When I was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s disease at 16 years old, my doctor told me I would lose my hair, and I was devastated. I got it cut short, and I remember feeling like I was losing a part of myself. In fact, losing my long, brown hair seemed worse than the disease itself.

In Chapter 9 of my book, When Cancer Hits, I talk about all the aspects of losing your hair, what you can do about it, and most importantly, how to help yourself feel better and more confident about the whole thing.

The Emotional Side of Losing Your Hair

For this chapter, I talked with hair loss expert Susan Beausang, who surveyed women about the emotional effects of losing their hair. Susan explains that hair loss can affect women down to their very core. She provides examples of how women felt about hair loss, and how absolutely normal it is to feel however you’re feeling. This is not about vanity, but about who we are as mothers, daughters, wives and girlfriends.

Straight away, I give you five things to do when you first learn that you’re going to lose your hair, plus help you create a plan—based on your personality—for how you can best deal with it. And though men may have more bald role models than women, many are just as devastated by hair loss, and can benefit from the steps outlined in this chapter.

How to Find a Wig

Finding a wig is about a lot more than just taking a trip to the wig shop. When is it best to start looking? What kind of wig should you get—synthetic or real hair? Do you have to pay for it, or will your insurance plan help? What if you can’t afford it? I answer all these questions and more, so you know exactly what you need to do to find a wig you feel comfortable with.

I also tell you exactly how to care for your wig once you have it. Even if you go with a real-hair wig, you have to follow certain steps in washing and drying it. If you don’t, you risk damaging it, and unlike your hair, it won’t grow back!

Oh, and in case you were wondering, there’s a whole section on wigs for guys. Yes, they look very natural!

Scalp Care

If you’ve ever worn a wig before, you know that sometimes it can feel hot, uncomfortable, and itchy. I tell you what kind of steps you can take to make sure your wig is comfortable, and what you can do throughout the day to care for the tender skin on your scalp. Most likely you’ve never had to worry about your scalp before, so you’ll need some help, especially if you have sensitive skin.

Scarves and Hats

Not sure you want to wear a wig? I help you decide whether or not a wig is for you, then show you some of your other options, such as scarves and hats. These can be extremely stylish, and I help you find those that are specifically made for cancer patients, which means they’re warmer, easier to wear, and more comfortable than standard types.

Finally, if you’re considering going “all natural,” I help you examine the pros and cons to see if this is the right option for you.

Losing your hair doesn’t have to be a traumatic and depressing experience. Once I had my wig and started experimenting with hats and other styles, I actually had a lot of fun with it. Remember that your hair is going to grow back. With the tips in Chapter 9, you’ll make it through your temporary hair loss feeling confident and in control—and that’s exactly how you need to feel to give your body the strength it needs to heal.

(When Cancer Hits is available now—click here.)

How did you cope with hair loss during cancer? Have you read Britta’s chapter on the subject? Please share your story.

In Chapter 8 of my book, When Cancer Hits, I tell you why it’s important to be proactive during this time to keep yourself feeling as good as possible. Complementary therapies can go a long way toward helping you to ease side effects and maintain your energy and positive mood.

Make An Appointment for You

You may find it difficult to make an appointment for a massage or acupuncture treatment, telling yourself you don’t have time or you don’t really need it. In chapter 8, I explain to you why it’s critical to set aside time at least once a week to focus on something that makes you feel good. A hint: this isn’t about luxury, but about helping your body to recover.

Massage During Cancer Treatments?

You may have been worried about massage during cancer treatments. Maybe you heard that massage encourages the spread of cancer. Well, now we know better. Studies have found that massage can help ease the side effects of treatment—but, it is important to know what kinds of massage are best. Some are too rough for your fragile body. I’ll tell you which types are best, and what kind of therapist you need to look for.

Reflexology, Reiki, and Acupuncture

Do you know that some cancer centers offer these therapies for free to cancer patients? Do you know that each one has shown in studies to help ease the side effects of chemotherapy? Read Chapter 8 to find out more about how these three treatments can help ease muscle pain, soothe anxiety, help you sleep better, reduce headaches, and restore energy. Plus you’ll learn how to spot those practitioners who are knowledgeable about working specifically with those living with cancer.

Yoga, Tai Chi, and Walking

It’s sometimes hard to exercise when you’re going through cancer treatments, yet exercise is extremely important to keep your body strong and able to heal itself. Controlled movements that are gentler on your body can help you achieve your exercise goals while not overtaxing yourself. These three exercises are also great for helping you to calm down and feel good about your body.

Complementary treatments aren’t just “nice to haves.” They’re scientifically proven to help you feel less pain, more energy, and less stress and anxiety—all extremely important in your battle against cancer.

(When Cancer Hits is available now—click here.)

Have you tried some of these complementary treatments? What did you think?

Various people have said something similar, but Mark Twain may have originated the thought with the following quote:

“Twenty years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade wind in your sales. Explore. Dream. Discover.”

I think we’ve all heard this quote so much we assume it must be true. But has anyone really studied this phenomenon of regret at the end of life?

The Regrets People Voice on Their Deathbed

I don’t know of any official scientific studies on the topic, but I did find a very interesting article about a nurse named “Bronnie Ware” who worked in palliative care for years, soothing dying patients while they were in their own homes. Through her experience, she found that most human beings, regardless of gender or age, had regrets, so she started taking them down. Over time, she discovered that five particular regrets came up over and over again.

Ms. Ware later wrote a book on the topic (The Top Five Regrets of the Dying—A Life Transformed by the Dearly Departing), which details her own life and how it was transformed by what she discovered. I share with you below those five regrets and my thoughts on each, in the hopes that maybe we can all learn from Ms. Ware’s research, and go to our deaths with as few regrets as possible!

1. I wish I’d lived a life true to myself. In other words, people wish they had thought less of the opinions of others, and done what they wanted to do, down deep in their souls. People regretted not having the courage to follow their dreams, no matter what others thought. One thing people may not realize during the prime of their lives is that health and energy are fleeting, and won’t always be there. “It is very important to try and honor at least some of your dreams along the way,” Bronnie says. “From the moment that you lose your health, it is too late.”
2. I wish I hadn’t worked so hard. Though spoken most often by men, who felt they’d missed valuable time with their families, women also felt this regret. (And more women may find themselves experiencing this one as a new generation gets older.) Ask yourself: do you really need and want everything your work is bringing you, or is there something you’re missing? If so, can you cut back? Do with less?
3. I wish I’d expressed my feelings. Studies show that when we repress our feelings, our health suffers. (I talk about this in chapter 4 of my book, When Cancer Hits.) It’s like putting a lid on who we are, and forcing us to live less than a full existence. The lesson is to speak your truth—in a kind way, of course—and then let the relationship go where it may. It will either become stronger, or it will disintegrate, releasing you from it’s toxic effects.
4. I wish I’d stayed in touch with my friends. When people are dying and looking back over their lives, they realize sometimes for the first time how very important their friends were to them, and how grateful they were for their presence in their lives. Unfortunately, by that time, it can be difficult or near impossible to track these people down. The tools we have at our disposal today make staying in touch even easier, so no excuses! Keep your friends close!
5. I wish I’d let myself be happier. I found this one interesting when I first read it. “Let” myself? How can we not “let” ourselves be happy? Well, according to Bronnie, “Many did not realize until the end that happiness is a choice.” They chose not to make the changes in their lives that would have lead to happiness. Often they were afraid to make those changes, so they convinced themselves they were happy with what they had, even if they weren’t.

