Fighting Cancer With Food

Cancer is the most frightening word in the English language in my personal opinion.

In 2016, I lost one of my best and closest friends to cancer. Bill Mclean sat opposite me for 16 years on the trading desk. In 2018, one of my best friends from university passed away. I was looking forward to 2019.

Debbie showed symptoms of cancer in November 2019. She was diagnosed in January 2020.

I will never forget driving her to the first appointment with the surgeon. The nurse came in and told Debbie she had cancer.

I underestimated cancer. I underestimated chemotherapy and radiation. I underestimated the emotional, mental, psychological, physical, spiritual, and financial costs of cancer.

A cousin had warned me that the toll is tougher on the caregiver. I underestimated that and asked for help.

After a 16 month battle, Debbie is in remission.

Welcome to my series on cancer. I am doing this series not only to benefit women but also I personally believe it will be cathartic for me. I want to write about how to become a better caretaker, how to communicate with cancer patients, how to eat better, stories of hope, patience, resilience, and gratitude.

I want to start this series by interviewing Dr. Reyzan Shali MD, the author of Teaming up Against Cancer: Powerful Ways to Beat the Odds and Take Your Life Back.

Dr. Reyzan Shali is on a mission to help as many cancer patients and their loved ones as possible. As a primary care physician board-certified in internal medicine, she has made strong connections with thousands of patients over the years. She feels a particular affinity with her oncology patients, especially because of her unique background that put her on the path toward cancer care.

Dr. Shali’s journey began many years ago when she lost her father to cancer. That devastating event led to her lifelong goal of helping as many families and individuals as she can to improve their odds against this illness. Born in Iraq, Dr. Shali has maintained a steady refusal to live a life defined by a society that minimizes women, which has helped her challenge boundaries along the way.

That journey led her to a successful practice in Southern California, where many of her patients have become friends. In connecting with people by speaking from her heart, the idea of this book was born. Her mother was also struck by cancer, which has increased Dr. Shali’s determination to pursue her mission all the more.

Dr. Shali is a member of the American Medical Association (AMA) and the American College of Physicians (ACP). She writes articles for local newspapers and magazines and has been featured in The North County Times.

She lives in Carlsbad, California, with her husband, Rastgo, and their two sons, Kawan and Kurdo.

Dr. Shali, thanks for taking time from your busy schedule to be on Four Columns. I want to get to the point. In North America, do we have an unhealthy relationship with food? 

I like how the word “relationship” was used. Yes, I think that in North America, we do have an unhealthy relationship with food. Let me explain why.

First off, I think that many Americans, in general, don’t fully understand the magical relationship between the human body and plants. I remember when I first came to the U.S. from Iraq, I was surprised by all the food options that weren’t plant-based! I saw isles and isles of processed foods and fast food establishments on almost every corner. I think that culturally, there is less emphasis on plant-based foods and more of a focus on food that is fast, convenient, and easy to make. Plants have what are called phytochemicals which have phenomenal health benefits. Science suggests that we should have five servings of fruits and vegetables a day. However, only about one out of ten Americans consume the recommended amount daily.

The connection between human health and plants is very magical. It is the complex interaction between these phytochemicals, in their natural state, that shape the very protective properties plants have for human health. So taking a pill, as a dietary supplement, is simply not the same. 

I think we need a cultural shift where we change our relationship with food from what is fast to what is best for our bodies. There are many people, including myself, who are trying to help administer this type of cultural lifestyle, but it is not easy.

Talk to me about how we can start having a healthier approach to food starting at home?

One of the best things you can do is prioritize time to make food. Making your meals at home instead of relying on fast food will put you more in control of the type of food you eat. The reality is that we get tired and don’t have the time, so by default we revert to the easier option which means swinging by the closest fast food joint or using a food delivery service app. One simple tip to healthier eating is to make nutritious meals a priority. But, it does take a little planning because you need to have the right ingredients in your fridge. Good at-home cooking starts with what you put in your shopping cart. Oftentimes I will help people understand what to shop for as a first step in cooking healthy meals at home. In fact, I have made a shopping list that is available to download on my website. 

Another tip is to not watch TV during dinner. I have nothing against TV, but in my family, growing up in Iraq, dinner was always a time for the family to get together and learn about each others’ day. With eight brothers and sisters, we had a lot to talk about. Regardless of the size of your family, looking at dinner as a TV and device-free time will help make the process of eating less rushed, and more of an experience.

You run a successful practice, you’re an author, a mother, and a spokesperson for cancer. Walk me down your authentic approach in all of these roles? 

