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ifwebefriends · 2 months

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Happy Solar Eclipse day to the seven years woman and ONLY the seven years woman

Source

Content ID under cut

[Content ID: a 20-panel comic. It’s drawn in a simplistic stick-figure art style. The first 8 panels are more faded than the final 12

Panel 1: a woman and her boyfriend are sitting on a bed while the woman gets a call from a doctor. The boyfriend has one hand on her shoulder and another holding her unoccupied hand. She says “oh god”

Panel 2: the woman is sitting in a large chair, she has lost her hair and is receiving an IV infusion. The machine goes “…beeep…beeep…beeep” her boyfriend is sitting next to her. They’re both working on laptops.

Panel 3: the woman and boyfriend are canoeing on a lake. The woman is wearing a beanie. There’s lilypads in the lake and mountains in the background.

Panel 4: The woman and her boyfriend are sitting at a table. The woman is still bald. There’s a phone on the table and a clock on the wall. The woman says “how long can it take to read a scan!?”

Panel 5: the woman is receiving another IV infusion. Her boyfriend is with her and they’re playing scrabble. The boyfriend says “‘zarg’ isn’t a word.” The woman responds “but caaaancer.” The boyfriend relents “…ok, fine”

Panel 6: the woman and her boyfriend are talking to someone else. The woman is wearing a hat. The other person says “so next year you should come visit us up in the mountains and” the rest of his text is obscured. The woman and the boyfriend are both thinking “next year”

Panel 7: the woman and the boyfriend are getting married. The man is wearing a bow tie and the woman is wearing a white dress and veil. Her hair is short and a bit frizzy. There’s lots of other people there.

Panel 8: a caption at the top says “two years” the woman and her husband are at a coast watching a large bird swoop in and take a fish with a “fwoosh.” the girl is wearing a hat. This panel is the last of the faded ones.

Panel 9: the woman and her husband are walking through a forest full of tall trees. The woman seems to have grown back some of her hair.

Panel 10: the woman is sitting on the ground, her hair is down to the nape of her neck. Her husband is standing behind her. The woman says “my toe hurts. And I found a report of a case in which toe pain was an early sign of cancer spreading.” The husband responds “wait—didn’t you stub your toe yesterday?” The woman responds “yes, but what if this is unrelated?”

Panel 11: the woman and her husband are climbing into a dark cave while someone else guides them. The woman’s hair is down to her shoulders.

Panel 12: the woman is on a large rock taking a picture of a crocodile with a large camera. Her husband stands behind her on a platform with rails, he says “when they estimated your survival odds, I think they made some optimistic assumptions about your hobbies”

Panel 13: the woman is at a doctor’s appointment. Her hair is a little past her shoulders. The doctor says “this is probably nothing, but given your history, we should do a full scan. We’ll call with the results in a few days. Try not to worry about it until then!”

Panel 14: the woman and her husband are at a lake, their image is distorted by the water due to the angle of the picture. The woman is controlling a small submersible camera, she is looking at the lake floor.

Panel 15: the woman and her husband are standing next to each other. The woman’s hair has grown a bit past her shoulders. The woman says “hard to believe—six years ago, I was bald. But today, after a long struggle, I finally look like the little girl from The Ring.” Her husband responds “that’s, uhh…good?” The woman responds “hissssss”

Panel 16: the woman, her husband, and two other women and two other men are looking at a solar eclipse. The landscape is dark and you can see the corona behind the dark moon.

Panel 17: after the eclipse has passed, the world is bright again and everyone looks at each other. another blonde woman says “wow.” The woman says “yeah.”

Panel 18: the woman and her husband walk away hand in hand. The woman says “that was incredible. When’s the next one?” The husband responds “in seven years. Wanna go see it?”

Panel 19: the woman and her husband, still walking hand in hand, are both thinking of a timeline. The timeline has the years 2010, 2017, and 2024 marked with points. Before 2017, the timeline is a solid line, but after 2017, it’s a dashed line. There’s three question marks under the 2024 bullet point.

Panel 20: the woman says “yeah. I’ll do my best.” Her husband responds “it’s a date!”

