No amount of reading articles or listening to personal experiences can truly prepare a cancer patient for the emotional impact of cancer treatment, but, any and all information that may be offered can benefit, even if just to provide a general roadmap to help patients and caregivers cope with their situations. In this two-part blog series, we’ll be covering the types of emotional side effects of cancer as well as what you, as a cancer patient, can do to take an active role in coping with your illness.

Distress is Normal

When we talk about “distress” here, we are referring to unpleasant feelings such as sadness, fear, hopelessness, anxiety, depression, uncertainty, and powerlessness. Distress is very common and understandable in people with cancer and their loved ones and a certain amount is normal. So much of a cancer patient’s life changes with a cancer diagnosis and but (s)he won’t know how much until it happens. This creates feelings of uncertainty, anxiety, and even fear.

“Will I die?”

“What will happen to my kids if I can’t physically take care of them?”

“How long will I have to be under treatment?”

“Am I going to feel sick all the time during treatment?”

After a cancer diagnosis, there’s a bit of a waiting game while a patient’s oncology team determines the best course of treatment and feelings of distress are very common, especially waiting for surgery or that first chemotherapy treatment. Everything about cancer is stressful, including the side effects, such as weight changes, hair loss, fatigue, and disruption to routine, but sometimes it’s a little too much to deal with.

Severe Distress  

While a level of stress and distress is expected, if it interferes with treatment or if a patient can’t cope, additional support services may help. Having cancer affects your emotional health, and when those effects are debilitating, it is imperative that you get additional support. The American Cancer Society offers a helpful “Do I Need Professional Support” Self-Assessment Questionnaire for Patients to help you figure out whether professional counseling may be beneficial. You can find the questionnaire here: http://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatments-and-side-effects/emotional-side-effects/distress-checklist-for-patients.html

Additionally, having a trusted cancer care team can be a significant resource for extra support, as is having loved ones that can also take on a support role. As a cancer patient, it is important to remember that you have people that care about you and want to help, but you must always be upfront with how you’re feeling and doing. Once people know how you’re doing, they can provide you with or direct you to the services most suited to your particular circumstances.

Please come back next week for part two of our blog series, where we will be discussing ways you, as a cancer patient (or caregiver) can cope with cancer.

Do you have any health nuts on your gift list? Or aspiring health nuts? Any fitness fanatics? If you do, and if you haven’t decided what to get them for the holidays, we can help! And these gifts aren’t just for health nuts. Anyone who leads or who wants to lead a healthy lifestyle would appreciate any of these gifts. Take a gander and hopefully something catches your eye, or at least gives you an idea, for a loved one on your gift list.

For the Fitness Fiend

— Yoga mat & carrier/bag (depending on your budget, we recommend Manduka yoga mats)
— Boxing gloves with a gift certificate for a few boxing classes
— For that matter… a gift certificate for a full session of cycling or other fitness class near them
— Gym bag
— Dumbbell set
— Fitness tracker
— Workout outfit (top and pants), because just one or the other would be incomplete
— All weather adventure/workout clothes for the hiker in the family
— Running shoes
— Running cap and/or sunglasses

For the Health-Conscious Home Cook

— A gift card to Whole Foods, Lassen’s, or other gourmet/natural foods store
— Cookbook: Tender: A Cook and His Vegetable Patch by Nigel Slater
— Indoor herb planters and seeds
— Variety pack of raw nuts and seeds
— Mrs. Meyer’s Dish Soap and Hand Soap
— Apron
— Variety pack of organic, unbleached flours
— Green tea
— A fruit tree (assuming you know they have room in their yard)

For the Busy Bee or Workaholic

— Pair of dumbbells that can be kept under a desk or in the car
— Resistance bands to be kept in the desk drawer
— KIND protein bars
— PRO BAR meal bars
— Lori Harder’s Busy Girl Cookbook

The American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR) encourages everyone to follow certain recommendations for a healthy lifestyle, which can help prevent the development of cancer (and other disease). But how much does following those recommendations actually help?

Lifestyle and Colorectal Cancer Risk

While we don’t have statistical evidence for every type of cancer, we can give you an answer with regard to colorectal cancer. A recent study, published in late October of this year in Cancer Causes & Control, reveals that the more AICR Recommendations were followed, the lower the risk. One of AICR’s recommendations that is most strongly linked to reduced colorectal cancer risk, for both men and women, is cutting processed meat, but, ultimately, the more healthy recommendations followed, the lower the risk.

