Archive for September, 2009

Pink Starts Tomorrow

Wednesday, September 30th, 2009
Pink Socks

pink, pink, everywhere!

Tomorrow marks the start of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which means almost everything in sight — from ball caps to band aids — will be turning pink. Some people don’t like it — think before you pink, they say, because some companies are just trying to make a buck by linking with the cause, and their products might not be all that safe, either. But I’m sorta OK with the whole thing. Plus, I like the color, and I want to have a little fun during the next 31 days of heightened awareness. That’s why I’ll be bringing you several giveaways this October — books, headbands, cupcakes and as much pink gear as I can get my hands on — and I’ll introduce you to some super survivors and try to teach you a few things about this crappy disease, too.

The bottom line is that the more we know about breast cancer, the better. And if looking at a tube of pink Chapstick on your bathroom counter or those pink M&Ms in the office candy dish reminds you to reach for your breasts and feel for lumps, then I say it’s all worth it.

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Posted in Awareness | 1 Comment »

Celebration 4 Life Giveaway – 12 Will Win

Friday, September 18th, 2009
celebration-4-life-200jd091

Enter below to win one cap and one Keep Cool bandanna.

I’m back with more about the Celebration 4 Life gear. You know, the shirts, caps and Keep Cool bandannas (aka cooling neck wraps) modeled by my boys in a previous post. Yea, those. But I’m not here to just chit-chat about these goodies. I’m here to give them away. Well, the Celebration 4 Life folks are giving them away. I’m just providing the avenue by which you can score some free stuff.

One cap and one cooling neck wrap can be all yours if you enter this giveaway. And if you win, you’ll get to choose the cap and wrap of your choice. Pretty generous, huh? It gets better.

Celebration 4 Life will award 12 winners. Yes, 12. So be sure to leave a comment (but only one) so you have a chance at getting these great goods.

Here’s exactly what you need to do:

  • Visit this site and leave a comment below sharing the model number of both the cap and cooling neck wrap you want (note: Caps with the thin reflective bands are standard size, and the ones with the wider reflective bands are smaller).
  • Leave your comment no later than 5PM ET on Friday, September 25, 2009.
  • You may enter only once.
  • Open to legal residents of the 50 United States, and the District of Columbia, who are 18 and older.
  • Twelve winners will be selected in a random drawing.
  • Twelve winners will receive one cap ($13) and one cooling neck wrap, ($5), valued at $18.
  • Winners will be notified by email and in a post on this blog, so make sure to check next week to find out if you’ve won!

Before you leave the Celebration 4 Life site, check out their free downloads, and use them if you can. OK, that’s all. Good Luck!

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Posted in Awareness, Gifts, Giveaway | 14 Comments »

Mammogram Bus Rolling Through Puerto Rico

Wednesday, September 16th, 2009
ruta pink mammogram bus

Ruta Pink mammogram bus

With early detection often leading to a 98-percent survival rate, mammograms are essential for women over 35. Unfortunately, millions of American women are uninsured, and don’t have the means to afford an annual mammogram test. But in Puerto Rico, uninsured women are turning to a new program for help.

Last year, Doral Bank in Puerto Rico partnered with Susan G Komen for the Cure and launched “Ruta Pink” (Pink Route). Ruta Pink is a pink mobile mammogram clinic that stops through various towns in Puerto Rico, offering women (and even men!) free mammograms, but also biopsies and referrals. These healthcare services are offered free of charge, for both sexes, whether they insured or uninsured.

In addition to providing direct health care services, Ruta Pink is also running free educational seminars about breast cancer prevention. The sessions also address self-esteem and healthy living tips for breast cancer survivors.

Since launching in June of 2008, Ruta Pink’s medical team has performed over 2,000 mammograms. And Doral is also committed to helping the Susan G Komen foundation by offering contributions every time a woman opens a “Pink” account with the bank.

With breast cancer awareness month (October) just around the corner, Doral Bank in Puerto Rico is leading the way for breast cancer prevention and education with its innovative, award-winning Ruta Pink initiative.

For more information about the program, you can contact the program’s exclusive hotline at (787) 625-5830 or visit their website at www.RutaPink.com. You can also watch their videos on YouTube at www.youtube.com/rutapink

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Posted in Awareness, Diagnosis, Prevention, Resources, Tests | 2 Comments »

Patrick Swayze Dies of Cancer, Maura Tierney Has Surgery for It

Monday, September 14th, 2009
dirty dancing DVD cover

Photo: amazon.com

I should be working — editing nine posts for That’s Fit so they can publish tomorrow — but I’m too sad at the moment, because I just heard that 57-year-old Patrick Swayze has died of pancreatic cancer. He battled the disease for 20 months, which is a lot longer than many folks get (the survival rate for this type of cancer is just 4 or 5 percent for five years), but still, 20 months is not good enough. And so my mind is scattered by the news of his death, and the realization (again) that cancer is a nasty and evil opponent. And while I’m lucky that my chance of surviving breast cancer is 93 percent (November 2009 = five years), I feel more vulnerable right now than I do on most days.

