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(1) Sharing A NEWSLETTER FOR BREAST CANCER SURVIVORS News about breast cancer In this issue You can make a difference Sharing & Caring is a non-profit organization devoted to the education and support of breast cancer survivors. Your donation will support programs for others who follow in our footsteps. Please make your check payable to Sharing & Caring at the above address. Please call us or email us at [email protected] if you wish to be removed from our mailing list. Spring 2011 Berries: All berries, but especially strawberries and raspberries are rich in ellagic acid. This phytochemical has shown the ability to prevent many types of cancer. Research suggest that it helps the body deactivate specific carcinogens and slow the reproduction of cancer cells. Cruciferous Vegetables: These help regulate a complex system of body enzymes that defend against cancer. Components of these vegetables have shown the ability to stop the growth of cancer cells in several research models. Dark Green Leafy Vegetables: Researchers believe that carotenoids prevent cancer by acting as antioxidants, scouring potentially dangerous free radicals from the body before they do harm. Additionally, some lab research has found that carotenoids in these vegetables can inhibit the growth of certain types of cancer cells. Garlic: The protective effect of garlic was shown to have a dose-response relationship, meaning that highest quantities showed the greatest decrease in risk of cancer development. It is suggested that garlic be part of a well-balanced diet. Grapes and Grape Juice: Both grapes and grape juice are rich sources of resveratrol, a type of natural … continued on page 3 No single food or food component can protect you against cancer by itself. But scientists believe that the combination of foods in a predominantly plant-based diet may. There is evidence that the minerals, vitamins and phytochemicals in plant foods could interact in ways that boost their individual anti-cancer effects. This concept of interaction, is called synergy. In addition, vegetables, fruits, whole grains and beans are low in calorie- density and protect against weight gain. Many studies implicate carrying excess body fat with the development of cancer. Eating a predominantly plant based diet can help prevent weight gain and protect against those cancers whose risk is convincingly increased by higher body fat (cancers of the colorectum, esophagus, endometrium, pancreas, kidney and breast in postmenopausal women). It is recommended that at least 2/3 of your plate should be filled with vegetables, fruit, whole grains and beans. Much of the research on diet and cancer suggests that eating these foods will protect against cancer. Scientists are investigating how and why these foods may prevent the development of tumors. Here is a list of foods often asked about. Beans: Beans contain phytochemicals, including saponins, protease inhibitors and phytic acid. These compounds appear to protect our cells from damage that can lead to cancer. Our Cover Story: Foods that Fight Cancer? Ask the Expert: Katherine Nori, MD, FACP S & C Profile: Gail Konop Baker Calendar of Events FOODS THAT FIGHT CANCER? 3577 S. Thirteen Mile Road Royal Oak, MI 48073-6710 248-551-8585

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Page 1: Sharing with Friends - Spring 2011

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Sharing A NEWSLETTER FOR BREAST CANCER SURVIVORS

News about breast cancer

In this issue

You can make a difference

Sharing & Caring is a non-profit organization

devoted to the education and support of breast cancer survivors.

Your donation will support programs for others who follow

in our footsteps.

Please make your check payable to Sharing & Caring at

the above address. Please call us or email us at

[email protected] if you wish to be removed from

our mailing list.

Spring 2011

Berries: All berries, but especially strawberries and raspberries are rich in ellagic acid. This phytochemical has shown the ability to prevent many types of cancer. Research suggest that it helps the body deactivate specific carcinogens and slow the reproduction of cancer cells.

Cruciferous Vegetables: These help regulate a complex system of body enzymes that defend against cancer. Components of these vegetables have shown the ability to stop the growth of cancer cells in several research models.

Dark Green Leafy Vegetables: Researchers believe that carotenoids prevent cancer by acting as antioxidants, scouring potentially dangerous free radicals from the body before they do harm. Additionally, some lab research has found that carotenoids in these vegetables can inhibit the growth of certain types of cancer cells.

Garlic: The protective effect of garlic was shown to have a dose-response relationship, meaning that highest quantities showed the greatest decrease in risk of cancer development. It is suggested that garlic be part of a well-balanced diet.

