Monday, November 22, 2010

How to Do CPR - Update!


For 50 years, CPR has been performed the same way: quick breaths into the victim's mouth, followed by chest compressions in a repeated cycle to get the heart beating again. But in recent years, studies have shown that doing away with rescue breathing and using chest compressions alone may be just as effective, if not more so, in resuscitating victims of cardiac arrest. That's why the American Heart Association is updating its guidelines and urging both trained and untrained rescuers to start with the compressions and either eliminate or delay mouth-to-mouth breathing in cases when a victim's heart has stopped.

There are both social and medical reasons for the shift. About a third of people who collapse from cardiac arrest never receive CPR, largely because bystanders are unsure or squeamish about delivering it the right way. Streamlining the procedure to include only compressions - which should be firm enough to depress the chest by about 2 inches (5 cm) - could make it easier for more people to attempt resuscitation.

Medically, say experts, the body has enough oxygen to function for a few minutes after the heart stops, so using compressions to restore its pumping action should be the priority.

This article is from the Nov 1 Time Magazine by Alice Park.

Heart Disease is the number one killer of women. All adults should take CPR classes or learn how to do CPR. You never know when you will need it to possibly save the life of a loved one.
I just finished my class and realized I should have do it years ago. It makes you feel like you have the knowledge to help another in an emergency.

To Your Health,
Leigh

Sunday, November 14, 2010

Tips for Eating Healthy for Cancer Patients and Everyone!



Additional Tips for Eating Healthy!

Eat Breakfast:
One of the best things anyone can do is to eat something nutritious at the beginning of the day. Having a good breakfast will help keep you from getting to hungry by lunchtime, a problem that often leads to overeating.

Order from the Kid’s Menu: If you want to cut down on the amount of calories you consume at lunch, the kid’s menu is a great place to start. Many restaurants will allow adults to order from the children’s menu, just ask.

Put another Shrimp on the Barbey: Ordering grilled items like chicken and fish are a much healthier choice than other protein sources at many restaurants. Try to consume fresh fish - grilled if possible- at least three days per week for more healthy benefits.

Downsizing: Portion sizes are out of control so be aware of how much food is put in front of you when you eat out. If possible, get a to-go box at the beginning of your meal and take half of your meal home or back to the office to eat another day.

Start bringing something from home: If people could do one thing to help them eat healthy, it is to prepare more meals at home. Fix a little extra to take for lunch the next day.
Healthy eating is one of the most important thing a cancer patient can do to help themselves.
Good health to us all!
Leigh

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Healthy Ways to Eat OUT.



One of the hardest things to do is to Eat Out Healthy!

We are always so busy running through the drive-through on the way to the children's events (football, soccer, cheerleading, etc). There never seems to be enough time so we get in the habit of quick food. Lunches at work seem to get shorter and shorter. You are late getting out of work so you run through the drive-through or call ahead for a pizza. That does not mean it has to be FAT food.

First you need to educate yourself on what your favorite drive-through or restaurant has available. Then plan ahead what you will be getting to eat. Ask the kids ahead of time or in the car before you get there,what they would like to eat from a healthy choice, not waiting for the last minute and letting them have whatever they want.

Even when we think we are eating healthy at a fast food place, often that turns out not to be the case. Just because it says "Salad" does not mean it is healthy. Pre-prepared salads have more sodium and calories than the regular items on the same menu. Some of the calorie amounts in many salads will open your eyes to this fact. Ordering a side salad or a small salad when possible is a better choice.

If you like the "Buffet" style restaurant, keep in mind those green beans, cabbage and squash are swimming in butter, oily stuff or a lot of water, then losses all it's vitamins. If you can order fresh vegetables and have melted butter on the side.

Watch for more tips!

To your health, Leigh

Monday, October 11, 2010

Can Breast Cancer be Prevented? Risk Factors!



Can Breast Cancer be Prevented?

