Posts by :
- Leave a comment and tell us what you’d like to win: the women’s anti-aging moisturizer, the collagen recovery cream, or the men’s anti-aging cream.
- Leave your comment no later than 5PM ET on Saturday, December 4, 2010.
- You may enter only once.
- Open to legal residents of the 50 United States, and the District of Columbia, who are 18 and older.
- Two winners will be selected in a random drawing via random.org.
- Two winners will receive one jar of DERMAGENICS cream (value, $85).
- Winners will be notified by email, so make sure to check next week to find out if you’ve won!
- Leave a comment and share which inspiration stones you want — pink breast cancer theme or teal ovarian cancer theme.
- Leave your comment no later than 5PM ET on Saturday, November 20, 2010.
- You may enter only once.
- Open to legal residents of the 50 United States, and the District of Columbia, who are 18 and older.
- One winner will be selected in a random drawing via random.org.
- One winner will receive one set of inspiration stones, valued at $24.00.
- Winners will be notified by email, so make sure to check next week to find out if you’ve won!
- Wearing my hats.
- Making Strides Against Breast Cancer.
- my Cancer blog.
- Joey wore pink shoelaces in his football cleats this October.
- Fun with freebie promo items — I write about and review everything from books to yoga mats to pink tire cap valves to cancer-inspired headbands.
- Packaging and sending a wig to a friend in Ohio.
- Cancersaurus.
- The color (orchid) is awesome. She loves it so much more than her brownish-greenish generic mat.
- It’s comfy.
- It’s not slippery (although it was at first, just as Manduka warned, but after a simple wipe/wash, it was good to go!).
- The length is perfect (specs are 71” x 24” x 3/16”).
- Did I mention the color?
- One 25-ounce stainless steel water bottle (Orchid color, $20), and
- One super-absorbent and quick-drying eQua Hand Towel (Sangria color, $20).
- Leave a comment and share why you need this yoga gear!
- Leave your comment no later than 5PM ET on Monday, November 15, 2010.
- You may enter only once.
- Open to legal residents of the 50 United States, and the District of Columbia, who are 18 and older.
- One winner will be selected in a random drawing via random.org.
- One winner will receive one stainless steel water bottle ($20), plus one eQua Hand Towel ($20).
- Winners will be notified by email, so make sure to check next week to find out if you’ve won!
- Improved mood and memory.
- Smoother, softer skin.
- Stronger bones and muscles.
- And more!
- Leave a comment and share why you should be the big winner!
- Leave your comment no later than 5PM ET on Thursday, November 11, 2010.
- You may enter only once.
- Open to legal residents of the 50 United States, and the District of Columbia, who are 18 and older.
- One winner will be selected in a random drawing via random.org.
- One winner will receive one book, valued at $24.95.
- Winners will be notified by email, so make sure to check next week to find out if you’ve won!
Keep Calm, Carry On
December 3rd, 2010This is what I’m going to start saying to myself. It’s appropriate for just about every scenario in my life.
Photo: gelaskins.com
My Friend’s Dad
November 28th, 2010
Photo: caitra_, Flickr
My friend’s dad died yesterday. Cancer. I’m not sure of the exact type, but it started in one place, landed in another, and was called melanoma in the late stages. Regardless, the whole story makes me cry.
We were standing in a place called Sun Country — where kids take gymnastics, ballet, karate, and more — when this friend first told me about her dad’s diagnosis. I think we both kind of thought, “yea, cancer, he’ll be OK.” Because, a lot of people are. It’s a rough road — the surgery, treatment, and all — but surely, he’d survive it, I thought.
He did survive — for a while. Then things got bad. There were hospital stays, and feeding tubes, and weight loss. Doctors said there wasn’t anything more they could do for him. Hospice came to his house. And two days after Thanksgiving, he passed.
I am confident he is at peace now, finished with the hardships of cancer. That’s a good thing.
What makes me sad is that he wasn’t OK, which means, even though I’ve survived my own cancer for 6 years, it’s quite possible I won’t be alright forever. I’ve had a good long run, but what if that ends?
That’s what cancer does. It first invades the body, and then it leaves a lingering unknown. Sometimes — like today, as I think of my friend’s dad — it makes me sad. Mostly, though, it keeps me on my toes, keeps me aware of every breath I take, keeps me in awe of all the blessings in my life.
Here’s the thing: I might not be able to control cancer, but I do have the power to turn each day into something spectacular.
Well, that’s my spin on it, anyway.
