Cancer Patients - Another Battlefront

Tuesday's Wall Street Journal had an unsettling article about cancer patients who are financially overwhelmed by the costs associated with their treatment.

Surprisingly, the vast majority of cancer patients under age 65 (70%) do indeed have private health insurance coverage. However, policies with lifetime caps on benefit payouts and sizable out-of-pocket costs can wreak financial devastation on a cancer patient and his/her family. Adding to this is the fact that cancer patients' income is reduced, or eliminated, during their time away from work; this sets up a scenario for financial ruin.

This seems terribly unfair, as dealing with your diagnosis and getting through treatment is challenging enough. And, the added emotional stress of being financially overwhelmed is certainly counterproductive to getting well.

Patients who are insured usually believe that they would not qualify for any type of financial assistance with their treatment costs. So, they are forced to dip into their savings, if they have any, in order to pay their expenses not covered by insurance. Otherwise, difficult choices have to be made, such as between the basic necessities of life and the costs of their daily cancer medications.

When we hear the words "cancer support", naturally we think of peer groups, counseling, and other resources dedicated to helping the patient deal emotionally with diagnosis and the treatment path. Now, programs are being developed to support patients as they face overwhelming financial challenges while simultaneously having to confront a life-threatening illness.

Although this is a positive sign, many patients are still totally unaware of these financial assistance resources; as they are not in the usual "care package" of support contacts normally shared with cancer patients. This has to change!

I was extremely fortunate that I was able to work from home during my surgeries and treatment. I didn't have to be on medical disability, so my normal income wasn't affected. However, if my cancer recurs, more extensive treatment would be needed. Then, I could find myself in a similar financial dilemma, even though I have excellent medical insurance.

Below are the names and website addresses of the agencies listed in the WSJ article: I'm hoping that we will never need them, but I also know that cancer plays no favorites. Having knowledge about our treatment options, and about how to deal with potential financial issues is empowering.

Patient Access Network | panfoundation.org

CancerCare | cancercare.org

Patient Advocate Foundation | patientadvocate.org

Partnership for Prescription Assistance | pparx.org

Cancer Support Community | cancersupportcommunity.org

Finding True Happiness With Someone

How many of us are fortunate enough to find true happiness just being in our partner's presence?

This is exactly how I feel whenever I am near my husband.

Next Tuesday is the 37th anniversary of the day that we met.

He has stayed by my side through the darkest of times, and

every obstacle that we have faced only serves to strengthen

our bond.

One of my favorite Irish proverbs is: "There is no love like

the love an old man has for his old wife." As we grow old

together, I see the truth and wisdom of this statement.

He is the treasure and the joy of my life.

It's Official: Material Things Aren't the Source of Happiness

A study published recently in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology concluded that spending your money on experiences (trips, concerts, movies, dining out) brings more happiness than purchasing material things.

The study, which combined results from eight separate studies, found that people had more anxiety over making the right material purchase; were more likely to compare their material purchase with those of others; were envious of others who had made a superior purchase of a similar object; and, perhaps most important, their initial satisfaction with their purchase diminished over time.

To me, this really isn't very surprising. Our entire culture encourages competing with others on a material level, which is both wasteful and mentally unhealthy. For example, when we bought our house, we didn't replace any of the existing major appliances: they all worked very well, so we continued to use them. Some of them are over 20 years old now, still attractive, and still working!

About 25 years ago, I saw a magnet in a shop on Cape Cod which perfectly expressed my thoughts. It says, "The most precious things in life aren't things."

Unfortunately, some people never realize this, and they are constantly disappointed when the material things which they surround themselves with don't bring them the happiness that they imagined.

As I have written here, cancer patients are frequently given a very precious gift; the realization that living in the "now", and finding beauty and joy in the many little experiences which happen from moment to moment, are what truly feeds our souls. I knew this long before being diagnosed, and I continue to live my life this way.

Experiences can be held in your heart for the rest of your life. And, you can have meaningful and enjoyable ones each day that don't cost you a cent! It's simply a matter of changing your mindset. We would all be healthier if we adopted this way of seeing the world.

