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<title>My RSS Feed</title><link>http://www.PamSchmid.com/index.html</link><description>Hot News&#x21;</description><dc:language>en</dc:language><dc:creator>user@domain.com</dc:creator><dc:rights>Copyright 2006 Pam Schmid</dc:rights><dc:date>2012-03-30T23:04:18-04:00</dc:date><admin:generatorAgent rdf:resource="http://www.realmacsoftware.com/" />
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<lastBuildDate>Sat, 31 Mar 2012 08:07:39 -0400</lastBuildDate><item><title>101 Things You Should Know...</title><dc:creator>user@domain.com</dc:creator><category>Breast cancer</category><category>Gratitude</category><dc:date>2012-03-30T23:04:18-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.PamSchmid.com/blog/blog_files/6c0067c8088ca0843978e78a01001092-51.html#unique-entry-id-51</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.PamSchmid.com/blog/blog_files/6c0067c8088ca0843978e78a01001092-51.html#unique-entry-id-51</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[I did promise in the epilogue (saying my cancer had recurred) to give updates from time to time and was reminded recently that I had not done that.


Life was turned upside down when I not only learned that my cancer had returned locally, but after a few months learned it had spread further.    I am now dealing with metastatic disease (a terminal condition), the name for breast cancer that has spread outside of the breast.    I have experienced the ups and downs of such a diagnosis, and I'm sure that I will be continuing to.  

...What most people who see me are struck by, is that I don't look sick.  ...  The treatments given at this point, don't always make someone look sick, as in earlier stage treatment for breast cancer.    It doesn't mean I won't look ill at some point, but for the moment I am doing very well.  

...The truth is, we all have targets on our head&hellip; we just don't realize it.  ...  Savoring every moment of every day and filling our lives with the things that energize us versus the things that drain us, is paramount.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Celebrating the best in film</title><dc:creator>user@domain.com</dc:creator><category>Breast cancer</category><category>Appreciation of beauty and excellence</category><dc:date>2012-02-24T10:02:36-05:00</dc:date><link>http://www.PamSchmid.com/blog/blog_files/c42c6431379743f0335c490edb8a4719-50.html#unique-entry-id-50</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.PamSchmid.com/blog/blog_files/c42c6431379743f0335c490edb8a4719-50.html#unique-entry-id-50</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[This week I am so excited to be celebrating the best in film from both sides of the camera here in the heart of it all:  Hollywood!    Having a son who is building a career here as a young filmmaker, being an actress who got a late start, I so appreciate the hard work and dedication it takes to be here.   What an honor it is to be here.


Last night at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences we celebrated the filmmakers of Oscar nominated animation films.    What an inspiration it was to hear their stories after clips of their films were shown.    It made me realize that no matter who you are, if you have a dream, you can pursue it and win!


Today, I get to walk the red carpet at the MMPA awards and celebrate young filmmakers as well as promote awareness with my book, 101 Things You Should Know About Breast Cancer.    I can hardly wait, as I get to do this with my son, husband, and close friend and fellow cancer survivor, Suzanne Lindley. 


...We'll be attending other events and on Oscar Sunday will be getting to walk the red carpet at The Night of a 100 Stars at the Beverly Hills Hotel.  ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Update</title><dc:creator>user@domain.com</dc:creator><category>Healthy and Fit After Cancer</category><category>Breast cancer</category><dc:date>2012-01-03T00:29:31-05:00</dc:date><link>http://www.PamSchmid.com/blog/blog_files/d6a133bd5402110c6a15fae529be58b0-49.html#unique-entry-id-49</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.PamSchmid.com/blog/blog_files/d6a133bd5402110c6a15fae529be58b0-49.html#unique-entry-id-49</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[In an epilogue at the end of my book,  "101 Things You Should Know About Breast Cancer" I shared that I had a recurrence of my breast cancer and would give an update from time to time on my blog.    My book launch at the end of September into October was a time of celebration and joy.   I couldn't have asked for a more perfect time in sharing. 


...What initially seemed like a regional recurrence, where I was filled with hope of snapping the cancer back into submission, turned into a very different scenario.  

..."Metastatic disease" is what I am dealing with now, where there is no cure but a space where we work to "manage" the cancer with one drug after another, until they stop working.    It means that my life will likely be much shorter than it otherwise would have been&hellip; but then who knows how long any of our lives are going to be? 


So far this journey has been filled with much emotion, highs and lows, many questions, and much uncertainty.    It's a place I never really thought I would be, but here I am.  


I hope to share some of this journey as I go through it&hellip; so stay tuned.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>101 Things You Should Know About Breast Cancer/Shine on&#x21;</title><dc:creator>user@domain.com</dc:creator><category>Healthy and Fit After Cancer</category><category>Breast cancer</category><category>LIVESTRONG</category><category>Gratitude</category><dc:date>2011-10-19T12:20:51-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.PamSchmid.com/blog/blog_files/8256ed645b02cac96482be29161cdd2f-48.html#unique-entry-id-48</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.PamSchmid.com/blog/blog_files/8256ed645b02cac96482be29161cdd2f-48.html#unique-entry-id-48</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Having fun posing as if I am a celebrity in front of the photo wall at this Hampton's International Film Festival after-party event (see the name of my company by my right elbow) at East Hampton Studio's! 


...Living far from the rich and famous, of which I am neither, I also enjoyed posing with the high end cars on display with Exotic Classics - another game of pretend (as salesman Jeffrey Merritt assisted).    And I was interviewed by the fun-loving and wonderful team at Hampton's TV (VVH-TV) which has coverage from NYC to Montauk and was streaming live during the event.  

...This picture and interview were mere fractions of seconds in the scheme of my life, but might appear as if I held a social status that I don't have.    As I've told people who asked about how I was able to go there and to the Emmy's, I say, "Have cancer and be an advocate, and you, too, will have opportunities!" ...  My friend Jean (to whom my book is dedicated), lived life fully with Stage IV breast cancer, and always said she was a star in her own life and encouraged others to do the same, shining wherever they were planted.  

...Embracing and savoring life, both the good and the bad, is what makes up the life of a star&hellip; the routine moments we often take for granted until a loved one is no longer there to share them-those moments.


...Opportunities to make a difference and help others comes in a close second, but don't think for a moment that mere seconds in a photograph make up a life.  

...What I know for sure is that behind every picture, Twitter, or FB post, there is a story and a life of relationships, joy and pain, success and failure&hellip; and not always what they seem!  ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>101 Things You Should Know About Breast Cancer</title><dc:creator>user@domain.com</dc:creator><category>Healthy and Fit After Cancer</category><category>Breast cancer</category><category>Gratitude</category><category>LIVESTRONG</category><dc:date>2011-10-10T14:29:31-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.PamSchmid.com/blog/blog_files/7b32e83eae9e95784e626e530544924a-47.html#unique-entry-id-47</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.PamSchmid.com/blog/blog_files/7b32e83eae9e95784e626e530544924a-47.html#unique-entry-id-47</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[When I was diagnosed with breast cancer over 7 years ago, I never imagined that I would be writing my story in the form of a book.  

...But I was pulled by the desire to make a difference and had always been taught that when much is given, much is expected. ...  I was in a position to share what I had learned from leading experts in the field and my own personal and professional experience because not only was I asked to write the book with that title, I had nearly 30 years of professional experience in educating the public around health promotion, disease prevention, and had always been good at simplifying information (was a Special Education teacher early in my career). 


...I shared in the epilogue that I would continue the story here, which I will&hellip; but for now I am happy, healthy, and living life fully, launching a book I hope will make a difference.


...I have been in Los Angeles and Berkeley, back home to Raleigh, and off to New York this week again to share my message at the Hamptons International Film Festival.  ...  I won't review details of the book here (see synopsis at the links to the left about the book) but I will share some pictures and links to stories so far, below.  

...I will be speaking locally at Rex Wellness Wakefield this Wednesday, next week at Rex Wellness in Raleigh on Monday, and back to Wakefield and Cary the following week.


...With my biggest supporter, my husband Jerry with a gorgeous sunset behind us (thank you Jonathan Fredin with Cary Magazine for the photo)&hellip; and good friends Kristin Dill and Zane Creamer, among many others.  