End ID]

#jk happy eclipse day to everybody #do you know what this fucking comic means to me?#for context I am a breast cancer survivor #seven years woman I hope you see the eclipse with your husband today #I will draw that happening if xkcd doesn’t #eclipse #solar eclipse #cancer #tw cancer #cw cancer #cancer tw #cancer cw #2024 #eclipse 2024 #xkcd #xkcd.com #source: xkcd #seven years #chronic illness

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lacefuneral · 1 month

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my allistic aunt just argued with me when i said "i prefer I Am An Autistic Person over Person with autism"

and was like "no. i'm well trained. i know the right language."

and i was like. "no. it is different per person and if you called me a Person With Autism i would be legitimately offended."

and she was like "well that's like it someone called me cancer" (?!!?!?!?? - for context she is a breast cancer survivor)

and i was like. "i really don't think autism is comparable to cancer. and it's like someone saying i'm A Person With Gay instead of Gay Person."

and my dad was trying to be a smartass and he was like "oh you don't have gay?"

and i was like "hey man, i've been trying, but i haven't been successful lately"

which made him uncomfortable, because he deliberately tries to block out that me being a Gay Man means i Want To Have Sex With Men and not just that i'm A Guy Who Likes Rainbow Items

#classics of family.#cancer mention #ableism #homophobia

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msfbgraves · 3 years

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Context

Here on Tumblr I see a lot of people describing the surgical removal of breast tissue as a joyful occasion, and I don't doubt their happiness.

I've been through cancer treatment, however, and having to undergo those same surgical procedures was among my worst nightmares. I sobbed myself through educational youtube videos about them, because please, I'd already lost my hair, my eyebrows, my lashes, and probably my fertility, could I at least keep my breasts?

Of course these surgeries aren't absolutely good or bad, joyful or painful; they are performed for different reasons and elicit different feelings. But recently I've seen people adding these scars to paintings and photos specifically as a celebration of transmasc identity. Yet to some, women and men, cis and trans, they are a painful reminder of a deadly disease and surgery, rather than something to look forward to, is something to be dreaded and deeply mourned. Not everyone celebrates having their breast tissue removed. Surgical scars can have many connotations and not all are positive. Please be mindful of the fact that not everyone who sees them is going to think "identity confirmation". So people are hurt in their identity by the exact same procedure because breast reconstruction is not always possible on the same day, sometimes not even the same year. Seeing this operation depicted doesn't automatically make me smile, then. Not all tears shed after the surgical removal of breast tissue are tears of joy.

And I'm not asking anyone to stop celebrating their surgery! What I am asking is to consider that a scar from this procedure is not always empowering or beautiful to people and a happy thing to see, so if you are going to photoshop them on memes, paintings and whatnot... please remember the cancer patients and survivors, ok? These surgeries are part of the trans experience, but not only the trans experience. Don't assume they're a universally good thing. For all I know, a transmasc person seeing this may also be unpleasantly reminded of their breast cancer treatment, so making it into a visual shorthand for trans pride is not something I'd personally encourage. As a symbol, it's too loaded for that.

#cancer #cancer tw #tw cancer #cw cancer #cancer cw

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simonjadis · 5 years

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I’m going to be afk for almost all of this weekend. I’ll have scheduled posts but that’s it. I’ll be reachable on Twitter (simonjadis) of course. I wanted to explain why.

content warnings: family member illness, terminal illness, cancer

My grandmother is one of the most important people in my life. During my childhood, I always lived close to her -- when I was preschool age, my mom and I even lived with her for a year during my mother’s divorce.

She was born on a farm in what was then rural North Carolina in 1930. How rural? The doctor made a house call and, instead of charging money for her delivery, instead asked for a calf “he’d had his eye on” as payment.

She and my grandfather, Herb Harward, had five children and eight grandchildren. Grandaddy passed away in 2007, but Grandmama now has a total of 4 great-grandchildren. She is 89.

There’s so much that I could write about her. I’ve known her all my life, but since my aunt passed away in 2014 (and she was living alone for the first time in her life), I’ve called and spoken to her every day. We’ve always had an incredibly close bond.