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is always an ideal approach, but breast cancer is never the fault of the individual. A balanced diet, a lifestyle that includes abstaining from smoking and drinking alcohol in excess and regular exercise are all ways to stay healthy, but none will guarantee a woman or man will not get breast cancer.

Are there Risk Factors for Breast Cancer?

BreastCancer.org notes that there are factors a woman or man can control that might lessen their risk for breast cancer. Those risks include:

  • Weight. Post-menopausal women in particular can reduce their risk of breast cancer by maintaining a healthy weight. Fat tissue is the body's main source of estrogen after menopause, and having more fat tissue means higher estrogen levels, which increases breast cancer risk.
  • Diet. Many cancers are linked to diet, but studies have yet to show for certain which types of foods increase the risk for breast cancer. In general, it's good to restrict sources of red meat and other animal fats, such as fats from dairy products. Some studies have shown that eating a lot of red and/or processed meats is associated with a higher risk of breast cancer. Eating a diet low in fat and rich in fruits and vegetables is often recommended to reduce cancer risk.
  • Exercise. The American Cancer Society recommends engaging in 45-60 minutes of physical exercise 5 or more days per week, as evidence continues to mount that exercise can reduce breast cancer risk
  • Alcohol and smoking. Alcohol limits the liver's ability to control blood levels of estrogen, which can increase risk of breast cancer. Similarly, smoking has been associated with a small increase in breast cancer risk.

BreastCancer.org also notes additional risk factors for breast cancer can include recent oral contraceptive use, stress and anxiety and exposure to estrogen.

While all of the mentioned risk factors are within an individuals control, there are a host of additional factors beyond a person's control that can increase risk of breast cancer. These factors include age, family history, personal history, and race among others.

Remember, October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Join a group in your community and give anyway you can. Some of the things you can do, donate time to your local hospital or cancer support group, run in a race for a loved one or friend, donate old wigs or hats and scarves for cancer patients that can't afford them (contact your hospital and they will know who you should get in touch with) and you can also donate to the Cancer group of your choice.

Stay health and support Breast Cancer Awareness!

Leigh

Saturday, October 2, 2010

Is Breast Cancer Hereditary?


According to BreastCancer.org, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing reliable, complete and current information about breast cancer, only 5 - 10 percent of cancers are due to an abnormality inherited from a parent.


While all breast cancer are caused by a genetic abnormality, roughly 90 percent of breast cancer cases are the result of genetic abnormalities that are a result of everyday life.

This information is from BreastCancer.org.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and we will be posting informative blogs all month about Breast Cancer. Please check back.

Good health to us all,

Leigh

Monday, September 27, 2010

Where to Get Financial Help with Cancer Treatments!


Even as new cancer treatments offer hope for some, their cost is out of reach for many. Tens of thousands of people seek help from drug companies and charities that provide free medicines or cover copays for people who can't afford it.


Here is a list (from the Associated Press on 9-27) of places to seek help:






Patient Advocate Foundation: 800-532-5274 http://www.patientadvocate.org/


CancerCare: 866-552-6729 http://www.cancercarecopay.org/


Chronic Disease Fund: 877-968-7233 http://www.cdfund.org/


Healthwell Foundation: 800-675-8416 http://www.healthwellfoundation.org/


Leukemia & Lymphoma Society: 877-557-2672 www.LLS.org/copay


National Organization for Rare Disorders: 800-999-6673 http://www.rarediseases.org/


Patient Access Network Foundation: 866-316-7263 http://www.panfoundation.org/


Patient Advocate Foundation: 866-512-3861 http://www.copays.org/


Patient Services Inc.: 800-366-7741 http://www.patientservicesinc.org/


As more and more people lose their jobs and can not get insurance and as the price of cancer drugs skyrocket, these services will be more in demand. If you need help with the cost of your treatment contact the companies above and see if they can help you. Who knows how long these programs will be available?


Leigh




What is Breast Cancer?



October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and many people might be surprised to learn of breast cancer's prevalence. In the United States alone, breast cancer incidence in women is 1 in 8, or roughly 13 percent. Among women in the U.S., breast cancer rates are higher than those of any cancer except for lung cancer. It is important for both women and men (who can also suffer from breast cancer) to gain a greater understanding of this deadly disease.



