My grandmother used to say that the more important word in "hard lesson" is the second one. Life sends tough -- sometimes seemingly insurmountable -- obstacles our way. It's our responsibility to pull whatever good can come out of those difficulties.

Sheryl Crow faced one of the biggest obstacles anyone can encounter when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Two and a half years ago she underwent a lumpectomy and radiation to treat her illness. Today, she remains cancer free.

Crow walked away from her battle with cancer with an important life lesson in hand. She says that breast cancer helped her put herself first in her life. That's an example we all can learn from. Many of us put our health on the back burner in favor of more pressing commitments. But what could be more important than your well-being?

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Remember all that talk about cell phones causing cancer, way back when mobile devices were the size of small bricks? We haven't heard too much on that subject lately, but that doesn't mean the supposed problem has gone away. In fact, a prominent cancer doctor has recently advised his staff to limit cell phone use because of the possible cancer risk. I'm no expert but I think that probably means we should be a bit concerned.

Dr. Ronald B. Herberman points out that while there's no definitive proof of a link between cell phones and cancer, it's better to play it safe than take a 'no news is good news' approach. "Really at the heart of my concern is that we shouldn't wait for a definitive study to come out, but err on the side of being safe rather than sorry later," Dr. Herberman told The Associated Press.

I'm not tossing mine just yet, but this definitely gives me the motivation to keep my calls short and sweet. What do you think?

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In case you haven't already seen it, here's the video that everyone was abuzz about on the internet several weeks ago. In it, several cell phones are placed next to popcorn kernels on a table. Then, the people in the video coordinate their cell phones to make them ring at the same time. That's when the supposed radiation magic happens. Within seconds, the kernels begin popping, springing to life as they leap off the table.

Could it be? Is there truly enough radiation and heat given off by a cell phone to pop kernels of popcorn? And if so, what implications does that have on our health?

Not much, say researchers. As a physicist interviewed on the popular techie site Wired states, "The videos are cute ... but that's never going to happen." Still, you have to admit that if it's a hoax, it's a pretty good one.

Check it out for yourself.

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With an almost limitless amount of information at our fingertips, it's sometimes quite difficult to disengage ourselves from the ultra-connectivity that dominates our modern lives. Even before nodding off at night, we do one last status check on the world. Who won the game? Was that email replied to? Who is that voicemail message from? The trouble is, it may be more than just this last-minute flood of information that's disrupting our sleep. It may actually be the modes of connection themselves.

According to an article in Fitness Rx magazine, Swedish and American researchers found that electromagnetic radiation from using cell phones before bedtime can cause insomnia, headaches, and confusion. The study cited by Fitness Rx, which was published in a recent edition of the journal Bioelectromagnetics, suggests that cell phone radiation may interfere with stress-regulating centers in the brain, and may also disrupt the production of the sleep hormone melatonin.

Many experts suggest shutting down electronic distractions at least a half an hour before heading off to bed to help ensure a good night's sleep.

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I realize you're probably not dying to perch yourself at your microwave and stare aimlessly through the glass while your food cooks. But if you find yourself waiting on that popcorn to pop and you happen to watch the bag as it inflates, rest assured: You will do no harm.

Microwave ovens have been engineered not to leak anything dangerous, says Lou Bloomfleld, Ph.D., professor of physics at the University of Virginia, and author of How Everything Works.

This physics expert says the only way micro-waves can reach you is if there is serious damage to the unit or the door is open while you cook -- which is impossible really, thanks to designers who know this would be a risky oven feature. Keep in mind too that microwaves emit thermal radiation which is quite painful. If your microwave was spitting rays at you, you'd know it.

If you're not so sure about the effectiveness of your nuker, take it to a repair shop and have it screened for leakage with an FDA-certified meter.

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On Monday, I graduated from my rehab stint. Physical therapy rehab, that is. There was no big ceremony or anything. Just me and my therapist reviewing my progress over the past five weeks. It was pretty enlightening, what we talked about, and I left the clinic feeling both successful and motivated.

When I first walked through my rehab clinic doors, I wasn't sure anything could be done to fix the tightness, the limited range of motion, the sometimes pain I felt in the area of my left arm. It had been three long years since I'd had surgery to remove a breast cancer tumor, after all, and almost that long since radiation zapped the whole cancerous area. Both are to blame for what I was experiencing and the way I considered it, if my problems weren't solved long ago, there was little that could be done now.

I was wrong.

My therapist took tons of measurements when we first started working together. I moved, bent, stretched, pushed, and pulled so she could record numbers of all sorts. Then we spent weeks on our tasks. She massaged and manipulated and broke down scar tissue, stiffness, knots. Armed with weekly exercises, I stretched and strengthened by body at home. Together, we achieved victory -- my improved numbers prove it. I'm responsible for 50 percent of the success, my therapist tells me. She takes credit for the other 50 percent.

