Think for a moment how you feel when you have the flu. Do you feel confident? Ready to go to work and knock them dead? Happy to go out with friends and have fun?

Cancer patients going through treatments often feel the same way. Even on the days when their energy returns, they may still look sick, which can make them self-conscious about going out into the world.

“If you look sick, people treat you like you’re sick and you buy into it,” says breast cancer survivor Nancy Lumb.

How Our Appearance Affects Our Self-Esteem

“When I look back on it,” says Rayette, ovarian cancer survivor, “the worst thing about losing my hair was that once it happened, I knew I looked sick. Up until then I could hide it. It was like my secret. That was my big fear when I was diagnosed—I didn’t want people to treat me differently. So that was the big disappointment when I lost my hair, as then I knew that I looked like something was wrong with me.”

Many cancer patients feel fairly confident about fighting the good fight until they start noticing changes in the mirror. Up until then we don’t think about it much, but our bodies, faces, and hair have a lot to do with our identities. They are part of who we are. What happens when they start to change. Who do we become?

My aunt Chris, a non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma survivor, had a hard time reaching out for social support during her treatment. She felt she didn’t look her best and didn’t like the idea of going out when she felt self-conscious about her appearance. After receiving some makeup advice, however, her outlook changed.

“‘I can do this!’ I said to myself. ‘I can put on a nice scarf, I can apply makeup to look natural, and I can go out looking good.”

Appearance Shouldn’t Matter—But It Does

In an ideal world, we wouldn’t have to worry so much about how we appear to other people, but researchers have found over and over that we do base judgments on how people look. According to researchers in a 2010 study, “Although we are admonished ‘don’t judge a book by its cover,’ we repeatedly defy that warning as we go about our daily lives responding to people on the basis of their facial appearance. The impact of faces is shown in our impressions of people as well as in our behavior toward them, such as whom we help, whom we hire, or whom we ask for a date.”

Let Makeup Become Your Tool

When you’re going through cancer, makeup isn’t just about looking your best anymore. It becomes a tool to help you maintain your lines of emotional support to your friends and loved ones, which is so important. With a little makeup, you can cover up the flaws that cancer creates on your skin, and still feel confident enough to go to work, go out to dinner, or join your friends for a movie.

If you’re suffering from a lack of confidence or even just the blues because of your appearance, try these few tips and see if they don’t help. Then don’t be afraid to seek assistance from your dermatologist or friendly makeup artist. This isn’t vanity—this is about how you feel, and feeling good helps you heal.

• Facial Swelling: Use foundation a tad darker than your regular skin tone and blend it on either side of the nose, with a lighter color on the bridge. Try a bronzer along your jaw line to slim the look of your face. Apply cold cucumber to the eye area to reduce swelling, and use eyeliner on the upper lash line to lift the eye. A bit of blush under the eyes can reduce the appearance of bags.
• Scars: Use a small concealer brush and cover all areas needed using a yellow or golden concealer. Apply foundation or powder over the top.
• Pimples: A yellow-based concealer applied sparingly is best—work from the center out, and blend well at the edges. Apply after you apply foundation.
• Under-Eye Circles: Use a concealer with a warm (pink) undertone to counteract the blueness. Apply moisturizer first, then apply concealer underneath the lashes.
• Loss of Lashes: Line the upper lash line, smudge it, then apply mascara to the lashes you have left. Avoid using a curler or waterproof formulas, as they can increase lash loss. When your lashes are completely gone, use liner except on special occasions, when you may want to apply fake lashes. Just be careful of the chemicals in the glue.
• Loss of Eyebrows: Determine a shape for your brows—using a stencil is the best way to get your desired shape (rounded or angular, for instance). Use eyebrow makeup shades that most closely match your natural hair color. Use a pencil to dot along the brow line, creating the line of your eyebrow, then take your brow brush and apply the shadow or brow color over the pencil line and throughout the brow area. Brush through both pencil and color to blend.
• Pale, Ashy Skin: Use a bronzer. Test a little on your skin before applying all over to make sure the color matches. Those with cool, pinkish tones do better with shades that have a touch of pink, while those with yellow or golden tones do well with gold, tan, or brown bronzers. Warmer olive tones should choose bronzers with amber or honey undertones, and women of color may want to choose bronzers with burgundy or copper undertones.

Find more tips in Britta’s book, When Cancer Hits.

