In an instant, Loriana Hernández Aldama went from living the life to fighting for her life when she was diagnosed with AML Leukemia.
She had to do the unimaginable; leave her 18-month-old son with her mother and relocate to Johns Hopkins Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center for treatment. There she uncovered the biggest story of her career; you’ve got to show up fit for the fight to win.
In 2016 she launched ArmorUp for Life and coined the phrase “PREhab,” to spread the word about simple lifestyle habits that can reduce deadly risk factors and literally save your life.
Now five years after her second cancer battle Loriana still practices PREhab daily so she can master survival and the challenges that come with it.
In her new podcast “Stage Free,” Loriana talks with survivorship experts to shed light on the complicated road all survivors must travel.
With cancer, survivorship begins the day of diagnosis, and continues through treatment and beyond. It can be a long and challenging journey. That’s why we’re committed to providing you with valuable resources and connections to accompany you through survivorship.
Tap into our expertise and connections to get the support you need.
We educate, empower, and support survivors and caregivers to live their lives to the fullest.
With cancer, the journey through survivorship begins at diagnosis.
The Stage Free Podcast is a guide to mastering that journey, and all the bumps along the way. Loriana shares her insights, and personal experiences, along with her friends who are also notable experts and cancer survivors, to make it easier to navigate the complicated road all survivors must travel.
Practicing PREhab is critical throughout survivorship.
In this video series she shares important health information that everyone should know, including how to practice PREhab so can show up fit for the fight.Each episode of Be Your Own Hero provides informative, accessible information and practical and actionable steps that improve outcomes.
Mastering Survival requires specialized help, and we're providing it.
This retreat features an array of survivorship experts to teach and practice essential survival skills, including therapy, mindfulness, yoga, cardio, healthy eating, and advocacy.
20 survivors will be trained to return to their communities as ambassadors and help other patients to survive and thrive
1 in 3 women and 1 in 2 men will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime.
Will you be one of them? Or someone you love?
of people will be diagnosed with cancer during their lifetime
of cancer survivors have persistent problems and distress
of cancers patients don't get the mental health support they need
of patient outcomes are due to socioeconomic factors
Survivorship... It's complicated
Finding ways to ease the financial (and accompanying emotional) burdens on cancer patients and their families benefit cancer care for patients at every stage. Imagine if patients could worry less about affording their medications, and more about remembering to take them.
When it comes to undergoing radiation for breast cancer the trick is to minimizing skin irritation to the areas of the chest that receive radiation. Too much skin desquamation (peeling) can interrupt or shorten treatment, so it’s important to stay ahead of the game to preserve and protect the
You know your child better than anyone, and it’s up to you to decide when, how, and what to tell your child based on their developmental level. Just keep lines of communication open and listen to your child’s concerns. Let them know it’s okay to talk and ask questions
In this episode, "The Truth About Sex After Cancer" I talk with Dr. Sandra Reed, an Emory Hospital gynecologist specializing in oncology and post-menopausal symptoms. Not only is Dr. Reed is an expert on the complexity of this journey, but she`s also my gynecologist. I`m so honored to have her talk so frankly about sex and intimacy after cancer. She has a host of solutions and insights that will help all survivors better understand and care for their bodies.
Check out Episode Six of the Stage Free Podcast, "The Truth About Sex After Cancer."
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Money, or the lack of it, plays a huge role in patient outcomes and lives. So, run your life like a business, and set yourself up for success:
- Mitigate risks by making sure you have adequate health and life insurance.
- Consult with a financial planner, and plan for retirement, but also rainy days.
- Get your legal affairs in order, including your living will, and healthcare directives, to prepare for worst-case scenarios.
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#stagefree #armorupforlife #prehab #breastcancer #survivorship #masteringsurvival #cancersurvivor #surviveandthrive #cancersupport #knowyourfamilyhistory #patients #ghvd #podcast
So…. you were recently diagnosed with breast cancer (sorry about that) and now you`re ready to hit the internet to find out more. Before you dive in, let Dr. Maryam Lustberg the chief of Breast Medical Oncology at Yale Cancer Center show you how to search and what to watch out for, from outdated research to fraudsters and quacks.
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Check out Episode Five of the Stage Free Podcast, "The Internet Needs to Come With a Warning Label" and learn how to search smarter.
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My recent podcast guest Dr. Daniel Hughes was the first person I ever heard say, "Cortisol is rocket fuel for cancer." (I say it myself now all the time.) The good news is, he also says you can lower your stress and cortisol levels through therapeutic yoga and mindfulness practices.
Check out Episode Four of the Stage Free podcast "Please Don`t Feed the Cancer" to hear about Dr. Hughes` groundbreaking research around holistic therapies that are improving the quality of life for survivors.
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Stress, it turns out, can kill you! Dr. Daniel Hughes` research shows not only how the stress hormone Cortisol fuels cancer, but also how therapeutic yoga can reduce stress levels and cortisol to improve well-being and overall outcomes for cancer survivors.
Join me for Episode 4 of Stage Free as Dr. Hughes and I discuss his ground-breaking research and the important steps you can take to reduce your stress and cancer risk.
Ohm.
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Prayer may not be a cure or a miracle, but it does help.
When we pray, we calm our minds and bodies, we focus our breathing, and we feel gratitude — all important parts of our total well-being. And when others pray for us, we feel the connection and community that supports us.
Do you know someone who needs to know this? Please share this post with them.
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Meditation is the best medicine!
Meditation not only helps manage our mindset, but it also modifies brain function, reduces inflammation, relieves anxiety, improves memory, and lowers stress hormones in the bloodstream.
1. In general, stress weakens your immune system, making you more vulnerable to illness.
2. Chronic stress puts your body at heightened risk for a host of serious health problems.
3. The stress hormone cortisol is like rocket fuel for cancer; it’s so important to keep it under control.
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Fitness is more than exercise, it’s a recipe that combines activity, rest, and recovery. So...
1. Move your body daily; a body in motion stays in motion
2. Limit sitting; sitting is the new smoking — it’s really harmful over time
3. Create good sleep habits like a consistent bedtime, a quiet dark room, and limited distractions
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Empower yourself to eat healthier:
Read the labels, and eat food with few ingredients. If you can’t pronounce each ingredient it’s likely your body can’t recognize them or process them either.
Cut the crap including white flour, sugary sodas, food dyes, additives, preservatives, synthetics, and chemical products.
Go old school, back to the days when manufacturers didn’t add preservatives to our food to make it last longer.
Be natural, look for foods that haven’t been sprayed with pesticides (organic), and choose locally grown food when possible.
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Wondering exactly what PREhab is? It`s a healthy, forward-looking lifestyle that includes clean eating, regular exercise, mindfulness, spirituality, financial planning, and essential patient education, like knowing your family history and having important wellness screenings.
We’ve broken it down to the PREhab Fab Five; key habits that can literally save your life.
1. Food
2. Fitness
3. Focus
4. Faith
5. Function
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