100 Perks of Having Cancer: Plus 100 Health Tips for Surviving It (20 page)

Perk #16

Cancer Boosted

My Self-Esteem

A
s a child, I was the poster child for low self-esteem. I was painfully

shy, anxious, and could not shake the feeling that I was just not quite

good enough. This feeling continued into my early adulthood. Even in my

first job as a teacher, I was desperately lacking confidence despite having

graduated from university with honors degrees. Over the years, my self-

confidence and self-esteem slowly improved; however, never have they been

better than since my diagnosis of cancer.

You must be wondering, how can cancer possibly
boost
my self-esteem?

Well, since facing this challenge, I have gotten so many words of encour-

agement and praise from people I know (and even some I don’t know),

such as:

●
“You are such an inspiration.”

●
“You are the strongest woman I’ve ever met.”

●
“You are the most positive person I know.”

●
“If anyone can beat this thing, it is YOU.”

It kind of took me by surprise to learn that other people perceive me in

this way. I really did not see myself as being strong, inspirational, or more

positive than the next person. Hearing these words of encouragement made

me see myself in a whole new light. (Good thing I have two teenagers to

keep my ego in check.)

When people tell you positive things about yourself, BELIEVE

them. They are not just making it up because you have cancer;

they are just more comfortable saying it to you at that time.

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100 Perks of Having Cancer

HEALTH TIP #16

All That Praise Going to Your Head?

Try Some Natural Headache Remedies

H
eadaches are one of the most common pains that make people reach

for the pill bottle. Being a cancer survivor, I can’t help but have just a

little smidge of worry when I get a headache. But then I remind myself that

headaches are very common and having one headache does not mean I am

headed for the MRI machine.

The most common headaches are muscle tension–related from necks

being asked to stay in one position (like when you’re on the computer too

long). But headaches can also be due to lack of sleep, high blood pressure,

sinus pressure, dehydration, hormonal shift, or needing a new eyeglasses

prescription.

Only a small number of headaches are serious. If any of the following

apply to you, head to your nearest emergency room or call your healthcare

provider:

●
You develop a new persistent headache (especially if you have a history

of cancer).

●
You experience an abrupt, severe headache, which may be like a thunder -

clap.

●
Your headache is accompanied by a fever, stiff neck, confusion, seizures,

double vision, weakness, numbness, nausea, or speaking difficulties.

●
The headache occurs after a head injury, especially if the headache gets

worse.

●
You have a chronic, progressive headache that is precipitated by coughing,

exertion, straining, or a sudden movement.

●
You have a headache that becomes more frequent and is not easily

relieved by pain medication.

Perk #16: Cancer Boosted My Self-Esteem

75

Most headaches will respond to pain relievers like acetaminophen or

ibuprofen. (However, use them wisely as overuse can actually
cause
head -

aches.) But before you reach for the pill bottle, why not try some of these

natural cures first?

●
Turn up the heat! Heat relaxes muscles and can take the edge off a tension

headache. Try a heated neck wrap or towel or hop in a warm bath or

shower.

●
Cool it down! Some headaches respond to ice packs, especially on the

forehead or the back of the neck. Remember to wrap your ice source in

a cloth or towel before applying.

●
Water me down! Dehydration is a common but often overlooked cause

of headaches. Make sure you’re drinking enough water: at least 50 to 64

ounces (1.5 to 2 liters) per day. Try getting in four 8-ounce glasses before

lunch, but don’t forget to continue water consumption throughout the

day to stay hydrated.

●
Stick it to me! Acupuncture can be effective for recurring chronic

headaches (after your doctor has made sure there is not a serious cause).

Always find a certified acupuncture therapist.

●
Rub me the right way! Massage, whether it is by your partner or done

professionally, is a great way to relieve muscle tension. (Especially if it

leads to a happy ending, which can actually relieve headaches as well.)

●
Get minty fresh! The scent of peppermint has been shown

to relieve pain. Keep some peppermint tea on hand or spritz

Try some natural,

some peppermint water (hydrosol) on your face when a head -

healthy remedies

ache hits, or place 2 to 3 drops of peppermint essential oil

to help your next

on a cloth (like a washcloth) and place the cloth on your fore-

headache.

head while lying down to breathe in the scent.

●
Use pressure to relieve pressure! Acupressure is the method of stimulating

certain points on your body to bring pain relief to certain other parts. To

relieve tension headaches, massage your temples and between your eyes.

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100 Perks of Having Cancer

Another pressure point is the fleshy part between your thumb and first

finger or between your first and second toes. A skilled acupressure ther-

apist can show you the right way to get results.

●
Breathe! Practice some deep breathing to help you relax. Sitting comfort-

ably, take a slow, deep breath in, hold it for two seconds, and slowly

release. Try visualizing the breath in as going straight to your headache

and the breath out as blowing your pain away. (That’s called
visualization.
)

Your headaches don’t have to be a pain in the neck . . . or anywhere else

if you know what to do to relieve them.

Perk #17

Cancer Helped Me

Discover New Beauty Tips

O
ne of the many unpleasant side effects of chemo is

puffiness around the eyes. When you have several

liters of chemicals pumped into your body, it has to

go somewhere. Imagine my dismay when I awoke one

morning to find bags the size of shopping bags hang-

ing beneath my eyes. And to make matters worse, my

boyfriend Shawn was on his way to visit me!

I searched through my bag of creams and serums

to find a solution, but none looked promising. Then I

spotted the Preparation H, and I remembered a tip I had

read in a beauty magazine. Hey, it works to shrink hemorrhoids, so I decided

to give it a try. The puffiness disappeared right in the nick of time, just as

Shawn was arriving at the door. I noticed his nostrils flare a little as he

leaned in to kiss me. Hey, I may have smelled like an ass, but I looked darn

good! (Disclaimer: Do not, and I repeat, do NOT try this at home—but if

you choose to ignore my warning, then be careful not to get it in your eyes.)

Just because you have cancer does not mean you can’t look good—

especially when you are greeting a welcome houseguest!

HEALTH TIP #17

Get Rid of an Unwelcome Houseguest

We all know that the leading cause of lung cancer deaths is smoking. But

the second leading cause of lung cancer might surprise you. It’s radon.

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100 Perks of Having Cancer

Radon is a radioactive gas that is in the environment all the time. You

are probably breathing it in right now, but it is in such small doses that

your body can handle it.

Sometimes, small cracks in your home in the floors, walls, and founda-

tion can allow high levels of radon from the soil under your house to leak

into your home and accumulate there. Homes that are tightly sealed with

lots of insulation are at higher risk because the gas stagnates and can’t

escape. You and your family then end up living with this

unwanted guest, being exposed to radon for months and

Check for the

months.

presence of radon

Breathing in radon damages the lining of the lungs. Long-