Breast Cancer Wellness

Transcription

Breast Cancer
Wellness
M A G A Z I N E
Be a Thriver!
®
How to Look
Good Naked
What is a Thriver?
Dangerous Foe in a
Sweet Disguise
I Think I Can
“I asked myself what
am I waiting for?”
–Jan Ping
What’s beauty
got to do with it?
Your entary
mplim ue
$4.95 C o
Iss
Volume 5, Issue 1
Spring 2010
NON-PROFIT PRST
STANDARD US
POSTAGE
PAID
PERMIT 205
BOLINGBROOK, IL
2010 Breast Cancer Thrivers
Quilt Raffle
This beautiuful quilt called ‘All About the Girls’ was designed and
created by Nedra Fillmer from Marshfield, Missouri. “In designing the ‘All About the Girls’ quilt several emotions were running
through me. I wanted to create a quilt that would scream it was
for a woman, so it had to be pink but with the darker shades being
brought out in the browns to depict the battles that we face to create an even balance. There are many struggles through breast cancer but one
of the biggest accomplishments along the journey is to feel that you are beautifully whole again. It is an amazing journey and well worth the struggle when you
reach the point where you can look at the darker shades of your life and know
that you would not be as beautiful without them.” –Nedra Fillmer
RAFFLE
TICKETS
3 10
Jan Ping – BCW Feature
34-36
Drawing to be held November 1, 2010
NAME:________________________________________________________________
ADDRESS:_ ____________________________________________________________
CITY, STATE, ZIP:_ _______________________________________________________
PHONE_ ______________________________________________________________
EMAIL_ _______________________________________________________________
Send to: Breast Cancer Thrivers, P. O. Box 2040, Lebanon, MO 65536
BREAST CANCER THRIVERS QUILT RAFFLE
NAME:________________________________________________________________
ADDRESS:_ ____________________________________________________________
CITY, STATE, ZIP:_ _______________________________________________________
NAME:________________________________________________________________
ADDRESS:_ ____________________________________________________________
CITY, STATE, ZIP:_ _______________________________________________________
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EMAIL_ _______________________________________________________________
28
Cover photograph by Catherine Ellen Money
EMAIL_ _______________________________________________________________
Spring 2010
ON OUR COVER
$
for
PHONE_ ______________________________________________________________
contents
BE FEATURED IN BCW MAGAZINE!
The raffle winner will have their photo taken for the
article that will appear in the BCW 2011 Winter Issue.
This beautiful quilt was custom quilted by Pat Capps of “Quilts and
Things” of Lebanon, Missouri. Pat does custom quilting and purchased her first quilting machine in 1999. Her personal motto is
“Quilts are our links to the past and the treasures of our future”. It is
important to Pat that the quilting enhances the piecing. She wants
every lady to know that her quilt is just as important as the next and
she puts the same effort into every one. As Pat stitched together this
quilt she thought of the family and friends who have survived breast
cancer and those who did not. Pat has donated her talent and time to
them. Her mother in-law and two sisters in-law have been diagnosed
with breast cancer. Pat’s goal in life is to retire and quilt full time.
“Mommy what’s wrong?”
We walked to the car so
that I could have a quiet
place to sit and talk with
her. While she was clinging
to me, her tearful response
was “No Mommy no”. We
both just sat there and
cried. Then all of a sudden
I spoke to her with words
from a different place
of understanding, that
place where I recognized
my intuition and higher
guiding forces were
helping me what to say
next to Alice.
F E AT U R E S
D E PA RT M E N TS
WHAT’S LOVE/BEAUTY GOT
TO DO WITH IT? 5
PUBLISHER’S LETTER 4
Let’s consider, however, an approach to
beauty that is diametrically opposite—a
strategy that works from the inside out.
Clinical staff, including doctors, nurses,
social workers, and therapists, are keenly
aware of a sort of beauty in their patients
that does not correspond to physical
attributes and accoutrements.
AMOENA for me 10
HOW DO YOU MAKE YOUR
HEALING DECISIONS 9
HOW TO LOOK GOOD NAKED 20
After years of conditioning that the only
thing that is attractive is Barbie-type
proportions and “Nivea-smooth skin”, the
idea that our aging, post-baby, less-thanfirm bodies might be attractive is absolutely
shocking to the point of upsetting!
WHAT IS A FIT SPECIALIST 26
WHAT IS A THRIVER? 28
PROFILES IN WELLNESS
34 A Beautiful Life
38 Beauty
40 Why I Became a Fit Specialist
DANGEROUS FOE IN A
SWEET DISGUISE 12
Now, the good news: If you have a sweet
tooth, you’ll be relieved to know that
you don’t have to suffer. There’s a natural
sweetener that tastes great, and better yet,
research has shown that instead of being
dangerous to your health, it actually has
several wonderful health-supporting qualities.
CLAIM SPRING’S RENEWAL
AS YOUR OWN 14
GIRL TALK FOR SURVIVORS 16
I think I can, I think I can, I think I can
Just like the train chugging up the
track I can do a lot of things when I
put my mind to it. So can you.
HEALTHY EATING 18
For an incredibly delicious meal, you have
to try heart-healthy, Glazed Salmon.
LADIES FIRST 32
PINK PAGES DIRECTORY 45-46
Sponsored by ANITA International Corporation
3540 N W 56th St., Suite 204, Ft Lauderdale, FL 33309
www.breastcancerwellness.org
3
BCWFEATURE q
publisher’s letter
Dear Friends,
I am grateful for spring’s arrival! Spring brings
the promise of the renewal of one’s spirit and
reminds us that every thing has a season. This
spring I am excited about my little organic garden
and eating fresh—really fresh—vegetables and
herbs in just a few weeks. I love being in nature as
she blossoms forth in color and with renewed life
and renewed beauty. Happy Spring to each of you.
This issue’s theme is beauty - not the definition
and image of beauty that the high gloss
marketing agencies want us to buy into, but
beauty on the core level that only breast cancer
thrivers have come to know. Breast cancer thrivers have looked at themselves
in the mirror during the times when everything that physically signifies being a
woman is thought to have been compromised. We have taken time to pause and
to reflect on who we are and have recognized more than ever that beauty is the
natural essence of who we are. We have learned that our authentic beauty can
never be diminished by cancer. Our authentic beauty is season-less.
The annual Breast Cancer Wellness cruise is a special experience. It is taking
a break from our daily routines to gather with breast cancer patients and thrivers
from around the country and to join forces to celebrate, to laugh, to cry together.
The 2010 cruise will have memories for over 260 thrivers, friends, and family.
But we have MORE FOR YOU! The 5th annual BCW Cruise 2011 will have more
time together, more value, more fun, and more memories just for YOU! Call Shelly
Williams at 1-800-810-8619 or email her at [email protected] to
be part of this great experience.
I love to read, especially breast cancer healing experiences. I am always interested
to know why and how others make their healing choices. Recently, I read the
extraordinary experience of Katrina Bos and I wanted to share it with the
readers of the BCW magazine. Katrina had a longstanding family history with
cancer. At age 29, she found a lump in her breast—just four years after losing her
mother to breast cancer. Katrina invites the readers of her book to look at some
of our society’s beliefs and habits about disease and invokes us to ask if they are
helping or harming us. Katrina shares her transformational healing journey in her
book, What If You Could Skip the Cancer? I truly appreciated the first paragraph on
page 114. Her book is not a preachy book that admonishes you to follow her way of
healing; that is why I appreciate page 114 and I think you will too. I hope you also
enjoy her two contributing articles to this issue of the magazine, How to Look Good
Naked, and Beauty.
If you are interested in serving on the Breast Cancer Wellness Board of
Directors (under the IRS approved 501c3 nonprofit status of ONE Health Institute)
and to be part of this leading national force of helping women when diagnosed with
breast cancer, please contact me via email at [email protected].
We will be selecting our Founding Officers soon and would love to have you join us
if this mission is in your heart.
My prayer and invitation is for each of us to experience healing and wellness to the
fullest.
Wellness Blessings,
Beverly Vote
Publisher / Editor
17 year breast cancer thriver!
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Breast Cancer Wellness Magazine
SPRING 2010
Volume 5, Issue 1
PUBLISHER
Bevery Vote
[email protected]
To order your individual free subscription,
go to www.breastcancerwellnesss.org
or see page 16 to subscribe.
Please contact Beverly Vote at
[email protected]
to request magazines for your
events, support groups, or patients.
______________
y
t
u
bea
What’s love
got to do with it?
Dear Readers,
It may seem a bit out of character for a medical column to address the topic
of beauty. To this, we say, “au contraire!” Beauty, redefined as the shining forth
of our inner essence, is a vital force in each and every one of us. It is often more
apparent in those touched by cancer, because life has presented them with the
challenge – to rethink who they are and why they are here – and they have met
that monumental challenge with a renewed sense of self-worth and purpose.
With blessings and best wishes,
DIRECTOR OF SALES
Bonnie Phelps
[email protected]
417.581.3438
Fax 417.581.3498
Please do not call Director of Sales for article and
story submissions, refer to breastcancerwellness.org
for submission guidelines or email
[email protected]
______________
ART DIRECTOR
Stacie L. Marshall
www.hilldesignco.com
[email protected]
The Breast Cancer Wellness
Magazine
P.O. Box 2040
Lebanon, MO 65536
Amy
O
ncologists spend little, if any,
time evaluating their patients’
physical beauty. They focus,
instead, primarily on preventing or curing the patient’s cancer, or on keeping it
at bay. Hopefully they also attend to the
patient’s well-being in the fullest sense,
encompassing not only her physical
function but also her emotional wellness, the psychosocial and interpersonal
impact of cancer in her life, and even
her spiritual health. They generally
don’t discuss mascara.
Jane
Yet, these days, most cancer centers
offer some sort of beauty program for
breast cancer patients – be it a wig
boutique for those undergoing chemotherapy, a “spa day” when aestheticians
provide manicures and facials, or a
workshop on looking your best through
cancer treatment. The premise motivating these programs is that women feel
better when they look good, and thus
they target enhancement of physical appearance as a path to improved patient
experience. This, to be sure, is a com-
mendable goal. The self-esteem that
derives from looking gorgeous is undeniable; it can empower us to “go forth and
conquer.” The approach works from the
outside in.
Let’s consider, however, an approach to beauty that is diametrically
opposite – a strategy that works from
the inside out. Clinical staff, including
doctors, nurses, social workers, and
therapists, are keenly aware of a sort of
beauty in their patients that does not
correspond to physical attributes and
accoutrements. Rather, it is a beauty of
the soul. We all recognize this magnetic
force, though we may not be able to
define it or pin down its origin. We “see”
it as an indescribable loveliness, a radiance, a glow that draws us to a person.
It emanates from within, and though it
may or may not match society’s measures of physical appeal, we apprehend
it as Beauty.
This sort of beauty, the sort that
is not contingent on physical appearance, is developed. It blossoms within
us when we grow, as kind and loving human beings. And sometimes,
though we probably wouldn’t choose it
this way, we grow the most when we u
breastcancerwellness.org
Published quarterly for Breast Cancer Wellness. Reader discretion
is advised. Publisher of The Breast Cancer Wellness Magazine does
not endorse or promote any product or service of advertisers of
this publication nor does it verify the accuracy of any claims made
in the advertisements or articles. This magazine is not intended
to replace the care and advice of expert medical professionals. All
rights reserved. Reproductions of any information appearing in
this publication in whole or in part cannot be made without the
express written permission of the publisher.
5
q BCWFEATURE
Inner beauty
springs from
authenticity,
from an
appreciation
of our heart
and of
our soul.
6
struggle through major life challenges
such as cancer.
Lana is a businesswoman in every
sense of the word. When she was in her
late 20’s, just out of graduate school,
she started her own graphics company
which, due to her excellent artistic
sensibilities, business acumen, and
panache, quickly turned into a thriving venture. Through her 30’s and 40’s,
she became a local persona, supporting
community causes, serving on various
boards, and gracing charitable events
with her charm. Additionally, she was
a superb tennis player and a weekend
fixture at the golf and tennis club; a
natural athlete, she hovered at the top
of the tennis ladder. Tall and glamorous, she was by all accounts a beautiful
woman. And then she found the lump.
Cancer struck Lana from out of the
blue, and over the course of her treatment, it seemed to rob her of everything
that she valued. A host of side effects
– nausea, fatigue, pain, diarrhea, depression – kept her off the tennis court
and out of the board room. She became
unable to sleep for more than an hour
or two each night, and anxiety compounded by sheer weariness prevented
her from attending social or business
functions. She found it increasingly
hard to care about her work, and felt
increasingly downhearted about her
multiple losses.
And then, one day, she noticed a
flier posted in her cancer clinic; it announced a children’s therapy group,
for kids with cancer. The message, and
the human impact it hinted at, struck
Lana with an almost physical impact,
like a blow to her heart. She could feel
an easing up of the tightness in her
chest, and a space opening within her.
Gripped by a compelling sense that
she had to do something to help, her
mind began racing. A sense of aliveness swept through her, her creativity
reawakened.
