Looking great with Olivia
The photo of Olivia is on the next page
Beating breast cancer
It has been seven years since my very public battle with breast cancer. Thankfully, I need to have check-ups only once a year.
A lot of people ask me how I coped with that period in my life, particularly the eight months of chemotherapy. I handled it because I had to. But I made sure I pampered myself throughout the whole process.
During chemotherapy, I was also relying heavily on homeopathy and meditation to help me through. I always had an acupuncture session the day after treatment. Several days later, I would have a massage and facial.
With one in 11 Australian women at risk of contracting breast cancer, here is my advice to anyone suffering from the disease:
Stay positive.
Stay strong.
Drink a lot of water.
Ask your doctor every question you can think of.
Meditate or pray - whatever helps you spiritually.
There is a wonderful book called Living With The End in Mind, by Erin Kramp. Erin was a very good friend of mine who sadly passed away about two months ago. I was totally impressed by the way she handled her life and prepared for her passing. This is a great and inspiring book, whether you know you are going to die or you are not sure.
She was a remarkable woman and we made a deep connection. Her words are really not about illness; they are about preparing to make things easier for you and your loved ones if the worst happens. Unfortunately, the book is not available in Australia but can be ordered from the US through your local bookshop. It is published by Three Rivers Press, Random House, $24.
Small Bickies
Snacking is often the biggest obstacle when you are trying to lose weight. It seems there is always something that’s pretty hard to resist, no matter who you are. For some, it’s chocolate (count me in on that one). For others, it’s crisps or biscuits that prove to be their downfall.
Massage mix
Feeling tense? I always head off for a massage when I feel my neck and upper back tightening up. There is nothing better, especially if aromatherapy oils are used. If you don’t have the time for a massage, get a friend to rub a mix of, say, three drops of pine, three drops of marjoram and two drops of juniper into your back and shoulders. Enjoy!