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FROM THE MOUTHS OF SURVIVORS

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» WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2014 » MONTGOMERY ADVERTISER

SURVIVING BREAST CANCER 2014

BY DAWN KLINGENSMITH CTW FEATURES

ot every breast cancer patient goes through a “Why me?” period, but most reflect back at some point and identify knowledge gaps – things they wish they’d known at various stages, from pre-diagnosis through treatment and recovery. Here, survivors share those things in hopes of helping others facing similar health challenges.

BERSHAN SHAW (pictured left,) 40, OWN “Love in the City” docudrama star, New York City RECOVERY MEANS WORK – AND RELAXATION As soon as you get the diagnosis, that means a change needs to happen. It’s a wakeup call. You can’t get sick and keep doing the same thing. We like to take a pill and not do the work. You have to do the work. For me, that involves diet, exercise and “me time” – meditating, journaling or just sitting still with a cup of green tea. “Me time” is

part of the work because it’s a productive and worthwhile investment. I wish I’d put this knowledge into practice sooner because stress is so harmful to health.

WENDY WATKINS (pictured above) 47 corporate communications VP, Orchard Park, N.Y. FOOD NEED NOT BE DULL OR AGONIZING I wish I had known more about the impact of chemo on my ability to eat during treatment. My mouth had severe sores and my energy level dropped drastically which meant that proper nutrition was even more important, but I was unable to eat many foods. Anything acidic or salty burned my mouth. I had a constant metallic taste and a sore throat so it was difficult to swallow. I was limited to mashed-up, liquefied, bland foods. I have since learned there are other options through my involvement with the Cancer Nutrition Consortium, which offers resources and recipes for people in treatment.

A Woman lifted up by others is stronger than a woman standing alone! 2014 Breast Cancer Support Group Tuesday, October 14th Triple Negative Breast Cancer Presented by Dr. Pamela Strickland, Breast Surgeon, Dr. Stephen Davidson, Medical Oncologist, Dr. Lee Franklin, Radiation Oncologist

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Breast cancer s Kym Klass Living Well

focus

One local breast cancer organization has shifted its focus from education and prevention to survivorship and what is needed to be done to continue living in a healthy way. It is about changing the focus to meet the demands of the population, said Carrie Nelson Hale, founder of Sistas CanSurvive, a survivor-driven organization that aims to provide cancer education and cancer control services to African-Americans and other medically underserved populations in Alabama. “We’re focusing on survivorship and trying to connect with physicians and other medical providers in the area and to develop an integrated approach to survivorship plans,” she said. “That’s one of the major things that health care providers are attempting this time with the survivors. “We’ve gone through the education and awareness. We used to push that, push that, push that. So now we are coming out on the other end with many more survivors. There’s a greater need to take a look at their needs. Education is everywhere. Social networking has taken off with that. But what’s missing is the interface with the survivors and helping them take a look at what they want to do for the rest of their lives.”

Breast cancer survival rate A relative survival rate compares the survival of people with cancer with that of people without cancer, helping correct for deaths from things other than cancer, according to the American Cancer Society. A five-year survival rate refers to the percentage of breast cancer patients who live at least five years after their breast cancer is found. Those diagnosed with stages 0 and 1 have a 100 percent survival rate. Stage 2 has a 93 percent survival rate; stage 3, a 72 percent survival rate; and stage 4, a 22 percent survival rate. Data for these rates were last revised in January. A growing number of studies have looked at the impact of physical activity on cancer recurrence — cancer that comes back after treatment — and long-term survival, according to the ACS. Exercise has been shown to improve cardiovascular fitness, muscle strength, body composition, fatigue, anxiety, depression, self-esteem, happiness and several quality of life factors in cancer survivors. In 2006, the Institute of Medicine issued a report recommending that every cancer patient receive an individualized survivorship care plan that includes guidelines for monitoring and maintaining their health. In response to that report, many groups have now developed various types of “care plans” to help improve the quality of care of survivors as they move beyond their cancer treatment. “From a personal standpoint, and an educational standpoint, I think it’s really important that you maintain your appointments with your health care providers,” said breast cancer survivor Rosalyn Collins of Montgomery. “And that you follow their suggestions as it relates to eating healthy, which involves nutrition. That you exercise and watch your weight. We are always going to have that tiny little fear nagging at us, but don’t let that take over your life. We can live healthy lives.”

