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Mental Health Awareness Month

Mental health is essential to everyone’s overall health and wellbeing, and mental illnesses are common and treatable. While 1 in 5 people will experience a mental illness during their lifetime, everyone faces challenges in life that can impact their mental health. Recognizing your feelings, finding the routines that lift you up, removing toxic influences and connecting with others can all help you on your path to recovery as you develop your own mental health tools.

Having Breast Cancer and Managing Mental Health:  It is important to be cognizant of mental health after diagnosis and during treatment. It is important to recognize that each woman’s journey is different and that being diagnosed with breast cancer can affect your mental health and that of your loved ones.

Some of the most common psychosocial concerns reported by women with breast cancer include:

  • Fear of recurrence,
  • Physical symptoms such as fatigue, trouble sleeping, or pain,
  • Body image disruption,
  • Sexual dysfunction,
  • Treatment-related anxieties,
  • Intrusive thoughts about illness/persistent anxiety,
  • Marital/partner communication,
  • Feelings of vulnerability, and
  • Existential concerns2 regarding mortality.

Managing mental health can make it challenging to do things that benefit your health, such as eating healthy foods, exercising, connecting with friends and family, and complying with medical treatment. However, the good news is that breast cancer and its emotional impact such as feelings of depression can lift over time, and the level of anxiety is likely to decrease.  However, it is important to note that if you feel anxious or depressed, ask your healthcare team for a referral to a mental health provider.  Taking care of your mental health should be a priority.

Join us for a series of virtual events designed to bring you practical tools to take action now towards a more balanced life!

Join us for a conversation on creating a healthy self care routine with Maimah Karmo and Esther Boykin

By taking care of yourself, you are encouraging a more empowered narrative, creating a life from a position of positive energy and creativity. The ripple effect of this type of action, no matter how small or large, positively impacts those closest to you on many levels.

Register Here

About Esther Boykin: In 2004 with Master of Science from Virginia Tech and a vision of making mental health widely accessible to all, Esther Boykin began her career as a marriage and family therapist. With her passion for therapy and relationships growing, Esther opened Group Therapy Associates a psychotherapy practice in the Washington, DC metro area.
Now, nearly 15 years later, GTA has grown to include multiple office locations and Esther has extended her reach to other projects to further her mission for healthy relationships and accessible modern mental health. As CEO of Group Therapy Associates, Esther launched Therapy Is Not A Dirty Word, which hosts events and retreats and is also engaged in philanthropic efforts with Sidewalk Talk and Black Love Industry Professional (BLIP). She also co-hosts With That Being Said, a podcast with Erica Turner, and is featured regularly as an expert on shows like Good Morning Washington and the Real Housewives of Potomac.

Join us for a conversation on finding peace in life’s storms and challenges with Patricia Fox

Life can present challenges that can sometimes feel disheartening. Spend some time with me as I share mindful meditation that will assist you with balancing your energy in times of chaos.

About Patricia Fox: Patricia Fox, also know as The Pink Sistah, is a young breast cancer survivor diagnosed in 2013 at 26 years old. Today she is a cancer advocate for young adults affected by dis-ease, offering beauty inspiration and wellness information.

About Mike Fanelli and Tanya Walker: Mike Fanelli and Tanya Walker are the Founder of the Alive and Thrive Movement. We know what it’s like to lack fulfillment and to experience feelings of inadequacy, guilt, anger and rejection that result in relationship breakdown. Something we both strongly identify with. If you are feeling misunderstood, disconnected and desire relationships/connections you are 100% in the right place. Our approach will transform how you attract others by meeting yourself in ways you never have. What is the best way to get what you want?  Be exactly who YOU are looking for!Invest in the most important person in your life – YOU.

Join us for a conversation on supporting cancer patients to live life now with Maimah Karmo and Angela ‘Jersi’ Baker

Most women experience at least some psychosocial distress during the course of their breast cancer diagnosis and treatment. The level of distress varies from woman to woman and, within an individual, over the course of diagnosis and treatment. Angela ‘Jersi’ Baker, Founder of Angel in Disguise, serves to support people battling cancer, affectionately called V.I.D.A.S. (Victorious, Inspired, Delicate, Angel, Survivor) with tasks they are unable to complete alone. They focus on breast cancer survivors and their families, helping them adjust to lifestyle changes and maintain hope so they can ‘live life now’.

About Angela Jersi Baker: Angel in Disguise was founded in 2015 by Angela Baker, a three-time breast cancer survivor who is currently living her life to the fullest with stage IV metastatic breast cancer. After her third diagnosis, Angela decided it was time to leave her job to focus on her health and helping other people. Soon after, she received a call from another woman fighting breast cancer asking for a ride to the doctor. She needed someone to not only to drive her but support her through the difficult treatments. Angela knew the hardships of fighting cancer and was there for her. She started handing out business cards at cancer institutes and receiving more calls from patients who needed transportation. It was then that Angela realized her passion for supporting and inspiring other cancer patients throughout their journey. She founded a 501(c)3 organization entitled Angel in Disguise Inc. to provide transportation and support to breast cancer patients in Charlotte, NC. There is an enormous barrier and racial disparity in health care, making it difficult for certain cancer patients to gain access to quality care and transportation. Angel in Disguise is bridging that gap. In 2018, AID helped eliminate the transportation barrier in Mecklenburg and Cabbarus county by providing 2,822 complimentary transportation miles and 180 waiting hours to cancer patients in need. So far in 2019, AID has driven 1,276 miles and provided 116 volunteer hours to underserved and underinsured cancer patients. Most patients are driven by Angela herself, a STAGE 4 Metastatic breast cancer patient.

