Cancer Creates Choices

Cancer Creates Choices
By Carin G Hansen

When you journey through cancer you only have three possible emotional responses. The first is to live in anger... why me? The second is to live in denial... pretending that if you do not admit you are in the fight of your life somehow it will all go away. The third response is to live in acceptance and anticipation. You have had cancer and your life will never be the same - but, living life in acceptance and anticipation can make life better than ever before. That is hope. Hope is living in expectation and anticipation of a future you cannot see. Think of HOPE this way.

Healthy
Outlook
Portrayed
Everyday

Here are five choices cancer gives us to live with HOPE:

1. Exercise: Cancer does not like an oxygenated environment. Exercise is such an important part of "survivorship" because it helps keep your body oxygenated.

However, you MUST remember to start where you are when exercising. By that I mean, if you already have a great exercise regimen and are faithful doing that regimen you can continue that regimen and begin challenging yourself with more aggressive exercise as you feel up to it. If, on the other hand, it has been years since you have done any kind of exercise on a regular basis you need to begin with something simple and build up. If that means walking out to the mailbox and back... great! The next day continue to the neighbor's mailbox and pick up your mail on the way back. Keep building up and soon you will be walking around several blocks. The same concept applies to any kind of exercise.

Exercise is an interesting phenomenon. It takes energy to exercise but your energy increases with exercise. In other words, being active will increase your energy - I know that sounds contradictory... but, it isn't. The best way to increase your energy level is physical activity.

2. Colorful, and many helpings of fresh, fruits and vegetables each day: The more colorful, the better and, I encourage you to eat organic produce whenever feasible.

Also, eat foods that are prepared as close to their natural form as possible. Think about it. Fried, breaded and smothered foods often barely resemble their raw form. Boiling, roasting and baking are better choices. The same principle can be applied to sweeteners and grains. Honey, agave nectar, turbinado sugar, whole unrefined grains and brown rice all add to the pleasure of eating without compromising your immune system.

Take baby steps when making healthy changes. You will be much more likely to follow such a diet than doing it "cold turkey".

For all you chocolate lovers, let me remind you that organic dark chocolate is not only allowed, but encouraged. What could be more rewarding at the end of the day that a few grams of dark chocolate. And, it's good for heart, too!

3. Choose water: Drinking ample amounts of water - NOT coffee, Gatorade, tea or fruit juice - is one of the most important habits you can form. If you are still in treatment and the taste of water is "hard to swallow" consider adding 1 oz of cranberry juice to every glass of water. A squeeze of fresh lemon or lime juice can help also. Here is an unusual, but wonderful option that I am personally very fond of - sliced cucumbers! Just slice about 1/4 cucumber and put the slices in a water pitcher. Add water and let sit for at least an hour. The result is a very refreshing tasting water!

Remember this simple formula for the right amount of water for YOU:

Your weight (in pounds) divided by two = the minimum number of ounces of water you need each day.

For an easy example: if you weigh 128 pounds, then 128 divided by two is 64 and that is the minimum number of ounces they should drink per day, which equals 8 cups of water.

4. Reduce stress - wherever possible: We all know that we live in a world full of stress and stressors... and no one is exempt. Make changes in your life where you can and learn to relax and accept things and circumstances that you cannot change.

Exercise and a healthy diet (choices 1 and 2 above) increase your ability to deal with stress.

Another much less known way to reduce stress is to use only organic hair and skin care products and makeup. If you have never thought about this as a way to reduce your stress, now is a great time to to become informed. I was first introduced to this powerful stress-reducing tool several years ago and have done extensive research on this subject since then. There is a great deal of information available by experts in their field. The cosmetic database is an excellent source for specific product information. Once you understand this aspect of stress, you can begin making changes to your daily regimens..

5. Set regular doctor's appointments and keep them: This may seem like a "no-brainer" if you have just begun your survival journey. But it is surprising how many survivors become complacent as the years go by.

I celebrated my 18th survivor anniversary last October - and my oncologist still asks to see me every six months. I am not saying that is what you need to do - my situation had several unusual twists and turns, but, I am saying - listen to your doctors and follow their advice for how often you should be seen and screened.

Live today and everyday with... HOPE! Cancer has come, and it has given you choices to live with a Healthy Outlook Portrayed Everyday.

Carin Hansen was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 40. After a long battle she emerged victorious and began a one-on-one wardrobe and beauty consulting business for other women journeying through cancer. She has been a model, actress, talent agency owner, benefit founder, certified acting/modeling instructor, writer, speaker and passionate cancer advocate. Please visit Carin's website at http://www.bridges2beauty.net for information and encouragement that is helpful and hopeFULL. You can purchase a hard copy of her book "A Woman's Cancer Journey Primer" or upload a free PDF on the website also. It is important to remember that Carin is not a physician and does not subscribe to or recommend any particular medical procedure or alternative treatment. She strongly urges you to consult with your Primary Physician, Oncologist and/or Surgeon before implementing any of her suggestions found in her articles, newsletter, blogs and books.

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