Sunday, December 31, 2017
What To Do With a New Year
Instead of making the same old New Year's resolutions, why not try something different? Go after what you really want for a new year and really live it.
BY Dana Stewart
PUBLISHED December 30, 2017
Dana Stewart was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2010 at the age of 32. She is the co-founder of a cancer survivorship organization called The Dragonfly Angel Society. She volunteers as an advocate and mentor, focusing on young adults surviving cancer. She enjoys writing about life as a cancer survivor, as well as connecting survivors to the resources, inspirations and stories that have helped her continue to live her best life, available at www.dragonflyangelsociety.com.
The possibilities for a new year are endless. I love that part. It's always a fresh start; a do-over. You can make resolutions, vow to make this year better than the last, and just hope the year is going to be fantastic. Creating resolutions and saying "I hope" are not going to make it happen. The new year brings all the possibilities in the world, but most of those are not going to happen by chance. You have set the path to grab those possibilities and make them reality.
New Year's Resolutions From Cancerland
Five simple, doable resolutions for the New Year from a breast cancer and melanoma survivor.
BY Barbara Tako
PUBLISHED December 31, 2017
Barbara Tako is a breast cancer survivor (2010), melanoma survivor (2014) and author of Cancer Survivorship Coping Tools–We'll Get You Through This. She is a cancer coping advocate, speaker and published writer for television, radio and other venues across the country. She lives, survives, and thrives in Minnesota with her husband, children and dog. See more at www.cancersurvivorshipcopingtools.com,or www.clutterclearingchoices.com.
Hey, I am still here!
Seven and a half years after breast cancer and four years after my melanoma. I am deeply grateful to be here. There has been sadness and loss — 2017 was not one of my better years. There has been chemo brain, fatigue, arthritis, the death of my mom, a move, recovery from a broken foot … and I am still here. I like to think about New Year’s resolutions this time of year. I think it is positive to look forward and make a plan. What about you? As a clutter clearing speaker-author, I try to make my resolutions fewer, simpler and more doable each year. Here are mine:
Reduce my self-beating. This has been hard-wired into many of us and we can work on it. Life is short. Cancer survivors know this, but still some of us say those “not good enough” critical words to ourselves regularly. After my first cancer diagnosis, I make more effort to let go of the guilt or worry that somehow I caused the cancer too. Recently, I tested positive for a genetic defect related to cancer called PALB2. Self-beating is hurtful and unproductive. If I wouldn’t wish it on a friend, why did I do this to myself?
Facing the Responsibilities of the New Year
The new year impacts breast cancer survivors in a vastly different ways than it does most people. Our resolutions, especially health-related resolutions, can be detrimental to our health if we don't keep them. This survivor shares her own chagrin at failing to keep some promises.
BY Bonnie Annis
PUBLISHED December 29, 2017
Bonnie Annis is a breast cancer survivor, diagnosed in 2014 with stage 2b invasive ductal carcinoma with metastasis to the lymph nodes. She is an avid photographer, freelance writer/blogger, wife, mother and grandmother.
The New Year is upon us and with it comes the pressure of great hopes and expectations. Well-meaning promises are made and even though many of those will ultimately be broken, the intentions behind them are always good.Health, wealth, and happiness are among the top categories from which resolutions begin. These three are most important for they touch our lives profoundly and impact us like no other.
But what happens when a breast cancer survivor doesn't follow through with her resolutions?
Saturday, December 30, 2017
The Emotional Roller Coaster of Having Breast Cancer | FindATopDoc
Whether going through treatment, or becoming a survivor of breast cancer, any woman who has experienced it will understand the emotional ups and downs that plague life surrounding this disease. Breast cancer is physically and mentally draining, and the stress and anxiety that come with the news of this fatal disease are followed by anger, depression, and acceptance in erratically phased stages.
Dose of the Coast: A daughter's act of love turns into a prescription to help patients
The two happiest days in a boat owner's life are the day he buys it and the day he sells it. , or so the saying goes. But it did not hold true for Don Walker.
Though Walker loved the water, cancer weakened him to the point that he sold his boat. So, his daughter, Ashley Ferguson and her husband, Adam, arranged a charter boat fishing trip with him in 2014. A small thing for a daughter; a big one for a dad.
“Two days before he passed away, he said, ‘You know, thank you, baby, for that trip,’ ” Ferguson said. “And I said, ‘What trip? What are you talking about?’ He said, ‘That fishing trip.’ ‘You mean the one at Empire? That was a year ago.’ It just stuck with me because we hadn’t talked about it.
“That was the trip that, literally, on his deathbed, he was recalling. It wasn’t until after he passed away that I really started digesting how important it was.”
So important, she decided, she wanted to share the good feelings it brought her dad.
