(Writtten for Ladies Going Green Online Magazine)
We can survive for weeks without food but not for long without water. Our bodies are made up of 60-70 percent water. But, is it healthy to drink?
Bottled water is expensive. Are water companies protecting us or taking our wallets for a ride, or are our municipal water works taking our health for granted?
A four-year scientific study recently made public by the Natural Resource Defense Council (NRDC) had disturbing findings. It proved that bottled water sold in the United States is not always filtered and not necessarily cleaner or safer than most tap water. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=72MCumz5lq4 So, why don’t we save our money and drink tap water?
An investigation by the Associated Press (AP) revealed a vast array of pharmaceuticals in municipal drinking water that included antibiotics, anti-convulsants, mood stabilizers and sex hormones. These drugs were found in the water supplies of at least 41 million Americans and in 24 major metropolitan areas - from Southern California to Northern New Jersey.
If tap water contains traces of prescription drugs and bottled water is no safer or cleaner than tap water, what choices are left to us. The answer may be in-house water purification systems.
Water purifications systems are as individual and numerous as the people who buy them. While battling breast cancer, I had water purification systems installed that purified all the water in my homes. If I didn’t want to drink it, I didn’t want to bathe in it either. My system of choice was RO- Reverse Osmosis—a professional filtration system with a 4 to 5 stage water purifier system with filter activated carbon pre-filters plus an ultraviolet light. Each stage removes certain types of contaminants, and all stages combined protected me from just about every contaminant.
Below are lists and links to water purification systems that are for home and commercial use.
• Culligan/Matrix - http://www.culliganmatrixsolutions.com/about_us/
High volume commercial and industrial multi stage water filter system
• RO- Reverse Osmosis- The AP(Associated Press) has mentioned reverse osmosis as a water filtration solution that removes virtually all pharmaceutical contaminants. The following RO systems have between 2 and 6 stages. https://www.google.com/#q=RO+water+filtration+systems&hl=en&prmd=imvns&source=univ&tbm=shop&tbo=u&sa=X&ei=lkIaT8DxJKiYiAKqhpyYCA&sqi=2&ved=0CJUBEK0E&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.,cf.osb&fp=c7ecc4ec716f4a33&biw=1259&bih=619
IONIZED & FILTERED WATER
Another step to water purification is known as ionized water www.ionlifeionizer.com
Water filtered through these systems is both pH (potential Hydrogen) neutral and ORP (Oxidation Reduction Potential) positive. PH is the acid/alkaline balance. Water displaying pH numbers between 1-6 are acidic, 7 on the pH scale is neutral, while the numbers 8-or higher are alkaline. ORP refers to weather the water is an anti-oxidant displaying negative numbers or an oxidant displaying positive numbers on the ORP Scale. Below are two videos on Ionized water and systems.
• Jupiter Science Melody http://healthiswealthmaui.com/alkaline-water- melody.htm
• Kegen- http://www.costpluswater.com/catalog/articles.php?tPath=25
This video is of a comparative lab test on Ionized Purification systems http://youtu.be/UMZJxr2B-7M
You can install and maintain most filters yourself. A good water filter or complete filtration system may be the only solution to clean water for health and well-being.
Sources:
Saladin A&P
Googlehttps://www.google.com/#q=RO+water+filtration+systems&hl=en&prmd=imvns&source=univ&tbm=shop&tbo=u&sa=X&ei=lkIaT8DxJKiYiAKqhpyYCA&sqi=2&ved=0CJUBEK0E&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.,cf.osb&fp=c7ecc4ec716f4a33&biw=1259&bih=619
http://www.watercenter.com/
http://www.watercenter.com/#Water Testing
Kathleen O’Keefe-Kanavos penned SURVIVING CANCERLAND, is a phone counselor for the R.A. BLOCH Cancer Foundation,& Cancer Q&A columnist for Cape Women On Line Magazine, You can follower her @ website www.survivingcancerland.com, @ http://twitter.com/PsychicHealing, @ http://www.facebook.com/pages/SURVIVING-CANCERLAND-The-Psychic-Aspects-of-Healing/142803307934?ref=m
Friday, January 20, 2012
Going Green: A Key to Health
(Written for Ladies Going Green Online Magazine)
“An ounce of prevention is worth a ton of cure.” This famous quote by Benjamin Franklin is the answer for just about anything. But, what is the key to prevention? A healthy body dispels disease.
We are spirit inhabiting body. How we feed our spirit is half the prevention. What we feed our body is the other half.
Most Supermarket foods have been altered. Prepared foods contain refined sugar, salt and fat. Anemic farm-raised seafood, meats full of growth hormones and antibiotics, and genetically altered grains have become the norm. We don’t need to be part of that norm.
It’s time to take a stand for health by ignoring altered and favor organic. When you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything, like the excuse, “organic costs more than conventional.” Illness is very expensive.
Going organic does not mean going broke. Some Supermarkets realized they were losing customers to Health Markets and began stocking certified organic produce, wild fish and antibiotic and hormone free meats.
Unfortunately, America the Beautiful has become Obese USA. Here is another key to prevention—Less is more.
Less food is healthier. “But I don’t want to be hungry all the time!” a friend said. The key is—a nutritionally balanced diet. Altered foods have been programmed to trick the body into eating more because it is nutritionally unsatisfied. A vicious eating circle ensues that financially benefits the mainstream food industry.