Feel-Good Finds: Skin Cream / Giveaway
November 27th, 2010Welcome to Feel-Good Finds, a series of posts featuring items and products that can cheer you up, calm your mind, and soothe your soul. Whether you’re muddling through cancer treatment or just braving the occasional bad day, pick-me-ups are key. Here, I review all things happy and hopeful. (And sometimes when I’m blessed with extra goodies, I’ll even give them away!)
dermagenics.com
If youthful, healthy, wrinkle-free skin makes you feel good, then DERMAGENICS might be the magic bullet for beating your blues.
My mom (she’s my go-to product tester girl) really likes the Collagen Recovery Cream, and she thinks you might, too.
Here’s why:
It’s soft, smooth, and not greasy at all; it has a pleasant fragrance; it feels light on the skin; and it features a slight tingle that is refreshingly nice.
According to the DERMAGENICS website, Collagen Recovery Cream hydrates, improves, and repairs skin texture, health, and appearance. Ingredients are natural and do not include alcohol, formaldehyde, fragrance, dyes, phthalates, alpha hydroxys, or glycolic acid.
Bonus: it effectively heals radiation and chemotherapy damaged skin.
This isn’t the only DERMAGENICS product, though. There is also an option for women seeking an anti-aging potion, and one for men, too!
Maybe you don’t want to jump right into a purchase, but you still want to give DERMAGENCIS a try. Well, that’s what giveaways are for, and two of you can win a 30-day supply just by entering the contest below.
Results, 2004
November 24th, 2010
Photo: Clearly Ambiguous, Flickr
6 years ago.
1 day before Thanksgiving.
The doctor called at 10 AM and shared these 5 words:
“Unfortunately, cancer cells were found.”
And so began my dance with a disease that would prove both horrible and wonderful.
Biopsy, 2004
November 23rd, 2010
November 2004
6 years ago.
2 days before Thanksgiving.
I had a biopsy.
“Call the nurse tomorrow afternoon for the results,” the surgeon said.
I have no memory of how I filled the long hours leading up to that afternoon.
I do remember I never made that call.
Because the doctor called me.
That’s never a good thing.
When the doctor calls.
Like a Cancer
November 19th, 2010
Stress Can Affect Your Breasts
November 18th, 2010And this, my friends, is why I aim every day to stress less:
Stress Can Encourage the Growth of Breast Cancer
Be Bright Pink
November 16th, 2010
bebrightpink.org
Be bright. Be smart. Be positive. Be in control.
That’s what Bright Pink is all about.
The group aims to enlighten and empower individuals (especially high-risk people!) to stay on top of their breast and ovarian health. Education, support, and a sense of community is what you’ll get when you align yourself with Bright Pink.
Get informed, get involved, and get the scoop on services, programs, and events — all right here!
Go Dawn! Go Dolphins!
November 16th, 2010
Headed to Miami!
Dawn is not letting cancer slow her down. Nope. She just completed a chemo treatment, and now, the Pensacola Florida girl is headed to Miami to cheer on her Dolphins this Thursday!
First things first, though!
A little airbrushing on that bald head she so proudly rocks!
Go Dawn! Go Dolphins!
Feel-Good Finds: Inspiration Stones / Giveaway
November 13th, 2010Welcome to Feel-Good Finds, a series of posts featuring items and products that can cheer you up, calm your mind, and soothe your soul. Whether you’re muddling through cancer treatment or just braving the occasional bad day, pick-me-ups are key. Here, I review all things happy and hopeful. (And sometimes when I’m blessed with extra goodies, I’ll even give them away!)
Yesterday, I learned that my MRI results were A-OK, and now I am really, really close to saying I’m a 6-year survivor (it was the day before Thanksgiving in 2004 when I found out I had breast cancer). What a perfect surprise, then, to find these on my doorstep last night.
outofthebluedelivered.com
They were hand-delivered by my friend Dawn at Out of the Blue Delivered, and I think she has no idea how much I totally love them.
You might love them, too!
And guess what? It’s quite possible you could win some for yourself — just throw your name in the hat by entering the giveaway below. Please note that there are two varieties of the Awareness Inspiration Stone Set — one for breast cancer awareness, and one for ovarian cancer awareness.
Aftermath of the MRI
November 12th, 2010MRI results are in, and says my oncologist:
Happy Girl!
“The result is perfect. Have a great weekend.”
That’s exactly what I’m going to do.
Cancer and a Congresswoman
November 12th, 2010
November 12, 2010
I had the pleasure of joining a young breast cancer survivor discussion today at the University of Florida. Leading the chat was Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Shultz, herself a breast cancer survivor, and my role was to listen, soak up the wisdom of shared stories, and talk to the group about how cancer affected my children and my parenting. Here’s my speech, which got me all choked up as I stood facing my audience. So, really, I’m not sure it was delivered like this at all.
