One cancer survivor form Albany credits her healthy diet and lifestyle for getting her through cancer, and now she’s passing along her knowledge to women battling breast cancer during this Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
For Patricia Thomson, leading a breast cancer rally alongside Albany’s Vegfest earlier this month was a no-brainer. After all, she says vegetable and a healthy diet go hand-in-hand with fighting cancer. “We want to bring awareness to the public about breast cancer, and that there are things we do to help prevent and lower our risk,” said cancer survivor and advocate Patricia Thomson.
One in eight women is diagnosed with breast cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, about 19,000 are estimated to be diagnosed in New York this year alone. But a new survey sponsored by the Physicians Committee shows just 28% of U.S. women are aware of the link between diet and breast cancer.
Patricia says those diagnosed with cancer can take action to fight it with just four steps to a healthier diet: add plants to your plate, reduce alcohol intake, increase or add exercise and maintain a healthy weight.
“I really did adopt a healthy lifestyle because of my health. I’m a thyroid cancer survivor. My sister is a breast cancer survivor. And my aunt lost her life due to breast cancer, so I really wanted to take some action in my own life,” said Thomson.
Her diagnosis set her on a path. Now Patricia is a certified nutrition instructor through the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. She also has certifications in cooking and led a cooking demo at the breast cancer rally and Vegfest to show that healthy foods can still be delicious and that simple things can lower your risk, no matter what your genetics say.
“I’ve been doing that for almost 14 years now. And it’s changed my life, and so I’m still here.”
