Lingers On

It feels like a lifetime since I last posted and I am not sure where to begin.  Let's start with what cancer has taken from me.

My Freedom-  I thought once the tumor was gone I'd be free to jump back into my previous self.  Heck that's what happened after my first surgery, but Shirley II (that's the name given to my tumor by my good friend, Traci) did not go willingly and without a fight.  But I digress....

The person I was prior to 2012 was funny, energetic, social, workaholic, mother, wife, daughter, friend, traveler, hostess, chef (at least in my kitchen).  I was always the first to volunteer my home for the next party.  I would drive in snow storms (when no one else was on the road) to visit clients.  I volunteered at my daughters school.  I very rarely ever said no.

But those days have vanished and that woman is gone Gone GONE!!  I am sure part of it has to do with the fact that I am not as young as I once was, but I'm only 41 and yet I feel like I am 81. And when I think about how I will physically feel in the future, I get sad and scared and annoyed for my family, friends and co-workers who listen to me complain about my chronic pain.  

I have turned into what I hate.  Maybe hate is not the right word but honest to G-d NOTHING annoys me more then chronic complainers.  Please don't get me wrong, this is not me venting about anyone or anything else but myself.  As soon as I hear myself telling someone that I hurt or how rough a day I had, I want to tune me out.   Day in and day out I feel like all I do is gripe and moan about my neck, my knees, my shoulders.  I have turned into the teacher from the Peanuts cartoon---waa waa waa waa.

The kicker, as of this very moment (11/20/14), I am still tumor free and have been in remission for 2. 5 years but I do not live a day without pain.  With all the treatments and surgeries my body is F'd up.  I now have herniated discs in my neck, I am riddled with arthritis and my anxiety is off the charts.

Alright...enough about me and my everlasting pain.  Tell me what scares you?  Do you suffer from chronic pain?  It's ok...complain away.  Why not, I did.  HAHA!

AUGUST 24, 2013- YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED

I am jumping out of my skin excited!  On August 24^th (5 pm - 10 pm) My dear friends, Lara Talevski, Stuart Watson and I are hosting a FUNdraiser  at the Wembley Club 8345 Woodberry Blvd  Chagrin Falls, OH 44023 benefiting DTRF.  

DTRF is the only foundation in the country dedicated to funding desmoid tumor research and finding a cure for this rare disease. 

Your 100% tax deductible donation includes a full access pass to this great evening and a chance to take home the door prize, Queen Size Sterns & Foster mattress:

• $35- single
• $50- couple
• $75- family

Donate Now

And if we receive your donation prior to August 15^th you will have double the chance at sleeping more comfortably and calling yourself the evening’s door prize winner. 

Donate Now

I know that I am being a bit cheesy with my spin on the spelling of  FUNdraiser, but I promise it is going to be a fun filled evening for everyone- singles, couples and the entire family alike.  As our guests you will enjoy: 

•      Wine tasting
•      Swimming
•      Tennis
•      Appetizers
•      BBQ themed dinner
•      Sodas and coffee
•      Cash bar  

In addition to enjoying delicious wines, food and summer fun activities, guests will be able to take a a stab at the silent auction which includes: Queen size mattress, professional designed invitation, art work, month membership at the Wembley Country Club….and more.

We’ll also have a reverse raffle featuring generous donations from local businesses including, Visualizenation,  Hyde Park Restaurant, Legacy Village, LaBarberia and Studio 247,  just to name a few.  We also have a few tempting treats for the kidos- Chagrin Valley RollerRink, Cinemark and East Coast Custards.  

As if that was not enough, you could walk away with some cold hard cash with the 50/50 raffle. And you have my word, you will leave with 100% of your winnings and not guilted into donating your winnings as we will NOT accept your winnings as a donation.  PERIOD!  NO EXCEPTIONS!