I got my sense of smell from her, but not her sense of hearing. My grandfather used to compliment her on both, saying: “If she could only run, she’d make a hell of a dog.”

If you’ve ever watched The Closer, know that Brenda Lee Johnson’s parents on that show are so eerily similar to my grandmother and grandfather and their dynamic that if it turned out that they were somehow based on them, I would not be surprised. Even the character’s names sound like someone tried to slightly tweak the real names. It doesn’t help that they named their firstborn “Brenda.”

In 2011, when Chaz Bono appeared on Dancing With The Stars, Grandmama (who loved that show) expressed her disgust over the awful backlash that he received for being transgender. I wouldn’t really call Grandmama “woke” by any means, but she couldn’t imagine why people would give him a hard time for being himself, “because that’s nobody’s business!”

She did, on a number of occasions over the years, accidentally say “transcendent” instead of transgender. No complaints here.

Grandmama was a Republican -- decidedly past tense. In 2012, she confided to my mother that she had voted for Obama. To put that in context, she was raised in a family so Baptist that she had to sneak around in order to go dancing with other teens in the ‘40s.

In 2014, my Grandmother took that even further, voting almost straight-ticket for Democrats. My mom and I took her to her polling station.

Here is grandmama in 2015. The photo to the left shows her wearing a pair of (my) slippers, which are a little too large for her. The photo to the right shows her either wearing my snuggie or donning her Mythic Dawn garb to go assassinate Uriel Septim VII. Either way, adorbs.

In 2016, everything about Trump chilled her to her bones. She was so excited to vote for Hillary, and that’s just what she did. Like most people in the country, she was mortified by the election’s results. She and I discussed politics, history, and the news constantly. We both used our sense of humor to cope with the nightmare that the world has become.

I don’t know whom she might support in the Primaries, though I will say that she has more than once brought up liking “that woman with a plan for everything.” I like Elizabeth Warren, too.

Unfortunately, during the first half of July of this year, Grandmama learned that she had thyroid cancer. She’s had strokes, heart attacks, open heart surgery, and is a breast cancer survivor.

This time looks different.

On Monday, my mother called me in the morning to let me know that she’d finally learned the diagnosis -- Grandmama didn’t want anyone to know at first. Even I, who spoke to her every day, didn’t get a direct answer for weeks. There are no good cancers to get, but anaplstic thyroid cancer is one of the worst. It appears that it has already spread beyond control.

There was a plan that she would receive immunotherapy (which looked promising in preliminary tests) and targeted radiation therapy. These were intended to improve her quality of life by preventing the tumor from cutting off her airway.

Today, Friday, my mom called to let me know that the hospital has determined that the radiation would be more likely to simply kill my grandmother than help. She’s not sure if Grandmama will be going back home or not. The plan was for me to visit next weekend, but it’s not clear if that is still viable or not.

So I’m heading out to see her this weekend. I am ... devastated.

#personal #cw cancer #long post

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fredyates1992 · 4 years

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What Is Reiki For Dogs Top Cool Ideas

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How To Do Reiki On Self

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What Is Reiki Meditation

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#What Is Reiki For Dogs Top Cool Ideas #Reiki Healing In Florida

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psychotherapyconsultants · 5 years

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12 Ways to Keep Going with Depression

About once a week I hear the same question from a reader, “What keeps you going?” The short answer is lots of things. I use a variety of tools to persevere through my struggle with depression because what works on one day doesn’t the next. I have to break some hours into 15-minute intervals and simply put one foot in front of another, doing the thing that is right in front of me and nothing else.

I write this post for the person who is experiencing debilitating symptoms of depression. The following are some things that help me fight for sanity and keep me going, when the gravity of my mood disorder threatens to stop all forward movement.

Find a good doctor and therapist.

I have tried to beat my depression without the help of mental health professionals and discovered just how life-threatening the illness can be. Not only do you need to get help, you need to get the RIGHT help.

