LIVING AN EXCEPTIONAL LIFE #72

By Rhonda Jones

When I lived in Dallas, I ran the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure every year for about 10 years. It was exciting and inspirational to see breast cancer survivors walking the race and others walking and running for their loved ones. However, the last two races I ran caused me to rethink what I was doing. At the end of each race, there would be an array of food, most of which was not only unhealthy for cancer patients but would exacerbate the growth of cancer. When I ran my last race, I realized I was not doing anything to help the cancer patients and may even be contributing to their demise by supporting a cause that so clearly had not done the research into treating and preventing cancer. The race supporters continually talked about drugs but never mentioned anything about food.

But that all changed a couple of weeks ago. Imagine my surprise and delight when I read an article online that said the American Medical Association had approved a new policy urging healthcare providers to educate patients on the role of diet in lowering breast cancer risk. At the AMA’s 2025 annual meeting of the House of Delegates, the resolution passed, directly endorsing a plant-based eating plan as part of a prevention-focused strategy. Ring the bells, sound the alarm, and shout Hallelujah! They finally read the research and got the news that a plant-exclusive diet is the best way to treat and prevent cancer. That is information that those in the plant movement have known for years, but they have faced a constant uphill battle with healthcare providers who did not have this information or refused to acknowledge it. Now, I do hope there is no more candy, yogurt, and other dairy products at the Race for the Cure.

There has always been an emphasis on family history as a predictor of cancer—especially breast cancer—but research now shows that family history only plays a 10% role in developing cancer while lifestyle and environmental factors make up the other 90%. So, we have the ability to increase our chances of staying healthy by eating a plant-exclusive diet, which includes lots of greens, beans, whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and nuts. In addition to diet, exercise is also extremely important and helps maintain weight. Women who have a BMI of 30 or higher are more likely to develop large tumors and be diagnosed at a later stage, respond poorly to hormone therapy, and have a higher risk of recurrence of the problem. With almost 70% of our population being overweight, obese, or morbidly obese, the incidence of all forms of cancer is rapidly increasing.

The best way to treat cancer is not to get it in the first place. The good news is that we do have some control over our health. I cannot promise that a plant-exclusive diet will protect you from all illnesses, but I do believe it will improve your health and provide additional protection in ways you may not even be aware of or understand. I do talk with people all the time who tell me they cannot give up meat, cheese, eggs, cigarettes, and alcohol. Some believe there is nothing they can do to prevent disease, but now the American Medical Association has acknowledged that we can take steps to live healthier and longer. Making healthy choices every day will get us all one step closer to living that exceptional life free from illness and pain. It may not always work, but I know the odds of living a healthy and productive life are much better when we pamper our bodies with excellent food choices.