This Saturday, October 29, at 9am, Mathis and I and friends will be the “Dana’s Gladiators” team in the American Cancer Society’s “Making Strides Against Breast Cancer” walk. Rain or shine. I’m honored to be this event’s Survivor Ambassador, as well.

We’ll be walking in memory of my twin sis, Tracy and I miss her so much. That’s the hard part about this walk.We’re also walking to raise dollars for research we so critically need AND for programs that help patients.

Some of you have already donated this year and many donated last year. Wow, thank you so much!

Click here to donate:  http://tiny.cc/DanaStrides

Your money goes right to patient programs and breast cancer research. As an example:

• $100.00 pays for a patient to have one-on-one peer support such as a new chemo patient talking with an experienced one.
• $100.00 pays for 4 patients to access the 24/7 cancer hotline for information and questions.
• $100.00 pays for 10 rides for patients who can’t get a ride to treatment.
• $500.00 secures 5 hotel nights for under-served or remote patients to stay during a surgery or treatment.

For those in Seattle, the walk is free this Saturday and get a limited-edition T-Shirt for Dana’s Gladiators! Register here:  http://tiny.cc/DanaStrides

Oh, “no pressure” but I’m the 2nd largest fundraiser so far…and that’s just not good enough, right?  Help Dana’s Gladiators get to #1!

Thank you so much for your donation here!

With huge hugs and gratitude,

Dana

Just a little passion…August, 2016 Strides Event Kick-off

This happy face is what my oncologist, Dr. Robinson, handed Mathis and I TODAY while we were in the waiting room completely nervous about the results. It’s drawn on the back of my CT scan report.

We’re thrilled so please join us in our celebration for so many wonderful things.

Educational article: Some of you saw this on Facebook, but here it is again…and explanation of my new world of living with Stage IV cancer.

I am one of the lucky ones declared NED – No Evidence of Disease.  Read about that in the article, too.

My next scans are in 6 months and I’m on two types of treatment in the form of pills and shots so we’re still attacking this stupid, vicious disease.

Fun times ahead:

• Off to Los Angeles tomorrow morning to attend the SAG Awards Saturday night with Mathis and his daughter, Leslie.  Then a marriage celebration hosted by my Mom, Ilse.
• Fixing my foot with big surgery on February 3 for 8 weeks non-weight-bearing so party at Dana and Mathis’ house!

None of this can be done without your love and support. We know that positive attitudes and love are making a huge difference in our lives.  Every day.

Love and hugs,

Dana and Mathis

This time last year, I had big plans. Grow my business, travel internationally, and play tons of golf with Mathis. On February 22, 2015, I was shocked to learn my cancer had returned as Stage IV after 2 prior occurrences. Right after losing Tracy, my womb-mate in May, 2014. Since then, surgery, 20 weeks of chemo, another surgery, radiation and pills for life.

Who knows what is around the bend in 2016? Nobody. And that’s my new reality. Living with cancer for the rest of my life will be a true test of my emotional strength. That reality also sucks because it impacts my family and friends around me. I wish I could erase 2015 by using the Men in Black neuralizer. But I can’t.

What can I do? Believe me; I’ve spent many days thinking about this, day and night.

My Key #1: Control what I can control

Here’s what I can do:  (and what I enjoy doing)

• Exercise – Half-way through radiation, I started Pilates on a reformer at my Club Pilates in Bellevue and I’m addicted to it. For me, it’s exercise with stretching, breathing and within a safe, stable environment with great instructors.
  

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• Laugh – Mathis and I kicked in the New Year with watching Amy Schumer live on New Year’s Eve and we’ll be going to more comedy shows and concerts going forward. If you have ideas, count us in!
• Spend quality time with family and friends – I’ll be home a lot, especially in the first half of 2016 since I need foot surgery on February 3. Unrelated to cancer, I need to repair my big toe with surgery that requires a long recovery. So open invitation to come on over!
• Love – I’ll treasure all the times I’ll spend with Mathis, my children, family and friends. I’ve learned to just “be” and not feel the need to go out or entertain.

My Key #2: Face my fears and talk about them

Although I appear optimistic and upbeat, which I am, I do have moments of pure anxiety. Fear of the unknown, sadness, tired of being the patient, and worry. I am seeing friends who are further along in their stage IV path and it’s hard.  While I don’t want to wallow in my cancer life, I can’t stuff it, either.

So, warning: if you ask me how I’m doing, you can expect a wide variety of answers, depending on the moment.

My Key #3:  Take one day, week and month at a time

While I will keep planning things for the long haul, I’ll also just continue through the steps my great Virginia Mason medical team advises. Here’s what’s coming:

• I just started new cancer treatment pills, called aromatase inhibitors, which will block estrogen production. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anastrozole. I will be on this the rest of my life.
• In January, I will start another pill. It’s a new use of a drug used for osteoporosis; however, now used for metastatic (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metastasis), post-menopausal breast cancer patients. The theory and recent findings show that by strengthening the bones, we may be able to prevent my cancer from spreading there.
• January 26: big scan day with the findings that same day. Then every 4-6 months after that.