Grapes and Grape Juice: Both grapes and grape juice are rich sources of resveratrol, a type of natural … continued on page 3

No single food or food component can protect you against cancer by itself. But scientists believe that the combination of foods in a predominantly plant-based diet may. There is evidence that the minerals, vitamins and phytochemicals in plant foods could interact in ways that boost their individual anti-cancer effects. This concept of interaction, is called synergy. In addition, vegetables, fruits, whole grains and beans are low in calorie-density and protect against weight gain. Many studies implicate carrying excess body fat with the development of cancer. Eating a predominantly plant based diet can help prevent weight gain and protect against those cancers whose risk is convincingly increased by higher body fat (cancers of the colorectum, esophagus, endometrium, pancreas, kidney and breast in postmenopausal women). It is recommended that at least 2/3 of your plate should be filled with vegetables, fruit, whole grains and beans. Much of the research on diet and cancer suggests that eating these foods will protect against cancer. Scientists are investigating how and why these foods may prevent the development of tumors. Here is a list of foods often asked about. Beans: Beans contain

phytochemicals, including saponins, protease inhibitors and phytic acid. These compounds appear to protect our cells from damage that can lead to cancer.

Our Cover Story:

Foods that Fight Cancer?

Ask the Expert:

Katherine Nori, MD, FACP

S & C Profile: Gail Konop Baker

Calendar of Events

FOODS THAT FIGHT CANCER?

3577 S. Thirteen Mile Road

Royal Oak, MI 48073-6710

248-551-8585

Page 2: Sharing with Friends - Spring 2011

Ask the experts

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1. As a breast cancer patient and survivor, I would like to maximize my diet to provide the best nutrition possible. I want to learn about the best foods to eat to help reduce my risk of recurrence! What type of program do you have available to help me do this? One of the most powerful ways to reduce your recurrence of breast cancer and to avoid any other cancers is to optimize your health and weight. Beaumont’s Nutritional Health and Weight Control Programs are designed to do just that. Studies estimate 11,000 to 18,000 deaths per year from breast cancer in U.S. women over age 50, might be avoided if women could maintain a BMI (body mass index) under 25 throughout their adult lives. Weight loss and implementing a healthy lifestyle is difficult to achieve with-out support. Studies show diet, exercise, and behavior modification is best done in a medically monitored program, like the ones at Beaumont’s Division of Nutrition and Preventive Medicine. Our programs individualize treatment with our multidisciplinary team of dietitians, exercise physiologists, psychologists, and medical providers. Patients implement healthy choices specific for their lifestyle that can be carried forward to maintain optimal health throughout their life 2.There are so many ingredients on the labels of food, I get very confused of which ones are okay and which ones are not so great! Will your dietitians teach me about which food additives to avoid? Supplements? Vitamins? Food labels can be very misleading. Our dietitians are a wonderful resource for our patients. They are well-versed in the multitudes of food additives found in the American diet and teach regular nutrition and cooking classes which explore the ever-changing world of foods, vitamins, minerals, and nutrition. They also meet individually with our patients to develop personalized health plans. Additionally, micronutrient testing is available, which allows for further evaluation of nutritional status in our patients. This simple blood test assesses the absorption and functional levels of 32 key vitamins and minerals (most insurances cover the majority of the cost of this test). 3. What about exercise? Since I have had breast surgery I have only done the arm exercises my doctor has given me, but I would like to gently increase my exercise and lose a little weight. Our exercise physiologists meet with our patients to develop a personalized training program specific for their physical abilities and goals. At the Beaumont Health Center, there is a complete gym and walking track that our patients can use, free of charge, during specified times. Patients also have access to the Beaumont Health Center’s physical therapy and pool therapy, if prescribed by their medical provider. 5. Will my insurance cover any of the program services? The Beaumont Nutritional Health Program and Weight Control Programs are covered by most insurance plans. You may be responsible for a co-pay, similar to other physician office co-pays. Typically nutritional classes are not covered by insurance, and are $25/class. Individual exercise physiology sessions are also not covered by insurance and are $40/ half-hour. Behavioral psychology sessions are billable to most insurance plans.

