Read 100 Perks of Having Cancer: Plus 100 Health Tips for Surviving It Online
Authors: Florence Strang
Tags: #Health; Fitness & Dieting, #Diseases & Physical Ailments, #Internal Medicine, #Oncology, #Cancer, #Medicine & Health Sciences, #Clinical, #Medical Books, #Alternative Medicine, #Medicine
inflammation.
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One study done at the University of Alberta looked at how yoga affected
the quality of life in cancer patients, both during treatment and after. For two
years researchers followed different groups of patients through a ten-week
yoga course and then had them fill out questionnaires. At the end of the ten-
week courses, 94 percent of them said they had improvements in their quality
of life and said they felt better physically, were happier, and were less tired.
Another study measured the neurotransmitter in the brain responsible
for relaxation (gamma-aminobutyric acid, or GABA). Those with anxiety
disorders, chronic pain, depression, and post-traumatic stress syndrome
have low levels of this biochemical. Sets of patients were assigned to either
a walking group or a yoga group. At the end of twelve weeks, the neuro-
transmitter level was the same in the walking group, but in the yoga group
it increased. The patients in the yoga group also reported a reduction in
their symptoms.
Think you want to give yoga a try, but you have many reasons why you
won’t? See if any of the following match what you are thinking.
EXCUSE #1 I’m Too Old
There is no age that is too young or too old. If you’re a beginner, then take
a beginner’s class. You’ll probably notice all ages represented. And another
thing: the oldest yoga instructor, Ida Herbert is ninety-six and has been
teaching for sixty-three years, and she’s still teaching! She also looks like
she’s fifty and competes professionally in ballroom dance with a partner
who is thirty-one! Next excuse, please. . . .
EXCUSE #2 This Doesn’t Look Like Exercise to Me
You’re right: It doesn’t
look
like exercise. But holding the various poses and
moving from one to another strengthens every muscle in your body while
it brings awareness to how you are feeling. Your heart rate and breathing
will increase and your muscles will “feel it” the next day (in a good way of
course). While there are risks with any exercise program, yoga’s gentleness
in achieving strength is more likely to promote healing than injury. And it
is considered a “weight-bearing” exercise, so it helps to strengthen your
bones as well. Keep going. . . .
Perk #54: Cancer Made Me Value Every Birthday
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EXCUSE #3 It’s Against My Religion
Name one religion that is against health and happiness. While yoga is asso-
ciated with Hindu and Buddhist culture, it is more of a spiritual philosophy,
not a religion. You won’t be asked to attend any kind of services, and, while
there is a lot of breathing and meditation, there is no “prayer” to a certain
“God” unless that is what you choose to do in your own head. There are
many different ways to approach the spiritual part of the session, but it’s
up to you to decide what you bring to the session. There are even Christian-
based yoga studios if that’s what floats your boat. Got any more?
EXCUSE #4 I Have a Bad Back and Can’t Do All Those Twists
Who doesn’t have a bad back? A certified experienced instructor will be able
to guide you through the sessions with complete comfort and safety. A bad
back is why people
go
to yoga classes in the first place. Yoga has actually
been shown to improve muscle and joint issues like pinched nerves and
arthritis, and many of the poses are the same exercises physical therapists
use to help their patients strengthen their backs when they are injured.
Almost done?
EXCUSE #5 Classes Will Be Too Far Away for Me to Attend
Wrong again. For most, it’s just a matter of finding a studio. Search “[your
town] yoga studio” and I’ll bet there are many. Try to find an instructor that
you like, as everyone teaches a bit differently. What else?
EXCUSE #6 I Have Cancer
Perfect! Yoga can help with the symptoms you are having, like fatigue, pain,
shortness of breath, and anxiety. And it can improve your immune system
so you won’t get sick during treatment. Still more?
EXCUSE #6 I Don’t Have Yoga Shoes
No shoes needed. Just feet. On second thought, there are wheelchair yoga
sessions, too, so I’m not sure you even need the feet.
