Written by Ann Pietrangelo on Tuesday, December 13th, 2011 in Emotional Issues, Family, Natural Choice Directory Articles.
Holidays got you down? Are you stressed about gifts and parties, and financial and social obligations to the point where you just wish you could skip the holidays altogether? Even worse, does the holiday season make you feel depressed?
If so, you’re not alone, but you might want to take a cue from Ebenezer Scrooge.
Written by Ann Pietrangelo on Monday, December 12th, 2011 in Emotional Issues, Family.
Are you longing for Christmas past? ‘Tis the season for reminiscing, after all. If you’re feeling nostalgic for the good old days and an old-fashioned Christmas, you’re not alone. But is all that nostalgia good for you?
The sights and sounds of the holiday season can reawaken memories and relationships, according to nostalgia expert Krystine Batcho, PhD, a professor at Le Moyne College in Syracuse, NY. Getting in touch with family and old friends reminds us of special times.
Read it: Is Holiday Nostalgia Good for You?
Written by Ann Pietrangelo on Friday, December 9th, 2011 in Emotional Issues, Family, Inside the Maze, No More Secs!.
On the Living with HOPE podcast with the very gracious Trudy Thomas.
Written by Ann Pietrangelo on Tuesday, December 6th, 2011 in Family.
What is the single most important thing you can do to prevent the spread of germs this cold and flu season?
Written by Ann Pietrangelo on Tuesday, November 22nd, 2011 in Emotional Issues, Family, Inside the Maze, Triple-Negative Breast Cancer.
When it comes to giving thanks, I know exactly where to start — by sending the universe a heartfelt thank you for the gift of life.
I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2004 and triple-negative breast cancer in 2010, and in my 52 years on the planet, there have been other health issues, too. I’ve had my battles, that’s for sure. One might be tempted to harbor resentment about the piling on, but I don’t. I choose to look at it another way. This body of mine is a trooper. It fights back with a vengeance and I’m darn lucky to reside in such a resilient body.
Read it: Thankful for the Gift of Life
Written by Ann Pietrangelo on Tuesday, November 15th, 2011 in Family, Health Care Policy, In The News.
High-powered magnets — the kind you might have sitting on your desk right now — may pose a serious risk to the children in your life.
With an increasing number of incident reports to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), the agency has issued a warning that high-powered magnets are a safety risk for children.
The type of magnets in question are the high-powered ball-bearing magnets that are marketed to adults as stress relievers or desk toys.
Written by Ann Pietrangelo on Tuesday, November 8th, 2011 in Caregiver's Corner, Emotional Issues, Family, Health Care Policy, In The News.
It is estimated that more than 65 million people in the United States provide care for a chronically ill, disabled or aging family member or friend during any given year. It takes a physical, emotional, and financial toll, and is an all but invisible labor of love.
Who are the caregivers? Sixty-six percent of family caregivers are women and more than 37 percent are also responsible for children and grandchildren under age 18. Caregiving goes on largely behind closed doors, before and after outside employment.
Written by Ann Pietrangelo on Monday, October 31st, 2011 in Caregiver's Corner, Emotional Issues, Family, Inside the Maze, Triple-Negative Breast Cancer.
I sing and dance when I feel good. Not well, mind you. My younger son was but a toddler, trapped in a moving vehicle with his off-key mother, when he said, “Mom, can you please sing inside your head?” That about sums up my talent.
My singing is important, though. It’s a sign that I feel good. It’s not just a good mood thing — it means I feel healthy and have extra energy to burn — and that’s not always the case.
While preparing dinner last night I was in fine form, groovin’ to classic rock and belting out some fairly horrific sounding notes. Then I considered my husband, working in our home office, and wondered if I was annoying him. How could he concentrate with my off-key chorus? But it felt too good to stop.
My precarious health situation this past year means that he appreciates just about anything I do, simply because I’m here to do it. That’s got to wear off eventually, right?
At dinner I asked the question. “How long will it last? How long will I be able to get away with making a racket before you quit appreciating my mere presence and ask me to cut it out?”
Thoughtful pause.
“I’d say pretty much for the rest of your life, babe. Sing all you want. I like to hear it.”
‘Nuff said.
Written by Ann Pietrangelo on Wednesday, October 19th, 2011 in Family, Natural Choice Directory Articles.
Gut flora could be the key to preventing obesity. A recent study revealed that poor gut flora may trigger obesity and healthy gut flora may reduce the risk of obesity. Of course, a balanced diet and exercise are important parts of the equation, too.
I had a few questions for the lead researcher of this study, and she obliged with some very interesting information.
