Deadmen Talking

As a former college football player, Bill was always strong and able-bodied. To say that cancer affected his physical strength is an understatement. How can anyone be expected to keep up their strength to exercise when chemo is killing not only the cancer cells, but muscle cells as well? Bill discusses his challenges with exercise and how he built a plan that worked. 

With snake oil salesmen at every turn, you can spend thousands of dollars on supplements that do absolutely nothing for you. Bill discusses how he cut through this nonsense and discovered supplements that actually helped his healing through chemo.

With so many fad diets and quick-fix cleanses out there, it’s tough to know what’s right for you. Especially when you’re battling cancer. Bill discusses his dietary routines, the challenges of making changes, and how all of this affected him mentally during his chemotherapy treatments. 

When Bill left the hospital he was told to eat anything he wanted. “Weight gain is what you need to stay healthy,” he was told. Had Bill followed that suggestion, he would be dead today. Bill discusses how he strengthened his body for the cancer fight he embarked on in 2017. 

Dana was Bill’s advocate--his best friend and wife during his fight with cancer. Bill discusses the importance of a partner during the cancer treatment process particularly as information is flying at you and you need someone to help manage it and process it to make the best decisions. He also shares resources available so that you do not have to face this battle alone.

Resources for Patients:

https://www.lls.org/patient-support?ds_rl=1278572&ds_rl=1278572&gclid=Cj0KCQjw1ouKBhC5ARIsAHXNMI_8247-3Y2MRLQBTh4gkP98lljLmien7Peq37bj2Kxn4GVjTH5mZp8aAi-YEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

Support groups:
 https://www.yourcancerstory.com/?gclid=Cj0KCQjw1ouKBhC5ARIsAHXNMI-QrlURl6QM1iPW7C7VP-D4OrpgV4gro4zEUs-abUd-KHedF1adhqkaAl9ZEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

Questions to Ask:
https://www.cancer.org/treatment/finding-and-paying-for-treatment/choosing-your-treatment-team/questions-to-ask-your-doctor.html

Some responsibilities of the caregiver and questions to ask: 

·       #1 piece of advice. Journal. Journal. Journal. From DAY ONE! I didn’t start detailed with a notebook until transplant and I wish I would have started from the beginning. Yes, there is “My Chart” and other things doctors use, but that’s full of test results and medication names. It doesn’t include information from your perspective – how the patient is doing…how they felt on certain meds….how high was their fever on certain days, etc. Every time we went to an appointment, the journal went with me. Everything was dated and every conversation with every nurse and doctor documented. Believe it or not, all the dates, names, diagnosis, etc all start to run together. It’s overwhelming!!! WRITE IT DOWN!

·       Helping with oral medications – a pill case with the days of the week and planning ahead is how I kept up with this. 

·       Recording/documenting the medications that are being taken (and how are they feeling on the medications). 

·       Monitoring/documenting intravenous fluids 

·       Keeping a journal of patients changes in condition daily

·       Reporting symptoms to the health care team

·       Food preparation (this could change by the hour if you’re dealing with a patient on chemo!)

·       Maintain a clean home environment

·       Providing transportation to and from the hospital and doctors appointments

Hospital stay recommendations:

·       Journal - Taking Notes – start as soon as possible – DAY 1. Everything starts to run together. 

·       Noise cancellation headphones  - if you’re going in the hospital, so hard to sleep with all the noise at night in the hospital and sleep is KEY to recovering!

·       Weighted blanket – hospitals can be cold, with few to limited blankets. Weighted blankets can help with anxiety, ease stress, calms the nervous system.

·       Thick, warm socks! – hospitals can be cold, with blood flow being limited and feet getting cold

·       Comforts from home – favorite cup/coffee mug, special blanket, healthy snacks with easy access. If there’s no fridge, small cooler with drink options that are some fav’s from home. Depends on the hospital..some have good/great food and drink options, and others don’t. 

·       Diffuser – essential oils with diffusers are key to optimal relaxation and sleep when in the hospital. (oils we like to diffuse…frankincense , lavender, we use the Young Living Brand of essential oils)

·       Lotion – skin gets dry in the hospital the air – some hospital provide

The first step in fighting a disease that is slowly killing your body is to get your mind right. In this episode Bill discusses the steps he took to strengthen his mind so that his body was prepared to fight the toughest battle of his life. And so while the chemo was busy destroying his cells, Bill’s mind provided the strength necessary to endure the poison, the cancer, and the kidney failure he was experiencing.

Scott Schmaren - From the Howard Stern Show - 
https://ultimatevisionarymind.com/

Charlotte Meditation :  Guru Ranjit
https://www.charlottemeditation.com/programs/meditation-teacher-training?gclid=CjwKCAjwhOyJBhA4EiwAEcJdcZjy9T30lHvaNUFtUw_Mmomgz21W3LbxPDbCXCbCgPbXj39OUTb6eRoCWSwQAvD_BwE

Train your mind , Change your brain  By :  Sharon Begley
https://www.amazon.com/Train-Your-Mind-Change-Brain/dp/0345479890

The day you're told that you are dying may be the most shocking experience of your entire life. Your mind becomes chaos, your heart shatters, and your spirit is crushed. You think about your family and want to be there for them, but the doctor says you will be dead soon. How do you do to find hope and stay alive?

References from the episode:

Wim Hof Method
https://www.amazon.com/Wim-Hof-Method-Activate-Potential/dp/B08KS7MS3F/ref=sr_1_3?crid=1KFAFNE9WUF5Q&dchild=1&keywords=wim+hof+method+book&qid=1631129119&s=books&sprefix=wim+hof%2Cstripbooks%2C926&sr=1-3

Breath by James Nestor
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=breath+james+nestor&i=audible&crid=32DEUWB7METYU&sprefix=breath%2Caudible%2C195&ref=nb_sb_ss_ts-doa-p_3_6

Bill Guandolo had everything in life.  A successful career, a beautiful wife, a young son, and not a care in the world. That is until cancer entered his life and handed him a 7-month death sentence. Join us for the inaugural episode of Deadmen Talking to hear Bill explain the reason he is still with his family and recording this podcast four years later.

References from the episode:
Mind to Matter by Dawson Church
https://www.amazon.com/Mind-Matter-Astonishing-Science-Material/dp/1401955231/ref=asc_df_1401955231/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=312132072158&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=1939841361134343779&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9060249&hvtargid=pla-465874673511&psc=1

Breaking the habit of being yourself by Joe Dispenza
https://www.amazon.com/Breaking-Habit-Being-Yourself-Create/dp/1848508565/ref=asc_df_1848508565/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=519487730108&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=5045214542900138843&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9060249&hvtargid=pla-529908491997&psc=1