Cancer Wellness Magazine: The Men's Health Issue with Ben Moon

SUMMER 2021

THE MEN’S HEALTH ISSUE PHOTOGRAPHER AND FILMMAKER BEN MOON COMBINES VULNERABILITY AND ADVENTURE TO PROVE THERE’S LIFE AFTER CANCER

FROG MEDICINE

THE “RAINFOREST

VACCINE” BEING USED TO TREAT CANCER

RARE ISN’T RARE HOW SHEPHERD THERAPEUTICS ENSURES NO WARRIOR IS LEFT BEHIND

US $10.00

“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

TWO-TIME SURVIVOR OF BILATERAL OSTEOSARCOMA 26-YEAR SURVIVOR

I AM PART OF THE NEW CANCER COMMUNITY. I THRIVE.

A

Photo by Sarah Bell

s summer unfolds, it is my pleasure to introduce our annual Men’s Health issue brimming with outstanding imagery and inspiring prose. Ben Moon, our ruggedly handsome cover star, sets the tone for this issue by sharing his daringly intimate story of pain and resilience and his deep connection to his furry sidekick, Denali. Ben’s photos, which were shot near his home in Oregon, reveal a different side of the acclaimed photographer: the artist as the subject. Ben proves once again that vulnerability and strength can be the best of companions.

Strength is inspiring, and this issue is flush with it. A favorite story of mine includes our piece on David Hysong, a young man who, frustrated with the lack of drugs available to fight his rare cancer, decided to found a therapeutics company specializing in just that (pg. 74). Our portrait series on meaningful cancer-related tattoos (pg. 36) is another feature teeming with boldness.

But lest we forget that with strength comes the necessary act of taking it easy some days, too. Summer is the perfect time to relax, renew or dip your toes into something new, and this issue is packed with perfect partners to your chill time. Grab a book (pg. 12), listen to music off of the cW Playlist (pg. 8), taste-test some healthy alternatives to your favorite summer sips (pg. 14) or explore something new like a CBD-enhanced soak (pg. 42).

While not exactly new—in fact, most of these practices are ancient—scientific validation in the form of recent studies highlights human interest in plant medicine or, what I call “earth medicine.” Intriguing examples we explore in this issue include Kambo rituals (pg. 49), horticulture (pg. 26) and gemstones (pg. 46). As these therapies that were once considered “fringe” continue to gain momentum and move into the mainstream, it is exciting to consider what the future holds.

Whatever route you choose to explore, this summer is your oyster. Settle into the season of strength and solace you deserve.

Cancer Wellness

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Discover cancer gamechangers with Caylei and Allison in Cancer Wellness’ monthly interview series. Follow them on our social channels to join the conversation with guests like former Sports Illustrated model Allyn Rose and GirlvsCancer Founder Lauren Mahon. @CANCERWELLMAG

SUMMER 2021 32

OVER THE MOON P. 58

SOBERING UP For some, the choice to go booze-free is worth it to decrease the risk of cancer.

BEAUTY 36

BEAUTY MARKS The latest cW Portrait Series spotlights women whose tattoos are far from meaningless.

COMPLIMENTARY MEDICINE 46

GOOD VIBRATIONS According to reiki experts, the healing properties of gemstones are crystal clear.

ENTERTAINMENT 66

THE SHOW MUST GO ON Musician Luke Fockler uses his “invisible disease” to provide comfort for others.

INNOVATIONS & RESEARCH 74

NO WARRIOR LEFT BEHIND David Hysong, founder of Shepherd Therapeutics, believes that every patient deserves priority—even if their cancer is rare.

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A SECOND SET OF EYES Human error in cancer care could fall by the wayside thanks to artificial intelligence.

FASHION 84

DRESSED TO HEAL Sashay all day with Fashion Fights Cancer, the nonprofit using style to connect warriors.

NUTRITION 22

ONLY THE BERRY BEST Could eating a cup of berries a day help ward off cancer?

MIND & BODY 26

HOMEGROWN HEALING Research shows that the power of plants can play a huge role in the recovery process.

RESOURCES 88

A PERFECT MATCH Wishing you knew somebody who understands exactly what you’re going through after diagnosis? Resilientship has you covered.

Cancer Wellness

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CAYLEI VOGELZANG Editor-in-Chief BRITT JULIOUS Editorial Director

NATALIA ESPINOSA Creative Director FEATURES Senior Editor TAYLOR NOVAK Editor-at-Large MIRELA KOPIER

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS SARAH DIMURO, CATHERINE EVES, ANA FERNATT, MARIA C. HUNT, MAURA KELLER, MEGHAN KONKOL, LESLIE SNADOWSKY, MARIA TRIPODIS, ELIZABETH TUCKWELL, ERIKA R. WHITEHEAD

IN-HOUSE PHOTO & VIDEO SARAH BELL

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS SARAH BELL, JOHN KHUU, SOPHIE KULLER

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

ACCOUNT MANAGER ALLISON STERN

EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT ISABEL GARCIA, ANTONIJA ROGIC

SYSTEMS ADMINISTRATOR JACK SAXE-STARAL

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

Photo by Sheena Vaswani

#cW MANTRA

“AS ODD AS IT SOUNDS, THERE WAS A SILVER LINING DURING MY CANCER JOURNEY: THE GIFT OF FREE TIME. WHILE HAVING LED A FAIRLY LINEAR PATH BEFORE, A HIATUS IN THAT TRAJECTORY LED MY WIFE AND I TO TAP INTO SOME BURIED TALENT. SHE NOW HAS A UNIQUE CANVAS (MY BALD HEAD) TO CREATE ARTWORK, AND I PUT PEN TO PAPER TO EXPRESS MY THOUGHTS IN A BLOG. DON’T UNDERESTIMATE WHAT YOU MAY STUMBLE UPON DURING ROUGH PATCHES OF YOUR LIFE.” - Sagar Shah @myheadisacanvas

cW Online

WHAT YOU MAY HAVE MISSED

CW PLAYLIST NUMINOUS

#FIGHTERFRIDAY: CHANTELLE KRANGLE Chantelle Krangle knows all too well that surviving childhood cancer doesn’t end when you reach adulthood. Cancer has left a lingering legacy for the 27 year old as she works to move forward in life two decades after a diagnosis.

Soak in the sights and sounds of the summer season with Issue 11’s tracklist, an ode to the splendor of the great outdoors.

To instantly access the playlist, open the Spotify app.

Tap Search then the camera icon to scan Spotify code.

TRACKLIST • SPRAWL II (MOUNTAINS BEYOND MOUNTAINS) ARCADE FIRE • WILDFLOWER - BEACH HOUSE

A HAPPY ENDING Even with a cancer diagnosis, there can be moments that are cause for celebration, says Shana Bull.

• IVY - SALES • VALLEYS (MY LOVE) - WHITNEY • MOUNTAINS - CHARLOTTE DAY WILSON • MOON RIVER - FRANK OCEAN • UNDER THE MILKY WAY - THE CHURCH • (NOTHING BUT) FLOWERS - TALKING HEADS • CANYON MOON - HARRY STYLES • LILACS - WAXAHATCHEE • DIRT - HORSE JUMPER OF LOVE • BLUE MOUNTAIN ROAD - FLORIST • INTO THE MYSTIC - VAN MORRISON • BENEATH THE LEAVES - JULIE DOIRON • STORMS - FLEETWOOD MAC • GEYSER - MITSKI • INTO THE GREAT WIDE OPEN TOM PETTY AND THE HEARTBREAKERS • ENDS OF THE EARTH - LORD HURON • LAKE - DEHD • WHEN THE SUN HITS - SLOWDIVE

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Cancer Wellness

More stories at CancerWellness.com ON @CANCERWELLMAG, WE EXAMINED OUR IDEAS OF LIFE POST-CANCER.

The cW Agenda

ALL THE NEWS YOU NEED TO KNOW CONNECT THE DOTS

TRS CARE

myRabble is a website and an app to help people (and their caregivers) living with cancer. For people navigating the complexities of cancer, myRabble is the only platform that holistically integrates and individualizes credible content and connects the patient to caregivers and resources in real time. myrabble.com Available in the App Store.

Finding the right wig (or post-mastectomy and lymphedema wear) shouldn’t be a financial burden. TRS Care is a leading Tricare provider helping cancer warriors qualify for free posttreatment care items through their insurance. trscare.org

RUB A DUB DUB Mike and Sarah, the brother and sister duo behind Creative Bath Design, make CBDinfused products to help you unwind after a long day. We especially love that they were inspired by their mother Mary, a cancer survivor. creativebathdesign.com

FALSE ALARMS Beware! According to the Associated Press, a rare side effect of the COVID-19 vaccine is swollen lymph nodes which may show up as a tumor in a scan. Inform your physicians of when you received the vaccine during your checkups.

ALL THE BUZZ Here’s yet another reason to save the bees: The Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research reports that the venom from honey bees may be able to induce cancer cell death in triple-negative breast cancer with minimal effect on healthy cells.

GETTING INKED The next wave of cancer detection may be tattoo ink.

Researchers at the University of Southern California have developed new image contrast agents using dyes like tattoo ink to attach to nanoparticles and illuminate cancers.

UP AND AT ‘EM

POWER OUT While many of us are returning to life pre-pandemic, many physicians and frontline health care providers are experiencing burnout. According to a January study from the journal Medscape, 42 percent of surveyed physicians are burned out, 10 percent are considering leaving the profession and 13 percent feel suicidal ideation.

WELL RESTED A good night’s sleep is not just beneficial for one’s well-being—it also aids in the fight against cancer. Proper, a new “sleep wellness company,” offers personalized sleep coaching to get you back on track. getproper.com

A joint study from the National Cancer Institute and the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis has found a possible link between a slow walking pace and an increased risk of death among cancer survivors. Like we always say, exercise is key!

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The World According to …

Ben Moon Filmmaker, photographer and cover star Ben Moon gives us a look into life from his point of view.

WHAT’S YOUR BIGGEST MOTIVATOR? I love connecting with others through storytelling, whether through film, photography or writing.

WHAT’S THE GREATEST ADVICE YOU’VE EVER RECEIVED? Saying “no” is a positive thing.

PIECE OF MEDIA THAT HAS IMPACTED YOU THE MOST?

The 16mm surf film “Shelter” was gifted to me by the director Chris Malloy while going through my battle with cancer.

On the DVD jacket he wrote “You can do anything,” a quote from the film where his 15-year-old cousin Brit (who had survived bone cancer) threw his crutch as he was about to surf for the first time since his leg was amputated.

YOUR PET PEEVE(S)?

People who don’t follow through on their word

YOUR GO-TO COMFORT FOOD? Anything foraged locally from the ocean or forest—oysters, Dungeness crab and chanterelle mushrooms are at the top of the list.

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BEST SONG/ALBUM/ARTIST TO LISTEN TO WHEN HITTING THE ROAD? Sturgill Simpson LAST PHOTO YOU TOOK? I recently visited my musician friend Brett Dennen who I collaborated with often in the past, and I shot a few images of him and his 3-year-old son Van on the beach at the ocean’s edge.

BIGGEST GUILTY PLEASURE? Surfing. When the waves are really good, deadlines suddenly become flexible. Afterwards, a Juneshine hard kombucha.

WHAT HOBBY/SPORT/ETC. DO YOU STILL WANT TO PICK UP? A new skate park just opened in the beach town I live in and I’m looking forward to learning how to skate the bowl.

FAVORITE PIECE OF OUTDOOR GEAR YOU OWN? That’s a tough one! A few favorites are my Pedal Electric all wheel drive e-bike, Patagonia hooded Nano Air jacket, lightweight Hydroflask trail series water bottle, or my 9’6” Dead Kooks longboard.

WHEN DO YOU FEEL LIKE THE BEST VERSION OF YOURSELF? While I’m surfing, or feeling grounded and creative and working on a film I’m excited about, or on a beach walk with my pup Nori.

WHAT’S THE MOST USEFUL LIFE SKILL YOU’VE PICKED UP? My dad built and fixed everything our family had while I was growing up, and that taught me to be resourceful and resilient.

Those skills have sustained me in life and two decades as a freelance creative.

BEST THING THAT HAPPENED TO YOU THIS WEEK? I spent the week in Ojai, Ventura and L.A. visiting friends who I hadn’t seen since before the pandemic began. Grateful to the researchers and scientists who made these vaccines available to help us return to normal life.

Cancer Wellness

the warrior

LEONARD GILBERT AS TOLD TO BRITT JULIOUS

In a time where everybody is getting COVID, I get cancer.

I had retired from the Chicago Fire Department after 38 years. I had been working as a nurse as well. I decided to just concentrate on school. I was getting my doctorate from the University of Illinois as a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner. Things got very, very stressful. School was very difficult, and then COVID hit.

On April 16, I woke up and found this lump on the side of my face. It was a little painful and numb. I had no idea what it was.

I called the doctor and no one was seeing patients in person. He did a televisit with me and couldn’t get the gist of what it was. He suspected it was an infection, maybe a blocked saliva gland. They treated me with an antibiotic, but it didn’t go away or get better. I finally found an oral surgeon, a friend of my brother’s, who would see me in person. He referred me to an ear, nose and throat doctor who gave me a stronger antibiotic and said to wait a month.

I got a CAT scan and something was there, but they didn’t know what it was. At this point, I’m almost three months in. I later received an ultrasound for a fluoroscopy-guided biopsy and received my lymphoma diagnosis. My treatment protocol was R-CHOP. I did six chemo sessions, three weeks apart, followed up by a repeat PET scan. It was almost gone, but not quite. They did radiation as well.

Photo by John Khuu

I couldn’t have gotten through it without my family, my siblings, my friends and my wife’s friends. I was lucky to be in therapy.

I had one of the most amazing support systems I could ever imagine starting with my wife, who is a rock. I’m amazed to this day how strong and caring she is. I couldn’t have gotten through it without my family, my siblings, my friends and my wife’s friends. I was lucky to be in therapy.

I learned a lot of things about myself, my friends and family, about my spirituality, the things I believe in. I was running myself into the ground by working too hard, putting too much stress on myself and not taking care of my physical, mental, emotional and spiritual needs. I was 80 pounds overweight and diabetic with high blood pressure. I had joined a weight-loss program with my son and by the time my cancer came, I was probably 40–50 pounds lighter. Throughout the whole cancer treatment process, I lost another 30 pounds. I got back into cycling. I was riding somewhere between 12 and 20 miles, multiple times per week. During chemo, I was in the best physical shape I had been in as an adult.

I occupied my time with good and positive things.

I surrounded myself with good and positive people. It brings tears to my eyes thinking about all those things that have made my journey. It was pretty damn amazing.

To hear more from Leonard, visit cancerwellness.com

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The cW Library From losing a husband to losing a routine, issue 11’s bookshelf features tales from supporters and warriors alike that can help you make sense of a new identity.

BY BRITT JULIOUS

“I

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changed my life to save my life,” says author Charlene Wheeless. In her previous life, Wheeless worked as a C-suite executive chief communications officer for a global infrastructure company and was a self-proclaimed “classic Type A workaholic personality.” However, much of that came to a halt upon receiving her surprising breast cancer diagnosis.

Wheeless’ cancer experience and the lessons she learned in her struggles with post-treatment recovery are detailed in her new book, “You Are Enough!: Reclaiming Your Career and Your Life with Purpose, Passion, and Unapologetic Authenticity.”

Diagnosed in February 2017, Wheeless said one of the most difficult parts of her treatment was being asked to step back from work by her oncologist.

“The thing that blew me away the most is she said, ‘You can’t work during your treatment. I’ve seen your lifestyle. I’ve seen how stressed out you are. The stress will impact your recovery,’” Wheeless recalls.

But after nearly eight months away, Wheeless returned to her fast-paced work environment. She soon learned she just couldn’t “do it” like she had in the past. Then the complications began. Some were psychological. “I was actually quite depressed. That threw me for a loop,” Wheeless remembers. “I would look in the mirror and I looked into my eyes and I just didn’t seem familiar to myself.”

But she also faced profound physical complications, too. After enduring numerous surgeries, Wheeless felt like she was losing the post-cancer battle. “It all just kind

“You Are Enough!: Reclaiming Your Career and Your Life with Purpose, Passion, and Unapologetic Authenticity” is available now wherever books are sold.

CANCER WITH HOPE: FACING ILLNESS, EMBRACING LIFE, AND FINDING PURPOSE

THE CANCER MISFIT: A GUIDE TO NAVIGATING LIFE AFTER TREATMENT

by Mike Armstrong

by Saskia Lightstar

In the corporate world, Mike Armstrong was something of a game changer. As a successful CEO and business leader for household names like DirecTV, AT&T and Comcast, Armstrong helped revolutionize the technology and broadcast industries. But in private, he struggled greatly, with separate diagnoses of leukemia and prostate cancer. Later, after a near-fatal bout of sepsis and the crippling side effects of an autoimmune disease, Armstrong found a new purpose in life born out of the disruptions of his health. In “Cancer with Hope,” Armstrong shares his own story as well as those of other patients and doctors who offer experiences filled with advice and inspiration for warriors and thrivers alike.