Here is another key that appeals to self-image, and can be used on teenagers eating a Big-Mac, “No matter how good that fattening-food tastes, it will never be as good as skinny-healthy feels.”
Here are some things I did to become healthy during my treatments:
• Juiced daily with organic fruits and vegetables
• Limited dairy intake and only consumed organic including eggs, cheese & milk
• Ate raw foods whenever possible.
What I used on my body during treatment was as important as what I put into it. Most antiperspirants contain aluminum. Some test results claim aluminum in antiperspirants is not a health risk while others disagree. I’d rather be safe than sorry. I chose aluminum-free and never regretted it. The products I’ve used and listed are available in most Health Stores. I am including contact information for anyone house-bound.
• Dr. Browns (Dr. Bronner) Magic vegan soaps www.drbronner.com
• Tate’s Natural Products- www.ourtatefamily.com (ph#) 404-561-5357
1. Natural Miracle Toothpaste
2. Natural Miracle Cream- great for removing make-up
3. Natural Conditioner Spray for dry hair & skin.
Tom’s of Maine- www.tomsofmaine.com
• gluten & alcohol free toothpaste & mouthwash
Aluminum Free Deoderants:
1. Avalon Organics- www.avalonorganics.com
2. Jason- aluminum & paraben free 1-877-Jason-01
3. Aubrey organics Inc- www.aubreyorganicsinc–comes in spray
Ladies, we have a responsibility not only to ourselves, but to those for whom we care and love. We are the universal care-givers. What we do in life will teach others about complete health— body and spirit. What they learn from us will serve them well into the future. Lead by example. That is the master key to a green healthy life for generations.
Kathleen O’Keefe-Kanavos penned SURVIVING CANCERLAND, is a phone counselor for the R.A. BLOCH Cancer Foundation,& Cancer Q&A columnist for Cape Women On Line Magazine, You can follower her @ website www.survivingcancerland.com, @ http://twitter.com/PsychicHealing, @ http://www.facebook.com/pages/SURVIVING-CANCERLAND-The-Psychic-Aspects-of-Healing/142803307934?ref=m
“An ounce of prevention is worth a ton of cure.” This famous quote by Benjamin Franklin is the answer for just about anything. But, what is the key to prevention? A healthy body dispels disease.
We are spirit inhabiting body. How we feed our spirit is half the prevention. What we feed our body is the other half.
Most Supermarket foods have been altered. Prepared foods contain refined sugar, salt and fat. Anemic farm-raised seafood, meats full of growth hormones and antibiotics, and genetically altered grains have become the norm. We don’t need to be part of that norm.
It’s time to take a stand for health by ignoring altered and favor organic. When you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything, like the excuse, “organic costs more than conventional.” Illness is very expensive.
Going organic does not mean going broke. Some Supermarkets realized they were losing customers to Health Markets and began stocking certified organic produce, wild fish and antibiotic and hormone free meats.
Unfortunately, America the Beautiful has become Obese USA. Here is another key to prevention—Less is more.
Less food is healthier. “But I don’t want to be hungry all the time!” a friend said. The key is—a nutritionally balanced diet. Altered foods have been programmed to trick the body into eating more because it is nutritionally unsatisfied. A vicious eating circle ensues that financially benefits the mainstream food industry.
Here is another key that appeals to self-image, and can be used on teenagers eating a Big-Mac, “No matter how good that fattening-food tastes, it will never be as good as skinny-healthy feels.”
Here are some things I did to become healthy during my treatments:
• Juiced daily with organic fruits and vegetables
• Limited dairy intake and only consumed organic including eggs, cheese & milk
• Ate raw foods whenever possible.
What I used on my body during treatment was as important as what I put into it. Most antiperspirants contain aluminum. Some test results claim aluminum in antiperspirants is not a health risk while others disagree. I’d rather be safe than sorry. I chose aluminum-free and never regretted it. The products I’ve used and listed are available in most Health Stores. I am including contact information for anyone house-bound.
• Dr. Browns (Dr. Bronner) Magic vegan soaps www.drbronner.com
• Tate’s Natural Products- www.ourtatefamily.com (ph#) 404-561-5357
1. Natural Miracle Toothpaste
2. Natural Miracle Cream- great for removing make-up
3. Natural Conditioner Spray for dry hair & skin.
Tom’s of Maine- www.tomsofmaine.com
• gluten & alcohol free toothpaste & mouthwash
Aluminum Free Deoderants:
1. Avalon Organics- www.avalonorganics.com
2. Jason- aluminum & paraben free 1-877-Jason-01
3. Aubrey organics Inc- www.aubreyorganicsinc–comes in spray
Ladies, we have a responsibility not only to ourselves, but to those for whom we care and love. We are the universal care-givers. What we do in life will teach others about complete health— body and spirit. What they learn from us will serve them well into the future. Lead by example. That is the master key to a green healthy life for generations.
Kathleen O’Keefe-Kanavos penned SURVIVING CANCERLAND, is a phone counselor for the R.A. BLOCH Cancer Foundation,& Cancer Q&A columnist for Cape Women On Line Magazine, You can follower her @ website www.survivingcancerland.com, @ http://twitter.com/PsychicHealing, @ http://www.facebook.com/pages/SURVIVING-CANCERLAND-The-Psychic-Aspects-of-Healing/142803307934?ref=m
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
DEPRESSION: A Message From Self?