Written by Ann Pietrangelo on Monday, October 17th, 2011 in Emotional Issues, Family, Health Care Policy, In The News.
Giuliana Rancic, the 36-year-old host of “E! News” and “Fashion Police” announced on the “Today Show” that she has early stage breast cancer.
The cancer was discovered on a mammogram she had at the insistence of her infertility specialist, according to an article in Boston Globe. Unless there is a particularly high risk of breast cancer, mammograms are generally not recommended for women under the age of 40.
Read it: Giuliana Rancic has Breast Cancer: The Evidence and Emotions of Mammograms
Written by Ann Pietrangelo on Friday, October 14th, 2011 in Doctors, Emotional Issues, Family, Health Care Policy, In The News, Inside the Maze, No More Secs!, Triple-Negative Breast Cancer.
Living with Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
(#24 in a series)
What would you do if you found a lump in your breast? I called a doctor, but not everyone agrees that was the right decision.
Some readers said I shouldn’t have reached out to the medical community, shouldn’t have had surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation. I say it’s a personal decision, one we must each make based on our individual case. I told my story but do not give medical advice, unless you consider my plea to check your own breasts or to at least talk to a doctor to be medical advice.
Read it: What would you do if you found a lump in your breast?
Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Profiles
Carmelita P: Grieving Son Recounts Mom’s Battle with Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
Nancy Steiler: Searching for “Normal” After Cancer
Eileen Z. Fuentes: Living with a Grateful Vibration
Meagan Farrell: Cancer Survivor Says “Let Go of the Little Stuff”
Melissa Stukenborg: When Worst Fear Becomes Reality, Find Your Inner Strength
Related
Breast Cancer Awareness: Taking it Personally
Man with Breast Cancer says, “Don’t be embarrassed…it’s too important”
Living with Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Series
My Video: What is Triple-Negative Breast Cancer?
My Book: No More Secs! Living, Laughing & Loving Despite Multiple Sclerosis
Follow on Twitter @AnnPietrangelo
Written by Ann Pietrangelo on Friday, October 7th, 2011 in Emotional Issues, Family, Health Care Policy, In The News, Inside the Maze, Triple-Negative Breast Cancer.
It’s pink ribbon time again. That time of year when we’re bombarded with all things pink to bring attention to breast cancer, it’s causes, treatment, and funding for research.
There’s a lot of talk about “boobies” and “ta-tas,” but there’s a whole lot more to it than saving breasts — it’s about saving lives.
When it comes to breast cancer awareness, many people still don’t realize that men can get breast cancer, too. The numbers are small, but cancer is cancer and, if you’re a man, you need to know that a lump in your breast area should not be ignored.
And did you know that not all breast cancers are alike? Or what it means when your diagnosis is “triple-negative breast cancer?”
Last October I did my part in blogging for breast cancer awareness. As I wrote those posts, I was unaware that a fast-growing tumor was about to make its presence known in my own breast. I am very fortunate to be here this October to help with another Breast Cancer Awareness Month, this time with some personal experience to back it up.
I’ll be posting a wrap-up of my year-long journey on Care2.com on October 14 — one year from the day that I discovered that ominous lump. My birthday also happens to fall in October and I am beyond grateful that I was able to add another candle to the cake.
Related Reading:
Man With Breast Cancer Says, “Don’t Be Embarrassed…It’s Too Important”
Video: What the Heck is Triple-Negative Breast Cancer?
Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Series
Written by Ann Pietrangelo on Wednesday, October 5th, 2011 in Emotional Issues, Family, Health Care Policy.
On vacation earlier this year, he noticed a hardness in his left breast while showering. His wife, Virginia, thought the nipple appeared inverted and a darker color than unusual. Donald readily admits that without his wife’s observation and insistence that they cut their vacation short, he likely would have procrastinated and delayed seeing a doctor.
How does it feel to be a man with breast cancer? Read it: Man with Breast Cancer says, “Don’t be embarrassed…it’s too important”
Written by Ann Pietrangelo on Monday, September 19th, 2011 in Family, Health Care Policy, In The News.
More kids are showing up in hospital emergency rooms because of accidental poisoning from medication, according to a study from the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. Over half a million children are exposed to pharmaceuticals each year.
Written by Ann Pietrangelo on Tuesday, September 13th, 2011 in Family.
A well-made shoe that fits right is not only more comfortable for your children, but can help them avoid injury. Do you know what features you should look for in your child’s footwear?
Read it and watch the video: How to Buy Children’s Shoes
Synaptic Ruminations MS Maze Feed Justin Reno