A reporter once referred to me as the Depression Goldilocks of Annapolis because I have seen practically all of the psychiatrists in my town. Call me picky, but I am glad I didn’t stop my search after the third or fourth or fifth physician because I did not get better until I found the right one at Johns Hopkins Mood Disorders Center. If you have a severe, complicated mood disorder, it is worth going to a teaching hospital to get a consultation.

Be just as choosy with your therapist. I have sat on therapy couches on and off for 30 years, and while the cognitive behavioral exercises were helpful, I didn’t begin making real progress until I started working with my current therapist.

Rely on your faith — or some higher power.

When everything else has failed, my faith sustains me. In my hours of desperation, I will read from the Book of Psalms, listen to inspirational music, or simply yell at God. I look to the saints for courage and resolve since many of them have experienced dark nights of the soul — Teresa of Avila, John of the Cross, Mother Teresa. It is of great consolation to know that God knows each hair on my head and loves me unconditionally despite my imperfections, that He is with me in my anguish and confusion.

A substantial amount of research points to the benefits of faith to mitigate symptoms of depression. In a 2013 study, for example, researchers at McLean Hospital in Belmont, Massachusetts, found that belief in God was associated with better treatment outcomes.

Be kind and gentle with yourself.

The stigma attached to depression is still, unfortunately, very thick. Maybe you have one or two people in your life who can offer you the kind of compassion that you deserve. However, until the general public offers persons with mood disorders the same compassion that is conferred on people with breast cancer or any other socially acceptable illness, it is your job to be kind and gentle with yourself. Instead of pushing yourself harder and telling yourself it’s all in your head, you need to speak to yourself as a sensitive, fragile child with a painful wound that is invisible to the world. You need to put your arms around her and love her. Most importantly, you need to believe her suffering and give it validation. In her book Self-Compassion, Kristin Neff, Ph.D., documents some of the research that demonstrates that self-compassion is a powerful way to achieve emotional well-being.

Reduce your stress.

You don’t want to give into your depression, I get that. You want to do everything on your to-do list and part of tomorrow’s. But pushing yourself is going to worsen your condition. Saying no to responsibilities because your symptoms are flaring up isn’t a defeat. It is act of empowerment.

Stress mucks up all your biological systems, from your thyroid to your digestive tract, making you more vulnerable to mood swings. Rat studies show that stress reduces the brain’s ability to keep itself healthy. In particular, the hippocampus shrinks, impacting short-term memory and learning abilities. Try your best to minimize stress with deep-breathing exercises, muscle-relaxation meditations, and simply saying no to anything you don’t absolutely have to do.

Get regular sleep.

Businessman and author E. Joseph Cossman once said, “The best bridge between despair and hope is a good night’s sleep.” It is one of the most critical pieces to emotional resiliency. Practicing good sleep hygiene — going to bed at the same time at night and waking up at a regular hour — can be challenging for persons with depression because, according to J. Raymond DePaulo, Jr., M.D., co-director of the Johns Hopkins Mood Disorders Center, that’s when people often feel better. They want to stay up and write or listen to music or work. Do that too many nights, and your lack of sleep becomes the Brussels sprout on the floor of the produce aisle that you trip over. Before you know it, you’re on your back, incapable of doing much of anything.

Although pleasing our circadian rhythm — our body’s internal clock — can feel really boring, remember that consistent, regular sleep is one of the strongest allies in the fight against depression.

Serve others.

Five years ago, I read Man’s Search for Meaning by Holocaust survivor and Austrian psychiatrist Viktor Frankl and was profoundly moved by his message that suffering has meaning, especially when we can turn our pain into service of others.

Frankl’s “logotherapy” is based on the belief that human nature is motivated by the search for a life purpose. If we devote our time and energy toward finding and pursuing the ultimate meaning of our life, we are able to transcend some of our suffering. It doesn’t mean that we don’t feel it. However, the meaning holds our hurt in a context that gives us peace. His chapters expound on Friedrich Nietzsche’s words, “He who has a why can bear almost any how.” I have found this to be true in my life. When I turn my gaze outward, I see that suffering is universal, and that relieves some of the sting. The seeds of hope and healing are found in the shared experience of pain.

Look backwards.

