MONDAY MEMOIRS - The Christmas Season...

I was going through chemo during the Christmas season of 2008. In fact, it worked out that I had 2 chemo treatments that December. I'm normally a "Christmas" person - I decorate a ton, love to shop, and generally get very into the holiday spirit. I love to attend things like Festival of Trees, and love to drive around looking at Christmas lights. I remember that year - I just didn't have the strength to do any decorating, or attend anything. My sister came and decorated for me, and I had help taking things down after the holidays. I didn't do any baking that year, and I really just had to rely on others to help make the holidays special for my family. My parents took me out shopping, and even did some of the shopping for me.

A few things that helped - I did most of my shopping online. It was better for me, because I didn't want to go out around crowds. I accepted help from others, and learned about that wonderful thing called charity. Everyone understood that I couldn't do things I normally did.

As I run around this year, trying to get ready for Christmas, my thoughts go back to 2008. It was a hard time for me. This weekend, as I tried to decorate my 12 foot Christmas tree by myself, I remembered that I couldn't even put this tree up in 2008. I just didn't have the strength. I still didn't have the strength to do it last year. This year, my kids helped me, and there it is - my beautiful tree! I still need help to keep up with everything, but I'm slowly and surely getting back to my old "Christmas" self.

Today, take a minute to sit down and write in your cancer journal...

How did you get through the holidays when you were sick? What kinds of things help to make that time easier? Who helped? What did you miss being able to do?

And finally...

Count all of your blessings - being alive to enjoy the Christmas season is one of my biggest blessings!

Merry Christmas!

-Kara

THURSDAY THOUGHTS - Give Your Troubles to God...

We are excited to hear from guest blogger & Sister Survivor member, Kathy Christensen, for today's blog post...

Several years ago after my second divorce, I was home trying to get
my life on track. Of course my spirits were low and I was doing my best
to "keep my head above water" each day. During the stressful times of my
life I have found it quite therapeutic to go window shopping in an effort
to get my mind on something besides my looming problems. Even though I
usually don't have the money to make any big purchases, it is fun to just
look and stroll along.

So off to the mall I went on this particular day. As I leisurely
passed all of the stores at the mall, my spirits began to lift. I
stopped for a Coke (my drug of choice) and things continued to look a
little brighter yet. I love card and gift stores so I wandered into the
first Hallmark store I found. I chuckled as I read some of the greeting
cards and found that it felt good to genuinely be laughing even a little.
I then came to the section of the store where they had mounted quotes on
display. As I browsed along one particular frame caught my eye. It
read, "Before you go to bed at night, give your troubles to God....He'll
be up all night anyway."

I was so taken by this message that I purchased the frame on the
spot because there was only one copy. When I got home that frame found
its new home on the headboard of my bed. Each evening as I retired to my
room to say my prayers and settle down for the night that thought gave me
such great comfort and strength. Cancer had not yet become part of my
personal vocabulary, but when that time in my life came, this thought was
safely locked away in my mind for quick recall. I knew that God would
be "up all night" to support me wherever and whenever I needed His help.

And so it is for each and every one of you Sister Survivors. None of
us need to travel this frightening and difficult journey alone. We are
here for each other and God is there for US whenever the journey gets
particularly rough. HE IS UP ALL NIGHT to offer support, help and love
whenever we need Him. All we have to do is humbly ask for His help.

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY - Head Down the Hill in Style - Pink Style!

TUESDAY TIDINGS - Hats off to Winter!

The snow is here! You better bundle up...

I had to have chemo during the winter, and it was a good time to wear hats. American Cancer Society's Tender Loving Care is a great place to shop for hats, scarves, wigs, and other head coverings.

My favorite "toppings" were the Cotton/Spandex turbans. They were comfortable, and I could jazz them up with beautiful scarves or braided twists...



I also had a favorite hat - the Cotton Knit Cloche.


And my favorite scarf was the Emma.



Each one of these coverings provided warmth during the cold winter months. If you'd like to shop online, go to www.tlcdirect.org. You can also call for a catalog, and to order: 1-800-850-9445.

Here's to a stylish winter!

MONDAY MEMOIRS - Cold & Flu Season

I've had two severe colds in the last month, and winter just started. Each cold I get seems to last forever, and is worse than the previous one. I think one of the problems is that my immune system is not as strong as it used to be. It's been a year and a half since my last chemo treatment, and I kind of expected to not have these problems still. But, as I've talked to other cancer survivors, I've learned that it can take 2-5 years to get back to your "normal" pre-cancer self. The fact that I can get back to my old self is good - but I wish it didn't take so much time. It seems that with each new cold, I get weaker and weaker. I guess this would be a good time to make sure I've got a flu shot, that I'm eating fruits and vegetables, and that I get lots of rest.

