Author Archive
Having Cancer in High School
A few months ago as I was meeting with my geneticist, he posted a question I had never thought about:
“Imagine how good of a volleyball player you would have been if you wouldn’t have had cancer in high school!”
Now granted, I was no Gabrielle Reece but I had my share of spikes and serves back in junior high. But as I entered high school and played my freshman year, the fire went out. A sport that I had always loved was burdensome. I wasn’t as good as I had been years earlier. I was exhausted after practices. I wasn’t having very much fun. I felt out of shape, but I was in shape. I chalked it up to being lazy and ready to move on, but after the doc mentioned that the cancer would have been impacting my athleticism, I started to wonder if my body was telling me something back then – and the exit from after school sports was more than my desire to get home early and watch Jerry Springer. (you all watched it at some point or another too, don’t judge!)
As I watched the opening ceremony to the Olympics, it made me wonder what type of athlete I would have become. The dream of becoming a great athlete was always so far fetched and unrealistic. But as I watched men and women my own age ski down mountains, ride 90 mph on sleds, and play ice hockey to a worldwide audience this week, I realized that dreams are obtainable, and our adolescence defines our adulthood more than we ever realize.
I’m not saying that I had the talent to be an Olympic athlete, but this week I’ve wondered what life in general would have been like had I not gotten cancer in high school. I’ve gone back and forth with wanting to go back and change it, and being content with how it all turned out. It felt so unfair at first – instead of worrying about my dress for prom, I was more concerned if I would have hair! Forget the Algebra, I was concerned with blood tests.
Now that I’m older and a two-time survivor, I’ve realized that being sick at a young age actually sheltered me from the real world, and I’m OK with how it all turned out. I’m glad it first happened when I was younger – I had so much to look forward to, the diagnosis felt like a speed bump rather than a road block in my teenage life. Sure, there are parts of the experience that I would do without, but having cancer in high school has made me who I am and given me a unique perspective on life. I wouldn’t have the husband I do now. I wouldn’t be as close to my family and friends. I’d probably still be embarrassed about buying toilet paper at the store. And I wouldn’t have met all of the incredible and inspiring doctors, nurses and fellow survivors had I not had the disease.
It’s taken me awhile to get to this mindset, but I feel I’m finally here. I finally see how to count it joy when your trials come. And while I may not be competing on the snowy slopes for an Olympic medal, I’m in my own race against disease and life is all the medal I need.
Opening Ceremony Costume Party
You Say Tomato
Thanks to some of my great friends and former co-workers, I’ve had the pleasure of eating at this cute little shop two times in the past two weeks. Nestled in a neighborhood a few blocks from Crown Center and Children’s Mercy, You Say Tomato is definitely one of those “Cheers” type places for the healthy eater. It’s quaint, emo, and a neighborhood place that’s located in what was originally a grocery store. Their 1930s art deco decorations definitely take you back, and you get the feel that your immediate heartfelt feelings are not the only ones when you notice that many other professionals make it their lunch spot of choice.
While they don’t boast that all of their food is necessarily “organic” or “local” for that matter, it’s definitely still a place I will vouch for. Each meal is freshly prepared with wholesome ingredients. So far I’ve had the roasted turkey sandwich (came with real pieces of turkey like Thanksgiving leftovers – not deli meat) and the four-cheese grilled cheese. My lunch mates have ordered salads and a mushroom pastry meals. All that I’ve tried has been delish and well… wholesome. They are also known for their breakfast dishes and coffee shop.
I appreciate the ambiance of the place. They sell organic juices and yogurt in a cooler near the checkout line, and have a small grocery section off to the side full of organic and all-natural treats. They’re a very unique shop – you can buy a stick of butter and shop in the grocery section while drinking a coffee and waiting for bread to bake. They’re pretty eco-friendly too as each person gets a real cup and fills their own water from an old-fashioned ceramic water spout. I also hear they don’t have a microwave.
It’s fun to find little locally owned shops in KC that are trying to do food the right way again. If you ever venture over to the Crown Center area for breakfast, lunch or coffee, I highly recommend finding this place!
