Welcome 2 "The Ultimate Cancer Experience"

Not that the start of my cancer organization, United Cancer Advocacy Action Network isn't exciting enough, but I was recently invited to speak at a local high school in my area. My brother's old high school in fact!

It's public speaking and helping people that really gets me really enthusiastic! The ultimate feeling that you are providing hope to those that need it, or those that may need it in the future is exhilarating! So, I am currently working on the dvd that I will show, while I speak with pictures and music that show my entire cancer experience thus far. The pictures that entail what I have been through, and how much cancer has changed my life in an amazing way.

My suggestion to those of you reading this is to keep in mind - if you've beaten cancer, or known someone who has, or even someone who lost their battle.... we only have this one life to live to we should really LIVE it! Find out how you can help others, through volunteering, or starting a foundation, or speaking publicly. Whatever you decide, follow your heart, do what makes you feel incredible and share your experience! Tell your tale of your Ultimate Cancer Experience!!

This Wonderful Journey Called Life After Cancer

As weird as it sounds to say & hear myself think this, I do enjoy this wonderful journey called life after cancer. I have been through so many experiences in my life, but nothing, and I mean nothing compares to this life, these adventures, these moments that make life truly worth living. Life after cancer, the life of surviving the "statistics", of beating the odds and really living is amazing.

Now I do admit, that there are some sad times that come and go. Like the amazing people I have met in my life after cancer journey, who have lost their lives to this disease. Those people, are part of who I am today. My dad for example - Melanoma got him, when I was very young, and though I don't remember everything about him, I do have the pictures & the stories from my mom about him and his wonderful life. I know that even though I lost him at such a young age, that it gave the realization that I can be strong, I can fight this disease and I can make a difference, no matter how small or big. My friend J who was not only a husband, a father, a friend, a survivor, & an adventuresome man who loves to fly and enjoy his life to the fullest, lost his battle over a year ago, but I still have the wonderful memories of him - how he made me laugh for hours while I got my chemotherapy, how much he talked about his family & people he had met since being diagnosed, how he was inspiring, and loved living his life.

Even the people that I never knew, but that touched my heart in other ways, the celebrities that I know have touched all of our hearts - like Farrah Fawcett, our "Charlie's Angel", Bea Arthur, our "Golden Girl" comedian & actress, & even Patrick Swayze, our "Dirty Dancing" favorite. All of these people left a lasting impression on our hearts & in our minds - even though they are no longer here, they will always be with us in our memories!

Whether you are newly diagnosed, currently relapsed, or finished with treatments & trying to move on, you need to remember that you are not alone, there are others like you, others who have been through what you have, and there's always someone to talk to about things, to talk about life after cancer and to share the experience with. :) Remember that this is your journey, it's up to you how you not only approach dealing with it, but how you find a way to work through it and continue to live & love your life after it. We all deal with this differently, and for me, I find the best way to deal with life after cancer is to live my life, spread my positive energy & thoughts to others with the disease & their families & friends, by inspiring others and spreading awareness.

The journey can go either way, it can be a wonderful one, or it can be a dull one - It's really up to you! Which Cancer Journey Will You Choose??

An Unexpected Meeting

The other day, as I was getting gas at my
local Chevron, I walked outside with change in hand and was stopped by a woman. The first words out of her mouth were: "I know you!" I looked at her with a smile and a look of uncertainty, I didn't recognize her, and couldn't for the life of me figure out who she was. She smiled at me and said "I saw you in the newspaper." I knew just what she was talking about - the local newspaper had written an article about me and my 1st fun-raiser for my organization back in September. I was still confused about who this woman was, but appreciative that she recognized me from that article. We started talking and she told me "I just saw your cancer ribbons on the back of your car and noticed the 'Cancer Sucks' one, I knew it was you!" As we chatted, she soon said to me "I'm Shelly." My eyes immediately lit up and I smiled even bigger. "Shelly L?" I asked her, and the big smile on her face was just enough to confirm that. So, there Shelly & I were, talking in front of the gas pumps about life, and how we were doing, what we were up to and how we were recovering.


