This post is a guest post by Derrick Cruise. I am particularly partial to the information in this post as you know if you read my mother’s story. Thank you Derrick, a short, concise yet highly important message!.

Some women decide that mammograms are too uncomfortable or embarrassing to go through. Instead, they wind up putting it off for far too long. This article explains how you can check for breast cancer yourself in between mammograms to make sure you stay healthy.

Breast cancer awareness month occurs every October and every year, millions of people all over the country pledge time and money to help fight the disease. For women, however, breast cancer awareness should be a year-round effort. A significant amount of attention is given to research and the treatment of breast cancer, but preventing breast cancer and knowing its risk factors is one way that women can fight the disease. Learning about the factors that can cause breast cancer, recognizing the signs, and knowing what to do if a woman develops breast cancer can make the difference in surviving the disease.

Prevention

While two of the most common risks for breast cancer are a woman’s family history and her age, there are other factors that a woman can control. Lifestyle changes can help decrease a woman’s risk for developing breast cancer. A healthy diet and a regular exercise regimen are recognized as ways to avoid dozens of illnesses; but according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), weight control and exercise can help women avoid obesity, which is one of the risk factors for breast cancer.

Women who are familiar with their family’s history of breast cancer are more likely to seek preventative care, like regular breast cancer screenings and monthly breast self-exams. For women who are over 50 years of age, an annual mammogram is the best way to detect breast cancer, even in its early stages.

Understanding what causes breast cancer—as well as the early signs—can also help women seek treatment earlier and increase their chances of survival. Early symptoms of breast cancer include a lump in the breast or armpit area, any nipple discharge other than breast milk, changes in the size, color or shape of the aureola, and pain anywhere on the breast. While these symptoms can be signs of other illnesses, it’s important that women visit a doctor to rule out breast cancer.

Treatment

Surviving breast cancer can depend on the actions women take to reduce their risks for developing the disease; but for women who do develop breast cancer, there are treatments and techniques to help them recover and survive their illness. Conventional breast cancer treatment includes methods like chemotherapy, radiation and surgery remove the cancerous cells, but a woman’s recovery can be encouraged by other actions to take care of her health.

Diet and exercise are still important—and there’s proof that certain kinds of exercise can benefit women recovering from breast cancer. Studies show that yoga can help reduce stress for women recovering from radiation therapy. The study, which spanned six months, revealed that women who did yoga were less fatigued than women who didn’t do yoga. Staying active consistently can encourage the recovery for women undergoing breast cancer treatment.

Breast cancer and the ways to prevent it get attention for a month every year, but it’s a woman’s responsibility to be aware of their own personal risks for the disease. And women who are alert and aware of the signs and risks can save their own lives, and the lives of other women.

~Derrick Cruise

Diana Dyer, author of A Dietitian’s Cancer Story, was diagnosed with breast cancer for the second time in 1995 at the age of forty-five. She speculates that the new advanced and aggressive cancer was a result of the radiation treatment she’d received as a child. Tired of living in fear, Dyer grew determined to control her health the best way she personally could: by changing her diet.

Dyer herself admits that scientists have no solid answers when it comes to breast cancer and diet. M. Holmes and W. Willett admit that while studies do not support that concept that fat intake in middle life has a major relation to breast cancer risk, weight gain does. Willet goes on to add (as quoted in a September post), “It makes sense for most people to make their dietary decisions based on what it does for heart disease. That’s where the data are most strong.”

Nevertheless, Dyer hunted down information where she could find it. Five years later, she had not had a recurrence of breast cancer. “And I have tons of energy—I never nap!” she says in the article The Breast Cancer-Fighting Diet. “There are no magic bullets, but I don’t think anyone will dispute that diet plays a role.” Her diet plan goes as follows:

1. Daily 3 – 6 servings of whole grain foods. Brown rice, bulgur, wheat, berries can replace plain white rice and whole grain varieties of breads, bagels, pasta, and the like are readily available at grocery stores.  Dyer says that fiber—in which these foods are high—may fight breast cancer by lowering estrogen levels in the body.
2. Daily 1 – 2 servings of beans. Hummus is a great alternative to dips, and few things are easier to incorporate in a hearty soup than a can of beans for the fiber boost.
3. Handful of nuts several times weekly. Nuts’ fiber and monounsaturated fats may help fight breast cancer.
4. Daily 9 servings of fruits and vegetables. Check out vegetarian recipes online to get ideas for incorporating more diverse vegetables into your diet.  Be sure to include calciferous foods, like broccoli and cabbage, lycopene-rich foods like tomatoes and guava, beta-carotene-rich foods like squash and sweet potatoes, leafy greens like spinach and kale, berries, and plenty of citrus fruits.
5. Daily 1 -2 servings of low-fat dairy products. Rather than buy nonfat, try 1% fat milk.  Dairy fat has the highest concentration of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) which Dyer says promotes anticancer activity.  Be sure to buy organic from local, humanely raised cows.  Happier cows produce healthier milk!
6. Daily 1 – 2 servings of soy products. Many people are confused whether soy is beneficial or harmful for women with estrogen-positive, postmenopausal breast cancer being treated with the drug tamoxifen.  Some cancer specialists advise ruling soy out of the diet entirely, but 1 to 2 servings can add beneficial nutrients and add no harm.  Stick to tofu or soy milk, which contain anti-carcinogenic compounds like saponins, phytates, protease inhibitors, and isoflavones.  Traditionally, Japanese women eat plenty of tofu and actually get less breast cancer than do American women.  Dyer is quick to remind us that soy may or may not be the answer, but it’s a good guess.
7. Fatty fish 2 – 3 times a week.  Fish like salmon contain omega-3 fatty acids that fight breast cancer.
8. Liberal use of garlic, herbs, and spices . They all increase your intake of photo-chemicals, which help fight breast cancer.
9. Daily 1 – 2 tbsp ground flax-seed. Flax contains ligneous precursors.  The body converts these to a weak anti-estrogen that may prevent or treat estrogen-responsive tumors.
10. Daily 4 – 6 cups of green tea. Green tea contains epigallocatechin, gallate (EGCG) and poly-phenols along with a slew of other anti-cancer aids.
11. Extra virgin olive oil or canola oil instead of butter, lard for cooking. Stay away from trans fats from partially hydrogenated oils (often found in processed baked goods).  When cooking at home, use sparing amounts of extra virgin olive oil and canola oil in lieu of traditional butter or lard.  The former two are high in monounsaturated fats, which may protect against breast cancer.
12. Reserve alcohol for special occasions and drink sparingly. According to Willet, “Alcohol is the best established dietary risk factor, probably by increasing endogenous estrogen levels.”

For more from Dyer, check out her book A Dietitian’s  Cancer Story. Proceeds go to the American Institute for Cancer Research.

You can find Diana Dyer’s web site here: http://www.dianadyermsrd.com/ and get a copy of her book at Amazon here: http://www.amazon.com/Dietitians-Cancer-Story-Diana-Dyer/dp/096672383X.

This article was written by Alexis Bonari who is currently a resident blogger at College Scholarships, where recently she’s been researching scholarships for entrepreneurs as well as wildlife scholarships. Whenever this WAHM gets some free time she enjoys doing yoga, cooking with the freshest organic in-season fare, and practicing the art of coupon clipping.

Food as Medicine: Healing with Herbs
By Lisa Grey

You may be familiar with the typical Italian pesto made with basil, pine nuts, and olive oil. Today, Pink Kitchen challenges you to ‘think outside the jar.’ Sure, basil is wonderful. But why stop there? Nature is full of sweet and savory herbs to nurture us, heal us, and add spice to our lives.

When we season with herbs, we add flavor to our food. This helps us cut back on salt, fat, and sugar. Not only that, but herbs can also help to protect and restore health to the body. Ancient cultures around the globe have been using herbs as medicine for thousands of years. In fact, Hippocrates once said “Let food be your medicine, and let your medicine be food.”