...Mike's Way to A Cure Day at Jersey Mike's Wakefield (Wake Forest area) where 50% of proceeds went to Komen (food sales)-did a book signing and posed with the manager Marcus and Chris.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>My book</title><dc:creator>user@domain.com</dc:creator><category>Breast cancer</category><dc:date>2011-09-15T21:12:32-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.PamSchmid.com/blog/blog_files/cdbb000301abf13caf1d912b2fd28d9a-46.html#unique-entry-id-46</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.PamSchmid.com/blog/blog_files/cdbb000301abf13caf1d912b2fd28d9a-46.html#unique-entry-id-46</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[I got the first copy in my hands yesterday, and it is still surreal&hellip; a labor of love I never thought would come to fruition.    I have many people to thank, and have done so in the acknowledgements, but my heart is grateful for the blessings that have come from it already.     In the coming days, as it lands in people's laps, I pray that it will make a difference and make the journey easier for survivors or for those around them&hellip;and help people better understand their own risk and how to detect it early.


Right after I received the book in my hand, I was running a local errand and an acquaintance bragged about me.    The man to whom she spoke, said, "So what is it about?"     As I shared what was in the book, he said, "All of that is in there?"   to which I smiled and said, "Yes!"...    "Well I want to get me a copy of that!"  

...It IS a book for everyone, from learning more about risk and early detection, to understanding what its like to be diagnosed through treatment and beyond, to what to say/what not to say in supporting someone, and a guide for survivors around optimal well-being before and after treatment&hellip; and much, much more.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Mammography Plummets for Women in their 40&#x27;s... and will cause needless deaths</title><dc:creator>user@domain.com</dc:creator><category>Breast cancer</category><dc:date>2011-06-25T11:30:33-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.PamSchmid.com/blog/blog_files/99565bbd45175987ee27a7dcb02b5266-45.html#unique-entry-id-45</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.PamSchmid.com/blog/blog_files/99565bbd45175987ee27a7dcb02b5266-45.html#unique-entry-id-45</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[How is it possible in this day and time that a Chief Medical Editor for a major news organization can share such inaccurate, potentially life threatening information to millions of women? ...  Sadly, most women will read the information and simply believe it must be true-since it is coming from a beautiful, well-spoken, TV medical editor/doctor.


...For those women who believe that mammography is some kind of conspiracy of men to harm women or other sinister plot that serves to harm you, please be informed.   There are many dedicated men and women in the field of breast imaging who are trying to save women's lives-their own and their mothers, daughters, sisters, and friends.  


I'll be the first to tell you that mammography is not perfect, but it is the first step and only step we have in getting further imaging (like ultrasound, MRI, or other technology). 

...Hendrick and Helvie (2) showed that if the USPSTF guidelines are followed for a group of women ages 30-39 today, 65-100,000 lives would be lost that could have been saved by annual screening beginning at the age of 40. 

...None of the RCT stratified by risk so there is no proof that screening based on risk will save any lives.


...Since at least 75% of women who are diagnosed each year with breast cancer are not at increased risk, screening only high risk women will miss the vast majority of women who develop breast cancer.


...It is nonsense to suggest that women ages 40-49 may want to understand these pros and cons, but somehow this changes at the age of 50.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Sorting out coaching in the cancer world</title><dc:creator>user@domain.com</dc:creator><category>Healthy and Fit After Cancer</category><dc:date>2011-05-26T09:19:14-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.PamSchmid.com/blog/blog_files/75bc1a89aaee80847b89494216bec44e-44.html#unique-entry-id-44</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.PamSchmid.com/blog/blog_files/75bc1a89aaee80847b89494216bec44e-44.html#unique-entry-id-44</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[The term "coaching" is so often used to describe helping relationships, that when hearing the word "coach", one may assume it's just an adjective added to describe the help a person gives.  

...Over the last ten years the professional world of coaching has developed into a more rigorous field, with certifications and specific skill sets that are developed and tested to insure basic competencies.  ...  However, many coaches that are helping cancer survivors, may not have any credentials other than the desire to help others, which is fine, but when choosing a coach it's critical to know the difference.    The term "coach" is often used when there is no professional coach training but is attached to describe a  "helping" relationship like patient navigation, a growing field of its own.


Being on the international faculty for Wellcoaches&reg; for many years, and bringing my background as a health and fitness professional (and a cancer diagnosis) to the table, I started the first health and wellness coaching program for cancer survivors back in 2004.  ...  My work was the subject of research published in late 2009, showing significant results in various areas of health and well-being, including reduced depression and an increase in healthy behaviors (weight loss, fitness, nutrition) .  

...My experience has been that though the word "coaching" may be used in a title, such as  "cancer coach" or "recovery coach", there may be little that is similar about those coaches.    It could mean that the coach is essentially a patient navigator  helping you navigate the treatment experience with the health care system (as a peer or professional), or it could mean they are life coaches (with or without credentials) that are helping with the emotional side of recovery.  

...I choose to simply call my work  "wellness coaching for cancer survivors", (through my program Healthy and Fit After Cancer&reg;), because on the whole, we are not talking about cancer, but about working towards optimal health, fitness, and well-being, no matter the life circumstance.  
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Flourishing in spite of great odds</title><dc:creator>user@domain.com</dc:creator><category>Healthy and Fit After Cancer</category><dc:date>2011-05-01T13:48:11-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.PamSchmid.com/blog/blog_files/06c70561b4391caeafc8d9b2149e3b67-43.html#unique-entry-id-43</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.PamSchmid.com/blog/blog_files/06c70561b4391caeafc8d9b2149e3b67-43.html#unique-entry-id-43</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[And yet in another moment has created the beautiful promise  that life begins again with baby birds chirping, flowers blossoming, and renewal all around- giving us hope.


...The spirit of love and hope abounds, with human beings reaching out to one another bringing a sense of peace and gratitude.


...When our lives are turned upside down by some unforeseen event, we can't imagine that we can get through to the other side.  ...  When faced with more than we think we can handle, friends, acquaintances, and family come out in full force, to show us we are not alone, and that we can indeed, make it through.


...I have watched cancer survivors build new lives after a diagnosis of cancer and thrive.    I have watched people change the world, while living with cancer and treatment as a part of  the rest of their lives, as if their life depended on it.  ...  They flourish with new meaning, engagement, new relationships, and accomplishment, because they know that life is short. 

...The good news is that we don't have to wait for a disaster to flourish.  ...  Take the VIA Signature Strengths assessment at Authentic Happiness to learn what your strengths are-use them in a new way everyday for just one week.  ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Choosing a pace of grace during the holidays</title><dc:creator>user@domain.com</dc:creator><category>Appreciation of beauty and excellence</category><category>Gratitude</category><category>Happiness and positive emotion</category><dc:date>2010-11-30T18:18:09-05:00</dc:date><link>http://www.PamSchmid.com/blog/blog_files/24790182c75bc162eb19b0e0b0e095c7-42.html#unique-entry-id-42</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.PamSchmid.com/blog/blog_files/24790182c75bc162eb19b0e0b0e095c7-42.html#unique-entry-id-42</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[One of my favorite books, A Pace of Grace, The Virtues of a Sustainable Life, by Linda Kavelin Popov caught my eye this week after sitting down for a moment to rest after a long holiday week.  ...  It was filled with lots of extended family time, special older traditions (going to the mountains to get our Christmas tree, watch a small town parade, etc.),  new traditions, and great food.   As I thought about the month ahead and how excited I was,  I was also thinking about the lists of things on the horizon...  decorating my house, shopping, helping my son and his wife move to a new house , my birthday, my son's birthday, my husband's birthday, my niece's sweet 16th birthday, mailing packages, helping my other son plan to move to LA after Christmas, Christmas parties, wrapping gifts, work, medical appointments, etc. 


Holiday demands in addition to the life we already have, can often overwhelm and stress us to the max if we let them, taking away the joy and magic of the season-limitations on time, finances... too much to do, too little time, and not enough money to go around!


...This year I will do my best to choose a "pace of grace"  to be present to savor all that is ahead and appreciate the gifts around me.   Through my own experience with cancer and watching others living with cancer, I am always reminded of how precious and fragile each minute, each day, each week, and year of our lives are. ...  That doesn't mean sitting still in a corner and meditating necessarily, but it does mean choosing where our energy goes, where it doesn't, and enjoying each experience for the gift it is.


When we are able to have gratitude in the moment and be present, and plan our days with a pace of grace, we will likely be able to:


...If we can learn to savor our lives during the holidays, think how easy it will be to carry over these habits into the new year! ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Mammography Saves Lives</title><dc:creator>user@domain.com</dc:creator><category>Breast cancer</category><dc:date>2010-09-02T10:16:29-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.PamSchmid.com/blog/blog_files/4ba8fb8e09513804a0ebae6e16cc14bd-41.html#unique-entry-id-41</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.PamSchmid.com/blog/blog_files/4ba8fb8e09513804a0ebae6e16cc14bd-41.html#unique-entry-id-41</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[I am so excited to share the launch of a fabulous national campaign that will save women's lives:  Mammography Saves Lives.   Last year, the USPSTF came out with guidelines that were not backed by major cancer organizations and confused women (see this link for more information).    Sadly, women's lives will be lost unnecessarily, if they do not get annual screenings starting at age 40.    Hopefully, this campaign will reverse the damage done and encourage women to get their mammograms!


