Tour de Pink

Hi Everyone,
The Waltzes need your support.  We will be riding in the 8th annual Tour de Pink in September.  If you know us, you know we take fundraising very serious and only like to raise BIG MONEY.  So, please help us support Pink Ribbons Project.
http://www.tourdepink.org/site/TR?px=1217862&pg=personal&fr_id=1110&et=IfoUfl_AwAxxiotCtnxutw&s_tafId=11163
Be Well,

Il Sole della Toscana

Ciao miei amici,

I recently returned from a much needed respite.  Funny how we don’t realize how stressed our minds and bodies are until we physically escape our present stressors.  After my family’s transitions over the past year, it was no secret that I was emotionally challenged.  And being a cancer survivor, oh my, it's stressful just trying to be stress-free.  Sounds a little crazy, huh?

Off I went with two friends to Europe.  We flew into Paris for a short stay, then made our way to Florence and the Tuscany region of Italy.  My anticancer radar was on (always on), observing the lifestyles of the French and Italians.  My conclusion was this: the French and the Italians get bonus longevity points for socialization, large amounts of vacation time, their faith, walking everywhere and access to local and ‘organique’ food. 

Cafes in Europe seem to always be filled no matter what time of the day with friends and family.  Laughter, wine, amazing food- my friends and I fit right in.  We inquired several times about the food and where it comes from.  Particularly in Tuscany, we were told that food is assumed organic, farms are small and markets are abundant.  Unfortunately, much different from most cities I have been to in America.  At our cooking class in Florence, Chef Barbara told us that their public schools get organic food and kids are served meat only twice a week.  Parents get detailed schedules of what is served and caloric breakdowns.  Wow, we shook our heads as we shared with Barbara, what lunches are like in most American public schools.

The pace of life in Tuscany was refreshing.  At the top of a hill at our hotel Castelletto di Montebenichi, we experienced true rest.  The calm and breathtaking surroundings were just like what you see on postcards.  Surely these folks live long, simply because of their environment.  When I returned to the states, I did an online search of cancer and Tuscany.  I found a place called Post-Cancer Empowerment in Tuscany.  As stated on their website- “Integrative cancer care and psycho-oncology were little known terms a decade ago. Today these approaches have grown in importance as ever more patients claim their right to be considered as something more than just a malfunctioning organism. Cancer survivors deserve emotional support as much as detailed information about possible causes of cancer and the lifestyle changes that could make a difference. No cure is complete without the empowerment of the patient to make informed choices about their life and any aspect of it that has been affected by cancer.”  Hmm, I never considered myself a malfunctioning organism… sounds like a sophisticated way of saying broken body or bad cells gone wild!  In any case, I love, love the focus on empowerment and healthy long term cancer survivorship.  And who wouldn't want their onco to prescribe post-cancer treament in Tuscany.   Ahhhhhh, the life.  On the website for Empowerment in Tuscany, it links Anti-Cancer A New Way of Life by David Servan-Schreiber and Foods to Fight Cancer by Richard Beliveau.  Both of these books are excellent and must haves for your library.  Foods to Fight Cancer also has a cookbook that you can purchase.

I really love getting out of my Houston bubble and learning about other cultures.  It’s humbling and fascinating.  And no matter what country I am in, the people there really love their country with pride, just like we Americans do!   

Voler bene!  and happy socializing for the 4^th of July!

Tuscany

Castelletto di Montebenichi

Walking the streets of Florence, Italy

Morning tea in Florence, Italy

Anxious Mice and Calm Counterparts

Hello Everyone,

Summer has hit the Waltz home with a Wham! Bam! Slam!  For some reason I find myself irritable, overwhelmed and tired.  Hmm, maybe it’s because my 3 children are finding it hard to live with each other all day.  This in turn, is making it hard for me to live with them all day!  If anyone has any tips on how to parent in the summer (other than to leave the house for a week) please send them my way!  My sister just told me that we have eighty-something days left until school starts.  Ugh, is it that longJ??

I was at the monthly Waltz dinner last night and Brett’s step-mom reminded me that she recently hit the ten year mark as a breast cancer survivor.  Wow!  What an accomplishment.  It seems so far away for me, but then again I remember so clearly when she was going through her treatment like it was yesterday.  Maybe my ten year anniversary will be here in a blink and maybe by then I will worry about cancer less….  I’m still waiting for the day when I will go 24 hours without thinking about cancer and recurrence.  I know it can’t be good for my stress hormone friends cortisol and norepinephrine, but geez cancer is all around me.  It’s what I see every morning in the mirror from past surgeries, it’s what I read on my computer, it’s what is in the literature that comes in the mail, it’s what is on the prayer requests at church, it’s in the news, it’s in my neighborhood, it’s what I fight every day. 

