Is It Enough?

My oldest daughter recently asked me if I had written on Anticancer Amy lately.   “Well, no” I told her, curious as to why she was asking.  She doesn’t read my blog, but I do talk about it to her.  Maybe she is missing those conversations?  On average I write once month, ok, maybe every 4 or 5 months.  This has been a long stretch for me. 

Since her inquiry, I have been having conversations in my head as to why I haven’t been sharing newfound knowledge on anticancer living.  I have read some amazing studies, follow passionate anticancer blogs and have heard cancer specialists speak on the latest on fighting cancer.  So, why haven’t I shared?  Then it hit me.  2014/15 was loss-heavy.  I mean really heavy.  In June, a friend had a recurrence of breast cancer.  She is a young friend with 2 school-aged kids.  My heart has been heavy for her, but I know she will get through this chapter of her life story.  For me, as a cancer survivor, a recurrence is a constant fear.  It is something I probably think about every day, some days more than others.  Later in 2014, a mom in our neighborhood passed away from brain cancer.  She left a 7 and an 8 year old.  She was my age.  Cancer had brought us together and I admired her faith and trust in the Lord all the days of her journey.  During this time, I made two new friends also fighting the cunning disease of breast cancer.  It has been an honor to walk alongside of them.  They have taught me so much.  Then in November, one of Jacob’s teachers lost her son in a tragic accident.  He was 13.  I took my daughter and some friends to the funeral and it was a funeral unlike any I have ever been to.  The Lord was present in a unique and big way.  I was moved beyond imaginable.  The faith of the kids and how they were touched by this young boy was and has been a dear blessing.  Towards the end of 2014 up until now, I have been following a young writer’s story on her fight with end stage breast cancer.  Kara Tippitts is the author of the book The Hardest Peace and writes in her blog Mundane Faithfulness.  Her story and the effect on me has been incredibly loss-heavy.  I keep my kids in the know on what is going on with Kara and her family.  Of course, my kids want to know more about her kids.  They want to see pictures of them and wonder what they are like.  Sometimes I just shake head and tell myself “unbelievable these kids know so much about cancer.  When I was their age it was a foreign word to me.”  But, God’s grace is with us and through our experience I can only beg that the Lord will use me and my kids in a great way.  Kara died this week.  I received the news via my sister and quickly told my kids.  I’m not sure why I did that, I certainly don’t want them to think I am dying.  But, unfortunately (or fortunately) we have this connection with those families also touched with cancer.  It only comes naturally for me to share other cancer stories with my family.  We will pray for Kara and her family and I will be humbled that I am still here wondering what my purpose is.  When sorrow like sea billows roll; it is well, it is well with my soul..  

Until next time, I can’t resist sharing some interesting knowledge on anticancer living.  February was cancer prevention month.  The American Institute for Cancer Research put out some educational tools on ways to prevent cancer.  This short video is a great visual for families- brief and to the point-   http://www.aicr.org/can-prevent/?epubbanner .

Crazy Kris Carr, one of my favs, has created an awesome cheat sheet on food labels.  This is one to print out and carry with you so you can know what you are putting into your body- http://kriscarr.com/wp-content/uploads/KrisCarr-FoodLabelsGuide.pdf .

The University of Missouri-Columbia recently published a paper on BPA founds in cash receipts.  It’s a small change we can do- just say no to thermal paper receipts.  Read more here- http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/10/141022143628.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Ftop_news%2Ftop_health+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Top+Health+News%29 .

The Chicago Tribune reported an increase on the discussion of spontaneous remission.  Kelly Turner, author of Radical Remission and Lorenzo Cohen of MD Anderson’s Integrative Medicine Program are both mentioned.  This is an enlightening article!  http://www.chicagotribune.com/lifestyles/health/breastcancer/ct-cancer-remission-met--20140914-story.html#page=1

My friend sent me a link to a new series airing on PBS March 30 (Monday) called Cancer: The Emperor of All Maladies.  Thanks E!  It looks like this is based on the book published in 2010 by Dr. Siddhartha Mukherjee.  The book was fascinating, so I’m sure this will be a must see. http://video.pbs.org/video/2365362396/

Is it enough?  All this information on anticancer living when there continues to be so much loss in our world.  I don’t know the answer.  What I do feel is that information gives me hope and motivation to push onward in this temporary life.  

Be Well,