Seasoned

seasoned

O c to b e r 2016

Over 50 & living the good life!

Mental wellness

Helping when a loved one has cancer

Physical therapy

Exercise important with fibromyalgia

Memory issues

Freedom comes with aging

Game time

Bryan-College Station game meetups provide social outlet, brain exercise

seasoned A monthly publication of The Eagle, 1729 Briarcrest Drive, Bryan, TX 77802 PUBLISHER Crystal DuPre DIRECTOR OF SALES AND MARKETING Sean Lewis

DISPLAY ADVERTISING MANAGER Linda Brinkman

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month Related stories:What to do when someone you know has cancer (page 3); The risk factors for breast cancer (page 8); and Genetic testing may detect cancer risk (page 9).

SPECIAL PROJECTS EDITOR/ PUBLICATION DESIGNER Shauna Lewis

shauna.lewis@theeagle.com

Contents

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Direct Primary Care, health care sharing Exercise important in dealing with fibromyalgia Local game meetups Host friends for a fun game night The freedom that comes with aging Calendar

Services Include Nursing:

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Kimberly John, LVN Trini Perez, Owner Cody John, Marketing

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MSW helps with social and emotional concerns related to the patient’s illness. That includes, but is not limited to, the education of community resources.

T H E B R YA N - C O L L E G E S TAT I O N E A G L E

What to do when someone you know has cancer

Cancer. The “Big C.” The “C-Word.”

We hear a lot about it. We should.

In 1900, cancer was responsible for three out of every 100 deaths in the United States. By 2000, this number had climbed to 20 out of every 100.

According to current research, those born after 1960 have roughly a 50 percent chance of having cancer at some point in their lifetime.

Granted, we’re living longer, thus Gary Roe Hospice giving cancer more time to catch up with us. But we also live in an increasingly toxic and stressful world. We bump into potential carcinogens with every step.

In hospice, I hear the word “cancer” multiple times every day. When I facilitate support groups, the “Big C” comes up frequently. On Facebook, the “C-Word” is a common theme in the posts and conversations of my friends.

My lovely wife Jen’s late husband died of pancreatic cancer. Four of my kids lost their father to this dreaded disease. When my 17-year-old daughter has recurring stomach pain, she wonders if it could possibly be cancer.

When my 20-year-old son has a mole removed, he waits anxiously for the results.

Cancer is everywhere. Chances are we know someone who has died from it. Perhaps we know someone battling it now. Maybe we ourselves are struggling with it.

When someone we know - friend, relative, co-worker - is labeled with the “Big C,” how can we help?

Five keys to supporting someone with cancer 1. Be aware of your own personal history with this disease.

If we have some personal history with cancer (we’ve lost someone to the disease or been ravaged by it ourselves), supporting someone with the disease can be challenging. The present situation can trigger our past pain and losses. If we’re not careful, our attempts at support can actually become more about us and our grief than about the person we’re wanting to care for.

On the other hand, personal encounters with cancer can also be a benefit. We have first-hand experience T H E B R YA N - C O L L E G E S TAT I O N E A G L E

fearful or in emotional pain.

Most people with cancer need to talk. They need to process what’s going on inside them with someone they trust. Chances are their burden would be lighter if they could share their fears and concerns. Putting on a positive front every day takes an enormous amount of work and emotional energy. Most likely they’re tired, even exhausted.

They don’t need someone to try to fix them or the situation. They don’t need advice they haven’t asked for. They don’t want pat answers or standard clichés. They need to have their hearts taken seriously. They need to be heard.

Be quiet, and listen. Then listen some more.

Listen without judgment. Give them the privilege of airing what they really think and feel about all this. Be a safe person for them. Meet them where they are, and accept them there.

with the disease. On some level, we’ve been there and know a little of what our friend or relative is going through.

This can be positive and beneficial, as long as we focus on the person in front of us and their particular struggle.

In the process, we need to watch our own hearts and minds. Some of us may need to do more business with our past before we can be truly supportive to someone else.

2. Be aware of and manage your own fear level.

When we’re in the presence of a lifethreatening disease, most of us come face-to-face with our own mortality.

A visit to a friend with cancer can be like looking in a mirror. Anything can happen to anyone at any time. It could happen to us, our spouse or even our children.

If our friend or relative is going through treatment, they may be having a number of side effects.

Radiation, chemotherapy and surgery are all exhausting. They are being hit physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually, not only by the cancer, but by the treatment to control or eradicate it. This can be tough to watch.

If we find ourselves growing uncomfortable, it may be that our own fears have been aroused. We must take our own hearts seriously if we want to be supportive. We need to be aware of and manage our own fears about this disease.

5. Serve and support.

As you show up and listen, most

likely they will share things you can do to support them during this time. If they don’t, ask them what you can do for them.

Sometimes they may request something you can’t give or do. That’s OK. Present an alternative. “I can’t do that right now, but I can do this.

Would that be helpful?” The fact that you show up and are in this with them speaks volumes already.

We worry about what to say or do.

Our fear of doing the wrong thing can keep us from doing anything. We talk about doing the “right thing,” but sometimes it’s impossible to know what that is. What if we instead simply focused on being loving and supportive, to the best of our knowledge and ability?

If we let love govern our actions, how can we lose?

We can make a difference Cancer is out there. It’s up close and

See Making a difference page 5

3. Show up.

Decades ago, a mentor of mine said, “90 percent of life is just showing up.”

Sometimes, I think it may be closer to 95 percent.

Looking back at the tough times in my life, I remember the people who showed up. They made a huge, positive impact. It wasn’t so much what they said or did, but that they were there that counted.

Show up. Make the call. Send the text or email. Knock on their door. Let them know you’re available and want to support them. What, how much and when is always up to you.