As I mull over these five regrets in my mind, I think what it all comes down to is two things: honesty, and courage. Every day we have to start again, face our fears, take new assessments of our lives, be honest about what we really want, and have the courage to go after it.

One more thought from a personal angle: When I get caught up in what others think, or in others’ dramas, and I get away from what I really need to focus on, I find a lot of relief from a quote by Mother Theresa:

“You see in the final analysis it is between you and your God. it was never between you and them anyways.”

This reminds me that at the end of the day, it’s my journey, and I must make the choices that are going to make me happy, today.

How do you plan to go about living your life without regrets?

Photo courtesy archerwl via Flickr.com.

Why is Terri Traveling Around the World?

I asked Terri to explain:

First of all, I’m doing the groundwork for my new non-profit organization, “Fresh Chapter Foundation,” which will help cancer fighters and survivors volunteer internationally. Since I did this myself after finishing breast cancer treatments and experienced firsthand the way it changed my life, I’m convinced other fighters and survivors will benefit as well.

How does volunteering abroad help?

Getting away where you have the opportunity to care for others instead of having to be cared for gives you a good dose of perspective. When we see people who struggle to feed their families and have no access to basic healthcare, it reminds us how lucky we are to have the opportunity to rebuild our lives in North America. It also introduces us to other volunteers and survivors who have no expectations for us to “get back to normal,” which gives us the space we need to really recover. Best of all, it gives us a chance to write a new story for our lives about something other than cancer.

Why is Terri on This Adventure of Hope?

This six-month, five-continent trip will lay the groundwork for the future Fresh Chapter Foundation by giving me the chance to fully review seven different international volunteer organizations and form long-term partnerships with only those companies who have ethical volunteer practices, extensive in-country support, and excellent safety records.

My dream for the Fresh Chapter Foundation is to help hundreds (if not thousands) of cancer survivors select, fundraise, and prepare for their own international volunteer trips. As more survivors join me on the road, I hope to start a movement of adventure after cancer, of service to our brothers and sisters around the world, of cultural exchange and understanding, and most importantly, of walking through our fears and writing a new story for our future.

What Has Terri Experienced So Far?

Terri’s has completed about half her planned trip. What has she experienced so far?

Since I left Canada two months ago, I’ve volunteered at a playgroup for children with cancer in Vietnam, and fed, nurtured, and shared time with physically and mentally challenged women at Mother Teresa’s Home for the Dying and the Destitute in India.

Over the next four months, I’ll support children at an orphanage in Rwanda, share ideas with a breast cancer support group in Tanzania, speak English to Spanish business people in Madrid, volunteer at an orphanage in Cusco, work at a water filtration plant in Peru, and teach English to children at an under-funded after-school support program in Costa Rica. I’ll then share these experiences on my new Fresh Chapter website to help other survivors select the best volunteer program to meet their needs for healing.

Terri Needs Your Help with the African Portion of Her Trip!

Terri’s birthday is coming up on March 22^nd. On March 13th, she flies to Rwanda and will spend her birthday volunteering with kids at an orphanage outside of the capital city of Kigali. She told me she can’t think of a better way to celebrate! Next, she’ll travel to Tanzania to volunteer at the only oncology hospital there.

Although she’s booked her flights in and out of Africa on her own frequent flyer points, she still needs help. I personally want the Fresh Chapter Foundation to become a reality, so I would like to help Terri with the funds for this portion of her trip. Would you join me in donating $25 or more? (See below to see where the funds will go.) You’ll be entered in a drawing for a luxury safe-self-care basket of goodies, valued at $190! My good friend Michelle Witherby at O & N Collective and CV Skinlabs (my new skincare line launching March 15th) have donated the products.

Terri’s upcoming expenses:

How You Can Donate—and Enter Our Drawing for FREE Safe Self-Care Products

To enter our drawing, please donate $25 or more by clicking here. After you’ve made your donation, please leave a comment below this blog post stating:

1. You’ve donated! (You don’t have to specify the amount.)
2. Where you’d like your money to go. Please choose one:
• Terri’s flights,
• Terri’s accommodations, or
• Terri’s other expenses, such as food and ground transportation.

We’ll then enter your name in the drawing to win the following—donated by Michelle Witherby at O&N Collective (follow her on Twitter @organicconetssa), Cinco Vidas, and CV Skinlabs (launching March 15th)

Luxury self-care package (valued at $190)

• Autographed copy of When Cancer Hits
• Neom Home Candle—natural,non-toxic, and free if synthetic fragrances
• CV Skinlabs Calming Moisture
• Neom Organic Room Mist
• CV Skinlabs Rescue + Relief Spray

Please hurry! Our drawing closes March 21^st at 12 midnight EST. The winner will be announced on March 22^nd—Terri’s birthday!

And if you want to help get the word out, please share our mission on Facebook and Twitter with your followers and readers!

Thank you all so much! I feel so inspired helping Terri, and I know together, we can make this happen!

I want to tell you about one very brave and incredibly inspiring woman (and a dear friend) who’s doing something truly unique to rediscover herself: She’s traveling around the world to volunteer. That’s right. To help others, and thereby help herself.

Cancer is Over, but Things Aren’t the Same

I met Terri Wingham through Twitter, and then I was able to meet with her face-to-face in New York City. I fell in love with her heart and her passion and we have been in touch ever since. She’s a breast cancer survivor from my hometown in Vancouver, and fought bravely through a double mastectomy and follow-up treatments. But one of the hardest parts of the process was adjusting once treatments were over.

“I never expected how hard it would be to pick up the pieces of my pre-cancer life and move forward after treatment ended,” she said. “I could tell that everyone else was excited for my cancer to be over, so they could finally move on with their lives. But I hated that cancer would never be over for me. Friends and family wanted the pre-cancer Terri to come back, but I felt like that person no longer existed.”

Healing Through Helping

Like me, Terri received little advice on resources that might help her transition from patient to survivor. Left on her own to figure it out, she decided to leave her job and volunteer in Africa for six weeks. The trip changed her life.

“Spending time in a third world country helped me see my life more clearly,” she writes on her blog. “I returned from Africa happier, calmer, and more focused on finding meaning in my life.”

A New Dream

After her trip to Africa, Terri gave up her apartment in Vancouver, lent or gave away almost all of her wordly possessions, and took a trip around the U.S. to spread awareness about the challenges of the post-treatment transition. When she finished, she had a new dream: Create a not-for-profit organization to help other cancer survivors find healing through helping others overseas.