As any thriver will admit, cancer treatment is often as regimented and organized as any medical treatment can get. But after months spent with a dedicated care team and carefully chosen medical treatment, most thrivers are left to fend for themselves in the post-treatment world of remission.

Saskia Lightstar felt the same after surviving breast cancer. Inspired by her own experience, Lightstar wrote the humorous and frank “The Cancer Misfit” for those unsure of what comes next. Even issue 10 cover star Lauren Mahon enjoyed it, writing, “Saskia’s book is a one-stop-shop of practical and spiritual goodness to help get you on track with accepting the new you and living life enlightened.”

“Cancer with Hope: Facing Illness, Embracing Life, and Finding Purpose” (Johns Hopkins University Press) is available wherever books are sold.

“The Cancer Misfit: A Guide to Navigating Life After Treatment” is available wherever books are sold.

Cancer Wellness

of came to a head and I just said, ‘I’ve got to choose me.

This is just not going to work,’” Wheeless says.

She soon left her job, opening herself up to what she now believes is her real purpose in life—to help people heal. “Being a lifelong communicator, I thought, maybe this was it,” Wheeless says. “For me, this was my new voice, to speak authentically and say what needs to be said so that maybe people won’t feel so alone who were in my situation.”

The idea to write a book came to her immediately.

“The [words] came pouring out of me,” she recalls. Two months later, it was complete. “I really focused on the book and on being authentic and telling the truth in the hopes that somebody else who reads it—maybe somebody who’s not as strong as I am—will read it and say, ‘I’m not alone.’”

Now, Wheeless hopes that other cancer warriors and thrivers can find hope and comfort in her discussions about the unseen parts of illness and recovery. “My hope is that by reading my story, people will give themselves room to not be okay and understand that it isn’t an indictment on them or their life.”

cW Chat

After surviving a terminal melanoma diagnosis, Goose Island Beer Company ambassador Jonny Coffman shares the story of brewing a beer inspired by his lost palate and how it’s now raising thousands of dollars for cancer warriors.

BY TAYLOR NOVAK

DESCRIBE YOUR LIFE AT THE TIME YOU Q: RECEIVED YOUR FIRST DIAGNOSIS. Island was working on opening a taproom A: Goose in early 2015. I accepted a job with them and by

summer, I was on the road going coast to coast working. I thought, ‘Oh my god, everything is on track, I’m 31 years old, I’m in the best shape of my life and this is the coolest job I’ve ever had.’ And then I had a lump in my neck.

That first lump popped up right around Halloween 2015. On December 1, I got the biopsy and was told it was stage IIIB melanoma. Melanoma does run in my family, but I was shocked. The surgery came three weeks later, and I went into 2016 cancer- free.

Around my birthday in March, I felt another lump behind my ear. My radiologist wanted to start radiation. They gave me a list of side effects and I didn’t even focus on the loss of taste, but that was by far the worst. I wouldn’t wish that on my least favorite person in the world. Everything tasted like cement.

HOW DID YOU DISCOVER THE CINNAMON Q: AND MANGO COMBO? WHAT MADE YOU

THINK OF TURNING THAT INTO A BEER?

beats your mouth up, so I was eating a A: Radiation lot of soft foods. One morning, I happened to grab

Photo courtesy of Jonny Coffman

cinnamon oatmeal with mangoes—and I could taste it.

Then in 2017, my cancer’s back in my lungs. I have surgery, then three months later, the cancer’s in my pelvic bone. The day after Christmas 2017, I’m back in the hospital and they tell me, ‘It’s all over your body and in your bloodstream. This is what terminal cancer looks like.’

I started thinking about what I wanted people to have to remember me with. I thought about a beer, and my twin brother was the one who said, ‘Hey, you should make a mango cinnamon beer.’ I joked, ‘Oh yeah, what are we going to call it? Lost Palate?’ All of a sudden, we have this idea.

Q: WHAT WAS GOOSE ISLAND’S INITIAL RESPONSE? Island lets a lot of people create crazy awesome A: Goose recipes. Obviously, they’re not jerks, and they said

they’d brew a beer for me, but they didn’t know what kind I wanted. Next thing I know, I’m in a room with Goose’s top dogs telling them I want to make a hazy IPA with mango, lactose and cinnamon. At that time, hazy IPAs were a big thing, so they were on board. We brewed the beer in March 2018.

Q: WHAT WAS THE LAUNCH LIKE? brewed four or five kegs and we sold out right away, so A: We we made more. People wanted to do articles, General Mills

was sending me swag because we originally used Cinnamon Toast Crunch in the beer. It was crazy. I’m in Chicago every three weeks to get my [immunotherapy] infusion and then traveling to Belize, Turkey, Portugal—doing fun stuff so I wouldn’t think about cancer.

Lost Palate is growing, and we start [selling it in cans].

All of a sudden, 12 months have gone by. My cancer isn’t growing. In February 2019, I went in for scans and my infusion, but my doctor was like, ‘You don’t need the infusion. We don’t see any cancer.’ Best day of my life, I’d say.

PALATE IS NOW A NATIONWIDE STAPLE Q: LOST ON GOOSE ISLAND’S ROTATION AND HAS

RAISED MORE THAN $40,000 FOR LURIE CANCER CENTER OF NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY. HOW DOES IT FEEL KNOWING THAT THIS BEER YOU ORIGINALLY CRAFTED AS A PERSONAL MEMORIAL IS NOW BENEFITING OTHERS?

super emotional. It feels amazing because the A: It’s beer at first was more about me, my friends, my

family. Now I don’t even consider it for me anymore. There might be a picture of my face on the six pack with the story, but that beer is for everybody I see when I go to my doctors’. I know they’re struggling. I know what they’re going through. I look at the beer like, ‘This is for you guys.’

I’m stoked about all the money raised to make it easier for people in the future. Lost Palate is for the doctors, nurses and the fighters out there. It’s for the survivors.

You really don’t ever stop fighting.

Jonny Coffman is a Goose Island Beer Company ambassador in Chicago, Illinois. His newest beer with the brewery, Grit, is available now. In November 2021, Buffalo Wild Wings will premiere its Lost Palate-infused wing sauce with profits further benefiting cancer research and care.

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No Booze, No Problem We’ve rounded up four worthy substitutes for your go-to drink choices, from beer to rosé, that have zero—yes, zero—alcohol, so you can sip in style without your health taking a hit.

BY TAYLOR NOVAK

GHIA’S APÉRITIF Liqueur and dinner—hold the liqueur?

Inspired by Mediterranean Aperitivo culture, you can enjoy sweet sips without the spirits with GHIA’S apéritif. The vegan, gluten-free and sugar-free potion pairs perfectly with a bubbly mixer and features herbs and botanicals galore.

H

ave you ever thought about extending your Dry January for another month, or even for a whole year? Making the long-term switch to non-boozy beverages can seem daunting, but going alcohol-free has its own appeal, too.

According to the American Cancer Society, the more alcohol you drink, the higher risk you have of developing certain cancers, such as breast, mouth, throat, liver or colon. The good news is that IWSR Drinks Market Analysis expects the low/ no alcohol drinks market to grow 34 percent globally between 2020 and 2024, making the jump to alcohol-free drinks that much easier. As the trend grows, so do your options!

HEINEKEN 0.0 Most alcohol-free beers still have a small amount of alcohol, making Heineken 0.0 a game changer. Formulated with the typical Heineken lager ingredients with alcohol carefully removed, this 0 percent ABV brewski doesn’t sacrifice taste.

CURIOUS ELIXIRS’ NO. 1 (NEGRONI) For cocktail connoisseurs, mocktails are your new friend.

Try Curious Elixirs’ No. 1, the non-alcoholic craft cocktail company’s twist on a Negroni.

Botanicals replace booze as the drink is infused with adaptogens to boost your energy and fight inflammation, a leading cause of cancer. All you have to do is pour.

TÖST ROSÉ Still want to participate in “rosé all day?” Töst cures any FOMO with its all-natural dry palate that carries hints of fruity flavoring. Topped off with a rich pink presentation, you can have rosé without the daze.

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Cancer Wellness

nutrition 16 BEAT THE HEAT 22 ONLY THE BERRY BEST

BEAT THE HEAT

Salads, sides and something sweet! Eat cool all summer long with these light but filling season staples.

Photos by Sarah Bell

BY MARIA TRIPODIS

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Cancer Wellness

BEET AND CARROT SLAW Yield: 4 servings 1 medium red beet, peeled and shredded 1 medium golden beet, peeled and shredded 2 large carrots, trimmed, peeled and shredded 2 green onion stalks, trimmed and chopped 1/4 cup golden raisins 1/4 cup walnuts, roughly chopped 2 tablespoons cilantro leaves, finely chopped 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 2 tablespoons lime juice, freshly squeezed 1 tablespoon fish sauce 1/2 tablespoon soy sauce 1/2 tablespoon sesame oil 1/2 inch knob of fresh ginger, peeled

PREPARATION:

1. In a large mixing bowl, combine shredded red beets, golden beets and carrots. Add chopped green onion, golden raisins, walnuts and cilantro.

2. In a food processor, combine olive oil, lime juice, fish sauce, soy sauce, sesame oil and ginger. Blend until smooth.

3. Add to shredded beets mixture and combine until dry ingredients are evenly coated in dressing.

4. Let sit for at least 5 minutes for flavors to marry. Serve cold.

FARRO SALAD WITH ROASTED BUTTERNUT SQUASH AND DATES Yield: 6 servings 1 butternut squash, peeled and cut into 1 inch cubes 1/4 cup and 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, divided 1 1/2 teaspoons fine sea salt, divided 2 cups farro, uncooked, rinsed and drained 4 tablespoons fresh parsley, minced 4 tablespoons fresh thyme, minced 1 cup Medjool dates, pitted and chopped 1 cup feta, crumbled 1/4 cup red wine vinegar

PREPARATION:

1. Heat oven to 400 F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

2. In a large mixing bowl, add squash, 3 tablespoons olive oil and 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt. Toss to combine.

3. Add squash to the baking sheet and spread evenly.

4. Bake for 40–45 minutes, or until edges of squash begin to brown.

5. Remove from oven and set aside to cool.

6. To cook the farro, fill a large saucepan with 4 cups of water and bring to a boil over high heat.

7. Add farro and 1 teaspoon fine sea salt.

Reduce heat to medium and let simmer for 35–40 minutes or until farro is tender.

8. Once farro is fully cooked, remove from heat, drain excess liquid and set aside to cool.

9. In a large mixing bowl, add the farro, butternut squash, parsley, thyme, dates, feta, 1/4 cup olive oil and red wine vinegar.

Mix until evenly combined. Serve cold or at room temperature.

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Cancer Wellness

WHITE PEACH AND HEIRLOOM TOMATO PANZANELLA SALAD Yield: 4 servings 1/2 French baguette 1/4 cup raw unsalted almonds, roughly chopped 4 tablespoons and 1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil, divided 1 teaspoon and 1/4 teaspoon Greek seasoning, divided 2 large or 3 small heirloom tomatoes, preferably different colors 2 white skin-on peaches, cut into eighths lengthwise 1/4 cup white onion, thinly sliced 1/4 cup feta cheese, crumbled 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice 1 teaspoon dried oregano 1/2 teaspoon flaky sea salt

PREPARATION:

1. Heat oven to 350 F. Line 2 baking sheets with aluminum foil.

2. Using a sharp knife, cut baguette into 2-inch cubes.

3. In a medium bowl, add baguette

cubes, 2 tablespoons olive oil and 1 teaspoon Greek seasoning. Using your hands, mix and squeeze the bread so the olive oil is soaked into the bread cubes.

Add to a baking sheet and bake for 10–15 minutes, or until bread begins to brown and crisp on the edges. Remove from oven and set aside to cool.

4. In the same bowl, add chopped almonds, 1 teaspoon olive oil and 1/4 teaspoon Greek seasoning. Toss to combine. Add to second baking sheet and bake for 8–12 minutes, or until almonds begin to brown and become fragrant. Remove from oven and set aside to cool.

5. Using a sharp knife, cut tomatoes into eighths lengthwise and then cut each piece in half crosswise.

6. Once bread cools, add to a large bowl. Top with tomatoes, white peaches, white onion, roasted almonds, feta cheese, 2 tablespoons olive oil, 2 tablespoons lemon juice, oregano and flaky sea salt. Mix well and serve immediately.

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CITRUS SALAD WITH CREAMY CORN DRESSING Yield: 4 servings 1 can of whole kernel sweet corn, drained and rinsed 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice 1 green onion, trimmed 1 clove garlic, peeled 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt 1 medium orange, peeled 2 blood oranges, peeled

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1 large grapefruit, peeled 1/2 small white onion, thinly sliced 1 medium or 2 small watermelon radishes, thinly sliced 1 avocado, peeled, pitted and thinly sliced 1/4 cup pistachios, roasted and salted, roughly chopped

PREPARATION:

1. Add corn, olive oil, lime juice, green onion, garlic and sea salt to a

food processor. Blend until smooth.

2. Using a sharp knife, cut orange, blood oranges and grapefruit crosswise into 1 inch slices. Cut each slice in half crosswise forming a semicircle.

Remove any seeds and lay evenly onto a shallow dish.

3. Top citrus slices with white onion, watermelon radishes, avocado and pistachios.

4. Drizzle with creamy corn dressing and serve immediately.

BERRIES AND VEGAN COCONUT CREAM Yield: 4 servings 1 cup strawberries, cleaned and halved 1 cup blueberries, cleaned 1/2 cup blackberries, cleaned 1/2 cup raspberries, cleaned 3 tablespoons fresh mint leaves, finely chopped 2 cans of coconut cream, refrigerated overnight 1 tablespoon powdered sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

PREPARATION:

1. Add berries to a shallow bowl or serving platter. Sprinkle evenly with mint.

2. Spoon solid coconut cream out of cans into a medium bowl, leaving the liquid.

Add powdered sugar and vanilla extract.

3. Whisk ingredients until they are fully incorporated and cream is smooth with stiff peaks, about 10 seconds. Do not over whip.

4. Spoon mixture onto the center of the berries. Serve immediately.

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Only the Berry Best

Berries aren’t only for desserts anymore! Research shows that a cup a day could keep cancer away.

BY MARIA C. HUNT

E

ating for one’s health is an ancient idea dating back to the Greek classical period. In 440 BC, Hippocrates—who’s considered the father of medicine—said, “Let food be thy medicine and thy medicine be food.” And since ancient times, berries have been prized for their health benefits.

Hippocrates called his black elderberry tree (sambucus nigra) his “medicine chest.” Chile’s Mapuche Indians, who were never defeated in battle or colonized, said the dark purple maqui berry (aristotelia chilensis) was the source of their strength. In North America, Indigenous tribes valued wild strawberry (fragaria vesca) as a blood purifier, and they knew cranberries (vaccinium macrocarpon) cured scurvy.

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Now, modern science is proving that berries of all kinds have the power to help fight inflammation and ward off diseases like cardiovascular disease, dementia, diabetes and cancer.

“Berries … hit so many human therapeutic targets,” says Mary Ann Lila, director of the Plants for Human Health Institute at North Carolina State University. “You ingest a berry and the compounds will circulate in your blood to combat … diabetes, or cardiovascular disease or cancer or cognitive dysfunction.”

Lila and a group of researchers just launched a new Berry Health Tool Chest, a comprehensive online database of hundreds of reputable international studies on the benefits of berries.

The goal is to help consumers discover that the berries we like on sundaes and in pies are some of the most potent foods for preventing cancer and slowing the growth and spread of cancer cells.

WHAT’S IN BERRIES?

Berries are mostly water, but they’re packed with an array of beneficial plant chemicals. “Berries contain multiple different compounds that reduce the risk for developing multiple diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disease and diabetes,” says Gary Stoner, Ph.D., a professor emeritus at Ohio State University’s Department of Internal Medicine. Stoner has spent more than 30 years researching the cancer-fighting properties of berries and other foods, and is considered a pioneer in functional food research. “The most active compounds in berries are the antioxidants, particularly the phenolic compounds called anthocyanins, as well as the fiber,” he says.

Anthocyanins show up as the pigments that make berries and other foods red, blue and purple hues.

Long-term exposure to X-rays, stress, cigarette smoke and toxic chemicals creates inflammation that damages normal cell functions. Over time, this cellular damage and inflammation can lead to cancer or other diseases.

Eating anti-inflammatory foods like berries lessens inflammation, and protects our cells from damage and disease.

The familiar strawberry, for example, contains vitamin C, manganese, folate and potassium, as well anthocyanins and fiber which supports colon and gut health. Every berry has its own particular mix of plant compounds with potential disease-fighting power.

WHAT DO STUDIES SHOW?

Stoner says two mechanisms go awry from cancer: Genes that drive cell growth become overactive, while the genes that stop tumors become inactive.

A 2014 study from the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found fruit eaters were less likely to develop lung, upper gastrointestinal and colorectal cancers. Lila’s research determined that blueberries fight cancer two ways: they inhibit the development of cancer cells, and they combat the spread of tumors in lab cell cultures. “It’s a double whammy there, which is great,” she says. And they do it without the toxicity of traditional cancer drugs.