Modern scientists are finally beginning to give recognition to the positive effects of herbs on physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Here are some basic facts about a few different herbs to get you started.

Mint is not just a flavor for dessert. In fact, without any added sweeteners, mint has more of a tangy flavor, making it a great herb to use in every-day cooking. The oil in the mint plant aids digestion by relaxing the smooth muscles surrounding the intestine. Mint also has anticancer and antioxidant properties. There are many common herbs that are part of the mint family.

Sage belongs to the mint family. Since ancient times, it has been used as a healing herb and a preservative. Sage contains powerful germ-fighting components and antioxidants. In addition, it has the ability to lower blood pressure.

Thyme is also a member of the mint family. In ancient times, it was a symbol of bravery. Thyme has cleansing and germ-fighting properties, and it promotes healthy cell membranes. Recent studies show that thyme may also help to increase brain function.

Lemon balm is not as popular as many of its cousins in the mint family. That’s a pity. Not only does this herb have a soothing lemon flavor; it also has some important health benefits. Lemon balm (also known as Melissa) has been proven to improve memory as well as concentration by helping the brain to focus and remain calm. This may be especially useful to cancer survivors who experience “chemo-brain.”

In ancient times, Greek students placed rosemary in their hair to increase thought and memory. Since then, scientists have discovered that rosemary is actually a stimulant which increases blood flow to the head and brain. It also boosts the immune system.

Caraway may have been used as far back as the Stone Age. In Eastern Europe, caraway seed has remained one of the main seasonings for savory dishes. In addition to having antibacterial qualities, caraway also aids in digestion.

Fresh herbs are best in terms of flavor, color, and nutritional value. You can find fresh herbs at supermarkets, farmers’ markets, or ethnic grocery stores. You may even want to try growing your own herbs – either in your garden, or year-round on your windowsill. The key to growing your own herbs is to avoid over-watering – water them only when the soil is just starting to get dry.

If you are using dry herbs, you will need to use less, because the flavor is more concentrated. The general rule of thumb is 1 teaspoon of dried herbs to 1 tablespoon of fresh herbs. Be sure to store dry herbs away from heat and light, which rob them of their nutrients and flavor.

You can find recipes using fresh and dried herbs and subscribe to the the Pink Kitchen blog at http://pinkkitchen.info/ for delicious, easy recipes and great nutrition tips, Plus check out The Pink Kitchen’s newest cookbook, Pink Kitchen SCONES.

Audio: Healing with Herbs
Right click and save as… to save the audio to your hard drive.

There are also many ways in which one can support breast cancer research, patients and/or awareness. There are t-shirts for sale, wrist bands, pajamas, scarfs and the list goes on and on. This is where a little research goes a long way. BEFORE buying an item designed to heighten breast cancer awareness, like a wristband or t-shirt, look and see what percent of the item’s cost actually goes to some form of breast cancer support. Of course, when buying an item, the wholesale cost of that item, shipping and the cost of organizing and coordinating the order comes off the top of the price. What percent of what is left actually goes to help those with breast cancer of breast cancer research? I have seen as little as 5 percent end up going to a breast cancer fund. Then 80 percent of all the money collected by that fund goes to breast cancer, which means buying 100 dollars worth of some items only nets 4 dollars toward breast cancer research or support!

In my view, (for what it is worth), many businesses budget 25-30 percent of their net income to advertising. If a company is going to ‘trade’ good will for breast cancer support as a means of selling more items, (or any items with a ‘support breast cancer’ message on them), 25 percent is a decent amount to donate. Of, course, a business that grosses one million in sales and nets just one hundred thousand will only be donating twenty-five thousand dollars, or 2.5 percent of the gross sales. It is easy to see, if your intention is to donate to breast cancer support, research or awareness, donating directly to a fund that uses a small percentage for administration and a small amount for fund raising is the way to go. If you want that t-shirt, buy it, but understand that transaction is more about buying the t-shirt than it is about supporting breast cancer research or breast cancer awareness. Also, look and see what percent that company donates. That information is usually right on their web site. I have seen numbers as low as five percent and some as high as twenty-five percent. You might also take note whether that percent is of the gross or net.

Some Recommended Donation Sites With Pie Charts as to Where the Money Goes

When making a straight out donation, there are many different funds you can donate to. Some focus on research, some focus on awareness and some on helping provide screening for those unable to afford it or supporting those who already have it. Some funds support two or more of those areas of support. Right on their web site you will usually find the exact breakdown of how much goes to administration, how much to fund raising and how much to each of the areas of possible direct support.

For example, The Breast Cancer Fund states on it’s web site that 80 percent of all income goes directly to programs whose purpose is to identify and eliminate environmental cause of breast cancer. Another area of interest in addition to research, awareness, patient screening and patient support. Any fund that is efficient enough to be able to use anywhere from 70 to 90 percent of their income directly for programs is doing a decent job of controlling costs. When donating to Breast cancer funds or programs directly, be sure to find on their web sites exactly how much of your donation will be going to programs and how much is going to administration and fund raising. Another example is The National Breast Cancer Fund . A full 79.3 percent goes directly to programs. 13.3 percent to administration and 7.7 percent to fund-raising. The focus for The National Breast Cancer Fund is funding free mammograms for women who could otherwise not afford them which they spend almost 84 percent of their net funds on. They also spend around ten percent on education and almost six percent on research.

So you see, when making a donation to breast cancer, there are many things to consider. How much of your donation goes directly to programs and what kind of programs they go to. Most web sites of fund-raising organizations disclose exactly how much of there income goes where. A little research can make sure your dollars go toward the area you are most passionate about and which organization dispenses the greatest part of their income directly to those programs.

On this site, I am trying to divide links in the right side bar into four areas of interest. 1)Great breast cancer sites that focus on information and item sales. (Great BC Sites) 2) Breast cancer organizations that focus on fund raising and programs that go to different areas of interest, (BC Fundraising). (Sometimes, one or more of these sites maybe found in the ‘Great BC Sites’ section, if I have not been able to find a breakdown of their spending). 3) Sites that have taken the time to submit an informative post to this site,. (Guest Posts). (We thank you deeply). 4) links to categories of posts on this site. And 5) links to our Privacy Policy, Disclosures, Guest Post guidelines and our free manual on basic complementary therapies.

Some funds focus on one major area of support and some split up their resources into several areas. Which area(s) you chose to donate to is something only you can decide. Again, the major areas of support include: Awareness, Prescreening, Research, Environmental, Support for those already diagnosed with breast cancer and other causes. All of these areas of support can use more money to help the cause of supporting the eradication of breast cancer. Please help as much as you are able. This site is not a 501 non-profit, so we do not take donations here. Check out some of the links in the funding area of the side bar and donate directly to an organization that allows you to write off the donation from your taxes.

I have not included some sites in the right side bar. In one case, the site out-sources it’s information that it presents on the site to a third party. I was able to identify an article on that site, supposedly written by a doctor as having been written by another doctor and published on a different site several months earlier. When I find unethical practices such as this, I do not include a link to that site. So you may ask yourself why I have not included some sites here. The answer is, some I have not found yet and some I have identified as using sloppy practices. I do not identify which is which. If you know of a site you feel would be good to include in the side bar here, you are welcome to shoot me an email. I may or may not add it after investigating it to my best ability or if it is a site I have already found to engage in what I consider to be unethical practices.

Thank-you,
~Mark

Cathy and Cailyn

Introduction:
I tried to keep this article as short as possible as I can almost write a little book about my experience. The article will have links which, if you wish, will provide more information about a specific statement, some will be added in later.

Cathy’s story
At 32 I am probably one of the few individuals who have been diagnosed with their THIRD case of breast cancer. I was 26 when I was first diagnosed and a bilateral mastectomy (with reconstructive surgery) and chemotherapy followed.