Happy Spring! Now that the beginning signs of Spring are upon us with longer daylight hours, it is time to try something new! We have many

new programs for you to try this quarter, starting with Megan Gunnell, a talented harp player who will teach us about reducing anxiety/depression thru music and art therapy. Megan is a social worker from U of M. Next, Beaumont’s own massage therapist Karen Armstrong will run a workshop on safe massage techniques that you or your family member can do. She will give us some techniques to reduce pain and muscle tension through massage. Then McEntire Pilates instructor Carol Perkins will do an informative session on Pilates, which will include a workshop, designed for women living with breast cancer. Carol has had advanced training in this area. On May 19th, we will have a fun and informative “Mom & Daughter Girls Night”. This evening will be all about lowering breast cancer risk for everyone. S&C will provide a light healthy dinner for all who sign up! Speaking of healthy, Dr. Katherine Nori will be speaking to us about “Nutritional Health” while on a field trip to the Beaumont Health Center. We’ll learn more about how our food choices affect so much more than we realize. Next we address an issue I have heard many women discuss, “What do I do now?” Treatment is done but I still have questions on many aspects of my care! This evening will encompass many aspects of survivorship and get all those questions answered. We will end the quarter with a “Couple’s Date Night.” Ladies, this is a great way to get those loved ones talking about couples’ issues in dealing with a breast cancer diagnosis. They may not want to come initially, but they always are glad they did!

Warm Regards, Lorelei DiGuglielmo

OUR EXPERT:

Katherine Nori, MD, FACP Director of Nutritional Medicine, Division of Nutrition

and Preventive Medicine, Beaumont Health Center

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Chronic illness and many medications deplete important nutrients from the body. Using new micronutrient testing technology, Naturopathic doctors are now able to assess nutrient status and work with patients to restore levels of these critical nutrients. The NutrEval micronutrient profile by Genova Diagnostics allows you and your Naturopathic doctor to develop an individualized plan, helping to optimize your immune function and support overall wellness. The NutrEval profile is a comprehensive nutritional evaluation designed to identify imbalances for many nutrients including: vitamins and minerals, essential fatty acids, oxidative stress, organic acids and amino acids. Identifying and addressing these imbalances helps to promote optimal wellness and support the body in overcoming chronic disease. At your initial consultation, your Naturopathic doctor can order the NutrEval test and give you a test kit to get started. The NutrEval test involves a urine sample collected by the patient at home, and a blood draw obtained at a Beaumont lab. The test evaluates for urinary metabolites and intracellular levels of nutrients. The intracellular concentration of trace elements has been demonstrated to be better predictors of nutrient insufficiency than comparable serum levels, especially calcium, magnesium potassium and zinc. With the results of the NutrEval test, you and your Naturopath will work together to develop an individualized plan to address nutrient deficiencies and improve absorption of nutrients. To schedule an appointment or for more information call (248) 551-9990(Royal Oak) 248-964-9200 (Troy). Integrative Medicine Services also include acupuncture, clinical massage, guided imagery, Reiki, yoga, meditation and more. (If you are a Beaumont employee or family member please call us about possible coverage for these services.)

...continued from page 1 phytochemical that belongs to a much larger group of phytochemicals called polyphenols. The skin of the grape

contains the most resveratrol, and red and purple grapes contain significantly more than green grapes. Grape jam and raisins contain much smaller amounts of this phytochemical. Although red wine also contains resveratrol, con-vincing evidence that alcohol is associated with increased risk for several cancers, wine is not a recommended source of resveratrol. Studies suggest that polyphenols in general, and reservatrol in particular, possess potent an-tioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. In lab studies, resveratrols prevented the kind of damage known to trigger the cancer process. Other studies point to resveratrols ability to slow the growth of cancer cells and inhibit the formation of tumors.

Green Tea: Green Tea contains numerous active ingredients, including polyphenols and flavonoids. One class of flavonoids, called catechins, has become the focus of widespread study for their anti-cancer potential. Tea is the best source of catechins in the human diet, and green tea contains about three times the quantity of catechins as black tea. In lab studies, green tea has been shown to slow or completely prevents the development of certain types of cancers. Studies tracking the diets of human subjects over several years have also associated regular in-take of green tea with a lower risk of cancer of the bladder, colon, stomach, pancreas and esophagus, although there are other studies that suggest there is insufficient evidence to support a relationship between tea consump-tion and cancer risk.

Tomatoes: Lycopene, a powerful antioxidant, together with a group of related compounds collectively called the “red family”, has displayed anti-cancer potential in a variety of lab studies. In the lab, tomato components have stopped the growth of several types of cancer cells, including breast and lung.

