Cancer Wellness Magazine: The Pediatrics Issue with Kym Douglas

SPRING 2020

KYM DOUGLAS THE CHARMING TV HOST GETS VULNERABLE ABOUT LIFE POST-CANCER

THE PEDIATRICS ISSUE

FIGHTING FOR CANCER’S MOST UNDERSERVED POPULATION

K AROLINA JASKO FROM CANCER

WARRIOR TO BEAUTY QUEEN

US $10.00

CANCER CLUSTERS

COULD YOU

BE NEAR ONE?

MAY 10TH, 2020 MONTROSE HARBOR REGISTER AT KOMENCHICAGO.ORG/RACE CONTACT US AT RACE@KOMENCHICAGO.ORG

Letter from the Editor

THE

NEW CANCER CA M PA IGN S

Photo by of Petya Shamalonova

tay positive and adapt. For the past week (which has coincided with the precipitous rise of COVID-19), I have been repeating this mantra each morning and throughout the day.

Uncertainty, difficulty and hardship are unavoidable tenets of modern life, and unfortunately, so too is disease. With so much of our world affected by disease in one way or another, now is a good time to focus on positive thinking. We can do this by proactively engaging in activities that deprive our minds of dark, magnetic, and defeatist places where fear and sadness reign. Produced remotely, the cW team has crafted a spring issue to provide you inspiration and hope.

Issue six is our pediatrics issue. With less than 4 percent of cancer research allocated to pediatric cancer (and a trove of research indicating heightened cancer recurrence and other serious side effects), there is an urgent need for more research, trials and drug development in this area.

Most of us understand that the environment that we are surrounded by plays a vital role in our health.

Our article on cancer clusters (pg. 88) gives frightening evidence of just how impactful environmental pollution can be, especially on children.

Fortunately, several fantastic organizations like Bear Necessities (pg. 48), a Chicago-based charity that provides experiences to children with cancer, have answered the call-to-action.

Kym Douglas, our cover star is a thriver, mother and public paradigm of advocacy for the cancer community. A regular on Hallmark Channel’s “Home & Family” and a common face on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show,” we caught up with her (pg. 58) on set to talk about how cancer amplified her resolve to be fearless and hone her leadership acumen.

We welcome you to the New Cancer Community. This spirited community is composed of warriors, thrivers and supporters who openly wear resilience, empathy and positivity on our faces and in our hearts. Join us!

Cancer Wellness

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THERGY Cancer Care Solutions

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Experience a blend of natural active ingredients and minerals formulated to prevent the common side effects of radiation therapy. ARC is a luxurious moisturizing cream, easily absorbed and safe for all skin types.

Patients using ARC benefit from a reduced level of irritation and discomfort while enjoying an increased sense of well-being.

Begin with ARC. Finish with healthy skin.

Feel Better While Getting Better.

Inside and Out To learn more about ARC, visit thergy.com

SPRING 2020 NUTRITION 23

62

NYBLLS & BITES This plant-focused catering company serves the country’s best athletes.

LIZZIE CARR

MIND & BODY 29

BOTTOM’S DOWN Binge drinking is common in cancer warriors and thrivers, and poses longlasting risks.

BEAUTY 35

REACHING FOR THE CROWN Before she was Ms. Illinois USA, Karolina Jasko was a cancer survivor.

COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE 43

COOL TO CURE Is cryotherapy the future for cancer treatment?

ENTERTAINMENT 58

YES, SHE CAN Wife, mother, actress, tv host … and breast cancer survivor. What can’t Kym Douglas do?

TR AVEL 69

HIKE TO HEAL True North Treks connects young cancer survivors to the great outdoors.

71

BREAST BUDDIES Internationally known, The Breasties first began as a small idea between four friends.

FASHION 80

A ‘STYLE’ IS BORN When wigs just wouldn’t do, Sonya Keshwani designed a style all her own.

ENVIRONMENT 88

A CLUSTERING OF CANCER Once a cancer cluster is confirmed, what comes next?

Cancer Wellness

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CAYLEI VOGELZANG Editor-in-Chief BRITT JULIOUS Editorial Director

NATALIA ESPINOSA Creative Director FEATURES Senior Editor CATHERINE EVES Editor-at-Large MIRELA KOPIER

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS NATALIE CRAIG, MARIA TRIPODIS, LIZ TUCKWELL

PHOTOGRAPHY JOHN KHUU, BETHANY MOLLENKOF, PETYA SHALAMANOVA, ADRIAN C. GARCIA

CREATIVE Videography MINNIE PRODUCTIONS Media Manager ADRIAN C. GARCIA

SALES Account Manager ALLISON STERN

OPERATIONS Executive Assistant MELANIJA ERGARAC, ISABEL GARCIA Operations Manager JACK SAXE-STARAL

EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD NATALIE CRAIG, DENA DODD PERRY, DR. SHIKHA JAIN, DR. GAIL PRINS, DR. GLEN STEVENS, MARIA TRIPODIS

DISTRIBUTION

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ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. NO PART OF THIS PUBLICATION MAY BE REPRODUCED IN WHOLE OR PART WITHOUT PERMISSION FROM THE PUBLISHER. THE VIEWS EXPRESSED IN CANCER WELLNESS ARE THOSE OF THE RESPECTIVE CONTRIBUTORS AND ARE NOT NECESSARILY SHARED BY CANCER WELLNESS AND ITS STAFF.

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Cancer Wellness

CONTRIB UTORS

BETHANY MOLLENKOF

NATALIE CRAIG

Bethany is a ​documentary photographer and commercial director based in Los Angeles, California. Her work uses a thoughtful, ​journalistic approach to tell complex stories about gender, culture, identity and representation through an ​e​ngaging, v ​ ​ibrant and artistic process.

Natalie is the creator behind natalieinthecity.com, a Chicago-based blog focused on petite plus size fashion without rules. Through her blog, Natalie has helped change the narrative of curvy bodies in fashion and beauty. She currently doubles as a business-to-business magazine editor covering the manufacturing industry.

She graduated from Columbia College Chicago with a Bachelor of Arts in multimedia journalism and is a member of the Cancer Wellness advisory board.

PHOTOGRAPHER

JOHN KHUU

CONTRIBUTOR

ISABEL GARCIA

PHOTOGRAPHER

EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT

John is a Chicago-based photographer. While he spends his days working for a digital agency, he uses his time off for creative work for his photography. Much of John’s work revolves around his travels and it translates to what he likes to work with today. John is always on top of the food and drink scene, and you can often find him at a dive bar. He also enjoys cooking wild meals, constantly spending too much money at restaurants and playing video games.

Isabel is an Executive Assistant at Cancer Wellness. She has a passion for helping others and finding solutions.

She is active in the community and volunteers her time helping the homeless.

Cancer Wellness

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#cW MANTRA

“NO ONE WALKS AWAY FROM CANCER THE SAME. YOU FIND YOUR NEW NORMAL, AND ONCE YOU FIND THAT NEW NORMAL, THAT’S WHEN YOU START TO THRIVE.“ - DAMIAN BUCHMAN @damianbspeaks

the warrior

GARRETT BYRD AS TOLD TO BRITT JULIOUS

This is the second time I’ve [battled] cancer. The first time, it definitely hit me way harder.

I had my first battle in 2016 before I went to college.

And I was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma, but they caught it early. I had radiation everyday for three weeks.

I thought I was doing fine. I was coming up on my three-year remission this past fall. I went back, they found another mass that I had to get biopsied and it kind of just spiraled from there. It transformed into a new type of cancer—non-Hodgkin lymphoma—and now [I] have to go through six rounds of chemo, three weeks apart. This is another bump in the road, [but] I don’t want this disease to run my life.

It’s definitely a delicate balancing act. I’ve been trying to live my own life, while at the same time battling this life threatening disease. I’ve [worked] with the university [to get on] academic disability. My professors have been super accommodating. I’m really involved with Camp Kesem. Having that support system not only with my fellow counselors, but also the campers I’m pretty close with, [has] been a big contributor in helping me stay sane and keep everything balanced.

Hockey has also been such a cornerstone of my life since I was 6 years old, so I really can’t imagine my life without it. I play club hockey. I am actually the president.

It’s a student-run organization. Once I was diagnosed, it was really hard for me to accept [that] I’m not going to be feeling my best physically. But at the same time, I want to be the best teammate and player I can be.

There [are] days where I feel like garbage, and there are days where mentally, I’m defeated. The best way I’ve found to push through that adversity is to find something that makes me happy in the moment. Kind of finding that one thing that helps me ground myself mentally and hit the reset button. If I get too caught up in a situation that gets me down, it will ruin the entire day. Once you’re in that bad mental state, it’s hard to get out of it.

I’ve learned that the most important thing is having my support system, whether it’s my friends, my girlfriend, my family or my teammates. They remind me [that] okay, it stinks right now, but it’s going to be okay. It doesn’t have to be okay all of the time. Life goes on and life is going to be better after this.

To hear more from Garrett, visit cancerwellness.com

Photo by John Khuu

This is another bump in the road, [but] I don’t want this disease to run my life.

THE cW LIBRARY This season’s shelf features the work of doctors-turned-writers answering questions about cancer and it’s cure in language accessible to young adults and beyond.

REVIEWED BY CATHERINE EVES

I

n language comfortable for both practicing oncologists and the layman, “The First Cell” offers an overview of the history of cancer treatment (as well as cancer itself) in straightforward yet elegant prose.

A professor at Columbia University and oncologist, Azra Raza calls on personal anecdotes and experiences to discuss the matter at hand: “The issue is not so much that there has been little progress in cancer research,” Raza writes, but rather: “The question is why there is so little improvement in treatment. Why can’t we make use of the millions of research papers published in the past fifty years claiming huge successes in understanding the biology of cancer?”

Raza, instead, calls for research into early detection, noting that the majority of research dollars goes to studying novel chemotherapies that, more often than not, prolong life for only a short time, but with significant expense to the patient. In “The First Cell,” Raza makes a case for refocusing cancer research efforts to stop the disease before it gains enough power to infect the body at all. Exploring cancer from every angle—scientific, cultural and personal—”The First Cell” is sure to satisfy the literary whims of everyone in the cancer community.

By Azra Raza, October 2019, Basic Books, $28.00

Book covers courtesy of the publishers

WHEN BLOOD BREAKS DOWN

By Mikkael A. Sekeres

THE CHEATING CELL

By Athena Aktipis

Oncologist and New York Times essayist Mikkael A. Sekeres’ new book features narrative accounts of treating three patients with leukemia. The language is educational without being stuffy and imbued with a refreshing sensitivity and respect from an expert in his field. “When Blood Breaks Down” follows three patients newly diagnosed with leukemias of varying degrees of morbidity. There’s Joan, a 48-year-old nurse; Sarah, a 36-year-old pregnant woman; and David, a 68-year-old factory worker whose cancer may have been caused on the job. In treating these patients, Sekeres attempts to solve the problem of “bone marrow gone wrong.” Interspersed with a plot following the patients through diagnosis and treatment, Sekeres chronicles the history of leukemia and it’s treatment to create a book that feels at home in both the medical-school classroom or a monthly book club.

“The Cheating Cell” posits that to triumph over cancer, we must rethink how we understand how it affects the body. According to Aktipis, cancer mustn’t be considered “as something that must be eliminated at all costs, but rather as something that must be controlled and shaped into a companion that we can live with.” Aktipis succeeds in translating science jargon into something more palatable, offering an explanation—if not an easy one, at least a compelling one—of what cancer is and where it derives. When we are able to understand that cancer is fundamentally a part of us, “we can learn to live with cancer more effectively, and even shape it into a disease that is easier to live with,” Aktipis writes.

April 2020, The MIT Press, $29.95

March 2020, Princeton University Press, $24.95

Cancer Wellness

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A More Level Playing Field Under the direction of founder Damian Buchman, Milwaukee nonprofit The Ability Center provides inclusive play opportunities for people of all abilities while changing the conversation around accessibility and inclusivity entirely.

BY CATHERINE EVES

Photo courtesy of Damian Buchman

“M

y goal is to create opportunities for a higher in play, and so what about making sure the elderly [can] quality of life,” says Damian Buchman, engage on the playground?” founder of Milwaukee’s The Ability Center The Ability Center’s motivations are based on seven and RampUPMKE. “[With The Ability principles of playground design as identified by GameTime, Center], everything we do and everywhere we focus is a park building group partnering with The Ability Center about playing together and creating an equitable experion their inclusive playground project. They are: create ence for people with disabilities.” equitable opportunities, access flexibilities (i.e., include Buchman, a childhood cancer thriver, is using his things like ramps in playground design), simple and intuexperience to promote opportunities to allow play for itive design, promote independence and individual explopeople of all abilities and ages, and change the conversaration, meet safety standards, accommodate diverse needs, tion around accessibility and inclusivity. Today, Buchman and allow space for movement and gathering. celebrates 26 years of survivorship. He received a double Organizations like GameTime and The Ability Center cancer diagnosis at ages 13 and 14: osteosarcoma in both fill gaps left by federal legislation. Although the Americans legs required 22 knee-replacement surgeries. His experiwith Disabilities Act passed in 1990 and includes guideence makes him acutely aware of how community-based lines for accessibility in public spaces, these are far from recreational activities favor the non-disabled. comprehensive. “It’s an important piece of legislation that This is most commonly seen at places like community has opened a lot of doors, [but] the law basically says that parks and beaches. At Milwaukee’s two public ice skating you can get in,” Buchman says. “So there’s a difference rinks, The Ability Center has provided ice skating sleds. between access and opportunity: Access means I can get “Regardless of disability, [everyone] has been able to ice in the door, [but] what’s my opportunity in that space? [...] skate now,” Buchman says. “The ice skating rink will What are the things that I can do or can’t do versus what check out skates to anybody else, so we’re saying people everybody else can?” with disabilities should have the same opportunities.”

Another initiative of The Ability Center is working with At Milwaukee’s Bradford Beach, The Ability Center has local schools to ensure a similar level of inclusivity in physprovided beach-accessible wheelical education classes. Their Adaptive chairs (which feature larger wheels Athletic Program teaches all students “There’s a difference between how to play games designed to accomthat more adeptly maneuver across access and opportunity: the sand), and is also building a modate particular disabilities. The ramp onto the beach—without being Ability Center conducts “P.E. takeAccess means I can get in exclusionary. “We’re making a ramp overs” and provides wheelchairs for all the door, [but] what’s my that’s about accessibility look just like students in the class to play games like an entrance to the beach,” Damian opportunity in that space? wheelchair basketball and wheelchair begins. “[It isn’t] a ramp that looks tag. “By giving a kind of experiential like it’s for people with disabilities, [...] What are the things that educational atmosphere where [stu[because] we don’t want to single out dents] actually touch it, see it, feel it, I can do or can’t do versus the user, right?” [and] play it, I think that that will open what everybody else can?” their eyes brighter than just talking

This philosophy is at the heart of Buchman’s work. The Ability about it,” Buchman says. Another Center is in the middle of building a “fully inclusive park” game, called Goal Ball, is designed for the vision impaired, at Wisconsin Avenue Park, just outside of Milwaukee (a and features black-out goggles (worn both by seeing people project they’re aiming to complete in the next 12 to 18 as well as those who are fully blind) and a ball that emits months). This is far different from a “universal playsound. According to Buchman, hardware like wheelchairs ground,” according to Buchman. “[A] playground is often or black-out goggles are just part of the game: “This isn’t an in a multi-acre park, and what you’re really doing is saying, adaptation for you; this is a piece of sports equipment that all ‘Here’s your corner of this multi-acre park.’” Instead of a the athletes wear,” he says. “It’s just a different pair of ‘shoes.’ corner of a public area, Buchman wants to make the entire They’re no different than a pair of Jordans; [it’s] just the type park accessible and inclusive for a full-range of disabilities. of equipment we need to play.”

“A [non-disabled] sibling, they shouldn’t have to feel guilty At the end of the day, Buchman’s work at The Ability to leave the playground because [their sibling] can’t come Center is about providing universal access for everyone, with him, right? He should feel perfectly fine to explore without the stigma from being singled out or having to the whole park, because [the sibling] won’t just be stuck use special devices compared to non-disabled children on the playground,” he says. and adults. “I want [them] to feel wanted, welcomed and “These are the kind of things we’re pushing and quescomfortable everywhere [they] go,” Buchman says. In the tions we’re asking,” Buchman continues. “What about the future, he hopes to expand The Ability Center’s reach parent with a disability? [...] How do we make sure the beyond Wisconsin. “All of our programs are absolutely whole park, from east to west and north to south, is fully scalable,” he says. “We certainly hope to make The Ability accessible?” Because while a cancer diagnosis can result Center a nationwide movement where all communities in physical disabilities, Buchman’s focus isn’t so narrow. understand the importance and value when everybody “It’s a spectrum—of intellectual, developmental, physican play together.” cal—from the child to the grandparent,” Buchman says.

“There’s a generation of grandparents who don’t want to sit on the bench and watch anymore, they want to engage To learn more about The Ability Center, visit tacwi.org.

Cancer Wellness

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nutrition 16 SNACK ATTACK 21 COOKING CURE 23 NYBLLS & BITES 25 ORDER UP

Tired of hounding your kids to eat veggies?

These nutrient-dense dishes will have them begging for seconds!