Breast cancer was detected at an early stage and is the PRIMARY reason why I am alive today! I was aware of my family’s history with this disease so I ensured doing a self examination every 4 months or so, as well as an annual sonar screening from around the age of 20.

Self examination
I wasn’t fond of the self examination as it felt strange to feel the lumpy glands in my breasts (I was a size D), and I didn’t think that I would really be able to spot the difference between the glands and a lump.

It was in April 2004 when I was bathing when I realized that I hadn’t examined myself in a while. I was completely shocked to discover a lump, the size of a goose egg, in my left breast. I then paid more attention as I examined both breasts more closely, and also noticed a pea size lump lower down in my left, as well as my right breast.

As I usually have my breast sonar done in April each year, I was completely surprised that I could have discovered 3 lumps within a year. More to my surprise was the fact that I actually noticed the 2 small (pea sized) lumps as well. Because a breast is full of glands, I never thought I would be able to notice the difference, unless the lump was huge, but I did. (Link to follow)

Because of my family history my GP sent me for a mammogram which revealed that the lumps were suspicious of nature and could probably be cancer; I was then sent to a breast specialist.

Diagnoses
The breast specialist conducted a needle aspiration, and later biopsy, which confirmed that cells in the big lump contained poorly differentiated cells in my left breast and cancer was confirmed after the biopsy. I was diagnosed with poorly differentiated ductal breast cancer ( Breast Cancer ) which was sensitive to the estrogen hormone.
A bilateral mastectomy ( Mastectomy ) with reconstructive surgery was advised as it was most likely that the other breast would also form malignant tumors. Due to my awareness and strong family history, I wasn’t shocked at the news (as I would most likely have contracted the disease some stage in my life). I was, however, a little shocked when I discovered that all the breast tissue, most of the skin including the nipples were to be removed in such a procedure; in my ignorance I had thought that reconstructive surgery would encompassed surgeons cutting open the breast, scraping out the breast tissue and inserting silicone implants (similar to a boob job).

I was also informed that the new breast volume was to be constructed from either my back or tummy muscles, including skin transplants from the area, and this would cover the silicone implants. I then realized that this procedure was much bigger than expected and that I would most probably have a lot of pain.

Other than the norm, my surgery would be conducted by a specialist surgeon who would carry out the mastectomies, a plastic surgeon who would build my new breasts (or ‘Capsules’ as they are known in the medical arena) and a pathologist, which the latter, who would examine the lump and the glands to determine whether or not it contained cancer.

Surgery
After meeting with the specialist surgeon who would conduct the mastectomies and the plastic surgeon who would conduct the reconstructive surgery, I was requested to go for a bone scan ( Bone scan ) prior the operation.

4 days prior to the surgery, and after I had the bone scan done, my plastic surgeon called me at work and he informed me that the surgery wasn’t going to take place as “I was a very sick girl.” I was informed that the bone scan report indicated that the cancer had infiltrated the skeleton and was requested to go and see an oncology professor who would conduct further tests; it was thought that I had bone cancer. It was the first time I cried since the whole ordeal as I was completely shocked because I wasn’t sure what it meant, but it sounded bad. (Link to follow later). An MRI test indicated that I didn’t have bone cancer which meant that the machine used for the original bone scan wasn’t well calibrated.

The surgery was then rescheduled and was done on 30 July 2004. The operations took 6 hours and also included a pathologist who examined the glands of the left underarm, as well as the tumors found in both breasts. His report stated that I had 4 malignant tumors, with 3 in the left breast, but also confirmed that no cancer traces could be found in the underarm glands (which meant that it didn’t seem as if the cancer had spread beyond the breast).

To reconstruct my breasts, lattisimus dorsi ( Latissimus dorsi muscle ) back muscle and skin was ‘flapped’ ( latissimus dorsi flap ) to the front, which would be used to provide volume for the new breasts, and would cover the silicone implants.

Overall, surgery was a success, I had no pain (except for a little discomfort) and I was the proud owner of new size C ‘breasts’.

Chemotherapy
The surgery was a success and I had 2 reconstructed breast (Size: Full C’s which I choose) also known as ‘Capsules’ in the medical arena. After a 4 week recovery I went to see an oncologist who placed me on chemotherapy (known as the ‘Red Devil’) as a precaution just in case the microscopic cancer cells did indeed spread to other parts of my body. This would be the start of a long relationship with my plastic surgeon, oncologist and 6 monthly follow-ups.

Aftermath
My last chemotherapy session was done by the 2nd week of December 2004. I was bald, had ‘capsules’ for breasts, and was single. I so often heard about men leaving their wives because they couldn’t accept the physical changes that a mastectomy had left, and I too wondered what my fate would be.

Being diagnosed with a life threatening disease does help put your priorities in place. I realized that my dream was to have a family of my own, especially to experience motherhood, but I was somewhat concerned if I too would be rejected because of my physical appearance.

2nd Diagnoses
I was blessed to have met my husband-to-be at the end of 2004 who fully accepted me as I was. We were married 8 months later and after receiving the blessing from my oncologist, we tried to fall pregnant as soon as possible, and On 4 July 2005 my little girl, Cailyn, was born.

8 weeks later I went for another bone and blood scan and all was clear. I only realized after 2 months that I was pregnant again, and by the time I was 8 months pregnant, as we had a family prayer (and I folded my hands under my arm pits) I felt the lump, the size of a goose egg, on the side of my left breast (close to the arm pit); needless to say I did not manage to pay any attention to the prayer that night.

On Monday morning I made an appointment with the clinic and a mammogram was done (whilst wearing a special led jacket over my lower torso to protect my unborn baby) which later revealed that the lump did not seem to be malignant.

After my little boy was born on 22 May 2007, I again went for a bone and blood scan and all came back clear. Since the reconstructive surgery wasn’t fully complete (link to follow) I made an appointment with the plastic surgeon in August of that year to complete the final phase of the surgery. He was not happy about the lump and immediately arranged for a biopsy, conducted by him, and the results came back positive for malignancy.

The whole process started again and the same specialist surgeon cut out about 10cm of the reconstructive muscle around the tumor. Again the cancer did not seem to have spread beyond the specific part of the muscle, but precautionary chemotherapy and radiation was prescribed.

In Nov and Dec of 2007 I had had 26 radiation sessions and was followed by 6 chemotherapy treatments (Taxotere) which ended in May of 2008.

3rd Diagnoses
I continued to go for checkups every 6 months. The radiation I had previously constricted the veins and muscle and therefore my left breast harden and ‘pulled up’ compared to my other breast. In October of 2009 I met up with my plastic surgeon who ‘leveled’ the breasts again and replaced the silicone implants with a more, state of the art implant which had a lifetime guarantee.

By the 2nd week in December 2009 I woke up one morning only to realize that my left fingers felt numb and tingly, as if I had slept on my hand. The sensation did not disappear as I had hope and I slowly but surely realized that I couldn’t move my fingers as I would normally be able to do. A week had passed and I realized that I couldn’t lift my fingers (as for typing) although I could make a fist and wiggle the fingers.

I went back to my plastic surgeon as I hoped he could explain the bizarre effect as he operated on me 3 months earlier. To my surprise he once again informed me that it could be cancer, boy!

He sent me for a nerve conduction test ( Nerve conduction study) in order to determine whether or not it might have been caused by a pinched nerve. The result of the report indicated that there was nothing wrong with the nerve and it was functioning within normal limits. I was requested to see my oncologist.

By January 2010 I started to develop severe pain in the arm and eventually took between 4 to 8 over-the-counter drugs for pain relief to help me through the day and night. In February 2010 I went to see my oncologist, which wasn’t available at the time, because by now I couldn’t lift my wrist and couldn’t handle the pain anymore.

Because my oncologist wasn’t available, I went to see his colleague, who sent me for an MRI of the left breast and arm area. The results came back clear of any tumors and he therefore assumed that I had a brachial plexopathy ( Plexopathy ) condition – In my case: nerve damage due to the radiation.

