I was really interested to read the new guidelines recommending 10 pieces of fruit or veg a day for optimum health and to keep cancer and heart disease at bay. It looks like the carrot diet I mentioned previously could actually be a good idea after all. The article said that having MORE than 10 pieces of fruit or veg could be even more beneficial health wise.
I'm not sure I could ever eat 10 pieces of fruit or veg a day. I have bladder problems which are exacerbated by fruit in particular. The acid in it doesn't seem to agree with me at all. Oranges are the worst (and I love them). I can manage bananas and less acidic fruit such as melon, papaya and some types of plum but other fruit can be an issue for me.
My juicer arrived this week and I immediately juiced grapes, blueberries and orange and an apple. I was up 5 times in the night to pee after that!
I've also been juicing carrots. It makes a right old mess of everything. The juicer has taken on an orange tint that I feel sure will always be there. I've not managed to drink as much as is recommended to fight cancer though. It's very hard to drink litres of juice. It reminds me of drinking the Prep for a colonoscopy. Not great. So far, it's sent me to the loo a lot. I also put it in the fridge and now when trying to drink it, it gives me brain freeze! I'm trying to build the amount of juice up per day but it's not easy. I'm thinking it might be a lot more palatable with gin or vodka in it!!
There is a bigger issue though with eating more fruit and veg. The calories! 5lb of carrots juiced is about 600 calories! That's quite a lot if you are already trying to cut down and 10 pieces of fruit depending on type could be anything from about 600 to 900 calories. Yes doctor I've gained weight on the fruit and veg diet! Added to that, the cost of my fruit and veg this week has been around £30, it won't be easy for families on low incomes or benefits to buy it.
Back to the carrot juicing. I emailed the guy who champions the carrot diet, Ralph Cole. He emailed back - he's such a lovely person. He is 100% convinced his cancer was cured by carrots. It all sounds a bit quacky I know, but what if he's right?!!! It's very risky isn't it and as I have mentioned before I wouldn't turn down conventional cancer treatments in favour of it, but along side it, I'm giving it a go. Ralph doesn't try and sell anything and doesn't charge for his information. He just wants to share it with others in the hope that they too can fight cancer.
There is another piece here from Ann Cameron, who also did the carrot juicing to fight her own cancer. I'm quite intrigued by it all at the moment.
http://www.chrisbeatcancer.com/ann-cameron-cured-her-cancer-with-carrot-juice/
Sunday, 26 February 2017
Wednesday, 22 February 2017
No News Is Terrible
I've been waiting for the dreaded call this afternoon inviting me to see my consultant in the morning. The call never came. Read into this what you will because I have. Today has been one of the hardest days for me. I was told last week that my case would be discussed today (the usual thing - it's always Wednesday morning) and that I would get a call later on in the day to make an appointment to see the oncologist. What am I to make of this? Has the call not come because the meeting was cancelled? Maybe I didn't get a call because the MRI has thrown up a worse situation and they need to speak to other consultants before seeing me? Are they trying to find me an urgent bed? Has nothing further been found and there is no immediate urgency to see me? Did the MRI not work properly as I went in on my tummy? As usual I prefer to think that something major has occurred and so I expect the worst. I cried today. I am a cryer by nature. I can cry for anyone's child in a nativity play. I'm embarrassed by my ability to cry at the most menial of things. I always feel I need to man up. Anyway I don't want to cry about cancer. I really don't. I don't feel sorry for myself and I don't think 'why me" I think 'why not me" - it happens to babies and teenagers, why should I be exempt? So crying today annoyed me and I soon told myself off and stopped fairly sharpish.
I AM annoyed though. I'm angry. I shouldn't be because obviously several people have had similar phone calls today and they may well be in a worse situation that me and they deserve those phone calls. Everyone tells you that the waiting is the worst and it really is. It is difficult to even understand what that might be like until you find yourself in a situation where you are waiting. I didn't sleep well and I have been expecting the worst but not getting the phone call has exceeded all my usual feelings of anxiety.. I thought that by tomorrow morning I would know my fate. Part of me doesn't want to know but the sensible part tells me that once I know what's got to be done I can knuckle down and get on with it.
