Filed under: Diets , Worthy Wisdom It's not necessary to travel all the way to Tucson, Arizona or Lenox, Massachusetts for a little health enlightenment -- although I highly recommend it. Canyon Ranch professionals are not stingy with their health secrets. They offer a website for all to view, complete with all sorts of diet and fitness tips and and even an opportunity to sign up for an e-newsletter. In a binder I brought home from my trip to Tuscon in May, I've found even more resources, these specific to cooking. Take a look. Recommended Magazines Cooking Light (www.cookinglight.com) Eating Well (www.eatingwell.com) Fine Cooking, (www.finecooking.com) Recommended Cookbooks Canyon Ranch Cooks (1-800-726-8040) Canyon Ranch Cooklets (available at canyonranch.com)

• Salad & Appetizers
• Soups
• Fish & Seafood
• Poultry
• Vegetables & Vegetarian
• Desserts
• Mexican
• The LPGA Cooks with Canyon Ranch

The Greens Cookbook by Deborah Madison & Edward Espe Brown Jamie's Dinners by Jamie Oliver How to Cool Everything by Mark Bittman There you have it -- a good start for getting started on healthy and light cooking. Enjoy. Thanks, Canyon Ranch , for sharing your resources.

Filed under: Breast Cancer , Bone Cancer , Diets , Cancer prevention foods , Blogs , Books , Cancer Survivors

Filed under: All Cancers , Stress Reduction , Services , Cancer Survivors Worklife doesn't stop once you've been diagnosed with cancer. Many women have to--and want to--work during and after treatment. Cancer and Careers offers information and tools to help working women manage their battle with cancer as effectively as they manage the rest of their lives.

As a technologist for the past 27 years, I typically review many different products before making a choice that is right for us to use here at Thriving Now. Here are some of the tools and services we recommend.

Filed under: All Cancers , Daily news Cancer cases are expected to more than double between the years 2000 and 2030, says the director of the World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer. This upward climb will occur primarily in poor countries due to an increase in population growth, longer life expectancy, more smoking, and a lack of health care in low and medium-resource countries. "What's going to happen between now and 2030 is that the population is going to increase from about 6.5 billion to 8 billion in 2030," Dr. Peter Boyle reports. "So even if the risks remain constant at each five-year age group, because we've got more people around, we're going to have more cases of cancer. It's the unfortunate successes for developed countries over the past 40 years, such as the export of cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption, that have doomed poorer countries, says Boyle. Consider this definition of doom: By the year 2030, there will be 27 million cases of cancer, 17 million deaths caused by the disease, and 75 million people living with cancer. Read     Permalink     Email this     Linking Blogs     Comments

Filed under: Prostate Cancer , Daily news , Movies , Cancer Survivors One man. One cancer diagnosis. One feature-length film. About how 17,000 men gain membership every month in a group this one man calls, The Men's Club. The man is Rocky Galgano. He is 58 years old. He is a retired police officer. And he happens to be a member of the very club he features in his film -- a club full of men living with prostate cancer. Galgano created his documentary as a companion to all the densely-written books and resources he found filled to the brim with medical jargon about a disease that will strike 218,890 and kill 27,050 men this year alone. Men are reluctant to talk about prostate cancer or get tested for the disease, says Galgano. And yet this form of cancer can be cured if caught early. So Galgano stepped to the plate and started talking. He talks about his personal experience, and he talks about different types of treatment. He has nine different doctors talk. He has cancer survivors talk. And he says he wants as many people as possible to see this film. Galgano is working on distribution and says he's close to a deal with Amazon.com . He also plans to market the not-yet-rated film to urologists across the country, and he will soon sell his masterpiece -- a trailer can be seen here -- on his website for $19.95. Permalink     Email this     Linking Blogs     Comments

Filed under: Testicular Cancer , Cancer by the Numbers Testicular cancer, cancer in one or both of the testicles, usually occurs in young men and will strike about 8,250 of these men this year. About 370 men will die. A man's lifetime risk of developing this cancer -- that typically shows up in only one testicle -- is 1 in 300, securing it as one of the less common cancers in the United States. The chances of dying from testicular cancer are 1 in 5,000, making it one of the most curable forms of cancer. Yet it is still the most common form of cancer in men ages 15-34. It is also a cancer commonly characterized by denial and embarrassment. As a result, it is one of the least mentioned cancers.