In the recent study, researchers analyzed data from 67,000 participants of the VITamins And Lifestyle Study. Participants, aged 50 to 76 years, were cancer-free and answered particular questions about their diet, weight, and other lifestyle habits, at the beginning of the study. The study scored whether each participant met AICR’s Recommendations regarding physical activity, body weight, alcohol, plant foods, energy density, and processed and red meat.

Fast Forward 8 Years…

Approximately eight years later, 546 of the 67,000 participants had been diagnosed with colorectal cancer. While taking BMI and other recognized risk factors into account, it was determined that meeting one to three of AICR’s Recommendations lowered risk by a little more than one third. Meeting four to six of the recommendations lowered risk by around half. With these numbers, we expect if participants followed all 10 AICR Cancer Prevention Recommendations, their risk of developing colorectal cancer would be drastically reduced.

In this particular study, the recommendations that were most strongly associated with reduced colorectal cancer risk for men were red and processed meat and alcohol; for women, body weight and, like men, red and processed meat.

There’s  A Lot You Can Do

We underestimate how much we can actually do to safeguard our health. Leading a healthy lifestyle is the only way to have a vibrant, full life. Being aware of risk factors is also important. Inherited cancer risk factors do exist for some people but knowing that they’re there can help us make the necessary preventative choices to stay strong and healthy.

The 7th Annual Glendale Health Festival took place on November 5, 2016, from 10 am to 3 pm at the Pacific Edison Community Center (501 S. Pacific Ave), Glendale. This festival was a free event and open to the entire community.  Viazoi participated to better promote cancer awareness.  For more information visit glendalehealthfestival.com

The most wonderful time of the year is upon us and we’re gearing up for joyous celebrations, spending time with those we love, and gift-giving, but it may be tough getting excited about the holidays when your and your family have more serious issues on their minds. Being a cancer patient during the holidays means that you and your family may not necessarily be able to continue the same traditions or participate in the same events that you used to, but we are here to reassure you that this does not mean you won’t enjoy the holidays. Instead of focusing on how this year won’t be the same as the years before, focus on how you can adapt this year’s festivities to make sure you have the opportunities to get into the holiday spirit.

Tips to Make The Most of the Holiday Season

There are several organizations out there that want to help cancer patients and their families find joy during the holiday season, including CancerCare and the American Cancer Society, both of whom have put together a list of tips and suggestions that can help those living with cancer during the holidays get into the holiday spirit. We wanted to pass on this helpful information because everyone, especially those enduring hardship, deserves to experience the love and joy of the holiday season…

— Don’t shop ‘til you drop and stick to a budget. Do as much online shopping as possible and get creative. A framed piece of nostalgia could mean more to someone than the latest electronics. Remember that buying things will not make up for any negative feelings you are having.

— Learn to say no. You don’t have to participate in everything. People will understand if you can’t do certain activities.

— Enlist support for organizing holiday gatherings, meal preparation, and cleanup. Don’t pressure yourself with unrealistic expectations or try to do everything yourself.

— Express your feelings in ways that help you receive the support of the important people in your life. Sharing can be comforting. It is common to experience a mixture of anticipation, excitement and apprehension about the future. Give yourself permission to feel and express your feelings, whether of joy, fear, sadness, or pain. Let yourself laugh or cry.

— Take care of yourself: Eat balanced meals, drink in moderation, and try to make time for some physical activity, which is a good way to relieve stress. Get plenty of sleep. Don’t abandon healthy habits.

— Allow yourself simple pleasures that will help lift your spirits, such as reading outside, hot baths, and naps.

— Prepare for the holidays. Create a list of the usual traditions and events and decide if you want to continue certain traditions or create new ones. Plan how you want to spend your time, with whom, and for how long.

— Don’t overindulge in alcohol. Because alcohol is a depressant, it can “bring out” or heighten bad feelings.

— Find distractions like going out to dinner or a movie or playing board games or cards with friends.

— Don’t try to force yourself to be happy just because it’s the holiday season.

— Make plans to get together with friends, family or co-workers over the holidays. Trying to celebrate alone can be very difficult. Find the right balance between celebrating with family and friends and spending the time you may need on your own.