According to the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, in a 2006 lab study of human cells, extracts from strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, red raspberries, pomegranates and black raspberries all showed the ability to slow the development of cancer, kill off cancer cells or shrink tumors. Strawberries and black raspberries were the most effective.

Stoner and colleague Li-Shu Wang of the Medical College of Wisconsin have spent years studying the effects of freeze-dried black raspberries on cancer.

Studies show black raspberries can work topically and on a cellular level to turn off the genes that drive cancer cell growth and turn on the genes that suppress tumor spread.

In a 2014 controlled trial in the journal Clinical Cancer Research, 40 patients with cancerous mouth lesions used a 10 percent black raspberry powder gel or a placebo for 12 weeks. Of the subjects treated with

the berry gel, 76 percent saw their lesions shrink by an average of 26 percent. Lesions disappeared completely in two subjects and the remaining lesions were less severe. By contract, 95 percent of the control group saw their lesions grow by an average of 18 percent.

In a small study, Stoner and Wang tested black raspberries on 14 patients with familial adenomatous polyposis, an inherited condition that causes thousands of polyps to form in the colon. Because of the high cancer risk, patients usually have the colon removed by their 20s, and face a lifetime of surgeries to remove rectal polyps. Seven subjects drank black raspberry powder and inserted a black raspberry and wax suppository twice a day, while the other seven only used the berry suppository. Nine months later, 79 percent of subjects (11 of 14) saw a reduction in the number and size of rectal polyps, Wang says. The suppositories alone were effective on this type of cancer.

Wang and other researchers at the Medical College of Wisconsin just completed a 2020 clinical trial on the effects of black raspberries on 25 patients with minor disoprasic syndrome, a precursor to leukemia. They’re preparing to publish the results later this year.

YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT

For Lila, the biggest takeaway is that the time to boost your berry consumption is while you’re healthy. “The way berries work best for cancer is 100 percent preventative,” says Lila. However, if someone with cancer starts eating berries and other produce, it can have benefits. Lila says a cup of berries a day is a good amount to support overall health. While berries are most often used in desserts, Lila recommends expanding your repertoire by pairing meats like duck, beef and venison with berry sauces.

Stoner suggests regularly eating berries at least three or four times a week. He believes three tablespoons of berry powder a day (about 20 grams) is enough to make a difference. With that amount, “we could expect in most people, but not all, to see some reduction in oxidative stress,” he says. Ten grams of freeze-dried berry powder is like eating 100 grams of fresh berries.

Wang agrees that an anti-inflammatory, Mediterranean-style diet that includes berries and other real, whole foods is the most effective cancer-prevention strategy. People often ask her about berry extracts, but Wang says she’s seen many faux products that don’t have any berries or anthocyanins in them.

She recommends loading up on fresh berries like strawberries, blackberries, raspberries and blueberries, especially in season. If you’re in a higher cancer risk group, with previous cancer or a hereditary history, Wang suggests eating 10 to 20 grams (1.5 to 3 tablespoons) of freeze-dried berry powder a day.

“Personally I just really like the idea of preventing disease using food in our daily life and that’s what keeps me going because I find it so interesting,” says Wang. “I practice that on myself and my family. The bottom line is that we are what we eat.”

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mind

body

26 HOMEGROWN HEALING 29 WHAT COMES NEXT 31 ASK THE DOCTOR 32 SOBERING UP

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Homegrown Healing Can a dose of gardening help your recovery?

Horticultural therapists think so. Here’s the dirt on the power of plants.

BY TAYLOR NOVAK

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N

ature’s healing power is no secret these days, but environment for those interested in getting up close and there is one specific time-proven activity bloompersonal with nature. ing as of late.

In the Midwest, the Chicago Botanic Garden has

Horticultural therapy is more than simply offered renowned horticultural therapy services since sitting in a picturesque garden, though that’s certainly 1977, situating itself as a world leader in the practice. part of it. Horticultural therapy combines horticulture— “A trained professional in a plant-rich environment the art of cultivating plants, flowers and vegetables or can provide an opportunity for healing, stress reducfruit—and accredited therapy. Moderated by a certified tion, physical exercise and endless learning,” says Julie therapist, this type of programming ensures that you’re McCaffrey, public relations manager at Chicago Botanic interacting with natural elements in a meaningful, proGarden. “Healing happens throughout the process. Plants ductive way to promote healing. are selected to engage participants across the sensory The practice has been around for centuries, gaining spectrum. Grasses for sound, herbs for taste and lambs’ popularity and credibility in the Western world in the ear for touch, just to name a few.”

1940s and 1950s. Originally utilized in conjunction with

The Chicago Botanic Garden believes that using other therapy for individuals with mental illness, horticulthese plants helps participants grow healthier in mind, tural therapy is now an effective approach for all sorts of body and spirit due to the inherent connection between people with different goals, from physical rehabilitation to humans and nature. social interaction.

Programming is offered onsite at the Garden’s Buehler Each garden and its programming is different, but horEnabling Garden, specifically designed as an outdoor ticultural therapy will generally consist of activities related classroom for people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds to plants and nature, such as arranging flowers, sowing or to learn about and interact with the thoughtfully chosen even just looking at a garden. Spending purposeful time greenery as a means to regain lost skills or learn new ones. in or around green spaces decreases stress and lifts your “We’ve cultivated a place where nature is universally mood, according to a 2020 study in the journal Ecological accessible, especially for those with physical and emoApplications that looked at the impact tional challenges,” says McCaffrey. on people’s well-being when exposed to

Activities are often garden“A trained professional ing-based, encouraging physical activity nature during the COVID-19 pandemic in Tokyo. Horticultural therapy encourfor participants in addition to spending in a plant-rich ages direct contact with these spaces to time in nature. Planting seeds, arrangenvironment can improve participants’ quality of life. ing flowers, harvesting herbs or making Cancer warriors have found the pracfoliage art are just some of the projprovide an opportunity tice to be especially beneficial. A 2017 ects you will encounter in the Chicago for healing, stress study in the journal Supportive Care in Botanic Garden’s services.

Cancer evaluated reactions from patients

The Chicago Botanic Garden reduction, physical who were in a hospital’s palliative care also offers a certificate program for exercise and endless ward for advanced cancer. Patients people who may be interested in working learning.” arranged flowers, made herbal salts and as a trained horticultural therapist. In designed a wicker basket. Afterwards, 2017, the program received accreditathey reported feeling elevated, creative tion from the American Horticultural and physically active.

Therapy Association, which exists to further advance the Due to research like this, “green care” has become practice. increasingly popular. According to the study, green care This push to advance credible horticultural therapy is made up of “initiatives that aim to benefit from the services is good news for warriors. Broader accessibility to healing effects of animals, plants and nature on humans.” a wide range of nature-focused therapy offerings ensures Green spaces are immensely useful in hospital settings— that warriors all over the country have the opportunity to for example, even a scenic view from your room can reap the rewards of horticultural therapy. improve healing post-surgery.

Whether it’s a short drive from home or a quick walk In Portland, Oregon, the Legacy Emanuel Medical from your hospital room, a greener path to well-being is Center has dedicated time and resources to creating a surely being cultivated.

6,800 square-foot garden on a second-floor roof of the building. In the Terrace Garden, patients, visiting family members and staff can find solace in an airy sanctuary.

Patients may also utilize the space for horticultural therapy, with rigorous research by the hospital finding that easy access to the garden can help patients leave faster, take less pain medication and suffer fewer complications.

The Terrace Garden has subsequently been described as an “international benchmark” in hospital horticultural therapy.

Horticultural therapy isn’t just for inpatient warriors, though. Many onsite programs at gardens across the To learn more about horticultural therapy, visit the American country are available to create a stimulating and beneficial Horticultural Therapy Association at ahta.org.

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What

C omes Next

Cancer coach Mirela Kopier emphasizes why it’s crucial for men to take charge of their health and how starting may be easier than you think.

Photo by Sarah Bell, Hair & Makeup by Constance Slamkowski

BY MIRELA KOPIER

T

his is for all my men battling cancer—those guys who do not want to show they are scared or in pain.

Those beautiful, amazing men who want and need to be strong for their spouses, children and parents, but forget they are allowed to show their vulnerability. Guys, being vulnerable is not a sign of weakness.

Cancer is scary, and allowing those who love you to take care of you is one of the most important things you can do during your journey.

According to the American Cancer Society, the top three cancers affecting men are lung, prostate and colorectal cancer. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, men are more likely than women to be diagnosed with cancer and die from the disease. It is a somber truth that requires a deeper analysis.

There are a number of preventative steps men can take for their health. One significant habit to form is going for your preventative screenings. Women are more likely to prioritize their annual screenings than men. Additionally, men are more likely to ignore minor body aches, pains and irritations.

When I see these statistics, they make me think about the men in my life. My husband never pays attention to the little things that bother him. My brother hates going to the doctor. My uncle/godfather passed away from colon cancer at the age of 56. He did not even know what a screening was. I am sure I can speak to the women out there who want to see the men they love live long, healthy lives. Gentlemen, please listen to those who love you.

Taking supplements is another beneficial practice.

Saw palmetto, a supplement made from the fruit of the Serenoa repens tree, is the number one supplement for prostate health. Vitamin D is key for maintaining optimum testosterone levels. Omega-3 fatty acids are total-health supplements and can help keep joints and muscles healthy and lubricated from within. If you decide to embark on a supplement regimen, I encourage you to consult with your doctor first.

Your diet is also a crucial component in preventative care and cancer treatment. According to studies published by the Mayo Clinic, men who consumed a high-fat diet faced an increased risk of developing prostate cancer.

To reduce your fat intake, try choosing leaner cuts of beef or opting for chicken and fish instead. Remember those omega-3s? Fish is a wonderful source of them. Eating more fruits and vegetables will help reduce your risk as well. When they say, “An apple a day keeps the doctor away,” they are not kidding!

I cannot stress enough the importance of taking good care of yourselves, gentlemen. I encourage you to visit your doctor, get your preventative screenings, eat better, exercise and take the appropriate supplements.

The best way to care for your spouses, children, parents and friends is to take care of yourself first.

Stay well and enlightened until next time.

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WE’RE IN THE NEW CANCER COMMUNITY. WE THRIVE.

CHERYLE JACKSON CLAUDIA “SUNNY” HAYES MARIA LUISA GONZALEZ DAMIAN BUCHMAN

ASK THE DOCTOR

With summer in full swing, Anisha Patel, M.D.—a board-certified dermatologist at MD Anderson, a dermatopathologist at McGovern Medical School and a member of the American Academy of Dermatology—is here to answer all of your “burning” questions about melanoma risk in men.

BY BRITT JULIOUS

WHY ARE MEN MORE LIKELY TO DEVELOP MELANOMA COMPARED TO WOMEN? Part of it is just male grooming habits. Guys don’t use products and aren’t used to using products on their faces much. And so, even women who wear makeup but aren’t specifically trying to use sunscreen know that makeup itself has some protection to it. There’s studies that show that androgen levels can affect the ability of the skin to repair UV damage as well as the natural composition of men’s skin in terms of its ability to repair UV damage and the collagen distribution compared to women. For women, the most common location for melanoma is on the legs and for men, it’s the head and neck.

That might be why men tend to have it more on the head and neck, because of those factors.

WHAT IS AN ANDROGEN? Androgen is a type of hormone. It’s typically what we think of as one of the male hormones and estrogen is a female hormone. And in women, you have a much lower amount of androgen than you do in men.

For women, that androgen hormone is converted to estrogen by our enzymes.

Photo courtesy of Anisha Patel, M.D.

THERE IS A HIGHER DEATH RATE FOR MEN WITH MELANOMA THAN WOMEN. WHY IS THAT THE CASE? Men are less likely to go to the doctor and are probably less likely to notice when there is an atypical lesion on their skin. But also, one of the factors that I mentioned earlier is the decreased ability to repair the skin.

The damage could definitely be a contributing factor to the more aggressive melanomas that men have. And so, even if women develop melanoma, early detection and the body’s ability to at least contain the melanoma would make it less aggressive in women versus men.

WHAT SORT OF PREVENTATIVE MEASURES SHOULD MEN TAKE NOW TO AVOID THE POSSIBILITY OF DEVELOPING MELANOMA? There are only a couple parts of this that we can control. Obviously, we are not in the age where we can alter our genetics, but we can control our environment. And so I think UV protection is really important.

And that’s not just wearing sunscreen. That includes UV protective clothing, avoiding the sunniest times of the day and not being out for prolonged periods of time during the sunniest parts of the day. People are often fooled by cloud cover. You can still get UVA, even though you don’t get as much UVB, so you still need sunscreen for men’s scalps. Even women who have

thinning hair forget to protect their scalps and use sunscreen or hats.

Hats are the best way to protect your scalp.

And then having regular skin exams for high-risk populations, so people who have fair skin and freckles as well as redheads, people with a family history of melanoma and people who have 50 or more moles. Those folks—even if they’ve never had skin cancer— should be getting their skin examined at least once a year. And then, of course, doing self skin exams at home. If you notice something new or unusual looking, make an appointment to see a dermatologist for early detection.

WHAT OTHER STEPS ARE INVOLVED IN DOING A SELF SKIN EXAM? We recommend that these are done monthly. And then the ‘ABCDEs’ of melanoma. So looking at your moles, and assessing them for symmetry, as well as a demarcated border. The color should be just one color.

‘D’ is the diameter. So typically, we like them to be longer or smaller than a pencil eraser. And ‘E’ is evolving. If it’s changing, that’s a reason to get them checked out.

WHY IS THE NUMBER OF ADVANCED MELANOMA CASES CURRENTLY ON THE RISE? Part of it is, are we just detecting them more? Overall, the numbers are going up, but it appears to be in specific populations. With the younger population, it looks to be holding steady, but then with the older population, it appears to be increasing. And part of that is because we have more elderly people with health care access.

They’re being detected more frequently and people are living longer. The longer we live, the more likely we are to get cancer, just as our natural DNA repair mechanisms erode over time. Once you’re getting into the 80+ year old population, then there’s not a lot you can do to sort of repair their DNA repair mechanisms or to undo the sun damage and the environmental damage they’ve had in the past. But really, preventing that damage from happening is the most important part of keeping that incidence number down.

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SOBERING UP

When you’re used to kicking back with a drink to unwind, choosing to abstain from alcohol isn’t easy. But for some warriors, it’s worth the sacrifice if it means lessening the risk of recurrence.

BY SARAH DIMURO

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he commencement of patio season is one of my Maybe it would, but regardless, I needed to make sure favorite times of the year. It’s a time where I can I was doing everything on my end to curb my estrogen reunite with friends and colleagues under a sideproduction. Our first child was about to turn one and my walk awning, sipping on a perfectly prepared marhusband and I were discussing having another via surrogarita or delicious glass of sangria. An awful day at work gacy. These kiddos were going to need their mama. with an annoying coworker is easily forgotten over wine at At 115 pounds and 5 feet 5 inches, I was not overa two-for-one happy hour. Sure, every once in a while, you weight and exercised daily. I knew I was doing everything might imbibe a bit too ambitiously, waking up the next I could to limit the growth of estrogen-producing fat cells. morning staring at the open dishwasher you accidentally My diet was pretty clean and I made sure to be mindful of mistook for the bathroom toilet the night before (reinforcthose French fry trips. ing the adage that beer and wine should never be mixed).

But the biggest change I made was eliminating all And while these mishaps are not frequent, your friends alcohol from my diet. According to Cancer.org, drinknever let you forget any cocktail-induced catastrophes. ing even small amounts of alcohol can increase the risk So as I rushed to my doctor’s office for a last-minute of developing breast cancer as alcohol raises the level of appointment on an unseasonably warm February afterestrogen in the body. In fact, according to the site, drinknoon in 2018, I was pleased to see a few eager patrons ing even one alcoholic beverage a day can directly increase already sitting outside and enjoying some frosty brews. your risk of recurrence.

Perhaps I would text my friend to meet after my appoint It was a risk fellow breast cancer survivor Shauna ment and we could toast to an early spring. But sitting in Krajacich was also not interested in taking. In fact, her the doctor’s office, her hands on my right breast feeling sobriety was one of the first things we bonded over when what I assumed was a blocked milk duct from breastfeedmeeting at Rethink Breast Cancer, an organization offering, there was no escaping the scared look on her face. ing support to younger women with breast cancer. “Like Three hours after a very expensive cab ride uptown many people, alcohol played a big role in how I socialfor an emergency mammogram and ultrasound, I was ized,” Krajacich says. “I feel like the one thing that health diagnosed with breast cancer. Within weeks, experts seem to universally agree on is the I scheduled a double mastectomy and lymph Drinking even role alcohol plays in cancer and recurrence.” node biopsy. After surgery, my sister flew to

Giving up alcohol also forced me to pay small amounts more attention to my mental health. I was Toronto, where I was living with my husband and one year old son. As she held my hand by no means an alcoholic, but like many 40 of alcohol can in the surgeon’s office, we received the results year olds, I turned to alcohol as an easy way to increase the risk unwind with friends and escape stress. Now, of the final pathology: stage I invasive ductal carcinoma, HER2 and 100 percent estrogen I’ve embraced journaling and meditation of developing receptor positive. as coping mechanisms and I am grateful for breast cancer.

