Hollye Jacobs's Blog, page 6

Dogs Smelling Cancer

Dogs Smelling Cancer

You know how much I love animals, right? By now, y’all know my beloved Buzz, a “career redirected” seeing eye dog. He was my constant companion when I had FBC. When I was sick, he was the ultimate in pet therapy.  When I was in the bottomless pit of chemo despair, I did restorative yoga (which basically this consisted of my laying down and resting my legs on a chair!). I’ll always remember my instructor saying, “I have never seen a dog who is more like a shaman than Buzz.”  She was so.completely.right.on. And then after my hysterectomy last fall, he didn’t leave my side for a second. Well — truth be told, he actually did check out when it was feeding time. He is a lab after all!

There are days when I look over at Buzz and he is just staring at me with eyes that say, “I love you more than anything in the world. You are the greatest thing ever created. I am the luckiest dog to be with you.” And then – of course – I have to stop what I am doing and get on the ground and smooch and snuggle with him.  I swear that I get more love, strength and support from him than I could ever dream of or hope for!

In addition to serving as the greatest therapists in the world, here is another interesting and pretty astounding fact about dogs: they can smell parts per trillion! WTF does this mean? you wonder. Well, if you were to put one drop of blood into a swimming pool that was the size of 20 olympic sized pools, a dog would be able to smell the blood in the pool with ease. Yup. I told you it was astounding!

Over the years humans have been able to train dogs to sniff narcotics, missing persons, gun powder, and now the Silver Lining is that they are being trained to detect diseases!

 I know, I know, you’re wondering: “Does cancer even have a smell?” Well actually it does. Some oncologists will tell you that humans can smell stage 3-4 cancer through their breath (&%$*!). If humans can smell cancer in its later stages then dogs DEFINITELY can smell it in its early stages.

The thing of it is though:  it is much more difficult to train dogs to smell diseases because disease scents cannot be isolated like drugs and gun powder can. Dogs have to be trained to ignore all of the other compound smells along side the cancer scent such as healthy breath and other noncancerous diseases. This means that ALOT of samples have to be used for the dogs training including disease controls, healthy breath, and cancer samples with specifics on the stage of the cancer sample.

According to an interesting  New York Times article, Charlie Johnson, a professor at Penn State, is in the process of creating a hand-held sensor that can detct cancer chemical in clinics. In theory, the device will be programmed to detect the isolated cancer compounds that dogs are singling out. F’ing amazing, if you ask me.

While there is still so much research and training being done,  the Silver Lining is that dogs DO have the capability to smell cancer and, with more refinement, they could potentially be a  lifesaver in ways beyond our wildest imagination!

Here is a video of a woman who noticed that her dog was not acting normal for some time. Little did she know that her dog had detected her breast cancer way before her doctors did!

Check it out:

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Musical Monday: Shake It Out

Shake It Out by Florence and the Machine is one of my fave songs in general, but especially to run to.  I had the great good fortune to see her perform at the Santa Barbara Bowl . I swear that she literally floated across the entire stage — back and forth she went. At one point I even got a wee bit dizzy watching her, but the Silver Lining of that was I closed my eyes and just listened. Thought that I would share my inspiration on this Musical Monday! Enjoy.

