AIM for a CURE Melanoma Walk

Sponsor JESSICA CASSITY in AIM for a CURE Melanoma Walks

I've signed-up to participate in a Melanoma Walk/Run to raise money for melanoma research and awareness.

This cause is very important to me because II will be walking in memory of my best friend, Laura Gillespie. Laura lost her 5 year long battle with Melanoma on May 10th of this year, at the young age of 30.

I've pledged to raise at least $500 this year, but to do this, I need your help! Please consider making a fully tax-deductible donation so I can reach my goal.

Melanoma is the fastest growing cancer in the United States and worldwide. It is the leading cause of cancer death in women ages 25-30. One person dies every 60 minutes from melanoma. You have less than a 10% chance of surviving 5 years when Melanoma is not caught in the early stages. And, there is no effective medical therapy for metastatic melanoma.

I'm taking on this challenge to do something big that will increase awareness and support research for the CURE. No one deserves to suffer and lose their life at such a young age like Laura. So, please help support this cause!

Thank you so much for you kindness, compassion, and support.

Sincerely,

Jessica

Ticks & Lyme Disease

I probably should've done a post like this at the beginning of the summer, but we're headed off to go camping this weekend so I figured I should do some research about tick removal.  I've acquired a tremendous amount of knowledge about Lyme over the years, but it's primarily been focused on symptoms and treatment.  I know (from my own personal experience) that prevention and awareness are key factors... if you don't catch it early or get the proper treatment then you're likely in for a long road to recovery!

Below I've listed the 5 states with the highest incidence rates of Lyme.  Before doing that, I must mention that this information is coming from the CDC website, which is said to be highly unreliable and that the reported rates are 10 times lower than the actual number of cases (so these numbers should be multiplied by 10!).  Having said that, here are the figures for 2009:

1) Pennsylvania = 5,722
2) New York = 5,651
3) Massachusetts = 5,256
4) New Jersey = 4,973
5) Connecticut = 4,153

Although the above listed states appear to have the highest incidence rates, you can get Lyme ANYWHERE.  Cases have been confirmed in every single state!  Click here to see an interactive map of the incidence rates in the dog population.  It lets you enter your zip code and check the incidence for your county.  Be aware that they also mention that the rates are probably much higher due to underreporting!

So..... what do you do if a tick decides to latch on to you?

Here is a great video on tick removal:

And you can also check out this great step-by-step guide on how to remove a tick on the CALDA website.

Some prevention tips:

• don't sit on tree stumps or lean up against trees
• wear light colored clothing, ideally long sleeves and pants
• tuck shirts into pants and pants into socks
• when camping or hiking, walk in the middle of paths
• consider using DEET (if you feel comfortable with it's chemical content)
• do a tick check daily, and for several days after exposure to an environment that might have ticks
• put your clothes in the dryer (on high) for an hour after exposure

Read more about prevention and tick removal over at CALDA.

A recipe for a make-your-own tick removal kit:

• sandwich bag
• gloves
• pointed tweezers
• alcohol pads
• bandaids
• neosporin 
• another sandwich bag (in case you want to save the tick)

Or you can click here to order a tick removal kit from the Lyme Disease Foundation.

EWG's Skin Deep Cosmetic Database - An Excellent Resource!!!

I recently stumbled across a great website that is run by the EWG.  EWG stands for Environmental Working Group and they have what they refer to as the "Skin Deep Cosmetics Database".  This database contains revealing information about many of the products that we use every day (soaps, lotions, make-up, deodorant, etc.).  The products are ranked on a scale of 0 to 10, with 0 being the least hazardous.  There are also notations that explain whether this ranking is based on minimal research, or an abundance of research.  I like the fact that you can make your own informed decisions based on how much is truly known about a particular product or ingredient.  They also break things down into the following categories: overall hazard, cancer, developmental & reproductive toxicity, allergies & immunotoxicity, and use restrictions.  So, head on over to the Skin Deep Cosmetics Database and learn what you need to know about the products you use every day!

