After she was diagnosed with breast cancer when she was three weeks pregnant, Lynette Bisconti, president of The Gateway for Cancer Research^SMwww.demandcurestoday.org, began an aggressive personal campaign to beat the deadly disease. While she took advantage of traditional cancer treatments, she also battled cancer from a holistic perspective, learning how to support her well-being emotionally, mentally and physically.

Eating foods that may fight cancer became a personal mission… and it still is.

Today, 14 years after she was diagnosed, a healthy and vigorous Bisconti is spreading the word to cancer survivors and those interested in helping to prevent and fight cancer that they should incorporate foods high in antioxidants into their diet. Antioxidants are molecules that inhibit the production of free radicals -- atoms that start a chain reaction that can damage or kill cells and lead to disease.

In cities throughout the southern states, Bisconti is partnering with chefs who source food locally and whose dishes are mostly vegetarian and organic. Each chef will be creating enticing, signature dishes to demonstrate that eating healthy doesn’t have to be boring. Think of it as a new way of southern cooking: No more butter and nothing fried, but with all the flavor of biscuits and gravy.

Bisconti’s stops include Savannah, Memphis, Nashville, Richmond, Raleigh, Charlotte, Birmingham and Orlando as part of The Gateway’s participation in the Balance Your Life tour, www.thebalancingact.com/tour.

The Gateway’s recent gala in Chicago kicked off the first of several television cooking segments featuring Bisconti and a local chef to help highlight the importance of nutrition in everyday health. The gala, Cures 2011, raised more than $2-million to fund promising research for today’s cancer patients.

“You don’t have to sacrifice flavor when eating healthy,” Bisconti explains. “Most people would be surprised to know that the vegetarian dishes prepared by the chefs we work with don’t have butter or refined sugar in them because they are rich, tasty and even sweet,” she says. “Eating the right kinds of food can have a big impact on your health and may even help prevent and deter cancer growth,” Bisconti says. “Increasing your intake of vitamin- and fiber-rich fruits, vegetables, grains, and legumes, all of which have important nutrients and antioxidants, can make a difference.”

“There’s a saying that you should ‘eat your colors,’ and there’s a good reason,” Bisconti says. “Many of the phytochemicals (plant compounds) that contain antioxidants also happen to produce bright colors. The different colors signify different compounds, so eating a variety of colors –green, yellow, orange, red – means that you’re getting a range of protective properties.”

Bisconti and the hand-picked chefs make their messages fun, with dishes that anyone can make with the right ingredients. At the same time, viewers and show attendees will become familiar with The Gateway for Cancer Research, a Chicago-based non-profit organization that has raised more than $20-million over its 20-year history. Ninety-nine cents of every dollar received by The Gateway funds research to find cures for today’s cancer patients.

“The Gateway is one of the few non-profits to demand cures now for those battling cancer,” said. Bisconti. “We’re not going to wait for answers while thousands of cancer patients need effective treatments today. In addition to raising important funding for our mission, we emphasize the critical importance of supporting patient-relevant research that improves treatment outcomes and restores patients’ quality of life.”

The Gateway has funded more than 80 promising clinical trials that have helped push treatment innovations forward. Gateway-funded studies have included vaccines, dendritic cell therapies, novel combination therapies and complementary and alternative therapies designed to help cancer patients feel better, live longer, and be cured today. They are also reaching out in many other ways to improve the quality of life for cancer survivors.

Visit The Gateway website at: www.demandcurestoday.org to for more information, to find out how you can help and for featured healthy recipes.

ABOUT THE GATEWAY FOR CANCER RESEARCH

The Gateway for Cancer Research^SM is a non-profit organization committed to funding innovative research and bold new ideas for lifesaving treatments. We’re demanding cures to improve and save the lives of today’s patients, now. Our mission is to speed clinical breakthroughs to the bedside to help cancer patients live longer, feel better and be cured today. Since our founding in 1991, The Gateway has funded $19 million in leading-edge research, including blending the best of conventional and complementary/alternative therapies. Follow us on Twitter@Gatewaycr and become a fan at facebook.com/GatewayCancerResearch.