Illness and depression go together like peanut and butter. During my severe bouts of depression during cancer treatment I had a choice. I could take pills to alleviate it, or I could face it and figure out what my body and psych were telling me. I always believed that depression was a symptom, not an illness. Alleviating the symptom would not cure the disorder. I saw my depression as something that would diminish if I faced and cured the cause. This is easier said than done. I considered suicide as a means of escape rather than facing my “ghosts.” However, deciding to see what lessons I could learn from my depression was the first step toward a cure.
Looking back on those difficult times I can now answer questions I avoided such as, “Why was I depressed? How did depression serve me and what did it teach me?” Our mind is incredibly powerful and will create (manifest) situations to serve and save us.
I came to the conclusion that depression and illness was a way of forcing me to slow down and “look within” at memories (old baggage), events (past and present cycles), people (relationships), and life styles (habits) that are not to my benefit. Without depression I may have continued accepting whatever I thought life was throwing at me—settling for less than I needed and/or deserved.
I learned that just because something is thrown at me doesn’t mean I have to catch it, hold, and keep it, including insults or negative relationships. I can choose to duck or move out of the way. And, if I do catch it, I can choose to drop it. Depression made me stop and reassess my life-choices. I came to the conclusion that how people treat me is their Karma, how I respond to them is mine. Not all relationships or situations should be avoided or dropped. And that is when I learned my most important lesson—the quickest way to change someone’s behavior is to change mine first. They must respond differently to the new behavior.
Illness and depression made me take time out for myself, taught me how to respect, honor, and put myself first, and to choose to change or walk away from bad habits, relationships and situations. I drew new boundaries with which I could live.
A friend once asked,“How can I just quit my job or walk away from my relationship if that is what is depressing or killing me.”
I answered her question with another question. “Are you worried about letting down your job and relationship or yourself? Will they survive tomorrow if you are not around? Will you thrive if they are gone? You cannot hold a gift if your hands are full. Put something down.”
Now whenever I feel overwhelmed I take a step back and reassess my life. One of the first things I do is “check my inner baggage,” –the useless stuff I accumulated. I’m often surprised that I am bogged down with baggage that is not mine. Now, I simply drop it. In the past I took on other people’s emotional baggage rather than respecingt their right to carry it. Old habits are hard to break. I’m still working on them.
As a care giver by nature I often thought that if I carried someone else’s troubles for them it would lighten their load. It doesn’t. It just makes mine heavier. That taught me a very difficult lesson—I cannot carry other people’s baggage or walk their path for them. I have to respect their life-lessons… to be learned by them… and my lesson was to respect and love them enough to let them learn those lessons, including mistakes. I will offer them my shoulder but not my back. Let me explain.
I learned that there is a big difference between being supportive and being a mule. A supportive person lends a helping hand or a shoulder to cry on. A mule carries the weight of the world on their back while refusing to focus on their own life—this is avoidance. It only takes another challenge to be the straw that breaks their back and sends them spiraling into depression.
Our mind is a beautiful thing. Experience has taught me that we manifest not only what we want but also what we need. Sometimes we need to slow down and reassess our lives. Depression served me in this capacity. I didn’t enjoy it and would not choose to go through it again. However, by facing depression rather than suppressing it, I learned from it, used it to change my life, and ultimately survived adversity and illness.
Kathleen O'Keefe-Kanavos is a two time breast cancer survivor, www.survivingcancerland.com, an agented author represented by Scovil, Galen & Ghosh Literary Agency and Steve Allen Media
She has penned the soon to be published book- SURVIVING CANCERLAND.Follow her @http://survivingcancerland.blogspot.com/ http://twitter.com/PsychicHealing http://www.facebook.com/pages/SURVIVING-CANCERLAND-The-Psychic-Aspects-of-Healing/142803307934?ref=m http://www.linkedin.com/myprofile?trk=hb_tab_pro
Looking back on those difficult times I can now answer questions I avoided such as, “Why was I depressed? How did depression serve me and what did it teach me?” Our mind is incredibly powerful and will create (manifest) situations to serve and save us.
I came to the conclusion that depression and illness was a way of forcing me to slow down and “look within” at memories (old baggage), events (past and present cycles), people (relationships), and life styles (habits) that are not to my benefit. Without depression I may have continued accepting whatever I thought life was throwing at me—settling for less than I needed and/or deserved.
I learned that just because something is thrown at me doesn’t mean I have to catch it, hold, and keep it, including insults or negative relationships. I can choose to duck or move out of the way. And, if I do catch it, I can choose to drop it. Depression made me stop and reassess my life-choices. I came to the conclusion that how people treat me is their Karma, how I respond to them is mine. Not all relationships or situations should be avoided or dropped. And that is when I learned my most important lesson—the quickest way to change someone’s behavior is to change mine first. They must respond differently to the new behavior.
Illness and depression made me take time out for myself, taught me how to respect, honor, and put myself first, and to choose to change or walk away from bad habits, relationships and situations. I drew new boundaries with which I could live.
A friend once asked,“How can I just quit my job or walk away from my relationship if that is what is depressing or killing me.”
I answered her question with another question. “Are you worried about letting down your job and relationship or yourself? Will they survive tomorrow if you are not around? Will you thrive if they are gone? You cannot hold a gift if your hands are full. Put something down.”
