Testing Prevention

     Successful prevention is hard to measure. However there are occasions when you accidentally test your process. I have Celiac Disease. I have made diligent efforts to maintain a gluten free lifestyle for 9 years. I would suffer occasionally for accidental cross contamination. The results of ingesting the smallest speck of bread or drop of soy sauce was intense pain and food poisoning like symptoms. Not pleasant at all. Side note; I am very glad my response to gluten is not deadly. However when you are unable to leave the bathroom for more than 20 minutes it makes it hard to work, be a mom, and in general a functioning human. For those who think this Gluten Free thing is a fad, rest assured it is not. However there may be hope for reducing ones symptoms of accidental consuming of gluten.

     Often we must go back to move forward. December 20, 2011 I am sitting at my new desk in my new office at my new job. It is day 10 and everything is still very new. Everything is just as I had hoped it would be when I graduated collage at age 44. My cell phone rang. I had had the breast tissue biopsy the previous Friday. And was expecting the results that day, and fully expecting them to be part of that 80% that results in is benign. I heard the words from Dr. Maxwell. “I have your results and I’m sorry to tell you, you have cancer.” As any survivor will tell you they don't recall much of what was said after that. I do recall Dr. Maxwell saying “We have a great team they will take good care of you. You will be ok.” 

     Shortly after that day I started to learn about my treatment plan, side effects and what I should do to give myself the best possible outcome. I was quick to learn one component that I had supreme control over was nutrition. What I eat. Oh goody I was already the food police of my family reading all the labels, researching unfamiliar ingredients. Now I needed to toss out all my conventional knowledge about food and ignore the government recommended nutritional guidelines. What I have learned about that quagmire of data is a long story for another time.

        Let us go forward a little bit. Mid November 2012 ago when I was exhausted and crazy sick my friend Donna Foster invited me, again, to learn about a whole food product that she and her family use. It had helped her son stay healthy and maintain perfect attendance in elementary school. I had discovered by reading the results of cancer research that nutrition from whole foods is better than consuming individual nutrients. But was overwhelmed with trying to consume 10-15 cups of fresh, organic, local, raw produce.

     I arrive at the meeting location a hot mess, I had lost my job, I had just brought my mom home from a 10 day hospital stay for a sepsis infection, and I had had ear surgery in October, was still healing from radiation treatments. To state that I was a hot mess is understated.  The speaker, Stacy Joy, is a holistic nurse that was silly crazy about the 12,000 nutrients found in an apple. She was talking about nutrient synergy and anti-oxidants and DNA switches. I was familiar with the terms she was using, they are the same terms and definitions used in cancer prevention and post treatment healing research. Stacy and Donna both said that taking all three fruit, vegetables and whole grain blends of Juice Plus would help me bridge the gap on the volume of whole food nutrients I was consuming. My package arrived a few weeks later, red, green and purple for me and red and green for TJ, his were free.

     Go forward again. June 2014 TJ encourages me to learn more about the Celiac Disease Study at Advance Clinical Research. There are many parts and markers to see if you can participate in a medical clinical trial. I shan’t bore you with the details. One component that is important to this this story is the Upper Endoscopy with biopsy to detriment the current level of damage to the lining of my stomach. This is the same procedure used to diagnose Celiac Disease.  Results are that I do not have enough damage to go forward in the clinical trial. I am happy sad, my stomach lining is healing. Happy that I am healing, sad that my participation in the clinical trial has ended.

     Coming around to now. September 18, 2014 I am at a Boy Scout Camp in McCall Idaho. It is a special place and a special time. Scouting youth teaching components of the outdoor experience on a Wood Badge Course. That is a story for another time. Others are preparing my food, ALWAYS huge risk! I have backup safe food, I always have back up food. I visit with the man in charge of breakfast, we do a rundown of the components of the breakfast casserole. I feel comfortable that it is safe for me and TJ to eat. I get breakfast first, on the third bite I look again at the golden brown cheesy yumminess….there in all its loveliness is a layer of tasty flaky goodness….bread. Oh goodness…I this could be very bad. I have not consumed that much regular bread in 9 years. I stop eating and go for my back up stash. Informing TJ that we are enjoying our preparedness.

     I am happy to share with you that, the rest of the day the others that prepared food for me and TJ were prepared, knowledgeable and accommodating. The amazing result of my gluten consumption, I had some minor discomfort and extra gas. A FAR, FARAWAY different response than just a few months ago. I am amazingly grateful for the knowledge that my efforts to eat enough nutrients to heal my body are working.

