How often do we take something
like a trip to the beach for granted? After reading this article, you may think twice about
walking-on-by the next time you see someone sitting a bit anxiously on a beach
towel. Perhaps a smile is all it will take to put that person at ease and make
their beach experience a great one, again. You may never know how bumpy their
road in life is but a friendly smile can make their trip easier, even if only
for the day. Healing starts one second, one minute, and one day at a time. And… after reading this story, you may never look
at chicken cutlets the same way again.
It is my pleasure to share an amazing writer with you.
My guest writer today is
Connie Bramer who, like me, is a breast cancer survivor/thriver and an author
who wrote the snarkiest book, How Connie
Got Her Rack Back, (most of the time I tried not to fall out of my chair
laughing) about her experiences concerning everyday-life during cancer treatment
and her ultimate survival to become a Thought Leader. Today Connie helps other
cancer patients and their families during and after treatment.
I believe anyone who laughs at themselves laughs with the world. ~Kat Kanavos
Laughter is a big part
of the healing process. So laugh ‘till it heals while reading this article.
Walking hand-in-hand with her while I read how Connie got her rack back was an
honor. I now share this honor with you, my readers, with the hope that Connie’s
sense of humor lifts your spirts and brings a chuckle to your heart.
Kathleen (Kat) O’Keefe-
Kanavos
A Trip to the Beach
by Connie Bramer
We all have our
insecurities, and perhaps I’m mentioning
the beach bit now – in the middle of winter no less – because I just got back
from a beach vacation. No one wants to run full-on Bo Derek down the sandy edge
of the ocean after eating Thanksgiving dinner, Christmas cookies, and all the penne a la vodka in between. In
this case, we are talking about me. Or are you in this scenario also?
Anyway, here is the drill.
You spend copious
amounts of time and postage buying bathing suits, throwing them on and saying
under-your-breath “WTF was I thinking,” only to toss them back in the bag,
throw on your boots and take a trip to the post office to return. Sound
familiar?
You finally find the most “suitable” no-pun-intended suit for your body,
because there is no designer on earth that nails it perfectly for every varying
body that God and our eating and exercise habits has bestowed upon us. By the
way, men, do you struggle with this at all? Or do you not care? Which is it?
So you squeeze into your suit, throw on
a cover-up and head to the beach.
You sit down on your towel;
strip off the cover-up and think, “Is anyone looking at me?” I noticed this the
other day as I did much the same on my hombre blue towel only to notice that no
one gave two shi** about the girl from NY stripping away her cover-up on the
beach.
But here is one aspect we breast cancer (and many other types of cancer)
survivors don’t voice. Some of us have deformities where once a strong part of
our bodies used to reside. Me, I know my breasts are not perfect now after umpteen
surgeries to rid myself of my cancer and to reconstruct my new “rack,” but
whose breasts are once you pass your mid-forties and have birthed two children?
I think of the women I know and those I don’t
know who chose not to have reconstruction or those who chose to have one
mastectomy and have what we call a “chicken-cutlet” prosthesis on one side. My
mom had that, and I know that it used to
get too hot on her chest so sometimes she would take it out and put it in the
kitchen table! And no, not for chicken dinner as my younger brother once
decided to inquire.
So why am I writing all of this? What is
the point? Here is the epiphany if you will.
We all
come in different shapes and sizes, backgrounds and experiences. We are all imperfect, so why do we
continue to beat ourselves up about it? And moreover, WHO CARES?
We are our own worst enemies.
Take what you will from
this short story of self-reflection. My only ask is that you lighten up on yourself a little because that’s what
I’m going to do. They say that misery loves
company but so does happiness. So, be a little kinder to yourself.
Thank
you, Connie Bramer, for sharing your deep insights on self-reflection with us. Yes,
it is our choice with what and whom we surround ourselves. And since we are
always wherever we go, perhaps we should lighten-up on ourselves to promote our
own happiness. Connie, it is my hope that you will share more of your wisdom
with us in the near future.