Musical Monday: Shake It Out

Regrets collect like old friends

Here to relive your darkest moments

I can see no way, I can see no way

And all of the ghouls come out to playAnd every demon wants his pound of flesh

But I like to keep some things to myself

I like to keep my issues drawn

It’s always darkest before the dawn

And I’ve been a fool and I’ve been blind

I can never leave the past behind

I can see no way, I can see no way

I’m always dragging that horse around

All of his questions, such a mournful sound

Tonight I’m gonna bury that horse in the ground

So I like to keep my issues drawn

But it’s always darkest before the dawn

Shake it out, shake it out, shake it out, shake it out, ooh whoa

Shake it out, shake it out, shake it out, shake it out, ooh whoa

And it’s hard to dance with a devil on your back

So shake him off, oh whoa

And I am done with my graceless heart

So tonight I’m gonna cut it out and then restart

‘Cause I like to keep my issues drawn

It’s always darkest before the dawn

Shake it out, shake it out, shake it out, shake it out, ooh whoa

Shake it out, shake it out, shake it out, shake it out, ooh whoa

And it’s hard to dance with a devil on your back

So shake him off, oh whoa

And it’s hard to dance with a devil on your back

And given half the chance would I take any of it back

It’s a fine romance but it’s left me so undone

It’s always darkest before the dawn

Oh whoa, oh whoa…

And I’m damned if I do and I’m damned if I don’t

So here’s to drinks in the dark at the end of my road

And I’m ready to suffer and I’m ready to hope

It’s a shot in the dark aimed right at my throat

‘Cause looking for heaven, found the devil in me

Looking for heaven, found the devil in me

Well what the hell I’m gonna let it happen to me, yeah

Shake it out, shake it out, shake it out, shake it out, ooh whoa

Shake it out, shake it out, shake it out, shake it out, ooh whoa

And it’s hard to dance with a devil on your back

So shake him off, oh whoa

Shake it out, shake it out, shake it out, shake it out, ooh whoa

Shake it out, shake it out, shake it out, shake it out, ooh whoa

And it’s hard to dance with a devil on your back

So shake him off, oh whoa

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9 Rules Good Sleepers Swear By

9 Rules Good Sleepers Swear By

Recently, I came across the BEST post on about sleeping.  I don’t have my sleep mojo back yet. I know. I know. It has been several years since treatment; however, the thing of it is that the f-bomb collateral damage of cancer treatment lasts a long, long, LONG damn time! Thankfully, Lindsay Holmes a HuffPo Healthy Living editor is helping us all figure it out!

Hope that you enjoy these helpful hints as much as I am!

1. Take a hot shower or bath. A hot shower or bath will help your body relax and start to unwind before bed.

2. Wear actual pajamas. As much as I love them, yoga pants are not pajamas. They are for lounging and lunges. That’s it! By having a specific clothes (namely, pajamas!) you send a sign to your mind and body that it is time for rest.

3. Turn your bed into a haven.  Your bed should only be used for its intended purposes which is sleep and sex. It should not be a place you go in and out of throughout the course of the day. By only allowing yourself to sleep there, your body will know as soon as it hits the sheets that it is bedtime!

4. Create realistic limits. Sometimes prioritizing sleeps means getting rid of bad habits like staying up an extra hour to watch House of Cards. Don’t worry, that episode will still be available the next day, so shut off your tv and go to bed.

5. Set a sleep alarm.  Yes, as in set an alarm for when you want to start getting ready for bed. This will help you not lose track of the time at night.

6. Don’t go to bed hungry.  If you go to bed hungry your body will have a much harder time falling asleep. Instead, grab a healthy snack and hit the hay!

7. Write everything down. Have you ever layed down to sleep and then couldn’t fall asleep because your mind was racing with worries and thoughts? Put those thoughts to rest by jotting everything down that is worrying you before you go to sleep. This will give your mind some closer, and don’t worry…. the thoughts you had before bed will probably still be there in the morning.

8. Tap into your inner child. When children don’t get sleep, they can be pretty cranky the next day. Well the same logic goes for you too! If you don’t get enough sleep you will most likely be lathargic all day and then probably won’t be as productive as you should be.

9. No phones. This is probably one of the oldest phone rules in the books. Many parents ask their children to turn their phones off before bed. Well, I would encourage you to do the same! I have a rule for myself that I must turn off all electronics an hour before bed. It has helped me (immensely!) prioritize my sleep.

Do you have any sleeping tips to add? Which work best for you?

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Affirmations for Healthy Living

34 Affirmations for Healthy Living

Self-care is something that I forget about quite a bit.  Well, that’s not exactly true.  I do exercise at least 5 days a week (for mental as much as physical health) and I eat healthily.  These are certainly the foundation of self-care.  The self-care that I forget about and actually need quite a bit is solitude and quiet.  Life is really LOUD right now.  Sometimes it feels oppressive, which leaves me feeling depleted and exhausted. I’m at that point now, which is why I haven’t been blogging as much as I usually do.  A friend reminded me the other day:  “If you don’t stop, I’m afraid that something else will stop you.” She’s so right.  I sure as s**t don’t want to be reading this blog a year from now and wonder, “WTF?  Why the f-bomb didn’t I listen to both myself and my loved ones?”