     This is not a sales pitch. This is me expressing gratitude for confirmation that hard work and diligence provides desired outcomes. If you want to know more about Juice Plus and how it may help your prevention program please contact me.

Day 15 ~ Triad Challenge

Welcome to something daring.

Mind: Think back to when you were 7 years old, someone asked you, ‘what do you want to-do or be when you grow up?’ Are you living that answer? Yes…good help someone else live/find theirs.

 No… When did that dream change? Can you make it happen? What do you want to be doing in 7 years? What skill can you learn now that will help you get there. Remember to be real…if you are a 50 year old, mom of 11, a dream of being a Chippendales dancer is not very probable. I dare you to dream. 

Body: Walk the long way to the store to buy more vegetables. Cruciferous Vegetables; broccoli, cabbage, kale,  bok choy and tatsoi, all contain nutrients that help protect you from cancer cells. Pick some up for an adventure in the kitchen this weekend. I dare to prevent. 

Spirit: Time to reflect on the week of daring. What things have you done since Saturday that you liked? A few moments and think about the word daring….look it up on Thesaurus.com daring. They have a visual Thesaurus that is crazy fun.  Reflect on the last two weeks…get ready for the next two weeks. I dare you to think. 

This week has been about challenging ourselves to move beyond where we are. To add a new activity, look at situations differently, find simple ways to experience life. 

Day 6~Triad Challenge

Welcome to something Meaningful.
Mind: There is an old  adage. "I have a very clean mind..I change it often." What have you been thinking about another that needs to change? Where they live...how they dress...what they buy. ...what is someone thinking about your decisions? 
Body: Weather in Idaho is getting tricky and icky. Walk more inside. Walk in place in front of the TV, walk during the commercials to start, then the next show walk between the commercials. Just find 10-20 min a day for some extra steps.
Spirit: Take a deep breath and set your resolve. Look at your to do list...does it line up with your goals...what are your goals...find your why...put it where you can see it...knowing your why helps when you have to struggle and fight.
Today is extra special for me...I am done being 46...It was a tough year: lost the ability to work, there is a lot that went in to that discovery...not much of it was good. I am redefining my goals. I did get to make some amazing memories with a trip to Washington DC and around the neighborhood. I am very excited about 47. I have some worries...as we all do...money...kids grades...cancer...brain damage issues...kids growing up to fast... homelessness. I do know that it will be an amazing year filled with amazing people and wonderful memories, struggles to make me stronger. I will do my Daily Lifetime Process to Honor Mind Body and Spirit.  Blessings

Triad challenge

Daily Lifetime Process Honoring Mind Body and Sprit.
As the reflective time of year approaches I will be looking forward and planing to move myself and maybe you to a better place to enjoy my holiday gatherings.
I have learned many things over the last 22 months since hearing the words...you have cancer.

One that I am capable of letting go of my need to be right. I am capable of not being in charge. I am able to let others help. I can ask for help, and when people say no, I am not to take it personally. I have learned that we must, everyday, do the things that move us in the process of life. As we all know there are no guaranties on our life span and that we all have expiration dates. We all know there are things we can do to enjoy our life while we are here and honor the gift of the present.

I am learning that this is a Daily Lifetime Process Honoring Mind Body and Spirit. Everyday I must do something positive to help my body heal, encourage my mind to repair, foster joy in my sprit. Beginning November 1 I will post a three part challenge that will contain activities for the current/next day to guide us through honoring mind body and sprit. You can comment your results, thoughts and encouragement to each other on that day's post.

Remember this is about you learning about you and being a better you for yourself and others. Be Kind... Be Gentle...  Yes you can set smart goals that support the triad of mind, body and spirit, but they are not required. Do you have to do every part of every challenge...no. Let's be real people...we have jobs, kids, families and others that make demands on our time. The activities may be things you already do, but this will ask you to look at the task in a different light. I am excited to welcome you to this process.

It has been a Year.

We all have those special days when we take a moment cast a long look at the past and contemplate the good and some "could have been better" experiences. I believe that birthdays, wedding anniversary, date of a death, New Years Day and Easter are common among most of us. To a cancer survivor we have a few more that we would gladly give up. For some it is the Day of Diagnosis, often recalled with a sense of loss and grieving  for cancer treatments rob you of your plans for the next few months or years. Others it is the Last Day of Treatment, often though of with joy and celebration because you don't have to have any more. But more often leaves another sense of loss for what has become the "normal process or routine" is now disrupted. For Transplant Survivors they have two birthdays. One to celebrate first breath and the second to celebrate new marrow. A beginning of a new way of life sometimes, it is not an easy move from treatment to survivor. 