Pain
The 1st of February 2010 I could no longer stand the pain, I couldn’t sleep or function properly and my patience with my family was affected. I went to see my oncologist’s colleague again as my doctor was on a seminar, and he prescribed Lyrica ( Pregabalin ) to relieve the pain; he also advised that I still see my regular oncologist. (Link to follow)

I was once again taken by surprise when my usual oncologist did not believe that my nerve was damaged by radiation; he stated that the radiation was not that ‘strong’ that it could have burned the nerve. I had to see another neurologist and she only detected a mild weakness in the nerve. Prior to my 2nd appointment with her, she requested that I go for an x-ray of the arm. Upon examining the x-ray she said that she had noticed a small shadowy area on the bone, and because of my history of cancer, she recommended to my oncologist that I go for a PET scan ( PET-CT )

After the PET scan was done, I immediately new the outcome wasn’t favorable as the medical staff didn’t want to inform me about the results, and they said that they were going to sent it to the doctor’s rooms. I needed confirmation as I had to inform colleagues and loved ones who knew about my tests.

Since my oncologist was attending a seminar, I went to see his colleague just to confirm my suspicion; the PET scan results were not favorable as cancer had spread to my pelvis bones, lung and arm. He shocked me with additional information “from your current position you have 4-5 years to live…” I never asked about him to advise me on this topic as I it didn’t even cross my mind. This unfortunately resulted that I developed involuntary emotional and coping issues.

Psychological issues
I am a very positive person by nature, believing trials are there to help us grow spiritually, and I do not sulk if I am ill, but this time was different. One month after I saw the doctor I can remember 3 different days were I was very emotional. I cried all night because I felt guilty that I didn’t spent enough time with my children and would they remember me? The fact that I might not be here when they would need me the most (link to follow) etc is some of the primary concerns I developed. I found myself talking to people, even strangers about my circumstances – things I would normally not do. I had coping issues and realized I was entering into depression, mostly because I felt I didn’t spend enough time with my children and secondly because I questioned my faith (link to follow).

Treatment
I immediately started with chemotherapy ( Navilbine ) in May 2010 which produced a positive result by September 2010 (after a follow-up PET scan was done); no trace of cancer could be found in the lower torso although I still had Cancer on my nerve in my arm. I even went of my medication (Lyrica) as the nerve pain had completely disappeared. After my treatment ended, and because my side effects were minimal, I requested that we continue the treatment until end of December 2010 to try and get rid of all of it.

Conclusion

• You might not think you will be able to notice a lump in a breast full of glands, but I can ensure you that you will.  When you do examine your breasts, you should try to form a map of the glands and you will be able to become familiar with how their shape and size.
• If I had made no effort to be pro-active, especially knowing my strong family history, and had not self examined my breasts, I would have been dead by now. Rather face the situation than ignore the fact that you have lumps- get yourself checked out!)
• I know I will never be able to work a full time job again, not because of my inability or constriction with my left hand, but because I simply NEED to spend quality time with my kids.  Perhaps this is my way of coping as I take many pictures and home videos of us.
• A have changed and I am not the same person as a year ago.  My arm is a disability which affects the speed of my work, the drugs prevent me from being my ‘sparky’ self and the chemotherapy causes memory and possible hearing loss.
• It doesn’t matter how positive you are as there might be a period in your life where you simply need to talk about your fears, especially to someone close to you – stop them if they think the best thing for you is to stay positive!  You need to talk about these things and if it will help you cope, make contingencies plans around it.
  

  Cathy's Breast Cancer Support Bracelet

Except for all of this I do try to be positive, but with every moment where I find myself alone, my thoughts wander to the ‘worst-case-scenario’.  I do not have many opportunities to cry to relieve the stress as my children is around me.  For me, being at home spending quality time with my children, has provided me with the coping material that I need to stay positive and sane, for the moment at least.

I wish to encourage all women, especially young ladies, to start self examination and to become aware of breast cancer issues; more and more young woman are diagnosed with the disease. Because I was diagnosed early I had the opportunity to fulfill my dream of becoming a mommy and a wife.  This does not mean that I might not die of breast cancer one day, but at least my dream and quality of life was fulfilled.

Breast cancer does not have to be a death sentence, be proactive and you your chances of beating the disease will just increase!
Regards,
~Cathy

ED: Thank you Cathy! Lots of hope and lessons in your story. The information in it can save lives.

Aromatherapy has been shown to be helpful in controlling nausea, easing anxiety and depression, and lowering the blood pressure in patients going through chemotherapy. The National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy has also found that it can help relieve headaches, stimulate the immune system, relieve muscle tension and indigestion, provide relief for respiratory problems and help patients relax.

The side effects from chemotherapy are almost as bad as the breast cancer itself. In fact, trying to deal with the side effects can actually prevent you from healing. Your body becomes so worn out from struggling with the nausea, the fatigue, the anxiety and the depression that there’s not enough energy left over for it to work on the healing process. So it’s important to find a way to alleviate the symptoms of the side effects so your body can concentrate on getting healthy.

Before consulting an aromatherapist, be sure to consult with your physician. Some essential oils can counteract your chemotherapy medications and others can cause allergic reactions. However, most are perfectly safe to use and have no harmful side effects. Your physician may also be able to recommend a qualified aromatherapist in your area.

It’s important to not that aromatherapists are not required to have any special education or licensing in the US so be careful who you go to. Look for a therapist who has had some specialized training in aromatherapy and, since you’ll be getting aromatherapy massages, you’ll want to find a therapist who is certified in some type of hands-on therapy, such as massage. In fact, a lot of aromatherapists work in massage therapy centers.

A few words of caution: Make sure you’re using pure essential oils, not blends or massage oils. And you should never ingest essential oils. Always due a 24 hour skin test for allergies before proceeding with any therapies and children and pregnant women should never use essential oils.

You can find more information in this post by Michelle Reynolds, CAHP: Essential Oil Therapy and Cancer. Again, remember to consult your doctor and/or health-care professional before using essential oils as they may interact with medications you are taking or you may have allergies to them.

Audio: Aromatherapy Benefits for Breast Cancer Patients
Right click and save as… to save the audio to your hard drive.

When my mother got breast cancer, one of the treatments was radiation and chemotherapy. After a treatment, it caused nausea to the point that holding down food long enough to be absorbed by the body was a real concern. Both radiology and chemotherapy have detrimental effects on the general immune system. Eating a good balanced diet can help to reverse some of the damage to the immune system. My mother found out that sipping a cup of green tea twenty minutes before eating had a calming effect on her stomach and helped with the nausea. The end result was she was able to eat a balanced diet and retain the nutrition much better and with much less nausea. I am sure sipping green tea before eating will not be effective for everyone, but it is certainly a benign regimen to try. The benefits of it being successful are enormous.

The evidence that Chinese tea helps prevent cancer is overwhelming. Since the 1990s, hundreds of studies have been performed showing that tea can inhibit the formation of tumors, and slow the growth of those already formed.

Here are just a few examples of what cancer-related studies have shown:

Chinese tea and breast cancer: Scientists have long noted that breast cancer is much less common in countries where green tea is regularly consumed. One Japanese study found a decreased risk of recurrence for early-stage cancer patients who drank three or more cups of green tea. This suggests at least the possibility that regular green tea consumption may help prevent recurrence of breast cancer in early-stage cases. A Chinese study found that women who consumed at least 26 ounces of green tea leaves each year had a 39-percent reduced risk of breast cancer compared to nondrinkers. Twenty-six ounces of dried leaves per year equates to only 300 cups of green tea over the course of a year, which equals less than one cup per day.