BY MARIA TRIPODIS

Photos by Minnie Productions

Snack Attack

GREEN MACHINE PINWHEELS Yield: 8 pinwheels 4 spinach tortillas 12 ounces cream cheese (1½ bricks), softened to room temperature 1/4 cup sundried tomatoes 1/2 cup spinach 1 pinch of salt 1 bell pepper, chopped into ⅛-inch strips Half Hass avocado ripe and peeled 2 green onion stalks, chopped

PREPARATION:

1. In a food processor, combine cream cheese, sun-dried tomatoes, spinach, avocado, and a pinch of salt. Blend until smooth.

2. Lay tortilla on a clean, dry cutting board. Spread a thick layer of the cream cheese mixture, making sure to reach all edges of the tortilla.

3. Lay the bell pepper strips onto the tortilla horizontally, forming three columns.

4. Sprinkle with chopped green onion.

5. Roll tortilla tightly, from the bottom edge, until the wrap is closed.

6. With a sharp knife, slice the wrap into 1-inch segments, forming the pinwheels.

7. Serve immediately.

CHOCOLATE OAT MILKSHAKE Yield: 1 shake 1 cup oat milk, unsweetened 1½ tablespoons cacao powder, unsweetened 6 whole pitted dates 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon (optional) 1/2 Hass avocado, ripe and peeled 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 5 ice cubes

PREPARATION:

1. Add all ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth.

2. Serve immediately.

Cancer Wellness

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CRISPY BAKED SWEET POTATO FRIES Yield: 6 servings 2 large sweet potatoes 1/3 cup olive oil 2 tablespoons cornstarch 1/2 tablespoon garlic powder 2 teaspoons oregano, dried Salt to taste Grated parmesan cheese to top (optional)

PREPARATION:

1. Preheat oven to 425 F. 2. Wash sweet potatoes under running water to remove dirt.

3. With a sharp knife, remove the corners of the sweet potatoes. Leaving the skin on, cut sweet potatoes into long Âź-inch strips.

4. In a large bowl, soak the cut fries in cold water for at least 30 minutes to remove starch, which promotes crispness.

5. Drain water and lay wet fries onto a dry towel. Pat dry fries with another towel, removing as much moisture as possible.

6. In a large, dry mixing bowl, toss fries in olive oil.

7. In a small bowl, combine cornstarch, garlic powder and oregano.

Add ingredients to the large bowl of fries and toss to combine.

8. Drizzle extra olive oil evenly on a baking sheet. Add fries to the baking sheet, forming a single layer.

9. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes. Flip fries and bake for another 15 to 20 minutes, or until the fries have browned.

10. Sprinkle with salt and parmesan cheese. Let cool for around 5 minutes.

Serve immediately.

NO-BAKE PB+J COOKIES Yield: 12 cookies 2 tablespoons chia seeds 2 tablespoons hemp seeds 2 tablespoons ground flax seeds 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon 1/2 cup natural peanut butter 1 cup whole pitted dates 1 jar of grape jelly

PREPARATION:

1. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

2. In a food processor, add the chia seeds, hemp seeds, flax seeds and cinnamon. Grind until you reach a flour-like consistency. Add peanut butter and grind until smooth.

3. Add dates, and grind until smooth and mixture starts to form together.

4. Roll mixture into 1-inch balls and place onto baking sheet. Press down to form a flat cookie.

5. Spread the tops of each cookie with a 1/2 teaspoon of grape jelly.

6. Chill in the refrigerator for 20 minutes before serving. Store in the refrigerator and enjoy at any time for a quick, healthy, fiber-rich snack.

Our goal: a world without lung cancer.

Because the world is better with people like Lin in it.

L

ess than a year ago, Lin McTeague found out that she had Stage 4 lung cancer – meaning the disease had already spread to her bones and other organs. Her particular mutation has a rare subtype, so she’s left with fewer options for treatment.

But research is giving Lin hope. “My oncologist has assured me that lung cancer research has made great strides and is giving us options.”

Lin McTeague Stage 4 Non-small cell lung cancer, EGFR+ Patient at UChicago Medicine

The Lung Cancer Research Foundation exists to fund innovative projects that demonstrate promise and ingenuity – because ultimately, research saves lives.

“Other patients’ stories give me hope,” Lin says.

“It’s astonishing to think that immunotherapies that didn’t even exist 10 years ago are saving people’s lives today.”

“If I had to get lung cancer, I was lucky enough to get it now.”

Changing what it means to face a lung cancer diagnosis starts with research.

Find out more and learn about the research your donations make possible at LCRF.org.

oto courtesy of TK

The Lung Cancer Research Foundation brings the community together to support this important work through events as well as awareness and educational programs.

The Cooking Cure When Flavia Moylan’s son Joe was diagnosed with cancer, she used the food he ate—and not just the medicine he was given—to help him fight the sickness from within.

Photo courtesy of RipCity

BY BRITT JULIOUS

N

o one ever thinks active, athletic young boys He guided her in cutting certain foods out and adding like Joe Moylan will receive a cancer diagnosis. certain things back in based on his symptoms. “The big Described by his mother Flavia as “an intense decision was to take away sugar, and at the same time, try athlete,” Joe played baseball, football and wresto figure out [what to do because] he’s a 12-year-old that tled three to four days per week, all by the age of 12. But likes candy and treats and snacks,” she says. It was a radical only a handful of days after his football team won their decision, but it was also something she knew “had to be “Super Bowl” championship and the wrestling season done.” After doing research, she switched to a more ketobegan, Flavia received shocking news—Joe had super genic diet (a high-fat and low-carb diet with an emphasis high-risk pre b-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. on heart-healthy fats from a variety of sources to encour Learning how to tackle his leukemia diagnosis age the body to enter a state of ketosis). She also began took more than determination and a strong will. It also incorporating bone broth every day into his morning required radically transforming her son’s diet for the meals while he received high doses of chemotherapy. better. Nutrition not only kept Joe fed; it also gave Joe the Understandably, Joe was not a big fan. “People are best chance for a life after cancer treatment. “Sometimes, like, ‘Oh, you want to eat a bag of Doritos? Sure, honey, you have to pick and choose your battles when [a cancer here’s five bags of Doritos, so long as you eat.’ I [said], ‘No. warrior] is in bed and suffering, but sometimes, there are We’re gonna eat, but if you want to eat, I will sit with you things that are not negotiable,” Flavia says. And Joe’s surand explain,’” remembers Flavia. “I said, ‘Do you want to vival was not negotiable. fight here every day? It’s not a big deal. Do you want to get It was Joe’s wrestling coach who first realized somebetter and get stronger, or do you want a bag of Doritos?’” thing was wrong with the young athlete. A few days into Rather than forcing him to eat the way she wanted, their new season, Joe’s coach noticed he couldn’t run Flavia and Joe made healthy eating something they could without catching his breath, and every few minutes, he do together. “We searched for recipes together. We cooked had to lay down because he felt like he together. We baked together,” she says. Soon, “I just looked at healthy eating became normal. Flavia also couldn’t breathe. “This kid went from three, four football fields in a day to [not being able him and said, ‘You made the process reasonably easy: for every to] walk from the parking lot to the doctor’s three days of “really good, clean eating,” Joe office,” says Flavia. While his coach thought know what? We’re could receive one treat, whatever he wanted. he might have suffered from a hidden con- going to tackle this Sometimes he’d choose chocolate chip pancussion sustained during the football season, cakes or sugary cereal. “It was a balance for head-on, and we me,” she says. “I understood he was still 12 his parents believed it was seasonal allergies.

A visit to the pediatrician confirmed will figure it out.” and he was not going to eat all clean food neither. “I think that’s what I thought could every day of his life.” be the worst-case scenario in my head,” Flavia

The results were evident almost immedisays. “Like, it could be allergies; it could be a concussion. ately. While other kids were unable to keep food down You know, best case, worst case.” Instead, the doctors told or refused to eat, Joe maintained an appetite. According her Joe had a heart murmur. An EKG and blood work to a study from the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial came quickly. Joe’s results showed he was anemic, somePathology, malnutrition is one of the most common side thing Flavia thought was reassuring because she was also effects of cancer treatment. It can affect up to 80 percent anemic. “But he said, ‘He’s a boy. Boys don’t lose blood of patients depending on tumor type and stage. “I am such like that to be anemic. There’s something up with his a believer that you are what you eat because [compared to] blood,’” Flavia recalls. The doctor suspected he had leukeother kids with the same diagnosis at the same hospital mia. A few days later, after a bone marrow aspiration, the [and] around the same age, I could see Joe getting better leukemia was confirmed. “I could have expected a million faster and recovering faster than his peers. I have to attrithings, but [not] that,” says Flavia. “For a couple [of] days, bute that to the only difference: his nutrition,” she says.

I couldn’t wrap my head around it.”

It has now been 11 months since Joe completed his

“I knew he was terrified, and he was looking [to] last chemotherapy treatment and he is starting to finally us: me, my husband. He’s the youngest of three, so he’s feel like his body is coming back. He recently completed looking [to] his brother and sister, grandma and grandpa, his junior year playing football, winning the state champifor direction. How is this gonna go?” Flavia says. “I just onship, and continuing his love of baseball. Eating healthy looked at him and said, ‘You know what? We’re going to (with treats here or there) remains a part of his everyday tackle this head-on and we will figure it out. We’ll take it life. “I still feed him the same stuff, and now for him, it’s one day at a time and you don’t worry about it.’” the normal thing,” she says.

Beyond treatment methods like chemotherapy, tackling his disease head-on included making more concrete changes at home. Feeling like the nutritionist at her son’s hospital was limited in the information they could provide, Flavia turned to a cousin who works as a doctor and focuses on the study of autoimmune diseases. Flavia conferred with him daily and the cousin had access to all of Joe’s labs. “He took me by the hand and said, ‘Let’s try and keep him as healthy as possible without interfering at To learn more about the connection between nutrition and all with his treatment and medication,’” recalls Flavia. cancer recovery, visit cancerwellness.com.

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Cancer Wellness

Nyblls & Bites Kristen Thibeault, founder and CEO of corporate catering company Nybll, provides plant-focused, healthy meals that follow a cooking philosophy influenced by her own cancer diagnosis and recovery.

Photo courtesy of Nybll TK

BY CATHERINE EVES

K

risten Thibeault, CEO and founder of corporate landed her first major client: the Oakland Athletics. “They catering company Nybll, has a storied history when were looking for a really healthy, sports science nutritionist, it comes to cooking. Growing up in the 1980s, a [and] I had that in my background,” Thibeault says. With onetime when the world of cuisine and fine dining third of Nybll’s clients being professional athletes, Thibeault was mostly a man’s game, Thibeault set aside her dreams works closely with the team’s nutritionists and sports trainof attending cooking school for something more traditional. ers to ensure the players are receiving the right calories and “[It was] always sort of a dream and a passion, [but I] never nutrients to perform their best. With an impressive client thought it was an option for me,” Thibeault says, whose early list today that includes several other Major League Baseball career centered around the beauty and wellness industry. teams and tech giants like Amazon, Nybll’s expansion has It wasn’t until she was blindsided by a double cancer been nothing short of epic. diagnosis that she reevaluated her life and career choice.

All told, Nybll creates 6,000 meals per day. They are In 2008, she was working 90 hours a week, commuting able to adopt recipes for any dietary restrictions, but every every week to New York from her home in Boston. “One meal is guaranteed healthy and fresh. Thibeault’s food phiday, in June 2008, [I] got a phone call after having a losophy is simple: “[A]bout 70 to 80 percent of your plate normal routine mammogram, my first one ever,” Thibeault on a daily basis [should] be plant-based—as many plants remembers. “They found something.” as possible, as often as possible,” Thibeault says. And then It was stage III breast cancer. Eight months and a she imparts a surprising fact: “We need very little protein double mastectomy later, she was diagnosed with cancer as human beings. Most of us can only process about 3 to again—early-stage uterine cancer. For the next two years, 4 ounces of protein in a day. [...] The rest we eliminate, or Theibault would be in and out of the hospital. “I had a twoit converts to sugar and then to fat in our bodies.” This is plus-year stint of just constantly dealing with my health,” something Thibeault keeps in mind even when cooking for she remembers. “It just really rattled high-performing professional athletes. my world and I felt like I couldn’t “About 70 to 80 percent of Thibeault’s meals provide enough control anything in my life.” protein from plant sources to power your plate on a daily basis both CEOs and professional athletes.

But there was something Thibeault felt like she could control: Sugar is another ingredient [should] be plant-based—as “What I put in my body, and how I Theibault limits in all of Nybll’s meals, many plants as possible, as hearkening back to her experience treated my body,” she says. Thibeault dove headfirst into the world of nutritreating her cancer. While currently often as possible.” tion, deepening her understanding of not cooking for cancer patients, how what we eat affects our overall health. She committed throughout her culinary career, Thiebault has personally to a plant-focused, vegan lifestyle, cooking healthy meals for cooked for around 40 clients who were undergoing cancer herself while undergoing chemotherapy. According to the treatment.

American Dietetic Association, “appropriately planned veg In January 2016, she founded the Patra Project. etarian diets, including total vegetarian or vegan diets, are Inspired by her children who she adopted out of foster healthful, nutritionally adequate, and may provide health care, the Patra Project is a nonprofit organization probenefits in the prevention and treatment of certain diseases,” viding fresh, healthy meals to underserved communities like cancer. This is due to a diet high in fruits, vegetables and in the LA and San Francisco areas. The Patra Project whole grains without consuming any animal fats. addresses “the disparity between the haves and have nots Because she wasn’t able to work, Thibeault began cooking in terms of food and the quality of the food and access to for her friend who was also looking to incorporate healthy food,” Thibeault says. eating into their lifestyle. “Suddenly, I had five [clients], and

“When I started cooking, I quickly realized that then I had ten, and one day I looked and [realized] if I just did there’s first of all, a ton of waste,” Thiebault begins. “Two this, I wouldn’t have to go back into the rat race of corporate years ago, we launched the Patra Project and donated about life,” she says.

1,000 meals a week [to] children in transition or that are

After a year running the first, all-vegan personal high-risk. [...] Wherever they are, they don’t need to have meal service, preceded by culinary school, receiving her a microwave or oven, and they can open it up and have chef de cuisine from Le Cordon Bleu, and re-certifying a beautiful healthy meal.” The Patra Project also donates in sports nutrition (based on previous work experience, to food banks and soup-kitchen style environments. “[It’s] she knew her potential client base would include athletes), the same food we serve Steph Curry—the same food we Thibeault had amassed an impressive client list of more serve all of our clients—so there’s a lot of nutrition and than 100 people, including celebrities like David Ortiz of dignity in the food,” Theibault says. the Boston Red Sox. Her success was due to the fact that

Whether she’s cooking for professional athletes, there wasn’t anything quite like this on the market at the business executives, cancer patients or families in need, time—delicious, nutritious meals powered by plants. It Thibeault’s meals are plant-forward, chock-full of the led to her landing the position of head chef at the first appropriate nutrients and delicious, because this is what plant-focused restaurant of the Four Seasons franchise in Thiebault herself needed to be her best self during her San Francisco, Kombu Kitchen, which she ran for three fight. “The moment I realized I knew I needed to make years before launching Nybll. a [lifestyle] shift, I naturally went back to what I knew,” Launched in 2015, Nybll is the first plant-focused caterThiebault says, noting her cancer diagnosis. “[Healthy ing company serving the Los Angeles and San Francisco eating] was something that would help me support my areas. Six months into launching the business, Thibeault health.”

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Cancer Wellness

Order U p

These meal delivery services provide fresh and healthy breakfast, lunch and dinners specifically formulated for people undergoing cancer treatment.

BY CATHERINE EVES

T

here are many guidelines to follow when trying to eat well through cancer treatment. A diet high in fruits, vegetables and whole grains, and low in fat, sugar, alcohol and salt is recommended to help cancer patients maintain a healthy weight and improve quality of life during treatment. Unfortunately, many cancer patients experience nutrition as a delicate balancing act between the body and mind. One may know what to eat, but treatment side effects like reduced appetite and fatigue make one unable to prepare meals themselves. That’s why more people are turning to meal delivery services.

Here, we’ve collected some of our favorite meal delivery services creating delicious and nutritious meals with cancer patients in mind. Healthy meals delivered right to their door gives cancer patients and their families one less thing to worry about.

Mom’s Meals ships fully prepared meals that remain fresh in the refrigerator for up to 14 days. With options for deliveries of seven, 10, 14 or 21 meals, Mom’s Meals can provide all or just a portion of a client’s meals each week. Plus, clients who qualify for government or health plan assistance can have Mom’s Meals delivered for free or at low cost. Mom’s Meals’ “Cancer Support” program features meals specially formulated by registered dieticians specializing in oncology, and all menus are developed in accordance with guidelines from the American Institute for Cancer Research. Clients can hand-pick desired meals, or go with the chef’s choice.

MomsMeals.com

Culinary Care (featured in issue 3 of Cancer Wellness) provides meals to patients receiving in-hospital chemotherapy and their families. Founder and CEO Courtney White and her group of volunteers spend their days distributing fresh meals from some of Chicagoland’s top restaurants (like Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba!, Summer House Santa Monica and Blue Door Farm Stand) to local hospitals, delivering a total of 30 to 40 meals per week. According to the Culinary Care website, it’s all about “taking one thing off their plate by simply putting something delicious on it.” Culinary Care customers place their order requests on an app and can track the progress of their delivery in real time. Meals are free.

