Judith L. Pearson's Blog, page 9
October 11, 2012
Helping Hands
“Do by self!” My then 3-year old niece used to spout that phrase constantly. She was a big girl and wanted to prove it. Grown up girls feel the same, greatly augmented when we become patients. We don’t want to admit that our disease is gonna limit us.
I realized mid-treatment, however, that helping me actually helped my loved ones. They couldn’t take my breast cancer away, they couldn’t undergo my chemo. But they could do other things to make my journey lighter. It made them feel better. And as one who forever worries that others are having a good time, that in turn made me feel better.
Most importantly, it made me feel I wasn’t in the fight alone. Isn’t there a saying like, “When the going gets tough, find someone to go with you.” Lots of helping hands traveled mine with me.
October 10, 2012
Get ready, AIM …
National Breast Cancer Awareness Month is officially 27 years old this year. So what have we learned along the way? Four BIG, positive things.
1. We’ve learned that taking AIM (Awareness, Involvement, Motivation) against a particular cancer works.
2. We’ve learned how to do self exams – aside from perhaps testicular cancer, breast cancer is the only one which can be screened by individuals with no fancy equipment.
3. We’ve learned about the disease itself from the myriad stories that are told every year (see mine at the Daily Beast). Their stories might very well have saved thousands and supported hundreds of thousands.
4. We’ve learned that kindness from friends and strangers alike can help us through the tough days. Just think of how many walk, run, swim and bowl each year with no cancer in their family.
We’ve also ticked some folks off. There are those who take umbrage at the October campaign, complaining that other cancers deserve just as much attention. To read a few, scroll to the bottom of my Daily Beast article.
But consider this: I recently learned there is a colored ribbon to correspond with every other type of cancer. Imagine the power of focusing our energies on this deadly killer EVERY month of the year! Now that’s taking AIM.
October 9, 2012
New Life, New Food
Food can be our friend! I know, the news is full of stories about obesity, heart disease and cholesterol issues. But for every bad food, there’s a good food. A champion food that will do more than just fill up your tummy.
True, chemotherapy doesn’t give you much eating or cooking ambition. But once your treatment has ended, your stomach will most likely resume its traditional growls around dinner time. What a great time to experiment with new foods!
The recipes don’t have to be elaborate, just healthy. The psychology behind it is that trying something new is a proven pick-me-up. Think in terms of a new pair of shoes, only cheaper and easier to find. Look for recipes on TV shows, the internet, even in cookbooks you may not have cracked open for a while.
It’s a great way to start your new life!
October 8, 2012
The List of Three
Beating cancer is a good thing, an exciting thing! Throughout my fight, I focused on living. I never expected the bothersome little buggers called post chemotherapy effects – the fatigue, the pain, the “chemo brain” fog. 
Then I take a step back and consider the stories of women and men who are dying to have a sleepless night or a bum ankle. They are literally dying. This horrible disease rips families apart. It deprives the world of many angels on earth. It’s taken two of my family members. We cannot give up!
My list of bothersome little buggers seems puny stacked up against those who didn’t win their fight and I’m ashamed of my complaints. So I will make a new list: I will find three things everyday for which I am eternally grateful – things I witnessed, I did, or were done for me.
And when I consider my list of three at the end of the day, I will realize how really fortunate I am.
October 7, 2012
Got Courage?
A few days before my mastectomy, I asked my husband, “Are you scared?” He thought a minute and said, “That’s 
kinda like when you ask ‘does this make my butt look big?’ If I tell you I’m not scared, you’ll think I don’t care. But if I say I’m scared, you’ll be scared too.”
What a conundrum. So we decided we’d ask one another if we felt courageous. Took fear right out of the equation. And it made us smile every time.
October 6, 2012
Save Your Bumps, Check for Lumps!
This clever little slogan isn’t my creation – but it is the mantra I repeat to one and all. Mammograms are great, but self exams are free, easy and available for EVERY woman, EVERY where. 
My breast cancer (an aggressive, deadly variety called Triple Negative) was undetected in the mammogram I had 60 days before I found the lump. Had I waited till the next year’s scan, you’d probably be reading someone else’s words right now.
So pick a date each month, enlist girlfriends to be your “Booby Buddies,” and call one another as a reminder.
Do it … every month … without fail! Learn how HERE.
October 5, 2012
Push Ups and Pull Ups and Sit Ups. Oh my!
Ugh – an hour on the treadmill; another hour of weights. I can’t … I don’t wanna. But here’s a news flash.
Researchers have consistently maintained that regular exercise will make your body a lean, mean fighting machine if it has to face illness, like cancer. Check out these five tips:
1. Just 30 minutes a day will do, 5 days a week is best.
2. Smaller blocks of time and smaller goals will encourage you to just do it.
3. Do something you think is fun (remember the playground?).
4. Use the internet and YouTube for ideas and techniques.
5. Multitask during your workout. I do some of my best thinking with dumbbells!
Your goal isn’t to look like an NFL quarterback. It’s to be ready to tackle whatever life throws at you!
October 4, 2012
No Lumps, Thank You
The research is conclusive – laughter is good medicine. It increases our oxygen intake, it exercises our facial and ab muscles, it raises our levels of oxytocin – the feel good hormone.
When you face a really tough life challenge (like breast cancer) you could spend your days crying and moaning. But those offer none of the same benefits. So you might as well laugh!
Here’s a book to help - No Lumps, Thank You is a collection of everyday items formed into the shapes of bras. Big laughs will follow!
October 3, 2012
I’m So Proud of My Tumor
News released last week announced that researchers had identified some pretty amazing new stuff. The study, called the Cancer Genome Atlas, identified genetic aspects of breast cancer, using 825 actual cancerous tumors. Hmmm ….
Just before my mastectomy last year, a hospital representative asked me if I’d be willing to donate my tumor, and the boob surrounding it, to research. Sure, I said. Not like I need it. She assured me it would all be disposed of respectfully. What did that mean? It wasn’t as if the tumor was respecting me – it was trying to kill me.
Now I’m thinking my tumor and I came together for a reason. I had a particularly fast growing breast cancer, one usually diagnosed in young, African American women. I am neither of those and that made for good study material. Not saying I’m thrilled to have had this experience, but it clearly happened for a reason.
I sure hope my tumor did me proud.
October 2, 2012
Pretty in Pink
So it has begun – National Breast Cancer Awaren
ess month. Not that breast cancer is more important than any other cancer, it’s just the one I got and the one I know the most about. Consequently, it’s the one I write about.
So here we all are, bathed in pink for an entire month. It can be a little overwhelming, but so are the statistics. Billions will be spent on research this year, yet 40,000 will still die. One out of eight women will actually get breast cancer in her lifetime. However EVERY ONE of us knows someone affected by the disease.
What can one person do?
Something. Anything. Probably most important of all, hold a hand out to those affected, be it the patient, care-giver or a loved one. Visit them, take them flowers, bake them cookies, listen to their stories. Your presence and patience will be more valuable than you’ll ever know. Been there, know that!
