Paul Newman Dies of Cancer

Most of us know that Paul Newman died the other day, an event which set off a lot of remembrances for all of us. We'll all miss his extraordinary talent.

I was interested to find out that he died of lung cancer at age 83. Apparently he used to be a heavy smoker until he quit in his 50's. When he was seen a few months ago in a wheelchair coming out of the Weill Cornell Medical Center in New York, he had just received treatment for lung cancer.

He once said he was amazed that he survived all that booze, smoking and car racing.

Experts say that, although giving up smoking significantly reduces your chances of developing lung cancer, that risk rarely goes right down to that of somebody who has never smoked. Lung tissue cannot be replaced once it is gone or badly damaged. However, if you are a smoker and you do quit, your risk of developing lung cancer and other fatal diseases starts falling immediately.

One in every three cancer deaths is lung cancer.
More U.S. citizens die of lung cancer than the combined totals of breast, prostate, liver, kidney and melonoma cancers.
Approximately 439 Americans die each day due to lung cancer.
Currently only 16% of lung cancer diagnoses are at the earliest stages.

Paul Newman lived to be a rather ripe old age. Still, one gets the feeling that he could've lived longer had he not smoked for over 30 years.

More Fiber: Better for Health

I wrote on September 4th about how I was trying to introduce more fiber into my diet. And a big part of that change was getting a big push in the morning by eating a fiber-full bowl of cereal.

I finally got around to trying all four of Fiber One's cereals. Tastewise, three out of four were great. Ironically (or understandably), it's the original cereal I didn't care for that much. Yep, the one that had the most fiber, 14 grams, tasted the most like cardboard. However, the Fiber One original cereal is still better tasting than the Bran Buds I had tried.

Remember: We're trying for 25 grams of fiber a day.

The other three Fiber One cereals -- Honey Clusters (13 grams of fiber), Raisin Bran Clusters (11 grams of fiber), and Caramel Delight (less than 11 grams) -- all tasted great. In fact, I thought Honey Clusters and Caramel Delight tasted almost the same. Interestingly, all three of these cereals have more sugar than the original cereal, but then that's probably why they tasted better.

The Raisin Bran Clusters, for instance, have 13 grams of sugar in one serving as opposed to 6 grams in Honey Clusters. To a diabetic like me, that's important even though the Fiber One website doesn't talk about sugar content.


My favorite is Honey Clusters. Almost as much fiber as the original cereal at 13 grams of fiber. And half the sugar as the others.

Compare this to Cheerios, the cereal I was on before I switched to Fiber One. Cheerios' ads tell you that your cholesterol will be lowered if you accept the Cheerios "challenge." A bowl of whole wheat Cheerios has 3 grams of dietary fiber. But it has only 1 gram of sugar.

I think with a bowl of Fiber One Honey Clusters, and with a banana on top for potassium, I'm getting a good start in the morning.

Here's some information on the benefits of fiber from the Fiber One webiste:

"Digestive Health

* The most recognized benefit of fiber is its important role in keeping the digestive system running smoothly by promoting regularity. Fiber adds bulk to help move food through the digestive tract.
* Along with regular exercise and plenty of water, fiber plays an important part in maintaining digestive health.

Heart Health

* Fiber – specifically soluble fiber – may also help lower blood cholesterol levels, thereby reducing the risk for heart disease. Fiber appears to lower cholesterol by interfering with its absorption in the digestive tract.

Diabetes

* Fiber may also be important for people who have diabetes. Diets high in whole grain and fiber have been shown to help people with diabetes manage their blood sugar and cholesterol levels.

Weight Management

* Getting enough fiber can also help curb your hunger and help you feel satisfied, which can help with weight management. Research suggests that people who have higher intakes of fiber tend to have healthier body weights.
* High fiber foods, like Fiber One cereal and Fiber One Honey Clusters®, may help with managing caloric intake.

That funny, rumbly feeling:

* One of the side effects of increasing fiber intake is an increase in intestinal gas. But don’t let this be a deterrent! Over time the body will adjust to increased fiber levels.
* Top tips for increasing fiber:
o Increase the level of fiber in your diet slowly
o Drink plenty of water to help the body adjust. Aim for eight 8-oz glasses of water each day."

Also, Parade magazine today had an article called "Tips for Digestive Health," including a paragraph on fiber. I liked this part: "A common misconception is that you can get fiber from eating any salad. The best sources of dietary fiber are actually whole grains such as whole wheat, brown rice, and whole oats, along with beans, peas, nuts and seeds, then fruits and vegetables."

Get Your Flu Shot

I went to my doctor the other day for a follow-up appointment. While there, the clinic people asked me if I wanted a flu shot. Yes!

I have “flu shot” written on my calendar for October 1st every year. So, every year I call and see if it’s available. My doctor always suggests the shot for me due to my risk factors: age, diabetes, health history.

It’s great news this year that there’s plenty of flu vaccine supply, a record-setting amount of about 145 million doses. But the bad news is that flu still persists. And last year, the vaccine was poorly matched to the strains of flu in circulation, apparently only 58 percent effective in preventing infection by influenza B, and 44 percent effective overall. That number is about half of what it is when matched well.