What is Breast Cancer?



Breast cancer is an uncontrolled growth of breast cells. Any type of cancer is the result of mutations in genes responsible for regulating the growth of cells and keeping them healthy. In a healthy body, the cells replace themselves in an orderly fashion, as healthy new cells take over as old ones die out. When mutations occur, changed cells gain the ability to keep dividing without control or order, producing more similar cells and forming a tumor.



In the case of breast cancer, cancerous cells gradually invade nearby healthy breast tissue and make their way into the underarm lymph nodes, which are small organs that filter out foreign substances in the body. If the cancer reaches the lymph nodes, it then has a pathway into other parts of the body. Upon diagnosis, a patient will be told what stage of breast cancer they are in, which tells how far the cancer has spread beyond the original tumor.



I will be going into more information on Breast Cancer and heredity tomorrow so please bookmark this blog and come back tomorrow.



Please buy a "Kiss Breast Cancer Goodbye" t-shirt (or one of my other t-shirts)and all monies I receive for the month of October will go to "Steel Magnolias" Breast Cancer support group in Jacksonville, Alabama. They send care packages and offer support to men and women everywhere, not just in Alabama. They helped me after my surgery and have sent care packages all across the U.S. Some of the items included in these care packages are head coverings, scarves, heart pillow, drain holders, a little teddy bear from the lovely ladies that make all these great items and more great gifts including makeup, information packets, and a great Newsletter that you get every month. (Some of the best Jokes I have ever heard. Laughter is the best medicine) The "Steel Magnolias" Support group goes to school and organizations to discuss breast cancer. This group was instrumental in getting law changed in AL to help cover medical cost for women with no insurance or low income to save their lives. There are now new locations of the "Steel Magnolias" opening up in other states to help men and women get through this devastating disease. They have a men's group called the "Men of Steel" to help men support their wives and to help the men deal with this disease also. This disease affects the whole family. Please help as all their monies come from donations.


Thanks, Leigh

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Eat Veggies, Fight Cancer?


A nine-year study shows that smokers who ate a wide variety of fruits and vegetables lowered their risk of developing lung cancer compared with those eating a smaller range of these foods.
The quantity did not seem to matter, leading scientist to speculate that variety, not volume, may increase your exposure to diverse and potentially powerful anticancer compounds, which still have not been identified.
This article by Alice Park, for Time Magazine, September 13th should tell everyone that fruits and vegetables are essential to your health and well being. If it can be found to lower the chances of someone that is a smoker from getting lung cancer, maybe it works with other cancers.
You can have a say in what you put in your body and how it helps your body work. Omega-3s and vitamin D have already been found to help fight breast cancer and you can get these from fruits, vegetables and are easy to add to your diet. Selenium has been found to fight bladder cancer and one of the best sources is Brazil nut.
To your health.
Leigh

Friday, September 10, 2010

Vitamin-D , How much is OK? Cancer Statistics.


With sunblock and self-tanners, Americans are D-deficient but how many vitamin D pills should we be taking. New guidelines for the optimal dietary dose are expected out this fall and the studies on vitamin D's effects on cancer, heart disease and cognition are ongoing. Here is where the science stands on cancer now.


Vitamin D may prevent cancer by suppressing the cell growth and blood vessel formation that feed tumors. At least that is the idea, based on animal studies and analyses of human cells. But trials in which patients take vitamin D have not shown a consistent lowering of cancer risk.


One four year trial of 1200 postmenopausal women found a 77% lower risk of all cancers among those taking calcium and 1, 000 IU of vitamin D a day than among those taking a placebo. A larger study, however, in which subjects took 400 IU of vitamin D -- in the absence of an official daily recommended intake, that is the "adequate" intake for adults ages 51 to 70-- did not show lower breast-cancer risk.


The data are strongest for colorectal cancer: subjects with higher blood levels of vitamin D were half as likely as those with lower levels to develop the disease.