One month later, Lana is leading a
weekly meeting of a subset of the children’s cancer group, for those kids u
7
q BCWFEATURE
who want to explore the creative world,
to play together with art. Kids ranging
in age from six to sixteen spread around
a conference room table covered with
newsprint. Paints, papers of various
sizes and textures, brushes, sponges,
pastel crayons, a variety of print and
solid fabrics, glue guns, and all manner of other art materials are strewn
over the tabletop. The kids immerse
themselves in conversation, while plunging with
abandon into their wild and
crazy creations. Inspiring
them, circulating around
the table, is Lana – her bald
head swathed in a bright
batik scarf, her face gaunt but
radiant, rolled-up sleeves revealing
thin and often-punctured forearms, her
positive energy contagious. Smiling her
encouragement to all of her protégés,
she is happy, and shiningly beautiful.
Many of us have pursued beauty in
the exterior sense, amending our looks
daily to conform to society’s definition
of female attractiveness. Now cancer
has lifted the veil, and we realize that
our beauty is internal – it is based in
who we are, not how we look. Regardless of our physical appearance, our
clothing, or our skill with make-up, our
beauty shines through when we exude
love and joy. These precious assets,
equally available to us all, are our true
magnificence.
“Beauty is truth, truth beauty, that
is all ye know on earth, and all ye need
to know,” wrote John Keats in Ode on a
Grecian Urn. Two hundred years later,
these words still grab us with their
startling clarity. Keats reminds us that
there is something enduring in the essence of things, something eternal that
expresses what is real, unchanging –
and that essence itself, purely because
of its own true nature, is exquisite. To
grasp this, something must “tease us
out of thought, as doth
eternity;” and then, we
have a profoundly simple
sense of knowing, we
understand that “beauty is
truth, truth beauty.”
Inner beauty springs
from authenticity, from an
appreciation of our heart and of
our soul. At the risk of sounding trite,
one of the consequences of a cancer
diagnosis (or any personal crisis) is the
gift of perspective. Our values become
crystal-clear; we begin to live from our
priorities, instead of from routine, habit, or necessity. This powerful personal
integrity – being true to who we are –
comes with a calm, grounded sense of
knowing that we are on the right track,
that we are living with purpose, that
we are inherently valuable. We see the
beauty and the value in others, and we
also experience our own beauty, which
can be so easily forgotten in the mayhem of ordinary life. Perhaps cancer is
just one path of initiation into a world
of Beauty, a world of appreciation and
companionship from which so many of
us have exiled ourselves.
And so, may we all come to know
and love our selves, to appreciate our
lives in all of their mystery and ambiguity, to choose joy over despair despite
sometimes grim circumstances, and to
share our inner light with those who,
like us, are on a grand journey. In
other words, may we live our Beauty. n
How Do You Make Your
Healing Decisions?
by Beverly Vote
There are many decisions to be
made and much is at stake when
diagnosed with breast cancer. But
where does a woman begin to find the
best answers for her well-being when
the answers she is seeking are of a life
consequential matter?
How have you made decisions and
choices previously? Reflecting upon
your past choices will give you an
indication of how you might want to
consider or reconsider how you make
choices at this time in your life.
What is the process you use to
make important decisions in your life?
Who do you call?
Or do you call no one?
Do you pray?
Do you meditate?
Do you take time to pause, to center
yourself and to open up to different
possibilities?
Is there a special place you go for
solitude to reflect?
Do you have a special practice that
you do when making difficult choices?
Do you go with the first recommendation that came your way?
Do you sleep on your choices?
Do you do research on the situation?
Do you let someone else make the
decision for you?
Do you select additional options?
Do you go with your gut instinct?
Do you need other people’s permission to make a decision?
Is your desire to heal greater than
your desire to please someone?
How comfortable are you in listening to your intuition? Is this something you do on a regular basis? Is it
a developed connection for you? Is it
something you trust?
Do you take time to pause and
reflect upon what you want and what
is best for you? How do you handle the
decisions when it goes against what
others, especially your loved ones or
your medical professional, think is best
for you?
n Let’s probe even deeper:
Do you have reasons NOT to
become well? While this is a startling
question, it requires a deep level of
self honesty. When our need for love,
acceptance, compassion, and attention outweighs our need to be well, it is
in fact a telling sign once again in our
world that true healing is always more
than just healing the body, that the underlying issues must be healed as well.
An honest exploration of why you
make your life’s decisions can reveal any
limitations you may be making for yourself as you try to move toward a state of
wellness. Being aware of your strengths
and your fears can help you make your
most empowered decisions. n
The support you
need. With a
woman’s touch.
The St.Vincent Women’s
Health Boutique provides the
women’s healthcare products
you need with the attention to
detail you deserve.
We offer mastectomy bras,
breast prosthesis, mastectomy
swimsuits, swim prosthesis,
lightweight forms, postsurgical camisoles, and a huge
variety of scarves, turbans
and wigs. We’ll even submit
insurance claims for you.
Plus free shipping through
womens.stvincent.org. Call
317.338.8866 to find out more.
n Let’s go a little deeper:
Amy Abernethy, MD
Dr. Amy Abernethy obtained her medical degree and post graduate training
in Internal Medicine, Hematology, and Medical Oncology at Duke
University and trained in Palliative Medicine and Cancer Pain Clinical
Trails at Flinders University in Australia. She is Director of the Duke
Cancer Care Research Program, faculty member of Duke Clinical Research
Institue and Duke Comprehensive Cancer Care Control Program and Senior
Fellow of the Duke Center for Clinical Health Policy Research. Her
research focuses on evidence-based solutions for improving the cancer
patients’ experiences. http://www.cancer.duke.edu/dccrp/
Jane Wheeler, MSPH
Jane Wheeler received her undergraduate degree from Princeton University
and her master of science in public health from Harvard University. She
has studied complementary and alternative medicine in various venues,
including the Acupressure Institute (Berkeley, CA) and McKinnon
Institute for Professional Bodywork (Oakland, CA). She formerly served
as a certified massage therapist, and has maintained an active yoga
practice for 20 years in the Iyengar, Astanga, and Anusara traditions.
She currently serves as Research Associate in the Duke Cancer Care
Research Program and Medical Instructor at Duke University School of
Medicine. She can be reached by email at [email protected].
8
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03/31/10
for me
Set Sail in Style
The countdown has officially begun
for the 2010 Breast Cancer Survivors—
make that Thrivers!—Cruise. Amoena
is thrilled to be joining Breast Cancer
Wellness readers again this year to
celebrate your successes in the cancer
fight, your commitment to continued
good health, your families and friends
-- and you, individually. Each one of
you brings something unique on-board,
making this cruise a rewarding and
memorable experience for everyone
you’ll meet.
Whether you want to collect loads of
new friends during your travels—there
will be bonding opportunities on-board
and in our ports-of-call—or simply take
the week away as time for yourself, we
want you to feel comfortable. Amoena’s
swimwear designers always create with
you in mind—to give you confidence
and perfect support, because when
you’re relaxed and comfortable, you’re
at your most beautiful.
by Lee Thrash
Tracie Metzger
2010 Pink Power Super Mom
To cover up—or to add some graceful
drama—play with our Santa Fe Pareo.
Wrap it around your waist while sharing drinks at the café, or twist it around
your shoulders for a colorful accent to
your healthy tan.
Figure-flattering styles like Toronto
(available in Black or Royal Blue) which
uses an elegant basket weave effect to
instantly slim your waist, will make a
splash on the upper deck or the island
beaches.
It’s All in the Details
We start by making sure that all
our swimwear patterns include adequate lining and secure pockets to
hold a breast form or symmetry shaper
in place. Extra features like slightly
raised necklines, adjustable straps and
top-quality tailoring ensure a great fit
for every body type.
In addition, our innovative use of
advanced fabrics like Xtra Life Lycra®
and RadElast® Spandex provide a
longer-lasting fit with shape-retention
and chlorine-resistant properties. With
proper care, these suits will shine from
season to season. Many of our fabrics
are also protected against the harmful effects of the sun, up to a UPF +50
rating.
Amoena swimwear is seasonal with
some styles available all year and offers you a wide variety to choose from,
whether you like an elegant Tank,
Surplice, Sarong, swimdress or flexible
mix & match sets. View all of our swimwear online at www.amoena.us, and
when you’re ready to pack your beach
bag, visit your local Amoena retailer to
choose the swimwear that flatters you
best. Bon voyage! n
™
Tell us about the Pink
Tankinis remain one of the hottest
trends in swimwear, and Amoena has
several to choose from. Pago Beach is
one of our favorites from the 2010 Collection. A fun fusion suit with black and
ivory in this gorgeous Asian-inspired
print is accented with red binding,
straps and drawstrings. It’s a delicate,
feminine style that makes a bold statement. You can adjust the leg height to
“mostly modest” or “slightly sexy!”
DO YOU HAVE AN AMAZING WOMAN IN MIND?
Nominate a mother who has persevered through her battle
with breast cancer. Bright Starts recognizes eight women every
year for their inspirational fight against breast cancer.
Each 2010 Pink Power Mom will receive a $5000 donation to
the breast cancer charity of her choice, plus special pampering
gifts just for her.
Style Savvy Choices
No matter if your fashion palette
tends toward the wild side or the
very classic, Amoena has something
runway-worthy that you’ll love.
Power Mom™ in your life.
Tell us about your Pink Power MomTM at
Lee Thrash
ONE INSPIRING STORY
Tracie Metzger is a mother of four who noticed a lump during
a self breast exam. Thankfully she was assertive about seeking
treatment and received a lot of support from friends and
family to endure the battle. Inspired by the support she
received, in 2001 Tracie and a friend founded the Pink Ribbon
Girls, an organization offering education, awareness for early
detection, and support for young women with breast cancer.
Tracie’s strength, determination and vision to help others are
what make her a Pink Power Mom.
www.pinkpowermom.com
E-business & PR Coordinator, Amoena USA
Lee Thrash manages Amoena’s online community, theBreastCareSite.com, Amoena
Life magazine, and other online and print publications which help breast cancer
survivors and their families. A graduate of Emory University, her writing experience
includes reporting for and editing health care journals such as Hospital Case
Management, Case Management Advisor, and Hospital Home Health (AHC Media),
as well as 10+ years editing educational websites, brochures and publications.
10
Becky
Olson
Gina
Andrews
Heidi
Floyd
Jamie
Ledezma
Kathy
Coursey-boes
Melody
Suzanne11
Oliver
Chamberlain
Dangerous Foe
in a Sweet Disguise
Estimates are that every year the
average American eats almost his or her
entire body weight in sugar. The average
teenage boy eats thirty-four teaspoons
of sugar a day, and the average teenage girl consumes twenty-four. You can
easily see how this is possible when you
add it up. Sugar is added to virtually all
processed foods, especially soda pop.
The average can of cola, such as Coke or
Pepsi, contains ten to twelve teaspoons
of sugar! There’s a new breakfast cereal
with a whopping eighteen teaspoons of
sugar per serving; that’s one-third of
a cup, or the equivalent of forty-eight
Hershey’s Kisses. You’re probably aware
that sugar’s bad for your teeth, but you
can brush them. So, what’s the big deal,
you might ask? The big deal is that
research shows that sugar and refined
carbohydrates are detrimental to your
health in a multitude of ways, including
increasing the risk of many chronic disorders including diabetes, obesity, heart
disease and breast cancer.
INSULIN
Cancer cells love sugar. It’s their
preferred fuel. The more sugar you
eat, the faster cancer cells grow. Your
pancreas responds to sugar by releasing
insulin, the hormone that escorts sugar
into your cells. When you eat refined
simple sugars, such as white table
sugar, candy, cookies, or other sugarladen foods, your blood sugar levels rise
very quickly. Your pancreas responds
by releasing a lot of insulin. That’s not
good. High insulin levels are one of the
biggest risk factors and promoters of
breast cancer. Women with high insulin
levels have a 283 percent greater risk of
breast cancer.
When it comes to breast cancer,
insulin is no friend. One of the biggest
reason is due to the fact that both normal breast cells and cancer cells have
insulin receptors on them. When insulin
attaches to its receptor, it has the same
effect as when estrogen attaches to its
receptor; it causes cells to start dividing.
The higher your insulin levels are, the
faster your breast cells will divide; the
faster they divide, the higher your risk
of breast cancer is and the faster any
existing cancer cells will grow.
12
by Christine Horner, MD
There’s another wound that insulin
can inflict, too. It attacks a portion of
the estrogen cycle, making more estrogen available to attach to the estrogen receptors in breast tissue. Insulin
regulates how much of the estrogen
in your blood is available to attach to
estrogen receptors in your breast tissue.
When estrogen travels in the blood, it
either travels alone seeking a mate (an
estrogen receptor), or it travels with a
partner (a protein binder) that prevents
it from attaching to an estrogen receptor. Insulin regulates the number of
protein binders in the blood. So, the
higher your insulin levels are, the fewer
the number of protein binders there will
be and therefore the more free estrogen
that will be available to attach to estrogen receptors.