Picture courtesy sattva via freedigitalphotos.net.

Leslie A. Zebrowitz and Joann M. Montepare, “Social Psychological Face Perception: Why Appearance Matters,” Social and Personality Psychology Compass 2 (3): 1497-1517 (2008).

If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with breast cancer, read on. Paula is working on a new movie that will show how real women with breast cancer are making life-altering decisions about their treatment, their health, and their future.

The Diagnosis No Woman Wants

I’m sorry, but you have breast cancer.

In the United States, one in eight women will hear these shattering words in her lifetime. Life Interrupted, a documentary feature about breast cancer, chronicles the lives and experiences of five unique survivors—including the filmmaker herself—from diagnosis through treatment and life beyond.

“As a daughter of a 12-year, stage 4 metastatic breast cancer survivor, and a filmmaker who has worked in the field of health educational documentaries for over 18 years,” Paula says, “I was not exactly uninformed of the statistics and possibilities that I might be affected. And yet, when my turn came, both times, I felt slammed, disoriented, disbelieving.”

Paula goes on to say that like many women, she asked, “Why me?” She had become a vegetarian at age 11, and was physically active, regularly dancing, climbing, biking, and skiing. She had a slow heart rate and low blood pressure—everything she was supposed to have to stay healthy. Even her doctors praised her for living a “clean life.”

Still, Paula received the dreaded diagnosis, and as she says, “my world broke apart.”

Learning from Others

Realizing she had no choice but to face this new challenge, Paula got herself together and went to work.

“I was determined that I had to snap out of it quickly,” she says, “because there was a lot to be done in a very short amount of time if I wanted to save my life.”

She immersed herself, as she says, “in a parallel universe that featured thousands of women from all walks of life talking about lumpectomy, mastectomy, reconstruction, radiation, chemotherapy, BRCA, Oncotype DX, and all the permutations therein.”

Amidst all her efforts of talking to doctors and doing her research, however, Paula found that what she wanted most was to talk to other women who had already been through what she was facing.

“Besides figuring out the technical aspects of our particular disease and treatment options,” she says, “most of us go online to find comfort in meeting other women to hear about their stories. The power of storytelling is informative and healing. Stories from women who have passed this way before are invaluable for navigating treatments and keeping hope alive.”

A Project to Provide Hope

It was then that Paula got the idea to make a film that would tell the story of real women going through real breast cancer. Such a documentary would be invaluable to her and to other women facing the biggest challenges of their lives.

Life Interrupted chronicles the lives and experiences of five unique survivors, including Paula herself, from diagnosis through treatment and life beyond. “What is special about this film,” Paula says, “is that resilient women from various ages, stages of breast cancer, ethnic, geographic, and socio economic backgrounds, will share their journeys as they cross into and return from, the world of Breast Cancer.”

Patricia Bear, for example, a 71-year-old member of the Gros Ventre Nation living on Fort Belknap Reservation in Montana, is one of the survivors featured in the film. She drove her truck 125 miles one-way to get radiation treatment at the closest hospital, every day, for five weeks. Patricia says she has seen the rate of cancer go up on the reservation over the years, and now works as a health advocate raising awareness.

Debra Wood, a 47-year-old year old African American flight attendant, businesswoman, and mother of two, is another featured survivor. She was initially diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer in February of 2004, two days after getting engaged. Her soon-to-be husband stood by her side as she had her eggs frozen in anticipation of the chemotherapy she would receive, followed by five years of tamoxifen, a hormonal therapy.

Two years later, she conceived “naturally “ a son and later, a daughter. Debra is now an advocate in her own community and has served on the board of Living Beyond Breast Cancer, a National Breast Cancer Survivorship organization based in Philadelphia.

Life Interrupted is in progress now, and Paula has already partnered with PBS for a public broadcast, as well as with hospitals, cancer support communities, and cancer education centers to screen the film. The objectives are to:

• Raise awareness and provide practical education for diagnosis and treatment
• Increase screenings and breast health intervention
• Provide hope and resources for quality of life survivorship
• Provide resources for prevention and non-toxic lifestyles

How You Can Help

Women’s Voices for the Earth is the non-profit sponsor for the film, but Life Interrupted and Paula still need your help! The production will cost thousands of dollars, which she’s already working on raising through grants and foundations, but she is also relying on individual donors.

If you would like to make a tax-deductible donation, simply go to the Life Interrupted website.