Whole Grains: Whole grains are rich in fiber, vitamins, minerals and hundreds of phytochemicals which protect cells from the types of damage that may lead to cancer. In addition, research points to specific substances in whole grains that have been linked to lower cancer risk, including antioxidants, phenols, lignans and saponins.

More information can be found at www.aicr.org , from which this article was reprinted.

Naturopathic Nutritional Assessment with NutrEval Diana Quinna, ND, Integrative Medicine

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April, May and June Support Groups:

Breast Cancer Support Groups: Come join us to meet other ladies who are recently diagnosed or long-time survivors who have had similar experiences. These groups provide an opportunity for women to discuss the unique challenges facing them as breast cancer survivors. Feel free to participate and share your story or just listen and perhaps make a new friend. The sessions are led by a psychologist, social worker, or nurse practitioner.

Metastatic Breast Cancer Support Group Tuesday, May 17th, 6:30 pm. Royal Oak Beaumont - This very specific group is designed to meet the needs of ladies who have advanced or metastatic breast cancer. Please join us if you have been diagnosed with metastasis, or a recurrence of breast cancer. This support group will be facilitated by Sally Smolen, Ph.D., Mercy Works. Also available will be Jennifer Martens, RN, OCN, to help co-facilitate the group. We will meet in the Royal Oak Cancer Center 2nd Floor Administrative Conference Room, in Suite 210

Couple’s Date Night!: Thursday, June 30th, 6:00 pm. Troy Beaumont - This evening is meant for the breast cancer survivor and her partner. One of our respected psychologists, Annette Spencer, Ph.D. will guide us in discussion about couples’ issues as they face unique concerns while dealing with breast cancer. Enjoy a light dinner and meet other couples who share similar experiences. This group will be held at the Wilson Cancer Resource Center, 44344 Dequindre Road, across the pedestrian bridge from Troy Beaumont.

Other Offerings This Quarter - April, May and June Look Good Feel Better: This program is presented in conjunction with the American Cancer Society to help women who are currently undergoing cancer treatment to improve their appearance and self image by teaching them hands-on beauty techniques to overcome the appearance-related side effects of cancer treatments. Everyone goes home with a new look and a bag full of great makeup! We will also learn how to tie head scarves, and get tips on choosing the right wig. Please call 248-964-3430 for reservations at Troy, or 248-551-8585 for reservations at Royal Oak. Program meets at 10:00 am at the Troy Beaumont Wilson Cancer Resource Center and at 6:00 pm at the Royal Oak Beaumont 1st Floor Cancer Center Classroom. Meeting dates are Mondays: April 11th, May 9th and June 13th.

ALL Sharing & Caring events are RESERVATIONS REQUIRED! Please call 248-551-8585 and let us know you plan to attend. If no one is available to take your call, a message

with your name, phone number and which program you want to attend will complete your registration.

For possible last minute schedule changes, please call 248-551-8588

prior to the meeting.

Royal Oak Beaumont Groups meet in the Cancer Center 1st Floor Classroom

Monday, April 11th at 2:00 pm.

Thursday, May 12th at 6:30 pm.

Thursday, June 2nd at 6:30 pm.

Monday, June 13th at 2:00 pm.

Troy Beaumont Groups meet in the Wilson Cancer Resource Center, across the bridge from the Hospital

Monday, April 18th at 10:30 am.

Monday, May 16th at 10:30 am.

Monday, June 20th at 10:30 am.

This quarter generously underwritten by AstraZeneca

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Prevention and Treatment of Lymphedema: Thursday, April 7th, 7:00 pm - Royal Oak Beaumont. Presented by Dr. Justin Riutta, Director of the Beaumont Lymphedema Clinic. Discussion of risk factors, prevention and treatment of lymphedema. Bring your questions! This class will meet in the Cancer Center 1st Floor Classroom.

Coping with a Cancer Diagnosis - Alleviating Symptoms of Anxiety and Depression: Thursday, April 14th, 7:00 pm Royal Oak Beaumont - Understand the stress response and how we respond psychologically and physiologically to stressful life events. Learn how anticipatory anxiety and our own pain perception impact our ability to cope. This presentation will review strategies to alleviate anxiety and depression. Psychotherapy, music and art therapy, as well as guided imagery techniques will be reviewed in the context of coping with cancer - from diagnosis, during treatment and throughout recovery. This class will be led by Megan Gunnell, LMSW, MT-BC, a psychotherapist from the Center for Creative Living. Meets in RO Cancer Center 1st floor classroom.