Guest Writer Bio: Constance (Connie) Bramer is a Breast
Cancer Survivor and author of How Connie Got Her Rack Back. She
is the Founder/CEO of Get Your Rack Back
Inc. which supports cancer patients and their families. Learn more about Connie
here: https://gyrb.org/
About Kathleen (Kat) O’Keefe-Kanavos: VIDEO Podcaster,
three-time Breast Cancer Survivor, and Dream Expert seen on Dr. Oz,
DOCTORS, NBC, & CBS. Her Divine Dreams diagnose her illness. Kat and Duke U Dr. Larry Burk co-wrote, Dreams That Can Save Your Life. She’s a Syndicated Columnist, TV
Producer/Host and award-winning Author/Lecturer who promotes patient advocacy
and connecting with Divine-guidance through Dreams. “Don’t tell God how big
your problems are. Tell your problems how big your God is.” Learn more @ www.KathleenOKeefeKanavos.com
Photo Credit: httpspixabay.comenshells-sand-beach-vacation-792912Pixabya
Free for Commercial Use no Attribution Required
Coffee lovers wake up and smell the new research that may extend your life. It concludes that your cup or two of morning brew may be good for you, and increase your lifespan. Previous studies stated coffee might shorten your life by leading to life-threatening diseases like cancer. Recent research has changed that thought pattern. Now, a cup a day may chase cancer away. A cup-a-Joe may increase blood flow. The confirmation that my beloved coffee may be healthy has left me so happy it has awakened my inner poet. I promise not to rhyme anymore.
This new research is music to many coffee lovers’ ears and warms our soul which may also lead to a happier life. Science has already proven a happier life is a healthier life. As the research below shows, coffee may even reduce suicide and help patients suffering from Parkinson’s Disease. Coffee may be the miracle answer.
However, it also appears that scientific research contradicts itself from one discovery to the next.
Like the New England weather at Harvard, if you don’t like the current scientific findings on a new health topic, wait five minutes, and it may change.
With over 400 billion cups of coffee thought to be consumed every year, coffee is one of the world’s most popular drinks.
What are the newly discovered health benefits and risks of drinking coffee?
Let’s begin with the risks. Coffee is not for everyone. People with caffeine allergies, glaucoma, epilepsy, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) may want to stay away from caffeinated coffee. Harvard Research found that drinking eight or more cups daily has been associated with increased suicide risk.
The good news. Two new studies, one in the U.S. and one in Europe, have found that drinking more coffee each day could lead to a longer life. The benefits may range from helping to prevent diabetes, protect heart rhythm, lower risks of high-grade prostate cancer, colorectal cancer, liver disease, naturally treat Parkinson ’s disease, and reduce mental health issues like depression and suicide.
For those infected with hepatitis C, drinking coffee may reduce DNA damage, increase the clearance of virus-infected cells, and slow the scarring process, which may help explain coffee’s apparent role in reducing liver disease progression risk.
According to the Prostate Cancer Foundation these studies tracked over 700,000 people across multiple ethnic groups in over 10 European countries and the U.S. It was discovered that even drinking decaffeinated coffee supplied benefits to individuals over those who did not drink the beverage. The studies have even dispelled the old myth that caffeine might increase the risk of atrial fibrillation, an irregular heart rhythm. Drinking low-dose caffeine, defined as fewer than six cups of coffee a day, may even have a protective effect on heart rhythm.
Research published in the April issue of Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, Researchers from the USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center examined 5,100 men and women diagnosed with colorectal cancer within the past six months, and an additional 4,000 men and women with no history of colorectal cancer to serve as a control group.
“We found that drinking coffee is associated with lower risk of colorectal cancer, and the more coffee consumed, the lower the risk,” said Stephen Gruber, director of the USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center and senior author of the study.
What about coffee and Parkinson ’s disease?
Coffee consumption seems to be associated with about one-third lower risk concerning Parkinson’s Disease. Caffeine appears to be the key ingredient because tea also seems protective and decaf coffee does not. Parkinson’s patients treated with the caffeine equivalent of two cups of coffee a day significantly improved movement symptoms within three weeks.
The studies concluded that consuming 1-2 cups of coffee per day resulted in a 12% lower risk of mortality and consuming 2-4 cups a day resulted in an 18% lower risk of mortality. These results in inverse rates of mortality to coffee consumption showed in diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease, stroke, and cancer.
How can coffee help prevent diseases from cancer and heart attack to suicide?
According to Nutritional Facts.org, and USC News coffee is a complex mixture of compounds that have various biological effects, such as anti-inflammatory properties. It is believed that in addition to these properties, coffee is a source of polyphenols which have potent antioxidant properties, which helps cells cope with free radicals in the blood.
Do you know why coffee has been named the number-two healthiest beverage?
The Beverage Guidance Panel assembled to provide recommendations on benefits and risks of various beverage categories, found tea and coffee—preferably without creamer or sweetener—tied as the number-two healthiest beverages, second only to water. The studies in this article are published in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
The National Institutes of Health–AARP Diet and Health Study is the largest-ever prospective study conducted on diet and health. Its research concluded that people who drank six or more cups of coffee per day had a 10 to 15 percent lower mortality from heart disease, respiratory disease, stroke, injuries, accidents, diabetes, and infections. However, the opposite effect was found when a study looked at people 55 and younger. Drinking more than six cups of coffee daily increased their risk of death.