Brought to you by the Pure Cat Initiative:

Tigerlily Foundation’s Pure Cat Initiative was launched in honor of Catherine Odderstol, a sassy yogi, who danced through life, spread light and joy with everyone she met, and who left us the gift of her eternal gypsy soul.  Cat was dedicated to helping others have a mind, body, spirit approach to health and wellness.  Cat has inspired us to honor her SPIRIT legacy, by offering patients, caregivers and loved ones access to programs that inspire them to light up life, focus on faith not fear, and as she loved to say, “Let Love be Your Frequency”.   

Click Here For Our Pure Cat Schedule

“Let Love Be Your Frequency”


Managing your New Normal with these Social Distancing Ideas

Hey ANGELS, it’s Patricia Fox, the Pink Sistah. This is a care check to see how you all are coping with COVID-19 and social distancing.

In addition to social distancing and curfews, I have been made aware that even more precautions have been implemented for some ANGELS overcoming the dis-ease called cancer. According to a letter I got from my oncologist on MyChart, visitors are restricted from accompanying us during our recovery in hospitals and even while in treatment. This has been initiated to reduce risk of those with compromised immune systems from being infected by the virus.

Young Survival Coalition – Breast Cancer Is – Philadelphia – July 2019

However, us ANGELS know all about new normals, be it temporary or life long. We are tenacious and resilient, and this temporary new set of changes is no different. Here are a few ideas to try while living through social distancing.

Stay Connected! Although social distancing is suggested to be 6 feet from each other, and there is a strong urge to stay indoors, we can still connect with friends and loved ones intimately. We now have the time to call the distant relative we’ve had good intentions on calling for some time now. Video chatting, via Facetime or Facebook Messenger, is another way to connect with loved ones and not feel so isolated – be it at home or in treatment. Also, try virtual support groups to remain engaged and in connection with others. 

Read! Now is the time to catch up on some good reads, or begin a new book. It is especially helpful to choose a read that is empowering or nurtures your spirit and imagination with positivity. You can also connect with others by reading. Creating book challenges and planning group discussions is a way to encourage connection with others.

Do Something New! The busyness of life often has us to forget projects we left unfinished, or plans we mapped and never began. We may even have talents patiently waiting within us to be explored. We now have the time to finish or begin, and discover or sharpen these endless possibilities. Is there a book you wanted to write or a painting waiting? Or maybe even a business plan that turns from side hustle to success never before imagined? With this time, we can afford to explore all the above and more!

Beauty time! As an ANGEL who loves beauty,  I must share that now is the time to get into all things beauty. Be it browsing the Sephora App to view the latest trends or using their Virtual Artist, to watching product reviews and tutorials – now is the time. It’s time to sort your good makeup from your expired products. Take inventory of what’s missing in your beauty routine, or what you’d like to try that’s new. Most importantly, clean your tools! So brushes, beauty blenders, mask spatulas and whatever else you may have in your beauty arsenal.

Be Present! My best recommendation is to remain present. The virus is not something we can control, nor the laws to follow. However, we can choose to remain present where we are. In this exact moment. That we are still living, breathing, safe, warm, clean are only a few things to consider to keep us grounded. Give thanks for every activity of the day. Preparing dinner? Give thanks for this moment. Resting? Give thanks for this moment. Taking a moment to read this blog? Give thanks for this moment. Gratitude will help fade out worry. This mindfulness of appreciation for all things in the moment will help keep us present. We are blessed!

This is temporary, ANGELS! In the meantime, be well, be encouraged and encourage someone.

Written by Patricia Fox, Tigerlily ANGEL Advocate

Coping with MBC during the Covid-19 Pandemic

As I enter the second week of the corona virus/covid-19, the world around me is growing more isolated by the day. I am a 42 year old MBC patient in active treatment. When I started this life-saving treatment I knew all of the side-effects that came with chemotherapy. It seemed like the risks were worth it to remain alive. Most cancer patients have to learn to be ok with being at risk for all kinds things. Being immune compromised is the first thing we are told about and have to learn to manage all interactions with the outside world. Any germ or cold that is mild in the population can be severe or deadly to cancer patients.

So here I am in the midst of balancing my desire to be normal with the additional constraints COVID-19 has placed on my life and trying not to go crazy inside my house. The spring and summer are my peak times to be outside; I get so much joy in the sun and any activity that gets me out the house. Being inside my house 22 hours a day is getting old already. My normal has been to workout a minimum of three times a week. I love the gym; I can lose myself in pushing my body to its physical limits. I can’t control my diagnosis but I sure can control the weights or cardio equipment.

As more information was given about the transmission of COVID-19 and the at risk populations were identified, I had to heed common sense, medical professionals and the advice of friends. I decided to practice social distancing which majorly disrupted my gym routine. I started working out every other day as was my routine but as each day passed I was getting more anxious and restless. I tried to watch TV or read but I just couldn’t focus. Working out usually brings me so much joy that I thought “hmm… workout more”. Every other day workouts became daily workouts sometime twice a day workouts. Finally, I started to feel better.

