PARTY GUIDE FOR HOST & GUESTS An initiative of Cancer Schmancer A THOUSAND MILE JOURNEY BEGINS WITH A SINGLE STEP, SO JUST START ALREADY. FRAN’S Ye a rs STORY 12 Healthy Hi Doll, I’m Fran Drescher, the actress. You may remember Remember: me from “The Nanny,” or my latest sitcom on TV Land, Education “Knowledge is power!” “Happily Divorced.” But, did you know that I am also a Stage One Diagnosis “If you catch cancer survivor? It took me eight doctors and two years it on arrival 95% survival” to get a proper diagnosis of uterine cancer. Honey, I got in the stirrups more times than Roy Rogers! I was put on Lifestyle Prevention “90% of most cancers are environmental” four different forms of HRT (hormone replacement therapy) for a perimenopause condition I didn’t have Policy Change “Support laws that when all the while I had uterine cancer. Doctor number one help Americans lead healthier lives” thought I was too young for the endometrial biopsy, and do you think I even questioned what that test would prove or disprove? Nope! I was happy just being too young for Now I know how frustrating it is to think about all the toxic anything! But two years later, with escalating symptoms, it pollutants around us each and every day that we can’t was indeed that very test which ultimately diagnosed me. control, but guess what is a toxic environment that we And by the grace of God I was still in stage one and a radical spend the most time in that we can control…? Our homes! hysterectomy was my cure. Now, that’s a difficult operation By learning how to “check” labels, “choose” toxic free for any woman, but for one who had never had children, like products when shopping, and “change” our buying habits, myself, it’s a particularly bitter pill to swallow. I felt betrayed we can REDUCE our risk of cancer. In doing so we are by the medical community as well as by my own body. But also sending a loud message to manufacturers to shape eventually my better sense took over and I realized it was up or ship out! So start being proactive, exercise good time to turn lemons into lemonade! ol’ fashioned American consumerism by making healthier product choices for what you put “in” your mouth, “on” So I wrote what eventually became the New York Times your skin (the largest organ of your body), and “around” best-seller “Cancer Schmancer,” because I didn’t want your home (cleaning, gardening, pesticides, herbicides, what happened to me to happen to other people. What I and chemically treated fabrics and upholstery). A thousand quickly learned while on my book tour and lecture circuit, mile journey begins with a single step, so just start already. was that what happened to me had happened to millions There is no downside to trying a healthier alternative to of Americans by means of misdiagnosis, and for many, late your regular brands each time you shop. It is empowering stage cancer diagnosis as a consequence. It was then I and can be a fun project that engages the whole family. realized, the book was not the end, but only the beginning of what has now become my life mission and by 2007, Lock elbows with me, and Trash Cancer now! Take the the “Cancer Schmancer Movement” was born. “Cancer Check, Choose & Change Challenge! Good Luck & Good Schmancer” means that cancer is not the boss of me! Health to you & yours! TRASH CANCER WITH US KNOW YOUR FACTS DETOX YOUR LIFE AND HAVE FUN DOING IT! REDUCE YOUR RISK OF CANCER. DID YOU KNOW Carcinogens are in the foods we eat, in the beauty and hygiene that a carcinogen is any kind products we put on our skin, and around us with the cleaning of substance or agent that and gardening products we use. And as they say, knowledge is POWER, so, knowing how to make better choices about the causes cancer? products we use and purchase can make a huge difference for DID YOU KNOW ourselves and for our families. 90% of cancer is environmental IN: What are you eating and breathing? and lifestyle related? And it turns out our home is the most ON: What personal care items are you putting toxic place where we spend on your skin (The largest organ of the body!)? most of our time! We may not AROUND: What are you cleaning have control over a lot of things, the house with? What are you using but we do control what we bring in your garden or on your lawn? into our homes and gardens! So join Trash Cancer in sounding the alarm by hosting a Trash Cancer party for your family and friends. You have the right to a healthier, less toxic life and so do they! Here are just some quick facts to consider : • 1 of 3 women and 1 of 2 men in the United States will get cancer in their lifetime. • Babies are born pre-polluted with nearly 300 chemicals found in umbilical cord blood. • Pesticides are detected in 7 out of 10 fruit and vegetable samples tested. • Your skin, the body’s largest organ, is extremely permeable; therefore chemicals that contact skin are readily absorbed directly into the bloodstream. • 62 toxic chemicals are found in the average home. • Toxic chemicals in household cleaners are three times more likely to cause cancer than the outdoor air you breathe. • The average level of bromine-based fire retardant in American women’s breast milk is 75 times higher than the European average. LEARN ABOUT THE CHECK, CHOOSE & CHANGE CHALLENGE Take the Check, Choose & Change Challenge and take one small step every day. The first step to making any change is becoming aware. Become aware of what you are putting IN, ON & AROUND you. Here’s what you can do daily when making a commitment to live a healthier life: CHECK the labels on the products that you use. TIPS: • Become familiar with the ingredients, especially those that are toxic. • Go to www.trashcancer.org/check to research your products. • Make healthy choices whenever and wherever you can, one small step at a time. CHOOSE options for change. TIPS: • When you research your products on trashcancer.org/check, you’ll see product ratings that tell you more about your favorite products and help you choose a safer alternative if needed. • To start, choose one product to change. What about a SOME SMALL STEPS cleaning product? • It can get expensive to replace everything at once so don’t pressure THAT YOU MIGHT yourselves – slow and steady wins the race! Choose a change that works for you. CHOOSE TO TAKE ARE: • Get rid of harmful products by following instructions on the packaging • Drink more spring water or by contacting your local health department or waste disposal out of glass bottles service to ask how to safely dispose of “hazardous waste” in your area. • Wash fresh fruit and eat organic CHANGE Once you have chosen what to • Read labels on all of your change, it’s time to make that change! products TIPS: • Use diluted vinegar in • If you have chosen to change your cleaning solutions, you may want the rinse cycle to change to a product that is labeled friendly to the environment or make your own green cleaning product. • Make your own cleaners • The opportunities are endless, and the benefits are healthy habits (see the “Let’s Make for you and those you love. Something” section) HOSTING TRASH YOURCANCER PARTY You signed up to host a Trash Cancer party for your family and friends. Thank you! The purpose of Trash Cancer parties is to introduce people to small ways they can take steps toward living healthier lives. We are so excited you are locking elbows with us in the national movement to identify and avoid toxic products in all areas of your life. In this guide, you will find important information, suggested timing and instructions for your party. Don’t worry – they’re just suggestions! You don’t have to memorize all the information, use all the discussion questions, or feel crunched for time. Just make sure you’re familiar with the information and activities before your party. Use the guide to help you personalize your party. Most of all, remember this party is about having fun, feeling empowered and being motivated for healthy living! HOST TIPS PLANNING YOUR PARTY • Think about putting together a group of people who are interested in learning about living a healthier life and how to change. • Think about a group of people who can help support one another in their efforts to make change. • Think about your friends who would be interested in the information provided during a Trash Cancer party. • If you are a U.S. resident, log on to www.mywell-being.com/trashcancer to send your e-vites to your guests. • Make sure that you, as the host, have filled out the Pre-Party Survey. HOSTING YOUR PARTY • Remember that your goal is to initiate conversation with your guests so that they start to become more educated consumers. You aren’t going to Trash Cancer in a day, but you’ll help yourself and your guests take their first steps toward a healthier lifestyle! • Add your own creativity, questions and experience to the core outline of the day. • It’s easier to chat if you are sitting in a circle. It’s fun to make new friends so feel free to mix it up! If you invite people who don’t already know each other, you could make simple name tags out of Post-it® Notes.