100 Perks of Having Cancer: Plus 100 Health Tips for Surviving It (84 page)

as “oven hours”; prolonged periods of

intense body heat. I will kid you not, this

can cause discomfort at times, but just

consider the money I am saving in heating

bills! (So kids, go put on a sweater.)

When my doctor told me I tested pos-

itive for estrogen, I said, “Oh darn, more bad news!” Up to that point, all

my “positive” results were pretty negative. I tested positive for cancer of the

breast, and several of my lymph nodes were positive. However, this was one

time when testing positive was just as the label promised—POSITIVE! Hav-

ing estrogen-positive cancer meant that I could be prescribed an estrogen-

blocking drug for five years following my treatments to help prevent a cancer

reoccurrence.

Estrogen-positive cancers require estrogen to grow. Tamoxifen does not

stop my body from producing estrogen (so I still have a healthy libido), but

it does prevent estrogen from binding to cancer cells. So, if there are any

cancer cells lingering around in my body, this wonderful drug will latch on

to them and help to keep them from reproducing. I am sure you will agree,

that is well worth the cost of a few hot flashes.

I 353 J

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Don’t try to resist your hot flashes.

Recognize when they are coming, and

focus on deep breathing until they pass.

HEALTH TIP #83

Natural Ways to Deal with Menopausal Symptoms

(Without Freezing Your Kids)

A
nd you thought getting your
period
was “the curse”? When you are going

through “the change of life” (better known as the “Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde

syndrome”), there are many symptoms you might be experiencing. Some

of them, like moodiness, will also be “experienced” by those around you.

Symptoms may include hot flashes, moodiness, heart racing, night

sweats, insomnia, decreased libido, headaches, forgetfulness, and dryness

. . . everywhere. If you are at “the age” or you were lucky enough to be thrust

into chemo-induced menopause, you know all this and could probably add

a few symptoms to the list. Pharmaceutical remedies are not an option for

most of us.

There are many things you can do to improve your menopausal symp-

toms without taking hormones. They are:

Exercise:
Research keeps confirming it (sorry): Regular physical activity

reduces your risk of dozens of illnesses as well as the side effects of meno -

pause. And the good news is, you don’t even have to sweat. Just being “active,”

whether by gardening, housework, taking the stairs instead of the elevator, or

walking the dog, can have the same benefits for meno pause as higher levels

of exertion. Regular exercise takes care of many of the symptoms of meno -

pause such as insomnia, improving your mood, and maintaining your weight.

Exercise is the number-one thing you can do to improve sleep. And by improv-

ing your sleep, you also improve your mood. And it’s not just the good night’s

sleep that will help to put you in your happy place. Exercise helps to produce

endorphins, which are your body’s own personal “happy pills.”

Perk #83: A Great Save on the Heating Bill

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After menopause, you will still be shapely, but the shape may turn out

to be a beach ball instead of an hourglass because of the hormonal shift.

Exercise will help keep the excess weight

from taking over and increase metabolism

by regulating cortisol, the hormone that

controls fat stores.

Acupuncture or Chinese herbs:
A 2011

study found that acupuncture can help

some women with symptoms of hot

flashes and mood swings by causing meas-

urable beneficial chemical changes in

the body. Usually there is also a trained

herbalist in the acupuncturist’s office who

might suggest Maca, ginseng, or kelp cap-

sules, which are supplements known to

reduce hot flashes and help with dryness. There are few risks to acupuncture,

and, although it’s not free, there is nothing to lose by trying this therapy.

Check your thyroid function:
Women around the age of menopause (forty-

five to fifty-five) can also develop thyroid abnormalities, which can mimic

some of the symptoms of menopause such as dryness and heart palpita-

tions. A simple blood test can tell if your thyroid is healthy.

Increase omega-3 intake:
omega-3 fatty acids are important for supple

skin, hair, and nails. Increasing omega-3 not only helps with the dryness of

menopause, but it also reduces your risk of inflammatory-dependent ill-

nesses like heart disease, arthritis, and cancer. The recommended dose is

1,000 mg twice a day with a meal.
Always check with your healthcare provider

before starting supplements.

Keep having regular sex
(a regular orgasm would also certainly suffice):

You know the saying “if you don’t use it, you’ll lose it.” This rings true for

sex as well. Your kitty will forget how to purr if you don’t scratch her neck

once in a while. You may need a lubricant to help things along, as vaginal

dryness can be an issue. (Read Health Tip #2 about estrogen for more help

there.) Always choose a lubricant with natural ingredients and without

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100 Perks of Having Cancer

paraben preservatives. The brand I use is Astroglide Natural; free from alco-

hol, fragrance, parabens, and artificial color, and it contains aloe (which

kitties just love). Visit www.astroglide.com.

Hypnosis:
You are feeling cooler . . . cooler . . . COOLER. All kidding aside,

hypnosis is proving to be a very useful tool in controlling the symptoms of

menopause. In one study, women saw a 70 percent reduction in symptoms

after only four sessions, and some women were able to completely rid them-

selves of hot flashes in three months. These finding were confirmed for those

with and without a history of breast cancer.

It should be noted that all tips mentioned here to help with menopausal

symptoms have no harmful side effects. Everyone’s symptoms are different

and every body responds to changing hormones in a unique way. But that

doesn’t mean you have to suffer and be a permanent “hot mess.” If you still

can’t quench the fire, you may want to look into seeing a naturopath for

additional advice.

Again, always check with your healthcare provider if you plan to start

any herbal therapy as some can interfere with certain medications.

Don’t think you have to suffer through the symptoms

of menopause. There’s plenty you can do to help

yourself, without visiting the pharmacy.

Perk #84

Cancer Can Trump

Pretty Much Anything

A
s predicted, I continued to get a break from dish duty long after my

cancer treatments ended. One Sunday, about six months into my

recovery, there was a large family gathering at Mom’s for turkey and all the

fixin’s. At the end of the meal, I noticed my sisters’ eyes dart nervously

around the table. I knew exactly what they were thinking:
Who is going to

wash all of these dishes?
It was touch and go there for a while, as both of

these sisters had also experienced health issues that year. However, as we

all know, cancer can trump a hysterectomy any old day! So once again, I

was ushered off to the couch while the job of cleanup fell to my sisters.

I am happy to report that I got a lot of mileage from that particular perk.

There were times, however, when the trump value of cancer was not so good.

Many times for example, friends and acquaintances would abruptly clam

up amid a legitimate complaint, because they seemed to feel that my cancer

made their problems seem insignificant. Example: “My husband just left

me/I am going bankrupt/All of my friends blocked me on Facebook . . .

BUT I shouldn’t complain after all that you have been through
.” Did any-

body ever stop to think that maybe I liked to hear about their problems?

That came out wrong. What I mean is, I am a counselor. Lending a listening

ear makes me feel useful. So, I think the rule of thumb is this: cancer does

trump other issues when it comes to washing dishes, but NOT when it

comes to being a supportive friend.

It is unethical to use one’s cancer to make other people’s problems

seem insignificant. However, it is totally acceptable to use your

cancer as an excuse to avoid household chores. (I feel confident

that the entire cancer community will back me up on that.)

I 357 J