Studies do show that being physically active helps to mitigate some of the side effects of treatment and I have found this to be true for me both during my early stage diagnosis and now as an MBC patient. Every person is different so please check with your physician before starting any workout plan. Another benefit of working out is that it also releases endorphins in the body. Endorphins are hormones that relieve stress and pain. I don’t know about you but I will take all the natural happiness I can get.

While it’s still early in the Covid-19 pandemic, making sure I incorporate some type of physical activity every day is the best coping mechanism for me. Be safe and WASH YOUR HANDS!!!

Written by Chawnte’ Randall, Tigerlily MBC Disparities ANGEL Advocate

#StayHome with Shonte Drakeford, MBC ANGEL Advocate

During this time of uncertainty with the current COVID-19 outbreak, we want to remind you that we at Tigerlily Foundation care about you and your families physical, emotional, mental and spiritual health. Our goal is to offer you information, virtually, that will help you better understand breast cancer, to know rights as a patient and to learn how to get more involved in using you time and voices to make an impact.

As a breast cancer patient, you are among those who are at high risk of serious illness from COVID-19 because your immune system may have been weakened by cancer and its treatments such as immunotherapy and chemotherapy. Further, as a metastatic breast cancer patient whose cancer has spread to the lungs, you can experience significant complications with COVID-19, as this will be an additional stress for your already vulnerable lung.

Another way the COVID-19 pandemic may impact you is that some hospitals and healthcare facilities are delaying or cancelling procedures that are not urgent, emergencies or life-threatening. As such, your cancer screening, surgery or treatment may be rescheduled or delayed. If this is happening to you, know that you are not alone. Speak with your healthcare team about the best way to proceed with your care in this challenging situation.

We are proud of our ANGEL Advocates who are leading through example as we mobilize nationally and globally to #StayHome. MBC ANGEL Advocate Shonte Drakeford took the time to share how she is moving through this COVID.

Here is what she is up to:

Doing virtual workouts with my trainer, cleaning the house, playing with my dogs, tackling tasks I need to complete, chatting with all my friends on Marco Polo app. Gardening about to build my grow beds, spending time with my chickens, eating!!! Walking outside because it’s getting warmer now, playing video games, binging TV shows, listening to music!! Maybe this weekend I’ll clean my car. Oh so many things.

I am a Nurse Practitioner so I am working but since I’m high risk I’m doing telemedicine, I have treatment in two weeks so we shall see how that goes.

All besides freaking out, I’m informed and sane. Can’t worry about things I cannot control…just like the Cancer I have. Still enjoying my life, just another modification to which how’s it done.

-MBC ANGEL Advocate Shonte Drakeford

We encourage our breast cancer community to #StayHome and to only go out for essentials, or if available have a caregiver help with buying groceries, picking up medicine and other essential goods.

Currently, there are no specific precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19 among people with cancer or their caregivers. However, to avoid being exposed to the coronavirus, it is recommended that everyone:

· Avoid close contact with people who are sick.

· Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.

· Stay home and practice social distancing.

· Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.

· Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.

· Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) has the latest information on the coronavirus on their website.

COVID-19 and what to know as a Breast Cancer Thriver

COVID-19, the new version of corona virus, is one of the most serious problems of human’s life. There is no doubt that all people read and hear the news about this dangerous virus. Researchers believe that all people can get sick with mentioned virus but people who are older (particularly over 70) and people with underlying health conditions, such as chronic lung disease, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic kidney disease and cancer are at higher risk for being sick.

According to the reports of Dr. Steve Pergam who is a clinical and infectious
disease researcher at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, patients with hematologic malignancies and patients who are in active chemotherapy and bone marrow transplant patients have the biggest risk because their immune system is not strong enough . Therefore people who suffer from blood malignancies such as non-Hodgkin lymphoma, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, acute myeloid leukemia, acute lymphoblastic leukemia and multiple myeloma, also patients who participate in an active treatment; surgery, radiation, chemotherapy and other treatments such
as immunotherapies need to be more aware and cautious.

In one hand, there is not a definite way for checking the level of immune
suppression and it is crystal clear that being in active chemotherapy, having low white-cell or low lymphocyte counts and taking immune-suppressive agents leads to immune deficits which cause to expand the probability of infection. On the other hand eight hours of sleep a night, exercise, getting good nutrition which means; balanced diet, eating fruits and vegetables can recharge the immune system.

Since the immune system is the most convincing way to fight with virus, many questions about this subject come to our mind. To clarify, many patients with breast cancer history wanted to know that whether Hormonal therapies can weaken the immune system. Dr H Burstein answered this question. He believes that Hormonal therapies do not have a negative effect on patient’s immune system, however, IV chemotherapy, CDK4/6 inhibitors palbociclib, ribociclib, abemaciclib), everolimus, alpelisib, chronic use of steroids affect the vulnerability to infection.

Patients with cancer history must protect themselves and if they have corona virus symptoms call your provider so they can help you and give you guidelines to make a better decision about your condition. Moreover it is really important when there is someone in your family who has symptoms it is more logical to use some social distancing. Using public transportation and participating in events is not recommended as the risk of being sick with covid-19 is higher when you are in public places.