In other words, when your insulin
levels are up, free-estrogen levels are
up, too. And both of them speed up cell
division. That’s why high insulin levels
increase your risk of breast cancer so
much.
DANGER—SUGAR!
Eating sugar increases your risk of
breast cancer in another way. It delivers
a major blow to your immune system
with the force of a prize fighter. Your
immune system is your natural defense
against such invaders as bacteria, viruses, and cancer cells. Research shows
that right after you eat a high-sugar
meal, the function of the cells in your
immune system drops drastically. In
the case of one type of cell in particular,
the T lymphocyte (a type of white blood
cell), sugar knocks its defense abilities down by at least 50 percent. This
effect lasts for a minimum of five hours!
Another researcher found that the function of T lymphocytes dropped by 94
percent after a high-sugar meal! This
means that right after you’ve eaten a lot
of sugar, your body’s ability to fight off
invaders or destroy cancer cells is tremendously weakened for several hours.
Over a period of time, eating too
much sugar can create imbalances that
lead to two more deadly diseases: obesity and diabetes. Both of these diseases
dangerously increase your risk of breast
cancer, and both have increased alarmingly in the United States in the past
two decades. An estimated 60 percent of
the adult population is overweight, and
5 percent have diabetes. Of those people
who have diabetes, 90 percent are also
overweight. Not only do these diseases
increase your risk of breast cancer, but
they also increase your risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, poor circulation, stroke, and infection.
A study conducted by Harvard Medical School and published in 2004 found
that women who ate foods with a high
glycemic index (foods that cause blood
sugars to soar, such as refined carbohydrates and sugars) as teenagers had
a higher incidence of breast cancer later
in life. So, encouraging your teenage
daughter to cut back on sugar will help
her to lower her risk of breast cancer for
the rest of her life.
SWEET RELIEF
Now, the good news: If you have a
sweet tooth, you’ll be relieved to know
that you don’t have to suffer. There’s a
natural sweetener that tastes great, and
better yet, research has shown that instead of being dangerous to your health,
it actually has several wonderful healthsupporting qualities. It’s called Stevia,
and it comes from the South American
plant Stevia rebaudiana. What’s interesting about this semi shrub, indigenous to Paraguay, is that every part
of it tastes intensely sweet. The dried
leaves, however, are the only parts that
are used for medicinal and commercial
purposes. Scientists have found that
Stevia’s delightfully sweet flavor comes
from a group of substances in it called
“glycosidal diterpenes.”
Compared to sugar, only very small
Stevia rebaudiana
amounts of Stevia are needed. That’s because Stevia is 300 times sweeter than
sucrose, the type of sugar found in table
sugar. Stevia hasn’t yet been approved
by the FDA as a food additive—write
your senators and Congressional representatives! So, at this time, you won’t
find it in any processed foods in the
United States. In this country Stevia is
considered a dietary supplement. Health
food stores and national-chain grocery
stores that specialize in organic foods,
such as Wild Oats and Whole Foods,
usually carry Stevia.
Stevia comes in multiple forms: a
fine white powder, a green powder, or
a liquid. I found that certain brands of
Stevia can taste bitter or leave a weird
aftertaste if you use too much. There’s
one brand, however, that solved this
problem by adding some fiber to it. It is
called Stevia Plus by SweetLeaf .
Stevia can also be used in cooking,
but it’s a little tricky. The amount you
should use can vary a lot from brand
to brand, so you definitely should use a
Stevia cookbook. Many of the companies
with Stevia products have their own
cookbooks.
Stevia has been used for hundreds
if not thousands of years by the native tribes in Paraguay and Brazil to
treat high blood pressure and diabetes.
Modern research has shown that it does
help both conditions. Stevia causes
blood vessels to dilate. When the diameter of a blood vessel increases, the blood
pressure in it goes down. A double-blind
placebo-controlled study was published
in the British Journal of Pharmacology
in the year 2000 documenting Stevia’s
ability to lower blood pressure. Researchers found that after only three
months, patients with high blood pressure who were given Stevia three times
a day had a significant decrease in both
their systolic (the upper number) and
diastolic (the lower number) blood-pressure numbers.
Stevia is a great sugar substitute
for people who really need to avoid
sugar, such as diabetics. In addition,
Stevia has an added benefit for type
2 diabetics: It seems to have an effect
opposite to that of sugar on their bodies; it causes blood sugar to go down.
Research has also discovered two more
Stevia health benefits. First, it can kill
certain bacteria and viruses. In a study
published in 2001, Stevia was found
to have antiviral effects against the
rotavirus. This virus can cause severe
diarrhea and dehydration, especially in
infants. Secondly, Stevia shows a strong
ability to kill a wide range of food-born
bacteria.
Another, healthy natural substitute
for sugar is also available. It’s made
from Luo Han Guo, the round green
fruit of the Chinese plant Siraita grosvenori. Luo Han Guo has been used in
China as a medicine since the thirteenth
century, but it didn’t become popular
as a remedy for coughs, sore throats,
and upper respiratory-tract infections
until the twentieth century. In southern China Luo Han Guo is also used to
enhance longevity. Like Stevia, Luo Han
Guo is about 300 times sweeter than
sugar and is processed into a fine, white
crystalline powder. WisdomHerbs makes
a sugar substitute using a blend of Luo
Han Guo and fructose called Sweet and
Slender. It can be purchased at most
health food stores or on the Internet. n
Christine Horner, MD
Christine Horner, MD is a board certified and nationally recognized surgeon, author,
expert in natural medicine, professional speaker and a relentless champion for
women’s health. She is the author of Waking the Warrior Goddess: Dr. Christine Horner’s
Program to Protect Against and Fight Breast Cancer, winner of the Independent Book
Publishers Award 2006 for “Best Book in Health, Medicine, and Nutrition.” For more
information go to www.drchristinehorner.com.
13
Claim Spring’s Renewal
as Your Own
by Ann Leach
Birds are singing, bees are buzzing
and flowers are growing; all’s right with
the world, yes?
Not necessarily. Despite warm
temperatures and earth’s shedding of its
winter coat, the fact remains: someone
you love has breast cancer and still
needs your time and attention.
Still, we can take a lesson from
Mother Nature and use the signs
of Spring to our advantage. Try the
following tips to refresh and renew
yourself this season:
Build a nest. The birds are busy
building their nests and getting ready
to hatch their babies. Ever notice how
they are so focused when seeking out
just the right materials to construct
their new home? What materials do you
need around you to bring you respite?
Favorite books, a journal and a teapot
close by can do wonders in offering a
place of solace during your caregiver
experience.
Don’t put all your eggs in one
basket. It’s easy to let caring for your
loved one dictate your days, but make
an effort to maintain interest in hobbies
and groups that offer you a break from
the day-to-day needs of caring. Local
agencies can offer solutions for finding
someone to stay with your loved one
while you take a break or you could
make arrangements for relief with family
or neighbors. A monthly book club or
craft circle can refuel your soul and offer
an outlet for your stress.
Cultivate the soil. That makes me
think of ‘soul’. What could you do to
increase your faith and stir up your soul
on this journey? Many of us start to
question this personal area when in the
midst of life and death discussions and
decisions and now is the time to shore
up your faith for the journey. Listening
to lectures on tape, finding special
music or reading the teachings of a
favorite faith leader can remind us that
we’re not alone on the path.
Plant more seeds. Thanks to
a number of factors, not every seed
planted takes root, so that would
indicate that more seeds need to be
planted. Let’s look at your seeds of
possibility; how does your garden grow?
Are you planting more seeds of hope
and faith? Pulling the weeds of doubt
and fear? Plant more seeds in the
garden of your mind that let you focus
on what you want rather than on what
you don’t want.
Get more water. Just like those
seeds need water to grow, so do we. Be
sure to keep your physical self hydrated
and fed well. You need your strength
and your health as you continue on this
caregiver journey. Do all you can to take
care of yourself, too.
Reach for the sun. The flowers peek
their heads out of the soil and begin
stretching and growing toward the sun’s
warmth. What would help you stretch
and grow as a caregiver? It might be
a check-in call with your loved one’s
doctor or the reassurance from your
support group that your decision to
explore insurance options is a good one.
Whatever it is that you decide you need,
reach out for it.
Taking steps to incorporate each of
the above spring lessons can bring you
peace of mind and help to assure you
spring forward with more confidence
and calm. Here’s to your springtime of
increased serenity. n
Looking for Inspiration
on your Cancer Journey?
Buy the book today!
Ann Leach
Ann Leach is the founder and president of Life Preservers: a global grief support
community. She served as the primary caregiver for her mother, who died of cancer
twenty-one years ago. Ann produces an award-winning free online newsletter called
In the Flow for caregivers coping with loss.
Visit www.life-preservers.org for more information.
Are you ready to go Beyond Treatment?
Heather Jose is a ten year survivor of
stage IV breast cancer. Diagnosed at 26,
Heather chose to go beyond treatment to kill cancer.
Heather is a dynamic speaker and writer,
inspiring action in survivors and the heathcare
providers that they encounter. She will empower your
group to make positive actions and words count.
It’s time to go beyond treatment!
Contact Heather today.
[email protected]
(517) 262-8397
www.GoBeyondTreatment.com
14
“Letters to Sydney is a compelling and
riveting approach to give hope to those
experiencing cancer. it is a must read for
every woman diagnosed with cancer.”
–Greg Anderson, Author of The Cancer Conqueror
Founding Chairman & CEO
Cancer Recovery Foundation of America
15
Girl Talk for Survivors
I think I can
I think I can, I think I can, I think
I can. Just like the train chugging up
the track I can do a lot of things when
I put my mind to it. So can you. Start
small and build momentum. I have
been getting a lot of phone calls and
emails lately from women recently diagnosed with stage IV cancer. They all
tell me that they don’t know whether
or not to try. After all, the doctors have
said the prognosis is not good.
Facing cancer is tough. It can
send you reeling, but the quicker you
can align your thoughts, the better
off you’ll be. Why not try? What is the
worst outcome to trying? If the answer
to that is failure or death, isn’t that
what you are already facing? What if
by ‘thinking that you can’ the outcome
would change?
Let me say this, I believe that you
can make a difference in how your
body takes on cancer. I believe that
your thoughts and actions impact your
response to treatment. I believe that
belief in yourself is a critical component to wellness. I also know that only
you, the thriver, can do this. Your
friends and family can support you,
but the choice is yours.
I found it disappointing when people did not have expectations for me
during treatment. ‘Do the best you can’
just didn’t do much for me. I wanted to
be involved. I didn’t want to leave it to
my doctors. It was important to me to
do something to kill cancer everyday.
Yes!
by Heather Jose
I THINK
I CAN
Sometimes the easiest way to impact
our thoughts is to do good things for
ourselves. So like the train, do something. When you have momentum on
your side make another change. On
and on it goes, on the track to change.
I began with a single thought, ‘If
nothing else I am going to go down
swinging.’ That doesn’t even seep with
positiveness, but it was enough to get
me going.
From there I went with nutrition.
Even before I started chemo I was
revamping my diet. Guess what? I felt
great throughout chemo. Yes, I ate a
fairly bland diet for a day or two after
treatment. But after that I was back to
fish, whole grains, veggies, and fruit.
Send me a FREE
subscription!
It made me proud to put good fuel into
my body.
Building on my success in feeding
my body, I exercised. Every day. Most
days it was a long walk outside (during winter). There is something about
being outside that helps me clear my
head and energizes me.
Including visualization and prayer
on a daily basis helped me to keep my
thoughts focused and positive. It left
me in the right state of mind to take on
the day.
What you think matters. Oh wait,
I already told you that. It is worth saying again, change negative thoughts
to positive ones and you will feel the
effects. I think you can! n
Again, Mary Ann cries out, her pleas full of doubt.
This time a priest nearby heard her shout.
He walked to the hole Mary Ann was in.
I hear your cries, I will pray for your sin.
Bless you my child, he had to say,
And gave three Hail Marys to anoint her way.
Once again, Mary Ann cries out, her pleas full of doubt.
Quietly a stranger responds,
I know your fears inside and out.
I know the secrets hidden within.
I know too well this hole that you are in.
The stranger jumped without hesitation
Into the hole filled with so much tribulation.
Bewildered, Mary Ann cries out, her pleas full of doubt.
What have you done, why are you here?
I appreciate your grace,
But now we are both in this dark, dark place.
Shhhsssh, says the stranger to Mary Ann.
I hear your cries, your pleas full of doubt.
I have been here myself, as a survivor showed me,
I will show you the way out.
Heather Jose
Diagnosed with stage IV breast cancer at 26, Heather Jose chose to fight the cancer
head on putting together a plan to battle cancer on a daily basis. Ten years later,
Heather is healthy and using her experiences to speak to healthcare providers and
patients about how much their actions and words can impact success. Heather is the
author of “Letters to Sydney: Every Day I am Killing Cancer”. www.heatherjose.com.
SIGN UP TODAY TO RECEIVE YOUR FREE SUBSCRIPTION
Sign up online at www.breastcancerwellness.org or use this form.
