EXERCISE AND CANCER - PART 3 - ADD YOGA TO YOUR POST CANCER ARSENAL

For this post guest blogger Karen Whittier, Registered yoga teacher (RYT) and Chief Activist for Embrace Activism shares her thoughts about Cancer and Exercise, and why you might want to add Yoga to a post cancer exercise regimen.  Stay tuned for upcoming posts about Exercise and Cancer on the Lots To Live For! Cancer Blog.

Add Yoga to Your Post Cancer Arsenal

Though yoga originated as a way to meditate, to foster clear thinking and decision-making, the physical benefits yoga can bring are the ones emphasized more here in the West. Yoga does make positive changes to the body: increasing flexibility, improving balance, increasing your strength and the general tone of the body. But yoga can be so much more. Yoga’s value and impact on the mind and spirit should not be discounted. That’s especially true for cancer survivors.

The “C” word is very unsettling; everything you thought your life might hold gets put on hold. That one word has the power to keep every aspect of your life revolving around it. Have you been told you had cancer? What was the first thing you thought of? Did it feel like a death sentence? Did you go into denial thinking there must been a mistake in one of the tests? Did you accept the possibility, but resolve to find out more? Reactions are about as varied as each individual, but I don’t think anyone thinks they’ll be the one to develop cancer

The type of cancer, and its stage when discovered, determines the type of treatment prescribed. Most treatments take a lot of fortitude on the patient’s part. There can be more lab work required. There might be more xrays, MRIs or CT scans needed. Sometimes radiation is involved; sometimes chemotheraphy is needed; sometimes surgery is the only option. Whether your treatment plan includes surgery, radiation, and/or chemotherapy your body will have to withstand a major assault. It all takes time, but you can feel like you have precious little time to spare!

Once you’ve come through the other side of cancer there’s a little cloud that can hang over your head….recurrence. Are you questioning each ache and pain? Does a simple cold signal the start of another round of cancer to you? It’s understandable to be fearful. It wasn’t that long ago that a diagnosis of any cancer was synonymous with death. That’s not the case anymore. Inroads have been made to detect cancer at its earliest stage where the chance of survival is greatest. New treatment methods that target the cancer cells without damaging surrounding cells are available. But, the thought of a single cancer cell adrift within your lymph system waiting to take root can persist. It is my contention, if you’re living under that cloud of recurrence you’re letting cancer triumph.

This is where the mind and spirit benefits of yoga can be invaluable. From the moment you received the news of your cancer, your body has been at the mercy of your health care team. Their knowledge and experience gave them decision-making powers. Yes, you had to agree to it all, but the medical protocols are dictated by them. It is your body though, that’s subjected to an invasive onslaught of exploration and discovery. There is stress on the body even if your treatment plan includes the use of advanced medical equipment like the da Vinci Surgical System However, when you step onto your mat, YOU are the one in control. You monitor your body throughout practice determining just how much (or how little) that practice is for the day. Your practice may consist of lying comfortably on your back, with blocks and bolster offering support, for 5 minutes of deep breathing or listening to a guided meditation. You can decide what asanas (poses) are appropriate for you knowing what benefits those asanas bring to your body. In other words, yoga empowers YOU. It puts you back in control over your body. This sense of control, of reclaiming your life is monumental in importance. Additionally, evidence is showing how important physical exercise can be during treatment with one of the benefits being a reduction in cancer treatment side effects.

When you step onto your mat and begin your practice, your focus is narrowed to the here and now. Worries and anxiety over what may lie ahead are suspended as you concentrate on the breath…following the breath, the life-giving breath, on its journey inward. Can you feel the rush of oxygen? Can you imagine the blood taking the oxygen and other nutrients out to the farthest reaches of your body? Feeding your body; providing your body with the fuel it needs to perform. The breath cleanses your body with its exhales; removing carbon dioxide and other wastes. Most of us are so accustomed to breathing we don’t ever think about what’s involved or what it does. What does this realization awake within you? Awe? Gratitude? Both? Relief is probably in the mix of feelings too. And the more you practice the longer that interval that suspension of worry and anxiety can be. With continued practiced you can cultivate an awareness of peace and tranquility that you can take off your mat. This benefit of yoga, of cultivating a mindset of peace and tranquility that is available at any time, can be useful during cancer treatment as well.

Worry and anxiety are understandable, but persistent worry and anxiety is counter-productive; the negative effects of stress on your body’s immune system are well documented. Use your yoga practice to empower yourself, bolster your immune system and tap into peace and tranquility at any time. Your body came through the cancer battle; let yoga give you the tools to bring your mind and spirit to victory too.