For Caregivers & Survivors - Learning Safe Massage Techniques: Thursday, April 28th, 6:30 pm. Royal Oak Beaumont - Massage is well-known for reducing stress and promoting relaxation, but the power of touch goes well beyond! Feelings of connection, compassion and healing are associated with touch. In this demonstration and workshop, learn how to provide safe, compassionate massage for your loved ones. In treatment or beyond, these techniques will decrease pain, muscle tension and provide a caring touch for those you care for and love! This class will be led by Karen Armstrong, NCTM, Supervisor, Clinical Massage, Beaumont Integrative Medicine. Royal Oak Cancer Center 1st floor classroom.

Pilates Workshop Thursday, May 5th, 6:30 pm. Royal Oak Beaumont - Many women are interested in trying a “new” exercise like Pilates, but are nervous to do so. McEntire Pilates has loaned us their specially trained instructor, Carol Perkins. She will be giving us information on how Pilates can benefit you, with a workshop to follow. Carol attended the University of Michigan and Wayne state University, receiving her bachelor’s degree. She has completed comprehensive training through Stott Pilates, as well as the PRIME ™ Post Rehabilitation training with Trent McEntire Pilates. Additionally, she has completed courses in Breast Cancer Rehabilitation and shoulder and spinal stabilization. Come check it out! Remember to bring a mat and a towel. We will meet in the Royal Oak Cancer Center 1st Floor Classroom.

Moms & Daughters Girl’s Night Out: Thursday, May 19th, 6:00 pm. Troy Beaumont - This is a great time to spend with your daughter/sister and discover what the term “high risk” means for your loved one. Do you know when her mammograms and self-exams should start? What kind of physician should you both see, now that there is a breast cancer diagnosis in the family? Dr. Nafisa Kuwajerwala and Dennette Fend, NP, from the Beaumont High Risk Clinic will discuss the latest on breast cancer prevention and reducing the risk of recurrence. A light dinner (yummy salads) will be provided for all our attendees, making this a special evening. Please register early! We will meet at 44344 Dequindre Rd., Ste. 350. The building is directly across from Troy Beaumont Hospital, and parking is available on the east side of the building.

Field Trip! - Nutritional Health for People Living with Breast Cancer: Tuesday, May 24th, 6:30 pm. We are very excited to have Dr. Katherine Nori back to speak with us again, discussing powerful ways to reduce your risk of breast cancer recurrence through nutrition, exercise and behavior modification. We will meet at the Beaumont Health Center, in Conference room #1. BHC is located at 4949 Coolidge Hwy. (between 14 and 15 Mile Roads, on the West side), Royal Oak. Dr. Nori is the Director of Nutritional Medicine, a division of Nutrition and Preventive Medicine.

My Treatment is Done, NOW What do I do?: Thursday, June 16th, 6:30 pm. Royal Oak Beaumont - So you’re close to, or have completed treatment for your breast cancer - what now? Does the thought of not seeing your physician so often worry you? Well, then this evening is designed for you! Discover just what “High Risk” means for you and your family. What kind of doctor should you be seeing? Is genetic testing something you should consider? Learn how stress reduction and nutrition also play a vital role in reducing your risk of recurrence. Representatives from Beaumont’s High Risk Clinic, Cancer Genetics, Integrative Medicine and Oncology Dietetics will all be on hand to share their specialties with you. We will meet in the Royal Oak Cancer Center 1st Floor Classroom.

Breast Cancer Treatment & Bone Health: Thursday, June 23rd, 7:00 pm. Royal Oak Beaumont - Have you ever wondered what affect your cancer fighting medications have on your bones? How can you protect your bones now that treatment is complete or nearly completed? Are there any drugs that can reduce recurrence and strengthen bones? How often do you need a bone scan? Join us as Dr. Laura Nadeau, medical oncologist, discusses bone health for the breast cancer survivor. We will meet in the Royal Oak Cancer Center 1st floor classroom.