CulinaryCare.org

Savor Health delivers fresh, reheatable meals anywhere in the U.S., with menus following nutrition recommendations from the American Cancer Society, the National Cancer Institute and chefs at leading cancer centers. Featuring weekly meal plans with options to receive one, two or three meals per day, Savor Health also provides access to an oncology dietician who can help you craft a meal plan each week to help manage treatment side effects. All of Savor Health’s nutrition coaches are board-certified specialists in oncology nutrition, so clients trust they’re receiving the right number of calories and nutrients to help them feel their best before, during and after treatment.

SavorHealth.com

Magnolia Meals at Home provides free meals to people currently undergoing cancer treatment, receiving adjuvant or neoadjuvant treatment, or have undergone treatment or surgery in the last three months. Eligible participants (who must live in New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut or North Carolina) will receive up to two months of home meal deliveries. Each participant receives 10 meals formulated to meet the needs of people living with cancer, with the option to receive 10 additional meals for family members.

MagnoliaMealsAtHome.com

A strictly vegan meal delivery service, MamaSezz recently partnered with the American Institute for Cancer Research to create a “bundle” of meals specifically formulated for people receiving treatment for cancer. Each bundle includes 24 plantbased meals with cancer-fighting ingredients like plant-based proteins and plenty of fresh vegetables. All MamaSezz meal bundles come with detailed, 7-day meal plans with shopping lists and recipes for additional side dishes. These meals are perfect for patients with dietary restrictions because all MamaSezz dishes are gluten-free and non-dairy, as well as being free of oil, refined sugars and preservatives.

MamaSezz.com Cancer Wellness

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mind

28 ASK THE DOCTOR 29 BOTTOM’S DOWN

body

Ask the Doctor Dr. Daniel Mulrooney of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee answers your questions about childhood cancer and survivorship. child is a recent childhood cancer survivor. And while I Q: My am relieved he is in recovery, I don’t understand what comes

child was not treated at St. Jude. What will our “surviQ: My vorship care plan” look like?

Survivorship care plans vary depending on where the survivor was treated. But generally, they will include details of the primary cancer diagnosis and should include details about what treatment was given. For example, radiation therapy, was it used or not? What was the dose of radiation? What part of the body was radiated? Or with chemotherapy, it’ll include the specifics about chemotherapy exposures. With some chemotherapy agents, it’s very important to know not only the exposure but the dose that an individual had. So we’ll do an abstraction of the medical record and we’ll put all of that in a survivorship care plan.

In addition to that, we’ll include information about what screenings a cancer survivor should have, and we’ll collect data about major health issues that any major survivor may have experienced. By the time they actually leave the pediatric cancer center, they have a document that summarizes all of these particulars they need, not only as they transfer out of a cancer center, but for childhood cancer survivors, as they transfer to adult healthcare in the community. We stress the importance of taking a copy of that care plan and giving it to their adult healthcare provider.

are common misconceptions regarding childhood Q: What cancer and survivorship?

There can be a variety of responses. Some cancer survivors prefer to put all of this behind them. That’s concerning because we’ve learned more and more that these exposures for young children have implications for health later in life.

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Cancer Wellness

Some survivors are concerned every little health issue they may have is related to their prior cancer or may be their cancer returning. There’s certainly a pendulum that swings from being under concerned or overly concerned.

Somewhere in the middle, we try to educate survivors so they have an understanding of the treatment they had and what it means for their healthcare going forward. The most important thing we tell survivors is to have established primary care: a doctor that knows you, knows your history and can help you sort healthcare issues as they arrive. am a childhood cancer survivor and while my life has been Q: Igreat post-cancer, are there any other things I should be

aware of as a survivor?

Some of our therapies, like radiation therapy or chemotherapy, can cause subacute damage to the heart, so that needs to be monitored. They can also increase a risk for another cancer later in life. Survivors may need some screenings for secondary cancers. Leading a healthy lifestyle, watching your diet, exercising, avoiding intense sunlight and using sunscreen can help modify some of these factors. Survivors often worry about fertility after cancer therapy, so they may want to have endocrine testing to find out their reproductive status. Endocrine issues in general can be of concern. We see survivors who have early onset diabetes and might have an underactive thyroid. It could put them at risk for hyperthyroidism. When identified, endocrine issues can often be treated and make a survivor feel much better and healthier.

ABOUT THE DOCTOR Dr. Daniel Mulrooney is an Associate Professor in the Division of Cancer Survivorship at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Dr. Mulrooney received his medical degree from Loyola University Chicago’s Stritch School of Medicine and his clinical interests include the care of children with solid tumors, and adolescent and young adult oncology. His research focus is on the long-term effects of childhood cancer therapy, particularly cardiovascular outcomes, and the transition of care from pediatric to adult medicine.

Photo of Dr. Mulrooney courtesy of Makovsky

next? What are our next steps?

At St. Jude, our patients are followed in the active clinic until five years after their diagnosis, and then at that point, they’re transferred to the “After Completion of Therapy Clinic.” We then follow them annually until they’re age 18, or 10 years beyond the time of their cancer diagnosis, whichever occurs later. During that time, we prepare a survivorship care plan, and during their annual visits, we discuss health issues related to their prior cancer, health issues related to their prior therapy exposures and any ongoing issues of concern for our cancer survivors.

bottom’s Down

Despite being a risk factor for cancer, alcohol consumption remains high among cancer fighters and survivors according to a new study, worrying many in the medical field.

BY BRITT JULIOUS

I

t is a few days after you received the great news: you’re in remission. You decide to have a little drink to celebrate. Grabbing a beer or two or 10 was the norm for you during your teen years and not much has changed since. Before your diagnosis, you would grab a couple of drinks after work during happy hour with your coworkers or pour a few glasses of wine during dinner. What hurt can one extra drink cause in the grand scheme of things?

A lot, at least according to new research published in the January 2020 issue of JNCCN, Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network. The study—the first-ever study on the drinking habits of cancer survivors— surveyed 34,080 participants from 2000 to 2017 through the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) to examine the drinking habits of people with a cancer diagnosis. From the participants, 56.5 percent were current drinkers, 34.9 percent exceeded moderate drinking levels and 21 percent engaged in binge drinking. The results, according to researchers, were surprising not only because they were so high, but because alcohol has been identified as a risk factor for several cancers.

According to a 2013 report from the National Cancer Institute, alcohol consumption was responsible for 3.5 percent of all cancer deaths.

“We found that to be concerning because alcohol is a risk for several different malignancies, but it’s also a risk for poor outcomes among individuals who have cancer,” says study researcher Brandon A. Mahal, M.D., of the DanaFarber Cancer Institute. “It can interfere with some chemotherapies, it can make recovery from treatments worse.

There’s some suggestions that consuming alcohol can lead to a higher rate of progression on some diseases.”

The study used CDC guidelines to define excessive drinking as more than one drink per day for women, and more than two drinks per day for men.

Binge drinking was defined as the consumption of at least five drinks in one day at any point over the past year.

The results were even more severe when looking at younger survivors.

According to the data, 23.6 percent of survivors between the ages of 18 and 34 met the criteria of binge drinking compared to only 2.6 percent of those 75-and-older. This discrepancy also 30

Cancer Wellness

corresponded with cancer types more often associated with younger people, including cervical, testicular, head and neck cancers, and melanoma.

Breast cancer survivors, in contrast, were less likely to drink.

Cancer, it seems, may exacerbate underlying issues. Participants who identified as excessive or binge drinkers may have had a pre-existing substance abuse issue prior to the cancer diagnosis and then it got exacerbated with the diagnosis and treatment. Or they may have had a propensity for substance use before their diagnosis— like through family history—and the cancer diagnosis put them over the edge. Less common, but still possible, is the development of substance abuse among people who didn’t have any risk factors for a substance abuse disorder, but developed it because they now have access to certain pain medications from their treatment.

For physicians, the results of this survey serve as a call-to-action. While also a social act, excessive drinking can also be a sign of mental health issues. According to a 2014 report in the European Journal of Public Health, “Frequent binge drinking and alcohol problems are associated with poor mental health, especially with a lack of life satisfaction and psychological distress.”

“Patients who are diagnosed with cancer and are using substances can actually negatively impact their treatment, symptom management, quality of life, and can contribute to increasing psychological suffering.”

Likewise, as reported in issue three of Cancer Wellness, mental health remains a critical, yet overlooked issue among cancer warriors and thrivers. According to a 2016 report from the journal Clinical Advances in Hematology & Oncology, “Psychiatric disorders are now recognized to occur in approximately 30% to 60% of patients who are newly diagnosed with various types of cancer.”

And distress, which the International Psycho-Oncology Society and the Union for International Cancer Control now calls the “sixth vital sign,” is present in all patients with cancer. As the report states, “Evidence suggests that addressing psychosocial, emotional, and physical symptoms early in the cancer trajectory, through such steps as palliative care or psychological interventions, may influence survival outcomes.” Miryam Yusufov, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist at the DanaFarber Cancer Institute and an instructor of psychiatry at the Harvard Medical School, agrees, adding, “Patients who are diagnosed with cancer and are using substances can actually negatively impact their treatment, symptom management, quality of life, and can contribute to increasing psychological suffering.”

Doctors should inquire about the social activities—including alcohol consumption—of their patients recovering from cancer. And their inquiries should not be a one-and-done situation, but rather an ongoing conversation between physician and patient to better the patient’s chances for survival and avoid recurrence. According to Yusufov, doctors should screen for substance use as well as a family history of any sort of substance use disorder, regardless of whether it’s alcohol or other substances. As well, certain mental health issues can correspond to increased likelihood of a substance use disorder, so doctors should also screen for anxiety, depression and other trauma symptoms. A screening may entail a semi-formal interview with a few questions, for example.

After performing a screening, if a physician feels concern for their patient, they should make a referral for their patient to a mental health profession who has expertise in substance use disorders. Doctors should try to frame the decision as a team-oriented approach to avoid worrying the patient.

And patients themselves should also remain cognizant of any changes in their behavior, especially if they did not have a history of substance use or abuse in their past. “If [you] have a family history of substance use disorder but [you’ve] never used any substances [yourself], [you should] be very vigilant around that,” says Yusov. “The cancer diagnosis will be what predisposes them to a substance use disorder.”

beauty 33 FACE FORWARD 35 REACHING FOR THE CROWN 37 SUPER CLEAN SOLUTIONS

FACE FORWARD Nicknamed “The Brow Maven,” Constance Latham of Maven Esthetics has become the go-to master of microblading for cancer fighters and survivors.

Photo courtesy of Carolina Mariana Rodríguez

BY BRITT JULIOUS

I

t may be the new hot trend in the fast-paced beauty some clients are not ill at all. After Tine DeFiore of famed world, but for many cancer fighters and survivors, tattoo shop Black Oak Tattoo asked Latham to perform microblading offers them something they’ve long the service for her while going live on social media, her craved: the chance to feel like themselves again. And popularity grew exponentially.

Constance Latham, owner of Maven Esthetics in Chicago, Clients working with Latham will first fill out paperhas become one of the industry leaders in the service. work and then undergo a consultation where she can First nicknamed “The Brow Maven” while working in answer any questions. “I kind of just talk to the person,” waxing and brow tinting, Latham says her entrance to the she says. “It’s really easy for me to see what someone’s microblading world was something of a calling. “It’s a skill brows are going to look like before I even start. I kind of for me,” Latham says. “It’s something I just naturally was get a feel for the person.” Then, she begins a pre-draw. “I meant to do.” always explain to the person [that] I have to make you look

Microblading is a semi-permanent tattooing techlike you, whatever that is, when you [first] walked in,” she nique where a collection of tiny needles are used to tattoo says. Latham is cautious about her clients’ appearances. pigment into one’s skin in the shape of eyebrows. Unlike Rather than experiment or “do crazy things,” Latham is eyebrow tattooing, microblading is done by hand and not passionate about treating hair that would have been there. with a machine or a single needle.

“If there [are] areas where you may not have had hair, if at

Latham first discovered microblading after years of some point in your life there was hair there, that’s where I work in the cosmetics and esthetician world. A n art school would put it,” adds Latham. Latham then determines the student in fashion merchandising, Latham began working silhouette and freehands the strokes while following the in cosmetics after graduating. “It was a nice transition from client’s hair pattern. Next comes a color swatch to make the art world into beauty because it was still sure the tattoo color flatters the clients face me being expressive and combining the “I do everything with shape and skin tone. Like a regular tattoo, two worlds,” Latham says. After interning nothing happens to whatever hair was good intent, with with plastic surgeons and at more tradithere in the first place as hair follicles are tional spaces, she began working at Benefit located in the dermis. “I make everyone feel passion behind it, Cosmetics in the Lincoln Park neighborcompletely comfortable,” she says. and just make every hood of Chicago, where she became known “It was really amazing to see that the person feel comfortable women that would come in had never been as “The Brow Maven.”

Part of the nickname stemmed from to [a] tattoo salon before. A lot of them had in their own skin, Latham’s desire to stay knowledgeable never even had a tattoo before, but wanted whatever that is.” about trends and developments in the this service and felt like, if these artists beauty world. While attending a convensay that she’s good, she has to be good,” tion in 2015, she learned about microblading. “I started says Latham. She recommends people interested in the asking a lot of my different friends that were from the service do their research beforehand. Many are unaware tattoo industry about it and they were like, ‘I don’t know that microblading is a form of tattooing in the first place. what that is, but you should figure it out,’” recalls Latham.

It is not until they enter her shop and sign state of Illinois In 2016, she began training at one of the offices where forms that they realize what the service actually entails. she previously interned. Latham took to the skill, likely “For some people, as much as it’s an amazing service, because she’d “seen thousands of eyebrows on a daily and as much as I can make this look like hair, it’s still a basis.” After building her portfolio working in other faciltattoo,” says Latham. “It’s still on your face. And it’s still ities, Latham opened her studio, Maven Esthetics, in 2016. something that you have to be comfortable with.” If one From the beginning, Latham’s clients were part of the is uncomfortable even filling in their eyebrows or getting new cancer community. “I had a client who was a friend of their brows waxed, microblading might be too far of a leap a friend who came in and it wasn’t until she filled out the into the unknown. client forms that I realized she was in treatment for a brain Although brows continue to be a big trend in the tumor,” Latham says. Later, a woman came to her studio beauty world, Latham says her work is more a way for her with her daughter. The two said they had heard about to express art. It began with waxing and tinting eyebrows Latham at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. “I did her and grew to tattooing. “Even in picking colors and things daughter’s brows and that day, something clicked in me,” like that, it was like, ‘Oh, that color theory class that was says Latham. “I think she was maybe three or four years drilled into my head like 15 years ago, [...] all these things younger than me, and I’d been around women that have make sense now,” says Latham. “I think the one thing I had cancer before, but not so close in age to me. She just want people to know is that I do everything with good wanted her brows back. And that kind of set the tone for me intent, with passion behind it, and just make every person that it was bigger than just the next beauty treatment.” feel comfortable in their own skin, whatever that is.”

After those first few clients, most of the clients coming in were women who’d heard about microblading because they were in treatment and didn’t know where to go. “It was just word-of-mouth and it just kept growing and growing and growing,” recalls Latham. Since then, Latham’s practice has grown beyond the cancer community. She regularly treats clients who have alopecia or To learn more about Maven Esthetics or to book a session, trichotillomania (hair pulling disorder), for example. But visit mavenesthetics.com.

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Cancer Wellness

Reaching for the Crown

After overcoming melanoma at age 18, Karolina Jasko went on to win Miss Illinois USA and find her purpose.

BY NATALIE CRAIG

Photo courtesy of Karolina Jasko

K

arolina Jasko just arrived from class. Her hair is polished, her fresh face is flawless, and her nails—all but one—are done perfectly. This former Miss Illinois 2018 is a senior at the University of Illinois at Chicago, where she is finishing her undergraduate degree in psychology and preparing for graduate school interviews to study family and marriage counseling.

She’s soft spoken and modest—qualities that may not fit the typical beauty queen stereotype—but when you ask her what’s motivating her, Jasko has a lot to say.

While beauty queens always seem to come across as aesthetically perfect and confident, Jasko has a message to share with everyone: “We all have scars.”

There is something else Jasko has recently allowed herself to open up about: her experience with cancer. After Jasko hung up her crown at the end of 2018, she began sharing her story as a survivor of melanoma.

“It was easier for me to talk about domestic violence while I was competing for Miss Illinois USA because I care for it and it interests me,” Jasko says. “But since cancer touched me so personally, I had a harder time talking about it. And it wasn’t until after the pageant and my title expired that I realized people actually want to hear about it.”

THE CALL O n January 23, 2017—Jasko’s 18th birthday—her mom received a call from a dermatologist with results for a biopsy they conducted on Jasko’s thumb. She had developed a black line under the nail bed that ran vertically from her cuticle to the middle of her thumb. A nail tech discovered the anomaly during Jasko’s routine biweekly appointment where she typically got acrylic nails often topped with a gel polish and cured with a UV light source, which is known to cause skin cancer, according to the Harvard Medical School.

When Jasko showed her primary care doctor her thumb, he said, “Not to scare you, but that black line could be a sign of melanoma.” Her doctor urgently referred her to a dermatologist who told her she needed a biopsy done immediately.

“I’ll never forget the day of the biopsy,” Jasko recalls. “I was in the office, and there were six to eight residents in the room with us, too. Everyone was trying to look at my fingernail because the type of melanoma they thought I had is so rare—especially in someone so young. I was overwhelmed, and I was frustrated because I didn’t understand why this was happening to me. I remember crying that day.”

Jasko’s mom took the call. The biopsy revealed Jasko had subungual melanoma, a form of melanoma that grows in the nail bed tissues.

