SPRING 2022
LIVING FREE
SARA QUIRICONI REDEFINES “CANCER-FREE” DO LESS WHY REST IS VITAL FOR RECOVERY
SAFE TRAVELS TIPS FOR HEALTHY TRAVEL DURING COVID-19
US $10.00
CONFERENCES Educational conferences on cancer-related topics including: � Understanding your health insurance options � Managing medical bills � How to get help working through treatment or taking time off � Applying for disability insurance � Accessing financial help � Estate planning � ...and more!
WEBINARS Free educational webinars on practical topics, such as work, school, insurance, advocacy, caregiving, finances, exercise, and nutrition. Open to everyone!
Open to everyone! Free registration, gift bags, & prizes! *Free contact hours/CEs/PDCs for nurses, social workers, board certified patient advocates, & HR professionals.
REGISTER HERE
TriageCancer.org/Conferences
REGISTER HERE
TriageCancer.org/Webinars
Triage Cancer is a national, nonprofit organization that provides free education on the legal and practical issues that may impact individuals diagnosed with cancer and their caregivers, through events, materials, and resources.
MINDFULNESS IN MOTION
Photos provided by subjects in magazine
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pring has arrived and with it comes warmer weather, more time in the sun and maybe even some traveling. In our spring issue, we highlight the ones dedicating their skills and wisdom to promoting healthy living and growth for cancer warriors and thrivers everywhere, as well as tips for travel and wellness on the go. Some of the inspirational organizations in this issue include Maple Tree Cancer Alliance, a nonprofit committed to making exercise the standard for patient care in a free and accessible way (p. 36), and Fight Through Flights, an organization empowering and supporting Black women with breast cancer by arranging free wellness retreats, staycations and health and nutrition resources (p. 55). As spring opens the possibility to travel more, Liz Tuckwell (p. 27) reminds us that wellness lies within no matter where we are, and we must take time to energize and recharge—something that’s essential every day. You can also reconnect with nature and book a trip to go forest bathing, as Sheryl Nance-Nash takes you on a journey exploring the best spots to immerse yourself in the healing power of trees (p. 28). We are also excited to feature an article all about you—our readers!—on the topic of cancer portrayal in the media (p. 50). It’s imperative to have these conversations with the people who are living with cancer day to day, and we are so grateful that we can help contribute to the discourse within the cancer community. Spring is the season of renewed growth and healing. I hope that our spring issue brings you all peace, love and the chance to flourish. Natalia Espinosa, Editor-in-Chief nespinosa@cancerwellness.com
Cancer Wellness
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SPRING 2022 40
LEARNING TO LIVE FREE
08
CW ONLINE
09
CW AGENDA
NUTRITION 16
A SPRING AWAKENING These easy but flavorful recipes have all the fixings for a bountiful spring.
MIND & BODY
BEAUTY 30
SOLE + LUNA From reiki and facials to massages and meditation, Sole + Luna offers warriors an array of holistic wellness services.
FASHION 34
YOU GLOW, GIRL! Bright and comfy activewear for all stages of cancer treatment.
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THE IMPORTANCE OF REST From mental health to physical well-being, taking care includes taking a break.
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TAKING IN THE TREES Seek some solace within the trees through forest bathing.
AROUND THE WORLD 34
THROUGH GRACE Families with a member going through cancer can get a little R&R thanks to one nonprofit providing beach vacations.
ENTERTAINMENT 50
THE BIG C ON THE BIG SCREEN Check out the cancer community’s perspective on the portrayal of cancer in movies and television.
INNOVATIONS 52
THE FUTURE OF CANCER CARE From mental health management to palliative care assessment, augmented intelligence is helping shape the future of cancer.