To jump-start her organization, Terri has committed to a “volunteer trip around the world.” She will volunteer “on almost every continent as a way to generate awareness of the challenges of survivorship and build partnerships with the best volunteer companies in the industry.”

Some of Terri’s stops will involve helping cancer patients, and some will involve teaching women business skills or helping with a wildlife conservation project. The point is to help, wherever that help is needed.

“These experiences will provide the framework for the future ‘Fresh Chapter Foundation’ by introducing me to some of the safest, most ethical, and easiest to work with volunteer organizations in the industry,” Terri says. “This insight means I can help fellow cancer warriors move through the often difficult transition from patient to survivor by helping to fund international volunteer trips for them.”

Terri Needs Your Help

Terri has already set off on her trip, but she still needs help. Volunteer organizations like GO Overseas and CLOUD Inc. are already supporting her, and she has reached a little bit over half her fundraising goals. Her trip will go from January to June and will cover such locations as Vietnam, India, Rwanda, Spain, Peru, and Costa Rica.

If you’d like to help, you can donate on this link. You may also visit her website called “A Fresh Chapter” where you can read more about her journey and sign up for her email updates from around the world.

I know that volunteering has always helped me to put things in a new perspective, and has brought new energy and vitality into my life. Whether it’s through Terri’s organization, or another of your choosing, if you’re struggling with your post-cancer experience, try volunteering. You may be surprised.

Please consider donating to Terri’s cause. Every little bit helps! And who knows—one day you may want to go through her foundation to volunteer overseas. Click here to donate.

You may have people around you encouraging you to “be positive,” or you may believe you have to squelch any negative emotions you may feel in order to put on a brave face.

In Chapter 4 of my book, When Cancer Hits, I tell you why “being positive” by itself could actually harm you on your way to recovery, and give you some real, practical tools you can use to deal with all the emotions cancer and cancer treatment may create.

Guilt Has No Room in Your Survival Plan

Did you find yourself feeling guilty after your diagnosis? Did you think that maybe if you had only eaten a healthier diet, or exercised more often, or reduced more stress, you wouldn’t have ended up with the disease? I help you face the guilt monster, stare it down, and cast it aside.

Faking Your Emotions Never Works

Do you find yourself trying to smile when you least feel like it? Do you feel pressured by family and friends to “be brave,” and “stay positive?” I felt some of these emotions when I went through Hodgkin’s disease at 16 years old, and I can tell you—squashing your emotions is bad for you. Not only do those emotions stay with you, they can actually reduce your body’s ability to fight off the cancer. (Studies have shown that repressing emotions makes you feel more physical pain and can affect your immune system.) I show you how to approach negative emotions in a healthy way, so you can more easily return to real positive emotions.

Tools to Help Accentuate the Positive

Have you ever made plans to make yourself feel good? If you haven’t, now is the time to start. Making plans to spend time with friends, enjoy a funny movie, get a nice massage, listen to your favorite music, and more are all extremely necessary while you’re going through cancer. You’ll be so busy with doctor appointments and medical records and insurance paperwork and the like that you’ll find things like just enjoying yourself can quickly slip out the window—yet they’re so necessary to your healing process! In Chapter 4, I give you all kinds of ideas for activities that help you process difficult emotions and find your way to feeling even just a little bit better.

Don’t be Afraid to Seek Help

Often we feel we have to be the brave soldiers and go through cancer alone. This decision is bad for your health, however, and dangerous to your recovery. You need support, and not just someone to help clean the house and make the meals. You need someone to talk to, someone who understands, and you need activities that really go to the core of what you’re experiencing. I show you how support groups can actually speed your healing; how music, art, and pet therapy can all be valuable tools in your recovery; and how counseling can be a lifesaver.

Learning the tools and skills you need to process and manage difficult emotions will not only help you navigate your cancer experience, but could be useful to you long after the cancer is in remission. I share with you some quotes from other survivors who learned a lot, emotionally, from their experiences, and help encourage you that with patience, you can get through whatever it is with courage and grace.

(When Cancer Hits is available now—click here.)

Have you experienced difficult emotions because of cancer or cancer treatments? Have you tried some of the tips in my book? Let me know what you think!

After cancer treatments are complete, patients are usually transferred from their oncologists back to their primary care physicians. These physicians may not be the best prepared for dealing with cancer survivorship, unfortunately.

Study Shows Doctors Need More Training in Survivorship

A recent study found that many doctors, particularly primary care doctors, don’t feel very confident in their ability to take care of cancer survivors. Oncologists, too, believe that primary care physicians aren’t adequately educated for the task. Regular doctors, for example, tend to “over-test” for cancer recurrence because they’re not sure how much is too much. They may also not be fully prepared to deal with post-treatment concerns like lasting side effects,  psychological support, and managing other related diseases and conditions.

“More training and education of cancer survivorship is critical for the primary care physician and the oncologist,” says Julia Rowland, Ph.D., director of the Office of Cancer Survivorship and the National Cancer Institute.

Suggestions for a Smooth Transition

What can you do to help make the transition from your cancer-care team to your regular doctor go more smoothly? The authors of the study suggest the following:

• Meet with your oncologist after treatments are over and ask for a summary of the care you received, plus an outline of recommended follow-up care that you can then take to your regular doctor.
• Ask about what aspects of your care the oncologist will take care of, and what aspects your regular doctor should take care of.

In addition, here are some other things you can do—from my experience!

• If something feels “off,” ask about it. You know your body better than anyone.
• Ask your oncologist or doctor about important post-treatment care like support groups, counseling, massage, acupuncture, and other types of therapies. He or she may know about reputable programs that offer services for free or for reduced rates to cancer survivors.
• If your regular doctor isn’t communicating well with you, consider transferring to one who will.
• Check with a dietician or nutritionist to get on top of your post-treatment diet.
• Get into a regular exercise program—one you enjoy doing.
• Take responsibility for your own care. Most of us feel depressed, overwhelmed and confused after treatments are over. Get the help and the support you need to make it through this difficult time by attending a support group, seeing a life coach who specializes in cancer survivorship, and by surrounding yourself with other survivors who understand.

Did you find it difficult to talk to your regular doctor after cancer treatments? Please share your story.

Source:
Georgetown University Medical Center. “Doctors differ in how best to care for America’s 12 million cancer survivors.” ScienceDaily, 25 Jul. 2011. Web. 26 Sep. 2011.

Photo courtesy Photo Studio 8 via Flickr.com.

The good news is that how you change is completely up to you.

This is such a fundamental part of the cancer experience that I devoted the first chapter of my book, When Cancer Hits, to this topic. I got some great thoughts from other cancer survivors out there, including Donald Wilhelm, who said, “You’re never going to be the same person you were before. But you can choose who you are, today. And you can choose who you will become, tomorrow.”

Who is This “New” Person in the Mirror?

