Do you know someone that has had cancer? I know I do. My entire family on both sides has had cancer survivors, those that live in memory of, and family friends too. Cancer does not just influence the individual going through the treatment. Cancer effects the entire family, community and world. It’s the most feared word in 7 different languages according to Les Brown.
This entire blog is dedicated to the families and individuals dealing with cancer. The purpose of my writing is to inspire hope. I provide actual facts from what science says today. I include some personal stories from my perspective. I get really deep so please be kind when responding or DM’ing me because I spend most of my Saturdays in tears of authenticity for your benefit. I am physically exhausted by Saturday evening because I have made this commitment to sharing my truth to help empower the world to move towards happiness. I’m not expert but I’ve learned how to be resilient in many storms and believe I can help you if you’re not quite to the place where you can say you’re truly happy. Happiness is a choice and living with cancer sucks; however you can choose to focus on the good and choose to believe in hope for your family or yourself even if you lose someone like I’ve lost so many. I include fun GIPHYs with the intention to lightening the mood on such heavy subjects.
#1 Hopeful Tip: Know the Signs and Symptoms of Depression In Patients With Cancer
Are you concerned about you or a loved one that has cancer also having depression?⠀⠀
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According to the American Cancer Society, If someone has 5 or more of the symptoms below for 2 weeks or longer or the symptoms are severe enough to hinder normal functioning, the person should be evaluated for clinical depression by a qualified health professional or mental health specialist:⠀
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😔 Sad or “empty” mood almost every day for most of the day⠀
😔 Loss of interest or pleasure in activities that were once enjoyed⠀
🥘 Eating problems (loss of appetite or overeating), including weight loss or gain*⠀
😴 Sleep changes (can’t sleep, early waking, or oversleeping)*⠀
😴 Tiredness or less energy almost every day*⠀
🤗 Other people notice that you’re restless or “slowed down” almost every day⠀
😢 Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, and helplessness⠀
🧠 Trouble concentrating, remembering, or making decisions⠀
🛑 Thoughts of death or suicide, or attempts at suicide⠀
🎢 Wide mood swings from depression to periods of agitation and high energy⠀
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**Physical problems such as tiredness, poor appetite, and sleep changes can also be side effects of cancer treatment, and can linger after cancer treatment is over. Ask your cancer team about the possible causes of these symptoms and if depression might be a factor.** See this article for more info.⠀
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Know that you are loved, not alone and we’re here to support 🤗. If you’d like to share your insights or questions please screenshot the title of this blog and Tweet me. I’ll respond by retweeting your question to my audience in my own way.
#2 Hopeful Tip: Know The Prevalence of Depression for Those With Cancer
According to the National Institute of Health certain types of cancers can increase the likeliness of depression in an individual. ⠀
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The most likely patient with cancer to also have depression is Oropharangeal patients (22%-57%), followed by Pancreatic (33%-50%), 1.5%-46%, lung (11%-44%), colon (13%-25%), gynecological (12-23%), & lymphoma (8-19%). ⠀
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This data is in regards to depression through the entire treatment of their cancer. No matter what cancer is a scary thing to go through and there is nothing wrong with someone feeling sad during their healing process.⠀
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When I was fresh out of grad school working 5 part-time jobs, one of them was group fitness instructor at the @YMCA⠀
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I saw a flyer one morning before my class for a full day dedicated to the family members connected to cancer patients through the affiliated medical partner in Seattle, WA.⠀
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My mom and I registered and went to the full day of workshops, insight and free food. I loved it because as a daughter of a 2x cancer and 1x cancer parents, it showed that people care about everyone effected.
I remember the keynote speaker was also a Chaplain and cancer survivor herself of breast cancer. She made it comical because she announced, “It’s the left one” so everyone would not focus on her boobs ha! She wanted everyone to focus on the topic and started her speech with a little humor.
One of the most powerful breakout sessions for me was the mindfulness based one. I think because of my MS in exercise and sport psychology it spoke to me. The lady provided great value and we each had an actual practice session of how to be mindful using empirically based science. She also helped open our eyes to opportunities to be more aware if we were family members of those with cancer how to best approach bringing spiritual training to masculine partners because of the gender hesitations.
This was during the Q & A session. It was a great question asked by a wife because she said she was trying to get her partner (he was patient with cancer) to try meditation and he said it was bullshit. Real. Authentic. Truth. She didn’t pretend to have all the answers, she said gracefully, “off the top of my head this is what I’d say in that moment,… and what does everyone else have to say? I’d love for any other ideas as you all bring your own experiences.”
This was brilliant! She taught me that I can lead a group of people and NOT know everything! What a concept. It can be high pressure speaking in front of a bunch of random people with their own opinions and be considered the expert at a topic. A graceful way to demonstrate control of the room is to provide an actual practical example if you can think of one, or if you need time to think on it, do as Denise Duffeld Thomas does and ‘bean dip’ the convo by asking the audience for support.