Now whenever I feel overwhelmed I take a step back and reassess my life. One of the first things I do is “check my inner baggage,” –the useless stuff I accumulated. I’m often surprised that I am bogged down with baggage that is not mine. Now, I simply drop it. In the past I took on other people’s emotional baggage rather than respecingt their right to carry it. Old habits are hard to break. I’m still working on them.
As a care giver by nature I often thought that if I carried someone else’s troubles for them it would lighten their load. It doesn’t. It just makes mine heavier. That taught me a very difficult lesson—I cannot carry other people’s baggage or walk their path for them. I have to respect their life-lessons… to be learned by them… and my lesson was to respect and love them enough to let them learn those lessons, including mistakes. I will offer them my shoulder but not my back. Let me explain.
I learned that there is a big difference between being supportive and being a mule. A supportive person lends a helping hand or a shoulder to cry on. A mule carries the weight of the world on their back while refusing to focus on their own life—this is avoidance. It only takes another challenge to be the straw that breaks their back and sends them spiraling into depression.
Our mind is a beautiful thing. Experience has taught me that we manifest not only what we want but also what we need. Sometimes we need to slow down and reassess our lives. Depression served me in this capacity. I didn’t enjoy it and would not choose to go through it again. However, by facing depression rather than suppressing it, I learned from it, used it to change my life, and ultimately survived adversity and illness.
Kathleen O'Keefe-Kanavos is a two time breast cancer survivor, www.survivingcancerland.com, an agented author represented by Scovil, Galen & Ghosh Literary Agency and Steve Allen Media
She has penned the soon to be published book- SURVIVING CANCERLAND.Follow her @http://survivingcancerland.blogspot.com/ http://twitter.com/PsychicHealing http://www.facebook.com/pages/SURVIVING-CANCERLAND-The-Psychic-Aspects-of-Healing/142803307934?ref=m http://www.linkedin.com/myprofile?trk=hb_tab_pro
Friday, December 23, 2011
GUEST BLOG BY RADIO SHOW HOST JEAN VICTORIA
http://everydayconnection.me/2011/12/22/reflections-kathleen-okeefe-kanavos/
Reflections – Kathleen O’Keefe-Kanavos
Posted on 22 December 2011 by Rick O'Shields
Sometimes life throws a challenge your way that literally stops you in your tracks and forces you to re-evaluate your sense of self and your purpose; sometimes the challenge ends up being the best thing that has ever happened to you.
What if that challenge happens to be cancer and what if the cancer you fought so hard to beat snuck back up on you and ravished your body just when you thought you had it beat? Well, if your name happens to be Kathleen O’Keefe then you grab the cancer by the scruff of the neck and give a good shake to bring it back to its senses and remind it that you are the last person on Earth it should be messing with. I’m not sure however, if that makes her extraordinary or if it just makes her yet another walking, talking example of what it means to embrace the will to survive that is ‘the human spirit’.
Lucky for us she also happens to be a talented writer and outside of the fact that I personally can’t wait to get my hands on that book once it comes out, her courage and her direct approach to ‘Surviving Cancerland’ left me with a unique opportunity to reflect on just how amazing humans truly are. Not that I am not already completely convinced that human beings can accomplish anything but it is always uplifting to run into other people who also believe the same thing; more so when they prove it to be true.
I have to wonder; does she realize how much of an inspiration her story and her work are? After speaking with her for almost 2hrs I think maybe it crosses her mind about as often as the possibility of the cancer coming back does, which is to say not too often. I know she wants to help others, and I am absolutely positive that the potential of her survival assisting and inspiring others who are afflicted to prevail is the driving force behind her work but I am equally positive she does not in any way consider herself to be a hero. I think she is but not so much because she made it through the hell that was her dive into disease but rather because of the grace with which she came back up to the surface for air, breathing life into those she met along the way.
It’s a bit of a scary tale, and if you linger too long on the ‘what went wrong’ aspects of her life you might just find yourself doubting the very system that is set up to care for our physical wellbeing. Kathleen, thankfully, is not the type of woman to let you do that so by the time you are done exploring the ins and outs of one of the world’s most deadliest diseases with her as your guide, you will believe that ANYTHING is possible; she wouldn’t have it any other way.
Life throws wrenches in our plans all the time, and it is heartening to know that there are people out there like Kathleen who snatch the wrench out of the air and use it as a tool to build a new life full of hope.
Jean Victoria Norloch
Radio Host- EVERYDAY CONNECTIONS
Reflections – Kathleen O’Keefe-Kanavos
Posted on 22 December 2011 by Rick O'Shields
Sometimes life throws a challenge your way that literally stops you in your tracks and forces you to re-evaluate your sense of self and your purpose; sometimes the challenge ends up being the best thing that has ever happened to you.
What if that challenge happens to be cancer and what if the cancer you fought so hard to beat snuck back up on you and ravished your body just when you thought you had it beat? Well, if your name happens to be Kathleen O’Keefe then you grab the cancer by the scruff of the neck and give a good shake to bring it back to its senses and remind it that you are the last person on Earth it should be messing with. I’m not sure however, if that makes her extraordinary or if it just makes her yet another walking, talking example of what it means to embrace the will to survive that is ‘the human spirit’.