Go to www.mammographysaveslives.org to hear the stories, see the public service announcements, and to sign up for annual reminders.  

...I helped to find two of the women in the PSA, Lidia and Robin, who are here in North Carolina.   ...  We had a wonderful time the night before at my house, where they also filmed us having dinner and discussing our stories (not uploaded on the website, yet).  


Please consider sharing this website with those that you love and schedule YOUR appointment, today.  


Stay tuned for the release of my book this fall,  "101 Things You Should Know About Breast Cancer" .
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Refreshing Healthy New Recipe for Tuna Salad</title><dc:creator>user@domain.com</dc:creator><category>Gratitude</category><dc:date>2010-07-21T08:20:32-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.PamSchmid.com/blog/blog_files/e51faad912e4f4ebf2138ff68344396a-40.html#unique-entry-id-40</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.PamSchmid.com/blog/blog_files/e51faad912e4f4ebf2138ff68344396a-40.html#unique-entry-id-40</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Discovered a delicious, refreshing new way to make a tuna salad that is perfect for using those yummy garden tomatoes that are plentiful this time of year...


Chop up some white onion, tomato, cucumber, and cilantro and mix with your can of tuna and a little salt, pepper, and garlic to taste... add just the right amount of mayo (it really makes the difference-so make sure you use enough) and generously squeeze fresh lime juice on it to bring all those flavors together, and VOILA!    Add a little jalapeno to really make it pop.    Eat it alone, on a sandwich, or rolled up in a corn tortilla.


Enjoy!


I tried to post a picture of this delicious salad but had technical difficulty.    Just imagine all those fresh vegetables from the garden, cool and fresh, mixed in just the right manner, and ready to cool the summer heat. :-)


Then again, you may be able to see the picture here: Picture]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Positive reminiscence </title><dc:creator>user@domain.com</dc:creator><category>Appreciation of beauty and excellence</category><dc:date>2010-07-12T11:00:58-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.PamSchmid.com/blog/blog_files/6f9e71ffbac73edd312bdf594a0febfd-39.html#unique-entry-id-39</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.PamSchmid.com/blog/blog_files/6f9e71ffbac73edd312bdf594a0febfd-39.html#unique-entry-id-39</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[We can choose to remember all the things that happen in our lives that didn't go well or right, where we were wronged, or how painful something was.  ...  Our peace and happiness can be improved if we choose to find the beauty, the thing we learned, or the moment that might not have happened had things turned out differently.  

...The impact on our overall happiness is how we decide to view and reflect on the things that life throws our way that are not so perfect.  

...Watching him with others, both at the premiere and the wedding that followed a few days later, sharing his work, has been one of the greatest blessings of the summer.  

...My oldest was married here at our home and we gained a beautiful daughter-in-law or daughter-in-love as one of my friends likes to say!    Watching the tender love in their eyes for each other, particularly during a "hands" part of the ceremony, blessing and honoring what they represent, was incredibly comforting, moving, and spiritual. ...  Oh, happy days! :-)  It was so wonderful to see family and friends all together in one place, many who traveled afar to be a part of this beautiful event.  


Having a rehearsal dinner and reception, hosting many out of town guests, and having the wedding at our home involved much more than this one person could handle.  

...Saying goodbye to a beloved doctor who is moving to be the head of the breast program at Wisconsin, is sad, but will bring opportunity to make lives better for many more.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>A beautiful Mother&#x27;s Day</title><dc:creator>user@domain.com</dc:creator><category>Appreciation of beauty and excellence</category><dc:date>2010-05-10T18:17:46-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.PamSchmid.com/blog/blog_files/3b7783ff64f6551ae51355369988fa44-38.html#unique-entry-id-38</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.PamSchmid.com/blog/blog_files/3b7783ff64f6551ae51355369988fa44-38.html#unique-entry-id-38</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[This past weekend I was able to spend a few hours with both my boys and husband on Mother's Day, in the beautiful city of Savannah, GA.    Given that last year I did not have them with me on Mother's Day, it was a wonderfully, special gift. 

...(If you haven't been to Savannah, Georgia in the spring, you must put it on your bucket list!    It is a beautiful city filled with art, architecture, and natural beauty... especially beautiful when the azaleas are in bloom.)


...The beautiful moss draped trees provided canopies of shade under the warm sun as we spent time laughing and catching up as a family.  

...It's an exciting time of transition, with one getting ready to start a new life as a married man and the youngest graduating from college ready to start his professional career.  ...  I JUST want time to stand still for just a bit... and savor this phase of motherhood a little longer.  


...Life changes and though we can't make time stand still, we can enjoy the moment, savoring its beauty.  

...Coaching tip:  Build a folder of memories (either virtually on the computer or print them out in a folder) that will make you smile when you are feeling the need for a positive emotion! 
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>What bravery can do for others...</title><dc:creator>user@domain.com</dc:creator><category>Bravery and valor</category><dc:date>2010-03-01T10:45:03-05:00</dc:date><link>http://www.PamSchmid.com/blog/blog_files/17bfa8cc95d9dac61919d2dd928a72ff-37.html#unique-entry-id-37</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.PamSchmid.com/blog/blog_files/17bfa8cc95d9dac61919d2dd928a72ff-37.html#unique-entry-id-37</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[My dear friend, Suzanne Lindley, testified before congress last week, telling the story of how she has continued to survive Stage IV colon cancer with various treatments, including numerous radiological procedures that have saved her life.    You can read her testimony and/or hear it by going to this page.   (You can read Suzanne's testimony on this page and/or watch her speak, click on Video, Part 2, Download Video, and she is speaking at 36:45, roughly).


CURE magazine followed her in D.C. and is writing a story that will appear in their summer issue.    They wrote in  their blog last week that  "for someone who used to hide from college classes that required she speak in front of the class, she can now keep an audience spellbound."  ...  She is not comfortable in the role of speaker, but with her soft, humble voice, she can transfix an audience into complete stillness as she tells her stories about living... and living despite continuous treatments and challenges that most of us cannot fathom.  ...  Remember, bravery is not the absence of fear, but walking through it with faith that you will get to the other side!


...But her bravery to speak out, to push the barriers within and around her, are the reason so many are alive today, by her example and her efforts to go outside of her comfort zone. 


What can you do today to cultivate your bravery muscles  and push your own personal boundaries that will help others? 
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>The story behind the story</title><dc:creator>user@domain.com</dc:creator><category>Healthy and Fit After Cancer</category><dc:date>2010-01-13T16:49:45-05:00</dc:date><link>http://www.PamSchmid.com/blog/blog_files/49887b79c5b5d2ebea8b11ec78ff753a-36.html#unique-entry-id-36</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.PamSchmid.com/blog/blog_files/49887b79c5b5d2ebea8b11ec78ff753a-36.html#unique-entry-id-36</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Today, a press release was sent out to media outlets regarding the work I have been involved with for the last several years.  

...One of the most important stories behind the stories, are the individuals and the challenges they face.   Treatment can be lifesaving, yet sometimes brutal, leaving patients weaker and more susceptible to other problems.    There is great need for health care to help survivors heal and be healthy after those treatments.   We can do the research, but we need the programs in place to follow through, and very little funding exists to do that.


As we've shown, wellness coaching provides one avenue to reach all parts of a person's life and help them move forward in doing the things they can do to heal and live fully.    Even if patients must live with chronic issues, cancer, or other side effects, life can be improved.    A wellness coach can support people to have a hopeful mindset, giving them a pathway up.    Following through with healthy lifestyle recommendations and sustaining those habits are probably the most powerful results of coaching, all of which have the ability reduce a survivor's risk for recurrence.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>The end of 2009</title><dc:creator>user@domain.com</dc:creator><category>Honesty&#x2c; authenticity&#x2c; and genuineness</category><dc:date>2009-12-31T16:36:16-05:00</dc:date><link>http://www.PamSchmid.com/blog/blog_files/cd25ccae066e775c85948760d87d98b7-35.html#unique-entry-id-35</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.PamSchmid.com/blog/blog_files/cd25ccae066e775c85948760d87d98b7-35.html#unique-entry-id-35</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA["Another year has gone by..." are the words to one of my favorite Celine Dion holiday songs as she sings about what is good and special about living another year with the one she loves.  ...  Each time I hear it, I think of another year passing that I am still here and how grateful I am... and it usually brings tears to my eyes.


