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Dear Christine,
My husband and I decided to take a break from our cold Minnesota winter this year, and took a mini vacation to Scottsdale, Arizona last week. A few rounds of golf during a particularly brutal winter this year was just what the doctor prescribed.
On the day we were to return, we got to the airport early and boarded our plane, only to learn that our flight was being cancelled. We quickly rebooked ourselves on another airline, and called our oldest son to tell him we'd be arriving much later than expected.
"How's Simone doing?" I inquired. Our nine-year old flame-point Himalayan cat is often left to the care of our kids. "She's been acting kind of funny," he said. In the next breath, "Oh, and it's really cold at your house."
We arrived back in Minnesota at 9:00pm. Our luggage didn't. But that wasn't the biggest surprise of the evening. When we finally walked through our front door (after staying until every last piece of luggage had been unloaded from the baggage claim carousel and then having to file a "Lost Luggage" claim), our house wasn't just cold. It was freezing.
Our furnace had gone out, and it was 36 degrees in the house. As I went to bed that evening, cursing our fate (and wearing sweat pants, two sweaters, two pairs of socks, mittens, a scarf wrapped around my neck and a stocking cap), I thought about the unexpected challenges in life. And my mind quickly went back to 1994 and finding out I had cancer.
I often describe the day I received my diagnosis of breast cancer as the day my life "came to a screeching halt." Abruptly thrown into an unknown world of hospitals, doctors, tests, and treatments, I thought that my life was over-- that it would never be the same again.
It's true-- your life will never be the same. But that doesn't mean that you can't have a great life, a "new" life, a creative life, a life filled with love.
I believe that there is a fine line that as cancer patients and survivors, we can all step over on a daily basis-- between wallowing in self-pity, and a "Why me?" attitude, or stepping on the other side of the line and realizing that every day of life is a gift.
I pulled the three covers I had thrown on the bed up under my chin, pulled my husband and Simone as close to me as possible and realized, "Today is a gift." I'm lucky to be here, shivering, with no luggage and a broken furnace! Simone meowed, glad to have some company, and I had to remind myself once again, "Don't forget to laugh!"
"Learning to laugh at trouble radically increases the amount of things there are to laugh at."
--I. Toldja
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LAUGH AT THE UNEXPECTED! |
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SHARE THE EXPERIENCE |
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How You Can Support a Friend Diagnosed With Cancer
We all know how inviting and comforting the feel of a newly aired bed feels. The thought of changing sheets, doing laundry and making the bed may seem overwhelming to a cancer patient. Offer to come over daily/weekly or even once a month to fluff the pillows and keep the sheets and covers smooth. Purchase a special pillow to help prop the patient for reading or watching TV. Add the sound of trickling water with a small fountain and make sure fresh flowers are receiving their needed dose of water. The cancer patient will be snug as a bug in a rug, and will sleep better, too!
To cancer patients:
Let your friend or family member pamper you in your own room so you can rest comfortably. If you'd like an air freshener, fan or fountain, don't be shy about asking. Let your friends change your sheets and tuck you in. You'll sleep tight, and the bed bugs won't bite!
"A good laugh and a long sleep are the two best cures."
Irish proverb
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GARLIC POWER! |
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"A nickel will get you on the subway, but garlic will get you a seat." It may improve your longevity, say researchers in an Iowa Woman's Health Study. Women who ate garlic at least once a week showed a 32% lower risk of colon cancer. Garlic also appears to lower the risk of prostate cancer. If you and garlic don't get along, don't despair: onions, leeks, shallots and chives offer several of the same cancer-fighting substances. Eat, repeat and take that seat!
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THE CHAT ROOM |
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Dear Cancer Club,
I do have a cute story to tell you. I have been recently diganosed with non-hodgkins lymphoma, and have just begun treatments. I'm a 47-year-old mother of three and grandmother of three. I had told a few people at work that I would be wearing a hat to work last Friday. When I showed up, the entire building had on hats and were waiting for me in the hallway!
It was great, and it made me feel so at ease. Twenty- five women, all in hats! We had a great day with it, and now I know that I won't be uncomfortable in whatever I have to wear. Thanks for a great way to handle this.
Ashley Taylor, Meridian, MS
Dear Cancer Club,
I have a humorous story that I wish to share with you, which proved to be my first lesson in the value of humor and lightheartedness. I came home from the hospital on March 12th, drains still in and all. The following week, on the 19th, was my 36th birthday. I was enjoying a visit from some co-workers, while unbeknownst to only me, my roommate was on her way home with a cake.