High-risk individuals for flu include: pregnant women, people age 50 and older, younger adults with chronic illnesses such as diabetes and asthma, health care workers, people in contact with children less than six-months old, and people in contact with people at high risk of flu’s complications, such as those with AIDS.

If you can, get your flu shot. It’s a moment of discomfort for a year’s worth of care.

Signs of Ovarian Cancer

I heard some news on CNN this morning about the symptoms of ovarian cancer. (For a look at the article, which brings us up to date on research regarding ovarian cancer, take a look at the CNN report.) We all know how early detection can save lives. I know that if I'd caught my deadly polyp while it was small, the risk of cancer would have diminished significantly in my own case.

So I went to the Mayo Clinic website, and here's what they had to say:

"Symptoms of ovarian cancer are nonspecific and mimic those of many other more common conditions, including digestive and bladder disorders. It isn't unusual for a woman with ovarian cancer to be diagnosed with another condition before finally learning she has cancer. The key seems to be persistent or worsening signs and symptoms. With most digestive disorders, symptoms tend to come and go, or they occur in certain situations or after eating certain foods. With ovarian cancer, there's typically little fluctuation — symptoms are constant and gradually worsen.

"Recent studies have shown that women with ovarian cancer are more likely than are other women to consistently experience the following symptoms:

* Abdominal pressure, fullness, swelling or bloating
* Urinary urgency
* Pelvic discomfort or pain

"Additional signs and symptoms that women with ovarian cancer may experience include:

* Persistent indigestion, gas or nausea
* Unexplained changes in bowel habits, including diarrhea or constipation
* Changes in bladder habits, including a frequent need to urinate
* Loss of appetite
* Unexplained weight loss or gain
* Increased abdominal girth or clothes fitting tighter around your waist
* Pain during intercourse (dyspareunia)
* A persistent lack of energy
* Low back pain

"Doctors can usually diagnose ovarian cancer within three months of women first noticing symptoms, but sometimes it may take six months or longer before a diagnosis can be made."

How to Deal with Chemo

A few months after my colonectomy, I was seen by a doctor who told me I should start on chemo immediately. I didn't like him at all -- he had the bedside manner of a cadaver -- and there were two surgeons who advised me that, in their opinion, I didn't need it. I decided not to have it. That was five years ago.

I am very aware that I may eventually need chemo. I am very well aware that the cancer may come back.

I took great interest in an article in Parade magazine a couple of weeks ago about chemo and how to deal with it, and found, even though I'm not facing this eventuality just yet, that it seemed very helpful.

7 Ways To Cope with Chemo
By Jessie Gruman
Published: September 14, 2008

The drugs used to treat cancer can have different results in different people. They can be a miracle—they cured my Hodgkin’s disease—or not. Side effects vary greatly too. Many of us approach chemo with fear, but a few steps can help you cope.

1. Learn about side effects.
Some people want to know every possible side effect of chemotherapy. Others want only a general overview so as not to become overly fearful. Both approaches are reasonable. Tell your doctor which you prefer. If you do encounter side effects, your oncology nurse, who is familiar with the drugs you’re taking, will have specific ideas and recommendations about how to ease your discomfort.

2. Manage unpredictability.
Reactions to chemotherapy are unpredictable. One day you may be fine and the next totally exhausted. The treatment you sailed through last month feels like too much today. Remember that you are receiving a powerful medical intervention and that it’s reasonable if you can’t do everything you once could. Remind others that you are not always at your best right now.

3. Adapt health behaviors.
Some people resolve to stick to a new diet or exercise regime when they begin treatment. But chemotherapy can affect both eating and physical activity: You may have no appetite, feel nauseous, or lack the energy to get to the kitchen. It helps to set modest goals. Take in enough fluids and eat a balanced diet of food. Use small spurts of energy for short walks and get plenty of sleep.

4. Cope with sadness.
Many patients are still absorbing the shock of the diagnosis when chemotherapy begins. Despair and hopelessness sit heavily on some days. It can be helpful to put these feelings into words by writing them down or talking to others. If you think your sadness will frighten or burden loved ones, confide in a trusted friend or a member of the clergy. But if you find that your sadness is unrelenting, you may want to talk with a mental-health professional who has experience with people undergoing chemotherapy.

5. Get support.
Family and friends can be a tremendous source of support. But sometimes you may feel so alone that your situation defies their understanding. Fortunately, there are many ways to connect with others who have gone through similar experiences. Local centers may provide a range of in-person opportunities to talk with others. Telephone-based or online support groups allow people to share information and encouragement.

6. Have patience.
While chemotherapy targets your cancer, it also affects your thinking, your emotions, and your energy level. Most of the immediate effects of the drugs pass within hours or days, but the fatigue and mental fogginess often linger, making it difficult to resume normal life. This can be frustrating and discouraging. Have patience. Most people find that these symptoms fade over time.