...I imagine I am with the majority of Americans in looking forward to a new year filled with hope and possibility...it has been tough... and I've watched many others I love suffer both physically, mentally, and emotionally.


...A fresh start with new beginnings, firsts, and special goals: Getting a special book about breast cancer  to the publisher by their March deadline, watching my youngest finish his senior film project and graduate from film school in May,  watching my oldest get married in June (and at our house, no less), a special family trip to Alaska, speaking and sharing years of hard work on the study just published (supporting survivors), and other new adventures yet to be unveiled.    How appropriate on this  last day of 2009,  an e-mail came sharing the news that our study was published (go to the Healthy and Fit After Cancer page to view )! 


And more than those larger things to anticipate, are the small ones that make up a life, including sunshine, rain, friends old and new, family, cozy fireplaces, laughter, dancing, flowers, music, and being outdoors!    I'm certain there will be ups and downs, but I trust I will face the challenges with hope and gratitude, in the spirit of Suzanne Lindley, my friend and mentor for living life out loud.


In studies about what makes people thrive, we've learned that positive anticipation of the future can actually improve our mood and increase our happiness.  ...  Even if that plan is one day at a time or one minute at a time, find something you can anticipate and enjoy.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;Unconscionable decisions about the value of human life&#x22;</title><dc:creator>user@domain.com</dc:creator><category>Breast cancer</category><dc:date>2009-11-20T11:52:23-05:00</dc:date><link>http://www.PamSchmid.com/blog/blog_files/6c81f90b5005c73e6db1288c331e549b-34.html#unique-entry-id-34</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.PamSchmid.com/blog/blog_files/6c81f90b5005c73e6db1288c331e549b-34.html#unique-entry-id-34</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[After my diagnosis of breast cancer in 2004, I spent a lot of time researching how we detect breast cancer, because I had four large tumors that were not visible on a mammogram AND I was not at risk.  ...  Before I go any further, just let me say that the mammogram picked up important changes that led to self breast exam, which led to further imaging with ultrasound, and eventually MRI.    You can read more of those details in my story, but for this blog I just want to share what I've learned this week from those experts.


In summary, the American College of Radiology, made up of professionals in the field of imaging, are calling for the guidelines from USPSTF to be rescinded (see statement here). ...  Daniel Kopans from Harvard Medical School on CNN (transcript here), said he knew all the experts and researchers in the field around the world and he didn't know any of these "experts" who developed the guidelines. 

...Women were canceling mammography appointments at 3x the normal rate and one woman canceled her surgery for removing a breast cancer,  because she somehow felt it must not have been significant because she was in her 40's!!!  ??????  ...  ACR reports that thousands of women will die needlessly or have to go through aggressive treatment because the cancer was not detected early, because of these guidelines.  

...More than that, your right to have a mammogram in your 40's could be impacted if insurance companies decide to take on these guidelines.  

...To see the full piece (not their edited version for web-which left out the most important part) click on Watch: Exclusive Health Care Debate in the scrolling on the top, then click on the 11-22-09 show.  ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Savoring memories</title><dc:creator>user@domain.com</dc:creator><category>Happiness and positive emotion</category><dc:date>2009-08-19T11:53:57-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.PamSchmid.com/blog/blog_files/8f88e1925fb0a599891a41e348e3ecc1-33.html#unique-entry-id-33</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.PamSchmid.com/blog/blog_files/8f88e1925fb0a599891a41e348e3ecc1-33.html#unique-entry-id-33</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Suddenly a rush of emotion came over me as I looked out the window and thought back of the memories created there almost 20 years ago with my young family.  

...I also remember my son getting snow in his boots and crying because his feet were wet and cold... getting back to the van and stripping him down from the layers of snow clothing to his &ldquo;polypropylene&rdquo; underwear/socks, which had somehow gotten wet as well.    I remember the frustration and then the laughter as we struggled to &ldquo;hurry up&rdquo; for dad and the laughter that happens when little boys find a word they like, like &ldquo;polypropylene&rdquo; and say it over and over.


...I also remember the pain of falling backwards on the bunny slope in my own ski school and having them carry me off the slope to the first aide area!!  

...I remember the video tape we took of driving up to Taos the second day, talking about how they learned to make a pizza wedge to stop, in their little boy voices, and how excited they were to go again.    

...The wind was whipping and I thought that if I had stayed a second longer, I would be frozen in time (must have been many, many degrees below zero).  

...I will always be a mom first, no matter how far away my boys are physically... my heart and soul are with them every second of every day!  ...  I&rsquo;m excited about all the new adventures and memories that will be created, but I doubt any will ever come close to those I had raising my boys.  


...Build a treasure chest that you can dive into when needing a boost, by keeping either a list of some of these memories or a group of photos at your desk or on your computer.  ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Gratitude and appreciation of beauty</title><dc:creator>user@domain.com</dc:creator><category>Healthy and Fit After Cancer</category><dc:date>2009-06-05T08:01:55-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.PamSchmid.com/blog/blog_files/c76b7bc4b2d8f7b710ef5cedea19145d-31.html#unique-entry-id-31</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.PamSchmid.com/blog/blog_files/c76b7bc4b2d8f7b710ef5cedea19145d-31.html#unique-entry-id-31</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[It&rsquo;s been an exciting month with little time to blog, though I have managed to Tweet here and there!  

...This last week I presented our longitudinal research on Wellness Coaching for Cancer Survivors at the American College of Sports Medicine&rsquo;s Annual Meeting in Seattle.  ...  The exciting part is that one year after the coaching ended, weight loss was either sustained or continued to go down!!!  ...  Helping people live their healthiest, happiest lives, in their own way, is what I love to do and I&rsquo;m thrilled to confirm that what I thought was working, IS!


...She is also a cancer survivor and is passionate about doing research that will improve survivor&rsquo;s quality of life.  

...The beauty I experienced wasn&rsquo;t  just the beauty from the &ldquo;sights&rdquo; but in the hearts and minds of those I came in contact with.  

...Reunion of LIVESTRONG Orange Monarchs (Leana May, Suzanne Lindley, and me) at the LIVER Symposium, Empire Room at the Palmer House where Jim Belushi and his Sacred Hearts Band performed for all.


...On Whistler... we did the Snowi Limo which is someone skiing you down the mountain while you sit in a chair... soooooo cool.   It&rsquo;s not available in the US because of our litigious society, by the way.  insurance is unavailable :-(   I took this little video (click here)  as I sat in the limo and FLEW down the mountain...
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Dream come true for Suzanne</title><dc:creator>user@domain.com</dc:creator><category>Healthy and Fit After Cancer</category><dc:date>2009-05-07T08:50:13-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.PamSchmid.com/blog/blog_files/09d576fc353accbbe7643adb19c83d62-30.html#unique-entry-id-30</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.PamSchmid.com/blog/blog_files/09d576fc353accbbe7643adb19c83d62-30.html#unique-entry-id-30</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Next week Suzanne Lindley, the Stage IV colon-cancer survivor I interviewed in my last blog,  will achieve a special dream.    She has long wanted to bring together physicians and survivors in a special forum that will benefit both and bring hope to all.  ...  She has worked tirelessly to make this global event happen.  ...  In addition, a high profile celebrity performer will open the event  in a performance that is said to bring people to their feet and bring the house down!   Please share with anyone and everyone that might benefit.


I am honored to be a part of this and will be wrapping up one of the days with a talk about happiness.    The title of my presentation is &ldquo;Embracing Happiness:  Five Simple Steps&rdquo;,  though a better name would be &ldquo;Suzanne 101&rdquo;.    Watching her LIVE and thrive with great meaning and purpose, through what most would consider major obstacles everyday, is something that will stay with me forever. 


Thank you, Suzanne, for the gift that you are!  ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>HOPE:  Suzanne Lindley</title><dc:creator>user@domain.com</dc:creator><category>Happiness and positive emotion</category><dc:date>2009-03-03T15:58:40-05:00</dc:date><link>http://www.PamSchmid.com/blog/blog_files/72043e5ab2216f481d36016b62579f9c-29.html#unique-entry-id-29</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.PamSchmid.com/blog/blog_files/72043e5ab2216f481d36016b62579f9c-29.html#unique-entry-id-29</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[There are times in our lives that we meet people who are so remarkable, we can&rsquo;t stop talking about them.  ...  Suzanne inspires hope in all those who are fortunate enough to be in her life.    I wanted to share that hope in the form of an interview with her, so more could experience it.    The interview is around 30 minutes, not near enough to detail the many pieces of what makes her remarkable, yet hopefully enough to inspire HOPE, her middle name.    Instead of a boring TV show tonight, consider an investment in a motivational story that will inspire you to live life more fully!