One of the things cancer does is change your appearance. You may lose your hair, end up with extremely dry skin, gain or lose weight, experience cracked and broken nails, and get dark circles under your eyes. You may look in the mirror and not even recognize that person.

In Chapter 1, I explain that all this is very natural and normal. We all go through it. In fact, in today’s visual society, cancer’s effects on our appearance can be extremely traumatic. I give you an “Appearance Meter Quiz” to help you figure out what your appearance really means to you, and then give you ways to cope with the changes.

What Cancer Treatments Do to the Body

Though I go into more detail in later chapters, here I give you a general introduction about what cancer treatments like chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery can do to your body, so you can better understand all the changes you may go through. Then I show you how you can help maintain control of your appearance—even though right now you may feel completely out of control!

Who Am I Now?

All these changes can cause a true identity crisis in many people. After all, if you look different in the mirror, you feel different in your body, and your whole life is different than it used to be, than who are you now? I guide you through some interactive exercises that help you bring yourself back…to yourself.

What is Your Personal Chemical Exposure?

Realizing that everything is changing, I ask you to check your current routine and personal care products to evaluate your daily chemical exposure. Later in the book I help you make some changes that will be better for your fragile skin and body, but in this first chapter I help you take stock of what your current routine may be doing to your health.

I hope, after reading Chapter 1, that you feel a new sense of empowerment. Cancer can make you feel like a fish out of water—like you just don’t have any control anymore over your life. Chapter 1 acknowledges that yes, things have changed, but you still have control over how you are going to handle it!

(When Cancer Hits is available now—click here.)

Were you overwhelmed by the changes cancer brought to your life? Please share your story.

According to a new study, however, that’s not always the case. In fact, most people make very few changes to their lifestyle, even after suffering something really scary like cancer or a heart attack.

No Efforts to Lose Weight

A study published in the American Heart Journal (2007), for example, followed over 1,200 men and women who were overweight and had experienced a heart attack. A year later, those people had lost only 0.2 percent of their body weight. (About one pound for a 220-pound man.) In addition, at least 40 percent of smokers who survive a heart attack are still smoking a year later, even though studies have found that individuals who quit after their first heart attack were 37 percent less likely to die of another attack, compared to those who kept smoking.

Few Efforts to Eat Right

Other studies have shown that those who have gone through cancer haven’t done much better in making healthy changes. A study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology (2008) found that out of 9,000 cancer survivors, only a few had switched to a healthier lifestyle. The good news is that most had given up smoking, but fewer than 20 percent consumed the recommended five servings of fruits sand vegetables a day, and less than half were exercising regularly. A real shame, since studies have shown such positive benefits of exercising. Women who had breast cancer, for example, reduce their risk of breast cancer death by 50 percent or more if they include regular physical activity in their lives.

Why don’t people try to change?

Researchers have tried to figure this out. Why would people, after suffering a life-threatening event, fail to make changes that could potentially reduce their risk of suffering such an event again? Researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that out of 1,600 cancer survivors, only one in three had received advice from their doctors about how to eat right, only one in four had been advised to start an exercise program, and less than half had discussed their smoking habits with their physicians.

So a lack of support from doctors is one part of it, but it’s not the only reason people have a hard time changing. Some people just don’t know how to go about changing. For others, it seems an overwhelming task, and they don’t know where to start, so they just don’t.

There’s no doubt that change is hard, especially when it comes to daily habits. Here are a few quick tips to help you get started. Please, if you’ve suffered a life-threatening event like cancer or a heart attack, don’t go back to business as usual. You can make a difference in your own life, and believe me, it’s worth the effort!

• Ask your doctor for help on how to live a healthier lifestyle.
• Partner up with a friend who knows what you’ve been through. Get together for exercise or to cook healthy meals.
• Join a class—yoga, tai chi, dance, zumba, whatever strikes your fancy and gets you moving.
• Write down your goals, and make sure they’re attainable. Instead of, “I want to lose 50 pounds,” try “I want to lose one pound a week.”
• Identify your “triggers”—those things that make you want to eat sugar, smoke, or avoid exercise—and decide how you will handle them, or what you will do instead of your old unhealthy habit.
• Be kind to yourself, and keep trying every day!

Did you make changes after your experience with cancer? Please share your story.

Photo courtesy chichacha via Flickr.com.

As many of you in the cancer community know, Steve fought pancreatic cancer for eight years. The Jobs’ family hasn’t revealed whether or not it was the cancer that caused his death. Still, his eight-year battle is an inspiration itself, especially with pancreatic cancer, which is considered one of the most aggressive types.

Steve was famously tight-lipped about his cancer, but we do know that shortly after being diagnosed, he went through surgery to remove what doctors called a “neuroendocrine pancreatic tumor.” A pancreatic cancer expert at Mayo Clinic (Michaela Banck) says this type of cancer can affect levels of insulin and other hormones produced by the pancreas, but that much more research is needed to understand how it’s impact on hormones affects prognosis.

The more common form of pancreatic cancer, which affects 95 percent of cases, is fast-moving and lethal, but neuroendocrine tumors are slow-growing and can be effectively treated with surgery. Two drugs were also approved for these types of tumors earlier this year. We don’t know if Steve was taking any medications, but his eight-year survival stands as progress in the world of pancreatic cancer.

Lessons in Life

Despite all his accomplishments as head of Apple and his status as cancer survivor, what Steve Jobs may be most remembered for is a commencement address he gave on June 25, 2005 at Standford University. I’ve provided the link here for anyone who would like to read it in its entirety (or watch the video), but I wanted to share the parts that impacted me.

As most Cinco Vidas readers know, I’m a cancer survivor myself, and my father fought an 8-year battle as well. Going through an experience like that forces you to slow down and try to figure out what your life is really about. For me, that meant discovering my purpose, which turned out to be starting this organization, writing my book, and finding many other ways to give back to the cancer community.

Steve talks about this in his address—how facing the possibility of death forces us to clarify our lives:

No one wants to die….And yet death is the destination we all share….And that is as it should be, because Death is very likely the single best invention of Life. It is Life’s change agent. It clears out the old to make way for the new. Right now the new is you, but someday not too long from now, you will gradually become the old and be cleared away. Sorry to be so dramatic, but it is quite true.

Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma — which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.

I join millions of people around the world in saluting this great visionary, and hope his words give you a little encouragement in your own life today.

We don’t have endless time. Be what you want to be!

Photo courtesy macevangelist via Flickr.com.

If you’ve recently been diagnosed with cancer, or if you are caring for a loved one who has, you’ll want to get your hands on this book. I’ve loaded it with all the information my father and I needed when we went through cancer. Truly, this is the book we wish we could have had back then!

