Fight Cancer in all Colors

12/23/2025

With the holiday season just around the corner, you might be planning your festive menu...

And if you're like a lot of people, you might be wondering: should I go gluten-free for the celebrations?

Maybe you've heard friends or family swear by cutting out gluten.

Or perhaps you're one of the 20% in the industrialised world already avoiding it.

The gluten-free trend has absolutely skyrocketed in recent years — and it seems to peak during the holidays when we're all thinking about what we're putting on our plates.

But here's the question worth asking before you swap out your traditional holiday pudding or stuffing:

Is going gluten-free truly beneficial for YOUR health?

Many people assume that staying away from gluten is a healthy choice, even for those who don’t have celiac disease. In fact, a recent study that surveyed 3,000 people discovered that 20% had followed a gluten free diet, even though they had not been diagnosed with celiac disease or gluten sensitiv...

12/23/2025

Holiday Wish

"Beautiful things do not happen because someone wishes for it. Beautiful things happen because someone makes them happen. Are you that someone…" — Sadhguru

This holiday season is more than lights and gifts—it’s a reminder of the incredible power we hold in shaping our lives and influencing the world around us. Beautiful things don’t simply appear because we hope for them; they bloom when we choose to act with intention. Every decision—what we eat, how we move, the words we speak—becomes a brushstroke on the canvas of our future.

Will we choose habits that harm, foods that poison, and routines that drain our vitality? Or will we rise each morning with courage, seeing the day as a fresh start, a sacred opportunity to nurture health, kindness, and purpose?

Though tomorrow is uncertain, today is a gift—a chance to create beauty, to make a difference, to live fully. Let this season ignite your resolve to be that someone who turns hope into reality.

Merry Christmas!

12/05/2025

What happens when we eat a Christmas cookie? - by Dr. Kevin Conner

So how much does eating sugar actually affect your immune system?

Sugar doesn’t nuke your immune system, but it does blunt its edge in a measurable, short-term way, and if you’re hitting it hard every day, the effect stacks up.

Here’s how it all works:

The short-term hit.

There’s an old but still relevant finding that said within about 30-60 minutes of eating a high-sugar load, your neutrophils (the first-responders of your immune system) slow down. They don’t chase and engulf pathogens as effectively for several hours afterward. It’s not catastrophic, but the drop is real. Think of it like your body showing up to a fight a little groggy.

But blood sugar swings matter more than the sugar itself.

When your blood glucose jumps, your body pumps out insulin. Big swings lead to:

More inflammation signaling
Higher oxidative stress
and a reduced ability of immune cells to communicate clearly
This is why one donut won’t break you, but chronic spikes keep your immune system in a stressed, distracted state.

Chronic intake sets the stage for long-term issues.

If sugar is a daily heavy hitter:

Your gut barrier weakens
Your microbiome shifts toward the “troublemaker” species
Your body pumps out more inflammatory cytokines
You get less stable white blood cell activity
Your sleep quality dips (which is a monster hit to your immunity)
So again, it’s the daily assault that really creates immune dysfunction.

The surprising part? Sugar competes with vitamin C!

This one gets tossed around online a lot and is often misquoted, but the core idea has truth to it. Glucose and vitamin C use similar pathways to get into cells. So when glucose is high, vitamin C uptake drops. That matters because vitamin C is fuel for phagocytes. Less fuel, slower cleanup of invaders.

What actually fixes the sugar impact?

Well if you are going to eat something sweet, here’s how to blunt the immune dip:

Eat protein or fat with it
Take a 10-15 minute walk afterward
Avoid eating sugar on an empty stomach
Keep overall daily sugar intake low
Your immune system cares far more about the pattern than the event.

What does this mean for holiday treats?

Grab some salami from the charcuterie board before you hit the cookie tray, and then head out for a walk around the block. Breathe some fresh air and reflect on God's goodness ☺️

To your health and healing,

Dr. Conners

11/25/2025

For our next cancer support meeting we will be talking about:

Making Sense of Sugar: Practical Tips for Survivors

December 1st from 6 pm to 7 pm online or in person

We will be joined by board-certified specialists in oncology nutrition, Karen Smith, MS, RD, CSO, LD/LDN, and Nicole Hodac, MS, RDN, CSO, LD.
We will:
• Understand the role of sugar in overall health and cancer survivorship
• Learn how to identify hidden sugars in common foods and beverages
• Discover practical label-reading tips to make informed choices
• Share simple, actionable strategies to reduce added sugars without compromising enjoyment of food
Please register for zoom meeting here:

Hybrid Paris TX, open to anyone who is impacted by cancer.

11/25/2025

A Thanksgiving Reflection

In the quiet of November’s glow,
We gather close, hearts soft and slow.
Though life may weave its trials and pain,
Within our souls, the light remains.

Cancer came, a storm, a test,
Yet in its wake, we’ve found what’s best—
The ties that bind, the love that grows,
The strength within that always shows.

This day of thanks, let gratitude pour,
For simple joys, for hearts that soar.
For every breath, for hope’s embrace,
For peace we find in life’s own space.