As you will hear, her story is one of LIVING, in spite of great obstacles and medical prognosis.    It is one of taking charge of the life we have all been given; being empowered as a patient, and then going about the business of living fully.  ...  Appreciating each breath that life gives us and making the most of it, is what she is all about.


...&bull; She also speaks a lot about a resource that has been particularly helpful for her: ACOR or Association of Cancer Online Resources or acor.org
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Support from the love of Jean</title><dc:creator>user@domain.com</dc:creator><category>Healthy and Fit After Cancer</category><dc:date>2009-02-05T18:37:21-05:00</dc:date><link>http://www.PamSchmid.com/blog/blog_files/84792a8eb395146952556a2a67a0fd66-28.html#unique-entry-id-28</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.PamSchmid.com/blog/blog_files/84792a8eb395146952556a2a67a0fd66-28.html#unique-entry-id-28</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Many years ago at the age of 16, I met a woman who would come to be a big part of my life and ultimately, through her later diagnosis of cancer and untimely death, bring a special group of friends into my life.    Today, we spent a few hours together laughing, crying, and reminiscing about the woman who brought us together and the individual journey&rsquo;s of our lives.


...She loved life and her positive, spirited approach, no doubt, kept her alive many years with metastatic, or Stage IV, breast cancer.    About five years before her death, she decided that she wanted to form her own support group, that would take turns taking her to her various treatments.  ...  We did not see each other except upon the occasions that Jean would bring us together to thank us.  ...  Jean liked hanging out with younger women because though she was in her 60&rsquo;s, she had the spirit of a 20 year old.    Another time she took us all in a van down to her beach house at Wrightsville Beach, for an afternoon and evening out.  

...We took care of her until the end, coming over and fixing her hair and make-up each day, as this was of vital importance to her.    When she looked better, she felt better, something she made a priority her entire life  (and a habit that rubbed off on me as an impressionable young woman when I met her).  ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>International interest; Copenhagen</title><dc:creator>user@domain.com</dc:creator><category>Healthy and Fit After Cancer</category><dc:date>2009-02-04T22:21:54-05:00</dc:date><link>http://www.PamSchmid.com/blog/blog_files/a820ffc2108b0c81418843988a3acde0-27.html#unique-entry-id-27</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.PamSchmid.com/blog/blog_files/a820ffc2108b0c81418843988a3acde0-27.html#unique-entry-id-27</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Yes, Copenhagen, Denmark.    I was interviewed about the work I am doing with cancer survivors on National Public Radio in Copenhagen, Denmark.    AMAZING!    I was thrilled to know that people around the world have an interest in the health and well-being of survivors.    It seems they have a weekly program around &ldquo;coaching&rdquo; and they heard about my Healthy and Fit After Cancer℠ program, coaching survivors, and the research we have participated in.    I would post the interview, but I wasn&rsquo;t allowed to-just a link.     The web site where it was posted, http://www.dr.dk/ , was of course,  in Danish, and didn&rsquo;t  offer much for my English speaking friends and colleagues.   Anyway, the message here, is that there is international interest in SURVIVOR&rsquo;S health and well-being!!!    YES!]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Thanksgiving Gratitude</title><dc:creator>user@domain.com</dc:creator><category>Gratitude</category><dc:date>2008-11-25T22:19:37-05:00</dc:date><link>http://www.PamSchmid.com/blog/blog_files/a4cffcd21f5d556b7ebad6e508229e30-26.html#unique-entry-id-26</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.PamSchmid.com/blog/blog_files/a4cffcd21f5d556b7ebad6e508229e30-26.html#unique-entry-id-26</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Today my in-box has been full of gratitude/Thanksgiving notes and stories that remind me, yet again, of the gifts around us.


...My connections within the cancer community are blessings to me, both in the work they do that serve as inspiration but for their personal stories as well.    My colleagues and fellow faculty members at Wellcoaches who share a vision of excellence and making a difference in the world are an awesome gift in my life.  


...Good friends  who understand my heart and love me for who I am with all my warts, are blessings of light and sunshine.    My youngest son is home until January after being at film school for the last 2 1/2 months, so does it get any better than that?    My other son started his first official job as an environmental scientist and it is the job of his dreams (with benefits and his own apartment!). ...  So since the first of August, this fitness professional has been challenged regularly, and is building up her strength again, just like her clients.  

...Work highlights include finally meeting some of the Vermont survivors I have coached and the great people at Rutland Regional, submitting a grant with Duke, and seeing some of the positive longitudinal data come in for our study.  

...So, I am preparing for a wonderful weekend with brother, sisters, mom, dad, nieces and nephews, brother and sister-in-laws, enjoying food and laughter, between all our traditions.  ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Creating A New Story To Live Into</title><dc:creator>user@domain.com</dc:creator><category>Appreciation of beauty and excellence</category><dc:date>2008-10-01T22:40:36-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.PamSchmid.com/blog/blog_files/be34aaccd3810d8ab9c33dc7215ecb0f-25.html#unique-entry-id-25</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.PamSchmid.com/blog/blog_files/be34aaccd3810d8ab9c33dc7215ecb0f-25.html#unique-entry-id-25</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[This past week I attended the first Coaching and Positive Psychology conference at Harvard, born through an initiative co-founded by the CEO of Wellcoaches&reg;, Margaret Moore, of the same name (http://www.harvardcppi.org/).  ...  It was a sell-out conference and one that will have lasting impact for those who attended.


...I have been involved with Wellcoaches&reg; since 2002, and am so proud of the evolution we have taken, to gather scientific data about what we know works through this initiative!    My pilot study with cancer survivors this last year was just the beginning of gathering important information about the outcomes and benefits of wellness coaching.  


One of the most compelling presentations at the conference was by Ben and Rosamund Zander, conductor of the Boston Philharmonic and co-authors of The Art of Possibility.  


...We have stories we tell ourselves that impact our performance and our interactions with all of those we touch.    What we can do is change the voice and create a new story that breaks the old one.  


An inspirational exercise in starting this journey , is to write a letter about this person (new story) you are wanting to live into.    Instead of the letter being a goal-setting type of letter,  it&rsquo;s a letter describing and falling in love with the person you are becoming (the one you want to be).  
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Healing After Cancer Treatment</title><dc:creator>user@domain.com</dc:creator><category>Healthy and Fit After Cancer</category><dc:date>2008-09-17T17:44:52-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.PamSchmid.com/blog/blog_files/f455d82c6544737771238339650557c1-24.html#unique-entry-id-24</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.PamSchmid.com/blog/blog_files/f455d82c6544737771238339650557c1-24.html#unique-entry-id-24</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Remembering a few key principles will go a long way to helping you heal faster and come back better than before!  ...  Julie Silver&rsquo;s books (Super Healing or After Cancer Treatment: Heal Better, Faster, Stronger) are great resources that give extensive detail about why these factors are so important and how to address them.


...Sleeping is one of the most important factors in healing,  as your body needs that time to recover and heal.  

...Therapeutic, cardiovascular exercise that gets your heart rate in your Target Heart Rate Zone (makes you breathe harder, breaking a sweat), is what can make a huge difference in energy levels,  reduction of fatigue, and healing.  ...  As you are able to progress from increasing daily activity,  to walking for 20-30 minutes, exercise should progress to a more intense level for a minimum of 15-20 minutes at least 3 times each week,  when possible.    Oxygen consumption is increased and better utilized throughout the body to do a first class job of healing!


...The first two (sleep and nutrition) are what most people think of for recovery.  ...  I have to admit that in spite of being an exercise professional, and KNOWING this, I have been guilty of forgetting from time to time!   ...  Exercise IS medicine, (www.exerciseismedicine.org) and can actually affect the other two categories in a positive way.   ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Appreciation of Beauty/Excellence</title><dc:creator>user@domain.com</dc:creator><category>Appreciation of beauty and excellence</category><dc:date>2008-08-18T15:16:18-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.PamSchmid.com/blog/blog_files/5dda470e13ebe534498d7a4e96c7491b-23.html#unique-entry-id-23</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.PamSchmid.com/blog/blog_files/5dda470e13ebe534498d7a4e96c7491b-23.html#unique-entry-id-23</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Since starting my &ldquo;active&rdquo; blog recently (before then, it was active every 18 months :-) ), I found that people coming to my web site go to read my blog page, 10 to 1.  ...  The other interesting fact, was that it also appears, the majority seem to be interested in the title,  &ldquo;Appreciation of Beauty/Excellence&rdquo; as far as subjects.    It is one of the Authentic Happiness Character Strengths (see Happiness and Positive Emotion), that I have listed as a major category to write about.  