Today, open your journal and talk about getting better. As you think about this, try to recognize the things you are doing that help you feel better. Is there something you are trying that helps? Maybe you take a nap each day, and that helps boost your energy - or maybe you are careful to stay away from others who are sick.

My advice: Be careful of crowds. If you feel a cold coming on, get plenty of rest and Vitamin C. Take care of yourself!

FRIDAY FARE: Elegant Turkey, Cranberry, & Brie Quesadilla

Looking for healthy recipes for Breast Cancer patients, I came across this information posted at the Avon Foundation Breast Center, at Johns Hopkins Medicine website:



Guidelines for Healthy Eating



There are no food or dietary supplements that will act as “magic bullets” to prevent breast cancer from returning. National Cancer Institute guidelines for cancer prevention can be used to decrease the chance of a breast cancer recurrence. These guidelines include:



* Increase intake of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains

* Decrease fat intake to <>

* Minimize intake of cured, pickled and smoked foods

* Achieve and maintain a healthy weight

* Alcohol consumption should be done in moderation, if at all



So, today's recipes include fruit - and it's a great recipe for all the leftover turkey you'll have next week! ;-) I found this recipe on Healthy Kids Recipes (www.healthy-kids-recipes.com), and I can't wait to try it!



ELEGANT TURKEY, CRANBERRY & BRIE QUESADILLA





Chive Topping:

1/2 cup Sour cream, low fat

1 oz (1/2 cup) Chives, thinly sliced

1 teaspoon Fresh garlic, minced

1/2 teaspoon Lemon juice

1/4 teaspoon Salt

1/8 teaspoon Cayenne pepper, ground



Quesadilla:

1 lb Turkey breast cutlets (or use leftover Thanksgiving turkey)

2 cups Brie, rind removed

8 Flour tortillas, low fat, 8-inch

1 cup Cranberries, sweetened dried

1/2 cup Walnuts, toasted and chopped

1/2 cup Chives, thinly sliced



Preheat oven to 350°F. Purée chive topping ingredients in food processor until smooth. Refrigerate. Sauté cutlets in lightly oiled skillet over medium heat 5 minutes per side until turkey is no longer pink in center and reaches internal temperature of 170°F. Cool and shred.



To make quesadilla:

Spread 1/2 cup Brie over tortilla.

Layer 1/2 cup turkey, 1/4 cup cranberries, 2 tablespoons walnuts and 2 tablespoons chives.

Top with second tortilla.

Bake quesadillas on baking sheet 8 to 10 minutes until cheese is melted.

Cut into wedges. Serve with chive topping. Makes 4 quesadillas.

THURSDAY THOUGHTS: Rain Dancing...

We have a new guest poster - Kathy Christensen. She is one of our own Sister Survivors, and she'll be posting here each week on Thursday Thoughts:

When I came to the first meeting for Sister Survivors, I didn't know quite what to expect. Not knowing anyone in the room, I decided to mostly listen and see what this organization was all about. As I listened to Kara, Collete and Bethanie, I couldn't help but be fascinated by their stories, their experiences and their positiveness. Later, when I listened to many of the survivors tell of their experiences, I felt almost unworthy to be in the room. My own Cancer adventure, although huge and disconcerting to me, didn't hold a candle to all that these many women had endured.

I was diagnosed on December 10, 2008, and had a lumpectomy on January 2, 2009. My very small tumor(less than a centimeter in size) was found during a routine mammogram. Because of this great blessing I was spared the rigors of Chemo Therapy and did not even come close to needing a Mastectomy. I decided that I could truly be the poster child for mammograms....Perhaps THAT is what I could contribute to the group.

At the November meeting I volunteered to try my hand at providing the Thursday Thoughts for the blog. I was happy to lighten the load for Kara any way that I could. As I thought of where I might begin, I remembered a wonderful little plaque that I found to give my best friend for her birthday birthday. It read like this:

"Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass; it is about learning to dance in the rain."

I absolutely fell in love with this thought because I feel that all of of us do
our fair share of "raindancing" as we progress through our lives. I feel that the women I have met in the Sister Survivors group are among the bravest and most courageous that I have ever had the privilege to meet. So carry on dear Sister Survivors....every one of you. You are among the best "raindancers" I have ever seen. The world can learn from all of us as we help lift, encourage and support one another. I am most proud to be a part of this group.

Sincerely,

Kathleen T Christensen (Kathy)

Pink Mountain Peaks

With all the funky winter weather going on here in Utah, I thought I'd share some of the beautiful "pink" pictures of Salt Lake and our famous mountains. The sunsets - especially during "bad" weather, are often very colorful, and make our mountains glow. I feel lucky every day when I wake up and glance out my window at these majestic peaks. It just makes me happy... ENJOY!


