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Thanks and goodbye I was lucky enough to attend a special cancer retreat last week for men and women living and dying with cancer. We were able to share our stories with people who just "knew" what we were going through. I often think cancerland is a language of its own, and unless you have had it, felt it and experienced it, it is really, really difficult to find the words and the emotions to explain it to others so they can truly "get it." I know my dear husband "thinks" he understands, and he does on the surface to a degree... the rest I live with on my own day to day. There is just no way for me to explain it to him or to others.. it's as if I see and feel the world so differently now (except my cancer friends who "get it").

I had the privilege to meet three women this week who are terminal with cancer, and they shared with me the way they were graciously living and preparing to die with cancer. Learning to let go of what "is" in their life, and helping their mates let go and plan a new life, is their last act of love.

So... right now, I plan to grab back on to life with all the resources I have. I happened upon a great book this week, Super Healing by Julie K. Silver, MD, Assistant Professor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Harvard Medical School (ISBN 1-59486-631-7). She too has had breast cancer. In the books she says it took her over two years after her breast cancer treatments were over to get back to 90 percent of where she was before. I took great comfort in her words, that even someone with all the medical knowledge and resources behind her had to accept that the healing takes a long time, with setbacks and achievements to regain a quality of life that we hope and desire to have again. Her book is excellent, it helps you to build a realistic plan for yourself of how to come "back" from everything we have been through... this is a MUST read if you are recovering.

This is my last blog entry for Best Health, as I was asked to do this in support of the CIBC Run for the Cure which was held last week so successfully across Canada. I hope one day there is a cure... in the meantime, we all need to take control of what we can do for ourselves: 3-5 hours of exercise per week, eating a plant-based diet whenever possible, < 3 alcoholic drinks per week (aim for none), 7-9 hours of quality sleep per night with regular bedtimes (I go to bed at 9 p.m. now... it's what I need to do to help heal, and in time this will change, but for now my body really needs this), have one good friend who can support you forever, and be very, very kind and loving to yourself. These are all things that we have control of, things that we can make happen.... take this very seriously.... you have one life, and one chance to live it well. Live with your heart.

May you be blessed by many joys in life.
Jordan

Posted by Jordan on October 10, 2008, 2:51 pm