The 2012 Hope Calendar is finished! If you would like to see it, please go to:
http://share.shutterfly.com/share/received/welcome.sfly?fid=f8ec47f73a1981d76276141d224b0f78&sid=0AcOGzJqzcNWjlg
You should be able to view it. Each woman in the calendar is a breast cancer survivor who offers a short statement on what helped her succeed. If you are interested in purchasing one of these, the cost is $15. Please let me know.
I had a wonderful time meeting the ladies and sharing with them. As much as we are all different, we have a great deal in common as well. One thing I have found is that much of what we think and feel after experiencing cancer is the same as the next person. We move on and try to live our lives as fully as possible knowing in the back of our minds that somewhere deep inside us, it remains, and could return at any time.
This being the week before Thanksgiving, I urge you to reflect on what you give thanks for and what you are grateful for in your life. What are your special memories, and if you were to write a book, what would you say. On the flip side of that, if someone were to write a book about you, how would that book read? Would you be proud of what others were reading about you? What can you do this Thanksgiving to make it that much more special for others around you - just in case. We never know what is in store for us and ya know what, it's not really about us anymore, it is about those who we love and wish to do well for and by.
That being said, here's a few idea's to help you make your Thanksgiving just a bit more special for family, friends, and yourself.
1. Read a Thanksgiving story with your family. If you are alone, read one that resonates especially with you.
2. If you have family and friends over for dinner, ask each person to recall a special memory and talk about it. It will create fond memories for everyone.
3. Go to church and praise God.
4. Go see a parade - or watch one on TV.
5. Invite someone in need into your home to share the day, or go to one of your favorite charity's and serve others.
When we help others less fortunate than ourselves, it often causes us to feel better about our own predicaments. I've said many a time here, I am blessed and very lucky because I am still alive. And while I am still alive, I want to make others laugh and smile....if only for awhile.
If I am not on here beforehand.....then here's to wishing you all a very blessed and Happy Thanksgiving. Hugs~
Friday, November 18, 2011
Monday, November 14, 2011
Skydiving - One More Check on the Bucket List!
Good Monday morning all! This past weekend was unlike anything - ever! On Friday evening, my wonderful son, Brad, emailed me and said, "Hey, momma, wanna go skydiving tomorrow?" And me being the kind of mom not to let my boys do something crazy by themselves, said, "Yeah, let's do it!" And then I thought, "Good Lord, I seriously must be losing it..."
I barely slept that night thinking I was going to jump 15,000 feet out of a perfectly nice airplane, and possibly to my demise. Holy crap! But.....why not? I always wanted to feel the wind "beneath my wings" so why not try it with my son! And let me tell you - as far as bucket lists go - PUT THIS ONE ON YOURS!
It was amazing!!!! Did I say amazing? I meant to say freaking fantastic!!! After almost wetting my pants when the plane took off (because precisely at that moment you realize there is no backing out), I was terrified on the plane, and at the door, but once I actually jumped with my awesome tandem instructor Cris, everything changed. It is an indescribable feeling, but I will try to explain it.
You know when you are dreaming and feel like you are falling and you shake and wake yourself up? It does not feel like that at all. LOL It is quite the opposite actually. You are indeed falling at 120mph towards the ground, and the wind is rushing through your ears and hair quite loudly as you try to grasp the magnitude of everything around you. With all that going on, you still almost feel like you are being pushed up from the wind, instead of actual free falling. We spun around in a few flips and circles and Cris even let me "fly" our parachute. Of course, when the parachute opened, I wasn't ready for that part, and *whoosh* it pulls you back....and then you just float. The whole thing lasted about seven or eight wonderful minutes and Cris, who was so awesome, touched me down as light as a feather, and I just walked right out of the harness (really!!) Having said that, if you are in Florida, I highly recommend Skydive Space Center in Titusville! I kid you not. I was so psyched. My adrenalin was still going at full speed several hours later.
Honestly, other than the initial boarding of the plane and looking out of the door before the jump, it was absolutely spectacular. So spectacular, that I do hope to do it again. Oh, and did I mention, that because Brad and I were jumping with the seasoned jumpers who had more than 20,000 jumps, they took us to 18,000 feet. Not that we would have hit the ground any harder (you're still going 120mph), you just get a longer ride.....ahhhhh.....
THAT was worth the check and check mark.....
I barely slept that night thinking I was going to jump 15,000 feet out of a perfectly nice airplane, and possibly to my demise. Holy crap! But.....why not? I always wanted to feel the wind "beneath my wings" so why not try it with my son! And let me tell you - as far as bucket lists go - PUT THIS ONE ON YOURS!
It was amazing!!!! Did I say amazing? I meant to say freaking fantastic!!! After almost wetting my pants when the plane took off (because precisely at that moment you realize there is no backing out), I was terrified on the plane, and at the door, but once I actually jumped with my awesome tandem instructor Cris, everything changed. It is an indescribable feeling, but I will try to explain it.
You know when you are dreaming and feel like you are falling and you shake and wake yourself up? It does not feel like that at all. LOL It is quite the opposite actually. You are indeed falling at 120mph towards the ground, and the wind is rushing through your ears and hair quite loudly as you try to grasp the magnitude of everything around you. With all that going on, you still almost feel like you are being pushed up from the wind, instead of actual free falling. We spun around in a few flips and circles and Cris even let me "fly" our parachute. Of course, when the parachute opened, I wasn't ready for that part, and *whoosh* it pulls you back....and then you just float. The whole thing lasted about seven or eight wonderful minutes and Cris, who was so awesome, touched me down as light as a feather, and I just walked right out of the harness (really!!) Having said that, if you are in Florida, I highly recommend Skydive Space Center in Titusville! I kid you not. I was so psyched. My adrenalin was still going at full speed several hours later.