...It was a beautiful morning back in June, when this miracle occurred, and I&rsquo;m certain the full extent of the beauty was lost in translation.    There have been many more moments of beauty between then and now, but I have included them in other blog postings (LIVESTRONG, Utlizing Multiple Strengths). 


In honor and memory of a special trip my family took last year at this time, I want to share the appreciation I have for the beauty of not only Hawaii, but the beauty of family.  

...Print out or take out some of the pictures and put them where you can enjoy them for a few days. 


...some of the people involved in the pictures that spark the good memory and express your gratitude for them.


...AuthenticHappiness.com to find what your VIA Signature/Character Strengths are, and start using them in a new way every day!
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Utilizing Multiple Strengths Brings Joy&#x21;</title><dc:creator>user@domain.com</dc:creator><category>Happiness and positive emotion</category><dc:date>2008-08-04T23:30:59-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.PamSchmid.com/blog/blog_files/ae8a2abec79ec751ef3159eca523f078-22.html#unique-entry-id-22</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.PamSchmid.com/blog/blog_files/ae8a2abec79ec751ef3159eca523f078-22.html#unique-entry-id-22</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Staring at the unknown of recovery from upcoming major surgery, we decided to have one last hurrah for the summer on Tuesday (we left Friday).  ...  In looking at SW Airlines destinations, about the only place I had always wanted to go but never had been, was Los Angeles/Hollywood.  


...CURIOSITY  We fell in love immediately with the beautiful cove/beach, ocean view restaurants and outdoor patios,  with a sidewalk festival and other oudoor activities going on.  

...We came over a hill and discovered what seemed like hundreds of outdoor restaurants, endless shops, and beautiful tree lined streets with bike lanes against a back drop of a gorgeous blue sky, mountains, and 75 degree weather! 

...If we had turned around, we&rsquo;d have missed the fun discovery of this beautiful part of the town, and the amazing joyful people.


If I hadn&rsquo;t stopped to ask questions of a local (more curiosity), we&rsquo;d never have seen this RAT, CAT, AND DOG with their homeless owner.  

...But what I know for sure, is that if you go outside the box and open up youself to new experiences, joy is there for the taking.    I am grateful (gratitude) that my husband has been my spontaneous, joyous partner in taking on life for the last 27 years!   Tomorrow when I have to take on the medical world with some unexpected surgery, I will have some great memories to use when I need to change my focus.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Description of VIA Signature Strengths</title><dc:creator>user@domain.com</dc:creator><category>Happiness and positive emotion</category><dc:date>2008-08-04T13:32:39-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.PamSchmid.com/blog/blog_files/173e191a4359370cb70086d79e8ecfdb-20.html#unique-entry-id-20</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.PamSchmid.com/blog/blog_files/173e191a4359370cb70086d79e8ecfdb-20.html#unique-entry-id-20</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Some great research has shown us, that as human beings we share certain positive traits, no matter where in the world one lives!    Below is an example of the description of Signature Strengths you will get when you take the VIA Signature Strengths Questionnaire at the www....  You&rsquo;ll want to find new ways to use your strengths regularly, because research has shown you can improve your overall happiness by doing so!  

...You are aware of the good things that happen to you, and you never take them for 


...You are an honest person, not only by speaking the truth but by living your life in a 


...Thinking of new ways to do things is a crucial part of who you are. 

...You excel at the tasks of leadership: encouraging a group to get things done and 


...always do your share, and you work hard for the success of your group. 


...in to different social situations, and you know what to do to put others at ease.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Emotional ending and other notes</title><dc:creator>user@domain.com</dc:creator><category>LIVESTRONG</category><dc:date>2008-07-28T18:07:07-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.PamSchmid.com/blog/blog_files/2d5b93579333a1858b1ded42814adc1c-19.html#unique-entry-id-19</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.PamSchmid.com/blog/blog_files/2d5b93579333a1858b1ded42814adc1c-19.html#unique-entry-id-19</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[One did not need to know him, to be saddened by this terrible news, but it was particularly poignant for our group.  

...In the closing session, when reviewing the winning videos from each group, many of us learned that one of the leaders was the mother of Get To Know Jack (see earlier blog to watch it).    She came on the stage when announcing winners from her group, and said that she had held it together until that moment, and her voice quivered as she told us that her little Jack was doing well.  

...I don&rsquo;t know if it was national news, but his daughter and son-in-law were in a terrible accident as the Summit started.    His son-in-law passed away on Thursday, and he shared the very personal moment as he passed, with his daughter climbing into the hospital bed with her husband (she herself a patient-who&rsquo;d been flown from her hospital to where he was, when his condition worsened) and helped him to pass peacefully. 


Then, on my way home in the airport, I learned of a high school friend and close friend to my brother, being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer with mets to his liver.  

...She spoke of his decision to take a year off during her treatment to take care of her and their kids after she was diagnosed with breast cancer 10 years ago.  ...  You can watch her keynote and some of the others from a link on LIVESTRONG (blog).


...We are starting a movement in our country that won&rsquo;t stand for the human and economic cost of cancer any longer.  ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Lots of learning</title><dc:creator>user@domain.com</dc:creator><category>LIVESTRONG</category><dc:date>2008-07-27T07:22:16-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.PamSchmid.com/blog/blog_files/3162a297ecdbe636e56d43ce8a524814-18.html#unique-entry-id-18</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.PamSchmid.com/blog/blog_files/3162a297ecdbe636e56d43ce8a524814-18.html#unique-entry-id-18</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[We have been busy the last few days in different tracks from fundraising, advocacy, elections, to community.    I was in the advocacy track.    We had excellent teachers who gave us hands on practice with skills to take back to our communities.  


...Each group made a 60 second commercial in which we were judged on getting our messages out effectively (Making Cancer a National Priority).    The winning video from each track will be shown in the closing session.


We had simulations of meeting several different senators for 3 minutes each, to get our message out.  

...We were encouraged to go back and make our own videos and share on YouTube.


An inspirational video they showed as a great example,  is on YouTube. 

...There is so much more to share, but little time.  ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Inspirational leaders in the army</title><dc:creator>user@domain.com</dc:creator><category>LIVESTRONG</category><dc:date>2008-07-27T06:58:12-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.PamSchmid.com/blog/blog_files/c634b6ff98688a2a72bc487e3a9a182b-17.html#unique-entry-id-17</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.PamSchmid.com/blog/blog_files/c634b6ff98688a2a72bc487e3a9a182b-17.html#unique-entry-id-17</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[What has struck me most these few days, were the dedicated, hard working delegates, who each came to the Summit with their passion to make a difference and a history of already doing great things.    Many, spurred by their personal survivorship, have started organizations or programs to make life better for other survivors.  

...One such woman, Suzanne, came to the conference after being handed a diagnosis 4 months ago,  of not living another 3 months.     She has lived with metastatic disease for 10 years and has a story of beating the odds time and time again.  ...  In the last 6 months, she&rsquo;s been on Capital Hill 13 times.     Her quiet, gentle spirit may fool you in to thinking she isn&rsquo;t a powerhouse.    But trust me, she is one of the most powerful, courageous women I&rsquo;ve ever met.  


...The stories of courage and determination to fight through great odds to make life better for others will never leave me.  


...I found a picture of Suzanne and I talking, on the LIVESTRONG web site.  ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>National Call to Action on Cancer Prevention and Survivorship</title><dc:creator>user@domain.com</dc:creator><category>LIVESTRONG</category><dc:date>2008-07-27T06:46:01-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.PamSchmid.com/blog/blog_files/340e3a6ba435d08ca9c0c7b03ca975e9-16.html#unique-entry-id-16</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.PamSchmid.com/blog/blog_files/340e3a6ba435d08ca9c0c7b03ca975e9-16.html#unique-entry-id-16</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Unveiled at the Summit was a new Battle Plan for the WAR ON CANCER.  


...Carmona, M.D., M.P.H., FACS, 17th Surgeon General of the United States (2002-2006) and President of the non-profit Canyon Ranch Institute, brought together the former Surgeons General of the United States to address national and global public health issues.   At the request of LAF Chairman and Founder Lance Armstrong, four former United States Surgeons General collaborated with the cancer prevention and survivorship community to develop the National Call to Action on Cancer Prevention and Survivorship.