Health, Wellness & CURES!!
Karen Whittier

Karen Whittier is a  Registered yoga teacher (RYT) and Chief Activist for Embrace Activism. Embrace Activism is the online source for yoga products with a CAUSE: Premium yoga products that will enhance your practice on the mat, a charitable-giving program that takes your practice off the mat. Using Embrace Activism yoga products transforms your practice into purpose-driven yoga.

About EmbraceActivism -website: http://www.embraceactivism.com/
This post also appears simultaneously on Karen's On & Off the Mat Blog and is republished here with her permission.
‘Like’ the EmbraceActivism Facebook page: www.facebook.com/EmbraceActivism    

For products that can be helpful for cancer side effects such as radiation dermatitis and radiation burns visit http://www.lotstolivefor.com/. Lots To Live For, Inc. also sells items for chemotherapy induced mouth sores, dry mouth, compromised skin, itchy scalp, nausea, and other uncomfortable treatment related issues.
More blog posts on Exercise and Cancer will follow on http://www.lotstolivefor.blogspot.com/

'Like' Lots To Live For! at: www.facebook.com/LotsToLiveFor

Lots To Live For, Inc. - 2012 StartupNation Leading Moms in Business Competition

Lots To Live For, Inc. - 2012 StartupNation Leading Moms in Business Competition

Lots To Live For, Inc. has entered Startup third annual Leading Moms in Business competition to celebrate America's top mom owned business, and the women behind them.
Please support Lots To Live For, Inc. by clicking here: CLICK HERE TO VOTE 
Lots To Live For, Inc. - 2012 StartupNation Leading Moms in Business Competition
Lots To Live For, Inc. is an internet retailer that sells carefully selected products to reduce and relieve the uncomfortable and unpleasant side effects caused by chemotherapy and radiation. The genesis and inspiration for this company came after the passing of the founder's mother and grandmother following their courageous battles with cancer. The founder wanted to provide options and support to others who were going through exhausting and debilitating treatments. Put simply: We recognize that you have “lots to live for” and we offer solutions so that you can improve the quality of your life.

Some of the side effects that we offer solutions for are:
•Products to help heal and soothe radiation burns
•Cancer skin care products for sensitive and compromised skin
•Cancer hair care products to reduce hair loss and stimulate hair regrowth
•Oral care items for dry mouth and mouth sores
•Nutritional products to help boost the immune system.
•Cancer gifts for individuals undergoing radiation and chemotherapy
•Easy to use Personal Health Record Organizer software — by Minerva Health Technologies.
•Natural, Botanical and Homeopathic products to relieve cancer side effects
•Products for the Relief of Nausea associated with chemotherapy
•An all natural Skin Care line of products made without perfumes or chemicals
•Post radiation sun protection products
•Nail protection and rejuvenation products
Our goal is to help you feel the best you possibly can. We hope these products will help enable you to live your life normally despite your health issues.
We treat our customers with dignity and respect. Our prices are competitive and our service is compassionate and responsive. Our goal is for all customers to become repeat customers, and that they recommend us to their circle of caregivers and friends.
The photo shows our logo and a picture from 1987 of the founder, her mother and grandmother. This is the last picture taken of all three generations.  The circle of life continues - the founder now has three children of her own.
You can visit the Lots To Live For, Inc. website and view all the helpful products for cancer patients and survivors at: http://www.lotstolivefor.com/
Please like us on facebook at: www.facebook.com/LotsToLiveFor

EXERCISE AND CANCER - PART 2

Exercise for Cancer Patients and The Importance of Exercise in Cancer Recovery

by Carol Michaels, Owner and Founder of Recovery Fitness

Recently named one of "America's Top Personal Trainers to Watch"

Carol is a cancer Exercise Specialist and works with patients in a number of locations around Short Hills, NJ

This article will discuss the importance of exercise in the recovery process. In a subsequent article, I will describe unique and safe exercises that can be adapted to the different types of reconstruction and fitness levels.

When some people hear the word exercise, they immediately think about gym class exercise or boot camp. The exercises that I will discuss are gentle, fun and effective. They are not high intensity. Exercise might be the last thing on your mind after a cancer diagnosis. A good fitness program will help you build up your strength, improve your mood and will help your recovery.
Just to give you some background on myself-I am a cancer exercise specialist. Cancer has been a part of my life for 30 years. This disease has affected my family and friends. And because of that, I was motivated to develop an exercise program to help them. I have worked with hundreds of cancer survivors helping them improve their quality of life through their participation in my Recovery Fitness cancer exercise program which helps cancer survivors feel better physically and mentally.
When can you start a fitness program? You should start stretching exercises as soon as you get clearance from your doctor. It is important to talk to your doctor before starting to exercise. This way you can determine what program is right for you. Some exercises can be started soon after surgery while others can be done right after the drains and stitches are removed.