7. Find relief.
While it may be difficult to feel comfortable in your body during this time, think back: What has helped you find relief in the past? Writing your thoughts down? Prayer? Reading mystery novels? Watching sitcoms? Listening to music? Chemotherapy is new to you, but you bring experience in getting through tough times. You know best what has worked for you. Draw on your expertise about yourself to find some moments of peace.

Building on the Pyramid

Experts came out with a new food pyramid just a few years ago. Gosh, I thought the old one was just fine. I wasn’t paying any attention to the old one anyway, so what did I care about the new one?

Well, the new pyramid takes all the information we’ve learned in recent years about nutrition and puts it into a graphic we understand.

When I learned about the new pyramid in nutrition class, I was astonished. They’re asking me, essentially, to cut down on the red meat I have daily, and increase the numbers of fruit and vegetables. The new pyramid asks for 2 to 4 servings of fruit plus 3 to 5 servings of vegetables. A day.

You know, meat is my favorite food group. Well, next to the French fry, that wonderful little invention to which I became addicted as I was growing up. Don’t want your Gerber’s strained beans? Here, have a French fry. But then the concept of Trans Fat hit the airwaves, and I can’t look at French fries in exactly the same way. They’re just not good for you. But I love meat. Please don’t ask me to give up my ribeye.

Vegetables and fruits? Not so much love there. But the writing is on the wall, and in the face of weight gain, diabetes, high cholesterol, and cancer risk, I think I’d better think about some way of introducing more veggies and fruits into my diet.

Take a look at mypyramid, which is the USDA website dedicated to the food pyramid. The site will give you tips to help you incorporate more vegetable choices (such as “buy vegetables in season,” “buy vegetables that are easy to prepare…pick up pre-washed bags of salad greens or… baby carrots,” “select vegetables with more potassium such as … potatoes, white beans, tomato products”), set up a meal planner just for you, and give you a deeper appreciation for the pyramid and how it can help you.

I barely eat one veggie and one fruit a day. (I’ve started introducing fruit into my diet, albeit slowly, by eating fruit with my cereal in the morning.) My goal for the next several weeks will be to eat two vegetables and two fruit a day, minimum. That total of 4 is far short than the 5 to 9 servings a day the pyramid recommends, but one step at a time.

I’ll let you know how it goes.

Stimulate Those Bones!

Linda Buch, a reporter for the Oakland Tribune, wrote an interesting article today in the Oakland Tribune called "Nutrition, activity are vital for bone health."

Her article was written in response to a woman who reported that, at age 58, she just discovered she has osteoporosis in her hip, and wanted to know "how to keep strong bones." (The photo on the left shows the normal density of a bone next to one with osteoporosis.)

Linda told us something that I didn't know in answer to this question, that "bone stimulating activities" can help maintain density in the bone. These activities include walking, jogging, dancing, hiking, snowshoeing, racquet sports (like tennis, racquetball), and especially weightlifting. She tells us that swimming and bicycling are not considered good weight-bearing activities even though they're good cardiovascular activities.

I knew that my walking was a good hobby. It warms up the muscles in my legs and my back, is good cardiovascular exercise, and just makes me feel vital. When my back was particularly troublesome, sometimes the only relief would be to take a brisk walk -- after awhile, the back muscles warmed up and the pain would lessen considerably. But I didn't know walking helps keeps bones strong. What a great additional benefit!

Ms. Buch also suggests calcium along with Vitamin D, which allows the body to absorb calcium, are good additions to our diet. Calcium sources are dairy foods such as yogurt, skim milk, cheese and cottage cheese, as well as spinach, collards, oranges, canned salmon, nuts, beans and peas. Primary food sources for Vitamin D are fish liver oils, fatty fish (such as salmon, mackerel, catfish, sardines, tuna), mushrooms and whole egg. She adds that "as we age past 50, our bodies become less adept at absorbing vitamin D".

And potassium, magnesium, and vitamins C and K -- found in fruits and vegetables -- are also great for bone health. Buch suggests ingesting at least five servings of fruits and vegetables a day plus a small serving of nuts and seeds would be a good regimen for preserving gone density.

It's a good argument for continued exercise and eating right, and I'm hoping this is additional motivation to get me back out walking again on a regular basis.

Mammograms: The Long and Flat of It

I had a mammogram today. I’ve always wondered: if mammogram x-rays are so powerful, why can’t they see through deodorant?

Actually, they can, but deodorant and other creams and gels may show up at white spots on the x-rays. Not a good thing when the technician is looking for spots indicating breast cancer. So, the instructions of the day included not wearing deodorant today. I dutifully took a shower and soaped off the deodorant from yesterday.

Most women should have their first mammogram upon the age of 40, and every one or two years after that. Since they had to do a biopsy last year due to something they found on the right side of my right breast, I’ve been going in every six months for a mammogram. Well, add to that my history of colon cancer, and it’s a good thing to be tested.

The technician I got today at the Imaging Center on Telegraph was nice, professional, and attempted to get every ounce of mammary tissue up there on the glass. At one point I wondered if she wanted me to climb up there, but, no. There should be a way of unhinging the left and right breasts, placing them on the slab, and then stepping away and sitting down to read the newspaper while she takes her shots. But, alas, it doesn't work that way, and so I endure her attempts at maneuvering tissue that doesn't want to stretch that far. And, all kidding aside, I'm thankful that they are, indeed, still attached.