Now, so you understand this story, I should give you some background about Shelly. I received an email from her which included her phone # several months back, and she had a similar story to mine, and she really wanted to talk to a fellow survivor that understood. So, I called her that night. We ended up talking for over an hour, about our experiences, and I provided her with my advice on things, my thoughts and encouragement. She is a busy woman, married, 3 teenage kids and cancer to top it all off! I told her about the local Wellness Community and the support group that I attended monthly - The Leukemia & Lymphoma Support group that was designed for survivors and their spouses. I encouraged her to attend, when she was ready, that it was a great group and it's amazing to talk to people with similar cancers, treatments and experiences. What transpired from that conversation was, that I didn't hear from her again, or get the chance to meet her - until recently. :) It was amazing to finally put a face to the voice. I gave her the biggest hug, and told her what I was up to.

The Fun-Raiser in September was a huge success and we had raised more than enough money to pay for a portion of starting up my Non-Profit Organization United Cancer Advocacy Action Network. I told her what I was working on and the future of UCAAN. And then she said something that I was overjoyed to hear: "I can't even begin to tell you how much you helped me Rachel. You helped me so much!" My heart melted, and I was filled with excitement - it was almost like a pure rush of adrenaline. It was nice to hear that when I spoke to her, that I provided her with hope, strength & drive to overcome what she was going through. Shelly continued to tell me how she was progressing, we talked about the medications that we both took - one of which she suffered a brain tumor while taking it and was immediately put on another drug.


She still has more treatments ahead of her, including chemotherapy & possibly radiation, but she knows I will always be here for her - through her journey - to lend an ear, and talk it out. Before I left, I grabbed the UCAAN button off of my shirt and handed it to her. "This is for you. You truly are Surviving & Thriving!" It was awesome to finally meet Shelly after all these months, and to see that she is looking absolutely fabulous and despite the bad treatments & adverse reactions, she is doing an amazing job! Above is a picture of Shelly & I. Truly Surviving & Thriving @ it's Best!

What a Wonderful Life - Cancer Free & Fabulous as can be!

What a wonderful life! Surviving Cancer is a wonderful thing, inspiring others battling cancer is even better, and starting a cancer non-profit is beyond tiring and time consuming..... yet..... very rewarding and worth the effort, exhaustion and almost sleepless nights! Lol. I have been working on getting my cancer non-profit organization up and running for a long time now, and actually, have things coming along nicely.

I know what you may be thinking.... "I want to start a cancer non-profit as well! This should be easy. Non-profit, shouldn't be too hard." Ok wait right there! You must be crazy for even thinking that! Starting and running a cancer non-profit is beyond costly and time consuming, but if you have the will, the drive and the passion - then it just may be what you're looking for!

I am looking forward to helping more and more fellow survivors. I am looking forward to doing more public speaking and spreading more and more cancer awareness. I am looking forward to building this organization that will be - bigger than myself!

So, if you want to start a non-profit, any type.... make sure to look into it. Talk to others who have started one like yours, do all the research, do the business plan, raise the money, and get it going! Good Luck in all your future endeavors! If you'd got the will and strength to beat cancer, you can do anything! Sky diving if you're scared of heights, dancing if you're terribly clumsy, singing in your car when everyone is watching, speaking in front of crowds even when you're too scared to..... You get the point! Just do it!

"Live Your Passion!!"

Part of finding your passion, is finding the thing or things in life that make you happiest and trying to put them together, and doing the thing that makes you the happiest.

In life, we all have our goals, our passions - things in life that we want more than anything. For me, it all changed when I was diagnosed with Cancer 3 years ago. Things that used to seem so important to me - ended up being nothing that I could ever consider living my life for. I used to want to be a teacher, until they took the fun and art out of the schools, I used to want to own and manage a women's fitness club - but that fizzled out. And now? The thing that drives me the most, that gets me out of bed to work on it another day..... is my passion and drive to help others with cancer.

Recently I was shopping, and the lady next to me noticed my new button: "United Cancer Advocacy Action Network" reads across the top in black lettering, followed by a fabulous quote "We are surviving & thriving after cancer" and finally a website "UCAAN.ORG." The lady asked me "What is that?" At that instant, my face lit up and I told her all about my cause, as we talked, 3 other women in the store turned around and all said "I had cancer too." My bizzare sounding response to them was this "What's your cancer of choice?" The looks on their faces was priceless and the responses even better: "Well I didn't choose my cancer." replied one woman. I looked at her and smiled "Neither did I, but it's all about how you look at it. You are a survivor and doing great! For me, I have to joke around a little about the cancer, for me it works and usually gets people to laugh." I saw their once priceless looks on their faces turn into smiles. They all turned to me and agreed - attitude was everything & being positive helped them through their tough times.