“I was definitely scared,” Jasko says. “But my mom was very upset and overwhelmed because she had melanoma, and the last thing she wanted was for me to ever have to go through it. She started crying, and I knew that I couldn’t let myself get like that because it would make it worse for her.”

Melanoma runs in her family. Jasko was very young when her mom was first diagnosed with melanoma, and her mother’s second stint with the cancer came while she was pregnant with Jasko’s younger brother. Jasko always knew she had a greater risk of developing melanoma because of her family history.

But could the UV-light source used on Jasko’s nails be the culprit behind her diagnosis? She’ll never know.

“The thing is, my doctors never ever told me that I got this form of melanoma from getting my nails done,” Jasko says. “I probably would’ve gotten it regardless down the line because of the genetic factors that affect me.”

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Cancer Wellness

THE FIGHT Instead of celebrating her 18th birthday, Jasko’s priority was figuring out how and when they could remove the melanoma from her body.

She had surgery three times. The first was the most invasive: an oncologist, dermatologist and hand surgeon worked together to extract the melanoma from her nail bed. The next surgery aimed to remove her nail to make sure the cancer never came back in that area. However, Jasko’s nail kept growing back, so she needed a third and final surgery, which prevented the nail from growing back. She also underwent four physical therapy sessions to work on gaining full function in her thumb. Now, Jasko has a checkup appointment every six months.

While traumatic for Jasko and her family, her initial brush with cancer—a little more than a year including the diagnosis and surgeries—was brief, she says. But what stuck with her were the insecurities she developed around having a thumb that looked different than most.

Could the UV-light source used on Jasko’s nails be the culprit behind her diagnosis?

She’ll never know.

“When I got my melanoma diagnosis and then all of those surgeries, it sounds bad to say, but something that affected me the most was the fact that my thumb nail was never going to grow back,” Jasko says. “Being 18 and in high school, I was about [to] go to prom and I remember caring so much about people noticing. I built up this narrative in my head that something was wrong with me. My thumb is not that noticeable. But to me, it was the only thing that I noticed. I tore [myself] down constantly, and I used to wear bandages even after my thumb healed.”

THE REBIRTH As Jasko recovered and got used to her new normal, she was introduced to the world of pageantry. A family friend of Jasko’s created a Polish pageant organization and during their first year, they needed more girls to attend the casting call. Jasko didn’t really want to do it, but her

mom thought it would help boost her confidence.

Not only was Jasko selected to compete, she ended up winning the Miss Polonia title.

“It was a whirlwind,” Jasko gushes.

“The Polish organization started egging me on to run for Miss Illinois USA, and I was like, ‘You guys are crazy!’”

Still, Jasko chased the adrenaline rush she got from winning and propelled herself into the 2019 Miss Illinois USA pageant. “And I ended up winning,” she says with excitement, but also in disbelief.

Jasko’s mom was right.

Competing in both pageants left Jasko with a stronger sense of self and opened her eyes to the experiences of other women who also encountered life challenges and insecurity.

“Becoming a pageant queen has made me feel more accepted,” Jasko says. “And I realized that everyone always expects pageant queens and models to be so perfect. You can’t always see visible scars, but everyone has been through their own hardships in life and no one is perfect.”

Walking across a stage in a swimsuit in front of thousands—as well as a live TV audience—can put a lot into perspective. And in Jasko’s experience, it was transformative.

“Girls are always searching for things that are wrong with them,” Jasko says. “I was so insecure about my thumb and my scars from having skin grafts taken from my groin, and when I realized I was going to be walking across the stage in a swimsuit, I knew I wanted to show the world that I’m not perfect, but that I am [a] beautiful, smart and confident person who also has scars.”

As a melanoma survivor and fulltime student, Jasko says she takes her cancer wellness seriously, while also enjoying life. She has regular appointments with her dermatologist, and she also gets a full body mole scan once a year. She recommends this for everyone, whether they have a family history of cancer or not.

“We live in a world where everyone is so stressed and tense with work,” Jasko says. “And I think it is really important to take time and do something that you enjoy. No matter what it is, if it’s reading a book, going to the gym or hanging out with your dog, take an hour a day to fill your soul.”

Super Clean Solutions

While your personal medicine cabinet may be a haven for clean beauty goodies, shouldn’t your whole family enjoy the benefits of non-toxic products, too? We’ve gathered our favorite clean-beauty all stars that are safe for the whole family, from the grandparents to the grandchildren.

REVIEWED BY CATHERINE EVES

Photos courtesy of Credo Beauty, Loving Naturals and Juice Beauty

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Complementary Medicine 40 THE SOUND SOLUTION 42 SWEET CHILD OF MINE 43 COOL TO CURE

The sound Solution The ancient practice of sound therapy, or gong meditation, has long been a tool in East and Southeast Asia. Now, practitioners and researchers across the globe are embracing its benefits, too.

BY BRITT JULIOUS

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he late “sleeping psychic” Edward Cayce once said, This process, known as high-intensity focused ultra“Sound is the medicine of the future.” And it seems sound, or HIFU, may be a game changer in the cancer like his foresight may finally be coming true. treatment world as it eliminates the need for costly and Music is healing. We turn to the power of invasive surgery. “Focused ultrasound is exciting because sound during the best and worst of life’s moments, from it can target tumours very precisely,” says Professor Gail a celebratory party to a breakup. It seems that no matter ter Haar in the report. “The point onto which the ultrathe situation, there is a song—or at least a sound—to comsound beam is focused gets very hot, but the surrounding plement the moment. It makes sense then that many are tissue is left unharmed.” Professor ter Haar, a professor of now turning to rhythms, vibrations and tones as a form of therapeutic ultrasound at the ICR, likens it to a childhood healing. It’s called sound therapy (also commonly known pastime for many. “It’s like using a magnifying glass in the as gong therapy or gong meditation) and it’s become the sun to start a fire, where you need to form a sharp focal latest trend in therapeutic and complementary forms of spot on the dry tinder.” The HIFU has shown promise in medicine for cancer warriors and non-warriors alike. patients with secondary tumours in the bone and recur Yet despite its popularity, sound therapy is nothing rent gynecological cancers, and may be useful with other new. Gongs or metal bowls are most often used during cancers in the future. sound therapy sessions. Gongs in particular are an East A 2018 study from researchers at Duke University, the and Southeast Asian instrument. They likely originated Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Singapore’s in China’s Western regions and, according to the 1992 Nanyang Technological University additionally found that book “Percussion Instruments and Their History” by “sound waves are capable of rapidly and efficiently sepaJames Blade, “There seems little reason to doubt the claim rating circulating tumor cells (CTCs) from blood. CTCs of the Chinese whose tradition ascribes it are small pieces of tumor that break away Focus on love and to the country Hsi Yu between Tibet and and flow through the bloodstream. They Burma, where it is mentioned early in the contain a wealth of information including allow the body to sixth century in the time of the Emperor tumor type, physical characteristics and reach a deep and real genetic mutations.” In the future, these Hsüan-wu (AD 500-516).”

In the ancient world, gongs were used state of relaxation. “liquid biopsies,” as the researchers called for a variety of purposes. As Blade writes, them, may help oncologists diagnose That is where the “The instrument is involved in every kind patients and create more personalized of human activity. As a musical instrument treatment plans without the invasiveness of healing begins.” the gong serves the natives for their war, a normal biopsy or screening. sword, joy and macabre dances, and as an accompaniment But until those developments become a reality, many to songs and theatrical performances. It is used to transcancer warriors may find sound therapy to be beneficial in mit messages. In the army it gives the signal of retreat, and symptom relief. Martha Collard, of Red Doors Studio in in the hunt, it is used as a decoy.”

Hong Kong, has become an international leader in the use

It is believed gongs did not arrive in the Western of gongs and sound therapy. She also regularly works with world until the 18th century, where they were primarily cancer patients and groups. “It gives them a sense of peace used in orchestras. Only recently has the gong been used and calming and release that they are not able to obtain for multifaceted purposes in the Western world. And one any other way,” Collard says. “Ancient people knew we were of those uses is sound therapy. all vibratory, so at a molecular level, every molecule in our

Marian Kraus, of Delamora Transformational body is moving and vibrating at all times. [...] Sometimes Experiences, creates something of a two-step process for we have energetic blockages and to relieve those blockages, their participants. we need to introduce another frequency or vibration, either “We facilitate guided sound music meditations, which faster, slower, or at the same speed, and it’ll just unblock essentially are centered around a guided meditation that the block.” is geared toward raising one’s consciousness and raising Kraus says Delamora’s experiences aim to “completely one’s awareness, thereby assisting individuals to recognize take you out,” meaning they deeply relax, recharge and and overcome their limiting beliefs and thoughts,” Kraus reinvigorate you. Gabriela Ramirez de la Mora, who persays. “Then, from there, we segue into the sound part of forms with Kraus during their guided sound music mediour meditation, which consists of one hour of playing the tations, agrees. gongs and other sound tools. We provide a space of very “The purpose is for many [participants] to feel again, deep relaxation allowing individuals to tap into their subor perhaps for the first time in their lives, [that] life is wonconscious and slow down their brain wave activity and derful. Life is good. That life is really providing a beautiful thereby reset and rebalance on a cellular and molecular connection with energy and harmony. That is life, and we level. And then as part of the meditation, we also provide are part of life,” she begins. “At the end, life is good, regarda resetting of the mind.” less of the circumstance. Sometimes the circumstances

If all of this sounds unbelievable, there is some may seem so tough, but circumstances are always letting science to back up Kraus’s claims. According to a 2018 me know something about myself, teaching me something report from the Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) in that I probably need to change. It’s for people to feel like Britain, doctors there have begun using high-powered they are in a safe environment and that life is good. Focus ultrasound beams to “kill harmful tissue deep inside the on love and allow the body to reach a deep and real state of bodies of patients suffering from metastatic bone lesions.” relaxation. That is where the healing begins.”

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Sweet Child of Mine For children dealing with a world of uncertainty, art can be a useful and comforting way to induce mindfulness and joy.

BY LIZ TUCKWELL

T

hree nights ago, my nine-year-old daughter suddenly burst into tears during her bedtime routine.

These were not the typical tears in defiance of bedtime, but instead, ones preceded by odd behavior. Recently, she became overly apologetic for her actions with such severity I became worried. I gently reminded her that she did not need to apologize for so many things and that apologies like that are for when she was truly sorry. Something was off in my child’s headspace and I wanted to know what it was.

Later, she confirmed my suspicions. A new teacher at her school was intimidating and discouraging. Feeling powerless in her outer world impacted her inner world.

Children lack the emotional vocabulary and perspective to understand the concepts of life. They are not “thinkers” so much as they are “reactionaries.” As a parent, I have to provide my child with a set of tools to help her keep her peace of mind and mental agility.

Worry and anxiety have no age restrictions. Knowing this, I parent with a conscious approach to my daughters’ mental health. As an artist and holistic healer, I employ creative tools to empower her mind.

My greatest tool is showing my child that accepting all of her emotions is important. Our emotions show us something may be “off” in our world. She may not yet understand the significance behind her feelings, but she should understand her feelings are significant. Expressing her feelings in healthy ways lays the foundation for her to have healthy emotional release tools as an adult.

I also believe my daughter should witness my “off moments” and my response to them. I may tell her about a challenge I faced and what I did to feel better. I then ask her what she would do in this situation. This gives her a stage for her own solutions.

Additionally, I set her up with creative tools to process her experiences, release pent up energy and empower herself. Each morning, we set intentions for our day. Our brains are bombarded with sensory information, so to combat this, we can choose what our minds focus on and

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filter out. Setting daily intentions helps her mind focus.

To end her day, we go through a small meditation exercise to quiet her mind and release the noise of the day.

It is no surprise mediation has a profound impact on the brain, and doing so with children is important for their overall long-term mental health.

I have her close her eyes, take a few deep breaths, and in her mind, visualize herself carrying a basket. I ask her to take out items from her day that she doesn’t need to carry anymore. Whatever comes to mind is what she releases. I encourage her to do so without any judgement and to notice if she feels better, lighter and more peaceful.

She usually does.

Making art is also a profound part of our home. It is not only a joy-filled experience, but it is a tool to release the muddled thoughts and emotions that cause anxiety.

When something bothers my daughter and she can’t find the words to express it, l suggest that we start painting.

She always feels better. Availing the home with art tools at a child’s disposal gives them the ability to reach for creative self expression instead of emotional suppression, which is essential for mental self care.

In Psychology Today, Cathy Malchiodi, Ph.D., says, “By its simplest definition, art expression is a form of non-verbal communication. For children who may not be able to articulate thoughts, sensations, emotions or perceptions, it is one way to convey what may be difficult to express with words.”

As an adult, life can sometimes feel overwhelming and loud. Being a child, the world is not only overwhelming and loud, but often enormous and confusing. As adults, we can not oversimplify the emotions of children and dismiss their outbursts. Children are often searching for answers to their complex mental experience through our examples, guidance and teaching. By giving them tools to empower their mental health at a young age, we are providing them with life-long solutions that will create mentally resilient adults.

COOL TO CURE Popular with celebrities and athletes alike, cryotherapy uses extremely cold temperatures to heal and treat a variety of ailments, from sore muscles to cancer.

BY CATHERINE EVES

C

hemotherapy drugs do their best to kill off cells, of cellular ultrastructure,” which occurs when tissues are regardless of whether or not they are cancerous, frozen to “lethal temperatures lower than −40°C.” and our immune system fights like hell to preserve Barzell has been using cryotherapy to treat prostate what is functioning and destroy what is not. But cancer patients for almost 20 years, since 2001. “When I cryotherapy, a treatment gaining popularity in the world of first started doing cryo, I wasn’t convinced that it worked,” complementary medicine, has proven to assist our immune Barzell begins. “I biopsied the patients at one year and two system in doing what it does best: help us heal. years after the cryo to see if the cancer was gone, [because] I Cryotherapy is the use of very cold temperatures (as low was concerned that I was rendering a treatment that, at that as -150 degrees Celsius) to invoke an immune system response time, wasn’t very popular, [and] maybe it wasn’t effective.” to promote healing. The use of cryotherapy (also known as But, fortunately enough for Barzell and his patients, “I was cryosurgery or cryoablation) for medicinal purposes can be amazed by how well the biopsies turned out,” he says. traced as far back as the early 19th century. James Arnott Barzell sees two types of cryotherapy patients: prostate was the first documented physician to use cold temperatures cancer patients who have not received any treatment, and to destroy tissue. A 2001 overview in the Journal of the Royal those who underwent radiation which ultimately failed.

Society of Medicine details the history: Arnott found very Radiation is a popular treatment for prostate cancer procold temperatures “will arrest every inflammation which ducing good results, but not for everyone. “After radiation is near enough to the surface to be accessible to its influtherapy, [cryotherapy] is, in my opinion, the best treatment ence,” and he was said to have treated breast cancer, uterine available,” says Barzell. He notes that about one-third of cancers and some skin cancers with this method. people diagnosed with prostate cancer will receive radia There are a variety of different versions of cryothertion, and “the failure rate of radiation, depending on what apy—from whole-body cryotherapy, which can offer beneyou read, is anywhere from 15 to 40 percent.” This is where fits to both the healthy and sick, to cryosurgery, a cancer cryotherapy treats what radiation could not. treatment administered in a clinical setting.

But this is just one example of how cryotherapy is

Whole-body cryotherapy can be accessed at clinics used in the cancer treatment world. Retinoblastoma, a rare around the country, at places like The CryoBar, cancer of the eye, most commonly affects which has three locations in the city of “Your body’s able to young children. Cryotherapy is a common Chicago. Sessions last around three minutes: treatment option because of its ability to see, ‘Oh, that’s not target the tumor directly with little risk of Clients enter a chamber, leaving their head and neck exposed. According to Andrea supposed to be here. damaging other parts of the eye.

Fouste, manager at The CryoBar Lincoln Park, Cryotherapy is also gaining traction as a Let’s get rid of it.’” treatment for early-stage breast cancers. The cryotherapy stimulates collagen production (to help heal surgical scars), sends a rush of feelBreast Cancer: Targets and Therapy paper good endorphins throughout the body and reduces inflamexamines current evidence, noting the favorability of cryoabmation. This benefit is especially pertinent to cancer fighters lation in these instances. Cryoablation is performed using and thrivers as chronic inflammation causes DNA damage hollow needles, known as cryoprobes, to deliver chilled than can lead to cancer, according to Cancer.gov. fluids directly to their destination (in this case, the tumor in “It’s all about inflammation reduction,” Fouste says. the breast). Cryoablation requires little anesthesia, is mini“So helping with those pains and aches and things like mally invasive, and results in little to no aesthetic changes that.” The cold temperatures send blood to the body’s core, with a short recovery time. As well, “it is a repeatable procewhere it is essentially cleaned of toxins as it runs through dure in case of local relapse or incomplete ablation, [and] it the lymphatic system. “Your body’s able to see, ‘Oh, that’s does not interrupt other systemic therapies,” the paper states. not supposed to be here. Let’s get rid of it,’” Fouste says.

It’s proven to be effective. A study led by Kenneth R. After the session, as the body readjusts to room temperaTomkovich, M.D., a radiologist at Princeton Radiology and tures, the blood returns to the rest of the body, allowing director of Breast Imaging and Interventions at CentraState adrenaline and endorphins to spread throughout the body.