Is it painful? Yes, a little, especially for large-breasted women, as the tech has to flatten the breast between two sheets of metal. And especially on the side “views.” (There are six "views," or x-rays, needed during the mammogram.) But each one only lasts about a minute. Compared to the alternative, I can bear that.

Lowering My Blood Pressure

Today I went to see my doctor. Today was also the 30-day anniversary of my time on a new medication to lower blood pressure, Lisinopril.

The assistant who first took my bp (and my temperature and weight) found a reading of 116/65. I was sure it was a mistake. Then the doctor took it again half an hour later: 116 over 68. Unbelievable. It was the lowest blood pressure reading I’ve had in my adult life.

Finally, after over 15 years of high blood pressure, we seem to have found a combination of things that work for me: Three medications plus behaviors on my part which include weight loss, eating a healthier diet, and exercise.

Normal blood pressure is less than 120 over 80. High blood pressure increases our risk for developing heart disease or having a stroke. And once you contract high bp, you’ll most likely have it for a lifetime. Of course, I wish I had known about that some 20 years ago.

The government website for the National Heart Blood and Lung Institute (NHBLI) makes a pitch for prevention and tips for all of us:

“You can take steps to prevent high blood pressure by adopting a healthy lifestyle. These steps include maintaining a healthy weight; being physically active; following a healthy eating plan, that emphasizes fruits, vegetables, and lowfat dairy foods; choosing and preparing foods with less salt and sodium; and, if you drink alcoholic beverages, drinking in moderation.”

The NHBLI also suggests adding more potassium to your diet with these foods to control blood pressure:

Food, followed by Serving size and Potassium amount (in milligrams)
Apricots, dried 10 halves 407
Avocados, raw 1 ounce 180
Bananas, raw 1 cup 594
Beets, cooked 1 cup 519
Brussel sprouts, cooked 1 cup 504
Cantaloupe 1 cup 494
Dates, dry 5 dates 271
Figs, dry 2 figs 271
Kiwi fruit, raw 1 medium 252
Lima beans 1 cup 955
Melons, honeydew 1 cup 461
Milk, fat free or skim 1 cup 407
Nectarines 1 nectarine 288
Orange juice 1 cup 496
Oranges 1 orange 237
Pears (fresh) 1 pear 208
Peanuts dry roasted,
without salt 1 ounce 187
Potatoes, baked,
flesh and skin 1 potato 1081
Prune juice 1 cup 707
Prunes, dried 1 cup 828
Raisins 1 cup 1089
Spinach, cooked 1 cup 839
Tomato products,
canned, sauce 1 cup 909
Winter squash 1 cup 896

Take a look at the NHBLI website to see other issues concerning blood pressure.

Woman Finds Cancer Smaller than a Grain of Rice: Buddy Check 12

On September 13, 2008, Florida news agencies reported that a woman found a cancer smaller than a grain of rice in the course of a breast self exam.

Marilee Howland (on the right in the photo), the article says, is good at Buddy Check 12. Buddy Check 12 is a system where you check yourself for lumps in your breasts once a month, 12 times a year.

Marilee, a mother of 3 kids, “was doing her self exam, and her fingers were in a spot that typically feels sore to her. Then, she says, she felt moved to slide her fingers to another place. And that’s where she found her cancer. She sees a little miracle in it.

“That tiny lump -- half the size of a grain of rice – turned out to be stage 2 breast cancer. That means it had already spread into her lymph nodes. Doctors explained to Marilee the position was just prime to travel.”

Marilee went through a year of chemo treatment, and now has her hair back.

Obviously this is a lesson about prevention.

The Susan G. Komen for the Cure website tells us that one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime. One woman is diagnosed with breast cancer every three minutes. Breast cancer is the leading cancer cited among American women, and is second only to lung cancer in deaths.

The national website, www.komen.org, has an excellent downloadable library of breast health education information, including self-exam techniques, lifestyle changes to help reduce cancer risk factors, and treatment options for newly-diagnosed patients.

Buddy Check 12 has now saved more than 300 Florida women from dying of breast cancer.

A Big Mac or a Sub? The Choices We Make.

I went out to eat tonight on my way to meet a friend. I had two choices: Subway or McDonald’s. How did I make my choice? Believe it or not, a napkin helped me make it.

Subway napkins tell you the calorie count for many of their sandwiches, and they do it in a marketing way. It’s basically a comparison between a “value meal,” a combination meal, between Burger King, McDonald’s and Subway.

The sandwich combination I had tonight was a 6-inch sub, which had 325 calories, according to the napkin. In comparison, a Big Mac Value Meal contains 940 calories, and a Whopper Value Meal will have a whopping 1,030 calories. Wow!