The good news was that they caught the a good barre workout to decompress during cancer before it had spread. these insane times.

My sister and I went back to my apartment to celebrate And what about patio season? Does it have the same life with some pinot grigio and episodes of “The Golden allure without the pinot grigio? To my delight, it’s not the Girls.” It’d been less than two months since finding the cocktails but rather the company around me that I actuinitial lump and this was the first time I felt like I wasn’t ally enjoy. It’s still fun when sipping a Diet Coke instead of holding my breath. I thought more about the appointment, a daiquiri on warm evenings. and while I was pleased with the outcome, I wasn’t exactly Krajacich also says the joy still remains in alcohol-free bursting with relief. According to Breastcancer.org, 30 outings. “I would have never thought I could have fun at percent of early stage breast cancer patients are later diagparties sober but I was wrong,” she says. And she too has nosed with metastatic breast cancer. The reality was my turned to healthier options for processing life’s laments. breast cancer could come back.

“I’ve incorporated meditation, mindfulness, gratitude and My fears were further compounded a few weeks later Qi Gong practices into my daily routine and I feel like it when I received the results of my oncotype test. This test really helps!” Krajacich adds. analyzes 21 different genes of your tumor sample and Of course, not everyone agrees with my libation-limgives patients who have had node negative HER2 estrogen iting lifestyle. My mother-in-law still offers me a glass of receptor positive breast cancer a score out of 100 of how wine. “Everything in moderation, my dear. One glass likely the cancer is to recur, assigning a low, intermediate won’t kill you,” she’ll say to me. or high score of recurrence.

Maybe she’s right and maybe I’m overreacting. But I began hyperventilating when I learned my number while I will always miss that nice little ‘rita buzz on a fell well within the intermediate category. I never wanted humid summer day, I’m happy being a teetotaler. Sitting to get a lower score on anything more in my life. My oncolon a patio with friends, sipping a lemon lime seltzer in ogist was confident that implementing the strongest hora chilled wine glass, is just as good as a midday mimosa. monal protocol for treatment—eliminating as much estroWell, almost. gen from my body as possible—could reduce that risk considerably.

“But Sarah, no patient is ever at a 0 percent risk of Sarah DiMuro is an actor and writer in Toronto, Canada who recurrence,” my oncologist said. “There is always a chance recently welcomed her second child via gestational surrogate. it could return.”

You can follow her on Instagram at @sdimuro2018.

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beauty 36 BEAUTY MARKS 42 SUPER CLEAN SOLUTIONS

Beauty Marks

Not all tattoos have meaning behind them, but these do. In cW’s newest portrait series, five women show off their ink that pays tribute to an array of cancer journeys, including their own.

BY SARAH BELL

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attoos are a beautiful form of selfexpression. In this photo series, we met women who have tattoos to commemorate their own battles with cancer and some to honor those they’ve lost to cancer. Cancer is something these women didn’t choose, leaving them with scars they didn’t want.

Tattooing near or over scars from their surgeries aided in the healing process.

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Cancer Wellness

Caryl Clement (pictured on left) described her chemotherapy as literal hell. When she decided to get a tattoo after completing her breast cancer treatment, she didn’t want just the pink ribbon. She instead accompanied it with a skull, three birds for her children and a butterfly to honor her father who she lost to cancer.

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Nearly a decade after being diagnosed with breast cancer, Margie Gallagher had lilies of the valley and an owl tattooed on her chest as the “last stamp” of her journey. Margie’s tattoo was donated to her through Personal Ink, an organization that uses donated funds to provide mastectomy tattoos. Mike FisherDubois at Speakeasy Custom Tattoo in Chicago created the tattoo.

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Cancer Wellness

When Katie Edmonds was diagnosed with breast cancer in the summer of 2018, a friend pointed out that her radiation would begin in the dead of winter but end by springtime.

This inspired Katie to get flowers tattooed on her leg. The tattoo was completed by Ricki Proper at A Proper Tattoo in Chicago.

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Leanna Blanchard’s tattoo on her ribcage represents her journey with cancer: an ore for her cancer rowing team, her mountain-moving Breastie community, a magnolia flower for a friend that passed away from cancer and part of a poem by Rupi Kaur: “And here you are living despite it all.” Her tattoo was done by Kasey Ray at Evil by the Needle in Bloomington, Indiana.

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For Grace Lombardo, the purpose of her tattoo was to reframe the scars she incurred from her journey with breast cancer. Grace believes her story is important to share so other survivors know they have a choice in how they heal. Grace’s tattoo was done by David Allen of David Allen Tattoo in Chicago.

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Super Clean Solutions

Maximum hydration and relaxation? Yes, please! With organic ingredients thoughtfully included in all product picks, the only thing you’ll have to worry about this summer when using these everyday essentials is feeling too good.

CREATIVE BATH DESIGN SOAK & TOKE BATH BOMB

Ready for a little “me” time? Our friends at Creative Bath Design bring the relaxation party to your hot tub one joint at a time. These clever creations are part of the company’s Soak & Toke line featuring an aromatic bath “bomb” with a fun surprise at its core—a CBD joint. Choose from eucalyptus mint, jasmine or lavender and prepare to be pampered.

AVAILABLE AT CREATIVEBATHDESIGN.COM $24

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Cancer Wellness

Photos by Sarah Bell and Jade Mainade

REVIEWED BY CAYLEI VOGELZANG

SUNTEGRITY 5-IN-1 NATURAL SELF TANNER

Ready for a sunny outlook without the worry of sun damage? The allure of self-tanning lotions has been established for a while now, but many self-tanning products are anything but clean and healthy. Fortunately, Suntegrity does things a little differently, which is why I count the brand among my favorites. The brand’s new sunless tanning product is no exception. Laced with light notes of coconut and teeming with organic antioxidant rich ingredients like sugar beet, rosehip and goji berry, this concoction is layererable, clean and loveable. pictured on left AVAILABLE AT SUNTEGRITYSKINCARE.COM $36

IMMUNOCOLOGIE VITAL IONIC MIST

Hydrating and balancing, this mist leaves your skin feeling hydrated and ready for whatever comes next.

Formulated with rarified french clay, this product is fabulous any time of day, either under or over makeup. I like to use it midday as a sort of makeup refresher.

AVAILABLE AT IMMUNOCOLOGIE.COM $60

BOODA ORGANICS BOODA BUTTER CREAM DEODORANT

Stay smelling sweet this summer with this simple, clean deodorant. Packed in a cute glass tub, this smooth concoction is just about as straightforward as one could ask for. A subtle aroma of coconut inspires nostalgic memories of days spent reading in a hammock.

AVAILABLE AT BOODAORGANICS.COM $7.95

Disclaimer: This is not medical advice. The products and their descriptions are written from the perspective of their author, Caylei Vogelzang, who makes no claim other than to her opinion. The section is meant for entertainment purposes only and reflects the sole opinion of its author.

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Complementary Medicine 46 GOOD VIBRATIONS 49 CAMP KAMBO

Good Vibrations Could gemstones and crystals be gleaming with the potential to enhance your health?

BY LESLIE T. SNADOWSKY

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an a cache of crystals cure a cluster of cancer?

Johnstone’s crystals and believes gemstones and crystals

According to a Las Vegas-based certified have healing powers and can help stop cancer growth. reiki master and energy healer known profession “Fluorite eliminates disruptive, chaotic and disorgaally as JodiAnn, a handful of rubies, carnelians nized growth and purifies, cleanses and restructures cells’ and garnets helped cure hers.

DNA,” she says. “Smoky quartz dissolves negative and emo At 25, JodiAnn was diagnosed with stage III cervical tional blockages and removes unwanted energies. And, for cancer. Instead of pursuing a Western medical matrix of cryothose with breast cancer, I always use rhodochrosite and rose therapy, hysterectomy, chemotherapy and radiation, she headed quartz because it’s a very feminine and supportive stone.” to a naturopath who prescribed a prism of transcendental ther McDermott curates cancer-specific collections of crysapies including a diet overhaul, meditation, visualizations and tals with targeted properties by conferring with her clients reiki energy healing techniques infused with crystals. JodiAnn who report better sleep, less pain, a reduction in tumor size followed his advice and kept red stones, to correlate with her and growth and a sense of peace. “I feel comfort in using sacral chakra, close to her body; under her pillows; and in her them,” says Johnstone, “and believe they’ll minimize side pockets, office and car. She says her cancer disappeared within effects from chemotherapy and shrink the tumors.” months and she’s been cancer-free for 33 years.

McDermott says loose stones and jewelry made from While JodiAnn says she can’t prove that the magneselenite restructures and regenerates cells and reduces tism of brilliant, iridescent and lustrous gemstones can tumors in the body, malachite alleviates physical pain and cure cancer, she believes colorful crystals can raise your supports those undergoing chemotherapy and petalite energy frequency to levels where cancer won’t exist. rebalances and stabilizes the body’s energy.

“This isn’t woo-woo or magic,” says JodiAnn, whose “For cervical cancer, moonstone is very powerful for holistic practice crystalizes around channeling good vibrawomen as it penetrates the hormonal and emotional world tions from healing stones. “Crystal healing is a science through its harmonizing effects,” she says. “For skin melrooted in ancient lapidary medicine, where different crystals anoma, smoky quartz for sure, and depending on if the have been found to vibrate different frequencies that corcancer spread, and to what extent, I would add malachite. relate with different organs, different body Citrine is for somebody who has anything parts and different chakras—the seven major going on with their stomach and aquaShe believes colorful marine is for somebody with lung cancer. energy centers that run throughout your body. The goal is to raise your frequency any crystals can raise your Amethyst is an overall very powerful healer, way you can, so you’re whole in your natural goddess stone, and I use it quite often for energy frequency to athose state of complete and perfect health.” with breast cancer. Black tourmaline

While mainstream medicine remains levels where cancer wards off negative energy and dispels anyembedded in doubt, attributing the curative thing that’s attached to your physical body won’t exist. properties of crystals to pseudoscience and that no longer serves you. And sugilite is the “placebo effect,” a 2009 report first pubused for prostate cancer because it opens lished in the journal Integrative Medicine Insights shines a the chakras and lets energy flow through them to draw light on the principles of the practice that dates back thouhealing energy into the body. For prostate, I use magnesands of years. “All systems in the human being, from the site as well.” atomic to the molecular level, are constantly in motion-creat “While it takes more than just crystals to cure cancer,” says ing resonance,” the report states. “This resonance is importMcDermott, “they are a great addition to other forms of Eastern ant to understanding how subtle energy directs and mainand Western medicine that are all-valuable and all-important.” tains health and wellness in the human being [...] The healing Both McDermott and JodiAnn say crystals are a reaof a patient must include more than the biology and chemistry sonable investment, selling from $5 to $30 a loose stone of their physical body; by necessity, it must include the mental, depending on the size, and agree it’s important to cleanse emotional, and spiritual (energetic) aspects.” and calibrate your stones by placing them near selenite, in Increasing your body’s energy vibrations to ensure crystal singing bowls, washing them in water or saltwater you’re not receptive to cancer is a bedrock in the growing and leaving them outside in the sunlight and out at night global complementary and alternative medicine industry. to absorb cosmic rays emitted from a full moon.

Market research and consulting company Grand View JodiAnn says it’s elemental to hold natural gemstones Research predicts the industry will reach $100 billion this during mediation and prayer and to wear them as jewelry year and $400 billion by 2028 due to a “wide acceptance of to benefit from their high vibrational frequencies. Her alternative treatments among the general population.”

“Heightened Frequency Reiki Sessions” feature a trio of go-to The faceted philosophies of crystal efficacy haven’t stones—selenite, citrine and fluorite—to amplify the energy. eroded the confidence of 52-year-old Rhonda Johnstone “I don’t think there are magic crystals that can cure you, from Roswell, New Mexico, who is counting on her coterie but they can help set the vibrational frequency for healing of crystals to help her recover from a recent stage III invato happen,” says JodiAnn. “Follow your intuition and pick sive ductal carcinoma diagnosis. and choose what feels right for you. Think of crystals as “I’m using rainbow fluorite and a bag of stones that I keep another tool in your toolbox that could be just the thing to in my bra,” she says. “I also wear a bracelet with stones chosen give you the edge on your journey to complete healing.” specifically for my cancer and emotional support including smoky quartz, rose quartz, rhodochrosite, fluorite and others.”

Brenda McDermott, a San Diego-based reiki level 2 To learn more about JodiAnn, visit JodiAnngel.com. To learn more practitioner and owner of Rei of Light Jewelry, handpicked about Brenda McDermott’s practices, visit reioflightjewelry.com.

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Keeping It Real

In the face of rigid societal roles and expectations, like masculinity, your authentic self can become overshadowed and lost. But you owe it to yourself to stay true to your inner identity, cultivating it free of performative constraints.

BY ELIZABETH TUCKWELL

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t’s Thanksgiving 2019 and my nephew is awkwardly trying to carve the turkey for the first time. He is not happy about it. As my brother watches him struggle, he half-jokingly comments, “Hey! Man up! Show that bird who’s boss!”

My nephew rolls his eyes and shakes his head. We’re all thinking it—this comment, a typical one for my brother, was outdated and belittling.

My brother, like many men, grew up during a time when the world defined its safety through polarities. Things were either this or that, black or white, Republican or Democrat.

There was no in-between and certainly no spectrum of choices. This was especially true for gender roles.

His comment to “man up” summarized a philosophy that governed gender roles and offered a stoic narrative of what masculinity stood for.

Identity and gender are a part of society’s labels. They are also vehicles for individual expression and permission for what kind of life is accessible to you. When labels are assigned, you have a limited number of choices available for authentic self-expression. It may narrow your ability to show the breadth of your humanity. The aftereffects of this are residual toxicity.

Suppression like this has resulted in a “toxic masculinity” culture, for example, that has adverse effects both immediately and generationally (as children often look to their parents to define themselves). Toxic masculinity can be defined as aggressive behaviors that suppress emotion or empathy and often utilize violence to prove power.

“Toxic masculinity is what can come of teaching boys that they can’t express emotion openly,” writes Maya Salam in the New York Times.

Luckily, this is changing. People exist on a spectrum. This comes from many refusing to adhere to outdated and limiting definitions of who they are. We are moving the needle from externally driven identity labels to internally defined ones.

No longer feeling able to express his true self under outdated parameters of manliness, actor Justin Baldoni writes in his book, “Man Enough,” that it is time to begin to redefine “masculinity -- to figure out ways to be not just good men but good humans.” He shares his effort to reconcile who he is with who the world tells him a man should be. And he has a challenge for men. “See if you can use the same qualities that you feel make you a man to go deeper,” Baldoni says. “Your strength, your bravery, your toughness: Are you brave enough to be vulnerable?

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Are you strong enough to be sensitive? Are you confident enough to listen to the women in your life?”

If identity is your canvas, how you define that identity is the artwork. That cultivation of personal freedom is essential to the growth and evolution of our collective world.

As a biracial woman in America, I have had to release limitations of labels. I have worked to cultivate my own identity, one internally defined by my heart.

A few ways to examine if you are living authentically is to bring awareness to the area in your body that is near the navel. This is an area often referred to as the solar plexus chakra, an energy center within the body that governs our own sense of personal power. When it is in balance, you feel powerful, confident and aligned with your own self-worth (you are your own authority). When this chakra is not balanced, you feel inauthentic, shameful and ruled by the opinions of others.

Say the following statement out loud to notice how this area feels: “I am living the authentic version of myself right now.”

Trust what you notice. Do you feel confident and in your truth, or do you feel there is room for growth? If you feel the latter, you can try the following exercise to move the needle closer to who you are authentically.

TAKE OUT A SHEET OF PAPER AND CREATE THREE COLUMNS: • Who I am supposed to be • Who I want to be • Who I was at six years old Set a timer for one minute and add words to the first list. Do the same with the second and third lists. Notice in your solar plexus chakra when you begin to feel the shift towards your empowerment. When do you begin to feel free? Circle all the words that bring you to that feeling and create a new list titled “I AM.” Take a closer look at the role you are playing in your life versus the one you want to be experiencing. Examine what role you are playing and if this is in alignment with your personal narrative or if it conflicts.

CAMP KAMBO

It may not sound like a typical treatment, but “frog medicine” is growing in popularity for its purging properties that some believe promote healing. A handful of holistic experts are now engaging in the ancient practice of kambo rituals to treat conditions ranging from anxiety to cancer.

BY CATHERINE EVES

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nd so it begins: your pulse quickens, sweat beads from every pore, your face starts to swell and your body is rocked by waves of nausea. But then? Clarity. Peace. You feel powerful. A pervasive sense of healing washes over you, from the top of your head to the tips of your fingers and toes.