Before I left my final appointment, my expert shared a few parting words. Here they are.

• My posture is better. She could tell the moment I walked in the door. Must be the exercise in standing tall she'd given me during one visit and my new awareness of the poor posture I'd been carrying with me all these years.

• I should be sleeping on my back, not on my side. Back sleepers enjoy better alignment and less rounding of the shoulders -- one of my posture problems. My assignment from this moment on is to sleep on my back with one relatively flat pillow under my head. I should make sure my pillow fills the gap between my neck and my bed. I should enjoy the benefits of this technique immensely, says my therapist.

• Keep at it, says this same gal who streamlined all my at-home exercises and told me precisely what I need to do to hang on to the results the two of us have achieved.

Several years ago my father had a cancer scare. Pre-surgery, the doctor's exact words were "I'll be floored if this isn't cancer." My oldest sister, an RN, gathered all of my siblings and my mom together and talked to us. She told us how incredibly important it is to maintain a good attitude and to be strong. Our dad was going to need us to be strong so that he could go through any emotions he needed to. He also needed us to be strong so that, after his initial anger, grief, and fear, he could find his own strength again.

During my dad's surgery to remove 3/4 of his right lung, my sisters, brother, mom and I sat and held each other's hands. Knowing this was the moment to be scared because after we knew for sure that it was cancer, it was time to rally the troops. Once the biopsy was back, however, I guess my dad's doctor was "floored." It wasn't cancer after all. But the scare really brought our family together and showed me how important attitude is for recovery.

Doctors know how emotional illnesses like cancer can be. And the connection between a positive mindset and healing is well known. So this trial that includes journaling (or "expressive writing") as part of an overall cancer treatment plan makes great sense. 63 leukemia or lymphoma patients were asked to journal for 20 minutes as well as complete pre- and post-writing surveys. Nearly 50% of participants felt that journaling changed how they thought about their illness and improved their quality of life. 35% thought writing changed the way they felt about cancer. The vast majority of the patients wrote positively about their experiences.

Take this AOL Body quiz to see if you're do what you can to avoid cancer.

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If you've ever received a CT scan at a hospital or medical facility, you mayor may not realize that a huge dose of radiation is being sent through your entire body. That's how the image is formed -- since soft tissue passes radiation right through while hard structures like bone don't.

A new report says that millions of Americans (and in particular, children) are seeing needless radiation amounts from so many CT scans that are intended to diagnose medical problems but could be the cause of some of them.

Although the risk from a single CT scan is small according to the report, but in a few decades, the report estimated that two percent of cancer cases may be due to CT scans being performed today.

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Instead of over a million invasive cardiac catheterizations performed each year to look for clogged arteries, would a new type of x-ray be a better method to search for the same thing?

Possibly, according to some medical experts. This "super X-ray" should be cheaper, faster and painless as a new way to find the potential or existence of heart disease without invading the human body to search for clues.

In a sense, experts state that using these super x-rays would most likely eliminate the 1.3 million cardiac procedures that are needed each year in the U.S. Will insurers pay for these new x-rays, even if they are cheaper? These x-rays, just like normal ones, supply quite a bit of radiation to the patient. Is that supposed to be considered better?

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One of the most devastating aspects of fighting cancer can be the long and exhausting courses of treatment. From what I've read and heard, dealing with the physical and emotional after-affects of chemotherapy and radiation can be as difficult as dealing with the disease itself.

A test developed by a scientist at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia promises to ease some of the suffering associated with cancer treatments. Basically, a dye is injected into patients receiving chemotherapy and radiation, and molecules in the die attach to any dead or dying cancer cells, allowing doctors to see whether or not the treatment is actually working.

Until now, patients had to endure entire courses of treatment that could last up to six months before being able to assess whether or not their tumors where shrinking, had stayed the same or were growing larger. If the treatment hadn't worked, patients would have to undergo a new, exhausting course of treatment. The new dye test will hopefully allow doctors to tell right away whether or not the treatment on a particular patient is working based on whether or not there is evidence of dead or dying cancer cells.

Hopefully the test will cut down on the trauma associated with chemotherapy and radiation treatments.

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Curious to know how celebrities squeeze fitness into their daily lives? Want to know the secrets of the stars? Bi-weekly our That's Fit fitness expert Fitz sits down with the celebs we want to know more about, and digs out their great and not-so-great methods to staying healthy.

Our featured celebrity this week is one of our very own That's Fit bloggers, Jacki Donaldson. Jacki has published and become the feature of more than 1,000 magazine and online articles. She's an eloquent writer who guides her readers towards healthier, more appreciative and joyful lives with ease.