However, the napkin chart is a little misleading. The Subway caloric total was for a 6" sub, the size of my meal, although it's been my experience that most people order the normal 12" sub. Also, the McDonald’s and Burger King meals include French fries on the napkin calorie counter, whereas the meal quoted by Subway includes fresh apple slices. I didn’t even see apple slices as a choice in the Subway I was in, and chose the more familiar Lay’s potato chips. Potato chips and a drink are also included in a combination meal, with a slightly better price vs. a la carte. So, adding in the calories for the chips, my meal probably cost me around 500 calories.

It’s still better than 1,000+ calories. It would have been better if I’d gone somewhere else and had something that didn’t offer processed meat and bread, which was in my sub. But, then, it’s all about the choices we make, isn’t it?

Current Peer Support Groups and Workshops Going On at WCRC

The Women’s Cancer Resource Center has some workshops and support groups in which you may be interested:

The next workshop coming up is “Introduction to Ayurveda”:
Wed. Sept. 10, 6:30 - 8:00 PM
With Victoria Alara, graduate of Ayurveda Institute of America

Come learn about an ancient science for living well that promotes wholeness in body, mind, soul and spirit. With roots in India , Tibet and other Himalayan cultures, Ayurveda, "the study of living," is fast-becoming recognized all over the world as a deep resource for people interested in preventive medicine and holistic healthcare. In this introductory workshop we will touch briefly upon some of the basic concepts used in Ayurvedic methods of healing, and highlight some features distinguishing it among the healing modalities available today.

Register with margo@wcrc.org or call 510-601-4040 x111.

Also, take a look at support groups ongoing at the WCRC, which is at 5741 Telegraph Avenue in Oakland. If you are interested in attending or signing up for a group, please call the Helpline at (510) 420-7900 during their business hours: Monday through Friday 9 am to 5 pm. A volunteer will give you the name and number of the group you are interested in. Please wait to attend the group until you have spoken to the facilitator.

• Adults with Blood Cancers and their Families and Friends
1st Monday of the month, 7:30 – 9 pm
Facilitators: Gail Splaver, Ph.D., LCSW (510) 527-3871
Nancee Hirano, RN, MS, AOCN (800) 232-9997+3, ext. 37720

• African American Women with Cancer
2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month
6:30 pm – 8 pm

• Amigos y Familiares de Mujeres con Cancer (en espanol)
2do sabado por mes
1 a 3 pm

• Friends and Family
1st and 3rd Thursdays of the month
7 pm – 8:30 pm

• Latinas con Cancer (en espanol)
2do sabado por mes
1 a 3 pm

• Post Treatment
1st and 3rd Mondays
7 pm – 8:30 pm

• Teen Support Group for teens who have a parent or guardian with cancer – This group is on hold due to low attendance. If you are interested in joining this group, please contact Dolores at (510) 420-7900 x112.

• Women with Cancer
1st and 3rd Wednesdays
7 pm – 8:30 pm

• Women with Cancer
2nd and 4th Tuesdays
6 pm – 7:30 pm

• Women with Metastatic Cancer
Every Tuesday, 5:30 pm – 7 pm
Please contact the facilitator, Connie Holmes, for more information at (510) 898-0548; this is not a drop-in group.

Breast Cancer Awareness Day at the Oakland A's

The Oakland Athletics held their 10th annual Breast Cancer Awareness Day today, September 13, 2008, as 500 cancer survivors came onto the field at McAfee Coliseum. The women, who were wearing pink baseball jerseys, formed a human pink ribbon on the field to the tune of ABBA's "Dancing Queen" as those in the stands cheered.

As the women were filing onto the field, some limping, some with walkers, a young African American woman walked past me yelling, "I'm still here!" and pointing to herself. I found it to be quite an emotional moment.

The woman in front of me did, too, as she kept standing to applaud in the almost-empty stadium. (The fans would come in later for the game, which started 15 minutes later, but during this moment, it seemed that the women on the field outnumbered those of us in the stands. I think it's safe to say that many in the stands were supporting those on the field.) And it was a great thrill to watch Kaki Sakson Moyce, a 56-year-old cancer survivor herself, throw out the first pitch. She leaped with joy with the strong throw as the rest of us cheered!

Ten years ago, the wife of Oakland A's president Michael Crowley learned that one of her best friends had breast cancer. Since then, the A's have held an annual event where part of the ticket revenues have gone to education and research regarding breast cancer. Today, the A's displayed a large check showing the $116,750 they collected this year in that effort, with the proceeds going to the American Cancer Society and Northern California Cancer Center; all together, the A's have raised over $1 million for the cause over the last decade.

The players from both the A's and Rangers took the field wearing pink sweat bands and ribbons on their jerseys in a tribute to those battling breast cancer.

Some 200,000 women in the United States are diagnosed with breast cancer each year, and 40,000 die.

A's pitcher Kirk Saarloos caught that pitch from Moyce. His mother has had several bouts of both colon and breast cancer in the past two years.

"It's a tough deal," Saarloos told reporters afterwards. "She caught it early, and she's had a 100-percent clean bill of health right now. She's doing great. But today is a big deal, and it is a special day for me and my family. It's something I never forget."

A New Sweetener on the Market

There’s a new sweetener on the market, and some predict it’s going to claim at least 20% of the sweetener market within the next few years. It claims zero calories, zero carbs, and, as U.S. New and World Report article states, "zero chance of a spike in blood sugar levels."