Medical Center in Freehold, New Jersey, found when cryo“A lot of people do it because it helps with mood, so you’re therapy was used to treat patients with low-risk breast cancer, going to feel happier, even more energized, more awake, only one out of 180 patients had a cancer recurrence in the more ready to go,” Fouste says. “Sometimes people who following four years. A 2016 report from the M.D. Anderson are doing cancer treatments need that sort of boost.”

Cancer Center points out additional benefits to cryosurgery: Today, Dr. Winston Barzell of Sarasota, Florida, is a big “It appears to stimulate an anti-cancer immune response,” says proponent of cryotherapy in his urology practice, where he Dr. Rosa Hwang. The hope is that cryoablation would stimumost typically treats prostate cancer. “If we freeze the tissue late the body’s immune response, leading the immune system to -40 degrees Centigrade, and keep it for three minutes to recognize the disease. If the cancer were to come back, the at that level, we kill cancer cells,” Barzell says. After two body could fight it off naturally. According to M.D. Anderson, freeze-thaw cycles which essentially destroy cells through “Researchers have confirmed this revved-up immune response intracellular/extracellular fluid shifts and membrane disin mice, and they’re preparing to test it on people.” ruption (a process taking about 25 minutes), the procedure Whether you are an athlete seeking cryotherapy to soothe is over and the patient is free to head home after approprisore muscles, a cancer patient aiming to reduce inflammation ate, post-op recovery. A 2019 paper in the journal Breast after cancer treatment, or someone considering cryosurgery as Cancer: Targets and Therapy says that the efficacy of cryopart of your cancer treatment, cryotherapy is a low-risk option therapy-related treatments is based on the “cytotoxic effects taking advantage of the body’s natural immune response to of cold that produce both instant and delayed destruction promote healing.

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ASBESTOS and Veterans

Veterans make up 30% of mesothelioma diagnoses in the U.S. According to a 2016 census, there are around 20.4 million U.S. veterans who have been exposed to asbestos during their service. Navy veterans have the highest risk of developing mesothelioma in the United States Military.

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www.vogelzanglaw.com/asbestos-veterans A DVO C AT E S F O R M E S OT H E L I O M A V I C T I M S

Around Town

Photo by Adrian C. Garcia

48 BEAR-ABLE HOPE 51 RECAPS 53 CALENDAR

Tickled Pink for Bright Pink was held on Feb. 28, 2020

Bear Necessities raises awareness and funds for childhood cancer research, but until a cure is discovered once and for all, this nonprofit is on a quest to make each child’s day shine a little bit brighter.

BY CATHERINE EVES

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Cancer Wellness

Photos courtesy of Bear Necessities

BEAR-ABLE HOPE

“W

e just want kids to be kids,” says foreseeable, immediate future, [our goal is] how can we Kathleen A. Casey, Founder and CEO of make therapies less toxic?”

Bear Necessities. “We want to give them This isn’t the only gap Bear Necessities is working to that opportunity to feel special and feel fill. Their chapter in Naples, Florida supports Golisano like they don’t have to think about cancer for a little bit.”

Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida, “the only hosBear Necessities Pediatric Cancer Foundation is a 501(c) pital between Tampa and Miami that treats kids with (3) nonprofit providing resources for children with cancer cancer,” according to Casey. Bear Necessities conducts throughout Illinois and the greater Midwest. their Bear Hugs program here, as well as fundraising Named in honor of Casey’s son, Barrett “Bear” Krupa, efforts. She mentions that throughout Bear Necessities’ Bear Necessities was conceived by Casey in collabora27-year history, many donors have relocated to Southwest tion with friends and family to improve the lives of chilFlorida, and are pleased with the opportunity to continue dren with cancer. “[My son] said, ‘Let’s just do stuff for to be involved. “It’s a nice place to really help out, because kids like me, let’s see what we can do to make a differit’s definitely one of those hospitals that’s making a big ence,’” Casey recalls. Barrett was diagnosed with a Wilms difference in an area that desperately needs it,” Casey says. tumor—“What was supposed to be the most curable form Back in Chicago, Bear Necessities hosts four events of pediatric cancer,” according to Casey— each year to raise money for their proat just age three. After five-and-a-half grams. As well, upwards of fifty smaller “They’re innocent years battling cancer, Barrett passed away events are held each year with proceeds children; they really donated to Bear Necessities. And anyone in January of 1993. “Of course, we hoped he would be here to help us continue on shouldn’t have to be with charitable inclinations is able to in his dream, but he really instilled in involved: “If anyone wants to help in going through this at get us that we need to make a difference for a small way, they can simply hold a bake this time in their lives.” sale [or] a car wash,” Casey says. “That’s these kids,” Casey says.

Twenty-seven years later, Bear a wonderful way to help our organization, Necessities continues to uphold Barrett’s dream to make through small events like that. [...] We are very fortunate life a little bit easier for children like him through things to live in the Chicago area where people are truly giving, like their Bear Hugs program, which provides gifts or and really want to make a difference, and want to make experiences to children with cancer, as well as through things better in their communities.” the Bear Discoveries program, which provides funding

For the future, Casey shares that Bear Necessities for necessary childhood cancer research. “We want to will continue to raise awareness and funds for childhood get to the point where we cure [childhood cancer], but in cancer. “Their childhoods are being taken away from the meantime, we want to try to bring a little bit of joy them, so we want to be able to do whatever we can,” Casey and happiness into these kids’ lives,” Casey says. “They’re says. “As a parent [who has] lost a child, it started off [with] innocent children; they really shouldn’t have to be going the person who brought us a sandwich from home instead through this at this time in their lives.” of having to eat hospital food. It was that special.” For A Bear Hug can look however the child receiving the another 27 years and beyond, Bear Necessities will conexperience imagines it. A young girl might want a maketinue to inspire hope and bring joy to families affected by over, so Bear Necessities will provide a day of pampering childhood cancer—one special moment at a time. for her and a friend or loved one. Another child might want to go fishing on Lake Michigan or meet a childhood hero.

“Our sports teams are so incredible for us; they go above and beyond,” Casey says. A Bear Hug could be tickets to see a game followed by a meet-and-greet with a pro-athlete. “It just gives them that opportunity to be themselves for a day and not have to be sitting in a hospital room,” she says. Some children want laptops or gaming systems; one child wanted to swim with dolphins. “They’re so fun, they’re so unique, and it really breaks that monotony [...]

It doesn’t take a lot to bring hope and joy into these kids’ lives and that’s what we intend to do through the Bear Hugs program,” Casey says.

While Bear Necessities provides once-in-a-lifetime experiences to almost 400 children each year (“That’s about the number of kids that are diagnosed in Illinois,” says Casey), they’re also funding cutting-edge research.

It’s a good thing, too, because only 4 percent of federal cancer research dollars goes toward treating childhood cancers. “[This is] critical, because they’re not getting the money from our federal government, so the only place this money is coming from are organizations like Bear Necessities,” Casey says. “The biggest goal is how can we eliminate pediatric cancer, but that not being in the Cancer Wellness

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Photo courtesy of TK

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Photos courtesy of HCRF.

o this day, the Hippocratic Oath is still held sacred by doctors. The oath is an ethical code, attributed to Greek physician Hippocrates, setting the highest standards for compassionate care, patient privacy and so on. It is evident how seriously the Hippocratic Cancer Research Foundation takes this oath through both their daily practices and the type of research they fund.

By investing in “out of the box” research, the Hippocratic Cancer Research Foundation (HCRF) grants researchers the ability to undertake urgent cancer research in new and inventive ways. Raising funds for these grants is what sets the HCRF apart from other charities.

On November 16, 2019, at its fourth annual Wings to Cure gala, the HCRF raised funds to accelerate high-impact translational research at the Lurie Cancer Center of Northwestern University.

More than one thousand attendees filled Navy Pier’s grand ballroom to support the HCRF’s mission to “discover, develop and implement effective new treatments for patients with cancer by advancing groundbreaking research.” Cancer Wellness looks forward to seeing the rippling impact this event has on cancer innovation.

Honoring the Oath

BY ALLISON STERN

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Cruising Towards a Cure

BY ALLISON STERN 52

Cancer Wellness

Photos courtesy of Susan G. Komen Chicago

he Chicago Auto Show’s First Look for Charity benefit at McCormick Place has raised almost 48 million dollars for local charities over the past 27 years. This year, Susan G. Komen Chicago was one of the 18 local charities benefitting from Chicago’s biggest single-day charitable event.

Susan G. Komen is the largest breast cancer organization in the world. The organization funds more breast cancer research than any other nonprofit outside of the federal government. Their mission is to save lives by investing in breakthrough breast cancer research and meeting its community’s needs. Komen’s daring goal is to reduce the number of breast cancer deaths in the U.S. 50 percent by 2026.

On Friday, February 7, the Chicago chapter of Susan G. Komen hosted a private reception before a sneak preview of the Chicago Auto Show’s state-of-the-art vehicles for those who dedicated their ticket purchase to Komen Chicago. Tickets purchased for Komen Chicago raised funds to invest in community grants for resources such as mammograms, diagnostics, treatment and support.

Komen’s attendees enjoyed cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, snapped photos with pink boas and hats in the photo booth, and mingled with local celebrities including breast cancer survivor and ABC 7 Chicago’s meteorologist Tracy Butler, Art “Chat Daddy” Sims, WGN Chicago’s Nancy Loo and Whitney Reynolds of the “Whitney Reynolds Show.”

Right before guests headed to the auto show floor for more drinks, tasty bites and dancing, they were able to hear Butler share how Komen Chicago and her daughter supported her through her cancer diagnosis.

MAY 2020 WALK TO END BLADDER CANCER

RACE FOR THE CURE CHICAGO

Date: May 2 Time: 9:00 a.m.

Location: Northerly Island Cost: $25 bcan.org This signature event generates free critical funds enabling BCAN to offer educational resources and support programs, advanced research, serve more patients and families, and continue as the leading provider of bladder cancer services and information.

Date: May 10 Time: 7:30 am Location: Montrose Harbor Cost: $20 komenchicago.org Spend the day running or walking a 5k with the breast cancer community while fundraising to help reduce the current number of breast cancer deaths.

Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network

Susan G. Komen Chicago

Photo courtesy of Susan G. Komen

REACH & RAISE

Photo courtesy of Living Beyond Breast Cancer

Living Beyond Breast Cancer

Photo courtesy of BCAN

Date: May 17 Time: 7:30 a.m.

Location: Philadelphia Museum of Art Steps, Philadelphia, PA Cost: $10-50 philly.reachandraise.org Reach & Raise is a unique morning of connection, inspiration and yoga to make a difference in the lives of those affected by breast cancer. The morning includes an all-levels yoga class with live music, vendors and wellness information in the Namaste Village, refreshments, giveaways, and more.

To list or partner with Cancer Wellness on an event, please contact our account manager Allison Stern astern@cancerwellness.com

PINK PATH RUN Lynn Sage Cancer Research Foundation

Date: May 30 Time: TBD Location: Diversey Harbor Cost: $45 lynnsage.org More than 1,000 runners, walkers and volunteers will come together to support the breast cancer community. Participants’ support impacts life-changing breakthroughs in breast cancer treatment.

Photo courtesy of Lynn Sage Cancer

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JUNE & JULY 2020 18TH ANNUAL TASTING STARS

YACHT ROCK THE BOAT Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

A Silver Lining Foundation

Date: June 13 Time: 7:00 p.m.

Location: TBD Cost: $175 tastingstars.org This premier champagne event has raised almost $600,000 for breast cancer screening and support services since its inception.

Photo courtesy of A Silver Lining

ABC 7 GIBBONS 5K RUN AND 3K WALK

20TH ANNUAL GOOMBAY BASH

Date: June 18 Time: 6:25p.m.

Location: Grant Park Cost: $10-35 allbloodcancers.org/ During the last 26 years, the ABC 7 Gibbons 5K Run and 3K Walk has become a landmark event in the Chicagoland area. One-hundred percent of all proceeds benefit the Leukemia Research Foundation in the fight for a cure for all blood cancers.

Date: July 25 Time: 5:00 p.m.

Location: Aon Grand Ballroom at Navy Pier Cost: $150-250 goombaybash.com This tropical party has raised more than $9 million, donating nearly every dollar raised to the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University for basic science cancer research projects to help them compete for additional government or private funding.

Leukemia Research Foundation

Photo courtesy of LRF

Date: July 24 Time: 7:00 p.m.

Location: Columbia Yacht Club Cost: $75 leukemiacup.org Chicago’s Leukemia Cup Regatta event benefits the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS).

Support helps LLS achieve its mission of creating a world without blood cancers.

The H Foundation

CABOOSE CUP

Colon Cancer Coalition

Date: June 19 Time: 8:00 a.m.

Location: Bloomingdale Golf Club Cost: $105 coloncancercoalition.org This community golfing fundraiser benefits the Colon Cancer Coalition in their mission to promote prevention and early detection of colon cancer, and to provide support to those affected.

25TH ANNUAL CHICAGO SELECT GOLF INVITATIONAL American Cancer Society

Photo courtesy of CCC

To list or partner with Cancer Wellness on an event, please contact our account manager Allison Stern astern@cancerwellness.com 54

Cancer Wellness

Date: July 27 Time: 9:00 a.m.

Location: Medinah Country Club Cost: $150+ https://www.chicagoselect.org/ A challenging day of golf will be capped off with a cocktail reception, an awards dinner, and silent and live auctions. Proceeds raised by the Chicago Select Golf Invitational will go directly toward cancer research.

October 24, 2020 Danada Forest Preserve Wheaton,IL

ILLINOIS WALK

Register Today! Start or join a team and support our mission at runwalk.ovarian.org/illinois

EARLIER AWARENESS

QUALITY OF LIFE

RESEARCH

NATIONAL SERIES SPONSORS

Contact us at: illinois@ovarian.org 312.226.9410

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COMMUNITY OUTREACH

entertainment

58 YES, SHE CAN 62 PADDLING FOR A PURPOSE 64 A LITERARY LOVE STORY

Yes, She Can

Kym Douglas, a star of shows like “Home & Family” and “The Ellen DeGeneres Show,” says her breast cancer diagnosis taught her one important lesson—how to advocate for herself.

BY BRITT JULIOUS

I

t is easy to see why Kym Douglas is so beloved. “[Cancer] brought an inner strength, a muscle I had never The actress, television host, comedienne, wife used before. I had to face it head on, so I did, because I just and mother radiates a certain charm that is irrewanted to get it out of me,” she says. sistible. Whether she is offering beauty advice on Her journey also reintroduced self-care into her life.

Hallmark Channel’s “Home & Family,” cracking up audiDespite living in Los Angeles for more than 35 years, ences on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show,” or just relaxing in Douglas says she’d only visited the beach a handful of her trailer, it is clear Douglas’s sunny demeanor is no act. times. It took a cancer diagnosis to change things. “I That much was apparent on a warm February afterwould go down there, and I would just sit and pray and noon on the “Home & Family” set as many members of the meditate, and I would just take in the water,” she says. cast and crew sang her praises. And it is perhaps that same “There was something about looking at this expansive, openness that helped her tackle her most challenging role huge ocean that would make my problem not so big and yet—breast cancer survivor. make me know the magnificence and majesty of God, that “I’m like everybody,” says Douglas. “I never thought it he can help and take care of whatever our problems are.” would happen to me.” After a day filled with hair, makeup, She now regularly takes walks on the beach and remains and many outfit changes around the house of the “Home & present. “Look at this ocean, look at this sand, look at this Family” set at NBCUniversal Studios, Douglas is eager to blue sky. I am alive,” declares Douglas. Self-care is not about share her story. It is one many cancer warriors and thrivexpensive products or treatments. And it’s not about indulgers may be familiar with—despite no family history of the ing ourselves beyond our means. Instead, Douglas says, real disease and despite eating right, working sustenance is found in the simplest methods. out, and being “aware of the environment,” “[Cancer] brought an “We’re told in social media—and life in she developed cancer. general—that you need to spend money and go inner strength, Douglas was asked to create a story on on a vacation to Puerto Vallarta, or you need concierge health services, and for the story, a muscle I had never to go to the Hydration Room and spend $150,” she was also the subject. The service came used before. I had Douglas says about the falsehoods of modern to her house and tested her cholesterol and self-care. “[But] it really is about free [things to face it head on, like] walking. Anybody can do it. If you have blood, among other services. To close out her file, the service also needed to complete so I did, because I $2 to your name or money is no object, it is the a pap smear and perform a mammogram. “I same. It evens the playing field.” just wanted to get was like, okay, I’ll get back to you on that,” After rigorous treatment—which included Douglas recalls. “But I had somebody from the “chemo cocktail,” a double mastectomy, it out of me.” this health company [and] this one woman and radiation—Douglas is in remission. The was always bugging me.” Douglas felt a gnawing sense that experience, she says, has given her a different perspective on she needed to go, especially because it was three years past being alive. Most importantly, she has learned to put herself her last mammogram. In this case, her intuition was correct. first. “We as women are the caretakers. I take care of my dog, Douglas was later diagnosed with stage III breast cancer.