Now I am left in limbo not knowing what on earth has gone on and I certainly won't be seeing my oncologist tomorrow. I have phoned the cancer nurses. They always ring to make the appointment anyway. I wasn't going to call but I just couldn't help myself, I didn't want another restless night. But there was no reply, the call just went to answerphone. So here I am, waiting again. It's been over a month since they found cancer in my colon and I am still waiting to find out exactly what's going on. It's complete and utter torture.
I AM annoyed though. I'm angry. I shouldn't be because obviously several people have had similar phone calls today and they may well be in a worse situation that me and they deserve those phone calls. Everyone tells you that the waiting is the worst and it really is. It is difficult to even understand what that might be like until you find yourself in a situation where you are waiting. I didn't sleep well and I have been expecting the worst but not getting the phone call has exceeded all my usual feelings of anxiety.. I thought that by tomorrow morning I would know my fate. Part of me doesn't want to know but the sensible part tells me that once I know what's got to be done I can knuckle down and get on with it.
Now I am left in limbo not knowing what on earth has gone on and I certainly won't be seeing my oncologist tomorrow. I have phoned the cancer nurses. They always ring to make the appointment anyway. I wasn't going to call but I just couldn't help myself, I didn't want another restless night. But there was no reply, the call just went to answerphone. So here I am, waiting again. It's been over a month since they found cancer in my colon and I am still waiting to find out exactly what's going on. It's complete and utter torture.
Saturday, 18 February 2017
Don't Believe The Hype
I've never believed the hype surrounding miracle cures for combatting cancer. Whilst the conventional treatments of chemo and radiation can be harmful to the body, I would always put my trust in my oncologist. If I had read an article about someone beating cancer with carrots 6 months ago I would have just thought they had lost the plot and were likely to kill themselves in the process. It's funny how, once you are told you have cancer, you are willing to read and try anything that might help. Carrots against chemo - carrots win hands down for the ease of administration surely!
I read about Ann Cameron beating her stage 4 cancer by juicing carrots. She had read it online herself and decided to go with it. After all, what harm can it do? In fact, I've read of several success stories. I haven't read any stories where it hasn't succeeded as I guess those people aren't here to tell us it didn't work! I'm not knocking it at all. If it has worked and saved only one life, I'm all for it. Ann is no fool. She's a children's author and clearly a very intelligent woman. I immediately downloaded her book!
The article I found online is posted below:
http://naturalsociety.com/man-woman-carrot-juice-stage-4-cancer/
Apparently, 5 pounds of carrots a day are needed to kill the cancer. I'm sure this is quite an ordeal, not only drinking it but juicing it too. Ann initially tried 3 pounds and it didn't work. The carrots also make you turn a nice shade of David Dickinson. This bothers me, I'm not sure why because in the whole scheme of things I'd rather have a teak finish on my skin than be in a teak box in the ground! Ann changed nothing else in her diet. She only added the carrot juice.
I had a look at the Cancer Research UK website where there are several discussions regarding carrot juicing. Some are very positive but, rightly so, the Research Team DO post asking people not to promote *cures* that are not scientifically tested. One man on the forum has been carrot juicing for several months. When he went back for a CT scan in September last year, he was unhappy as the results were not good but he carried on juicing daily anyway. 2 months later in November, he had another CT scan which showed that the tumour on his lung had disappeared and the largest tumour on his liver had shrunk! He hasn't updated since because I think the comments by the moderators have put him off but I really hope he is well! I've sent him a PM in the hope of getting an update.
I'm rambling here of course as I have no idea if this alternative therapy (or any of the others) work and no doubt most of them don't but anything positive for anyone is surely a good thing. Positive thinking is something I don't possess much of but reading success stories lifts my heart for the people concerned.
I've sent for a juicer :)
I read about Ann Cameron beating her stage 4 cancer by juicing carrots. She had read it online herself and decided to go with it. After all, what harm can it do? In fact, I've read of several success stories. I haven't read any stories where it hasn't succeeded as I guess those people aren't here to tell us it didn't work! I'm not knocking it at all. If it has worked and saved only one life, I'm all for it. Ann is no fool. She's a children's author and clearly a very intelligent woman. I immediately downloaded her book!
The article I found online is posted below:
http://naturalsociety.com/man-woman-carrot-juice-stage-4-cancer/
Apparently, 5 pounds of carrots a day are needed to kill the cancer. I'm sure this is quite an ordeal, not only drinking it but juicing it too. Ann initially tried 3 pounds and it didn't work. The carrots also make you turn a nice shade of David Dickinson. This bothers me, I'm not sure why because in the whole scheme of things I'd rather have a teak finish on my skin than be in a teak box in the ground! Ann changed nothing else in her diet. She only added the carrot juice.
