watching from a distance.

It is not just for those of us interested in non-toxic therapies, but for anyone impacted by cancer. No matter how one chooses to treat their cancer, they need to ask the right questions to feel empowered and informed in their treatment choice.

And you’ll be shocked by what you don’t think to ask (and I found myself feeling a bit “cringey” at the THOUGHT of asking some of these questions- but it is SOOO important!)

This guide will give you the answers to everything you need to know.

It will leave you making a decision not out of fear but out of informed and prayerful discernment.

And- It’s FREE!!!!! So you have no reason not to check it out and download it today.

P.S. 20 Questions For Your Oncologist also includes an hour long audio portion I found to be super helpful. It’s so fantastic and I know you’ll love it, too!

The post 20 Questions For Your Oncologist (A Must Have For Those Diagnosed With Cancer!) appeared first on Anti-Cancer Mom.

I hear from people often who feel they are in a salad rut or a smoothie rut with their anti-cancer diet. They want to try new things, but it’s just hard to get their minds wrapped around what exactly they should buy. Here is a fantastic resource for those of you who can identify with this. Check out my Free Anti-Cancer Printable Grocery List!

Free Anti-Cancer Printable Grocery List

How to Use:

1. Download and Print.
2. Fill out quantity amount for each food, write in, or circle what you need.
3. Go grocery shopping.
4. Eat, heal, and thrive!

**DOWNLOAD HERE**

I use this exact grocery list to do my monthly or weekly grocery list shopping. You can check out my anti-cancer grocery shopping routine post from last week and dig a little deeper into how I make things happen with my 3 kids in tow and also the AMOUNT of shopping that often goes hand-in-hand with healing cancer naturally or just adopting an anti-cancer lifestyle.

Also, this coming week you can follow me on Instagram where I’ll be posting pictures of the meals I create with the ingredients on this list. I look forward with connecting with you all there!

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See more posts on anti-cancer lifestyle and diet and alternative cancer treatments HERE.

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Healing cancer naturally can be a very difficult and lonely journey. So it’s even more important for us to be able to LAUGH about our crazy, bizarre lives and ridiculous daily routines! Here are 39 daily habits only us who are on a natural healing journey from cancer can truly understand…

You Might Be Healing Your Cancer Naturally If…

1. You snuck your giant cooler of green vegetable smoothie into a football game by pretending to be pregnant…and it worked! (Yep- that’s my husband and me in the picture!)
2. A “coffee break” doesn’t involve cream or sugar…or a mug…or drinking.
3. The only reason you use your microwave is for storage of your wheatgrass juicer…or the 30 bottles of supplements that won’t fit in your cabinet.
4. Everyone who comes over says your house smells like a Whole Foods Market.
5. If words like “apoptosis,” “antiangiogenesis,” and “acai”, were in the National Spelling Bee, you would totally win.
6. You’ve heard crickets when you told your mother-in-law that jumping on a trampoline is part of your cancer treatment.
7. You heard crickets when you told ANYONE for the first time how you planned on treating your cancer naturally.
8. You wrote a letter to your insurance company explaining why a trip to Florida is needed as part of your cancer treatment so you can deal with your emotions and stress.
9. You blend and drink at least two of your meals a day.
10. Your poop is a different shade of green everyday.
11. Light pink objects, particularly ribbon shaped ones, are JUST NO.
12. Your breath smells like a freshly mowed lawn.
13. You could beat Joey Chestnut at a supplement eating contest, if only he would just give up the hotdog wharfing.
14. You know hotdogs cause cancer anyways! Along with pretty much everything else.
15. EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. you learn that something you thought was healthy- actually causes cancer….
16. ……except maybe water….which in most cases unless you filter it with expensive special filters, causes cancer too.
17.  You plop out a giant mason jar of water (or filter your water right at the table) when out at restaurants. You feel like everyone is staring at you…because they probably are.
18. You’ve brought your own tupperware of food to a restaurant. (Oh. I know…GLASS tupperware!)
19. You make and bring your own hand soap with you to public bathrooms.
20. “Cheating on your diet” means you ate cooked food…
21. You feel guilty because even though your almonds are raw, organic, non-irradiated, and GMO FREE, they aren’t sprouted.
22. You know that water can be alkaline, ionized, and hydrogen-infused and explain WHY…or screw it all and just buy a Berkey.
23. You feel bad your oncologist spent 8+ years in school and you know more about healing the body than they do.
24. Your 4-year-old told her teacher that her mom “drinks her morning coffee through a tube on the bathroom floor.”
25. You know that shower filters are a thing.
26. You need to eat out of a salad bowl the size of a trash can.
27. For the first time in your life, you’re trying to keep/put weight ON.
28. You know what “Budwig” means…
29. You’ve drank so much carrot juice, you turned orange.
30. You’ve explained to your neighbor that your new “backyard nudist” habit is part of your intense Vitamin D protocol.
31. Coconut oil, baking soda, and apple cider vinegar are pretty much all you need to clean your entire house…and make your own deodorant.
32. You use the same ingredients to clean your house as you wash your hair with. And brush your teeth with.
33. You’ve sang to the wheatgrass at the Living Foods Institute (to send it good energy of course.)
34. You view anything that didn’t grow from the ground and go straight to your plate as POISON.
35. Chris Wark, Charlotte Gerson, and Ty Bollinger…are your favorite “celebrities.”
36. You have weird mixed emotions about whether to trash or donate all your perfectly good but toxic beauty products to friends…after you learn that they all contribute to cancer.
37. EVERYONE around you feels the need to confess their bad eating habits to you, when they see what you’re eating.
38. You think that your $400 Vitamix and $200 (or much more) juicer should TOTALLY be covered by insurance. They’re THAT important.
39. Your cancer treatment has left you…FEELING IN THE BEST SHAPE OF YOUR LIFE!

I’d love for you guys to keep the list going…SHARE with anyone you know who is or has healed from cancer naturally. We’re awesome and not weird! Let’s stick together.

And if you’re looking for more posts about healing cancer naturally, check out my Get Started Page.

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