“These women are confronting life-altering diagnoses,” Paula says, “and respond to their disease process and the rebuilding of their lives with honesty, dignity, humor, and grace. I am adjusting to my new realities and surviving, and I know others can, too. We’re not just our breasts. We’re not just cancer chicks. We are ourselves, and we will emerge, intact or changed, as ourselves.”

Learn more about Life Interrupted and if you’d like, donate here.

See entry details below!

Times of adversity can show up in all sorts of ways in our lives. For myself and millions of others, Hurricane Sandy is a good example. By the grace of God, I’m safe and have power, but it’s not the same story for a lot of other people. Some have had to deal with the devastating news that a loved one was lost. Others are facing the destruction of their homes. Millions have been left without power, and may be coping with the loss of refrigerators full of food.

Adversity can also hit us through life-threatening illnesses, such as cancer. I know that while my father was fighting his battle with the disease, especially when it became clear that he was not going to win, ultimately, I felt a lot of emotions, but gratitude wasn’t one of them—not at first. I felt angry that the treatments weren’t working, upset that he was suffering so many difficult side effects, and very frightened at the prospect of losing him.

Finding an Attitude of Gratitude

Interestingly enough, it’s at these difficult times when having an “attitude of gratitude” can help the most. Finding the smallest thing to be grateful for, such as a loved one’s hand in yours, the sun on your face, fresh water to drink, or even a roof over your head, can help get you through.

I’m already hearing people all around me in New York talking about what they’re grateful for, like the fact that their house is still standing, or their loved ones are still alive, or they still have a job to go to, or even that they have heat and electricity. Many are reaching out to help others, which can be healing for both those giving and receiving. I am so grateful that I can go and volunteer at a shelter this weekend to share the overflow of gratitude I feel for not being directly affected.

It wasn’t until I was able to find that sense of gratitude that I was able to experience the joy in my father’s last days. I grew thankful for each moment I had with him—that I could spend all our remaining days focusing on him and “us”—and counted my blessings that I was one of the few people who actually get to say a proper goodbye to my father. I asked him about things I had never asked him before, and I will forever cherish the memory of those conversations. How lucky I was to have them!

What’s Your Story?

Now, as thousands around me work to rebuild their lives, and with the Thanksgiving holiday just around the corner, I want to hear about your attitude of gratitude. I’m hoping you’ll share your story of how gratefulness helped you get through times of adversity, no matter how big or small. We need to hear about how the attitude we choose can change things, making our tough experiences into some of our biggest blessings. Send your story into our Facebook page and you could win big!

I love what my friend, Darren Neuberger, who is also an author, speaker and cancer survivor, had to say about adversity:

“It takes tremendous courage to be able to come face to face with adversity and to not back down from it! We face adversity in many different ways, shapes, and forms, and for the most part, it would be easy to just let it walk all over us! However, to stand up, look it square in the eyes and scream at the top of your lungs—I WILL NOT BACK DOWN FROM YOU—the inner power that you will gain from this could light a small country! Remember this: It doesn’t matter how many times you get knocked down. It’s all about how quickly you get back up and never lose sight as to why you got back up!”

Attitude of Gratitude Contest—You Could Win CV Skinlabs, When Cancer Hits and a Consultation with Me!

I’m happy to announce that Cinco Vidas and our skin care line, CV Skinlabs, is hosting an Attitude of Gratitude Contest. Enter to win between November 2 and November 21^st, and you could walk away with our grand prize!

How to enter:

• Required: Leave your “attitude of gratitude” story—how gratitude helped you overcome adversity in your life—as a post/comment on our Cinco Vidas Facebook page in 150 words or less. Make sure you title it “Attitude of Gratitude Contest Entry” so we know that you’re entering!
• Increase your chances of winning: If you “like” both Facebook pages, you’ll be entered twice more! (Attitude of gratitude story is required, remember!) “Like” our Cinco Vidas Facebook Page and our CV Skinlabs Facebook page.
• Share: For another entry, share this post using the “share” button (so we can track your shares) on Facebook directly from our Cinco Vidas Facebook page. Simply share on your facebook timeline to encourage others to enter and spread the healing energy of gratitude at a time when we need it the most.

You may enter your stories until midnight EST, November 21^st, 2012. After that date, the Cinco Vidas team will read through all entries received and choose a grand prize winner.

Our Grand Prize

The grand prize winner will receive all of the following!