Earlier this year, Ferguson created Dose of the Coast, which provides fishing, sailing or cruising trips for people with life-altering illnesses. Including family members who get to come along, Dose of the Coast has provided trips for 21 patients and 63 of their family members since starting in May
Memories Will Slip Away and It Will Be Okay
Downsizing to a smaller living space means this survivor has to decide what to keep and what to give away. Journaling and taking photographs helps this survivor preserve memories, rather than keeping too many belongings.
BY Barbara Tako
PUBLISHED December 29, 2017
Barbara Tako is a breast cancer survivor (2010), melanoma survivor (2014) and author of Cancer Survivorship Coping Tools–We'll Get You Through This. She is a cancer coping advocate, speaker and published writer for television, radio and other venues across the country. She lives, survives, and thrives in Minnesota with her husband, children and dog. See more at www.cancersurvivorshipcopingtools.com,or www.clutterclearingchoices.com.
To make our downsized house feel more like a home that fits us and celebrate our first holidays here, my husband and I have begun to make small home improvements and weed out clutter. The clutter is his, mine, ours, and Mom's (my mom died from metastatic breast cancer this summer in the middle of our home move to downsize). Weeding out, deciding what to treasure and what to toss, is an emotional process for me. It brings back sad memories as well as a lot of very wonderful memories, and yes, I still have my "cancer box" with wigs and more "just in case."
As a clutter clearing speaker-author and as a cancer survivor, I weed through stuff and think about the memories. I am saddened at the memories that will be lost and I am working to accept that the fading of those memories is part of life.
Cancer survivors are more aware of the passage of time and their own mortality than some, I think. How do we cope with everything that we have lost and will yet become lost? I contemplate that as I weed out.
As a clutter clearing speaker-author and as a cancer survivor, I weed through stuff and think about the memories. I am saddened at the memories that will be lost and I am working to accept that the fading of those memories is part of life.
Cancer survivors are more aware of the passage of time and their own mortality than some, I think. How do we cope with everything that we have lost and will yet become lost? I contemplate that as I weed out.
How a Terminal Cancer Diagnosis Can Change Everything
One caregiver grapples with the consequences of her sister's terminal cancer diagnosis.
BY Kim Johnson
PUBLISHED December 28, 2017
Kim is a nursing student who is hoping to find her place amongst the phenomenal oncology nurses and doctors who cared for her sister. She loves reading, volunteering and enjoying the outdoors of Colorado.
When one hears the word cancer, it can elicit a variety of reactions. Personally, the only word that struck a deeper chord was hearing the word “terminal.” To be told that even today, with all that modern medicine has to offer and how far we have come, it is the saddest of realities that people still do die from cancer.
It is also a reality that it is 2017, and while people still lose their respective battles to cancer, they are living longer than they previously did. That in large part is due to prolonging life with quality through various medical services such as palliative care.
When it came to my sister, we heard the word “terminal” used multiple times. Each time it was just as jarring as the time before. It did not make me any more prepared for what the actuality of that statement truly meant. As she continued living life despite the looming diagnosis of terminal hanging over her, we discussed that a grieving process was going to occur.
It is also a reality that it is 2017, and while people still lose their respective battles to cancer, they are living longer than they previously did. That in large part is due to prolonging life with quality through various medical services such as palliative care.
When it came to my sister, we heard the word “terminal” used multiple times. Each time it was just as jarring as the time before. It did not make me any more prepared for what the actuality of that statement truly meant. As she continued living life despite the looming diagnosis of terminal hanging over her, we discussed that a grieving process was going to occur.
Friday, December 29, 2017
Early Registration Deadline for the March 3, 2018 "Sista Strut" is January 2nd
Early Registration Deadline is January 2, 2018
If you interested in walking the March 3rd Sista Strut at Woldenberg Park, the registration is only $15 if you sign up by Jan. 2nd. It goes up to $20 after that.
You can register online at Races Online.com . Choose Find a Race and enter Sista Strut. Click on New Orleans and it will pull up registration.
Louisville mystery writer Sue Grafton dies of cancer at age 77
Louisville native Sue Grafton, who wrote a prolific and best-selling series of alphabetically titled mystery novels, has died, according to a family friend. She was 77.
A graduate of Atherton High School and the University of Louisville, Grafton worked as a screenwriter before writing the first of her popular Kinsey Millhone novels, “A is for Alibi,” in 1982. She published her most recent book in the series, “Y is for Yesterday,” earlier this year.
A graduate of Atherton High School and the University of Louisville, Grafton worked as a screenwriter before writing the first of her popular Kinsey Millhone novels, “A is for Alibi,” in 1982. She published her most recent book in the series, “Y is for Yesterday,” earlier this year.
Ten Resolutions Might Make This Breast Cancer Survivor's Life Better
Setting resolutions for the New Year is a common practice but one breast cancer survivor has a different perspective on how hers should look for 2018.