The new sweetener, which the FDA is likely to approve, is called Stevia. Stevia is derived from the leaves of the Latin American herb stevia, which contains a substance hundreds of times more potent than sugar. Products with Stevia already on the drawing board include PureVia, Truvia, SweetLeaf -- most of these have been developed by manufacturers such as Wisdom Natural Brands, Coca Cola, Pepsi Cola, etc., in creating a new brand of product, one which may be far healthier than any other sweetener out there.

When you consider that a packet of sugar contains about 11 calories, 3 grams of carbohydrates, and an estimated glycemic level of 2, changes downward from there can be really helpful. Splenda, in comparison, has 3 calories, 1 grams of carbs, and a glycemic load of 1, according to NutritionData. Stevia has 0 calories, 0 carbs, and a glycemic load of ...0.

Health experts recommend that consumers use products that are at least 95 percent pure; avoid those products which contain bulking agents.

There is expectation that Stevia products will be out, after FDA approval, by the end of the year.

It's Still Damn Cold

It’s that time again. Time for the annual Mammogram.

I hate annual check-ups. I hate mammograms. I’m having to do them annually because of a benign biopsy they did a year ago. Boy, was that a lot of fun. In truth, it didn’t hurt much except for the fact that I had to hold my arm over my head for 45 minutes.

But the place where I get my mammography done uses digital technology. There’s not much difference for me, the patient, I guess – I mean, the metal plate is still damn cold – but they can react faster. Right after she took that image, she ran off to read it, had another medical professional check it, and then – wham! – I went in for the biopsy. FAST.

According to RadiologyInfo,
"Digital mammography, also called full-field digital mammography (FFDM), is a mammography system in which the x-ray film is replaced by solid-state detectors that convert x-rays into electrical signals. These detectors are similar to those found in digital cameras. The electrical signals are used to produce images of the breast that can be seen on a computer screen or printed on special film similar to conventional mammograms. From the patient's point of view, digital mammography is essentially the same as the screen-film system."

But faster. And faster, when it comes to diagnosis, is always better. But still cold.

A's Tickets Gone

The A's tickets for this Saturday went to the daughter of a cancer survivor. Indeed, her mother just underwent heart surgery as well a few weeks ago. I'm sure she'll enjoy Breast Cancer Awareness Day at McFee Coliseum, when the Oakland Athletics meet the Texas Rangers.

Doomed by Second-Hand Smoke

"Today, massive and conclusive scientific evidence documents adverse effects of involuntary smoking on children and adults, including cancer and cardiovascular diseases in adults, and adverse respiratory effects in both children and adults."
-2006 Surgeon General's report

Take a look at Women & Cancer's article, "Involuntary and Far from Innocuous: The Health Effects of Secondhand Smoke," written by Kari Bohlke, ScD.

"There is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke, and the evidence of adverse effects on health is incontrovertible. These are important messages from a 2006 report from the U.S. Surgeon General. Fortunately, steps to reduce the exposure of nonsmokers to tobacco smoke are beginning to make a difference. These benefits will likely expand across the lifespan, through reductions in sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), ear infections, and respiratory problems in infants and children and reductions in cancer and heart disease in adults...

"Secondhand smoke is classified as a known human carcinogen by the National Toxicology Program as well as the International Agency for Research on Cancer. It contains at least 250 chemicals that are known to be toxic or carcinogenic. Carcinogens present in secondhand smoke include polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, N-nitrosamines, formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, benzene, butadiene, and metals such as cadmium and lead.

"And risk of cancer is just the beginning of the story. Secondhand smoke also has clear adverse effects on the respiratory and cardiovascular systems. In fact, the estimated number of cardiovascular deaths due to secondhand smoke far exceeds the estimated number of lung cancer deaths due to secondhand smoke."

The number of cardiovascular deaths due to secondhand smoke far exceeds the estimated number of lung cancer deaths due to secondhand smoke? (I just had to repeat that.) Oh, my God.

I grew up in a seven-pack-a-day household. Four packs a day from my father; two to three packs a day for my mother. I remember starting college at the age of 17, thinking that I must be allergic, all of a sudden, to our cat: I couldn't breathe. I had never had asthma before. Curiously, the symptoms disappeared when I moved away from home.

Who knows, when you think of it, what other ailments I have, any of us have, due to that secondhand smoke we lived with for so long? I don't want to place blame, but...

Oh, my God.

Fall 2008 Cooking Classes at the WCRC

If you're like me, you don't cook much, and, if you do cook a little, you'd sure like to produce more nutritious meals than fried chicken.

The Women's Cancer Resource Center at 5741 Telegraph Avenue (58th Street) in Oakland, CA, is offering free cooking classes this fall. All classes are taught by Sandy Der.

* Wednesday, September 17, 6 to 8 pm:
Cooking with Latin/Caribbean Produce: Plantanos, yuca, jicama, nopales, hibiscus, more.

* Wednesday, October 15, 6 to 8 pm:
Making your own energy and breakfast bars.