The conclusion, according to Nutritionfacts.org, and based on all the best studies to date listed in this article, is that coffee consumption may indeed be associated with a small reduction in mortality, on the order of a 3 percent lower risk of premature death for each cup of coffee consumed daily.
If coffee is good for the body is it also good for the spirit? Yes!
The Harvard Gazette explained that caffeine could lower the risk of depression among coffee drinkers because it stimulates the central nervous system which may act as a mild antidepressant by boosting production of certain neurotransmitters in the brain, including serotonin, dopamine, and noradrenaline.
Harvard University researchers discovered that people who drank two or more cups of coffee each day appeared to have about half the suicide risk compared to non-coffee drinkers. A Kaiser Permanente study found that people who drank more than six cups a day were 80 percent less likely to commit suicide. According to researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) drinking several cups of coffee daily appears to reduce the risk of suicide in men and women by about 50 percent. The new study was published online July 2, 2018, in The World Journal of Biological Psychiatry.
“Unlike previous investigations, we were able to assess association of consumption of caffeinated and non-caffeinated beverages, and we identify caffeine as the most likely candidate of any putative protective effect of coffee,” said lead researcher Michel Lucas, research fellow in the Department of Nutrition at HSPH.
Your takeaway message of these studies? The benefits far outweigh the risks.
Dr. Marc Gunter, author of the European study summed up the benefits of drinking coffee when he stated, “The takeaway message would be that drinking a couple cups of coffee a day doesn’t do you any harm, and actually, it might be doing you some good.”
Dr. Gunter’s summation was seconded by Dr. Veronica Wendy Setiawan, associate professor of preventative medicine at USC’s Keck School of Medicine, who led the study on nonwhite populations, when she said, “These studies and the previous studies suggest that for a majority of people, there’s no long-term harm from drinking coffee. Moderate coffee consumption can be incorporated into a healthy diet and lifestyle.”
For years my non-coffee-drinking husband would “tisk, tisk” my morning coffee routine and follow it up with, “Be stubborn about your health despite proof that coffee is bad for you. Just sayin’.” The current research is a new day dawning because now my husband brings me coffee in bed. And sometimes, to be sure it is perfect before saying, “This cup is for you,” he will even sneak a sip or two.
I know, I know! I promised not to rhyme. But, my coffee made me do it just one more time. I’m done!
About the Author: Kathleen (Kat) O’Keefe-Kanavos is a three-time Breast Cancer Survivor, as seen on Dr. Oz Show, DOCTORS, NBC, and CBS, whose dreams diagnose her illness, and was a Dream Research Participant for Dr. Larry Burk‘s Dream Research. They co-wrote, Dreams That Can Save Your Life. She is a TV Producer/Host and award-winning Author/Lecturer who promotes patient advocacy and connecting with Inner-guidance through Dreams for success in health, wealth, and relationships. Learn more @ KathleenOKeefeKanavos.com
Like the New England weather at Harvard, if you don’t like current scientific findings on new health topics, wait five minutes, and it may change. Coffee lovers and cancer patients worldwide hope this recent one remains the same, especially concerning coffee’s impact on prostate cancer.
In part one of this three-part blog, we looked at current research concerning the effects of coffee on our health, including its impact on cancer and suicide.
According to the Prostate Cancer Foundation these studies tracked over 700,000 people across multiple ethnic groups in over 10 European countries and the U.S. It was discovered that even drinking decaffeinated coffee supplied benefits to individuals over those who did not drink the beverage. The studies have even dispelled the old myth that caffeine might increase the risk of atrial fibrillation, an irregular heart rhythm. Drinking low-dose caffeine, defined as fewer than six cups of coffee a day, may even have a protective effect on heart rhythm.
Research published in the April issue of Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, Researchers from the USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center examined 5,100 men and women diagnosed with colorectal cancer within the past six months, and an additional 4,000 men and women with no history of colorectal cancer to serve as a control group.
“We found that drinking coffee is associated with lower risk of colorectal cancer, and the more coffee consumed, the lower the risk,” said Stephen Gruber, director of the USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center and senior author of the study.
What about coffee and Parkinson ’s disease?
Coffee consumption seems to be associated with about one-third lower risk concerning Parkinson’s Disease. Caffeine appears to be the key ingredient because tea also seems protective and decaf coffee does not. Parkinson’s patients treated with the caffeine equivalent of two cups of coffee a day significantly improved movement symptoms within three weeks.