The power lives inside our core,
To change, inspire, and seek much more.
No matter what the world may send,
Our spirit shines—it will not bend.

Happy Thanksgiving. 🌻
May your soul be filled with peace, love, and endless gratitude.
Dana

11/17/2025

The importance of incorporating gentle Qi-gong in your daily routine has been praised by so many. Please take a minute and read and follow a simple daily routine described in the link below:

A Qigong Guide to Boosting Your ImmunityAs we move through a season of gratitude and reflection, it’s a perfect time to turn inward and focus on our well-being. In a recent Healing Connection, Master Chunyi Lin shared profound wisdom on boosting immunity, rooted in the simple yet powerful principl...

11/07/2025

Most people don’t think twice about pouring hot coffee into a to-go cup, heating tea in a travel mug, or sipping from a plastic lid. But here’s the problem: When heat meets plastic—or even certain “paper” cups—it can trigger the release of microplastics, endocrine disruptors, and other chemicals you don’t want in your system. See what Dr. Hyman recommends:

Hot beverages can release unhealthy chemicals from plastic cups. Here’s what to use instead: the safest containers for hot drinks like coffee and tea.

11/04/2025

We invite you to be a part of this inspiring event that bridges the gap between cancer treatment and survivorship. Survive & Thrive Conference 2025 will feature sessions tailored to attendees based on where they are in the cancer experience. New for 2025, follow a session track that helps you READY for the cancer experience and into survivorship, gather the tools to help SET you up to conquer the myriad of challenges cancer brings, and fill your cup with inspiration to GO forth with confidence and renewed energy.
• Survivorship Skills
• Wellness Programs
• Health Discussions

The Survive & Thrive Conference brings cancer patients, caregivers, and experts together in a relaxed, one-day event near you.

10/28/2025

60 miles. 3 days. One powerful purpose: Breast Cancer Awareness.
This weekend in Dallas was nothing short of extraordinary. Over 600 passionate walkers and 200 devoted volunteers came together from across the country, united by hope, love, and the fight against breast cancer. For three days, we lit up Dallas-Fort Worth with our energy, our stories, and our pink—turning every step into a symbol of courage and solidarity.
The community embraced us with open hearts. Driveways became aid stations. Strangers became cheerleaders. Children in pajamas waved from their porches at sunrise, eager to catch a glimpse of the pink warriors marching by. We were met with water, protein bars, handmade signs, and gifts wrapped in pink—each one a reminder that we were not walking alone.
It felt like walking a red carpet of compassion—mile after mile, 60 miles of purpose, resilience, and soul.
People often ask me:
Why do I throw myself into such physically intense challenges?
I’ve reflected deeply on this. Most of these challenges are for raising cancer awareness. And having gone through cancer myself, I know firsthand how hard it is—physically, emotionally, spiritually. These walks and hikes mirror that struggle. They are not easy. But I do them to show that an ordinary person like me can rise, and so can anyone else.
If we approach these challenges thinking only of the pain, the exhaustion, the risk of injury, the long recovery—then yes, they will be nothing but hardship. But if we see them as a source of inspiration, hope, and strength—not just for ourselves but for everyone watching—then the suffering becomes secondary. The purpose becomes the light.
Cancer is one of life’s hardest battles. But it can also awaken something powerful and positive in us. It can bring clarity, connection, and courage. I am here to prove that—not just through words, but through action.
Anybody that supported and cheered me doing these events makes them also part of these journeys. Their support carried me forward, step by step, and helped amplify a message that matters deeply.
With gratitude and hope,
Dana

10/28/2025

November 3 Topic:
Grateful Gathering: Thanks and Thriving

As we gather during this season of abundance, let’s take a moment to harvest thanks and thriving, even in the face of life’s challenges. Cancer may test our bodies and spirits, but it cannot take away our capacity to be grateful.

There is always—always—a reason to give thanks. Whether it’s the food that nourishes us, the company of family and friends, or simply the beauty of autumn’s gifts. Gratitude grounds us and lifts us. Today, let’s celebrate not just survival, but connection, courage, and the quiet strength that grows in community. Together, we thrive!

Join cancer patients, survivors, caregivers, and health professionals in a safe space to explore the cancer realm. We meet in person at the main lobby of the Texas Oncology Center - Paris or online via Zoom. 1st Working Monday of the Month 6:00 - 7:00 pm CT Texas Oncology - Paris 3550 NE Loop 286 Pa...

10/14/2025

Insulin resistance great description

Healthy blood sugar levels are critical for your overall health. Discover 7 strategies to balance blood sugar levels naturally.

10/14/2025

I found this blog very interesting about the power of eating pears! Especially now is the season, so go nuts for pears!

The Power of Pear: Nature's Secret to Health & Wellness There's a saying, 'An apple a day keeps the doctor away,' but in fall, pears are the go-to. They support lung and throat health, relieve thirst, and aid in detoxifying the lungs and skin. Eating 1 or 2 pears…