Sister Saturdays – Jules Mickelson
“Jules, Jules, Jules. What a gift this woman is. Despite the really hard path of cancer, she seems to bring laughter to all sides (laughter through the tears at times). But her openness to perspective, her joy in motherhood and parenting, her willingness to be a part of something bigger than herself, her funny sides to managing the yuck, and—oh did I mention the hair thing? —yeah, she compares her hair growth stages to various artists and actors for a ‘who wore it best’ charade. IT’S FUNNY! I know she has hard days, but she shows up to the world with honesty in who she is today. I love 100 things about her. Thank you Jules for being so bright!” – Megan Pischke, B4BC Wellness and Community Director
Tell us where you are on your ‘path’…and would you consider it a ‘cancer journey’ or ‘healing path’? Why?
I am a year and a half post-diagnosis, and I would definitely define what I’m on as more of a healing path than a cancer journey.
Very early on in my diagnosis, I knew that being in control of the things that I could while being in a situation that was totally out of my control would give me the strength to move forward. I had power over how much I allowed cancer to define me and how much of me I allowed it to have. I remember laying in bed one night having a conversation with my tumor where I said, “Look, I know you’re just doing what you were designed to do, but it’s my job to make your job difficult.” I educated myself as much as I possibly could about what cancer is, why it exists, and how it behaves. Kind of like The Godfather – “Keep your friends close but keep your enemies closer.” I curated a vast artillery of juices, mushrooms, CBD, tinctures, and the really big guns— chemotherapy—but now that I am a little further down the road on my path, I’m definitely taking a gentler approach and allowing the healing in a less pragmatic way.
As cheesy as it sounds, I literally stop to smell the flowers now. I pause to enjoy that moment longer than before. I spend time in nature and focus on the small things that in the past I would have missed entirely. Sometimes I lay with my daughter when I put her to sleep and rather than rushing through the process so I can have a glass of wine on the other end, I visualize her bright beaming energy passing right through my heart and I just lay with her in the moment, present to the feeling.
CBD or THC?
I used THC while in treatment for nausea, and I really wished I’d used it sooner in my treatment. I used CBD nearly every day in my treatment for anxiety and for sleep.
Anything you are doing differently to uphold your health and overall immunity while Covid-19 is rampant?
I grew a garden specifically for juicing. I get out everyday for 20 minutes of unfiltered vitamin D. I take Vitamin C, Turkey Tail mushrooms, and I am adamant about not eating the dirty dozen even though my inner bargain-hunter wants to buy the riper, non-organic strawberries. I also don’t have cable television so I get to choose my sources of information which keeps the mental game strong.
Yoga? Meditation? How do they support your overall well-being?
Yoga for sure, although I would love to do it more. Recently I have been LOVING “The Class” Taryn Toomey. It combines yoga, cardio, and general childlike body movement like jumping jacks that just make you feel good. It also helps that my daughter loves it too. At-home workouts with pets and kids are complicated.
Integrated therapies? Could you recommend any for someone newly diagnosed?
Acupuncture for nausea for sure. Yoga Nidra for anxiety and sleep.
Do you feel supported enough with the emotional/psychological aspects that cancer brings?
I was somewhat resistant to talking to other people that had gone through cancer when I was newly diagnosed. Friends would say, “Oh my Auntie had cancer you should talk to her.” The fact was that I didn’t want to talk to an Auntie. I wanted to talk to someone like me: a Mom with a one-year-old, someone I could relate to. Once I found that, there was light in the dark. The support I needed came from another cancer survivor/thriver who understood what I was really going through.
Anything you have learned on managing health insurance with cancer?
If you are Canadian specifically, get a book and keep track of everything for tax purposes. There will be so many appointments and receipts to log that it will be unmanageable months down the road.
Today, what is the best way for you to feel GOOD?
Self-tanner 🙂 laughing as much as possible, getting outside, gardening, spending time with my daughter, brunch with my girls, getting a massage, a great mani pedi, swimming in the ocean, sun on my face, green juice, a margarita (the other green juice).
Survivorship or Thrivership? Please define what they mean to you.
Honoring the fact that you’ve had cancer or have cancer and making the most of every day that you have moving forward. Sharing your experience and being there for others for support. Focusing on one good thing that happened every day and leaving the bad behind. Occasionally getting triggered so hard that you have a good ol’ cry—sometimes because you see the pain in the world and sometimes because you see the beauty.
Is there anyone on your team you want to give a shout out to?!
Dr. Amber Kirk – She’s magical.
