Meditation. Yes? No? Who Knows?

A posting on the National Brain Tumor Society’s website suggests that those of us with tumors (or maybe even those of us caring for people with tumors) should consider meditation (see http://my.braintumorcommunity.org/app/render/go.aspx?sBlogID=5994&xslt=blog/blogbase.xslt&mode=post&sPostID=176246&cons_id=2966833&ts=1327003708&signature=1d2a0b91dafb226e687203f409e01717). 

Come again?

I have a brain tumor – why would I revert to the “think” method espoused in the “Music Man”?

According to the NBTS posting, “Everyday life is full of stress and if you are a part of the brain tumor community, there can be added stress and limitations around what you can do to alleviate it. Mindfulness meditation is an easy and free coping strategy.”

Ok, I get that.  Having a brain tumor, even one that I hope is in remission, causes a certain 

amount of stress.  Or as Steve McCroskey said in the movie Airplane, It “Looks like I picked the wrong week to quit drinking.”

But isn’t meditation hard? I’d hate to be stressed because I’m terrible at meditation which is supposed to be relaxing and restful…or is that my inner Woody Allen speaking? Hmmmm, maybe this conundrum is more of a “Catch-22” than my inner self channeling Woody Allen.

And didn’t I recently write a posting about the importance of exercising for at least 30 minutes a day?  Sheesh, that would only leave me with 23 hours a day.

Do you get the sense that I’m trying really hard to procrastinate?  I do.

Actually, the advice on the website doesn’t sound all the hard. I am going to try to try this afternoon – if that makes any sense.

While I’m also going to ask my sister the acupuncturist what she thinks, I’m interested if any of you have recently tried meditating.  If you have, please add a post with your impressions.

What is the single best thing we can do for our health?

I saw my neurosurgeon yesterday and my latest MRI revealed some tumor growth.  Probably swelling, but we’re going to keep close tabs on it.

This got me to thinking – there’s little I, personally, can do directly about the tumor. But there’s a lot I can do about my overall health. And I just saw a great youtube.com video on the best thing you can do for your health: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUaInS6HIGo

It’s fun, less than 10 minutes and hugely informative.

You can even watch it if you don’t have cancer or a brain tumor.

Wait! Breaking news! “Loud hospital rooms linked to poor patient sleep”

Now here’s a surprise, according to a recent article published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, hospitals are noisy and patients aren’t sleeping well.

For those of you who’ve spent any time at all in a hospital, this may come as some sort of shock. I suggest immediate bed rest…but not in a hospital if you want to sleep.

I think, but am not completely sure, that one of the reasons I had an MRI prior to my surgery was to get me use to the comforting noises I would encounter in the hospital.

I’m kidding! :-) A hospital is a hard place to get some rest…especially during the day.

Why? Because everybody, and I mean everybody, feels like they can walk into your room at any time. 

“Sorry Mr. K,” (without really meaning it) blurts the guy that came around every morning at 5am or so just to peer in my eye and make sure I was alive. 

“Time to change your IV.”  In bustles a nurse.

“Has your bed been made yet?”  A nurse’s assistant strolls in.

“Time for your vitals.”  Ditto.

“Has somebody checked your stitches?”  In pops a resident.

“Have you ordered breakfast? Lunch? Dinner?” In comes the waitress (dressed in a spiffy tuxedo, I must add).

“How about your pills?  Want some water?”

“Time for physical therapy.”

“Time for occupational therapy.”

“Can I clean your room?”

“Have you gone #2 yet? Want a ‘stool softener’?” (I usually answered “no” and “yes”)

“You have a visitor.”

That was my experience. And since I’m a bit tired, and I’m not in the hospital, I’m going to take a nap.

Oh, and here’s a link to the Reuters article: http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/01/10/us-hospital-sleep-idUSTRE8092CV20120110 (It looks like you have to pay for complete info on the original study).

More Witty and Bitingly Sarcastic Cancer Blogs

Yes, brain tumor and brain cancer blogs have witty, bitingly sarcastic names and content, but what about other forms of cancer? Do their blogs have any humor? Any bubbling anger? Any of that “Damn the torpedoes full speed ahead” esprit de corps?

Well, yeah!.

Miss Melanoma - http://missmelanoma.blogspot.com/ She’s full of honesty, opinions and insights. She also has links to some T-shirts I like. Miss Melanoma is great name - I would start a Mister Melanoma blog, but I’m afraid of copyright infringement.

Mommy’s Kicking Cancer’s Ass - http://krm0507.blogspot.com/.As a former Detroiter, I recognize her attitude and love it. 

And how can you not love a blog entitled “Radioactive Girl”? http://radioactive-girl.blogspot.com/ I especially like her subtitle – “I am no longer radioactive…but I’m still hot”

As an ode to my Mother who had breast cancer last year, “Afrochemo – My search for the perfect afro wig while undergoing breast cancer treatment” http://afrochemo.blogspot.com/2011/09/5-things-not-to-say-to-cancer-patient.html I especially like her 9/13/11 blog entitled “5 Things Not to say to a cancer patient”.

I stumbled upon “The Accidental Amazon” - http://accidentalamazon.com/blog/ - and found a blogger who was “not feeling particularly sanguine, philosophical, grateful, brave, accepting, noble, etcetera and so forth, about facing 2012…”.  If you go there, be sure to read the “Grumblers for the Cure” page - http://accidentalamazon.com/blog/2011/11/05/grumblers-for-the-cure/

MRI Today

I had a MRI today. It’s part of my regular follow-up after last summer’s radiation treatment. I’ll learn next week if the tumor is still in remission.

My last MRI showed some growth, but my neurosurgeon was quick to say that it was just a little bit and nothing to worry about.

Sometimes I find it hard to “live in the moment” when you know that a MRI result could change your life.

At the same time, I feel somewhat powerless, if it’s growing it’s growing…and there isn’t much I can do to prevent it.

Part of me says, “Go for the gusto while you can!”

But, I’m trying not slip into “worry-dom” as much as I’m trying not to go “Gusto-crazy” (as much as Schlitz would like me to).

Next week should be in interesting.

PS – Didn’t grow up with Schlitz commercials?  Here’s a link to one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=leKu2vEPvGw