Long Term Cancer Survivor and Advocate, Ann Fonfa Shares Her Important Message To Anyone With A Cancer Diagnosis
(Ann E. Fonfa is creator and founder of the Annie Appleseed Foundation, and has been free of breast cancer for 25 years. She went to CHIPSA Hospital for treatment 1995, and has since used her healing as a catalyst to help others who are currently battling cancer.You can learn more about her foundation here: http://annieappleseedproject.org)
When Ann was diagnosed with breast cancer in January of 1993, she almost instantly had to seek an alternative path for treatment. Due to extreme chemical sensitivities, she was prevented her from doing any conventional treatment. As a result established lifestyle changes right away, that she believes were very essential to her healing. Ann swiftly switched to a plant-based, all organic diet, began incorporating supplementation, and started 60 minutes of exercise, daily.
Since her original diagnosis Ann has had 25 tumors on her left side, and every single one except for the first tumor, has grown slower than normal cancer cells. Ann attributes her success to the immediate lifestyle changes she was able to make.
She didn't wait for things to get worse, she didn't let circumstance hold her back, she took action over what she could control.
Many times, especially with cancers like prostate or myeloma, doctors will advise people to wait and see how the treatment goes. Ann urges people not to do this.
“From the minute you think something is wrong,” Ann says, “change your lifestyle. That’s the first, and maybe the only, thing you have control over. Your lifestyle. And your mindset. Don’t have a panic attack. If you have one, get over it and move on. Do things. Don’t get stuck. When you’re stuck, nothing good happens. So you have to move forward. Because there are many of us who survive. We can survive. We just have to take control and make the changes that matter.”
Ann believes that those changes are typically the backdrop to any kind of healing path you might choose. She states that patients need to make the the choices that are right them. Sometimes that may mean conventional treatment, sometimes that may mean a more integrative approach.
But no matter what path you choose, she implores that patients take control of their lifestyle changes. Attitude, positive thinking, level of physical activity, diet and physical activity don't require a prescription.
Ann speaks on this topic with over 25 years of first-hand experience, as her role in the Annie Appleseed Foundation has allowed her to see numerous stories that give evidence to what she preaches.
Her advice doesn’t come from her imagination; it comes from real results.
“It’s important to know that it really makes a difference,” Ann says.
“Studies show that when children eat organic food for a week, the chemicals that we don’t want in their bodies come out. There are up to 200 chemicals in the umbilical chord that brand new babies get. So even in the womb, they get chemicals, because that’s the world we live in. That’s why we need to take precautions. Even if you don’t have cancer, it’s a good idea to make moves. But if you think that something is wrong and you’re about to get a scan or you’re scheduled for surgery, make your changes now.”
Ann advocates for natural supplements like flaxseed oil in the treatment of cancers. When we turn to food as our medicine, it can make a big difference. She bases this not only on the experience of others, but also on her own. “I’m not special,” she says. “I’m just someone who did it, and I came through the other side.
In January of next year, I will celebrate 26 years of survivorship and I expect to be healthy and strong. I still eat fruits and vegetables everyday, and I’m a vegan. But you don’t have to be a vegan. You just have to eat as much organic foods as you can.”
She also suggests turning to a company like the Environmental Working Group (EWG) to see which kinds of foods and products contain harmful chemicals. They give good information about which fruits and vegetables are sprayed the most each year. It changes often, but usually bell peppers, string beans, and strawberries are the most sprayed. This is why it’s important to go organic as much as you can. A lot of stores carry organic produce, so it’s not that hard to find it. Eating organic is something that Ann has been recommending for years, but it’s more true all the time. There’s more evidence and more basis. She’s met literally thousands of people who make lifestyle changes that create profound differences.
It’s important to make these changes right away. The longer you wait, the harder it can be to treat your cancer.
Sarah Petersen, intake specialist at CHIPSA hospital, says that timing can be a sensitive issue when patients are contemplating treatment. Especially during the holidays, a lot of people want to wait until January to start treatment so they can spend time with their families.
But Ann makes the point that your family wants to be with you for more than just one holiday. The best way for you to make that happen is to take care of yourself. It’s the most important thing. Cancer doesn’t fool around. When your own cells go haywire, things progress quickly. By the time a tumor is found, it means the cancer is growing quickly. The bigger it is, the more cells you have, and the faster it grows. Your first job is to take care of yourself so that every other holiday, you can be with your family.
The Annie Appleseed Project
Ann is a beacon of hope and light for those currently fighting cancer, whether naturally, conventionally, or both.
Her Annie Appleseed Foundation advocates for cancer patients and provides information for those looking to figure out the best treatments. They post holistic and comprehensive information on Facebook every day, and they host an annual conference. This year’s conference takes place in West Palm Beach, FL on February 28th, and the concept is immunotherapy from a natural perspective.
The foundation supports integrative oncology, which is traditional medicine combined with natural therapy, as well as alternative or traditional on its own. They are supportive of whatever choices you make in your caner treatment journey, but they hope that the information they give will help you to feel confident in those choices. Ann does all she can to give back. “I got lucky,” she says. “And I want other people to get lucky, too. But that luck does require effort.”
For more information about Ann Fonfa and her a 501(c)(3) the Annie Appleseed Project, please visit their facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/AnnieAppleseedProject/
If you or someone you love has a cancer diagnosis and would like to learn more about the CHIPSA Protocol please call us at 1-(888)-667-3640. We will be happy to schedule you a free 30 minute appointment to talk to one of our doctor