Always discuss the vitamins you take with your doctor before starting them.


This information is from "TIME" Magazine, August 30, 2010, Health Page by Alice Park


We will discuss vitamin D and heart disease next.


To your Health!

Leigh

Friday, September 3, 2010

Breast and Ovarian Cancer Research Info Released



In an announcement made September 1st, new research suggest surgery to remove healthy ovaries gives a triple benefit to some women at high risk for cancer.

The women in the study had BRCA gene mutations and were counseled to help them decide between preventive surgery or more screening to watch for signs of cancer.

The study is the largest to date to find advantages for surgery for these high-risk women and showed preventive surgery lowered their threat of Breast cancer and Ovarian cancer and improves their chances of living longer.

This information is from the Anniston Star, September 1, 1910

To your health,

Leigh

Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Selenium May Protect Against Bladder Cancer



Boosting Selenium Intake May Lower Bladder Cancer Risk, Particularly in Women

Aug. 31, 2010 -- Adding more selenium to your diet may reduce your risk of bladder cancer.

Scientists reporting in the September issue of Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention say that adults with low blood levels of the mineral selenium are more likely to develop bladder cancer. The lower your levels of selenium, the higher your risk.

Selenium is a trace mineral found in soil. Dietary sources of selenium include plant foods and meats from animals that grazed on grain or plants grown in selenium-rich soil. The nutrient is also found in certain nuts. For example, brazil nuts often contain an abundance of selenium.The body uses selenium to make selenoproteins. Many selenoproteins function as antioxidants, which prevent cellular damage. Some studies have suggested that selenium can help protect against certain cancers, but clinical trials on selenium supplementation have yielded conflicting results.

For the current study, Nuria Malats, MD, PhD, leader of the Genetic and Molecular Epidemiology Group of the Human Cancer Genetics Program at the Spanish National Cancer Research Center, and colleagues combined information from seven previously published studies to conduct their research. They reviewed selenium levels taken from blood samples and toenail clippings and determined each patient's risk of developing bladder cancer. The analysis included patients mostly from the United States and some patients from Europe.

The study showed:
1. A 39% decrease in bladder cancer risk was associated with the highest levels ofselenium.
2. The protective benefit of selenium was seen mostly in women. Researchers believethis may be because of differences in how men and women's bodies break down andremove the mineral.

“Although our results suggest a beneficial effect of high selenium intake for bladder cancer risk, more studies are needed to confirm these findings before an enforcement of high selenium intake is recommended,” Malats says in a news release.

The recommended daily allowance (RDA) for selenium for adults is 55 micrograms per day. Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding may require higher amounts. Most American diets provide the recommended amount of the mineral, according to the National Institutes of Health.
Before adding more selenium to your diet, talk to your doctor. Too much selenium can be unhealthy and may lead to a condition called selenosis. Symptoms include stomach upset,
hair loss, garlic breath odor, white spots on the nails, irritability, fatigue, and mild nerve damage.

The Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences says the highest amount of selenium that adults can take safely without endangering their health is 400 micrograms a day. This is called the tolerable upper intake level (UL).

By Kelli Miller Stacy Reviewed by Laura J. Martin, MD
WebMD Health News

As I know someone who is now dealing with bladder cancer I was very interested in this news and hope it will help many in the future.

To your health
Leigh

Saturday, August 28, 2010

Senior Safety Tip from a Fireman!


Anyone who has read my blog knows I love reading "Dear Abby".

She has some great information and tips from her readers and this one is from a fireman.


If seniors don't have an emergency alert device, they should take their car keys to bed with them and place them on their nightstand. The little red "panic" button can be used to start the horn on their car in an emergency. The neighbors will hear the horn and help them.


Abby adds: First, forewarn the neighbors that if your car alarm goes off, it many indicate that you are in trouble. In her city, car alarms go off so frequently that people often assume it's a malfunction and ignore it.