All the things the doctors don’t tell you about are in these pages, along with remedies and techniques that will help you cope. Inside, you’ll discover how to:

• Implement proven solutions for mouth sores, nausea, radiation burns, fatigue, dry skin, neuropathy, and more.
• Create your own personal hair-loss plan, and find the solution that fits your style.
• Manage stress, anxiety, worry, and despair.
• Complement your treatment with the proven benefits of acupuncture, reflexology, massage and meditation.
• Protect yourself from personal care and housecleaning products that contain potentially carcinogenic ingredients—and learn what products are safe to use.
• Treat and conceal redness, rashes, swelling, scars, and skin discoloration.

If you’ve been looking for someone who to help you through this journey, I hope you’ll consider letting me be that person. I can help you navigate the changes you’ll experience between the doctor’s office and everyday living, and show you how to sustain positive energy during treatment and beyond. Plus you’ll read real-life stories from other survivors, and glean advice from doctors and experienced health experts.

Here’s what some other nice people are saying about the book:

“Battling cancer is a Herculean task that requires courage, fortitude and many, many decisions. There are lots of experts in the field, but advice from one who went through it herself is invaluable. I wish this book had existed during my own battle.”

—Fran Drescher, Actress, Cancer Survivor, President of Cancer Schmancer

“This is the book I wish I had for every patient diagnosed with cancer. It fills the void between the diagnosis and the journey onward. A great blueprint for how to cope with the journey from choosing safe personal care products to addressing all the changes that your skin and body will go through to managing side effects.”

—Dr. Madeline Krauss, M.D.

You can pre-order now on Amazon—just click here. Then feel free to comment on this post with what you think!

Thank you all for your ongoing support![youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svJOPelE1C8[/youtube]

My good friend and colleague Morag Currin recently told me about a wonderful program in Colorado. I couldn’t wait to share it with Cinco Vidas readers.

If you happen to be planning a wedding and your life has been touched by breast cancer, you could win the wedding of your dreams, completely free of charge! Cheryl Ungar, professional wedding photographer and founder of the non-profit organization “Cheryl Ungar Gives,” was diagnosed with breast cancer as a young woman. Today, 20 years a survivor, she has devised a way to give back to the cancer community that meant so much to her—by donating a dream wedding to one special couple a year.

She started it all in 2010, gathering vendors willing to donate their services and opening the door to submissions. In August, Melissa and Jeff were chosen as the winners, Melissa having recently survived breast cancer herself with Jeff’s enduring support. Eight months later, the couple enjoyed a gorgeous $30,000 wedding in Vail, Colorado, complete with wedding planner, venue, wedding cake, flowers, music, and everything else you’d expect—at absolutely no cost to them.

“The Wedding Pink is a wedding givaway,” wrote Melissa following the event, “but it has proven to be so much more than that. As Jeff and I started meeting Cheryl and the other vendors, we quickly realized that the people involved were our angels. Absolutely everyone we met was so caring and willing to help, out of the goodness of their hearts. I believe Jeff and I have made lifelong friends from this event.”

After enduring chemotherapy and grueling surgeries, Melissa felt particularly blessed to win The Wedding Pink. It took the financial burden off her and Jeff’s shoulders, freeing them and their families to just enjoy the experience. “Cancer takes a toll on the patient, but it is also a huge burden for the friends and family members involved,” Melissa wrote. “The Wedding Pink was really a gift to everyone who knows me.”

Cheryl loved the experience as well, and told Channel 7, KMGH-TV in Denver that Jeff and Melissa’s wedding “is as much of a gift to me as it is a gift to them.” She took many pictures, posted several on her website, and now is excited about the second wedding giveaway already underway. Severel vendors have already signed on, and plans are for the 2012 event to be held in the Colorado Rocky Mountains.

“If you happen to know an engaged or soon-to-be engaged couple whose lives have been recently touched by breast cancer,” Cheryl says on her site, “please forward the information along.”

Submissions are open between July 1–August 15, 2011. Simply go to Cheryl’s submissions page for more information on how to enter. And remember—though the bride-to-be may be the one touched by cancer, submissions are also open for those couples where the groom or the extended family were the ones who experienced it. As Cheryl says, the wedding giveaways are meant to do something nice for those who have experienced a difficult time with this disease in their lives.

“Next year’s wedding will not disappoint,” Cheryl writes. “We are in the process of securing an amazing team of vendors.”

Will you try to win the Wedding Pink? If you enter, keep us posted! See Cheryl’s website at Cheryl Ungar Gives.

Photo courtesy Cheryl Ungar Gives.

Soy and it’s potential link to breast cancer has been studied and debated for years. But I have a new study to tell you about that may somewhat ease your fears.

Soy’s Past Link with Breast Cancer

People have been concerned about soy because it contains “phytoestrogens”—natural plant compounds that can behave as weak estrogens in the body.

Researchers have been concerned that it could trigger estrogenic cancers like breast cancer and prostate cancer. Studies so far, however, have been confusing. Some showed that women could reduce their risk of cancer recurrence by eating more soy, and men could reduce their risk of prostate cancer the same way. Other studies, however found that phytoestrogens might actually increase the risk of tumors and stimulate breast cancer cell growth.

With all the confusion, I’ve been recommending that those concerned about estrogen-driven cancers avoid soy foods, soy supplements, and soy ingredients in personal care products. A new study, however, shows that we may be able to relax our concern a bit.

Study Shows Eating Soy May Reduce Recurrence of Disease

Researchers analyzed data from four large studies encompassing over 18,000 women. All had a history of breast cancer diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 83. They found that eating soy foods did not increase risk of recurrence, even among women who ate a lot of soy. (Note: The study looked only at foods, not supplements, so the conclusions apply only to soy foods.)

What’s more, the study found what seemed to be a health benefit for those eating more soy. Women who ate the most had a 9 percent lower risk of dying from any cause, and a 15 percent lower risk of breast cancer recurrence, compared to women who ate very little. The researchers cautioned against taking these percentages too seriously, however, as they were not statistically significant and could be due to chance.

“This is quite reassuring for women who were concerned that they might have to eliminate healthy soy foods from their diets,” said Leif Ellisen, M.D., Ph.D. of the Gilette Center for Breast Cancer.

My New Recommendation on Soy Intake

Though I still strongly recommend caution on soy supplements, I feel like after this study I can relax a little bit on soy foods. If a woman came up to me today wanting advice, I’d tell her that the evidence seems to show that eating soy foods is beneficial. I would still caution her, however, to read labels on her skin care products, and avoid the ones that contain soy, as we don’t have enough studies yet on how soy ingredients in personal care products may affect breast cancer recurrence.

Does this study put your mind more at ease concerning soy foods? Share your thoughts.

Photo courtesy FotoosVanRobin via Flickr.com.

Most of my readers know that when I was 16 years old, I was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s disease. I was told initially that I would need a year of chemotherapy and some radiation. Because I responded so well to treatment, I had to undergo only seven months of chemotherapy and didn’t need radiation at all. As you can imagine, this was great news, and everyone—including me—was happy about it. The cancer was gone sooner than expected, and I was given the official “okay” to go back to my life.