Lucky for us she also happens to be a talented writer and outside of the fact that I personally can’t wait to get my hands on that book once it comes out, her courage and her direct approach to ‘Surviving Cancerland’ left me with a unique opportunity to reflect on just how amazing humans truly are. Not that I am not already completely convinced that human beings can accomplish anything but it is always uplifting to run into other people who also believe the same thing; more so when they prove it to be true.
I have to wonder; does she realize how much of an inspiration her story and her work are? After speaking with her for almost 2hrs I think maybe it crosses her mind about as often as the possibility of the cancer coming back does, which is to say not too often. I know she wants to help others, and I am absolutely positive that the potential of her survival assisting and inspiring others who are afflicted to prevail is the driving force behind her work but I am equally positive she does not in any way consider herself to be a hero. I think she is but not so much because she made it through the hell that was her dive into disease but rather because of the grace with which she came back up to the surface for air, breathing life into those she met along the way.
It’s a bit of a scary tale, and if you linger too long on the ‘what went wrong’ aspects of her life you might just find yourself doubting the very system that is set up to care for our physical wellbeing. Kathleen, thankfully, is not the type of woman to let you do that so by the time you are done exploring the ins and outs of one of the world’s most deadliest diseases with her as your guide, you will believe that ANYTHING is possible; she wouldn’t have it any other way.
Life throws wrenches in our plans all the time, and it is heartening to know that there are people out there like Kathleen who snatch the wrench out of the air and use it as a tool to build a new life full of hope.
Jean Victoria Norloch
Radio Host- EVERYDAY CONNECTIONS
Thursday, November 17, 2011
SAVING LIVES- ONE PERSON AT A TIME
Dr. Melanie Barton- Host of Voice America THE DR. MELANIE SHOW- has started treatment. She collected information and educated herself on multiple myeloma BEFORE she met with specialists, and was able to self advocate a course of treatment that was right for her.
Myeloma occurs when cancerous plasma cells take up room in the bone marrow cavity and don't allow the bone marrow to produce anti-bodies to fight common illness like the cold virus. Multiple myeloma is the appearance of many of these cancerous areas in the bones.
Symptoms of Multiple Myeloma:
Some people with multiple myeloma have many symptoms while others may not have any. Some of the most common symptoms include:
Bone pain, especially in your back
Feeling very tired
A low grade fever
Weight loss
Infection
Pale complexion
The symptoms listed above may be symptoms of other medical problems, or just natural occurrences associated with, physical labor, stress or other life changes. The warning sign that all may not be well is persistence. Prolonged symptoms may be your body speaking to you. Listen and respond.
Talk to your health care provider about any questions you may have regarding your particular situation. Self advocate until you are heard and get an acceptable response from the medical community.
Approximately 60,000 people in the United States have multiple myeloma and more than 20,000 new cases are diagnosed each year. Research has made wonderful progress in treating myeloma and multiple myeloma.
Dr. Melanie contacted me after our interview to say she had known something was wrong with her health for weeks before our program and sought medical advice, but the doctors kept sending her home with a clean bill of health. After our interview, she returned to the hospital and refused to take "Go home, you're healthy," as an answer and DEMANDED a different set of tests. She self-advocated and got the tests she needed to prove she knew her body. She was right, the doctors and first tests they had relied on were wrong.
Our hearts and prayers are with you Dr. Melanie and we wish you a quick recovery. Here is the link to the radio interview just days before she was diagnosed.
Dr. Melanie has given me her permission to share this story with everyone. It may be a way to save another life-one person at at time.
http://www.voiceamerica.com/episode/56364/surviving-and-conquering-cancer/ See More
Surviving and Conquering Cancer | VoiceAmerica™
www.voiceamerica.com
Cancer patients often do not want to talk about their illness. Dr Rabbi Ed Weinsberg prostate cancer survivor and Kathleen O’Keefe two-time cancer survivor not only talk about it, but believe the patient must be educated and utilize his or her intuition. Listen to their stories...See More
Surviving and Conquering Cancer | VoiceAmerica™
www.voiceamerica.com
Cancer patients often do not want to talk about their illness. Dr Rabbi Ed Weinsberg prostate cancer survivor and Kathleen O’Keefe two-time cancer survivor not only talk about it, but believe the patient must be educated and utilize his or her intuition. Listen to their stories...
Myeloma occurs when cancerous plasma cells take up room in the bone marrow cavity and don't allow the bone marrow to produce anti-bodies to fight common illness like the cold virus. Multiple myeloma is the appearance of many of these cancerous areas in the bones.
Symptoms of Multiple Myeloma:
Some people with multiple myeloma have many symptoms while others may not have any. Some of the most common symptoms include:
Bone pain, especially in your back
Feeling very tired
A low grade fever
Weight loss
Infection
Pale complexion
The symptoms listed above may be symptoms of other medical problems, or just natural occurrences associated with, physical labor, stress or other life changes. The warning sign that all may not be well is persistence. Prolonged symptoms may be your body speaking to you. Listen and respond.
Talk to your health care provider about any questions you may have regarding your particular situation. Self advocate until you are heard and get an acceptable response from the medical community.
Approximately 60,000 people in the United States have multiple myeloma and more than 20,000 new cases are diagnosed each year. Research has made wonderful progress in treating myeloma and multiple myeloma.