Both are very good tips. Also ask your neighbors you may be close with to please check on you occasionally. Maybe Monday and Friday if they do not see you out and about. Many seniors fall and become unconscious and a neighbor has saved their lives just by checking on them and calling the police if necessary.


If you have a senior that lives near you take a minute and get to know them. Becoming friends can save that persons life and you will be surprised at the wonderful feeling you can get just with a smile and a "Hello". Remember, one day you will be a senior too!


Good Health to us all!

Leigh

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

NEW ORLEANS TWO DAY FREE C.A.R.E. CLINIC - August 31st & September 1st


NEW ORLEANS C.A.R.E. Clinic - The NAFC C.A.R.E. Clinic will return to New Orleans on August 31 & September 1st. This clinic will help the uninusred of the Gulf Region as we approach the 5 year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina and as the region is struggling with the current oil spill crisis.
Patients call 1-877-236-7617

Saturday, July 24, 2010

Free HEALTHCARE Clinic, Washington DC, on 8-4-2010




The NAFC C.A.R.E. organization is holding a ONE DAY
Free Healthcare Clinic in Washington DC on Wendsday,
August 4th. This C.A.R.E. clinic will be at the Walter E. Washington
Convention Center.


Patients can call 877-233-5259 for further information.
http://www.freeclinics.us/freeclinic.php

The National Association of Free Clinics is the only
national non-profit whose mission is solely focused on
the needs of free clinics and the populations they serve.


They have helped thousands with low cost or free medical test,

screening, treatment, and references to doctors for future help.

If you think you may have a medical problem or just want to

have your blood sugar and blood pressure checked,

you should check out this free one day clinic.


To your health,
Leigh

Monday, July 19, 2010

Anti-Breast Cancer Pill!

Fish Oil, rich in Omega-3 fatty acids, helps protect healthy people from heart disease and now a new study finds taking fish-oil supplements may also reduce breast cancer risk by over 30% in postmenopausal women.

Omega-3, from dietary sources, trials have been inconclusive and the authors of the study caution that more study is needed before the Omega-3 pills can be used for prevention.

This information is from the July 19th Time Magazine, Health Section, Latest Findings.

Always check with your doctor before adding any supplements to your routine and you may want to discuss adding Omega-3's to your diet.

To your health,
Leigh

Saturday, July 17, 2010

What is Normal after Cancer?

Cancer Patients won't go back to normal after cancer. But they can find a best "New Normal".

In a Parade article from June 20, 2010 it discusses what is the new normal for some cancer survivors. It goes into some of the problems cancer survivors continue to have after treatment and after they may be named cancer free.

Let me tell you about some of mine. I was diagnosed with breast cancer 3 years ago, had a mastectomy, chemo, and am now on what they call maintenance drugs.

I still have pain where my breast was, I laugh and call it my "Phantom Boob". I can be sitting perfectly still and it feels like someone sticks me with a hot poker. (this is what I imagine a hot poker would feel like). It goes away fairly quickly but the pec muscle stays sore for a while. Sometimes it hurts doing much lifting with my arms.

I had a mediport installed in order to have the chemo easier since I was going to have to have it for the next year and a half. (4 different types that took 2 1/2 years because of complications). Where the surgeon installed the mediport they had to go through the muscle in my arm area. I have had problems with this area ever since. I had to have it taken out because I was constantly in pain where the mediport was attached to the chest muscle above the breast. I still have pains in this spot also even though the mediport was taken out 9 months ago.

I started having a heart racing problem while on chemo. I would walk from my bedroom to my living room and my pulse would start racing around 110 - 120 beats per minute and would not come back down right away. Now I have to take heart medicine and watch for more heart problems.

When I sit too long my legs swell, when I stand too long my legs swell. My lower back aches. I have neropothy in my toes from when the chemo made my toenails turn black and fall off. The feeling never has come all the way back. Sometimes it is weird but the toes seem to burn. I don't know what to make of it.

