Breast Cancer Wellness

Transcription

Breast Cancer
Wellness
M A G A Z I N E
Be a Thriver!
®
Family
Matters
“My heart and
intuition kicked in.
I took the biggest
leap of faith.”
Shouldn’t We Always
Celebrate Life First?
Caring for Lymphedema
Positive Intensity
–Paula Holland De Long
What’s Next
for my Life?
Your entary
mplim ue
$4.95 C o
Iss
Volume 5, Issue 2
Summer 2010
NON-PROFIT PRST
STANDARD US
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contents
Summer 2010
ON OUR COVER
Paula Holland De Long
Cover photo courtesy of
George Kamper, Inc. of Ft. Lauderdale.
8
SUMMER 2010 | Volume 5, Issue 2
PUBLISHER
Bevery Vote
[email protected]
To order your individual free subscription,
go to www.breastcancerwellnesss.org
or see page 23 to subscribe.
To request magazines for your
events, support groups, or patients:
[email protected]
______________
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
Breast Cancer Wellness Magazine
P.O. Box 2040
Lebanon, MO 65536
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.
F E AT U R E S
D E PA RT M E N TS
My Intentional Garden 5
PUBLISHER’S LETTER 4
I needed to decide what my intention was.
This is important because it is the guiding
point for all decisions from that point on. My
intention is to live fully, enjoying my family
and each day. This intention still guides me
eleven years later as a survivor and as a thriver.
Coming soon, BCW is going bold.
Shipmates 8
Researchers have found that chronic
inflammation not only plays a key role in
the commencement and progression of
many types of cancers, but it also fuels
a wide variety of chronic disorders.
Positive Intensity 16
If you have trouble coming up with
positive thoughts on which to focus your
attention, then try guided imagery. This
is a tool that the medical community has
begun to embrace because of its use of
powerful healing metaphors to which your
immune system can positively respond!
AMOENA for me 10
Quelling the Fires
of Inflammation 12
Finding a Family that Matters 16
Yes, family matters, that’s for sure,
but I submit to you that your family
can be of your own making.
Caring for Lymphedema 20
Summertime Salads 18
Family Matters 26
A Message from Ambassador
Nancy G. Brinker 22
PROFILES IN WELLNESS
32 What’s Next for My Life?
36 Family Matters for a Single Mom
38 Shouldn’t We Always Celebrate Life First?
memories of the 4th Annual
Breast Cancer Thrivers Cruise 40
From the Fitting Room 30
It’s all about the bra. A proper
prosthesis fitting begins with a
comfortable and precise fit.
PINK PAGES DIRECTORY 45-46
www.breastcancerwellness.org
3
publisher’s letter
Dear Thrivers,
Coming soon, a sneak peak of a free book, “How We Became Breast Cancer
Thrivers”—44 stories from my Breast Cancer Thriving Friends Now Living
With Conviction, Clarity, Passion and Purpose will be on our website,
www.BreastCancerWellness.org.
This issue’s theme is “Family Matters”. Our lives are both enriched and
tested by the people who we love and who love us. Who would we be without
those tests in our lives to help us define who we really are, what we really
believe and what we really want? A diagnosis of breast cancer makes us get
down to what matters, and the tests of time always withstand that ‘families
DO matter’ and the definition of family goes much deeper than one related by
blood. We all belong to a family of some kind where the sum of the individuals
equals greater strength, compassionate, wisdom and support. Plus there is the
family of the pink sisterhood—where we are heard and understood even if we
don’t say a word.
Speaking of being heard and understood, we came from all across the country to
meet other thrivers, to celebrate, to laugh, and to make memories together on the
4th Annual Breast Cancer Thrivers Cruise. I hope you enjoy the 4th annual cruise
photos and video posted on the home page of www.BreastCancerWellness.org
and our facebook page. Our Thrivers’ cruise family continues to grow and we
would love to have you join us! The 5th annual BCW Cruise 2011 will have
MORE time together, MORE value, MORE laughter, and MORE memories!
The Funky Flip-Flop contest and the Pink T-Shirt Contests will be fun, but you
may also want to set your sights on taking home the first trophy for the 2011
Funniest Breast Cancer Thriver or the best 2011 Cruise Karaoke singer.
Call Shelly Williams at 1-800-810-8619 or e-mail her at
[email protected] to be part of this special experience.
Thank you Amoena for your continued support of this annual event!
Coming October 1
Breast Cancer Wellness is going BOLD.
4 BOLD New Perspective
4 BOLD New Vision
4 BOLD New Mission
4 BOLD New Logo
4 ...and the release of a BOLD new
book—a FREE E-Book! It is a gift
of compassion, wisdom and bold
honesty from Breast Cancer Thrivers
from across the country.
Our journey as publishers in the
wellness field for breast cancer
has evolved. As much as we have
appreciated and honored the BCW
dove logo—a new logo, new vision,
and a new mission are coming soon.
Everyone who attended the 4th Annual Breast Cancer Thrivers Cruise extend
congratulations and best wishes to Joan Miller and her husband, Dr. Ken Miller
in celebrating and renewing their 30th anniversary wedding vows during this
special cruise.
My prayer and invitation is for each of us to experience healing and wellness to
the fullest.
Be a Thriver! ®
Beverly Vote
Publisher / Editor
18 year breast cancer thriver!
4
Be a !
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®
BCWFEATURE q
My Intentional Garden
by Heather Jose
At one point my life was crashing down around me and everything was hard. Now the tide is out and life does not crash.
But that glorious view is gone. It is easy to become lackadaisical, not on guard anymore; the voice of God is not as clear, nor
as intense. Jesus, it is difficult for me to not be among the crashing surf, though it is tiring to be in it. I pray that my rest can be to nurture
myself and to be prepared to be strong enough to enter the surf again. It need not be the same as before, nor must it be directed
by me. I pray though that I will be there again, engulfed in the intensity and power of life and God as the control. Lord, help me to
use my low tide to walk with others along the journey that has been given to each of us. Please engulf me in the spirit again.
–Excerpted from “Letters to Sydney: Every Day I am Killing Cancer” by Heather Jose
T
hrivers, in order to make the most of our minds we have
to dream. Breast cancer tries to take away dreams, but
we can change that. Dreams are the backbone of life.
Why participate in the day to day if you don’t have a dream?
Dreams form our heart, souls and mind and they help us to
become more than we ever thought possible. They aren’t always clear, but that can be the beauty. It is important to think
about our dreams, to get out of the box of our diagnosis and
see the life that is in front of us.
As long as I can remember I have watched my grandma
garden. It’s part of her being even though she is well into her
eighties and every year she says she is giving it up. If it is not
winter, I know where I will find her. She has done it for so long
she can’t quit. Sure, she may do less than she used to, but still
she is out there. It is partly because of her that I love gardening
too. It’s so satisfying to see things grow.
But this is not a gardening magazine is it? While this is
true, I can’t quit thinking about the thought that a healthy
approach to breast cancer could be very similar to the way we
tend a garden.
A garden begins with a bit of dirt that we declare to be the
place for things to grow. When my husband Larry and I built
our house we set aside an area in the front of the house for my
future flower garden. I even made sure to have a curved sidewalk leading to the front door so that people could meander
in and enjoy the view. Our breast cancer garden is our mind,
this is the place where thoughts grow and become actions. The
longer I live beyond the diagnosis of breast cancer the more I
see and understand the importance of using our mind to its
full potential.
Since we all have a mind, the first order of business is to
get rid of the junk that would hinder growth. If I had left only
sand full of nails and scraps, what kind of nutrients would that
leave for my seeds? Instead I made sure to clear out the junk
and I brought in some topsoil too. It was well worth the time
and effort to prepare it correctly. What junk do you have in u
5
q BCWFEATURE
In the midst of planting seeds and
watching them grow, it is a must
to take some to enjoy the process.
your head that could hinder growth? For me it
was the doubts and fears that came along with
breast cancer. I consider myself to be pretty positive, but initially my garden was full of junk. It came
from my own thoughts and sometimes from other people. These thoughts began to run like a reel through
my head causing me to doubt myself and my potential
to be well. In order to confront them I found myself
writing them down. Once on paper I could really rid
myself of them, making way for something new.
While I knew that I needed to get rid of the negative fear and doubt I wasn’t sure what to replace it
with. I needed to decide what my intention was. This
is important because it is the guiding point for all decisions from that point on. My intention is to live fully, enjoying my family and each day. This intention still guides
me eleven years later as a survivor and as a thriver. When
I am feeling unbalanced or unsure of a decision I need
to make, I think about my intention. Intent is the driving
force behind our actions, it is the reason we choose the way
we do. I believe it is worth taking some time to really find your
intention, as life should revolve around it in almost every aspect. My intention is not based on cancer, although cancer is
what drove me to figure it out. Intention is about life.
Just because I knew what I intended to do didn’t mean
that I knew how to get there. That’s where we think about
the garden again, and begin to plant that seeds. Maybe it is
a bunch of tiny little positive thoughts of hope, of faith, of determination. These seeds may not even be a whole a sentence
long, however they are what resonates within us. “I’m going to
see my daughter grow up.” “Every day we are killing cancer.”
“Fear is courage that has said its prayers.” “Go beyond treatment.” “Make it a great day.” We can’t just plant them and
forget about them, especially when they are new. Caring for
our intention is a daily process, sometimes more time consuming than the day before. I put everything in a notebook
and read it each and every day. The more I did this the more
those seeds grew, and I found that before long hope, faith, and
determination were blossoming within my soul. Of
course, not everything blossomed as I thought it
might, that was okay. I think I was left with the
truest thoughts for me.
We need to remember though, that intention
is not enough to be a thriver. Intention only works
when there are actions that follow. What good is it
to plan our space, plant our seeds and then never
do another thing? I use my intention to guide and
inspire my actions through each day. These actions are the reason that I am living fully and enjoying my family. Actions can be mental, spiritual,
or physical. They are not the same day to day, but
they do occur each day. It is a matter of knowing
what I need to nurture my intention in the moment.
So let’s talk about growth in our garden/mind.
Growth will occur with a combination of conditions.
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Not all of them are easy or fun, but those difficulties might
spur the greatest growth if we keep our eye on our intention.
This would be like enduring the rain on a Saturday that you
hoped to be picnicking. We have had a lot of rain recently and
it has made my garden grow, grow, grow. Rain in your mind
might be doing a really hard workout, because you know the
payoff is worth the effort. Or maybe it is embracing your treatment even though it is hard. You can focus on your intention
at this time and it will make it all clear. Growth in your garden also requires taking the time to deadhead all of the spent
blooms. It might even mean getting rid of a plant that is taking over your garden, or at least moving it or cutting it back. I
think of this in my mind when I reevaluate how to spend my
time and focus, what is working and what isn’t. It’s a process
that keeps happening all for the good of our gardens.
In the midst of planting seeds and watching them grow it
is a must to take some time to enjoy the process. What good
is all the work if we can’t see what we are nurturing? Take the
moments as they come to enjoy the beauty. It seems so much
sweeter when you have spent the time on it yourself. This is a
time to walk through your garden and see how much you have
grown and what is really shining.
Over time, with much attention to your intention and action
to support it there will be a day when you will be able to see the
fruits of your labor. I have seen many harvests, all of them different. The first one came at the end of ten months of treatment
when I could truly say that I was living my intention. Sure, I was
happy to be done with treatment, but I was even more excited to
see what all of my hard work had done for me. It is an amazing
feeling to be able to see what has grown in your garden. I have
realized that strength and determination were there, along with
optimism, joy, independence, and humor. The harvest is different each time, and that is the way it is intended.
After each harvest there is a time for rest. Out in the dirt
they would call it dormancy. It is the time where things look
dead, but it is really just preparing to come back bigger and
stronger in the spring. We thrivers need a time to rest too, but
as with the plants it doesn’t mean that we aren’t doing anything. Rather it is more of a day to day routine that keeps us
heading toward our intention. It is impossible to be blooming
and producing all of the time, we aren’t made that way.
