By Cindy Trice, DVM, Cancer Survivor, Co-Founder and Chief Innovation Officer at KickIt Pajamas, Patient Advocate, Cervivor

You never know when life is going to take an unexpected turn. Over 20 years ago, at the age of 35, my life veered a sharp left that took me on the windy path of an advanced cervical cancer diagnosis, treatments, and survivorship. That unwelcome and unexpected curve also led to inspiration – and a new and exciting path.

When I was undergoing chemotherapy treatments, a dear friend gave me a cute pair of pajamas to wear while hospitalized. I felt more put together and dressed as I pushed the IV pole in laps around the nurses’ station and welcomed visitors. In essence, I felt dignified and a little “normal” in a world where absolutely nothing felt normal.

The flimsy hospital gown made me feel vulnerable, exposed, and well, like a patient, not someone ready for the battle of a lifetime. In contrast, the thick, soft pajamas made me feel strong and armored to kick cancer’s a** even though I was sick and scared. But they lacked the functionality that made medical care easy for the nursing staff and me. From this frustration, I decided to design pajamas with hospitalized patients in mind that are beautiful, comfortable, and thoughtful in every element of their design. After kicking cancer, I moved on with my career as a veterinarian, but the seed for KickIt Pajamas was firmly planted.

Fifteen years after the idea popped in my head, I joined three women, with cancer stories of their own, to launch a company with the mission to help women Look Good and Heal Better.

I share my story with you to show that inspiration can come from anywhere. My inspiration came from frustration and the generosity of a thoughtful gift. Finding and fulfilling an inspiration doesn’t always happen overnight, and that’s ok. The experiences you have along the way are important in helping you find the inspiration that’s right
for you.

Your inspiration may come from encouraging words, a person in your life, a goal, or something unique only to you. Inspiration comes in all sizes too. You may need inspiration to fight through treatment. Or you may want to find inspiration to make a difference in your community. The size, type, and focus does not matter. What matters is that it is meaningful to you. That’s the beauty of inspiration. Finding it means being curious and open to it, being aware of the world around you, and willing to embrace the unexpected.

The silver linings of a cancer diagnosis continue to catch light and draw my attention in unexpected ways. Each sparks an inspiration that may just be a small awareness, like the gratitude of witnessing a beautiful night sky, or larger gifts like finding community and purpose in patient advocacy.

At Survive & Thrive Conference 2024, participants (patients, caregivers, and survivors) were asked to share words of wisdom and inspiration with others. We share a few here to help spark your own inspiration. Trust in your unique experience and inspiration will surely follow.

By Abby Patel, M.D., Texas Oncology–Houston Willowbrook

Winter in Texas brings unpredictable temperature shifts – 80 and sunny today, 20 and snowing tomorrow. These random shifts present unique challenges for cancer patients, caregivers, and survivors. Adding to the challenge are the upticks in respiratory illnesses and flu, both easily transmitted to those around you. Here are some tips to maintain your health throughout the winter months.

Stay Healthy During Cold and Flu Season

• Get Vaccinated – Protect yourself by staying up to date on flu, RSV, and COVID-19 vaccines. If you are over 50, consider a pneumococcal pneumonia vaccine as well.
• Wash Hands Frequently – Washing your hands often with warm soap and water is one of the single best things you can do to reduce the spread of germs. Sing “Happy Birthday” to make sure you have washed long enough.
• Use a Humidifier – Indoor heating often dries out indoor atmospheres resulting in an irritated respiratory system. Humidifiers can help maintain moisture.
• Listen to Your Body – You know your body and if you feel unwell, consult your doctor as needed to prevent a minor problem from growing bigger. And stay home if you do get sick.

Boost Your Immune System

• Eat a Balanced Diet – Focus on foods rich in vitamins and minerals, particularly vitamin C (citrus, berries, bell peppers) and vitamin D (fatty fish, fortified dairy). These nutrients help support immune health.
• Stay Hydrated – Even though you might not feel as thirsty in the cold, staying hydrated is important for maintaining energy levels and proper bodily functions.

Dress in Layers

• Stay Warm – Dress in layers so you can adjust as needed. A good base layer helps wick away moisture, while insulating layers trap warmth, and an outer layer protects you from the wind and cold.

Get Enough Sleep

• Stick to a Sleep Schedule – The darker days can disrupt your circadian rhythm, so try to go to bed and wake up at the same time every day. Aim for 7-9 hours of sleep each night to allow your body to recover and function optimally.