You Say Tomato
2801 Holmes
Kansas City, MO 64109
816-756-5097
Hours:
7 a.m.- 3 p.m. Monday-Saturday
8 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday
Another Semi-Colon Props
Our first Semi-Colon Props went to football player Devin Hester.
Our second goes to SNL & Ashton Kutcher for their Web Exclusive Video: Tooter. Way to have an idea that would make the world a friendlier place for us semi-colons.
See for yourself:
http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/clips/web-exclusive-tooter/1199717/
(sorry, embed feature not working for me today!)
The Super Bowl Toilet Paper Poll
In honor of the Super Bowl, I thought we’d have a little competition of our own! This is a topic very near and dear to my heart. Take a second and play along!
Sharing my Blue with the Red
While this blog is dedicated to colon health and colon cancer awareness, today I feel its important to share the spotlight with another important cause: heart health. So while I’m usually bleeding blue (color for colon cancer), today I will move over and give the spotlight to red. Because after all, that’s what all of us wish pink would do once and a while, right?
Today is National Wear Red Day. It’s a day dedicated to bringing awareness of heart disease and stroke in women (and men too). Like colon cancer, it has as a risk of sneaking up on you unexpectedly and many assume it’s just a “man’s disease.” The truth is though, stroke and heart attacks impact women just as much as men, and it’s actually the number ONE killer of women in America. Surprised? I was. The good news is, like colon cancer, it’s preventable.
Two of the easiest things you can to is to:
1. Know the warning signs and symptoms of heart attack, stroke and other heart-related problems.
2. Eat heart-healthy meals.
I encourage you to be aware of this health risk, and to inform yourself. Visit the Go Red website for more info. And eat an apple today, will ya?
A Safe Apple A Day…
should really keep the doctor away – or at least hold him off if you’re like me.
Here’s my second recommendation for those of you interested in eating safer, healthier foods but have NO IDEA where to start. My first step was using the company Fresh Connect. My second step is knowing the “Dirty Dozen” and choosing to buy the organic version of these fruits & veggies.
The Environmental Working Group has made a list of the “Dirty Dozen” produce items that contain the highest levels of chemical and pesticide residues. Remember, the key is to start small, and this is one easy way to do that. Make a decision to start buying an organic version of ONE of these at first, and then break yourself in. You don’t jump into a cold pool all at once, you start by testing the water with your toe. So, do the same with switching to safer foods. Test the waters here, and choose a few of these to try. I’m not saying the organic version will necessarily taste different, but recognize how you feel afterward – both physically and mentally. If you’re like me, you will slowly work your way up to buying the organic version of almost all of these and find a way to make it work with your budget. It’s worth it.
Why?
Your body will be digesting foods it recognizes and not be distracted by processing strange chemicals that have been sprayed on the food. Your insides will stay focused on fighting disease, burning fat and keeping balanced hormones rather than going haywire because of a foreign chemical intruder. As a 26-year-old colon cancer survivor, this has become a priority for me as I can’t afford to have my body not focused on fighting off my naturally-causing genetic deficiencies because it’s preoccupied with Round Up on the peaches. I’m not saying this will keep my cancer away, but it sure won’t hurt that effort either. Whether you’re in my boat or not – do this for yourself and for your future health. I don’t think eating safe foods is something you’ll ever regret.
The Dirty Dozen
- Peaches
- Apples
- Sweet bell peppers
- Celery
- Nectarines
- Strawberries
- Cherries
- Lettuce
- Imported grapes
- Pears
- Spinach
- Potatoes
Here are some places in the KC area that I go to buy organic produce. (ahem – come on Walmart, get with it!)
- Fresh Connect
- Nature’s Pantry (great place, little pricey, but still awesome)
- Hy-Vee (fresh produce isn’t in the Health Market specifically, it’s with the regular produce. Frozen is with the Health Market stuff though.)
- Target (smaller selection, but it’s there nonetheless)
- Whole Foods (for my Overland Park readers)
- Farmers Markets. Here’s a link Farmer’s Markets in the KC Area. Don’t forget about Lee’s Summit’s market who isn’t on the list yet! Also remember that even if the market doesn’t say it’s an “Organic Market,” there will be plenty of vendors there with organic produce.