I had a look at the Cancer Research UK website where there are several discussions regarding carrot juicing. Some are very positive but, rightly so, the Research Team DO post asking people not to promote *cures* that are not scientifically tested. One man on the forum has been carrot juicing for several months. When he went back for a CT scan in September last year, he was unhappy as the results were not good but he carried on juicing daily anyway. 2 months later in November, he had another CT scan which showed that the tumour on his lung had disappeared and the largest tumour on his liver had shrunk! He hasn't updated since because I think the comments by the moderators have put him off but I really hope he is well! I've sent him a PM in the hope of getting an update.
I'm rambling here of course as I have no idea if this alternative therapy (or any of the others) work and no doubt most of them don't but anything positive for anyone is surely a good thing. Positive thinking is something I don't possess much of but reading success stories lifts my heart for the people concerned.
I've sent for a juicer :)
Wednesday, 15 February 2017
Night Terrors - MRI Scan
It's been a tough few days with the MRI scan looming large. I didn't sleep well last night and I've been a grumpy sod for a couple of days. It's difficult to put these things to the back of your mind. I found myself lying in bed with the quilt over my head trying to mimic being in the MRI machine. I did the same in the bath pretending it was the machine and trying to imagine I couldn't move. It didn't help. I can't sleep with the window shut and I have never been able to wear one of those masks for painting and decorating such is my claustrophobia. I never said I was normal!!!
I needn't have worried though because this time, it wasn't half so bad and I don't know how I managed it, but I stuck it out regardless of being terrified!
Things didn't start well. I arrived 25 minutes early only be to be told they were running quite late. A woman waiting for her husband informed me that his appointment was at 2.45pm and he hadn't gone in until 4.30pm. Oh brilliant. I've got hours to sit here and panic about everything going on. I could hear the machine clunking away in the next room for what seemed like an eternity.
When the husband of my companion in the waiting room came out, he looked very red faced as if he'd been in a sauna. 'I used to go out with a radiographer, but she saw straight through me' he said. It wasn't funny so I struggled to laugh. Sensing he hadn't won me over with his joke he added 'I then went out with a doctor but she lost her patience'. Worse, I thought. I forced a laugh. He continued in the same vein with another couple of Christmas cracker jokes and then as they bid me farewell, I found myself sat on my own in the waiting room with the Antiques Road Trip on TV for company. Even though there was only the TV and me, I didn't watch it, I couldn't put my mind to anything but how I was going to make myself stay in the tube! No one had given me a Plan B so I had to get through Plan A.
After about 15 minutes I was escorted into the changing room and asked if I had anything metal and removable on my body, such as teeth, hearing aid, belly button piercing? No. I was told to put my belongings in a locker in the changing room a bit like when you go to the baths, or certainly what I did in my childhood when I went to the baths. Has all that changed? I haven't been for about 30 years!
I was asked if I knew I was to go through the machine on my tummy, I did - and thank you Mr Consultant for suggesting this because it was absolutely nowhere near as bad as going through on my back. I could see daylight and this helped massively. Every time I felt a bit panicked, I glanced into the open, airy room and and felt OK again. I won't say it was easy because it wasn't. 20 minutes felt like a lifetime and how I managed to stay still for that time amazes me. My knees were killing me, my neck hurt and I felt I needed to cough on several occasions. Worrying about coughing actually made the time go by as I tried my hardest to control it fearing that if I DID cough, it would nul and void the part of the MRI I had already done. The noises made by the machine were varied. I counted them, I don't know why. I have a tendency to count everything, steps, stairs, people walking on the beach, paving slabs and sometimes, how many steps it will take me to get to the car or get home. I think it's called 'being a prat syndrome'.
If you have ended up reading this page because you are worried about having an MRI scan then please don't. Honestly, if I can do it then anyone can. The machine wasn't even switched on for my first attempt before I was back in the car and heading home. It was something that I just felt wasn't going to happen so please suggest lying on your tummy if you DO have difficulty. Not seeing the tunnel above you really is a huge help.