4. Be quiet and listen.

When I’m uncomfortable, I tend to fill the air with words. I’ve had to learn over the years to keep my mouth shut, especially when people are struggling,

October 4, 2016 | 3

Direct Primary Care, health care sharing viable alternatives to traditional providers, insurance

In late 2015, I gave myself a $10,000 raise by changing my health care provider and insurance. After extensive research, I became a part of Dr. John Davidhizar’s practice at MyMDbcs via Direct Primary Care and Liberty HealthShare. When we first met, Dr. John made three promises to me. I would always TracY Stewart Financial Literacy be able to see him on the same day or the next business day, I would never have to sit around in the waiting room, and he would dedicate at least 30 minutes to each visit with me.

When I wrote the January article for The Eagle, I reported that Dr. John had kept each of those three promises.

Since then Dr. John has moved to The Physicians Centre Hospital. Not only has the quality of his service continued to be high, but I now get the added benefit of having access to radiology services, stat lab results and other ancillary services in the same building.

However, back in January I had not had the chance to test-drive one important part of Direct Primary Care service – what would happen if I had to be hospitalized. I am here to report that I have now had that experience. Having

a hospital stay is never fun, but the upside is that I can update you on what happened.

I got very sick in the spring of 2016.

When I called Dr. John at 3 a.m., I was fully expecting to leave a message with his answering service. What I did not anticipate is that he would personally answer the phone, sounding like he was on his second cup of coffee. On his advice, I headed to the ER. Two days later, I was in very bad shape with new symptoms. He directed me to come to a local ER, where he was working at the time. As soon as I arrived, he took over my care and ordered new labs. Feeling better, I headed home and within two hours, he instructed me to immediately head to a local hospital where he had already registered me. As I walked in the door, the aides were waiting for me with a wheelchair. I thought that only happened to famous people.

During my entire hospital stay, Dr. John kept true to his promise of including me in his daily rounds. He was in touch with all my doctors, took the time to personally explain all lab results and post-surgery reports, and made sure I was well-informed and taken care of every step of the way. In fact, one of the nurses was so impressed by his daily visits that she asked me for his name – she had

that this was the right choice for me. never seen this level of personal Dr. John has kept every one of his attention from a doctor before. After promises to me as a patient. He made I was released from the hospital, a difficult time easier, and went above Dr. John went over every one of my and beyond what I had expected. prescriptions, explaining when and how to take them and double-checking In the January article, I mentioned for possible drug interactions. that I expected to save $10,000 per year with my switch from traditional Dr. John went above and beyond health insurance to a health sharing what I expected from a personal care arrangement and a direct primary physician. A few days later, he spent nearly an hour painstakingly removing care physician. Since then I have had two ER visits, two surgeries, two the bandage that was glued to my skin hospital stays, about a dozen visits to protect the surgery site – moving with Dr. John and a couple additional carefully and slowly so as not to injure prescriptions. I have run the numbers. my skin or cause me any discomfort.

My prediction was correct. I have saved He could have easily delegated this less $10,000. Plus, I understand my health is than glorious task to someone else, and better and I feel great. yet he chose to do it personally.

In closing, my verdict so far is In the interest of full disclosure, I that Direct Primary Care and Liberty do have to share that among my visits Health Share are strong and viable to two different emergency rooms, alternatives to traditional health care two hospital stays and two surgeries, and insurance. It has saved me a lot of my medical billing was a bit messy. money and given me more personalized However, Liberty Health Share did not health care. You might consider cause any of the messiness. In fact, looking into it to see if it would be a the support staff at Liberty Health good fit for you, too.

Share was tremendously helpful in unraveling the errors and sorting out the billing. They held my hand in Contact Tracy B. Stewart, CPA, everything from completing paperwork PFS, CFF, CDFA, CFP® at www. to anticipating additional questions TexasDivorceCPA.com. from the hospital.

Overall, 10 months into IN-HOME SENIOR CARE SERVICES my Direct Primary Care experience, I can confirm ®

How to handle a cancer diagnosis Metro Creative Connection Millions of people are diagnosed with cancer every year.

One of the leading killers of men, women and children across the globe, cancer affects those diagnosed as well as their families and friends.

Cancer treatments continue to evolve, which should come as welcome news to men and women diagnosed with this often treatable disease. That group figures to expand in the coming years, as the World Health Organization estimates the number of new

cancer cases will rise by about 70 percent over the next two decades.

Regardless of how far cancer research has come, a cancer diagnosis remains a cause for concern. Handling such a diagnosis well can help patients in their fights against the disease and improve their chances of making a full recovery.

Learn about your disease.

Physicians will make suggestions and recommendations to their patients, but it’s ultimately up to patients to make decisions regarding their treatments.

Learning about your disease may

help you feel more comfortable about the decisions you will be asked to make during your fight.

The Mayo Clinic also advises men and women to determine their comfort levels with regard to their disease. Some may prefer to learn only the basics of their disease, trusting major treatment decisions to their physicians, while others want to know as much as possible so they can be the primary decision-maker regarding their treatments. Don’t be afraid

4 | October 4, 2016

See Support page 11

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Exercise important in dealing with fibromyalgia

I have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia. What can I do to help with my muscle pain and other symptoms?

I want to exercise or do something, but I’m afraid my pain will get worse. -- JA When fibromyalgia was first used as a diagnosis, it was often a catch-all for joint pain that was difficult to explain.

Patients with unexplainable muscle or joint pain were diagnosed with fibromyalgia.

In the past few years, more research shows that fibromyalgia is a disease.

Dr. Andrew Weil, MD, explains, “Research suggests that imbalances in the nervous system amplify normal sensation, making even a slight touch feel painful. This super-sensitivity to pain appears to be genetic … It does run in families, and researchers Leon Bradway have identified one Physical Therapy gene believed to be involved in the syndrome.