I take care of my son, I take care of my husband. I make sure

“I felt it was truly a divine intervention,” Douglas that everything is done for the career,” Douglas says about begins. “It truly was this divine appointment to have this her life. “So I make myself a priority now.” woman constantly on my shoulder telling me you have to Everyday, she gets up early, a change from her previget this appointment. Because as we know, the longer it ous life of “chasing the clock.” Douglas sets aside five to 10 went, the worse it could have been.” minutes for a morning prayer, meditation, or reading her Douglas learned many things about herself throughbible or daily inspirational book. At night, she walks the out the course of her treatment. “I am a wonderful avoider,” dog, cooks dinner, watches reality television and takes baths. she says. Despite her diagnosis, Douglas continued Things have slowed down, but she’s more diligent than ever working the entire time. Her choice to do so allowed her about the products she uses, from makeup to pots and pans. to frankly acknowledge the truth of cancer. “I didn’t have As Home & Family’s beauty expert, Douglas is tasked with hair, I didn’t have nails and the irony [is], I’m a beauty finding the latest. Now, she makes sure to recommend things expert on television standing next to 30 year olds,” she that are great aesthetically and chemically. “I don’t have to says. “But you kind of see the metaphor in what really is be the trendsetter. I don’t have to be in the latest [things],” beautiful.” She values her hair and makeup team through Douglas says. “I just want to make sure that it’s healthy.” this time as well as the friends (like Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Douglas is now working on another book about overcomwho also battled breast cancer) and the crews from “Home ing. It is a departure from her past releases. “This is the Kym & Family” and “The Ellen DeGeneres Show,” who were all that nobody sees, except for a few people in my life. It’s the understanding and supportive. warts and it’s the bad times and it’s stripped down to its studs,” Cancer affects one mentally, physically and spiritually.

Douglas says. “I’m very afraid of it and I avoided it and I stepped Rather than delegating things to other people, Douglas away from it, but I think it’s important to talk about it.” “took the bull by the horn” and trusted her instincts to find Cancer has transformed her life, maybe for the better. the right doctor and medical team for herself.

“While I would never want to wish cancer on anybody, and cer “When I would meet someone and the energy was bad, tainly not myself, cancer in a very weird way was a very strange I would make excuses,” Douglas recalls about her pre-cangift where it stopped me. It made me reassess. It shifted a lot cer life. “[Cancer] was such a shift in my whole being, my of stuff for me. It helped me get stronger,” she says. “I haven’t brand, everything I had built my life on.” Taking charge made friends with cancer. We’re like frenemies. I don’t like allowed her to put herself—her concerns, her needs—first. her that much. She’s not that good of a friend, but she’s somebody that taught me a lot too.”

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Photography by Bethany Mollenkof Hair & Makeup by Francine Valdivia Styling by Michelle Bottarini

the thriver

DAMIAN BUCHMAN AS TOLD TO BRITT JULIOUS

They say that a cat has nine lives.

I’ve always loved big cats. Cheetahs. Tigers. Pumas.

But the lion captivated my curiosity. Lions enjoy challenges, variety and change. While I didn’t enjoy the challenges of becoming a two-time survivor of bilateral osteosarcoma at just 13 and 14 years old, I can say with confidence that those experiences strengthened my lionlike attributes, like persistence and drive.

On March 7, 1991, days before my 13th birthday, I was diagnosed with osteosarcoma in my right distal femur. Chemo, limb-salvage surgery and remission one month ahead of protocol followed. LION! In February 1992, I was discharged and reentering teenage life.

Whether I was belting Mr. Big’s ballad “To Be With You” or headbanging with Wayne and Garth, I was ecstatic to be bald-headed and alive.

By August 1992, I was a teenage boy heading into high school with a full head of hair and a girlfriend to run her fingers through it. For freshman English, we wrote a paper and delivered a speech on what we hated, loved or feared. I opened my heart to my classmates and shared my vulnerability and healthy fear of recurrence. Not a week later, and just seven months into remission, I was rediagnosed.

My oncologist urged my mom to take me home and let me live out my days as healthy and happy as possible.

“Buck up mom, it’s going to be a brutal death,” he said.

He saw no way I would survive a second primary tumor, and he was certain that if the cancer didn’t kill me, the aggressive and intense chemotherapy would. But with the strength of my pride by my side, we slayed that Sahara.

Photo by Petya Shalamanova

I can say with confidence that those experiences strengthened my lion-like \attributes, like persistence and drive.

To hear more from Damian, visit cancerwellness.com

Twenty-seven years and 23 knee replacements or revisions later, as the only known survivor of my diagnosis, I’m thriving and living a life that is blessed beyond belief, a life full of endless miracles that befuddles everyone I meet. I’m married to the love of my life whom I met as volunteers at cancer camp. We adopted three beautiful sons in four years. And I’m living my purpose as the founder of The Ability Center, a nonprofit ensuring that people of all abilities can play together. I know firsthand that every parent should be able to play with their child, and every kid should be able to play with their siblings and peers. I cried alone, staring out of my living room window watching my siblings and friends play without me. If I can spare one child from living through that exclusion, I’ve done my job. I look forward to everything this new life holds.

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Environmentalist Lizzie Carr found activism through one unusual journey: her treatment for cancer.

BY BRITT JULIOUS

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Cancer Wellness

Photo courtesy of Lizzie Carr

PADDLING FOR A PURPOSE

“I

don’t think I ever expected to hear those words,”

Many days she wanted to give up. She developed says environmental activist Lizzie Carr. “I don’t carpal tunnel syndrome and trigger finger. “I remember know what I thought it would be, but certainly feeling quite overwhelmed somedays. Like I can’t do this,” not cancer.” says Carr. “But I knew I [couldn’t] give up. If I don’t do Carr’s adult life, like many people her age, was just about this, I can’t communicate the things I have to communito take off. After studying English literature at university, cate, and all the data I’ve collected isn’t going to be robust Carr went on to work in marketing for an agency. She planned because I’ve only done half of the journey.” on building a career and climbing the ladder. “I viewed my The “data” Carr refers to is the garbage she saw on her success by my salaries and my job titles and just kind of the trip. Carr photographed every piece of garbage she saw, way you’re conditioned to throughout life,” she says. more than 2000 in total. As much as her experience was a All of that came to an abrupt halt when she noticed personal odyssey, it also became an environmental one. a small lump on her throat. After taking six months off “I was just trying to find a way that I could use my work to travel, the lump got bigger. And while it didn’t voice in some way to contribute and spark conversation hurt and she showed no other symptoms, Carr remained and spark some friction around it,” Carr begins. “By using concerned. After a lengthy testing process, she finally adventure and my paddleboard and this long journey to received the news: she had cancer. highlight the problems and photograph them [...], it meant To say her diagnosis came as a shock would be an I was able to show everybody in this single journey how understatement. With no history of cancer in her family, much rubbish I actually saw.”

Carr says it was difficult for the news to sink in initially.

And her message reached the masses: “Within a few “I think as soon as you hear the word cancer, it automatdays to a week, I realized that [with] this one-woman crusade ically [conjures] up negative images,” says Carr. “To a lot I’d set out on, there were so many people like me out there of people, it signifies death.” Carr was not unlike many who cared, but they just needed a way to channel that.” other warriors and survivors. A general

Soon after, Carr launched Plastic sense of fear permeated her treatment Patrol. The organization aims to “combat “It was like magic and, after going into remission a year the plastic crisis by eliminating single-use [...] Just everything later, long after. “You’re in this balance plastic and developing sustainable alternabetween being constantly grateful for I needed was in that tives.” They do this through global clean-up your outcome and fearful of what might partnerships with other businesses moment in the shape of events, happen next,” Carr says. and organizations, and their Plastic Patrol One thing that helped Carr during app, which logs data on pollution. Much like a paddleboard.” and after her treatment was mindfulness Carr’s record-breaking English waterway and self-care. “You can never underestimate the power of trip, the Plastic Patrol app encourages users to photograph breath,” Carr says. Another thing that helped Carr was a pollution they spot in nature, count and categorize the return to nature. After trying regular therapy, Carr went to garbage, and share their impact on social media. This past stay with her father who lives on an island in England. After year, the group reached their goal of logging one million watching someone paddleboard in the bay, Carr rented a pieces for the one million marine animals that die from board at the local club and tried the activity herself. plastic pollution every year in their #OneforOne campaign.

“It was like magic. I don’t know any other way of And earlier this year, the group released its impact describing it. Just everything I needed was in that moment report, which used data logged over the last three years. in the shape of a paddleboard,” Carr says. “It wasn’t just According to the report, the public recorded a total of 1065 the physical impact. But what I didn’t expect was the brands. The most registered types of litter included plastic mental and well-being side of it, and how that had such a packaging, plastic bottles, polystyrene, cigarette butts, and positive impact on me when I needed it.” plastic bags. Plastic made up 83 percent of the overall litter Upon returning to London, Carr continued paddle recorded. Based on their findings, the group recommends boarding on evenings and weekends at her local club. a nationwide ban on plastic bags, and a reformed and transHowever, the experience was less idyllic than her initial parent regulatory framework, among other things. foray into the sport. Carr paddled past ducks and swans The group plans to continue releasing reports over chewing on straws. The water was littered with plastic. the next five years as the fight for a cleaner environment Plastic bags often got caught in the fins under her board. will likely continue. Carr hopes their efforts will make “It was just horrifying,” says Carr. “I was out on the experiencing nature as beneficial for others as it was for waterways to restore my health and feel better, and it her in her healing journey. was compromising the experience, especially seeing the “I think we spend so much of our lives thinking about impact it had on the wildlife around me.” the future, reflecting on the past, or eyeballing social media

The experience inspired her to turn her concern that we’re very rarely focused on what’s going on around into a form of activism. In 2016, Carr paddleboarded the us,” Carr says. “But when you’re in nature [...] and the only length of the English waterways, from the north to the sound you hear is the paddle going in and out of the water south, around 400 miles. The journey took her 22 days, and the soundtrack of the wildlife, you end up in this relaxand Carr set a world record, becoming the first person to ing trance. Nothing can compare to the feeling of being make the journey. outside or being in nature can give. It’s like therapy.”

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A Literary Love Story Jason B. Rosenthal, husband of the late award-winning author Amy Krouse Rosenthal, chatted with us about “My Wife Said You May Want to Marry Me,” his memoir response to Amy’s viral New York Times column published just 10 days before her death from ovarian cancer.

BY CATHERINE EVES

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Cancer Wellness

“My Wife Said You May Want to Marry Me” is the next chapter of the couple’s love story, following Jason as he reflects on his extraordinary marriage to Amy, raising their three children, the shock of Amy’s cancer diagnosis and her untimely and unfair passing. But Jason also shares what comes next, because just as Amy desired, his life and the lives of their children must continue. In “My Wife Said You May Want to Marry Me,” Jason considers his wife’s final gift—the opportunity to move beyond the pain and heartbreak in the wake of her passing to find a new story of love, peace and happiness. Cancer Wellness chatted with Jason by phone about writing his new book, his “new normal,” and his new nonprofit: the Amy Krouse Rosenthal Foundation.

WHAT MOTIVATED YOU TO WRITE THIS BOOK? I was a very private individual with very little presence on social media or anywhere else, so it’s a good question as to why I would choose to open myself up in such a personal and in-depth way. It started, of course, from the moment that Amy’s essay came out that I was thrust into the spotlight, if you will. That led to a lot of things, including a TED Talk in April 2018, and then my own “Modern Love” column in June 2018.

Photo courtesy of Harper Collins

“I

am writing this book because my wife died of ovarian cancer, [but] this won’t be a maudlin tale of death,” begins Jason B. Rosenthal in his new memoir, “My Wife Said You May Want to Marry Me.” Rosenthal reflects on the life of unquestionable, unwavering love he shared with his wife of 26 years, the award-winning author Amy Krouse Rosenthal, and contemplates what comes next.

In March 2017, Amy published a “Modern Love” column in the New York Times. Ten days later, she passed away from ovarian cancer. The Times piece went viral, ultimately read by five million people who were inspired by the true and poignant love story of Amy and Jason. Amy’s piece, titled “You May Want to Marry My Husband,” was written during her final days of life. In it, she ruminates on what she will miss. She wants more time with her husband, with her children; she wants more time to laugh and play and enjoy each other’s company—”But that is not going to happen,” Amy says. “I probably have only a few days left being a person on this planet. So why [am I writing] this?”

She answers her own question: “I am wrapping this up on Valentine’s Day, and the most genuine, non-vase-oriented gift I can hope for is that the right person reads this, finds Jason, and another love story begins.”

It was from that article that my publisher, Harper Collins, reached out to me and asked if I wanted to expand it into a book. I thought about it long and hard. I realized throughout that period of time that many, many people throughout the world had resonated with me and with my story, and I felt like sharing my story was important because it would touch a lot of people.

WHAT SURPRISED YOU TO LEARN ABOUT YOURSELF DURING THE WRITING PROCESS? I certainly opened up in a way that was unexpected and extremely honest. Trying to picture who I am as a human being now, in this stage of my life, to give a background of who that guy was in the [beginning of the] story [...] I mean it was definitely cathartic.

THERE ARE MOMENTS IN YOUR BOOK THAT ARE SO HEARTBREAKING TO READ—LIKE THE PAGES DOCUMENTING THE FINAL DAYS OF AMY’S LIFE. HOW DID IT FEEL TO REVISIT THOSE EMOTIONS DURING THE WRITING PROCESS? It started with my TED Talk. I wrote that back in 2018 when I [felt] extraordinarily raw. I knew one way to tell a story, and that was just to be really honest and raw about it. And once I started to speak about it publicly, I realized that so many people go through this experience and keep it, if you will, in the closet. They don’t really talk about it much, so I felt that speaking about it in a really honest way was the only way I knew how to do it. But also, I think talking about it really helped people (who might have experienced a similar situation).

WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR OTHER COUPLES WHO ARE IN A SIMILAR SITUATION? As a caretaker, you have this new role as just trying to manage comfort and love and care, and that’s all you can do.

What having a long and drawn-out illness does for a couple, in my experience, is bring them extraordinarily close. What I mean by that is you have time and an opportunity to talk, so I would encourage a couple going through what we did to really break it down and talk about things that are significant.

In our case, because we had children, [ask if there] are any specific messages or things you want me to share with the kids at their milestones. How do you think I’ll be able to navigate as a single parent? Can I get some advice from you as their mother? As well as more practical things that you may not think about—these are hard conversations but really important. I’m talking about things like, what do you want when you’re gone? Do you want a (funeral) service? Do you want religion? Do you want music? Do you want someone to speak in particular? What do you want to do with your body? Those sorts of questions that we don’t talk about in our society very much.

WHAT WAS THE MOST DIFFICULT PART ABOUT WRITING THE BOOK? The emotional aspect was very difficult, of course, and reliving the events of Amy’s illness, but I took it like I approached a lot of things in my life: very seriously and methodically. I began to go back into a lot of family archives; I’m sort of a hoarder in that way. [And I revisited] a lot of things from the kids early lives and our lives together. Going back and accessing those emotions from really beautiful moments was really emotional.

WHAT DOES YOUR LIFE LOOK LIKE NOW? I’m living alone in my house—the house that Amy and I built together, that we had the kids in. Aspects of that are great, because it brings me home. Home is always home, I love that, but it’s a lot of space for one individual. I’m a single parent so that’s been something to navigate that is very new, but my kids are incredible. I’ve learned from them and we’ve figured out a new way to communicate and talk together and [we’re] accessing emotions that are difficult and important. Those are the big things.

I T’S CLEAR FROM YOUR WRITING THAT YOUR FAMILY—YOU, AMY, AND YOUR THREE CHILDREN, WHO ARE AFFECTIONATELY REFERRED TO AS THE “ROSIES”—IS EXTREMELY CLOSE. HOW HAS YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR CHILDREN CHANGED SINCE AMY’S PASSING? I lived with my little son for a couple years, and that was extraordinary for both of us. We went through the grieving process in a deep way together. Overall, with each of the kids, I’ve just learned to communicate on a deeper level. I think that’s the most important thing, and I think we talk to each other a little more regularly and about things they maybe wouldn’t have talked about. Things they maybe would have talked about with mom.

TELL ME ABOUT YOUR WORK WITH THE AMY KROUSE ROSENTHAL FOUNDATION. There’s a two-fold mission: On the one hand, we’re trying to raise awareness and research in early detection of ovarian cancer, and because Amy was such a prolific and successful author, we are also engaged in childhood literacy programs—mostly that takes the form of donating tens of thousands of books to children all over the country.

In terms of the ovarian cancer space, we have just issued our first grant, and the physician who received the grant was just appointed: Dr. Rebecca Porter of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Her research focus is on early detection of ovarian cancer, so we’re excited.

I hired Betsy Katten, my Executive Director, after starting the foundation, not really knowing what I was doing, but I’ve put together my dream-team board, and we’ve just been plugging away ever since. We had a big event last year and we’re scheduled to do another event at the Park West in Chicago on Oct. 8 of this year.

The second annual Yellow Umbrella Party: An Amy Krouse Rosenthal Foundation Benefit will be held on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2020, at the Park West, in Chicago. The evening will include the magic of Dennis Watkins, Poems While You Wait, music, readings, an auction, raffle, buffet dinner, open bar, and more surprises. Follow the Amy Krouse Rosenthal Foundation on Facebook and @AKRFoundation on Instagram for updates.

“My Wife Said You May Want to Marry Me” by Jason B. Rosenthal is now available online or at your favorite independent bookstore.

Travel 69 HIKE TO HEAL 71 BREAST BUDDIES

DID YOU KNOW that hundreds of schools in the U.S. have asbestos in them?

Six schools were temporarily shut down in Philadelphia last year due to asbestos exposure. And a few years ago, a report found asbestos in 180 Chicago schools.

If building materials that contain asbestos begin to decompose over time, asbestos fibers can be found in indoor air and may pose a health threat.

Breathing in those fibers over a long period of time can increase the risk of asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma.