NAME:________________________________________________________________
CITY, STATE, ZIP:_ _______________________________________________________
EMAIL_ _______________________________________________________________
Send to: The Breast Cancer Wellness Magazine, P. O. Box 2040, Lebanon, MO 65536
Mary Ann thought she had everything going her way
Until breast cancer was to change her every day.
In anguish, Mary Ann cries out, her pleas full of doubt.
She was in a dark hole with no light to show her way out.
She thought she had hope when a doctor walked by.
Why didn’t he understand her tear filled cry?
He wrote her a prescription and went on his scheduled way.
But her hopes and her direction were still in dark dismay.
ADDRESS:_ ____________________________________________________________
16
Show Me the Way Out
–Beverly Vote, 17 year breast cancer thriver
“Show Me the Way Out” is the mission statement
of the Breast Cancer Wellness Magazine.
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17
Healthy Eating
Simply Salmon Pasta
by Holly Clegg
With so many colorful fresh veggies, Mediterranean Layered Spread is a great make ahead recipe that serves a crowd and
doubles as needed. Serve with pita chips as an appetizer or even a light salad-spread style meal. I love to use roasted red
pepper hummus, but with so many varieties of hummus use your favorite flavor. An easy tip I like to share is to raid a salad
or olive bar for quality olives in the amount you need. For an incredibly delicious meal, you have to try Glazed Salmon. Don’t
let salmon intimidate you as this version is so easy and will have you eating this heart-healthy fish all the time!
An elegant blend of ingredients
and flavors. Salmon contains lots of
omega-3 fatty acids, which are being
studied for their many possible healthy
benefits. Makes 6-8 servings.
1 (9-ounce) package spinach
tortellini
1 (12-ounce) package bow tie pasta
8 ounce salmon filets
Salt and pepper to taste
1/4 teaspoon sugar
1 cup fat-free chicken broth
2/3 cup evaporated skim milk
1 cup sugar snap peas
1/2 cup chopped green onions
1 teaspoon dried dill weed
1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
side until done. Cut into chunks
(remove skin), and set aside.
4. In same skillet, add broth and
evaporated milk. Bring to a boil,
reduce heat, and simmer until liquid
reduces, about 5 minutes.
5. Add snap peas and green onions,
cooking only until peas are crisp
tender.
6. Add cooked pasta, dill, and
cheese, tossing carefully. Carefully toss
in salmon.
Nutritional information per serving: Calories 298,
Protein (g) 18, Carbohydrate (g) 43, Fat (g) 5,
Calories from fat (%) 16, Saturated Fat (g) 2,
Dietary Fiber (g) 2, Cholesterol (mg) 60, Sodium
(mg) 269 Diabetic Exchanges: 1 lean meat,
3 starch, 1 other carbohydrate
1. In large pot boiling water, add
tortellini and cook about 10 minutes.
To same pot, add bow tie pasta and
continue cooking until pasta is done.
Drain and set aside.
2. Season salmon with salt and
pepper and sugar.
3. In skillet coated with nonstick
cooking spray, cook salmon over
medium heat. Turn and cook other
Mediterranean Layered Spread
Glazed Salmon
This captivating dip layered with fantastic flavors is
a showstopper! Feel free to double this recipe and watch
it disappear. Serve with Toasted Pita Wedges. 8 servings/
serving size: 1/2 cup.
This may be the best salmon you’ve ever had. The glaze
on the crispy, crusted salmon takes only minutes to prepare
and to disappear from the plate. Makes 4 servings.
1 (7-ounce) container hummus
1 cup coarsely chopped fresh baby spinach
1/2 cup chopped tomatoes
1/2 cup chopped cucumber
1/4 cup chopped red onion
1/4 cup crumbled reduced-fat feta cheese
2 tablespoons sliced kalamata or black olives
1. Spread hummus on 9-inch serving plate.
2. Sprinkle evenly with remaining ingredients,
refrigerate until serving time.
Nutritional information per serving: Calories 61, Protein (g) 3,
Carbohydrate (g) 5, Fat (g) 3, Calories from Fat (%) 31, Saturated Fat
(g) 1, Dietary Fiber (g) 2, Cholesterol (mg) 2, Sodium (mg) 189 Diabetic
Exchanges: 0.5 starch, 0.5 fat
18
1/4 cup honey
2 tablespoons lite soy sauce
2 tablespoons lime juice
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
4 (6-ounce) salmon fillets
Holly Clegg, author of the best selling trim&TERRIFIC™ cookbook series including a diabetic cookbook with the ADA and Eating Well Through Cancer, has sold almost 1 million
copies. Holly has promoted her healthy lifestyle recipes on national shows including
Fox & Friends, NBC Weekend Today, and The 700 Club. She understands the demands
of the busy person and with her user friendly, pantry friendly, and time friendly cookbooks, she has garnered a national reputation as the healthy “Queen of Quick!” For
more information, visit www.hollyclegg.com or http://thehealthycookingblog.com
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1. In small bowl, whisk together honey, soy sauce,
lime juice, and mustard. Marinate salmon in sauce in
refrigerator for several hours, or until ready to cook.
2. In nonstick skillet coated with nonstick cooking spray,
cook salmon on each side, 3-5 minutes, until golden brown,
crispy, and just cooked through. Transfer salmon to platter.
3. Add remaining honey glaze to skillet, and simmer,
stirring, until mixture comes to boil. Return salmon to
pan, heat thoroughly, and serve immediately.
Nutritional information per serving: Calories 273, Protein (g) 35, Carbohydrate (g) 19, Fat (g) 6, Calories from Fat (%) 20, Saturated Fat (g) 1, Dietary
Fiber (g) 0, Cholesterol (mg) 88, Sodium (mg) 400 Diabetic Exchanges: 5 very
lean meat, 1 other carbohydrate
Holly Clegg
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19
How to Look Good Naked
We hear a lot about the importance
of self-confidence. We want it for ourselves and we want to give it to our kids.
But what if having self-confidence
had more of an impact than just helping us be “more successful in life”?
What if it affected how we looked? What
if it actually made us more beautiful –
to ourselves and everyone else?
A couple of weeks ago, I watched
the coolest show about how to look
good naked. (For those of you with
satellite or cable, this show might not
be new news. But to me with my 3
channels at home, watching this at a
friend’s house was a real kick!)
When I saw that this show was coming up, I immediately assumed that it
was about liposuction, breast implants
and cellulite creams. (This seems to be
20
the way of things these days.)
But it wasn’t. They focused on one
woman’s struggle with how she looked.
But it wasn’t about changing how the
she looked physically at all. It was about
changing how she felt about herself on
the inside. Sure, they gave her a new
haircut and professional makeup. But
let’s face it, that’s not the part of us that
we’re worried about when we’re naked!
What they showed her was that
she was much more attractive to other
people than she thought. They started
by putting pictures of her body in a bra
and underwear on billboards and then
videotaped the responses of complete
strangers. The woman just broke down
when she heard comments like “she
looks great”, “she looks like a real
woman”, “she’s got curves in all the
by Katrina Bos
right places”, etc.
After years of conditioning that the
only thing that is attractive is Barbietype proportions and “Nivea-smooth
skin”, the idea that our aging, postbaby, less-than-firm bodies might be
attractive is absolutely shocking to the
point of upsetting!
The next part of the show found
our friend in her bra and undies heading into a room where six women were
lined up – also in their bra and undies.
These ladies were all kinds of sizes.
They weighed anywhere from 150 lbs to
250 lbs. And they looked fabulous!
The point of this exercise was to
show our heroine how inaccurate her
self-image was. This lady specifically
did not like her hips. So, our ladies
were all lined up in order of hip size.
Our friend had to insert herself into
the line where she believed she fit – by
hip size. After inserting herself between
two ladies who were much bigger than
she was, she was absolutely shocked to
find out what her actual measurements
looked like on other people.
I thought this exercise was fascinating. But what really knocked me
out was how beautiful and attractive
all of the women were! Most of them
were what you would consider to be
quite overweight – not bikini-material
for sure. And yet as they stood there in
nothing but their bra and underwear,
they were absolutely striking!
But do you know what they had?
Confidence and self-esteem. You could
see it in their faces. You could see it in
their posture. They stood tall with their
one leg slightly bent like a model. They
smiled and were happy to be there.
The truth is, that you couldn’t really “see” their “imperfections”. When
you looked at them, all you saw was
how beautiful and fantastic they were.
As I watched this, it was like part of
my brain was getting rewired – lifetime
assumptions within me were being seriously questioned.
We have been very well-trained that
our appearance is all about our physical bodies. We believe that what other
people see first and foremost is our
bodies! But it isn’t true. We send out
other things long before anyone sees
our physical bodies.
People sense our confidence. They
sense our happiness or sadness. What
they notice the most about us is how
we feel about us! Our physical bodies
just add some color.
This phenomenon has always confused me. There are people in my life
who I have always thought of as being
very attractive. But when you actually
look at them physically, there is nothing particularly striking about their
appearance. But there is a confidence
or a kindness or a “something” about
them that actually stores itself in my
mind first. And that is what I remember about them. Their actual physical
looks are completely secondary.
I have found that about myself.
There are days that I am not feeling
great about things and I’ll go to all
lengths to “make myself up” – the hair,
the make-up, the clothes – and the
first thing someone says to me is, “Are
you feeling alright today? You look a
little down.”
Or then there are the days where I
am feeling fantastic and on top of the
world. It’s a lurk-at-home day and so
I have chosen to hang about unshowered and in my grubbies. But then
of course I have to slip into town for
something. So off I go in my grubs to
grab something from the grocery store.
So here’s me with crazy bed-head
(and I have a lot of curly hair), a bit of
make-up smeared under one eye, ratty
track pants and socks in my sandals
and the first person that I see (who unfortunately recognizes me) says “Hey,
how’re you doin’? You look fantastic!
Have you lost weight?”
Again with the brain-confusion!
The truth is that we are so much
greater than our bodies. Society and
the media like to focus on it because
all they have is TV projections and
magazine ads. All they have is two
dimensions to work with and so the
physical element is it for them.
But this is not our actual reality.
What we see in the flesh is not really
the flesh at all. The flesh is just there
for color. What people really see is who
we are on the inside. If you love who
you are, then other people will love who
you are.
Whether you are attractive or not
has nothing to do with how you think
you look to other people. It is all about
how you feel about yourself. And because this is just a mindset, it is the
easiest to change. You don’t have to
diet and exercise. You don’t have to try
to look good for other people.
All you have to do is change your
mind. n
Katrina Bos
Katrina Bos is the author of What If You Could Skip the Cancer? – a book that looks at
her miraculous experience with the breast cancer that has plagued generations of
her family. She teaches kundalini yoga, and dance and lives with her husband and
children in Goderich, Ontario. For more details, please visit www.katrinabos.ca.
Look for more wonderful things to come
with the collaboration of our strategic
alliance with Studio One Eleven, a division
of Berlin Packaging.
For more information contact
21
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animals than any other place on the
planet. It’s a place where thriving plants
produce a natural density of the world’s
most unique nutrition.
Most commercially grown fruits
have been sprayed with insecticides,
pesticides and other harmful chemicals.
These chemicals may be toxic to the
cells in your body with long-term
exposure. That’s why millions people
are turning toward organic foods for
themselves and their families.
The secret behind ZAMU™ is the
synergy of all Rainforest ingredients
featuring camu camu – the exciting
Amazon ‘feel good’ fruit. Sustainably
harvested in the Rainforest, the camu
camu berry and other ingredients in
ZAMU™ are scientifically recognized for
their beneficial properties. Camu camu
helps the immune system*. It is the
highest source of naturally occurring
vitamin C in the world. Camu camu,
along with other foods grown in the
rich soils of the Rainforest are today’s
new superfoods; the ones the world is
turning to for the wealth of nutrients
and health benefits they offer.
TASTES GOOD. FEELS GOOD.
DOES GOOD.™
I invite you to experience Zamu™ and
the Amazon Herb products for yourself.
To order your healthy supply of Zamu™
and to get started on your Amazon
Herb program and join Olivia NewtonJohn and ‘Amazon John’ Easterling in
their quest to empower and encourage
women to be thrivers, contact me, Janet
Pittrich, Amazon Herb Co Independent
Associate.
For information
and ordering:
Call Janet at
573-301-6600
[email protected]
Visit our Web site at
http://healthyvisions.amazonherb.net n
Founder of Amazon Herb Company
‘Amazon John’ Easterling and his
wife Olivia Newton-John
Experience Lluvia™, the Natural Skin Care from the Rainforest
Recent discoveries of antioxidant compounds, taspines and other naturallyoccurring phyto-elements in Rainforest plants set a new standard in natural
skin care therapy. These beneficial compounds give us a new natural choice
for clear glowing skin that is alive and well nourished.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug
Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or
prevent disease.
“There is a link between the ingestion of certain nutrients
or dietary supplements and the prevention of chronic
diseases such as cancer, heart disease and osteoporosis.”