TRAVEL 55
FIGHT AND FLIGHT Esther and Alicia Tambe have a mission to empower and support Black women with breast cancer through their travel-based organization Fight Through Flights. Cancer Wellness
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Fun in the Sun
Dermatologist Dr. Min Deng explains the importance of sunscreen as we approach the summer months, and how “Safe Sun Week” reminds people to protect their skin while beating the heat at the beach. BY FRANCESCA HALIKIAS
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he annual “Safe Sun Week,” launched by MedStar Health, takes place annually during the week leading up to Memorial Day and serves as added awareness on how to safely protect your skin from cancer risks before the summer heat kicks in. “[Safe Sun Week] is typically in May because we want to catch people’s attention and drive awareness right before the summer months when school’s out and people start to go to the beach,” says Dr. Min Deng, a dermatologist affiliated with MedStar Health. “I think the goal is to drive that awareness [and] to remind everyone as they start making plans for the summer to protect themselves from the number one cancer: skin cancer, which is fully preventable.” While some people may not want to put on sunscreen on top of other facial products, Deng notes it’s now easier than ever to protect your skin from the damaging effects of UV rays with many facial products containing sunscreen. “Ideally, I prefer an SPF of 50 or higher,” explains Deng. “Multiple studies have shown that people only put on a quarter of the amount that they’re supposed to apply to get that true SPF value that’s advertised, so for that reason I usually recommend for my patients to go up to an SPF of 50.” Deng also recommends that you should look for at least SPF 30 in your daily moisturizer—that way, you can just put it on as part of your skincare routine. 12
Cancer Wellness
When it comes to the ingredients in the sunscreen you choose, Deng’s number one recommendation is sunscreen containing zinc oxide as the main ingredient, as it has the most broad-spectrum coverage. Her second choice would be titanium dioxide, followed by the chemical sunscreen ingredient avobenzone. Deng notes that while chemical sunscreens can be more cosmetically elegant, they aren’t as protective as options containing zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. “I know there’s been a lot of attention in the last two years about the absorption of the ingredients. A reason I don’t like them quite as much is because their coverage isn’t quite as broad-spectrum as zinc,” she says. “[There have also] been a lot of environmental concerns about coral reefs. For these reasons, I tend to steer my patients toward zinc oxide.” Ultimately, Deng says that something is better than nothing when it comes to sunscreen, and if you’re going to participate in summer activities outdoors, you should reapply every two hours, increasing to every hour if you’re in the water. “The most important reason why we emphasize sunscreen is that it’s there to prevent skin cancer. You won’t see it in a year, but once you accumulate that DNA damage, that just builds and builds, [and] it’s all added to the damage. We’re talking about skin cancer maybe 10 or 20 years down the road,” Deng says. “I would just encourage people to look for a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a formulation that allows them to wear it on a daily basis.”
Over the last 10 years, Twist Out Cancer has positively impacted more than 146,000 people around the world!
Join Twist Out Cancer as we Celebrate our 10 Year Anniversary with upcoming Brushes With Cancer programs and Twistshops!
Hosted by
“Virtual Twistshops” are wellness and art therapy focused workshops that promote healing, relaxation, and emotional recovery through creative based intervention.
Topics change each month. Led by professional facilitators! Open to all of those touched or affected by cancer.
All ages welcome!
Register & learn more at twistoutcancer.org/twistshops
• Every Thursday night at 6 p.m. Central, join us for our virtual Weekly Meditation Program with Dr. Ruth Mayer, a rabbi and clinical psychologist, and Lisa Kawalec, a mindfulness coach. • The Brushes With Cancer program in the Southern region will hold a hybrid event on Sunday, May 1, at Dripping Springs Distilling in Dripping Springs Texas. • Imerman Angels and Twist Out Cancer will host a virtual Twistshop on Wednesday, April 13 at 6:30 p.m. Music and Therapeutic Art Making with art therapist, Mignon Dupepe and musician, Noah Plotkin. • Living Beyond Breast Cancer and Twist Out Cancer will come together virtually on Tuesday, June 7 at 6 p.m. for a Twistshop, which will be facilitated by art therapist, Mignon Dupepe • The Brushes With Cancer program in the Midwest region will conclude on Saturday, November 12 with a hybrid celebratory event.
