Tag: Cancer

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‘Relay for Life’ set to help fight cancer

The Relay for Life initiative of the American Cancer Society is the largest peer-to-peer fundraising event in the world dedicated to saving lives from cancer. Communities worldwide have come together for more than 35 years to celebrate and remember loved ones and take action for lifesaving change.

Over the next couple of months, Relay for Life will be hosting socially distanced events throughout Broward County to raise money and take action.

On March 20, Relay for Life is hosting “Relay’s Got Talent” at Parkland Amphitheater https://tinyurl.com/relaysgottalent2021. School of Rock is sponsoring this event. From 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., all different types of talent are invited to perform on stage. The performances will be streamed via Facebook for people to watch and enjoy. Whichever performer raises the most money for American Cancer Society wins. For contestants performing at the amphitheater, the event is socially distanced.

Event lead for Relay for Life of Parkland, Coral Springs, Margate, and Coconut Creek 2021, Megan Mila, said, “This is the first year we have had this event, and it won’t be the last. Many people are excited about this because their kids will have a platform to perform. There are so many people with brilliant talents that really deserve to be displayed and shown to the public.”

On April 24, Relay for Life is hosting a Reinvented Survivor Ceremony https://www.relayforlife.org/parklandfl. From 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Parkland Equestrian Center, this drive-up event will be surrounded by all the survivors. As attendees drive in, the top sponsors and top teams will be displayed on sponsor row. Once parked, Relay for Life will have a screen and a stage to display MSD JROTC performing the color guard. Mayors of the cities will be speaking, and the performances from the virtual talent show will be on screen. According to Mila, the most important part of the ceremony is their dedication video for those they have lost and those suffering from cancer. If interested in attending, please sign up on their website.

Last but not least, on May 22, Relay for Life is hosting a golf tournament http://www.swingforacure.com. The tournament will be held at the Country Club of Coral Springs. This event will have food, drinks, prizes, and more. At 11 a.m., registration begins. All attendees will receive a swag bag and lunch. Following the tournament, attendees will enjoy hors d’oeuvres and drinks as prizes are being awarded. Prizes include a seven-night resort stay package, and hole-in-one prizes for $10,000 cash.

To sign up, email rflgolfevent@gmail.com. “We are really excited to be working with Chris Fletcher and Mike Fiorello to organize the event,” Mila said.

 

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How my child’s battle with cancer prepared our family for the pandemic

Thirteen years ago my life changed overnight. I was happily living a normal routine. Then, suddenly, I found myself in constant worry. I was fearful of financial ruin. I was having constant concern of a family member’s failing health, and anxiety of the possible effects to a compromised immune system.

I found myself feeling safer in isolation. I went down a rabbit hole of unpredictability checking numbers, incessantly wiping down surfaces, washing hands, and applying for social services like food stamps after losing my job.

Back then, the numbers I was checking were not the daily percent of positive tests for an invisible illness in my community or the number of local hospitalizations.

The numbers were of the different blood cells my son had. The illness that he had was not invisible. In fact, it could be seen under a microscope in a regular blood sample because it appeared black. It was cancer. He was only 6 years old, and I was 26.

The whole world was not experiencing it with us at that time. Although some 300,000 families experience it annually, we still felt like the only ones.

The journey started in May of 2007. Seven years later, my son
was done with chemo and cancer free.

During those seven years he endured more spinal taps, bone marrow aspirations, blood transfusions, and needle pokes than I could ever count (or want to).

He also went through a relapse, six fractures to his spine, a blood clot, and a stroke.

The journey was tiring, scary, and forever life-changing.

What I didn’t expect in the years following his recovery was how useful all that I learned would become.

All the heartaches and lessons I learned during that time would become a road map for navigating a future health crisis: The COVID-19 pandemic.

A year ago, in March 2020, we all were plummeted into a whole new world. To me, however, the landscape looked familiar.

I discovered that I was equipped to navigate it. Through my experiences I had garnered some tools in dealing with uncertainty and crisis. I want to share the top 10 with you.

Find Joy- I found during those hard times that joy seemed to elude me. I was submerged in worry and sadness. It took a while for me to recognize that in the toughest of times you must work at finding joy.