Jacki is also a Breast Cancer Survivor. Jacki was diagnosed in November of 2004, when her two small sons were only three years old and 18 months, Soon after, Jacki endured a lumpectomy, radiation, chemotherapy and all of the great side effects that go along with it. Jacki lives in my neighborhood and approached me about personal training in April of 2006. I considered her a friend before this, but truly had no idea what an inspirational and fun person she would be to have in my life.

As I've cheered for her, she's inspired me to become a better person in every aspect of my life. Her writing makes we want to be more insightful. Her parenting makes me want to be more creative. Her friendship makes me want to be a better person in general. Jacki has turned her experiences with cancer into a positive somehow. She's turned the most rotten lemons into the sweetest lemonade. She's now a role model for health and I'm grateful to be able to share her with you. I recommend visiting JackiDonaldson.com to get her full story.

Fitz: Describe your original diagnosis of breast cancer and your life at that point.

Jacki: I found a lump in my breast while washing in the shower. I knew in my gut it was cancer. After a mammogram, ultrasound, and biopsy, I knew with absolute certainty. I had cancer. I was 34 years old, with a husband and two little boys, ages three and 18 months.

Fitz: What type of treatment did you undergo and for how long?

Jacki: I had a lumpectomy to remove my tumor and four lymph nodes. Then I had four doses of chemotherapy, six weeks worth of radiation -- I was zapped every week day for all these weeks -- and then a year-long targeted drug therapy with a new wonder drug that cuts the risk of recurrence by 50 percent. I also received physical therapy -- both surgery and radiation affect range of motion in the arm -- and talk therapy, and I took an anti-depressant for more than one year. My treatment began in January 2005 and ended in July 2006, just more than one year ago.

Fitz: You hired me as your personal trainer about 17 months ago. You said you wanted to "get strong." How were you weak?

Jacki: My body had been battered by both cancer and the treatment designed to save my life. I was fatigued, worn out, and without physical strength. I knew I needed to make a comeback. I just didn't know how. Then I found you.

Fitz: You were still undergoing chemotherapy once every three weeks for your first few months of training. Small things like lunges and strength training with tubes would leave you dizzy quite often, but you persevered. What kept you coming when you certainly were not required to?

Jacki: I believe the healthier and stronger I become, the less likely I am to develop cancer again. So I require myself to work hard. It's my way of controlling an unpredictable disease.

Fitz: You began training in April, 2006 and ran the entire Making Strides Against Breast Cancer 5k in October, 2006. You were the first survivor to cross the finish line as you ran every step of the way. As I finished a few steps behind you, I couldn't think of a more proud moment in my career. What did that physical accomplishment mean to you?

Jacki: It meant I really could run, not just around the block which I could barely do even before cancer, but for 3.2 whole miles. It meant that I was taking powerful steps against a disease that threatened to take my life. It meant I could keep up with you -- which is no small feat!

Fitz: You've now revamped your entire way of eating. Tell me about the changes you've made and the results you've experienced. You look really hot by the way!

Jacki: I love you! I've cut out all sweets, soda, and red meat. I eat low-fat, low-sugar foods and lots of fruits and veggies. I drink only water. I've cleared my kitchen of butters, oils, dressings, and more. Results? I've lost 15 pounds, 10 of which crept up on me during treatment. I'm leaner, firmer, and so much happier in my slimmer body.

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Step in any gym in any city in any state in this entire country and you're sure to find the same people. Of course not the exact same people, but the same types of people. Though their accents may differ when they yell their rep count out loud and their music selection may vary as it blares through their oversized headphones, these same people seem to magically appear in every gym throughout the nation. Some of them work out hard, some don't work out at all, and some do exercises so bizarre that it's clearly not safe to be within a fifty-foot radius of them. Who are the people in your neighborhood gym? Pretty much the same as those in everyone else's.

1. The Gamma Radiation Victim – While they aren't green (yet), these guys are so large that they look like they could either live forever or die any second. Their clothes fit them like paint and their veins practically form roadmaps on their arms and legs. Fortunately for them, if they ever get lost on the way to their steroid dealer's house, they can use their bodies like a AAA Trip-Tic. These are also the same guys that you should never ask to spot you, because if you are struggling to bang out your last rep with what you believe to be a respectable amount of weight, they will simply lift it off you with one hand ... and then beat up your dad with the other.

Microwaves have been around forever, so why are we still wondering whether or not it's safe to stand near them when they're cooking something? According to research there's little to no safety risk in standing near an operating microwave oven based on safety standards and radiation levels. The radiation that may escape or leak out of a microwave is very small, and it's no greater than other appliances and gadgets in our homes (i.e. cellphones) that have been found to be harmless.

I understand that the evidence says the danger is extremely low (if not nonexistent) but there's just something about it -- I'll still be keeping my distance!

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