* Wednesday, November 19, 6 to 8 pm:
Culinary gifts from your kitchen. Learn how to make and bring home some samples of:
Rosemary Citrus Salt, Italian Seasoning, All Purpose Dry Rub, and Infused Vinegars. Please bring a few small clean jars, bottles or other containers.

Health is a Part-Time Job

Who am I? I am a 59-year-old woman. I am a cancer survivor. I am also a woman who has diabetes (Type 2), high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and a myriad of other health problems that irritate the hell out of me.

I am learning – slowly – about what I need to do about my own health. This is a journey of discovery, “this” being my life and this blog.

A year after my colon surgery I started to actually think about my health. I think I was too much in a numb state of denial before that. I began to walk for exercise, just a little at a time, and then in 3-mile bursts. I began to watch a little more about what I eat.

It’s a struggle. I think it always will be.

What I want to say right now is: it’s a part-time job. Dealing with my health is a part- time job. It takes about 12 hours a week, sometimes more. Why all that time?

Walking 3 to 4 times a week, 3 miles at a clip.
Dealing with establishment of, maintenance of, reordering, and taking prescription meds.
Going to the doctor: general practioner, specialists, optometrists, dentists, etc.
Buying nutritious grocery items.
Researching and reading about health.
Attending health fairs, 5K runs, etc.
Taking my blood glucose level every day.

I’m sure I could add a few more items. But that’s the general idea.

I think treating my heatlh like a part-time job means that I treat it more seriously. If there’s a surprise, well, it’s not so much of a surprise, because I’m more aware.

I’m still learning. I urge you to join me in my journey, my discovery, to work on my health and help others do the same.

Two New Articles on Cancer: Good vs. Evil

Here are two news article related to cancer. One is good news for us, and the other is bad news (although predictable).

A new cancer scanner for dense breasts has been developed, according to an Associated Press article on September 4, 2008.

“A radioactive tracer that ‘lights up’ cancer hiding inside dense breasts showed promise in its first big test against mammograms, revealing more tumors and giving fewer false alarms, doctors reported Wednesday.”

They very explicitly said that the new test would not replace mammograms for women, but would be an additional tool for higher-risk women who have dense tissue that makes tumors hard to spot on mammograms. And the new test (MBI) is less cost than an MRI, $500 versus $1,000+.


Nearly 60 percent of employers nationwide plan to curb rising health premiums by making their employees pay more, according to a survey released Thursday by Mercer consulting firm.

In an effort to reduce costs next year, 59 percent of companies surveyed said they will raise deductibles, co-payments, the share of premiums that employees pay, or out-of-pocket spending limits.

Two A's Game Tickets Up for Grabs

I have two FREE A's baseball tickets available to someone who's been touched by cancer. The game is this next Saturday, September 13, 2008, 1 pm, and it's Breast Cancer Awareness Day. I can't use the tickets.

They are Field level, Section 131, Row 23. McAfee Coliseum in Oakland, CA.

Contact me at catattack77@yahoo.com.

SALUD!

SALUD! A Celebration of Latino Art, Health & Community!

The fair was held this morning (and is still going on as I type this) at the Women's Cancer Resource Center today, Saturday, between 10 am and 2 pm, September 6, 2008. I went as a volunteer.

Salud! is the 4th annual art fair with cancer and health information that features an exhibition of art by Latino artists, free snacks and a full lunch, Latin music, a nutrition workshop, and information from local health and Latino organizations. Also offered were free acupuncture and massage treatments.

This was my first time as a volunteer for WCRC. As I got out of my car, I noticed a woman walking back and forth from her car. Finally, I asked if I could help, and we both carried her last load over to one of the booths. She thanked me, and I headed over to the registration booth, the first stop for anyone coming to the fair.

My job was simple: have people sign in, give them a lunch and raffle ticket, and give them an evaluation sheet. And answer their questions. Also, if they're a cancer survivor, give them a voucher for a pair of free A's tickets. Jennifer, a very enthusiastic volunteer who has helped WCRC for a couple of years now, helped me out, as did Teresa and Linda. Thanks to Teresa, we actually had someone who spoke Spanish.

One woman took a seat in one of the volunteer chairs at the desk, and told me a little of her story. Her name was Yolanda, she told me, and she works in several jobs around Oakland, including as a volunteer for the Prison's Ministers of God Gospel and as a radio reporter. She told me she's had three types of cancer. "And I am still here!" she told me proudly.

During a break in the action at the front desk, I visited some of the booths and went and got my A's tickets to Breast Cancer Awareness Day, which is next Saturday at McAfee Coliseum. I also signed the Breast Cancer Awareness sign-in list, with a promise of more information through email.



You couldn't help but step to the beat of the powerful Latin music coming through the speakers. From time to time, singers and those with instruments would perform, and each drew a good crowd.

I talked with some Guardian Angels, a whole pack of them -- mostly women -- as they came in. "We're here to provide security," said one. I wouldn't mess with them. No-nonsense attitude, military camouflage uniforms, and that red beret....whoa. I told them they were welcome.