Chinese tea and lung cancer: A study published in 2003 found that smokers who drank four cups of decaffeinated green tea per day demonstrated a 31- percent decrease in bio-markers of oxidation DNA damage in white blood cells as compared to those who drank four cups of water. Oxidation DNA damage is implicated in the development of various forms of cancer. A study published in 2007 in the Journal of Inflammation found that black tea had a positive preventive effect. In this study, guinea pigs were subjected to cigarette smoke exposure and then given water or black tea to drink. The cigarette smoke, needless to say, caused damage to the guinea pigs’ lungs, which was prevented when they were given black tea infusions to drink instead of water.

Chinese tea and prostate cancer: Other than skin cancer, prostate cancer is the most common cancer affecting men. More than 230,000 American men are diagnosed with this disease each year, according to the American Cancer Society. A study published in the December 1, 2004 issue of Cancer Research showed that the polyphenols present in green tea help prevent the spread of prostate cancer by targeting molecular pathways that shut down the proliferation and spread of tumor cells, as well as inhibiting the growth of tumor-nurturing blood vessels.

Oolong tea

A good Oolong is both refreshing and delicious; the Oolong spectrum has a range of aromas and tastes quite distinct from anything you get with green or black tea – from the delicate, nearly-green Pouchong through rich and subtle mid-range Oolongs like Ti Kuan Yin and on to teas which border on black.

It’s hard to get reliable figures on caffeine content, but it’s probably not far wrong to say that the average cup of Oolong tea, correctly brewed, has around half as much caffeine as a cup of black tea, and about half again as much as a cup of green tea. The difference comes mainly from the brewing temperature, not the makeup of the tea itself.

Although they combine features of black and green teas, their flavor has little in common with either. Unless over-brewed, most Oolongs show almost no trace of bitterness, and generally have a stronger aroma than almost any green or black tea.

Like other tea, Oolong tea is rich in antioxidants called polyphenols. These help prevent cancer, keep the heart healthy and aid general well-being.

Audio: Chinese Tea And Cancer
Right click to save as… If you’d like to save the audio

When you find your thoughts drifting away from the audio and into the (sometimes) challenging real world, just try to re-focus on the audio and leave reality behind for just a few minutes. Studies have indicated that meditating for just 20 minutes a day can have profoundly positive changes in many aspects of a person’s life; from stress and depression to physical pain and emotional distress. (I will go into the exact science in other posts, Though it is important to remember that this is not an ‘exact science’).

The best information I can include before each audio I post is my own experience. Since I have started meditating fifteen to twenty minutes a day, I have found my own chronic pain, (not cancer related, but pain, nonetheless), to be slightly less. I have just started doing it for several weeks and have found that even when I am not actively meditating, constant pain is either less, or easier to handle. Bad days are more actually described as bad moments, they do not last as long, are as bad nor come as often. I hope you can have a similar experience.

Audio: Guided Imagery – Hidden Island Paradise
Right click and save as… to save the audio to your hard drive.

The information I have included here and this category is inspired by my experience with being in a Kaiser Permanente pain management class with Bob Dill M.Ed, LPC, Department of Alternative Medicine, who works for Kaiser. This is not a magic pill. Finding the time to do this consistently will determine what benefit it is for you. Even though the 1st audios in this section will be close to 20 minutes long, if you have less time, even 5 minutes is better than no time at all. Some more meditation guided imagery audios offered by Kaiser can be found at Guided Imagery Audios. Enjoy your mini-vacation, you deserve it.

~Mark

When you find your thoughts drifting away from the audio and into the (sometimes) challenging real world, just try to re-focus on the audio and leave reality behind for just a few minutes. Studies have indicated that meditating for just 20 minutes a day can have profoundly positive changes in many aspects of a person’s life; from stress and depression to physical pain and emotional distress. (I will go into the exact science in other posts, Though it is important to remember that this is not an ‘exact science’).

The best information I can include before each audio I post is my own experience. Since I have started meditating fifteen to twenty minutes a day, I have found my own chronic pain, (not cancer related, but pain, nonetheless), to be slightly less. I have just started doing it for several weeks and have found that even when I am not actively meditating, constant pain is either less, or easier to handle. Bad days are more actually described as bad moments, they do not last as long, are as bad nor come as often. I hope you can have a similar experience.

Audio: Guided Imagery – Song of the Forest
Right click and save as… to save the audio to your hard drive.

The information I have included here and this category is inspired by my experience with being in a Kaiser Permanente pain management class with Bob Dill M.Ed, LPC, Department of Alternative Medicine, who works for Kaiser. This is not a magic pill. Finding the time to do this consistently will determine what benefit it is for you. Even though the 1st audios in this section will be close to 20 minutes long, if you have less time, even 5 minutes is better than no time at all. Some more meditation guided imagery audios offered by Kaiser can be found at Guided Imagery Audios. Enjoy your mini-vacation, you deserve it.
~Mark

My Mom as a Child

I guess the simple answer is: she skipped having a mammogram for 2 years in a row. Why no mammogram for two years? What she told me, and I have no idea what she told others or what her true reasons may have been, but what she said to me was, she found mammograms to be painful and humiliating.

My Mother was raised on the North Shore of Massachusetts. She had a ‘Boston accent’ that was such that I thought my name was ‘Mac’ for sometime. (My name is Mark). I remember while growing up that we had other people living with us at various times. My father’s mother and my mother’s mother. Those, one would expect. Then we had a friend of my father’s mother stay toward the end of her life. We had a student from another country stay with us for a year. Then, my best friend whose parents had moved to Ireland for a couple of years and he wanted to stay and finish school in the town I was in, but had no where to stay was taken in by my parents. My mother took it upon herself to treat him as she would any of her biological children and got him up every school day and made sure he graduated. That was the kind of person she had become.

I remember, she was involved in the town politics and I am sure had differences with others also in the town politics,

yet even when in the confines of her own home, never once can I remember her degrading anyone for anything. I should be so considerate! She was not a whiner or complainer. She was, however a very good gardener.

So this New England, ‘stoic’ lady just didn’t make appointments for mammograms for almost three years. By the time it became obvious that there was a problem, it was past the window of opportunity to treat it effectively. She did have surgery. I remember being told that they opened her and after looking, closed her without doing anything, the cancer had become that invasive. I also remember being told her life span was going to be in the neighborhood of 6 months, give or take some. I immediately went into denial and refused to accept that prognoses. Apparently so did she as she lived another seven years. Seven years and until the last couple, was still involved in town politics and gardening. Only now, her gardening was more telling my father what she wanted and where, and less doing it herself.

My Mother 'Howling with Laughter'

Over the course of almost forty years, she and dad had planted and created gardens on close to eight acres of the twelve acre plot the house was on. Something in the area of fifteen gardens that blended into one another were contained in those eight acres. Gardens of wildflowers, day lily beds, a meditation garden, some with fountains and even a koi fish pond, (that had mostly goldfish in it). Benches, swings, and even a gazebo dotted the gardens. They had done a beautiful job and created a beautiful area. And then my mother died.

I was in denial about her dying for a very long time. My father was still alive, yet I felt like an orphan. I was 44 years old when she passed, and still was not accepting it. When some of the denial wore off, I felt angry. I was angry at myself for not being aware she was not having mammograms and mad because I didn’t even realize she should have been. I was also angry at her for not having them, she DID know she should have been. The reasons she told me she did not have the mammograms seemed small and insignificant in the light of her passing.

There is no way I or anyone can ever know, that if by having the mammograms her cancer would have been caught earlier. Yet, with many woman who were able to discover their cancer early and undergo effective, if intense treatment, I can not help but believe had she not skipped those tests, that she might be alive to this day. At least, she may have lived for a longer period of time that she did live for. No one can ever know for sure. If a lesson can be learned from this story, it is that no one should skip mammograms or other tests, including self examinations, as doing so can greatly reduce one’s life and the quality of one’s life. My number one reason for posting personal information on a public web site is to help illustrate the need for these tests and the hope this story might save even one life.