So, when I say "Live your passion!" I mean it, and don't let anyone or anything stop you from accomplishing your goals - not even cancer. As weird as it may sound, cancer has made me... who I am today. It's made me that much stronger, and helped me realize that life isn't all about me. It's about the wonderful people we surround ourselves with, the people whose lives we touch - whether they are fellow survivors or not, the people we inspire & give hope, the people that with one word - their heart melts.... These are the people that I follow my passion of life for!

"Live it up! Live your passion!"

And he asked: Why are you single?

I frequent a local restaurant that my friend owns and tonight I went by to visit her and her grumpy, obnoxious friend who I have come to know. In all reality, he is a real hoot and the things that come out of his mouth sometimes tend to be sarcastic or can be taken as rude. But he is a character, that fella and I laugh when I am around him.

Now back to my story, as I spoke to "Andy" (the obnoxious one), he asked me "Why don't you have a boyfriend? Why are you single?" I laughed, and smiled at him and responded "I am too busy for that." He looked at me and responded, "So what! You can stiill have a sex life." I just stared at him, I think my mouth dropped at that moment. I laughed and responded; "A sex life? What's that? No thanks." He continued to ask me about it and why I didn't want a hook up buddy. I couldn't stop laughing. And then he asked me "How are you so busy?" I then told him about all the projects I was working on - The first book; the sequel; making, selling and promoting my jewelry; working on my cancer non-profit; and my cancer for profit. He looked dumbfounded really, and continued to tell me that I needed a sex life. Lol. As I stood there and told my friend about Andy's craziness, she giggled when he pointed to a drunk mam at the end of the bar and told me that he liked me, he wanted to go out with me. It was funny really, there Andy was teasing me away, getting a kick out of my responses. I just continued to laugh at what he was saying. And i think the last thing I said to him was this - "I don't need a man to be happy. I don't mind being single, and I have more important things to do right now."

The truth is that when I was younger, before cancer I didn't care who I dated, I just dated people. I was always in a rush to be with someone, as if I had to have a man to survive. But after cancer, I feel differently about things. When I am looking eventually, I want a man who is driven, passionate and intelligent. There are more qualities that I look for, definitely. So, now I ask you, why are you single? If you are of course single, you still can be fabulous!

Remembering The Good Ol' Days - Way Before Cancer!

So, today, I started to remember things, some great memories I had and treasured from my time way before cancer. Remembering the wonderful times in our lives, are great in aiding us through the toughest times. I mention often that life is too short and that we need to embrace and enjoy the simple things in life, the things that make us truly happy. I'm going to tell you about some of my favorite, most precious memories that I have of growing up, and I will start at the beginning......

* As a young child, I was very creative and artistic, and could entertain myself for hours. Although I don't recall this, my mom reminisces about it often. When I was little - maybe 2 years old or so, I would wake up in the morning and play with my toys for an hour or more, instead of waking up my mom. During bath time, I would play with my bath toys - and have them talking to one another. Cute! I remember living in New York City (good ol' Manhattan) with my mom & dad and the great memories I had while living in these huge apartments called "Waterside Plaza". Waterside Plaza was amazing, it was a huge brown building, and maybe half way up, there was an outdoor playground, an elevated pool and a little liquor store of sorts on a large balcony area. I remember having a great time in that playground and can remember it as if it were yesterday. I recall the great times I had with a best friend, whose mother used to cook us up a large pot of spaghetti, chicken and mix in some ketchup. As bizarre of a combination that it sounds like, I loved it, and still like a little pasta, chicken and ketchup every so often. Mom tells me about the days that I would make creatures out of clay (like I do now) - like a little bunny rabbit, holding a basket with eggs in it. Wow! Impressive for a little girl huh? She says the detail was amazing!