- Jason’s Deli. I know it’s not a market, but if you’re hungry for a safe salad, this is the place to go. These guys have a ton of organic produce on their salad bar.
Did I miss any here? Write in and let me know if I need to add to the list!
Source of the Dirty Dozen: An Unhealthy Truth by Robin O’Brien, page 274
My Personal 9/11
Some days you never forget. Just about everyone can tell you where they were during 9/11. I distinctly remember Columbine. And my dad still tells stories of JFK’s shooting. Today is not a day that is remembered by our nation, but it is a day that’s significant for me and my family. It’s one of those days where no matter how many years go by, I will always remember where I was and what happened nine years ago.
My story actually begins at the library. I worked at the public library near my house as a “page” which meant I had the glorified job of arranging books on a cart and then reshelving them. It was a great job with flexible hours, decent pay and amazing coworkers. It was a Tuesday night. I was with my friends (we called ourselves “The A Team”, ) and we were excited this evening because we had the special job of moving the tables and chairs in the childrens’ book area for a speaker. We loved when speakers came. We’d spend at least 30 minutes on unique arrangements for the chairs and table stacking patterns. Anything that could take up extra time, we tried.
As much as I was trying to have fun with our furniture arranging on this evening, I wasn’t feeling it. I was expecting a phone call, and my mind couldn’t stay focused. I couldn’t shake a feeling that something was off. As we finished setting up for the program, I looked up to see my mom & dad coming through the doors. I was surprised to see them since I had two hours of work left. Something was strange though. Their faces verified my anxious feelings. Plus, they looked like death. They met me in the childrens’ area and began to deliver the news.
“We got a call from Dr. T’s office today,” my dad said. “Your mass they found was malignant.”
Dad and Mom looked at me with somber faces, pursed their lips, and anticipated my response. As they began to reach in for instant comfort, the reality that I was a little too young for the disease set in as I asked,
“Malignant? What does that mean?”
They got an even sadder look on their faces.
“It means it’s cancer honey,” Mom said. “Your tumor is cancerous.”
As soon as Mom explained that malignant meant cancer, I felt a heaviness that hasn’t ever completely lifted. I’m sure I began asking many questions they couldn’t answer. We made our way toward the front of the library for my coat and stopped by to tell my boss that I’d be gone for a while. She gave me a big hug and told me not to worry about a thing.
The rest of the evening is a blur, except I remember telling my brother, calling Mike who was at SBU, and having Nick come over to pray with my family that evening. I knew nothing about cancer, except that the only man I knew who had it, died. I knew I should have felt scared, but didn’t fully understand. I wasn’t crying, I wasn’t sure I was upset. I was just numb and confused about what this all meant. At 17, I didn’t have a lot of experience with the disease, nor did I understand its repurcussions. All I knew was that life would be different.
One thing I remember telling Nick that evening was that I was thankful for the opportunity to spice up my testimony. I had always felt I had such a vanilla story of knowing Jesus. I was raised in the church, so my journey was so typical up until then, or so I felt. But this night, when the cancer bomb dropped, I knew my story had changed. While I was unaware of the physical and mental changes, I definitely knew that part of this new diagnosis was spiritual. And my teenage faith automatically put me into the “God’s got a purpose” for this mode that night.
T
oday I enter my ninth year as a cancer survivor, and I am reminded by my own words back then. No matter what comes – whether it’s a third diagnosis, a complete colon removal, a rough day with olive oil, losing a friend, or just a challenging emotional day, my prayer is that I forever hang on to my own teenage advice and remember God’s got a plan for all of this – and I have to trust that.
2Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1:2-4
Fresh Connect
I’ve had a few requests to start blogging some additional info about the organic/local food movement and steps to take if you’re new to the whole idea but want to slowly break into it.
One of the first, and easiest, steps I took after deciding that I wanted to eat “safer” foods was to sign up with Fresh Connect.
This is mainly for Kansas City-area residents so if you’re an out of town reader, I apologize. I’d encourage you to look around in your area for a food co-op, as many metropolitan cities have these. Also, a great way to get plugged into this movement is to become a Farmer’s Market shopper in a few months.