So another step completed and now I have more sleepless nights worrying about the outcome. It's been a long few weeks and no doubt it will be a long few months.
I needn't have worried though because this time, it wasn't half so bad and I don't know how I managed it, but I stuck it out regardless of being terrified!
Things didn't start well. I arrived 25 minutes early only be to be told they were running quite late. A woman waiting for her husband informed me that his appointment was at 2.45pm and he hadn't gone in until 4.30pm. Oh brilliant. I've got hours to sit here and panic about everything going on. I could hear the machine clunking away in the next room for what seemed like an eternity.
When the husband of my companion in the waiting room came out, he looked very red faced as if he'd been in a sauna. 'I used to go out with a radiographer, but she saw straight through me' he said. It wasn't funny so I struggled to laugh. Sensing he hadn't won me over with his joke he added 'I then went out with a doctor but she lost her patience'. Worse, I thought. I forced a laugh. He continued in the same vein with another couple of Christmas cracker jokes and then as they bid me farewell, I found myself sat on my own in the waiting room with the Antiques Road Trip on TV for company. Even though there was only the TV and me, I didn't watch it, I couldn't put my mind to anything but how I was going to make myself stay in the tube! No one had given me a Plan B so I had to get through Plan A.
After about 15 minutes I was escorted into the changing room and asked if I had anything metal and removable on my body, such as teeth, hearing aid, belly button piercing? No. I was told to put my belongings in a locker in the changing room a bit like when you go to the baths, or certainly what I did in my childhood when I went to the baths. Has all that changed? I haven't been for about 30 years!
I was asked if I knew I was to go through the machine on my tummy, I did - and thank you Mr Consultant for suggesting this because it was absolutely nowhere near as bad as going through on my back. I could see daylight and this helped massively. Every time I felt a bit panicked, I glanced into the open, airy room and and felt OK again. I won't say it was easy because it wasn't. 20 minutes felt like a lifetime and how I managed to stay still for that time amazes me. My knees were killing me, my neck hurt and I felt I needed to cough on several occasions. Worrying about coughing actually made the time go by as I tried my hardest to control it fearing that if I DID cough, it would nul and void the part of the MRI I had already done. The noises made by the machine were varied. I counted them, I don't know why. I have a tendency to count everything, steps, stairs, people walking on the beach, paving slabs and sometimes, how many steps it will take me to get to the car or get home. I think it's called 'being a prat syndrome'.
If you have ended up reading this page because you are worried about having an MRI scan then please don't. Honestly, if I can do it then anyone can. The machine wasn't even switched on for my first attempt before I was back in the car and heading home. It was something that I just felt wasn't going to happen so please suggest lying on your tummy if you DO have difficulty. Not seeing the tunnel above you really is a huge help.
So another step completed and now I have more sleepless nights worrying about the outcome. It's been a long few weeks and no doubt it will be a long few months.
Monday, 13 February 2017
Doing A Bit Of Research....
...well, googling colon cancer to be honest. How many people tell you not to do it?! The truth is that whilst some will avoid it for fear of what they might find, the majority of people are going to google it whatever. There are top class scientists on the internet having researched just about everything known to man as well as the best consultants in the world. Why wouldn't you want to find out as much as you can? That part is fine. It's when you happen across other stuff telling you not to have chemo because it will 'kill you' and to cure cancer with food, or supplements. Added to that there is a section of society that tells you that praying will save you. Apparently, googling cancer is worse for you than cancer itself! Yet we continue to torture ourselves doing it! It's a bit like having one of those medical books back in the 70's. My dad threw ours out in the end due to the fact that he'd diagnosed himself as having most of the illnesses from A - Z! Doctors hate it if you say you've googled your symptoms and give you quite a dressing down for it but then when you tell them your symptoms, they proceed to google it themselves! I know they are looking at reputable websites but even so, they don't know what's wrong with you half the time either! I've even had doctor's print out reading matter off the internet for me to take home, a type of homework for the sick!
Apparently googling your symptoms makes you a 'cybercondriac'!
What about books? I've bought a few lately. I was really taken with the pH theory that cancer cannot live in a high pH environment and that by eating the right foods and taking the right supplements, the cancer will have no alternative but to die! I wrote a list of foods to buy and set about sorting out recipes. I also googled 'High pH diet doesn't work' and sure enough, there were as many websites saying it was rubbish as those that said it was a miracle cure! It appears in loads of top 10 myths about cancer. Eating healthier can only be good for us, but if at some point in my life I find I have a terminal illness, I'm going out for a McDonald's and as much Cadburys chocolate as I can stuff my face with!
