More anti-cancer tactics.

Last time I wrote about this, I began to talk about what I am eating, and I began with the marvellous mushrooms. Today, I want to talk about two things, one, on the emotional side and the other on the food side.

Stress
I have read several books and a lots of research papers and they all seem to bear out what Professor Sali said - that stress is the main cause of illness.  There is evidence that stress causes changes in the physical body, that chronic stress "floods the body" with "immune-suppressing biochemicals". This is bad news if there is a cancer cell or two about to attack and spread.

I didn't think that I was so stressed, but I am learning that although I thought that I usually appear to be cool calm and collected, inside, I am not.

Part of that is probably my upbringing. As the eldest child, I was expected to be responsible and indeed, was praised for being so. As a Girl Guide, I won awards and badges. Here I am as a Girl Guide about 1957 (sister Robyn on left and Mum in the centre). As a GG, I learnt to be responsible for myself and others, and that included, at 15, taking 6 younger girls camping. No matter what, to get that badge, I must be always in control and I must keep my charges safe. I did that, and got what was in those days, a reasonable reward - the Queen's Guide.

Now that all sounds very patriotic and funny now, but I took it very seriously. In fact I took just about everything seriously - religion, my school studies, my music practice. I think this dedication, while it brought me considerable success, it took its toll.

It was, and is, hard for me to relax. There is always something more to be done, if one is responsible!

I am continuing my yoga practice, have resumed daily meditation and am trying to recognise and deal with the stressful moments. Some of the guided meditation has really helped and the new Dederang (over the river and only 8kms away) yoga teacher is wonderful. I play my recorder in a different way - as a meditation. I have cut the number of students I tutor so that means less marking.  I am trying to relax more.

The worst food.
I will make this short seeing that I wrote so much about stress. I don't think it is news to anyone that sugar is bad for us. However, according to all the books I have read, all types of sugar are BAD for cancer.

Cancer cells consume between ten and fifty times more glucose as normal cells.........glucose allows the cancers to grow with reckless abandon............ So, avoid refined carbohydrates: white sugar, honey, corn syrup, cookies, white bread, commercial breakfast foods...........

Although we consumed very few white things, preferring wholemeal flour, brown rice etc., it still meant a lot of changes for me. I am being a lot more careful, especially, when I go out - in the past, an excuse for me to indulge a bit. Honey is even out for me. I am using a tiny bit of xylitol when a sweetener is absolutely necessary, such as in bread making.

Reference: Block, K.L.(2009) Life over cancer. 

What drives me?

Overnight I thought I should write about the purpose of all my efforts. Our efforts I should say, because Keith is right there with me in this.

Firstly, I have always believed in preventative and natural medicine. I remember working industriously making bread, growing vegetables, raising chickens, and drinking lots of camomile  and dandelion tea when the children were little at Billywillinga (1975-1990).

 Here are a few photos of our family (David not born yet) in our Log Cabin in 1978 & 1979.

I always thought that if you didn't look after your body and soul, you got sick. So, I did what I thought I should for many years. When the word "cancer" was pronounced just before Christmas I was absolutely shocked. I didn't think I fitted any of the criteria for being a likely candidate for this disease.

I listened to the specialist doctors and did what I was told until I realised that each of them, expert in what they did (surgery, medication and radiation), did not have an interest in me, the whole me. They were all kind but unlike many GP's, they were, for want of a better word, narrow-minded. They didn't see what lifestyle had to do with my disease. Of these specialists, one, the radiation oncologist, was interested in and approved of my supplementary treatments.  The GP's, as caring and dedicated as they are, are often too busy with emergencies, testing and diagnosis to look further. And preventative medicine doesn't fit in with the emphasis on curing. Nor do they have time to read the loads of research out there. I began to read and have less faith in the medical people than I previously had. I was responsible for my own well-being.

I found an American radiation oncologist online who has a website called "Integrative Oncology" and given my special teaching subject at Charles Sturt University is "Wellness and Wellbeing", I was interested. I was hooked, actually. Holistic health, holistic medicine - this is it for me.