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We would like to extend a very heartfelt thank you to Jennie Spring from Creative Designs-Creative Care for hosting a wonderful open-house fundraiser at her shop, benefitting Sharing & Caring.

Jennie made sure all the ladies who visited on February 12th were welcomed with pink ribbon roses and chocolate covered marshmallow hearts. There was a continental breakfast available all morning, and a light lunch for those stopping by in the afternoon. It was a wonderful Valentine’s Day shopping experience!

In addition to making everyone who came in feel appreciated and special, Jennie has generously donated 25% of all the sales that day to Sharing & Caring. Creative Designs - Creative Care offers beautiful hand-crafted gifts, jewelry and apparel, many of them with breast cancer awareness and survivor themes. If you didn’t get a chance to stop by the shop for the open house, you should certainly try to get there soon. They have so many lovely, unique items!

Did you know that Beaumont offers a Caregiver’s Support Group? This group meets monthly and is intended for caregivers to gain knowledge and support related to their loved one’s diagnosis. (This is not just for care-givers of breast cancer patients.) The group is facilitated by a licensed social worker. It meets at the Beaumont Health Center at 4949 Coolidge Highway, Royal Oak (1/2 way between 14 and 15 Mile Roads). Meetings are the first Tuesday of each month, and run from 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm. There is no charge for this group. For more information, please call Marcy Cameron at 248-655-5800

The American Cancer society is currently recruiting volunteers to help cancer patients when they need it most. Road to Recovery is a volunteer-based driving program that provides transportation to and from medical centers for cancer patients undergoing treatment. Today, as people are forced to deal with the burden of cancer treatment, the need for transportation assistance has grown and the American Cancer society has established Road to Recovery to help eliminate these burdens. Approximately 10 - 20 percent of patients either cancel or postpone cancer treatment simply because they have no means of transportation. Volunteer drivers with reliable means of transportation are needed in Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties. Road to Recovery volunteers are able to select the region or area (Beaumont only?) in which they choose to volunteer, and can donate anywhere from a few hours to a few days of driving time each month. To learn more about Road to Recovery or to volunteer for this program, please call the American Cancer Society at 800.ACS.2345.

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Sharing & Caring Profile

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Soon after I was diagnosed with DCIS in February 2006, my best friend, a triathlete, asked me if I wanted to run the NYC half-marathon with her at the end of the following August. I was confused. Couldn’t she see how hazy and frightening the concept of the future was for me? I didn’t

answer her - I couldn’t. But I let her drag me out of the house and I plodded behind her. It was better than obsessively googling breast cancer health sites and calculating my rate of recurrence. And I knew that running was good for me. But racing? I wasn’t a racer. In fact, I didn’t commit to the half marathon until the day my then 9 year old son burst into the kitchen, fighting tears because one of his friends said I was like another friend’s mother who’d died of breast cancer a few years before. “But I told him that isn’t true”, he said. “My mother is an athlete. She can run up all the hills in the neighborhood.” I realized I had no choice. I had to run the race and be the mother who could run up all the hills in the neighborhood, to prove that I was still strong, that I would survive. The month before the race, we were running nearly every day. There were days I didn’t want to run - days I would have rather curled up in a chair and wept for my life before the diagnosis. But putting on my shoes and stepping one foot in front of the other forced me out of my ruminating head and planted me in my body. And as I ran, I felt stronger and lighter and freer. Slowly, I started to trust the body that had betrayed me. And on those days when the long runs felt like too much and I wanted to stop, I’d chant to myself: I am strong. I am healthy. I am healed. The day of the race I stood shivering between my two friends (both seasoned marathoners) in a pool of runners, everyone seeming much more runner-ish than me. I thought: Who do I think I am, trying to run a race just six months after surgery? I wasn’t ready. And then we were moving - through Central Park and into Times Square, neon lights flashing, live bands blasting, and it felt effortless. In the wave of runners, we pulled each other along, moved as one, and I felt a connection to my fellow runners, to all runners. To anyone and everyone who had endured and kept going. I thought: I am a racer. I love running. I should do nothing but run all the time. - until mile 11, heading down the West Side Highway, when I wanted to stop. I tried my chant, but all I could think was, I can’t do this. Can’t take one more step. What was I thinking? How did I get myself into this? Haven’t I been through enough this year? I’m not a half-marathoner. Not strong, not healed enough. Maybe I’m not the mother my son expects me to be. That’s when my girlfriends hooked either side of my arms and started singing, “I Feel Good”, and I couldn’t help but sing with them, pushing through the resistance, the pain, the fear that I couldn’t keep going, and we crossed the finish line holding hands. Spectators high-fived me, and volunteers handed me water and apples. Someone hung a medal around my neck and I felt like an Olympic athlete. As I chomped into the most delicious apple I ever ate, I thought how grateful I was that my son needed me to be the mother who runs up all the hills in the neighborhood. It forced me to work my body harder than I thought possible and to start to trust and believe in my will to survive. reprinted with permission from www.health.com