Mom & Mussi, She Loved Dogs

I also know of women who got breast cancer as early as in their twenties! There is not a set age to begin, at least, self-exams. Especially if there is any history of any cancer in the family, or no history at all, (for instance, if adopted).

My father decided that he would create an organization that would give support and comfort to those with breast cancer and breast cancer survivors. An organization that would offer complementary therapies, such as group therapy, massage, crafting groups, yoga, etc. All with no regard to any person’s financial abilities. Support without financial barriers, I believe he called it.

There was a small house on three acres of the twelve acre plot that my father’s mother had lived in for years. He gave that house and the surrounding three acres to the new organization and called it: The Virginia Thurston Healing Garden. The small house became known as Estelle’s Cottage after my father’s mother. When he sold the large house he and mom had lovingly tended and raised four children in for forty years, his one request was that the women receiving support at the Healing Garden, have access to the gardens mom and he created over that forty year span.

Today, over eight hundred women have received comfort and support from my father’s creation. It has managed to become self-supporting through fund raising events and gifts. The Healing Garden’s Director, Betsy Tyson-Smith has done a phenomenal job of making the seed my father planted grow into an entire garden of hope for hundreds of women lucky enough to live close by, but unlucky enough to have to go through the ravages of breast cancer.

It is this history that compels me to make this site. My hope being that some small measure of help and support might be offered to those around the world, unable to visit The Virginia Thurston Healing Garden. It is also my distant hope that someday, someone with enough money may see this and decide to create another breast cancer healing garden in their area.

In the meantime, I will continue growing this web site. Slowly and carefully. I want to always make sure, anyone visiting understand that the therapies discussed here are NOT to be implemented with out discussing them with their own doctor. Never should these therapies be used in lieu of whatever therapy someone is on now. This site’s information should serve only as a starting point for a discussion with one’ s local health-care professionals in an effort to help make this terrible journey even a tiny bit easier.

Thank you for visiting this site and for your support for anyone fighting this disease, or any cancer.
~Mark

Audio: Why Did My Mother Have to Die of Breast Cancer?
Right click and save as… to save the audio to your hard drive.

Unfortunately, many young women are under the impression that you don’t have to worry about breast cancer until you’re middle aged or older, which couldn’t be further from the truth. The fact is that women should make it a point to be tuned in to their body and be able to recognize potential problems no matter what their age.

In the past, physicians recommended that women over the age of 40 have a mammogram every year and conduct a self examination at least once a month. Then, it was extended to those over 40 should have a mammogram once every three years until the age of 50, and at 50 they should have annual examinations.

However, we now know that women of any age are susceptible to breast cancer and that the earlier it’s detected the better the prognosis. But mammograms are not the only method for detecting problems.

The reason physicians don’t recommend regular mammograms for women in their 20s is because, at that age, the breast tissue is still firm and dense, making it difficult for anomalies to show up on the scan. It’s not that women in their 20s don’t get breast cancer, because they do. It’s just that mammograms aren’t the most effective method for detection at that age.

Physicians are also concerned about performing mammograms on younger women because of the risk of breast cancer related to the radiation used in the mammogram. Mammography X-rays use a different type of radiation than a standard X-ray and they’re actually 5 times more likely to cause breast cancer. Even recommending that women have regular mammograms after the age of 50 is a calculated risk – one that some women chose not to take.

Mammograms do have their place in the early detection of breast cancer but the most reliable method of early detection is still for the woman to know her own body by performing regular self-examinations. Problems are detected earlier, treatment is less severe and the prognosis is much more positive.

Audio: Breast Cancer: Twenty is the New Fifty?
Right click and save as… to save the audio to your hard drive.

The best information I can include before each audio I post is my own experience. Since I have started meditating fifteen to twenty minutes a day, I have found my own chronic pain, (not cancer related, but pain, nonetheless), to be slightly less. I have just started doing it for several weeks and have found that even when I am not actively meditating, constant pain is either less, or easier to handle. Bad days are more actually described as bad moments, they do not last as long, are as bad nor come as often. I hope you can have a similar experience.

Audio: Get Comfortable and take 18 minutes to enjoy ‘Midnight Rendezvous Night Sounds’
Right click and save as… to save the audio to your hard drive.

The information I have included here and this category is inspired by my experience with being in a Kaiser Permanente pain management class with Bob Dill M.Ed, LPC, Department of Alternative Medicine, who works for Kaiser. This is not a magic pill. Finding the time to do this consistently will determine what benefit it is for you. Even though the 1st audios in this section will be close to 20 minutes long, if you have less time, even 5 minutes is better than no time at all. Some more meditation guided imagery audios offered by Kaiser can be found at Guided Imagery Audios. Enjoy your mini-vacation, you deserve it.
Mark

This 18 minute audio has summer bird sounds in the background brought to you by naturesounds.ca while the voice over helps you to concentrate on the moment and not on what happened an hour ago or might happen an hour from now. The goal is to try to aid you in relaxing your body and mind as completely as possible.

When you find your thoughts drifting away from the audio and into the (sometimes) challenging real world, just try to re-focus on the audio and leave reality behind for just a few minutes. Studies have indicated that meditating for just 20 minutes a day can have profoundly positive changes in many aspects of a person’s life; from stress and depression to physical pain and emotional distress. (I will go into the exact science in other posts, Though it is important to remember that this is not an ‘exact science’).

The best information I can include before each audio I post is my own experience. Since I have started meditating fifteen to twenty minutes a day, I have found my own chronic pain, (not cancer related, but pain, nonetheless), to be slightly less. I have just started doing it for several weeks and have found that even when I am not actively meditating, constant pain is either less, or easier to handle. Bad days are more actually described as bad moments, they do not last as long, are as bad nor come as often. I hope you can have a similar experience.

Audio: Get Comfortable and take 18 minutes to enjoy a ‘Sweet Summer Afternoon’
Right click and save as… to save the audio to your hard drive.

The information I have included here and this category is inspired by my experience with being in a Kaiser Permanente pain management class with Bob Dill M.Ed, LPC, Department of Alternative Medicine, who works for Kaiser. This is not a magic pill. Finding the time to do this consistently will determine what benefit it is for you. Even though the 1st audios in this section will be close to 20 minutes long, if you have less time, even 5 minutes is better than no time at all. Some more meditation guided imagery audios offered by Kaiser can be found at Guided Imagery Audios. Enjoy your mini-vacation, you deserve it.
Mark

This article is one I’ve been meaning to write for some time. Six years ago, my mother was diagnosed with colorectal cancer. In an effort to help her ease the discomforts she had to endure, I spent countless hours researching essential oils and hydrosols to learn how they can be used to aid the symptoms of various cancers. I used a number of essential oils and hydrosols topically and internally with my Mum, to help ease the side effects of chemotherapy and radiation, calm her stress and anxiety levels, and alleviate her insomnia and nausea. Four years after her death, I feel that I’m able and ready to share some of that knowledge.

Cancer will be the world’s number one cause of death by the end of 2010. It is estimated that $1 billion USD is donated to cancer research each year. As Jeffrey Yuen once said, ‘We finance cancer by the amount we dread it’. Now if that money were to be spent on cancer prevention, how different would that statistic be?

It now seems as though our air, soil and water are filled with toxins, but there are factors we can control. If we were to improve our diets, exercise regularly, reduce some of our UV exposure and read the labels on the products we use, specifically personal care products, then we can reduce our risk. The Environment Working Group (EWG)1 reports that the average person uses 9 personal care products per day, which contain 126 chemical ingredients. For 1 out of 4 women, that number is 15 or higher. Choosing natural products and paying attention to the ingredients in the products you purchase, is one way to decrease these statistics. If you are unsure whether an ingredient is safe, the EWG has a website which lists over 25,000 personal care products and their safety level.2

For most people, aromatherapy does not usually come to mind, as a complimentary treatment, when someone hears that they have cancer. The oils are very powerful though and their effects are surprising even to those who believe that conventional treatment is the only option. Essential oils (EO’s) and hydrosols can also aid with the emotional and psychological issues that arise when faced with a life threatening diseases, such as cancer. Aromatherapy is just one holistic modality, meaning that you treat the whole person, not just the disease. EO’s and hydrosols, unlike conventional medications, are selected for the individual being treated, not as a one size fits all for general use.