Besides being in a garden I have another favorite place to
be, the beach. I love the water, the waves, the smell of the
ocean, the feel of the sand. I wrote the prayer that we began
with as I was finishing my first harvest. The challenge is to use
the dormant times as preparation, keeping on our eye on our
intention, and opening ourselves up to life’s possibilities. Keep
in mind that there will be an opportunity to bloom again and
take in the glorious view.
I can’t wait to see the beauty in your garden. n
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.
7
Judy Naylor
Faith Anderson
Shipmates
Meet BCW Thrivers Cruise Mates—Judy Naylor and Faith Anderson
How I Met Faith
One day in mid January 2008, I
looked up the Breast Cancer Thrivers Cruise on the Internet and there
was our famous Shelly Williams and
her phone number at Great Southern
Travel. I called just to inquire as I had
never ever been on a cruise before.
Shelly immediately was a long lost
friend who I had suddenly found over
the phone... how incredible is that! She
said she had several ladies waiting for
a possible roommate and asked me to
give it a try. Faith Anderson responded
right away and I somehow felt this
could work. We agreed that we both
would like to go so we signed up. We
were going to be roommates. That first
cruise was very exciting to me! After
we staked out our cabin territories...
we got into all our histories you know
like schooling, families, marriages,
children, divorces, deaths and our
cancer experiences. We exchanged
and listened to everything. It was like
a clearing ground and it all seemed
to free us up to start healing, enjoy
our survivorship’s and let the fun of
living and thriving finally begin. Faith
is a beautiful and intelligent lady with
spunk and I love her for that. She is
easy going, steady and kind. A real
trooper. Sometimes things can turn
quite hilarious as she sits back and
observes things and I continue bantering her. We are both New England
8
girls at heart. She is originally from
Connecticut and I from NY area. I can
always count on her and I’m proud and
blessed to call her my friend. We have
enjoyed many memorable moments together and now we are looking forward
to our fourth cruise in 2011. Faith has
shown me all the ins and outs of cruising. I couldn’t go on a cruise without
her and better yet now I wouldn’t want
to. We are like peas and carrots... she
is she, I am me and that is acceptance
at its finest! Stay well and I will see
you next year Faith!
About Judy
My breast cancer was discovered
in my 2006 yearly mammogram—24
hours before I flew out to go to my father’s homeland of Denmark. Because
my daughter was with me when I had
the biopsy, I had asked her to e-mail
me the outcome of the biopsy thinking
to myself that I had had a cyst aspiration in 2003 and this would be just as
easy being it was so tiny. My daughter was told it was cancer and after
talking it over with her siblings, they
thought it best to wait until I returned
home to tell me... even though she
wasn’t sure when that would be as I
had traveled with no return date until
I was ready to return which turned out
to be six weeks later. I regret that I just
didn’t call the doctor myself because
all my children were pretty scared
about things. The biopsy probably
removed all the cancer as they couldn’t
find the spot at all during the surgery.
Only ducts that were considered precancerous were removed. Then radiation and I am a 4 year survivor and
thriver now.
I am enriched by the continued
support and friendship I have found
with ALL of the breast cancer thrivers.
I enjoy all the things that I do and everyday is different. Whether it be gardening a little here and there; visiting
with family and friends; or doing some
traveling. Choices seem to be made on
a daily basis sometimes and I feel very
grateful that I am able to do that. I am
blessed!
Judy Naylor
Federal Way, WA
How I Met Judy
Shelly at Great Southern Travel
suggested that Judy Naylor and I get
together for the 2008 Breast Cancer
Thrivers’ Cruise. She provided us
with each others e-mail address and
encouraged us to contact one another.
I knew after the first e-mail exchange
that we just might be able to spend
a few days together. Who knew that
we would find such joy in each others company, that we would cruise
together in 2009, 2010 and be looking
The search for one’s own being, the discovery of the life one needs
to live, can be one of the strongest weapons against disease.
–Lawrence Leshan
forward to our 2011 trip. Judy and
I are compatible because there is no
pretense. We are who we are and our
sameness and our differences seem to
compliment one another. We don’t feel
the need to be constantly joined by the
hip but find enjoyment in doing things
together but also doing things we like
on our own. Our conversations run the
gamut from serious to silly and Judy
has a great though sometimes subtle
sense of humor. Judy is an intellegent,
wise and caring person. My “flower
child” friend is a free spirit. She loves
meeting other people and is so giving
of herself that they are immediately
drawn to her. She is an independant
soul and would have no problem traveling by herself but has opened up her
life to include me and my life is richer
for it. Though we live a great distance
apart, she in Washington and I in
Illinois, when we see each other the
distance and time disappear. I just love
her and am happy to call her friend.
About Faith
My cancer was discovered by luck
and probably my new guardian angel.
I had moved to Illinois a few short
months before being diagnosed with
breast cancer to be near my grandchildren. While returning from shopping I
was in an auto accident where all the
airbags deployed. Luckily, I was not
seriously injured but the airbags and
seatbelt had caused some major bruising. My right breast looked especially
bad and seemed to get worse as time
passed rather than better. Having
just moved to Illinois I did not know
any doctors. I did finally get into see
someone who sent me for a mammo-
gram of the right breast to verify it was
just a hematoma. When I arrived for
the mammogram the radiologist was
reluctant to do just the right breast
because he had no base line for me. He
requested and received an order to do
both breasts. I had just had my annual
mammogram five months previous so
I was not concerned. I almost fell off
the chair when I was told I had breast
cancer in my left breast. Biopsies
confirmed the diagnosis and I had a
lumpectomy and radiation. I had lost
my friend of 55 years to lung cancer
less than a year before. Both her husband and sister felt she was watching
over me and had a hand in making
sure my cancer was discovered and
treated since I would have not gone for
a mammogram for several months.. I
just felt she could have picked a better
method than an auto accident. Presently things are a little shaky but I am
convinced all will be well.
My favorite hobby is enjoying my 6
year old triplet grandchildren. They are
a joy and I was fortunate to be able to
relocate close to them (about 10 miles
away). I’m also an avid reader though
I never seem to find the time to read
when I cruise with Judy. I enjoy traveling and have been on some great trips
such as the Pananma Canal, Australia
and New Zealand. My new neighborhood is a friendly one and I have met
people who share my interests and
enjoy their company. Living near Chicago offers so many opportunities for
exploration and enrichment. All in all,
things are good.
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.
Faith Anderson
Beach Park, Illinois
All digital mammography.
Copyright©2010 St.ClaireGroup
Client: SVH Job Name: Women’s Health Boutique Ad Job Number: SVH-W
Specs: 2.3” x 7.125” 4C Ad Publication: A digital mammogram takes a digital image of the breast and stores it
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS ART,
electronically. Much higher resolution than a traditional film mammogram,
CALLtoJOE
JUDD
317-816-8810 ordetect
e-mail jjudd@stclairegro
digital images can be manipulated in PLEASE
many ways
aid
in evaluation...and
potential problems
earlier.03/29/10 FINAL MECHANICAL REVISED#3 03/31/10
LAYOUT
That’s why all of our mammography patients receive
digital mammograms.
Tracey Williams, R.N.
Director
Skaggs Women’s Services
Branson • skaggs.net/centerforwomenshealth
9
for me
Stay Cool This Summer:
Feel the Breeze of Energy
To maximize our comfort in hot
summer weather, humans have come
up with all kinds of things. The handheld fan, the parasol, the ponytail and
iced lemonade continue to serve as
some of the simplest solutions. More
elaborate inventions range from the
indispensible (air conditioner) to the
absurd (hard hat fitted with 2 drinks
and straws)! Then there are the ubiquitous ceiling fan, swimming pool and
those modern amusement-park misting booths.
None of those devices specifically
addresses one of the most commonly
overheated areas for women, however—the area surrounding her bra. In
between and underneath—and especially when she’s wearing a breast form
after mastectomy or lumpectomy—heat
is almost always a factor. In fact, much
of the recent history of the breast form
has been an attempt to address the
oft-cited complaints of heat buildup and
weight in the older versions.
Thankfully, Amoena’s research and
development teams have innovated
once again to help keep you cool, with
the introduction of Energy—our newest
lightweight breast form option.
Feel comfortable… plus!
It is truly the next generation of
superior comfort, infused with 30%
more of our patented Comfort+ technology. Comfort+ helps to equalize a
woman’s body temperature by absorbing excess body heat from the chest
wall during a rise in temperature to
reduce overheating and perspiration.
The result is a natural feeling because
the temperature in that microclimate
between chest wall and breast form is
balanced—it’s as if she’s wearing no
form at all.
Amoena also added a patent-pending three-dimensional raised pearl
surface to the back of the form, which
creates small airflow channels that
allow ventilation and moisture evapo-
10
ration. Our researchers spent months
testing to determine the best possible
configuration of the 3-D raised silicone
pearls; they’re strategically designed in
varying heights and sizes to optimize
their effectiveness where women most
need it.
This is one of the lightest forms in
our portfolio. It is ideal for women who
are hot-natured, exercise regularly or
have hot flashes due to menopause or
hormone therapy. Those with neck,
shoulder or back problems from lymphedema, osteoporosis and arthritis may
also benefit from wearing Energy. Its
by Lee Thrash
two distinct shapes, both with a narrow
footprint, offer the chance to enjoy summer fashion styles—maybe a sundress
or a V-neck tank.
Keep your cool
As the heat waves on this summer, there are lots of ways you can
stay sweat-free and comfortable. Before
you resort to something trivial like a
squeezable spray-bottle fan, start at
your foundation. Try the innovative
comfort of Energy to cool you where you
need it most. n
Lee Thrash
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.
See the difference, feel the difference,
MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
medi lymphology is proud to announce that we have secured co-sponsorship for Bill H.R. 4662, The Lymphedema
Diagnosis and Treatment Cost Saving Act of 2010. We understand the impact this Bill will have on the lives
of patients, therapists and fitters. Please contact your congressperson and senators to voice your support.
medi is a dedicated financial supporter of The Breast Cancer Research Foundation
and The Prostate Cancer Foundation. Learn more about us at:
mediusa.com
HEALING
MAGES
SPEcIAL NOTIcE FOR MEdIcAL PROFESSIONALS
HEALING IMAGES™ ACROSS AMERICA PROJECT
IMAGINING THE POSSIBILITIES FOR BETTER HEALTH
Do you believe in the POWER of the MIND?
Are you a medical professional who wants to help your patients through the roller-coaster ride of emotions? Would you like
to become certified in guided imagery so that you can help them add the “power of the mind” with an intention to heal?
Thanks to the Healing Images™ Across America Project of ONE Health Institute, you can receive a $300 scholarship toward
your $1200 tuition at the next certification symposium in St. Louis, Missouri on Oct 2 - 3, 2010. Just apply online using
the Healing Images™ registration form, and for only $900, you can receive your certification after 16 hours of classroom
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As a bonus, you get more than $350 in published support materials that will only make it EASIER to offer guided imagery
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NormAlly $1200 for 20 Hours of trAININg & mAterIAls ... NoW oNly $900!
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www.HealingImages.com
636-273-9003
11
Quelling the Fires of
Inflammation
by Christine Horner, MD
Taking an anti-inflammatory can
lower your risk of breast cancer
by as much as fifty percent
The largest on-going national
study of women’s health called
“The Women’s Health Initiative”
(WHI), found that women who
took aspirin or ibuprofen an average of 3 times week for the last 10
years had a significant lower incidence breast cancer. Those taking
aspirin had a 28% lower incidence
and the women who took ibuprofen had a 50% lower incidence.
But aspirin and ibuprofen have
potential serious side effects. For
instance, 16,000 people in the
US die each year from bleeding
complications from these medications. So I recommend you take
a safe herbal anti-inflammatory,
like “Zyflamend”, instead. Research
shows herbal anti-inflammatories
works just as well. And rather than
side effects, they have a multitude
of wonderful side benefits.
Inflammation is a normal and important process created naturally by our
bodies and serves an important role. It
helps to get rid of unwanted bacteria,
and other invaders. It also assists our
bodies in cleaning up dead cells from
trauma or infections. When inflammation rises to assist our inner healing
intelligence during these special circumstances and then quietly quells when it
is no longer needed, no harm is done.