A recent study came out of Stanford University that looked at anxiety-prone mice and cancer.  Researchers found that the mice with anxiety developed more severe cancer then their calm counterparts, the first study to biologically connect the personality trait of high anxiety to greater cancer threats.  Aye Yai Yai!  Are you an anxious mouse or a calm counterpart?  This anxious mouse (Me, Myself and I) chooses to embrace the big C by getting involved, sharing resources, supporting others and talking about “it”!

Be Well,

Cancer Genes

Hi everyone,

There is more evidence supporting the need for breast cancer individualized care in this study published yesterday in Nature.  I suppose the increased combination of mutations possible for breast cancer is true for all cancers.  Interesting.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120516152349.htm

Be Well,

Another Day in the Life of Me

I’m homebound after another reconstructive surgery on Wednesday.  Ahhh, just another day in the life of me… the drains, the military showers, the meds, and catching up on Bill & Giuliana. 

On last week’s episode Giuliana has a double mastectomy.  I’m watching- laughing out loud and crying at the same time.  I know I said this on my last post, but I relate to her in many ways.  Her parents are there and heartbroken to see their little girl dealing with cancer.  They are Italian and outwardly love with everything always family first!  Bill, the great husband is emotional, funny and sincere.  Pre-surgery Giuliana gets versed (the best cocktail ever!) to relax her.  I confess I have honestly looked forward to this little concoction with all my past procedures.  Oh, how it makes all my troubles disappear!  Giuliana is loopy and starts slurring her words, so Bill cuts the camera off.

After a successful surgery, Giuliana shows us her drains and her bloated stomach.  I’m laughing again as I sit here complaining of my drains and bloated stomach.  But, she has such a positive spirit and never dwells on her hurdles.  It is the reminder I need to hear to be thankful this Sunday morning.  So I tell myself "praises in the storm, praises in the storm" and think about what I am thankful for.

 

           Sunday morning thank you:

 

Thank You St. Luke’s Hospital for putting the small prayer in the bathroom that I read right before my surgery this week.

Thank You Dr. Reisman for being another parental figure for Brett and I, always putting our best interest first.

Thank You Brett for being my nurse, comedian, nanny, chauffer and roommate even after all the drug induced locomotive snoringJ.

Thank You Mom, Dad, Kathy, James, Tina and everyone who helped make our family work this week.

Thank You Angels for hovering over me, your wings were extra loud this week and gave me peace and comfort. 

The episode ends with B & G finding out that a surrogate is pregnant with their child.  I’m crying again as I remember the yearn for children and the joy that came with every milestone towards that miracle.  God is Good!

Be Well, I’m off to eat blueberries!

B & G

Bill and Giuliana Rancic are the couple behind a reality show Giuliana & Bill which is entering its fifth season on the Style Network.  http://www.mystyle.com/mystyle/shows/giulianaandbill/index.jsp

B & G were married in 2007 and have since struggled with infertility.  Last year as the couple was starting a new round of IVF it was discovered that Giuliana had breast cancer.  She had a double lumpectomy and then a double mastectomy.  The show has followed her through this new storm- through triumphs and struggles.  It’s an amazing, raw chronicle of her fears, grace and solid relationship with her husband Bill.  Oh Bill, what a great husband you are! 

I relate with Giuliana on so many levels and respect her for her forthcoming words and letting us get a glimpse into her world.  Yes, it’s a reality show with a lot of great editing, but there sure is a lot of truth to B & G.  I made Brett watch the show with me last week and I think every cancer husband should watch this show.  I’m thankful for my husband and the road traveled with me, it has made us stronger and given us a yearn for balance and health.

Be Well,

Antianxiety

Hello Everyone,

I’m writing here from New York where I am celebrating my birthday.  I was listening to the sounds out on the busy streets this morning and heard several fire trucks zoom by.  It reminded me of 911 and I imagined what traumatic sounds must have been coming from the NY streets that day.  I wonder if those who experienced the sounds have post traumatic stress disorder triggers when they hear sirens of any kind. 

If any of you have experienced anxiety or traumatic stress, you know that emotional doom that can overwhelm your spirit and body.  For cancer patients, the ongoing doom might come from a new body pain that won’t subside, or a nagging cough, or a lump under your skin, or an abnormal blood test.  Nothing compares to the doom I felt when Dr. Reisman told me I had cancer.  I remember his words crystal clear and I remember the feelings that followed and followed and followed…

Anxiety and stress try to creep back into my life often and I imagine it will be this way for a while.  For the most part, distraction works as a good coping mechanism for me, but oh my! it sure does take work.  When I am anxious, distraction might come in the form of walking into another room, praying out loud, listening to music, yoga, putting my face in the freezer or visualizing something empowering.  I might inhale deeply and exhale through pursed lips.  Or, call my mom or meet with some golden friends to talk it out, which always helps.  Bottom line, figure out what works for you when you are anxious.  We cannot let “C” overwhelm our spirit.  Damn you Cancer!

Be Well, I’m off to celebrate some more at www.candle79.com!