BY Bonnie Annis
PUBLISHED December 17, 2017
Bonnie Annis is a breast cancer survivor, diagnosed in 2014 with stage 2b invasive ductal carcinoma with metastasis to the lymph nodes. She is an avid photographer, freelance writer/blogger, wife, mother and grandmother.
I've become a sexagenarian. Who would have thought it? In fact, I was more amazed and elated at my birthday than any of my family members. After being diagnosed with breast cancer, I assumed I’d die early. I never dreamed I’d last years past my diagnosis but this July, I’ll celebrate my fourth cancerversary.
My 60th birthday was a doozy! My family and I spent it in the beautiful mountains of North Georgia. And while I don't feel like I look one minute older than I did before I reached this humongous milestone, every inch of my body begs to differ.
Time seems to be marching ever forward and at an alarming rate of speed. It seems like yesterday I was celebrating the New Year and now, Christmas is just around the corner. Where has the time gone, and why does it seem to move so much faster the older I get? As time fleets, I realize I truly am a vapor, here today and gone tomorrow. The reality of the brevity of life looms overhead, and this truth causes me to stop and rethink my own mortality.
What do I want for the New Year? Usually, I set goal after goal in hopes of accomplishing great and mighty things. And while this is an admirable thing to do, I usually fall short and find myself wallowing in self-pity. So maybe this year, I don't need to make that long list of New Year's resolutions. Perhaps I need a shorter version. This year, I think I’ll be a little more realistic and a little more kind to myself.
My 60th birthday was a doozy! My family and I spent it in the beautiful mountains of North Georgia. And while I don't feel like I look one minute older than I did before I reached this humongous milestone, every inch of my body begs to differ.
Time seems to be marching ever forward and at an alarming rate of speed. It seems like yesterday I was celebrating the New Year and now, Christmas is just around the corner. Where has the time gone, and why does it seem to move so much faster the older I get? As time fleets, I realize I truly am a vapor, here today and gone tomorrow. The reality of the brevity of life looms overhead, and this truth causes me to stop and rethink my own mortality.
What do I want for the New Year? Usually, I set goal after goal in hopes of accomplishing great and mighty things. And while this is an admirable thing to do, I usually fall short and find myself wallowing in self-pity. So maybe this year, I don't need to make that long list of New Year's resolutions. Perhaps I need a shorter version. This year, I think I’ll be a little more realistic and a little more kind to myself.
I’ve thought long and hard about it and I’ve finally come up with a list of 10 small goals. Here they are:
Pause for Reflection
How often do you pause for reflection?
BY Dana Stewart
PUBLISHED December 21, 2017
Dana Stewart was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2010 at the age of 32. She is the co-founder of a cancer survivorship organization called The Dragonfly Angel Society. She volunteers as an advocate and mentor, focusing on young adults surviving cancer. She enjoys writing about life as a cancer survivor, as well as connecting survivors to the resources, inspirations and stories that have helped her continue to live her best life, available at www.dragonflyangelsociety.com.
Pause for reflection. Three simple words but how often do you think about them? I’ll be honest – almost never for me. I rarely pause for reflection. I rarely pause for anything now that I think about it. I feel like I am always in this go-go world where if I stop for one minute I might just miss something. Anyone else feel this way? It’s hard not to. There is always the next post on social media, the next best technology or just the next best thing.
Who has time to pause for reflection?
Cancer Gives and Takes Away
Throughout our cancer journey there will be many losses. There will also be some gifts. Focusing on the gifts in times of sadness may help us process pain.
PUBLISHED December 29, 2017
Doris Cardwell is a wife, mother, writer, empty nester, a survivor of life, lover of coffee and laughter. A ten-year Inflammatory Breast Cancer Survivor, she has worked in survivorship, advocacy, and community education since her diagnosis.
Today another person I had grown to know and love through my cancer journey entered a hospice home. I could barely hold back the tears.
I knew him through our local cancer center. As I thought about the many cancers and cancer-related issues I watched him face, my deep sadness lifted for a moment. I recalled having him speak at a community cancer education event, encouraging other men to visit their doctors. I could hear his daughter's voice as she shared how cancer had returned her father to her. A relationship mended, strengthened and new bonds being formed.
I knew him through our local cancer center. As I thought about the many cancers and cancer-related issues I watched him face, my deep sadness lifted for a moment. I recalled having him speak at a community cancer education event, encouraging other men to visit their doctors. I could hear his daughter's voice as she shared how cancer had returned her father to her. A relationship mended, strengthened and new bonds being formed.
Warrior Woman of 2017 from New Focus Daily
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Tip of the Day: "Toast " the new year
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“Toast” the new year!
Celebrate the start of the new year with this
recipe for Fantastic
French Toast.
Top with fresh or canned fruit to add in another food group.
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