Written by Negar Pourzadi, Tigerlily Foundation Volunteer

Fertility Preservation – Reproductive Options In The Face Of Cancer

Oncofertility is a relatively new term defined by Merriam-Webster as “a field of medicine concerned with minimizing the negative effects of cancer treatment (such as chemotherapy or radiation) on the reproductive system and fertility and with assisting individuals with reproductive impairments resulting from cancer therapy”. This includes freezing eggs, sperm, or embryos as well as the use of donor eggs or sperm following cancer treatment. Fertility preservation can help take a little pressure off and allow the patient to focus on the emotional and physical goal of getting well without having to worry about the impact on their future fertility.

Patients facing the devastating diagnosis of cancer are often missing crucial information about their reproductive options. Early detection and improved treatments allow cancer patients to live longer, fuller lives and consider quality of life issues including reproductive potential and family building. Many survivors are still in their child-bearing years and some might not have families yet or even be married but are facing treatments that might not allow them to take that journey. This is why it is vital for healthcare professionals to raise patient awareness of fertility preservation and if it is right for them so they have the chance for their own biological children once they’ve beaten their cancer diagnosis. While there are no guarantees, advances in reproductive technology have made it possible for women to preserve their fertility who do not have a partner or who simply prefer not to freeze embryos for personal reasons.

With proper education and understanding, fertility preservation is a valid option for women about to undergo treatments that may affect future fertility. Anyone interested in maintaining reproductive autonomy should have direct access to be counseled about their options and offered treatment if deemed appropriate. Choosing what reproductive options a woman wants for herself offers hope and a tiny semblance of control in a situation they otherwise have absolutely no control over. The key is strong and efficient communication between all healthcare providers to ensure the proper timing is available and there are no contraindications for fertility preservation in conjunction with vital, life-saving treatment.

Why Is Time So Important?

Unfortunately, patients with a cancer diagnosis don’t have the luxury of time, which is the most critical factor in seeking fertility preservation information. The entire medical care team needs to be on the same page about treatment but the sooner a patient speaks with a reproductive endocrinologist, the better. Both egg and embryo freezing are dependent upon the menstrual cycle for the timing to optimize response and there is typically only enough time for one chance before urgent cancer treatments must begin. If a cycle is missed and the patient has to wait a month, they may not have the time they need to complete a fertility preservation cycle.

Sometimes it’s not the treatment, but time itself that has the most effect on fertility. For example, a woman with breast cancer who undergoes surgery, chemotherapy, and follows with oral medication management for 5 – 10 years will have the effects of time on their fertility, in addition to any damage the cancer treatments may cause to their reproductive potential.

How It’s Done (in a nutshell)

Fertility preservation is the same process as an IVF cycle with the eggs or embryos being frozen following retrieval. It is not efficient to retrieve just one egg which is what matures in a typical monthly menstrual cycle. Ideally beginning on day 2 of the menstrual cycle, subcutaneous injections of fertility medications are taken for an average of 8 – 12 days to stimulate multiple follicles to grow and mature in the ovaries. The results are monitored closely with blood work to check hormone levels and transvaginal ultrasound to assess follicle growth. When the follicle sizes and hormone levels are appropriate, the egg retrieval is scheduled. The retrieval usually takes less than 30 minutes, not even enough time to get a pedicure. Overall, a cycle of fertility preservation can be completed in just 10 – 14 days from the time the cycle is initiated. Then the patient can be on their way to life-saving medical treatments knowing that their eggs or embryos are safe and sound until they’ve conquered their diagnosis and are ready to focus on growing their family. *Note: If elevated Estrogen levels are a concern, medication protocols are available to address this and proceed with treatment.

Biggest Regret: Not Knowing

One of the biggest regrets following a cancer diagnosis with successful treatment and remission – No one wants to say, “I wish I had known…” Information is power and in this stressful and overwhelming situation, giving someone the power to choose what they want for their reproductive future is priceless.

Questions to Ask

1.Is your oncologist and/or surgeon okay with you proceeding with a cycle of fertility preservation?

2. Is there a dedicated team just for fertility preservation care at the fertility clinic?

3. Are there clinic restrictions on cycle dates for monitoring and retrieval that may interfere with your treatment timing?

4. Does the clinic offer special pricing or programs for fertility preservation for medical reasons?

5. Is egg/embryo storage included in your cycle fee as it may be a while before you consider future family planning?

6. Is the clinic aware of any programs you qualify for with medication assistance?

7. What is the embryology lab’s experience of freezing and warming eggs (including statistics)?

As the field of oncofertility continues to evolve, oncologists, surgeons, and fertility specialists need to work together to provide the safest, most appropriate fertility treatment options available to their patients. Even if they don’t move forward with treatment, it is invaluable to have the information about how the cancer treatments and time, in general, may affect their future fertility potential so they can make an informed choice of what’s best for them.

Written By Lauren Haring, Founder of Embrace Fertility

Click here to learn more about Embrace Fertility’s Treatment Partner Program if you’re in this overwhelming situation and want someone with you every step of the way.