Donations are now being accepted :

By Credit Card:

http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/faithzdalton/runningforanswers

By Check:

Make out a check payable to DTRF and be sure to include Faith Dalton on the memo line and give it to one of your hosts- Lara, Faith or Stu or you can send it to:

The Desmoid Tumor Research Foundation
PO Box 273 | Suffern, NY 10901

AGAIN, in order to ensure we receive your donation please do not forget to include my name, Faith Dalton, on the memo line. 

We are looking forward to greeting you (and your families) on August 24^th!

xoxo,
Faith

P.S.  Cannot attend the event, we will miss you, but please consider making a donating to this worthy cause.  

IT'S THAT TIME AGAIN AND I NEED YOU

Last year was my first year fundraising for the Desmoid Tumor Research Foundation and with your help and generosity I was able to deliver over $6,000 to DTRF not to shabby for my first year, but that was last year AND THIS IS THIS YEAR! 

Recently I registered for another year of fundraising and this year I am planning to raise $7,500, as well as increase awareness by recruiting you, yes you to join my team.  I know this will be no easy task, but for those of you who know me know that I will not go down without a fight.

I understand every day you are bombarded by friends, family, organizations, schools, churches/temples, etc. asking you to do the very same thing I am, donate money and your time (which I know is precious and limited).   But let’s be honest, until 2 years ago must if not all of you (including me) never heard of desmoid tumors and that scares me.  If no one knows about desmoids how can we find a cure? 

So I beg you please join my team and help me strengthen awareness for Desmoid Tumors as well as shine the light on the efforts of the Desmoid Tumor Research Foundation (DTRF).  

"The Journey" - DTRF 's Running for Answers 5K Sponsor Introduction Video from DTRF's Running for Answers 5K on Vimeo.

Oh and here is a little incentive, I will give away two $50 visa gift cards to the persons who (one to each):

1.       Raises the most money

2.       Recruits the most folks to join our team.  To ensure you get credit please make sure your friends and family incorporate your name in their own name.  For example Julie’s helper, Bob.

To join my team you will need to follow these easy steps:

1.       go to http://www.firstgiving.com/dtrf

2.       Hit the Start Fundraising button

3.       Click Register button

4.       Choose how many folks you will be registering

5.       Next let us know if you are planning to attend the race/symposium in the fall or if you are unable to attend you will choose virtual attendee

6.       Now you will need to either register or if you have used First Giving in the past you can just login

7.       If you are registering you will be asked a series of question including your gender.  If you are a virtual attendee please choose the virtual attendee option.  You will also be asked to sign the agreement form by checking the box at the bottom of the page.

8.       Your next step is choosing my team, Shirley needs to stay dead. You can find my team either by typing in Shirley needs to stay dead in the search bar or by searching the list of teams.

9.       The next step after selecting the Shirley needs to stay dead team is creating your fundraising page.  Here you will tell your story; of course you are welcomed to share my story: http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/faithzdalton/runningforanswers

10.   Hit submit and spread the word

11.   After you completed registering, you can make a donation to your page (not a requirement)

I am also including a link to short video that walks you through the registration steps, http://firstgiving.wistia.com/medias/buaj5rp3s2  

If you don’t want to start a team, but you’d like to make a (100% tax deductible) donation please visit http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/faithzdalton/runningforanswers

Thank you!

xoxo,

Faith

Podcast: Desmoids Must Be Treated as Cancer

Hey folks, can you believe it?  I have not posted in months and today you get two posts from me.  

Anyhow, this podcast is worth every minute of the 18 minutes.... Dr. Pollock,  M.D., Ph.D., professor of Surgical Oncology at MD Anderson explains why he considers desmoids cancer and their relationship to Gardners Disease/FAP.  To listen click here or if that doesn't work,  you can copy and paste the following link into your web browser (a.k.a the long white bar at the top of your screen):  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPcEJ8kAOjw

Lastly, I ask that you share this post or podcast in your social networks.  I really need my village (and that includes you) to help me spread the word about Desmoids and what they are.  