Such are some documented effects following a “kambo” ritual—a spirit-cleansing healing practice originating from the South American Kachinaua, Kurina and Kanamari Indigenous tribes. Kambo is a skin secretion from a specific tropical frog—the Phyllomedusa bicolor, or giant leaf frog, traditionally used by Indigenous peoples to treat illness, build stamina and sharpen senses.

Present day, testimonials following kambo rituals reveal a myriad of mental, physical, emotional and even spiritual benefits. Participants claim partaking in the ritual has helped them purge things like internalized

anger, lingering grief, migraines and post-traumatic stress disorder. Kambo has even helped regulate hormones and erratic menstrual cycles, and eradicated chronic pain, autoimmune diseases and dementia.

If you do not belong to one of the tribes who have been using kambo for spiritual and medicinal benefits for centuries, a kambo ritual is not for the faint of heart. When not properly administered, it can even be dangerous, though reports of adverse outcomes reference instances that may have involved the wrong frog’s secretion, hyperhydration (drinking too much water) or preexisting heart conditions, according to a January 2021 article in the New York Times.

Practitioners trained in the art of administering kambo place the giant leaf frog in a simulation of distress, such as bringing it close to a burning fire, and then collect the substance secreted from the frog’s skin. The practitioner will then rub the secretion onto a small wound Cancer Wellness

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they’ve created on the “patient”—like a scrape on the arm A March 2012 article in the journal PLOS Biology or foot. A “purge” begins almost immediately with reacdiscusses the results of a study finding that some of the tions like sweating, vomiting, diarrhea and the like. peptides in kambo exhibit antitumor and angiostatic

Kambo takes approximately 40 minutes to travel activities. In this instance, angiogenesis is the growth through the body, according to Wolf Purnananda, a master of blood vessels necessary for the growth of cancerous practitioner and yogi healer who is certified to administer tumors. One of the peptides in kambo was identified as kambo globally. Purnananda notes that even proponents dermaseptin-B2 (DRS-B2), which was found to inhibit the of kambo are quick to label the substance as a poison or proliferation of some “human tumor cell types.” DRS-B2 venom, but this is inaccurate. “A poison or venom actually interacts with tumor cells, not by apoptosis but by necrodecreases the biological value of the system, [but] kambo sis—apoptosis, or programmed cell death, is induced by doesn’t do that,” Purnananda says. He says that kambo things like chemotherapy, whereas necrosis is accidental actually revitalizes the cell, and appears to “retrain” cell death due to things like infection and injury. Even individual cells that have not been functioning properly. more positively, this “killing” activity does not affect “Kambo’s coming in and it’s revitalizing the cells that may normal, healthy cells. not be producing at the level they could be. [They] either The study’s authors found that some of the antimiweren’t doing their purpose or their job.” crobial peptides within kambo exhibit “a broad spectrum The indisputable mental and physical benefits that of cytotoxic activity against cancer cells,” and therefore typically follow a kambo ritual have led to a recent surge consider these peptides “an interesting and promising in popularity from those who are holistically inclined. pharmacological and therapeutic leader molecule for the However, kambo has also piqued the interest of the treatment of cancer.” medical research world, and the substance is now being Clinical studies and reports about the healthful propstudied as a potential cancer treatment, along with other erties of the kambo secretion may provide validity for illnesses. Its medicinal potential has even skeptics or those who underestimate the led some to refer to kambo as a sort of Kambo has also piqued connection between the emotional state “rainforest vaccine.” and the physical body, but Purnananda the interest of the I n a January 2021 New York Times says the most stunning effects of kambo article, the psychiatrist and neuroscientist medical research world, result from those paying proper respect Dr. David Rabin is quoted as saying that to its ancient origins. Purnananda adminand the substance is kambo forces the body into a fever, as a isters kambo in a calm, meditative envi“febrile state when we’re sick [...] helps us ronment, asking his patients to set intennow being studied to fight off infection.” A 2018 article in the for the experience and making sure as a potential cancer tions journal Clinical Pharmacology notes that they are comfortable before, during and treatment. although the kambo ritual produces these after their purge. “When you wake up, you unpleasant side effects, “they are considwon’t feel the same as when you laid down,” ered mandatory, because these symptoms are indicating Purnananda says, so he allows the patient to come out of for the user the cleansing of the body from either bad the purge on their own time. A group conversation follows influences or toxins.” for each participant to share their experience, featuring Kambo was first studied in a laboratory setting in effects that are difficult to emulate in a clinical setting. the 1980s, following research on local Indigenous tribes

“Feedback is always different,” Purnananda says. in the 1930s. Italian chemist and pharmacologist Vittorio “People feel hope again—energetically, emotionally, menErspamer first identified the specific frog that secretes a tally. Physically, pains they’ve had for years are gone. substance rich in biologically active peptides with antimiDepression, anxiety they are experiencing [is] no longer crobial, hormonal and neurologic effects. there.” In the cancer community, we often hear stories According to a 2018 study in the scientific journal about people finding alternative medicines or treatments Nutrients, bioactive peptides are derived from proteins when Western medicine has failed them. Purnananda that “exert a beneficial effect on body functions and/or echoes this: “A lot of times, people will go to kambo when positively impact human health, beyond its known nutrithey’ve tried everything else. [It’s] really beautiful to tional value.” Bioactive peptides can regulate bodily funcwitness on that level.” tions, including antihypertensive, antimicrobial, anti After a year like 2020, it’s no wonder kambo is becomthrombotic, immunomodulatory, opioid, antioxidant and ing more well-known across the world. “We’re going mineral binding functions, according to the Nutrients through the biggest shift in human consciousness on this study. planet,” Purnananda begins. “As we go through this bio But how do they work? “Your body welcomes [them] logical shift, I really feel that kambo has come out to be very rapidly,” says Purnananda. “There’s nothing foreign like, ‘Hey, I’m ready. I’m ready to impact the world,’ and in the kambo [...] The kambo comes into the cells and basiI feel so much reverence to be chosen by that medicine to cally pulls out all the bad bacteria, all the PTSD, all the serve it.” trapped emotions, [and] pulls it out, puts good bacteria back in and refills the cell.” This is why kambo is lauded as having such potent effects. The cell revitalization can target things like trapped emotions, but also symptoms Wolf Purnananda is an expert in naturopathic, holistic and of cancer and its treatment—from persistent nausea to shamanic healing. Find out more about him and his services, wound healing—as well as the very cancer itself. including kambo administration, at spirit-fi.com.

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WE ARE PART OF THE NEW CANCER COMMUNITY. WE SUPPORT.

MALLORY MCLAIN, TIOSHA BAILEY, AND JODI FYFE

54 OUT LIVING IT 56 A SISTERHOOD OF SURVIVORS

Around Town

Out Living It Every step you take is cause for celebration with First Descents, the nonprofit prescribing adventure for warriors.

Photo provided by First Descents

BY TAYLOR NOVAK

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attling cancer can often feel as if you’ve been tasked Gaining the confidence to make important decisions, with suddenly overcoming a massive mountain, and self-advocate and navigate a diagnosis or survivorship can Colorado-based nonprofit First Descents approaches be attributed to the physical challenges First Descents this figure of speech quite literally when it comes places its participants in. Although much of the organito its programming. But mountain summits aren’t the only zation’s goals are community-based, the adventures you thing you tackle in the organization’s “adventure-based partake in while making connections are not a breeze. healing” experiences—steep rock walls, raging rivers and “Participants are overcoming legitimate outdoor chalroaring waves are also thrown into the mix. As intimidating lenges while also experiencing some of the most beautiful as it may sound, these programs are an empowering catalyst places in the world with their peers,” O’Donoghue says. Rock for coping with cancer as a young adult. climbing in Rocky Mountain National Park or at Wisconsin’s

“[The programs] are designed to foster resilience Devil’s Lake, surfing on the coast of Santa Barbara, California and self-advocacy and social connection and really kind and kayaking western Montana’s Blackfoot River or in the of help restore faith in one’s physical abilities which are Berkshires north of New York City are only a handful of the often compromised as a result of their diagnosis and their challenging choices at your fingertips. treatment,” says First Descents CEO Ryan O’Donoghue.

Outings are overseen by trained staff members, often

O’Donoghue first became involved with First alongside local outfitters guides. The organization does Descents about a decade ago, soon joining the organizatake accessibility into account, adapting programs as tion full time after two years volunteering. Prior to First needed to ensure a safe and inclusive environment from Descents, O’Donoghue worked with the LIVESTRONG free lodging and gear to modifying activities for those with Foundation and founded the adolescent and young adult physical disabilities. With this in mind, First Descents (AYA) cancer organization Rise Above It after losing his encourages participants to push themselves on outings. brother, Colin, to head and neck cancer at the age of 28.

“Adventure experiences are designed to help partic “We learned a lot through that journey. It definitely ipants progress through the experience to achieve whatfuels my fire,” says O’Donoghue. While his ever goals make the most sense for them,” brother had support, he lacked an orgasays O’Donoghue. “A lot of times, they are “These experiences out nization guiding him in connecting with doing things that even their peers who people who understood what he was going remind us that we’re are healthy aren’t doing. It really offers a through—something that O’Donoghue of accomplishment.” alive, and that we can sense believes he could have benefited greatly

At every program O’Donoghue has try new things.” from had it been available. attended, there are participants who express

The psychosocial effects of AYA feelings of betrayal by their bodies or a sense cancer can be debilitating. During a time of new careers, of loss of ability when diagnosed with cancer. First Descents’ new friendships and new romances, a diagnosis is a sureprogramming exists to counter these feelings. fire way to uproot someone out of their budding indepen “These experiences remind us that we’re alive, and dence. When confronted with the loss of an imagined that we can try new things,” says O’Donoghue. “When future, a 2015 study in the journal Dialogues in Clinical you’re in the throes of cancer, you can get stuck there and Neuroscience reports that warriors ages 15–39 feel isoit’s really hard to get back to doing things that we enjoy or lated, depressed and lonely as they lose a sense of identity are exciting. These experiences really help people address and autonomy with their healthy counterparts. some of those perceived limitations.”

First Descents hosts free outdoor adventures coast to In addition to testimonials, First Descents has clinicoast for AYA warrior groups, caregivers, frontline health cal data to support this mission. In 2015, the organization care workers or people with multiple sclerosis. Though an partnered with the University of Michigan to evaluate the outing may be centered around hiking a trail or kayaking psychosocial benefits of its programs. The findings saw a river, the experience is about a lot more than that. an increase for participants regarding self-esteem, body “A lot of the people who come into our programs just image and, perhaps most importantly, the ability to cope don’t have any experience with some of these activities, with cancer. whether it’s rock climbing or surfing or whatever the case For First Descents, this research has reiterated the may be,” O’Donoghue says. “But it’s this idea of adventure importance of providing structured outings in nature combined with experiencing new things with their peers, and for AYA cancer warriors. The organization continues to then ideally walking away with some of those lifelong bonds.” expand its programming, including plans for its first-ever While First Descents’ program leaders won’t prompt “Out Living It” festival in July 2022 that will encompass discussion about your cancer diagnosis during an advenwhat First Descents is all about. ture, it does tend to come up casually among participants.

“We’ll bring together our community of people And even when it doesn’t, there is a general air of compaswho’ve been through shared experiences and really get sion and understanding of having gone through a similar grounded again in the healing power of adventure,” says lived experience.

O’Donoghue. “Ultimately, we hope to make adventure “People are navigating cancer during pivotal years, community an ongoing part of the healing process.” and they find a community that they can plug into,” says O’Donoghue. “We have hundreds of anecdotal stories of First Descents provides life-changing outdoor adventures for young people who have made really big life decisions based on adults (ages 18–39) impacted by cancer and multiple sclerosis as their experience with us and, more importantly, with the well as for health care workers. For more information on First community.”

Descents and to find an adventure near you, visit firstdescents.org.

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A SISTERHOOD OF SURVIVORS

A close connection with warriors is still possible through a screen. The National Ovarian Cancer Coalition left no stone unturned during its virtual weekend Wellness Retreat that led participants in finding support, spreading awareness and taking action.

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BY MEGHAN KONKOL

he National Ovarian Cancer Coalition (NOCC) welcomed more than 350 attendees from 35 states and three countries to its virtual Wellness Retreat on May 7 and 8. The theme of “Hope, Inspiration, and Support” rang true throughout the two days of educational sessions, interactive panels and intimate roundtable discussions.

Sue Straatman, a stage IV ovarian cancer thriver in Munster, Indiana, was one of the many participants in the weekend’s activities. Her connection with NOCC dates back to 2009 when she was first diagnosed and found the organization while searching online for information and resources.

Facing her diagnosis, Straatman decided to set goals and take things one day at a time, she says. Her experience motivated her to spread the word and educate members of her community about ovarian cancer. Over the years, she has become increasingly involved in raising awareness for ovarian cancer and attending NOCC events. “By now, I’m all in!” she says.

On Friday, NOCC CEO Melissa Aucoin provided an overview of NOCC’s programs and services and updates on how the organization has adapted to reach even more thrivers and caregivers over the past year. Virtual programming has proven extremely successful and has helped NOCC reach communities in areas not previously served. With this in mind, Aucoin explained, NOCC will continue virtual offerings well into the future to maintain this important line of support for the widespread ovarian

cancer community. “We know that ovarian cancer doesn’t care what zip code you live in,” she says.

Throughout the weekend, the retreat featured testimonials from a variety of thrivers—also known as “teal sisters,” in reference to the ovarian cancer ribbon color— who told their personal stories of diagnosis, treatment and how they approach life. These truly inspiring speakers shared their experiences of advocating for the community, overcoming adversity and growing personally. During the “Extraordinary Women Living Exceptional Lives” session, visual recorder Lisa Edwards created an illustration featuring highlights from these women’s stories.

Breakout sessions allowed attendees to choose between educational topics covering ovarian cancer basics, dealing with recurrence, life post-treatment, clinical trials, genetic and tumor testing, treatment for less common subtypes of ovarian cancer, sexuality and intimacy, palliative care, nutrition myth-busting and beauty and skincare tips. With so many fascinating options available, Straatman says she is particularly thankful for session recordings so she can catch up on the topics she wasn’t able to attend live.

Saturday’s sessions kicked off with a celebration of May 8 as World Ovarian Cancer Day. With no reliable screening or diagnostic test available for ovarian cancer, it is essential to know the signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer and to speak up to a doctor if these symptoms persist for longer than two weeks. Ovarian cancer symptoms may include bloating, upset stomach and urinary frequency. NOCC provided an infographic of ovarian cancer signs and symptoms—available in English, Spanish, Italian and Hindi—and encouraged attendees to share it on their social media accounts to raise awareness. Straatman emphasized the importance of this education and advocacy, especially when some symptoms appear similar to digestive issues or menstrual cycle symptoms. It’s important to recognize patterns and changes in your own body.

The retreat wrapped up with a few final inspirational stories from thrivers and details on how their caregivers and NOCC’s teal sisterhood has supported them along the way. Attendees were reminded that NOCC is there for the entire ovarian cancer community throughout the year to provide support and resources.

Despite the physical distance, Straatman shared that she felt connected to the close-knit NOCC community throughout the retreat. “We have a very strong sisterhood among survivors. We still made connections, made our voices heard, and felt loved and honored,” she says.

To learn more about NOCC, visit ovarian.org.

Entertainment

58 OVER THE MOON 64 THE THRIVERS 66 THE SHOW MUST GO ON 68 A LAUGHING MATTER

Over the Moon

Photographer and filmmaker Ben Moon has experienced many wild things throughout his years on the road, but a colorectal cancer diagnosis at 29 was by far one of the least expected. Now cancer-free, Moon combines vulnerability and adventure to show that even with hardship, there is still a lot of life left to live.

BY TAYLOR NOVAK PHOTOGRAPHY BY SOPHIE KULLER

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hen Ben Moon answers the phone for our interview, he’s just winding down work on his house. Nestled in the sprawling picturesque terrain by Cape Kiwanda’s scenic beachfront adjacent to the Pacific Ocean, Moon’s new build is nearing completion. Soon, the longtime Oregon transplant will have a certified base on the Pacific Northwest coast, where his illustrious past nearly has a life of its own.

Here in Oregon and all before the age of 30, Moon, a renowned photographer and filmmaker, would experience a flourishing art career, a collection of some of the best crags a climber could ask for, an abundance of lifelong friends and a budding relationship with a beloved pup. He would also experience a cancer diagnosis.

Before Oregon, Moon was framing houses not for himself but for a local builder in his hometown of Grand Haven, Michigan. He was struggling to find a full-time job complementing his sports medicine background, increasingly yearning for something bigger than suburbia.

After landing a side gig at a local gear shop, Moon beganconsuming copious amounts of rock climbing content.

Similar to how his current work online and for brands like Patagonia and National Geographic inspires a sense of wanderlust, Patagonia and Climbing magazines eventually pushed Moon to leave Michigan with a camera and a dream.

“Oregon captured my imagination,” Moon says of the

expedition. “The cliffs are bigger, the rock faces are bigger, you have the ocean instead of Lake Michigan. There’s really a bit of everything in the northwest.” He lived in a Subaru station wagon and worked for a climbing company while taking photos of his and his friends’ climbs and surf sessions. Over time, Moon would eventually evolve from these humble beginnings into an impressive force of curiosity and creativity within both the adventure photography world and the cancer community alike.