It was what we ended up referring to as "the boob cake." It was an actual cake with two appropriately colored breasts protruding from one end of it. It was to welcome my new breasts to the family, she said. She was nervous about bringing it home, as you might imagine. I absolutely howled with as much laughter as my incisions would allow. The experience was a hoot!
We ended up saving the breasts in the freezer until I finished my reconstruction. I'd been feeling angry, and a bit sorry for myself. That was OK, but my birthday that year taught me that humor can be wonderfully healing. And even though there were many things that I couldn't do physically, there were still many things left that I could do. I will always remember that birthday with a smile, and have since given laughter to many.
Kimberly Vendrinski, Westerville, OH
Dear Cancer Club,
Cancer is a challenge, and you have found a great deal of material that helps one rise to the challenge. Humor is key. I had my own "no hair days" when I realized that upon arriving at my weekend house, I had "left my hair in the city." My 8-year-old son and I had a good time with that. Thank you again.
Peggy Grieve, New York, NY
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HAVE YOU HEARD? |
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ABOUT...PROTANDIM™ ? The only supplement clinically and scientifically proven to slow down the cell aging process by reducing oxidative stress by an average of 40%. Protandim is advanced science for cellular protection, clinically proven to reduce oxidative cell damage caused by free radicals. The active ingredients are derived from five botanical sources, and each ingredient has substantial human experience in traditional medicine. 100% vegetarian and free of gluten, wheat, dairy, gelatin and yeast. To learn more about Protandim, or an exciting business opportunity, please call The Cancer Club at (952)944- 0639. Recommended by Christine Clifford Beckwith. Visit www.curechief.com.
ABOUT...ALMOST ALWAYS FATAL (SURVIVING CANCER WITH A SENSE OF HUMOR)? By cancer survivor Charles Walton. Diagnosed with metastatic melanoma, with no health insurance, Charles' honest, down-to-earth sense of humor is a fun read. $20.94 plus shipping. Visit www.lulu.com or email chuckkathy1@sbcglobal.net.
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CAN I HAVE FRIES WITH THAT ORDER? |
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A physician was driving her four-year-old daughter to preschool. The doctor had left her stethoscope on the car seat, and her little girl picked it up and began playing with it.
"Be still, my heart," thought the doctor. "My daughter wants to follow in my footsteps!"
Then the child spoke into the instrument: "Welcome to McDonald's. May I take your order?"
"We are all here for a spell. Get all the good laughs you can!"
-- Will Rogers
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ABOUT CHRISTINE CLIFFORD BECKWITH & THE CANCER CLUB™ |
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The Story Behind The Newsletter
The Cancer Club™, based in Minneapolis, MN, was created by Christine Clifford in 1995 in response to her diagnosis of Stage III metastatic breast cancer at the age of 40 in 1994. Christine, whose mother died of breast cancer at 42, found during her own treatments that while family and friends were supportive, noone ever gave her anything to make her laugh.
Needing a lift, Christine began to search for signs of humor in herself and her predicament. She found them daily. The more she laughed, the stronger she grew, and The Cancer Club™ was born.
The critically acclaimed Cancer Club™ is the first organization to offer hope and support to cancer patients, their families and friends through the healing power of humor. A dynamic speaker, Christine has traveled the globe with her keynote presentations and seminars on using humor to get through life's adversities.
Christine is married to speaker/author Harry Beckwith (co-authors of You, Inc. The Art of Selling Yourself) and is the mother of five boys: Harry, Jr., Tim, Walter, Brooks & Cole; a daughter Cooper, a cat Simone and grandmother to a Siberian Husky named Skylar. Call The Cancer Club™ today or email us to book Christine for your next event. Don't forget to laugh! ™
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NEXT ISSUE: APRIL, 2009 |
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We Hope You've Enjoyed This Edition
We hope you've enjoyed this edition of The Cancer Club™ eNewsletter. We'd like to thank our FABulous illustrator Jack Lindstrom of FAB Artists!
If you have a humorous or interesting story about cancer, send it to us at: P.O. Box 24747 Edina, MN 55424-0747 or email us at: Christine@cancerclub.com
Visit us online at www.cancerclub.com
Have a fabulous St. Patrick's Day, and don't forget to laugh!™
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Warmest wishes, 
Christine Clifford Beckwith, CSP
Founder/President/CEO
The Cancer Club ™
Don't forget to laugh! ™
Phone: 1-800-586-9062
Fax: 1-612-922-0195
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