— Talk to your health care team about upcoming special events. They may be flexible about appointments in order to accommodate travel or other needs.

— Celebrate strengths you and your loved ones have developed. Many families who face the day-to-day challenges of cancer discover strengths and courage they didn’t know they had. Reflect on the strengths you have developed, and build on them during the holidays.

Happy Holidays from Viazoi!

Thanksgiving is next week! It’s amazing how quickly the holidays sneak up on you, and it’s easy to start panicking, but don’t. You probably (hopefully) know where you will be for Thanksgiving dinner and, if you’re just a guest, then you’re all set! If you are a food-bringing guest, you have quite a bit of time to plan out when to shop for ingredients and then prepare the item, so no reason really to stress out there. But for those of us who are hosting Thanksgiving this year, it may seem like time is slipping away but there is plenty of time. A certain amount of stress is unavoidable but chronic stress during the holidays can ruin the holiday spirit (and it’s not good for your health either).

At reveal23, we don’t think there’s anything that a good To-Do List can’t handle! By properly planning ahead and delegating, you can prepare for Thanksgiving at your house and be happy to do it again the very next week if you wanted to because of how easily it all came together.

THIS WEEK

Plan Your Menu – Create a “Holiday Book” or “Event Log”, if you don’t already have one, and write out every dish you plan on making for Thanksgiving. We suggest keeping the number of items at or under eight. Print out recipes (if found online) and include with the menu list.

Reserve Your Turkey – While markets will have turkeys generally, if you want a specific size, and haven’t already done so, place a reservation order for the particular type and size of turkey you want (if your local market offers the service).

Decide on Your Table Setting – Make sure you have your table linens, plateware, glassware,  silverware, and serving ware chosen/purchased.

Decorate – Have pumpkins, maple leaves, and cornucopias to throw around? Do it the week before so your general decorations are not one of those last-minute Thanksgiving morning things you have to rush through.

Make Your Shopping List – Don’t rely on memory for this grocery trip. At the end of this week, make your list and check it twice!

WEEK OF THANKSGIVING

Monday – 1. Clean out the refrigerator. 2. Do your Thanksgiving grocery shopping, and don’t forget the ice cream if you’re serving pie à la mode for dessert! This will give you time to thaw and brine your turkey if that is how you are preparing it this year.

Tuesday – 1. Make sure the turkey is in the refrigerator, brining or not. Big turkeys especially need plenty of time to thaw if you want them to cook properly. 2. Make your pies. Whether pumpkin, pecan, or apple, pies will taste even better when made ahead. 3. Wash all plateware, silverware, and glassware for your Thanksgiving table. 4. Cut bread into cubes for stuffing/dressing and leave out to dry.

Wednesday – 1. Make turkey stock with neck, giblets, and vegetables to use for gravy. 2. Wash and chop all necessary vegetables for side dishes. 3. Make stuffing/dressing (if not actually stuffing into turkey). 4. Make dinner rolls, cornbread, or biscuits, if you choose to go homemade. 5. Set the table.

Thanksgiving Morning/Afternoon – 1. Get up early. 2. Eat breakfast and have a big cup of coffee! 3. Put any beverages needing chilling in the refrigerator. 4. Take the turkey out of the refrigerator to come to room temperature. 5. Prepare all side dishes needing the oven and set aside. 6. Prepare turkey and get it into the oven to roast.

Just Before Thanksgiving Dinner – 1. Take the (hopefully now fully cooked) turkey out of the oven to rest. 2. Put all pre-made dishes into oven to heat up. 3. Make gravy using pre-made turkey stock and juices from roasting pan. 4. Take pies out of the refrigerator to come to room temperature. You can always throw them in the oven just before dessert-time too.

Bon Appétit and Happy Thanksgiving!

Your first line of defense against cancer and disease in general is a strong, healthy body. There are a number of factors that contribute to this goal, including getting the right amount of the right nutrients. While you may generally have a healthy diet, however, it is still possible for you to nutrient deficiencies. But all is not lost. Below, we present four common nutrient deficiencies and what you can do about them.