Our perspective is, without doubt, skewed during a depressive episode. We view the world from a dark basement of human emotions, interpreting events through the lens of that experience. We are certain that we have always been depressed and are convinced that our future will be chock full of more misery. By looking backwards, I am reminded that my track record for getting through depressive episodes is 100 percent. Sometimes the symptoms didn’t wane for 18 months or more, but I did eventually make my way into the light. I call to mind all those times I persevered through difficulty and emerged to the other side. Sometimes I’ll take out old photos as proof that I wasn’t always sad and panicked.

Take a moment to recall the moments that you are most proud of, where you triumphed over obstacles. Because you will do it again. And then again.

Plan something fun.

Filling my calendar with meaningful events forces me to move forward when I’m stuck in a negative groove. It can be as simple as having coffee with a friend or calling my sister. Maybe it’s signing up for a pottery or cooking class.

If you’re feeling ambitious, plan an adventure that takes you out of your comfort zone. In May, I’m walking Camino de Santiago, or The Way of Saint James, a famous pilgrimage that stretches 778 kilometers from St. Jean Port de Pied in France to Santiago de Compostela in Spain. The anticipation of the trip has fueled me with energy and excitement during a hard stretch of my life.

You need not backpack through Europe, of course, to keep moving forward. Organizing a day trip to a museum or some local art exhibit could serve the same purpose. Just be sure to have something on your calendar other than therapy and work meetings.

Be in nature.

According to Elaine Aron, Ph.D., in her bestseller The Highly Sensitive Person, approximately 15 to 20 percent of the population is easily overwhelmed by loud noises, crowds, smells, bright lights, and other stimulation. These types have rich interior lives, but tend to feel things very deeply and absorb people’s emotions. Many people who struggle with chronic depression are highly sensitive. They need a pacifier. Nature serves that purpose.

The water and woods are mine. When I get overstimulated by this Chuck E. Cheese world of ours, I retreat to either the creek down the street or the hiking trail a few miles away. Among the gentle waves of the water or the strong oak trees in the woods, I touch ground and access a stillness that is needed to navigate difficult emotions. Even a few minutes a day provide a sense of calm that helps me to harness panic and depression when they arise.

Connect with other warriors.

Rarely can a person battle chronic depression on her own. She needs a tribe of fellow warriors on the frontline of sanity, remembering her that she is not alone and equipping her with insights with which to persevere.

Five years ago, I felt very discouraged by the lack of understanding and compassion associated with depression so I created two forums: Group Beyond Blue on Facebook and Project Hope & Beyond. I have been humbled by the level of intimacy formed between members of the group. There is power in shared experience. There is hope and healing in knowing we are in this together.

Laugh

You may think there’s nothing funny about your depression or wanting to die. After all, this is a serious, life-threatening condition. However, if you can manage to add a dose of levity to your situation, you’ll find that humor is one of the most powerful tools to fight off hopelessness. G.K. Chesterton once said, “Angels can fly because they take themselves lightly.” That’s what laughter does. It lightens the burden of suffering. That’s why nurses use comedy skits in small group sessions in inpatient psychiatric units as part of their healing efforts. Humor forces some much-needed space between you and your pain, providing you a truer perspective of your struggle.

Dance in the rain.

Vivian Greene once said, “Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass, it’s about learning to dance in the rain.”

When I was first diagnosed with depression, I was sure that the right medication or supplement or acupuncture session would cure my condition. Ten years ago, when nothing seemed to work, I shifted to a philosophy of managing my symptoms versus curing them. Although nothing substantial changed in my recovery, this new attitude made all the difference in the world. I was no longer stuck in the waiting room of my life. I was living to the fullest, as best I could. I was dancing in the rain.

References

Rosmarin, D.H., Bigda-Peyton, J.S., Kertz, S.J., Smith, N., Rauch, S.L., & Björgvinsson, T. (2013). A test of faith in God and treatment: The relationship of belief in God to psychiatric treatment outcomes. Journal of Affective Disorders, 146(3): 441-446. Retrieved from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S016503271200599X

Hildebrandt, S. (2012, February 6). How stress can cause depression [blog post]. Retrieved from http://sciencenordic.com/how-stress-can-cause-depression

Frankl, V.E. (1959). Man’s Search for Meaning. Cutchogue, NY: Buccaneer Books.

