All done... for now

Pancreatic Cancer Awareness month has drawn to a close and I have raised $400 to help Bedside to Bench create a Nurse Network Program for pancreatic cancer patients and their families.

Thank you to all those who have donated to this worthy cause!

It has been a pleasure to learn about Bedside to Bench - a organisation focused on changing the way people think about, conduct and translate research. 

Participating in their 30 day TLC Challenge helped me to share my story, change a few bad habits and focus on my well-being. I have had many conversations about pancreatic cancer, it's signs and symptoms and continuing low survival rates. And I have learnt about some of the challenges faced by health and medical researchers and what is being done here in Australia and overseas to find a cure and raise awareness about pancreas disease.

One thing I know is that there could be a lot more done... but until this time next year, it's goodbye from me for now.

If you'd like to help Bedside to Bench continue their great work, you can donate directly to them at any time.

Week 3 Check-ups

The focus for week 3 is all about check-ups and screenings that we need to have to prevent illness and disease.

Eating a healthy diet and getting regular exercise is just one way to reduce risk, but wait, there's more! Check-ups are important too.... when was the last time you had a check-up?

This week, I have been asked to think about about my family medical history and identify what risk factors I have in my life.

Some questions I was sent to consider include:

• Where there any people in my family that are diagnosed with a specific disease earlier than normal?
• Does more than one relative have the same disease or disorder?
• Does a certain type of disease affect certain genders in my family?
• Are there any trends where there are groups of diseases that are common in my family?

So I'm off to the doc to make sure I'm up-to-date with my check-ups.

It's also a timely reminder that I need to be more mindful when it comes to aches and pains and not to dismiss these if they continue.

Have a think about your risk factors.... 

Why pancreatic cancer?

As the world continues to recognise our first World Pancreatic Cancer Day #WPCD2014, I am reminded why this cause is so very important.

I'm not a survivor, but rather an avoider. The neoplastic cyst that was in my pancreas didn't metastasise before I found it. I got it out in time and avoided pancreatic cancer... for now.

WAGE HOPE #WageHope tells the story well. It highlights that our past is still our present. Survival rates haven't changed in years - only 6 out of every 100 survive in the US.

Giant purple strides are needed!

That's why I'm fundraising for the Bedside to Bench Pancreatic Cancer Nurse Network. This program is a giant purple stride so please donate if you can.

Let's take this stride now... and then work out how we can take the next one, together.

All over the world

Thursday, November 13 is the first World Pancreatic Cancer Day and I am pleased to be flying a purple flag here in Australia.

This month I have been participating in a 30 Day TLC Challenge which has been organised by Bedside to Bench. Bedside to Bench are working to create a Pancreatic Cancer Nurse Network - please donate if you can.

Raising awareness about pancreatic cancer is important. Survival rates have not moved in 40 years and it's time we change that. It's time we make a difference to the lives of those living with this disease.

Research is happening around the world and here in Australia, a dedicated group of scientists and healthcare professionals at the Australian Pancreatic Genome Institute are working hard. Presentations are available online from the annual APGI Clinical & Scientific Symposium which was held in Sydney earlier this year.

Let's make a difference today. Let's do what we can to support pancreatic cancer patients and the scientists and healthcare workers who are working hard to find answers.

Recommitting to my week 2 challenge

My 30 Day TLC Challenge for week 2 has been to slow down and be present while I eat.

Not off to a good start. I skipped lunch on Monday and then rushed from work to the train to make school pick-up in time while shovelling down a couple of pieces of sushi... with mayonnaise.

Ok, I can do this... why is this important?

Bedside to Bench tell me that the process of digestion is so much more than just what goes on inside your stomach and your intestines. In their support material for this week they said

'There is great benefit in paying attention to the process of eating as you are more likely to make healthier choices and if you do indulge, you are less likely to consume large portions'.

As the week progresses, I find myself having to recommit to this challenge... slow down while I eat. Ok, got it. Going to try again.

So... for the rest of my challenge I'm going to:

• commit to eating foods that give me energy and make me feel good
• eat foods that taste good
• eat foods that are nourishing and that I enjoy
• reduce packaged and processed foods and drink more water!

Why Bedside to Bench?

Bedside to Bench's approach to health and medical research is strategic, thoughtful and focused on facilitating meaningful connections. Working with patients helps researchers ask the right questions. 

This got me thinking... what else would help researchers?

I went along to an ANDS workshop called Uncovering the Impact Story of Open Research and Data to learn more about the challenges faced by researchers. There are many. Not only might researchers be asking the wrong questions, but it's very hard to publish your research and data too! 

Dr Heather Piwowar, cofounder of Impact Story was inspirational. She talked about how there are many ways to share the full impact of research and data. Impact Story helps researchers do just that - publish their research and data openly. 

I'm not a researcher but I think they are on the right track. I hope more and more scientists embrace open research and data. Surely this can make a difference. 

Just between me and you, I think this thing about just doing something is the way to go and I think I'll look into this research and data thing a little bit more...

My 30 day TLC Challenge is going well! I'm eating more fruit, relaxing more, walking a little bit more and doing a few other things too.

If you'd like to donate, please do so. Then you too will be doing something to help pancreatic cancer patients and their families.

At home and work

As the first few days of my challenge ticked over I found myself thinking more about what it really means to look after myself... at home and at work.

I'm a human resources practitioner so helping people to look after themselves at work is important. 

Last week I went to a session about managing the risks of psychosocial safety. What’s psychosocial safety? It was defined at the session as ‘health and safety risks that arise from an individual’s interaction with their social environment’.

I learnt a bit about hazards which included bullying, violence and aggression, fatigue, remote and isolated work, and work-related mental stress. Then we were shown some of the impacts... not good. They included a range of psychological and physical illnesses, and listed some social problems such as relationship breakdown.

Now, back to home…

Yes, I have added to the list of things I'm concentrating on this month as part of my 30 day TLC Challenge. They are just some little things that I’d like to change in my habits, or do more or less of. Things that will make a difference to me – no one else, just me.

This challenge is about doing something. It doesn't need to be a big something. Chances are that if you just do something, you'll think about it more and perhaps do something else too.

Have you been thinking about what you can do to look after yourself a little better?

Choose something and start now.

If you want to know more about psychosocial safety at work… take a look at WorkSafe.

If you're still thinking about what you can do, please support me as I start to make a difference.