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For more info on the article specific to cancer type and likeliness of depression, check the link here.
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I’d love additional insights, stories, wisdom if you feel safe to share by taking a screen shot of this week’s blog title add a few if your own insights and Tweet Me. I’ll retweet it if I know an answer and I’ll retweet it if I need some help responding from my network 💃.
#3 Hopeful Tip: Know What Really Causes Cancer In Patients is Not The Main Thing
According to Les Brown, Cancer is one of the most feared words in 7 languages. ⠀
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He dealt with cancer 2x and beat it against all odds. He was even told by a doctor that he probably would not survive. Um… time for a second opinion! Your doctor needs to provide you with facts and let you decide on the probability of living. If you ask them what are my odds? They have to give you facts as best to their legal obligation. However, they aren’t trained in the metaphysical in many situations so let your doctor know how you’d like to be spoken to in advance before they start putting nonsense in your mind.
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He had specific strategies he used that I think could help you as well should you be going through cancer and depression. Cancer is such a touchy subject and everyone has their own decisions with how they choose to deal with cancer if they are the patient. Get clear on what you want, have those tough loving conversations with your family and write it out if need be.
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Of course consult your medical provider for the best treatment for you and use this as a supplement to add positivity towards a faster cure and/or more positive mindset. ⠀
Here is one of many Les Brown videos online that inspired me during the loss of my father to stage 4 kidney cancer. He died my 3rd day on the job at the psychiatric hospital where Move Happy began. I listened to him every morning to get me out of bed and go to a job that didn’t pay me my value but had the culture of what I needed to keep hope in my heart.
If this section added any ideas or questions for you, I’d be honored if you’d email me and share your story.
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#4 Hopeful Tip: Know How Move Happy® Can Help Patients and Loved Ones With Cancer
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If you’re a patient with cancer & depression or work with patients with cancer that also have depression, I’d love to give you a 🎁. You can either download 1 free copy or purchase 1 free copy for yourself. ⠀
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Any more than that please email me for permission first as this is my business and it’s available in my store and copyrighted. ⠀
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I designed this journal for adult patients in a live in psychiatric hospital that helped me through the tough time of losing my father to cancer my 3rd day on the job. ⠀
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We journaled together on topics related to happiness and had 5-10 minute group discussions then we worked out together. I researched in advance the components of happiness through a mini literature review. I used a lot of what I learned from my time with Deborah Heisz and Jeff Olson‘s leadership. They are the CEO and President of Neora (multi-billion dollar anti aging company) that helped me believe in my dreams again when the economy was terrible and 5 part-time jobs wasn’t cutting it. They helped get me out of my comfort zone with the system they had in place to talk to 2 people a day. They are also very passionate about happiness which rung true for me.
They went to the United Nations and demonstrated evidence of happiness leading to success in life and family and work and asked for the International Day of Happiness to occur every year on every calendar globally. They didn’t stop there. They also started a movement of intentionally spreading happiness on March 23rd every year through “Happy Wall Ambassadors.”
I applied to be a Happy Wall Ambassador when I worked at the psychiatric hospital and was accepted as the first host in the world to ever do it and represent a psychiatric hospital or any hospital for that matter. Deborah thanked me in person during a catered breakfast they surprised us with at a conference ❤️. The fact that she knew my name was mind blowing. Then she said YES to being on my podcast 🙌. People there is power in volunteering.
I’m hoping they can attend our Move Happy World Tour Experience 1.0 so I can thank them publicly acknowledge them in front of the professionals that will be in attendance 😊
They started a contribution company called Live Happy to spread happiness and give back locally through Big Brothers and Big Sisters. They inspired me to become a Big Sis to Jhoana. She will always be my lil sis even though I moved to TN to help my brother in transition. I can’t wait to support her Quinceañera this year. Hoping for a few sales to roll in so I can fly in and surprise her with some help with the dress or anything her mom and dad need support with. To support that go here.
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Back to the journal and cancer… One of my patients had lost his wife to cancer and he is one of the biggest reason why I share Move Happy at all. He got to be a part of my program the first round and third round and saw the progression. As a former Marine and high level executive in charge of 150 people, his opinion mattered most to me. He said “Erin you WILL be sharing this with others and I WILL be seeing you on TV. Do you have any questions?”
No sir!
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For a free copy of the journal sign up for my email list and it’ll be given once you sign up. The rest of the emails are geared more towards mental health practitioners so if they don’t apply to you, feel free to unsubscribe. ⠀
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However, if you ever think you’d be interested in information related to children with depression and future topics with Move Happy Family, keep yourself on the list for updates in the future. ⠀
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All that I ask if you do download the journal for free ($19.99 value) is that you share something you learned from on social media with a few sentences to help spread the word & tag me in your post so I can see it. ⠀
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Every dollar that goes towards my business is given back to mental health by 30 percent and youth programs by 10 percent. ⠀
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Thank you in advance for your support! ⠀
Move Happy Updates
The Move Happy Movement Podcast© is in full swing! Together we are bringing awareness to mental health, providing practical strategies to empower those with depressed states to move towards their own happiness and inspiring the joy of movement! Tomorrow I’ll be releasing episode 40 with a review of my first episode with Mr. Crouse my high school choir teacher.