Below are some beautiful affirmations that I found on DailyGood.org. I hope that they knock as much sense into you as much as they are me!

Each bite of food contains the life of the sun and the earth. The whole universe is in a piece of bread. —Thich Nhat Hanh

I choose well so that I can feel well. —Nathalie W. Herrman

Preparing fresh, healthy meals instead of processed food is an act of love toward myself and those I cook for.

I live healthfully for myself but also for the ones I love so that they may be empowered to improve their health as well.

I’m honest with myself about the reality of what and how I eat. —Nathalie W. Herrman

I breathe deeply and fully. I take in the breath of life, and I am nourished. —Louise Hay

Clean, pure water is a precious gift, and I drink it abundantly and gratefully.

I enjoy being in my body, and I nourish it each day. —Isha Lerner

I enjoy healthy food without guilt. I reject society’s shaming of food for myself and for those around me.

I take time to get outside. Our body is the accumulation of our past. Our breath unites our body and mind in the present moment. Go for a walk outside, preferably in beautiful surroundings. —Amy Zerner and Monte Farber

I do not take my breath and beating heart for granted. I am grateful to be alive. —Nathalie W. Herrman

Nutrition is a keystone for everything I do, so I make it an important part of my life and set aside time to eat well.

I enjoy foods that are best for my body. When I eat my greens, I feel energized and abundant. —Louise Hay

I expect a lot from my body every day, so I affirm its right to expect healthy fuel from me.

The energy in what I eat sustains me, and I honor that fact by preparing my meals with gratitude, mindfulness, and a loving heart. —Nathalie W. Herrman

Pure spiritual and physical nourishment is what enables me to give to others, and so I make it a priority.

I get plenty of sleep every night. My body appreciates how I take care of it. —Louise Hay

I eat only what I need, and I stop before I feel uncomfortable or overly full.

What matters to me is my health, not the opinions of others, and so I take care of my body rather than trying to change it in unhealthy ways.

I accept the limitations of doctors and look within to improve the quality of my health. —Nathalie W. Herrman

Finding new ways to eat healthfully is empowering and puts me in control.

I am the only person who has control over my eating habits. I can always resist something if I choose to. —Louise Hay

I love every cell of my body. —Louise Hay

Walking meditation is like eating. With each step, we nourish our bodies and our spirit. When we walk with anxiety and sorrow, it is like we are eating junk food. The food of walking meditation should be of a higher quality. —Thich Nhat Hanh

Your feet are your physical connection to this planet. Touch the earth directly with your bare feet. Let the earth energy circulate from your feet to your head and back again. —Yoko Ono

I pay attention to where my food comes from and think about the resources that go into each meal. I am mindful of how much the earth gives to me and how much I can give back.

I give myself permission to change. —Louise Hay

I am in wonderment at the science of nutrition. Taking better care of myself leads to constant discovery and amazement at how well my body can work.

I am connected to the earth and the safe foundation it provides for my future growth. —Isha Lerner

My body is one of the most precious gifts I will ever receive, an extraordinary creation that I cherish and use fully.

When I eat natural, fresh foods rather than processed ones, I feel more connected to the earth and the hands that grew it, and I am grateful.

Just as I rid my diet of toxins, I also eliminate negativity from my emotions and thoughts.

All desire for cigarettes (or alcohol or whatever it is you’re addicted to) has left me, and I am free. —Louise Hay

Today I eat only foods that are life enhancing. —Louise Hay”

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Understanding

 

Ralph Waldo Emerson sure was a smartie. I find inspiration from him always and in all ways!