Aron, E. (1996). The Highly Sensitive Person. New York, NY: Carol Publishing.

from World of Psychology https://psychcentral.com/blog/12-ways-to-keep-going-with-depression/

#World of Psychology

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positivepsychologyinterventions · 5 years

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12 Ways to Keep Going with Depression

Find a good doctor and therapist.

Rely on your faith — or some higher power.

Be kind and gentle with yourself.

Reduce your stress.

Get regular sleep.

Serve others.

Look backwards.

Take a moment to recall the moments that you are most proud of, where you triumphed over obstacles. Because you will do it again. And then again.

Plan something fun.

Be in nature.

Connect with other warriors.

Laugh

Dance in the rain.

Vivian Greene once said, “Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass, it’s about learning to dance in the rain.”

References

Hildebrandt, S. (2012, February 6). How stress can cause depression [blog post]. Retrieved from http://bit.ly/1LsAHkN

Frankl, V.E. (1959). Man’s Search for Meaning. Cutchogue, NY: Buccaneer Books.

Aron, E. (1996). The Highly Sensitive Person. New York, NY: Carol Publishing.

from World of Psychology http://bit.ly/2GhAkfK via IFTTT

#IFTTT #World of Psychology

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lopezdorothy70-blog · 6 years

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Be the Storm: Cancer is NOT a Death Sentence!

Editor's note: The following post is by Barbara Gannon, who was featured as one of our Cancer Survivor stories in October 2017. You can find out more about Barb's healing from a diagnosis of terminal Stage 4 mesothelioma and Stage 2 breast cancer here and here.

G'Day TTACers,

So you feel you have been handed a bad deck of cards…

So “they” say it doesn't look good…

So it's scaring you half to death…

Can I give you some “Aussie style” heartfelt advice? It's time to “Toughen up, princess!

Does that sound harsh?

Maybe it is. Yet you know what? It's all done from a perspective of good and that is love!

Maybe you are feeling sorry for yourself: “why me, why now… why, why, why?”(By the way, you need to stop using the word “why.” Why does not resolve anything. You need to change your words!)

“But Barbara” (you say). “You just don't know about MY cancer journey. It's so different than yours (or anyone else's).”

STOP Right There!!!

Stop now, for goodness sake, and please watch what you say. Don't say it's “MY Cancer.” Because you keep saying “MY Cancer,” and guess what, it IS yours. You have taken ownership and it's becoming you.

It's absorbing your mind, your psyche, your body, your very essence. It's becoming the sole focus of your existence. That is not empowerment; that is becoming a victim. And as God says, that is one thing you are not.

Look, God wants you to stand up, be courageous, and put this disease in its correct place, where it deserves to be. You don't “own” a flu, a cold, or a broken arm, do you? Nor do you own cancer! And yes, I know fully well this is more than a cold.

Yet, your words speak volumes about where your state of mind is, or is not… Be the STORM!

So, are you getting angry yet? Good!

Make sure it's a righteous anger. The anger that makes you say “NO! No further!” The line in the sand is drawn… Cancer is NOT a Death Sentence, and by God I will prove it for his Glory! I am, and as many are also becoming (on a daily basis), a walking testimony to what God intended for us all – a happy, healthy life.”

A bit of Aussie “tough love”? Definitely! Will there be some who will get offended by my directness and matter of fact delivery? Most likely. Do I understand what you are going through? Yes, I believe I do.

Do I have the right to make these comments? Feel free to judge that for yourselves. I am still cancer free into my 3rd year since diagnosis, with NO CHEMO and NO RADIATION.

That's right, you read correctly. And not a case of “she did chemo then turned to natural therapies.” Nope, I did NONE of these. Please realize that my healing was achieved with ALL natural healing treatments and a huge change in diet from the very start.

Incidentally, I had a terminal diagnosis and was given 3 to 6 months to live (Mesothelioma, aka Asbestos cancer. There is NO cure for this type of cancer and it's pretty well a given that you die fast… and painfully).