For me, life is about taking care of others. It’s why I became a doctor, why I love being a mother, and it’s why I wrote my book about fighting cancer. With my tendencies to help others, I realized that I often forget to take care of myself. Over time, if I neglect self-care, I find myself getting into a negative pattern of thinking. I am aware of this and I have a few tangible steps I take to limit my negativity, or at least prevent it from taking over my mind or my life. In order to juggle my multiple roles, and still make sure that I have time to take care of myself, I do the following:

• Celebrate smaller goals. I want to celebrate every time I manage to interrupt the cycle of self-sabotage, even if it only lasts a couple of seconds.
• Disengage from negative thoughts and replace them with happy thoughts.
• Choose kinder words to say to me that are first and foremost respectful.

Working on self-love is a key aspect when managing multiple roles and staying healthy. There is no one way to do it. But, I’m learning that in order to take care of my family, my patients, and support my community, I need to make sure I am taking care of myself too. 

In life, many people will question your goals and dreams. No matter who makes you feel unworthy, know that they can’t stop you from your greatness.

My wife fought a valiant battle with cancer for 16 months. I underestimated cancer, chemo, radiation, and the emotional, mental, psychological, physical, and financial toll that it takes. How much cancer is genetic, how much is our lifestyle?

Congratulations to both you and your wife for teaming up against her cancer. The processes for recovery and remission take physical, mental, and emotional tolls. When it comes to cancer, most people are surprised to learn that up to eighty percent of cancer can be prevented with a healthy diet and exercise! Part of my mission in life, and why I am so passionate about speaking on health, is to help people realize that they do have a lot of control over their general health.

The difficult thing about good health is that you can’t take a pill and instantly become healthy. Great health does not happen overnight. It is a lifestyle that comes with daily habits over years of time. That is why the sooner we take action to create healthy eating habits and incorporate regular exercise into our lives, the sooner we will see the benefits. It is not easy, but with practice and guidance, I truly believe we can all make the small changes that will make a big difference in our overall health and wellness. In addition, when we commit to healthy habits, it also helps to inspire those around us to be healthier too. An ancient Chinese proverb says that the best time to plant a tree was twenty-five years ago, and the second-best time is today. I genuinely believe that the same thing is true when it comes to planting the seeds of healthy habits. 

My cousin told me, “Jerry, it is tougher on the caregiver.” She was so right. I made sure that I took care of myself and I will be writing about that experience. Talk to me about self-care and how important it is? 

Taking care of yourself while taking care of others is often overlooked because we are so dedicated to taking care of loved ones who are sick. When it comes to self-care, I always turn to my favorite quote by Mark Twain, “The best way to cheer yourself up is to cheer someone else up.” 

Caregivers often feel overextended, powerless, and even useless. When I see patients come in with their caregivers, sometimes the caregivers look more like they have spiraled into a catatonic state, with little to no expression on their face. 

What I learned was that cheering them up, acknowledging their hard work, and sharing a few kind words with them will create a dazzling smile on their face. Believe me. I’ve seen it multiple times and it works wonders!

What does women empowerment mean to you?

To me, empowering women is all about supporting women, and that takes on many forms. As a woman, I can say that I have had my fair share of self-doubt and lack of confidence. For me, women empowerment is about celebrating the women in our lives, encouraging women to achieve their personal and professional goals, and recognizing their successes along the way. It could be reminding them with gentle nudges to not stress so much and encouraging them to make time to see the importance of self-love. I love to talk with young women who want to become doctors, lawyers, scientists, engineers, and other professions in historically male-dominated fields, and listen to their stories. I encourage them to break through the glass ceilings they may bump their heads on. I encourage them to embrace and celebrate themselves. Too often, we forget to celebrate the small wins that are so important along the way. When we support women in our lives, we empower them to achieve their greatest potential.

Teaming up with Cancer is your book. What is it about? Why should we read it? Are we winning the battle with cancer?

My book is the conversation that I have with my patients and the conversation I want to have with every single person in the world. It’s about simple steps that we can all take to avoid cancer and it’s directed toward both patients and caregivers. Too often, it takes ourselves or a loved one getting cancer before we make small life changes that will help us live our healthiest lives. You should read this book so that you know what actions to take to reduce the chances of you or your loved ones getting cancer. I believe that understanding more about what causes cancer is the best way to fight it. At the moment, I don’t think we are winning the battle with cancer. We can do better. And knowledge is power.

Help me understand how faith, hope, and resilience have played a role in your life?

I owe so much to my parents, especially when it comes to learning what it means to be resilient. My parents came from very humble beginnings in the Kurdistan region of Iraq. Their hard work, dedication to myself and my siblings, and so much more is truly inspiring. They epitomize resilience. My strength, my values, and my resilience come from them. 

Now as a mother, my boys have become a source of inspiration for me. Watching them grow up makes me so proud. My parents gave me the tools to defy many odds and they always led by example. Therefore, I want to do the same for my boys. I want to instill in them a sense of self-worth and let them know that they can take on any challenge that life throws their way!