Honestly, other than the initial boarding of the plane and looking out of the door before the jump, it was absolutely spectacular. So spectacular, that I do hope to do it again. Oh, and did I mention, that because Brad and I were jumping with the seasoned jumpers who had more than 20,000 jumps, they took us to 18,000 feet. Not that we would have hit the ground any harder (you're still going 120mph), you just get a longer ride.....ahhhhh.....
THAT was worth the check and check mark.....
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Breast Cancer Risk vs. Heart Health??
OK ya'll....I need to get this "off my chest", so hold on.....Another "new" study has been published by the American Medical Association that states: "Even moderate drinking increases a woman's breast cancer
risk". Seriously, this after finding out that it also helps the heart by reducing the risk of heart disease.
Of course, their study doesn't tell women not to drink at all, I mean, why would it? It seems to me that these "doctors" getting grants (or whatever) and performing studies provide more confusion than conclusions.
I would like to know how long this particular study endured for Dr Wendy Chen be able to conclude that the alcohol intake "over a long period of time" (lifetime) increases the breast cancer risk". I listened to her on WKMG, Channel 6, this morning and was blown away by this PhD's responses. She never had any solid information, only "recommendations" such as "reduce the alcohol intake to several per week". Ok, I give - just what does that mean? I myself have an education and would be afraid to explain THAT sentence to anyone.
Quite frankly, if you can't tell, I am exhausted with studies and the conclusions that "everything" leads to breast cancer. Yep, it does. Now that we know that, stop saying it and scaring the crap out of women, young and old. We would benefit our communities much more if we focused on how we fix the breast cancer issue instead and find a flipping cure.
Finally, oh educated ones, seven surgeries later and waking up every day seeing a "new study" is actually old. I live with the fact of wondering if today will be the day IT returns, so, please stop screwing around with maybe's and possibilities and start providing real conclusions - or better yet - solutions - for breast cancer. Only then will women stop having to have their breasts removed from their chest or worse - dying.
Of course, their study doesn't tell women not to drink at all, I mean, why would it? It seems to me that these "doctors" getting grants (or whatever) and performing studies provide more confusion than conclusions.
I would like to know how long this particular study endured for Dr Wendy Chen be able to conclude that the alcohol intake "over a long period of time" (lifetime) increases the breast cancer risk". I listened to her on WKMG, Channel 6, this morning and was blown away by this PhD's responses. She never had any solid information, only "recommendations" such as "reduce the alcohol intake to several per week". Ok, I give - just what does that mean? I myself have an education and would be afraid to explain THAT sentence to anyone.
Quite frankly, if you can't tell, I am exhausted with studies and the conclusions that "everything" leads to breast cancer. Yep, it does. Now that we know that, stop saying it and scaring the crap out of women, young and old. We would benefit our communities much more if we focused on how we fix the breast cancer issue instead and find a flipping cure.
Finally, oh educated ones, seven surgeries later and waking up every day seeing a "new study" is actually old. I live with the fact of wondering if today will be the day IT returns, so, please stop screwing around with maybe's and possibilities and start providing real conclusions - or better yet - solutions - for breast cancer. Only then will women stop having to have their breasts removed from their chest or worse - dying.
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
A combo for TNBC?
New news has been posted that may help triple negative breast cancer patients. According to Medpage Today, researchers are stating that Avastin plus Taxol works just as good for TNBC as it does for non-TNBC patients. I think that is promising news.
One thing this DOES indeed say is this: Researchers are working diligently towards finding a cure, not just for a single type of breast cancer, but even for the most hardy cancers, and this is awesome. Triple negative patients generally have a shorter life span than does non-triple negatives, BUT, take heart, there are so many different treatments being formed for now that the cancer is actually beginning to respond to treatment. Ten years ago it didn't respond to anything and women just passed away.
As for me, I have been quite tired as of late, but I have learned to recognize when I am overdoing it, and I guess if I am honest with myself, either I haven't gotten enough rest each night, or I have gotten too much rest. Either way, I'm kind of blah, but I know it's a phase I just have to get myself out of.
I also cannot figure out why on earth I am craving chocolate. And Lord knows I have eaten my share of it too - shame on me - bad chocolate!! Never in my life have I craved chocolate.....and it sure isn't helping my cause any....... any idea's??
Have a great week and hang tough....people are working hard to take care of YOU!
Hugs~
One thing this DOES indeed say is this: Researchers are working diligently towards finding a cure, not just for a single type of breast cancer, but even for the most hardy cancers, and this is awesome. Triple negative patients generally have a shorter life span than does non-triple negatives, BUT, take heart, there are so many different treatments being formed for now that the cancer is actually beginning to respond to treatment. Ten years ago it didn't respond to anything and women just passed away.
As for me, I have been quite tired as of late, but I have learned to recognize when I am overdoing it, and I guess if I am honest with myself, either I haven't gotten enough rest each night, or I have gotten too much rest. Either way, I'm kind of blah, but I know it's a phase I just have to get myself out of.
I also cannot figure out why on earth I am craving chocolate. And Lord knows I have eaten my share of it too - shame on me - bad chocolate!! Never in my life have I craved chocolate.....and it sure isn't helping my cause any....... any idea's??
Have a great week and hang tough....people are working hard to take care of YOU!
Hugs~
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