JULY 2015 NEWSLETTER Vol 1 Issue 5
Dragonfly Angel Wings Newsletter
COMBATING CHEMO BRAIN
BY ANGELA PENNISI, PT, MS, OCS & HUNTER VAN
HOUTEN , PT , DPT
Executive cognitive functioning encompasses several domains, including attention and
concentration, speed of processing information, working memory/learning, adaptability/flexibility and problem solving. The belief that your brain health and performance
reaches a maximum potential in adulthood and then slowly declines as you age is no
longer accepted as true. Strong research and evidence points to the adult brain’s ability to regenerate cells and wire new neural pathways throughout life. The most substantial evidence supporting the brain's capacity to renew itself is based in exercise.
Being diagnosed with cancer creates many stresses in one's life, and the brain is not
immune from the effects. One study of patients with breast cancer demonstrated cognitive changes compared with healthy subjects even before initiating treatment with
chemotherapy. However, studies show that animals treated with chemotherapy
demonstrated anxious behavior, had impaired memory of the space around them, and
difficulty with decision making. Chemotherapy appears to impair the brain's ability to
make connections, known as synapses.
While practicing puzzles and brain games have a place in maintaining and improving
cognitive function, skills learned are not always transferable to real life. In addition,
while playing brain games certainly is much better than watching television on the sofa,
sedentary brain games and puzzles miss out on the proven brain-stimulating potential
of exercise.
CONTINUED ON PG 3
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
EDITOR’S NOTE ..................... 2
THE FLUTTER ........................ 2
CHEMO BRAIN....................... 3
THE NOTICER ........................ 4
INSPIRATION CORNER ........ 5
SPECIAL POINTS OF
INTEREST
 Combat Chemo
Brain
 Cancerversaries
 The Noticer
 Are You Keeping
Perspective?
EDITOR’S NOTE
How often do you keep things in perspective? I mean really keep things in
perspective—whether it is in regards to
something you fought over with someone you love, some time when you got
what you felt was the worst news in the
world, a time when someone told you
their news, or when you thought you
should have gotten a promotion at
work. The list of things that could happen goes on and on. We all have highs
and we all have lows. Sometimes we
tend to lose perspective on what all that
means. Sure, when the news is really
bad, it is normal to freak out. When the
news is really good, it is normal to be
overjoyed, but what about all those
times in-between? I think that is when
we tend to lose perspective on whatever
situation we find ourselves in. It’s easy
to do. Just because of that, we decided
to make PERSPECTIVE our July focus.
Think about perspective the next time
you find yourself in a situation. Find
that comment too general? It was
meant to be that way and perhaps make
you think….about how to keep it all in
perspective…..
What do you want to see in a cancer survivorship website? Go to
www.dragonflyangelsociety.com and tell us what you think!
THE FLUTTER - CANCERVERSARIES
I know I am tackling a massive topic here but I have been thinking a lot
about cancerversaries. I have been thinking about how they are celebrated,
when they are celebrated and for some, if they are even acknowledged. For me
any answer to any of the above questions is true and works.
I am focused on it this month for two reasons. The first is I find July to
be a difficult month. It should be a lot more exciting than it is and I will tell you
why. My cancerversary takes place every July on July 13th to be exact. I never
loved the number 13 and thanks to a cancer diagnosis given to me on that day in
July, I am not too thrilled with July either. A little too much over thinking? Perhaps. The even bigger news this month is I celebrate 5 years since diagnosis.
That should be cause for major celebration, at least that was what I thought 5
years earlier as I sat there listening to the doctor on the other end of the phone
giving me news that would forever change my life. As I write this on my actual
cancerversary, I feel the need to almost tip-toe around it and just whisper “hey,
it’s my 5 year cancerversary.” I don’t want to wave my hands around and make
a lot of attention for myself. What am I afraid of? Well, lots, but as a survivor,
let’s face it, the fears of recurrence are never too far behind. I don’t ever want
them to catch up.
The other reason I focused on cancerversaries is perspective. I know I
need to “keep it in perspective” as they say, when I look at my 5 year cancerversary. Cheering and celebrating doesn’t attract recurrence. It doesn’t do anything except mark a milestone to celebrate. There may be worse times, there
may be better times to come. The point is today is today and we all only get to
live it once. Keeping a little perspective in our back pockets might just help remind us of all that every now and then. So for today—I decided to simply enjoy.