But, if the inflammation remains beyond
its useful purpose and becomes “chronic”—meaning it stays as an ongoing process in our body over time—it turns into
a lethal firestorm, breaking down cells
and destroying the natural architectural
boundaries of the body’s tissues which
makes it easier for tumors to invade
and grow. Researchers have found that
chronic inflammation not only plays a
key role in the commencement and progression of many types of cancers, but it
also fuels a wide variety of chronic disorders, including heart disease, arthritis
and Alzheimer’s disease.
One main reason why chronic inflammation can be so devastating to our
health is because it doesn’t act alone. It
creates additional destructive ammunition: oxygen free radicals. The cells in
our immune system use oxygen free
radicals like cosmic ray guns to shoot
bacteria and other offenders. In the
presence of inflammation, these cells release showers of oxygen free radicals and
excess oxygen free radicals can cause
damage to DNA that can lead to cancer.
Certain foods and stress promote
inflammation. Refined carbohydrates,
sugar and certain fats (especially transfats) are some of the worst offenders. On
the other hand, a diet rich in antioxidants found in fresh organically grown
fruits and vegetables and omega-3 fatty
acids reduces inflammation. Taking
supplemental antioxidants and practicing stress reduction techniques are also
very beneficial in preventing and reducing inflammation.
INFLAMMATION AND
THE COX-2 ENZYME
There’s another way to reduce
inflammation. It involves blocking the
12
activity of a key enzyme essential to the
process of inflammation. The enzyme
is called cyclo-oxygenase 2 or COX-2. A
relatively new class of pharmaceutical
anti-inflammatories targets the COX2 enzyme and blocks it or inhibits it.
Celebrex and Vioxx are two examples.
But pharmaceutical medications, as
you are probably aware, are hard on the
body and create imbalances that result
in potentially serious side effects. When
reaching for COX-2 anti-inflammatories,
the wisest choice is to choose those
made by Nature. Herbal COX-2 inhibitors not only block the “evil” enzyme
with equal force, but they also import a
fantastic amount of extraordinary intelligence and balance into the body.
Nature’s COX-2 inhibiting pharmacy
includes dozens of herbs. The standouts
are green tea, turmeric, holy basil, rosemary, ginger, oregano, Scutellaria, barberry, and the Chinese herbs Hu Zhang
and Chinese Goldenthread. Researchers
at Columbia University are currently
studying the effectiveness of an herbal
product, called Zyflamend, composed of
a mixture of all of these potent herbal
anti-inflammatories against prostate
and breast cancer.
Leading complementary and alternative physicians, like Dr. Andrew Weil,
prescribe Zyflamend for their patients
with inflammatory conditions. It is also
used at the Cleveland Clinic Spine Center in Cleveland, Ohio. If you want learn
more about the properties of the herbs
in Zyflamend, there’s an excellent book I
recommend called Beyond Aspirin (Newmark and Schulick, Hohm Press 2000).
CANCER AND THE COX-2 ENZYME
Researchers have found that inflammation isn’t the only thing that
the COX-2 enzyme takes part in. It
also plays a key role in the initiation
and growth of several cancers including cancers of the colon, prostate, and
breast. The COX-2 enzyme stimulates
breast cells to start dividing and growing. It also prevents tumor cells from
undergoing normal cell death, so more
tumor cells stay alive, accelerating the
growth of the tumor. The more tumor
cells there are—the faster and bigger
in a short period of time after treatment.
Patients with these types of tumors also
have an overall poorer survival.
the tumor grows. The COX-2 enzyme
also encourages new blood vessels to
grow. New blood vessels are continually
required to deliver enough nutrients
and oxygen-laden blood to feed an expanding tumor. The more nutrients and
oxygen the tumor gets—the bigger and
faster it will grow.
Tumor cells are able to invade
normal tissue more aggressively as a
response to COX-2. COX-2 also increases the tumor’s ability to metastasize or spread to other parts of the body
and suppresses the immune system
so that it can’t fight off cancer cells as
well. It also increases the production
of mutagens -- substances that cause
mutations in our DNA that can lead to
cancer. When you add them all up, all
these nasty effects of the COX-2 enzyme
powerfully promote tumor growth in our
body. It’s no wonder studies show taking anti-inflammatories that blocks all
the ill effects of the COX-2 enzyme can
reduce your risk of developing breast
cancer by as much as 50%.
Some tumors show an “over-expression” of the COX-2 enzyme. What this
means is that these tumor cells have
a lot more active COX-2 enzymes than
normal tissue usually does. The tumors
that frequently show over-expression of
the COX-2 enzyme include cancers of
the colon, prostate and breast. Not all
breast cancers over-express the COX-2
enzyme. Researchers found about 50%
of breast cancers do.
According to a study published in
the Austria British Journal of Cancer in
2003, women with breast tumors that
over-express COX-2 are more likely to
have their tumors recur, or come back,
COX-2 INHIBITORS
AND BREAST CANCER
As discussed above, certain antiinflammatory pharmaceutical medications, like Celebrex, are designed
to work by blocking or inhibiting the
COX-2 enzyme. All the herbs found in
Zyflamend inhibit the COX-2 enzyme
too. Research shows all COX-2 inhibitors, not surprisingly, have powerful
anti-cancer properties. In experimental
animals, they have been found to significantly reduce the formation of breast
tumors and the number of tumors that
grow in response to a carcinogen. They
also inhibit the growth of tumors once
they have formed. Researchers at Ohio
State University in a study published
in 2001, found a direct relationship
between the amount of COX-2 inhibitor
that was given and the number of breast
tumors that formed in the test animals.
The higher the dose of a COX-2 inhibitor
that was given, the lower the incidence
of breast tumors that formed.
COX-2 INHIBITORS AND
CANCER RISK FACTORS
COX-2 inhibitors lower the risk of
cancer in 2 major ways. They reduce
inflammation and they block the COX-2
enzyme expression in tumors. As you
learned above, inflammation creates
copious amounts of oxygen free radicals
and destroys natural tissue boundaries making it easier for tumors to grow.
The COX-2 enzyme has a multitude of
ways that it promotes the inception and
cultivation of tumors. COX-2 enzyme inhibitors block every one of these tumor
fostering processes. 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
Finding a Family
That Matters
by Ann Leach
Life in Virginia as an only child
was pretty good. Despite the fact that
my father had died and mom was left
to raise me, her only child, I feel as if I
was afforded the comforts of home and
surrounded by loving adults and friends.
Fast forward thirty years when
Mom died in her family home state
of Illinois. As I managed the funeral
and welcomed her friends, an elderly
neighbor expressed her sadness and
concern for me.
“Oh honey, now you truly are an
orphan!” Ruth said.
Not too comforting at the time she
declared that, but I have often thought
of her words over the twenty years since
she spoke them.
Yes, family matters, that’s for sure,
but I submit to you that your family
can be of your own making. And when
you’re caring for a loved one, there is no
doubt some support is in order.
Here are some steps you can take to
assure you create a fabulous family of
support:
Do the caregiver countdown
Break your day into five segments
like morning, lunch time, afternoon,
dinner time, and evening. Then jot
down every task that you do to support
your loved one in each segment. Look
at the overarching categories you have
like ‘physical support’, ‘transportation’,
‘entertaining and engaging’, etc. Who
do you know that could provide help
in these areas? Reach out and ask for
their help.
14
Let’s get physical
Find your spiritual family
Who do you know that would be
willing to support you in maintaining
your physical self? Do you have a
neighbor who would take a short
morning walk with you? A massage
therapist that you haven’t seen for
awhile? These folks can be added
to your family of support circle and
utilized often!
Faith is a vital piece of caring for
someone with cancer. You may honor
your faith in a number of ways like
attending a church, having quiet times
of meditation by a river or on a hike
in nature. Wherever you feel most
connected to it is great. Do you have a
soul sister? Someone with whom you
can discuss your spiritual beliefs and
share that sense of community with?
Seek those people out if you don’t
already have them in your life. Learning
and growing in spirit is a life process
that fuels us through the ups and
downs of caregiving.
Get a grip on the emotions of
caring
Explore your family’s beliefs about
sharing problems or challenges with
others. My own mother was mortified
that I would talk to friends about the
stress of caring for her at the end of her
life. She was taught that “our problems
are ours alone and we can handle them
ourselves”. Still, I was grateful when a
friend would sincerely ask “how are you
doing with all this?” and really listen
to my answers. You need that friend in
your life too. And it may be an actual
family member, which is great. Just
make sure you have someone to talk to.
Take some time this summer to
review these four important areas of
your life and design a fabulous family of
support. Give thanks for their presence
in your life and resolve to do the same
for them when they need it. n
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.
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
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BREAST CANCER THRIVERS QUILT RAFFLE
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
NAME:________________________________________________________________
ADDRESS:_ ____________________________________________________________
CITY, STATE, ZIP:_ _______________________________________________________
PHONE_ ______________________________________________________________
EMAIL_ _______________________________________________________________
NAME:________________________________________________________________
ADDRESS:_ ____________________________________________________________
CITY, STATE, ZIP:_ _______________________________________________________
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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.
Sponsored by ANITA International Corporation
3540 N W 56th St., Suite 204, Ft Lauderdale, FL 33309
Positive Intensity
Do you ever hold back?
Do you sometimes not say the
things you really feel because your
words might make someone you love
angry, unhappy, scared, sulky, or
maybe even somewhat abusive?
We ALL hold back at times. We are
HUMAN! We are so programmed to
“fit in” with our world that sometimes
we barely notice we’re even doing it. At
other times, we rationalize it with: “Saying what I really feel would be SO much
worse!”
Eventually though, this lack of
“speaking your truth” has its toll.
Your brain (like everyone’s) is very
trainable. It has learned that saying
what is really on your mind brings
nothing but trouble!
Brains learn very quickly how to
“adapt” in order “fit in.” And this is even
a smart thing… for the very short term.
But long term… this strategy is not wise
because it is “costing” you big time!
Science has given a name to this
process, it’s called “learned helplessness.” But the reason scientists are
taking a closer look at it now is because
they are shocked to have discovered
that our immune systems are learning
this “helplessness” too!
Your every thought has an identifiable “fingerprint” of complex chemicals,
so know that your cells are actually
“listening” on every thought you think!
So don’t think you can ever fool
your body! Not when emotions are
attached! The secret is to learn more
about healthy ways to express them all!
Your body quite literally sees things
more clearly than your mind… simply because your emotions constantly
speak (whether you honor them or not).
So maybe it’s time to treat each emotion
with the respect it deserves!
This does NOT mean you need to
act on every emotion, but as a Breast
Cancer Thriver, it DOES mean that
some healthy ways to express them
need to be incorporated into your wellness plan!
1. Don’t aim for constant
“positive thinking!”
You might wish for a brain that
is constantly interpreting your life as
“positive,” but it is normal and natural
for your body to feel a “negative response” to things you don’t like.
Start with a daily intention to not
16
by Sandy Jost, PhD
ignore any of your body’s messages.
This way, your cells won’t need to “tire”
from how hard it is to keep up with all
the “stuffing” of negative emotions they
once had to do.
Find a way to journal feelings. Go
ahead and express your most “negative” thoughts to get them out without
hurting anyone’s feelings! You can even
destroy pages afterwards, because
the purpose of this is not to “hold on
to your feelings” or “see how far you
come,” but to simply get feelings OUT so
that your body can finally let them go!
If you are fortunate enough to have
friends who can listen to your words
without being hurt, then by all means,
express your thoughts aloud too. This is
why support groups can be so helpful.
It helps to share feelings with others
who are going through exactly what you
are going through.
Another beautiful way to express
“negative” feelings is through the arts.
Dance to express your grief, or mold
clay to express anger. These outlets
cause harm to no one, yet still allow
ways for your body to feel “heard.”
2. Find as much time as possible to
search, find, and amplify the “positive”
emotions that are there… especially
gratefulness, love, and appreciation!
As you dialogue with yourself
throughout the day (…and no you are
not crazy … we ALL do this), don’t
“rationalize” your negative thoughts but
instead come up with some genuine appreciations for “what is” … just AS it is!
This takes a strong faith that there
is “purpose” for everything; and sometimes this is not easy, especially when
a lot of emotion is attached to the outcome. But this mind set can help you in
all that you do!