When you look for beauty, you will find it, and once you do, beauty and joy will naturally find you.

Show Gratitude & Appreciation-They say nothing is a better teacher than experience, and I would add nothing makes a person wiser than proper perspective.

Finding gratitude was hard at fi rst, but suddenly I became grateful for the little things that became big things to me; little things like a smile or laugh from my sick son, his immune system being strong enough to visit friends, or the gourmet coffee shop at the hospital. The minute I started learning to appreciate and have gratitude for the little things everything changed.

Be Flexible- Life will take you down paths you never predicted or saw coming. The lesson learned is that control is an illusion and hanging on to habits that once made sense, but do not anymore, will only make change that much harder to adapt to. Be willing to learn new things. Adapt your schedule, and go with the flow.

Create Fun- This is so important. Get creative. When my son was unable to go to movie theaters, attend parties or restaurants, we, as a family, brought the fun to us.

My parents started creating movie nights for him and his brother, and expanded them into themed movie nights.

There are no rules that say you need a bunch of people to throw a party! You
can throw a party on an easy budget with just your immediate family.

Since the pandemic, we started this again. We have thrown over 20 theme nights at home with just us that include costumes, dinner, and a movie, all  around a central theme.

Nothing is Forever- The best of times will not last, which could be a depressing thought, until you realize that also means the worst of times will not last forever either.

Everything on earth is temporary. EVERYTHING. So, breathe in the good and be present for it, and breathe out the tough times.

Find Stillness and Nature- Find time to meditate, pray, or just count your breaths in and out every day.

Experts say that 20 minutes of meditation a day is optimal. But days can get away from you in a crisis, so if you can only close your eyes and count 10 breaths in and out, say a mantra 10 times, or say a quick prayer to your God, it is more than nothing at all.

Also, even five minutes of observing nature can do wonders. Going outside is preferable, but some days I would only be able to watch the swaying of the trees or clouds through a hospital window. But even that would lighten my spirit enough to bring me some peace.

Ask for and Accept Help if You Need it- Having too much pride can have a devastating consequence on your family and soul. If you need help, ask for it, and if it is off ered, take it. There is no shame in it.

Give Love and Help Others- Nothing will make you happier than helping someone else. There is no medicine as powerful as putting your woes aside and focusing on helping another person. Look around you and see how even in turmoil you still possess the ability to better the lives of those around you,  and then do it.

Find Balance- This is something everyone struggles with in their lives, even without a crisis. It is important. However, it is even more important amid a crisis.

You will not achieve that every day. The important part is not pressuring yourself into perfection of balance, only striving for it over the course of your journey.

If you try to focus on balance without judging yourself for not perfecting it, in the arch of time, you will find you achieved it.

Make Humor a Coping Tool- Of all the tools and lessons learned throughout my life’s journey nothing is more potent a healer than humor.

Don’t take life so seriously because life itself is constantly contradictory, indecisive, and unpredictable. It is a beautiful mess, and so are you. Learn to
laugh about it!

In the end you should accept right now that your life will not look exactly like you envisioned it.

Your life may never be the same after this pandemic. It’s ok and natural to struggle with it. Just know that struggle is how you will grow.

Remember this time of pandemic does not make up the sum of your life. But if you use it as a teacher and look at it with a wise perspective, you may see the time as one of the most valuable of your life. The beauty of it lies in the fact that you get to choose.

Destiny Haggett is an advocate for pediatric cancer research, former model, and public speaker. She currently runs a 962-seat live entertainment venue in Coconut Creek, Florida.

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Breast cancer statistics on the rise — among men

It was a normal day for Mike Weatherly– that was until he noticed that an abnormally long hair on his chest needed trimming. It was on the areola that surrounds the nipple, and when he began to trim, he noticed a dark spot the size of a pencil eraser.

But, like most men, the Parkland resident procrastinated, thinking it was a pimple that would go away in time. But after a few weeks, it remained and that’s when he sought the counsel of a neighbor who happened to be an emergency room doctor.

“He didn’t like what he saw and told me I should get it biopsied,” said Weatherly.

“In October, the results came back as a positive grade 3 tumor and I was told I had breast cancer.”

If 100 breast cancers are diagnosed, only one will be found in a man. This year, however, it’s estimated that approximately 2,600 new cases will be diagnosed.