A, B, C, Vitamin D

We all know vitamin D is vital to bone health. But did you know that your body needs vitamin D to absorb calcium? If calcium is not absorbed into the body, it can collect in soft tissues and other areas, causing health problems. Signs of a vitamin D deficiency might include fatigue, and muscle weakness or aches. Long term vitamin D deficiency can actually lead to the softening of bones, which could increase the likelihood of recurring injury as well as other health issues.

Our natural source of vitamin D is the sun, specifically, UVB rays, and you should use it. Avoiding the sun isn’t in the best interests of your health. According to Dr. Mercola,

“…due to decades of professional and media misinformation, the typical American believes they should avoid the midday sun and need to use sunscreen before, and several times during, sun exposure.”

You have to be very careful when getting sun to avoid sunburn, which is very harmful to your skin, but it is not necessary to wear sunscreen constantly as it can block the UVB rays your skin needs to make vitamin D3. You can also get your daily vitamin D from fortified milk or yogurt and fatty fish, like salmon.

Potassium

Potassium is a mineral and electrolyte that is very important for the proper functioning of all organs, tissues, and cells in the human body. Short-term deficiency may be caused by excessive sweating, vomiting, antibiotics, diarrhea, or chronic conditions such as eating disorders and kidney disease. Symptoms of potassium deficiency may include weight loss, constipation, and muscle weakness. In the event of a severe potassium deficiency, there may also be abnormal heart rhythm. Good sources of potassium include, bananas, whole grains, milk, beans, peas and other vegetables. Dark fruit juices, such as tart cherry, pomegranate, and black mulberry, are also good sources.

Calcium for Strong Bones

Many people, especially women, tend to have low levels of calcium, which is an essential mineral that helps maintain strong bones and control nerve and muscle function. Symptoms of severely low calcium include poor appetite, muscle cramps, abnormal heart rhythms, and fatigue. Get enough daily calcium by consuming at least three servings of calcium-rich foods, such as yogurt, milk, dark leafy greens, and cheese. Whole food sources of calcium are best, but you could also speak to your doctor about calcium supplements as an option.

Daily Ironing

Iron is essential for the production of red blood cells, and thus, for transporting oxygen through the body. When a doctor tells you that you are anemic, it means that your body can’t effectively carry oxygen. This most often causes fatigue but could also cause dull, thin, sparse hair, and pale skin. Beef, iron-fortified cereal, spinach, lentils, beans, especially chickpeas, kidney beans, and white beans, and oysters are good sources of iron.

Combat Ready

Good health is on the front lines against disease. Your lifestyle choices make a significant impact on how well your body can protect itself from illness, including cancer. Your risk for cancer isn’t always just a matter of lifestyle, however. reveal23 is here to help you understand your inherited cancer risk so that you can make the necessary preventative decisions for the healthiest future possible. Visit http://reveal23.com/ to order our convenient testing kit!

Cancer is the name given to a collection of related diseases where some of the body’s cells begin to divide uncontrollably and spread into surrounding tissues. This general definition applies to a large number of specific cancers that fall under five main categories:

— Carcinoma
— Melanoma
— Sarcoma
— Leukemia
— Lymphoma

Carcinoma

Carcinomas are the most commonly diagnosed type of cancer. It starts in cells of the skin or of the tissue lining of organs, such as the breasts, pancreas, and lungs, as well as the tissue lining of glands. As with other forms of cancer, carcinomas are abnormal cells that divide without stopping and may spread to other areas of the body, but they don’t always.

Melanoma

Melanoma typically starts in a certain type of skin cell called melanocytes. These cells make the pigment melanin, which tans/darkens the skin to protect the deeper skin layers from harmful effects of the sun. Most melanoma cells still produce melanin, so the tumors are often brown or black, but it is also , in which case tumors may be pink, tan, or white. Melanomas can develop anywhere, but they are most likely to start in the skin of the torso (back and chest) in men and in the skin of the legs in women. The neck and face are also common melanoma sites. If not detected early, melanoma is much more likely than others to spread to other parts of the body.

Sarcoma

Sarcomas are relatively uncommon and develop in cartilage, bone, and soft tissues such as fat, muscle, fibrous tissues, deep skin tissues, blood vessels, or nerves. Most sarcomas develop in the arms or legs but may also be found in the neck and head area, internal organs, torso, and the back of the abdominal cavity. There are approximately 50 different types of soft tissue sarcomas.