The four goals of the National Call to Action on Cancer Prevention and Survivorship are:


...Apply What We Know About Cancer Screening and Early Detection to All People


Ensure that All People Can Navigate Through the Health Care System


Provide Survivorship Care Plans and Systems of Support for All Cancer Survivors


To download or read more about the plan click here:


National Call to Action on Cancer Prevention and Survivorship		]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Friday&#x27;s pictures</title><dc:creator>user@domain.com</dc:creator><category>LIVESTRONG</category><dc:date>2008-07-26T01:01:40-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.PamSchmid.com/blog/blog_files/f2929fb05ae752ca5f19db11185a2506-15.html#unique-entry-id-15</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.PamSchmid.com/blog/blog_files/f2929fb05ae752ca5f19db11185a2506-15.html#unique-entry-id-15</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Harold Freeman ended the day with an inspiring keynote (not pictured).  

...After the incredible day of learning, we went to a Rib and Jazz festival on the river!  

...An incredible violinist from Key West played on the street to expose this instrument to those that normally wouldn&rsquo;t experience it.


...A National TREASURE... the Ohio Theatre... built in 1928, a MUST SEE when you are in Columbus.    We happened to walk by and the door was opening for a late movie.    I asked if we could just peak in, and normally they do not allow that.    However, the director happened to be walking by and gave us a personal tour.    These pictures don&rsquo;t come close to giving you a taste of the opulence, so go to their website here to get a glimpse.


Pictured here with the director, Charles Hammerle, are Pam and Suzan.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Personal note </title><dc:creator>user@domain.com</dc:creator><category>LIVESTRONG</category><dc:date>2008-07-26T00:48:21-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.PamSchmid.com/blog/blog_files/f0e530fb3fcdfb612c3bdc86f79a9a5a-14.html#unique-entry-id-14</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.PamSchmid.com/blog/blog_files/f0e530fb3fcdfb612c3bdc86f79a9a5a-14.html#unique-entry-id-14</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Last year in the opening session I learned of a colleague losing her battle with cancer, who I had planned to be with during the week, preparing for a presentation we were doing together at ACSM.  ...  She was a strong, caring woman who dedicated her life to helping other survivors live healthy lives after a diagnosis.... 

...Ironically,  this year, I received a call from a relative in Littleton, Colorado, minutes before the opening session (I live in NC, by the way, and have never lived in Colorado, so that is the irony), telling me of their 18 month old granddaughter being diagnosed with neuroblastoma.    The unfairness of children dealing with such a disease, as well as the parents, family, and loved ones is just too much to bear.  

...I promised I would do what I could to gather answers for them, explaining that this might be difficult, because the focus with LIVESTRONG is adult cancers.    As I entered my &ldquo;advocacy&rdquo; learning track for the weekend, the 150 in this auditorium were divided into 15 groups.    Out of the 1000 delegates, there was a physician in my group who wrote her thesis on neuroblastoma.  


What I know for sure, is that sometimes, there are plans in our lives, that we have no idea about.  ...  I also know that I am surrounded by passionate people who are leading this war on cancer as a unified group, and I am grateful.  ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Town Hall Meeting</title><dc:creator>user@domain.com</dc:creator><category>LIVESTRONG</category><dc:date>2008-07-24T22:35:38-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.PamSchmid.com/blog/blog_files/58bb56139027beea9797aafe84c1c63a-12.html#unique-entry-id-12</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.PamSchmid.com/blog/blog_files/58bb56139027beea9797aafe84c1c63a-12.html#unique-entry-id-12</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[A sign of good things to come for the week, was walking up to a woman wearing yellow and black in the Nashville airport... 

...To set the tone for the week, a Town Hall Meeting with Senator McCain was held on THE Ohio State campus tonight (Thursday).    Senator Obama was unable to attend, but we were assured the same questions would be asked to him at a later date. 


At registration we were given bright yellow T-Shirts to wear to the Town Hall meeting that said &ldquo;Vote Yellow&rdquo; on the front, and on the back was a definition of &ldquo;Vote Yellow&rdquo;(vot &bull; yel-o) :  


...So we had a sea of yellow move from the reception at the Ohio Statehouse to the large auditorium on THE Ohio State University.  

...I was so pleased to hear that Paula Zahn is a tireless advocate for cancer related stories in the media.    Both her parents had been diagnosed within a few weeks of each other back in 1983, and that 6 weeks after, a sister-in-law was diagnosed with an aggressive breast cancer (and not detected early enough).  

...I think one of the most compelling things I heard in the evening, was that though lung cancer is responsible for 1/3 of the cancer deaths, the tobacco money sent to each state is not being used as it was intended.  ...  The Senator said corruption in congress was/is a major roadblock for getting things done, and said he intended to clean things up (after Paula asked him to elaborate about HOW it was corrupt).   ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Pictures from Columbus</title><dc:creator>user@domain.com</dc:creator><category>LIVESTRONG</category><dc:date>2008-07-24T22:23:05-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.PamSchmid.com/blog/blog_files/9364c6c68f04e2c916a77ee3ef51d240-11.html#unique-entry-id-11</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.PamSchmid.com/blog/blog_files/9364c6c68f04e2c916a77ee3ef51d240-11.html#unique-entry-id-11</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[PICTURES OF GERMAN VILLAGE IN COLUMBUS


DELEGATES AT A RECEPTION BEFORE GOING TO THE TOWN HALL MEETING WITH SENATOR MCCAIN AT THE OHIO STATEHOUSE.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Why should anyone care about making cancer a national priority?</title><dc:creator>user@domain.com</dc:creator><category>LIVESTRONG</category><dc:date>2008-07-23T08:33:27-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.PamSchmid.com/blog/blog_files/Livestrong%20Summit.html#unique-entry-id-10</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.PamSchmid.com/blog/blog_files/Livestrong%20Summit.html#unique-entry-id-10</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[In traveling to Columbus for the second ever LIVESTRONG Summit, I reflected back on my journey of survivorship and why the topic of survivorship should matter to anyone.     I thought to myself of the comments I&rsquo;d sometimes heard about why so much is made of survivorship,  from survivors and non-survivors alike.  

...Because we CAN find a cure in our lifetime if we make it a priority... so we can leave a legacy that  our children and grandchildren will not have to face cancer.


...As grateful as we are for the treatments that have kept us alive, we often have long lasting side effects that impact our overall health and well-being and quality of life.  ...  The impact is different for everyone, depending on individual treatments, but there is no doubt impact,  even with the smallest of cancers and treatments. 


...As a large group we can effect change to find a cure for cancer, just as we have for the many diseases that have impacted human beings since the beginning of time, such as polio.    Mike Milken,&nbsp; Chairman of Faster Cures, noted philanthropist and prostate cancer survivor said at the last SUMMIT, we need to see the world of cancer through new eyes "Doing things the same old way doesn't lead to breakthroughs."   He also used the example of Elvis Presley getting a polio immunization in the 50's to demonstrate how one person can make a huge difference.&nbsp; 

...With a large group working to create awareness of these issues, we can dramatically change the cancer death rate in our country. ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Be brave and live your dreams</title><dc:creator>user@domain.com</dc:creator><category>Bravery and valor</category><dc:date>2008-07-17T23:38:09-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.PamSchmid.com/blog/blog_files/July%202008.html#unique-entry-id-9</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.PamSchmid.com/blog/blog_files/July%202008.html#unique-entry-id-9</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[One of my favorite books is Maria Shriver&rsquo;s &ldquo;And One More Thing Before You Go...&rdquo; .  ...  One of the quotes I remember most from her book is that &ldquo;courage is not the absence of fear... its walking through your fear with faith&rdquo;.    I was struck that such a famous, intelligent woman, who had worked as a journalist on television, and spoken in front of millions of people, had fears and insecurities just like the rest of us; that there are times that even she was nervous when speaking in front of a group.


...Somehow knowing that its OK to be afraid, but then embracing it, and walking through the fear instead of letting it paralyze you, is what has helped me be &ldquo;brave&rdquo;.    I think it also has something to do with being authentic and true to who you are, speaking your truth even when it may not be popular.     Living life in a way that is congruent to your values increases happiness and life satisfaction.    Perhaps knowing that life is short (a lesson affirmed with a diagnosis of cancer) helps one be more congruent.    Living large or &ldquo;out loud&rdquo; as they say,  is something a friend encouraged me to do when I was going through treatment.   