Before I was diagnosed with breast cancer I was not the most active person, I did not run any marathons, but I worked in the yard, went swimming, and enjoyed outdoor activities. Now, it seems that the heat affects me much more than it ever did. I get dizzy and light headed. I am more sensitive to bugs, poison ivy, and plants that I never had a problem with before.

My maintenance medication, (Femara) which I will be on for 3 more years, makes me moody, gives me the hot flashes and night sweats, (sometimes I feel like I am on FIRE!) and fatigue is constant. My poor husband tries to help but there is nothing he can really do. I just have to wait for it to pass.

I have tried to discuss these items with the doctors but sometimes I feel like they just shrug their shoulders and don't really listen. When I first started chemo my jaw swelled up on both sides and I looked like a chipmunk with nuts in his mouth. This of course happened on a holiday weekend. When I saw the doctor the next week and told her about it all she said was she had never heard of anything like that before. When I lost my toenails and my toes were bleeding, I got the same reply. (I found out later from the web that was a common side effect of the drugs). My jaws still hurt occasionally and my toes will never be the same but I was very glad that my toenails did grow back because sometimes they don't.

Well, There is more to come another day as this is making me depressed. (another of the side effects that cancer survivors quite often have to live with.)

I don't like to complain and I try very hard not to but sometimes I guess it is good therapy just to let it all out.

If you need to vent just give me a reply or response and we will vent together.

You can see the whoe article at www.parade.com/cancer

Thursday, June 17, 2010

The Nation's Biggest FREE CLINIC!


In a May 9th article in the Parade Section of the Sunday Paper I found a great article that may help many uninsured people get help with medical expenses. You can see the full article on the Parade web site: http://www.parade.com/.



Since last September, more than 8,000 uninsured patients received treatment at C.A.R.E. Clinics in Houston, New Orleans, Little Rock, Kansas City, Hartford and Atlanta. 1,300 people received free medical care at the Atlanta one-day event.




At the Atlanta event, 60% of patients said they hadn't seen a doctor in at least a year and 20% hadn't had health care in more than 5 years.




These free clinics connect the uninsured with safety-net providers such as free clinics, sliding-scale clinics and federally qualified health centers near where they live so that patients can receive regular treatment on an ongoing basis.


The National Association of Free Clinics has a list of clinics across the US that help uninsured people get checked out for anything from hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, asthma, arthritis and more serious illnesses also.


You can get more information at: http://www.freeclinics.us/


Stay Healthy, Get Checked Out, Fight Cancer

Leigh

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

JV INVITE A Fantastic list building event!

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As I am new to Internet Marketing I have found that the JV Giveaways are
a great way to get your items and brand out to the public. Sign Up Now.

Monday, May 10, 2010

May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month!







Check with your local hospital for a free Skin Cancer Screening. Many hospitals are having the free screenings during this month to help people become aware of Skin Cancer.


Summer is Suntan season and it is so important to use the proper Suntan Lotion with a good sun screen, SPF of 30 or more, to prevent skin damage from the sun. Children are especially susceptible to skin damage and early sunburns can lead to skin cancer in later life.


In an article posted on the American Cancer Educational Services site, Jodi Mailaner-Farrel of the Miami Herald gives you the following information. Five things you didn't know about skin cancer.

1. We know wearing sunscreen daily is one of the best ways to prevent skin cancer, but now evidence suggests that what we eat could help reduce the risk, too. In a study published this year in the journal In Vivo, vitamin C, green tea and an amino acid found in beans, soybeans, lentils, meat, poultry, fish and dairy suppressed melanoma tumor growth in mice.


2. You don't have to get burned to increase your risk of skin cancer. Sun damage is incremental and accumulates over a lifetime. Don't think throwing a shirt on will help you. The average white T-shirt has a sun protection factor (SPF) of only 4 to 6!


3. Although 75% of skin cancer cases aren't deadly, some 10,000 people are still expected to die from skin cancer this year alone. Half of all cases of melanoma, the most dangerous kind, occur in people under age 57.


4. Dermatologists recommend monthly self monitoring of freckles, mole and birthmarks for any changes over time. Use a hand held mirror to inspect hard to see areas. One third of melanomas in men occur on the back.