The lunch, which starte at noon, was very popular, and very good. I couldn't believe how good the chicken was! And you also got tortilla chips, rice and frijoles with it. People kept reaching into their wallets at our front desk to pay for the lunch only to find out it was free. Their jaws dropped. I was very pleased to see that most continued that motion into their wallets and dropped some bills into our "Donations" bucket. Their efforts were much appreciated.

Inside was the art exhibit. Several people came by, saying they were friends of the artist, or that they came to see a particular artist. We pointed the way.

One bicyclist came by, his face red with effort and sweat pouring down his face on this 90-degree temperature day. He just wanted water. I pointed the way.

Artists on exhibition included:
Michael Arbulu
Laila Espinoza
Cristian Guerrero
Gabriel Navar
Fernando Reyes
Melanie Cervantes
Querido Galdo
Kristina Lovato-Hermann
Gabriela Nunez
Luz Marina Ruiz
(Art pictured is "Me Rendi a la Gran Divina," by artist Gabriel Navar.)

Everyone seemed to have a good time. Everyone was in such a good, festive mood, and the music and the smiles only contributed. What a wonderful community success!

Piecing Together the Little Blue Pills

A most important package arrived today. My prescription of Verapamil, for blood pressure.

Even though I get a 90-day supply of my prescriptions, I am constantly running out, mostly because my prescription mail-order program, ExpressScripts, is repeatedly telling me they won’t refill perfectly good refills.

“Thank you for your recent order. Your prescription order for (fill in the blank) cannot be filled for the following reason(s):

“The mail order minimum for this medication is 45 days, your physician wrote for less.”

My physician never writes for less. She always writes for the 90-day supply. But after filling it once, they refuse to honor the refills.

Whenever this happens, and it’s always about the verapamil, perhaps because I take it twice a day (along with two other blood pressure meds), I’m forced to figure out how I’m going to last until I can get the new prescription, physically mail it in, and then wait for it to be delivered.

Over the last few weeks, I have cut my prescription of the drug, only taking it once a day instead of twice. And over the last few days, I have been piecing together crumbs of the blue pill in order to get one dose out of it. Since the last refill contained several pills broken in two, I had something to work with. (Although the taste of the uncoated pill leaves a lot to be desired…) And, believe me, there have been some deleterious effects caused by cutting the dosage.

I’m obviously going to have to do something about this problem. It’s driving me crazy.

What's Behind Curtain #3 in the Fiber Cereal Contest?

We were on our walk around Lake Merritt the other day when my friend asked me what kind of cereal I eat. Uh oh, I thought to myself. It’s the sugar/fiber check. Deadly.

My favorite had been frosted mini-wheats, but when I asked my doctor if it had enough fiber, she frowned. Then she gave me a list of high-fiber foods. Ask for the time, they tell you how the clock is built. Oh, well.

Ever since I had colon cancer surgery, I've been more concerned about what I eat.. It’s a major issue, yeah, I recognize that, but it’s been a struggle. But if I can get one little scrap of information into my pea-sized brain, something I can grab hold of and squeeze, so much the better. And I depend upon my health professionals to pound the message into me, and, yes, my friends.

So there we had a discussion about fiber in cereal. We both started with Bran Buds, with its 10 grams of fiber. Great choice! Lousy taste. I actually put the milk in and then read the paper, and then when I was finished maybe I could eat the bran buds. They were that hard.

I then discovered that Cheerios had a whole wheat version. I love the taste of Cheerios, especially with a little Splenda. But my friend pointed out that Cheerios has only 3 grams of fiber. Okay, I went up in taste but down in fiber.

I've read disagreeing opinions on how much fiber we need each day, but most say between 30 to 40 grams of fiber a day. And it doesn't take a rocket scientist to know that if I start off with 13 grams of cereal in the morning, I've got a good head start.

So I just bought Fiber One, which has 13 grams of fiber, better than either of the other cereals. Fiber One actually has a rather helpful website which helps you add up fiber, and it offers a free sample of Fiber One cereal. I haven’t tried eating the cereal yet. I’ll let you know how the taste measures up.

Movie Reviews: "Hazards" and "The Quitter"

I watched two short films today, both related to cancer.

Hazards, by Scarlett Shepard, is one-and-a-half minutes long, still photos with no dialogue. Ms. Shepard describes her piece as “a short music video that is intended to educate the public about the dangerous chemicals in cosmetics and personal care items. The goal of the film is to protect the health of consumers by phasing out the use of chemicals linked to cancer, birth defects and other health problems and replace them with safer alternatives.” It’s amazing what she accomplishes with this film, a video that happens in the blink of an eye, pictorially telling us that more than one-third of all personal care products contain one or more ingredients linked to cancer. Low doses of chemicals over a lifetime can really have a deleterious effect. No kidding. Easy to watch, one message applied over and over makes it very effective.

The Quitter, by Joy Taylor, is a funny, irreverent look at smoking from a lesbian’s point of view (which, frankly, is from any point of view). About five minutes long, very easy and fun to watch. The message is smoking screws up your life, so quit. You can do it. Yeah!

You can check out both films at the WCRC library.