* I remember living in Elmhurst, New York, which was right near Flushing. I think we lived on 80th Street and Grand Avenue? I went to an elementary school that was within walking distance of my home - PS 102 Queens. I lived on the third floor of an apartment building, with some enormous gas tank behind our home. I had some great friends that I hung out with often, Lilly & Lisa and I were almost inseparable and you could always find us playing at the end of the street by this old cherry tree. We'd play for hours, climbing on the cherry tree, eating cherries and pretending we were exploring. I remember walking with my friends down the street to meet with my other friend Patricia, and all of us girls enjoying a nice big slice of New York pizza at a local place. Sleepovers at Lisa's house were the best. I recall my fun days with Lisa, Lilly and Silvia, when we went to the movies together, rode the bus and enjoyed burgers at White Castle. Silvia, was a friend that I met at school, she was from Argentina, her dad was a dentist, and she was so much fun to be with. I remember the times that my stepdad and I would go more into the city part of our town, which was really only a few blocks away from my house and we would get icees. The BEST ever icee in the world was chocolate chip. I always looked forward to those days out. One of my best memories of Patricia, was when my family, Patricia and I went out of town - I believe to the Poconos to celebrate New Years. My step dad was a comedian at the time and had a comedy gig at the hotel that we were staying at. Patricia and I stayed up so late that night, until my parents came into our room and invited us to the party they were having in the hotel restaurant. Patricia and I danced and ate, till our tummies were beyond full. What a great night!!

* For years, I used to go in the car and my parents would say: "Take a nap." I would reply with "I'm not tired! I'm not tired!" and seconds later, I would pass out fast asleep. But one time was different, I saw the traffic and decided to take a nap, but before I did I said to my family - "It's going to be a long trip for you and a very short trip for me."

* My mom used to love taking me to my Uncle Kenny's in New Jersey by bus, and I guess one day I was so mad at her, only five years old, I packed my bag and announced "I'm leaving for Uncle Kenny's!" at the front door.

* I remember the road trips that my family and I took, while my step dad was doing his comedy gigs. One of my most memorable trips was..... when we went to this amazing hotel, that had an indoor pool and playground that I could see from my room (which I was lucky enough to have my own room at the time). There was a mall attached to the hotel, and as you entered the hotel, there was a huge waterfall in the center of the lobby, that went into a pool. It was one of the most exotic hotels that I ever recall going to. I think it was a Holiday Inn in Visalia. There were plenty of comedy shows that my step dad did across the country, and we drove to all of them. I recall one where a gentleman in the back of the room was laughing so hard, that he fell out of his bar seat. The creative and artistic young girl that I was, I drew a picture for the hotel that showed the man falling out of his chair. I believe the comedy club was called Bananas, and on the picture I wrote - At Bananas, you'll laugh till you drop! Or something to that extent - I was ten at the time.

* I remember my tap dancing lessons, that my grandma used to take me to, and our trips to Carvel ice cream afterwards. I loved the times I visited my grandma in Long Island and explored her house, and played in the backyard - climbing on the trees, running around and hanging with her really nice neighbor Mac and his wife. These were some of the best memories as I was growing up, and was under 10 years old. :)

* I remember when I first moved out to Ventura County, new area, new school, new friends. I was used to moving, because we had moved a lot – from New York to California and back and forth. My new middle school was Los Cerritos and was known as the school with no windows. Kids in the neighborhood referred to it as a prison, because there was only one window on the front of the building in the art room. As I walked into the school office, ready for my mom to register me, I met my very first friend – Shoshana. She was sweet and helpful and offered to show me where my class was. She had just come back to school after a scoliosis surgery. Shoshana and I had some amazing times at that school. I met some more kids – JR, Denise & Scott and we all became friends. One of my favorite memories with my friends was when we planned a haunted house inside the school for the Halloween carnival we were having. We planned and set up an entire haunted tour of the school, which was awesome!

* The apartment that I lived in when I first moved to Ventura County, was The Knolls. I have some wonderful memories of that place. Babysitting, helping with the events the apartment community had for the kids, searching for treasures in trash cans with Danny, selling handmade bouquets of flowers and wreaths, and holding kid Olympic events outside my apartment. I recall the first day that I saw my paperboy. He was soooo cute, and rollerbladed all over the complex. His name was John, and he was my first real big crush. I had some great times with John over the years, and we were friends all through high school and even talk a little now.

* I’ve had a lot of jobs in different fields, but I can honestly say that the one that brought me the most happiness was when I worked my first real office job at a local limousine company. I remember waking up every morning looking forward to seeing my fellow staff, my drivers and those gorgeous long stretches. It really was a highlight working there, and brought me so much joy and education. That wasn’t the only job that I loved. The next job that followed that one, was working at Curves – the women’s gym. I met and inspired many women, and still run into them now – over 5 years later. I ended up managing 3 Curves over the years and loved every minute of it.