In order to find what feels like the
ever-elusive feelings of gratefulness, you
might try thinking of a “much worse”
scenario in order to find them. Here’s
an example:
Driving to an important meeting, it
soon becomes obvious that you are not
going to get there on time. Your first
reaction might be anger based upon the
desire to NOT feel total embarrassment!
But rather than “beat up” on yourself or the other drivers all around you,
try turning your internal dialogue into
something like this …
“Gee… there must be a reason
why I “needed” to be late. Maybe I am
not supposed to get there when I had
planned. Maybe my being late will allow
me to meet someone I otherwise would
not have met.”
Your real “worst case” scenario
though, might continue like this …
“Or MAYBE… this allowed me to
AVOID something! If I had started out
sooner, then maybe I would have been
involved in an auto accident! Thank
goodness I now ‘only’ have to deal with
being late!”
From here, your brain can hopefully begin to immerse itself in gratefulness. When you focus intently on this
thought, you can appreciate having two
healthy arms, legs… not to mention
that there is someone who cares enough
to want you to show up at all!
This way you can REALLY get excited about how grand life is… just as
it is!
All of life is just a “story” we tell
ourselves, so learn to tell a more
“grateful story” starting today. There is
ALWAYS something positive to focus on.
But if you just can’t seem to find it at
the time, then simply have a good cry,
express those “negative” emotions in a
healthy way, and wait for the sunshine
to appear. It always does.
Every brain actually has rather
“short term” focus, so make it a habit to
journal every morning and night with a
list of all the things in life for which you
are grateful.
Don’t rush this. Allow these
thoughts to produce feelings that literally “bubble up” within you, and think
of it as your immune system “bubbling
up” from within to join you too!
If you have trouble coming up with
positive thoughts on which to focus
your attention, then try guided imagery.
This is a tool that the medical community has begun to embrace because of
its use of powerful healing metaphors
to which your immune system can positively respond!
Your imagination is always there
to serve in everything you do. So use it
wisely! Surely you can see why the right
guided imagery might offer your imagination a much more positive focus than
our morning and evening news!
3. Practice detached fervor!
We are learning just how much we
are intertwined with each other too!
Pay attention to who brings you “down”
and who energizes you. Respect all your
body’s responses as if they were from
an intelligent and caring friend.
But to “detach” is to also approach
Life with a real sense of humor. Listen
to your brain’s dialogue as it wants you
to “take sides” in… well… everything!
Chuckle at this and recognize that
your brain is only “trying to help.” And
every chance you get, tell your brain:
“I’m okay… I am choosing to live with
even more fervor than I could ever feel
by ‘taking sides!’”
When you do all these things, you
will gradually begin to feel a healthy
respect for all thoughts and emotions!
Your brain is always changing and
adapting, so learn to take an active role
in designing how you want it shaped!
Your body and your immune system
are always listening… so simply let
them know that they are NOT helpless!
Speak your truth at every moment
in whatever way feels right to you. But
do give voice to this inner self… the
“soul”… of who you really are.
Listen long and hard until your
deepest self is free to “bubble up”… with
not only its frustrations but also its
pure and innocent intentions for positive intensity!
I think that your Soul is pretty
important and has much to share, don’t
you?
Well why don’t you write a letter to
your Soul tonight in your journal and
ask IT if you don’t believe me? n
Sandy Jost, PhD
Dr. Sandy Jost is an author, speaker, and educator of the bodymind connection,
who teaches professionals how to incorporate the power of the mind into
medical treatment by offering certification in the use of guided imagery
(www.healingimages.com). Jost’s PhD in psychology and master’s degree in
nutritional biochemistry provides the perfect foundation for authoring her 9 CD
publication of The Cancer Involvement Program: An Integrative and Holistic Approach
to Conventional Medical Treatment. Available in hospitals nationwide and used
in research to study the financial benefit of incorporating guided imagery into
treatment, this program is available through Amazon.com or direct from the
publisher at www.onehealthpublishing.com. [email protected].
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17
Summertime Salads
by Holly Clegg
Summer’s here and everyone wants refreshing nutritious recipes. Try this Slaw with Mandarin Oranges and Edamame.
Finely shredded coleslaw with edamame, green onions, and mandarin oranges in a lime vinaigrette create this most amazing
salad. Edamame are tasty green soybeans in the shell found in the frozen vegetable section of the supermarket. Raspberry
Spinach Salad is a delicious salad packed with summer’s jewels of the season—fiber and antioxidant rich berries, spinach
and kiwi in a light and healthy dressing.
Slaw with Mandarin Oranges and Edamame
Angel hair coleslaw with edamame, green onions
and mandarin oranges in a lime vinaigrette creates an
amazing salad.
Makes 8 cups
Holly Clegg, the “Queen
of Quick,” is author of the
trim&TERRIFIC cookbook
series including a diabetic
cookbook with the ADA,
Eating Well Through
Cancer and Kids Cooking
for Mommies. Her new
cookbook—“Too Hot in
the Kitchen” will be out in
September. Visit online at
www.HollyClegg.com.
Coming October 1...
6 cups angel hair coleslaw
1 (12-ounce) bag shelled edamame,
boiled in salt water for 5 minutes, drained
1 bunch green onions, chopped
2 (11-ounce) cans mandarin oranges in juice, drained
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
2 tablespoons lime juice
3 tablespoons raspberry wine vinegar or
red wine vinegar
Salt and pepper to taste
1. In large bowl, combine coleslaw, edamame, green
onions, and mandarin oranges.
2. In small bowl, whisk together olive oil, mustard,
lime juice and vinegar. Salt and pepper to taste. Serve
immediately.
Nutritional information per serving: Calories 75 Protein (g) 3,
Carbohydrate (g) 8, Fat (g) 4, Calories from Fat (%) 31, Saturated Fat (g)
0, Dietary Fiber (g) 3, Sugars (g) 4, Cholesterol (mg) 0, Sodium (mg) 38,
Diabetic Exchanges: 1/2 fruit, 1 fat
Terrific Tidbit: Introduce the crunchy pop-in-your-mouth edamame
into your diet with this salad... however, frozen peas, snow peas or
snap sugar peas may be substituted.
Get your copy at
BreastCancerWellness.org
FREE E-Book
HOW WE BEC
BREAST CANCAME
ER
THRIVERS
Our hindsigh
t can be your
foresight
How We Became Breast Cancer Thrivers
By Beverly Vote, Publisher of the Breast Cancer Wellness Magazine, and 44 Stories From
Her Breast Cancer Thriving Friends Now Living with Conviction, Clarity, Passion and Purpose
18
By Beverly Vote,
Publisher of the
Breast Cance
Her Breast Cance
r Wellness Magaz
r Thriving Friends
ine, and 44 Stories
Now Living with
From
Conviction, Clarity
, Passion and
Purpose
Because you know a Breast Cancer patient or survivor… be a friend, tell a friend. Visit Softee USA.com or call 1‐866‐605‐8585 Raspberry Spinach Salad
With its subtly sweet dressing paired with fresh fruit and nuts, this is an
outstanding salad selection. Strawberries can be substituted for raspberries. This
is very low in saturated fat.
Makes 8 servings
3 tablespoons raspberry wine vinegar
3 tablespoons raspberry jam
1/4 cup canola oil
8 cups fresh spinach, washed, stemmed, and torn into pieces
1/4 cup coarsely chopped macadamia nuts
1 cup fresh raspberries
3 kiwis, peeled and sliced
1. Combine vinegar and jam in food processor or blender. Add oil in thin
stream, blending well; set aside. Carefully toss fresh spinach, nuts, raspberries,
and kiwis with dressing. Serve immediately.
Nutrition information per serving: Calories 145, Protein (g) 2, Carbohydrate (g) 13, Fat (g) 10, Calories
from Fat (%) 61, Saturated Fat (g) 1, Dietary Fiber (g) 3, Cholesterol (mg) 0, Sodium (mg) 26 Diabetic
Exchanges: 0.5 fruit, 0.5 other carbohydrate, 2 fat
Holly Clegg
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
Prosthetic garments for comfort during recovery & after. Helpful resources & inspirational support from a Breast Cancer Survivor. Arm sleeves, Gloves, Compression hosiery and Lymphedema products
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19
by Beverly Vote
What is Lymphedema?
According to the American Cancer
Society’s website, “Lymphedema is a
build-up of lymph fluid in the fatty
tissues just under th skin. It usually
develops slowly over time. The swelling can range from mild to severe. It
can start soon after surgery or radiation treatment. But it can also begin
months or even many years later.
Women who have many lymph nodes
removed and women who have had
radiation therapy to the breast and/or
underarm area may have a higher risk
of getting lymphedema.”
Symptoms
Symptoms of lymphedema include
but are not limited to: Swelling, reduced energy, loss of mobility, fatigue,
a burning feeling, tight skin, itching,
swelling of the fingers or the arm area,
soreness in a joint or joints, thickening
of the skin, inability to sleep, the loss of
hair, and irritability.
Any concerns for your body should
never be ignored and this is certainly
the situation with lymphedema. Sometimes a misunderstood symptom can
lead to more severe problems, thus be
aware of your body.
n Do not ignore the symptoms.
n Seek professional help from qualified and experienced experts to diagnose and treat lymphedema.
n Do not invite problems—your
lymphatic system has been compromised if you have had surgery
or radiation. Nurture and love your
body even more.
n Do not wear tight fitting or restraining clothing.
n Remind the medical staffs that blood
pressure monitoring, drawing blood,
IV lines, and acupuncture should be
avoided to the affected arm.
20
n Listen to your intuition and the
wisdom of your body.
n Keep optimum body weight.
n Take preventative measures against
infections and rashes. Use care
when doing household chores and
gardening—gloves are highly recommended. Use electric razors instead
of razor shaving. Use proper skin
and nail hygiene. Avoid extreme
temperatures.
n Ask your medical profession how air
travel may affect your condition.
n Seek only qualified massage therapists professionally trained to care
for the special massage needs of
breast cancer and lymphedema.
n Use prayer, meditation, and guided
imagery to release compressed emotions of resentment and constricting
anxieties. Envision your body releasing emotional and physical toxins
and for your body to be rejuvenated.
n Keep salt to a minimum. Eat a diet
rich in fruits and vegetables.
n Practice deep breathing.
n Engage in remedial exercises such
as walking and that include gentle
range of motion exercises for your
affected area.
n When you need compression
products, seek qualified and caring
manufacturers and sellers.
What Your Professional Suppliers Say
Before
After
Kip Bright of Brightlife Direct
advises that “Compression stockings
are a medical device and they need to
be worn properly to ensure maximum
benefit. BrightLife Direct does not leave
our customers to fend for themselves
after their purchase. We have a fully
trained, certified staff that is on call to
respectfully answer your questions and
offer advise. We encourage “newbies”
who are making their first compression
purchase to call us for some handholding.” (www.BrightLifeDirect.com)
Michael Cannon, Product manager
for Medi USA can also help. “We provide the highest quality garments in the
industry and back them up with the
right service and support. MediUSA has
been manufacturing garments for over
80 years and it is what we do best. We
are the largest manufacturer of compression garments in the world and we
have our customers to thank for that.”
(www.mediusa.com)
“It is important not to neglect an
individual’s self-care needs after being
diagnosed with lymphedema” Barry
Creighton DPM FACCWS, Vice-President of Farrow Medical recommends,
“I think everyone should get garments
that they can easily don themselves,
and that are effective. They should also
be meticulous with their skin care.”
(www.FarrowMedical.com) n
More Information
www.cancer.org
• Dr. Lewenberg’s Formula treats all forms of hair
loss, including genetic, auto-immune, hormonal
and cancer related
• Use before breast cancer treatment to reduce
hair loss
• Use after breast cancer treatment to regrow
healthy hair faster
• Regrow normal hair even if you are taking
a medication that can cause hair loss like
Tamoxifen®, Arimidex® or Femara®
For more information and to tailor the treatment
to your specific needs, please contact us at:
www.lebedmethod.com
www.klosetraining.com
www.lymphnet.org
www.nwlymphedemacenter.org
www.lymphedemacircleofhope.org
Adam Lewenberg, MD
184 E. 70th Street, New York, NY 10021 • (212) 249-8800
[email protected]
www.BaldSpot.com
21
A Message from
Ambassador Nancy G. Brinker
Founder and CEO of Susan G. Komen for the Cure®
Ambassador Nancy G. Brinker, Founder
and CEO, Susan G. Komen for the Cure ®
22
My sister Suzy was born in Peoria,
Illinois, in the fall of 1943. The very
moment the American dream was about
to come true. She was three years
old when I was born. Mom says Suzy
peeked over the edge of the bassinet
and said, “Well! She’s quite a character!” We were best friends from that
moment on.