Movement vs. Exercise – An Important Distinction (4 of 4)

I’ve had a blast sharing my story with all of you so far! I feel lighter, happier, and super inspired – I hope this energy is rubbing off on you too! In previous blogs, I talked about the importance of addressing the mental/emotional piece of cancer recovery as well as the physical piece through sound nutrition. If you haven’t read those yet I encourage you to go check them out! There is another aspect to recovery that proved to be really helpful to me and so many of my clients and that is… moving your body! Yep, that hot bod of yours needs to move girl! Helping you find the right type of movement and cultivating a daily movement practice is something I’m deeply passionate about. Daily movement has so many profound health benefits that extend far beyond breast cancer, but since we’re all breasties here, I’ll focus on how moving our bodies daily can help reduce stress and inflammation during treatment and recovery.

Back in blog 2 when I talked about body image, I shared how pre-cancer I used to exercise excessively. I had my rigorous 6 day/week routine and I would mentally beat myself up if I was too tired and missed a day. Keep in mind though, that at that point in my life I was living in a lot of emotional pain and had a very distorted relationship with my body. Getting breast cancer at 26 was a huge wakeup call in all areas of my life and the message rang loud and clear – SLOW DOWN!

I still exercised during my treatment, but instead of a rigorous 6 day/week regimen, I would go for slow walks, lift very light weights, or go for a gentle ride on a stationary bike. And on days that I was too tired, I didn’t beat myself up and make myself wrong for this. Instead, I rested and maybe ran an errand and considered that my daily movement for the day.

Slowing down this much felt AMAZING. By slowing down, I had MORE energy and I became very intrigued by yoga. I decided to try a class and I was hooked!  Four years later… still hooked! I realized how much I needed to slow down and when I tuned in and honoured that need, so much shifted for me. Being on my yoga mat, I reconnected to myself and to my body. I realized that for as long as I could remember, I was viewing myself (Lauren the person) and my body as two separate entities. Underneath any cancer diagnosis – but especially breast cancer at a young age – there is a disconnect between our mind, our body, and our highest self. The mind has subconsciously rejected a part of us and this creates a massive disconnect in the mind-body connection. Yoga helped me reconnect my mind and body as one beautiful being. In doing, so it helped me heal in a profound way – it enabled me to show up as my best self in the world. Now, I live my life in gratitude and service and I want nothing more than other survivors to experience this reconnection to themselves. It’s like returning home.

So, clearly I’m on team yoga! LOL. And I really do encourage everyone to try a class if you haven’t before. Honestly though, any type of movement that brings you joy is the best type of movement for you. The most important thing is to honour where you’re at and don’t over extend yourself.

I strongly encourage daily movement as part of my practice with my clients because moving our bodies has profound health benefits that can help you recover during treatment and provide more vitality and longevity in life after breast cancer. There are several reasons for this but the main one is that when we move, we release hormones that send signals throughout our bodies that bring down inflammation. Cancer is an inflammatory disease, so anything we can do that’s anti-inflammatory is encouraged. Second, its been proven time and time again that movement is a way to bring down stress levels. When we move, we change both our physical and mental states. This releases endorphins and other hormones that bring down inflammation and stress markers in our bodies. Another huge benefit to movement for cancer prevention is that moving helps to balance blood sugar. You may not know this, but most cancers are fuelled by sugar – so much so that breast cancer cells can have 10 times more insulin receptors on them than normal, healthy breast cells. As such, balancing blood sugar and preventing large spikes and crashes is a major part of a breast cancer recovery plan. When we move, hormones that help keep blood sugar stable are released and this helps to prevent those harmful spikes and crashes. Blood sugar is also largely controlled by what/how/when we eat – nutrition plays a huge role here too!

Please note that I refer to this as developing a daily movement practice, not an exercise practice. This is an important distinction. There are some days where I am so exhausted, there’s no way I’m going to make it through the day and go to a yoga class. On days like that, I’ll run a couple errands and park my car as far from the entrance as I can and those extra steps really do add up. I want to illustrate that on days where the fatigue is intense and overwhelming, running errands is pushing yourself to your max for that day. It doesn’t mean you didn’t do a hard workout – you did the hardest thing you could at that particular time. Of course at the gym or yoga you may have moved a little more, but doing that type of movement would have overextended you, and trust me, you don’t want to do that because it will just make the fatigue worse. By saying no to the gym/yoga or whatever it is, you honoured where you were at. And friends, let me tell you – honouring where you’re at is a very powerful act of self love. The days that are full of fatigue, stress, and overwhelm… they will always be there because, well, life happens. I’ll be honest – last week I was SO tired. I had clients back to back all morning, meetings in the afternoon, and I felt overwhelmed and didn’t want to go to yoga. So instead I went to Costco, parked at the back and one hour and 4,000 steps later, I finished an errand I had been putting off (I dread going to Costco. There’s too many people and I spend too much money! LOL). I moved my body to my body’s max for that day, anymore than going to Costco would have been overdoing it. When you shift your thinking from “exercise” to “movement”, it makes the idea of developing a daily practice much more manageable and attainable.

I hope that learning some of the health benefits to moving your body daily inspires you to move a little bit more! For me, the movement activities that bring me joy are yoga and walking but I recently started taking dance classes – I’m horrible at this but it’s so much fun! I encourage you to try a new activity or go for a short walk. Just remember that there’s no wrong way to move and every step counts.

I’d love to connect with you outside of this blog! If you have questions, comments, or want to hear more from me, connect with me on Instagram @Nutritious_Delicious_life, on facebook Nutritious Delicious Life, or through my website www.nutritiousdeliciouslife.com. Thank you for reading and I hope you walk away feeling inspired and empowered.

