Cured of lung cancer

So today was the day, following one final CT scan, that my consultant said he regarded me as cured.

If anyone has found this blog by chance and wants to know the story, then please read the posts from early on to see what happened to me and what I did to aid my chances. 

But, just to summarise: I had a diagnosis of inoperable lung cancer back in November 2010. I was put on palliative chemo. After four doses I was given the option, or not, for another two. That all went so well  that I was offered surgery after all.  Minus two lung lobes with no residual cancer in my lymph nodes, I have been on a regular check up routine which ended today.  I have now survived over the five years which are used in cancer stats.

My gratitude to my thoracic consultant, my oncologist, my surgeon and the very many hospital and medical staff I encountered is profound. I must also thank my Journey Therapist, the hundreds of people who either prayed or aimed their positive thoughts in my direction, my friends and family for their support, my Reiki practitioner, my naturopathic nutritionist and particularly one special friend who pointed me in the right direction for research into diet and lifestyle. 

My case seemed hopeless at the start but I didn't feel hopeless. It was difficult at times but I managed to stay positive all the way through and now, almost unbelievably, I can look forward to a long life. Oh happy day!

Food for life

It's difficult, and it's even more difficult when you get closer to Christmas.  Sugar abounds. It's everywhere.  There's sugar in things where you don't expect it; there's sugar in so much that is part of our culture.

Think about it.  Birthdays - there's birthday cake; at Christmas it's Christmas cake; the same for weddings.  There's working breakfasts with chocolate croissants.  There's elevensies with sugar-saturated biscuits and how about a cup of tea and a slice of cake?  In some cafes it's impossible to order anything which does not contain sugar.  If they don't have a cheese scone, then I go without.

Ah, but cheese. Well, that's one of my problems. I love it. I especially love blue cheese and having denied myself anything with a live culture during chemo, I continue to scrump cheese in amounts that I really shouldn't. In case you were wondering, that's what has taken up residence around my midrift!

However I do still try because I really do believe that without the change to my diet which I made immediately I'd been diagnosed with lung cancer, I wouldn't be here today.  And it follows that the metabolic imbalance,  that my body most certainly suffered in the run up to the diagnosis, could return and that's something I certainly don't want.

I'm reminded today of what I should be doing food-wise by Chris Woollams' email today which has pointed to me his excellent diet article.  If you've stumbled on this blog because of cancer, than do sign up to Chris's emails and take a look at the website CANCERactive. What he says makes so much sense.

My nutritionist says:  if you can't pick it or kill it, don't eat it - and ultimately that's probably the best advice when it comes to what you should be eating for the best possible health.  In this ever-pervading sea of refined sugars and compromised fats, I do try so hard to be good.