Jackie Clark

"I cheated cancer," says Patricia Brett founder and designer of Veronica Brett a swimwear collection of sexy classic swimsuits for breast cancer survivors. Brett is the youngest girl in a family of 11 children. Sadly, she knows cancer all too well. Patricia Brett has escaped a cancer diagnosis, but her passion for women with breast cancer comes from seeing a family of strong women fight against this disease.

How has cancer changed your life?

Luckily, I have never been diagnosed with cancer. I created Veronica Brett swimwear as a tribute to all the women in my life (aunts, sister, niece, and cousins) that have been affected by breast cancer and the BRCA1 gene.

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Beauty saves. Beauty heals. Beauty motivates. Beauty unites. Beauty returns us to our origins. - YOU are beautiful!

Image by: Julia Ordodi

Most women have days that they do not feel beautiful. Bloating, fatigue, stress, and many other factors can cause a woman to not look or feel her best. It may seem that, for a woman living with cancer, feeling beautiful is the least of her worries. However, women suffering from mesothelioma, breast cancer, or any other strain of this disease can find great joy in looking their best, no matter what their prognosis may be.

While it is true that many cancer treatments take their toll on a woman's physical appearance, she can still feel beautiful by adding to her wardrobe

Tags: body image, masectomy

Fashion and beauty magazines paint a more varied picture of beauty than they once did, but that picture is still a tiny one in a rigid frame. Whether you're a blonde, brunette or redhead, you can be one of the beautiful people -- but only if you're tall and willowy. What about women who have lost their hair after cancer treatment? What about those who have lost limbs or other body parts following surgery? What about those whose fight has etched fresh lines on a once-smooth face?

You are beautiful too.

By one school of aesthetic thought, you have a transcendent beauty that no merely pretty model could hope to match.

Tags: beauty, cancer, chemotherapy, hair loss, self confidence, self image

The health benefits of aerobic and strength exercises are well known. Slightly less known, however, is the potential benefits of exercise for cancer patients before, during, and after chemotherapy treatment. Light exercises can often reduce symptoms associated with cancer treatment.

One particular type of cancer that exercise may particularly benefit is mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that affects the linings of internal organs, especially the lungs. Light exercising during treatment can greatly improve mesothelioma prognosis by maintaining and improving lung capacity and oxygen flow throughout the body. Mesothelioma is a direct result of exposure to asbestos, and typically is diagnosed in men.

Tags: asbestos cancer, exercise, fitness, mesothelioma

Survivors of cancer are diagnosed with diabetes at alarmingly high rates. While researchers have yet to determine any fact-based evidence to support this clinically, they do know that diabetes can arise for a number of different treatment-associated reasons. Luckily, some of these contributing factors are under the patients’ control. 

What is Diabetes?

As explained by the National Institutes of Health, diabetes is the condition of having a high level of blood sugar. It indicates that the body isn’t producing enough insulin or isn’t using insulin efficiently. Some symptoms of diabetes are increased hunger, increased thirst and frequent urination.

When prolonged, diabetes can have serious consequences such as vision loss, heart trouble and limb amputation. Some diabetes patients control their condition with daily insulin injections. 

Radiation and Diabetes

A study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine (August, 2009) suggests that abdominal irradiation, cranial irradiation and total body irradiation increase the risk of a cancer patients developing diabetes by 90%. One explanation is that radiation damages the pancreas, which secretes the insulin needed to metabolize sugars. Another theory is that radiation alters fatty tissues to make them more insulin-resistant. 

New Dietary Habits

Side effects of cancer like nausea, mouth sores and dry mouth can change a person’s eating habits. Watch your new diet carefully for sugar. For example, dry mouth is a common side effect of chemotherapy used in mesothelioma treatment. Many patients and survivors therefore drink a lot of fluids – and if that fluid is sugary soda or fruit juice, the sugars quickly pile up and make diabetes more likely. 

It’s a good idea to drink liquids that are high in citric acid. These stimulate saliva production and make your mouth feel more comfortable. Try drinking low-sugar lemonade or orange juice, water with a twist of lime, or tea with lemon. Sucking on ice or a low-sugar ice pop is another good alternative to drinking sugary beverages.

Cancer and Diabetes: Similar Risk Factors

Many mesothelioma patients developed cancer because of asbestos exposure or other hazardous materials. Still, it bears mentioning that diabetes and some cancers have common risk factors. Examples include obesity, poor diet and physical inactivity. 

Although cancer patients were once advised to “save their energy for healing,” people now understand that physical activity can help a person to overcome cancer and prevent relapses. Talk with your doctor about the best combination of rest and activity. 

Medication and Diabetes

It’s possible that some cancer medications raise patients’ odds for developing diabetes. When it comes to new medications, not enough time has elapsed for researchers to give a definitive answer. It’s therefore an especially good idea to exercise and maintain a well-balanced diet even if you feel ill. A nutrition counselor can help you choose foods that won’t trigger discomfort.

Tags: cancer treatment, chemotherapy, diabetes, mesothelioma, mesothelioma treatment

Ever wonder how alternative treatments such as reiki, massage and acupuncture have assisted healing for cancer patients? Take a look at the infographic below to learn more about these complementary healing modalities. Be sure to check back often, as this is the first of many we will be featuring here on our blog. We are dedicated to providing our visitors with dynamic content on mesothelioma, asbestos exposure and related topics.

Tags: acupuncture, alternative therapies, massage, reiki