Many areas of the body can be affected by breast cancer surgery and treatments. A lot of people complain about stiffness, pulling, tightness, and having less flexibility. The muscles and skin are shortened because of the surgery and there is scar tissue. Some of the nerves may be irritated. You may feel burning, tingling, or numbness. We want to restore the patient to a level of fitness that they enjoyed prior to the surgery. Initially, one of the goals of this program is to restore a person's range of motion and break down scar tissue.
At the start of your exercise program the cancer exercise specialist will take range of motion measurements of the shoulder. I take flexion, extension and abduction measurements. For example the participant may begin with only 30 degrees of shoulder flexion and after several months improve to 170 degrees of flexion range of motion. In an ideal situation it is helpful to take these measurements prior to the surgery. This gives you a basis of comparison.

Once you have achieved an acceptable range of motion, it is usually necessary to continue your stretching program in order to maintain the ROM that has been achieved. If you have radiation, stretching is very important to help keep your body flexible. Radiation typically causes additional tightening. Radiation can impact the affected area for up to 9 months or longer after the treatment is finished.
Another reason to exercise is because posture is affected by the surgery. After surgery to the chest it is common to want to protect the area by rounding the shoulders forward. Winged scapula and rounded shoulder are common. Kyphosis or a head forward posture can be caused or exacerbated by tight chest muscles. This can cause a chain reaction leading to neck and back pain.

A mastectomy without reconstruction can cause imbalances. Some of the reconstruction processes change the muscle placement, which can effect the body. It is important to stretch the pectorals, which can tighten and strengthen the back and core muscles. This is done to improve posture and decrease the chance of back and neck pain. Good posture is important for overall health. Poor posture can create imbalances in the rest of the body. This can be detrimental to the back, knees and other areas.

Your balance can also suffer after surgical procedures. We find this to be especially acute with the TRAM flap procedure where the rectus abdominus is altered. Poor core strength has a negative effect on balance. You will have to learn how to compensate for this change of muscle placement through a series of exercises designed to strengthen the remaining muscle such as the obliques. Balance can deteriorate as we age even without a cancer diagnosis. Some of the chemotherapies can affect your balance. Neuropathy can cause balance issues. The good news is that balance training can counter some of the effects of muscle imbalances and body asymmetry after surgery. Balance training will help decrease the likeliness of falling. Falls are dangerous for older women with weaker bones and for cancer survivors. Cancer survivors are at higher risk for osteoporosis due to chemo and cancer medications. Being nervous about falling may cause you to withdraw from daily activities and decrease quality of life. We need to exercise to maintain or improve balance.

After you have achieved an acceptable ROM, posture, and balance, strength training is added. Why do we need strength training? After surgery the patient can lose strength in the chest, shoulders, abdomen or back. We need to rebuild strength in the areas affected and keep all the muscles in the body strong and correct muscle imbalances. Strength training improves balance and posture by improving core strength and it improves quality of life by making activities easier and more enjoyable and it reduces the chance of injury. It can empower you physically and mentally.
Another reason to strength train is that chemotherapy can cause weight gain. It can change the fat to muscle ratio. Strength training improves the muscle to fat ratio. We need to gain muscle mass, which can decrease during treatments and strengthen bones. Having more muscle will increase metabolism. A pound of muscle burns twice as many calories as a pound of fat. So strength training is a great way to keep your weight at a healthy level.

Many of the treatments can increase the risk for osteoporosis. Strength training helps build strong bones. Osteoporosis can be an issue and the exercises must take this into account. You need to learn which exercises are contraindicated for osteoporosis. For example, you would not do an abdominal crunch or extreme twisting movements. Before you can start to strength train you must have upright posture, balance, good rom and medical clearance.

Aerobic exercise is essential. That would include any movement which elevates your heart rate. As soon as you have medical clearance it is good to start walking. Chemotherapy and radiation can cause fatigue. It may seem counterintuitive, but physical activity can help decrease fatigue and help you improve your ability to tolerate treatments. Walking can boost your energy. You might be able to walk only 1 house distance at first. Every day try to walk further until you are able to walk for a half hour to 45 minutes. Try to exercise when you feel the least tired. You may feel exhausted at various times during treatment and recovery especially during chemo or radiation. When you feel better, try to do more. Ultimately the workout will help energize you and ease the aches and pains.