Leukemia

Leukemia is a type of cancer that affects the bone marrow and blood. Cancerous blood cells form and crowd out the healthy blood cells in the bone marrow. How quickly this cancer progresses and how the cells replace the normal marrow and blood cells are different with each type of leukemia, which is determined by the type of blood cell that has become cancerous. A patient’s prognosis and treatment depends on the type of blood cell affected and whether the leukemia is acute or chronic. Chemotherapy is a common treatment for leukemia.

Lymphoma

Lymphoma is the name given to a group of blood cancers that develop in the lymphatic system, which is part of the body’s circulatory system and a vital part of the immune system. There are multiple types, but the two main types are Hodgkin Lymphoma and Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma. Hodgkin Lymphoma is one of the most curable forms of cancer, according to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS).

First and foremost, it is not a myth or misconception that cancer is a devastating disease. Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States. There are common ideas about how cancer starts and spreads, however, that are often rooted in old theories and scientifically wrong. According to The National Cancer Institute (NCI):

“…wrong ideas about cancer can lead to needless worry and even hinder good prevention and treatment decisions.”

Factors That Contribute to Cancer’s Death Toll

Just looking at the numbers, cancer kills hundreds of thousands of people in the United States every year. This is devastating, and paints a bleak picture, but it’s not the complete picture. The likelihood of a person dying from cancer has, in fact, steadily decreased since the 1990s. Plus, the five-year survival rates for cancers such as breast, thyroid, and prostate, are now over 90 percent. The five-year survival rates for ALL cancers is now around 66 percent.

These numbers are based on data from large groups of people, as a result, the percentages may not apply to each person. A particular patient’s prognosis depends on a variety of factors, including:

— Their overall health;

— Whether the cancer is fast or slow-growing; and

— How much the cancer has spread.

Does Sugar Feed Cancer?

Cancer cells do consume more glucose than normal cells, according to research, however, no studies have concluded that eating sugar would make the cancer worse, OR that cutting out sugar will shrink cancer. While sugar may not have a direct effect on cancer cells, a high sugar diet is bad for overall health, which may increase your risk for developing cancer.

Artificial Sweeteners Cause Cancer

At one point, artificial sweetener Sweet ‘n’ Low included a cancer warning about it causing cancer in laboratory animals because early studies showed that cyclamate in combination with saccharin caused bladder cancer. The warning has since been removed, however. Later studies have NOT provided clear evidence of a correlation between using artificial sweeteners and developing cancer (though it’s probably best to stay away from artificial anything in the interest of good health). The following artificial sweeteners are approved by the FDA and considered safe for human consumption.

Is Cancer Contagious?

It may seem a silly question, but this is a common misconception of cancer. Cancer is not a contagious disease. The only way where cancer might spread from one person to another is a tissue or organ transplant from someone who had cancer in the past. But even if that situation, the risk is extremely low and doctors avoid the use of tissue or organs from donors who have a history of cancer.

The Power of Positivity

While the National Cancer Institute (NCI) says there is no convincing scientific evidence to support the theory that a positive attitude promotes good health, helps prevent cancer, and even helps cancer patients more successfully fight the disease, we still believe staying positive (but realistic) is the best attitude to have. Just because there is no physical evidence doesn’t mean a person won’t benefit from having a positive outlook.

Herbs to Fight Cancer

There are studies that suggest complementary or alternative therapies may help patients deal with cancer treatment side effects, but there is no conclusive evidence that herbal products are an effective cancer treatment. Some may even be harmful if taken during conventional cancer treatment. Alternative options should always be discussed with one’s doctor.

Cancer Runs in the Family

Not always. Even if a family member had or has cancer, it does not necessarily meant that you will get it too. Only about five to ten percent of cancers are caused by inherited harmful gene mutations. In families WITH an inherited gene, however, multiple family members may develop the same type of cancer, should they develop cancer at all.

Be Well Informed

There is no need to go through life in fear of cancer. Leading a healthy lifestyle is your most effective method of cancer prevention and being well-informed about your family health history is another. The more you know, the best you can safeguard your health.

With reveal23’s genetic testing kit, you can raise your own awareness about any potential inherited cancer-predisposing mutations. To learn more about us or to order your kit, visit our website at http://reveal23.com/.