The studies concluded that consuming 1-2 cups of coffee per day resulted in a 12% lower risk of mortality and consuming 2-4 cups a day resulted in an 18% lower risk of mortality. These results in inverse rates of mortality to coffee consumption showed in diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease, stroke, and cancer.
How can coffee help prevent diseases from cancer and heart attack to suicide?
According to Nutritional Facts.org, and USC News coffee is a complex mixture of compounds that have various biological effects, such as anti-inflammatory properties. It is believed that in addition to these properties, coffee is a source of polyphenols which have potent antioxidant properties, which helps cells cope with free radicals in the blood.
Do you know why coffee has been named the number-two healthiest beverage?
The Beverage Guidance Panel assembled to provide recommendations on benefits and risks of various beverage categories, found tea and coffee—preferably without creamer or sweetener—tied as the number-two healthiest beverages, second only to water. The studies in this article are published in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
The National Institutes of Health–AARP Diet and Health Study is the largest-ever prospective study conducted on diet and health. Its research concluded that people who drank six or more cups of coffee per day had a 10 to 15 percent lower mortality from heart disease, respiratory disease, stroke, injuries, accidents, diabetes, and infections. However, the opposite effect was found when a study looked at people 55 and younger. Drinking more than six cups of coffee daily increased their risk of death.
Don’t miss part 3 of this 3 part blog as we continue to discuss the current research on how coffee has been proved to reduce mortality rates and sum up the benefits and risks of drinking coffee. How much is too much coffee and is it worse than not enough?
About the Author: Kathleen (Kat) O’Keefe-Kanavos is a three-time Breast Cancer Survivor, as seen on Dr. Oz Show, DOCTORS, NBC, and CBS, whose dreams diagnose her illness, and was a Dream Research Participant for Dr. Larry Burk‘s Dream Research. They co-wrote, Dreams That Can Save Your Life. She is a TV Producer/Host and award-winning Author/Lecturer who promotes patient advocacy and connecting with Inner-guidance through Dreams for success in health, wealth, and relationships. Learn more @ www.KathleenOKeefeKanavos.com
photo credit:
httpspixabay.comencup-coffee-cup-cup-of-coffee-moon-1956716Pixel2013 Free for Commercial Use No attribution required
Like the New England weather at the Harvard Research facility, if you don’t like the current scientific findings on a new health topic, wait five minutes, and it may change. Coffee lovers and cancer patients worldwide hope this latest coffee and cancer research remains the same.
Coffee lovers wake up! Smell the new brew research that may extend your life. It concludes that your cup or two of morning brew may be good for you, and increase your lifespan. Great plan. Previous studies stated coffee might shorten your life by leading to life-threatening diseases like cancer. However, recent research has changed that thought pattern.
Now, a cup a day may chase cancer away. A cup-a-Joe may increase blood flow.
The confirmation that my beloved coffee may be healthy has left me so happy it has awakened my inner poet, like you didn’t know it. But, I promise not to rhyme anymore.
This new research is music to many coffee lovers’ and cancer patients ears while it warms our soul which may also lead to a happier life. Science has already proven a happier life is a healthier life. As the research below shows, coffee may even reduce suicide and help patients suffering from Parkinson’s Disease. Coffee may be the miracle answer.
Unfortunately, it also appears that scientific research contradicts itself from one discovery to the next.
With over 400 billion cups of coffee thought to be consumed every year, coffee is one of the world’s most popular drinks.
What are the newly discovered health benefits and risks of drinking coffee?
Let’s begin with the risks. Coffee is not for everyone. People with caffeine allergies, glaucoma, epilepsy, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) may want to stay away from caffeinated coffee. Harvard Research found that drinking eight or more cups a day has been associated with increased suicide risk.
Now, the good news. Two new studies, one in the U.S. and one in Europe, have found that drinking more coffee each day could lead to a longer life. The benefits may range from helping to prevent diabetes, protect heart rhythm, lower risks of high-grade prostate cancer, colorectal cancer, liver disease, naturally treat Parkinson ’s disease, and reduce mental health issues like depression and suicide.
For those infected with hepatitis C, drinking coffee may reduce DNA damage, increase the clearance of virus-infected cells, and slow the scarring process, which may help explain coffee’s apparent role in reducing liver disease progression risk.
Don’t miss part 2 of this three part blog to learn about the latest uplifting research on coffee and the effect it has on reducing the chances of getting Prostate Cancer.