–U.S. Congress, Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act
ZAMU ™ is certified organic by the
United States Department of Agriculture
22
23
What is a Certified
Fit Specialist?
by Heather McClure, CMF
The fitting room is a special place
for women who have had surgery for
breast cancer. It’s a safe place for discovery and relief which is often mixed
with tears and laughter.
A professional fitting is appropriate after all types of surgery for breast
cancer. Everyone has the right to be
balanced and in proportion, and to the
benefit of a fitting by an experienced
fit specialist. Most people assume this
only applies to women who have had
one or both breasts removed; however
the same is also true for women who
have had lumpectomies or reconstructive surgery. The Women’s Health and
Cancer Rights Act was signed into law
on October 21, 1998. (http://www.dol.
gov/ebsa/Publications/whcra.html)
Under the WHCRA, group health
plans, insurance companies and health
maintenance organizations (HMOs)
offering mastectomy coverage also must
provide coverage for:
• reconstruction of the breast that was
removed by mastectomy
• surgery and reconstruction of the other
breast to make the breasts look symmetrical or balanced after mastectomy
• any external breast prostheses (breast
forms that fit into pocketed bras) that are
needed before or during reconstruction
• any physical complications at all
stages of mastectomy, including
lymphedema
Having one or both breasts removed
will throw off your balance and affect
your gait. Wearing no prosthesis can
cause back, neck and/or shoulder pain.
Yes!
Photo courtesy of Amoena, www.amoena.us
There is also the possibility of the shoulders rounding in which has a negative
effect on posture. Prostheses also keep
your chest warm and protect your chest
and scars. These are the reasons why
insurance covers prostheses. Just as
important, when you look good you start
to feel better about yourself. This is an
important step on the path to recovery.
Women who have had lumpectomy
with radiation frequently have a difference between one breast and the other.
There are partial silicone shapers that
will even out the deficit and help hold
the bra in place around the rib cage.
Similar to a lumpectomy, with reconstruction there can be a deficit between
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the two breasts. A shaper will work under these circumstances also. The other
issue that frequently arises is a puckering in the front of the bra. Reconstructed breasts do not “fall” into the cups of
a bra. The breast tends to be rounded
in the front which makes it hard to find
a bra that fits properly. A certified fitter
can help you see what works and how
to find the proper size bra. There are
several products available that work
quite nicely for women who have tissue
expanders and may need something to
let them look symmetrical until they finish their reconstruction.
There are also post operative products available specifically for women
who are scheduled to have surgery.
These garments were designed for the
initial period after surgery but can also
be worn during radiation therapy. There
are two types of post-surgical garments;
the first is a camisole and the second is
a soft front closure bra. Both of these
come with removable drain pouches and
fiberfill leisure forms. They are stretchy
and made of soft fabric made to minimize irritation on sensitive skin.
A fitting for silicone prosthesis is not
recommended until four to six weeks
after surgery.
An important note: If you would
like to file an insurance claim, or if you
would like your fitter to file a claim
for your prosthesis and/or bras, you
must obtain a prescription from your
physician. Most insurance companies
will cover a prosthesis every two years
and bras every year. They will typically
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26
cover two post-surgical garments for
the period after surgery. It is always a
good idea to check with your insurance
company to see what your benefits are.
Bras and prostheses fall under durable
medical equipment. Co-insurances and/
or deductibles may apply.
What to expect at your fitting
You should expect to be fitted by a
Certified Mastectomy Fitter. A Certified
Fitter is a health care professional who
is educated and trained in post mastectomy services. In brief, to become a fitter
you must have successfully completed
a nationally approved fitter educational
course, document a minimum of 500
hours of mastectomy fitting experience, and pass an approved certification exam. After having achieved this
certification it is necessary to continue
your education by compiling continuing education credits that are approved
by a nationally approved accreditation
agency. The facility where the fitting is
done also has to be certified. Personal
and facility certifications should be
posted in a public area in the facility.
Many fitters are also certified to fit
compression garments such as sleeves,
gauntlets, gloves and compression bras
for lymphedema. Insurance coverage for
these garments is very sporadic so it is
highly recommended that you check with
your insurer before ordering these items.
You should expect to be asked about
your surgery and treatment for breast
cancer. The fitting for a woman who has
had recent surgery is very different from
the fitting for a woman who had surgery
many years ago. If a woman is receiving physical therapy for arm or shoulder problems, lymphedema or trunkal
lymphedema that will certainly have
great bearing on the fitting. As mentioned earlier, a woman who is in the
middle of reconstruction has different
needs from a woman who has had other
types of surgery. Chemotherapy and/or
radiation are also important factors. As
Certified Fitters we are required to keep
clinical notes in our patient files. Your
files will be updated each time you come
in for a fitting.
You should expect to be asked about
your lifestyle and interests as this is
an important part of a fitting. An active
woman who enjoys aerobic sports will
most likely require something a little
different from a woman who prefers to
walk quietly in a park or play cards with
her friends. If you have a special dress
Photo courtesy of Amoena, www.amoena.us
or blouse that you would like to be fitted
in, bring it with you to your fitting.
The actual fitting process begins
with measuring for a bra! It is true that
most women do not wear the proper size
bra! For many women this is the first
time they have ever been fitted for a bra.
Once a bra size has been established we
can work with prostheses or shapers.
There are many types of prostheses,
just as there are many types of surgeries and women. There is a very good
chance that the prosthesis you go home
with will not necessarily be the first one
you tried on. Your fitter will try several
styles until the proper look and balance
is achieved.
Having established bra and prosthesis size we can start looking at bra style
and color. Manufacturers today offer an
amazing variety of fashionable bras that
would give any upscale lingerie shop a
run for their money! Together with your
fitter you can choose bras that fit your
body and your lifestyle. Most insurance companies will cover bras every
year and prostheses every two years,
which is how long the warranty period
on a prosthesis lasts. The exception to
that rule is if there is a medical change
such as a weight gain or loss in which
case a new prosthesis can be fitted
with a Certificate of Medical Necessity
from your Physician. There is another
exception where a prosthesis has been
lost or damaged in such a way that it
is not covered by the warranty. Some
examples of this that we have come
across are women who have had their
bras cut off in the emergency room and
then they are tossed away during the
emergency. They have also had them
lost by airlines, swept away in the ocean
(wear a pocketed swimsuit!), eaten by
the family pet (they smell like you!), and
inadvertently put in the clothes dryer.
Documentation is required in all situations before replacement can be made.
You should expect that all of your
questions will always be welcomed.
In our boutique we caution our
ladies to keep their sense of humor
because they are going to need it.
Many of them come back to us with
funny stories to share. In that spirit I
would like to share one of my favorite
stories. We meet women from all over
the country so these stories come from
un-named cities and anonymous ladies
who laughed loud and hard while telling
their stories.
An optimistic and upbeat lady had
bilateral surgery and was fitted with
two new prostheses and bras. She was
on her way home and came to a stop
at a light. She happily grabbed her
new breasts and leaned back with a
big smile on her face. She happened to
glance over and saw the man in the car
next to her looking at her with a very
strange look on his face. She lowered
the passenger window and yelled over
to him “they’re new!” He looked quite incredulous and she laughed as they both
pulled away from the light. n
Heather D. McClure, CMF
Heather McClure is a Certified Mastectomy Fit Specialist. Seventeen years ago
Heather, along with her friend Diane Gesualdi, began looking for nurturing places
to go and be fitted for bras, prostheses, and swimwear for women who had surgery
for breast cancer. Together they purchased a pre-exisitng business and become
owners of the Profile Shop. The Profile Shop prides itself in being able to fit women
who have had all types of surgery for breast cancer. Heather is also certified to fit
lymphedema garments. Heather and Diane believe it is an honor to work with
women both newly diagnosed, and those who had surgery many years ago and that
we all learn from each other as we navigate this journey. Heather and her husband
Gary live in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. They have two grown children, a son and a
daughter, a granddaughter and five grandsons. www.theprofileshop.com
27
To survive is our starting point.
To thrive is our original design.
–Beverly Vote
What is a Thriver?
These women were asked what being a ‘breast cancer thriver’ meant to them.
Thanks to each of these thrivers for sharing their wisdom.
I was diagnosed with bi-lateral breast cancer while breast feeding my infant
daughter in May 05’. I am now cancer free almost five years later. I am so
thriving now because I now understand how short life really is and I believe it
has made me a much stronger person. I had a long battle with treatment and
recoveries of so many surgeries. During all of this my husband left me, I lost
everything but all of this didn’t stop me. It just made me thrive and grow more.
I am now very successful at my job, and being a single mom.
Carrie Fitzpatrick
Tampa, FL
[email protected]
I am a thriver because my life is fuller now then it was before my diagnosis.
I see life with new eyes and now know that what is important is the NOW
in life. I no longer worry about if the house is in order for company or that I
must attend every event. I simply rejoice each day that I am HERE and have
an opportunity to enjoy my grandsons, have a spa day with my friends or
relish the quiet and loving moments of watching a great western movie
with my husband.
Carolyn Barnes, 6 year thriver
Lanham, Maryland
[email protected]
For me, being a thriver means having the capacity to
• let go of being a victim
• see myself as a co-creator in life with the divine
• listen to the messages of my soul sent to me via disease and other life problems
• turn and face the shadow parts of myself
• fully embrace all my emotions
• live in the present moment
• view cancer as an overgrowth of cells rather than an evil entity to be conquered
After healing from breast cancer using natural and alternative methods, I am
thriving. I used the experience to leverage myself to begin to live my life from a
place of authenticity I had only dreamed of before. The feeling of truly living my
life as I was meant to, from a place of passion is how I have come to thrive. I have
a strong feeling to share what I learned, from healing the physical, the mental
and the emotional parts of me. My book is titled Hello Susan, It’s Me Cancer!
Susan D’Agostino, Thriving for 5 years
Surrey, B.C. Canada
www.healingeverybody.com
[email protected]
I am a thriver of 20 years. The path from survivor to thriver was a quiet gradual
one that couldn’t be defined by any one event. I educated myself, joined support
groups, volunteered; but in the end I realized that the thing I needed most was to
surround myself with people who loved and supported me and to make myself a
priority in my life. I found that once I recognized those simple truths I no longer
needed to let breast cancer define who I was. I still volunteer and work with support
groups to help show the way. Pictured with me is my granddaughter, Ainsley Grace.
Heather McClure, 20 year thriver!
Morrisville, Pennsylvania
[email protected]
www.theprofileshop.com
For me to be a Thriver takes striving to focus on the positive and allowing the
negative to not take root. I often remind myself of the quote that “worry” is like a
rocking chair, keeps you busy but gets you no where. This remark has stuck with me
through the years but I will admit that it is not always easy to practice. Deciding that
you are going to take control of what you can, leave the rest behind and deal with
things as they come has helped me to move forward in my personal health and life.
Dr. Phil McGraw states the difference between winners and losers is that winners
do what losers just don’t want to do. Make a decision today that you are going to
change your future and become a Thriver!!
Nedra Fillmer, 12 year thriver
Niangua MO
[email protected]
And as Webster describes, to
• vigorously grow
• prosper
• progress toward a goal despite or because of circumstances
Thriving means more than living past hardship. To thrive is to flourish, to
prosper. That’s a choice. I choose to thrive by creating the life I am capable of,
the life I dreamed of but feared I’d fail at. I choose to thrive by counting my
blessings and cherishing those I am blessed to know. I choose to thrive by
searching incessantly for silver linings when clouds pass over. I look for daily
opportunities to live with purpose. I help strangers, embrace friends, love
family. The gratitude and appreciation bestowed upon me in return - that is
my prosperity.
Kerri J. Geary, 14 year thriver
Fort Collins, CO
www.compassionateembrace.com
Karen M Lynch
Fairfield, CT
[email protected]
I am a thriver! I am a two time thriver celebrating my 20th year from the “scary
time” and 8 years since both breasts were removed and the cancer was stopped
in its tracks! I thrive every day by surrounding myself and others with positive
attitudes and hope. I have a post surgery appearance center named Absolute
Dignity. It is truly the most rewarding work I have ever done, I have the privilege
to meet and enjoy the most incredible women and their families. They can see
through me, that they can “Thrive” too. They are so smart!
Kathy Dibben, Owner - Absolute Dignity
Smithville, MO
[email protected]
www.absolutedignity.com
I thrive because I live life on my terms. I come first now, not everyone else in
the family. Yes, it’s still a struggle to remember that, but I’m getting there. I pay
attention to my body’s signals now. If I feel uncomfortable around someone, I
leave. If I feel an unpleasant emotion, I turn and face it and let it lead me to what
I’m supposed to learn, instead of running away. I workout every day to make sure
my circulation is moving well. I have MS and can’t walk very far, but I can do 5
dozen push-ups every morning.
Penelope Gnesin
North Plainfield, NJ
[email protected]
Since my breast cancer diagnose, I had the good fortune of getting re-married, having
two children, working in a dream job, and supporting others who were affected by
cancer. Although the thought of recurrence was never far from my mind, I was excited
with the new challenges that came daily. All of these are not possible without the
people that helped me through my treatment and recovery: family, friends, colleagues,
health care providers, and countless women worldwide who were also diagnosed with
breast cancer. My diagnose has helped me cherish every moment of my life and take
nothing for granted.
