Happy 49th Birthday Twinner

Dear Laura,

It's about 7:30PM on our birthday eve. Your out and about with your kiddos right now and I have the house all to myself. I'm getting really pumped up for our birthday tomorrow and celebrating at one of our favorite restaurants. I still get excited like I did when we were younger, because I always know that I share this special day with my Best Friend. I hope your planning on staying up until midnight, so we can bring in this 49th birthday right. Some day we won't be able to stay up late so let's get the jammies and slippers on and watch the clock strike Midnight. It's going to be another Friday the 13th birthday. Those have always turned out to be amazing birthday's for us. I think with all the superstition surrounding the date, our expectations have been low, which made them that much more fun.

I guess I'm writing this birthday wish for you, so you'll always know, in no uncertain terms, what you mean to me.

Laura, I can truly say, that my journey in this life has been Beautiful because of you. Life has thrown us some curve balls but because we love each other, we manage to not only Survive, but Thrive. When I was diagnosed with cancer almost eight years ago, as scared as I was, I knew I wasn't alone. I knew my twin sister would be there for me, through thick and thin, and never waiver.

My love for you is so strong, that I was glad it was me that ended up with cancer and not you.

Your love for me is so strong...


When the pharmacist told you my medical insurance ran out and I was no longer covered for pain and nausea medication, you went to bat for me. You caused quite a commotion at Health Partners Clinic that day. The poor, unsuspecting pharmacist didn't know what hit him. Though you tried to be strong for me so I could get the needed medication, desperate pleas and flowing tears illuminated your Unconditional Love for me.


When you hadn't come back to my room with the medication for about twenty minutes, the oncologist had an "aha" moment. She'd seen this happen before and realized that my health insurance probably ran out. She assured me, I would get the chemo drugs I needed to help combat the bad side effects, but added, "there may be some confusion with the pharmacy, you'd better get downstairs and let Laura know we can take care of it." Before I even reached the lobby, I could hear my frightened twin sister, pleading with the pharmacist. "Please, if she doesn't get the medication, she will be deathly ill." Her voice was loud and firm yet sadly vulnerable. By the time I entered the pharmacy lobby, all eyes and ears were on Laura. I noticed that people were looking at her with compassion like they'd been in this situation too. Many onlookers had tears in their eyes as they watched my sister fight for me. When I finally reached Laura, I wrapped my arms around her and said with all the love in my heart, "it's ok honey, my oncologist will take care of the medication." You could've heard a pin drop as the people in the lobby witnessed the unconditional love of a sister. 


Happy Birthday Laura-I love you with all my heart and soul and can't imagine my life without you.

How to Keep your New Year Resolutions Realistic

Every year as the new year rolls around, we start thinking about what our resolutions will be. Some of us don't bother making changes because we know we wont be able to keep them anyway. Those of us that do decide to make changes, start out with much enthusiasm and confidence that we'll succeed. We start out motivated but eventually the optimism and gung ho attitude, fades into the winter doldrums. Why do so many of us fail with our resolutions?

I've been attemtpting this New Years Resolution thing for quite some time now. I know what has worked for me and what hasn't. Here are some suggestions that may help you avoid giving up on your '2012' resolutions.

• Set realistic goals-This can help you be more successful
• If working out and losing weight is on your list, focus on how much healthier you will be instead of focusing on numbers on the scale.
• Don't tell the world what your resolutions are as I've learned from experience that it creates pressure which can lead to failure which can lead to feeling depressed and embarrassed. Your close friends or family members will likely figure out your resolutions which can hopefully help and not hinder your progress. In short, love yourself enough to know you don't have to tell people as your doing this for yourself.
• If your cutting out or cutting down on certain foods or sweets, don't be a black and white thinker. It's fine to have a little treat once in awhile and this shouldn't cause you angst or thoughts of giving up. Cutting down on certain foods is a lifesyle change and choosing those foods now and then, means just that. You can cut down without giving it up completely.
• Pamper yourself as your working on your New Years Resolutions. Maybe a spa day would make you feel good if you have a little extra cash. If your looking for something free and simple, take a nice hot bubble bath. These simple rewards can help motivate you as you accomplish goals during your journey. I try to get a massage once a month because it's something that makes me feel special, relaxed and rejuvenated.
• If one of your goals is to drink more water, go out and buy a fun water bottle. I know it sounds simple but it's helped me to consistently drink the recommended 64 Oz. of water a day. I found my cool bottle at Caribou Coffee but you can find them all over. Anywhere from gas stations to big outlet stores like Target and even grocery stores.
• If healthy eating is on your list, be prepared. Make sure to buy and stock healthy foods, so you don't go for the junk. I even bag my meats in a sandwich bag so I know it's the right serving on the Weight Watchers Program.
• If working out is one of your goals, know what exercise you Really enjoy. I've learned that power walking is something I stick to because I genuinely enjoy it. If weather permits, I prefer to walk outside. If weather doesn't permit, I jump on the treadmill with headphones. Research has shown that people will stick to an exercise routine more consistently when it's something they enjoy and not an exercise they have to talk themselves into.
• If your trying to quit a bad habit like smoking, think about joining a support group to help you stay motivated and on track. These days you can even find support, online.

