Yesterday, my husband Paul left unexpectedly for Chicago. He received an email early Monday morning from a hunting buddy in Wisconsin that their friend, Mike had finally passed away. Mike had been fighting cancer for a few years now. He went into recovery for awhile, gained back the weight he lost, and even returned to work. Then the cancer came back with a vengeance, spread all over his body and finally shut it down. Mike was only in his mid-40s and leaves behind a wife and three young children. He’ll be sorely missed.
Earlier this year, my mom had been diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer. They caught it early, and she had a lumpectomy. Then there’s my friend, Shannon, known to many of you as the blogger Charming Bitch. She’s been recovering from getting all her “girl parts” (as she calls them) removed. You can read all about it at Say. Let’s talk about cancer, cause that’s FUN!!1!
As I get older, the more people I know are affected by cancer. It’s scary, especially when you realize that some of them are around my age or younger.
Taking care of myself and my family
My husband and I have been very open with the children about death as several of our friends have died – one from a heart attack, another from a drug overdose, and now one from cancer. We realize that since our children have grandparents in their 70s and 80s, it probably means that they may die while the kids are still young. So we want to prepare them for this inevitability, if that’s at all possible. We let the children ask questions about getting sick and dying, and we try to answer them as best as we can.
Another way we help our kids is by paying attention to our health as a family. We go for our yearly exams. I make sure to get my mammogram done yearly as well. The kids get their well checks and everyone goes to the dentist for their twice yearly cleanings. Thank God for health insurance and that my kids think visiting the dentist is fun.
My husband and I try to work out regularly, are eating more whole and organic foods, harvesting our own food, and are trying to avoid sugary, processed and fatty foods. He’s been able to go down a few pant sizes while still indulging in beer and the occasional chicken wing. For me, it’s harder because I’m not 1) a man and 2) an athlete like he is. Still, I’m proud to say that compared to even a couple of years ago, I eat better and exercise much more. I’ve gone down a pant size and a couple of bra sizes (yes, that’s a good thing). And I’m getting more toned, strong and fit. My problem is that I still eat too much, which frustrates me to no end. I love to eat, what can I tell you? But at least I’m eating more veggies, whole grains, and lean proteins and milk products – and a lot less Oreos.
By doing all this, we try to model healthy behavior for our children. We’re also making sure that candy, cake and cookies are “special treats” eaten in small portions, and not an everyday occurrence. I’m slowly replacing their white sandwich bread with whole grain, organic wheat and substituting yogurt for pudding cups, too. It’s a slow process, but we’re getting there. Even their new school has catered, organic hot lunches. Now if I could only get the children to enjoy eating them.
Giving back
Fundraising for cancer is nothing new for us. We’ve participated in our local community’s American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life for several years, even before Mike got sick. It was a fun way to do good while spending time with friends. This year a friend is doing the Susan G. Komen Race for a Cure in Denver, so we’ve donated in our children’s name on behalf of their grandmother.
But as a food and healthy lifestyle blogger, I want to do more. So on September 23 at A Mama’s Rant, I’ll be posting an interview with author Caryn Mirriam-Goldberg to promote her book about having breast cancer, The Sky Begins at Your Feet. It’s a fabulous book for anyone touched by cancer or illness.
I’ll also be letting you know about companies who are giving back like the folks at Tic Tac® joining with CancerCare to raise awareness of cancer’s affect on people with the disease, caregivers, loved ones and the bereaved.
Founded in 1944, CancerCare is a national nonprofit organization that provides free, professional support services to anyone affected by cancer: people with cancer, caregivers, children, loved ones, and the bereaved. CancerCare programs including counseling and support groups, education, financial assistance and practical help are provided by professional oncology social workers and are completely free of charge.
As part of their efforts, Tic Tac is donating $100,000 to CancerCare as part of its commitment to the cause. In addition to the lump sum donation, Tic Tac will contribute on behalf of consumers who get involved in efforts to spread the message about this important issue. Tic Tac invites you to visit them at www.tictacusa.com to play an online version of Tic Tac Toe. For every game played, Tic Tac will donate an additional $1 to CancerCare, up to $5,000.
The power of food and the Definitive Guide to Cancer