Staying fit Lisa Alwan of Montgomery was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer in September 2013 and credits her fitness for having found a lump in her breast. She had just started working out at Iron Tribe Fitness in Montgomery and lost 15 pounds. “I really think that if I didn’t work out and lose weight, I wouldn’t have found it as quickly as I did,” she said. “One day after a workout ... my hand hit on a spot on my right side that felt kind of swollen.” With no family history of breast cancer, Alwan had a mammogram, an ultrasound and two biopsies. And she learned she had breast cancer. Through the cancer treatments there was a small break from working out, but she started again in March and she is now back to where she was before the chemotherapy and surgeries. “It’s very important to continue working out,” Alwan said. “You get stronger, get a peace of mind. You’re aware of what you eat, of your nutrition. I try to eat as much fresh fruits and vegetables and lean meats. But exercise is key, too, in getting stronger and staying focused. It’s definitely a part of the survivorship.”

kklass@gannett.com |

survivorship

s on fitness, nutrition Checklist to survivorship There’s some evidence that getting to and staying at a healthy weight, eating right, and being physically active can help reduce the risk of a second cancer as well as other serious chronic diseases, according to the American Cancer Society, although more research is needed.

The American Cancer Society suggests the following for healthy eating after cancer: • • • • • • • • • •

Check with your doctor for any food or diet restrictions. Ask your dietitian to help you create a nutritious, balanced eating plan. Choose a variety of foods from all the food groups. Try to eat at least 2½ cups of fruits and vegetables each day; include citrus fruits and dark-green and deep-yellow vegetables. Eat plenty of high-fiber foods, like whole-grain breads and cereals. Buy a new fruit, vegetable, low-fat food or whole-grain product each time you shop for groceries. Decrease the amount of fat in your meals by baking or broiling foods. Limit your intake of red meat to no more than 3 to 4 servings a week. Avoid salt-cured, smoked and pickled foods (including bacon, sausage and deli meats). Choose low-fat milk and dairy products. If you choose to drink alcohol, limit the amount.

And for exercise: • • • •

Take part in regular physical activity. Avoid inactivity and return to normal daily activities as soon as possible after diagnosis. Aim to exercise at least 150 minutes per week. Include strength training exercises at least two days per week.

Cancer survivors want to be active, said Hale. For her part, Hale runs with the organization Black Girls Run!, which was developed in an effort to tackle the growing obesity epidemic in the African-American community and provide encouragement and resources to both new and veteran runners. The mission is to encourage women to make fitness and healthy living a priority. “We’re actually developing a method where we will integrate nutrition, exercise and support groups all in one and as they finish treatment,” she said of Sistas CanSurvive. “I’m hoping to have something lined up by the beginning of the year.”

Need support? Joy to Life Foundation, P.O. Box 241172, Montgomery, AL 36124-1172. The foundation is a nonprofit organization providing free mammograms for medically underserved women younger than 50 in 28 counties in south-central Alabama. To learn more, visit www.joytolife.org Women of Hope, 1601 Walnut St., Montgomery. This support group works to provide education, awareness, support, encouragement and mentoring for patients and their families, and to support breast cancer research. To learn more, call 220-4599 or visit www.thewomenofhope.info SISTAs Can Survive Coalition, 300 Oak Ridge Drive, Pike Road. SISTAs is a survivor-driven organization that aims to provide cancer education and cancer control services to African-Americans and other medically underserved populations in Alabama. To learn more, call 430-1070. Cancer Wellness Foundation of Central Alabama, 4145 Carmichael Road, Montgomery. The foundation works to provide educational, supportive and research services to address the emotional and physical needs of cancer patients and their families who financially fall at or below federal poverty guidelines. To learn more, call 273-2279 or visit www.cancerwellnessfoundation.org American Cancer Society, 800-227-2345. The ACS is the nationwide community-based voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives and diminishing suffering from cancer through research, education, advocacy and service. Visit www.cancer.org to learn more.