Exercise is good for our emotional health. It is one thing that you can control. It is one thing that you can do for yourself. The studies are leading us to believe that exercise can decrease the risk of recurrence. It is empowering. Physical activity can decease depression and anxiety. Participants in my program reduce stress, increase confidence and build positive health habits. The participants will also gain endurance, and energy level and decrease fatigue, which may be caused by treatments.

Stay tuned!  Carol will soon have a demonstration exercise DVD available.
You can contact Carol through her website Recovery Fitness.

For products that can help to improve the quality of life for cancer patients and survivors please visit the website Lots To Live For, Inc.  which offers one stop web shopping for patients combating unpleasant side effects from chemotherapy and radiation treatment.

EXERCISE AND CANCER - PART 1

Many cancer patients wonder whether exercise will be helpful or detrimental to their health and recovery. An article that was published in "Medicine & Science in Sports and Exercise" suggests that a carefully designed exercise program, developed with the guidance of a knowledgeable fitness professional can be helpful for cancer patients and survivors. Here are some important excerpts from the article:
"Early detection and improved treatments for cancer have resulted in roughly 12 million survivors alive in the United States today. This growing population faces unique challenges from their disease and treatments, including risk for recurrent cancer, other chronic diseases, and persistent adverse effects on physical functioning and quality of life. Historically, clinicians advised cancer patients to rest and to avoid activity; however, emerging research on exercise has challenged this recommendation. To this end, a roundtable was convened by American College of Sports Medicine to distill the literature on the safety and efficacy of exercise training during and after adjuvant cancer therapy and to provide guidelines. The roundtable concluded that exercise training is safe during and after cancer treatments and results in improvements in physical functioning, quality of life, and cancer-related fatigue in several cancer survivor groups. Implications for disease outcomes and survival are still unknown. Nevertheless, the benefits to physical functioning and quality of life are sufficient for the recommendation that cancer survivors follow the 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, with specific exercise programming adaptations based on disease and treatment-related adverse effects. The advice to "avoid inactivity," even in cancer patients with existing disease or undergoing difficult treatments, is likely helpful."
You can view the entire article entitled "American College of Sports Medicine Roundtable on Exercise Guidelines for Cancer Survivors" (July 2010 issue)

In our next blog post we have invited a cancer exercise specialist to share her experience about the importance of exercise in the cancer recovery process.
(source of picture: Associated Press, Arizona Daily Star)
To view products that can improve the quality of life for cancer patients please visit Lots To Live For, Inc.

Treatment Diaries - Community of Support for Chronic Illnesses

Treatment Diaries is a social networking platform for those living with or caring for someone with chronic diseases to share their stories and connect. This support network can be especially important during the holiday season.

Sometimes it can be lonely to live with a chronic illness or be a caregiver for someone with a chronic illness. Treatment Diaries is a comforting place to journal experiences and express feeling privately or with others. Community members can ask questions about treatment options and receive support, all anonomyously.

Living your life with a chronic condition or caring for someone with an on-going illness is perhaps one of life’s greatest challenges, demanding significant perseverance and genuine support. Whether you are a patient, caregiver, family member or advocate - doctors offer medical assistance, loved ones provide empathy for a short period - but who really understands the daily struggle and the questions you live with; “Why me?” or “What can I do to help make it stop?” or “Why won’t the pain just go away?” The answer: ONLY you and those who share your condition and experience! The good news, at Treatment Diaries, no matter what the condition or situation - YOU are no longer alone.

Why Treatment Diaries?

Connections are powerful and made through shared conditions and the inspiration found in those who understand

Real information shared based on personal experience

Who you are and the sharing you do is kept anonymous

Search on a key word to make connections through shared treatments, experiences and emotions.

Read the diaries of others and be inspired.

Scribble in a diary of a fellow user to show encouragement and provide hope.

Extending support through experience is empowering - building a new sense of meaning in your life and a renewed sense of self. To help someone you can relate to is therapeutic and a large component of establishing overall personal well-being.
Founder Amy Ohm says “We want people to make authentic, quality, lifelong, and if they wish anonymous connections, and inspire others to live life to the fullest, no matter what their condition.” If you are searching for on line support checking out http://www.treatmentdiaries.com/ might be both comforting and uplifting.

If you are searching for a gift that will be usefual and appreciated by a cancer patient or someone with another chronic disease which has unpleasant side effects please visit http://www.lotstolivefor.com/

Minerva Health Technologies Inc. Partners with Lots To Live For, Inc.