Thank you!  Together we will find a cure!!!

xoxo,
Faith

The Pains Of A Seroma

It has been way to long since my last post, and believe me every weekend I tell myself today is the day I am going to write and post, but as you can tell that has yet to happen until today.  The truth is I have been spending more time with my daughter, my husband, the house, work and keeping up with my doctors’ visits.   

So for this weeks post, I am going to cover the medical drama that has been going on in my life since my last post.  The question is where do I begin?  Oh, I know let’s start with my reoccurrence….

Or at least what I thought was a reoccurrence. ….You can read in my previous posts (December 2012 and January 2013) life was starting to get back to normal; I was hanging with family and friends more often; I was traveling for work; and the pain was diminishing.  Less pain meant less pain meds, Ya Hooo!!  Life was not perfect, but l’ll take it.  That is until the pain starting to come back (in my neck and shoulders).  Oh shit! Is Shirley the stupid tumor back?  NO WAY! The tumor could not come back so soon since this time around I not only had surgery but endured 5 weeks of radiation therapy.  The return of the stupid tumor could not be possible, right? 

While on a lovely date with my husband and our friends, I turned to my husband and said, “We have to leave.”  The pain was coming on fast and being that pain sets off my anxiety I did not/could not be around people other than family.  We said our goodbyes and headed out the door.  When we were safely in the car I started to cry. “Why me?” “Not again!” “When will I get a break?”  My husband was quick to real me back in, “you don’t know for sure if it is back.”  He was right, but I know my body and the pain is identical to the pain I felt with the March 2012 reoccurrence. 

That Monday, I called my doctors and they were great.  They immediately brought me in for an MRI which was one month earlier then my scheduled MRI.  The Good news is I am still tumor free; the bad news, I developed a Seroma (fluid pocket) that is sitting on the nerves and muscles which is why I am in so much pain.  REALLY???  WTF??? 

I know what you are thinking, why don’t they drain it?  Well smarty pantsJ, my Dr. advised we not drain it as this could lead to an infection, but rather he’d like for the body to naturally absorb the fluid.  While I hate the idea of extending the pain, I do not want to chance an infection.  Besides I have been dealing with pain for over a year, what are another few more months gonna hurt? 

Anyone else develop a Seroma after surgery?  What did you do, drain it or leave it?  If you drained it did you get an infection?  Or if you waited how long did it take for the body to absorb it?  Did you get any other side effects to the Seroma? 

Until we meet again make it a great day and stay healthy!

xoxo,

Faith

Are You What You Eat?

For the last 39 years I have been fighting the battle of the bulge; I have tried every low fat, fat free, sugar free diet; I drink diet soda(s); I use(d) Saccharine, Equal, Splenda, Truvia, Sweet’n Low; I even tried the popular 90’s diet pill Metabolife 356 and yet still to this day my weight goes up and down like a roller coaster. 

You know the saying, “you are what you eat”?  I am beginning to believe this statement goes further than my spare tire and I think it could be a very real possibility that my cereals, yogurt, chips, puddings, meats, drinks, etc. (containing hydrated and partially hydrated oils, color dyes and a slew of other ingredients that I am unable to pronounce) might have been a contributing factor to my body behaving like a petridish for tumors.  

I often wonder are my tumors a result of my chemically enhanced diet?  Did I do this to myself?

I am not a scientist and I do not work in the food industry, but my commonsense tells me that maybe just maybe “good” for you, color enhanced foods are a pivotal ingredient in the cancer epidemic that plagues us/me.  (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2034746/Global-cancer-cases-rise-20-cent-decade.html). 

In fact, my fellow Americans, did you know that the UK has banned or required food manufactures to include a warning label if the product includes food dyes, but not here in the good old U.S.A...NO, we put warning labels on the obvious like cigarettes.

