Weight Wednesday

Today is Weight Wednesday. I went to the gym and used free weights and weight machines for 20 minutes (rows, pull downs, and hip abductors and adductors) then I used the arc trainer for an hour.

Today’s question is related to the cold weather. Is there a connection between prostate cancer and the cold weather?

Cold, dry weather has been linked to an increased incidence of prostate cancer and researchers believe that the way in which weather patterns interact with persistent organic pollutants (POPs) may be the underlying factor.

A researcher at Idaho State University worked with colleagues to study the correlation between various weather parameters and the incidence of prostate cancer at county-level across the United States.

They found that colder weather, and low rainfall, were strongly correlated with prostate cancer. Although they can’t say exactly why this correlation exists, the trends are consistent with what they would expect given the effects of climate on the deposition, absorption, and degradation of persistent organic pollutants including pesticides.

Statistics have long indicated that incidences of prostate cancer are higher in the north than the south. It is known that some persistent organic pollutants cause cancer and researchers believe that cold weather slows their degradation, while also causing them to precipitate towards the ground.

The study builds on the existing supposition that individuals at northern latitudes may be deficient in Vitamin D due to low exposure to UV radiation during the winter months. The study suggests that in addition to vitamin D deficiency… other meteorological conditions may also significantly affect the incidence of prostate cancer.

Advance DFMC Registration

Today I received the opportunity to be one of the first runners on the DFMC team to register for the 2015 Boston Marathon. This is the first time the marathon registration is online and the running staff wants me to send them feedback on how the process went.

I’m very honored for this opportunity and can’t wait for the first group run of the season.

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Fit Friday: Cancer Treatment is like Training for a Marathon

Today is fit Friday!  I went to the gym today and did the open stride for a half an hour and then did the arc trainer for an hour.

Today’s question relates to marathon training. How is cancer treatment like marathon training?

Cancer treatment is a lot like training for a marathon, or any endurance athletic event for that matter. You need a good team, good equipment, a plan of action, and most of all, a good attitude. You need flexibility to know how to deal with illness and injury and any other negative influence that comes your way. You need to know when to let go of control and what to do when it’s all over.

Like any athlete, a cancer patient needs a good team of doctors, nurses, various other medical staff, family, friends, and yes, even the occasional stranger to help them to the finish line.

Training for a marathon requires some pretty simple equipment — clothes, shoes, and some place to run. A triathlon requires a bit more — a bike and a pool for starters. Breast cancer treatment requires way more “equipment.” Surgeries, diagnostic tests, a good diet and lots and lots of drugs — pain reducing, infection-reducing, anti-nausea, anti-diarrheal and lethal, cancer-killing drugs to name a few. After a few surgeries and just one or two chemo treatments, you need even more equipment — prosthetics.

Formal training plans abound for marathon training. Not so much for cancer treatment. What works for one patient doesn’t necessarily work for someone else with the same type and grade of breast cancer.

“Attitude is everything.” Who “they” are, I don’t know, but “they” are right when it comes to running a marathon and cancer treatment. Marathon training is long and arduous to most mere mortals like myself. So is cancer treatment. You visit dark lonely places while undergoing both. Setbacks happen. You have to deal with the naysayers. You get runner’s highs and the next run you will hit a wall. One day after chemo, you may feel sort of okay followed by three days of feeling like you’ve been run over by a semi truck. Toenails and blisters come and go with running. Your favorite running shoes get thrashed and you may lose all the songs on your iPod. Your blood values tank and the meds they put you on to counteract the chemo side effects cause you retain water like SpongeBob Squarepants. Your hair and your memory go and then slowly return with chemo. Studies have shown that laughter really does dull pain associated with a multitude of treatments. Keeping your sense of humor and perspective throughout it all are key to surviving and thriving.

And then, it’s all over. You’ve run the marathon and gotten the medal and the t-shirt. Maybe you put in your best time and maybe you didn’t. Your cancer is in remission and you’ve had your last chemo treatment. The physical and emotional scars will remain with you forever. So will the memories. Some will be bad, some will be good. How do you move on? What will your new “normal” be? Do you start training for something new? Does finishing a marathon or cancer treatment spur you to do something bigger or better for yourself or the community in general? Time will tell, but I hope so.

Motivation Monday

Today is Motivation Monday. I did a half an hour on the motion trainer and an hour on the Cybex arc trainer. After my big Thanksgiving meal I needed to do a lot of cardio.

Today is the first day of December and today’s question is related to the upcoming cold weather. How do people with cancer deal with the cold and why?

With forecasters calling for temperatures in northern and central states to drop as low as -60˚F (-51˚C) with wind chill this winter, everyone is being urged to stay indoors. Heeding these warnings is especially important for people with cancer.

Why?

Because people with cancer are often at higher risk for illnesses caused by cold temperatures, such as hypothermia and frostbite.

Hypothermia develops when the body can’t produce enough heat to keep itself warm. Unfortunately, some medications and medical conditions caused by cancer or cancer treatment can interfere with the body’s ability to adjust its temperature. Dehydration, a common side effect of cancer treatment, and having a low amount of body fat may also make a person more prone to developing hypothermia when exposed to cold temperatures.

Extremely cold temperatures, like those we are currently experiencing, can also cause unprotected skin and the underlying tissue to freeze in a matter of minutes, causing frostbite. The skin will become firm, pale, waxy, and numb. Frostbite most often occurs in the fingers, toes, nose, and ears. People being treated for cancer who have developed peripheral neuropathy (a nerve disorder) are at even greater risk because this side effect causes them to be less sensitive to temperature extremes.

So what can you do to stay as healthy as possible during this blast of arctic cold and throughout the winter?

Stay inside as much as possible when temperatures are near or below freezing (32°F, 0°C) or when cool temperatures are accompanied by high winds or rain.

If you do go outside, dress in layers and wear gloves or mittens; a scarf that covers your head, neck, and face; and a hat. A hat is especially important if you have experienced hair loss.

If hot flashes, fever, vomiting, or other side effects have made you sweat, change wet clothes and bed sheets often to stay warm and dry.

Drink lots of fluids to keep your body hydrated. Consuming at least nine cups of water each day for women and 12.5 cups for men.