THURSDAY THOUGHTS - Living From Your Heart

GUEST POST:

"I remember my husband telling me once to listen to my heart when making decisions. He told me that our braindgets so overloaded that many times our thinking gets clouded. He continued to tell me that "your heart will never lie to you, whereas your brain is often influenced by things that are currently happening in your life."

I recently found a quote by one of my favorite authors, Richard Carlson, which seconds this most wonderful concept:

'Living from your heart means that you choose a life and style that are true for you and your family. It means you make important decisions because they resonate with your heart and your own values, and not necessarily with those of others. Living from your heart means that you trust your own instincts more than the pressures from advertising or the expectations of society, neighbors and friends.

Living from your heart is about trusting that quiet voice within you that emerges when you quiet down enough to listen. It's that voice that speaks to you from a place of wisdom and common sense instead of from frantic chatter and habit. When you trust your heart rather than your habits, new insights will pop into your mind. As you learn to live from your heart you will become calmer, happier, and less stressed. you will be living your life instead of everyone else's.

The way to live more from your heart is to commit to doing so. Ask yourself questions like, "How do I really want to live my life?" Am I following my own path or am I doing things simply because I've always done them this way, or because I am living up to someone else's expectations?" Then simply quiet down and listen. Rather than trying to come up with an answer, see if you can allow the answers to come to you as if out of the blue.

Living from your heart is one of the foundations of inner peace and personal growth. It will encourage you to be kinder and a great deal more patient. Give it a try. You'll be surprised, even delighted, at what you might discover.'

I feel that cancer patients learn to do this more than most other people. They are driven to, because of living with CANCER (very probably the most feared word in the English language.) Kudos to all of you as you make this journey with courage, determination and tenacity. Living from your hearts gives you peace along the way and enables you to reach out and help others as you go along.

Kathy Christensen
Guest Blogger
Sister Survivor

ALMOST WORDLESS WEDNESDAY - Mastectomy and Reconstruction Swimsuits

Today's post is an ALMOST Wordless Wednesday. I decided to shop for swimsuits that can be worn post-mastectomy and post-reconstruction. Here are my Top 10 favorites. Most are cut higher on the top and under arms, and many have pockets for breast forms, or removal pads. The websites were you can purchase the swimsuits are listed.

From A Nu Image:


From Lands End:



From eSwimmers.com:


From Park Mastectomy Supply:


From MastectomyShop.com:



From Bravelle: (There are a bunch of different brand names.)

This one is Anita Care.

And this one is a Nicola Jane:


From Jamu.com:

TUESDAY TIPS - Cancer Shop USA

I got an email today from Happy Chemo. They were announcing that they have some new partners. One of those partners is called Cancer Shop USA. I went to Happy Chemo's website, and read all about Cancer Shop USA, and I was intrigued. This company was started by a doctor who went through breast cancer - bi-lateral mastectomy, reconstruction, chemo, and radiation. She knows first hand all of the problems and hardships associated with cancer. She then decided to open Cancer Shop USA and offers unique products, many of which are inspired and developed by cancer survivors, and reviewed for safety by doctors.

I went to the Cancer Shop USA's website, and looked around. I saw some interesting things there. There are 19 different categories, to help you find what you are looking for. Here are a few that sparked my interest...

Body Wrap

Filled with rice and a blend of herbs: eucalyptus, cinnamon, and clove. This works as either a warm wrap or a cool wrap. It is quite large, and can wrap around your neck and onto your shoulders. It's covered with beautiful fabric, that can be removed and washed. It weighs around 2 pounds, so it creates pressure, helping you to relax. I really want one of these! It's $38.

Horray for Brallywood Butta

This is a Luxe body butter. It helps restore stressed, fragile skin, and helps on scarring. This will helps with skin irritations due to chemotherapy and radiation. The ingredients include: Organic Sunflower Seed Oil, Yucca Root, Tangerine Oil, Lemon Oil, Organic Sesame Seed Oil, Jojoba Seed Oil, Shea Butter, Cocoa Butter, Aloe, Rosehips Seed Oil, and Vitamin E. It smells like lemon meringue pie. It is 100% natural, mineral oil free, phthalates free, and paraben free.

Shower Shirt

This item is meant to be worn in the shower, post mastectomy. It is water proof, and it has pockets for drains, and Velcro loops for drain tubing. This was invented by a cancer patient after her doctor told her she couldn't shower until after the drains came out. We all know how long that takes - 2-3 weeks! She couldn't find anything like it, so she invented one. Boy, do I wish I would have had one of these! After 10 surgeries, I know how hard it is to not be able to shower.

One of my favorite things I found on the website is the Cancer Kits for Kids.

I know breast cancer patients might not be interested in this, but I just thought it was so great. These kits come with: Nausea reducing lollipops, nausea reducing crackers with ginger, protein rich snacks, moisturizer/lotion/cream, pre-moistened dental swabs, oral rinse, mouth moisturizer spray, chapstick, aromatherapy stuffed animal wrap, inspirational children's cancer book, journal and pen, and flashlight and toy. This combination of products was chosen by pediatric oncology nurses and children. What a wonderful gift for a child undergoing chemotherapy. This also gave me lots of idea and items I could put into chemo kits for breast cancer patients, as well.

Well, those are just a few of the interesting products I found on Cancer Shop USA. Thanks to Happy Chemo for bringing this website/company to our attention. Also, if you'd like to order something from Cancer Shop USA, you can received free shipping! Just go to Happy Chemo and sign up as a member to find out how.

