A Not So Funny Cancer Conversation with Fran Drescher

Fran Drescher may be known for laughing, but the Happily Divorced actress spoke seriously to us about Cancer Schmancer, the organization that the L.A. resident founded in 2007 to promote a healthy, cancer-preventative lifestyle after being diagnosed with—and beating—uterine cancer in 2000. But she’s not just after a cure—she’s out to revolutionize your household.

Tell us a little about Trash Cancer and Cancer Schmancer.
Trash Cancer is the latest program to come out of the Cancer Schmancer movement. We are trying to get all Americans to start questioning what they put in and around themselves, what we are eating, what we’re putting on our skin and surrounding ourselves with—what do we clean with, what do we garden with? Over 90% of cancer is environmental and we spend more time in and around the home than anywhere else.

Is there a specific suggested program that distinguishes this movement from others?
We are telling our followers to take the Check, Choose, and Change challenge. Each time you go to replace an item, consider replacing it with something that is less carcinogenic and more toxin free. At Cancer Schmancer we believe that there have been so many trillions of dollars put into cancer research to come up with a cure for cancer, but the best cure to cancer is to not get it in the first place. Living a preventative lifestyle is the right way and we have to start approaching the way we live in the 21st century. People can go to the Trash Cancer site and find out more about taking the challenge, getting tips on healthy living, or throwing a fun and informative Trash Cancer party. They can look up products that both their mothers and grandmothers used to buy that, at the end of the day, may be considered highly toxic and highly carcinogenic. Hopefully all this will inspire people to change before it’s too late.

It seems like having the ability to influence people is the silver lining to your getting cancer.
I’m not glad I had cancer, but I am better for it. Sometimes the best gifts come in the ugliest packages. Had I not had cancer I wouldn’t be here trying to change other people’s lives. With one out of two men getting cancer in their lives and one out of three women, we are jumping down the rabbit hole towards our own demise. The jig is up. People need to wake up and smell the coffee. Before they leave the house, women on average put twelve care products on their bodies. Men use about six to eight. These are the things that we need to think about. What’s good for you is good for the planet and vice versa.

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