Fran Drescher Turns Pain into Purpose with
Cancer Schmancer
By Lori Berezin Photography by Melissa Westervelt “Not in my home... not on my skin... not in my stomach... not in my world” is Fran Drescher’s mantra for beating cancer.
Your Home parties, with all you need from the downloadable program on their website.
his past summer, the well-known actress and comedian spoke to a group of women in Hidden Hills about the prevalence and prevention of this not-so-funny disease. A cancer survivor herself, Fran started Cancer Schmancer in 2007 to help others understand how early cancer detection and education saves lives. Soon longtime friend Susan Cassel Holland came on-board to handle special events. Susan now serves as executive director.
Cancer Schmancer also promotes consumer advocacy. Fran continues to speak at universities and corporations. Their newest program, We The Future, encourages parents and kids to live healthier lives. Piloted in over 100 schools this past April on Earth Day, the Detox Your Home School Assembly Program focuses on wellness. It teaches impressionable teens how to make healthier choices, from the foods they eat to the products they use on their bodies and in their homes.
It took Fran, who survived uterine cancer, two years and eight doctors to finally receive her diagnosis. In 2002, she wrote The New York Times best seller Cancer Schmancer to help others avoid such trials. This led to her Cancer Schmancer Movement and Foundation. It became Fran’s life mission to improve women’s healthcare and empower people across the globe, shifting the priority from searching for a cancer cure to prevention and early detection. “If you catch it on arrival… 95% survival,” is Fran’s call to early detection.
We really are what we eat and don’t eat. Berries, such as strawberries and blueberries, contain powerful cancer-fighting properties. Eighty percent of our nation’s strawberries are produced in California. You should always choose organic. More than 200,000 pounds per square mile of pesticides are used in Ventura County each year. It has been scientifically proven time and again that pesticides are carcinogenic. Eating organic strawberries, for instance, is a far better choice than their chemical-laden cousins. Another area of research is the possible link between root canals and cancer. The bottom line is to discover the toxins in your life and eliminate them before they affect your health.
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According to the American Cancer Society, there will be an estimated 1,685,210 new cancer cases diagnosed and 595,690 cancer deaths this year in the U.S. alone. The Cancer Schmancer organization hopes to greatly improve these odds through ongoing education and screening with mobile units, such as Fran Vans. In Los Angeles and New York City, they partner with Inner Images and Project Renewal’s Scan Van to provide life-saving cancer screening tests to women with limited access to such procedures. The Cancer Schmancer website also notes that 90% of cancer is lifestyle and environmentally related. “We have researched and developed our Detox Your Home program over the past three years,” Susan stated. They offer advice on detoxing both your home and body to improve health. They will even help you create Detox
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Cancer Schmancer will host their second annual Health Summit on October 26 at the Skirball Center in Los Angeles. A wide range of authors, health advocates, and practitioners will discuss a variety of topics, including traditional versus alternative medicine, GMOs, mental health, men’s health, detoxing your home, current environmental issues, and much more. Visit their website at cancerschmancer.org for further details. n Cancer Schmancer 23823 Malibu Rd. #311 Malibu 888.621.2001 cancerschmancer.org info@cancerschmancer.org