Aspirin reducing breast cancer deaths?

Last Tuesday, The Journal of Clinical Oncology published the results of a study showing that aspirin appears to have a dual benefit: it reduces both the risk of cancer death and the risk of early-stage breast cancer spreading to other body sites.

The study involved over 4,000 nurses who have been participating in the Nurses Health Study since 1976. Early-stage breast cancer survivors who took aspirin 2 - 5 days a week reduced their risk of death by 71%, and their risk of their cancer spreading by 60%. Interestingly, taking aspirin 6 to 7 times a week reduced death risk by 64% and spread risk by 43%, so more frequent dosing did not increase the protective effect of the drug.

How aspirin and other NSAIDs such as ibuprofen and naproxen work to stop tumors from spreading and recurring is not yet known. Study researchers think that tumor growth may be fueled by inflammation; NSAIDs interfere with this process, depriving cancer cells of a favorable environment in which to grow and thrive.

Both estrogen-positive and non-hormone dependent tumors were adversely affected; so this finding could potentially benefit virtually all breast cancer patients.

At the moment, no one should start taking aspirin or other NSAIDs in the hope of preventing future cancers; patients on radiation or chemotherapy should NOT take these drugs due to their potential side effects. Also, NSAIDs can cause stomach irritation and bleeding; so consult with your oncologist first before adding any other drug to your cancer regimen.

Interesting news, though! Perhaps aspirin really is a "wonder drug" in an entirely new way.

It's My Birthday - Time To Look Fabulous!!

Today is my Birthday, the third one I've been able to celebrate since being diagnosed! I'm not a girl who enjoys getting dressed up and going out; I'd rather relax at home. But, I can "dress up" and give myself a new look via the magic of the Internet. In the spirit of my friends at Fight Pink, I now have pink hair - without using any harmful chemicals!

Thanks to RuPaul's "dragulator" website http://www.dragulator.com , I can channel my inner fabulousness! Try it, it's really fun and great for a laugh!

This is my alter ego, "Cinnamon Lakewood"...you'll see how I got this name if you visit the website.

Breast Cancer Isn't the #1 Killer of Women

With all of the constant publicity about breast cancer, you might be tempted to believe that it is the #1 killer of women. Breast cancer is so much in the public eye that it's easy to have the impression that most women die from it than any other medical cause. This is NOT the case; there is another disease which claims ONE of EVERY THREE WOMEN, and we all need to remember this fact (even myself, a breast cancer patient!).

Heart Disease claims the lives of more women than any other disease, even breast cancer! To raise awareness of this sobering fact, today has been designated as "National Wear Red Day" by the American Heart Association. Women wear red today to spread the message that Heart Disease claims far too many women (and men), and leads to years of disability and diminished quality of life for others.

My Mother had debilitating congestive heart failure for years; she was a heavy smoker for decades, and could never manage to quit. She had to sleep sitting up, could barely walk even a few steps without becoming exhausted, and she died at age 59 from a heart attack. My goal even before I lost her 22 years ago was to adopt a healthy lifestyle so that this would not happen to me. Until I was diagnosed with cancer, I led a model life in terms of heart health. I'm struggling to get back to my former weight and level of activity, because I know this is vital to my survival.

Do you know the risk factors for heart disease? Having even one of these doubles your risk of developing heart disease:

Smoking

Diabetes

Overweight/obese

Physically inactive

High blood pressure

High cholesterol

Age (55 and older for women)

Family history of coronary disease

Visit the Go Red for Women website for valuable information and assistance in improving your heart health: http://www.goredforwomen.org/index.aspx

Do what you can to improve your risk factors and to lead a long, healthy life. We all can agree on this!

Winter Dreams of Maui

Here, a cold rain is falling, but 6,000 miles away, the air is fragrant and warm...

You look up and see the green slopes of Haleakala above you, rising to the cloudline...

Turn around, and the warm water and powdery beach sand are there for your relaxation; there is always an island in sight:

You are in paradise, and there is nowhere else that you would rather be...

Maui, you live in my heart...