Filed under: Breast Cancer , Services , Cancer Survivors My father taught me that when you have a problem, find someone else who has the same problem and talk to them about it. Real life experiences trump almost every other kind of information. Although women are 100 times more likely than men to be diagnosed with breast cancer, and less than one percent of breast cancer patients are men, men do get breast cancer. Some of the signs of breast cancer include:

• Lump or thickening in the breast.
• Skin dimpling or puckering.
• Development of a new retraction or indentation of the nipple.
• Redness of scaling of the nipple or breast skin.
• A spontaneous clear or bloody discharge from the nipple.

Some of the known risk factors include: age, family history, genetic predisposition, radiation exposure, Klinefelter syndrome (a congenital abnormality of the sex chromosomes X and Y), exposure to estrogen, liver disease, excess weight and excess alcohol consumption. Breast cancer resources for men are few and far between, but to follow my father's advice about finding someone to talk to and learn from that has faced the same real life experience, I tracked down several resources men diagnosed with breast cancer might find of interest. Newsday is featuring the personal story of breast cancer survivor Cameron Alden . Alden tells his breast cancer story as part of a personal cause to raise awareness that men can be diagnosed with breast cancer. USA Today's Richard Roundtree 'Knows the Score' on cancer features breast cancer survivor Roundtree's personal story and his work with the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation to raise men's awareness about the disease. The John W. Nick Foundation was created in memory of John W. Nick, who died from breast cancer at the age of 58. Male breast cancer survivors John W. Nick, Captain Edward J. Wilson, Bob Stafford, Walter Creekmore, David Eisenberg, Mark Eldridge, Dave Lyons, and Ken Graham by Sue Graham share their personal stories of breast cancer on the foundation website. MALEBC is a discussion mailing list for men with breast cancer. Currently it has 27 members. Because men often face shock, embarrassment and isolation when diagnosed with breast cancer, the National Breast Cancer Centre has launched Breast Cancer in Men , Australia's first website launched for men with breast cancer offering information and resources from diagnosis to living beyond breast cancer written specifically for men. The American Cancer Society estimates that 1,720 men will receive a breast cancer diagnosis this year, and 460 men will die from the disease. For men, breast cancer is most frequently diagnosed between the ages of 60 and 70. If any of our readers are aware of other internet resources specifically written for men facing breast cancer, please leave the resource and a link in the comments area following this post. Permalink     Email this     Linking Blogs     Comments

Filed under: Breast Cancer , Sunday Seven , Cancer Survivors , Survivor Spotlight It's day 15 in this Breast Cancer Awareness Month and the survivors spotlighted on this site are stacking up. Yet we've only just scratched the surface of breast cancer survivor stories. And by the end of October, we will have only featured a very small sample of survivors everywhere. There are countless others with their own powerful stories. It's sad there are so many stories shaped by breast cancer. It's empowering too -- because breast cancer survivors are a passionate bunch. They are passionate in their fights, passionate in their beliefs, passionate in their willingness to help others. A passionate bunch of survivors can be found here on The Cancer Blog. They are all women, of various ages, with various backgrounds, defined by different experiences. They are also quite the same -- for they have all been touched by breast cancer. And their words of wisdom are strikingly similar, despite the contrast in characteristics that define these women and their very individual battles with breast cancer. Here are seven survivor similarities worth spotlighting.

• Most spotlighted survivors do not have a family history of breast cancer, a fact that spans research on the disease. About 75 percent of women diagnosed with breast cancer do not have a family history predicting their diagnosis. Being female is the biggest risk factor for breast cancer.

• All survivors turned in some way to research and resources to help them along their paths to survival. The internet has served them well, although patients should search carefully for reputable sites -- like the one provided by the American Cancer Society -- for accurate information. Books, like Dr. Susan Love's Breast Book, are also popular -- and so are personal blogs. Many survivors recommend talking to other survivors for information and comfort.