Li-Chen Chin, Thriver for 5 years
Durham, NC
[email protected]
For me, surviving breast cancer was getting through the diagnosis, recovery and
treatment. Thriving came from having a new appreciation for life, and a personal
focus for the future - to make a positive difference within the breast cancer
community. Through giving back and helping other women by sharing what I
learned on my own journey, I have discovered my passion and purpose. Cancer
changed my life forever, but not in the way many people would think. Because of
breast cancer I am now blessed to be living life with both personal and professional
fulfillment that otherwise I never would have known was possible.
Linda Jackson, 25 Year Breast Cancer Survivor & Thriver
Salem, OR
[email protected]
www.ladiesfirst.com
Diagnosed in 1985 at age 36
You first find a lump on your breast and you tell yourself “it’s probably nothing”.
Then you go to the doctor and he said “it’s probably nothing, but we have to have
it checked”. Then you have it checked and guess what, it is something, it’s breast
cancer. At that moment, you feel like the floor under your feet starts to open, and
you start falling into this never ending black hole. It is at that moment, that exact
moment, when you decide to Thrive.
Thrive: to progress toward or realize a goal despite of circumstances. In this case,
the circumstances are breast cancer. After you cry, you ask why, you ask why me,
and you worry about your husband, kids, parents, family and friends. Then you
realize that your only solution is to beat this. So, right there you start fighting and
conquering the circumstances in order to Thrive. I am a Thriver!
Bettina Velez
Tampa, FL
[email protected]
A cancer Thriver- YES I AM! Six years ago I was diagnosed with breast cancer and by
the power of God and giving knowledge to great physicians I am still here to tell my
story. Three cancers, seven surgeries (including a bilateral mastectomy), fortunately
no chemo or radiation- I am a better and stronger person for it. God allowed me to go
through this so I can help others. That’s where I feel I can “Thrive” the most- in being
able to talk, laugh and cry with those who are going through their cancers or who
have family members doing the same. We thrivers share something that others just
don’t understand. Life is a blessing- I thank God everyday for allowing me to be alive.
I hope to spread that joy to each one I meet. Let’s dance! God Bless!
Brenda Nutter
Lebanon, MO
[email protected]
It has been almost eight years since my bilateral mastectomy. I will thrive!
Actually, I’ve been searching for many years for a better word than “survivor”
and what a great word thriver is! Thriving is about getting on with your life.
It’s about making sure you do the things that are important to you and fun
to do. It’s about moving forward and not coming to a standstill. It’s about
believing with your heart and soul that – no matter what – I WILL THRIVE!!!
Judy Baker
Marietta, OH
[email protected]
When I was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 29, I couldn’t imagine
a time when my life wouldn’t revolve around my disease. I remember asking a
10 year thriver if it ever got easier. She looked me in the eye and said, “One day,
you’re going to wake up and realize you didn’t think about cancer yesterday. Or
the day before. You won’t just be surviving, you’ll be out living.” I didn’t believe
her. I thought it would be impossible. But you know what? I’m four years out
now. And she was right.
Courtney Bugler
Executive Director of Young Survival Coalition’s Atlanta Affiliate
and mother of a one year old, Aidan, post breast cancer baby
Ladies First
20 Years of Caring
by Linda Jackson, Ladies First Founder
January 2010 marks our celebration
of 2 decades of dedication and service
to women all over the USA who are
recovering from breast cancer surgery.
Twenty years ago and before the birth
of the SOFTEE® women were offered
nothing appropriate to wear as they
left the hospital and returned home to
recuperate from breast surgery. How well
I recall my own experience and ultimately
how important it became to me to find
a solution that would address both the
emotional and physical issues women like
myself were forced to quietly deal with.
My Mother’s generation simply
considered altered body image, emotional
distress from losing a breast and
physical discomfort during healing from
a mastectomy their cross to bear. They
attached the post-op drains to their
clothing with a safety pin, inserted a
rolled up sock in an oversized shirt breast
pocket, and suffered in silence, they had
no other options.
In 1990 our introduction of the
Original SOFTEE® changed everything.
Now there was a way to address all of the
patients immediate needs with a specialty
prosthetic camisole that could be worn
immediately following surgery and
Linda Jackson, Ladies First Founder
throughout healing, allowing women to
recover with the comfort and confidence
they wanted and needed.
Women dealing with breast cancer embraced the SOFTEE® immediately, the post
mastectomy industry and some within the healthcare community were slower to accept a new
idea and product. Over time and with the help of thousands of personal testimonials from the
patients who received a SOFTEE®, soon the physicians, nurses and retail providers of afterbreast-surgery products came to understand the significance of this garment to the overall
well being of the women they serve. The SOFTEE® filled an overlooked void in patient aftercare
and was soon approved Nationwide for Medicare and insurance reimbursement.
Over the years there have been many attempts to duplicate the SOFTEE®, there are now
other camisoles sold by companies both large and small that might appear to be similar,
however some ideas cannot be improved upon. Who could better understand the special
needs of a breast cancer patient than a breast cancer survivor with personal experience.
From the beginning, Ladies First and the SOFTEE® have focused our business on offering
comfort and high quality products for women in recovery, living with and beyond breast
cancer, and we have stayed the course for 20 years.
The SOFTEE® Prosthetic
Camisole:
• The original, quality
garment
• The most recommended
and prescribed by
healthcare professionals
• The number one patient
preferred
• 6 Styles for recovery,
throughout treatment
and beyond
• The only post-op
Prosthetic Camisole
designed by a breast
cancer survivor
Ladies First, Inc.:
• Celebrating 20 years of
proudly serving women
with 100% American made
designs and goods
• An industry pioneer
• Woman owned and
operated
• Founded by a breast
cancer survivor
• Providing jobs and
opportunity to businesses
nationally and in our own
community
• Generous national grant
and donation programs for
uninsured and
under-served women
Thank you to the
thousands of women who
have shared their personal
testimonials about the
SOFTEE®, to the physicians
and other health care
providers who appreciate the
benefits of the SOFTEE®, and
to our valued retail providers
who want the very best
quality products for their
customers. It is all of you
who have made our ongoing
success possible. n
Celebrating 20 years of comforting
women with specialty garments designed
for recovery and leisure - day & night
SOFTEE® TWO
Prosthetic Recovery
Camisole
The SOFTEE® TWO can be ordered online
through UBCF at a special discount.
Also, Ladies First will donate a portion from
each sale for future UBCF programs.
www.ubcf.info/softee
All SOFTEE® camisole styles can be
purchased directly through
SofteeUSA.com
866-605-8585
5 styles, 4 colors
For Recovery & Beyond
Soft Silhouette
Bra & Pantee
TM
Thoughtful
Designs from
Personal
Experience
Pocketed Cami
& Slip
TM
Wicks Moisture
Many Color Choices
For more information
about our garments, visit:
ladiesfirst.com
Seamless Support Perfect for
Day or Nightwear
To find a retailer near you,
call Ladies First at
800-497-8285
Our products are 100% American made for American quality!
SOFTEE® The first and gold standard prosthetic camisoles. Survivor owned & operated!
Profiles of Wellness
A Beautiful Life
Jan Ping—Breast Cancer Thriver and Emmy Winning
Make Up Artist for the Stars by Beverly Vote
Imagine a life of working in Hollywood with some of the most acclaimed
beautiful people in the world. Now
imagine your job rests on your ability
to make them even more beautiful and
for everyone to be satisfied with the
results. Hollywood, where one’s livelihood is based on the image created.
Emmy winning make up artist Jan Ping
has been surrounded by beauty all of
her life. Being a beautician’s daughter,
Jan grew up with someone knowledgeable and always ready to help with her
appearance. Yet it was her experience
with breast cancer that Jan learned a
new perspective about beauty.
Jan’s professional life began at age
fifteen as an actor. Even though she
enjoyed being in the entertainment
industry, Jan woke early one morning
intuitively knowing her desire to act as
a career was over. This realization came
after investing fifteen years in a career
that was no longer fulfilling. But Jan
somehow knew there was something else
awaiting her. She just didn’t know what.
It wasn’t long after leaving her acting career that Jan enrolled in cosmetology school. On the Monday morning
following the completion of her cosmetology classes a good friend from the
entertainment industry called frantically needing Jan’s help. Jan’s friend
was a wardrobe stylist who needed a
professional make up artist for a photography shoot out in Malibu that day.
She asked Jan to bring her ‘stuff’ to
the shoot. Confused, Jan asked herself
‘what stuff’? All Jan had was a couple
of bathroom drawers of her cosmetic
brushes and her personal makeup. Because her friend was insistent that Jan
34
To me being beautiful
is how I share the gifts
in my life and how I
honor what each day
brings to me.
–Jan Ping
come right away, she took the bathroom drawers of her ‘stuff’ and went to
Malibu.
The shoot was with a model and the
scene was on a high cliff. “I was definitely winging this new experience with
me on the other side of the brush.” said
Jan. The photographer was complimentary of Jan’s work and wanted her
business card for future work. The day
in Malibu was a turning point in Jan’s
career.
Jan has been the make up artist
for movie stars,TV shows and movies including the Tyra Banks Show,
Stand Up to Cancer, Deal or No Deal,
The Bold and the Beautiful, I Married a
Princess, The Sharon Osbourne Show,
The O’Reilly Factor, Cindy Crawford,
Jasmine Guy, Will Smith, Betty White,
The Secret, Olivia Newton-John, The
Tonight Show, E! Entertainment, The
Howard Stern Show, Academy Awards,
The Grammy’s, The Emmys, Country
Music Awards, Gene Hackman, Joan
Rivers, and CBS Miss Universe Show
just to name a few. Currently Jan is
a make up artist for the Dr Phil Show
and The Doctors TV Show.
“In December 2004 after having
an abnormal mammogram, my doctor
called. He instructed me to find a quiet
place to talk and told me he was sorry
but I had breast cancer.”
“I just stood still in the most surreal
moment of my life. There I was, a single
parent, waiting in the playground
to pick up my young daughter from
school and taking a call from my doctor
telling me I had breast cancer.”
“The sun was shining, children
were playing, birds were singing, and
all I could hear were the words ‘breast
cancer’ and I immediately worried how
this would affect my little girl’s life.”
“The doctor continued talking
about the cancer, but I had to stop him
and ask “Am I going to live?” He said
he couldn’t answer my question and
Above: Jan’s daughter Alice, age 16, is
the love of her life. Below: Jan’s chemo
self-portrait.
continued with the explanations of my
medical results. I had to interrupt him
again and asked him to think of me as
someone that he loved and that person
he loved had just been diagnosed with
my type of breast cancer and that
person asked him if she was going to
live, what would he tell her? After a
long moment of silence he said softly
“I think so”. My reply was “Okay, I am
going to go with I think so.”
“It was then that my daughter
Alice came running over to me wanting to know, “Mommy, Mommy what’s
wrong?”
“We walked to the car so that I
could have a quiet place to sit and talk
with her. It was then that
I looked into Alice’s beautiful hazel
eyes, reached for her little hands and
told her I had cancer. While she was
clinging to me, her tearful response
was “No Mommy no”. We both just sat
there and cried. Then all of a sudden I
spoke to her with words from a u
35
their real beauty, it is such a healing
moment for both them and me.”
“My life has changed as a result of
experiencing breast cancer and how
I show up for the work that I do has
changed as well. I love the creative part
of my job because I never know what
each day will bring or who I will meet. I
have a beautiful life and I am so grateful for my life and I say this every day,”
said Jan Ping. n
Top: Three generations, Jan with her
daughter Alice and her mom, Mary.
Bottom: Jan’s last chemo treatment.
Yippee!
Left: Jan’s makeup partner and angel Earl was there for the walk, always making her stop and rest when she looked “green”.
Right: Friends and family walked a cancer walk in Jan’s honor.
different place of understanding, that
place where I recognized my intuition
and higher guiding forces were helping
me in what to say to her next. “Alice,
you are going to have to trust me. I feel
that I am supposed to do something
with this and I think I am supposed go
down this path. I am strong. You are
going to have to trust me on this.”
“As I looked around, I started
becoming aware of my surroundings
again, feeling the sunshine again and
hearing the children playing and the
birds singing even though I realized
once again my life was changing and
that I too was going to have to trust.”
“It didn’t take long for me to see
where this new path was leading me.
It started unfolding when I went in
to purchase a wig. My hair hadn’t
started falling out, but nonetheless I went in to find a wig so that I
could be prepared if it did fall out.
The moment I walked into the breast
center wig shop, I recognized the lady
that greeted me was a special lady. I
wanted to know right away what her
story was and what brought her to
this place in her life of wanting to help
women. I knew this was what I wanted
to do, to help women in some way after
they have been diagnosed with cancer,
especially those diagnosed with breast
cancer.”
“It was through this process of my
life changing and the new me unfolding that I knew I wanted to enroll in
36
dance classes. I asked myself what am
I waiting for? I have danced all my life,
but never considered myself a dancer.