I've added Cancer Shop USA to our website lists (on the right sidebar). If you try any of these products, please let us know if you like them!

-Kara

MONDAY MOTIVATION - In Your Own Words

This week, at our support meeting, we will be learning to journal our cancer stories - through writing and art. It's a good idea to start thinking about what you'll want to include in your cancer story. Here's a list of some of the things I've written about...

Finding Out I Have Cancer
A Bi-Lateral Mastectomy Surgery
Chemotherapy
Side Effects
Tests
Losing Hair
Scars
The Color Pink
Expanders
Reconstructive Surgery
My Port

If you will be attending our support group, please take a few minutes to think about what you would like to write about. Here is a page from my cancer story...



Nadine Gordimer said: “Writing is making sense of life." I really do believe that. Writing to me is therapeutic. I've found that if I can just write about what happened to me - the good and the bad - that it will leave the place it occupies in my head, and not bother me as much anymore. I waited for 1 year before I could even write about having my bi-lateral mastectomy. It was too difficult to write about at first, and then I started to forget. But, once I started writing, it all came back.

I've also found that if I can't write about something, I can probably express myself in other ways - art journaling, for instance. What colors and images come to mind when you think about your cancer journey? This week, I'm going to try to take a blank sheet of paper and create my feelings about my cancer journey. Here are a few beautiful pages that illustrate what art journaling is:




Please join us this Thursday for a wonderful, create, purging night.
-Kara

THURSDAY THOUGHTS - Breathes Peace To Our Souls

Guest Post:

"This thought comes from Don Piper entitled “90 Minutes in Heaven.” He actually died, went to Heaven for a short time then returned and became the “Minister of Hope,” speaking all across the country assuring others that Heaven is real and the best is yet to come. This excerpt has some unique references to the Holy Spirit that resonated with me:

“ In this life we all have bad times. Stress, sickness, disappointments and heartaches. Most of us, especially if we’re Christians, would also say that we have had more good times than bad. We can trust that the best is yet to be. The proof we have, in the words of the apostle Paul, is that God has given us the Holy Spirit as a token or a down payment. It’s like earnest money in a real estate deal. The gift of the Holy Spirit is like writing us a promissory note for fulfillment when we reach the gates of heaven. At times all of us have down times and even moments of despair, but we don’t have to stay down. That’s the difference between us and those who never know the true joy of the Christian experience."

"James Faust also shares the following thoughts about the Holy Spirit. He says that, “It calms nerves and breathes peace to our souls. It can be with us 24 hours a day during our most stressful times.” I want to add my witness that the Holy Spirit has encouraged and sustained me when nothing else could. I know that it is a source of strength for each of us if we humble ourselves enough to be open to its guidance. I am sure that countless Cancer survivors know this as well as I do. I can’t imagine my life without this most significant gift. When we listen to the promptings we receive from this source, we can also be of great help to those around us; we become instruments in God’s hands. I honestly feel that those who started the Sister Survivors group were very in tune with the Holy Spirit. They have helped so many of us and in turn we have caught the vision as we continue to help and encourage each other."

Kathy Christensen
Guest Blogger
Sister Survivor


Thanks for your words of encouragement, Kathy. This group really is something special!
-Kara

ALMOST WORDLESS WEDNESDAY - Pink Paper - Scrapbooking Your Journey

Our next support meeting is on the subject of Recording Your Cancer Journey. We'll have a journaling expert there, as well as a scrapbooking expert. So, I've been looking for paper for the scrapbooking part, and I've found some fun samples. Thought I'd share...

My favorite are the Vintage looks -







But I also love those Retro looks -






What's your favorite?

TUESDAY TIPS - Pay Attention to What Your Body is Telling You.

Sorry about the lack of posting yesterday and today. Yesterday was the 4th of July, and I was glued to the TV, watching "John Adams".

Today, I'd like to talk about the importance of informing your doctor of problems you are experiencing. Sometimes I feel like a hypochondriac - it seems like every little ache and pain makes me nervous that the monster has returned. I know that it's normal to feel that way. Recurrence is something I think we are all afraid of.

However...

When you aren't feeling well, and that doesn't seem normal, and it goes on forever, you should probably go to see your doctor.

Case in point: Me. For the past month or more, I've been sick to my stomach. Really sick - I feel like I'm going to throw up all the time. Even at night, I wake up and feel just awful. It doesn't matter what I eat, or don't eat. It's not heartburn. It's definitely not an ulcer, or anything like that. I just don't feel well. And it's getting worse. Now that I'm always sick to my stomach, I'm feeling worn out, and tired, and I've got dark circles under my eyes. Something is just not right. But, I've hesitated to go get checked, just because I don't want to seem like I'm panicking at every little thing.

A few weekends ago, I was talking to a doctor at a breast cancer retreat, and asked her about it. She said: "That doesn't sound normal. You might have an infection in your stomach or something like that. I think you should go get checked." So, I did.

Last week I had some blood work done. And I've been waiting for 4 days to get the results back (Thank you, Fourth of July weekend!). Today, the nurse called and told me I've got a weird little bacteria in my stomach called H-Pylori. Hah! I knew something was wrong.


Holy alien! Yuck!

I feel much better now - at least we know what is going on, right? I'm on an anti-biotic for the next 2 weeks, and - cross my fingers - it will work and get rid of this bacteria.

So, this is just a reminder to all of you survivors... watch yourselves. And don't talk yourselves out of going to the doctor if you feel like something is wrong. You know your body better than anyone, right? If something isn't right, you'll know it.

Stay healthy,
Kara