Patients also have higher-thannormal levels of a neuropeptide called substance P that is involved in the communication of pain signals to the brain, and lower-than-normal levels of the pain-mitigating hormones serotonin and norepinephrine” (www.drweil.com/drw/u/ART02975/ Treatment-of-Fibromyalgia.html).

Dr. Weil goes on to explain that even if you have a genetic predisposition, something triggers the onset of the disease (e.g., viral infection, emotional stress, an accident or injury or exposure to certain drugs or chemicals).

Making a difference from page 3

personal for most of us. We don’t have to hide or take this lying down. We can make a difference.

We can support those battling this disease. Aware of our own personal histories and fear levels, we can dare to show up and make ourselves available.

We can be safe trustworthy people who listen well.

We can refuse the temptation to fix and somehow make it about us. As we T H E B R YA N - C O L L E G E S TAT I O N E A G L E

The problem with fibromyalgia is that as the patient experiences pain, the tendency is to withdraw from physical activity and exercise, which causes increased stiffness and deconditioning, leading to more pain.

Withdrawal from exercise reduces the body’s endorphins -- the natural painkillers that the body produces during exercise. Lack of exercise causes a drop in endorphin production and increases sensitivity to pain.

To really make a difference in the patient’s situation, they need to engage in an exercise program that encourages function and endurance and eventually strength. As noted above, swimming, walking and stationary bikes are good endurance exercises.

Range of motion exercise and yoga can help restore full neck motion, decreasing the frequency of headaches.

Lumbar flexion and extension exercises as well as yoga can reduce low back pain.

Core trunk exercises strengthen the abdominals, back extensors, buttocks and thigh muscles. You can start the exercise program with sessions

The most common symptoms include fatigue, headaches, problems associated with memory, difficulty sleeping, pain and loss of concentration. Often patients are treated with pain relievers, anti-inflammatory drugs and/or antidepressants.

However, there are natural solutions that can help patients a great deal. These include: • Exercise. Regular exercise has proven one of the best treatments.

Although muscle pain may worsen during exercise, the pain usually dissipates within 30 minutes.

Stretching and low-impact aerobic activity (swimming, walking, yoga or using cardiovascular machines like stationary bikes or elliptical trainers) are often the most effective.

• Regular sleeping habits. This is critical for reducing pain and improving energy and mood.

• Relaxation techniques. Meditation, yoga or breath work can help counteract stress.

• Cognitive-behavioral therapy.

To learn how to cope better with symptoms and stress.

• Acupuncture, trigger point dry needling and massage are also often helpful.

• The Feldenkrais Method can also be used to correct poor posture or habits of movement that may contribute to pain (www.drweil.com/ drw/u/ART02975/Treatment-ofFibromyalgia.html).

Massage, yoga, gentle stretching and electrical stimulation may help patients ease their pain while they develop exercise tolerance. The most important element of exercise, though, is starting a program.

as short as 10 minutes, building up to 40-minute sessions that increase endorphin levels and decrease pain sensitivity.

Talk to your physician about natural additions to your care plan such as physical therapy, yoga and massage.

Fibromyalgia is real, and it requires an aggressive approach both physically and mentally. Eating foods rich in anti-inflammatory properties may also help (e.g., ginger, turmeric and omega-3 fatty acids). Eating fewer processed foods and more whole foods can’t hurt.

The road to relief can be challenging.

There will be ups and downs, good days and difficult ones.

Keep a journal of how you feel, what you eat and what you do physically -- you will begin to see improvements.

A slow, steady and persistent program is one of the most important aspects of recovery.

Leon Bradway is a doctor of physical therapy and director of the Sports, Back and Pain Management Clinic. See www. bvphysicaltherapy.com.

The Most Important Thing in any Relationship 2016

listen, we can learn how to support in other ways too.

This is a monumental, pervasive battle. We’re already a part of it, whether we like it or not. Let’s engage well and be as loving as we know how.

We can have far more impact than we realize.

Robert Herring, Au.D. Doctor of Audiology

3091 University Drive East, #410 Bryan, TX 77802 www.listenhearaudiology.com

Gary Roe is an author, speaker and chaplain with Hospice Brazos Valley.

Visit him at www.garyroe.com, or contact him at 979-821-2266 or groe@ hospicebrazosvalley.org.

October 4, 2016 | 5

Game Bryan-College Station game meetups provide so

By STACY CANTU Special to The Eagle

Playing games is a great way for people to keep their minds active and to socialize, and there are several opportunities in Bryan and College Station for seniors interested in participating in such activities.

“This is where they meet to find new friends and socialize,” said Marci Rodgers, senior services coordinator for the College Station Parks and Recreation Department. “The groups have pot lucks, become friends, and one couple met playing bridge and married.”

The City of College Station offers 42 (dominos), Mah-Jongg, a weekly Game Night, bridge and bingo. One avid game player believes such games are beneficial for seniors.

“I have always read that lifestyle supports important cognitive functions like memory and focus,” said Norma Teetes, who runs Game Night for the City of College Station. “Research has proven that mental stimulation and socialization both help senior citizens maintain and even improve their mental capacity. Reading newspapers, magazines, books and working Sudoku and crossword puzzles can revitalize brain cells, sharpen thinking and reduce mental fatigue. These are great activities to be done alone. However, I believe that playing challenging games and social interaction keep brain cells stimulated because they require engaging the mind in several ways.”

The city offers 42 every Thursday from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Southwood Community Center, at 1520 Rock Prairie Road in College Station.

“For those who are interested in learning the game of 42, but have never played or it has been awhile, we have a beginners group and teachers available on Wednesday mornings,” Rodgers said. “They meet every Wednesday at Southwood from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. to learn to play 42.”

Mah jongg is also offered from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Thursdays at Southwood Community Center. Rodgers encouraged those who have never played the game to come because others will teach them how to play.

