100 Perks of Having Cancer: Plus 100 Health Tips for Surviving It (53 page)

inflammation.

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100 Perks of Having Cancer

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!

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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