Suzy and I grew up watching
our parents put faith into action. We
learned the importance of volunteering and people coming together with a
purpose. Suzy was the queen bee of the
neighborhood—very sweet, but she had
her mischievous streak. When Suzy
was grounded, I was the hostage negotiator. When Suzy exceeded her curfew,
I was the peace envoy. When Suzy died,
my life’s work was born.
Millions of people know the name
Susan G. Komen. Her name has become an icon for breast cancer awareness. But I wanted you to know the
real Suzy—the Suzy I loved—a bright
little girl, the homecoming queen in
her dress with pink ribbons, the young
woman who loved art and longed to
see the world, the dedicated mother
who fought for every last moment with
her children. Her death set a dramatic
series of events in motion, but first and
foremost, I wanted to share her life.
This was a real woman, just like
your sister, your daughter, your best
friend.
When Suzy was diagnosed with
breast cancer in her early thirties we
faced this thing with such limited information. There were no web sites, no
support groups, very limited treatment
options. The lessons learned are so
important.
We are the CEOs of our bodies.
From the beginning, Susan G. Komen
for the Cure® has sought to empower
women with knowledge, access to care,
and better treatment that comes from
a wider understanding of this disease.
Working as a team with your physicians and caregivers, you can develop a
strategy that works for you.
Just before Suzy died, she said,
“Promise me, Nanny. Promise me you’ll
change it so other families won’t have to
go through this.” I told her, “I promise.
If it takes the rest of my life.” I didn’t realize at the time that it actually would.
However, in the wake of all the work
left to be done, I am reminded daily
how much family matters. I am blessed
to have my mother by my side who
remains sharp and spry at the age of
89. Along with my son, Eric, who now
serves on the Susan G. Komen for the
Cure®’s board of directors.
What started as a small group of
committed women in my living room in
Dallas has grown to a movement that
reaches around the world. Our local
affiliates—from Illinois to Italy—are
peopled with remarkable volunteers.
The Susan G. Komen Race for the
Cure® marches on, tens of thousands
strong. These are the people who redefined grassroots while our corporate
partnerships redefined cause related
marketing. We lit up the White House
in pink. We lit up the great Pyramids in
pink. Together we changed the culture
and science of breast cancer in America. Now we’re reaching out to women
around the world.
You can join us in the global movement to end breast cancer forever.
Learn more at komen.org.
Warmest regards,
Nancy G. Brinker
Ambassador Nancy G. Brinker
Ambassador Nancy G. Brinker surrounded by her son and Komen for the Cure
Board Member, Eric Brinker, and her mother, Eleanor Goodman, after being
honored by President Barack Obama with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Yes!
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23
the mAssAGe Forms
by American breast care
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Relative Perspiration in Contact Range of Breast Form
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w w w. t h e m a s s a g e f o r m . c o m
We were born into a family, whether
a traditional family or non traditional.
In a perfect world, we learned about
love, discipline and values etc.
Throughout the years, there is anger
at the family and/or a particular
member but most of us come away
knowing that “Family Matters”.
My personal experiences of the
real importance of family came
later. I loved my husband and
children and all the in-laws and
siblings but in the hurried world,
all was more or less taken for
granted to a degree. When I was
first diagnosed with breast cancer 15 years ago, it was a
terrifying experience to me and to my husband and children as
well. When they got over the initial shock, the notion I was strong
was a very helpful force in my two oldest son’s life. Our family mattered and the thought of losing me was difficult. More difficult for
my 16 year old son who couldn’t really talk to me about anything
at first. He was off with his friends. A couple of months later, he
said, Mom, I want you to know how I feel about all this. He sat
down at the piano and played the following called CLOSER.
The days were so short, the nights were so long.
There were times I wished myself far away from you
I was a bold little boy, with a soul made out of steel.
I thought you knew nothing about the contents of my heart.
I wished that I could fly away with you to hold me down.
But then the day arrived when I heard you say,
My son I am so sorry but I might have to go away
Then I realized in my heart how much you meant to me
From the first breath of life to the time I learned to read.
In the times that I felt pain and the times I felt so free
You were always there to catch me when I fell.
So please don’t leave me alone
You are my hopes and dreams to this day.
You are everything to me
You are my light and guide throughout these years.
Twenty years have passed, you’ve seen my children grow
This life with you has got to be the greatest I will know
Today, I want you to know
That I love you and I always will
He composed the lyrics and music which included his positive
forward reflection of his hope and intent for me to be in his life
for 20 years plus many more. It was so heartfelt, we both had
the long needed tears and hugs. This song remains in our family
history and our current life.
The family life went on, two sons married, six grandchildren and
my youngest, who wrote the music, has a fiancee. We have remained close as a family helping each other through adventures
and misadventures. I don’t think that ever changes but family
matters so we continue to be there for one another. All families
are not so lucky.
Last year, I was diagnosed with another cancer not related to the
breast cancer and a lesion on a vertebrae. I again was terrified at
the Stage IV diagnosis. We were at Mayo Clinic and each physician I saw was amazed at the entire family’s presence. Two days
of meetings and deciding the route to take. .Everyone made
themselves well informed and had queries. We were all together
for the treatment and surgery. It required numerous trips out of
town, away from children and business but everyone was there
with me. A sacrifice made because family matters.
A family can be large or small—with two parents or with one
or even with other caregivers as grandparents. The important
thing to take away is that love is a binding force for each family
member. A family is a unit and each person is part of the whole.
The words family unit means to encircle and that is the beauty
of and reason that Family Matters.
Mary Beth O’Reilly
Springfield, MO
I was 7 years old when my grandmother died of breast cancer. I was clueless, unaware, wondering, unsure.
I lost my mother to breast cancer. She was 72. She didn’t talk about it, not wanting me to worry. I was lost,
lonely, helpless, sad. At the age of 49, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. Even though I had the utmost
support from family and friends, I wasn’t myself. I was emotional, unhappy, depressed, tearful, weak,
longing for answers. My daughter Kari Moroz was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 29.
I was compassionate, loving, nourishing, encouraging, God’s prayer warrior.
Vickie Jenkins • Oklahoma City, OK • [email protected]
26
We are all family.
Never underestimate the power of family.
I was diagnosed with breast cancer at
the age of 42—the same age my mother
was when she was first diagnosed—she
is a three-time thriver. Things were VERY
different for her—people didn’t want to
talk about breast cancer back then. They
simply sent her home with nothing but
an appointment card for the next week.
I can’t imagine what was going through
her mind as she sat in the parking lot
shaking. I was more fortunate, not only
because of today’s support systems, but
because we went through all this together.
Wendy McCool
Executive Director, Founder,
Survivor & Thriver
www.BreastCancerStories.org
I was diagnosed with stage IIb invasive
breast cancer on July 19, 2007. I went
through a bilateral mastectomy, chemotherapy, radiation, and reconstruction. My
husband of now 25 years, my two wonderful sons, my parents and my siblings
were such an amazing source of strength,
support and most of all LOVE. They
showed me how much they love and
value me and gave me that extra inspiration to fight through all the treatments
and complications. I knew I could rely on
them for anything, not only during treatment, but well beyond. Pictured: Sons,
Troy and Patrick and husband, Keith.
Terri Gaertner
Centennial, CO
[email protected]
I’m a three-time cancer survivor and Thriver.
The person that said family stands for
“Father And Mother I Love You” was right
on target. It was the love from family and
friends that sustained me through my
journey. Their cards, calls, visits and prayers
lifted my spirits and strengthened me. My
family lives in Reading, Pennsylvania, so they
contacted a relative nearby to take me to my
chemo therapy appointments and assist me
as needed. It takes a village to raise a family
and I am blessed to have such wonderful
support from family and friends. Truly family
matters! Pictured: 50th Birthday Celebration
on June 6, 2009 & 3rd Cancer Victory
Valerie Jackson
Oxon Hill, MD
Thriver since 2003
[email protected]
I don’t have cancer, but I help those who do. It’s been a challenge to explain to my children
why I’m flying off to yet another city to lecture on the value of nutrition in cancer. I’ve kept
a memory journal to help them understand what Mommy does. Tucked inside a folder are
countless clippings, emails, cards and even a few photos I have received throughout the
years from people I have helped. Not long ago, my daughter looked through the folder and
said, “You have to keep going Mom, these people need you more than I do.”
Kim Dalzell, PhD, RD, LD • President, NutriQuest, Inc. and Author, Challenge Cancer and Win!
www.naturesanswertocancer.com
My husband Jerry Fleury-Charles and I were married just under 2 years when I received my diagnosis. Even
though I had convinced myself that if a mastectomy had to be done I was okay with it. But as I awaited my
surgery my husband knew something was bothering me, he asked me what was bothering me, and when
I told him of my fears of having to have a mastectomy versus a lumpectomy, he said: “Honey, it is just a
boob! I would rather have you without a boob, than to not have you here at all.” Now that is love!
Gail Duscha • Tamarac, FL • I am a Thriver! • [email protected]
27
I was diagnosed with breast cancer on
February 16, 2006. When I got the diagnosis, my family was immediately at my
side to support me. Through my surgeries, chemotherapy, radiation and hospital
stays, I knew I could count on my family.
My family was my support system, and
my grandchildren gave me the reason to
fight. People come and go from your life,
but my family has always been there and I
feel truly blessed. And that is why “My Family Matters.” When I told them about the
Breast Cancer Thrivers Cruise, they immediately found a way to go.
My daughters, what could I possible tell
them? Talk. Talk to your friends. Let them
know what is happening. The support that
my children needed was no less important
then what my husband and I needed. The
innate gift of gab my children possess was
vital to our family’s cancer journey. Find a
confidant, a friend, that one who you can
call ANY time and just talk. Whether you
are the patient or in support of the patient,
you need that person(s) to just talk to.
Three and a half years later—I cherish my
husband and daughters love, support and
talk time.
Lynda Hunt
Livonia, MI
Thriving 4 years 3 months
[email protected]
Leslie Kestin
Culver City, CA
3 ½ years and thriving!
[email protected]
Courage, strength, and hopefulness—
these are just some of the words my family
said to me while going through treatment.
My husband held my hair back while I was
getting sick. My daughter took me to all
my doctor appointments. My son held
me, told me he loved me and let me cry
on his shoulder. These are just some of the
things about my family. We all had busy
lives before cancer. Cancer it brought us
closer. We’ve laughed and cried together,
we were always a close family but cancer
brought us closer!
Wendy Slattery
Pasco, Wa
3 years 8 months thriving
[email protected]
On January 3, 2008, my husband I sat side by side holding hands. He heard the same words as
I, “you have Breast Cancer.” Right away, he became my rock and advocate. He fought with me
through everything, including the emotional turmoil I went through after all the treatments were
done. Even today, he is my partner. We work together and plan the future, cancer free. When I
informed my brother Jordan of my diagnosis, he never hesitated. He was there for me right away.
If possible, the diagnosis brought us even closer. He flew up to Tampa, not once but 3 times. He
paced the hallways of the hospital with my husband, was there when I awoke from the lumpectomy, came with me to chemo and joked with me about my bald head. Jordan has always been
my best friend but now I truly know the gentleman and loving person he is. Finally, I am grateful
to my parents and extended family. My parents have always been there for me. They, like many
of my extended family came down during my treatments. Family has always been important in
my life. I know that everyone is here for me in love and support, throughout my journey. Their
love and support has made me stronger. (Pictured: Magda, Milt and brother, Jordan)
Magda Orkin • Tampa, FL • Thriver of over 2 years • [email protected]
28
I could not have made it as a breast cancer survivor or our new name “thriver”
had it not been for everyone in my family. My parents and sister (not pictured)
also were instrumental in getting me past cancer. They all but the grandkids
attended my surgery and eagerly awaited the results. I am sure it was a
very long day for them. We all prayed for the results and had faith. We have
always been a very close family but when something like this happens you
really realize the true meaning of family. I think it was harder on my family
then it actually was on me. I remember trying to be strong for everyone.