When Denali came into Moon’s life, he hadn’t planned on adopting a dog. But when he was persuaded to visit a 58

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shelter one day, it was love at first sight between him and the pit bull-husky mutt. Always by Moon’s side, Denali would come to life when brought along on climbing excursions at Smith Rock State Park in the high desert of Oregon—eventually conquering the crags himself. The pair grew inseparable, their wordless bond blossoming more every day.

Denali was so in tune with Moon, in fact, that even he could sense something was off with Moon’s health.

For approximately one and a half years, Moon progressively exhibited worrisome symptoms. While living on the road in a camper van, Moon passed out one night around a campfire with friends in Joshua Tree after standing up. He brushed off his friends’ (and Denali’s) concern when he regained consciousness, attributing the incident to a recent lack of meat consumption.

Then, later that week, Moon noticed visible blood in his stool. He mentioned this to a friend, who told him it could be colon cancer and urged him to see a doctor. Like many people do, Moon immediately Googled the disease.

Though he was exhibiting an alarming number of other symptoms, like gas, bloating and weight loss, he once again brushed it off as soon as he read that colon cancer diagnoses are typically given to people older than 50.

“Denial is a powerful thing,” says Moon, who was in his late 20s at the time. “I was trying to think of every reason possible that it could be something else, but I knew deep down that something was really wrong.”

Moon took a pause on van life and moved in with a friend. But even off the road, his symptoms continued to worsen. He was carrying extra pairs of underwear with him and was fearful—and too tired—to do many of his regular outdoor activities. After making a lot of excuses, he eventually decided to visit a doctor.

While his nurse practitioner agreed that his symptoms could be an issue like inflammation, she made the choice to schedule him for a colonoscopy despite his young age of 29.

“That saved my life,” Moon says. “I probably would have been too advanced to even treat a month or two after that.”

Jacket and pants: Outerknown Boots: Blundstone Cancer Wellness

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Within a couple of weeks, Moon was lying on an examination table and coming out of a sedated fog after his scope to a doctor reassuring someone that women can still wear bikinis and athletes can still play sports with a colostomy bag. He then realized that the someone the doctor was talking to was him.

“I look over at my roommate and he looks like someone just gave him horrible news,” Moon recalls. “The surgeon shoved photos of the tumor in my face and was like, ‘You have cancer.’ That was the day that everything changed.”

traveling, climbing, surfing and working—all with a colostomy bag and Denali in tow.

The phrase “return the favor” took on a whole new meaning for Moon when, a few years after his own cancer battle, the vet found four cancerous lumps on Denali.

“I was like, ‘This can’t be happening. But you’ve been there for me and I’m going to be there for you,’” says Moon.

He spent sleepless nights beside Denali when he was in pain, trying to offer him the same comfort Denali had given him years earlier.

In the early aughts, “doping,” or the use of perfor The tumors were successfully removed, and Denali mance-enhancing drugs, was rampant within the profeswas cancer-free just like Moon. But about five years later, sional cycling community. Lance Armstrong, the formerly when Denali was 14 and really slowing down, Moon knew celebrated cancer warrior who was stripped of his seven it was time to say goodbye.

Tour de France victory titles after a doping investigation, By pure coincidence, a friend of Moon’s was planning took the brunt of it. But many warriors, especially athletes to make a short film about Moon’s balancing of city life who grew up seeing Armstrong cycle, still regard him as and outdoors life. Once Moon realized Denali’s days were an important figure in the community, including Moon. dwindling, though, the two decided to change the focus of In 2004, right before he was diagnosed with colorecthe film. tal cancer and long before the Armstrong controversy “Denali” quickly became a viral sensation after its would explode, Moon was given a LIVESTRONG bracerelease. The film, showcasing the dog’s last days in his favorlet by his cyclist sister. LIVESTRONG, ite spots along the coast, is narrated Armstrong’s foundation to support warfrom Denali’s perspective. Exploring “When you’ve gone riors and cancer research, was all the the duality of his and Moon’s relationrage with its yellow rubber bracelets and through something, facing ship in the face of illness, the piece has Moon wore his for the entire time he was been viewed nearly 15 million times on challenges and facing on a road trip. The next week, when he Vimeo. An influx of viewer messages your own mortality, it returned home, Moon was diagnosed. was received by Moon, many sharing A mutual connection was able to get their own cancer journeys. changes you forever.” a signed copy of Armstrong’s memoir for “It was like [Denali’s] final gift to Moon right before he headed into surgery, give back,” says Moon. “I had always which Moon says helped him a lot. A particular passage in joked that Denali was really good at making friends, and the memoir still stays with him years later. he continues to do that.”

“At the very end, another cancer patient told him, The massive response encouraged Moon, typically a ‘You don’t know it yet, but we’re the lucky ones,’” recounts private person, to eventually pen a vulnerable book about Moon. “It always stuck with me. When you’ve gone through his cancer journey—and Denali of course. “Denali: A Man, something, facing challenges and facing your own mortala Dog, and the Friendship of a Lifetime” was published in ity, it changes you forever.”

January 2020.

After radiation, chemotherapy, two surgeries and

“It was extremely therapeutic,” says Moon about eight additional rounds of chemotherapy, Moon’s life was writing the book. “It really helped me come to peace with indeed changed forever. He spent much of the summer in a lot of things and have a little bit more compassion for the hospital, Denali by his side, anchored to a bed instead myself in the past.” of a climbing rope. It was all worth it to Moon, though.

Moon did receive a bit of help from a new furry friend “Yeah, I have to deal with having a colostomy bag for in the process. Nori, Moon’s current rescue pup who he the rest of my life, but that’s a small price to pay for living,” says has the same eyes as Denali, was beside him throughhe says. out the project. Opening himself up to another dog after

A few weeks post-surgery, Moon was attempting Denali has been one more step forward in the long-winded, climbs again, learning to navigate cliffs at Oregon’s Smith non-linear path of healing from illness and loss.

Rock State Park with his new colostomy bag when he had

“People are like, ‘Move on and get over it’ but it enough energy in between infusions. On days he was espedoesn’t work that way,” says Moon. “Cancer reminds you cially exhausted, Denali was there offering silent support, that you’re not in control, and you kind of have to let go. solidifying his role as “man’s best friend.”

It’s like how the only way you can surf is if you dance with “It was hard to have the energy for conversation and the wave. You can’t overthink it. It’s exhausting, but it’s feel good, so Denali there was like having a really solid, also beautiful.” anchoring force that didn’t need anything from me,” Moon says. “When you’re sick, everybody wants to ask, but Ben Moon is an adventure, lifestyle and portrait photographer nobody knows what to say. Conversation’s always forced and filmmaker located in Oregon. His memoir, “Denali: A Man, and awkward. And sometimes it’s good just to be.” a Dog, and the Friendship of a Lifetime,” is available wherever After nearly a year of treatment, and a week before his books are sold. Follow Moon’s work at benmoon.com and on 30th birthday, Moon was finally cancer-free. He continued Instagram at @benmoon.

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Sweater: Outerknown Cancer Wellness

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Jacket and Pants: Patagonia Workwear Shirt: Outerknown Boots: Blundstone

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Sweater: Outerknown Pants: Patagonia

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the thrivers

DANA AND SHELLEY STEWART AS TOLD TO BRITT JULIOUS

You’ve got to grasp that fear, do everything you’re told to do, and believe that your outcome is going to be good.

D ANA: I was 32 when I was diagnosed. I was living in Milwaukee, single, really career-focused. And then I found a lump, really by accident. Long story short, we went through a mammogram, ultrasound, and none of it screamed cancer.

I even had a biopsy. It wasn’t until they removed [the lump] that they found the cancer. It was the biggest shock of my life.

Just going through the treatment, that was the easy part.

I’m the kind of person where I move fast. I had a bilateral mastectomy with reconstruction and four rounds of chemo and implants down the road. Where I really struggled was when the active treatment was done and everybody set me free.

I was in a really dark place because I was trying to pretend it never happened. Three or four years after my diagnosis, I hit rock bottom. I would self-exam my body all the time, looking for lumps and bumps and cancer. I kind of went crazy in terms of never saying no to anything because I felt like I had this bucket list and didn’t think I would live past five years.

I found Young Survival Coalition, which is an organization I still volunteer with. I found a lot of really great ladies my age that faced the same diagnosis. I got some therapy, which has helped.

SHELLEY: Sometimes I think you don’t realize all the different things you’ve done to get through this and to help other people. You’ve been like a little flower. You’ve kind of blossomed over the years.

To hear more from Dana and Shelley, visit cancerwellness.com

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SHELLEY: I got diagnosed 10 years after her. I was a 70-year-old woman diagnosed with uterine cancer that’s localized and treatable. You’re in the hospital for 24 hours and the cancer is gone. No radiation, no chemo, no nothing. I’m not trying to trivialize it [...] but it was like an everyday occurrence. It was nothing like the overwhelming 180 change to lifestyle Dana experienced.

When I go back to the doctor every three months, there’s just a little twinge of nervousness. It did not rock my world. It makes sense for a 70-year-old woman to have uterine cancer. It didn’t make sense for a 32 year old to get breast cancer. I learned from her how to accept it and how to move forward, because she did a wonderful job.

I have nothing that lingers with me but better understanding. Sometimes I wanted to go up to her and shake her and say, ‘Get over it. You’re a survivor.’ But cancer changed me in that respect. That was a turning point for us.

Photo by John Khuu

DANA: Thanks.

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V O G E L Z A N G L AW V O G E L Z A N G L AW

Musician Luke Fockler didn’t let a cancer diagnosis slow him down. Instead, he and his band Along Came a Spider used the “invisible disease” as a chance to provide solace for others fighting their own unseen battles.

BY MAURA KELLER

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Photos courtesy of Along Came a Spider

THE SHOW MUST GO ON

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Photo courtesy of Along Came a Spider and Andrew Wells

hen guitarist Luke Fockler, from the Cleveland Having a difficult cancer journey can be physically based band Along Came A Spider, learned of his and emotionally draining. So what did Fockler find that diagnosis of Hodgkin lymphoma, he turned his inspired him the most during his cancer experience and attention to battling the disease with the help and got him out of bed each day? support of family, friends and his fellow band members. Not “I was inspired by all of my friends and family that only was the entire band gripped with the pain of watching came together to be there for me,” Fockler says. “It was their friend struggle with the disease, but they also recognized all those people’s hope and positivity that kept me strong. an opportunity to use their artistry as a way to create music Plus I wasn’t ready to call it quits on my musical career.” that would resonate with others dealing with “invisible dis Indeed, having a purpose by continuing to write and eases” or even mental health issues that are also often unseen. produce music for the band was a key aspect of Fockler’s “I was diagnosed in 2019 and my journey was a rough cancer journey and subsequent recovery. The band one,” Fockler says. “It wasn’t as bad as a lot of other cancer also focused on producing an entire new album, “Your patients, but it definitely was not a walk in the park.” Fockler’s Reckoning.” But due to the pandemic, they were unable to tenacity and determination to win his battle with cancer tour their latest album and instead shared their new singles, is evident in the chorus of the band’s recent song release, including “Invisible Disease,” one by one.

“Invisible Disease” which states: “This won’t break me/It tried

“This record showcases what our band and all its to eat me alive, but I keep pushing.” members have been through since the last “Music has always record,” Fockler says. “My experience is just The emotional and compelling single resulted from the band’s journey of dealing small part of our struggle.” been my passion, but one with Fockler’s cancer diagnosis and subse And while producing the record helped the it is also my escape. entire band, it was also a therapeutic outlet for quent treatment. But its intent goes beyond that. To show Fockler their support and to My music was one of Fockler during his fight against cancer. connect with listeners who may be strug “Music has always been my passion, the things that was but it is also my escape. My music was one of gling with their own invisible issues, the band recruited friends to share their perthe light at the end the things that was the light at the end of the sonal experiences, while clearly illustrattunnel,” Fockler says. “I kept telling myself, of the tunnel.” ing that these illnesses don’t define who ‘You’re gonna get through this, and tour again, they are. Throughout the music video of and melt faces like nothing ever happened.’”

“Invisible Disease,” many of the band’s friends bear witness The band hopes “Invisible Disease” resonates with to their own “invisible diseases” by holding placards indifans who may be dealing with similar crises in their lives. cating the illness they are or have struggled with, including “I want our fans, and really anyone who comes across depression, cancer, drug addiction, anxiety and more. our music or videos, to realize that a diagnosis is not a Fockler has been playing live music since his teens death sentence,” Fockler says. “With enough will and in the late 90s and throughout the 2000s, joining Along support, you can overcome anything. I also had a little Came A Spider in November 2011. Because of this longevity help from some amazing health care workers, too.” with the band, the bond among the members is very strong, Fockler is currently in remission. Reflecting on his cancer which is evident in their collaboration and overwhelming journey, Fockler says he has learned a lot, including that “litsupport of Fockler throughout his cancer journey. erally nothing can stop this band from moving forward.”

“One of the hardest parts of my cancer experience was

“We’ve had our share of setbacks, bad deals and eating, especially during treatment cycles,” Fockler says. “It was member changes,” Fockler says. “You name it, we’ve probhard to enjoy food when everything is nauseating. Also I gained ably been through it. Besides the pandemic, cancer is one a lot of weight due to pre-chemo steroids. I wasn’t a fan of losing of our biggest obstacles. I’ve learned that Along Came A my long blonde locks and epic red beard. But I felt better about Spider isn’t just five bros making music and getting into it when bassist John Calo shaved his head for solidarity.” shenanigans. It’s my family.”

Luke Fockler, far right

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Generally portrayed as something serious, cancer and all its taboos are cast in a new light as cartoonist Geoff Augustine helps himself and others find the funny in a diagnosis.

BY TAYLOR NOVAK 68

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Illustration courtesy of Geoff Augustine

A Laughing Matter

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eoff Augustine has always looked for the humor not only accepting the prognosis but coping with it, too. in everything—even cancer.

“In the acts of writing and drawing, I’m completely The Aussie cartoonist began drawing as a absorbed in the subject matter of my predicament, and I must child, taking inspiration from satirical humor embrace cancer to find the humor,” Augustine says of his magazines like Mad and Punch. In 1976, his career drawing process. “Every day, I’m forced to face up to cancer flourished with his daily comic strip “OSSIE” appearand to look for every chance to laugh at it and ridicule it.” ing in Australia’s major daily newspapers. What followed Returning to his daily newspaper origins, Augustine was a flurry of professional achievements that included would write and draw at random anywhere and everyHallmark cards, Mattel jigsaw puzzles and the creation where. The chemotherapy chair, in which he’d sit for up of a dual-colored character mascot, Cheer Champs, that to four hours, was a particularly productive location. He’d became a national sports licensing icon. bounce ideas off of his nurses and doctors, who began While he worked, Augustine used cigarette breaks as a wanting to use the cartoons for lectures. way to wind down in between drawing sessions. Mirroring “After experiencing the reactions to my ‘cancer’ carthe U.S., nearly half of adult men and one third of adult toons from oncology nurses, oncologists, surgeons, dietiwomen in Australia smoked in the 1970s. Having started tians, therapists and fellow patients during treatments, smoking early on in his career, Augustine carried the I’m extremely aware of the positive impact of humor in common habit for many years until a serious health scare. these environments,” says Augustine. “My nurses and

“A pulmonary embolism in 2010 stopped me in doctors fully embraced the cartoon humor.” my tracks, and I was strongly advised to quit smoking,”

It was their encouragement that led Augustine to Augustine says. “I finally quit in 2012 and I’ve been told publish “Why Is He Laughing?: A Cartoonist’s Journey since, ‘It’s never too late to quit!’”

With Cancer,” a book consisting of hundreds of cartoons

Though Augustine gave up cigarettes, he noticed centered on his cancer experience that he describes as troubling symptoms popping up five years later. An “a gift of humor from those situations and places recogincreasingly hoarse voice, shortness of nizable by those living with cancer, their breath, fatigue, coughing and chills led families and caregivers.” The publication “Every day, I’m him to an initial diagnosis of bronchitis. is dedicated to health care professionals After no improvement, Augustine’s doctor forced to face up to and a percentage of book sales is donated referred him to a cardiologist for heart and lung cancer research. cancer and to look for to lungs examinations. The results brought After two years of treatment, Augustine to an oncologist, where a bron- every chance to laugh Augustine’s health has stabilized. He still choscopy finally determined the cause of a port in his arm and his oncologist is at it and ridicule it.” has his symptoms six months after they started: still watching his regular scans, but he’s stage III non-small cell lung cancer. continuing to draw and share daily car Augustine’s cancer was inoperable and advanced, toons on his Instagram that showcase the absurd comedy meaning intense treatment was on the docket right away. in a cancer diagnosis that isn’t often acknowledged.