• The survivors are in agreement when they suggest that loved ones offer specific help following a new diagnosis. Stating, "I will bring you dinner every Monday" is preferred to, "Let me know how I can help."

• Each survivor who graces this site is someone brave enough to share her story, courageous enough to recount her breast cancer moments, selfless enough to relive her tender emotions. She does it so that others can learn, so others can benefit, so others can survive.

• While these survivors are willing to open their worlds to others, they share an ability to keep cancer in the shadows of their everyday lives. Cancer is always present, but they allow the gift of each day to shine brighter than the fear of a life-threatening disease.

• Each day is truly a gift for these women who all comment in some way about their fine-tuned appreciation for life and the people in it. They are able to let the little things go -- the laundry, the dishes, a messy house -- in exchange for the beauty of each moment.

• While the little things go by the wayside, these survivors are champs at conquering the big things. They feel they can tackle just about anything after their dances with breast cancer. They are amazed at the strength they never knew they possessed.

Our spotlighted survivors share ups and downs, victories and struggles. They share an outside force -- breast cancer -- that descended upon them and forever shapes and molds them into new beings -- into people who somehow, in some way, are more fulfilled, more peaceful, happier than ever before. I think it's the second chance at life that helps them live and hope and dream and lead. A second chance that helps them soar to new and greater heights. Permalink     Email this     Linking Blogs     Comments