Also as family members everyone wants to help and please please let them
do so—that is the only thing they can truly do to help them deal with the
situation and the health issue. About two months after my surgery our
daughter-in-law, Mary Kay Gratz (not pictured), had a cancerous brain tumor.
I knew I needed to get better quickly to help take care of her and her family.
Mary Kay was one of the strongest people I have ever met. She showed
a tremendous example of strength, inner courage and faith before her
passing. I would like to share the poem Mary Kay left to us.
Nancy K. Gratz
Jefferson City, MO
y of my life, ever.
d that this is the best da
lize
rea
nly
de
sud
I
e,
ok
ay, but I did!
Today, when I aw
if I would make it to tod
d
ere
nd
wo
I
en
wh
es
There were tim
ing to celebrate!
the accomplishments, the
And because I did I’m go
le life I have had so far;
vab
lie
be
ger.
un
an
at
wh
e
rat
served to make me stron
Today, I’m going to celeb
hips because they have
rds
ha
the
n
eve
,
yes
d
many blessings, an
h and a happy heart.
y with my head held hig
da
s
thi
gh
ou
thr
go
ll
wi
I
mingly simple gif ts:
I will marvel at God’s see
The morning dew,
The sun,
The clouds,
The trees,
The flowers,
The birds.
e my notice.
.
ulous creations will escap
I’ll make someone smile
Today none of these mirac
life with other people.
for
n know.
nts
eve
me
n’t
ite
do
I
exc
ne
my
eo
re
Today, I will sha
kindness for som
of
act
ed
ect
exp
un
an
perform
ms down.
I’ll go out of my way to
ment to someone who see t how deeply I care for them and how
pli
com
e
cer
sin
a
e
giv
Today, I’ll
ne I love jus
l he is, and I’ll tell someo
I’ll tell a child how specia
being grateful for all the
much they mean to me.
at I don’t have and start
wh
t
ou
ab
ing
rry
wo
it
Today is the day I qu
s already given me.
Divine Plan
wonderful things God ha
se my faith in God and his
cau
be
e
tim
of
ste
wa
a
t
rry is jus
I’ll remember that to wo
ll be just fine.
ns.
wi
g
hin
ryt
eve
ensure
se my eyes to the heave
d, I’ll go outside and rai
be
d for these
to
Go
go
I
ise
e
for
pra
ll
be
t,
wi
I
d
igh
And ton
d the moon, an
an
rs
sta
the
of
ty
au
be
I will stand in awe at the
magnificent treasures.
low,
my head down on my pil
As the days ends and I lay
.
life
my
of
y
da
for the best
se I know tomorrow
with expectation becau
I will thank the Almight
d
ite
exc
ld,
chi
ted
ten
of a con
And I will sleep the sleep
day of my life, ever!
st
be
the
be
to
is going
d has called us to do...
Please Start Living as Go
Love,
Mary Kay Gratz
I’M FREE
Don’t grieve for me, for now I’m free
I’m following the path God had laid you see
I took his hand when I heard Him call
I turned my back and left it all.
I could not stay another day.
To laugh, to love, to work or play.
Tasks left undone must stay that way.
I found that peace at the close of the day.
If my parting has left a void,
Then fill it with remembered joys.
Friendships shared, a laugh, a kiss,
Oh yes these things I too will miss.
Be not burdened with times of sorrow.
I wish you the sunshine of tomorrow.
My life’s been full, I savored much.
Good friends, good times, a loved one’s
touch.
Perhaps my time seemed all too brief.
Don’t lengthen it now with undue grief.
Lift up your hearts and peace to thee.
God wanted me now; HE SET ME FREE.
–In memory of Mary Kay Gratz
29
FROM THE FITTING ROOM
It’s All About the Bra
by Linda Jackson
A Good Fit Begins with the Right Bra
It’s all about the bra. A proper prosthesis fitting begins with a comfortable
and precise fit. A pocketed, or sometimes referred to as a surgical or mastectomy bra is similar in many ways
to the bras you may have worn in the
past. There are many styles and several
colors to choose from. The pocketed bra
is designed to hold a breast prosthesis
(silicone or other), to create a balanced
and natural appearance. A post-surgery bra is designed higher in the front
and often is higher under the arms.
It has special pockets sewn inside the
cups to hold the prosthesis.
Getting the Proper Fit
When you are ready for your bra
fitting, you will need to locate a trained,
certified post-surgery fitter. For a fitter to become certified she must first
complete extensive training. These
comprehensive training classes are
offered through accredited Orthotic
and Prosthetic Certification Programs.
When a post-surgery fitter becomes
professionally certified, she has met
all of the criteria necessary to work
independently within a defined scope
of practice. In addition to learning how
to select the appropriate products and
correctly measure for a proper fit, she
also may have instruction in topics
such as the different types of surgical
procedures, anatomy of the breast, side
effects of breast cancer treatments, and
lymphedema.
When your bra is properly fitted,
your prosthesis should stay securely
in place and you should not notice the
weight of the silicone prosthesis. When
the silicone prosthesis is fitted to you,
it will weigh approximately the same as
your natural breast. If the prosthesis
feels heavier, the bra may not be the
correct size or fit. The more snug to the
body the bra fits, the less weight and
movement you will have, and the more
support you will achieve.
During your fitting, if there are
areas inside your bra cup that the
prosthesis does not fill, there are fitting
aids available at minimal cost, in many
shapes and sizes that can be sewn in to
smooth out the folds. Some bra styles
come with little pockets sewn in under
30
the arm to hold a specific brand of fitting aid.
When you choose to wear a lighter
weight silicone prosthesis, or a fabric
or foam breast form you may find that
the bra will ride up, or pull to one side.
This occurs when there is not an equal
amount of weight on the natural side
and the surgery side. The only solution is to find a breast form with more
weight to hold the bra in place.
If both breasts have been removed,
you will still need to be measured and
fitted for a bra in the correct circumference size. The cup size is negotiable,
so you can choose to be as large or as
small as you wish. It is best to keep
in mind that your bust size should be
in proportion to the size and shape of
your body. Your fitter can help make
recommendations.
When you have completed your
fitting you will want to make sure that
the bra feels comfortable yet snug
around the rib cage, and that the prosthesis fills the cup. Projection and fullness of the prostheses should match
the remaining breast. Check to see that
the bra is centered in the front, and the
top of the bra cup is filled out to match
the remaining breast.
Check your straps
Bras stretch with time, laundering
and wear. If the bra has stretched and
becomes loose fitting it will not offer
enough lift or support. Periodically
check the shoulder straps, they may
need to be tightened. You can also try
fastening the back hooks to the end, or
tightest position. If after trying both options, the bra still does not feel comfortable it is best to discuss other alternatives with your fitter.
Should you experience weight gain
or loss and feel that your bra and prosthesis fit is no longer appropriate, it is
time to make an appointment for a new
fitting. Under such circumstances most
insurance companies and Medicare will
reimburse for replacement products,
even if you are not yet eligible. Call
your fitter for more information.
Caring for your bra
Pocketed bras should be cared for
and laundered like all fine washables.
Wash by hand, or on delicate cycle inside a mesh lingerie bag, in cool water.
Always air dry, do not put bras in the
dryer, it will cause them to discolor,
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To find a certified post-surgery fitter near you, ask your physician and
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where the members of your breast cancer support group go, or look in your
telephone book yellow pages under the
following listings:
• Bras
• Breast Prostheses
• Hospital Boutiques
• Medical Supply Stores
• Lingerie
• Orthotics and Prosthetics
• Mastectomy Shops
• Prostheses
• Prosthetic Devices
• Wigs
Call ahead to make an appointment with your fitter, at this time she
will help you determine if you need
pre-authorization from your insurance
company before your visit.
Insurance
If you have been diagnosed with
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Profiles of Wellness
What’s Next for My Life?
Thriving Instead of
Just Surviving!
by Paula Holland De Long
I was diagnosed with breast cancer
when I was 37, in January of 1997.
Before my diagnosis, I thought I was
successful but I was dying inside.
Cancer was the big wake up call for me.
Through this dark night of my soul, I
faced the unthinkable prospect of an
untimely death and came out into the
light physically flawed but more vitally
alive than I have ever been.
The experience of diagnosis, surgeries, and chemo granted me permission
to choose for the first time in my adult
life. It forced me into brutal honesty with
myself, people I love, and to question
my purpose for being alive. This forced
honesty created purpose and clarity for
me beyond my wildest dreams.
Cancer took away my marriage, and
led me to my soul mate. Cancer forced
me to admit that I hated my career,
and inspired me leave it and pursue my
passion. Cancer gave me the strength
to truly believe that I could do anything,
and gave me the gift of allowing people to
help me do it.
Like many of you, one day I was
living my normal life and suddenly four
weeks later I was in a hospital minus my
left breast, wondering what had hit me,
afraid I was going to die. I had noticed a
painful lump in my left breast so I mentioned it to my doctor during my annual
physical. She assured me it was probably nothing since I was young, healthy,
and had no history of breast cancer in
my family, but suggested a mammogram
just to be sure. The next thing I knew I
was sitting in a surgeon’s office hearing the words, “I’m sorry but you have
breast cancer. You need surgery as soon
as possible.”
Terrified and not knowing what was
next for my life, my shock and disbelief
had barely sunk in before I was living
it. I remember the pain and fear of not
knowing what was going to happen. The
shock when my lumpectomy came back
32
with “bad” margins, necessitating a mastectomy the next week. Facing the idea
of losing my hair during chemo. Having
to decide about having reconstructive
surgery or not. Facing my fear of dying.
Wondering what I had done to deserve
having my life turned upside down How
could this be happening to me?
After 8 years of being afraid to try,
Paula made it to the top of the wall,
cheered on by 7-year old oncology
patients at the summer camp Paula ran.
I remember the tedious numbness
while putting one foot in front of the
other during chemotherapy. Keeping my
“I’m fine” face on and my wig straight
in 90 degree heat and 90% humidity.
Trying to be superwoman in a time when
I could barely get out of bed. All of my
focus was on reaching that magic time
when this cancer stuff would end and
my life could go back to “normal”.
Several surgeries and four rounds
of chemo later, my treatment finally
did end. Everyone was so thrilled that I
was “done” with cancer. But I didn’t feel
excited. I was exhausted, bald, weighed
95 pounds, had scars all over my body.
I slowly realized that I didn’t know what
normal was anymore.
Before cancer, I thought I would be
happy when I got a promotion, finished everything on my to-do list, or
made things easier for other people. If
something needed to be done I did it.
If someone else wasn’t doing it “right” I
fixed it. I worked 60+ hours a week and
came home cranky and exhausted. I was
always striving for something but never
taking any time for me. My life was full
of have-tos, shoulds, and musts.
My logic was fuzzy but my intuition
was speaking the truth to me. The stuff
I got and the things that I achieved
didn’t take care of me when I was sick,
love me when I was wrong, or provide
inner peace or appreciation for what I
did and who I was. In fact, my life before
probably contributed to making me
sick. Before long, I had to admit things
that seemed so important before cancer
didn’t matter now. The truth was, I
wasn’t thrilled to have my old life back.
Something was wrong and I had no idea
what to do about it.
Some serious soul searching began.
An inventory of my life was long overdue.
I thought about what things brought me
down, zapped my energy, or made me
feel bad about myself. It became obvious
that I had a whole lot more negatives
in my life than positives. At that point,
consciously and subconsciously, cancer
became a great motivator for me. I knew
in my heart I had no choice but to power
up and try some new ways of living and
being. I really did wonder what was next
for my life.
I decided to start with things that
made me feel good, made me feel alive,
things I was drawn to. Spending time
outside every day, enjoying time with the
people I loved, listening to healing meditations were really, really resonate with
my heart and spirit. I quit committing
every single minute of my day to things
that I HAD to do or SHOULD be done.
