Horatio update: Post radiation results in

[avoncallingu]

Good idea to give your oncologist a call. In the meantime - WOW it's cold this weekend here! Glad you've got some "fluffy" hats! I performed a wedding OUTSIDE yesterday and was frozen to the bone! Woke up this morning with the sneezes! Make sure you keep warm when you go outside. I'll have to scramble to find the box that our winter hats/gloves/scarves are in. We had our (gas) fireplace on for the first time today - seems like we've gone straight from a/c to fireplace. My dh loves it cool though. All my friends who are able are running in the Breast Cancer run today to support another friend who is going through chemo right now for it. She'll have radiation when the chemo is through.
It's so great that you can be in your home to rest!

[TaraF]

walks I hated baywatch! But the thought of the rock in nothing but some orange shorts (or speedo) really appeals to me. And mad it's been crazy cold out! I guess it IS that time of year though. Hmph!

princessjen, one of the unfortunate potential side effects of radiation therapy anywhere on the body is developing a secondary cancer, so while fixing one cancer you can develop another. Nice, eh? It's due to the fact that radiation therapy delivers repeated high doses of radiation to one spot which damages DNA, and damaged DNA is what can mutate into cancer. Having said that I've been told that generally if you are one of the unfortunate ones to encounter this "very unfortunate side effect" that it usually occurs 4+ years after treatment. But stats are what they are. It's very plausible that if her skin cancer was at the initial radiation site that it's connected. But I'm not a Dr and I don't play one on TV either. I just ask a lot of questions of my Drs and do my research. I hope that your Aunt is doing well now.

Oh avon an outside wedding yesterday? EEK! I hope there was some hot cocoa on standby! Today it was +3 when I woke up. Pfft. But I still managed to get 2 walks in for a total of 4.5km today. I'm very proud of myself. But now I'm really tired. lol I hear you about a/c to fireplace, though we need to buy a new electric one (we're in an apt) and it's going to cost us an arm and a leg. Eep. Thank God for plastic. I wish your friend well, I will keep her in my thoughts. This disease is a horrible one but with support we can all make it through when faced with it!

[TaraF]

I posted this on my facebook as a note for my friends as I believe it's important, so I wanted to post it here as well.

October is Breast cancer awareness month. Breast cancer is unfortunately something that affects many people in Canada annually, and even though great advances in medicine have been made, there is still a long way to go in finding a cure for the disease. Contrary to myth, it isn't solely a "woman's" disease, and when stricken with cancer, the patient isn't the only one that goes through the disease, the whole family does. Did you know that metastatic brain tumours occur at some point in 20-40% of people with any form of cancer? Well, it seems fitting, then, that October is also brain tumour awareness month, an awareness month with a lot less publicity, hype or "glam", but it, too, affects many Canadians annually. Myself included. Many reading this know that I just finished a 6 week stint of treatment at Juravinski Cancer Centre due to recurrance of my brain tumour, that pesky thing, but this isn't an uncommon thing with brain tumours, or any cancer really. I'm the first to say that I don't know what "bringing awareness to the cause" will do, I really don't, I do know that advancements have been made in cancer treatment, and that's good. I can hope those advancements continue, because sadly cancer has become the #1 killer in Canada. It kills more people annually than Heart Disease, diabetes and kidney disease combined. Let that sink in for just a minute. I know that I've been reading a lot about the connection of food, mind and body, and not just any food but organic food. Yes, I have become "one of those people". I am 100% convinced that the pesticides, the GMO crops, the growth hormones in our meats, etc, is a huge contributor in the increase in cancer rates, but that's just me. And so my lifestyle has changed drastically, it's easy to do when you view things as a fight for your life. Really easy. If your health isn't worth it, what is? So this month, my hope for everyone is that they take the time to educate themselves and others on how to keep your body cancer free, so that you don't have to make the journey down the road that I and countless other Canadians are on.

[avoncallingu]

Thanks, Tara!

[Skippy]

Glad your treatment is over,take care of yourself my friend. One day at a time.

[ticul]

Just stopping by to see how you are doing. Hope you rest a lot. BIG HUGS for you....................

[TaraF]

Thank you Skippy, that's all I can do. Just one day at a time. ticul I'm getting by, thanks. Tomorrow is my last dose of dex. WAHOO! I'll be fully weened off of that. For some odd reason my appetite is very small. I'll grab something to eat and only take 2 or 3 bites and push it away, but it's happening with every meal I'm eating. That's been the last 3 days. Who knows. I just make notes of things (I'm a good note taker) and mention things to my Drs. Let them sort me out. lol The dexamethasone is suppose to increase your appetite and the whole time I've been on it I haven't had an increase in appetite. But I've definately been getting a LOT of rest. And I'm LOVING it.