For details on all of these programs and so much more, please visit us at www.twistoutcancer.org and follow us on social media @twistoutcancer.
Stories of Hope with Whitney Reynolds It’s 2022 and I am so excited to spread some of the hope we’ve found on “The Whitney Reynolds Show.” This spring, we’re sharing the story of BIÂN CEO and kidney cancer warrior Joseph Fisher. Because he listened to his body, early detection potentially saved his life.
HOW DID YOU HANDLE THE DIAGNOSIS? A brief moment of disbelief followed by a determination to walk the only path available to address the issue. WHAT GAVE YOU HOPE DURING AN UNKNOWN TIME? I am convinced that positive thought results in positive outcomes. While I didn’t know exactly what the 48
Cancer Wellness
end result of my journey would be, I had a firm belief that the outcome would ultimately be a positive one. My incredible wife, Dominica, was a constant source of comfort, love, positive energy and healing. It’s hard to be down WHAT DOES THE WORD when someone so truly amazing is by “SURVIVOR” MEAN TO YOU? your side. My very strong family gave me I always think about not just suradditional support and love, particularly viving, but thriving. The word ‘survive’ my wonderful and loving mother (I lost connotes to me that an outside force has my dad to brain cancer when I was 25). some level of control over our chosen Beyond that, BIÂN’s team of path, but the word ‘thrive’ allows me to healers gave me everything one could reconnect with the idea that we make have or need to prepare for a difficult our choices and thus the way we live survey and recovery. The entire BIÂN our life is completely up to us! community supported me with positive energy, caring, love, prayers and many other forms of community support. So, “Stories of Hope” doesn’t stop here. Listen to more stories every week on “The Whitney Reynolds combine a singularly positive outlook Show” airing across the nation on PBS. on life with all the others supporting me and I didn’t so much cling to anything, but rather felt I was constantly surrounded by a cocoon of positive energy. WHEN DID YOUR SURGERY TAKE PLACE? Aug. 26, 2021 HOW IS HEALING GOING? Other than not having cancer in the first place, the surgery and post-surgery recovery were exactly the positive outcome I manifested. The surgeon was able to save a good portion of my kidney after removing the cancer. The biopsy
Photos provided by BIÂN
WHEN DID YOU FEEL SOMETHING WAS WRONG? I had no idea until my cancer was diagnosed on July 2, 2021 that I had a major health issue. HOW WAS THE CANCER DISCOVERED? I was experiencing occasional numbness in my left leg when I went to sleep at night. The team at BIÂN began working on the numbers within each of their specific areas, and then talking together to understand, diagnose and prepare a treatment plan. After a short time, despite multiple [various] treatments, they collectively decided a spine MRI was necessary to rule out a spinal impingement. Through this MRI, as an incidental finding, a lesion was discovered which required a CAT scan thereafter. The CAT scan confirmed a significant issue, which was then diagnosed as kidney cancer by a specialist at Northwestern.
also showed that the margin around the cancerous tissue removed was free of cancer cells, meaning I am now cancer-free. Because part of my kidney was left and had to be reattached to my body, the recovery was more physically difficult than a full kidney removal. That said, I focused each day on just getting to the next day knowing that my body would fully recover with time and additional work. I had my first acupuncture/energy treatment just six days after my surgery. Three and a half months later, I am now mentally stronger than before and physically getting back to my pre-surgery strength. I started back with my karate training four weeks ago, and that to me is a big step to moving forward entirely from this little life detour.
JOIN OUR MESOTHELIOMA SUPPORT GROUP Mesothelioma is a rare cancer affecting 3,000 people every year in the United States. With a latency period of 20 to 30 years, most mesothelioma patients are over the age of 70 when diagnosed. Our Mesothelioma Support Group was created with mesothelioma patients and their loved ones in mind. Moderated by our certified mesothelioma cancer coach Mirela Kopier, our Mesothelioma Support Group is a safe space for you and your loved ones to get the answers you need and the support you deserve. We invite you to join our group today. Visit MesoSupport.org to join today
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