So I simply gave myself permission to
take dancing lessons. Through the art
of dance, I have learned that self expression is one of the greatest forms of
beauty. Beauty comes through different genres and different areas in life.
For me, dance is just one of the many
forms of beauty and I love it. Dancing
connects me to something more deeply
within myself that I can’t explain.
When I am twirling around in my
dance steps, I am so in the moment of
self expression and beauty that I feel
more alive. It is so exhilarating.”
“Through dance, I learned that not
only does dance support our individual
self expression, it supports connecting with our bodies, including the new
parts of our new bodies. With each
movement, I was encouraged to use my
full range of motion by stretching and
embracing. Dancing helped me to get
in touch with everything that made me
feel feminine again. I got to know me
in a new way and to fall in love with
my life. It is my hope that everyone
touched by cancer comes to this place
of self love. It’s something I can’t shut
up about. For everyone to connect
with whatever makes them feel more
beautiful and more alive. If I were to
give breast cancer survivors only one
message, it would be to express their
beauty in some way every day.”
“Giving myself permission to take
dance classes was one of the most
amazing shifts in my life. There is so
much value in doing what you long to
do. My mom, friends and clients tell
me I have a new glow about me. They
say even in the way that I hold myself
reflects that I feel stronger, confident
and more alive.”
“Having been on both sides of the
camera are very interesting experiences. In front, I remember the doubt,
the concern of not being good enough,
pretty enough, thin enough, character
enough, and the list goes on and on.
I think that is where my empathy and
understanding come from. I remember feeling all of those unnecessary
feelings that are so hard on our soul.
Behind the camera, I can feel people.
I have a strong sense of their insecurities having been there. I feel so
fortunate to be able to help them shed
those silly thoughts. Surviving breast
cancer puts it all into perspective. All
of the drama, confusion, and concern
of such meaningless self talk becomes
clear and is a very special gift in itself.”
“What brought me to this wonderful place in my life was listening to
my inner guidance and just following
it. As a professional make up artist,
I have worked with some of the most
beautiful celebrities in the world, but
what I truly enjoy more is being with
other breast cancer survivors and everyday women. When I help them see
Support Surrounds You
The only National Cancer Institute designated Comprehensive
Care Center in Arizona, we uphold the ideal of that distinction
combining nationally renowned physicians, community education
and ground-breaking research.
Yet to us, “comprehensive care” is something more - it’s a
complete vision of you, your family and your future. Our new
state-of-the-art facility is designed to offer you a peaceful setting
and special resources to strengthen you in mind and spirit.
Support encompasses:
Social Services
Nutritional Counseling
Wellness Counseling,
Salon Services
Specialty Boutique
Therapeutic Massage
Computer Lab & Patient Resources Libraries
Reﬂection Gardens and More.
Comprehensive Care - at the Arizona Cancer Center Clinic, it’s
deﬁned as every patient’s journey from the diagnosis of cancer to
becoming a cancer survivor.
(520) 694-CURE (2873) www.umcarizona.org
37
eauty
B
by Katrina Bos
beau·ty
[byoo-tee]
1. the quality present in a thing or
person that gives intense pleasure or
deep satisfaction to the mind, whether
arising from sensory manifestations (as
shape, color, sound, etc.), a meaningful
design or pattern, or something else
(as a personality in which high spiritual
qualities are manifest).
2. an individually pleasing or beautiful
quality; grace; charm
38
I never thought of myself as beautiful.
As a child, I didn’t worry about what
I looked like. When I became a teenager,
I definitely cared—and I had acne, tiny
little breasts and kinky hair. I had none
of the “look” that you had to have to be
considered beautiful.
So, I worked hard to “become beautiful”. I bought the right clothes. I tried to
make my hair go right (which at the time
was getting it to feather back like Farrah
Fawcett’s). I used acne medication and
lots of makeup. But it didn’t work. All the
“right” people didn’t pay me any more
attention. I wasn’t any more beautiful. I
was just the same homely kid with lots of
make-up and hairspray.
University was a little better. The
idea of what was beautiful seemed to
be broader. More different styles were
accepted. But I could always find other
women who were more beautiful, thinner, and better than me. At that point in
my life, I was sure that this lack of real
beauty would stand in the way of me ever
finding a man who would love me—which
was really depressing.
But then I found one. Not only did he
think I was beautiful, he actually loved
me. Not only did he love me, he wanted
to marry me. Wow!!! You’d think that this
would be enough for me to finally accept
that perhaps I was beautiful. Perhaps I
was worth loving. Perhaps I was actually
alright.
Alas, it wasn’t so. As the years went
on, when my husband told me that I was
beautiful and that he loved me, I was
sure that he just wanted to get lucky
(which might have been true—but it
didn’t have to take away from the fact
that he DID think that I was beautiful).
It wasn’t until a few years later when
I was faced with lumps growing in my
breasts that things really started to change
for me from the inside out. We had been
married for six years. I had a four year-old
son and a two-year-old daughter.
My mom had died of breast cancer
4 years earlier. Her sister had died of
cancer 20 years earlier. My grandmother
had died because of cancer when my
mom was 14. So, cancer was definitely
the “big bad” that would help me to stop
and really look at my life and make some
serious changes.
One thing that I really had to look at
was the fact that I really wasn’t living the
life I was meant to live. Sure, I was doing
everything “right”. I married a good man,
had babies, made jam, cleaned the house,
and even chaired the parents’ council.
Plus, we had a dairy farm. So between
household chores and the needs of my
babies, there were cows to milk and farm
work to be done. The needs were endless.
And the days pretty much ran together.
No matter how upbeat I tried to be,
the reality was that I was depressed.
Sure, I could always see the silver lining.
Sure, I could make the best of any situation. In fact, on top of everything that I
needed to do, I could even help anyone
else who needed something.
The fact that I was actually depressed was a real shocker for me. As far
as I was concerned, I was upbeat. I was
the person who depressed people came
to for help. There wasn’t any way that
I was depressed. I mean, compared to
whom? And if I was depressed, what was
I depressed about?
The reality was that I had spent my
whole life burying who I really was trying
to become someone else—someone who
other people would like, would respect,
would think was a beautiful person. If I
had ideas or thoughts that weren’t acceptable or that would cause too big a wave,
they were squashed. If my feelings about
something might cause someone else
discomfort or difficulty, I swallowed them
hoping that they’d just disappear. But
they didn’t. They just festered for decades.
This is one of the great things about
facing our own mortality. When we find
ourselves wondering if we are going to
live or die, we often start looking at our
lives differently. We wonder why we aren’t
being honest with ourselves. We wonder
what we are waiting for. We wonder why
we aren’t doing the things that we really
want to be doing.
And so, I started listening to that
still, small voice inside that I had been
ignoring for most of my life. At first, the
challenge was simply sorting out all the
“voices” in my head. Which one was my
own inner voice? Then, I started to act
on what I heard. Most often, it was small
things. Sometimes it was just being
honest with someone about whether I
wanted to do something or not. Sometimes it was choosing to take dance
lessons. But most of the time it was just
giving an honest “yes” or “no” answer to
any question posed.
As time went on, I was able to listen
to bigger inner thoughts. Once, I realized that I really wanted to open a dance
studio with my dance instructor—and I
actually did. Later, I realized that I loved
to write and “my little voice” said that it
would be great to be a regular columnist
in the local paper. I wrote some sample
articles, presented them to the publisher
and voila, I had my own column.
What was really wonderful was that
as my life started to become what I was
actually about, I started to really love myself. Bit by bit, I started liking who I was.
I was really enjoying life for the first time
in a long time. And the coolest thing was
that it was truly MY life—totally based on
my inner design.
Today, people often tell me that I
“sparkle”. That really interests me. Over
a 20 year span, I went from “frumpy and
depressed” to “sparkly”. And the core
thing that I changed was that my outsides
now reflect my insides.
I am no thinner. My hair is the same
as it’s been for 30 years. My skin is no different and my wardrobe hasn’t changed.
But I am truly happy. I really love my life.
My life is a true reflection of who
I actually am—and I finally, truly feel
beautiful. n
The Bos family—Taylor, Aaron, Katrina,
and Wayne
39
H eather M cC lure :
Why I Became a Fit Specialist
by Beverly Vote
“Recently a woman who had been
diagnosed with breast cancer came into
our mastectomy boutique and she had
yet to look at herself since her surgery.
I gently told her that not only will you
look at yourself before you leave, but you
will smile. Her head was down, she just
couldn’t look. As a fit specialist, I have
seen this many times throughout the
years that some women will not look at
their bodies after having a mastectomy.
It didn’t take long to fit her into her prostheses and bra. I physically pulled her
shoulders back and turned her around
to face the mirror. She just couldn’t
believe it. First the tears of joy, and then
the smile. I hugged her gently and said
I told you. She will remember this moment for the rest of her life as we all do.”
Right before her 38th birthday,
Heather McClure was diagnosed with
breast cancer. It was found in her
baseline mammogram. Her breasts were
what her doctor called ‘lumpy’ so it was
difficult to understand what was going
on with her breasts. Her OB/GYN doctor
encouraged Heather to get a baseline
mammogram as a precautionary measure and so he could continually monitor her breasts through the years. Just a
few days later, Heather received a phone
call from the OB/GYN’s office manager
telling her to to get a surgeon immediately. Heather’s response was “I don’t
know any surgeons.” The office manager
told her to look in the yellow pages.
Heather was shocked by the news
that she had breast cancer and by the
way the news had been delivered to her.
Her mammogram was supposed to be
a precaution. Heather could only ask
herself “what am I supposed to do now?”
With help from her sister in law, Heather
made an appointment with a surgeon.
When the doctor came in, he said he was
sorry to tell her she had three kinds of
cancer in her breast. His professional
advice was for Heather to have a mastectomy. Heather asked herself if this was
really happening. She described it as a
feeling of having an out of body experience.
Thankfully the surgeon was more
professional than the OB/GYN’s office
manager. The surgeon had already
40
When we walk
together, the journey
doesn’t seem as hard
or so long.
–Heather McClure
scheduled appointments for Heather
with a radiation oncologist and a plastic
surgeon. In addition, he had scheduled a
bone scan for Heather the next morning.
“I woke up the next morning and
told my husband that I didn’t think I
could get out of bed that day. And he
said to me very simply, “but you will.” At
that time in my life, I owned a day care
service. I had responsibilities and people
who needed me. I learned that not only
could I get out of bed, but that I could
get on with my life. I also learned when
we walk together, the journey doesn’t
seem as hard or so long.”
“Diane Gesualdi and I have been
friends since junior high school. When
Diane was diagnosed with breast cancer,
I took her for a fitting to a place that
was highly recommended. But it turned
out to be an unprofessional, uncaring,
and dysfunctional experience at best.
A woman in the shop brought out six
prostheses boxes and handed them to
me and said “here try these” and walked
out. Diane and I looked at each other in
disbelief that not even common courtesy
or support was being extended to Diane’s mastectomy fitting needs let alone
any professional guidance.”
“It was one of the defining moments
in life that we could have laughed or
cried. Both she and I were in this small
fitting space which was about the size
of a department store fitting room with
six boxes of prostheses forms. I had one
on my shoulder, one on my head and
one in my hand. I kept thinking, “are
they kidding us”, is this how they treat
and care for their clients, to figure it out
for themselves. We had no choice but
to maneuver the best we could and find
something that would work for Diane.”
After the facility quit taking Diane’s
insurance, she went to a regular DME
(Durable Medical Equipment) facility.
But they only offered her two bras, didn’t
carry them in stock, and they didn’t
fit her before ordering them for Diane.
The bras were not pretty and actually
something disdainful to wear. When
Diane went back to the shop to pick up
the order, the person behind the counter
yelled to the back, “The mastectomy lady
is here.” Diane was appalled, everyone in
the shop knew why she was there. Diane
left the shop crying.
“Every time these insensitive experiences would happen, Diane and I kept
saying to each other that there has to
be a better way. We started asking how
does someone become trained to be a
fitter and how many times are other
women having the same experiences
that Diane was having?”
“I became a Certified Mastectomy
Fitter because there was a real need.
When I was diagnosed with breast
cancer twenty years ago, there were no
post surgical garments nor was there
a selection of mastectomy bras. There
were few fitters and the training was
limited. Many of the fittings took place
in Durable Medical Equipment facilities.
There weren’t many mastectomy boutiques. The nurturing needs for women
diagnosed with breast cancer were not
understood, and that time it was a sterile environment with very few options.”
It was seventeen years ago that
Heather along with her friend Diane
Gesualdi began looking for nurturing places to go and be fitted for bras,
prostheses, and swimwear for women
who had had surgery for breast cancer.
What should have been a fairly simple
task proved to be daunting. An innocent
look into insurance and style options
turned into a fitting and self-esteem
nightmare. Many years of frustration
and anger convinced both women to
set things right. Ten years ago, Heather
and Diane became Certified Mastectomy
Fit Specialists, purchased a an existing business and became owners of The
Profile Shop. The Profile Shop prides
itself in being able to fit women who
have had all types of surgery for breast
cancer. Heather is also certified to fit
lymphedema garments. “It is an honor to
work with women both newly diagnosed,
and those who had surgery many years
ago – we all learn from each other as we
navigate this journey,” said Heather.