Salt Lake City

Wasatch Mountain Range

Beautiful Pink Peaks

And, one that I took a few months ago, in my backyard - very weird weather. The air was heavy, and everything glowed. This one isn't pink, but still beautiful...

Services and Programs Provided by the American Cancer Society and Sister Survivors

The American Cancer Society has many programs and services that are helpful for breast cancer survivors and their families:

Look Good... Feel Better:
Information and guidance to help women undergoing treatment. I've taken this class and I really enjoyed it. This class will help you understand how best to take care of your skin during chemo, how to apply makeup, care for wigs, and how to use scarves and hats. Participants are given a make up bag filled with products from beauty companies. 2 hour classes are available. You must preregister to attend class.

Annette Nielsen: 801-812-5584, Jodi Trost 801-357-8767, or Sharon Hinckley 801-493-4724.

2nd Tuesday of the month @ 6:00 pm - Central Utah Clinic, Provo
4th Monday of the month @10:00 am - American Fork Hospital
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I Can Cope:
A program that teaches patients and their loved ones how to live and cope with cancer. Classes available on the Web at www.cancer.org/ICanCope
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Reach to Recovery:
This program is for women facing breast cancer. This is an opportunity to speak with someone who has been through the breast cancer experience. To schedule a visit by phone or in person, contact Betty Memmott 801-602-7924, or Jill Pehrson 801-798-3343.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Road to Recovery:
This is FREE service where volunteer drivers provide transportation for cancer patients to and from their scheduled medical appointments. Drivers donate their time and the use of their personal vehicles. To request transportation or become a driver, call Sharon Law @ 801-375-5952
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Bosom Buddies: (not an American Cancer Society Program)
This is the Sister Survivors' one-on-one mentoring program. Similar to Reach to Recovery, we match you up with a Breast Cancer survivor who is willing help you through your cancer journey. Call Bethanie Newby to find a mentor: 801-227-4620, or email: sistersurvivors@gmail.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Women's Cancer Support Groups:

Sister Survivors - Utah Valley Breast Cancer Support Group (not an American Cancer Society Program)
2nd Thursday of each month - 7:00pm - 8:30pm @ Fillmore/Spencer Law Office, 3301 N. University Ave., Provo UT (Jamestown) We would LOVE to have you join this wonderful group of women - this is for patients and survivors. We have classes, activities, and service projects.

Woman to Woman - all female cancers
1st Tuesday of the month: 6:30pm - 8:00pm @ Utah Valley Cancer Center at UVRMC
2rd Thursday of the month: 10:30am - noon @ UVRMC Northwest Plaza, Classroom 3
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Free Wigs, Hats, Scarves, and some Prosthetics:
Utah Valley Regional Medical Center - Jodi Trost 801-357-8767
Central Utah Clinic - Annette Nielsen 801-429-8066
(please call for an appointment)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

800-227-2345: Information about cancer, cancer treatment, patient and caregiver services, how to find help. 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Website: www.cancer.org for information, Cancer Survivors Network, and I Can Cope online.

I hope this information is helpful to you. The most important thing to know and understand, is that you don't have to go through cancer alone. There is LOTS of help out there. If you need anything, or would like to ask questions about any of these services, please don't hesitate to contact us here at Sister Survivors. The email is: sistersurvivors@gmail.com

15th of the Month Reminder

Today is SELF CHECK day!

On the 15th of each month, remember to do your breast self-exam.

Go to Cancer.org to find a self-check guide.

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY - Need a shirt?

LOVE this shirt!

You can find this at http://www.giftsforyounow.com/Fighting-the-cause-Breast-Cancer-Awareness-T-shirt-33470X.aspx
You can personalize the bottom two lines to say what you want!

TUESDAY TIDINGS - 15 Inspiring Breast Cancer Sites

Two things for today:

1. The first, and most important thing is... we've posted a NEW Sister Survivor Spotlight - on SALOTE BERNARD. Go to the right sidebar and click on the word, SPOTLIGHT. That will take you to the interview with Salote. Enjoy!!

2. Second thing... A few days ago, I got an email from Jennifer Lynch at Toponlinecolleges.com. She sent me a link to an article that was recently published on their blog. I thought I'd share the link with you here...
( http://www.toponlinecolleges.com/blog/2010/15-inspiring-breast-cancer-survivor-blogs/ )

The article is called "15 Inspiring Breast Cancer Sites".

I've checked out all of the blogs listed. They are all good blogs. Many have lots of information about breast cancer and research - most of them are personal blogs with personal stories - I found a few "friends" that I followed while writing my breast cancer blog.