It was once believed that any type of massage would promote cancer metastasis. Research now shows that massage can be very beneficial to those with cancer, specifically for managing pain and depression.3 The gentle massage used during an aromatherapy massage promotes relaxation and helps to eliminate toxins from the body. Even a simple hand massage can have a positive effect.4

The essential oils of grapefruit (citrus paradisii), orange (citrus senensis) and lemon (citrus limonum) contain D-limonene, which has shown to have anti-tumor properties5, chemotherapeutic activity and low toxicity.6 It is particularly beneficial for breast and colon cancer.7 Note that these citrus oils are photo-toxic and should not be used topically on people with skin cancer. When possible, organic essential oils should be used. These citrus oils, as well as neroli essential oil, are also antidepressants and help with anxiety. The hydrosol of neroli can be used as a body, room or linen spray.

In addition to the citrus oils, other essential oils and hydrosols, which aid with side effects and killing of cancer cells include:

Ginger (zingiber officinalis) essential oil can be inhaled or taken internally in water, to ease nausea.8

The essential oil and hydrosol of frankincense (boswellia carteri) has shown anticancer, antimicrobial and antioxidative activity.9 & 11 Frankincense can also distinguish the difference between normal and cancerous cells and suppress cancer cell viability.10

Sweet fern (comptonia peregrina) and sweet gale (myrica gale) hydrosols can be combined and used topically as a compress or diluted in water and drank throughout the day. Both plants have shown to be cytotoxic (toxic to cells) against human lung and colon cancer cell lines. 12 & 13

Greenland moss, aka Labrador Tea (ledum greonlandicum) is one of the most powerful therapeutic hydrosols and only needs to be about 10% of the blend to be effective.14 It is currently in experimental stages for use with liver cancer and has shown anticancer activity against malignant lung and colon tumours.15 Marsh Labrador Tea has also been shown to protect against gamma radiation.

The hydrosol of niaouli (melaleuca quinquinervia CT viridiflorol) can be used if you are undergoing radiation treatment to help to prevent burns and protect the skin.14
Vitamin D also plays an important part in our health. There have been numerous studies which show that vitamin D supplementation aids with cardiovascular disease, musculoskeletal health, autoimmunity and cancer. A study release this month showed that a vitamin D deficiency enhances the growth of tumors.

My main focus has been on the essential oils and hydrosols I had used with my mother, to ease her symptoms. There is also research available on the use of essential oils and hydrosols for bladder, breast, liver, lung, prostate and skin cancers and the treatment of malodorous ulcers.

I am not claiming that essential oils and hydrosols will cure cancer, but they will aid with the side effects of chemotherapy and radiation and have shown to kill cancer cells. Throughout the majority of my mother’s treatments, while she was taking the citrus and ginger essential oils, and Greenland moss and sweet gale hydrosols, she was still able to enjoy life. She was able to go salsa dancing which was a passion of hers. She felt free while dancing, and no one could tell she was ill. I believe this speaks volumes for how much the essential oils and hydrosols helped her to overcome the side effects of her chemotherapy and radiation treatments.

Michelle Reynolds, CAHP
For more information on Essential Oil Therapy and Cancer, please click the link.

Some of the sources for the information in this post:
1. Environmental Working Group: http://www.EWG.org
2. Skin Deep – Cosmetic Database: http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com
3. A Review on the Effects of Aromatherapy for Patients with Depressive Symptoms. Yim VW, Ng AK, Tsang HW, Leung AY. J Altern Complement Med. 2009 Feb 13. PMID: 19216657
4. Effects of aroma handmassage on pain, state anxiety and depression in hospice patients with terminal cancer. Chang SY. Taehan Kanho Hakhoe Chi. 2008 Aug;38(4):493-502. PMID: 18753801
5. Identification and characterization of limonene metabolites in patients with advanced cancer by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry. Poon GK, Vigushin D, Griggs LJ, Rowlands MG, Coombes RC, Jarman M. Drug Metab Dispos. 1996 May;24(5):565-71. PMID: 8723738
6. Phase I and pharmacokinetic study of D-limonene inpatients with advanced cancer. Cancer Research Campaign Phase I/II Clinical Trials Committee. Vigushin DM, Poon GK, Boddy A, English J, Halbert GW, Pagonis C, Jarman M, Coombes RC. Cancer Chemother Pharmacol. 1998;42(2):111-7. PMID: 9654110
7. Medical Aromatherapy, Healing with Essential Oils. Kurt Schnaubelt, M.D.
8. A Phase II/III Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind Clinical Trial of Ginger (Zingiber officinale) for Nausea Caused by Chemotherapy for Cancer: A Currently Accruing URCC CCOP Cancer Control Study. Hickok JT, Roscoe JA, Morrow GR, Ryan JL. Support Cancer Ther. 2007 Sep 1;4(4):247-50. PMID: 18632524
9. Studies of the in vitro anticancer, antimicrobial and antioxidant potentials of selected Yemeni medicinal plants from the island Soqotra. Mothana RA, Lindequist U, Gruenert R, Bednarski PJ. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2009 Mar 25;9:7. PMID: 19320966
10. Frankincense oil derived from Boswellia carteri induces tumor cell specific cytotoxicity. Frank MB, Yang Q, Osban J, Azzarello JT, Saban MR, Saban R, Ashley RA, Welter JC, Fung KM, Lin HK. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2009 Mar 18;9:6. PMID: 19296830
11. LY294002 enhances boswellic acid-induced apoptosis in colon cancer cells. Liu JJ, Duan RD. Anticancer Res. 2009 Aug;29(8):2987-91. PMID: 19661305
12. Composition and cytotoxic activity of the leaf essential oil of Comptonia peregrina (L.) Coulter. Sylvestre M, Pichette A, Lavoie S, Longtin A, Legault J. Phytother Res. 2007 Jun;21(6):536-40. PMID: 17326040
13. Chemical composition and anticancer activity of leaf essential oil of Myrica gale L. Sylvestre M, Legault J, Dufour D, Pichette A. Phytomedicine. 2005 Apr;12(4):299-304. PMID: 15898708
14. Hydrosols: The Next Aromatherapy. Suzanne Catty. Healing Arts Press, 2001.
15. Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anticancer activities of methanolic extracts from Ledum groenlandicum Retzius. Dufour D, Pichette A, Mshvildadze V, Bradette-Hébert ME, Lavoie S, Longtin A, Laprise C, Legault J. Phytomedicine. 2005 Apr;12(4):299-304. PMID: 15898708

Audio: Essential Oil Therapy for Cancer
Right click and save as… to save the audio to your hard drive.

Scientific evidence does not support claims that laughter can cure cancer or any other disease (probably because humor alone CANNOT cure cancer, or probably any other illness, for that matter). Humor CAN: stimulate the circulatory system – aid the immune system – reduce stress and improve a person’s quality of life.

Humor can increase breathing and therefore raise oxygen levels in the blood. Laughter releases endorphins, the bodies natural pain killers. Humor can help distract people from their worry and stress, allowing the body’s natural healing systems to work better. Stress creates a downward spiral of the ‘fight or flight’ response. That in turn can have a multitude of negative physical effects on the body; even if one is not ill! Humor can break that spiral and turn one’s outlook around. Humor can be as important as any other treatment for any disease. BUT, it does NOT take the place of any conventional therapy.