...A close friend of mine who passed away from metastic breast cancer (2 years before MY diagnosis), told me when I was 40, to not put off what I wanted to do.  ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>A breath of fresh air</title><dc:creator>user@domain.com</dc:creator><category>Honesty&#x2c; authenticity&#x2c; and genuineness</category><dc:date>2008-07-17T12:18:56-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.PamSchmid.com/blog/blog_files/July%202008.html#unique-entry-id-8</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.PamSchmid.com/blog/blog_files/July%202008.html#unique-entry-id-8</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Those are probably some of the character strengths I value most in others, and apparently, are character strengths of mine (VIA Signature Strengths assessment at www.

...I had lunch with a survivor friend yesterday,  who is one of the most authentic, in-the-moment people I have ever met.     She names what she sees, tells her truth, is in touch with what she is feeling, and has no need to impress anyone.  

...Its one of those things you can feel, when someone is not putting on airs, creating a facade, or trying to be something they are not.  

...On the other hand, friends or loved ones who are constantly telling little white lies (or bigger ones), don&rsquo;t engender trust, an important part of building intimate relationships.    Its important to note, that even when we think we may be &ldquo;pulling off the little white lie&rdquo;, we probably aren&rsquo;t.  

...A person of integrity is open and honest about his or her own thoughts, feelings, and responsibilities, being careful not to mislead through either action or omission.   This strength allows one to feel a sense of ownership over one&rsquo;s own internal states, regardless of whether those states are popular or socially comfortable, and to experience a sense of authentic wholeness.


...Monitor to catch lies of omission (such as not volunteering important information when selling a used item) and think how would you feel if someone did the same to you. 
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>LIVESTRONG SUMMIT 2008</title><dc:creator>user@domain.com</dc:creator><category>Zest&#x2c; enthusiasm&#x2c; and energy</category><dc:date>2008-07-14T23:47:54-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.PamSchmid.com/blog/blog_files/July%202008.html#unique-entry-id-7</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.PamSchmid.com/blog/blog_files/July%202008.html#unique-entry-id-7</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[The LIVESTRONG Summit is next week in Columbus, Ohio!    Watch out, Ohio, there are a group of North Carolinians on their way!    We are attending as delegates from all over the good state of NC.     I look forward to reporting back about the exciting events to take place.    If its even half of what we experienced in the inaugural summit in Austin, Texas, it is sure to be a success.    If you are curious about the first LIVESTRONG Summit, read the post from 2006 in the archives.    There are summaries of key points from some of the incredible keynote speakers.  ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Appreciation Beauty/Signature strengths: Mother and newborn</title><dc:creator>user@domain.com</dc:creator><category>Appreciation of beauty and excellence</category><dc:date>2008-07-14T23:24:54-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.PamSchmid.com/blog/blog_files/June%202008.html#unique-entry-id-6</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.PamSchmid.com/blog/blog_files/June%202008.html#unique-entry-id-6</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[One of our new babies... ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Curiosity/Signature strengths</title><dc:creator>user@domain.com</dc:creator><category>Curiosity and interest in the world</category><dc:date>2008-07-14T22:05:13-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.PamSchmid.com/blog/blog_files/July%202008.html#unique-entry-id-5</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.PamSchmid.com/blog/blog_files/July%202008.html#unique-entry-id-5</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[One of the things I know for sure in this life, is that I am one curious person!  ...  In fact, the other day when the HVAC repairman came to our house, I followed him around asking questions and observing his every move.    At the end of the call, he said, "I don't usually like  customers following me around, but you really seemed so interested, it made the time go by quicker, and I was happy to explain."  ...  What on earth am I doing, spending time following the AC repair guy around, when I KNOW I have a million other things to be doing?    Well, if Martin Seligman's work on Signature Strengths is correct, this would be one good example of how I naturally gravitate  and used my character strength in a new way.  

...If you aren't interested in your clients and curious about what will take them closer to their wellness vision,  not a lot will take place!  

...While reviewing an MRI report that had left me with lingering questions for a week, I made the decision to call the radiologist.    With my curious questions, she was able to give me information that allayed fears I had had, and determine next steps.  

...My experience in life has been that sometimes people invite and appreciate questions, while other times they don't.  ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Happiness/Signature strengths</title><dc:creator>user@domain.com</dc:creator><category>Happiness and positive emotion</category><dc:date>2008-07-02T08:10:13-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.PamSchmid.com/blog/blog_files/July%202008.html#unique-entry-id-4</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.PamSchmid.com/blog/blog_files/July%202008.html#unique-entry-id-4</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[The new field of Positive Psychology led by Martin Seligman, PhD,  former president of the American Psychological Association, has taught us a lot about what makes humans flourish.    Instead of the historic focus of psychology which concerned itself with pathology and mental illness, this new science focuses on what makes humans feel fulfilled, engaged and meaningfully happy.  


He says there are three components of happiness:  pleasure, engagement, and meaning.  ...  The most satisfied people are those that orient their pursuits towards all three.  ...  Happy people are more likely to engage in healthy lifestyle behaviors.  

...So in the future, I will be writing about how we can improve our happiness by sharing some of the researched activities/exercises that build positive emotion!    To start, I've categorized my blog with my top signature strengths (and a couple other categories thrown in).  ...  A recent study showed that when people used their top strengths in a new way every day, even for a week, their happiness improved up to 6 months over a control group.    To find yours, go to www.authentichappiness.org and take the VIA Signature Strengths test.]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Gratitude</title><dc:creator>user@domain.com</dc:creator><category>Gratitude</category><dc:date>2008-06-26T14:41:13-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.PamSchmid.com/blog/blog_files/June%202008.html#unique-entry-id-2</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.PamSchmid.com/blog/blog_files/June%202008.html#unique-entry-id-2</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[This past weekend a blessing came into my life, and her name was Jody.    She was a participant in a workshop I led for Wellcoaches.    Her positive presence, energy, and kindness inspired me on many levels.   She has a gift of seeing people's strengths, a skill that great coaches possess.    Her informal coaching with me has led to my decision to write a blog.    As you may note, I have posted once a year up until now!!!    It makes me LOL (laugh out loud for those of you who don't follow internet slang).     So, I don't know of a better place to start than with gratitude.    Thank you, Jody, for being the beautiful person you are.  ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Update</title><dc:creator>user@domain.com</dc:creator><category>Healthy and Fit After Cancer</category><dc:date>2007-09-19T23:08:47-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.PamSchmid.com/blog/blog_files/September%202007.html#unique-entry-id-1</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.PamSchmid.com/blog/blog_files/September%202007.html#unique-entry-id-1</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Pilot Study: A lot has happened in the last year!    We are in the middle of a pilot study, through Richard Stockton College of New Jersey, Cancer Care Connection in Delaware, Rutland Regional Hospital in Vermont, and Northwest Community Hospital outside Chicago to study the benefits of wellness coaching for survivors.    We hope to have a larger clinical trial in the near future, so we can prove the efficacy of wellness coaching for survivors.    My personal hope is that with this data, we can apply for funding so that all survivors can have access to a wellness coach if they want one!  
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Livestrong Summit Summary of Keynotes and Pictures 2006</title><dc:creator>user@domain.com</dc:creator><category>LIVESTRONG</category><dc:date>2006-10-31T01:20:56-05:00</dc:date><link>http://www.PamSchmid.com/blog/blog_files/baa3ca911eb785203896b3a1b40384df-0.html#unique-entry-id-0</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.PamSchmid.com/blog/blog_files/baa3ca911eb785203896b3a1b40384df-0.html#unique-entry-id-0</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[I was thrilled to be a delegate for the first, ever LIVESTRONG  Summit, but nothing prepared me for the emotion and impact it would have on me.


I arrived in Austin, and immediately went to the convention center to get my first-come first- serve tickets to the recording of CNN's Town Hall Meeting, "The State of Cancer in America"  (to air late January) with Lance Armstrong and Sanjay Gupta, that first night.  

...The music was playing, and one at a time the spotlight would go to each person as they made a one sentence statement about their experience with cancer.  

...A particularly emotional moment came for me when they began to recognize some of the delegates who had really wanted to be there, but were unable, due to current treatment or other reasons.  ...  Karen, myself, and another colleague had recently been accepted as presenters at the ACSM annual meeting next year to talk about the work we are doing with survivors.    I met her in June at ACSM's Cancer Interest Group, and was looking forward to getting to know her better at the LIVESTRONG Summit.  ...  I was filled with sadness not only about her life being cut short, but about the cancer community losing someone who had worked so hard for them.  

...He also used the example of Elvis Presley getting a polio immunization in the 50's to demonstrate how one person can make a huge difference.&nbsp; 

...&ndash;&nbsp;Create a &ldquo;Certified Cancer Educator&rdquo; program where people can be trained to help survivors navigate the system and be an advocate on survivors&rsquo; behalf
]]></content:encoded></item></channel>
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