Instead of giving you information about them here, I'll just leave it up to you to check them out if you want to. You know what you like, and what resonates with you. Following blogs is a very personal kind of thing, I know. There are a few on the list that I might add to our blog list here in the future.

-Kara

MONDAY MEMOIRS - Gratitude vs. Fear and Anger...

I was thinking about Gratitude, since that is the subject of our next support meeting. I was reading through a blog from a lady I know, and came across this gem...

"One of the incredible truths about gratitude is that it is impossible to feel both the positive emotion of thankfulness and a negative emotion such as anger or fear at the same time. Gratitude births only positive feelings — love, compassion, joy, and hope. As we focus on what we are thankful for, fear, anger, and bitterness simply melt away, seemingly without effort. Gratitude is not just the key. It's a magic key — all you need to do is use it, and the world is suddenly transformed into a beautiful wonderland, in which you are invited to play. That's because, like most of the great spiritual truths, gratitude is stunningly simple."

Get out your cancer journal, and write about this quote. Do you think that if you truly focus on feeling thankful for the good things (and even the trials) in your life, it's impossible to feel anger and fear? I'm interested to hear what you think.

Some of Our Member Survivors Featured in Forbes Magazine...

A few months ago, a writer from Forbes Magazine contacted me through this blog. She discovered the Sister Survivors blog while working on a story about illness in the workplace for the Leadership/Careers section of the magazine. She was, quote, "writing about how employees should deal empathetically and respectfully with a colleague who may have fallen ill." She asked if I could put her in touch with some survivors who could answer some questions for the article. I email the survivors on our list about this. I haven't heard anything about it since that time.

Yesterday I received an email from the writer - Sara Peck. She sent me the link for her article. I was surprised to find, as I read the article, that all of the women interviewed were from our group! Here is the link, if you are interested in reading the article at Forbes...

http://www.forbes.com/2010/10/13/breast-cancer-workplace-employees-boss-illness.html

-Kara

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY - It's Sweater Weather...

I LOVE that argyle sweater, don't you?

TUESDAY TIDINGS - Giving up "Hope"...

One of our Sister Survivors sent in a link to the National Breast Cancer Coalition's Breast Cancer Deadline website. It's an interesting thing to watch/read. The basic idea is that for years we've had "HOPE" that there would be a cure for breast cancer. In the last decade, there has not been a significant decrease in the number of daily breast cancer deaths - even though there has been lots of time and money pumped into research for a cure. Now, they have decided that hope is not enough - that we need a deadline to come up with a cure. Here are just a few words of explanation from their website:

"Plainly, we need something more powerful than hope.

We didn’t hope our way to the moon. If all we ventured was hope, we’d still be on the ground.

We got to the moon because we set a deadline for getting there. We have never had a deadline for the end of breast cancer. It’s not that we tried and it failed. We’ve never tried. We have never had one. Never.

No date. No goal. No rush. Nothing to hold ourselves accountable to. No one on the hook. No reputations at stake. Is it any wonder we haven’t ended it? How can we possibly achieve a goal if we don’t have one?

Consoled by hope, we keep giving breast cancer more time.

No more.

Today we give up hope. It’s the most optimistic step ever taken in the history of the breast cancer battle.

Today we set a goal. Today we set a deadline. January 1, 2020. The end of breast cancer. Hope is a wish. The deadline is a commitment. Hope says whenever. The deadline says within ten years. What if we fail? We already have. What about pink? It’s time to show our true colors. Ten years is too short? We ended polio in seven."

Here is the link if you'd like to read more or watch the video...

http://www.breastcancerdeadline2020.org/

There is also a huge countdown clock on the site.

MONDAY MEMOIRS - Fellow Survivors - Sisters...

This last week - on Thursday - Sister Survivors had their Kick Off. It was such a pleasant night. I met many new breast cancer "sisters". I wish I would have had more time to talk to them. Today, I thought it would be good to write about the other breast cancer survivors we've met throughout our cancer journeys.

For me, meeting other women who have gone through this has been an important step in my healing.

First, there were the women in my family and my friends - they helped me see that there is hope - that I can do what it takes to fight breast cancer.

Then there were the women I saw at the hospital/medical centers... those having chemo, or tests. I learned to recognize them by their bald heads, and beautiful countenances. These were my fellow survivors - and they helped me realize that I wasn't the only one fighting breast cancer.

Finally, there are those women I've met through Sister Survivors. These women have a passion similar to mine. We all want to make sure something good comes from our cancer battle - and helping other women with the fight is an important part of that.

Open your cancer journal today, and write about some of the women you've met who have helped you make sense of your cancer journey. Gratitude is the key here - keep your gratitude in mind while thinking of who to write about.