The newest addition to the City of College Station’s calendar is Game Night for those who might not be able to play during the day, but don’t want to miss all the fun. Rodgers said Teetes contacted her several months ago asking if the city could offer an evening of playing games. Game Night has proven to be popular; about 23 people participate, playing a variety of board games and 42. She added that the city is purchasing two new tables for people to play ping pong on Game Night.

Teetes explained how she came up with the Game Night idea.

The City of College Station produces a guide including activities for seniors. For several years she would enjoy reading it, but wished she could find an evening activity for those who worked.

“Last September, I decided I’d just check on activities for the evening, so I called Marcie and she was eager and willing to try something,” Teetes said. “What did I suggest? I suggested

a Game Night. She said they could provide a place, if I really thought we could find some interested senior citizens. I asked the three I knew for sure and we started with one table of four.

With Marcie’s great assistance, publicizing and word of mouth we have grown from one table in a year, to six tables of four.

It’s the fantastic, interested senior citizens who have made Tuesday’s Game Night a big success. What fun.”

Bridge is also offered at Southwood Community Center, from 9 to 11:30 a.m. every Friday.

“I think it is important for seniors to play games to help keep our minds sharp and also for interaction with other people,” Geri More, bridge instructor, said.

Locals can also play bingo and eat cake during birthday

6 | October 4, 2016

celebrations, held on the last Friday of ev Southwood Community Center, to celebra birthdays. Prizes are offered for bingo.

The annual membership fee at Southw for residents and $30 for non-residents.

“We always encourage anyone 55 and out for free, and if they would like to beco be happy to sign them up,” Rodgers said.

Teetes enjoys the gaming activities tha Station has to offer, and she believes that enjoyed by all participants.

“After I come home from work, I don’t

T H E B R YA N - C O L L E G E S TAT I O N E A G L E

eocialtime outlet, brain exercise

very month at ate that month’s

wood for seniors is $25

over to come and try us ome a member, we will

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t want to just sit and

Host friends for a fun game night

watch TV night after night,” she said. “Hobbies, gardening and crafts are relaxing and can be done alone. Even though I may think, ‘Oh, I’m too tired to go anywhere,’ after interacting with friends playing challenging/fun games on Tuesday nights, I leave rejuvenated and am so glad I didn’t choose sitting at home.”

She added, “People comment as they leave Tuesday evenings, ‘It was great getting together tonight; we really had a lot of fun. Others say they just would have been home alone, and are so glad they came. This proves the socialization factor of seniors getting together, having fun, meeting new people, making new friends -- in turn, means having fun and relaxing.

We aren’t sitting there thinking, ‘Oh, we’re stimulating brain health.’ We are laughing and enjoying one another’s company and our brain health is taking care of itself.”

According to Gwynne Shillings, the City of Bryan Parks and Recreation special events marketing coordinator, pickleball has become popular with seniors in Bryan.

Pickleball is a racquet sport created for all ages and skill levels. The rules are simple and similar to tennis with a few modifications. It is played on a court similar to one used for badminton.

Pickleball is offered from 5 to 8 p.m., Monday through Thursday, at the Bryan Tennis Center in Bryan. For more information or to register to play, contact the parks and recreation office at 979-209-5203.

Shillings noted that the city’s Senior Citizen Advisory Board, of which she is a member, is working with the Mays Business School to conduct a survey on the needs of seniors in Bryan.

The Brazos County Senior Citizens Association, Inc. also offers several gaming activities for seniors. These activities include a game day featuring dominos, canasta, bridge, bingo and other games.

The association is a non-profit organization that hosts various senior activities every Tuesday through Friday.

According to the website, the association provides several programs fulfilling the social needs of seniors through fun activities. Anyone 55 or older is eligible to participate.

For more information on the association, visit brazoscountyseniorcitizens.weebly.com.

In addition to these activities, there are also two bingo halls in Bryan, Brazos Bingo and Bingo Barn. According to the Bingo Barn website, bingo brings people together to have fun and socialize, improves mental agility and rejuvenates the mind.

Brazos Bingo, at 1805 Briarcrest Drive, offers a Senior Night every Sunday for those 65 or older, when they will receive $5 off each session. To be eligible, seniors must purchase a minimum of 12 faces or a half-price electronic to be eligible.

For more information on Brazos Bingo, call 979-7760999 or visit brazosbingo.com. For more about Bingo Barn, at 1018 South Texas Ave., call 979-779-2871 or visit www. texascharitybingo.com.

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Metro Creative Connection According to the Consumer Electronics Association, the average American household spends between $1,300 and $1,500 on consumer electronics each year. This accounts for the nearly 500 million electronics sold annually, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Nielsen’s Total Audience Report says Americans aged 18 and older spend more than 11 hours a day watching television, listening to the radio or using smartphones and other electronic devices.

While gadgets can be fun, many people want to curtail their use of electronic media. One way to do so is to get reacquainted with board games and other activities that foster greater social interaction.

Inviting friends and family members over for a game night can be an entertaining and device-free way to enjoy some time together. The following are some game ideas for hosts looking to disconnect from their devices.

• Lip sync competition: Made popular by Jimmy Fallon and his latenight guests, as well as the viral sensation “Lip Sync Battle,” participants compete against each other by lip syncing to songs and putting on impressive performances. The party host can serve as judge and may allow guests to choose their own songs in advance or make them perform at the mercy of random picks.

• Guess the picture: Separate the crowd into two teams. Participants must pick a word out of a bowl and then illustrate that word on a large piece of paper. Choose a theme that fits with the party, such as holiday songs, favorite books or popular movie releases.

• Bingo: Turn a classic into something all of your guests can enjoy. Have prizes for the winners or ask all participants to bring a small gift with them that will serve as the prizes for each round won. Take turns calling the numbers so everyone gets a chance to win.

• Brain games: Games that challenge guests to use their brains can be a big hit.

Whether it’s trivia, Scrabble or figuring out “whodunnit,” classic board games never go out of style.

