Breast Cancer Education Class at Sharp in San Diego

Breast Cancer Education Class at Sharp in San Diego

by Kathleen Lisson

Dr. Casteel explains the process of treating breast cancer at Sharp in San Diego

I attended a free breast cancer education class at Sharp Outpatient Pavilion in San Diego this week. Surgeon Dr. Christina Casteel, medical oncologist Dr. Jennifer Fisher, radiation oncologist Dr. Geoffrey Weinstein and pathologist Dr. Christopher Wixom explained the treatment process for breast cancer, including diagnosis, chemotherapy, surgery, radiation and hormone therapy. I left the event with a better understanding of the terminology used in a medical record and the reasons for the order of treatments for breast cancer. I would recommend this class for anyone wanting to learn more about a diagnosis of breast cancer and the current treatment options. 

To view a list of Cancer classes and cancer support groups at Sharp in San Diego, visit here: http://www.sharp.com/health-classes/category/cancer-7

Tips on managing distress and fatigue from the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society

How to cope with distress and fatigue - 

for oncology patients with a cancer diagnosis

by Kathleen Lisson

After my morning run with Team in Training San Diego, I attended the recent Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Blood Cancer Conference in Anaheim. According to the LLS website, the Blood Cancer Conference was "a free educational event for blood cancer patients, survivors, caregivers, family members and healthcare professionals to learn more about treatment options, emerging therapies, management of survivorship issues and LLS resources."

I enjoyed listening to the wisdom of Oncology Nurse Gail Goodell Munzing, Oncology Social Worker Rose Marie Danieri and Center for Cancer Counseling co-founder Frances Wollman Baumgarten. Many of the experiences and perspectives they shared reminded me of what I saw growing up as a child whose mother was fighting metastatic breast cancer. Crying, fear and anxiety ARE normal. Feeling vulnerable, scared, unable to hide your cancer and experiencing a loss of control are also normal. I was happy to see that one of the patients quoted in the presentation listed oncology massage as one of the ways she reduced her cancer related distress. 

If you couldn't attend the Blood Cancer Conference, the next one will be held in Los Angeles in March 2017. I have listed two resources below, a copy of the slides used in the Managing Cancer Related Distress breakout session and a webcast from the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society on fatigue and other cancer treatment side effects.  

View the Managing Cancer Related Distress powerpoint presentation here: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/17SkR-WySB3OcmwbKdcL8dxLTykFdxa0XhuC1NllmwW8/edit#slide=id.p34

Listen to a pre-recorded LLS webcast 'Getting the answers you need: fatigue and other cancer treatment side effects' here:
https://www.lls.org/patient-education-webcasts/getting-answers-you-need-fatigue-and-other-cancer-treatment-side

Passing on the Love of Running to the Next Generation

Why I am a Girls on the Run Coach in San Diego

Kathleen Lisson

I have been a running coach for Girls on the Run for two years and is has been a privilege to use my skills as a RRCA certified running coach to help develop my San Diego team's lifelong love of running. I shared three reasons why I love coaching with the Rancho Bernardo Toastmasters recently. Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/MQ83mV3PVFk

How to Combat Negative Stress - advice from a running coach

How Runners Reduce Stress

by Kathleen Lisson

Meditation can relieve stress in endurance athletes

Running coach Jason Fitzgerald wrote an excellent article detailing the two kinds of stress that endurance athletes face - the "eustress" positive stress of a rigorous training schedule and the "distress" negative stress of tension, anger, conflict, illness, grief and anxiety we can experience in our daily lives.  I liked that Coach Fitzgerald mentioned that runners will often just look to reduce stress from running with sport-specific items like foam rollers and compression socks instead of taking a big picture look at reducing the overall stress level of their lives. Two activities he recommended for long distance runners looking to reduce their negative stress included meditation and volunteering.

I agree! Both meditation and volunteering for Girls on the Run San Diego have reduced the stress I feel in my body and helped me to keep to an endurance runner's training schedule.

How do you reduce the distress in your life?

Read Coach Fitzgerald's article here: http://strengthrunning.com/2016/03/how-to-reduce-stress/

Learn how to treat chronic Hip, Shoulder and Back pain

Informational classes on treating 

chronic hip, shoulder and back pain at Sharp 

by Kathleen Lisson

I attended the 'Treating Chronic Hip Pain Seminar' at Sharp Rehabilitation Center today. Dr. Michael Muldoon spoke about the causes of hip pain - osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, post-trauma arthritis and avascular necrosis. I learned a lot about the hip replacement procedure as well as the physical therapy and strengthening exercises before and after surgery. I was surprised to learn that patients can leave the hospital two days after the surgery and walk 100 feet and climb at least one step before they are discharged. Dr. Muldoon stated that a lot of patients with hip problems have back pain as well, and back pain can be reduced after a hip replacement. After a hip replacement, patients can return to activities like swimming, walking, elliptical and cycling.

View upcoming informational seminars and classes here: http://www.sharp.com/health-classes/category/orthopedics-27

A runner's perspective - Lessons Learned from Climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro

Three Lessons Learned from Climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro

by Kathleen Lisson


A month before I moved to San Diego with my husband, we traveled to Africa to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro. In this video, I share three lessons I learned about myself as a result of training for an summitting the world's tallest freestanding mountain. My three lessons - the most valuable tool for mountain climbing, the importance of relying upon others to achieve goals and the wisdom in traveling at the speed of one's own body.

What does your running practice teach you about yourself?

Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/bpz6aRx80FE

How to combat Runner's Burnout and silence the inner critical coach: VIDEO

How to Combat Runner's Burnout

by Kathleen Lisson

As a RRCA-certified running coach, I have spoken about runner's burnout with fellow runners and felt the effects of runner's burnout in my own running practice. In this video, I share one technique for combating runners burnout and explain the role of our inner critical coaches and compassionate coaches. 

Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/xlU3C1uLz8w