Approved FDA List:  

Color Additives

Offset color loss due to exposure to light, air, temperature extremes, moisture and storage conditions; correct natural variations in color; enhance colors that occur naturally; provide color to colorless and "fun" foods

Many processed foods, (candies, snack foods margarine, cheese, soft drinks, jams/jellies, gelatins, pudding and pie fillings)

FD&C Blue Nos. 1 and 2, FD&C Green No. 3, FD&C Red Nos. 3 and 40, FD&C Yellow Nos. 5 and 6, Orange B, Citrus Red No. 2, annatto extract, beta-carotene, grape skin extract, cochineal extract or carmine, paprika oleoresin, caramel color, fruit and vegetable juices, saffron (Note: Exempt color additives are not required to be declared by name on labels but may be declared simply as colorings or color added)

(Source: FDA.com)

Did you read the first column? “Provide color to colorless and “fun” food".  Fun food has put my health at risk?  How does this make sense?  

The most delicious part!  Are you ready for this?  I can hardly wait to tell you.  Here goes:  these FDA approved dyes are produced from coal.  Yep, you are digesting coal.  Yummy!  How cool is that?  NOOOOOOOOOTTTTT! 

And the best part our health is being compromised because companies don’t have the courage to change (see:http://www.forbes.com/sites/rachelhennessey/2012/08/27/living-in-color-the-potential-dangers-of-artificial-dyes/).  Listen, I don’t live on a pink cloud I know bad things can happen with change, but more often than not CHANGE IS GOOD! 

So while I can not make the manufactures change, I certainly can and have already started with a trip to Whole Foods where I am guaranteed 'fun" foods that do not include chemically enhanced colors or hydrated and partially hydrated oils. 

Don't worry you do not have to buy only organic products to ensure these ingredients will not be going home with you, you just have to turn that can, bag, box around and read the label. 

Here are some new finds and some old favorites: 

So what do you think do you agree with me or do you think I am full of crap? 

Happy New Year!

Faith

I’m Beginning To Feel A Lot More Like Faithy Everywhere I Go

Sorry it has been a couple weeks since my last post, but it has been a busy last few weeks….

I had an MRI, a pain management and 3 doctor visits.  Not to mention, I have been volunteering at my daughter’s school, hosting dinners, working and of course being a wife and mother.  

  

Are you on the edge of your seat wondering what the results of the MRI was?  Should I keep you waiting?  Nah that would be cruel; drum roll please…… I am tumor FREE.   Let the happy dance begin!!!

Even better, I am starting to feel more and more like me.  The weird thing is while Shirley was acting up I had no idea I was in such a dark place.  I knew that I was not 100%, but looking back now I kinda feel sorry for that woman who was suffering.  Yes physically it was my body, but emotionally and mentally that was not me.  The Faith I know and love is a funny go lucky smart ass and the woman with the stupid tumor was an anxious sad lady who was always in pain even though she was on a regiment of pain meds that would knock out a small village.  

Before you read on take a guess at how many pain pills I took a day.  Do you have a number in your head?  Great! Read on.

When I woke I’d go to the kitchen grab my pill box and swallow my morning dose of 3 oxycodone and 1 morphine.  When lunch time came I was so relieved that it was finally time to repeat the formula, at dinner, you guessed it another 3 oxycodone and 1 morphine and at bedtime, I toke 1 Cymbalta and an occasional sleeping pill.  I know what you are thinking she is going to get addicted (if she is not already).  Folk’, becoming an addict was/is the least of my worries and while on this cocktail it only made my pain manageable (see: Pain Medication: Are You Addicted?)  so that I could get through the day.  I was ALWAYS in pain.  ALWAYS!!!

Blah! Blah! Blah! Enough of this depressing shit as the title of this post states I am beginning to feel a lot like me again and slowly starting to get back to my life and doing the things I love, cooking, shopping, visiting with friends and family, traveling (personal and work), playing with my daughter and soon I will get my FAT ass back to the gym!

  

I still have a little ways to go to be rid of my daily pain and yes I continue to take pain meds, but a WHOLE lot less.  In fact, I no longer take morphine and dropped down to 2 oxycodone 2-3 times a day (usually 2 times).  They tell me someday I will have no pain; I hope this is true.

I wish you and yours a happy and HEALTHY Holidays Season!

xoxo,

Faith