Beat the Winter Blues

• Get Some Natural Vitamin D – Take advantage of the sun whenever you can – open the curtains, get outside, try to get as much daylight as possible.
• Stay Active – Exercise such as walking your dog, yoga, or going to the gym will keep your energy levels up and your mental health engaged.
• Maintain a Routine – Try to keep a regular schedule and daily routine to of sleep, meals, work, hobbies, and other activities.
• Embrace Activities – Engage in things you enjoy, such as reading, music, or other hobbies.

Watch Your Mental Health

• Practice Mindfulness or Meditation – The winter months can sometimes bring about stress or a drop in mood. Regular mindfulness or relaxation exercises can help manage stress and anxiety.
• Keep a Positive Outlook – Focusing on things you enjoy, like hobbies, reading, or cooking comfort food, can help brighten your spirits through the winter.

Combat Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

• Use Light Therapy – Shorter days and less sunlight can affect your mood. Consider using a light therapy box to simulate natural daylight or try to spend time outside during daylight hours.
• Stay Socially Connected: Seasonal changes can lead to feelings of isolation. Stay connected with friends and family, whether through phone calls, video chats, or in-person visits.

Protect Your Skin

• Moisturize Regularly – Cold, dry air can strip moisture from your skin. Use a good moisturizer to keep your skin hydrated, especially on your face and hands.
• Don’t Forget Sunscreen – UV rays can still damage your skin in the winter, especially when reflected off snow or ice. Apply sunscreen on exposed skin, even when it’s overcast.

By staying mindful of your health and mental well-being, you can navigate the challenges of winter and temperature swings with greater ease.

By Julie Croom, LCSW, OSW-C

Clinical Social Worker, Texas Oncology–Flower Mound and Texas Oncology–Lewisville Castle Hills

Caring for a loved one with cancer is something that can be felt as both a blessing and a burden. When you love someone and want to be there to support them, it can feel like such a blessing to be the person to take them to appointments, help with medications, assist with personal hygiene needs, manage household responsibilities, and more. The flip side is that you are the one on whom the responsibility falls for taking them to their appointments, helping with medications, assisting with personal hygiene needs, managing the household responsibilities, and more.

How can you balance the blessing and burden of caregiving so that you do not feel overwhelmed to the point of burnout? That great question does not always have an easy answer.

Take Care of Yourself

An important aspect of being a caregiver is to not get lost in the role. It is vital that you maintain who YOU are, not just melt away into the role of caregiver to someone else. One way to do this is to intentionally carve out time for self-care. Self-care looks different for everyone.

• Sometimes it is finding a couple of hours a week to go pamper yourself with a mani/pedi or massage.
• Sometimes it is finding 20 minutes a day to step outside, into the sunshine, rain or cold, to reconnect with nature and release natural endorphins by going for a walk.
• Sometimes it is keeping a running list of concrete actions items that others can do for you, so you have a ready answer when you get the inevitable question, “How can I help?”
• One thing that self-care is for everyone, is the ability to set and maintain boundaries to give yourself the ability to say no when you need to.

Master Jugglers

Juggling all the balls of caring for someone with cancer, keeping the house semi-clean, making sure there are groceries, being a parent, maintaining a job, and many more aspects of caregiving can seem insurmountable. A key to this is to break things down into smaller pieces that are more manageable.  In any given moment, only allow yourself to wear one hat.

• In this minute, I’m a parent and my focus is on the kids.
• In this minute, I’m taking 10 minutes to do a quick wipe down of the bathrooms or empty the dishwasher.
• In this minute, I am me and allowing myself to feel my emotions and just be me.

It’s OK to Ask for Help

It is vital to remember that help is out there, and no one expects any caregiver to do it all themselves. That is where the running list of action items comes in.

• If you need someone to go pick up your online grocery order, ask.
• If you need someone to come and sit at the house for an hour so that you can go to a religious service, the library, or gym, ask.
• If you need assistance with referrals to community resources for help, ask your oncology team.

Overall, caregivers are the often overlooked and unsung heroes in a patient’s cancer experience. You are part of this experience, also. Give yourself credit for all you are doing and ask for help when and where you need it.

There is a community out there to help and support caregivers. If you do not know where to start to find this community, talk to your oncology team and they can help direct you. In the words of a great social worker, Brené Brown, “Self-care is good, self-care is great, self-care is necessary.” Go out and be great!