April 2008 Newsletter

With spring in full gear comes a variety of outdoor tasks which can seem overwhelming to someone facing cancer. Offer to rake and bag leaves, trim trees and bushes, or plant flowers to bring delight as spring turns into summer. Washing windows or cleaning out gutters would be a fabulous way to help. Wash patio furniture and cushions, and help put them out for the season. Your friend or loved one will look around in delight when they know you've helped with the spring clean-up!

To cancer patients:

When someone asks, "How can I help?" take them up on their offer with a specific task around your yard or patio that will put your mind at ease. Pick a beautiful spring day to put friends to work. They'll delight in the crisp spring air and the fact that they are also getting some good exercise. Then sit back, relax and wait for summer!

"A person without a sense of humor is like a wagon without springs-- jolted by every pebble in the road."

--Henry Ward Beecher, American clergyman

Live dangerously-- glob on that ketchup! According to a recent study in the Journal of The National Cancer Institute, just two tablespoons of this sweet and salty condiment is better than a whole fresh tomato for getting lycopene, the powerful antioxidant that has been shown to lower the risk of lung, cervical, colon and breast cancer. And no need to feel guilty: it's only 15 calories per tablespoon!

Dear Cancer Club,

My wonderful friend Tina accompanied me 5 out of 6 times to chemotherapy. (My husband, very supportive in other ways, left my first treatment as soon as he saw the first needle!). Tina was my encourager, my strength, my prayer partner and the one who kept me distracted as the chemo worked its way intravenously into my body. She would start up a new conversation, if she noticed I was feeling shaky or restless.

Somewhere in the middle of my 3rd treatment, I was getting to that uncomfortable phase, where I just wanted the plastic "'bottles" over my head to be empty, so I could leave and go crash in my bed. I had begun glancing up at them every few moments, just to find that they were still half full.

Tina, noticing this, began a conversation. "I wonder sometimes just what God has in store for me for the rest of my life," she said. "I know it's got to be something good."

I ran some possibilities about my own future quickly through my mind. I was hoping I might finally become an author-- my life-long ambition. I had also been wondering if He might lead me sooner or later to somehow help other people going through similar experiences such as I was presently going through.

Instead of dwelling on either of these, however, I was suddenly reminded of the few very blond hair sprouts under my wig (where I had previously been a brunette), and a humorous thought came to mind. It came to my mind, but it didn't make it to my mouth. I meant to say, "Maybe I will be a blond model." But, because of the effect the chemo was having on my brain, what came out instead was, "Maybe I will be a blond marble."

We both began laughing and laughing, and couldn't stop. The nurses didn't know what was wrong with us, and I was fearful that I might pull my I.V. needle loose. Needless to say, the rest of that treatment flew by quickly!

Susan Nunn, Laurens, SC

Dear Cancer Club,

(NOTE: This story is being repeated from last month due to an error in our typesetting. Enjoy!) I had to laugh when I read the quote from Billy Graham in the February issue of your newsletter. Here's the story...Last June, I was able to share my cancer and faith story at church. Toward the end of my talk, the young pastor played a video he had compiled, mostly beautiful images with the song, Voice of Truth, playing. Near the end of the song, he used a couple of cancer photos I had given him: one with me bald, and one with me wearing my wig. The final image was shown with that same quote from Billy Graham. It showed my husband and I, head to head, both bald as could be... but magically transformed (through the miracle of Photoshop) into that ever popular, extra terrestial couple known in the 70's as "The ConeHeads". The tears and shock turned into giggles, which turned into LOL fun. Thanks for the memory!

Nancy Eckel, Cincinnati, OH

Dear Cancer Club,

I had a very happy, go-lucky breast surgeon. On surgery day for my mastectomy, I made two stickers. Both stickers had a cow on them. One said, "Got Milk", and the other said, "Mad Cow Disease". The Mad Cow sticker went on the breast coming off, and the Got Milk one stayed on my good breast. My surgeon and the nurses were hysterical seeing that before surgery!

Pami DeFraia, Marlboro, NY

Spending time communing with nature may promote well-being in an unexpected way: by rejuvenating the mental energy of people drained by the stress of serious illness. A study of 32 women who had undergone surgery for breast cancer revealed patients who spent 20 to 30 minutes three times a week in nature-related activities-- from walking in a park to watching the sunset, to tending an indoor plant-- were better able to concentrate, think clearly, set goals and follow through.

Dr. Bernadine Cimprich, Ph.D. of the University of Michigan School of Nursing in Ann Arbor, believes nature's mental-energy boost may not only promote patient's feelings of well-being, but assist them to get accurate information about their illness; evaluate treatment options; take better care of themselves physically, and relate to others at a time when they most need support.

The utterly lost of all days is that in which you have not once laughed.

--Sebastian Roch Chamfort