October Theme: Cancer Awareness, the Colors of Cancer

[Elly Rose Tech Support]

I have walked in Relays for Life, and supported the American Cancer Society. I have lost family members and friends to cancer. I have felt that I understood the fear and hope that goes hand in hand with cancer.

I was wrong, this year it is personal, I have Stage 4 cancer. I am the one sitting in one of those chairs receiving chemo treatments. I have learn while there that Cancer has many colors.

I have to tell you that the treatment center that I go to is wonderful with caring staff and volunteers. But most amazing are the other patients. We sit is a large room that is divided into three sections. There are five chairs for patients in each section. I meet the most amazing warriors there. Some don't want to talk, but most take this time to chat and share. I gain so much strength from them. They share their stories with each other because it is sometimes safer to share with other Warriors than it is to share with friends and family. I have learn much from these times in treatment. Mainly I learned that Cancer is Many Colors.

This month our theme is Cancer Awareness. I personally can attest to all of the suggestions as many of them have been offered to me during this battle. I know the peace that comes from the prayers that my friends have covered me in since the diagnosis. I know the joy I feel from the many messages and cards I receive. I have had amazing financial support from member here on site along with family and friends. I feel the healing as I receive energy treatment such as Reiki.

 

In my treatment center is a poster that lists what Cancer can't do. It makes me smile and gives me courage.

❤♫❤♫❤.•*¨`*•..¸♥☼♥ ¸.•*¨`*•.♫❤♫❤♫❤.♫❤♫❤♫❤.
╔═════════ ¸⁀°.*.♥.✿´´¯`♥¸⁀°.*.♥.✿═════════╗
ೋ ❤❤❤What Cancer Cannot Do
❤♫❤♫❤ Cancer is so limited........,,,,,…❤♫❤♫❤
❤♫❤♫❤ It cannot cripple Love……….❤♫❤♫❤
❤♫❤♫❤ It cannot shatter Hope……….❤♫❤♫❤
❤♫❤♫❤ It cannot corrode Faith………❤♫❤♫❤
❤♫❤♫❤ It cannot destroy Peace……...❤♫❤♫❤
❤♫❤♫❤ It cannot kill Friendship……..❤♫❤♫❤
❤♫❤♫❤ It cannot suppress Memories..❤♫❤♫❤
❤♫❤♫❤ It cannot silence Courage……❤♫❤♫❤
❤♫❤♫❤ It cannot invade the Soul…….❤♫❤♫❤
❤♫❤♫❤ It cannot steal eternal Life…...❤♫❤♫❤
❤♫❤♫❤ It cannot conquer the Spirit….❤♫❤♫❤
•.¸⁀°.*.♥.✿´´¯`♥ Author Unknown⁀°♡ •.¸⁀°.*.♥.✿´´¯`♥
╚═════════ ¸⁀°.*.♥.✿´´¯`♥¸⁀°.*.♥.✿═════════╝
❤♫❤♫❤.•*¨`*•..¸♥☼♥ ¸.•*¨`*•.♫❤♫❤♫❤.♫❤♫❤♫❤.
❤♫❤♫ ❤.•*¨`*•..¸♥☼♥ ¸.•*¨`*•.♫❤♫❤♫❤♫❤♫❤♫❤.

Here are some suggestion of what you can do for a Cancer Warrior

1. Adopt a Cancer Warrior. In October, make your gives to a specific individual. (Make it personal!) You can check at your church or local Cancer Support Group to find a warrior of your own if you don't know someone that is in this battle
2. Remember the Cancer Warrior in your prayers, it does make a difference
3. If you are an Energy Healer with the warrior's permission send healing energy.
4. Watch a short video on what to say to a friend that’s been diagnosed with breast cancer http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/31/friend-cancer_n_943129.html
5. Help support her by getting educated about dealing with the disease, treatment options, and community resources, such as support groups.
6. Be a source of faith always.
7. Listen to your Warrior as they try to understand the medical terms, give clarity if you can.
8. Be her gopher/ run her errands.
9. Get Your Warrior gift certificates for gasoline to get to appointments, groceries, or manicures, pedicures, facials or massage.
10. Volunteer to be her personal secretary, keeping friends and family informed when she is too tired to do so, avoiding her having the stress of multiple voicemails and emails to answer.
11. Give her an uplifting, inspirational book. Books, puzzles, needlepoint all are things to create a distraction during chemo appointments. Books on CD are especially nice.
12. A maid to clean now and then. Or, if you know her well and she’s comfortable with your helping out, pitch in and do some housekeeping that she can’t do herself at the time.
13. Give a soft blanket to snuggle in for those chemo treatment days.
14. Be with them before, during and after surgery.
15. Take pets to the vet or the park or for walks around the block.
16. Start a ‘Help____Kick Cancer’ fund at http://www.chipin.com/.
17. Give a teddy bear to hold, hug
18. Organize meals. When a mom isn’t able to cook for her family without getting nauseous, that can be hard. Make sure that her family has a dinner every night.
Freezer meals that can be reheated at their convenience are especially helpful.
19. Babysit or hire a babysitter for her, especially for when she has treatments or doctor’s appointments, but for time off, too.
20. Go grocery shopping. Keep her fridge stocked. Pick up her shopping list on a regular day each week when you’re doing your own grocery shopping. Canned food is appreciated.
21. Be her Movie Maven: keep her in a never-ending supply of DVD’s to watch.
22. Make your warrior laugh. Laughter is the best medicine.
23. Random phone calls or texts to see how things are going, or just to talk or text about whatever is on her mind.
24. Give parking money for hospital trips.
25. Be a good listener. Listening to fears and being present, even in silence, allows her the liberty to express her concerns and hopes.
26. Give a soft, fluffy pillow. Silk pillows are extra nice for when hair loss occurs.
27. Don’t make visits all about the cancer. Follow her conversational lead; if she doesn’t want to talk about the disease that day, honor that.
28. Be that distraction. Take walks, go out to dinner, go see a movie. Too much focus on the disease is too much.
29. Give a pair of warm, fuzzy slippers

[Deb~ Community Manager]

This hits home for me too. I support you and all battling this disease. Bless all that have made it thru and are suvivors~

[Elly Rose Tech Support]

Thanks Deb, you are a warrior also

[Deb~ Community Manager]

All of these are wonderful ways to brighten a day for someone in need of some cheer~ Thanks for this post, list and reminder of all suffering this dreadful disease~

[Mary Johnson]

Great cause and great list, Elly Rose.  I am adopting Warriors Deb and Elly Rose for the month of October. You are in my daily prayers.

Continued Blessings, my friends.

Mary

[Elly Rose Tech Support]

Thanks Mary

[Ann]

Thank you dear Elly Rose for this beautiful, beautiful post.  I will adopt many of these giving, supportive suggestions.  My thoughts and prayers go out to you and to all the warriers here on this site (be it cancer or MS or any other disease.)

[Deb~ Community Manager]

Only a few more days left!