About the Author: Kathleen (Kat) O’Keefe-Kanavos is a three-time Breast Cancer Survivor, as seen on Dr. Oz Show, DOCTORS, NBC, and CBS, whose dreams diagnose her illness, and was a Dream Research Participant for Dr. Larry Burk‘s Dream Research. They co-wrote, Dreams That Can Save Your Life. She is a TV Producer/Host and award-winning Author/Lecturer who promotes patient advocacy and connecting with Inner-guidance through Dreams for success in health, wealth, and relationships. Learn more @ KathleenOKeefeKanavos.com
Photo credit:
httpspixabay.comencup-coffee-cup-cup-of-coffee-moon-1956716Pixel2013 Free for Commercial Use No attribution required
Unfortunately, cancer and depression go together like peanut and butter. As a three-time cancer survivor, severe bouts of depression presented a choice: take pills to alleviate it, or face it and figure out what my body and psyche were saying.
Depression is often a symptom, not an illness.
Alleviating the symptom may not cure the disorder. I saw my depression as something that would diminish if I faced and cured the cause. This is easier said than done. I considered suicide as a means of escape rather than facing my “ghosts.” However, deciding to see what lessons could be learned from the ghosts of my life was the first step toward a cure.
Looking back on difficult times allows us the opportunity to ask questions previously avoided such as, “Why was I depressed? How did depression serve me and what did it teach me?” Our mind is incredibly powerful and will create or manifest situations to serve and save us.
Depression and illness can be a way of forcing us to slow down and “look within” at memories (old baggage), events (past and present cycles), people (relationships), and life- styles (habits) that are not to our benefit. Without depression, we may continue to accept whatever life throws at us—settling for less than we needed and/or deserved.
Just because something is thrown at us does not mean we have to catch it, hold, and keep it, including insults or negative relationships. We can choose to duck or move out of the way. And, if we do catch it, we can choose to drop it.Depression made me stop and reassess my life-choices.
I concluded that how people treat me is their Karma, how I respond is mine.
Not all relationships or situations should be avoided or dropped. And that may be our most important lesson—the quickest way to change someone’s behavior is to change ours first. They must respond differently to the new behavior.
Depression can help us stop and reassess our life-choices.
Illness and depression are the perfect opportunity to take time out for yourself. It can teach you how to respect, honor, and put yourself first, and to choose to change or walk away from bad habits, relationships, and situations.
Draw new boundaries with which you can live.
A friend once asked me, “How can I just quit my job or walk away from my relationship if that is what is depressing or killing me.”
Responding to her question with another question was the best answer. “Are you worried about letting down your job and relationship or yourself? Will they survive tomorrow if you are not around? Will you thrive if they are gone? You cannot hold a gift if your hands are full. Put something down.”
Whenever we feel overwhelmed taking a step back can help us reassess our life. One of the first things we can do is “check our inner baggage,” –the useless stuff we accumulated throughout life. You may be surprised that you are bogged down with stuff which is not even yours. Simply drop it. It’s not yours to keep.
As a caring and loving person, it is so easy to take on other people’s emotional leftovers rather than respecting their right to carry it. By taking on the baggage of others we unintentionally take their learning experience and right to emotional growth away from them.
Old habits are hard to break. Keep working on them.
We often think if we carried someone else’s heavy troubles for them it would lighten their load. It doesn’t. It just makes ours heavier. That realization teaches a very difficult lesson—We cannot carry other people’s baggage or walk their path for them. We have to respect their life-lessons… to be learned by them… and our lesson may be to respect and love them enough to let them learn from their mistakes. We can offer them our shoulder but not our back. Let me explain.
There is a big difference between being supportive and being a mule. A supportive person lends a helping hand or a shoulder to cry on. A mule carries the weight of the world on their back while refusing to focus on their own life—this is avoidance. It only takes another challenge to be the straw that breaks their back and sends them spiraling into depression.
Our mind is a beautiful thing.
Experience has taught that we manifest not only what we want but also what we need. Sometimes we need to slow down and reassess our lives.
Depression served me in this capacity.
I didn’t enjoy it and would not choose to go through it again. However, by facing depression rather than suppressing it, I learned from it, used it to change my life, and ultimately survived life-threatening adversity and illness.
Let’s begin with the risks. Coffee is not for everyone. People with caffeine allergies, glaucoma, epilepsy, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) may want to stay away from caffeinated coffee. 
About the Author: Kathleen (Kat) O’Keefe-Kanavos is a three-time Breast Cancer Survivor, as seen on Dr. Oz Show, DOCTORS, NBC, and CBS, whose dreams diagnose her illness, and was a Dream Research Participant for Dr. Larry Burk‘s Dream Research. They co-wrote, Dreams That Can Save Your Life. She is a TV Producer/Host and award-winning Author/Lecturer who promotes patient advocacy and connecting with Inner-guidance through Dreams for success in health, wealth, and relationships. Learn more @ 