• Full collection of CV Skinlabs products, valued at $150. Check it out at cvskinlabs.com.
• Autographed copy of Britta’s book, When Cancer Hits—read more here.
• Free one-hour personal consultation with Britta on how to detox your home, personal care products, and cosmetics via Skype, phone, or in person if you live in the NYC area!

The winner will be announced on all our media pages on November 26, 2012.

Enter Today!

I’m very excited to hear your stories of how being grateful helped you get through hard times, so please, get out your keyboards and share! We learn so much from the experiences of others, and particularly at this time of year, it’s great to be reminded of the importance of gratitude, and how much it can contribute to the joy in our lives.

In the meantime, let me leave you with this prayer and encourage you to send your prayers and thoughts for all those struggling with the aftermath of hurricane Sandy:

Dear God,
In the midst of this turmoil, bring forth Your peace.
May love make way for healing and repair,
opening portals of light where darkness seemingly prevailed.
Place Your hand upon those who suffer
and bring Your comfort to those who fear.
Make way for miracles.
And so it is.
Amen

Enter our contest today by submitting your 150-word story on our Facebook page!

It’s natural to worry about it. After you’ve been through so much, the last thing you want to do is go through it again.

Unfortunately, you can’t control the future. Sometimes the cancer does come back. It happened to my father—five times. He would go into remission from cancer in one part of his body, and it would show up in another part. He was so disappointed when he found out, but he picked himself back up and went on as best he could.

Many cancer patients find themselves really anxious about this whole thing. How can you calm yourself down and set up a plan to help yourself stay as healthy as possible? I talk about both these things in Chapter 12 of my book, When Cancer Hits.

Conquer Your Fear

The first thing you have to do is conquer your fear. It leads you to imagine the worst, which can totally stress you out, and we all know that stress isn’t good for our health.

Thing is, it’s easier to say you should stop being afraid then it is to actually help yourself feel less afraid. That’s where it helps to have specific steps to follow whenever you feel yourself spiraling into that “what if it comes back?” mode of thinking. I give you a specific step-based approach to tackling your fears and getting your head back into that confident, strong place you need to be.

Five Ways to Reduce Your Risk

Wouldn’t it be cool if there were proven ways to help reduce your risk of ever experiencing cancer again?

The good news is, there are!

You can actually take steps to help reduce your risk, and they’re not overly complicated or difficult. Yes, you may need to make some changes in your lifestyle. You may need ot shift your priorities, but typically after cancer, you’ve done that anway.

I give you five things you can do in your life, right now, that will help you reduce your risk of getting cancer again. And these aren’t just neat ideas. They are steps that have shown in scientific studies to significantly reduce your risk of cancer.

A couple of these steps will likely make sense to you, but others may come as a complete surprise. Once I take you through each step, I’ll help you create an actual plan you can use to get yourself on the right track toward lasting health and vitality.

Isn’t that worth a little of your time?

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

Do you worry about recurrence? Have you read Britta’s book? Please share your thoughts.

Founder of the non-profit organization “A Fresh Chapter,” Terri is a breast cancer survivor who had her own struggles returning to “normal life” after her treatments were over. She found renewed purpose when she traveled overseas to volunteer in Africa. In fact, the experience changed her life so much, she decided to dedicate herself to helping others with cancer to renew their purpose and vitality through volunteering.

Now, after finishing a world tour of eight countries on five continents to find reputable partners, Terri is ready to launch a pilot project that will test the concept of international volunteering as a way to help cancer survivors restart their lives after treatment. She needs 12 volunteers to go. Could you be one of them?

Why New Delhi?

So far on her world trip, Terri has found two strong organizations that she’s planning to work with to set up future volunteer trips for cancer survivors. Both have the ability to support survivors overseas medically and logistically, and both encourage sustainable tourism practices.

Armed with the beginnings of her new organization, Terri now wants to take 12 cancer survivors and a film crew on a trip to New Delhi, India. There, survivors will enjoy a program that includes volunteering at area places of need, coming together to share stories with other survivors, and taking in a few sites like the Taj Mahal. The experience will be filmed to share with other survivors, and to raise awareness about the challenges of starting over after treatment.

“I chose New Delhi for a number of reasons,” Terri says. “It has the best of both worlds. There is plenty of work to be done, but if anyone needs medical attention, they have wonderful hospitals. Plus, I don’t think after visiting there you can ever see the world in the same way. People there are so gracious. People with nothing will give you their last cup of tea.”