To learn more, visit

www.vogelzanglaw.com/asbestos-schools

Photo courtesy of TK

A DVO C AT E S F O R M E S OT H E L I O M A V I C T I M S

Hike to Heal True North Treks connects young adult cancer survivors through physical activity, mindfulness practices and the great outdoors.

BY CATHERINE EVES

I

Photos courtesy of True North Treks

n 2010, David Victorson, Ph.D., was in his early 30s, a new father, working as a licensed psychologist and writing grant proposals to fund programs that would improve quality of life during and after cancer treatment. “I vividly remember at that time being acutely aware of my young adult patients,” says Victorson, who is an associate professor of medical sciences at Northwestern University.

“And just acutely aware, as well, that when they would die, they were [my age], and they either left a family behind or weren’t able to have a family because [of] treatment.”

Tapped into this community, Victorson began to notice a pattern: “Compared to kids with cancer and older adults with cancer, the young adult range really [had] been neglected,” Victorson says. According to him, there weren’t many resources available specifically for young adults with cancer during this time. That, combined with his belief in the healing power of nature, led him to the development of True North Treks, an organization serving, in particular, young adults with cancer.

True North Treks hosts backpacking and canoeing wilI get on these is when I see people meeting on the trek,” derness treks around the country, connecting young adult Victorson says. “The power of finding and being found is cancer survivors through physical activity, meditation and so strong, and on these treks, people really find brothers mindfulness practices, and the great outdoors. “Our treks and sisters they didn’t know they had.” help people connect with nature after the very unnatural

It’s a sentiment echoed by True North Trek alum experience [of] cancer,” Victorson says. True North Treks Anastasia DeLeo. At just 27 years old, DeLeo was blindgives participants the opportunity to enjoy the serenity sided by a stage III breast cancer diagnosis. After cheonly found in nature, connect to peers with similar expemotherapy, a double mastectomy and radiation, DeLeo riences and practice yoga and mindfulness meditation to entered remission in December 2015. It wasn’t until after “help to slow things down a bit, and help people find ways to the opportunity to go on a trek, four years after entering enjoy their days or their moments,” he says. remission, that DeLeo truly began to heal. “The trip really

Victorson considers contemplative practices as being triggered my journey of healing,” she says. “I learned that “a very natural way to make the most out of our short time I fit into a community that I had no idea I was even a part here on Earth.” That’s why on a True North Trek, mindfulof.” DeLeo credits her trek with teaching her body, soul ness activities trump what some might consider more tradiand mind how to heal post-diagnosis. “It [took] you out of tional support group activities, like regimented discussions the chaos of your everyday life and [brought] you to a place oftentimes resembling group therapy. “It was a value and a where there’s nothing but peace and quiet. It made you take goal early on that we didn’t approach this like it was going a pause and say to yourself, ‘Self, you went through a very to be therapy,” Victorson begins. “Many young adults have traumatic event and you need to process that,’” she says. stories about feeling out of place at support groups, feeling Many True North Trek alums consider their experilike they’re on the therapist’s couch or under the microscope, ence life changing, and amazingly enough, the organizaet cetera, and are interested in receiving different kinds of tion has the science to back it up. Before each trek, True support that don’t necessarily fit with conventional formats.

North Treks collects data from participants by adminis[To our guides], especially those who are trained in mental tering surveys, and then again after the trek is finished. health disciplines, [we] ask them to try to be aware of—or “We’ve been looking at self-reported symptoms of depreseven check at the door—their therapist self and try to come sion and anxiety and sleep quality,” Victorson begins, to the trek as themselves, connecting with “and we’ve seen significant improvements people naturally.” Although, Victorson admits, in all of those things from our treks, even “It was a value “their therapy skills are really good to have in though that’s not necessarily something and a goal early we’re looking to change.” But even more the back of their mind if they see someone having a moment of crisis.”

True North Treks have proven to on that we didn’t important, Victorson wanted True North Treks to positively affect a participant’s inflammatory approach this like response. (The link between chronic inflamlook drastically different from other cancer support groups he had encountered—an easy it was going to be mation and cancer has been well-studied in enough task, considering the classroom is the the cancer research world.) “We saw that therapy.” backcountry of Wyoming, Utah or Montana, on average, [the] inflammatory response and at least a one-hour plane ride from a decreased,” Victorson says. “We know that “level one trauma center,” according to Victorson. (Don’t exercise helps the inflammatory response [and] even social worry—every trek is outfitted with two “woofer” guides, connection helps the inflammatory response.” which stands for Wilderness Outdoor First Responders, And soon, True North Treks hopes to expand their who have been trained in emergency medicine as it relates participant base so even more people in the cancer comto wilderness environments.) But that doesn’t mean particmunity can experience the mental, emotional and physipants don’t have the opportunity to relate their singular ical benefits of a True North Trek, such as widowers, or cancer experiences with other survivors. entire families, as well as expanding treks to include a

“The conversations about their cancer, whether it’s wider age group, for the over 40 or under 18 set. This year, sharing war stories, treatments, stupid things that their they will host seven treks, three of which are week-long oncologist or somebody said to them, the whole gamut— backcountry treks, and four of which are “long-weekend those conversations start happening the first minute of mini-treks.” The mini-treks are generally hosted at the our trek,” Victorson says. And this is due to the intimacy Walden Institute, a retreat facility in Michigan’s Upper of each trek, spurred by days of physical exertion and cozy Peninsula. These treks give participants the opportunity nights around the campfire. Participants spend five to six to enjoy nature while also having access to “creature comdays together, in groups of 10 to 14 people. Everyone is carforts” that are typically inaccessible on back country treks, rying their belongings either on their back hiking through like indoor plumbing. nature, or stowed in a canoe, paddling downstream, spend Regardless of what brings someone to True North ing nights together under the stars. “In our treks, you might Treks, or where a trek takes them, the goal is the same: to start a conversation with somebody on the first day and it help young adults get back to nature after a very unnatcontinues and gets picked back up every day for the whole ural experience with cancer. “Our treks help people find week,” Victorson says. “Whether it’s in the tent or in the direction through connecting; [to help them] become canoe, or while cooking dinner, and it’s just a really intense recalibrated, reoriented,” Victorson says. “True north is a seamless opportunity for them [to connect].” guiding metaphor. [We’re] trying to help people who may It’s not uncommon for a trek to change a life for the have felt like they were without a map, a compass, a rudder, better. “One of the biggest back-of-the-neck chill moments [and] find some opportunities to find a path again.”

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Breast Buddies Powered by social media, The Breasties connects online communities IRL with outdoor retreats for young women affected by cancer.

BY CATHERINE EVES

Photos courtesy of Darcy Graf

L

ike many great ideas, The Breasties developed when four resourceful and imaginative women put their heads together to create something to better their lives. “It sounds a little selfish,” begins Allie Brudner, co-founder of The Breasties, “[but] we started [The Breasties] because it was something we so desperately needed while going through our own journeys with cancer.”

The Breasties’ four co-founders all have drastically different diagnoses: Leslie Almiron is a stage IV breast cancer survivor; Paige More and Brianna Majsiak are previvors, with genetic dispositions favoring cancer; and Allie Brudner is a stage II breast cancer thriver. But their unique backgrounds speak to the aim of the wider Breasties community. A Breastie might be considering a preventative mastectomy or someone who is in treatment or a thriver or a caregiver—that is, anyone affected by a cancer diagnosis.

“We’re not just for one diagnosis, or one stage,” Brudner says.

The four found common ground when they weren’t able to find support groups for people like them—young women with needs more unique than the average breast cancer patient. After all, the average age of a breast cancer diagnosis is 62, a distant stage of life for someone in their mid-20s.

“At the doctor’s office [during treatment], all the photos I was

seeing were of women [who] had already had babies, and they were much older than me, and it didn’t seem like that’s what my body would look like,” Brudner says.

While undergoing treatment for triple-negative breast cancer at age 28, Brudner says she didn’t even realize she needed support from fellow cancer fighters, but it was this sense of uncertainty that motivated her to turn to social media to find other women whose experiences mimicked hers. “[I] was looking up hashtags like ‘preventative mastectomy,’ ‘bilateral mastectomy,’ ‘young woman,’ just to get an idea of what other people around my age looked like,” Brudner says.

And she wasn’t disappointed. “[I] felt a sense of relief,” Brudner says, “being connected with another young person [through social media], someone who was [also] diagnosed in their 20s, went through chemo in their 20s, [and] had to deal with fertility preservation and what sex post-cancer was like.”

Social media was also how she first became familiar with fellow Breasties’ co-founders Paige More, Brianna Majsiak and Leslie Almiron. “Our stories are all so different, but we all were looking for the same thing, and that was community with other young women,” Brudner says. “I know [our other co-founders] all attended support groups and looked out for other resources, but nothing really felt right for them. [They] Cancer Wellness

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Photo courtesy of TK

were just looked at like, ‘You’re too young to be doing this should have to pay for is friendship or support,” Brudner says. right now; you don’t need to worry.’ So The Breasties came

In May 2019, The Breasties hosted the first “Camp to be because nothing else felt right for [us].”

Breastie” at Camp Lindenmere in Pennsylvania’s Pocono While The Breasties community is built around young Mountains. Camp Breastie was created to ensure everyone women on social media, they offer so much more than a who wants to be part of an IRL meet-up can participate. thriving online community. “Obviously, The Breasties is “We get so many applications for these retreats, [but] they’re very social media driven, [but] it’s really important to us smaller; we can’t accept everybody, so last year we thought, that these connections [start] online, but then move offline, what if we were able to accept everybody at a mega-retreat, because that’s when the true friendship forms,” Brudner says. [so we said], ‘Let’s do Camp Breastie,’” Brudner says.

The Breasties hosts weekend getaways built around More than 400 women attended the first Camp Breastie, physical activities like skiing or white-water rafting. “We a “summer-camp-getaway retreat on steroids,” according to really want to show women that their bodies are capable Brudner. Campers enjoyed activities that “fostered comof so much more than just getting sick,” munity, encouraged friendships, [and] proBrudner says. The retreats also feature commoted self-love and a healthy mindset,” she “We’re not just munity-building activities, like guided consays. Last year’s Camp Breastie featured rope versations and meditation sessions. “[Our for one diagnosis, climbing, zip lining, a “flower-power themed getaways] look super fun, and they definitely dance,” and more. Camp Breastie also played or one stage.” are, but we also have a lot of hard conversahost to an especially significant moment for tions and discuss a lot of the sad, scary stuff,” Brudner. One day, she saw a young woman Brudner says. Like dating after cancer, having children sitting alone on a bench. “I started to eavesdrop a little after cancer, or how to tell your two-year-old that you have to her phone conversation, and she said, ‘Mom, you don’t been diagnosed with cancer. understand, there are 400 mes here,’” Brudner remembers.

“I think actually the most magical moments and the “It just brought me back to my initial diagnosis, [thinkmost beautiful learning opportunities come from those ing] there’s no one like me in this world, no one [who is] conversations, [hearing] from people who are different 20-something going through this.” from you, and I think we’ve found that that’s been part of But that is the point of The Breasties: to support a comthe magic of The Breasties,” Brudner says. munity of young people going through something that is And The Breasties are accepting of all, regardless of a very often lonely and isolating. “First and foremost, we want number of lifestyle factors, including socio-economic status. these women to feel like they’re not alone. Going through Powered by fundraisers like their annual Move Mountains the trauma of a cancer diagnosis, or a high-risk genetic mutaGala, which takes place every October in New York City, The tion, or losing someone you love to cancer is hard enough,” Breasties’ weekend-long retreats don’t cost anything. “It’s Brudner says. “Knowing that there are other people that can really important to us that [our retreats] are completely costrelate in some way definitely lessens the load, [and Breasties free, [because] when you go through something like a cancer know] that they have this community when they need us.” diagnosis, you’re inundated with bills, and the last thing you The Breasties maintains more than 50 chapters nationwide, as well as in Canada and the UK. Visit TheBreasties.org to learn more.

innovations & research 76 CHILDHOOD CANCER

TREATING WITH KID GLOVES

Childhood cancer research lags far behind research into adult treatments, but the risk of negative health effects later in life demands these cancers get the same support—and federal dollars.

BY CATHERINE EVES

Photo courtesy of TK

D

espite being the number one cause of death by disease among children, only 4 percent of federal cancer research dollars goes directly toward treating childhood cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, about 11,050 children (under age 15) in the United States alone will be diagnosed with cancer in 2020. And research for life-saving treatments continues to fall short. According to the National Pediatric Cancer Foundation (NPCF), fewer than 10 drugs have been developed for use in children with cancer since 1980, but hundreds have been created exclusively for adults.

Tiffany Smith, director of research at NPCF, says this is largely due to the patient population. “Because it’s such a small population with pediatrics [...] honestly it’s not beneficial for most pharmaceutical companies,” she says.

While pediatric cancer only accounts for about 1 percent of all diagnoses, pediatric cancer research is clearly necessary to save lives. In the mid-1970s, the five-year survival rate for children diagnosed with cancer was 58 percent.

Today, thanks to advancements in research and treatment, it is 83 percent.

Surviving, however, is not the same as thriving. The That is why conducting clinical trials is at the forechildhood cancer survival population is close to 500,000 front of the NPCF’s mission. According to Smith, toxicin the U.S. alone. But according to NPCF, more than 95 ity is not the biggest issue in regards to children being percent of childhood cancer survivors “will have a signiftreated with treatments that were created with adults in icant health-related issue by the time they are 45 years of mind. Rather, it’s the lack of funding to support clinical age.” Why? Because they were treated for cancer. trials in pediatric populations. “Most pediatric trials are According to a March 2019 article in Science magadependent on the results of an adult trial,” Smith begins. zine, cancer treatments like chemotherapy and radiation “An adult trial will be done for a type of cancer, and based can trigger premature aging in healthy cells in children. on those results, it may or may not make it into the pedi“Damaged cells often enter senescence—cellular old age— atric population.” But, unfortunately, “that can take up to as a protective mechanism that allows them to expend less 10 years to happen,” she says. energy,” the article states. In turn, these “senescent” cells

Smith continues: “One of the things that makes communicate with the cells around them, influencing NPCF so unique is that we are a consortium of [around] 24 them to act similarly. In the article, Kiri Ness, a physisites across the U.S., so all of the funding we receive goes cal therapist and epidemiologist at St. Jude Children’s to our research, and we open trials that are developed by Research Hospital, says that after being treated for childour own pediatric oncologists.” Currently, the NPCF is hood cancer, patients seem “like they don’t ever become running five clinical trials. It is organizations like NPCF robust again.” Of survivors in their 20s, 30s, and 40s, she along with other childhood cancer-specific foundations— says, “They have wrinkled skin, they walk slowly, they’re like Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, Bear Necessities weak, they have characteristic gait patterns that mostly Pediatric Cancer Foundation, and Cal’s Angels—that are elderly people have.” rallying behind pediatric cancer research.

Other negative health effects that arise later in life

Until research meets the need, oncologists can preinclude heart failure, a second cancer scribe therapies to applicable patients to diagnosis, infertility, impaired lung help alleviate some of these debilitating In the mid-1970s, the function and kidney disease, among long-term effects. An April 2018 report others. A 2018 paper published in in the Journal of Pediatric Hematology/ five-year survival rate the journal Molecular and Cellular Oncology revealed that regular exercise for children diagnosed can prevent damage to the heart from Pediatrics shares a disturbingly long list of adverse neurological effects of chemotherapy. In the experiment, mice with cancer was 58 chemotherapy on children, including were treated with chemotherapy known effects to memory, intellect, academic percent. Today, thanks to to cause damage to the heart. One group achievement and emotional health. The advancements in research walked on a treadmill while receiving effects of chemotherapy “when allowed chemotherapy infusions. Two months and treatment, it is to operate on the developing brain of a after finishing treatment, it was found child, have high potential to not only that the mice that exercised had hearts 83 percent. cause brain injury, but also alter crucial indistinguishable from animals that developmental events,” the paper says. didn’t receive any chemotherapy at all.

It goes on to say that the nature of their findings confirm But for treatments with few alternatives, the risk of that the negative intellectual outcomes are due to cancer damage must be weighed against the risk of non-treattreatment, not the cancer itself: “Given that the tumor ment. Radiation, for example, is imperative in the treatburden reflected by low versus increased risk did not ment of some tumors, but there are few complementary affect IQ scores, the investigators attributed this adverse therapies to help mitigate the negative effects of radiaeffect to treatment rather than to the disease burden.” tion treatment. Dr. Stewart Goldman of Ann & Robert H. Childhood cancer research, says the paper, is “crucial Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago treats brain tumors to the development of cancer therapies that will spare the in children. “Treating someone with radiation, which may (central nervous system),” mitigating these neurological cause long-term neurocognitive effects, is a mainstay of effects. However, “our understanding of how chemotherapy therapy, and an important part of therapy, and in many injures the pediatric brain, what the pathomechanisms of tumors can really lead to better outcomes,” Goldman this injury are and what accounts for the higher vulnerabilbegins, “but I like to say that the cost of the cure has a ity of children under six years of age remains limited.” lifetime to be repaid, and I’m not talking about financially, For this and other reasons, pediatric cancer research is I’m talking about what people have to live with.” imperative to improve quality of life after childhood cancer.