No matter what your New Year Resolutions are, give yourself permission to make some fun choices now and then. This makes your goals easier to stick to, because you know it's a lifestyle change and not a death sentence for no more fun. For those of you that have decided to make some resolutions, good luck to you and I wish you a Happy Healthy New Year.

Sincerely, Linda Rogers

Happy New Year Everyone

Here we are in the year, "2012." That year sounds strange at this point and I know I'll be writing 2011 on my checks for awhile. I don't know about you, but I get very sentimental and nostalgic as the New Year rolls around. Looking back at the previous year and looking forward in hope, to a new one, gets me emotional. I want to wish all my blogger friends, a Happy and Healthy New Year and thank you for all your support of my writing here.

I had an amazing New Years Eve and thought it would be fitting to put on a video and lyrics of the 'Auld Lang Syne' song. Whether you sat at home on New Years Eve or went out on the town, you probably heard this infamous song. The song was written by a scottish poet by the name of Robert Burns, in the eighteenth century. It's well known to ring in the new year as the clock strikes midnight but it's also played on other occasions as well. The first line of the chorus, Auld Lang Syne, basically means, "for the sake of old times."
I brought in the new year with my best friend and twin sister. We started the night at a local restaurant and had a cocktail and an appetizer. Then we came home to our two dogs and watched 'Dick Clark's Rockin Eve' special. It's tradition to put out a delicious buffet of our favorite finger foods which we graze on throughout the the evening. So far, sis and I have always made it to midnight and sometimes beyond. The Dick Clark special actually ends at 2AM Central time. I made it till the show ended but sis pooped out around 1:00AM.
Lyrics to Auld Lang Syne

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind?
Should auld Acquaintance be forgot,
and auld lang syne?
Chorus
for auld lang syne, my dear,
for auld lang syne,
we'll take a cup of kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.

November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month

My Family and I at a Fundraiser Benefit in my Honor

It is a personal mission for me to spread the word that November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month. I was only forty-one years old when I was diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer in February of 2004. Hearing those three scary and life altering words, "you have cancer" is something I'll never forget. My twin sister was by my side as we anxiously waited for the call about my lung biopsy. When the phone rang and I heard the doctor say, "sorry to have to tell you that you have lung cancer,"I found myself repeating the words out loud." My loving sister turned white, fainted and fell to the floor. How could I have lung cancer? I am fairly young and have never smoked cigarrettes.

I've learned a lot about the disease of lung cancer since then. It doesn't matter if you smoke or not. Lung cancer can hit anyone for different reasons. Although smoking is a major risk factor for developing lung cancer, there are other risk factors: Exposure to radon gas or Asbestos, being around second hand smoke and air pollution. I'll never know exactly what caused my lung cancer but I'm sure it was a number of risk factors, including parents that were heavy smokers throughout my childhood.

It was a long hard journey to endure but I was willing to fight as hard as I could for my life. I had surgery to remove the middle lobe of my right lung. I went through a grueling five months of chemotherapy and eventually radiation therapy. I was told I had a 20-25% chance of surviving the first five years because the cancer had spread to a couple lymph nodes. I am happy and grateful to say that I'm seven years cancer free and doing great. Odds of the cancer coming back are very low now that I passed the five year mark. I am a example of how any of us can beat the odds of any life-threatening disease.

According to the American Lung Association, "lung cancer kills more men and women than any other cancer." I hope you will help me in my crusade to spread the word that November is 'lung cancer awareness month.' Hopefully in my life time, they will find better and less evasive treatments and a cure.

