Tag Archives: cancer

The Flu season is back

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You either get the flu shot or you don’t. If you decide not to, you must sign a waiver and then wear a mask at all times once you’ve stepped inside the hospital… At least until the flu season is over, usually sometime in the beginning of April.

This requirement is so serious that if you didn’t comply, you’d end up with leave without pay and eventually fired within a week. So hop to it!

Most people don’t want to get the flu shot because they feel more tired and ill afterwards. They fear getting the flu from the flu shot. But people are much more likely to get the flu from the community than from the flu shot.

Some have an egg allergy, or a family history of Gullian Barre. In this case, definitely don’t get it. Or if you’re body is immunocompromised from another disease. Then adding a dead strain of the flu to your body is probably not a good idea.

Anyhow, wearing a mask all the time isn’t so bad. In fact, in Taiwan majority of hospital workers wear masks, partially due to the H1N1 and SARS virus that broke out a few years ago. The only annoying thing about it is if you wear glasses, it sometimes fogs up the glass or if you have an allergy to the mask material and you break out from it.

I never got the flu shot prior to 5 years ago. I was at Employee Health to get cleared to volunteer at a Cancer Center. The nurse asked if I got the flu shot. I said no and I didn’t want it.

What she said next changed my life. She said,

It’s not just about protecting you; it’s about protecting others.

Cancer patients are definitely immunocompromised. The radiation and chemotherapy is killing off good and bad cells, unfortunately. If I got the flu, my body may be able to fight it off easily but if I cough on someone else (by accident of course), it’d be much easier for them to get the flu.

That day I didn’t get the flu shot because I had a certain pride of never getting the flu shot.

2 days later I got the flu shot. I didn’t want to be that agent to pass on the flu.

For my boyfriend, I encourage him to get the flu shot. Last year we were at a Breast Cancer event in October in Providence, Rhode Island. There, Walgreens was offering free flu shots. So he got one.

This year I encouraged him to get the flu shot again. He didn’t want to because it’s an out of pocket expense. However, at his work they were doing an experiment on ways to encourage people to get the flu shot. They offered it for free. So he got one.

Cost and fear of getting the flu are the 2 major barriers for not getting the flu shot. Protecting yourself and others are my reasons for getting it.

What’s your reason for getting it or not getting it? Comment below!

National Mesothelioma Awareness Day

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Today is National Mesothelioma Awareness Day.

Now, what is that? It is a completely preventable cancer caused by asbestos, which is in our HOMES. Although it provides resistance to fires and temperature extremes, if you breathe it in, it can cause abnormal growth in your lungs, heart and the lining of the abdomen. About 3 thousand people get it each year.

I still remember that when I was younger and my parents were selling the old house, after going through a house inspection, apparently we had asbestos in our attic. It is a common product used when building homes (like lead in paint!). Immediately it had to get removed so the next homeowner can be safe.

Here are some more facts.
DID YOU KNOW?

    ASBESTOS IS STILL NOT BANNED IN THE US. Roughly 30 million pounds are still used each year.
    Asbestos fibers are invisible to the naked eye.
    Even more than 30 years after the peak of its use, asbestos exposure is still the NUMBER ONE cause of occupational cancer in the US.
    Asbestos can still be found in many homes, schools, and commercial or industrial buildings.
    Asbestos was once used in more than 3,000 consumer products including household items such as toasters and hair dryers – some of which may still be in use.
    Navy Veterans are at the greatest risk to develop mesothelioma as asbestos was widely used in Naval ships and shipyards.
    NO AMOUNT of exposure to asbestos is safe.

    Get the word out!!

If you have a serious illness, should you get palliative care?

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caregivers

Yes. Palliative care provides an additional level of support while still providing curative treatment. Hospice care, on the other hand, also provides support but focuses on pain management and a good quality end-of-life care. Coming from NYU, I’m aware of the NICHE program (Nurses Improving Care for Healthsystem Elders). One thing it does is provide caregiver resources especially useful while you or your loved one is at the hospital. Here is their guide for helping you determine if you need palliative care.

1. Do you have one or more serious illnesses?

Such as: • Cancer • Congestive heart failure (CHF) • Kidney failure • Liver failure • Neurological diseases (e.g., ALS, Parkinson’s) • Dementia • Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema, lung disease

Yes___ No___

2. Do you have symptoms that make it difficult to be as active as you would like to be, or impact your quality of life?

These symptoms might include: • Pain or discomfort • Shortness of breath • Fatigue • Anxiety • Depression • Lack of appetite • Nausea • Constipation

Yes___ No___

3. Have you, or someone close to you, experienced the following:

• Difficult side effects from treatment • Eating problems due to a serious illness • Frequent emergency room visits • Three or more admissions to the hospital within 12 months, and with the same symptoms

Yes___ No___

4. Do you, or someone close to you, need help with:

• Knowing what to expect • Knowing what programs and resources are available • Making medical decisions about treatment choices/options • Matching your goals and values to your medical care • Understanding the pros and cons (benefits/burdens) of treatments (e.g., dialysis, additional cancer treatments, surgery, etc.)

Yes___ No___

5. Do you, or someone close to you, need help with:

• Coping with the stress of a serious illness • Emotional support • Spiritual or religious support • Talking with your family about your illness and what is important to you

Yes___ No___

If you answered yes to more than one of the questions, palliative care is something you or your loved one may need. If you feel you may benefit from palliative care, please talk to your healthcare provider today.

—
Update from April 24, 2014
To spread awareness about COPD and raise money for the COPD Foundation, you can write your story and Healthline will donate $10. The top 5 stories will receive a $75 American Express card.

Reasons for Action – Eat Plants to Live Without Disease

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Plant-Based Nutrition book
In nursing, everything we do has a reason. Each action has a purpose. For example, in the nursing intervention and clinical skills book, for each step in the procedure written on the left column, there was a compelling reason for that step written in the right column.

I think that most people don’t eat whole foods is because they don’t understand the reason for eating whole foods. In school, nutrition is barely grazed on in physical education class. Instead, school teachers are asking students to merely memorize and that does not give students a compelling reason to eat in a way that promotes healthy bodies.

Last Saturday, I watched Fork Over Knives on Amazon Prime (it is also available for steaming on Netflix). This documentary gets into the scientific studies done that promotes a whole food plant based diet. This diet decreases cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and weight. I personally feel that this is a great start for people to change their diet and their health. I just borrowed the book called The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Plant-Based Nutrition by Julieanna Hever. It provides great information in laymen’s language so that it is easy to understand.

Prevention of health conditions such as obesity, heart disease, diabetes and cancer all starts with eating a whole food plant based diet. Watch the movie. Read the book. It will change your life.