Walk for Sistas Sistas CanSurvive will host its annual walk Oct. 11 at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival. For more information, call 430-1070.

@kymklass on Twitter

SURVIVING BREAST CANCER 2014 had a constant metallic taste and a sore throat so it was difficult to swallow. I was limited to mashed-up, liquefied, bland foods. I have since learned there are other options through my involvement with the Cancer Nutrition Consortium, which offers resources and recipes for people in treatment.

BONNIE HIRSCHHORN MYRA TAYLOR (pictured above) 69, retired IT professional, Freeport, N.Y. MAMMOGRAMS SAVE LIVES … I wish I had known more about the impact of chemo on my ability to eat during treatment. My mouth had severe sores and my energy level dropped drastically which meant that proper nutrition was even more important, but I was unable to eat many foods. Anything acidic or salty burned my mouth. I

(pictured right) 68, teacher and guidance counselor, Bayside, N.Y. HOWEVER, MAMMOGRAMS AREN’T FAILPROOF I wish I’d known that a lump in my breast would not scrub away in the shower. That “We can see you in two weeks” was not an appointment I had to accept. That “Nothing shows on the mammography” is not necessarily an indication of breast health.

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MIKE NELSEN (pictured below) 54, sales director, Barrington, Ill.

I had only a 3 percent chance of recurrence without chemo. I wish I’d known about the test earlier because I could have skipped chemotherapy in the first place.

NATALIE SKINNER (pictured below) 37, eligibility specialist, Suffolk, Va.

MEN GET BREAST CANCER, TOO I had experienced a little pain and noticed a little lump in my chest. I thought, “It’s just an ingrown hair. Ignore it and it’ll go away.” I didn’t know men could get breast cancer and didn’t have it looked at until I noticed blood. After the mastectomy, I started chemotherapy, not expecting it to be a big deal. I even kept plans to entertain customers in Breckenridge. Well, I missed my ski trip and ended up in intensive care due to an aggravated cecum (intestinal pouch) as a result of the chemo. Eventually I was told about this test (Oncatype DX Breast Cancer Assay) to determine my recurrence likelihood with or without chemo. My insurance didn’t cover it, but we did it anyway and that’s how I found out

SUPPORT COMES FROM UNLIKELY PLACES I was so concerned about telling my kids, but it turns out my 19-yearold daughter knew more about cancer in general than I did and was able to help me explain it to my son. In fact, it was my daughter who said, when we went in for shots, “Hey, Ma, you might as well say something about that little lump you found.” So she was a huge help from the very beginning. After my diagnosis, she helped me research my options and write down questions for my doctor. She even made it seem like losing my hair was the coolest thing in the world.

SURVIVING BREAST CANCER 2014

DANA MANCIAGLI (pictured above, left, with sister Tracy Frank, right) 54, career coach and speaker, New York City THERE MAY BE MORE OPTIONS OUT THERE My identical twin, Tracy Frank, and I both survived breast cancer twice. The third time took Tracy’s life on May 18, 2014. I’ll speak for Tracy on the things we wished we knew. Since we had no known family history of cancer, we wished we

had known that the BRCA gene (breast-ovarian cancer susceptibility gene) was highest in Ashkenazi Jewish heritages. We would have gotten tested and known we were BRCA positive. We wish we knew sooner that there are labs that can take a biopsy and indicate the most effective chemotherapies for a patient’s individual cancer. The tests (called Chemo-Sensitivity Testing or assays) aren’t widely used and you generally have to ask for them. © CTW Features

Help Is a Click - or Call Away Breast cancer survivors tend to spread the word about organizations and resources they find particularly helpful. Our featured survivors were especially vocal about the organizations listed here. By no means is this list comprehensive or intended to replace a doctor’s care or advice. • Adelphi NY Statewide Breast Cancer Hotline & Support Program (800-877- 8077) • Breastcancer.org • CancerNutritionConsortium. org for recipes based on chemo aversions and cravings • Cancer Treatment Centers of America (800-931-9299) • URAWarrior.com online support forums

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