Sincerely, Linda Rogers aka Twincess Diaries

Tribute to my Dear Childhood Friend

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GBE2-NATURE Versus NURTURE

In my GBE2 writing group, we were given the prompt of NATURE Versus NURTURE. I found this topic especially fitting for me as an identical twin.

I'll begin my story by defining Nature and Nurture. Nature refers to genetics, while Nurture refers to Environment. Using my twin sister and I as an example of both terms will bring them to life. Proponents of the Nature concept would believe that Laura and I are alike because of the genes we were born with. For example: Laura and I both enjoy singing and writing because of our genetic make-up.
Proponents of the Nurture concept would say that Laura and I share similarities because of the family we grew up in. For example: We both have a passion for singing and writing because it was nurtured by our family environment.

Now that we have the fundamentals of the Nature versus Nurture theory out of the way, I thought it would be fun to discuss some of the differences between my sister and I, and throw both concepts out the window.


Food: Sis LOVES Green Peppers. I find the green ones too strong and pungent. I prefer the yellow, orange and red ones because their mild and sweet.

• Laura also loves sour kraut which I can easily live without.

Cleaning/Organizing: Laura is more like Oscar and I'm more like Felix. I don't like messes or things to be unorganized. I think everything should be in it's place. In Laura's defense, she's not a slob or anything as dramatic as Oscar but she doesn't get bothered as much as I do when it comes to issues about cleaning. I actually wish I was a little more like her and able to walk by things that need cleaning or organizing once in a while.
Public Speaking: I'm a proud sister when it comes to my sister's public speaking. This is a talent that she nurtured on her own. At first, she was nervous speaking in public but after doing it awhile, she came to enjoy it and become very good at it. She does motivational speeches for companies, Speaks on 'Violence and Abuse' at local treatments centers and does a interactive talk for agency, staff retreats. Her speaking is powerful and touches the soul with her outgoing personality. I do not care to speak in public and thinking about it scares me to death. Although I'd probably be good at it once I got use to it, I don't care to foster this talent in myself.
Physical differences: (not too many) I'm an inch taller than my sister, our noses are slightly different, and her feet are a little bigger than mine. (she thinks her foot size changed after having children). I will now digress with a similarity. Sis and I have always gone up and down in weight, and oddly enough, we both seem to be close to the same weight each time it changes. Seven years ago when I went through chemotherapy and lost weight, sis did too. I think it's because were so close that she lost her appetite right along with mine. Kind of like when a husband gains weight when his wife is pregnant.

Being a twin is such a gift from God. I can't imagine not having my best friend to go through life's ups and downs with.

Exercise to Boost Your Health After Cancer

Cancer patients undergo tremendous stress - emotional, physical and mental. From diagnosis to treatment and recovery, cancer drains patients of energy, often causing them to fight just to lead a normal life again. Once cancer is gone, patients are Hell-bent on preventing the cancer from sneaking up again. Leading a healthy lifestyle becomes priority.

Research suggests that exercise benefits cancer patients and survivors regardless of the type of cancer they have or had, from a common cancer like breast cancer to a rare disease like mesothelioma. According to WebMD.com, exercise can lengthen the survival rate for cancer victims and help prevent cancer from recurring for survivors.

According to the New York Times, recent studies suggest that exercise may even be a form of treatment in and of itself. As little as two and a half hours of exercise every week may lower the risk of dying from cancer.

Being overweight after treatment can shorten survival time or increase the risk of recurrence. An active lifestyle can help combat weight gain by improving muscle tone and cutting down body mass. However, it’s not necessary to engage in intense workouts - it’s more important to avoid being inactive. Even light cardio, like walking, is better than not doing anything.

Exercise helps to improve a cancer patient’s or survivor’s quality of life overall. Aside from the obvious physical benefits, exercise can also help improve mood and self-esteem, increase energy while fighting against fatigue, and lower the risk for other diseases like diabetes or cardiovascular disease. Brisk movement increases blood flow throughout the body and brain, helping people to think more clearly and sharply. Exercise is also linked to combating depression and lowering stress and anxiety - all side effects of dealing with cancer.

However, it’s not recommended that every single cancer patient hop on the treadmill immediately following treatment. Chemotherapy and radiation can be highly draining, causing anemia and fatigue, which lower energy. It’s not safe to start an exercise regime if you’re feeling weak - wait until your energy returns and slowly work up to a regular workout schedule. Also, treatment can weaken the immune system, so avoid public gyms until your white blood cell count is back to normal.
Written by David Haas
Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance Guest Blogger