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Palbociclib: Pfizer Breast Cancer Drug Approved

Pfizer Breast Cancer Drug Approved

Though I’m sure that you already know this, I thought that I would share the BIG NEWS in the FBC (f-bomb breast cancer) world: the Food and Drug Administration granted accelerated approval to Palbociclib (Ibrance) for use in combination with the drug letrozole (Femara) for the treatment of postmenopausal women with estrogen receptor (ER)-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative advanced breast cancer as initial endocrine-based therapy for their metastatic disease.

Basically, Palbociclib works by blocking molecules linked to cancer cell growth.  The FDA granted approval for this drug because of the outstanding performance it had on a 165-patient study. It slowed to effectively slow the  progression of breast cancer!! (a/k/a MAJOR SILVER LINING!)

What does this mean for you? If you are a woman with hormone-positive, HER2-negative, metastatic breast cancer, you may now have a new treatment option that could delay the growth and spread of cancer.

If you are one of these women, please ask your doctor about the new drug at your next appointment.

Keep in mind that just like every other drug, this one also has side effects. These include:

Low white blood cell count, which can make infection more likely
Low red blood cell count, which can lead to fatigue
Low blood platelet count, which can cause abnormal bleeding
Nausea, irritation of the mouth and lips, hair loss, diarrhea, low appetite, vomiting, weakness, nerve damage, and nosebleeds

Various sources such as The Wall Street Journal have considered the drug to be one of the most promising medicines in Pfizer’s development. Because of this, the pharmaceutical industry has projected the sales of this newly approved cancer drug to have annual sales of $4 billion by 2020!!

Whether you have just been diagnosed, are in treatment, recovery, or are a caregiver to someone who is battling the disease, I hope this news brings you hope and joy today. I know that this Silver Lining will have me smiling for awhile!

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Mastectomy vs. Lumpectomy

 

Recently, I came across a fantastic article about choosing between having a mastectomy versus a lumpectomy for early FBC.  Making any one of the seemingly bagillion decisions that have to be made after hearing the words, “You have cancer” can be overwhelming, confusing and twinkie-eating inducing. Just kidding on that last part. Sort of. I don’t allow twinkies in the house. Most of the time.

Anyhoo, Deborah Kotz wrote a super article on yahoo.com about how to decide between a mastectomy and a lumpectomy.  I couldn’t have said it better myself, so I thought that I’d share it with you. Hope this is helpful.  Actually, I hope that you don’t have to read this post at all!

By: Deborah Kotz

 

Each year more than 200,000 women diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer, the most common kind, must make myriad treatment decisions. Among them: whether to have a mastectomy or breast-conserving surgery known as a lumpectomy.

If you’ve been diagnosed with a stage 1 or 2 breast tumor that’s not highly aggressive, you may have been offered both surgical options and left to decide which is best for you.

“Once we determine that we can remove the tumor with clear cancer-free margins, we generally leave the choice up to the woman whether to have a lumpectomy or mastectomy without recommending one over the other,” says Bonnie Sun, a breast surgeon at Sibley Memorial Hospital in the District of Columbia. “It becomes a personal decision, and the patient will have to decide, ‘what do I really want?’”

A large body of evidence indicates that breast cancer patients who have mastectomies face the same survival odds as those who have lumpectomies along with breast radiation, and for the past few decades oncologists have been encouraging women with early-stage breast cancer to opt for the less radical surgery.

In fact, an expert panel convened by the National Cancer Institute declared in 1990 that lumpectomy with radiation was “preferable” to mastectomy for women with stage 1 or 2 breast cancer — which helped drive down mastectomy rates for these patients from 100 percent in the 1980s to less than 40 percent today.

But the pendulum is starting to swing back a bit toward mastectomies. A 2014 study published in the journal JAMA Surgery — which examined anonymous records from 70 to 80 percent of American women who had breast cancer surgery — found that the percentage of those with early-stage breast cancer increased from 34 percent in 1998 to 38 percent in 2011. While the study authors could not explain the reasons for the increase, several developments over the past decade may have contributed.