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COMBATING CHEMO BRAIN
CONTINUED FROM PG 1
Exercise improves brain health and cognitive function at any age. Even short bouts
of exercise throughout the day can enhance your brain’s performance. Additional evidence states that exercise may prime
the brain to respond more adaptively to
damage by protecting the brain against
aging, stress, depression, neurodegeneration, and injury. Exercise elevates levels of
neurotrophic (neuron-generating) factors
by buffering against illness or injury,
prompting neurons to grow, and
strengthening connections between neurons, the cells that make up our brain, spinal cord, and nerves)
ceived exertion is one method for estimating the intensity of cardiovascular exercise, and your body and brain enjoy the
benefits at only 4-5 on a scale of 10,
which is defined as exercising "moderately
hard", but still being able to carry on a
conversation. The proper dosage of this
brain "medicine" of exercise is 150
minutes per week.
If you are not able to exercise for 30
minutes at a time today, start with 3 bouts
of 10 minutes or by repeating even shorter bouts of exercise. With consistency,
your activity tolerance will increase until
you are able to achieve the maximum
Every time the brain processes inforbenefit. Ask your doctor if you have any
mation, new pathways are generated for medical limitations on your activity level,
both learning skills and creating memoand if not, put on your tennis shoes and
ries, a process known as neuroplasticity
start moving! Many types of activities can
that continues across the lifespan. Brain
help you reach 150 minutes for the week,
Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) is
ranging from walking or stationary bicyone factor that influences neuroplasticity, cling to repeatedly standing up and down
and low levels of BDNF are correlated with from a chair. If you work steadily at a rate
memory problems. BDNF levels increase of 4-5 on the 10 point scale of perceived
with aerobic exercise, particularly in the
exertion, you will reap the benefits of exhippocampus, which has many responsi- ercise for your brain!
bilities related to memory. Gliogenesis,
Angela Wilson Pennisi, PT, MS, OCS,
the generation of new neurons, also inand Hunter Van Houten, PT, DPT, are
creases with aerobic exercise, resulting in physical therapists at Lakeshore Sports
Physical Therapy, PC, in Chicago, IL.
increased thickness of the motor cortex
Dr. Van Houten is a certified BrainyEX
and the posterior hippocampi.
Brain Coach and can be reached at
However, you do not have to take up run- [email protected].
ning to enjoy the benefits of aerobic exer- This article is written for personal information, general
education and should not be used as medical advice.
cise for your brain! Relatively lowPlease consult your doctor before starting any new prointensity cardiovascular exercise benefits grams or activities or if you have any questions.
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both the body and the brain. Rate of per-
THE NOTICER
Book by Andy Andrews
It is no secret that I LOVE to read. It is my
absolute favorite past time. I am not too picky either.
I like to read books from all categories—fiction, romance, poetry, non-fiction, biographies, etc. If it is a
good book, you can count me in. Every now and then,
I get into reading ruts, and I look for anything to get
me out of it.
This time around, I had been in a reading
depression for quite some time. No books had
sparked my interest for a really long time. A couple
weeks ago, I was browsing books and came across The
Noticer by Andy Andrews. I honestly don’t know why,
but it caught my attention. I started reading about the
book and it seemed like a decent story, but when I
read the reviews, I couldn’t believe what I was seeing:
comment after comment of how good this book was,
how much it helped people, etc. Well, anytime I read
things like that, I am usually automatically hooked. I
look for inspirational stores ANYWHERE I can get
them.
I decided I had nothing to lose, so I picked up
a copy of The Noticer and began to read. It’s a short
book so I pretty much finished it in a day. If it was a
long book, I think I still would have finished it in a
day. It captured me from the very first words.
What I will tell you is if you need a little inspiration and need somewhere to start, pick up this book.
It’s based on a true story. The book takes the reader
through a troubled beginning, but a remarkable end.
I won’t give it away but all I can tell you is if you are
looking for some PERSPECTIVE, I think you will find
some in this book.
To find out more information about Andy Andrews, The Noticer and Andy’s other books, go
to:
www.andyandrews.com
Comments or feedback? Dana Stewart can be
reached at [email protected]
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PERSPECTIVE.
“It doesn’t matter whether the glass is half full or half
empty, if you stop focusing on the glass and look at the
world around you, you will see there is a full pitcher right
next to it.”—Shawn Achor
This quote screams perspective. Just take a look around
you and make sure you notice everything, not just what
you think you want to or need to see. You might be surprised by what you find. Enjoy a little perspective.
What do you want to see in a cancer survivorship website? Go to
www.dragonflyangelsociety.com and tell us what you think!
The Dragonfly Angel Society
7316 Hartford Rd
Downers Grove, IL 60516
www.dragonflyangelsociety.com
E-Mail: [email protected]
[email protected]
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