If you knew that tomorrow you would have to start the fight of your life, for your life, would it change how you viewed today?

Would you complain about your hair, knowing that soon it would fall through your fingers? Would you worry so much about work politics, knowing you might lose the freedom to chase your career and earn a living?

Would you mind the whining at bedtime, knowing you may not be able to hug your kids for weeks at a time?

Sometimes life – as sweet as it is – can be savage too. Perhaps it’s that that makes the good bits so good, but it’s not very comforting when the challenges roll in.

Some of you may have read a story about Jenna Maxfield Martin in Tuesday’s edition of The Royal Gazette.

She’s a friend fighting ovarian cancer in Boston right now. She has an amazing blog called “Respect the O” (http://respecttheo.blogspot.com/) that’s brutally honest, funny and inspiring. It might make you shed some tears, because as strong and philosophical as Jenna is, cancer sucks.

There is nothing ok about having a tube shoved up your nose, a painful port (for chemo) put in or missing your children’s first day of P2. Jenna would tell you there is something okay about it though, her tumour is shrinking. She is on the war-path and a formidable opponent. Run and hide cancer, run and hide…

Jenna’s story delivers a swift reality check. It has made me more grateful for every single healthy day my family has and more determined than ever to fight for better food for our kids.

Of course there are many factors that contribute to cancer – genetics, our physical environment or simply (awfully) bad luck.

But however or why it manifests, we should be able to access and afford healthy food that helps fuel people when they are well and heal them when they are sick.

The thought that the food we eat can contribute to cancer or inhibit recovery, is sickening itself.

Unfortunately unhealthy choices are everywhere, both in plain sight and more worryingly, hidden by misguided legislation, misleading marketing and incomprehensible food labels.

Remember at the beginning, I asked you this: If you knew that tomorrow you would have to start the fight of your life, for your life, would it change how you viewed today? It would wouldn’t it?

You wouldn’t sweat the small stuff and you would focus on things that really matter. Now think about it this way – would it change what you ate? I hope so. Who knows what life is going to throw at you or if there is anything you could have done about it.

But it’s undeniable that good food builds you up and bad food knocks you down. It’s never too late to benefit from great choices.

Just remember that preventive health strategies are most effective when applied cumulatively. So start now!

Next week I’ll be back with my top five nutrition tips for cancer prevention. Before I sign off, back to our fighter Jenna. Please visit her You Caring website to find out more about her story: http://www.youcaring.com/medical-fundraiser/respect-the-o-kick-the-c/216511. (I will post it to our Facebook page too for easy access.)

You can also support the family by booking some exhilarating time on the water with Axis adrenaline projects (www.axisbermuda.com). Axis is run by Jenna’s husband John.

You’ll get an amazing day out while also supporting the family’s income. As you can imagine, there are a lot of flights to pay for as John and the kids shuttle back and forth to Boston. Finally, go to www.cancer.bm for details of all the events taking place this month. And while you’re there, remind yourself of the symptoms of ovarian cancer. I was completely ignorant of the warning signs.

If you have even a shadow of a doubt get yourself checked out.

The advice given in this article is not intended to replace medical advice, but to complement it. Always consult your GP if you have any health concerns. Catherine Burns BA Hons, Dip ION is the Managing Director of Natural Ltd and a fully qualified Nutritional Therapist trained by the Institute for Optimum Nutrition in the U.K. Please note that she is not a Registered Dietitian. For details, please go to www.natural.bm or call 236-7511. Join Catherine on Facebook: www.facebook.com/nutrifitandnaturalnutritionbermuda.