Guest Blogger: Lisa Schneider, LCPC

One of three women will be diagnosed with cancer in her lifetime according to the National Cancer Institute, and for women who have been diagnosed, life changes forever.

Women who have been diagnosed with cancer face unique challenges that should be addressed for optimum outcome.  Regardless of age, women tend to feel an extra sense of concern for how the other people in their life will be affected by their diagnosis.

Generally speaking, women tend to take these concerns for their family and friends well-being and place those concerns before their own.  Even though concern for others is always an important issue, the healthiest way to look at cancer is person centered.

A woman who is willing to shift the focus to self-care is going to be much healthier and stronger in the long run.

One of the biggest hurdles to overcome is the thinking that self-care is selfish. On the contrary– resting when you are tired, seeking support, expressing emotion and asking for what you need are indications that you are just taking good care of yourself.

Family and friends can then rest assured that you are taking the appropriate steps to fight cancer– the most important job for a person with cancer!

Lisa is the Clinical Program Director for “The Cancer Support Center” www.cancersupportcenter.org - She is also a Certified Yoga Instructor.

This is one of those motivational sayings that you find on little plaques, mugs, cards and in my case-a key ring. I’ve been wondering how effective these types of sayings are for people.

Do they really motivate people to take action or are they just feel good words that make you feel great for the moment, but then reality sets in and nothing happens.

Life remains the same and a year later you find yourself in the same place, the same position, having accomplished nothing.

I am an optimist, so I find myself wanting to believe, the sayings, the proverbs, the inspirational thoughts.

Maybe it’s not the words, but it is us who don’t really believe that even though we “wish” it, we “dream” it, we just don’t put forth the effort to “do” it.

On April 29, 2009, President Barack Obama celebrated  his 100th day in the office of the President of the United States.  The first 100 days of a presidency took on symbolic significance during Franklin D. Roosevelt’s administration, so the period is considered a benchmark to measure the early success of a president.

We are now past the 100 day mark on the 2009 calendar, but it isn’t too late for you and I to celebrate our own successes. I know that we all set goals for ourselves at the beginning of the year and if you are like me, you have been successful with some of your goals, but others have fallen by the side.

Guess what, today can be the beginning of your next 100 days. Whether you are trying to exercise more, eat healthier, change careers, return to school, learn a new skill, or find a hobby, now is your chance.  Can you imagine the feeling  you will have when you have been successful with one your goals by the end of 100 days?

One of my goals is to stop biting my fingernails. I do really well for about a month and then the next thing I know my nails are gone again.  What do you want to accomplish in the next 100 days?  Pick one goal and tell someone else about it so that they can encourage you towards your goal.  I’ll check in on you in a few months.

                                                Good Luck!!!