Filed under: Breast Cancer , Blogs , Cancer Survivors , Survivor Spotlight Adriene Hughes was diagnosed with breast cancer shortly after her 44th year of living. She found her lump after participating in a 5K walk, which for some reason, caused her breast to swell. The swelling led her to the lump -- and that's how she discovered her cancer. Adriene lives in Southern California, works as a media specialist, and spends her time taking photographs, knitting, and baking cookies and breads. I have never met Adriene, have never spoken with Adriene. But we have communicated through our on-line journals and through e-mail ever since November 2004 -- when we each received a breast cancer diagnosis that changed the course of our lives forever. Adriene is a gem, a treasure, a true inspiration. And here are her words. When were you diagnosed with breast cancer? November of 2004 How old were you at the time of diagnosis? 44 years old Do you have a family history of breast cancer? No family history, but that is usually the case for most women. I was told by the geneticist that only 2 percent of women who learn of breast cancer have familial ties. How did you find out you had breast cancer? I was participating in a University 5K walk to raise money for scholarships. It is a yearly thing we do at my work, to participate in the campus walk. On this day I walked a very fast 5K. Hours later my chest was hurting. I didn't think anything of it because I was an athletic person, and I thought I pulled a muscle in my chest. That night,upon retiring to bed, my chest hurt horribly and was swollen double the size. I started to feel about my breast, and like an orb of light, the tumor was literally sitting out of my breast, a swollen knot. It hurt horribly and I knew right then and there that it was cancer. My inner voice told me so. It was as if I was given preparatory knowledge. And I cried. I cried myself to sleep. The next day I went to my doctor -- and the rest is history. How did you tell your family members about your diagnosis? I felt I had to do it in person. For some reason I was feeling rather strong, like it was a necessity, to be brave and to know from the start that I was a survivor and not a victim. When I told my father the muscles in his face went smooth and I could see the shift of shock. My mother, being of Italian stock, took me in her arms and said, "Oh, you are going to be OK. Want some dinner?" What types of breast cancer treatment did you receive? I received a full mastectomy of my right breast with immediate reconstruction. I underwent physical therapy for my arm after surgery for four months which helped with the cording taking place under my arm and the muscles the surgeon removed from my back to fill the concave chest. I underwent four months of chemotherapy every two weeks. I was told I did very well on chemo and actually was able to go to work on a part-time basis when I felt well enough. It is important to continue to live because it lifts the spirits to know that even through the adversity of cancer, it is important not to let it get the best of you. How did you manage through breast cancer treatment? I had several people who were instrumental. My friend, Karen Byrne, attended every chemo session with me, would bring gossip magazines, pictures, food, anything to distract me from the needle in my arm. Also my father drove me to chemo every time and would bring a plate of home-baked cookies to the nurses. They LOVED him! Also my friend Heather Morra flew out from New York just to go wig shopping with me. I think we bought five wigs in all different colors and styles. It was a very fun day. Last but not least is Patty McCabe, a uterine cancer survivor, who went through nine months of chemo while going through law school! When I was feeling funky with strange symptoms, I would simply call her and ask, "did you experience BLAH BLAH BLAH...." and she would let me know that everything I was going through was NORMAL. And then we would laugh and I always felt better. She told me a story, that while in law school, she forgot how to use the oven. Her brain was that fried from chemo. She had to ask her roommate to show her how to use it. That was an amazing story to me -- like many others. What has been your worst breast cancer moment? That's an interesting question because I can't really pin-point the worst moment. Perhaps I have forgotten the long days of chemo that seemed to drag on forever. I try not to think of my days as "bad" or "the worst" because that is simply too negative. It simply just was, and what I had to do to get to the other end of survivorship. What has been your best breast cancer moment? I kept a blog/photo journal of my experiences throughout my diagnosis and recovery stages. I surprisingly received e-mails from strangers around the world, both men and women, who wrote me to tell me their stories, and to reach out in support. I think that was a "collective" moment of many moments when people reached out to tell me I was in their prayers. That is how I met Jacki Donaldson. She too kept a blog and we found each other. We were destined to meet, sisters forever. How do handle anxiety and worry related to breast cancer? There is no such thing in my life as anxiety because I don't make room for it. I just live life and concentrate on living a healthy day, asking my guardian angel that I may experience true happiness, and that I not only be love, but give love. How has breast cancer changed your life? This experience has completely altered my life. I am no longer unhappy about the small issues that seemed to have plagued me before diagnosis. I let the small things go, and the large ones too. It is simply unnecessary to worry about anything because everything works itself out. It always does. What lessons have you learned through breast cancer? To live my day for what it is and to take advantage of every waking moment. To tell my friends and family that I love them on a regular basis, and to give hugs. Also I have learned that though someone may love you, they are not strong enough to handle the diagnosis. They are faced with their own fears with mortality. What I found was that there are those who can be strong and stay by your side, and there are those who cannot. What I learned that though cancer affects YOU, it also affects the collective whole. Are you involved in any breast cancer support groups? Fundraisers? Organizations? I participate in the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk every year. I have a whole group of women I walk with every year now. So far we have raised over $2,000 for this year's walk! What advice would you give someone newly diagnosed? To know and to live survivorship immediately. This disease is not going to get you. You are not a victim, you are simply the conduit of change. What advice would you give family members and friends of someone diagnosed with breast cancer? We, the survivors, need support, lots of it. I would say to be there in ways that you would not anticipate: to sit and not say anything, to simply be there, to help clean house, or to go on a walk. Bring them out in the sun, or a drive which would expose them to the fresh air. Getting outside, and being a part of life is truly important for revitalizing one's soul. Name any breast cancer related books or other resources you would recommend. I highly suggest massage or acupuncture while going through chemo. There are resources out there, people who are experienced in treating cancer patients who can help your recover from a chemo session. Also seek physical therapy after your surgeries. The hands-on, proactive approach gives you control in your own healing process. What else would you like to share? Remember, having a breast removed is not the end of the world! You can get a new rack out of it. I have an amazing pair of breasts now, better than what I had before! And whether you choose, or don't choose breast reconstruction, just know that whatever state you live that you must LOVE yourself for who you are, and accept yourself, your whole body for what it is. We will always be changed for this experience called cancer. We are the walking examples of what it means to be beautiful, and to be a survivor. Live well. Live love. Be love. Excel. You are the embodiment of all women who have come before you, and you are all women who will come after you. You are the living example of excellence. And it is a pleasure to be in the company of so many beautiful women who are now my sisters who have excelled in the beauty of life. 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