Minerva Health Technologies Inc. Partners with Lots To Live For, Inc. to Distribute Minerva® Health Manager Personal Health Record Software


WOODCLIFF LAKE, N.J. – Minerva Health Technologies Inc. has partnered with Lots To Live For, Inc. to distribute Minerva® Health Manager, a Personal Health Record Manager system that organizes important health information for patients and families in one software solution.

Whether individuals and their family members are relatively healthy and going for a routine doctor’s visit, or managing a chronic condition and receiving extensive treatment, many want to be actively involved in their healthcare experience. Minerva Health Manager helps them securely manage their individual health history, without the use of the Internet; from detailed information on medical alerts, emergency contacts, health conditions, medications, allergies, immunizations, and insurance, to storing test results, treatments, and contents of their official advance directives.

And best of all, Minerva personal health records can be portable, so Healthcare Providers and Agents can have immediate access to their patient’s most current medical records – wherever, whenever, without the use of the Internet.

“Unfortunately, you can’t always rely on our healthcare system to have access to critical health information for accurate diagnoses or treatments. Anyone who has been in an emergency room likely has nightmares of all of the paperwork and chaos,” said Dan Schiavello, President, of Minerva Health Technologies. “With Minerva, you can have all of your health information stored on a lightweight wristband or tiny flash drive---smaller than a house key --- available in emergencies and for routine doctor visits.”

With a complete health history carried on their Minerva Wristband or Slimline Flash Drive, stored on a mobile device such as an iPad, iPhone or Android, or even as a printed report, they will be in a better position to receive the very best healthcare for themselves and their family members.

The Minerva personal health record software solution is comprehensive and easy to use, and it is surprisingly affordable for such a powerful software tool. Watch the 3‑minute Video Tour to learn how Minerva can help save lives. You can also download the free Trial and the Minerva PHR Viewer, a free app for your mobile device.


Lots To Live For, Inc. offers products to combat unpleasant and uncomfortable side effects of chemotherapy and radiation treatment. Importantly, Lots To Live For, Inc. sells items to help heal and soothe radiation burns. In addition they provide helpful cancer skin care products for sensitive and compromised skin, and hair care products to reduce and prevent hair loss. Lots To Live For, Inc offers thoughtful and appreciated cancer gifts and compassionate service. Now through the partnership with Minerva, Lots To Live For, Inc. also offers patients a way to organize, coordinate, store, and carry their important medical records.


About Minerva Health Technologies
Founded in 2000, Minerva Health Technologies Inc. is a software development company specializing in computer aided health software development and consulting. Minerva Health Technologies develops Consumer and Healthcare Provider software to manage personal health records and to optimize the interaction between patients and their healthcare providers.

Follow Minerva on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MinervaHealthManager.

For more information, please visit MyMinerva.com


About Lots To Live For
Lots To Live For, Inc. is a family business created to help individuals who are battling cancer. We offer help and solutions for side effects caused by radiation and chemotherapy treatments. We have carefully selected products that were extremely useful to various patients we've worked with, which include the courageous members of our own family. All of the products are available to order on our website.

Follow Lots To Live For on Facebook at www.facebook.com/LotsToLiveFor.

For more information, please visit LotsToLiveFor.com

CaringBridge.org allows creation of free, personal and private websites that connect people experiencing a health challenge with family and friends

CaringBridge provides free websites that connect people experiencing a significant health challenge to family and friends, making each health journey easier. CaringBridge is free to users because it is powered and supported by generous donors.

Patients and caregivers who receive a difficult diagnosis should consider creating a CaringBridge website to document their personal health journey. CaringBridge can help those with serious health challenges to communicate with friends and family about their journey. And, friends and loved ones can leave messages and thoughts of inspiration for the patient. Because patients may have time constraints due to facility visiting hours or medication protocols, the CaringBridge guest book allows communication at convenience. Visitors to the guest book don't have to worry that their attempts to reach out might be intrusive or ill timed. And, the patient can communicate with supporters through journal postings. Those with serious health challenges are encouraged to explore this wonderful resource.

The following information is from the About Us section of the CaringBridge.org website:
CaringBridge websites offer a personal and private space to communicate and show support, saving time and emotional energy when health matters most. The websites are easy to create and use. Authors add health updates and photos to share their story while visitors leave messages of love, hope and compassion in the guestbook.

Connected by CaringBridge

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Each day, half-a-million people connect through CaringBridge.
More than 1 billion visits have been made to personal CaringBridge websites.
The CaringBridge community includes authors, visitors and/or donors in all 50 states and more than 225 countries/territories around the world.

Please visit our website for caring gifts at http://www.lotstolivefor.com/