Showing posts with label breast cancer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label breast cancer. Show all posts

Sunday, October 30, 2011

Cancer Prevention - 50 Secrets of Worlds Longest Living People


It seems like I read every other day about a study showing this or that will help prevent cancer, or lower the rate of recurrence. As a 1.5 yr breast cancer survivor of a very aggressive form of breast cancer (triple-negative) I read these with much interest. There are no drugs I can take to help be reduce my chance of metastasis except the age old approach of diet, exercise and stress reduction.

Good methods to live by – diet, exercise and stress reduction – good for just about anyone for just about anything.

I like the philosophy to living and eating in this book: 50 Secrets of the World’s Longest Living People:

This review is from: 50 Secrets of the World's Longest Living People (Paperback)

In this book, the author has interviewed, collated and summarized the living and eating habits and foods of the people who live the longest. The research has been done; the author gives the reasons why these habits work, and the unanimous result from Okinawa, Symi, Campogimele, Hunza, and Bama people are so similar across these disparate cultures that it is scary:

It is that in order to live a long and happy life one must:

Dos:
Eat five to seven servings of fruits and vegetables a day; eat until 2/3 full; eat whole grains, buckwheat, brown rice, use hemp, eat meat as a treat; eat lots of nuts and beans; prepare meat properly; use organic goat and sheep cheeses; have an egg occasionally, eat lots of fish; use extra virgin olive oil; use garlic and onions; eat crunchy vegetables, eat sweet potatoes; eat pizza; eat apricots; eat yogurt; berries; eat fermented foods; eat soy the traditional way; eat mushrooms; herbs; go organic, live a stress-free life; have red wine with dinner; drink green tea; drink lots of water; combine foods; fast and meditate from time to time; use vitamin supplements; exercise; get plenty of sunshine; exercise the brain; sit still and do nothing; have faith; sing in the shower; help others; get married or get a dog; avoid the standard American diet; sleep; keep friends; and then put all these things altogether.

Don'ts:
Do not eat anything in excess, especially foods with a high glycemic index; avoid fats; don't drink alcohol or smoke; never overeat, or over cook foods, don't eat refined sugar, too much salt, too much meat or diary products, processed foods, too much black coffee, greasy foods or too much butter.


Written by Deb of GlowGirl 16

Saturday, October 22, 2011

Life, Etsy, Crafting and Cancer


Crafting, and in particular crafting on etsy has been a lifesaver for me these past 3 years. Looking back, I
can now smile and recognize what a joy it is to be where I am today, doing what I do.

I lost a long held corporate job in late 2007. Yikes, how does a gal over 50 with no degree go up against
so many other younger and educated people all vying for the same job? After an extremely comfortable
position, how do you start over? It took me about a month to decide I did not want to continue in
corporate America. I had no interest in going back to school or becoming more tech savvy. All I could
think about was getting back to my “creative” roots. (I was a full time craftsperson in the 80’s!)

I bought a sewing machine so I could begin to learn to machine quilt – both for relaxation and for the
inspiration to be doing something creative again. Ideas and product began to flow. It was exhilarating
to be back in the arts and crafts world. I loved being on the crafts show circuit again and loosing hours
in the studio exploring ideas and techniques. Life was good!

…and then I felt it….the lump…the tests…the waiting…..I had breast cancer.

Cancer. You don’t know how you’re going to react when told this. I was actually very calm and
accepting and quickly hunkered down to prepare myself for what lay ahead. Holiday craft shows for
2009 were cancelled. Surgery was in Dec 2009, followed by chemo and radiation which lasted until July
2010.

Crafting. It became a wonderful way to divert my attention from the hardships over cancer treatment.
I was able to explore working with dying fabric and yarns, felting, quilting and weaving. Etsy provides
a huge resource of information and resources on how to build, market, valuate and nurture a crafts
business. The information available was a great way to keep my mind alive while my body felt so bad.
I honestly do not know what I would have done had this community not been there. My family does
not live close by, and it was so helpful to have the support, encouragement and friendship from my etsy
BEST team and others I’ve met throughout the artistic community.

I am now back on feet, one year cancer free! Etsy is still a huge part of my life, nearly all my business is
done through etsy and I look forward to getting back out on the crafts show circuit again!

I am so joyful that the BEST team has chosen breast cancer as their cause to work for this year. The
chosen organization, the Red Devils are a superb group of people that offer such a great resource of
assistance, information and help to cancer patients and their families. I am honored to be part of BEST
and their work to raise funds for the Red Devils.

Loving life and shining still –

Deb Christian

GlowGirl16

Thursday, October 13, 2011

Life, Etsy, Crafting and Cancer



Crafting, and in particular crafting on etsy has been a lifesaver for me these past 3 years. Looking back, I can now smile and recognize what a joy it is to be where I am today, doing what I do.

I lost a long held corporate job in late 2007. Yikes, how does a gal over 50 with no degree go up against so many other younger and educated people all vying for the same job? After an extremely comfortable position, how do you start over? It took me about a month to decide I did not want to continue in
corporate America. I had no interest in going back to school or becoming more tech savvy. All I could think about was getting back to my “creative” roots. (I was a full time craftsperson in the 80’s!)

I bought a sewing machine so I could begin to learn to machine quilt – both for relaxation and for the inspiration to be doing something creative again. Ideas and product began to flow. It was exhilarating to be back in the arts and crafts world. I loved being on the crafts show circuit again and loosing hours in the studio exploring ideas and techniques. Life was good!

…and then I felt it….the lump…the tests…the waiting…..I had breast cancer.

Cancer. You don’t know how you’re going to react when told this. I was actually very calm and accepting and quickly hunkered down to prepare myself for what lay ahead. Holiday craft shows for 2009 were cancelled. Surgery was in Dec 2009, followed by chemo and radiation which lasted until July 2010.

Crafting. It became a wonderful way to divert my attention from the hardships over cancer treatment. I was able to explore working with dying fabric and yarns, felting, quilting and weaving. Etsy provides a huge resource of information and resources on how to build, market, valuate and nurture a crafts business. The information available was a great way to keep my mind alive while my body felt so bad. I honestly do not know what I would have done had this community not been there. My family does not live close by, and it was so helpful to have the support, encouragement and friendship from my etsy BEST team and others I’ve met throughout the artistic community.

I am now back on feet, one year cancer free! Etsy is still a huge part of my life, nearly all my business is done through etsy and I look forward to getting back out on the crafts show circuit again!

I am so joyful that the BEST team has chosen breast cancer as their cause to work for this year. The chosen organization, the Red Devils are a superb group of people that offer such a great resource of assistance, information and help to cancer patients and their families. I am honored to be part of BEST and their work to raise funds for the Red Devils.

Loving life and shining still –

Deb Christian

GlowGirl16

Saturday, October 30, 2010

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month


I don't think there is a person on this planet who's lives haven't been effected by breast cancer. Be it their own battle, a loved one or an acquaintance. There are many ways to pay tribute to and support those wonderful woman in your lives who have been effected by this disease – a walk to raise funds for research, a purchase where the proceeds go to research, donating hair to be used for wigs or even simply offer your emotional support.

Take a moment this month to think about how you can help and leave comments with suggestions on how others can help.