• Wheel at home: Viewers have been tuning into “Wheel of Fortune¨ for decades. Purchase a licensed board game based on the popular show or recreate the magic at home by creating your own puzzles and offering your own prizes.

Adults and children can enjoy game nights to reconnect with one another and take a break from their electronic devices.

October 4, 2016 | 7

The freedom that comes with aging

As we get older, we may experience a change in our feeling of being in charge of our life. We may be losing control over things, like health or finances. But most of us gain freedom from the demands and foolishness of our youth.

Using freedom requires us to exercise our free will. Does our capacity for free will grow with age? It could because age can bring wisdom to see more options and more dr. BILL KLeMM tHe MeMory MeDic self-control.

However, scientific and philosophical fashion these days is that humans have no free will. Many scholars and scientists consider us to be biological robots, driven to our thoughts, beliefs, choices, intentions and actions by unconscious forces in our brain. Free will is deemed an illusion. A conscious mind is informed after the fact. We are puppets controlled by the programming from our genes and life experience. By this reckoning, we may become even more robotic as we age because our level of programmed experience accumulates over time.

I contend that when the sense of self emerges consciously, it permits a degree of freedom from such processes as language, flexibility, reason, patience, will power, memorization and creativity in ways not demonstrated for unconscious thinking. When self emerges consciously, it operates as a

reality check and aid for unconscious thinking. Conscious mind can intervene, veto or otherwise influence.

In many kinds of new learning, a conscious mind has to teach the unconscious mind in a top-down way.

Since in new learning an algorithm does not pre-exist for an unconscious mind to use, the conscious brain must surely have some freedom in deciding how to proceed with the teaching and the learning.

A parlor trick illustrates in a simplistic way a difference between unconsciousness and conscious influences. Clasp your hands together in front of your face with fingers overlapping. Raise each index finger and move about one inch apart. Shut your eyes. Amazingly, the fingers drift together, even though you did not consciously issue such an instruction.

This is your unconscious mind exerting its will. Now repeat the process with eyes open but willfully try to prevent the drifting. With minor mental effort, you can stop the movement. This is the “I” of your conscious mind freely exerting executive control.

Brains are programmed by their experience. But free will provides another opportunity for programming in that some brain processing can consciously select and modify reactions to experience. We can over-ride biased and stereotyped unconscious decisionmaking. We can choose many of our experiences and avoid others and thus affect our own programming.

The crucial reasoning for free will includes: 1. Humans have a profound sense of having free will. Accordingly, they hold themselves and others accountable.

2. Many neural functions and behavior are difficult to explain as the sole result of unconscious brain operations, especially during the unconsciousness of non-dreaming sleep.

3. Consciousness is more than a state. It is a being, the functional equivalent of an avatar acting on behalf of embodied brain with agency and thus having the potential for instantiating freely willed thoughts, choices and behavior.

4. The human brain has enormous degrees of freedom that enable a corresponding degree of flexibility and unpredictability – even creativity.

5. Brain functions have selforganizing non-linear dynamics that are readily reset and adjusted by situational contingencies and conscious language and imagery), judgment, reason and creativity.

6. The neurons that create consciousness are physically integrated with the rest of the rain and thus they can implement conscious intentions.

Whatever we have become, we had some freedom in making it so. Thus, we have some freedom to sculpt our future nature. An inevitable challenge of

The risk factors for breast cancer Metro Creative Connection Cancer is a formidable foe. Among women, no cancer poses a greater threat than breast cancer, which the World Health Organization reports is the most often diagnosed cancer both in the developed and developing worlds. Gaining a greater understanding of breast cancer may not prevent the onset of this disease that kills hundreds of thousands of women each year, but it might increase the chances of early detection, which can greatly improve women’s chances of survival. The following are the established risk factors for breast cancer.

Gender: Being female is the single biggest risk factor for developing breast cancer. Men can get breast cancer, but the risk for men is substantially smaller than it is for women. According to

8 | October 4, 2016

Breastcancer.org, roughly 190,000 women are diagnosed with invasive breast cancer each year in the United States alone.

Age: The American Cancer Society notes that about two out of every three invasive breast cancers are found in women ages 55 and older, whereas just one out of every eight invasive breast cancers are found in women younger than 45. The WHO notes that

See Risk factors page 9

aging is to resist the unconscious forces of experience and habit that make us robotic and to use our accumulated self-knowledge, wisdom and capacity for self-control to give us more power over our lives.

Sources: Balaguer, Mark. (2010). “Free Will as an Open Scientific Problem.”

Cambridge, Ma.: MIT Press.

Baumeister, R.F., Masicampo, E.J. and Vohs, K.D. (2011) “Do conscious thoughts cause behavior? Annual Review of Psychology.” 62 (1), 331–361.

Dennett, D. (2015) “Stop telling people they don’t have free will.” bigthink.com/videos/daniel-dennetton-the-nefarious-neurosurgeon.

Accessed Oct. 18.

Klemm, W. R. (2010). “Free will debates: simple experiments are not so simple. Advances in Cognitive Psychology.” 6: (6) 47-65.

Klemm, W. R. (2016). “Making a Scientific Case for Conscious Agency and Free Will.” San Diego: Academic Press.

Mele, Alfred. (2014) “Free: Why Science Hasn’t Disproved Free Will.”

New York: Oxford.

For more on human brain operations, see Dr. Klemm’s book, “Mental Biology.”

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Genetic testing may detect cancer risk indicative of cancers of the breast or ovaries. These genes include BRCA1 and BRCA2. The National Cancer Institute says mutations in genes that control cell growth and the repair of damaged DNA are likely to be associated with increased cancer risk.

It’s important to note that even if a cancer-predisposing mutation is present in your family, you will not automatically inherit the mutation.

And even if you do, it is no guarantee that it will lead to cancer.

Metro Creative Connection Cancer affects people from all walks of life. While there is no guaranteed way to prevent cancer, genetic testing can help individuals better understand their risks for certain types of cancer.

