Community News
Wigging It Right

Choosing the right length, colour, and style of wig can be a daunting task. Feeling comfortable, confident and natural in a wig is important. The more brands and styles you can choose from, the more natural your wig will look. To create a natural look, wigs are available in synthetic & human hair as well as a variety of colours including highlighted & rooted. Ensuring that your wig fits properly is paramount and helps alleviate skin issues that can be caused by an ill-fitting wig. In addition to fit, understanding a wig’s construction, proper trimming, thinning and shaping of your new wig is very important to make you comfortable and feeling as much like yourself as possible. Hair loss/ removal during chemotherapy can be emotional and uncomfortable, but with the right advice and products, you can regain some confidence and feel better at this time.

www.citylooks.ca 

Learning to Meditate

Meditation is the ancient practice of calming the mind, creating awareness, and finding inner peace. Meditation offers a mind-body connection and has many physical and mental benefits. It is a great way to relax, calm the mind and body, bring about awareness, and bring your life back into balance. Many people think meditation is hard, that it takes a lot of time, and that for some people it simply can’t be done. Not true! The trick is to start small, start easy, and gradually progress. Start with just 5 minutes a day. Find yourself a quiet space, lye down, listen to some relaxing music and try not to focus on any one thing, just be. If you have trouble focusing your thoughts, try focusing on your breath; be aware of each breath in and out. It will become easier with time.

www.nicholeguthrie.com

One Simple Change

Most of us strive to live a healthier lifestyle. We know that we should be eating right, exercising regularly, and still making time for family, friends, and our own needs, but this can seem like an overwhelming goal. Instead of attempting to conquer our health all at once, what if you started by setting more manageable goals? Making small changes today can lead to great health benefits down the road. You can start by lowering your stress levels by getting more sleep. When was the last time you felt you had great, quality sleep on a regular basis? Getting a good night’s sleep can greatly impact your outlook on life and, in turn, your health and wellness. Simple changes, such as getting a good night’s sleep or taking time for a relaxing hobby, are easy ways to help manage stress and improve your well-being in the long-term.

http://slefley.canada.juiceplus.com/

New Business Showcase

It is often very difficult and overwhelming to effectively manage multiple medications. This can lead to improper use of medications, which can result in extra doctor visits, emergency room visits and hospital stays. The high cost of prescription medication is a major concern for many patients; therefore we prepare a customized monthly budget for each of our clients. This, along with our visiting pharmacist service, will give you and your care-givers peace of mind. Our ultimate goal is to ensure all medications are taken as prescribed and that you have a full understanding of each medication including its interactions and side-effects. As well, we want to ensure that cost does not become a stress factor and/or road-block. Better Health & Wellness may be achieved through medication management; talk to our pharmacist to arrange a home visit.

www.careathomepharmacy.ca

Smartphones and Health

Smartphones are incredibly powerful devices. Increasingly we rely on them to run our life. One of the latest trends is toward mobile health or mhealth. Many applications have been designed to help you live healthier and manage your chronic illnesses. Here are some our favorites: Misfit wearables is a great low price entry to fitness trackers starting at $25. Askthedoctor.com will get your health questions answered in a jiffy, and glooko.com has an amazing platform for people dealing with diabetes. One of the biggest issues faced by patients today surrounds management of medications. 55% of Canadians above 45-65 are on at least one prescription medication. Using a smartphone to manage and track your meds has been proven to improve adherence, keeping patients healthy. If you are on multiple medications this may be the best and quickest thing you can do for your health today.

www.poprx.ca

Book Club: Healing and Transformation

Healing and Transformation through Transcendental Meditation (TM) by Dr. Norman E. Rosenthal. Learn the basics about this ancient technique, and for seasoned meditators, broaden your knowledge and deepen your understanding. Rosenthal’s central point emphasis on TM changes the brain, and can help a vast array of different people to live longer and better lives, and achieve lifelong success.

www.normanrosenthal.com

Clean Eating: Thai Carrot Coconut Soup

Ingredients:

1 ½ cups water
1 ½ cups carrots cut into 1” pieces
1 green onion
5 tbsp. shredded, unsweetened coconut
1 tsp. turmeric
½ tsp. sea salt
1 tbsp. lemon juice
1 date
2 tbsp. fresh lemongrass (finely chop the heart of 2 stalks)
1 tbsp. freshly chopped ginger
1 avocado –half to blend and half cut into ½” – ¾” pieces for topping
2 tbsp. fresh cilantro (to mince for topping)

Directions:

Blend all ingredients, except avocado and cilantro, until smooth.
Add half avocado and blend.
Pour into bowls.
Sprinkle top with avocado pieces and minced cilantro.

From Uncooking with RawRose by Rose Vasile
www.rawrose.com

Compassionate Beauty Care

There are many thoughts that go through a person’s mind once a cancer diagnosis is received. What does the future look like and how will my life be changed. What common activities that I do now, will be affected by treatment and subsequent side-effects?

One thing that does not need to change is pampering yourself.  You may think that a trip to the spa is not something you want to experience while being in treatment. Not only is there the possibility of increased infection because your immune system is low, there is the discussion that you will need to have with the esthetician, that may make you uncomfortable.

Perhaps, going to a place that provides safe and hygienic manicures and pedicures is something you would consider. Where the treatments are non-invasive, no cutting of cuticles, no razors used on feet, just simply therapeutic services that are focused on the individual going through any cancer. Having a facial with no extractions, just comforting and customized for your skin. Using all natural products that contain no carcinogens or any toxins. Products with ingredients listings you can pronounce and recognize. The best part – not having to explain what you are going through because we know.

The Unexpected Gift
www.theunexpectedgift.ca 

One Simple Change

Most of us strive to live a healthier lifestyle. Finding the right place to start is a challenge. Eating right, exercising regularly, and still making time for family, friends and our own needs can seem like overwhelming goals. Instead of attempting to conquer our health all at once, what if you started by setting more manageable goals? Making small changes today can lead to great health benefits down the road. Physical activity: Get More Exercise. Most people look at exercise to burn energy and lose weight. Think of exercise as a way to gain energy and stimulate your body and mind. With many demands fighting for your attention, it is a challenge to find time for a trip to the gym. Start with simple activities you can incorporate into your daily routine. One simple change can make a big difference in how you look and feel.

Sandy Lefley, Juice Plus+
www.slefley.canada.juiceplus.com

A Better Sleep

Reflexology is a natural healing art based on the principal there are reflexes in the feet, hands, and ears that correspond with every organ, gland, and system in the body. Through application of pressure on the reflexes, Reflexology improves circulation, relieves tension, and helps promote the natural function of related areas of the body. This process may assist you in achieving better sleep by relieving tension and encouraging the body to return to a state of homeostasis. Reflexology helps the body enter a state of relaxation, stimulating the parasympathetic nervous system and supporting the body’s self-healing ability. When you work to support your body, your body will work to support you!

Nichole Guthrie
www.nicholeguthrie.com

Care about Your Hair

Hair loss is a sensitive matter for chemotherapy and radiotherapy patients. For those undergoing treatment, capillary and sebaceous gland activity is sharply reduced, causing the scalp and skin to dry out considerably as well as leading to temporary hair loss. The Térapo Médik™ Well-Being

Care Kit lets you fully hydrate your scalp during treatments, ensuring vigorous regrowth after hair loss. It contains two sets of lotions and shampoos made with gentle natural ingredients that relieve dry scalp and hydrate to ease discomfort experienced during and after treatment. Undergoing chemotherapy or radiotherapy treatment is already a lot to deal with. However, hair loss during this time can be even more distressing. While the Well-Being Care Kit is unable to prevent the loss of hair, their natural ingredients will nurture before and throughout treatment. A great way to help kick start your hair growth for stronger, fuller, healthier hair!

City Looks
www.citylooks.ca