Hello, I’m Jacki.
I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2004 @ the age of 34.
My kids were almost 4 and 18 months old.
Now, I’m 40.
Joey is 9.
Danny is 7.
To be totally honest, my first thought after hearing I had cancer was, “OMG, my hair!” I really did not want to lose my hair.
Then, I started worrying about dying, and leaving my two little boys motherless. (Cue tears.)
Some of my darkest moments came at night, while my babies were sound asleep. I’d watch them and contemplate their lives without me. (More tears.)
Mornings were always brighter, and it was during these hours it dawned on me that my kids were going to be just fine, no matter what.
And throughout my surgery, chemo, radiation, and more, they really went about life without much notice of what was going on around them.
Danny, the younger one has no real memory of my bald head, my sick tummy, my two hospital stays.
I don’t think his big brother remembers too much either, although he did help shave my head, and he can recall bits and pieces of that emotional night. “It’s only a haircut, mommy,” he told me. “You’re not going to die.”
He was right. It was only a haircut. And here I am, almost 6 years later, and they are still stuck with me.
A few thoughts on how cancer shaped my kids and my parenting:
Whether they remember it or not, my kids know I had cancer.
They knew from the very beginning because I told them I had a boo-boo in my boobie, a doctor would take it out, I would take medicine, my hair would fall out, and I would be OK.
I was honest — they know the whole story, and they’ve pretty involved in the whole journey!
Cancer gave me an at-home writing career (I was discovered 18 months after starting to write my blog), which allows me to work in the mornings, and hang out with Joey and Danny in the afternoons. Perfect.
Cancer taught me (well, it’s still teaching me) to stress less. And that’s good for my kids.
Cancer taught me to cherish the moment, and since my kids take up most of my moments, I savor those boys more. Does that mean I don’t get frustrated and yell at them? Nope. I’m human — just aware that they are precious little people, who helped save my life. (Tears, tears, tears.)
When I was first diagnosed, I imagined that dealing with a disease might be easier without kids.
I quickly realized it was easier with kids.
My boys kept me busy and distracted.
There was no time to feel sorry for myself. And I am grateful for that!
(Tears.)
(The end.)
More of the MRI
November 9th, 2010
Photo: Muffet, Flickr
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been to Shands Hospital at the University of Florida. Well, I probably can, but it would suck up too much of my time to tally all the visits, so I won’t go that far. In a nutshell, though, I’ve been there for a bunch of visits with a surgeon, a handful of surgery prep tests, a lumpectomy, 4 chemotherapy infusions, 2 hospital stays, 30+ radiation sessions, 12 Herceptin treatments, and a year and a half’s worth of therapy. Then there’s genetic counseling, follow-ups with oncologists, visits to the emergency room during bad chemo days, meetings with the cancer survivorship folks, and gosh, there’s so much more.
Like all those times I’ve reported for MRIs.
Tomorrow, I go back to Shands.
Another MRI.
I get one every year, and while it’s not a big deal really — I schedule my appointments in the evening to avoid the crowds, and the procedure is pretty simple — I still find myself worrying a teeny tiny bit on the days leading up to the MRI (the mammogram, too, which I also get once a year). You see, I know that when it’s over, I’m going to walk away not knowing what to expect. Am I going to get a letter saying everything is fine (except for the 10% of stuff that can be missed), or will I get a call from a doc announcing a suspicious something or other?
I’m pretty confident I am still fine. In fact, I really believe I will not get cancer again. Just a feeling. But hey, I had something like less than a 1% chance of getting it in the first place, and I did, so I’m no dummy. I’m realistic — it could happen again — and that causes the little bursts of panic.
Mostly, though, I’m sure cancer is behind me, not in front of me.
I think.
About That Time
November 8th, 2010
Photo: MSVG, Flickr
It’s about that time — the time when I start thinking back to that November day in 2004 when a doctor called me to say, “you have cancer.”
At this point in November almost six years ago, I hadn’t a clue what was about to happen. I didn’t know I had only two weeks before I would find a lump in my breast, my family and friends would assure me it was nothing to worry about, my doctor would send me for a mammogram, the mammogram would look fine but the ultrasound would not, a surgeon would conduct a needle biopsy, and that same guy would call me on the day before Thanksgiving with the horrific news.
Nope, no idea. Just sailing along in life like it would always be just fine and dandy.
Then, WHAM!
Breast cancer.
Almost 2,190 days since diagnosis.
