Our Mission

Marcia is very upbeat and high energy and believes in the connection and the power of positive thinking.

According to Marcia, positive thinking has been extremely important, as she is not one to ever say I can’t do this. Some days are more challenging than others. However, knowing that others care, and that people are there to help during this tumultuous and often scary time can make such a difference. Family and friends sending cards, gift baskets, and notes of positive thoughts were so treasured. Marcia treasured all the support and wanted to preserve the positive momentum, and that’s when Marcia’s Mantra Wall came to life. She created a one wall collage with all the cards and well-wishes and another of positive sayings, notes, and pictures that motivated her. Marcia’s mantra wall lived in her bedroom directly across from her bed, serving to motivate her and remind her of how loved she was. Whatever your journey, we hope you can focus on the good and positive thoughts and realize that there will be bumps along the way, but try to stay focused and positive.

The mind and body connection can help even if it is just to practice deep breathing or relaxation techniques. Yoga and positive thoughts can help with the mind and body connection. Find your mantra, find what works to keep you calm and grounded. Deep breathing and positivity can also help to lower blood pressure. A positive attitude can help family members feel better and contribute to a more nurturing family environment, and focusing on positivity and everyday joy can help you find more meaning in life.

We hope some of these tips can help and encourage you, and that you can incorporate whatever feels right for your journey. The bottom line is there is no exact road map. You have to do what feels right for you and your loved ones. These are just tips in an effort to help give you some guidance and support.

One item that bothered Marcia most during her cancer experience was fatigue. Chemotherapy treatments reduce energy while combating cancer cells, since it also takes a toll on healthy cells and red blood cells. In an effort to combat this fatigue, Marcia began exercise routines including yoga and walking. Not only did this improve her fitness, it improved her mental well-being. We want to encourage a healthy mind and body connection in the battle against cancer.

According to the American Cancer Society, exercise is not only safe and possible during cancer treatment, it can improve how well you function physically and your quality of life. Too much rest can lead to loss of body function, muscle weakness, and reduced range of motion, so many cancer care teams now urge their patients to be as physically active as possible during and after treatment. There is strong evidence that an exercise program can improve anxiety, depression, fatigue, quality of life, and physical function. It can also improve balance, lower the risk of falls, heart disease, and osteoporosis, and improve blood flow, self-esteem, and your ability to stay socially connected.

Marcia registered for several events and causes near and dear to her heart, including Race Across Maryland, the DC Wonder Woman Virtual Event, FacemaskRun, and Relay For Life, a win-win of supporting great causes while staying fit. We encourage you to seek out the many online classes and home-based workouts, like yoga and Pilates, that can help keep you strong both physically and mentally.

Diet is a key factor, and something you can do to help your health is fill your plate with colorful foods: vegetables and fruits high in vitamins and minerals, fiber-rich foods like beans, peas, and whole grains, while limiting red and processed meats, sugars, and alcohol. Choosing fish, beans, and poultry over red meat, baking and broiling rather than frying, and portion control all help. Alcohol has been tied to an increased risk for several cancers, most notably breast cancer. The American Cancer Society recommends limiting intake to no more than 2 drinks a day for men and 1 for women.

Marcia also wants to stress “clean eating.” About a month into her treatment plan, she was referred by a family member to an integrative oncology center in Chicago that focused on lifestyle diet change. In addition to the concern for proteins, the integrative doctors focused on changing her diet for a healthy lifestyle. Marcia cut out animal fats and discovered many new foods along the way, including the EWG’s “Dirty Dozen” and “Clean 15.”

The EWG “Dirty Dozen” (higher pesticide residue, consider organic): strawberries, spinach, kale, nectarines, apples, grapes, peaches, cherries, pears, tomatoes, celery, and potatoes.

The EWG “Clean 15” (lower pesticide residue): avocados, sweet corn, pineapple, onions, papaya, frozen sweet peas, eggplants, asparagus, cauliflower, cantaloupes, broccoli, mushrooms, cabbage, honeydew melon, and kiwi.

“Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.” (Lao Tzu)

My family, friends, neighbors, and community have been my core strength. My husband Erik has been extremely supportive, holding my hands during meetings with doctors, allowing me to cry or scream when necessary, doing the grocery shopping, cooking, cleaning, and coming to every treatment until COVID regulations made that impossible. Our three daughters have been troopers, helping us keep things as normal as possible: school, sports, and everyday life, while we navigated conversations about cancer as a family.

My extended family held me while I cried, sat with me during chemo treatments, and brought goodies to my nurses. They sent cards, emails, and texts, and some came to help me organize closets and paperwork. Words can’t express how much that support has meant.

My friends, neighbors, and community gave me so much strength: cards, motivational sayings, meals, flowers, baskets of “spa” goodies, grocery runs. One neighbor set up a meal train for the first four months of my treatment, which was a tremendous relief and a way for people who wanted to help to feel like they were doing something substantial. Others introduced me to yoga, essential oils, and long walks that helped both mentally and physically.

Having courage during such a difficult time requires not only your own strength, but the strength and support of those who care about you. A solid support system is critical to remind you, when you are feeling beaten, of the warrior that you are.