Until next time!

Written by: Lauren, Tigerlily ANGEL Advocate

Using Food to Live Your Most Nutritious, Delicious Life! (3 of 4)

In my blog post last week, I opened up about how breast cancer treatment and recovery helped me heal a distorted relationship with my body. Recovery is about so much more than physical health; addressing the emotional wounds underneath the cancer diagnosis is just as important when creating a holistic breast cancer prevention plan. Last week, I shared my deep emotional wounds that led in part to my own diagnosis and how being faced with cancer treatment helped me acknowledge some hard truths and make radical changes in my life. I hope that post resonated with you and if you haven’t had a chance to read it, I encourage you to go check it out! This week, I want to switch gears and focus on the physical body and address the role of nutrition in recovery. Now that I’m a holistic nutritionist, nutrition is quite possibly my favourite topic of conversation!

I learned about natural medicine when I was going through my radiation treatments and I began working with a wonderful naturopathic doctor who specialized in oncology. Immediately after working together, my energy level improved and I felt like I regained some control over my life.  I absolutely loved seeing my naturopath, but I wanted to do more for myself in between our visits. I wanted to do more to take my power back and feel in control of my health, body, and life. So, I started to read voraciously; I immersed myself into books, medical journals, articles – anything I could get my hands on. The more I learned, the more I realized there was so much more to learn! I was frustrated that this life-changing information wasn’t easily accessible to the women who needed it most and I felt called to teach what I was learning to others. So, I left my career in accounting and enrolled in holistic school and never looked back!

My main goal in nutrition school was to learn what and how to eat to nourish and support my body and make it a place where cancer couldn’t survive. What I love about nutrition is that everyone can intuitively see and understand that what you eat affects your overall health and how you feel. We’ve all overeaten at a holiday meal and felt bloated afterward, we’ve all eaten something super sugary and had an energy crash a few hours later, and we’ve all missed a meal and felt that hanger and made poor eating choices. But, by the same token, we’ve also felt what it’s like to have energy, focus, and clarity when we eat well and get enough rest. We can all connect rather easily what we eat to how we feel and to our overall health. This is what empowered me to keep learning everything I could so that I could continually make my body a place where cancer couldn’t thrive and I could live without fear of recurrence. I showed up for myself everyday in the kitchen and I took my power back!

How I eat now is totally different than how I ate when I was first starting making nutritional changes. Like most things in life, this change was a process. I initially transitioned to eating a whole food/plant based vegan approach and I felt amazing eating this way! After eating this way for a couple years, I still felt great but I felt like I had only scratched the surface. When I went to nutrition school, I learned so much more about how foods react with and get processed in our bodies. I learned that we are all biochemically unique. As such, there’s no “right way” to eat to prevent a breast cancer recurrence, because each of us has our own unique body constitution that requires different nutrients in varying amounts in order to thrive. In school, we learned a lot about ancient healing modalities and one in particular that resonated with me was called Ayurvedic medicine which is the oldest form of medicine and it originated in India. According to Ayurvedic principles, I discovered that I have a body constitution that actually needs animal protein to be at my optimal level of health. I started incorporating some animal protein back into my diet and I immediately began to thrive in a way I never had before. When we eat in a way that is aligned with our highest selves – magic happens!

The point I really want to make here is this: there is absolutely no single right way to eat to prevent a breast cancer recurrence. If there was, we’d all be doing it and that information would be widely accessible and we’d all know about it! The reason why there is a ton of research supporting the anti-cancer benefits of a whole food plant based vegan approach, and a ton of research supporting the use of a ketogenic diet, and a ton of research supporting everything in between is because each of those approaches has worked for someone because we’re all different!

I know, it’s super frustrating right! We just want to know what to do so we can live our best lives and the information can be SO confusing! This is where the advice of a nutrition expert comes into play. The whole purpose of my job is to find the best way for you to eat. I help the women I work with identify the way to eat that is going to make them feel energized, alive, safe, and supported in her body. For me, this looks like a whole food paleo approach. I have clients that thrive on whole food plant based vegan, I also have clients that thrive on the keto diet. It really all depends on the person. My job is to ask the right questions and guide you to eat in a way that is going to serve your highest self and help you show up as the best version of you – for yourself and for your loved ones.

There are some commonalities among any beneficial anti-cancer nutrition plan. The goal of any plan should be to bring down inflammation, reduce acidity, boost immunity, and balance blood sugar. When any of these things are out of balance, it creates an internal environment where cancer can grow and spread. Regardless of whatever nutrition plan you choose to follow, all sound anti cancer nutrition plans will include copious amounts of vegetables (especially dark leafy greens), will avoid dairy, gluten, and processed foods, will reduce sugar intake, avoid processed meats, and be as whole and organic as possible.

What we eat is so important because it sets the foundation for our internal environment. When our internal environments are functioning optimally, it takes the stress off of our immune system and liver so we can fight off cancer cells and detox more effectively. Whether you are actively in treatment or well into thrivership, proper nutrition is essential. It really is the foundation of good health and preventive medicine. During treatment, the right nutrition plan can help alleviate side effects and boost the effectiveness of conventional treatment. After treatment, the right nutrition plan is an integral and essential part in recovery and thrivership. In both my own life and those of my clients, I use nutrition to help get your energy back, manage stress, balance hormones, adjust to life after cancer, and live your best life!