Image: akeeris / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Detoxify Your Body

Detoxification is a very important part of my daily life. I've learned how important it is (especially when you have a chronic illness) to eliminate toxins from your body. As I begin a new (and much more aggressive) treatment regimen, it is more important than ever for me to detox. If I am not diligent about this, the toxic load in my body can accumulate and when that happens there are many nasty side effects.

So, who should detoxify?  EVERYONE.  Why?  Because in today's society, we are constantly bombarded with chemicals that can seriously compromise our health.  Better to take preventative action now, than have to repair the damage later!  Here are some suggestions for anyone looking to detoxify:

• Greens - green vegetables contain chlorophyll, which is a natural detoxification agent.  Chlorophyll has also been shown to have anti-carcinogenic properties, as proven by a NIH study in 2007.(1)  Wheat grass shots are another great way to get your chlorophyll!
• Dry Skin Brushing - our skin is responsible for 25% of our detoxification each day.  Body brushing stimulates the lymphatic system so the lymph can circulate through out the body and travel back to the large vessels for excretion.  To see a video about dry skin brushing, click here.
• Epsom Salt Baths - scientifically known as hydrated magnesium sulfate, epsom salts help to promote perspiration and draw acidic waste through the pores of the skin.  (Caution: If you have high blood pressure or any heart condition, some suggest that you should not take an epsom salt bath!  Check with your doctor first.)  To read more about the benefits of epsom salt baths, you can read about it on the care2 website.
• Glutathione - the best way to consume this product is through a liquid liposomal formula or intravenously.  Glutathione in pill form is not effective, so don't waste your money!  (An effective product example: Tri-Fortfy from Advanced Nutritionals, this a powerful glutathione-based antioxidant that acts as a detoxing agent).  Results from a 2007 study published in Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers Prevention, shows that glutathione may enhance detoxification of carcinogens.(2)
• Water & Fiber - adding fiber to your diet will help detoxification by promoting regularity.  If you are not regular, accumulation of toxins in the gut (and possibly in the body if you have leaky gut) is inevitable.  Drinking plenty of water is absolutely necessary when you eat fiber!  Drinking water alone helps to dilute/eliminate toxins, cleanse the skin and our kidneys.
• Exercise - this helps to stimulate elimination through the skin as we sweat.  Additionally, it helps to stimulate circulation and our lymphatic system, both of which are important for detoxing.
• Herbal Formulas - there are many herbal formulas out there that assist with detoxification.  I take a specific herbal formula (Dr. Nicola's Detox #2), but there are many other options out there as well.  Milk thistle is said to be beneficial with liver protection and detoxification.(3)    

References:

1) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9683196

2) http://cebp.aacrjournals.org/content/16/8/1662

3) http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/milk-thistle-000266.htm

Being a Better You

Today I began to think of some ways we can slow down and enjoy the simple pleasures that life has to offer.  I think it is so crucial that we all do this- it is truly nurturing for you mental and physical wellbeing.  I think there are all too many people out there that believe that if they work hard for forty years, then they'll eventually get to wind down and relax when it comes time for retirement.  Well- what if your health deteriorates before you reach that time?  What if you lose your significant other?  What if you lose your job?  These "what-ifs" aren't meant to be anxiety provoking or negative.  It's just to illustrate the fact that life can throw a real wrench in our life plans sometimes, and this is why I think it is so important to treasure the here and now.  Be grateful for what you do have (not what you don't) and live for today, not for tomorrow.  Much easier said than done, right?