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The following helped me, so I thought I would share it: My dear friend, Mary Foss-Skiftesvik, shared these wonderful insights from her friend, Dr. Dale Atkins, a psychologist, speaker and consultant:

In times of illness, particularly prolonged illnesses, people often have a difficult time adjusting to the significant changes we experience in our lives.  Old familiar habits and rituals that shape our daily routines often become more challenging.  The inability to do something as well as before (or not at all) has the potential to zap hope and add to a feeling of despair.

Generally, when we are ill, our energy levels decrease. Sometimes this is hard to accept.  We may be used to, consciously or unconsciously, equating our productivity and energy level with our personal worth.  Even though we are learning ways to adapt that help to maintain our health (making previously “simple” tasks, doable), we may still feel frustrated and disappointed that we cannot to live up to our image of who we were before the illness.  We may judge ourselves harshly, questioning that we lost our “work ethic” because we no longer perform at our previously high standard.  We may compare ourselves with others, feeling guilty that because we need to attend to our illness (need to rest more, attend to side effects of medications that affect the way we think, feel, or move), we haven’t “accomplished” much.  This thinking can result in our overextending ourselves when we are just not able, inhibiting both the healing process and living healthfully.

It is during these times that we are wise to readjust our focus.  Accept what our capabilities are at this time and figure out what we need to do now.  The question is not one of self-definition, “Who have I become?” But rather, one of self-assessment, “Given what I am facing now, what can I do or not do?”  When we compare our self to others, or to what we capable of, we can observe, just take notice.  It is important to resist becoming entangled in a downward cycle of despair and regret.  We can stop our self and tell our self that for now, there is a new standard and we can learn to adapt as we meet it.  This awareness of where we are at this moment helps us to accept and adapt while keeping our sense of self intact.  We focus on what our strengths are, and what remains and can improve, rather than what is gone.  Such self-acceptance can lead us to feel a significant relief of pressure and a renewed sense of gratitude, contentment, and hope.

Illness is about adaptation to change and acceptance.  Along the way, there is an opportunity for spiritual growth.  A spiritual journey during illness can begin with simply noticing the feelings that come up when we think of not being able to work or accomplish projects because of our illness.  Are we comparing our self to others, whether or not they, too, are ill?  Do we view our personal worth as diminished as a result of these comparisons?  When we focus on healing and doing what is necessary to find our spiritual center we are more likely to notice an inner resilience and strength that we may not have been aware of before.

http://dratkins.wpengine.com/spirituality-during-illness/

Thank you, Mary        

Happy Updates:

Our family vacation during Thanksgiving in Puerto Vallarta was fabulous. Mathis, Mom (Ilse), Shane, Chad, Milo, Greg and I enjoyed the sun, great meals, zip-lining (the boys) and lots of laughter.  You can see some of the photos here. https://share.shutterfly.com/share/received/welcome.sfly?fid=b348c3c68fb85719&sid=0AcM2LFq1Zt2jJYA

Relaxation time!

Live, Love, Laugh

I love you, Mom!

Great family time!

Christmas time was fun, as well, with Shane and Chad flying into Seattle for about 4 days. Lots of eating, watching football and Scrabble.

I’m already loving the new year and there is something magical about January 1st and being able to say “adios” to 2015.

My new year’s resolutions recommendation to you:  Make time for your family and friends; tell them how much you love them (often); listen more than you talk; complain less; and slow down to enjoy the wonder around you!

You don’t know how good you have it until you face mortality.

Love and hugs,

Dana

(top feature photo taken by Alison Jensen, friend and wife of the fabulous Paul Jensen)

Fun Thing #1 – I’m Honored!

On Thursday, November 5, Mathis and I attended the American Cancer Society’s Legacy and Leadership Awards Ceremony in downtown Seattle. This annual ceremony honors local donors, volunteers, researchers, and community and corporate partners.

I’m so touched to be the recipient of the Gordy Klatt Impact Award. Rob Smith, the Editor in Chief at the Puget Sound Business Journal said the following words:

Dana Manciagli is a 3-time breast cancer survivor with a truly amazing story. She has done much work for the American Cancer Society this year, including sharing her story with the Seahawks and Sounders to increase awareness of breast health and “Making Strides Against Breast Cancer of Seattle.” Take a moment with me to learn more.

< Then they played the Seattle Seahawks video about my cancer story: http://www.seahawks.com/video/2015/10/27/beyond-decibels-danas-story>

I want to remember a remarkable man who was one-of-a-kind. Dr. Gordon “Gordy” Klatt was founder of the American Cancer Society Relay for Life event and passed away on August 3^rd, 2014 at the age of 71 from heart failure after battling stomach cancer.

He helped shape an idea that started off as one man running and walking a track, and turned it into a global phenomenon for saving lives in every corner of the world, the American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life. The Dr. Gordy Klatt Impact Award honors the spirit he carried that one person can make an impact on the World.

