May 2010

One in three women will be diagnosed with cancer in her lifetime. In response to this startling statistic the American Cancer Society (ACS) announced a new national awareness campaign they are calling Choose You. Results of a recent ACS online survey of approximately 2000 women 25-64 determined that: 90 percent of respondents said they were not eating a healthy diet, about 85 percent said they don’t get the minimum amount of daily exercise and 76 percent don’t always protect their skin from the sun. According to Elizabeth Fontham, immediate past president of the ACS, “Choose You will help motivate women to prioritize their health and engage in lifestyle behaviors that can help reduce their risk of cancer. By committing to their health, women will be better able to care for their families and serve as role models for their children, families and friends.” That is 100 percent the reason I write a monthly Good Health message!

Last week Choose You Ambassador and Grey’s Anatomy star, Ellen Pompeo, helped launch the Choose You campaign in New York City. She appeared at a big rally in Times Square and was a guest on numerous talk shows to get the message out to everyone that death by cancer can be reduced as much as 50 percent if you make the commitment to: Eat Right, Stay Active, Quit Smoking, Get Regular Health Checks and Protect Your Skin. It is not easy but it is doable and there is help out there. On the Choose You website viewers receive online support and tools -- calorie calculator, virtual dietitian, nutrition and activity quiz, smoking cost calculator, prevention and early detection videos, and a desktop helper with daily health tips. If you need help making your life a priority I would encourage you to take part in Choose You Day on May 12, 2010 and/or take The Choose You Pledge at http://www.chooseyou.com.

As always, I close with my monthly plea for you to make the time to be good to you. I hear you – why should I listen to Terry Bolin? Didn’t she just have her own breast cancer scare? That’s right but, I am totally the poster girl for early detection. I am definitely not a savvy Hollywood celebrity who gets paid lots of money to kiss Patrick Dempsey. Does that make me sound bitter? I hope not . . . I think it’s great that I have a high profile helper out there spreading the Good Health message. I am excited that Ellen is getting a lot of media attention for something I have been telling you to do for years . . . OMG she is such a copy cat!

Good Health!

Terry

"If you can’t be a good example – then you’ll just have to be a horrible warning.”
~ Catherine Aird