But for my KC readers, Fresh Connect has helped me effortlessly start eating healthier, safer foods. A “to-your-door” delivery service, they deliver fresh produce and meat to your home as often as you choose. You select the quantity and frequency and leave the rest up to them. It not only saves you time if you have a busy schedule like ours, but it makes you eat healthier because you’re stocking up on fresh fruits and veggies instead of prepacked junk found at the store. We’ve also enjoyed the variety of foods we’ve branched out to eat. Foods like cabbage, beets, squash, buffalo meat, among others have made their way onto our menu and we’re enjoying this nice change!
For our two-person family, we’re set up on a rotation to get a fruit & vegetable combo delivery two times/month. We also receive a delivery of meat the first week of each month. They have many options for food and deliveries that will fit any budget. We’ve chosen to devote around $100/month toward this food delivery. It’s cut down on our grocery spending too, as we now just pick up a few of the additional items every few weeks that help us prepare meals and lunches.
I know this isn’t for everyone, but if you’re serious about eating more local, safe food this is a great first step.
Check it out at www.freshconnectkc.com.
** Mention that I referred you, and we’ll both receive $5 off of a delivery!
Poop Rainbow
Today, the blog just got bolder. But this topic often goes un-discussed and needs to be out there. So here we go.
Ever have an unusual bowel movement? Poop looking peculiar? Have a crazy color in the ca-ca? Sometimes it’s nothing, and sometimes it’s something. Although I’m not a doctor, I’m often everyone’s go-to girl when it comes to unusual poop. While this isn’t a comprehensive list, hopefuly it’s a starting point for anyone seeing some strange stool colors.
Red – If you see any red in your stool or on your TP, have a heightened awareness. If it’s bright red, usually that indicates some type of tear or hemorrhoids. NOT ALWAYS, but often. Often called “blood in the stool,” the darker the red, the more serious the problem. If you start seeing dark red on your poo, speak up and call a doctor ASAP. It could be nothing, or it could be something. Don’t play with it though. And from personal experience – cutting out tomatoes, ketchup, Twizzlers or anything else “red” won’t make it go away.
Orange – You must have eaten a lot of carrots. This one is not extremely common, but can be found based on the bacteria in your body. Also, if you’ve recently had a scan involving dye, this could impact it as well.
Yellow/Green – If your food has gone through your digestive system faster than normal, a greenish/yellowish color might be seen. Or – if you have a tiny colon and much of the digesting is done in the small intestine, this is also the case sometimes, especially when things are running through you. Also to note, corn kernels don’t break down in the digestive system. It’s normal to see a yellow kernel saying hello during your trip to the porcelain pool. A diet high in iron, and particularly leafy greens, can also cause a green poop showing.
Blue/Purple – I guess this is mostly seen in kiddos when they get sick. While it’s not extremely common it can also signal that you’ve just eaten food with a lot of blue food coloring.
Brown– This is the most common color, obviously. This is mostly due to the bile, which is produced in the liver. Sometimes it’s darker and sometimes it’s lighter, but if it’s all brown, you should be in the clear. (** Unless you have a family history of colon cancer which means you should always be inspecting your poo and keeping up on your colonoscopies just in case.)
Black– Black stool is no good. It usually signals that you’re bleeding internally. Toward the end of my strange stool sightings and right before I went to the doctor, this color was pretty common for me. Don’t mess around with black stool, as it CAN mean cancer, ulcer, or other internal problems, regardless of your age! Get it checked out.
White – White poop is uncommon, but it can be a signal that something might be wrong with the liver. I wouldn’t mess around with this one either.
It is important to note that any dramatic change in color can be a sign that something is off. Keep a close eye on it, and if it persists more than a week or two, I recommend calling your doctor or GI specialist. Sometimes what you’ve eaten is influencing your poop’s color. But sometimes it’s not. And if you’re experiencing the colors of the rainbow more often than not, don’t let it go on for a few years and then decide to speak up like I did. You’ll save yourself the trouble and possibly many feet of colon.
Sources:
http://women.webmd.com/pharmacist-drugs-medication-9/digestive-problems
Semicolon Stories 