What Does the Program Entail?

The program in India will last two weeks. “Each of the twelve survivors will have the opportunity to volunteer somewhere that matches up with their skills or interests. They may work at a day care, a hospital, teaching English, or whatever, depending on the needs of the community and what the volunteer wants to do.”

Once each person has their volunteer designation, they’ll enjoy about half a day there every day.

“Every weekday morning for 3-4 hours each participant will volunteer. During one afternoon we’ll have a group activity, where we’ll bring together survivors from the west with patients and caregivers from New Delhi. We’re hoping this will create a community of individuals who are focused on starting a new chapter in their lives.”

On the other afternoons, Terri says everyone will enjoy historical and cultural activities around New Delhi, including language classes, tours of mosques/temples, and presentations on history, religion, and culture.

On the weekends? She’s looking forward to introducing the survivors to the Taj Mahal—one of the eight wonders of the world—which is about four hours away.

Who Is This For?

“All of us have a finite amount of time on earth,” Terri says. “You’ve been through something very hard. What happens now? Who are you now? What will give you purpose the rest of your life?”

Terri’s looking for 12 people of different ages and backgrounds, with different types of cancer, that are willing to get involved and connect with others, but most of all, who are looking to start a fresh chapter in their lives.

“If you’re feeling isolated or alone after treatment, you’re going to meet people who feel just like you do.” Those on the trip will also have the chance to get outside of themselves and their illnesses to help someone else—a key step in learning to find new purpose in life.

Okay…But What About the Cost?

You may think there’s no way you could ever afford a trip to New Delhi, India, but think again. Terri is currently working with volunteer organizations to secure a reduced rate for in-country services, including food, accommodation, and transportation once members get to New Delhi. Even more amazing? She’s working to find a way to pay for everyone’s flight from the U.S. and the trip to the Taj Mahal.

“The program fee is typically around $3,200,” she says, “but we’re working to get that down. That covers three meals a day, lodging, cultural activities, transportation from the airport and to the volunteer placements, safety and security in the country, and more.” Even that amount you don’t have to raise completely on your own, as Terri is giving each member tools to help them in their fundraising efforts.

“Each survivor will have a web page,” she says, “and I’ll be able to promote these on my site. Each person will get generous exposure to a whole community of people who want to support this effort.”

If You’re Interested—Sign up by September 25^th!

If you are interested in joining Terri and eleven other survivors in India, don’t wait. Go to Terri’s web page “Delhi 2013” and submit your name and email address. Simple! In return, you’ll receive information about how you can secure one of the 12 spots, and up-to-the-minute information about what to expect from the program. You’ll also receive concrete ways to get started with your fundraising efforts.

“To me, the success of this program will lie in its ability to communicate the challenges people experience when they’re going through survivorship. I hope our twelve members will come back inspired and filled with purpose, with a new perspective on who they are and what they are capable of doing with their lives.”

To learn more, go to Terri’s website.

Picture courtesy Terri Wingham.

It’s a great feeling when you get the news that your doctor can no longer find any cancer. Your last treatment is over, and it looks like you’re in remission. You may celebrate with family and friends, and get one of the best nights of sleep of your life.

The next morning, though, may hit you a little bit differently. Treatments are over, but that doesn’t mean everything is going to go back to how it was before the cancer. If you thought that it would, this realization can be especially difficult.

What about lasting side effects? What about scars? And most of all, what about the biggest question—how you’re going to get back into your life?

In Chapter 11 of my book, When Cancer Hits, I answer these questions and more.

Lasting Side Effects

There are several side effects that can continue to bug you after treatments are over. Surgery scars, for instance, may still feel tender and tight, and you may feel embarrassed about them. I give you several tips for making scar areas feel more comfortable, and for reducing the appearance of visible scars that bother you by how they look.

Side effects on your face can be especially difficult to deal with after treatments are over. As a result of acne, dry skin, chemotherapy, or radiation treatments, you may be left with hyperpigmentation, where the skin is darker in some places. Again, there are several options for lightening these areas that I’ll tell you about.

What about your hair? Many cancer survivors note that when their hair grows back, it’s different than it was. It may be a little darker, or a little curlier. I explain to you why this happens, and what you can expect over the next year as your hair struggles to reestablish itself. Plus, I help you with things like post-treatment hair care and let you know when chemical treatments (like perms and colors) are safe and when, and give you lots of tips for homemade moisturizers and foods that will help fortify your new hair.