Improvements in breast reconstruction following mastectomy provide patients with more natural looking results than in decades past, says Mehra Golshan, director of breast surgical services at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston. More breast cancer patients are also getting insurance coverage for the procedure, thanks to a 1998 federal law mandating coverage. In recent years, oncologists have moved away from strongly recommending lumpectomies toward involving women in a shared decision-making process, which entails a more in-depth discussion of the pros and cons of both surgeries.

Ask yourself the following questions to help determine which surgical option is best for you.

How much do you fear annual breast screenings and a potential new breast tumor? Many breast cancer patients opt to have a mastectomy — and even a prophylactic mastectomy on the other healthy breast — because they know they’ll feel extreme anxiety during future annual mammograms and over any abnormal finding, follow-up biopsy and possible diagnosis of another breast tumor down the road. About 5 percent of patients who opt for a lumpectomy will have a recurrence in the affected breast or opposite breast, Golshan says, but it’s rarely life threatening.
How much do you want to avoid a painful recuperation? Mastectomy with breast reconstruction typically involves multiple surgical procedures and a painful healing process that can last for weeks or even months. Lumpectomy, on the other hand, is usually a shorter procedure with a shorter recovery time but sometimes also requires a second surgery if a pathologist later finds cancer cells in the tissue surrounding the removed tumor. “I give patients the option of speaking with women who have had lumpectomies and mastectomies, so they can get first-hand experiences of what others went through,” Golshan says.
Do you have concerns about radiation treatments? After lumpectomy surgery, patients typically need five to seven weeks of radiation therapy, five days per week, to destroy any stray cancer cells. Side effects from the treatments can include breast swelling, fatigue and skin redness and blistering (like a sunburn). Scatter from the radiation can, in rare cases, damage the heart, lungs or surrounding bones.

Some women are now being offered a new option called intraoperative radiation therapy, IORT for short, in which a single dose of radiation is delivered directly into the tumor site during lumpectomy surgery. Those who have IORT do not need subsequent radiation treatments, but only certain patients are candidates. “These are women over age 45 with early-stage invasive tumors less than 2.5 centimeters in size,” says Andrea McKee, chairman of the radiation oncology department at Lahey Hospital and Medical Center in Burlington, Massachusetts. Candidates also must have only ductal breast cancer, which occurs in the milk-producing ducts, with no signs of tumor cells in healthy tissue surrounding the excised lump and no spread to local lymph nodes.

Some caveats: Since the procedure is fairly new, many cancer treatment centers do not yet offer it, and some insurance companies do not cover it. What’s more, about 15 percent of patients who have IORT wind up needing traditional radiation treatments because their final pathology report shows that they weren’t appropriate candidates, McKee says.

How much importance do you place on breast appearance? On sexual pleasure? Reconstructed breasts may look great, but they don’t respond to cold, heat, touch or stimulation, which can reduce sexual pleasure, Golshan says. Lumpectomy will retain the sensation of the breast, but may result in a lopsided appearance if a large amount of tissue is removed or if a woman has a small breast. For this reason, breast reconstruction may be offered along with lumpectomy to even out breast size.
 What’s your life expectancy? Women diagnosed with breast cancer at a younger age may be more likely to opt for mastectomy because their longer expected lifespan means they have a higher lifetime risk of recurrence. “We typically tell patients that their risk of developing another primary breast cancer is about ½ percent per year,” Sun says. A 30-year-old breast cancer patient who expects to live another 50 years will face a 25 percent risk of developing another breast cancer compared to a 5 percent risk for a woman diagnosed at age 70. Young breast cancer patients are also more likely to carry gene mutations that put them at even greater risk of recurrence, Sun said, which could tip the balance toward having a single or double mastectomy.

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Miles Redd

Miles Redd

Today I am feeling incredibily inspired by beautiful architecure and interior design. Maybe it’s the craziness of moving homes that has my mind consumed with and excited about curtains, colors, fabrics, carpets, couches, chairs… you get the picture!