Gail Konop Baker

Beaumont’s Drive to Beat Breast Cancer, The Dr. John A. Ingold

Invitational: Monday, June 6th.

Sharing & Caring will again be selling raf-fle tickets for this year’s DBBC. We hope you will consider purchasing tickets for a chance to win some very exciting prizes! ALL monies raised from the sale of these tickets will go directly to benefit the Sharing & Caring programs you all enjoy!

Tickets are $25 each, or 5 for $100. In addition to cash prizes of $2000, $1000 and $500, there are lots of other great prizes as well. Here’s just a small sampling of what you could win:

An overnight stay with breakfast for two at the Troy Marriott and $100 gift cards for Capital Grille Restaurant in Troy

A family membership at The Henry Ford (Museum, Greenfield Village, etc.) in Dearborn

Certificate for an 18 hole round of golf for a foursome with carts at Oakhurst Golf & Country Club in Clarkston

An overnight stay at the Atheneum Suite Hotel in Detroit and dinner at Andiamo’s in the Renaissance Center. Valued at $380

Romantic Encounter gift package at The Townsend Hotel in Birmingham along with dinner for two at an area restaurant. Valued at $410

Raffle tickets will be available at all of our programs and events, as well as through our office at the Wilson Cancer Resource Center. Please call us at 248-551-8585 for further information!

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Events & volunteer opportunities

Silver Linings: Registration and informational meeting for spring session workshops are scheduled for Tuesday, April 12 at 6:30 pm in the Beaumont Royal Oak Cancer Center Classroom. Spring workshop dates are Tuesdays starting April 26th through June 14th at 6:30 pm. Silver Linings is an interactive recovery workshop for breast cancer survivors who have finished medical treatment. Groups members learn meditation, yoga and other tools to assist them in finding their new definition of normal. Facilitated by Dr. Ruth Lerman. For more information, please contact Pam at [email protected] or call her at 248-551-4645.

Shades of Pink Foundation Walk at the Zoo: Saturday, April 16, 2011. Registration begins at 7:30 am. Doors open at 8:00 am. Opening Ceremony is at 8:30 am. 1, 3 and 6 mile walks will be mapped out. Your early registration fee includes: a ‘Day at the Zoo’ commemorative t-shirt and pin, and breakfast snacks. Adults (15 and up) $35.00, Kids (6-14) $25.00, Children 5 and under free. Late Registration (after April 2) add $5. All funds raised go to Shades of Pink Foundation, a 501 (c)(3) charitable foundation which provides temporary financial assistance to women who are experiencing financial distress as a result of breast cancer. Whether it’s helping with a mortgage payment, the grocery bills, transportation or a COBRA payment, Shades of Pink Foundation is committed to easing the financial burden of a breast cancer diagnosis. We need volunteers, we need participants, we need you. Pre-register at shadesofpinkfoundation.org. If you would like to volunteer or have any questions, please email [email protected] or call 248-551-8890. June 5th: Beaumont Survivor Party Sunday, at the Best Western Sterling Inn, Van Dyke, Sterling Heights. For more information or to RSVP, please call 800-633-7377.

October 1st: Mark your calendars! The 13th Annual Sharing & Caring Breast Cancer Symposium.

Thanks so much for sharing your e-mail addresses with us. Because of you, this newsletter is being “beta” emailed to 600 members of S&C! Via the e-mail version, you’ll be able to enlarge the size for easy viewing,

enjoy it in full-color, and even have the convenience of hyperlinks for websites and emails! With an eye towards saving money so that we may continue our programming, we hope to deliver most of our newsletters

electronically. Please send an email to [email protected] so that we can add you to our mailbox!