Chemo Brain & Fatigue

It’s not uncommon to find yourself forgetting things after treatments are over. Called “chemo brain,” it’s a condition that affects a lot of survivors, reducing focus, concentration, the ability to multi-task, and memory. I explain why this happens, and give you tips to cope.

You may also feel discouraged to find yourself still so tired. Treatments are over. Your energy should bounce back, right? Not necessarily. Fatigue is one of those side effects that likes to hang around even after the cancer is gone. I share tips from doctors on this topic, and give you some dietary tips to help your body gradually regain its strength.

Time to Detox

All through treatment, you were likely treated with numerous drugs and perhaps radiation. Your body will be struggling to recover from all the residual waste. If you’re experiencing fatigue, bloat, headaches, muscle aches, and even bad breath, these could be signs of excess toxins in your blood and tissues. I’ll guide you through several natural remedies that can assist your body as it works to gradually rid you of treatment leftovers.

Get Back Into Life

Most likely you’re going to realize that your cancer experience changed you. You may try to get back into life the way it was before, and find yourself feeling lost, or angry, or depressed. All these feelings are completely normal. I share with you several stories from other survivors who went through the same feelings, and talk about how they coped. I’ll also give you tips for how to deal with your feelings, and prepare you for Chapter 12, which gives you more information on that topic.

Cancer may be over, but your job of extreme self-care isn’t. It’s tough to realize that at first, but gradually, you’ll get back on your feet again. Meanwhile, a little help won’t hurt!

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

Did you struggle with lasting side effects after your treatments were over? Have you read Britta’s book? Please share your experiences.

My dad had an extreme case of a side effect called “hand and foot syndrome.” I came home from New York to see him and he was lying in bed, watching television, with his hands elevated as if he had some type of goo on them and couldn’t touch anything. As I walked closer, I saw that they were red and inflamed. The doctors hadn’t told him how to treat the symptoms, so he was just suffering with them.

That moment made me sad and angry. I was sad because of the pain he was feeling, and angry because no one was doing anything about it. I later learned that there are techniques that can help relieve the discomfort of hand and foot syndrome, and I’ve included these in chapter 10 of my book, When Cancer Hits. In this chapter, you’ll also find solutions to many of the other common side effects of the hands and feet.

Hand and Foot Syndrome

This condition develops when some of the chemo drugs lead out of the small blood vessels in the palms of the hands and soles of the feet, resulting in redness (like a sunburn), pain, tenderness, numbness and tingling, and sometimes peeling. In chapter 10, I tell you first, what steps to take to avoid this syndrome, and second, what home remedies work if you do get it.

Edema and Swelling

This is the one of the common side effects to hit the hands and feet. It usually is caused by steroids or other drugs used in treating cancer, which can create fluid retention. Your hands and feet may feel tighter or larger than usual, and your shoes and/or rings may not fit as well as usual. Chapter 10 gives you solutions, and tells you the one type of food you want to be sure to avoid.

Neuropathy

If you can’t feel your fingers and toes, or if you have trouble buttoning your shirt, opening doors, or picking up things, you may have neuropathy, which is a form of nerve damage. Certain chemotherapy medications can damage the nerves in the peripheral parts of the body, such as the hands and feet. I give you some tips, like which vitamin and mineral supplements may help reduce nerve damage, as well as tips to cope if you do end up with this side effects—even tips to help you sleep more comfortably.

Nail Care

Chemotherapy attacks the fast-growing cells in the body, including those that are responsible for nail growth. As a result, your nails may become discolored, grooved, and brittle, and may sometimes break off prematurely. I give you some great tips in this chapter for improving your odds of avoiding this side effect, and let you know what types of vitamins and lotions may help.

If you end up with discolored nails and want to cover them up, you’ll find information in this chapter about safe cover-ups that protect you from possible infection. Should you get a manicure or pedicure during treatment? I answer that question as well.

Care for your hands and feet is probably not something you thought about when you were first diagnosed. Most of us think about losing our hair, but side effects that attack precious fingers and toes can be even more problematic. Learn how to start safe self-care from the beginning, and you’re likely to get through treatment much more easily.

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

Did you have side effects on your hands and feet during cancer treatments? How did you cope? Have you read Britta’s book? Please share your thoughts.

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.