I wanted some peace and joy in my life.
Like many survivors, I wanted to thrive
rather than tolerating the things that
made me feel numb.
Listening to my intuition, I decided
to take a lower paying, mid-level job
instead of going back to my high stress
executive position in advertising. I
started gardening and walking the dog.
Pretty soon my husband was asking me
“Who are you and what have you done
with Paula?” (He didn’t mean that in
a positive way). I was feeling better by
then, but I still kept wondering “what’s
next for my life?” and feeling “there’s got
to be more.”
I started to truly heal when I was
trained as a Reach to Recovery volunteer, about 18 months after my diagnosis. (Reach to Recovery is an American
Cancer Society visitation program where
breast cancer survivors visit newly
diagnosed patients.) This training was
my first contact with other women who
know what it is like to face cancer and
death, and come out feeling happy and
inspired. Their strength, compassion
and honesty opened my heart in a way I
had never felt before. Suddenly, I wasn’t
alone with my cancer anymore; I had a
family of women who understood all the
big and little things that I was struggling
with. They told me I could get a prosthesis to fill up the empty hole in my bra.
They showed me that my frustration
with going back to my old life was okay.
And mostly, they gave me the courage
to say “no” to negativity and “yes” to
choosing a happy, joyful future on my
own terms.
Over the next year I visited 3-5 newly
diagnosed women each week. Every time
I met with them I could see their faces
light up when their eyes inevitably went
to my chest and my smile. When we met
they were fearful, lonely and afraid. Who
wouldn’t be? Their normal life had suddenly been stripped away. When I left we
were hugging each other and they had
hope because if I got through this they
could too. I became stronger and more
confident myself every time I was able to
help one of these women. I was beginning to thrive.
Things were still rocky in my personal life. My husband and I had grown
apart, and my job, although less stressful, still left me empty and unfulfilled.
Again my heart and intuition kicked in.
I took the biggest leap of faith of my life.
Over a four month period my husband
and I parted (amicably); I gave notice
to my job; bought my own house; and
started my own company. Everyone
thought I was crazy, or having a mid life
crisis, and maybe I was. I did know in
my heart and my soul that I was doing
what I was meant to do, and I was powerless to deny it.
So there I was. No husband, no
clients, and a looming mortgage payment, trusting that somehow God and
I would figure it out. The voices in my
head were screaming things like “You’re
too old to start over. You only have one
breast; no one will want ever want you
again,” and “you’re going to fail and be
living in your car.”
I gathered up my courage and asked
my employer to become my first client.
I was shocked when they agreed. The
before-cancer Paula would have been
afraid to ask.
Other friends and connections from
my career in advertising hired me on a
freelance basis. I expanded my volunteer
work with the American Cancer Society.
Within a few years, the American Cancer
Society had become one of my biggest u
33
clients. I had followed my heart and successfully created my own company!
I also had a wonderful new man in
my life. Convinced that my scars made
me undesirable, I had been afraid to
date. But when I told Chuck about my
breast cancer, he took my hand, put it
to his heart and said “I don’t care. I love
all of you just the way you are.” Soon we
were married.
I was happy, healthy, and thriving in
ways that had never been possible before
my diagnosis. Before cancer I was overworked, overstressed Type-A person who
had no appreciation for anything. I was
crystal clear and very vocal about what
didn’t work, what was wrong with my life,
or other people’s choices. Unknowingly, I
had been living my life as a victim.
Cancer had turned me into a woman
of choice, gratefulness, and joy. I never
dreamed that I could be so happy.
My higher power still had plans for
me. A new passion was calling my name.
By then I had worked with hundreds of
cancer survivors, children with cancer,
and their families and loved ones. I
saw them struggle with the emotional
and practical realities of the disease. I
realized how much so many people I’d
worked with were truly changed emotionally and spiritually. Cancer had
Husband Chuck and Paula celebrate
after walking the Survivor lap at the
Parkland, FL Relay for Life.
awakened an urgent need to make the
most of the time they had, and to give
back to others. It was the “how” of doing
it that challenged them.
I also gained a healthy respect for
the many wonderful oncology healthcare professionals that do a fantastic
job of treating the medical aspects of
cancer, and how they tried to help their
patients with the same emotional and
practical challenges that I had faced.
But I knew there was more I could do.
It had taken me three years of strug-
gling with my emotions to get my life
back after my cancer treatment ended.
That’s too long. I knew in my heart that
I was meant to help.
I was drawn to an emerging field
called life coaching. I realized that
coaching could be a powerful tool to
help people with cancer and decided to
start my career over and be trained as a
coach. Coaching was all about making
changes and living with purpose and
passion. About living with a focus on
what matters most to each individual,
not what society or others think happiness should be. This idea was really
resonant with me. After all, that’s what I
had done for myself.
I had been toying with the idea of
creating a life coaching workshop that
would help patients who were ending treatment rebuild their lives but
I didn’t think I could do it. Again, my
higher power stepped in. At my very
first coach training I met a doctor, Mike
Bauerschmidt, from my home town
who knew an oncologist who agreed
to test my idea. Within six months, we
had done two pilots of the What’s Next
For My Life?™ workshop for patients
who were ending treatment. We began
bringing the workshops to cancer treatment centers and support organizations
Looking for Inspiration
on your Cancer Journey?
Buy the book today!
Are you ready to go Beyond Treatment?
Heather will be speaking at the
2010 North Coast
Breast Cancer Conference
Kalahari Resort, Sandusky Ohio
October 2, 2010
It’s time to go beyond treatment!
Contact Heather today.
517-262-8397
www.GoBeyondTreatment.com
[email protected]
34
“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
AD-Spr. 2010 Breast Wellness
like Gilda’s Club in south Florida. We
focused on helping patients realize that
their emotions were normal and natural.
We taught them how to explore their personal values and bring them into their
day to day lives. Survivor after survivor
reported huge increases in their feelings
of acceptance, personal empowerment,
and ability to make decisions and take
action. Once again, my faith and passion
were expanded, and my happiness and
gratitude soared.
I was doing the work I was meant
to do and loving every minute of it. My
second company, What’s Next For My
Life, Inc. was launched. My connection
with my higher power was growing. My
life was more balanced between work,
love, giving back and having fun than
ever before.
The last few years have been the happiest of my life. I’m still working with survivors and finding new ways to support
them. I believe that cancer is a wake up
call, a reminder that thriving is about being our own unique selves, and actively
working to make the world a better place,
one small or large step at a time.
My mantra has become, “Why wait
and why worry?” My courage is based
on the absolute conviction that if I can
do cancer, I can do anything. My newfound way of showing up in the world
is based on compassion for myself and
others, with excitement and curiosity
about what we can do together, rather
than alone.
Dealing with cancer and all of the
changes it forced on me inspired me to
contribute to the world instead of standing on the sidelines. It wasn’t easy. It
was definitely worth it.
As I finish writing this story, I’m
singing out loud to one of my favorite
songs. The line that resonates in my
heart says “I can be myself now finally,
in fact there’s nothing I can’t be.” I wish
this for each and every one of you. n
Paula Holland De Long CPCC, ACC President/Survivor Life Coach, What’s
Next For My Life, Inc. Cancer survivor,
certified life coach, author, and speaker
Paula Holland De Long CPCC, ACC,
is an authority on how the lessons of
survivorship can bring joy, passion and
purpose to anyone’s life. Her first book,
the What’s Next For My Life? Companion
Journal for Cancer Patients has just
been published. Her workshops and
classes are offered at cancer treatment
centers and support organizations. Her
teleconference groups attract participants
from around the country. Call 954-5656894, or visit WhatsNextForMyLife.com for
more information.
3/10/10
10:51 AM
Page 1
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35
Family Matters
for a Single Mom
In March 2006, I went through a divorce ending a 20-year relationship. This
was not an easy decision but one that I
knew I had to make for me and my young
son, Wyatt, who was five. The summer
of 2006 flew by with moving and settling
into a new home and preparing Wyatt to
begin kindergarten.
The year had been so stressful. I noticed that a lump in my left breast, which
I had actually found in May 2005, but
did not show up in the mammogram, was
larger and very tender—it actually hurt. I
called my doctor and was able to schedule
an appointment with his nurse practitioner on October 10, 2006. Upon her
examination, she immediately referred me
to the Breast Care Clinic for a diagnostic
mammogram, which was performed on
October 20, 2006. The results of the test
were not good.
All I could think of was this can’t be
happening to me; who will take care of my
son; how can I get through this; this must
be a mistake; and will I die. The night
of my diagnosis, I was in disbelief and
so numb. My brother had actually given
away tickets to the World Series, with the
Cardinals playing, so that he could be
36
by Kimberly Davis
there for me when the diagnosis came in.
Early the next morning, Wyatt became ill.
I think this was God’s way of telling me to
stop feeling sorry for myself and take care
of the incredible son that I have.
My son’s 6th birthday party came and
proved to be a very difficult and emotional
time for me. Several times during the
party, I had to escape to my bathroom
to cry. All I could think of was if I would
live to see him turn 7. Who will give him
birthday parties if I’m gone? It was so
important for me to have a lot of pictures
taken on this day. Fears filled my mind
and offered no escape for what should
have been a happy occasion.
There were several things that I had to
do before going in the hospital. The most
important thing was having a picture
taken with my son. We had our picture
taken at Picture People. I even had one
taken of just me. The next item was making sure my trust and will were updated,
and that my son was taken care of financially. I spent hours each night well into
the early morning hours putting together
a binder of my financial information,
house information, insurance policies,
investments, friends to contact, and other
pertinent information. I even wrote my
own obituary and funeral instructions.
It was so incredibly important for me to
do this, to be prepared, and to maybe
have some control over this situation. I
honestly wanted to make it easier for my
parents in this difficult situation and I
wanted to be the best mom that I could be
under these circumstances. This was my
personal vow.
Christmas arrived, after two chemo
treatments, and was accompanied with
thoughts of not being around for the next
Christmas. I have always loved Christmas
especially decorating packages and buying toys! It continued to be a difficult time
for me emotionally. The new year arrived,
along with my 43rd birthday and the loss
of my hair—not a great birthday present! It was so very difficult watching my
hair fall out and many tears were shed. I
almost believe that this was more difficult
than actually losing the breast. We told
Wyatt that mommy was very sick and
would have a lot of doctor appointments
to help her get better. I could not use the
word cancer to him. We talked about my
hair falling out but that I would still be
his mommy and would do my best to get
better. I was afraid to tell him that I would
be okay—because at the time I honestly
didn’t know if I would ever be okay again.
February 2007 brought even more
challenges for my family as we were faced
with another family member diagnosed
with cancer four months to the date of
my diagnosis– my dad. Here he and my
mother had been right by my side since
the ordeal started. Dad was going with me
to the chemo treatments and Mom was
taking care of Wyatt, as well as the house.
This was an incredible shock especially
since he was diagnosed with an incurable
cancer, multiple myeloma. I remember
asking “What have we done wrong? Why
do we deserve this? I kept thinking that
this was another nightmare that would
go away, but it didn’t. I never imagined
sitting next to my dad while we both were
getting chemo treatments at the Hulston
Cancer Center. He faced radiation, chemo
treatments, and a stem cell transplant.
Now, my mom was faced with an even
greater challenge—she had to take care of
my dad, me, and Wyatt. Her strength was
amazing and exemplifies the remarkable
woman that she is.
So many times during the treatment,
my son would say that he couldn’t wait
till Mommy got better and could play with
him. These were difficult times for both
of us. At one point, he asked me if Harry
Dog, his favorite stuffed animal, would get
sick. I honestly didn’t understand what he
was asking at first. He then asked me if
his dog would get cancer like his mommy
and papaw had. How do you respond to
a 6-year old asking such a question? My
heart was so sad that he was faced with
dealing with cancer at such a young age
and that I could not shield him from the
disease. Many times we would lie in bed
and watch TV or read together during my
treatments.
The last four years have proved to be
a difficult journey for me, my son, and
family but I see the light at the end of
the tunnel. Reconstructive surgery was
performed on February 14, 2008, and a
new chapter on my journey began. I won’t
say that this process was easy but I know
I made the decision that was right for me.