For me December 20th will be acknowledged with a sense of loss and courage. Loss for all that I had planed that never happened, camping, fishing, hikes and walks along the beach. Courage because that is something every survivor has whether we know it or not when we hear those fateful words. Another important date for me is March 29th. The last radiation treatment and the beginning of healing. Healing is an interesting process.  It takes a short time to make us sick, with in hours of your first Chemo treatment your body is damaged and begins the process of  healing. The reason Chemo and Radiation work is because the body's healthy cells can repair, the cancer can not. The challenge of healing is that it takes a very long time. Depending on your state of vitality at the time of injury or damage will make a difference on just how long that time is. 

There is the healing that your body parts have to do and then there is the healing that our soul and emotions must do. This time of year I get to do some healing of my soul and emotions. I get to promote the Race For the Cure and the life saving work that the amazing men and woman at Komen Idaho do every day. I have recorded my radio spot and will do a live radio show April 10th at 9:30 am on 107.9 with Lisa Adams.

We have all been touched by cancer in some manner either ourselves, a family member, a friend, co-worker or a friend of a friend. WE all want to support our those we know and the cause connected to them. I am no different. I want every one I know to register for the Komen Race for the Cure under Clan of Marie Team to support the mission that saved my life. But more important is that you do something. If it is not for Race for the Cure, then it is Relay for Life, or Walk MS on April 20th in Boise.

Today was a challenging day emotionally and mentally two brain therapy sessions, an hour us wait at health and welfare, and good Friday.  Take a moment to reflect what are your days of reflection and planning.
  

It is about 365

     As we close the month of awareness for many causes, Gluten free, Autism, and Breast Cancer just to name some that are close to my heart. Please know that those who are affected are impacted every day, 365 not just the 31 of October. If you have not had the correct cancer screenings for your age and genetic group please make that appointment today. If you do not have insurance or your insurance does not cover the test then ask for assistance. Breast Cancer is not the only cancer that has awesome assistance programs.
    In this month I have shared in the experience of the highest emotions of  Kip’s remission and the lowest as Brenda was taken from us at the young age of 48. Her body was ravaged by cancer but her soul shines bright guiding the rest of to a better way of life.
    Much is to be said for awareness, early detection and curative treatments, they save lives. I will take this time to share a bit of insight on surviving treatment and prevention. Kip was diagnosed with Leukemia when he was healthy and doing most of the right things food and exercise. There are not many external controllable risk factors for blood cancers. During treatment Kip set new markers for positive responses and reduced side effects. He maintained his dedication to good eating and exercise often to the point of embarrassing his medical team. Today Kip is in full remission and enjoying each new day as the gift it is. Being physically, mentally and spiritually healthy made a positive impact on Kip's treatment outcomes.
     Brenda was diagnosed at a time when she was not at her best physically. Brenda’s mental and spiritual healthiness is testament that you can remain positive and a beacon of hope when things are not going the way you wanted. Uterine cancer has some controllable external risk factors, same as my breast cancer. Brenda’s treatment outcomes were not what any of us expected or wanted. 4 months for surgery to remove her cancer she is dead. I miss her deeply. Please know that her death carries a message to me and you. Get healthy. Get off the typical American food plan; get off your butts and move, get in tune with yourself. Listen to when you feel good and when you don’t take action when you don’t. Know your controllable risk factors and control them.
     Some cancers or diseases are not preventable but your state of being will make a difference on how you respond to treatment. I know now that I may have been able to prevent my cancer. If I had not smoked for 20+ years, used artificial birth control, I should have had a child before age 30 and had been able to breastfeed for more than a month, if I had maintained my ideal weight and had been exercising on a regular basis. All of the above may or may not have prevented my cancer; however I did not take right steps to prevent. I want all of you to know that now is the time to make a difference in your life and the life of others. Know your factors and make the changes.
     I have shared my cancer story so that other women will know that there is help and resources available. I will continue to share my story so that more women will not die from cancer but will get the screenings, no excuses. I will also lend my voice to prevention. I have started exercising daily and must say I wish I had made this change 35 years ago. Even as I recover from another surgery this year I know that my daily walks are making a difference in my recovery. Now is the time, no excuses.
     This is a new blog spot, so yes it looks different than the other site. Give me some time to add some good and coolness to the new spot.
As always thanks for reading and supporting me in my journey.
Clan of Marie is strong and getting healthy.