Time to celebrate and move on, right? At least that’s what I was hoping, but it didn’t work out that way. I was glad the cancer was gone, but instead of feeling elated, I was like, “Now what?” How was I supposed to go back to school and face all the social pressures teens experience with no hair, a heavier body weight (I’d gained weight as a result of my treatment), and a muddled sense of my own identity? Everything had changed, and I had no idea how to get back to “normal.”

I looked different. I felt different. Yet I was told to “move on.” Certainly everyone around me had done so, and they wanted me to as well. But I didn’t know how. I was confused and had no one to talk to. I felt guilty holding on to my cancer experience when everyone else was elated at my “survival,” but when it came down to it, I had nothing else to hold on to.

Most survivors experience some version of this, and the easiest way to describe it is to call it post-traumatic stress and depression. Similar to what a victim of a violent crime experiences, a cancer survivor struggles to make sense of what happened to her. While we’re actually going through the battle, we have little time to reflect, or to even bring our feelings to a conscious level. We’re too busy going to the hospital and getting our wigs fixed and figuring out our medications and finding something we can eat when our mouths erupt in sores. We may cry on some nights, and feel lost and confused at times, but that doesn’t even come close to processing the experience in its entirety. Most of us don’t even know how to begin processing it.

Fortunately, the medical field is just starting to recognize the seriousness of “survivor stress and depression,” and cancer centers and hospitals are now putting into place several programs to help people cope. When I went through it, however, I had access to none of that, partly because neither my parents nor I thought I needed it. I lived in a family where expressing emotions just wasn’t the norm. A product of another generation, my parents believed that you just “bucked up” and went on. Why are you making such a fuss? they would say. You’re alive! You’re well. Be grateful! You can go on with your life now!

I tried to play my part. Not only did my family expect it, but my friends, teachers, and doctors did, as well. Oh, there’s the girl who had cancer and beat it! Their eyes would peer at me with an almost morbid curiosity. How does she look now? The pressure was nearly unbearable. I felt judged on how well I was surviving. Everyone wanted their happy ending, but I had no idea how to give it to them. It felt like a race. How do I get to “normal” from here?

I had lots of support from my parents and friends while going through treatment, but I never attended a support group, never talked to a counselor or social worker, and never connected with other kids my age who had survived cancer. Everyone around me just wanted me to move on, but I had all these overwhelming feelings and didn’t know what to do with them. So I turned to the one thing I could control—what I ate. What a relief. Finally I could feel again some sense of power over my own life. As I got into it, the weight started to drop off, and I regained my figure—and soon became even thinner. My hair grew back—though way too short for my comfort—and together with my new figure, I felt attractive again. And of course, I loved the attention I got from that.

Of course, my elation was short-lived, because I never really dealt with my cancer experience. I just hid behind the problem. Controlling my food and weight (to the point of anorexia) gave me a sense of false power, which distracted me from the “real” pain underneath. In truth, I never really dealt with it completely until I started Cinco Vidas three years ago—almost 18 years after treatment! I started this blog, wrote my book, developed a skincare line to help with compromised skin, and reached out to help other survivors. Back then, however, all I ended up with was an eating disorder—my way of coping with all the overwhelming feelings—which of course, only complicated things.

I’ll talk more about my recovery in future posts. In the meantime, stay tuned for our upcoming teleclass which will provide you with many tools, much support and resources to help you transition from cancer patient back into living your life fully.

Have you experienced stress, depression, or other setbacks during your recovery from cancer? Please share your story.

Photo courtesy the Enzo D. via Flickr.com.

Fortunately, there is help. Many cancer centers, realizing that the struggle doesn’t end once the radiation stops, are creating survival programs that help people cope with the changes they face after treatment is over. The Cancer Wellness Center at Piedmont Health Care is one of them, helping survivors cope with programs like yoga, music and art therapy, social events, and massage. Doors are open to all cancer patients and survivors, no matter where they received treatment. Georgia Cancer Specialists, a Top 10 private cancer practice in the U.S., has implemented a “Life After Treatment” program to help patients cope with post-treatment doctor’s visits, tests, and concerns like fatigue and hair loss for months to years after treatment is over.

The Winship Cancer Institute is working on a similar program to offer follow-up care. They plan to implement a volunteer program that will match newly diagnosed patients with survivors, as well as offer treatment for the various long-term side effects of chemotherapy and radiation. “It is important to understand that it takes time to recover and adjust to life after a cancer diagnosis,” Winship’s site says. “Determining what is the new normal may take some time.”

The Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska offers a survivorship program that “helps address the physical and emotional challenges the cancer survivor experiences.” The Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston provides the “Perini Family Survivor’s Center” to help survivors “access post-treatment follow-up care, including counseling and monitoring of long-term side effects of treatment.” They even include a specialized survivor program for children.

The list goes on. In fact, these programs are becoming so popular that you’re likely to find one at a cancer center or hospital near you. The point is that experts around the nation, from doctors to counselors to oncologists to survivors themselves, all realize that surviving cancer is a task best tackled with help and support from others.

“Far too many distressed cancer survivors are left to suffer alone,” said Mike Hobday, head of Macmillan Cancer Support. “It’s great that people are surviving cancer, but we cannot dessert them after their initial treatment is over.”

Fortunately, more survivor programs are in the works. Whether or not you have one available to you, realize that your journey doesn’t end when treatment stops. Seek support from counselors, support groups, nutritionists, massage therapists, acupuncturists, financial counselors, or whatever you need.

“Whether you are coping with the debilitating effects of therapy or you have no external physical evidence of the disease, research validates what you already know: cancer causes change,” writes Sherri Magee and Kathy Scalzo in Picking Up the Pieces. “Once your cancer treatments have ended, you face the challenging task of picking up the pieces of your life and putting them back together again.”

How have you coped with survivorship? Please share your story.

Photo courtesy roidinc via Flickr.com.

Sometimes this thinking serves me well, like when I realize that I probably contracted a cold because I was pushing myself too hard and didn’t get enough rest. (Note to self: Work rest into your schedule no matter what!) Other times, however, it can be difficult to find meaning in your life’s experiences. Especially if those experiences include cancer.

“Why me?” is a question many of us ask when cancer comes knocking at our doors. I remember thinking that when cancer hit me as a teenage girl. I was healthy, active, and socially involved. Why did I have to go through chemotherapy and operations and hair loss and weight gain and night sweats when most girls my age had concerns no bigger than their hairstyles or makeup choices?

It’s taken me years to find my own meaning in the experience, but I’ve succeeded, and I feel more grounded and on-purpose than ever before. Looking back, I realize that my battle with cancer prepared me to help my father through his cancer journey, which led to my desire to create Cinco Vidas and give back to the entire cancer community. I realize now how my experience with cancer gave me the insight and empathy to communicate with other fighters and survivors, as well as the knowledge that health is a gift, and I must work everyday to protect and nurture it.