If childhood cancer treatment received adequate This is evidenced best by an anecdote in the Science article, research dollars, perhaps childhood cancer patients which references a child diagnosed with Hodgkin lymcould be spared the damage that leads to health issues phoma at 16. Due to a clinical trial conducted only about later in life. “I don’t believe that any of our patients truly 10 years before her diagnosis, she was able to avoid chest get away scot-free without any long-term sequelae (condiradiation (previously considered standard of care for this tions which are the consequence of a previous disease or diagnosis) that would have burdened her with a one-ininjury),” Goldman says. “What treatments we give to these three chance of developing breast cancer by her mid-40s. kids today, they have to live with for a long, long time.”

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fashion Photo courtesy of StyleEsteem

80 A ‘STYLE’ IS BORN 84 EASY BRA, EASY RECOVERY

A ‘Style’ is Born Unsatisfied with wigs, Sonya Keshwani of StyleEsteem created a new style of headwraps that are as stylish as they are functional.

BY BRITT JULIOUS

Photos courtesy of Sonya Keshwani

L

ike many people, Sonya Keshwani’s breast cancer diagnosis came as a surprise.

“It was not something that was on my radar,” she says. “I didn’t have any family history.” After finding a suspicious lump in the shower, she was diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer at age 29. Although Keshwani lived and worked in Washington D.C. full-time, she decided to get treatment in New York near her family.

Yet despite being proactive about her health, Keshwani says she was less familiar with the common side effects of cancer treatment. “I entered it with a little naïveté because I didn’t have anyone really telling me what happens when you go through cancer and what happens when you go through chemo,” she says.

What happened was hair loss, among other side effects. “When that happened, it was a big eye-opener. I knew that it would take place and I worked on acceptance from a very early standpoint,” says Keshwani. “I accepted that it was going to happen, but when it actually happened, it was a whole other level because physically, the toll that it takes on your body, on your head, it’s really tough. It makes your scalp very raw, very sensitive. The trauma [...] is really jarring.”

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Keshwani decided to shave her head before the hair fell out entirely. Although she was bald at home, she wore a wig when going out. The hair, unfortunately, did not make her feel like her authentic self. “I didn’t want an imposter of my hair,” Keshwani says of her naturally curly hair. Soon, she began thinking about headwrap solutions to feel more like herself.

StyleEsteem was soon born. Every time Keshwani visited her infusion center in Astoria, Queens, she went to a nearby fabric shop. There, she’d purchase a few yards of cloth, take them home and sew while recovering.

“Eventually, I came up with styles that were really awesome and they made me feel like myself. And if I was standing out, it was because I looked good and stylish and chic,” she recalls. Wearing her headwraps brought back joy and control to a situation that was ultimately taken out of her hands. “When I started to make the headwraps, I knew that it was going to be more than headwraps for me.”

In March 2019, she officially moved back to New York full-time to focus on her business. Like other designers, Keshwani creates seasonal collections for her brand so her customers have a variety of pieces they can incorporate into their wardrobe at any given time. “As women, we don’t wear the same cocktail dress when we go out [on] Friday, Saturday, Sunday. It’s not happening, so this is the same concept. You’re going to switch it out based on your mood or your occasion,” she says. Her pieces are also designed not only for style but for functionality. Each is one size fits all and she chooses fabrics that have some stretch or give to accommodate different head sizes.

Although her close friends and immediate family were aware of her diagnosis, Keshwani didn’t come clean to others until after she completed chemotherapy. “When I started to talk about StyleEsteem, it was at the same time that I started to talk about me,” she says. She wrote a Facebook post about wearing wigs, going public about her diagnosis and discussing what she’s doing now.

“Personally, where I come from, culturally speaking, this is not something you talk about or parade around,” she begins. “But I was at a point where I knew I was put through this—me specifically—because I would go public, because I would make it okay for other women in my community.”

“Hair loss doesn’t make you any less pretty. It doesn’t make you any less of a woman. And it’s not taking away from the real you.”

And now that she has told her community about her experience, she feels compelled to follow through on her aspirations. Her aim is to become a resource for other women experiencing hair loss. Keshwani wants StyleEsteem to be a source of uplift for the women around her. “Hair loss doesn’t make you any less pretty. It doesn’t make you any less of a woman. And it’s not taking away from the real you,” she says. “That’s still inside of you. You just need different ways to showcase it.”

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Cancer Wellness

Easy Bra, Easy Recovery FemTech entrepreneur and breast cancer survivor Efrat Roman’s EZbra helps breast cancer thrivers “recover with dignity.”

Photos courtesy of EZBra!

BY CATHERINE EVES

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Cancer Wellness

“I

cannot solve the need to have surgery, I cannot make it less painful, but I can offer [a] more feminine, and more elegant, and more hygienic day-to-day life experience during this hard time,” says Efrat Roman, founder and CEO of EZbra. The EZbra is revolutionizing breast cancer surgery recovery by providing efficient bandages that accommodate any type of surgery and any size bust.

As a breast cancer survivor herself, as well as descending from a family of BRCA-gene carriers (Roman’s mother, grandmother and her grandmother’s five sisters were all diagnosed with breast cancer), Roman was able to draw on personal experience when designing her product. “For me, it began with the most simple questions and challenges that I was facing,” she says, noting the dependency on caregivers after surgery which can lead to feelings of embarrassment, frustration or feeling like a burden. “[I] realize that the unnecessary challenges that women have to go through during the recovery [are] horrible. It’s not only unnecessary and avoidable, it’s degrading.”

Roman was diagnosed with cancer in 2009. “It doesn’t matter how prepared you are,” Roman says. “A cancer diagnosis is always confronting you with the end of the world.” Roman underwent a double mastectomy followed immediately by reconstructive surgery and chemotherapy.

After experiencing complications after surgery, she knew there must be a better way to recover.

The EZbra addresses post-surgery discomfort in a number of ways. Roman developed the prototype with Yael Gibor, a graduate of industrial design who also had a personal connection to cancer. “She came with a lot of knowledge,” Roman says. “More important than that, [she had] a lot of understanding of the physical and mental challenges that a patient will have to face.” The EZbra’s unique design eliminates itchiness and irritation, and due to the non-adhesive, moveable straps that lay on both sides of the body, it can accommodate any type of breast cancer surgery (from double mastectomies to lumpectomies to reconstruction and everything in between) and any size bust (the EZbra is available in three adjustable sizes). It’s also remarkably easy to put on and take off, meaning the wearer is able to change their dressing by themselves, which helps eliminate any potential embarrassment.

Roman notes a startling statistic: a 2016 German study published in the journal Psycho-Oncology found 82.5 percent of women diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer suffer from symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, more commonly known as PTSD. The breast surgery trauma can lead some patients to experience flashbacks, feelings of detachment, sudden outbursts of anger and other symptoms. Roman believes innovations like the EZbra can help bring these numbers down, by bringing dignity to recovery.

“I’ve heard so many women say they left their femininity, or a part of their femininity, in the OR (operating room),” she says. “[And] having to recover with a sense of humiliation and disgust and itchiness and [feeling] uncomfortable [...] all those kinds of things are so unnecessary.”

The EZbra addresses all of these concerns. It’s absorbent, easy to position on the body and super adjustable.

After making adjustments to the prototype, Roman looked to the greater breast cancer community for feedback. “[I] asked my survivor friends and fighter friends to come and

try it on. [It was] a very inspiring process,” she says. “Then we started consulting with surgeons, plastic surgeons, nurses, radiologists and all the rest, [so] we know that we have succeeded in creating a device that gives a very good solution to both the patient and the health care provider.”

Before EZbra, Roman founded the first social commerce platform for breast cancer fighters and survivors called CureDiva. It allowed people in the breast cancer community to connect with each other online, and it was her initial foray into the world of FemTech, a slightly cloying denomination referring to start-ups and technological initiatives focusing on women’s health. Initiatives that, according to Roman, “in the past were referred to as not important enough, because it’s only for women [and] not spoken about because [they are] women’s issues.”

The EZbra is something Roman would have appreciated while she was recovering from breast cancer surgery; a much-needed piece of equipment that can help take away some of the stigma and trauma of surgery for breast cancer.

“What I was going through or what I was feeling, it’s not because I was too sensitive or too complicated or something like that, [but experiencing] an unnecessary challenge that women have to go through,” Roman says.

EZbra estimates that a recovery period requires between five to 10 EZbras; visit EZbra.net to make a purchase and learn more. Use code CancerWellness25 for a 25% discount on your order. Valid until 8/31/20.

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Cancer & the Environment

88 CLUSTERING OF CANCER

A CLUSTERING OF CANCER Cancer clusters are difficult to confirm for many reasons, but once a cluster is identified, what comes next?

BY CATHERINE EVES

T

ry to picture it: Without warning, genetic predisadministration, whose recent legislation loosening position or family history, you’re diagnosed with Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations has cancer. You figure it was a fluke, a moment of cellular the potential to send cancer rates skyrocketing? rebellion with no known cause other than a bodily

A January 2020 report from online magazine The betrayal at the molecular level. But what if other people in Intercept examines the case of Angela Ramirez, who susyour community start receiving cancer diagnoses, too? pects her breast cancer diagnosis was caused by exposure This is typically how a “cancer cluster” forms. The to ethylene oxide, a carcinogen emitted by two facilities Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines located near her home and work. In 2016, two years before a cancer cluster as a “greater-than-expected” number of her diagnosis, the EPA lowered the safety threshold of ethcancer cases occurring within a group of people in a geoylene oxide, noting that exposure can cause tumors in the graphic area over a period of time. Before a series of cancer brain, lungs, uterus and lymph systems. According to The diagnoses can be identified as a cancer cluster, all cases Intercept, “the new threshold allowed the EPA Office of Air must involve the same type of cancer or a variety of types and Radiation to identify the census tracts where residents that have been proven to have the same cause (typically were at increased risk of cancer from breathing ethylene due to environmental factors). As well, the boundaries oxide.” But the Trump administration recently announced of population (based on things like race or ethnicity, age it would not honor the 2016 updated safety threshold. and gender), geographical area and period of time must be

“Virtually no sector of the EPA’s work has escaped clearly defined. The CDC also recognizes that cancer clusreversals that will cause disease and death among the U.S. ters cannot be due to chance, miscalculations or known population,” The Intercept reports. An August 2018 article causes of cancer (like smoking). from The Guardian notes Trump’s greenhouse gas emis The presence of a cancer cluster often comes into public sions plan would actually increase emissions from coal-fired consciousness due to cancers caused by environmental power plants, resulting in “as many as 1,400 premature factors, like pollution from companies knowingly poisoning deaths each year.” In January 2019, Vox said the EPA is loosthe air or soil with toxic chemicals or a government refusing ening restrictions on toxic chemical emissions from chemito protect its people from these facilities. cal plants or factories, essentially deregulat Most recently, a suspected cancer ing the industry in regards to air pollution.

“While black and cluster was discovered in Houston’s Fifth And perhaps worst of all, in February Ward and Kashmere Gardens neigh- Latino people produce 2019, the Environmental Integrity Project borhoods. According to a December a report detailing how EPA overless pollution, people released 2019 article in the Houston Chronicle, sight has been dramatically reduced under of color have a higher Trump, with declines in “inspections, polthe Texas Department of State Health Services reported elevated cancer rates luters charged with crimes, civil penalties, burden of pollution in these neighborhoods in August 2019, pollution reductions, and EPA enforcement and are more likely staffing.” but did not share their findings with residents until December. A nearby rail to live near industrial Some Americans are worse off than yard treated with creosote caused the others, especially when it comes to cancer. facilities.” toxic chemical to seep into groundwater.

An October 2017 report from the Union of The Environmental Protection Agency Concerned Scientists (UCS), a nonprofit (EPA) considers creosote a “probable cancer-causing subnews organization founded by scientists at MIT, says cancer stance,” and these neighborhoods experienced elevated caused by pollution disproportionately affects people of color rates of lung and bronchus, esophagus and larynx cancers and people living in poverty. “Blacks, Hispanics, and people between the years 2000 and 2016. living below or near poverty levels are significantly more

Perhaps the most famous suspected cancer cluster likely to live near industrial facilities that use large quantities was caused by Pacific Gas and Electric Co., which dumped of toxic chemicals and pose risks of major chemical disasabout 370 million gallons of hexavalent chromium-tainted ters,” the report says. water into ponds around the town of Hinkley, California.

According to the Intercept, Penny Dryden of The 1993 investigation led to a class-action lawsuit that Wilmington, Delaware, for example, has been diagnosed was settled for $333 million. The case was made famous with cancer three times. This seemed to be a fact of life in by the Julia Roberts film “Erin Brockovich,” named for her mostly African American neighborhood. the legal clerk who fought for the residents affected by a In May 2019, due to the rise in suspected cancer clusvariety of illnesses, including cancer. ters, the CDC issued a notice that they will release updated

According to the American Cancer Society, about guidelines (from 2013) for cancer cluster investigations, due 1,000 suspected cancer clusters are reported to state health out in 2021. While confirmation of a cancer cluster is the departments each year. But many of these cases remain first step in reducing the number of potential diagnoses, unexamined. Even so, a 2012 study from Emory University what comes next? If the Trump administration makes it revealed that from 1990 to 2011, only about 13 percent of easier for facilities to poison its neighbors with the looscases studied were confirmed as actual cancer clusters. ening of EPA regulations—all in the name of money— Most reports on suspected cancer clusters end simiwhat are the next steps? In the case of Taylor Wind, the larly—further research is typically needed to definitively Mooresville teen diagnosed with thyroid cancer, her family tie a series of cancer diagnoses to commercial pollutsold their home and relocated to Florida, but what of the ants. But if further research is difficult to support today, families with financial limitations that aren’t able to take what does that mean for tomorrow under the Trump these same precautions? It seems only time will tell.

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the supporter

CASEY HEAD AS TOLD TO BRITT JULIOUS

At 31 years old, my whole world changed.

I was in the middle of a thriving career, newly married and trying to live life in Chicago. Then my whole world came tumbling down when I was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia on February 14, 2014.

Happy Valentine’s Day to me.

By June 2014, I had a stroke and seizures. The stroke left me temporarily paralyzed on my left side. Once I went into remission, I slowly started gaining weight, putting on around 30 pounds, the heaviest I had ever been. In July 2015, I finished chemotherapy, skipping the rest of the PEG-asparaginase. Three weeks later, I relapsed. I didn’t have many options left. Later, immunotherapy worked. I was in remission again and headed straight to the hospital for a stem cell transplant. Seven months later, as I was recovering slowly from my stem cell transplant, I heard the one piece of news I didn’t want to hear again: “Your cancer is back.” My husband held me as I cried. I just didn’t know if I could do it all again, mentally and physically. But I took a second, dug deep, and knew that I had to fight. My medical team decided it would be best to do another round of immunotherapy, and now, I have been in remission since the end of October 2017.

[Post-cancer], I had trust issues around my body which, to be honest, still creep in from time to time. I had to relearn how to connect with it, to understand what was making me feel sick as opposed to just not having a good day. All through treatment, hospitalizations and my stroke, I continued to incorporate exercise into my daily routine the best that I could. I started with walks every day, continuing to set goals for myself to walk a little further [and] faster each time. Then I incorporated body weighted exercises, eventually leading into weights. I grew stronger every day and it helped with the side effects of chemotherapy. The human body is a resilient, amazing machine.

To hear more from Casey, visit cancerwellness.com 90

Cancer Wellness

I am now living my full life. Health and fitness [are] my priority. I received my 200-hour yoga teaching certification along with my personal training certification. I am using these skills to help other women going through cancer thrive by living the best life they can while undergoing treatment and transitioning into their new normal.

I now help women through survivorship so they never have to feel what I felt after treatment ends, from the emotional turmoil to the physical side effects. When you are diagnosed and in treatment, there’s a very specific plan to follow. Once treatment ends, they just let you go and say to follow up every few months. But there are no guidelines or protocols for survivorship. I want to be able to guide women to a better place than when they began their cancer journey.

Photo by of Adrian C. Garcia

The human body is a resilient, amazing machine.

Cal’s Angels provides hope

and

support

to kids and families fighting cancer!

Cal’s Angels, a Chicagoland based 501(c)(3), brings hope and support to hundreds of kids fighting cancer and their families every year.

Everything Cal’s Angels does is centered around their mission of granting wishes, raising awareness and funding research to help kids fighting cancer.

WISHES It all starts with a comfort kit provided to the family and filled with items to make their hospital stay more comfortable.

This is just the beginning of a relationship built with the child fighting cancer and their family. Cal’s Angels also: hosts monthly hospital parties, grants $1,000 wishes, offers sibling assistance for extracurricular activities, delivers the holidays to families of a child fighting cancer under special circumstances, decorates homes with holiday lights, holds a year-round Toy Drive, and hosts a Fantasy Flight to the North Pole in partnership with United Airlines.

AWARENESS Pediatric cancer affects over 40,000 children each year with 46 newly diagnosed children every day. Help to raise awareness for the gold ribbon and help kids with cancer! Cal’s Angels’ Awareness Programs include: Going Gold during Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month (September) for Chicagoland schools, businesses and towns. Year-round Head Shaving Events, a Glow Walk, Chicago Marathon & Fox Valley Half Marathon teams, and Social Media Awareness Campaigns.

RESEARCH Cal’s Angels has committed $1,000,000 to the Cal’s Angels Drug Discovery Program at Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital. This program will allow for the first Echo 550 robotic drug screening system, which will work 382 times faster than a human. Additionally, the program will provide the acquisition of a new and updated drug library, increasing drug options to over 11,000. This is the next step to finding more treatment options with less toxicity and eradicating the horrific side effects associated with pediatric cancer. Every child deserves more!

us n i o J

!

Granting wishes, raising awareness and funding research to help kids fighting cancer.

500-2685