Dr. Melanie contacted me after our interview to say she had known something was wrong with her health for weeks before our program and sought medical advice, but the doctors kept sending her home with a clean bill of health. After our interview, she returned to the hospital and refused to take "Go home, you're healthy," as an answer and DEMANDED a different set of tests. She self-advocated and got the tests she needed to prove she knew her body. She was right, the doctors and first tests they had relied on were wrong.
Our hearts and prayers are with you Dr. Melanie and we wish you a quick recovery. Here is the link to the radio interview just days before she was diagnosed.
Dr. Melanie has given me her permission to share this story with everyone. It may be a way to save another life-one person at at time.
http://www.voiceamerica.com/episode/56364/surviving-and-conquering-cancer/ See More
Surviving and Conquering Cancer | VoiceAmerica™
www.voiceamerica.com
Cancer patients often do not want to talk about their illness. Dr Rabbi Ed Weinsberg prostate cancer survivor and Kathleen O’Keefe two-time cancer survivor not only talk about it, but believe the patient must be educated and utilize his or her intuition. Listen to their stories...See More
Surviving and Conquering Cancer | VoiceAmerica™
www.voiceamerica.com
Cancer patients often do not want to talk about their illness. Dr Rabbi Ed Weinsberg prostate cancer survivor and Kathleen O’Keefe two-time cancer survivor not only talk about it, but believe the patient must be educated and utilize his or her intuition. Listen to their stories...
Friday, November 11, 2011
HEALING JOURNEY FUNDRAISER FOR ONE OF OUR OWN
Hi, I’m doing a fundraiser for one of Cape Cod’s own daughters, Parris Bauer. In January of 2011, Parris was diagnosed with recurrent breast cancer that had metastasized into stage 4 bone cancer. With no hope for healing from the medical community, Parris began alternative therapy that is going amazingly well, but it is very costly and isn’t covered by insurance. The good news is, she is beating the odds and amazing the medical doctors. Her latest PET SCAN shows a marked decrease in the areas of cancer, from 9 affected areas to only 2, which is great news. The challenge though is that she has to continue this alternative therapy for another 20 months at a huge cost to her.
Parris’s friends are having a fundraiser on Sunday, October, 2, 2011 at 2:00 pm with raffles, door-prizes, and a DJ for dancing music @
Alberto’s Restorante
360 Main Street
Hyannis, Ma
Tickets: $25.oo (additional donations would be greatly appreciated) For those who would like to donate but cannot attend, Parris has set up a fund to accept donations. Please send donations to:
Parris Bauer
c/o TD Bank, N.A.
1095 Route 28
South Yarmouth, Ma. 02664
account #-0864
Thanks,
Kathleen O’Keefe-Kanavos
www.survivingcancerland.com
Parris’s friends are having a fundraiser on Sunday, October, 2, 2011 at 2:00 pm with raffles, door-prizes, and a DJ for dancing music @
Alberto’s Restorante
360 Main Street
Hyannis, Ma
Tickets: $25.oo (additional donations would be greatly appreciated) For those who would like to donate but cannot attend, Parris has set up a fund to accept donations. Please send donations to:
Parris Bauer
c/o TD Bank, N.A.
1095 Route 28
South Yarmouth, Ma. 02664
account #-0864
Thanks,
Kathleen O’Keefe-Kanavos
www.survivingcancerland.com
CAPE WOMEN ONLINE MAGAZINE (CWO) CANCER Q&A
CAPE WOMEN ONLINE MAGAZINE (CWO) CANCER Q&A
Hi Kathy,
I was just diagnosed with Ductal Carcinoma in Situ. I meet with a team of
specialists on Thursday so I won't have any definite answers until
then...but, my OBGYN has said that I should expect lumpectomy and
radiation. I've heard about an internal radiation using seeds put thru
tubes into the cancerous area....it's only five days of treatment vs. five
to seven weeks and a lot less exposure to radiation than the external
type....do you know anything about it?
Cindy in Florida
Dear Cindy,
You sound like you have a wonderful attitude and are busy collecting information to make an acceptable game plan with your team of doctors. Yes, I have heard of “radiation seeds” and they have been used in prostate cancer for quite some time. It is only recently that they have been available for breast cancer treatment. Using radiation seeds is known as Internal Radiation or ("brachytherapy"). It is also referred to as partial-breast radiation. It involves placing small radioactive seeds into catheters inside your breast, where the tumor used to be. The radioactive seeds emit the proper treatment dose of energy to the tumor cavity as well as the surrounding tissue.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a new technology for brachytherapy called balloon catheter radiation in 2002. For breast radiation, some methods use a balloon, and others use a device that expands like a balloon, once it is placed inside your breast. These methods of partial-breast radiation are gaining acceptance among oncologists, and may be an option for you. Treatment is given for 5 to 7 days, after which the catheter is removed. Because this method of radiation takes less time than external beam radiation, it is also called accelerated partial breast irradiation.
The goal of treatment with a balloon catheter device such as MammoSite or ClearPath is to radiate breast tissue in and around the tumor cavity in order to destroy any remaining cancer cells, while limiting irradiation to healthy tissues in your lungs, heart, skin, and fat. Balloon catheters are available as single-source (one catheter containing the radiation dose) and multiple-source models (several catheters containing the radiation doses).
I know this was quite a bit of information but I hope it helps answer your questions. Good luck and stay in touch. Cape Women Online and I care.Ask me anything.
