HEALTH & FITNESS

CALL TODAY AND
GET STARTED
RIGHT AWAY!

alternatives

Have you ever imagined a life without
those unwanted pounds?

Support A Loved
One With Cancer

mailed her community asking them
to all say the Mi Sheberach prayer
for healing for her during crucial
surgery.
One family member brought a
reeling.
portable DVD player with her loved
One of the most common things
ones' favorite comedies so he
I hear from the friends and loved
could watch them dur-
ones of people living with
ing chemo infusions. One
cancer is that they strug-
spouse even learned to
gle with a sense of frus-
do energy healing so that
tration and helplessness.
he could give treatments
They want to be support-
to his wife.
ive, to do more and to
We can give through
make a difference.
our actions, and we also
On the other hand,
give just by being our-
many people facing treat-
selves. According to Dr.
ments for cancer, such
Rachel Naomi Remen,
as surgery, chemotherapy
"Healing is about engag-
and radiation, may feel
Dr. Jen Green
ing the will to live in oth-
tired or withdrawn and feel
Colum nist
ers, something that we
they do not wish to be a
do with our humanity and
burden to others.
not with our expertise.
Dealing with cancer
We heal most often with our listen-
is both a dark time and a time
ing and our presence."
of growth and transformation.
Light-hearted humor, loving
Although everyone needs to cope
interactions
and providing a non-
in his own way, I encourage people
judgmental
ear
are powerful forces
facing cancer to find concrete ways
for someone
in which they can
facing cancer. I
teach others to be of
also know how
assistance.
much each of us
Friends and loved
is affected by the
ones desperately
way we are seen
want to be support-
by others.
ive and if they have
With this in
a task, it helps them
mind, instead
to feel less helpless.
of approaching
By allowing others to
people with cancer
give to us, we also
with discomfort,
make room for more
pity and as victims,
intimacy and mean-
we can help to
ing in our lives.
strengthen them
Over time, I have
by seeing them as
learned of many
whole people who are engaged in the
wonderful ways community can
important work of healing.
help. A friend or family member can
Whether by our actions, by our
organize nightly dinner drop-offs
presence or by our prayers, we do
(without visiting) after surgery or
make a difference. We are all here
during treatment. People can take
for such a brief time on this planet.
turns as drivers for early morning
May the challenge of cancer in our
radiation treatments so that the
lives open us up to living fuller,
person's spouse has a break.
more passionate and more mean-
A loved one can record a Hebrew
ingful lives.
prayer and guided visualization
to be listened to while waiting for
treatment. Others offer hand and
Dr. Jen Green is a naturopathic doctor at
foot massages.
Beaumont Hospital's Rose Cancer Center
One group of friends made a
in Farmington Hills and in private prac-
deck of inspirational cards for their
tice in West Bloomfield at Acupuncture
friend to draw from each morning
Healthcare Associates of Michigan. Her
before her treatments. Another e-
e-mail address: jengreennd@msn.com .

R

Before

OUR PROGRAMS FEATURE:

• Michigan's largest established

weight loss clinic

• Medically supervised
programs

Dealing with
cancer is both
a dark time
and a time of
growth and
transformation.

• Individually designed based

on your medical profile

• Regular grocery store food

• Maintenance - on-going
support to keep the weight off

PROGRAMS FOR MEN, WOMEN AND TEENS

See our ad under Weight Control Services
in the at&t Yellow Pages

iressamre

at&t

You, vAadd Delivered.

RIEDKAl

WEIGHT LOSS CLINIC

0

Clinics in Southfield, Waterford, Novi and
Farmington Hills/West Bloomfield
32 locations in Michigan to serve you!

Call for a FREE cons nation • Open 6 days per week

1-800-GET SL I

• WWW.MWIC.COM

1 1237D3

A30

January 29 0 2009

eceiving a cancer diagnosis
or learning of a loved one's
recent diagnosis is a shock
that leaves most people