The Benefits of Energy Healing

From diagnosis through the different phases of conventional treatment, my body was challenged on the physical, emotional and energetic levels. Exercise and eating healthy foods supported the physical, counseling and peer support assisted in navigating the emotions of the cancer journey, and energy healing worked with the subtle energy field to release blocks and to flush out ‘toxins’ allowing energy to flow smoothly.

Energy healing is a subtle modality in that the effects of the sessions may not be immediately apparent. With intention, blocks are released and energy flows smoothly creating an environment of relaxation where deep healing takes place. Several sessions may be required to identify and then work with the energy blocks and release dis-ease held in the body.

Studies show a direct correlation between deep relaxation and the body’s ability to heal. At the very least, after an energy session one experiences a state of peace and relaxation. Other immediate results can include calm, sense of lightness, or a sense of renewal. Working with the energy body with intention can open the channels to reconnect with the healing body to bring a sense of empowerment, balance and wellness.

Check out this link to our website to explore the possiblity of including energy healing in an integrative plan for wellness...

http://touchedbycancerfoundation.org/tbcfmain.aspx?pgID=931

Is Chemo - Brain for Men Too?

Have you experienced that popular side effect...chemo brain? I'll never forget the day I had to own it for myself. I had torn the kitchen apart, throwing a little fit, looking for the pepper. I stopped for a moment frustrated to the point of tears. In that moment of silence, my internal voice said...look in the refrigerator. I flung the door open, and sitting where the mustard should've been was the pepper shaker. I looked at my daughter, and laughed defeatedly. I wanted to blame someone else, and I knew that I was the only one who could have put the pepper in there.

Chemo brain is real, and it is NOT just me getting older. In the Summer issue of the Touched By Cancer News, there is a fabulous article By Dr. Jennifer Klemp, regarding cognitive function in young women with breast cancer. Compromised cognitive function is commonly called chemo brain. Dr. Klemp goes on to talk about coping strategies. One common thing is to make lists. I take copious notes on everything. Have you used any clever ways to compensate?

While reading the article, I started wondering...does chemo-brain affect men? Being pre-menopausal before chemo, I got to experience the usual brain fog AND now, two years later, it is referred to as estrogen deprivation due to rapid onset menopause. Men do not go through menopause...so do men going through chemo get chemo brain? How about it guys...does this affect you?

The article on Congnative Function by Dr. Jennifer Klemp published in the newsletter is also available to read on the Touched By Cancer Website. Just follow this link: http://touchedbycancerfoundation.org/tbcf.aspx?pgID=954

Please email us at blogger@touchedbycancerfoundation.org if you would like to subscribe to the newsletter.

Oh, and about the pepper... it went back to its home by the stove... I never found the mustard it had replaced in the refrigerator door.

Until next time, Teresa

A Delegate’s Experience at the 2008 LiveStrong Summit

On July 24, 2008, I was fortunate to be one of 1000 delegates traveling to THE Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio to learn ways to employ a Grassroots approach to making cancer a national priority. We were honored to have the incredible key note speakers all weekend and to participate in a town hall with Senator John McCain. Several of us were acting like school kids taking our picture in front of McCain’s bus at our hotel. And the Secret Service is just like they look on TV, very droll and matter of fact and noncommittal when asked a question while riding up in the elevator with us. Back to the Summit…
Delegates chose from three tracks, Advocacy, Fundraising, or Elections. In our Advocacy Grey group, the seminars presented Friday and Saturday built upon one another providing the tools to create a group project. The last session of the day on Saturday had each of our teams within the big group creating a 60 second video ask. We were to give the specific message components to convey:
Vote yellow to make cancer a national priority, refer to the website, and identify our team. Then we were to use brainstorming to create the concept which was to include: persuading viewers to support the cause by evoking emotion and connection with personal stories, educating with statistics and information, and most importantly making the ask.
My team did not win the competition for fabulous prizes, and I still came away with valuable experience on how to build excitement, passion and support for a cause using grassroots methods. Each of my team members presented me with an opportunity to learn something about working together toward a common goal.
So I close today with a promise to share more of the experience at the LiveStrong Summit in future posts and with this pearl of wisdom:
Making the ask is most important. The biggest reason people do not give or participate is because they do not get asked!

Until next time... LiveStrong... Teresa