That was 3 years ago. And guess what? I am still here! (I won't go into my story in detail here, but you can read about it in this previous TTAC post).

Most of us have arrived at The Truth About Cancer some way or another. Maybe we or a loved one have been touched by this horrible disease called cancer. But let's not beat around the bush, as the expression goes. It's time for us all to stand up and take back control over our bodies.

I wish I could stand right next to you to give you a great big hug, a pat on the back, or if required, a kick up the bum (whichever is needed the most). Regardless, Be the Storm! Think for yourselves and learn to ask informed questions.

Let me briefly explain…

After my ongoing journey was published as a Survivor Story on TTAC, I had a lot of inspiring “Go Girl” type comments and for that I give a heartfelt thanks. Other comments took my breath away; they were beautifully sad, yet inspiring. Others were written from a point of hurt, anger, definite absolute frustration, and denial.

For those of us who are broken, for those of us who are angry, let me empathize with you. I have been there and it's truly horrible. I understand that this is a scary place to be in right at this moment. I stand here beside you screaming “JUST DON'T GIVE UP!”

If handled in an informed, empowered way, this phase too shall pass. I stand here beside you to give you hope that cancer can be beaten. It is being beaten on a daily basis and with natural treatments. I say again, cancer is NOT a Death sentence. Be the Storm!

Becoming the Storm

Instead of commiserating…

Instead of calling this “My Disease” and owning it…

Instead of wanting to give up…

Why don't we do something completely different and very practical? Something so that you can take your power back and be informed with the ability to ask the right questions. The right questions lead to informed decisions about your own healing journey.

In other words, let's become the STORM!

If you're wondering by now what this “Storm” is that I keep talking about, it's from my last TTAC post where I wrote:

“I saw this on a Facebook meme, and I loved it so much it has become my go-to phrase just to remind me of who I am. I hope this quote help you too! (I loved this so much I even bought the t-shirt)!”

The Devil Whispered in My Ear “You're Not Strong Enough to Withstand the Storm” Today I Whispered in the Devil's Ear “I am a Child of God, a Woman of Faith, a Warrior of Christ… Devil… I AM THE STORM!”

Stop being the rain! The rain is blown whenever and wherever by the storm. In this context I think of the rain as doctors, family members, or friends with good intentions who don't support you in a positive manner while you are going through this fight for your life.

I am not saying that they are bad or evil. In many cases they are simply uneducated, or simply working from a place of fear.

I am also not telling you not to listen to them, but (and it's a huge but), if they do NOT support you, ask yourself this then: “Who is the Storm?”

Who has the control… you or them?

Do you listen blindly to everything they say, and do everything they want you to do without question? RISE UP people. Start asking questions. I want to encourage YOU to Be the Storm!

What do I actually mean by “Be the Storm”?

Storm is control. Take control back!

Don't be blown about. Take control back.

How do you do that practically? How do you cut through all the “noise”? How can you find out if what you've been told by “experts” (and I say that with caution) is correct?

It's quite simple really. And this is how I did it. YOU need a method of measurement to be able to compare “apples to apples.” If you can compare, you can measure. If you can measure, you now have control, and most importantly, if you have control you can change the relationship you have with your health professional.

Instead of being a “deer in the headlights,” you can now ask relevant and informed questions about your journey of getting better. Most importantly you need to be able to measure your results – simply and without fuss.

In a nutshell, you are no longer only relying on what a doctor says. Your doctor effectively then becomes your support, working with you on a more “consultative” basis. Your whole relationship dynamic changes with your doctor (if you so choose), measuring/monitoring your progress together with you. It becomes more of a teacher/student type relationship, instead of a doctor/patient relationship.

When you have the “measuring stick” it allows you to focus on your healing, by having the ability to measure your progress on a meaningful basis. YOU take back control, YOU are empowered, and (yes) YOU now become the Storm!

The Storm is your empowerment. In other words, it is the ability to measure your progress for yourself, and to ask informed questions to assist your healing process.

I bet you are asking “What is my measurement stick?”

Simple! I learned to understand my blood tests in a very simple and particular way related to the cancer that I had.