“I was scheduled for six weeks of daily radiation inter Through finding the humor in his situation, Augustine spersed with weekly chemotherapy, or as the oncologist says he and his family are a little happier and more ready put it, ‘Everything but the kitchen sink!’” Augustine to communicate, joking about the taboos of cancer and recalls. “Due to the position of the tumor, I completely lost finding some relief in laughing. my voice and ability to take anything but liquids. Then, it He hopes his book of cancer-related cartoons encourwas straight into 12 months of immunotherapy followed ages other warriors to do the same. by a lung resection in December 2019.”

“I am so grateful to have the talent to ‘laugh’ at

In the midst of this tumultuous time, Augustine cancer—regardless of how personal. The cartoons are turned to his happy place—his drawing board. comforting and creating them still gives me happiness, While initially shocked by the diagnosis, that shock positivity and a mental strength to confront cancer ‘head quickly turned into disdain and then, ultimately, ridicule. on,’” says Augustine. “Hopefully, they’ll act as a guide and He hastily drew a cartoon about facing death (“What’s terlighten the burden for others. I appreciate that not everyminal? Is it bad?” “No! It’s heavenly!” read the cartoon) to one is able to create humor around cancer—but it is possi“find the funny” in his cancer journey. ble to look for humor, even in the most frightening places “My life had changed forever and, in the weeks and months and situations.” that followed, my talent was challenged like never before,” says Augustine. “While I’d always looked for humor everywhere and in everything, suddenly faced with chemo, radiation therapy, immunotherapy plus surgery, I ask you, how can you laugh at all that? Where is the funny? Where’s the humor?”

Throughout what Augustine describes as “endless, restless and sleepless chemo nights,” he would scribble down ideas pertaining to every aspect of his situation. The next day, he would approach them at his drawing board, attempting to flesh out these jumbled jottings into car“Why Is He Laughing?: A Cartoonist’s Journey With Cancer” is toons that could offer him comfort and make others smile. available for purchase on Amazon. Keep up with Geoff Augustine’s Doing so pushed him into confronting his diagnosis and latest cancer-related cartoons on Instagram at @geoffaugustine.

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Innovations and Research

72 A RARE REALITY 74 NO WARRIOR LEFT BEHIND 78 THE DANGER UNSEEN 80 A SECOND SET OF EYES

A RARE REALITY

Though more common in women, breast cancer is devastating another demographic—men. Female breast cancer treatment has long been the paradigm for males with some success, but there’s a growing push for more research to be dedicated to this rare but real cancer type.

BY TAYLOR NOVAK

B

reast cancer is typically associated with women, but did you know that men can receive breast cancer diagnoses, too?

Lack of research and awareness of male breast cancer can have detrimental effects when it comes to prognosis and treatment. Though rare, with about 1 percent of all breast cancer cases in the U.S. occurring in men, the American Cancer Society estimates that about 530 men will die from the disease in 2021—a 25 percent higher mortality rate compared to breast cancer patients who are women.

“It is important to remember that men do have breast tissue that has the potential to become malignant, similarly to women, albeit much less commonly,” says 72

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Dr. Daniel Vorobiof, a renowned oncologist located in Johannesburg, South Africa.

For many men, breast tissue remains small and undeveloped. However, men may occasionally develop real breast gland tissue which can increase their likelihood of breast cancer.

There are a number of known factors that can lead to a breast cancer diagnosis in men, including older age— many men are diagnosed in their 60s—as well as exposure to estrogen through certain medications, obesity, heavy drinking and liver disease. The biggest risk factor, though, is based in genetics.

“Inherited abnormal, or mutated, genes increase a man’s risk for breast cancer,” says Vorobiof. “Mutations

in one of several genes, especially BRCA2, put males at fact that the phenotype, pathology, treatment, prognosis greater risk of developing breast, prostate and pancreatic and survival of male breast cancer differ in some aspects cancers, as well as malignant melanomas.” He adds that with that of female breast cancer.” family history of breast cancer, both in women and men,

The study also concluded that “even though more can also play a role. data on risk factors is emerging about this disease, more Intertwined with breast cancer awareness is the promulti-institutional efforts to pool data with large randommotion of BRCA gene testing, a blood test that can detect ized trials to show treatment and survival benefits are the presence of DNA mutations that may increase the likeneeded to support the existing vast emerging knowledge lihood of breast and/or ovarian cancer. But this test is priabout the disease.” marily marketed toward women, meaning many men who In 2006, the International Male Breast Cancer Program develop breast cancer may have never gotten it or weren’t was created to do just that. Coordinated by a number of aware that it was even an option in the first place. oncology groups in the U.S. and Europe, the program aims “It is well known that approximately 5 to 10 percent to better understand the independent biology and evoluof breast cancers in women are a result of a gene mutation of male breast cancer to improve treatments. tion. In men, that percentage is 40 percent,” Vorobiof says.

“This program is conducted simultaneously in Europe, “This shows the great importance of genetic testing for the U.S., and South America, and has shown that male and men diagnosed with breast cancer.” female breast cancers are definitely different in terms of Due to this lack of awareness about BRCA gene testing histology and grading,” says Vorobiof. In one study by the and of male breast cancer in general, men often don’t realize program, researchers used RNA sequencing on 152 tumor that they have the disease until it’s late stage. Symptoms samples from male breast cancer patients, identifying five of male breast cancer mirror those of female breast cancer, subtypes of male breast cancer with various gene profiles. including a lump or swelling in the breast or underarm, This indicated “a breast cancer subtype occurring exclubreast redness, nipple discharge and nipple pain. sively in men that needs to be better characterized,” says While a woman who experiences these symptoms may Vorobiof, adding that many questions still remain. immediately make an appointment with her doctor, men As research and awareness grows, health care profestend to brush off such signs or not even sionals should be vigilant in recognizThe American Cancer notice them. As is the case with many ing known risk factors in patients and cancer types, a delay in diagnosis of encourage genetic testing and self-exSociety estimates that male breast cancer can be harmful and ams. While there is no known way to about 530 men will early detection is key for an optimistic fully prevent breast cancer, Vorobiof prognosis. stresses that being proactive in your die from the disease in “Usually, men do not seek medical health, such as maintaining a healthy 2021—a 25 percent attention until their breast mass or weight and limiting alcohol intake, is lump grows and becomes tender and key to reducing your risk as the landhigher mortality rate uncomfortable,” says Vorobiof. “Many scape in male breast cancer continues to compared to breast cancer evolve. men, due to poor awareness, don’t think patients who are women. “More work is required to further they can get it at all, ignoring some of the early symptoms.” clarify biological and molecular condi Even though many aspects of breast cancer are tions, risks and benefits of specific treatments and the quality similar among genders, men historically weren’t offered of life for every patient,” says Vorobiof. “Hopefully, future the traditional breast cancer regimen provided to women, research will develop interventions in improving the progaccording to Johns Hopkins Medicine. Nowadays, doctors nosis of men in this unique and understudied population.” are applying their knowledge from treating female breast

cancer to male cases.

Once diagnosed through a mammogram or biopsy, a lumpectomy may be performed for early-stage tumors, and men also often undergo mastectomies. Endocrine therapy, chemotherapy and radiation therapy are other options, but hormonal therapy has shown to be especially effective.

“Most metastatic male breast cancers are estrogen receptor-positive, and so combinations of antihormonal medications are usually used as first line treatments,” says Vorobiof. Such medications are used as adjuvant, or preventative, therapy for at least five years to limit risk of recurrence.

Dr. Daniel Vorobiof is an oncologist and the medical director While these treatment options have proven successful of Belong.Life, a developer of social and professional networks for some patients, there is an increasing push to expand for managing and navigating treatments, and the creator of clinical studies and research to male breast cancer patients the world’s largest social network and navigator app for cancer as cases in the U.S., Canada and the U.K. increase. patients, “Belong – Beating Cancer Together.” He is the founder The World Journal of Surgical Oncology published and former medical director of the Sandton Oncology Centre in a study that found that though many similarities exist Johannesburg and has published more than 120 peer-reviewed between female and male breast cancer, it is “an acceptable articles in international medical journals.

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NO WARRIOR LE FT BE H I N D For Shepherd Therapeutics founder David Hysong, “rare isn’t rare” is more than just a slogan when it comes to oncology. It is a battle cry rooted in his personal fight against cancer.

BY BRITT JULIOUS

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Photo by Antoine Verglas

“W

e like to think about where we think the

“We have thousands of drugs. They just have to be world will be in 10 years and then basimatched to patients better. The fact that no one had taken the cally make that reality accessible now,” time to [make] my disease a priority was really eye opening,” says David Hysong, founder and CEO of he says. “I think that really galvanized all of those experiences Shepherd Therapeutics. into one and really gave me a heart [to think], ‘Okay, some Since founding the company in 2015 and launching thing needs to be done about this, and if not me, then who?’” its sister organization, Shepherd Foundation, Hysong has Two weeks later and only eight months after his initial been on a mission to revolutionize the world of oncology, diagnosis, Hysong had money committed to his new idea. especially rare cancers. Utilizing a new program, Delve, Within three months, he had met Gene Williams, who which matches any cancer (or cancer patient) with the best would become the Shepherd co-founder. therapeutics to target their diseases, Shepherd aims to leave “I knew that I wanted to go after patients that have been no patient behind. But Shepherd Therapeutics’ mission is left to die, that have been neglected, that didn’t have access. more than just noble for Hysong. It’s also personal.

The question was how to do that at scale,” says Hysong.

“Being able to answer the question, ‘What did you do One of his first achievements was hiring Kate Arline. with your hands today?’ was a really powerful question for Arline, whose fiancé was diagnosed with a rare brain me,” Hysong says. “And I wanted something where I could cancer, approached Hysong after overhearing him discuss have something very tangible to show for that.” Hysong’s Shepherd. As the chief strategic officer, Arline built out life was split between scholarship and action. After com“Delve,” the company’s personalized oncology platform. pleting his first graduate degree, Hysong traveled to Phnom According to Hysong, Delve can match any cancer or any Penh, Cambodia to work against sexual slavery and human specific patient in the world with therapeutics more likely to trafficking. A motorcycle accident in the country led to be effective in treating their disease. According to Hysong, surgery and rehabilitation. Upon recovery, he attended Delve is able to predict up to 80 percent of the time where Harvard University to receive a Master of a drug will be most effective and where it Divinity. Later, he decided to join the U.S. will fail. The goal is to induce disease sta“We have thousands of bility or regression of a tumor.

Navy.

“I wanted to follow in my buddies’, my drugs. They just have to “It’s basically target and mutation father’s footsteps and lay my life on the agnostic,” Hysong says. “It pulls in a be matched to patients line to save other people,” Hysong says patient’s entire transcriptomic profile about his decision to join the U.S. Navy. better. The fact that no and mathematically pulls out what are But a surprise illness delayed those plans. one had taken the time all of the biological interconnections that

During selection at the Naval Base are responsible for whether or not this to [make] my disease a patient will respond to this drug.”

Coronado, Hysong began coughing up blood and passed out. He was diagnosed

The next step in their mission is to priority was really with swimming-induced pulmonary edema. bring the technology to people all over. eye opening.”

“I went from top 10 in my class to bottom 10.

Shepherd recently announced a partI just didn’t quite feel right,” he recalls. nership with the Mayo Clinic to match A friend later noticed a large lump in his neck, which patients around the globe with the highest potential Hysong got checked out, leading to his adenoid cystic therapeutics. They will begin in Ethiopia and Pakistan carcinoma (ACC) diagnosis. “It was kind of surreal, you with refractory patients, or those for whom doctors have know? Twenty seven years old. It’s like, wait a minute! exhausted all other treatment options.

What?” says Hysong.

The goal, Hysong says, is to have a pilot of these programs ACC typically does not respond to traditional chemorunning within the next 12–18 months, with a global presence therapy. Hysong underwent two surgeries and ultimately, within the next 3–5 years. Rolling out their efforts to the U.S. under oncologist guidance, did not receive the local radiais imminent, but Shepherd Therapeutics fears other parts of tion that is typically recommended as part of ACC treatment. the world may get left behind. That’s why they’re putting in the “There are doctors that are wonderful and are willing to try work now to make their creation accessible to as many people as to be artists with my disease, who can keep patients living possible. “We want to make the most promising modern thera little bit longer,” Hysong begins. “But basically, when this apeutics available to every person around the globe, regardless comes back, it’s usually lights out pretty quickly.” of race, creed, religion, socioeconomic status or geographical The experience, he says, has given him “a place to stand.” location,” Hysong adds. “That’s a big vision.”

“I remember kind of thinking to myself, before I got Still, even if their goals seem lofty, they don’t seem diagnosed, when it was this sliver of a possibility, what impossible. With this much drive, determination and would I do?” Hysong remembers. “I remember having this success, how could they be? internal dialogue. I’d known poverty. I’d done different “It’s a dream that no patient is left to die, whether things, but I hadn’t had a really deep experience of this they’re in a hospital in Brooklyn or a village in Ethiopia,” type of suffering. And then I would call it injustice that Hysong says. “Our conviction is that there are plenty of goes along with it. There’s no reason why we shouldn’t life-saving drugs available today. Not all of them make have a therapeutic for adenoid cystic carcinoma, other a lot of money for companies, which is why they haven’t than that it doesn’t make enough money.” been broadly distributed. But we need to understand and During what Hysong describes as an “almost classienable matching drugs with patients for whom they’ll be cal Muse moment” in the shower, the idea of Shepherd most effective. We are one of the organizations that are Therapeutics was born. capable of making that possible.”

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JOIN OUR VETERANS ASBESTOS SUPPORT GROUP Asbestos was widely used in the military due to its insulating and fire-resistant properties.

Veterans who worked in construction, manufacturing, shipbuilding and more were most at risk for asbestos exposure. Veterans make up nearly 30 percent of mesothelioma cases in the U.S. We are so grateful for the service of our veterans. Your unwavering commitment to keeping us safe is invaluable. If you are a veteran who has been diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease due to your military service, we encourage you to join our Veterans Asbestos Support Group.

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V O G E L Z A N G L AW

THE DANGER UNSEEN A common medication used to treat acid reflux was taken off the market two years ago, but its health hazards—including cancer risk—are ongoing.

BY ERIKA R. WHITEHEAD

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or millions of Americans dealing with gastroesophto humans. The plaintiffs claimed the drug was responsiageal reflux disease (GERD), Zantac (ranitidine) ble for their bladder, pancreatic, esophageal and testicular was a familiar medication prescribed by doctors cancer diagnoses. to alleviate their symptoms. But in 2019, the Food

Valisure, a pharmaceutical company dedicated to and Drug Administration (FDA) announced the prescriptesting the quality of pharmaceutical drugs, published tion drug contained low levels of a nitrosamine impurity a report in 2019 that found up to 3 million nanograms called N-Nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA). Nitrates comof NDMA in Zantac tablets, despite the FDA’s acceptable monly found in the food and medications we consume limit of 93 nanograms. may react with stomach acid to form multiple carcinogenic

In a statement released last year, Janet Woodcock, chemicals like NDMA or N-Nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA). director of the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Based on results from laboratory tests, NDMA is one of Research, explained the administration’s decision to the few well-known carcinogens found in medications. remove the OTC and prescription drug from the U.S. Produced by Glaxo Holdings Ltd., a company that is market: now a part of GlaxoSmithKline PLC, ranitidine is an H2 “The FDA is committed to ensuring that the medi(histamine-2) blocker that decreases the amount of acid cines Americans take are safe and effective. We make every created by the stomach. The drug was available over the effort to investigate potential health risks and provide our counter (OTC) to treat heartburn and by prescription to recommendations to the public based on the best available treat stomach and intestinal ulcers and GERD. Ranitidine science. We didn’t observe unacceptable levels of NDMA was approved by the FDA and available to patients in 1983. in many of the samples that we tested. However, since we Pfizer—along with several other pharmaceutical comdon’t know how or for how long the product might have panies—began manufacturing a generic version of the been stored, we decided that it should not be available to drug in 2004. However, by April 2020, the FDA requested consumers and patients unless its quality can be assured.” the removal of all ranitidine drugs from the market due to

For millions of Americans who may be concerned concerns about NDMA. about NDMA exposure after taking

“Ranitidine, the generic form of ranitidine, some health care profesZantac, was found to biodegrade into sionals recommend that patients conWhen consumed in low NMDA in higher than acceptable tinue to stay on top of regular prevenlevels, as is typically the levels,” says Inna Husain, an assistative screenings and appointments. case with food and water, “If you have a history of GERD and tant professor in the Department of Otorhinolaryngology at Rush Medical reflux previously controlled by Zantac, NDMA does not pose a College. and now you have symptoms such as substantial cancer risk.