He really is the reason for a lot of the hope I grew up seeing and learning from and demonstrated opportunities for me to travel the world using the gifts I enjoy (in music and dance). Keep in mind the recording was in my car during my lunch break on a handheld recorder. I called it a “Blog” and no I’m not going to edit it because YOU deserve to see imperfection from a leader who is growing exponentially in influence in a short amount of time. When he’s recovered from his medical procedures we’ll be doing a 2.0 version that he SO deserves. He has SO many wonderful stories of 40+ years experience teaching and traveling the world with an elite music group from college. He’s still friends with many group members today. He always said, “Do what you love and the money will come.” Now I finally believe it.
Fun fact he also ran track competitively in college but chose to focus on music. You do NOT want to miss that episode (available on iTunes by 6p CST every Sunday “Move Happy Movement“). Thank you to all current 522 listeners. If you love what value I’m bringing, please be so kind and write a review for me on iTunes to help spread awareness for mental health on every episode that inspires you to take action. I will be giving random shoutouts with your handle or name provided from the reviews on the next podcast episode from the best stories of applying Mindset, Community & Fitness to help you become happier.
#5 Hopeful Tip: Know What Depression Looks Like For Our Loved Ones With Cancer
The American Cancer society has a great article specifically for clinical depression and those that have cancer. What they found is that about 1:4 people with cancer will also have clinical depression. They also said there are ways to support and keep things positive which can actually benefit the longevity of the individual who has cancer. For more info check the article here.
I’ll tell you sadly from my experience the expenses of cancer sometimes mean that our loved ones choose to not fight the cancer if their stage is too high. My father decided when his clinical trial wasn’t improving his numbers, to not try chemo or any other treatment. He didn’t want mom to go through the financial stress like her sister had a few years prior and her husband had to deal with 5 maxed out credit cards.
He was loving her by letting go. In his dying breath he signed over documents to make sure she didn’t have to jump through hoops with lawyers for all the things he handled in their finances. Dad did all the finances for bills and mom had her own account for her savings and fun spending. This was a tough time for her to learn skills during such a stressful time and dad knew he didn’t want her also dealing with credit card debt or anything crazy for his life. I fucking hate cancer.
My aunt Louise’s treatment was $8000/mo not covered under insurance. She taught in Chicago Public Schools for 30+ years but that wasn’t good enough to fight the cancer fees. I fucking hate cancer. My dad loved my mom too much to see her go through that.
For me, I had to learn to love my dad through his choice and not be mad at him because he gave up hope for living. He died 7 weeks after his diagnosis was finally corrected from Pneumonia, my 3rd day on the job at the psychiatric hospital where Move Happy was born. The day I interviewed was the day we found out he had cancer. Sue, my boss remembered I had mentioned it because it was so fresh in my mind and she asked me how I was doing. I’m always authentic and I wasn’t doing well but I was there, grateful to have an opportunity to not work 5 part-time jobs.
This was dad’s second time with cancer and a lifetime of working nights, combined with sweets provided in his work place and a high pressure job in my opinion were all contributing factors. I loved my dad and still miss him every day. I hope he’s proud of me with Move Happy because I chose to create something to get my mind off the pain of losing him.
It’s hard running my business because I relive his death every single post and every single blog and content. I know I could stop at any moment if it got too much to bear but I believe there are more dads like mine that have depression and don’t feel safe sharing. Maybe even some people dealing with cancer right now are reading this and I am able to help 1 person. If that is the case, it’s made it all worth it for me.
So there you have it. Cancer sucks. Depression is normal for people that have cancer and even their family members. There are things to be aware about to be more sensitive to those with cancer. There is a global prevalence of cancer that is terrible. However, there are ways we can recognize the shit and focus on the positive.
We can choose to be intentional with our language, our spiritual mind space and even how we allocate our time. We can incorporate movement to help with the mental health negative aspects that go alongside dealing with cancer. I believe we can join together to take action and decrease the power of the word cancer for good and maybe even prevent 1 life from dying.
Imagine if all of us thought intentionally in our homes and intentionally believed in the survival of our family and friends how much stronger we would all believe as a whole. I know my dear friend Amanda is SO positive about her battle and posts about it on the daily just about. She’s a new mom and dealing with cancer and a job and husband. We were in junior high band and played volley ball together. She is choosing to focus on the positive and sharing her story. Thank you Amanda for your bravery ❤️. We need more people like Amanda speaking up and being good role models during shitty situations!
Won’t you join us on this journey?
PS: Don’t forget to tell someone you love them today
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