The 71-year-old former pilot for American Airlines, who has always been physically fit, had suddenly become a statistic. Yet, he never asked why me? “As humans, there’s a certain amount of vulnerability and things are going to happen,” he said.

“I also have rheumatoid arthritis, which is rare among men, so I’ve learned how to cope and never allowed myself to become depressed.”

When a tumor is sent to a lab for analysis, its grade is based on aggressiveness and invasiveness. Weatherly’s came back as grade 3, but luckily his cancer was localized and did not spread to surrounding lymph nodes.

If cancer cells had spread to the lymph node, they could have already traveled to the lymph system and spread to other parts of the body.

Weatherly’s cancerous tissue—and his nipple—were removed by a general surgeon on an outpatient basis, and now his ongoing care is in the hands of an oncologist.

“My treatment plan began in December and for the foreseeable future I’ll be seeing the specialist every six months,” he said. “I’ve been told it was a hormone- responsive tumor so in all likelihood I won’t require chemotherapy.”

Weatherly, a self-described “health nut” has been retired for 12 years. He was a track athlete at Southwest Missouri State College, and even into his late 30s participated in triathlons.

He continues to eat nutritional foods, works out on a stationary bike, and lifts weights at home. “Running track pushes a person to the limits, both physically and mentally,” he said. “I guess that’s where I learned the discipline about keeping the going into surgery, the better shape you’ll be in coming out and the quicker you’ll recover.”

Most male breast cancers are discovered in men over 50, where there is a history of breast cancer in the family, and the BRAC1 and BRAC2 (breast cancer susceptibility genes) are present.

Plus, if a man has had previous chest radiation therapy, he could be prone. Estrogen, which is used to treat prostate cancer, also increases the chances of male breast cancer. Injured testicles, liver disease, and obesity are also contributing to underlying factors.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one of the most common types of breast cancer in men is invasive ductal carcinoma. This is where cells grow outside the ducts into other parts of the breast tissue with the possibility of spreading to other parts of the body.

Men who inherit abnormal mutated genes are in a high-risk category, as the mutation may lead to either breast cancer or prostate cancer.

In Weatherly’s case, there was no family history of breast cancer or cancer in general. “I have to admit it was a shock and I never thought something like this would happen to me,” he said. “Thank goodness it was caught early enough.”

Since his cancerous tissue was removed, he’s undergone precautionary follow-ups, including a CT scan and PET scan.

“Most men are not diagnosed until it’s too late, so I was very lucky,” he said. “Just think, if that long hair hadn’t needed trimming, I may be telling you a much different story.”

As a fighter pilot on aircraft carriers in the Navy during the Vietnam era,
Weatherly learned how to deal with all kinds of situations, and his advice to men is to always be aware of any changes in their bodies.

“We tend to focus on heart attacks, strokes or whatever, and male breast cancer is an afterthought,” he said. “It’s only an afterthought until it happens to you.”

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Dogs have a life expectancy for a reason

I am sitting on a driveway with four other couples socially distancing and wearing a mask. Everyone is sipping wine or drinking beer. To be honest, the mask-wearing to not-mask-wearing ratio is not ideal.

The women are sitting on one side of the circle and the men are on the other. The women are talking politics and Dr. Fauci; while the men are talking football, their college’s record, and whether the SEC is still the best conference.

It was a quiet night until one of the women asked a question directed at me. She wanted to know if I knew that the last six dogs that died on our street all died of cancer and whether I should look into whether there was a cancer cell.

Let’s break down the statistics. The last six dogs that died over the past two years had an average age of 14. There were two Labrador retrievers, two golden retrievers (mine), one poodle who was 17, and a mixed breed.

The street is a fairly new street. Most of us have lived here less than three years. The electrical lines are underground and we have all had recent

Radon testing. If there is one thing about where I live, especially with the vast majority of us having empty nests and a little more disposable income, the dogs in our lives are very well taken care of and I am confident that they all moved to our neighborhood with relatively clean bills of health.

The average life expectancy for small dogs is 15-16 years, medium and large dogs 10-14 years and giant breeds around 7 to 8 years. I have been very lucky and I do EVERYTHING for my dogs and I have not had one live beyond 14. I like big dogs.