If you are confused about what to eat and would like support in this area, I encourage you to reach out to me. Changing the way I ate had the most powerful and profound impact on my overall health and wellbeing after breast cancer. It provided me with an outlet to take care of myself, show up for myself, and take my power back. I want nothing more in this world other than for you to reclaim your health, vitality, and live your best life after cancer. I absolutely love what I do, and it would be an honour and privilege to be a part of your healing journey.

I’d love to connect with you outside of this blog! If you have questions, comments, or want to hear more from me, connect with me on Instagram @Nutritious_Delicious_life, on facebook Nutritious Delicious Life, or through my website www.nutritiousdeliciouslife.com. Thank you for reading and I hope you walk away feeling inspired and empowered.

Until next time!

Written by: Lauren, Tigerlily ANGEL Advocate

Digging Deep – 2 of 4

Why me?

When I stop to think of my life and how it seemed at the time of diagnosis I can identify areas where I was unhappy or unsatisfied. I can admit that I was a people pleaser and the “importance” of self-nurturing was at the tail end of this alleged priority list of life. So I know that I was already in a place of questioning my beliefs, curious about the values I held on to and wondering how I could shift things a bit to make improvements. But what if that’s not the case? What if you’re happy with your life, content with the routine and relationships, going about your business and a diagnosis comes seemingly out of nowhere?
Then what?

Well, I think something like cancer is one of those occasions in life that forces us to look candidly in the mirror. Can we see our way from outside in? How does the reflection make us feel? If the inside of us were visible on the outside of us for all to witness, what would that image include? Cancer was an opportunity for me to stretch myself beyond what I knew, outside of what was comfortable. Was I really fulfilled in that friendship? Had I reached my full career potential? Were my spiritual beliefs based on someone else’s learnings or was the conviction strong enough on my own? Did I know enough about other people, cultures, beliefs to have a well-rounded perspective or was I afraid of what I didn’t know? Were the plans or goals I had for my life based on my own authentic view of who I was and what I wanted or did I easily buy into societal pressures without question? At any given point I seemed to have had more questions than answers and so I kept asking.

I continued to dig deep to explore what possible answers were hidden within ME. I participated in a healing journey workshop series offered at a cancer support centre near home and was fully engaged in the practice, the reading and the discussions. I continued reading books that weren’t previously on my reading list, I engaged in conversations with friends who could support my curiosity, and really I just sat with it. I sat with the “junk” of questions in my head, the emotions of all these new unknowns, the uncertainty of what was meant for my life and the wonder of how I would ever feel like ME again.

It certainly has become a lifelong experience. Along the way, I made decisions about my body that would change my “plan” to have children, I was drawn more to spirituality than to the religion I had been raised knowing, I let go of friendships I thought I wanted, that I longed for during treatment, and tried to embrace some solitude. I engaged in the practices of meditation, journaling, reiki that more and more become the “remedies” I turn to when I’m feeling off balance. I continue to be curious and seek to explore answers in conversations, in reading and really just listening to myself I think the gift of curiosity, the gift of question and conversation, the gift of learning, and shifting perspective is meant to be explored.

So why not now?

Written by: Lucy Santoro, Tigerlily ANGEL Advocate

Learning to Love Your Body as Part of Recovery – 2 of 4

Thank you all so much for following along as I share my story here with the Tigerlily family. It’s such an honor to be affiliated with this organization whose mission is to educate, empower, and support women as they journey through breast cancer treatment and to live their best life going forward. By sharing my story, I hope to inspire and empower you to do exactly that. This requires me to step out of my comfort zone and to be brave and vulnerable as I talk about difficult topics like body image and body acceptance. One of my favorite authors and speakers – Brené Brown – often speaks about courage and vulnerability and how one cannot exist without the other. I couldn’t agree more with this symbiotic ideology and when you think about it and apply it to cancer, it couldn’t be more true. We have no choice but to be brave as we are thrust into unknown territory and this fear of the unknown makes us feel vulnerable. But we rise to the occasion. We fight. We stay strong for ourselves and our loved ones. We put on a brave face and walk with courage into treatment sessions but feel vulnerable at the same time. Being vulnerable truly is a courageous act. I’m going to be vulnerable and share some very personal things in this blog post, and although I’m scared to be so vulnerable, I know sharing it will be cathartic.

I can say with 100% certainty that losing my hair left me feeling the most vulnerable I have ever been. Losing it left me feeling powerless, empty, and bare. But, in some strange way, losing my hair was the best thing that ever happened to me. When I lost my hair, I also lost my self-doubt, negative self image, and my insecurities. I gained perspective, self- confidence, and a whole lot of self- love. Breast cancer recovery is about so much more than physical health and our emotional wellbeing doesn’t get enough attention. For me personally and in my coaching practice with my clients, I’m discovering more and more that body image and body acceptance are key pieces of the puzzle that’s overlooked by the medical system. I used to struggle with my body image and talking about that struggle to such a large audience is something that still terrifies me.  It’s a risk I’m willing to take because I know that my story will resonate with so many of you reading it and I choose to own the vulnerability, act with courage, and share my story.

