It seems that everyone around me is complaining of holiday stress. Shopping, baking, decorating, the emotions of bringing extended family together...For those living with an illness like cancer -- and their caregivers -- adding in fatigue, treatments, and uncertainty about the future can make the holidays feel overwhelming.

Yet the holidays are a wonderful time to connect with loved ones, and enjoy the season. What can you do to lower your stress level this year?

Prioritize

Every holiday stress article I read recommends prioritizing your activities - but give yourself permission to prioritize differently this year. Forget the "should've, would've, could've" thoughts we all have. What activities do you enjoy the most? The best words of advice I was given as a family caregiver during the holidays was to "be selfish this year." And - to my surprise as a type A oldest child - everyone around me seemed more relaxed and nurtured as well.

Express Your Emotions

With cancer or any serious illness there is often an elephant in the room. Family members may not want to bring up their sadness lest it bother their loved one who is suffering. Likewise, those living with cancer may be reluctant to share their emotions fearing it will ruin their loved ones holiday. Share your emotions with each other, let the tears flow. The closeness of sharing openly can free you to fully enjoy the rest of your time together.

Make Memories

Often we are so busy doing the holidays that we forget to enjoy the moments, and before we know it, the season is over. What can you do this year to cherish and stay in the moment? Begin a new tradition? I would love to hear your ideas.

For more ideas check out:

• Coping With Holiday Stress With Cancer

• Coping With Holiday Stress as a Caregiver for Someone With Cancer

If you are nuts about nuts like me, a new study could make you a little squirrely. Adding a few pistachios to your diet may lower your risk of developing lung cancer.

Pistachio's are high in gamma-tocopherol, a form of vitamin E that might decrease lung cancer risk. Knowing this, researchers at MD Anderson Cancer Center looked at a small group of people to see if those individuals who consumed a "pistachio diet" had higher levels of gamma-tocopherol in their blood.

After roughly a month of eating 68 grams of pistachios daily (which translates into about 2 ounces or 117 kernels), the pistachio diet group had significantly higher levels of gamma-tocopherol. Dr. Ladia Hernandez, a senior research dietician involved in the study concluded, "Pistachios are one of those 'good-for-you' nuts, and 2 ounces per day could be incorporated into dietary strategies designed to reduce the risk of lung cancer without significant changes in body mass index."

Though I love pistachio's in any form, my favorite is straight from the dish, or sautéed in olive oil and sprinkled over steamed asparagus. Still, I found a new and easy recipe to make for the holidays featuring pistachios. Our About.com Guide to Busy Cooks, Linda Larsen gives us this treat that my kids loved!

Pistachio Brittle

_Source:

_{American Association for Cancer Research. AACR Press Releases. Pistachios May Reduce Lung Cancer Risk. December 8, 2009.}

After keeping quiet for 2 months, Bryant Gumbel shared today that he has undergone surgery for lung cancer. Filling in for Regis Philbin on "Live With Regis and Kelly," Bryant declined to dance due to his recent surgery. The host of "Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel" and former "Today" show host informed viewers that he had part of his lung removed along with a malignant tumor.

I appreciate Bryant's willingness to share his diagnosis on the air. Even though lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in both men and women, we hear more often from survivors of other forms of cancer. Some people simply prefer privacy, but others remain quiet due to the stigma of lung cancer.

I also felt an appreciation for the flow of conversation while watching the segment. Kelly Ripa graciously honored Bryant's fairly brief description of his illness, and how he had kept his diagnosis quiet in the public realm. Even what I am reading is respectful and lacks an "analysis of etiology." That is, a discussion of what may have caused his cancer - and in the process - and unspoken judgement that somehow cancer is deserved. Nobody deserves to struggle with cancer, and everyone with cancer deserves our unconditional support.

We wish Bryant a speedy recovery, good health in the future, and the support of loving and respectful people - who can hopefully refrain from asking that dreaded question, "Did you smoke?"

It's hard not to hear about the dangers of secondhand smoke; just check out the smoking laws in most eating establishments. We know that as an adult, secondhand smoke increases the risk of lung cancer but a new study focused specifically on our children. And the results - especially being a mom - were painful to review.

Children that are exposed to secondhand smoke in childhood are significantly more likely to develop lung cancer during their lifetime.

This study evaluated two separate groups of people to improve the reliability of the information. In one group the risk of lung cancer was 50% greater when exposed to cigarette smoke as a child. In the other, children exposed to secondhand smoke were more than twice as likely to develop lung cancer as their counterparts who grew up in a smoke-free environment.

The study went on to find that people with a certain genetic variation were even more likely to develop lung cancer when exposed to secondhand smoke as a child,

If you are one of the many wonderful parents I have met that adore their children yet struggle with their smoking habit, you are not alone. Smoking is strong addiction, and commenting on this study is not meant to produce guilt. Let it be empowering instead. Check out these great resources from our About.com Guide to Smoking Cessation, Terry Martin:

• Your Quit Smoking Toolbox
• Developing the Will to Quit Smoking
• Letter to a Loved One

_Source:

_{Olivo-Marston, S. et al. Childhood Exposure to Secondhand Smoke and Functional Mannose Binding Lectin Polymorphisms Are Associated with Increased Lung Cancer Risk Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers and Prevention. 2009. 18(12):3375-83.}