Stepping Stones For Survival

People often ask me how I hung onto hope in the midst of cancer surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. They also ask how they can hang onto hope in the midst of cancer. I tell them about the things that worked for me.

A CANCER SUPPORT GROUP

Those in a cancer support group are in all stages of recovery. Those who have been in remission ten, fifteen or twenty years provide encouragement and support. Because of them, we newcomers don’t feel alone or misunderstood in the midst of cancer.

FAITH

When we face a life-threatening disease, God can become our strength, our comforter, and our dearest friend if we let him. We can memorize Scriptures that bring us hope and cling to them. Church friends and activities can remain or become a part of our lives.

FRIENDS

After surgery and during cancer treatment, some of us can’t socialize as much as before. However, we can talk with friends on the phone, enjoy short visits, and go to lunch or dinner with them.

JOURNALING

We can journal our thoughts and feelings without fear of judgment or rejection. We can write to heal on paper or at the computer.

LAUGHTER

“A cheerful heart is good medicine” (Proverbs 17:22). Daily doses of this good medicine include watching comedies, reading joke books and asking family and friends to send us humorous cards.

MUSIC

Music calms the heart and soul. I like classical music, especially violin and piano and therefore, listened to it. Praise & worship music can be especially soothing and uplifting. It helps us keep a proper perspective and focus on God.

PROPER REST AND NUTRITION

We can sleep eight hours at night and feel better in the daytime. If we need a nap, we take it without guilt and shame. A balanced diet of protein, fresh fruits and vegetables, and grains helps more than we can imagine. Some of us do better without fried foods, shell fish, and pork, and so we avoid them.

 If anyone has any other suggestions for hanging onto hope in the midst of cancer, please feel free to comment.

 Copyright © by Yvonne Ortega July 30, 2010

Here is your chance to submit the name of a cancer patient for my Cancer Patient of the Year Contest. Tell me why you nominated the person and convince me that your person is the one to win the title on my blog. I will select the top three and then allow my readers to vote once for the candidate of their choice. This contest is in honor of cancer patients who are alive. At another time, I will do something similar in memory of those cancer patients who have passed away.

According to the most recent estimates for 2009 from the American Cancer Society for male breast cancer in the USA, about 1,910 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed among men. About 440 men will die from breast cancer. The lifetime risk of men getting breast cancer is 1 in 1,000.

Signs and Symptoms of Breast Cancer:

• A lump or swelling, which is usually, but not always, painless
• Skin dimpling or puckering
• Nipple retraction (turning inward)
• Redness or scaling of the nipple or breast skin
• Discharge from the nipple.

 Risk Factors for Male Breast Cancer:

• Older age-most common in men ages 60-70
• Excessive use of alcohol
• Exposure to estrogen
• Family history of breast cancer
• Klinefelter’s Syndrome-more than one copy of the X chromosome which causes abnormal development of the testicles. A male will produce lower levels of certain male hormones (androgens) and more female hormones (estrogens).
• Liver disease-such as cirrhosis of the liver
• Obesity
• Radiation exposure.

 Please listen to Interview #19 at www.blogtalkradio.com/hope-for-the-journey for further discussion of breast cancer in men.

 Copyright © by Yvonne Ortega July 6, 2010