I found a list of 75 things you can do to brighten your day over at ZenHabits.  Here are my personal suggestions- most things take a minimal amount of time, which makes them ideal for busy people:

1. Take a walk.
2. Buy a plant and take a few minutes to care for it each day to observe it's beauty.
3. Have a cup of tea and savor every sip.
4. Sit outdoors and truly experience what nature has to offer (feel the breeze on your skin, watch the clouds float by, feel the sun, etc.).  
5. Take a time out to do some bird watching.  Set up a feeder and observe the beautiful birds that come to visit.
6. Read a few pages in an inspirational book.
7. Listen to music- preferably some songs that touch your soul or make you get up and dance.
8. While you're out and about, admire the innocence of a child.
9. Love your pet- give back some of that unconditional love that they show you every day.
10. Inhale the aroma of a candle (preferably made from a natural source like soy or beeswax vs. the average kind that's made with toxic chemicals) or essential oils.
11. Take 10 minutes to lie down and practice diaphragmatic breathing.
12. If you can afford it, get a massage.  If not, get a loved one to give you a massage!
13. Call an old friend.
14. Tell someone what you love about them.
15. Discover the therapeutic properties of laughter!

Some inspirational quotes to write in a journal or hang around your house (maybe on a mirror or the fridge?):

• “The sky has never been the limit. We are our own limits. It’s then about breaking our personal limits and outgrowing ourselves to live our best lives.”
• “To wish you were someone else is to waste the person you are.”
• “Your time is limited, don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma, which is living the result of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of other’s opinion drown your own inner voice.  And most importantly, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition, they somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.” – Steve Jobs
• "Men talk of killing time, while time quietly kills them."  ~Dion Boucicault
• "Time is the coin of your life.  It is the only coin you have, and only you can determine how it will be spent.  Be careful lest you let other people spend it for you."  ~Carl Sandburg
• "Time is an equal opportunity employer.  Each human being has exactly the same number of hours and minutes every day.  Rich people can't buy more hours.  Scientists can't invent new minutes.  And you can't save time to spend it on another day.  Even so, time is amazingly fair and forgiving.  No matter how much time you've wasted in the past, you still have an entire tomorrow."  ~Denis Waitely
• "You cannot do a kindness to soon, for you never know how soon it will be too late."  ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Image: prozac1 / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Facts About Melanoma - In Honor of my Best Friend

The Benefits of Yoga

I did not get into yoga to get stronger or to become more flexible.  My body actually kind of "forced" me into yoga because it was too sensitive to tolerate any thing else.  Because of the Lyme I am on an aerobic restriction, and even if I wasn't, the fatigue makes it very difficult to have the energy to exercise.  So, during my most recent flare, I discovered yoga.  I'd been doing yoga on the Wii fit (which I know really doesn't count) for a couple of years, but I didn't realize that there's so much more to it.  Yoga has truly changed my life- the way that I view things, my relationship with my body, my reaction to physical pain, my ability to handle stressful situations.... I could go on and on.  I am blessed to have a one on one instructor who has taught me so much.  I'd like to share some of my favorite poses and then I'll talk about my favorite kind of yoga- Restorative Yoga!

"Pose of the Child"














"Modified Child's Pose"









"Tree Pose"

So, why yoga?  According to the MayoClinic, here are some of the great benefits:

• Stress Reduction
• Increased Fitness
• Management of Chronic Health Conditions
• Weight Loss

Okay, now on to my favorite kind of yoga- RESTORATIVE YOGA!!!  This type of yoga is very passive- it uses blankets, yoga blocks, straps, sandbags, eyebags, etc. to do all of the work for you!  It truly feels like a vacation for your body!  You hold each pose (as you are supported by your prop) for a given length of time (maybe 5-15 minutes, depending on the pose) while you just lie there and experience a great state of relaxation.  Sounds pretty good, huh?  My group instructor says it can really help with getting us out of that constant "fight or flight" mode that most people are constantly in.  According to her, it can also be helpful for fighting adrenal fatigue, boosting the immune system, helping chronic pain, and coping with grief or stress.  Here are some examples of restorative poses:

To learn more about yoga, check out these yoga sites:

• Yoga Journal
• Daily OM
• Yoga Bear Videos