The Messy Choices of Breast Cancer

Posted by Janet Solie MS, PA, IHC on Oct 16, 2017 in Cancer | 0 comments

With breast cancer you are never done. I was reminded of this reality with the anniversary of my five-year remission from early stage invasive breast this year. While I was deeply thankful for the attaining this recovery milestone, I was also confronted with a new medical dilemma. Which of two treatment paths would I choose in my battle to sustain my remission? Like I said, with cancer you’re never done.

Prevention of Early or Returning Breast Cancer

Posted by Janet Solie MS, PA, IHC on Oct 8, 2014 in Cancer, General Health, Health Coaching, Lifestyle Medicine, Nutrition | 0 comments

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

      – Benjamin Franklin

This time of year when I see professional football team players wearing pink, I feel women aren’t getting the whole message.  Our focus on breast cancer awareness needs to broaden to include breast cancer prevention.   It’s not just about finding cancer; it’s about preventing cancer.  Both strategies are essential for saving lives.  If you want to learn about and possibly support organizations that are investigating causes and prevention of breast cancer, go to zerobreastcancer.org

The “Microbiota” Factor

Posted by Janet Solie MS, PA, IHC on Apr 14, 2014 in Cancer, General Health, Lifestyle Medicine, Nutrition | 0 comments

The Simms/ Mann UCLA Center for Integrative Oncology has a lecture series that features top physicians, researchers and educators open to the community. This week, I attended a lecture on wellness, the immune system and the gastrointestinal microbiota (the term microbiota replaces “gut flora,” which refers to the tens of trillions of bacteria that reside in the intestinal tract). Carolyn Katzin, MS, CNS and Robert Schiestl, PHD were the presenters.

Comfort Always: The Animal Factor

Posted by Janet Solie MS, PA, IHC on Jan 20, 2014 in Cancer, Health Coaching, Lifestyle Medicine, Stress Management | 2 comments

Many of my clients work in high-pressure jobs full of relentless multi-tasking and never ending deadlines. Others are chronically ill and struggle to navigate their “new normal” or a worsening prognosis. In both instances, stress undermines their quality of life. This is why I frequently do stress inventories with clients to identify their current top stressors to determine which ones can be modified and a plan to do that. What I have found time and again is that some of the most powerful and sustainable de-stressing occurs with clients who are connected to animals.

Invisible Offenders in the Kitchen

Posted by Janet Solie MS, PA, IHC on Mar 26, 2013 in Cancer, Food Fight, General Health | 3 comments

The war to prevent cancer is fought on many fronts but rarely in the home environment. Personal environments are unknown territory that remains a mystery to most health care providers and their patients. Sadly, this suggests our home environment has no role in cancer prevention, an assumption that is untrue if you look at available information from cancer research and cancer advocacy organizations.

Breast Cancer Coaching For Recovery

Posted by Janet Solie MS, PA, IHC on Jan 27, 2013 in Cancer | 1 comment

You never see it coming.  I didn’t and that’s what my breast cancer clients tell me too.  Breast cancer is a diagnostic ambush that leaves you grasping for answers, while facing a series of hurdles ahead. My role as a survivor and coach is to bring compassion, understanding and a plan for a new normalcy.  I am a kindred soul on the breast cancer recovery team.   I know the medical story, and the personal story and I serve as a translator, and collaborator.