This year we are proud to honor Seattle’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Survivor Ambassador, Dana Manciagli. Dana has an amazing story as we just saw in the video but more than that she inspires action. Dana has raised nearly $30,000 dollars for Relay for Life of Bellevue and Making Strides Against Breast Cancer of Seattle since 2014 and is the leader of Dana’s Gladiators which heads up 10 other teams also raising money for Strides.

Dana speaks to the power of American Cancer Society programs and services and the importance of early detection. She is a spokesperson, advocate, and leader for the entire organization. It is our honor to award Dana with the Dr. Gordy Klatt Impact Award. Sharing your story is saving lives, thank you.

* * * * * * * * *

I was so happy Mathis was in town to join me at this wonderful event.

Mary-Claire King, PhD, discovered the BRCA1 gene; world-renown

Listening to the introduction

I was quite emotional after seeing Tracy up on the big screen during the video

Fun Thing #2 – Day Trip to San Francisco

My travel has been constrained due to stupid radiation every Monday-Friday for the last 6 ½ weeks. However, I took off this past Saturday and headed for San Francisco to visit Shane for the day. He picked me up at the airport and showed me so many gorgeous areas. We had a pig-out brunch, saw amazing views on a beautiful day, relaxed at his apartment in the city then grabbed a quick bite before I flew out. Lots of fun!

Mom and son in the sun!

Such a great kid (okay, a 27 year old kid)

Peaceful scenery, great walks

The Golden Gate bridge never ceases to amaze.

Shane took me to his favorite running places. We drove, of course.

Cancer Update

As of this writing, I have 1 more radiation treatment left; I’m done on Monday, November 16^th.  Radiation got progressively harder, and it was harsher than my radiation on the same side back in 2002, it was okay.  A large area of skin and tissue is severely burned right now so I have quite a collection of topical treatments as well as pain meds.

Next treatment: I will start a pill regimen that I will continue the rest of my life to keep this cancer at bay.  They are called aromatase inhibitors and mine will be anastrozole (Arimidex®). Anastrozole works by inhibiting the synthesis of estrogen and is an effective treatment for my stage IV “metastatic hormone-receptor-positive” breast cancer.

I will have my big scans at the end of January, 2016. Gulp.

Please keep the happy thoughts, fun time invitations, and prayers flowing! Each one of you is making a huge difference in my recovery and ongoing battle against this stupid cancer.

Off to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico next week with Shane, Chad, Milo, Mathis and Mom (Ilse) for a great Thanksgiving week. We have so much to be thankful for, we’ll remember good times with Tracy, and we’ll celebrate many things!

Love and hugs,

Dana

To culminate a busy October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Mathis and I were invited to watch the Seattle Seahawks practice in their indoor practice center!  This past Thursday, October 29, we went to the Seahawk’s VMAC or Virginia Mason Athletic Center. Virginia Mason is my medical center and Cancer Institute, too, so everything is wonderfully connected in our community.

Don’t you love how the referee letters say UH?

These guys are so much larger than they appear on TV or at a game!

Some serious stretching along with some great tunes playing

We watched these huge boys practice from 2:00 to 3:30pm with other guests on the sidelines such as police officers. R&B and Hip-Hop music was blaring from enormous speakers while the Hawks stretched, ran drills and ran real plays with real officials.

Once the practice was over, Mathis and I were surprised to be the only visitors to be escorted onto the practice field. Then, we were overwhelmed with players and coaches wishing us well on our cancer journey and autographing two footballs.  One was a real game ball used in their prior game!

Special attention by the team!

Those we got to talk to were Russell Wilson, Coach Pete Carroll, Earl Thomas, Steve Hauschka, Clint Gresham, Chris Matthews, Bobby Wagner, Assistant Offensive Line Coach, Pat Ruel, and more!

Our wonderful Russell Wilson, QB and amazing community member

My new friend, Pete Carroll, Coach of the Seahawks!

Game ball signed by players and coaches who talked with us!

The Seahawks management team, coaches, employees and players really get involved with their causes and donate an incredible amount of time and dollars into supporting breast cancer. For example, above and beyond what the NFL does, the Seattle Seahawks donated about $40,000 directly into taxi vouchers for patients to use to get to their treatments. All administered by the American Cancer Society of Seattle.

During the month of November, the team is focusing their support on our veterans and their important needs. Go Hawks!

More photos from this great day can be found here. 

Date night last night

Mathis and I had a great time doing something we used to enjoy often but just forgot about!  We went to our local pool and comedy club and played pool, had munchies and beverages.  We talked about how lucky we are to have all of you in our life so here are some smiles from us to you!

Love and hugs to each of you,

Mathis and Dana

Date night playing pool on October 31, 2015

The American Cancer Society and the Seattle Seahawks partnered to produce a high-quality video about my cancer journey with my dear twin sister, Tracy. It’s just over 5 minutes long so sit back and enjoy.

I can’t say THANK YOU enough to each and every one of you for your love and support.

CLICK HERE:  http://www.seahawks.com/video/2015/10/27/beyond-decibels-danas-story

Sporting my new, post-surgery body at the Seahawks game with Nikki Guggenheimer