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So now that you’re ready to try it, I suggest you go with an open mind
and an open heart. For me, my biggest challenge was losing my competitive
attitude. I was determined to contort my body into
any and all the poses in exactly the way that the
Yoga is more than just a bunch
instructor (who had been teaching for twelve years)
of sitting and breathing.
was demonstrating. But I learned that yoga isn’t
It produces real healing, and
about who can be the downwardest-facing dog in the
it helps you find your stronger,
room; it’s about your own personal experience and
more peacefully grounded
improving on that experience. Be gentle. There is no
inner self so you can handle
competition, just a total focus of mind and total
your cancer, both during
awareness of body. After a good yoga session, you’ll
therapy and after.
feel refreshed, calm, and rejuvenated. Also, after class,
it’s really hard to get mad and give someone the fin-
ger in the parking lot for cutting you off. Instead, you might find yourself
adding that index finger and wishing them peace as you drive off.
Switching up your cardio exercise with yoga, alternating the two to get
the most benefit and biggest reduction in cancer risk, is a great idea, as walk-
ing, cycling, and running offer their own health benefits.
Check your local listings for facilities that offer yoga. The best way to
start is with a certified instructor so they can help you with the proper align-
ment of the poses and guide you through the breathing part of the session,
but you can invest in some videos for use at home if you wish. Visit
www.breastcanceryoga.com for yoga DVDs that are specifically targeted to
breast cancer patients. Many spas and wellness centers, as well as most gyms
and martial arts studios, offer yoga classes, too. Just make sure to get the
411 on the instructor to make sure they are certified and qualified to teach
and that you’re in the right level of class for your ability.
But be careful. That great feeling you get from yoga is totally addictive.
Perk #55
Cancer Taught Me a
Lesson About Loving My Body
A
couple of years ago I gave serious thought to having a breast lift. Even
though the rest of my body was in pretty good shape, gravity (along
with breast feeding) had not been kind to my breasts. My sagging bosom
really bothered me. I thought,
If only my breasts were perkier, then I could really
love my body.
Well, lucky for me I put it off until I could better afford it,
which never came to pass. (I imagine I would be kicking myself now had I
wasted all that money!)
Here is the irony: Now that I have only one breast, I see it as a beautiful
part of my body. The same is true about my hair. I always hated my hair,
complaining that it was too thin, too fine, or too mousey brown. When I
looked in the mirror and saw the bit of black fuzz finally starting to come
in on my head, I loved it! I had hair again, YAY! It took losing my hair to
make me appreciate just having hair. Lesson learned. You will never again
hear me complain about my big nose.
Love the skin you’re in.
HEALTH TIP #55
Love the Skin You’re In . . .
by Using Proper, Healthy Sunscreen
I
s sunscreen a part of your daily routine? The American Academy of Der-
matology recommends that everyone apply sunscreen with an SPF of 30
or higher every day, even if it’s cloudy. (UV rays can penetrate the clouds.)
But less than 20 percent of us actually follow that rule!
I 219 J
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100 Perks of Having Cancer
There are mountains of sunscreen out there, but it’s important to find
a sunscreen that is free of chemical preservatives and substances that could
affect your health, like “nano titanium dioxide” and “ultrafine titanium
dioxide,” especially when using sunscreen on children. The words are big,
but the particles are supersmall, allowing them to pass easily into your
bloodstream, invade organs, and even cross the blood-brain barrier and get
“inside your head.” That’s great if the substance delivered is helpful med-
ication to treat a brain tumor. But not so great if you’re delivering potentially
harmful chemicals like titanium dioxide to the same area. Titanium dioxide
doesn’t belong in the depths of my brain. (It might disturb the cobwebs.)
While there is no doubt that certain nanoparticles enter the bloodstream
and can destroy DNA, the implications of what that means is still being
debated.
Look for plain zinc oxide and “non-nano” titanium dioxide when read-
ing sunscreen labels. Try to avoid the microfine sprays and stick to
the lotions when you can. “When you can” means “don’t go crazy
if you can’t.” It is healthier to apply the nano-sunscreen than to go