Genetic testing has been developed for many diseases. Such testing looks for specific markers that can indicate the likelihood that a person will develop a specific disease. Genetic

Risk factors from page 8

instances of breast cancer are growing in developing countries, citing longer life expectancies as one of the primary reasons for that increase.

Family history: According to the WHO, a family history of breast cancer increases a woman’s risk factor by two or three. Women who have had one first-degree female relative, which includes sisters, mothers and daughters, diagnosed with breast cancer are at double the risk for breast cancer than women without such family histories. The risk of developing breast cancer is five times greater for T H E B R YA N - C O L L E G E S TAT I O N E A G L E

The NCI says that mutations in hereditary cancer syndromes are inherited in three ways: autosomal dominant, autosomal recessive and X-linked recessive inheritance.

Autosomal dominant inheritance occurs when a single altered copy of the gene is enough to increase a person’s chances of developing cancer.

Autosomal recessive inheritance occurs when a person has an increased risk of cancer only if he or she inherits an altered copy of the gene from each parent. A female with a recessive cancer-predisposing mutation on one of her X chromosomes and a normal copy of the gene on her other X chromosome is a carrier but will not have an increased risk of cancer. Two mutations makes her more likely to get cancer. Men are less likely to get cancer from this mutation because they only have one X chromosome.

testing has been used to diagnose genetic disorders such as muscular dystrophy and fragile X syndrome.

Genetic testing also is used to raise awareness about risk factors for Down’s syndrome.

Since cancer sometimes appears to run in families, people with a family history of the disease may benefit from hereditary testing. Some genetic tests examine rare inherited mutations of certain protective genes that may be

Researchers continue to develop

women who have two firstdegree relatives who have been diagnosed with breast cancer.

Menstrual history: Women who began menstruating younger than age 12 have a higher risk of developing breast cancer later in life than women who began menstruating after their twelfth birthdays.

The earlier a woman’s breasts form, the sooner they are ready to interact with hormones and chemicals in products that are hormone disruptors.

Longer interaction with hormones

and hormone disruptors increases a woman’s risk for breast cancer.

tests to examine multiple genes that may increase or decrease a person’s risk for cancer. Such tests may facilitate a proactive approach that can detect cancer before it spreads.

If you feel you are a candidate for genetic testing, speak with your doctor. Risk is based on things like personal medical history and family history. Testing may be conducted by a trained doctor, nurse or genetic counselor. Patients will go through some sort of genetic counseling and be asked a number of questions about their lineage and the family history of the disease in different branches of their family trees, which will help to determine if further testing is warranted.

Testing may be done on a sample of blood, cheek cells, urine, hair, amniotic fluid, or other bodily tissues. Results will be interpreted by experts, and the information will be shared. Remember, an increased risk for cancer does not guarantee that you will get cancer.

However, it can help you make certain lifestyle choices and become aware of symptoms so that cancer can be caught early. Doctors can help you sort through your options at this point.

Individuals should speak with their doctors about their concerns regarding cancer genetics and potential mutations that may be indicative of heightened cancer risk.

Lifestyle choices: A 2005 comparative risk assessment of nine behaviors and environmental factors published in the U.K. medical journal The Lancet found that 21 percent of all breast cancer deaths across the globe are attributable to alcohol consumption, overweight and obesity and physical inactivity.

Women can do nothing to control breast cancer risk factors like gender, age and family history, but making the right lifestyle choices, including limiting alcohol consumption, maintaining a healthy weight and living an active lifestyle, can reduce the likelihood that they will develop breast cancer.

October 4, 2016 | 9

CALENDAR

Ongoing Sit and Fit Chair Exercises Adults 55 and up meet at Southwood Community Center, 1520 Rock Prairie Road in College Station, every Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, from noon to 1 p.m. Gentle workout while sitting in a chair. Features fat-burning aerobics and weight lifting. For more details, contact 979-764-6351 or mrodgers@ cstx.gov.

Line dance workshop for beginners – Adults 55 and older are invited to a free line dance workshop for beginners, held from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. on the first, second and third Monday of each month, at Southwood Community Center, 1520 Rock Prairie Road in College Station.

Learn the steps and terminology. No registration necessary. Contact 7646351 or mrodgers@cstx.gov for more information.

Line Dancing - Southwood Community Center, 1520 Rock Prairie Road in College Station, holds line dancing for seniors on Tuesdays from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. and on Fridays from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Low impact workout, to the hottest tunes. For more information, contact 979-764-6351, 979-764-6371 or mrodgers@cstx.gov.

Classic Country and Bluegrass Jam Session – Bluegrass Jam Session is from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. on Tuesdays at Southwood Community Center, 1520 Rock Prairie Road in College Station. All levels welcome.

Bring string instruments and a friend.

Open to all who like to listen to or play this kind of music. For more details, contact 979-764-6351 or mrodgers@ cstx.gov.

Friday Bridge - Southwood Community Center, 1520 Rock Prairie Road in College Station, offers bridge for seniors on Fridays from 9 to 11:30 a.m. For more, contact 979-764-6351 or mrodgers@cstx.gov.

Learn how to play 42 dominoes Learn the game of 42 every Wednesday from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at Southwood Community Center, 1520 Rock Prairie Road in College Station. Contact Southwood Community Center at 979764-6351 or mrodgers@cstx.gov for more information.

42 dominoes - Adults 55 and up

meet every Thursday to play 42 at Southwood Community Center, 1520 Rock Prairie Road in College Station, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. New players welcome. For more details, contact 979-764-6351 or mrodgers@cstx.gov.

Bible study – Bible study is held for seniors 9:15-10:30 a.m. every Thursday at Lincoln Center, 1000 Eleanor St. in College Station. Contact 979-764-3779 or awilliams@cstx.gov for more information.