My body feels whole again, despite some
scars. I made it to see my son turn 7, 8,
and 9; shared three more Christmas with
him; and watched him play basketball,
lose 5 teeth, and earn several belts in
martial arts. My son and family were my
inspirations to overcome this challenge.
I realize that I am growing into a new
normal life. Not only am I more appreciative of my life and each new day, I also
Top to bottom: Kimberly’s parents—
Eddie and Jolene Puckett. Kimberly
and Wyatt.
realize that I need to be more aware of
the needs of my health. I learned about
forgiveness and to heal issues in my past.
I also learned that I am not always
in control, but by sharing my experiences I really feel better about the breast
cancer healing experiences that I have
been through and that I have grown
stronger as a woman and as a parent. The
experience has shown me the depths and
strengths of my family and friends that
I hadn’t realized before, how much they
mean to me, and how I borrowed from
their strength until I was able to be strong
again for myself.
I continue to come to terms with my
new normal. Having breast cancer has
also made me less sensitive to others
complaining of what seems like insignificant things to me. I don’t have much patience for complaining or negative people.
Some days I feel that I can do anything
and other days, I am more cautious about
my left arm and tend to be more protective after having the mastectomy. I always
felt that I could do anything such as my
own landscaping. Now I seem to hire more
things done and ask for help more than
I would in the past, and that is okay. I
also feel stronger spiritually and have
come to realize the importance of positive thoughts and prayers. I truly believe
things happen for a reason even though
we may not always understand the why.
When I was diagnosed, there were
plenty of tears, disbelief and angry moments from the very beginning of this
journey. I know some of my conversations
with God probably bordered on disrespect, selfishness, and ungratefulness. In
fact, I know they did, and it didn’t seem
like He was listening to me. My life became centered around doctors, medicine,
chemo, radiation, surgeries, and disease.
I struggled with not being able to control
anything, everyone was telling me what
to do, when to be at the doctor, what the
treatment was, how much medicine. I had
always been healthy up to that point and
now I had a calendar to follow for each
day. It seems like my strong will (or stubbornness as my mom would say) had to
find a new avenue and that was to use my
body and mind best I could to get well.
Sometimes reading helped me to find
the answers I needed. Waking the Warrior
Goddess, Nordie’s at Noon, and Finding
the “Can” in Cancer helped me and today I
am reading Debbie Ford’s books about life
and going forward.
When I look at my son, who is now
9 and being appreciative for him being
in my life, I feel so alive and so grateful.
We have celebrated three more birthdays
together. I count my blessings for the
incredible support that I had from friends
and family. It is like I have been given another chance to appreciate everything in
life, simple things like the blue sky, and
wonderful times with family and friends
and to be a more giving person and maybe make a difference in the world, and to
understand the importance of having faith
and God in my life.
I found a new channel I guess for my
stubbornness and realized I could also
help others face the same challenges with
cancer. I learned to be more positive and
hopeful, and started volunteering for the
Breast Cancer Foundation of the Ozarks
in Springfield Missouri. Mothers facing
breast cancer have special circumstances
and many additional worries. That is why
I believe I was filled with the need to make
a difference or touch the lives of women
and mothers who might be experiencing
what I did, so they wouldn’t feel isolated
or alone and perhaps I could help them
feel less afraid.
I have plans for the future, I want to
travel and see the world, do public speaking for women’s advocacy and to serve on
a charitable board and to make a difference. If God is willing, I hope to see many
more of Wyatt’s birthdays, his graduation
from high school and college, and his
wedding day as long as it is after his 30th
birthday... n
37
Shouldn’t We Always
Celebrate Life First?
by Janet Chambers
July 3, 1999, 8am.
Just after celebrating my 40th
birthday….
Ringing phone cuts the silence. I
answer with a sleepy “Hello”.
“Janet? I’m sorry but I wanted to
let you know as soon as possible; your
biopsy results are back, (silence); its
breast cancer.”
Until then, I thought I was invincible. 3 beautiful daughters, 3 years
newly married, a great job I loved, a new
house, and a handsome stepson. Life
was finally coming together! But the
biopsy results rallied my family in ways
that were truly a blessing to me.
How would I have known my husband, Mike, my mom, step son, and 3
daughters would embrace my healing
needs and inspire me each step of the
way. Preparation was key. 1st: Rally the
troops. 2nd: Plan the attack. 3rd: Plan a
celebration party! Everyone had his/her
own personal contribution. More about
the party later!
It seems that moms always heal
with food. Mine was no different. She
was so supportive and encouraging. She
insisted on encouraging my healing with
breakfast every day, even serving juice in
a wine glass no less.
Before I was diagnosed (1997), my
husband, Mike, and I purchased our
dream home and started to purge an
area of the backyard of annoying, never
tended weeds that were climbing our
trees. Similar to cancer, the weeds were
out of control, destructive, and ultimately suffocating the life right out of the
trees. A good friend of mine, Dana, compared the weeds suffocating our trees to
negativity. She told me once “You have
to get the negativity out of your life. We
call that getting the snakes out of your
garden.” After diagnosis, Mike finished
the area by creating a ‘healing garden’.
It was also a place of solace, a place to
grieve (as we all need a good cry once
in awhile when going through chemotherapy!). It was also a place to restore
38
Janet and Mike Chambers and their daughters Linda, Shelly and Kelsey.
my dwindling energy, renew my spirit,
meditate (taking time to pray and read
scripture) and heal. It was far away
enough from our house that I actually
felt like I was escaping reality for a few
brief moments. For someone with no
energy, it seemed like an all day hike!
The kids chipped in with cleaning
and helped each other with homework.
We endured each day, finding laughter
in the oddest places and prepared for
the journey ahead of us.
Like the day my hair fell out. While
in the shower that morning, I mistakenly
thought the clod of hair on my shoulder was a mouse! Really, why would
there be a mouse in my shower, conveniently perched on my shoulder? I let
out a piercing scream, causing a chain
reaction of my husband dropping a hot
coffee pot! It was a Sunday, so when I
called my hairdresser, she opened the
salon just for me. We laughed about
my morning and the fictitious mouse,
while she shaved. Then I saw it... My
beautiful brown hair falling on my face,
falling on my chest, falling to the floor,
and my tears falling with them. Later at
home and trying to keep the bald head
a secret from the girls, I wore my wig
and seemed normal during dinner. They
progressed to their upstairs rooms to
finish homework and my tears fell again.
Mike convinced me to shed the wig and
let the girls see me without hair. I agreed
and removed the hot, itchy wig…until I
got to the steps and one of my daughters
(Shelly) stepped out of her room and said
“Hey mom”…
Panic set in…hurry, I thought, the
wig, quick, do something….
She flipped on the hall light, looked
down the steps at me, eyes wide and
declared “I completely forgot what I was
going to ask you, but …but…why is your
hair on upside down?” We laughed till
our bellies ached, and as the other two
girls met up with us in the hallway, I
removed my wig. We embraced and the
tears fell in unison.
Eric, my stepson, was studying
at University of Kentucky at the time.
However, that didn’t stop him from calling to check on my progress and give
encouragement, sending his love each
week and praying for my recovery. It is
so important to know that you matter in
others lives. The act of others supporting you in even the simplest gestures
becomes ever so essential in recovery.
As part of recovery, ALL of us
planned the “Celebration of Life” party!
Personally, I think the party should have
been #1! Shouldn’t we always celebrate
life FIRST? We invited everyone we knew,
fired up the grill, brought in the food,
music, and adult beverages! We even
blew bubbles! Then we built a bonfire!
As we built the fire, up in smoke went all
the pain, all the limitations, all the despair, and all the negativity. Along with
that, we conveniently tossed in prescription bottles, scarves, false eyelashes, and
get-well cards! Wow! What a cleansing
experience that turned out to be!
I do believe cancer was a snake in
my garden. Now that I think of it, I think
it was a PYTHON!” But, little by little,
leaning on my circle of support, trusting
my surgeons, oncologist, and changing
my lifestyle, we eliminated the snake
(cancer) and all the negativity that goes
with it from our otherwise content garden, our Healing Garden! You know, it
all started in the garden, it always did.
Clockwise: Janet used a firepit to symbolically burn past unwanted memories of her
breast cancer experience. Janet and Mike
Chambers children, Eric, Linda, Shelly,
and Kelsey. Janet celebrated life with a
family party along with friends Robin and
Ronnie and her husband Mike.
Epilogue:
Well, here I am 11 years out, surviving, thriving, and enjoying life for
what it is. A gift.
Looking back, I realize that pain
prepares you for joy, disease prepares
you for health, and that God sent me
what I needed to turn all those difficulties into victories. It’s called healing.
Now, I get enormous pleasure from our
6 grandchildren and 2 step-grandchildren. Today, I am so thankful to have
the opportunity to hear those precious
words…“I love you Grandma”! n
I Have Wings Breast Cancer Foundation
took flight in 2002. WINGS is an acronym
for “With Inspiration No-one Goes Solo”.
Our mission is the 3 E’s: Educate our
community on breast cancer prevention.
Ease Stress of families undergoing a
breast cancer diagnosis and Endorsing
research. We accomplish this by assisting
families with emotional and financial
assistance during a cancer diagnosis,
and supporting Wood Hudson Cancer
Research Laboratory. We are located in
Northern Kentucky and assist families in
the Cincinnati, OH Tri-State area. For more
information go to www.ihavewings.org
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
39
2010 Breast Cancer
Thrivers Cruise
MEMORIES
4th
Annual
7 day Eastern Caribbean
May 14-21, 2011
MORE FOR YOU
More Value
More Fun
More Memories
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]
For more information, visit www.breastcancerwellness.org
and check us out on facebook.
44
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
Footwear
Hats & Headwear
Organic Recover Cap
To Order:
The Biomat Store LLC
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
Cards / Stationary
Cancer Cards
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
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
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
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!
Hats & Headwear
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
CompressionStockings.com
CompressionStockings.com is a leading
internet provider of upper and lower
extremity compression garments. They
carry a full line of gloves, gauntlets, and
armsleeves from Jobst, Juzo, Mediven,
Sigvaris & Lymphe Divas. 877-393-4848
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
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
supporthosestore.com
Your Lymphedema Garment Specialists
Certified Fitters on Staff to Assist You
1-800-515-4271
Bandaging Supplies & Arm, Hand, Leg
Garments
Caresia Bandage Liners
(MAKE YOUR LYMPHEDEMA BANDAGING
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ALL Leading Manufacturers Available
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
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1-800-288-2224
417-883-1400
Appointments Requested, Though Not Required
45
Mastectomy Products
Mastectomy Products
Natural Skin & Hair Care
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
Selling Breast Forms - Bras - Swimsuits by
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Order Online at
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Suffering from discolored intimate
areas? We offer the ultimate in gentle,
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breasts, vagina, underarms, face, scars,
burn marks and more. Visit us online at
www.southbeachskinsolutions.com.
Oncology Nurse Navigators
NEARLYOU.COM
Gentle Touch
Medical Products, Inc.
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
or Call
1-866-722-6168
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
Support Groups
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]
FEEL COMFORTABLE
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During Every Stage of Your Recovery,
You CAN Be Comfortable
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Travel Towards Wellness
Woman-owned travel company specializing
in health and wellness travel programs for
women living with, working through, and
surviving a cancer diagnosis. Our clientele
includes survivors, co-survivors, family and
friends. www.traveltowardswellness.com
www.janacsportswear.ca
Call 905-332-7576 Toll Free 1-866-290-0821
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Jillianna Mastectomy Wear
Jillianna is a new post mastectomy nonsilicone form. The unique design is soft,
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46
Contact Bonnie Phelps at
[email protected]
417-581-3438
Ask for the Pink Pages Special!
WhatsNextForMyLife.com
Survivor provides life changing tools to thrive
for anyone affected by cancer. Inspirational
speaking, individual sessions, groups,
workshops, and teleconferences via phone,
web or in person. Companion Journal for
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PHOTO BY GREGG WOODWARD
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Call Janet at 573-301-6600
Email [email protected] or visit the website http://healthyvisions.amazonherb.net
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease.

Breast Cancer Wellness

Transcription

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