In my adult life, I have had five dogs and, other than a Keeshond who was hit by a car when I was a kid, every one of my dogs died of cancer. Let me make myself very clear, my dogs lived long enough to get cancer. They didn’t suffer from heart disease or infectious diseases but lived long enough to get cancer.

So, I answered the question with a question. In the past five years I asked everyone to think about the reasons why you’ve attended funerals. What was the cause of death?

The top three responses were cancer, heart disease, and COVID-19. I told them that those numbers probably reflect the national average. Dogs have a life expectancy for a reason, as do humans.

At some point in our aging process cancer, heart disease, and kidney disease become clinically relevant. The biggest decision, and the most humane decision we make as compassionate pet parents is that we don’t have to make our pets suffer and we advocate for them. I had to put my own golden retriever Kelly to sleep last week. She was 12. All of my dogs have lived to 14, but it was not in Kelly’s cards.

She got the dreaded metastatic Hemangiosarcoma of the spleen that is just devastating to golden retrievers. Kelly never gave me one second of grief.  he was sweet until the end, and my job was to not let her have one second of discomfort.

The woman in the circle just nodded her head agreeing that there was no cancer cell in our neighborhood. My wife sighed because hopefully the discussion was over before it got heated.

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Gift Guide 2020

Tenth Street Hats, an Oakland California company, makes all kinds of hats,  from bowlers to straw boaters, from Panamas to Pork Pies. Brown Derby is  shown $56 tenthstreethats.com.

For the cocktail connoisseur in your life, miniature drink mixers are single- serving craft cocktails for the sophisticated set. Simply pour the contents of one bottle over ice, add a shot of the desired spirit (or not if you prefer a zero proof), and fill to the brim with club soda (or tomato juice for the Bloody Mary). Recipes for each flavor are printed on the box. Includes Mojito, Salted Paloma, Hurricane, Lemon Drop & Bloody Mary $22. https://www.elguapobitters.com/.

Silk pillowcases from Celestial Silk range from $35.99-$39.99 depending on size and can be found at celestialsilk.com or Amazon.

UV CARE Pocket Sterilizer is great for cell phones, keyboards, doorknobs, and countertops. It eliminates germs, bacteria, viruses, allergens, and molds using UV-C light technology. It’s powered by four AAA batteries or a mini USB cable. $42.99 at https://theuvcare.com/ or Amazon.

Thinking of something extra special for your 2020 COVID-quarantine sweetheart? Perhaps all she wants for Christmas is a 14K white gold pendant  with .45ct of diamonds. $1,500 at David Barry Jewelers in Boynton Beach.

B3 Blitz by Creative Brainworks is an engaging, fast-paced game of  skill that will keep kids and adults occupied and help prevent them from going COVID-crazy. B3 Blitz can be played indoors or outdoors, with bean bags or pong balls, and distance from the stand increases the skill level required. Game comes complete with a stand, buckets, 8 bean bags, 4 pong balls, and a convenient drawstring backpack to keep everything in one place. $29.99 on Amazon.

LooHoo Wool Dryer Balls are “a reusable, energy- saving alternative to dryer sheets. They naturally soften clothes without the use of unwanted harmful chemicals contained in dryer sheets.” This $39 set also comes with a 2 oz. bottle of “Sweet Dreams Linen Mist,” and a spring of lavender. https://www.loo-hoo.com/.

Interested in combining your experiences of the past with the technology of today to make sure your memories truly last forever by digitizing your precious moments for future generations? Enter Legacybox. Prices start at $32.99 and up. Simply send your old home movies, photos, memorabilia, and more and they will do the rest.

Dermatologist approved, this CBD infused tinted body shimmer oil is cruelty-free, made in the USA, and comes in three shades. The oil can be applied to face, lip, hair, and body. CBD adds a soothing feel to your daily routine. $45 shopmajorbody.com.

Love to listen and jam out to music whether at the gym or during downtime? Apple Airpods are the best gift for someone who likes to block out their surroundings and tune in to the beat of the music. Buy yours on sale today on Amazon for $159.

Mahjongg wipes are for the man or woman who has everything, and we mean absolutely everything. We bring you Mahjongg wipes from Parkland resident Jill Fox. $11.99 and up at mahjonggwipes.com.