And I still can’t believe it actually happened.
Feel-Good Finds: Manduka Yoga Mat / Giveaway
November 8th, 2010Welcome to Feel-Good Finds, a series of posts featuring items and products that can cheer you up, calm your mind, and soothe your soul. Whether you’re muddling through cancer treatment or just braving the occasional bad day, pick-me-ups are key. Here, I review all things happy and hopeful. (And sometimes when I’m blessed with extra goodies, I’ll even give them away!)
Here goes with the first feel-good item.
It’s the Manduka PROlite® Mat.
www.manduka.com
My mom is the lucky girl who got to review this product (because she’s more the yoga enthusiast than I am), and here’s what she says, after packing up her TJMaxx mat for the magic of Manduka.
Not only did the Manduka folks bestow upon me this magnificent mat, they have given me, so I can give to one of you:
If you wanna go for the feel-good win, just follow the steps below.
www.manduka.com
Womenopause: Book Giveaway
November 4th, 2010
amazon.com
Maybe you are confused about the relationship between breast cancer and hormone therapy.
Doctors and authors Lovera Wolf Miller and David C. Miller are not. They say that Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT) is the key to preventing the disease.
In their book “Womenopause: Stop Pausing and Start Living,” the married docs declare that MHT (formerly known as Hormone Replacement Therapy or HRT), can reduce diagnoses of breast cancer by 33% in cases where MHT consists of estrogen only.
Other benefits of MHT, say the duo:
It’s probably not a bad idea to learn more about MHT. Win this book (another giveaway!), and you’ll be on your way to acquiring some new knowledge.
Pink Ribbon Blues: You Got ‘Em?
October 29th, 2010
www.amazon.com
You might think all the pink products, all the donations, all the charitable giving that takes place during months like October means important life-saving work is being done on the breast cancer front.
You’d be wrong, according to sociologist Gayle A. Sulik, author of ”Pink Ribbon Blues.”
In the time since the war on cancer began 40 years ago, things have gotten worse, not better, says Sulik.
In fact, a woman now has a 1-in-8 chance of getting breast cancer in her lifetime. Used to be 1 in 11 — in 1975.
And the risk of dying from the disease, upon diagnosis, decreased only .05 percent from 1990 to 2005.
Pretty sobering stats, huh?
Sulik has more to say on the topic: She weighs in on Susan G. Komen for the Cure, she believes Breast Cancer Awareness Month is too heavy on the cured, not the terminal, and did you know drug companies make loads of money from breast cancer? Oh, and by the way, the month was established by the American Cancer Society with funding from the pharmaceutical powerhouse Zeneca.
Seem a little fishy?
Could be.
Pink Ribbon Blues. You got ‘em?
15 Inspiring Breast Cancer Survivor Blogs
October 29th, 2010
toponlinecolleges.com
This just in:
TopOnlineColleges.com has published on their site a list of 15 inspiring breast cancer survivor blogs!
If you’re looking for guidance, motivation, humor, and a bundle of information on cancer, health, research, and more, there is no need to hunt for resources — the legwork is already done.
So, enjoy.
And check out No. 2 on the list. (Makes me happy!)
Amoro Hope Bracelet Benefits Boobies
October 28th, 2010
www.amoro.com
October is almost over, which means the big ‘ol cloud of pink that has been swirling overhead for the past month is about to go Poof!, and all those charitable contributions resulting from your pink purchases are going to slow way down!
There are still a few days to get in on the hoopla, though. And if you’re in the market for some jazzy jewels, this Amoro Hope Pink Enamel Heart And Pearl Bracelet For Breast Cancer Awareness could be the perfect score for you or a special someone.
Here are the stats on this 7.5-inch bracelet: Amoro heart tag, sterling silver toggle, AA quality, 8-9mm diameter pearls, hand knotted on silk thread. $79.95.
Plus, a $20 donation will be made for each Amoro Hope Bracelet sold during the month of October to benefit both the Feel Your Boobies Foundation and Young Survival Coalition.
Sunday wraps up the month — get your bracelet now!
Still Running From Cancer
October 28th, 2010I’ve been running from cancer for a while now. It’s because I keep thinking about all that research showing that five vigorous hours of exercise per week can cut my chance of recurrence by something close to 50%. I just can’t ignore such a compelling statistic, so I try my best to keep pounding the pavement. Sometimes, the task is easy. Sometimes, it’s a chore. Today, I was feeling it, and so I ran, and ran, and ran. The end result? See below.
www.jogtracker.com
To chart your fitness feats on an Android phone (that’s what I’m doing) check out JogTracker.