Maj Jongg - Adults 55 and older interested in learning the game will meet at Southwood Community Center, 1520 Rock Prairie Road in College Station on Thursdays from 9 to 11:30 a.m. For more information, contact 764-6371 or mrodgers@cstx. gov.

Game Night - Seniors are invited to Game Night from 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesdays at Southwood Community Center, 1520 Rock Prairie Road in College Station.

Table games and dominoes provided or bring your own favorite game. Meet friends and enjoy a fun game night.

For more information contact 979-7646371 or mrodgers@cstx.gov.

Forevercise - Forevercise is a free exercise class for ages 55 and up, offered on Monday, Wednesday and Fridays from 1:30–3 p.m. at Southwood Community Center, 1520 Rock Prairie Road in College Station. Class offers individuals healthy lifestyle practices with helpful tips on nutrition and exercise. Exercises may be done while standing or sitting in a chair. For more information contact College Station Parks and Recreation Department, Senior Services at 979-764-6371 or mrodgers@cstx.gov.

Dominoes - Brazos County Senior Citizens Association, 1402 Bristol St. in Bryan, plays dominoes all day on Tuesdays and Fridays and from noon to closing Wednesdays. Sack lunch for those playing dominoes from 11:30 a.m. to noon Wednesdays. For more details: 979-822-6873/www. brazoscountyseniorcitizens.weebly. com.

Bridge – Brazos County Senior Citizens Association, 1402 Bristol St. in Bryan, plays Bridge from 12:30 p.m. until closing on Tuesdays; noon to closing on Thursdays; and 12:20

1 0 | October 4, 2016

p.m. to closing Fridays. Partner needed Tuesdays and Thursdays. For more details: 979-822-6873 or www. brazoscountyseniorcitizens.weebly. com.

Games - Brazos County Senior Citizens Association, 1402 Bristol St. in Bryan, plays board games, Scrabble and other card games on Tuesdays.

For more details: 979-822-6873/www. brazoscountyseniorcitizens.weebly. com.

Bible study - Brazos County Senior Citizens Association, 1402 Bristol St. in Bryan, holds Bible study 9:15 to 9:45 a.m. on Wednesdays. For more information, call 979-822-6873 or visit www.brazoscountyseniorcitizens. weebly.com.

Exercise class - Brazos County Senior Citizens Association, 1402 Bristol St. in Bryan, holds exercise class 9:45 to 10:30 a.m. Wednesdays.

For more details, call 979-822-6873 or visit www.brazoscountyseniorcitizens. weebly.com.

Bingo - Brazos County Senior Citizens Association, 1402 Bristol St. in Bryan, plays Bingo 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Wednesdays. For more details: 979-822-6873 or www. brazoscountyseniorcitizens.weebly. com.

Canasta - Brazos County Senior Citizens Association, 1402 Bristol St. in Bryan, plays Canasta from 11:30 a.m. to closing on Thursdays. For more details, call 979-822-6873 or visit www. brazoscountyseniorcitizens.weebly. com.

Potluck luncheon - Brazos County Senior Citizens Association, 1402 Bristol St. in Bryan, has a potluck luncheon 11:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Fridays. For more, call 979-822-6873 or visit www.brazoscountyseniorcitizens. weebly.com.

One-on-one computer help - 6 to 8 p.m. Mondays and Saturdays at Larry J. Ringer Library, 1818 Harvey Mitchell Pkwy. S. in College Station.

Contact the Reference Desk to schedule a 30-minute session, at 979764-3416. For more information, visit www.bcslibrary.org.

Oct. 4

Sewing Gifts for the Holiday – Class will be held 9-11:30 a.m. on Tuesdays from Oct. 4-Nov. 8, at Southwood Community Center, 1520 Rock Prairie Road in College Station.

Learn how to make creative, fun gifts.

The class will teach how to put in a zipper and how to work with different types of materials such as vinyl, felt and cotton rope. Supply list available at registration. Cost is $25. Bring your own sewing machine. To register visit rectrac.cstx.gov or call 979-764-3486.

Oct. 5 Computer Club for Seniors: “Tips and Tricks for Windows” - The Computer Club is open to those 55 and up interested in learning more about the computer world. Meetings are held at Carter’s Creek Training Room, at 2200 North Forest Parkway in College Station at 9:30 a.m. No pre-registration needed. For more information contact College Station Parks and Recreation Department, Senior Services at 979764-6371 or mrodgers@cstx.gov or see cstx.gov/seniors.

Oct. 6 National Issues Forum: Making Ends Meet: How Should We Spread Prosperity and Improve Opportunity? - The forum, from 1:303 p.m., is an opportunity to join other seniors and discuss in a non-partisan deliberation on topics of concern in America. Held at Southwood Community Center, 1520 Rock Prairie Road in College Station. Contact Southwood Community Center at 979-764-6351 to pre-register or email mrodgers@cstx.gov for more information.

Oct. 11 Genealogy Class 201 - The class will concentrate on U.S. Census, courthouse and internet research.

Class meets from 9:30-11:30 a.m. on Tuesdays from Oct. 11-Nov. 1, at Carter Creek Training room, at 2200 North Forest Parkway in College Station. Cost is $25. To register visit

See Calendar page 11 T H E B R YA N - C O L L E G E S TAT I O N E A G L E

rectrac.cstx.gov or call 979-764-3486.

Oct. 12 “Strictly Business” – Local businesses: Who they are and what they do - Seniors are invited to learn about LynnTech, a company where scientists and engineers develop innovative solutions for aerospace, defense and human health.

Presentation will be held from 11 a.m. to noon at Southwood Community Center, 1520 Rock Prairie Road in College Station. No pre-registration required. For more information contact College Station Parks and Recreation Department, Senior Services at 979764-6371 or mrodgers@cstx.gov or see cstx.gov/seniors.