5. The upper and lower eyelids are two of the most common places on the face where skin cancer can occur, according to the skin cancer foundation. Wear wrap around, UV blocking sun glasses for the best protection or a hat with a three to four inch wide brim.


I found them very interesting and will keep them in mind when going out in the sun.


Please take care of your children and yourselves this spring and summer. (really all year round as sun refection on snow can be very bad also)


Leigh












Thursday, April 22, 2010

Cancer Patients: Spring is Here, Be Careful Outdoors


If you have cancer and taking chemotherapy and other medications: Spring is here and you must be vigilant in taking care of yourself.


I love working in the yard. Everything from riding the lawnmower to pulling weeds in the flower beds. I love the colors of spring and summer and miss being able to really enjoy the swimming pool. Cancer medications react with the sun. I thought it would be OK to have a little garage sale. It was a beautiful day and I kept my hat on to keep the sun off my face. But I forgot about my arms and legs. The next day I had sun poisoning. I was sick for a week.


I had not been working in the garden because of the sun but the weeds were starting to take over, so out I went. I apparently had gotten some Poison Ivy growing in the garden and though I had normally not had a problem with it before my system reacted very badly to it. Oh was I miserable and so was my poor husband. He felt so bad for allowing me to go out in the garden. But as I told him, he could not have stopped me, I am bull headed all the way.


My whole system has changed and even though I am not on chemo anymore, my system reacts differently to almost everything. I never know what to expect. My medications make me sensitive to the sun still and I miss lying out by the pool and getting a tan. Time for "Tan in a Bottle". But I wonder if I will react to that.


Please consider what the worst that could happen would be before you go out and try to attack something in the yard. Bee stings may have a more deadly reaction if you are on medication.


Fire Ants, they are bad anytime. You may react to flowers and weeds differently. I love roses but right now the smell makes me nauseous. If you do decide to go out in the sun put on sunscreen, wide brimmed hat and wear a long sleeve shirt and slacks. Bug repellent is a must have.


Everyone take care and watch for all the little critters out there.


If you have any hints on how we can protect ourselves from the sun and bugs, Let my readers know. I am sure they would appreciate it and I would too.


Good Health to us all, Leigh

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

The Annie Appleseed Project, Breast Cancer Info Site




As an "Older" Woman I am a member of AARP and today I got my AARP Bulletin with some great information about alternative medicine and cancer treatment.


One of the Articles was about Ann Fonfa, who started the Annie Appleseed Project and how it is celebrating it's 10th Anniversary this year. Ann is a fifteen year survivor of Breast Cancer and has done much research into the potential benefits of unconventional therapies.


Please go to her site, http://www.annieappleseedproject.org/ and search through some of the information that is making this site of of the leading sources of information on breast cancer.


I found the site very impressive and learned some new information myself.


Good Health to You All!!


I got a sweet message from Kelly telling me that my blog about the "Red Devil" Chemo had helped her and thanking me. I want to thank Kelly and all my readers as I have been going through a rough patch in my life lately and I really appreciate the feedback I have received.

Thanks Again

Monday, February 8, 2010

eBay Changes make me Close my eBay Store




Due to the way eBay is changing the fee structure I have had to make some changes in my eBay business.


I will be listing some of the items from my store on auction one last time and then they will go to charity.


Other items I will let the 30 day listing run until the 29th day and then cancel the item and give it to charity.


As I list new items they will be on auction for one week and will then be given to charity.


I have appreciated everyone’s help but because of the New eBay Seller changes and Fee increases I can no longer maintain the store. I hope everyone will put me in their favorites so as I list new items they will be notified and have a chance to bid before they are gone.


I still have friends and family that are giving me wonderful items to list to help in meeting my medical needs and I want to thank them and everyone that has purchased from me for their help, You all give me great strength to keep fighting.


Please go check out my listings before they are gone: Decor Glass and Home


Thank you so very much, Leigh, Glasslady50