Cancer blogs are another thing. There are thousands. I read one yesterday that finished in 2012. I can only imagine that the blogger died and that's why it came to an abrupt end, or that they got the all clear and took themselves off to some far flung place to have the most wonderful time. I hope it's the latter.
Apparently googling your symptoms makes you a 'cybercondriac'!
What about books? I've bought a few lately. I was really taken with the pH theory that cancer cannot live in a high pH environment and that by eating the right foods and taking the right supplements, the cancer will have no alternative but to die! I wrote a list of foods to buy and set about sorting out recipes. I also googled 'High pH diet doesn't work' and sure enough, there were as many websites saying it was rubbish as those that said it was a miracle cure! It appears in loads of top 10 myths about cancer. Eating healthier can only be good for us, but if at some point in my life I find I have a terminal illness, I'm going out for a McDonald's and as much Cadburys chocolate as I can stuff my face with!
Cancer blogs are another thing. There are thousands. I read one yesterday that finished in 2012. I can only imagine that the blogger died and that's why it came to an abrupt end, or that they got the all clear and took themselves off to some far flung place to have the most wonderful time. I hope it's the latter.
Sunday, 12 February 2017
Saturday, 11 February 2017
It's The Weekend
The dreaded MRI appointment has finally come through. Its for Wednesday at 5PM. I assume I am last in because I made a bit of a scene last time. Embarrassing. I've now got 5 days to worry about just how I'm going to get through that bloody scanner! What happens if I can't go through with it again? How will they ever find out where the cancer is and what my options are? It's such an important thing to have done so I have to do my best, I know this but the fear is still at the back of my mind.
Met up with some friends last night. Drank champagne and had a laugh. It's lovely to be in the company of people that make me forget about my cancer woes. I walked home in my slippers carrying my Ugg boots. A few steps down the lane and it all came flooding back to me. It's always there waiting to pop back to the front of my thoughts. I try not to think about it but it's so difficult. Sitting in the car overlooking the sea every day, I can't help asking myself if I will be looking at this view this time next year. Will I be paddling in the summer like last year? Why do I torture myself so much. I can't do that 'take one step at a time' crap at all, I have to make myself think the worst and frighten the bejasus out of myself!
One of my friends is a staff nurse and works at the hospital I will have to go to if I need surgery. She keeps telling me she will call in on me often and get the other nurses to look after me. I guess I should feel happy and comforted by this but I actually feel really upset about it. I don't want her calling in on me seeing me at my worst! I don't really want my family to see me like it! It feels such a huge thing in my life and I woke up worrying about it this morning. In the whole scheme of things, does it really matter if she sees me with no make up, my hair a mess and possibly having lost a bridged tooth? It really does matter to me right now!!! In fact, the thought of this has actually put the much larger issue that I have cancer into second place at the moment! I mean, a gap in my teeth?!! Horrific!
Met up with some friends last night. Drank champagne and had a laugh. It's lovely to be in the company of people that make me forget about my cancer woes. I walked home in my slippers carrying my Ugg boots. A few steps down the lane and it all came flooding back to me. It's always there waiting to pop back to the front of my thoughts. I try not to think about it but it's so difficult. Sitting in the car overlooking the sea every day, I can't help asking myself if I will be looking at this view this time next year. Will I be paddling in the summer like last year? Why do I torture myself so much. I can't do that 'take one step at a time' crap at all, I have to make myself think the worst and frighten the bejasus out of myself!
One of my friends is a staff nurse and works at the hospital I will have to go to if I need surgery. She keeps telling me she will call in on me often and get the other nurses to look after me. I guess I should feel happy and comforted by this but I actually feel really upset about it. I don't want her calling in on me seeing me at my worst! I don't really want my family to see me like it! It feels such a huge thing in my life and I woke up worrying about it this morning. In the whole scheme of things, does it really matter if she sees me with no make up, my hair a mess and possibly having lost a bridged tooth? It really does matter to me right now!!! In fact, the thought of this has actually put the much larger issue that I have cancer into second place at the moment! I mean, a gap in my teeth?!! Horrific!
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