Some people don’t need this deeper “meaning” to go with their cancer experience. They realize that cancer can happen to anyone, and when it happens to them, they just figure they were dealt a certain hand and they learn to live with it. If you’re someone like me, however, who looks for the connections and mysteries in life, you may need to spend some time delving into your own psyche.

“How do you make meaning?” asks creativity coach Eric Maisel. “By letting go of wondering what the universe wants of you, by letting go of the fear that nothing matters, and by announcing that you will make life mean exactly what you intend it to mean.”

This is good news. Just when cancer makes you feel that your life is out of control, you can realize that the meaning of the experience is totally up to you. How do you go about finding that meaning? It takes time. For me, it took years. But that doesn’t mean you can’t get started.

David Simon, M.D., co-founder of the Chopra Center, wrote a book called Return to Wholeness, and in it, he suggests that to get started on your quest for meaning, you ask yourself the following questions:

• If I knew that I had only one more year to live, what changes would I make in my life now?
• If I were able to speak directly to my cancer, what positive message would it have for me?
• Imagining that it is five years from now and my illness is behind me, what would I tell someone else in my situation about the meaning of my illness?
• If I were able to speak directly to my God, what would he or she say to me about the meaning of my illness?

Give yourself some quiet time to answer. Journal about it. Talk to a good friend. Maybe the cancer has given you a chance to reevaluate your life in a way you never have before. Maybe this is your chance to make some changes, or to adjust your point of view. Maybe you’re just the person to share your experience in a way that would help others. Maybe the shock of the whole thing will set you on a brand new path to a new future. The possibilities are endless. What matters most is that you find the meaning that suits you.

Maisel tells us to ask, “How do I make myself proud?” The answer to this question, above all, may be the most important one for your future.

Have you found meaning in your cancer experience? Please share your story.

Photo courtesy Frenz64 via Flickr.com.

Many cancer patients emerge from treatment thinking that finally, things can get back to normal. And many are equally disappointed to find that though their bodies may be healing, their thoughts and emotions are still overstressed.

“It’s always in the back of my mind,” says Chris, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma survivor. “I get a cold and my glands swell and I think, ‘Uh-oh. Is it back?’”

Constant worry about the cancer coming back causes regular anxiety for most survivors. You’re expected to bounce back to your old self, but it’s more complicated than that. There are fears, questions, stress, and furthermore, though the cancer may be gone, your body isn’t the same as it used to be. Worst of all, you may find it more difficult to get help than you did while you were going through treatment.

“After months of relying on doctors, nurses, and technicians to examine, treat, and monitor patients to make them well,” writes R. J. Ignelzi for San Diego’s “Union Tribe,” “suddenly their health is once again their own responsibility. That can be scary and more than a little stressful.”

What can you do to relieve the stress and improve your outlook? Try the following.

Be patient. Remember all you’ve been through—the worry, the discomfort, the side effects, the hospitals, the doctor’s visits, the financial stresses, and more. It takes time to recover fully, so give yourself the time you need to fully heal.

Join a support group. No one understands what you’re going through more than others who are also going through it. Ask your oncology nurse or social worker about groups that may be right for you.

Consider seeing a counselor. A high percentage of survivors go through a period of depression. You have suffered a loss, and you’re grieving that loss. Maybe you lost your hair, your breast, your prostate, your lung, or part of your colon. Perhaps you lost your figure, or what you felt was your normal appearance. You may have lost a lot of money, been forced out of your career, or been unable to attend important family events. A counselor can help you sort through it all.

Talk frankly with your doctor. If you’re worried about something, even if it’s just a sore throat, don’t be afraid to talk with your doctor. He can put your worries at ease. In addition, ask him what you can do to avoid recurrence. Taking action always helps you regain control.

Exercise. Start slowly, perhaps with gentle exercises like yoga and Tai Chi, but get your body moving again. Treatments tend to leave you weak and sap you of muscle strength. Rebuilding your body releases natural endorphins that can help you feel better emotionally, as well.

Eat right. Not only will it help nourish your body and support your recovery, it could help you lower your risk of recurrence.

Consider massage, acupuncture, and Reiki. These alternative treatments can not only relieve long-lasting side effects, but can help you relax and learn to let go of your anxiety.

Be nice to yourself. Do something nice for yourself every day. Remember that you’ve come through a difficult ordeal, and you’re still here. Celebrate in every way you can!

Did you struggle after your last treatment was over? What advice do you have for others?

Photo courtesy Simone Bonazzoli via Flickr.com.

First of all, of course, you have your surgeon, your radiologist, and your oncologist. You want to make sure these people are top in their field, as they will be advising you on a lot of big decisions, say nothing of performing most of your treatments. Get second, third, and even fourth opinions if you need to. The important thing is that you feel comfortable with each one.

However, cancer isn’t just about killing bad cells. It’s also about trying to stay well during the process. That includes maintaining your weight and nutrition levels, staying emotionally balanced, and dealing with side effects. Getting help with these facets of care is just as important as making sure your surgeon knows what he’s doing.

Here are the other members who should be lining up in your batting box. If you’re missing one or two, it’s never too late to bring them on board.

Nurse: This is the person most likely to be your initial line of support when it comes to things like side effects. Feeling nauseated? Ask him/her about available medications. Have an injection site reaction? Call your nurse before you call your doctor. Nurses are also great for giving our recommendations of cancer support services in your community. Make friends with this person!

Counselor: Many people trust the physical challenges of cancer to a trained physician, but neglect to get help on the emotional side. Make no mistake—cancer challenges you emotionally just as much, if not more so, than physically. Before you blow your cork and take it out on your family and friends, make an appointment with a therapist of some sort; someone you can talk to and trust. This person can not only help you cope with your own fears and frustrations surrounding the disease, but can assist you with concerns on the job (how much should you tell your boss?) and with your children (what if they’re afraid when they see me with no hair?).

Spiritual Advisor: If you’re like many cancer fighters and survivors, you have some sort of faith in your life that provides stability and support. A spiritual advisor—whether your minister, priest, rabbi, spiritual healer, or even the chaplain on staff at the hospital—can help you deal with fear and anxiety about your diagnosis, and can even be of assistance when you find yourself angry at God (or whomever) and needing to vent.

Dietician or Naturopath: Nutrition is critical during cancer treatment, and it’s so easy to deprive our bodies when side effects start taking hold. Metal mouth, mouth sores, lack of appetite, and digestive difficulties make it hard to eat sometimes. Combine that with vomiting and diarrhea and you have a recipe for malnutrition, an extremely dangerous condition during cancer. Use this expert to get advice on things you can eat, even when you’re feeling down, that will help keep your body fighting.

Physical  Therapist: You know how it is if you fail to exercise even for a few days—it’s difficult to get back to where you were. If you fail to do any exercise through your entire treatment, your muscles will weaken and atrophy, leaving you less mobile and possibly making recovery more difficult. A physical therapist can steer you toward exercises that work for your current condition, even if you’re fatigued or stiff from surgery.