Heather’s heartfelt advice for women:
Create your new normal on your
terms. What I hear most in the fitting
room from women is that they want their
normal life back. I know it is the prayer
for most women, I know it was for me. I
can’t tell you how many times I said this
myself... I just want my life back,,, I just
want my life back until I realized that
I was searching for something that no
longer existed. I continued to be angry
about this until I understood that I just
needed to redefine ‘normal’. Once I gave
myself permission to do that, things
got easier for me. It seems to be the
most difficult part for most women, but
we redefine a new way of doing things
for ourselves all the time before breast
cancer. A diagnosis of breast cancer can
be an opportune time for women to put
what they want into their lives and into
their new normal.
Ask for help. In the fitting room, I
often remind women to allow the people
that love them to help. Many women are
not good at asking for or receiving help.
We are afraid, but our loved ones are
afraid too and many times feel helpless. When we allow them to help us, it
is a loving way of letting them be a part
of our treatment. This way, we are not
shutting them out of our journeys. How
many times do we say, no, no, no, I am
good, but in reality, we are closing them
off. It is a wonderful thing that they want
to be involved in our life. They can’t cure
Above: Heather’s birthday celebration
with my daughter and grandchildren.
This was exactly 20 years after
Heather’s diagnosis of breast cancer. It
was a double celebration party that day.
Right: Heather married her high school
sweetheart Gary McClure. They will
celebrate their 39th anniversary in July.
us, they can’t do the surgery, but they
can certainly bring you a meal, they can
take you to treatments, and they can
listen to you.
Keep your eyes and your heart
open. The people you need are right in
front of you. Trust your journey, help
is there. I believe this very strongly and
this goes with all parts of life. Without
being open to this, you just walk by the
people that are placed in your life to help
you. Always be kind and compassionate
with yourself. You would be kind and
compassionate with someone else, why
not with yourself!
Take time to heal. When I started
having that guilt talk with myself,,,
Heather, you are going to be home,
laying around, you should be doing
your photo albums and taking care of
simple tasks. My self talk wasn’t one
that respected that this was a time to
make it my priority to heal. So I decided
the things that I tried to add to my to
do list that made me feel like they were
a burden were the things that I decided
not to do.
In the past two decades since being
diagnosed with breast cancer Heather
has done countless of hours of volunteer
work for the American Cancer Society.
She is a Reach to Recovery Volunteer
and Trainer and has also done public
speaking on their behalf. She has been
awarded their Volunteer of the Year
Award and the Terese Lasser Award by
the Pennsylvania Division. She has also
been recognized by the Philadelphia
Chapter of the Susan G Komen Foundation, earning their survivor of the year
award. Heather has also studied Reiki
and Theta Healing. She and her husband Gary live in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. They have two grown children,
a son and a daughter, a granddaughter
and five grandsons. n
Heather would love to hear from you
concerning any questions or any stories
you would love to share with her.
[email protected]
www.theprofileshop.com
41
5 T H A N N U A L B r e a s t C anc e r T h r i v e r s C r u i s e
Sailing out of Miami, Florida to Half Moon Cay Bahamas,
St Thomas, San Juan Puerto Rico, and Grand Turk
on the Carnival Liberty Cruise Ship
ote
, Pub lisher
Join us on our 5th annual Breast Cancer Wellness Cruise.
We have more fun and special times planned for you than
ever before. Breast cancer survivors and thrivers from
across the country will come together and celebrate. And
what better way to relax and have fun than on a Carnival
cruise and to share these good times with other breast
cancer survivors and thrivers.
Bev
,
ms
lly W illia
She
S o ut h e r n T
ra
$470
$620
*
INSIDE
P/P
OCEAN VIEW
P/P
*
BALCONY
P/P
*Port charges and taxes $252.64
per person. Passports required.
v
el
G
t
rea
$370
*
er
V
ly
I always look forward to this annual event. Breast cancer
survivors and thrivers are some of the most courageous
and compassionate women I have ever met. I hope you will
join us. Call me today so that I can assure you of the best
availability and value.
Carnival reserves the right to re-instate the fuel supplement
for all guests at up to $9 per person per day if the NYMEX
oil price exceeds $70 per barrel.
Call Shelly Williams at
Great Southern Travel
1-800-810-8610
[email protected]
7 day Eastern Caribbean
May 14-21, 2011
MORE FOR YOU
More Value
More Fun
More Memories
For more information, visit www.breastcancerwellness.org
and check us out on facebook.
Pink Pages
Pages
Breast Cancer Wellness Pink Pages and Website
provides you the easiest and most convenient
wellness resource directory at your fingertips.
www.BreastCancerWellness.org
DIRECTORY
Alternative Medicine
Gifts
Also A Survivor
T-Shirts for cancer survivors, friends
and families. You are what makes your
life, not cancer.” You are more than a
survivor. Let the world know who you
are! Visit www.alsoasurvivor.com
The Biomat is a Far Infrared Therapy
Pad for home or clinic. Used to prevent
metastatic cancers, strengthen the immune system, detox the body and promote deep relaxation. FDA cleared. Call
866.952.8111 toll free for a free book.
[email protected],
www.thebiomatstore.com
Sur5vor.com a community of cancer warriors
(and their supporters) who have reached or
who are striving to reach the 5-year cancerfree milestone. Celebratory items available
identifying another battle won!
Cards / Stationary
Hats & Headwear
Beaubeau™ Scarves!
“Beautiful Scarves for Beautiful Heads”.
Fabulous scarves for women and girls
with medical hair loss that unite fashion
and function! Unique pre-fitted design
in an array of beautiful fabrics. Lots of
styling options! Call 941-361-2408 or
215-421-9668 www.4women.com
Cancer Cards
Footwear
ANOKHI
The softest cotton scarves you will find!
Dozens of beautiful prints for all tastes.
Squares and rectangles for many tying
variations.
Breathable,
non-slipping
cotton for total comfort and loveliness!
978-341-0753 www.anokhiusa.com
Lymphedema Specialists
The Biomat Store LLC
Real paper greeting cards mailed direct.
Free Personalization and Free Shipping.
Humorous Cancer Cards, Kids Cards,
Traditional and Spiritual. All cards environmentally friendly. A percentage of
all sales go to charity.
www.cancercardsonline.com
Hats & Headwear
Doma Designs
Beautifully
designed
hats and headwear
exclusively for hair
loss. Affordable, stylish,
elegant,
casual
or
dressy. Quality fabrics
that stay in place. Many
beautiful designs and
colors to choose from. domadesigns.com
1-888-603-1206 (toll free)
“The Flexitouch® System” By
Tactile Systems Technology Inc
The Flexitouch system is an easy-to-use
device for treating lymphedema in the
comfort of your own home. It is designed
to help maintain the benefits of inclinic treatment. www.flexitouch.com
1-866-435-3948. (toll free)
Mastectomy Products
Confident Clothing Company
This is the product you need before surgery. Cool Chemo Garments are fashionable and comfortable. Drain pockets are
discreet, secure and removable.
Call 831-440-8834
www.confidentclothingcompany.com
Bach Medical Supply
Certified mastectomy
fitters on site featuring
prosthetics, bras, sports
bras and swimsuits.
1711 E. Sunshine
Springfield, MO
1-800-288-2224
417-883-1400
Appointments Requested, Though Not Required
To Order:
www.capeclogs.com
www.capeclogs.com/cancer
or
1-800-380-5977
Cape Clogs is a proud
sponsor of The Ellie Fund
www.elliefund.org
44
Organic Recover Cap
Unique and stylish embroidered organic
caps designed for women experiencing
hair loss due to chemotherapy. Certified
organic, antibacterial and hypoallergenic caps are super soft. 800-886-0572.
www.recovercap.com
HEART STRINGS
Breast Care Boutique
“The right fit for every woman”™
Certified caring fitter for all postsurgery needs, including Mastectomy,
Lumpectomy,
Reconstruction,
and
difficult to fit sizes. Bras, Breast Forms,
Swimsuits, Skincare, Compression
Garments. www.HeartStringsShop.com
386-427-6344
45
Mastectomy Products
Mastectomy Products
NEARLYOU.COM
East Georgia Home Health Center
Visit our Pink Room, A Cancer Survivor’s
Boutique, specializing in post-surgical,
mastectomy and chemotherapy/radiation needs. Also offering wigs, hats
and accessories. Certified mastectomy
fitters on staff. Call 912-489-4663 or
800-849-3123, Statesboro, Georgia;
www.eastgeorgiahomehealth.com
Nearly You
FRONT CLOSURE Recovery Garments.
Choose from pretty camisoles, pajama
sets and bras. Made in the USA. 100%
cotton, holds up to 8 drains. Send a
friend a RECOVERY GIFT BASKET.
1-800-989-5726 www.gentlet.com
FREE SHIPPING
Order Online at
or Call
1-866-722-6168
www.allnaturalcosmetics.com
1-888-586-9719 (toll free)
Natural Skin & Hair Care
South Beach Skin Solutions
Suffering from discolored intimate
areas? We offer the ultimate in gentle,
all-natural skin lightening for the
breasts, vagina, underarms, face, scars,
burn marks and more. Visit us online at
www.southbeachskinsolutions.com.
NCONN promotes excellence in oncology
patient care by fostering collaborative
relationships and professional development among oncology nurse navigators
and all healthcare disciplines locally, regionally and nationally. www.nconn.org
with Janac Mastectomy Wear
for Fighters & Survivors
Designed by a breast cancer survivor
Check
details
Check
websitewebsite
for details offor
these
tops & allof
ourthese
productstops
with
built-in
pockets
& all
our products with built-in pockets
www.janacsportswear.ca
Call 905-332-7576 Toll Free 1-866-290-0821
www.janacsportswear.ca
Call 905-332-7576
Toll Free 1-866-290-0821
Organoderm Skin Care
Truekare Breast Forms
www.organoderm.com
46
5742 X Twin Art
Mastectomy bra
Cup A – C
also available in metallic
1052 XV · Adhesive System
Size 1 – 10
Breast Friends of Cadillac MI
Breast Friends Affiliate Support Group.
Meets first Tuesday of each month at
5:30 p.m. at CareLinc Home Medical
Equipment and Supply, 205 Bell Ave,
Cadillac MI. Contact Robin Mosher at
231-775-7143, [email protected]
We Are Your Solution...
EVERY MANUFACTURER AVAILABLE • HELP WITH MEDICARE
Jillianna is a new post mastectomy nonsilicone form. The unique design is soft,
supple and cooler than silicone. Visit
Jillianna.com to learn about this break
through product and rediscover freedom.
Call 1-866-637-4442.
5306 X Joyce · Cup AA – C
flamingo, metallic, champagne
Support Groups
During Every Stage of Your Recovery,
You CAN Be Comfortable
and Attractive!
Providing... Post-Mastectomy Products including
Breast Forms, Bras, Camisoles, Swimwear, Skin Care,
Exercisewear, Leisure Wear, Wicking Sleepwear
Jillianna Mastectomy Wear
Anita‘s
Commitment
to You
Organic Products
www.truekare.com
Lightweight,
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Fits
any regular
or
Natural looking, Swimsuit friendly
bra bra
Fitsmastectomy
any regular or mastectomy
Amazing non-silicone breast form
Enjoying
the Pleasures
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Oncology Nurse Navigators
FEEL COMFORTABLE
AND CONFIDENT
Amazing non-silicone
breast form, Lightweight,
FEEL COMFORTABLE AND
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Comfortable,
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with Janac Mastectomy Wear for Fighters
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looking,
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Designed by a breast cancer
survivor
Cosmetics Without
Synthetics, Inc.
Selling Breast Forms - Bras - Swimsuits by
NEARLYOU.COM
Gentle Touch
Medical Products, Inc.
Natural Cosmetics
877-463-1343
www.womanspersonalhealth.com
L0 6233 · Cup B – D
Contact Bonnie Phelps at
[email protected]
417-581-3438
Ask for the Pink Pages Special!
www.BreastCancerWellness.org
Come and visit us at EW show from April 19 - 21st in Louisville, Kentucky
Contact Anita for special events at EW Show
ANITA International Corporation · 3540 N.W. 56th Street · Suite 204 · Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33309, USA
Toll free: 1-800-866-6223 · Phone: +1 954 730 8189 · Fax +1 954 730 8723 · E - Mail: [email protected]
www.anita.com
splash
Make a
Splashy prints and vibrant
colors in flattering and
modern styles. Amoena®
swimwear was designed
with you in mind.
View the entire 2010
swimwear collection at
www.amoena.us and visit
our store locator or call
1-800-741-0078 to find an
Amoena retailer near you.
Insist on Amoena / www.amoena.us
©2010 All rights reserved. Amoena USA Corporation, GA 30144-4582, Kennesaw, USA
Amoena is a registered trademark of Amoena Medizin-Orthopädie-Technik GmbH.

Breast Cancer Wellness

Transcription

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