Dear Kathy,
When I first rec'd my diagnosis, I freaked out. Now I’m so depressed that I don’t want to go out, see anyone or even talk to them on the phone. Is this normal and will I ever get over this depression. I will be starting treatment soon.
Linda in Tennessee
Dear Linda,
I am sorry you are undergoing such difficulty. What you are experiencing is the perfectly normal swing of emotions associated with any life crisis. Anytime someone receives shocking news the body goes into “fight or flight” mode. You often feel frantic one moment and lethargic the next. Once your psyche settles down, the pendulum of emotion stops its wild swings. You will find middle ground in your emotions. It just takes time and patience with your inner selves. Discuss your depression with your medical team. I was given the drug Atavan during my treatment to deal with anxiety attacks. However, I found that the side effects of extreme grogginess outweighed the positive effects of the drug. I found relief in deep meditation. There are many wonderful free mediation tapes on some online sites like Facebook, and available for purchase in bookstores. This may be a great reason to venture out of the house or if you are not ready to face the world, they can be ordered online. Remember, CWO and I care.Ask me anything.
Dear Kathy,
How long have you been cancer free? I hope your prognosis is good and
that you're currently doing well. I look forward to hearing from you.
Brenda in Bangor Maine
Dear Brenda,
Thank you for asking. I have been free of my first cancer for 12 years and my second cancer for 7. Like many women diagnosed with breast cancer, I am doing great! There are more survivors of cancer today than ever before in the history of medicine. I believe this is a result of two things: medicine has improved and people are integrating it with holistic and spiritual therapies. By addressing the mind, body spirit approach to healing we heal more than just the body. And that is one of the things that makes my prognosis so good.Ask me anything.
Dear Kathy,
I have just had a questionable mammogram. Three needle biopsys were taken and the pathologist said he is “leaning toward” lobular cancer. How can a pathology report “lean toward” something? Is it or isn’t it? I don’t have much confidence in my pathlogist. Did you have this problem and do you have any suggestions?
Chris in Ky
Dear Chris,
I think what I am hearing from your email is a disconnect and lack of confidence in your doctor. Yes, I did also have concerns with my medical team and immediately sought second opinions. Most insurance companies will cover second opinions and some even desire or require them. Any doctor worth having will not only be comfortable with a second opinion but may actually encourage it. I found that one of the most important things concerning any treatment is a trust and feeling of comradely with your medical team. Self-advocating is not easy. However, if you are not going to do it, who is? Good luck and let us know how everything goes. We care.Ask me anything.
Dear Kathy,
I have just been diagnosed with breast cancer and will need a mastectomy. I am alone, no family and no one to help me after my surgery. I have other health issues, too. I don’t think I can take care of myself alone. I need to be in a full care facility but my funds are very limited. The medical facility where my surgery and therapy will take place is more than an hour drive from my house. I don’t think I can get myself there alone. Do you have any suggestions?
Linda
Dear Linda,
I’m sorry you are facing these challenges. Facing cancer is hard enough. The answer to your questions may lie in the Hope Lodges. I don’t know what state you are in but they are located throughout the country. Here is some information on The American Cancer Society’s Hope Lodges. http://www5.cancer.org/docroot/subsite/hopelodge/locations.asp
Having to travel out of town for treatment can be difficult. Yet the American Cancer Society has a place where cancer patients and their families can find help and hope when home is far away - an American Cancer Society Hope Lodge.
Each Hope Lodge offers cancer patients and their families a free, temporary place to stay when their best hope for effective treatment may be in another city. Not having to worry about where to stay or how to pay for lodging allows Hope Lodge guests to focus on the most important thing: getting well.
And a Hope Lodge offers so much more than just free lodging. It provides a nurturing, home-like environment where patients and caregivers can retreat to private rooms or connect with others who are going through many of the same experiences.
Currently, there are 30 Hope Lodge locations throughout the United States. Accommodations and eligibility requirements may vary by location, and room availability is first come, first served. To find a Hope Lodge and to learn more about a specific facility, please visit that location's page, or call the American Cancer Society toll free anytime, day or night, at 1-800-ACS-2345
If there is not a Hope Lodge in your area, please call the American Cancer Society at1-800-ACS-2345 for more information. Also you can visit Joe's House for additional lodging resources or enter your zip code on www.cancer.org's Find Local Resources page and select the category Housing.
Good luck to you and know that we care. Ask me anything
Hi Kathy,
I was just diagnosed with Ductal Carcinoma in Situ. I meet with a team of
specialists on Thursday so I won't have any definite answers until
then...but, my OBGYN has said that I should expect lumpectomy and
radiation. I've heard about an internal radiation using seeds put thru
tubes into the cancerous area....it's only five days of treatment vs. five
to seven weeks and a lot less exposure to radiation than the external
type....do you know anything about it?
Cindy in Florida
Dear Cindy,
You sound like you have a wonderful attitude and are busy collecting information to make an acceptable game plan with your team of doctors. Yes, I have heard of “radiation seeds” and they have been used in prostate cancer for quite some time. It is only recently that they have been available for breast cancer treatment. Using radiation seeds is known as Internal Radiation or ("brachytherapy"). It is also referred to as partial-breast radiation. It involves placing small radioactive seeds into catheters inside your breast, where the tumor used to be. The radioactive seeds emit the proper treatment dose of energy to the tumor cavity as well as the surrounding tissue.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a new technology for brachytherapy called balloon catheter radiation in 2002. For breast radiation, some methods use a balloon, and others use a device that expands like a balloon, once it is placed inside your breast. These methods of partial-breast radiation are gaining acceptance among oncologists, and may be an option for you. Treatment is given for 5 to 7 days, after which the catheter is removed. Because this method of radiation takes less time than external beam radiation, it is also called accelerated partial breast irradiation.