Dangerous Minds Brewing Co. in Pompano Beach. Growlers & Crowlers To-Go of your favorite local brew are the perfect way to imbibe at home, with your socially-distanced crew, or as a gift for the holidays. Growlers $5/ea. Refills vary depending on the variety of beer $10-21/each. https://dangerousmindsbrewing.com/.

Get calm this holiday season. The Calm Gift Set supports everyday stresses, but we like to think of it as spreading peace and relaxation for the holidays. A botanical blend of lemon balm and Charlotte’s Web hemp extract in the tasty Calm gummies plus the high concentration 60mg CBD oil will ease winter days and nights. Add a hemp-infused roll-on to take wellness one step further with aromatherapy self-care. Starting at $115.47. Visit charlottesweb.com/calm-gift-set.

A family’s struggle with their 5-year-old daughter’s cancer spawned the non-profit Colorado company Brave Hoods, selling incredibly soft and comfortable hoodies, T-shirts, mugs, bags, and robes. For every shirt it sells, the company donates one to a child fighting cancer. An incredible variety for all ages, prices range from $12 for a mug to $45 for a hoodie. Visit BraveHoods.org.

Philanthrobee.com offers a plethora of honey-based skincare products for men and women. There’s even a $10 gift card on the site. Prices vary.

Doshi is the company that makes vegan belts, bags, wallets, and more. Items from $20 and up. Lady Bag 2 is their statement vegan bag. $189 at Doshi.shop.

Meet Stealth – the fitness tool that makes sneaking in a workout at home as fun and easy as playing a game! Their unique platform device uses gameplay technology to transform your body into a game controller. $99 on Amazon.

Do you know your Jackson Pollock from your Yayoi Kusama? This modernism edition of “The Museum Tour” can help your whole family learn more about these famous artists. $45 from cityspotsonline.com or Amazon.

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Fight Against Cancer – Sports Team Rally For Young Parklander

Fight Against Cancer

ADAM-FULL1January 20th was officially Adam Fiorello Day in Parkland, Mayor Michael Udine proclaimed. The young Parkland resident, who turned 22 just the day before, is in a fight for his survival. He was diagnosed in December 2013 with alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma, a cancer affecting the soft tissues in the muscles and connective tissue.
The rarity of Adam’s disease cannot be overstated. According to his mother, Heidi Fiorello, a registered nurse, “roughly 200 to 300 children per year contract it and it can affect all children, mostly younger between three to nine years old. The subtype of Adam’s disease affects 50 to 60 children, but he got it before his 20th birthday.”
Adam was first affected in his right ear behind the sinus cavity. His mother describes his ordeal: “He went through 54 weeks of chemotherapy and had hand-neck radiation. At 6-foot-3-inches and 250 pounds, he went down to 175 pounds and couldn’t swallow his own saliva and had a feeding tube.”
January 20th, says his mother, “was a day to celebrate Adam and his courage and then to acknowledge his pro-activity in helping others and speaking to groups. He will know that there is still hope for a miracle and not to give up.”
ADAM-FULLHaving visited Adam in the hospital, local sports teams have rallied around him, including Miami FC soccer coach Alessandro Nesta and Chicago Cubs baseball player Anthony Rizzo and other people at the local event. He was introduced at a Miami Heat basketball game and honored with a jersey in his name in February.
“The city of Parkland honored me, and a whole bunch of people showed up to support me,” Adam says. “Every day is difficult. I have bad days and good days. A bunch of stuff is affecting me. My motto is to never give up. This is God’s plan.”
Last July, Adam suffered a mini-stroke and the family had to move again from Parkland to New York City for treatment at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center with his family and older brother Nicholas, 24, by his side. The cancer has spread to his brain, and doctors predict he will decline quickly. There are no known survivors. But doctors can be proved wrong with the strength and support of his immediate family and many fans on Facebook supporting Team Adam-Parkland and events to rally behind the cause.
“Cycle for Survival.org” events are scheduled in cities around the U.S. for rare pediatric cancers. One event will take place from 11am to 3pm on March 13th at Pine Trails Amphitheater in Parkland. Adam may possibly speak at the event.

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