NDMA is a yellow, volatile, comdysphagia, heartburn, indigestion, bustible and oily liquid nitrosamine. unexplained weight loss, chronic sore However, increased and Although small quantities of NDMA throat, or painful swallowing, I would sustained exposure to the recommend you follow up with a gasare produced in laboratories for research, we can also find it in the troenterologist,” Husain advises. substance poses a higher foods we eat. When cured meats and

For the nearly 20 percent of cancer risk in humans. fish that contain sodium nitrate are Americans still struggling with GERD, cooked, a chain of chemical reactions ranitidine and proton pump inhibican produce NDMA. It is also present tors (PPI) like Prilosec, Prevacid and in several vegetables, cheeses, fruits and alcoholic beverNexium, have historically been the primary treatment ages. When consumed in low levels, as is typically the case options doctors recommended. With increasing concerns with food and water, NDMA does not pose a substantial about the link between NDMA and cancer and the possicancer risk. However, increased and sustained exposure ble side effects (abdominal pain, osteoporosis, B12 defito the substance poses a higher cancer risk in humans. ciency, etc.) from taking PPIs, relying on more natural According to a study published by the National Library remedies to quell less severe cases of acid reflux is becomof Medicine, ranitidine may be stored for seven days at room ing a more attractive option. temperature or up to 30 days when stored at 39 degrees Consuming a healthier diet by cutting out caffeine, Fahrenheit. FDA testing and evaluations indicate that even alcohol, spice, carbonated drinks and fatty foods can help when stored in accepted conditions at “safe” temperatures, combat acid reflux. Drinking plenty of water, exercising NDMA levels increase in ranitidine over time. Additionally, daily, maintaining a healthy weight and avoiding late-night NDMA levels were found to increase substantially when meals will also help minimize the risk. Although anyone stored at higher temperatures—a likely reality when can develop acid reflux, those more likely to experience it accounting for transportation and temporary storage of the are those who are overweight, taking certain medications, drug by consumers. The FDA confirmed that the older a pregnant or smoking. Prolonged exposure to secondhand ranitidine product is, the greater the levels of NDMA. smoke also increases the risk of developing acid reflux.

In 2019, the first class-action lawsuits were filed against the French multinational pharmaceutical company Sanofi and the German pharmaceutical company Boehringer If you or a loved one is experiencing prolonged gastrointestinal Ingelheim for manufacturing Zantac. The lawsuit alleges symptoms after taking Zantac and have been diagnosed with that both companies knowingly manufactured and sold cancer, you should consult with an attorney to explore your legal the drug despite the well-known carcinogenic risk it poses options. You may be eligible for legal compensation.

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A SECOND SET OF EYES People aren’t perfect, and artificial intelligence may be the answer to bridging the gaps in pathology left by human error.

BY TAYLOR NOVAK

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ong gone are the days of artificial intelligence making a strong case for AI aiding in human pathology.

(AI) being a far-off, futuristic concept. AI is cur Higher accuracy when identifying cancerous cells is rently altering the way we navigate everyday life. not the only benefit of AI, though—it could also improve Omnipresent within social media platforms, AI is treatment. responsible for recommending you Tweets or filtering out “[AI] could help to not only improve the accuracy of spam messages from your Instagram inbox. What about diagnosis but also shape how we understand and treat when you deposit a check through your bank’s mobile app disease,” says Ianni. “For example, we could identify coror when you hail an Uber? Need to spell check an email? relations between the visual appearance of biopsied tissue That’s all AI, too. Now, the technology is revolutionizing and clinically relevant factors including likelihood of oncology. metastasis and disease progression.”

First founded in the mid-1950s, AI is rapidly evolving.

Ianni explains that with this type of information, a Defined as intelligence demonstrated by machines—but future could exist where personalized therapies can be without emotion or consciousness—these machines are developed, as well as increased confidence in treatment programmed to think and act like humans in every other choices and the power of determining if a certain plan of way and function around learning and problem-solving. care is appropriate for a patient and their situation.

Through the use of algorithms and data, AI optimizes To accustom pathologists to this technology, smaller operations to improve processes. scale applications of AI are already being used in a regular Due to this, AI is commonly touted as the “remedy” workday. “We are increasingly seeing the adoption of AI for human error, especially if not enough data exists for solutions that support the work of pathologists each day,” a human to make an informed decision or when there is says Ianni. too much data present for a human to process timely and

Proscia is one company developing such solutions. accurately.

These applications are centered on patient cases, sorting

This particular characteristic is especially attracand triaging the data for a pathologist so they can conduct tive in the medical field, where human errors are prevawork more efficiently and address patients’ needs more lent, costly and even fatal. A 2016 Johns Hopkins study effectively. found that more than 250,000 people in “When the pathologist begins her day, the United States die every year because she typically starts with a stack of cases “[AI] could help to [...] however, she can’t know ahead of time of medical mistakes, including missing or misdiagnosing health issues. how much time each case takes to diagnose, not only improve the whether “AI has the potential to unlock insights certain cases require a more urgent previously hidden to the human eye,” says accuracy of diagnosis diagnosis or whether certain cases might Dr. Julianna Ianni, vice president of AI but also shape how require an opinion from another expert,” research and development at Proscia, a Ianni explains. With the streamlining aid we understand and of AI, a pathologist can better address the software company that creates digital pathology solutions that leverage AI. needs of patients. treat disease.”

This type of technology is increasingly AI is certainly not a perfect technology appealing to the world of oncology. In 2021, just yet, and failures do occur—for example, the American Cancer Society estimates that 1.9 million Uber’s fatal self-driving car accident in 2018 or Twitter’s new cancer cases will be diagnosed, an increase from AI chatbot Tay that began posting offensive tweets only 2020’s 1.8 million. While human pathologists possess 16 hours after launching. In oncology specifically, there fairly high accuracy, this influx of cases—especially after is evidence that race-specific differences exist in tissue the COVID-19 pandemic during which many diagnoses morphology and disease aggressiveness, but many cancer were delayed—can overwhelm them. datasets currently consist of primarily white individuals

In 2016, a team of researchers from Beth Israel with European ancestry.

Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School The technology of AI is only as good as the people developed AI methods that trained computers to interpret behind it. By avoiding pitfalls and understanding the pathology slides—that is, images of biopsied cells. method behind the machine, AI can continue to grow into

“Identifying the presence or absence of metastatic a promising digital ally for pathologists and patients alike. cancer in a patient’s lymph nodes is a routine and crit “At a high level, the promise of AI in pathology is treically important task for pathologists,” said Dr. Andrew mendous,” says Ianni. “Improvements in efficiency, proBeck, a pathologist and a lead on the study, in a previous ductivity and diagnostic quality are especially meaningful interview. “Peering into the microscope to sift through and enable pathologists to focus more of their precious millions of normal cells to identify just a few malignant time where it matters most.” cells can prove extremely laborious using conventional methods. We thought this was a task that the computer could be quite good at—and that proved to be the case.”

Human pathologists were given slides of lymph node cells and directed to detect any cancer present. Their success rate was 96 percent, while the automated computer method had a success rate of 92 percent. When human pathologists and AI diagnostics were combined, For more information on Proscia’s AI developments for patholhowever, the success rate rose to 99.5 percent, ultimately ogy, visit proscia.com.

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Fashion

84 DRESSED TO HEAL

DRESSED TO HEAL From photography classes to wardrobe design workshops, nonprofit Fashion Fights Cancer is sprucing up the healing process through trendsetting initiatives.

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ou can look at Fashion Fights Cancer as a sanctuary,” says founder Ty Canty. The organization, which offers a variety of fashion-focused therapeutic programs for cancer warriors and thrivers, has become a staple both online and in its homebase of New York City. But Canty says its origins grew not just out of a desire to give back, but out of his own health scare.

In 2004, Canty found a cyst. Although the cyst was benign, Canty said the experience of potentially having cancer still scared him.

“It caused me to have panic attacks,” he recalls. “I was interested to see if any other patients had the same effects.

If they were diagnosed with cancer, or maybe if they had a cancer scare, did that have that same sweating? Did they start to lose their hair? Did they panic?”

Once Canty began volunteering at Beth Israel Hospital in Boston, he soon learned that most of the cancer patients were facing similar psychological effects from their diagnosis. “I think that doctors do a tremendous job of treating actual cancer,” Canty begins. “But it made me think [that] it would be great if there was an organization to address the psychological and emotional parts of the cancer.”

unlike other organizations which solely rely on in-person interactions to foster audience and community, FFC soon learned turning digital was a greater benefit for its audience. Virtual classes reach more people around the globe and allow the most vulnerable warriors and thrivers to stay safe and comfortable. “I think the hidden blessing of COVID, if there is one, is that it [allows] us to reach other people,” says Canty. Participants during the pandemic came from such distant countries as Poland and Germany, expanding FFC’s mission beyond its New York City homebase.

Outside of their traditional classes, FFC has begun expanding its initiatives. Its National Contributor Program works with designers, photographers, editors, models and other experts to give back. This can range from teaching one-off workshops to designing limited-edition products. They’ve also launched the FFC Therapy podcast where guests can discuss topical news and events. Past guests have included designers Jason Wu and Francesca Liberatore.

Another one of their major initiatives moving forward is to bridge the gender gap in discussions about cancer and men. As Cancer Wellness has frequently reported, the discrepancies for men regarding screentime of diagnosis and the psycholog“It builds a kinship. ings, Fashion Fights Cancer was born. ical ramifications of cancer remain dire.

It builds a family of “Sometimes, we as men can be kind of dif The core of Fashion Fights Cancer is ficult, especially about going to get checkpeople that you’re their classes. The organization works with ups,” Canty admits. “We have this false surrounded around bravado sometimes, like we don’t need to international designers from New York Fashion Week to create hands-on expeget checked up or go to the hospital.” and built with the riences for cancer warriors and thrivers.

But organizations like FFC continue same situation.”

Some may learn to make accessories or to do the hard work of connecting to an clothing. They’ll learn how to make a mood audience more likely to brush off concerns board or how to sew or how to cut fabric, among other about their health rather than stay aware of it. In response skills. They also launched photography classes where to these statistics, FFC has launched a watch program for patients can learn skills from professional photographers. men that teaches them how to create their timepieces. Not

Canty describes the classes and workshops as only do participants leave with a beautiful piece of craftstherapeutic. manship they made themselves, they also are reminded “I think when anyone is diagnosed with cancer, this of the importance of time, the passage of it and how it tremendous fear, anxiety is somewhat of a burden for the ultimately affects their own physical and mental health. patient,” Canty explains. “One of the things that I learned As the global cancer community continues to grow, that was so profound [from] one of the women in a class so too does the need for organizations like Fashion Fights is they just want to be treated how they were before they Cancer. “Fashion has tremendous power,” Canty says. were diagnosed with cancer.”

“It’s a business medium that everyone shares, whether you FFC also provides warriors and thrivers the opporwear expensive clothes or not-so-expensive clothes. We all tunity to do safe physical activities and create something need clothing, food and shelter.” We also need community, tangible. “Anytime you’re using your hands, you’re cresomething FFC provides in abundance. ating,” Canty adds. “You’re not just thinking about what you’re going through. I think that’s really helpful.

But most importantly, FFC’s programming helps foster community where it’s often difficult to find. For many younger thrivers and warriors who struggle to relate to the conversations and people in support groups, FFC may just be the right fit. Here, fashion makers and lovers can come together and make something outside of themselves. “It builds a kinship. It builds a family of people that you’re surrounded around and built with the same situation,” adds Canty. “You’re more comfortable, you’re more open.”

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Fashion Fights For more information on Fashion Fights Cancer, visit fashionfightsCancer’s programming was moved to online. However, cancer.org.

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A PERFECT MATCH

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A Perfect Match Resilientship is redefining friendship for women warriors, pairing you with someone who understands exactly what you’re going through with its platonic matchmaking service.

BY ANA FERNATT

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ven with the most well-meaning friends and family, a cancer diagnosis can be an isolating experience. Resources connecting cancer patients to help form supportive bonds can be difficult to access. They can also bring up triggering information or miss the mark when searching for a relatable peer. This feeling can be even more intensified when the diagnosis happens in younger adult age groups where cancer is less common. That’s where Resilientship, a new friendship matchmaking service for women 18–40 who are living with cancer, comes in.

Resilientship founder Stephanie Wang says, “Loneliness sometimes is even more painful than cancer itself.” Wang was diagnosed with lung cancer at 24 and found herself seeking spaces to connect with other people living with cancer.

Online forums were difficult to maneuver and it was even more challenging finding support groups of women within her age range who could understand her specific circumstances.

Eventually, she befriended a woman in her 70s and a man closer to her own age. “It was still so comforting because I finally had people that knew exactly what I was going through and that just made me feel a lot less alone,” Wang describes. “It’s so great that I had their constant support.” Still, something was missing. She wanted to meet gal pals in her peer group who were going through similar challenges with their cancer. Resilientship was soon born.

A “resilientship” is a friendship built on resilience, strength and persistence.

It’s a reminder that you are not alone and an opportunity to see your own tenacity reflected back through a growing, supportive relationship.

A “resilientship” is a friendship built on resilience, strength and persistence.

“I was thinking about the word ‘resilient’ and resilience. […] I just thought of that word for anyone who’s going through cancer — that we didn’t ask to go through this. We didn’t know we could go through this, but somehow we’re going through it and we’re doing it. And we don’t know how we’re doing it,” says Wang. “I just married that with the word ‘friendship.’ We had Resilientship.”

Finding your own resilientship is free, easy and personalized. Simply fill out the form on their website with details, like what you hope to get out of this relationship. Next, Wang and her team will select a match from their database.

The aim is to find someone within a similar age range, diagnosis, personality and goals. “It’s a very one-on-one model, which we were very intentional about choosing, because I wanted the space to be as safe as possible from the get-go. Especially when you’re talking about very sensitive information, like your cancer story, we wanted to really eliminate any factors that might make them feel awkward or unsafe,” adds Wang.

Whether you are a mother of five or dealing with infertility, Resilientship wants to match you with someone relatable. The new friends will be given each other’s email addresses to begin reaching out. Currently, Resilientship is only open to women ages 18–40; however, those who fall outside of those lines are still encouraged to sign up as there are plans to expand in the future.

Resilientship isn’t meant to forget about your existing support system; instead, they aim to enhance and expand it. For friends and family outside of Resilientship who want to know how to better support, Wang offers the following advice: “I think the best thing we can do is to always just listen and be present—to not show up with [the] intention of offering advice to them, or saying words that we think [are] going to make someone feel better.” And none of that toxic positivity nonsense either. “That can get very draining,” adds Wang.

“I truly believe that just having one person that understands what you’re going through, especially when [they’re the] same age, same diagnosis, you really feel like [you’re] not the only person,” says Wang. “That can help so much in your whole entire experience going through cancer.” You don’t have to do this alone.

To find your match, visit resilientship.com.

the supporters

MARC AND JEAN MALNATI AS TOLD TO BRITT JULIOUS

My parents were very generous people, always seeking a way to help someone or give back.

MARC: Well, it originally started as a football scholarship to Wake Forest, under Brian Piccolo’s name. My parents (Lou and Jean Malnati) had befriended a lot of the players from the Chicago Bears team in the ‘60s and ‘70s, and Brian Piccolo was one of those guys. When he died, they got together with their friends, Jeannie and Johnny Morris, and decided to have a big party.

[The restaurant] had been open only six months, maybe.

JEAN: We were raising more money than needed for the scholarship, so we started giving the rest to cancer. We picked Northwestern, and then we got a lot more familiar with them when Lou got cancer. He fought and they were wonderful. We knew everybody on the cancer floor, so Lou felt at home when he went down there. After Lou died, we changed the name to the Lou Malnati Brian Piccolo Cancer Fund, and then we eventually just had it become the Lou Malnati Cancer Benefit.

Hopefully, we’re gonna have our 50th anniversary party for the charity on September 10. Of course, I didn’t want to be left out. So in 2013, I was diagnosed with cancer. But I am lucky. I was able to get over [the] cancer and I’m still here.

To hear more from Marc and Jean, visit cancerwellness.com

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JEAN: If we can find out what causes the glioblastomas and if we can get some kind of relief, that’ll be wonderful. If we could say we don’t have to have the charity anymore because they don’t need any funding—that would be the goal. We could still have the party, [but] we could celebrate.

Photo by John Khuu

MARC: Four years ago, my brother and I wanted to say we’ve been pretty blessed from a business standpoint. We wanted to do something to commemorate the effort and the life lessons our parents taught us about giving back, so we named the Lou and Jean Malnati Brain Tumor Institute at Northwestern Medicine. Brain tumor research is a notoriously underfunded area of the Lurie Cancer Center. We’re a family that’s been touched by cancer and really joined the fight and tried to use our resources to get our friends and neighbors and those who support to jump in with us.

WE’RE IN THE NEW CANCER COMMUNITY. WE FIGHT.

MARDIE ANDERSON JENNIFER SZWAJKOWSKI BROOKE LONG

JOIN THE MESOTHELIOMA SUPPORT GROUP Body: A mesothelioma diagnosis is often life-changing. Relying on a support network can be crucial as you or a loved one battle the disease. Our Mesothelioma Support Group is your network. We welcome you to join a safe and trusted space where you can receive important mesothelioma information and guidance. Group moderator and certified mesothelioma cancer coach, Mirela Kopier, is here to answer your mesothelioma and asbestos-related questions.

We encourage you to join our network of over 100 people whose lives have been affected by mesothelioma. Get the answers you need and the support you deserve. Join today: www.MesoSupport.org Join today www.MesoSupport.org www.vogelzanglaw.com 872-278-5218 Moderated by certifed cancer coach, Mirela Kopier.

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