Cancer Health and Wellness Launched on the Main Line
From life-threatening illness comes an amazing service to help others

HAVERTOWN, PA ( 7/17/2012) – When Leah Troiano was pregnant with her second child, her (then) 3 year old daughter was diagnosed with a tumor. She chalked it up as a fluke, followed doctor’s orders and got her daughter through treatment. But before her second child took her first breath, another family member was diagnosed with an aggressive cancer. In less than 6 months, Troiano faced the very real possibility that her entire family could be wiped out by illness and she would be raising a new baby alone.

Before that new baby reached the tender age of 7, Troiano’s family would endure two additional bouts of cancer. However, what she didn’t realize was that health journey would culminate into a new business venture, Cancer Health and Wellness, and she would devote her life to helping others overcome that same obstacles her family endured.  

Crusade Against Cancer
Armed with 17-plus years as a medical writer, Troiano devoted her free time to researching why this was happening. Physicians lumped her family into the “bad genes” category but Troiano wasn’t buying it. She gained a Cancer Support Educator certification and a Plant-based Diet Educator certification in search of information.

After learning much, Troiano switched gears. Instead of figuring out why it was happening, she decided to do all she could to prevent it from happening again. From that point on, she made sure that everything within her control would be “health promoting.”

Starting at home, Troiano questioned everything she touched. She read and then researched all ingredients. What she couldn’t understand – or wasn’t health promoting – was tossed, and replaced with “clean” organic products. What she couldn’t buy, she made herself.

What seemed like little changes, she says, made a big effect. “There is a cumulative effect of chemicals and carcinogens. Our bodies are amazing at cleaning those things out, but when we are bombarding ourselves with so much, so often, our body can’t keep up,” says Troiano.

While she can’t control it all, she says she’s hoping their healthy life style, which includes a plant-based diet, exercise and more, will successfully counteract the chemicals that are unavoidable. 

As time went on, the family reaped many healthy results from their new way of life, such as weight loss, clearer skin and more energy. (Her husband took up distance biking and then triathlons, even taking on an Ironman in 2010.) Family and friends noticed. Soon Troiano’s phone started ringing. “I would get calls asking, ‘What are you doing and why does everyone look so good?’ I think people expected us to look sick because of all the past health problems.”

Troiano said she would explain the changes they made and most people listened and were supportive. Then her phone rang from people she didn’t know. Family and friends who noticed healthy change began referring their friends to Troiano. Physicians noticed, too. Troiano said a family physician once said, “Every patient I see needs someone like you.” And with that the seed for Cancer Health and Wellness was planted.

In the Darkest Hour…
Troiano meets many clients during the most difficult times: During treatment or when first diagnosed. Dealing with chemotherapy or radiation can derail normal life, she says. Side effects of treatment, such as fatigue and taste/smell aversions, can feel discouraging and the mental stress alone can sideline the strongest person. “Trying to organize the medical aspects of illness such as bills, information, appointments, referrals, etc. can actually feel like a cruel joke while dealing with treatment,” says Troiano, explaining she introduces an easy and practical program to manage all the “paperwork.”

Troiano interviews each client and creates a personal plan incorporating nutrition, whole-body wellness, juicing/blending techniques, and more to help clients get through one of the most difficult times of their lives. “Sometimes it’s about finding ‘workarounds' to help clients eat, since nutrition is so important during treatment,” she says.

Troiano offers clients scientifically based research as well as techniques that have worked for other clients dealing with the same issues. She breaks the information down into practical and actionable skills that clients can use that day to feel better. She does this in an adventurous and lighthearted way to get each client engaged in their health.

… Comes the Brightest Light

“Let’s face it, when people talk about cancer, the go-to emotion is fear. And I remember it well. When I thought there was a possibility of losing my entire family, I was on a first name basis with fear,” says Troiano in her candid and personable way. “But sickness has a way of snapping priorities into alignment. All of a sudden I realized that life is not a dress rehearsal and I needed to take action right away. It turned out to be one of my most life-defining moments. But I never thought it would lead to a fulfilling and passionate career as well. So in many ways, it was a gift.”

Troiano is seeing clients in Bryn Mawr. For more information, to use Troiano as a source or to schedule an interview, call Leah Troiano at 610.212.4441 or visit www.CancerHealthandWellness.com