Birthday Celebrations

Happy Birthday to my father in law who celebrates his 80th birthday this week in addition to my mother in law who will also turn 80 next month! How fortunate are they and how blessed are we!

Neither of them like most people experienced life in perfect health. My father in law Ed, was lucky enough in his 50’s to find out he needed a 5 artery by-pass (I say lucky instead of being a cause of death) and then a few years after, full hip replacement with several re-do’s over the next 30 years. My mother in law Lois, who for the most part was very healthy, had more than her share while turning 79. Within just a few months she was preparing for knee replacement surgery, while discovering she had something suspicious in the breast from her annual mammogram. But both of those things were to be put on hold to deal with as testing discovered she too would need by pass surgery before any of the other surgeries could be completed. Each procedure was followed by weeks and months of rehabilitation while she prepared her body for the next.

Why do I share this? We all know someone, a friend, a relative or oneself that has taken ill. Any diagnosis can be challenging no matter how difficult. But what really matters is how one deals with it all. Ed could have been disappointed that he wasn’t going to play tennis the way he used to, but instead he chose to take up golf and swim laps to re-build his body and his mind.  He also became an avid bicyclist while riding 6-10 hours each week. Lois, who had not one or two, but three surgeries along with radiation treatment within 7 months, worked extremely hard at her own rehabilitation and kept an amazing positive mental attitude each time. She surprised us all at how well she managed to per-severe through it.  She continues with weekly work outs, long walks and even gets in her occasional 9 holes of golf. Not bad for 80!

We don’t usually know what’s in store for us.  Harvey and I both live our life in 6 month intervals, from mammogram to breast MRI and at any point, our life can change. We have learned to make the most of our lives, to take the time to do things we enjoy, which is why when the opportunity presented itself we traveled to a warm island this past winter together with our spouses. We laughed, we ate, we took our morning walks and we appreciate the time we were able to share. My in-laws had the pleasure of taking their children and grandchildren away for one week, all 19 of us to celebrate their 80th birthdays. How lucky are we, how lucky are they!

So when someone wishes you a Happy Birthday, and you’re "feeling old" or sick, remember as long as you are on this earth to grow a year older, it is a celebration. Every birthday should be a “celebration” as there are many who may never be fortunate enough to reach your age. You can choose to be counted down or out, or you can choose to be strong and celebrate. Wishing everyone a very Happy Birthday and many, many more filled with good health. Enjoy!

Modah Ani- I Am Thankful
Editor; Vicki Wolf Co-Founder

Shhh! I can't talk about this!

Welcome March! And welcome to National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month-the test most people don’t like to talk about and like the commercials say, find every excuse not to have.

The colon which is known as the large intestine or large bowel is the last part of the digestive tract. The colon receives undigested food from the small intestine and is a long and muscular tube.  The colon’s main function is to remove water from undigested food and after storing it, eliminate it from the body through bowel movements.  

Colorectal cancer is a malignant tumor from the inner wall of the large intestine from the colon and rectum and can spread to other areas in the body.  Benign tumors also known as polyps do not spread to other areas and can easily be removed however if they are not removed, they can become malignant. The removal of polyps can be done during a routine colonoscopy- another reason to get this done!

I’d like to add that if you have been tested and know that you have a BRCA1 or BRCA2 genetic mutation, at one time there was an associated higher risk of developing colon cancer. Colon cancer is higher in BRCA1 along with pancreatic and prostate cancer. The latest studies for BRCA2 have not supported these findings however there are higher risk of other cancers such as pancreatic, stomach, gallbladder and bile duct cancer.  Either way, with the current mutations, and the higher risk factors, why take any chances? The best treatment is prevention and when found early, colorectal cancer is curable.

So how and when should testing begin? Fecal occult blood test  are performed on samples of stool which can detect if “occult” blood or amounts of blood so small they cannot be seen with the naked eye usually begin around 40 years of age. If the test results are positive for occult blood, then a colonoscopy will be performed.  The most “inconvenient” part of the colonoscopy is the prep which takes place the day prior to the test.  Really, it’s just a large cleansing of the colon, is not painful and just is limiting to your schedule. The colon scope has a small camera attached to a flexible tube and examines the entire length of the colon and is completed fairly quickly. It is recommended to receive your first colonoscopy at the age of 50 and every 7-10 years after that.

In addition to early screenings, other suggestions to aid in the prevention of colorectal cancer are;

·         Eat a balanced diet which is low in fats and cholesterol and high in fiber. Smoking and high alcohol intake increase risk.

·         Maintain a healthy weight as obese men are at a higher risk than women as well as those with an “apple shape” with increased fat around the waist.

·         An Active lifestyle-exercising can reduce colon cancer by as much as 40 percent.

·         Consider adding Genetic counseling if there is an increased risk of hereditary colon cancer, other family members have had polyps or colon cancer or you are of Ashkenazi Jewish decent. Discuss testing with your medical doctor.

·         Reduce risk of bad bacteria in the gut which are common in patients who developed polyps in the colon. Consider a gentle colon cleanse and or adding high potency probiotic Bifidobacteria for good bacteria in the large intestine.

Colorectal cancer is preventable with the removal of precancerous polyps and curable when found early and surgically removed before it spreads.  So don’t wait, don’t find an excuse, just get it done! It’s like filing your taxes, it takes up time, it’s annoying, but Uncle Sam says you have to so you do- so do this for yourself. You may not receive a return of money (for those that do), but you will hopefully receive a clean bill of health check! I know which I’d rather have…

Healthy 2011!

Editor; Vicki Wolf, Co-Founder