If you’re wondering how a woman could possibly think losing her hair was the best thing that ever happened to her… let me back up a bit and give you some context. I grew up with very thick, frizzy hair, that could not be tamed. Do you remember when the Con-Air straightener was brand new? That thing could not handle my hair at all! My grade 9 yearbook picture was seriously 90% hair, 10% face! I compared myself to my friends and classmates and I felt embarrassed and inferior. I was teased and felt I couldn’t measure up to my friends who I thought were so much prettier than I was because they didn’t have wild frizzy hair. I became very self-conscious about my hair and overall appearance. In grade 7 I applied to a TV talk show program that gave hair makeovers! I was desperate for a change and felt helpless, embarrassed, and insecure. Later on in life when higher quality hair straighteners became available and I learned how to take care of my hair, I wasn’t able to bounce back and see myself in a positive light. Too many years of a negative self-image had left its mark. I became my own worst enemy.

How did this play out? I continued to have a grossly distorted view of myself and I obsessed over my perceived flaws. Self-esteem and body-esteem became one and the same. Because I thought being unattractive was outside of my control, I took extreme measures in an attempt to control the things I could. I would exercise excessively and feel guilty for eating something “bad.” I would think I was fat if I ate one unhealthy meal and would have to over exercise to compensate for this. I couldn’t go out for dinner or brunch with friends spontaneously because I had to plan my workouts around them. I couldn’t be out in a bathing suit unless I exercised first. I was trapped in a negative cycle of body shaming. A negative body-image can lead to eating disorders and I was not spared. I began to binge at night on all the things I deemed “forbidden”.  I’m cringing as I write this because I can’t believe the prison that I was trapped in! It was a painful prison entirely of my own making that I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy.

            Let me try to explain this pain. Imagine you have this deep-rooted belief that you are not good enough exactly as you are. Objectively you know this isn’t true, but you can’t change how you feel. So you try and control everything that you can, but in the process you wind up damaging your body by eating excessive amounts of processed and refined foods. Because you feel guilty for overindulging, you end up punishing yourself physically at the gym and mentally and emotionally with negative self-talk. This vicious cycle of physical and mental abuse continued for about eight years. Something had to give. My body had had enough.  

            It was right around this time that I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I’m convinced that the negative relationship I had with myself and my body was a contributing factor in my diagnosis. At the time of my diagnosis I knew nothing about natural medicine. I had never even heard of a naturopathic doctor! Given that I knew of no other options, I followed the advice of my oncologist which was to undergo chemotherapy. It’s really interesting to me because knowing what I know now about natural medicine and my particular diagnosis, I would not have put my body through chemotherapy or radiation. Hindsight is twenty-twenty. However, I’m so grateful that I didn’t know about natural options because honestly, losing my hair from chemo was truly the best thing that ever happened to me. 

When I lost my hair, I saw the real me for the first time in years. I saw a beautiful woman who was just scared to be herself. I saw a courageous woman who was just scared to be confident. I saw a brave woman who was stuck in her own shadow. Looking into the mirror and seeing myself this way was beautiful and empowering. It’s like I saw myself with a new set of eyes. So what was the next step? I took action and started to show up for myself.

            Acknowledging and owning the pain and the struggle was a critical first step in my recovery. After this true healing really began. I can’t emphasize enough the importance of self-care here. And I’m not talking about getting a massage once a month – I’m talking about cultivating a daily practice that suits and honours your needs on an individual and daily basis. That means resting when you need it. That means moving your body when you need it. That means saying no to obligations you don’t want to actually go to. That means saying yes to things outside your comfort zone. That means nourishing your body with whole, nutrient dense foods. The list goes on and on and on. The point is that when you prioritize YOU and you honour and take care of YOUR needs, you are sending a powerful message to yourself that you are here, you matter, and you are taking ownership of your life. When you prioritize your own needs, you actually create more space in your life to better serve others and you are more present with the people in your life who matter the most to you.

            Life after breast cancer has many challenges. For me personally it was about letting go and accepting myself. I see this all the time in my coaching practice as well. Finding it difficult to accept the changes that conventional treatment may have caused to your body and feeling insecure is a very common feeling and there is no shame in this. I mean our boobs tried to kill us – so its only natural to have a little resentment toward your body! However, true healing begins when we shift this thought and begin to look at our bodies with unconditional love and complete reverence. Maybe the idea of viewing your scars/implants/prosthetics with love sounds insane right now, but trust me – this is possible. You can learn to love your new (and beautiful) body with softer eyes, a less critical mind, and a more loving and open heart.

            Where am I now? After healing from the unhealthy relationship I had with food and body image, I became a holistic nutritionist. Instead of using food as a means of punishment and restriction, I use it as nourishment and preventive medicine. Instead of punishing my body with excessive exercise, I partner with my body and make choices with food and movement that honour my highest self. My body is now my ally and advocate, not my enemy. Instead of looking at my body with resentment and anger, I view my body with love and complete reverence for all that she does for me. Instead of living in pain, I am living my most nutritious, delicious life and I coach others to do the same!

            I’d love to connect with you outside of this blog! If you have questions, comments, or want to hear more from me, connect with me on Instagram @Nutritious_Delicious_life, on facebook Nutritious Delicious Life, or through my website www.nutritiousdeliciouslife.com. Thank you for reading and I hope you walk away feeling inspired and empowered.

Until next time!

Lauren, ANGEL Advocate

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