Oct. 18 Nutrition Education presented by AgriLife at Lincoln Center - Texas A&M AgriLife Extension offers monthly cooking demos with new recipes and food choices for healthy living. Join other seniors 60 and up at Lincoln Center, at 1000 Eleanor St. in College Station, from 10-11 a.m. For more information, contact Annie Williams at 979-764-3779.

Beginning Computer Class 101 - Learn basic computer skills and how to use the internet and email. Class

Support

from page 4 to leave major decisions to your physician if you find yourself becoming overwhelmed with information about your disease.

Embrace your support system.

Friends and family members can be wonderful resources during your fight against cancer. The Mayo Clinic advises cancer patients to keep the lines of communication with their loved ones open, sharing updates about your treatments and discussing any decisions you may be facing.

Feelings of isolation may grow if you stay tight-lipped about your disease, so embrace your support system, accepting any help your loved ones offer.

Prepare for change. Cancer treatments have come a long way over the last several decades, but they may T H E B R YA N - C O L L E G E S TAT I O N E A G L E

Carter’s Creek Training Room at 2200 N. Forest Parkway in College Station from 9:30-11 a.m. No registration is required. Open to ages 55 and up. For more information contact College Station Parks and Recreation Department, Senior Services at 979764-6371 or mrodgers@cstx.gov or cstx.gov/seniors Exploring History Luncheon: The History of Allen Academy with Pat Baker - The College Station Historic Preservation Committee and the College Station Parks and Recreation Department present monthly lectures on the history of the community. Held at Aldersgate Church, at 2201 Earl Rudder Fwy. S. in College Station. A reservation is necessary for lunch and the cost is $7. Lunch is served at 11:30 a.m. Speaker will begin at noon. RSVP

by Oct. 14 by calling 979-764-6371 or emailing mrodgers@cstx.gov.

meets from 9-10:30 a.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays, from Oct. 18-27, at Southwood Community Center, 1520 Rock Prairie Road in College Station.

Cost is $45. To register visit rectrac. cstx.gov or call 979-764-3486.

Computer Class 201 – Held from 10:45 a.m.-12:15 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays, from Oct. 18-27, at Southwood Community Center, 1520 Rock Prairie Road in College Station.

Basic computer skills required. Class offers instruction on tool bar functions, formatting documents, use of picture tools, printers and more. Cost of the class is $45. To register visit rectrac. cstx.gov or call 979-764-3486.

Oct. 19 Portrait Drawing Class – Held from 1-3:30 p.m. on Wednesdays, from Oct. 19-Nov. 23, at Southwood Community Center, 1520 Rock Prairie Road in College Station. A great opportunity to explore the art of portrait drawing.

Basic drawing supplies are required.

Cost is $45. To register visit rectrac. cstx.gov or call 979-764-3486.

Family History Computer Group: “Early Texas Ancestors, Stories by Bill Lay and Dean Duncan” - The group shares an interest in researching family history and storing it on your computer. Meetings are held on the third Wednesday of the month at

Oct. 20 Senior Fall Fest - Seniors are invited to dress in a costume and join at the American Pavilion at Veterans Park in College Station from 5-7 p.m.

Enjoy a free hamburger meal, music, entertainment, a cakewalk and door

prizes. First, second and third place prizes awarded to best costume.

No registration needed. For more information contact College Station Parks and Recreation Department, Senior Services at 979-764-6371 or mrodgers@cstx.gov or visit cstx.gov/ seniors.

Oct. 28 Bingo & Birthday Celebration Join on the last Friday of each month from 1:30–3 p.m. at Southwood Community Center for bingo and cake to celebrate September birthdays.

Prizes given out. No registration necessary. Call 979-764-6351 for more information.

Oct. 31 Senior Advisory Committee meeting - Committee meets monthly to discuss programs and activities for adults 55 and up. Held at 10 a.m. at Southwood Community Center, 1520 Rock Prairie Road in College Station. Visitors welcome. For more information contact College Station Parks and Recreation Department, Senior Services at 979-764-6371 or mrodgers@cstx.gov.

R F EE

still produce unwanted side effects, such as fatigue and hair loss.

The Mayo Clinic notes that cancer support groups may be especially helpful as cancer patients prepare and ultimately deal with the changes that accompany their treatments.

Ask your physician about the likely side effects of your treatment and if he or she has any suggestions regarding how to handle those side effects.

Revisit your priorities. Patients will have to devote a lot of time and energy to successfully navigate cancer treatments. Revisiting your priorities to determine what’s truly important can help you clear away personal clutter so you have more energy as you fight your disease.

All new clients that sign up for at least one day of service will receive a GAME DAY REGULATED TOTE that meets all the new requirements for Aggie sports.

Receiving a cancer diagnosis is a life-changing event. How patients handle their diagnosis can have a dramatic impact on how successfully their bodies take to treatment.

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October 4, 2016 | 11

GE T TO A H E A LT H I E R

Place

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A one -of-a-kind new health complex for adults 55 and older O p en i n g S p r i n g 2 0 1 7

Developed in partnership with Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine, the MatureWell Lifestyle Center from CHI St. Joseph Health is a one-of-a-kind health complex especially designed to meet the unique health and wellness needs of people like you.

With a gym and indoor heated pool, fitness coaching and nutritional counseling, educational classes, physical therapy, and a board-certified Internal Medicine Physician who specializes in the treatment of adults age 55 and older on site, you’ll find all the essential health resources you need under one roof. Plus, services can be easily coordinated with your Primary Care Physician.

Watch for more details about MatureWell Lifestyle Center coming soon, and get to a healthier place. Sign up for updates now at MatureWell.CHIStJosephHealth.org

MatureWell Lifestyle Center

I N

A F F I L I A T I O N

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W I T H

Located on the campus of Traditions Club as part of the Atlas Town Center in Bryan.

T H E B R YA N - C O L L E G E S TAT I O N E A G L E