Now don't start freaking out on me and saying “but only my doctor can read test results.” Garbage, rubbish, and anything else you want to say. Always remember that you paid for these tests (or your insurance or healthcare service paid on your behalf).

You are entitled to ask for them, read them, and most importantly (if required) ask your doctors questions on the results of these tests.

Why You Need to Become the Expert

I encourage you to become an expert in reading and understanding, in particular, two (2) markers that show the inflammation and illness in your body.

Why? Inflammation markers basically show disease.

It sounds daunting but know this: it's not. I did it, and if a determined Aussie can do it, I'm sure as heck you can do it. It's truly empowering!

Side note: I have become so good at reading my results in a specific way I now use them as a measure to see if the Doc is any good. If I ask them certain questions (which I now know and understand the answers before I ask any questions), and if they don't, won't, or can't answer these “tester” questions… I FIRE them). Be the STORM… take control!

These two blood test markers are:

ESR (aka Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate). This test reveals inflammatory activity in your body. It's not a stand-alone diagnostic tool, but it can help your doctor diagnose or monitor the progress of an inflammatory disease response.

CRP (aka C-Reactive Protein). This test is a marker for inflammation in the body. CRP is produced in the liver and its level is measured by testing the blood. It is classified as an “acute” phase reactant, which means that its levels will rise in response to inflammation. Inflammation is the body's response to DISEASE. The higher the markers are, the higher your body is responding to inflammation caused by dis-ease!

A third test I also recommend is getting your vitamin D levels checked. In disease, you will find the vitamin D levels are usually very low, so you need to build these up as well.

How Do I Use These Blood Markers to Improve My Health?

These blood test results are your baseline measuring stick. Every time I went to see any specialist I ensured that I would have a new set of blood tests done prior to these meetings (you are in control, remember). You have to ensure that the correct blood tests are ordered. Normally your GP (family doctor) will order these for you, but you need to tell them that they need to cover the ESR and CRP markers and vitamin D.

Be prepared as many GPs don't like being told by their patients what they want. If your GP won't cooperate, then FIRE THEM and find a doctor who will help. At the end of the day, YOU are paying doctors/specialists etc. They are in your employ. As an employer you have the right to interview, hire, and fire.

Does this sound just too bold for you? Well, this is your life we're talking about, so repeat to yourself: “I AM the STORM!” You will have to be strong for your own sake.

Let's Recap…

Maybe you're so accustomed to troubling, stressful situations, etc., that you're continually braced for it; like sitting in a comfortable recliner and not being able to relax! It's time to stop worrying and start believing God's promises to you! You have not been brought this far to be abandoned. You just need to BECOME THE STORM, draw the line in the sand, and say NO FURTHER.

Remember and repeat: “Cancer is NOT a death sentence!”

Do you have a question you'd like to ask a cancer survivor? Post your question or topic you'd like covered in the Comments section down below. Try to make it one that is beneficial to many people (i.e. patients, caregivers, family), and not directly aimed at the type of cancer you're suffering through. Think about the one burning question that you would ask a cancer survivor if they were sitting in front of you.

If you are a fellow cancer survivor we also want to hear from you. Share some of your journey. What advice do others ask you for? What piece of wisdom would you share with a loved one who has been recently diagnosed? Please share in the Comments section below.

The post Be the Storm: Cancer is NOT a Death Sentence! appeared first on The Truth About Cancer.

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Even Gigi Hadid gets body-shamed — Here's why it needs to stop

yahoo

It’s pretty universally accepted that body-shaming isn’t OK, but unfortunately, people still do it — and sometimes in a very public way.

Gigi Hadid is the latest celebrity to speak out after being body-shamed, addressing people who claim she’s gotten “too skinny.” In a series of tweets on Sunday, Hadid answered people who have been calling her out for her weight, citing her battle with Hashimoto’s disease.

For those of you so determined to come up w why my body has changed over the years, you may not know that when I started @ 17 I was not yet diagnosed w/Hashimoto’s disease; those of u who called me “too big for the industry” were seeing inflammation & water retention due to that.