That brings us to my point. Inappropriate Humor does not help. Sure, for many, ‘Save the (any immature name for breasts)’ may be humorous. Men especially may find that funny. A breast cancer patient that has been raped or molested, may not. If you know the person you are attempting to lighten the mood for and know that that would not offend them and not take their mind to a less pleasant episode in their life, that may be exactly what the doctor ordered, (so to speak). Publicly using  what one feels is humorous, but that can bring with it so many negative connotations to a huge number of people is NOT helpful.

I am not talking ‘political correctness’ here. I am talking common sense. It is great that people want to help support other people going through (what we hope is) the toughest fight of their life. What is unfortunate is there appears to be so many that have not thought what they are doing all the way through. Then, of course, there are those that use an appearance of helping to further their own immature agendas.

Good for Spring Break - Bad for Breast Cancer Support

The image of a dalmatian with a bra in it’s mouth and the caption: ‘Save The Puppies’ makes for a great t-shirt for Spring Break. It lacks something in the translation when applied to supporting breast cancer.  I certainly am not trying to lessen the help in supporting those fighting breast cancer. I am suggesting that people think. (I know, that is not easy to do). Support those afflicted with breast cancer; do not do so at the expense of some of those you are trying to help.

Some may think me a ‘stick in the mud’ for this post. It may not be a popular view. I find that less and less views that require some thought ever become very popular. The thought of someone posting or Tweeting ‘Save the (immature name for breasts)’ and then laughing while sitting alone in front of their computer, I find slightly disturbing. I would think that anyone that is serious about supporting those with breast cancer, their family, friends and co-workers would also be somewhat disturbed by that. Any woman that has endured molestation or rape and is now fighting breast cancer… well I think coming across that kind of ‘support’ would be grossly counter-productive. Don’t you?

Buying someone a DVD of a funny movie would probably be a better idea.

Audio: Humorous Breast Cancer Support
Right click and save as… to save the audio to your hard drive.

Download here: http://ihavethislittlegarden.com/download/bcmanual1.pdf

We also have the manual in audio. It is 80 MBs so may take a minute to download depending on your connection. It is a great resource to add to your mp3 player and listen to anytime. Added with the e-book that includes some tables, it can help bring about a change in thinking and lead to better and less stressful recoveries! It is 100% free. Thanks to Terra @ Audacious Audios for doing the voice version of the manual!

Audio: Our Complementary Therapy Manual in Audio, (1½ hours-80MBS)
Right click and save as… to save the audio to your hard drive.

In 1985 the first Pink Ribbon appeared, promoted by the Estee Lauder corporation, and October became Breast Cancer Awareness month. Since then, the pink ribbon and the color pink have become synonymous with fund raising for breast cancer.

Over the past 25 years companies have fallen all over themselves trying to come up with the next best Pink promotion and every October Breast Cancer fund raising hits phenomenal heights. Anything Pink is now considered to be big business and you see Pink every where you look – Pink parties, Pink appliances, Pink clothing and furniture. And each item purchased means another donation to breast cancer research.

Yet, with the billions and billions of dollars already raised, breast cancer among women and men is still on the rise – at a rate of about 1% per year. Most of this increase is attributed to underdeveloped countries with poor medical care and no access to the newest treatments and drugs.

On the bright side though, the death rate from breast cancer has dropped by one third the cases. The discovery of new drugs and treatment regimens has made it possible to cure more cases or at least prolong the patient’s life. But these new drugs are not without alarming, long term side effects which also sometimes require medical treatment and even more drugs. And these new drugs are also expensive. It’s estimated that, if cancer rates continue rising at this same pace, these drugs may very well prolong millions of lives but the financial effects will be devastating.

So what’s the answer? Obviously, vast improvements in treatment have been made. But more emphasis needs to be placed on finding the causes of breast cancer, educating women on how to recognize early warning signs, and preventing breast cancer from developing at all. We’ve come a long way in improving the quality of life for breast cancer patients and more and more women are wearing the title ‘Breast Cancer Survivor.” Now, we need to look at ways of preventing this terrible disease and getting the word out to women everywhere.

Audio: How Far Have We Really Come in our Research to Prevent Breast Cancer?
Right click and save as… to save the audio to your hard drive.

The information that can be found at www.asbestos.com is extensive and reviewed by at least two doctors. There is also information that addresses the financial, emotional and legal aspects of asbestos exposure. We felt it was important enough to include it here. Remember, the ultimate authority when it comes to treatment and every other aspect of having this disease is you. Just as you would use the information on this site as a starting point for a discussion with your own doctor and family, so it should be with that site.  The Mesothelioma Center has it’s own privacy policy and disclosures and we advise you take the time to read them (as you would at any web site).

Asbestos Exposure and Potential Link to Breast Cancer

A naturally occurring mineral that has been used for thousands of years, asbestos is composed of pliable and durable fibers that exhibit heat and fire-resistant qualities. Playing a major role in a number of industries, asbestos was most commonly used for insulation purposes in residential and commercial buildings, and was widely used in home construction materials such as floor and ceiling tiles, adhesives, cements, siding, roofing, pipeline wrap and shingles.

Asbestos, Mesothelioma and Breast Cancer

Exposure to this toxic mineral can lead to a range of diseases, such as asbestosis, lung cancer and malignant mesothelioma cancer. Mesothelioma is the most common cancer caused by asbestos exposure. The cancer develops in the mesothelium, a protective membrane that lines body cavities, including the thoracic cavity (pleura), abdominal cavity (peritoneum) and the heart sac (pericardium). Approximately 2,000 to 3,000 Americans are diagnosed with the cancer annually and mesothelioma clinical trials are currently searching for a cure.

Though the causal relationship between mesothelioma and asbestos exposure has long been established, researchers are still investigating a potential connection between asbestos and breast cancer. One such study, titled “Prevalence of Asbestos Bodies in a Necropsy Series in East London,” sought to research the amount of asbestos bodies (fibers) present in exposed workers and document their disease manifestations. Of the 178 women studied, the researchers noted an increased amount of asbestos bodies in women with breast cancer, suggesting increased amounts of asbestos in the body could be related to the development of breast cancer.

The only way to avoid the development of such diseases is to avoid exposure to asbestos at all costs. Knowing where asbestos exposure can occur and how to protect yourself from the toxic fibers is essential in preventing asbestos-related disease. If you suspect your home is contaminated with asbestos, you are advised to contact a licensed asbestos abatement contractor for a safe and detailed inspection.

For additional resources on asbestos and the potential link to breast cancer, please visit the Mesothelioma Center. ( http://Asbestos.com/ )

Audio: Asbestos Exposure and Potential Link to Breast Cancer
Right click and save as… to save the audio to your hard drive.

So she decided to make a meditation garden instead. She said that this way she was taking “her thing” and still using “their thing” so the making of the garden was her meditation.

The Meditation Garden was at one end of the ‘English Wild Flower’ garden. It occupied a space once used for a small basketball court when the kids were young. It had a bench to sit on, a dripping bamboo fountain and Japanese style plants in addition to the well placed stones found everywhere in New England. The whole area was surrounded by a thigh high bamboo fence. The entrance was a Japanese style wooden ‘arch’ with vines growing up and across it.

Meditation can be a difficult thing to do. Especially when one is going through the rigors of breast cancer. (Or any kind of cancer, for that matter). That fight to ‘sit quiet’ is addressed somewhat in the post titled:  Sitting Quiet. The mere act of designing and making the meditation garden is actually a form of meditation. Instead of clearing the mind, it distracts the mind. Any hobby or craft can be a help for those not prone to meditation. The act of creating, whether it be a painting a picture, knitting a pair of mittens or creating an entire garden space can be very therapeutic.

Remember, not all the information found here will be the best fit for every person. Use what works for you, (with input from your support team), and leave the rest. Our Thoughts are with you.

Audio: Day lily, The Meditation Garden
Right click and save as… to save the audio to your hard drive.

Audio: Holiday Cheer
Right click to save as… If you’d like to save the audio