Doesn’t help that I also just read that former “ER” actress Maura Tierney just had surgery for breast cancer and has dropped out of NBC’s new show “Parenthood.” The star’s spokesperson says that 44-year-old is “deeply disappointed” not to be participating in the show, and that “Ms. Tierney and her doctors remain confident that the outcome of her treatments will be positive.”

I’m confident too, because really, my hope is a lot stronger than my fear, and so I just need a bit to recover from the sadness. Then I can get to work.

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Posted in Death & dying, Diagnosis, Surgery, Survivors | 3 Comments »

Survivors by Errol Morris

Saturday, September 12th, 2009

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Posted in Survivors | No Comments »

A Celebration 4 Life – Get Your Gear Here

Friday, September 11th, 2009
celebration-for-life-gear-4

KeepKool Bandana, Sports Cap and T-Shirt

I posted recently about A Celebration 4 Life™ and some nifty products that focus on celebrating the life of a loved one by spreading positive and hope-filled messages. Well, I didn’t know a whole lot about the gear at the time — I’d seen it online, it looked cool, and the prices seemed right, but I had not touched anything, worn anything or really considered how I might put these items to use. But now! Now, I have three great gifts in my grubby little hands, and I’m here to tell you: They rock.

First, and my favorite, is the Sports Cap ($13.00). Hats don’t always look good, you now? Some are too soft, some too rigid, some just plain dorky. Not this one-size-fits-all white cap with yellow DoLife logo. It’s all cotton, all sporty, and it breathes, too, because parts of it are mesh. Even has reflective stripes for that night-time jog.

OK, then there’s the KeepKool Bandana ($5.00). Check this out: It actually cools your body temperature. All you do is soak the thing in cool or cold water for 15 to 30 minutes. Then store in the fridge for some extra cold. Wrap around your neck (or your head, or wherever) and reactivate in cold water when it starts warming up. Also has the DoLife symbol, pink.

And the shirt. Gotta love a crisp, new T-Shirt ($13.00) with large pink DoLife splashed across the front. I’m not a big t-shirt wearer for every-day fashion, but you might find me kickin’ around in something like this at night, when I’m all cozy in my house.

Many a friend has asked me over the years what to get someone going through cancer treatment. I usally recommend comfy socks and Dr. Bernie Siegel’s and Dr. Love’s books, but I happen to think any one (or all three) of these products would fit the bill perfectly. Pick your own “cause” color when you order (toll-free at 866-756-8078 or online).

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Posted in Awareness | 1 Comment »

Cancer: No, Pulse: Low

Friday, September 4th, 2009
exam-table-200jd090409

Keeping a Pulse on Cancer

My body is free of cancer, at least as far as my radiation oncologist can tell from a clinical exam — just had a follow-up visit this morning, and I appear to be A-OK, which is great news and all, but even better at the moment is what I learned about my resting pulse (or heart rate).

Right after I was weighed and my blood pressure was taken, my heart rate clocked in at 47. “Oh My Goodness, 47?” said the nurse. “That’s really low.” I guess I knew this, I’m always pretty low, but her surprise threw me for a minute. “Is that OK?” I asked. She told me it’s just fine and asked if I’m a runner. I told her that I am. I mean, I’m not a marathoner or anything, in fact, a 5K is pretty much tops for me. But I do run, and walk, and make often-lazy attempts at push-ups, planks and other body-weight exercises. I guess it all adds up.

“Fit people usually have low resting heart rates,” the nurse told me. I took that as a compliment. Then I came home and found this on Pat Croce’s website:

One of the greatest barometers of your fitness status—that is, your ability to expend energy—is your resting pulse rate. The lower your pulse rate (also referred to as your heart rate), the less energy you expend doing menial tasks and the more energy you keep stored for other activities. Ironically, the best way to lower you resting heart rate is to exercise or engage in physical activity.

On average, the American Heart beats about 70 to 80 times a minute. The active or athletic heart beats around 60 bpm. And the highly trained athletic heart beats in the range of 40 to 50 bpm. For example, it has been reported that Tiger Woods has a resting pulse rate in the low 50’s and my friend Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong—who wrote the Forward for my book 110%—was monitored in the low 40’s. I’m proud to say that my resting pulse rate is in the high 40’s.

Hmmm, “highly trained athletic heart” — not sure about that, but it sure is motivating to know my heart is seemingly healthy. Makes me want to go out for a run. Tomorrow.

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Posted in Exercise, My story | 2 Comments »