Accountant or Financial Advisor: Sometimes a social worker can help you in this area as well, but you should have someone on your team who can assist in financial matters. How much will your insurance pay, for instance, and how much will you have to cover? How can you manage your part of the payment? What can you deduct from your taxes? How will this affect your retirement? Financial concerns can cause many cancer patients a lot of stress and anxiety. Having someone in your corner can help you feel more in control.

Who did you have on your cancer treatment team? Who was your most helpful person?

Photo courtesy asonor1 via Flickr.com.

Unfortunately, many survivors worry about recurrence, and with good reason. According to researchers, tumors can re-seed themselves—in other words, cancer cells can return to the tumor site and grow again. How do we stop this from happening? With a strong immune system.

If you’ve gone through cancer, you know what kind of a beating your immune system has suffered. Chemotherapy can wreak havoc on our natural killer cells, say nothing of the weight loss, malnutrition, and depression that can sometimes accompany treatment. In fact, the main contributors to a weak immune system are poor nutrition, lack of exercise, sleep deprivation, emotional trauma, medications, and toxins. Um, gee, anyone who’s experienced cancer has had all of those!

So, once you’ve been pronounced cancer free—or even if you want to prevent cancer or build up your immune system during treatment—turn your efforts toward revving up your body’s defenses with these natural boosters.

Diet. You don’t have to deprive yourself, but do try to make healthy choices on a regular basis. The nutrients you consume go a long ways toward helping your cells fight off any unwanted invaders. Focus on raw fruits and vegetables, nuts, roots, and “tubers” like potatoes, sweet potatoes, and radishes. You may want to consider juicing, which has shown to have many health benefits. And limit your sugar intake—it spikes blood sugar, which inhibits the release of growth hormones, which in turn depresses the immune system. According to author and professor Dr. Sears, “Eating or drinking 100 grams (8 tbsp.) of sugar, the equivalent of two-and-a-half 12-ounce cans of soda, can reduce the ability of white blood cells to kill germs by 40 percent.”

Exercise. You don’t have to run marathons—even moderate exercise has a positive effect on the immune system. It helps rid the lungs of airborne bacteria and viruses, cleans the body of cancer-causing cells and waste products, increases blood flow to fight infection, raises body temperature to inhibit the growth of bacteria, and reduces the release of stress hormones. According to animal studies at the Iowa State University, regular exercise boosted internal defenses. In a 2006 study with over 100 women, those who engaged in regular moderate exercise like brisk walking had half the risk of colds than those who didn’t.

Vitamins & Minerals. Certain nutrients have shown in studies to help prevent cancer. Researchers believe that if we had the right amounts of vitamin D in our blood, for instance, we could prevent 75 percent of colon-cancer deaths. (Shoot for 2,000 IU a day and/or 15 minutes of sunscreen-free exposure to the sun on your arms and legs.) Make sure you’re also getting enough vitamin B and C, beta catorene, zinc, magnesium, and potassium.

Power spices & extracts. Did you know that curcumin—the main active phytochemical in the spice, turmeric—decreased the incidence of breast tumors in animals? Other spices are also potent cancer fighters, like cayenne pepper, chili peppers, garlic, and rosemary. In addition, according to “Natural News,” oleander extract contains cancer-fighting properties and has been found to be a potent immune stimulator.

Are you building your immune system to stay cancer free? Please share your story.

Photo courtesy bigbey via Flickr.com.

Hillary Peterson and Marie Veronique Nadeau of “Marie Veronique Organics.”

Question: What do you get when you combine a former chemistry teacher with a passion for safe and responsible skin-care products, with a marketing guru and two-time cancer survivor committed to living a healthy lifestyle?

Answer: A company committed to making non-toxic products safe enough for all skin types—and a story that shows we can have beautiful skin without paying for it with our health.

“I had a melanoma ten years ago,” says Hillary Peterson, CEO of Marie Veronique Organics. “I also had thyroid cancer fifteen years ago. With those two occurrences in mind, I was really thinking about how I could live my healthiest life. My focus on that took on a new meaning for me.”

Having already adopted healthy-eating habits and meditation, Hillary was taking steps to make her body more resistant to cancer growth. “Before, I might have had an Oreo cookie every now and then,” she says, “but now there is no way I would eat a partially hydrogenated anything.”

Hillary started buying more local, fair-trade, and organic foods, but it was only later that she started thinking about her personal-care products. “I never imagined the lotion I’d used for years was primarily made with petroleum products, or that my sunscreens were made with harmful chemicals that have been linked with cancer. I never understood that what you put on your skin goes into your body and into your bloodstream. It was a big shift in my learning.”

Hillary describes herself as a “frustrated consumer,” as she was finding it really difficult to purchase truly safe products. “Doing whatever you can to have an optimally functioning immune system makes a lot of sense. Everyone says these products don’t do anything, but no one has tested for the cumulative load. If you use lotions with petroleum products for 30 years, in addition to eating partially hydrogenated oils, how much can the body take?”

Finally, she connected with the Environmental Working Group’s (EWG) Skin Deep Database and found that Marie Veronique Organics seemed to be one of the safer brands. “She was in my area, so I called her up.” Marie, having started her company with homemade formulations in her own kitchen, was already making products free of petroleum-based products, nanoparticles, and other toxic ingredients. She and Hillary hit it off immediately. “We had an amazing conversation,” Hillary says. “I talked to her about my experience and my frustration, and she told me about her philosophy—if something isn’t safe, she doesn’t use it—and that’s very rare to find these days.”

Within a short time, Hillary was working with Marie to help grow the company. “We wanted to provide only what would be safe and effective for customers,” Hillary says. “We hung a sign that my daughter made in the office. It says, ‘Is it safe for children?’ In other words, anything we make needs to be safe for even very vulnerable populations.”

Marie’s other passion of aging gracefully meant she was creating products that actually worked. “There’s this perception that in order to get results you need chemicals,” Hillary says, “but we provide another option for people.”

According to Marie, it’s all about increasing your defenses, protecting from the sun, and repairing cellular damage—in other words, giving the body what it needs to naturally produce healthy, young-looking skin. “When you have a product loaded with powerful and fresh antioxidants,” Marie says, “it can make a huge difference. And if you have enough hyaluronic acid in your skin, it gives it that plump look and can counteract aging. When you nourish your face—like when you nourish your body—it really does respond.”

In the end, Marie says, while chemicals often contribute to skin breakdown, natural products support the health of skin, resulting in a more younger-looking appearance. “It’s like the difference between chemicals in your food and natural food. Natural stuff works better—it gives your body the wherewithal to heal itself. The body does wonders as long as it’s got enough to work with.”

Hillary—now in remission for 10 years—is thrilled to be investing her time and energies into a company that cancer fighters and survivors can feel good about. “It means a lot for me as a cancer survivor to go to work everyday and grow a business that helps people live the healthiest possible lifestyle.”

If you’d like to try Marie Veronique Organics, please visit their web site.