The goal of treatment with a balloon catheter device such as MammoSite or ClearPath is to radiate breast tissue in and around the tumor cavity in order to destroy any remaining cancer cells, while limiting irradiation to healthy tissues in your lungs, heart, skin, and fat. Balloon catheters are available as single-source (one catheter containing the radiation dose) and multiple-source models (several catheters containing the radiation doses).
I know this was quite a bit of information but I hope it helps answer your questions. Good luck and stay in touch. Cape Women Online and I care.Ask me anything.
Dear Kathy,
When I first rec'd my diagnosis, I freaked out. Now I’m so depressed that I don’t want to go out, see anyone or even talk to them on the phone. Is this normal and will I ever get over this depression. I will be starting treatment soon.
Linda in Tennessee
Dear Linda,
I am sorry you are undergoing such difficulty. What you are experiencing is the perfectly normal swing of emotions associated with any life crisis. Anytime someone receives shocking news the body goes into “fight or flight” mode. You often feel frantic one moment and lethargic the next. Once your psyche settles down, the pendulum of emotion stops its wild swings. You will find middle ground in your emotions. It just takes time and patience with your inner selves. Discuss your depression with your medical team. I was given the drug Atavan during my treatment to deal with anxiety attacks. However, I found that the side effects of extreme grogginess outweighed the positive effects of the drug. I found relief in deep meditation. There are many wonderful free mediation tapes on some online sites like Facebook, and available for purchase in bookstores. This may be a great reason to venture out of the house or if you are not ready to face the world, they can be ordered online. Remember, CWO and I care.Ask me anything.
Dear Kathy,
How long have you been cancer free? I hope your prognosis is good and
that you're currently doing well. I look forward to hearing from you.
Brenda in Bangor Maine
Dear Brenda,
Thank you for asking. I have been free of my first cancer for 12 years and my second cancer for 7. Like many women diagnosed with breast cancer, I am doing great! There are more survivors of cancer today than ever before in the history of medicine. I believe this is a result of two things: medicine has improved and people are integrating it with holistic and spiritual therapies. By addressing the mind, body spirit approach to healing we heal more than just the body. And that is one of the things that makes my prognosis so good.Ask me anything.
Dear Kathy,
I have just had a questionable mammogram. Three needle biopsys were taken and the pathologist said he is “leaning toward” lobular cancer. How can a pathology report “lean toward” something? Is it or isn’t it? I don’t have much confidence in my pathlogist. Did you have this problem and do you have any suggestions?
Chris in Ky
Dear Chris,
I think what I am hearing from your email is a disconnect and lack of confidence in your doctor. Yes, I did also have concerns with my medical team and immediately sought second opinions. Most insurance companies will cover second opinions and some even desire or require them. Any doctor worth having will not only be comfortable with a second opinion but may actually encourage it. I found that one of the most important things concerning any treatment is a trust and feeling of comradely with your medical team. Self-advocating is not easy. However, if you are not going to do it, who is? Good luck and let us know how everything goes. We care.Ask me anything.
Dear Kathy,
I have just been diagnosed with breast cancer and will need a mastectomy. I am alone, no family and no one to help me after my surgery. I have other health issues, too. I don’t think I can take care of myself alone. I need to be in a full care facility but my funds are very limited. The medical facility where my surgery and therapy will take place is more than an hour drive from my house. I don’t think I can get myself there alone. Do you have any suggestions?
Linda
Dear Linda,
I’m sorry you are facing these challenges. Facing cancer is hard enough. The answer to your questions may lie in the Hope Lodges. I don’t know what state you are in but they are located throughout the country. Here is some information on The American Cancer Society’s Hope Lodges. http://www5.cancer.org/docroot/subsite/hopelodge/locations.asp
Having to travel out of town for treatment can be difficult. Yet the American Cancer Society has a place where cancer patients and their families can find help and hope when home is far away - an American Cancer Society Hope Lodge.
Each Hope Lodge offers cancer patients and their families a free, temporary place to stay when their best hope for effective treatment may be in another city. Not having to worry about where to stay or how to pay for lodging allows Hope Lodge guests to focus on the most important thing: getting well.
And a Hope Lodge offers so much more than just free lodging. It provides a nurturing, home-like environment where patients and caregivers can retreat to private rooms or connect with others who are going through many of the same experiences.
Currently, there are 30 Hope Lodge locations throughout the United States. Accommodations and eligibility requirements may vary by location, and room availability is first come, first served. To find a Hope Lodge and to learn more about a specific facility, please visit that location's page, or call the American Cancer Society toll free anytime, day or night, at 1-800-ACS-2345
If there is not a Hope Lodge in your area, please call the American Cancer Society at1-800-ACS-2345 for more information. Also you can visit Joe's House for additional lodging resources or enter your zip code on www.cancer.org's Find Local Resources page and select the category Housing.
Good luck to you and know that we care. Ask me anything
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