Miles Redd is one of the many designers with whom I have fallen in love over the years. He opened his first design firm in New York City’s NoHo neighborhood in 1988 and is known for his quirky brand of cozy glamour. His most recent work was serving as creative director for Oscar de la Renta Home from 2003-2013. Many of his designs were featured in Vogue, W, House Beautiful, Elle Decor, Veranda, and Architectural Digest. In fact, my friend and fellow designer Mark Sikes is also crazy about him and has inspired me even more! Mark and Miles both have Southern Roots, are inspired by Oscar de la Renta and share a love of old school glamour.  The biggest Silver Lining of both is that they are incredibly kind.

Here are a few photos of one of Miles’ latest projects in northern California, featured in Architectural Digest. Hope that you enjoy the eye candy as much as I am!

What do you think? Who are your favorite designers? I would love some designer inspiration from you!

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Friday Fitness: 3 Reasons To Go Hiking

3 Reasons to Go Hiking

Hiking is one of my absolute favorite things to do. It allows me to clear my my mind, move my body, get some fresh air, and soak up the beauty & magic of Santa Barbara. The Silver Lining is that it also gives me a great work out both physically and mentally that I can’t get at an indoor gym.

Here are my 3 favorite reasons to go hiking:

1. It’s simple. Hiking is just an extension of something we do everyday (walking!) So you don’t have to “know how” to hike. It’s simple! And because everyone has the ability to do it, you can go at your own pace and build up stamina over time.

2. It’s Free (as long as you live here!). I don’t know about the hiking trails near you, but every where I have ever been hiking is free! If that’s not a Silver Lining I don’t know what is.

3. It’s Real. I personally believe this is the best reason to hike. It pulls me away from my computer screen, phone screen, TV screen… (you get the picture!) Hiking allows each of us the opportunity to experience the world directly without an instagram filter. Even if you hike the same trail several times, the beauty and nature around you just never gets old.

Here are a few photos of Buzz and me hiking Old Pueblo Trail in Santa Barbara last weekend. Enjoy!

Yes, Buzz sits in the front seat of the car when he travels with me! He loves it! He would sit there all day if I would let him.

When we got home, Buzz sprinted out of the car and into the swimming pool to cool off! I don’t blame him… it was hot!! (Well… hotter than normal in Santa Barbara!)

Photography by Mark Skovorodko: http://www.markskovorodko.com/#0

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Turmeric During Radiation Treatment

Turmeric During Radiation Treatment

Turmeric is a spice grown in India and other tropical regions of Asia. It is commonly used to flavor everything from curry dishes, to pickles and American mustard. To be honest, I am not a big fan of any of those foods BUT the Silver Lining is that this herbal spice is not used just for food! It has an active ingredient called curcumin which is an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory that is believed to have anti-cancer effects. Many studies are still being conducted to further determine curcumin’s role in cancer prevention. However, according to The American Cancer Society, many studies have shown that curcumin slows the growth and spread of some cancers (*applause here*)

Promoted as an anti-inflammatory herbal remedy, turmeric is believed to prevent the growth of cancer, particularly in the mouth, esophagus, intestines, stomach, breast, and skin. Other studies have shown that it also helps non-cancerous diseases such as arthritus, Alzheimer’s disease, stomach ulcers, allergies, diabetes, and other chronic illnesses.  Talk about a Silver Lining! This spice does it all!

Unfortunately, research on tumeric is still very limited, especially regarding the ways in which it interferes with other drugs. Therefore, the FDA does not regulate herbal supplements such as turmeric because there have not been enough studies performed to determine its efficacy or potential risks. It’s is ultimately difficult to say whether or not tumeric as an herbal supplement is completely harmless or has consistent positive effects. According to the American Cancer Society, the most notable side effect of long-term, high-dose usage of tumeric is the potential for ulcers, gastric upset, and blood thinning which can complicate surgical procedures or interfere with medications.

If you are interested in using turmeric as an herbal remedy during treatment, please, please, PLEASE consult your physician and nurses. While some studies show that this herbal supplements have great anti-cancer effects, other studies have shown that it may help protect the malignant cells (a/k/a bad cancerous cells) from being damaged by the radiation and/or chemotherapy treatments.

 

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