Take a look

Enough for now.

And wait, there's more....

Several people have asked that I continue this blog so that I can share the exciting things I am doing to be healthy, so I will try. Sometimes, I will be brief, but will give links so if you want to know more, you can.

I am feeling great - full of energy and enthusiasm - most of the time! It is hard to know where to start.

My last blog told you that I had an appointment with Professor Avni Sali and gave you some links for you to explore. I have followed Avni's advise and have also been doing my own reading and researching.

At the risk of boring you silly, I will start with my diet. Everything I am doing is supported by science, but it is hard for me to always remember why I am doing this or that.

So, lets start positive. What am I eating that might be out of the ordinary, and why.

Mushrooms

Chris Woollams. CANCERactive writes: Research on the subject of medicinal mushrooms is consistent and very clear: Depending upon the variety, they.... 

        * increase survival times in research trials with breast, lung and prostate cancer patients,

        * can shrink cancer tumours by up to 70 per cent (some extracts even caused cancers to disappear)         * stimulate the immune system, for example increasing macrophage activity or stimulating B- and T-lymphocyte production        * reduced blood supply to prostate cancer tumours, and,        * reduced side-effects of radiotherapy and chemotherapy (like nausea and hair loss).

There is lots of information on the web about the use of mushrooms, some denying its use for preventing or curing, but the philosophy that I am following is that they will increase my immunity and help to improve my overall health. We both happen to like mushrooms and unlike some "real" medicines, have no side effects.

Stay tuned for the next food idea.

Professor Avni Sali

On Thursday I had a long appointment in Melbourne with Professor Avni Sali. This link goes to a little YouTube video of Avni explaining his philosophy. There are also quite a few lectures from the NIIM (National Institute of Integrative Medicine) on YouTube if you are interested.

I feel much more confident about keeping myself healthy, with his holistic ideas. I had two blood tests, one to test for the number of cancer cells in my blood and the other, a Live Blood Analysis.

The live Blood Analysis went straight from my finger to the microscope and up on a screen in front of us. It was fascinating to hear a very competent naturopath explain different aspects of the view we saw. One thing that was reassuring was that we could see the cells that had been damaged by the radiation, but there were also "baby cells" that were bright, very lively and a good shape. My liver was seen to be in very good shape too. I won't go on and on about it, but one thing we know is that the steps I took to reduce the effects of radiation worked.

It was not all good - for example, my adrenal stress levels were up and it seems my Vit D3 is down. My blood is quite "sticky" so I have to work on that. So, I am armed with ideas for staying well. Keith learned a lot too and is keen to improve his health.

Those of you who have seen me recently will know that I have lost quite a bit of weight and I have been told the following:

1. I look 10 years younger
2. My face and skin are glowing.
3. I look better than I have for a long time

What I can tell you is that I feel very well and I am beginning to wean myself off the antidepressants.

I probably won't be putting too much more on this blog. I have my life back so will go back to my ordinary blog when something interesting happens. Thank you for reading my blog. Thank you for your patience and support when I have felt very low. Prof Sali said that people who have support from close friends get better faster and live longer. Thank you so much for enriching my life.

Normal blog  http://wyverneblog.blogspot.com.au

Walk Around Lake Illawarra

My Reward Holiday

Today I walked fro Towradgi Beach to Bellambi and this afternoon I visited my Mum who had no idea who I was. When I was leaving she said "Don't tell them your great grandmother hasn't got a brain".

No more radiation!

Today was my last radiation treatment. I said goodbye to all of the lovely radiation therapists, the nurses and the admin girls and was told I could RIP (!) my name off my locker.  I told them all that although they were all lovely, I hoped not to see them again.

I am feeling very well, full of energy and very little skin damage compared to what I have been told of some other peoples' experiences.

I am off to Bundanoon to play recorders all weekend and then to Wollongong for a week. The next cancer event will be my appointment on May 14 with Professor Avni Savni in Melbourne.