[madchives]

just saying this because i second tara about asking questions on how cancer can
show up and take someone away.

my dad's girlfriend's daughter went into the hospital a few weeks ago with pain
and today they are having a meeting to see if she should be in the palliative care unit.
ann has a tumour the size of a baby, and although some doctor should have
noticed a major problem - it is inoperable.
obviously some more time to adjust as if one can,,

hoping as always you stay comfy tara, and holy shoot 4.5 kilos,
extremely impressive - i should try that sometime,,
but would likely be in some pain - so i'd need heat or ice,,,

and i agree - very worrisome about what is in our food and really
in so much more that we have in our lives. hence eeekkk etc.

[madchives]

i see eating is problematic - ice cream, popcorn, crackers with peanut butter, chips - hard boiled eggs
toast with a cooked egg on half - jam on the other.
anything to get those stomach muscles going.
when i busted my 2 vertebras a few years ago, my stomach shrunk also, so lost my appetite,
but if you can eat just a bit every so often,, maybe a whole meal any day now tara.

[Lynn49]

Good morning, Tara.
Very interesting that you mentioned the food-health connection!

My hubby, being a retired high school teacher, yesterday received a magazine (RTO...registered teachers organization) all about nutrition....boy, was that interesting! Article after article touting the benefits of properly feeding one's body, curing this, getting off drugs there...my intention today was to send you some sites, books, that are suggested in this magazine! Something is aligning in the universe for us to be on the same page today...

Ugh...I've got to get off this ipad and onto the computer....hang on...this might take a few minutes...

[Lynn49]

Okay! I tried to find the information on the RTO site, but nothing....so here goes: those sites/books...

Story 1: Charlotte Majic, Northumberland

Woman, developed "symptoms of lymphoma" (?) decided to seek complimentary treatments,learned of high-dose intravenous Vit C, 'very' effective in treating various kinds of cancers, no side effects because high-does Vit C is toxic to some cancer cells not to normal ones.....later confirmed she had Stage III non-Hodgkin lymphoma; she chose alternative treatments in spite of her oncologist saying the only treatment was chemotherapy. Started 75gm infusions of Vit C, twice a week, and followed a strict diet of plant-based foods, no sugars, dairy or refined flour foods. After 3 months, oncologist confirmed 84% reduction in size and number of lymph nodes. Now has Vit C therapy twice a months, maintains HIGH ALKALINE pH balance in foods (many reports of people doing that!), she now has normal tests.
More information:
http://orthomolecular.org/library/jo...5n04p201.shtml
so...that didn't open for me, but I got here:
http://www.orthomolecular.org/librar...n02-p060.shtml
I"m sure you can find the article from there...

Also:http://www.greenmedinfo.com/blog/why...y-treat-cancer

Story 2: Pat Martin, Wellingto

Uterine cancer caused by estrogen prescribed years before for menopause (thank heavens our GP wouldn't let me go on it!)
Advised to have full hysterectomy (1988)
Radiation for 6 weeks, 5 days a week, home on weekends
At end of radiation, was invited to take part in chemotherapy treatment that involved taking prednisone, another hormone, told 6 months to live.
She said, "NO."
Purchased the book: "Getting Well Again" by Dr. Carl Simonton and Dr Stephanie Matthews-Simonton who had worked with victims of Agent Orange.
Also started reading books written by Dr Bernie Siegal, and Dr. Larry Dossey
She started to eat all natural and organic food, not easy, but eventually regained strength. Used organic flour to bake her own bread, also buckwheat, millet, beat hardest to find without steroids, etc. Exercises as well as she could, then skiing, swimming, walked as much as possible.
Is now certified in homeopathy and Honorary Fellow at the British Institute of Homeopathy, at age 68, feeling well (although no mention of her cancer), but says she thanks everyone who helped her on her 'road to recovery'.
www.bihusa.com

Story 3: Linda Ness, W​aterloo

Neurofeedback training...became trained in it, info here:

http://www.cancer.ca/en/cancer-infor...ine/?region=on

YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT article

Generally:
Dr Joel Fuhrman: "Eat to Live" and "Eat for Health", lectures on PBS (I've watched those): diet should contain: 90% unrefined plant foods, fruits vegetables, beans as the base, nuts and seeds healthy fats. (libraries have his books)
"Do eat it if it grows on a plant; don't eat it if it's manufactured in a plant."
Fuhrman's acronym: G-BOMBS: greens, beans, onions, mushrooms, berries, seeds.

www.drfuhrman.com/library/foodpyramid.aspx

www.webmd.com/diet/features/break-your-food-addictions

Story 4: Ingrid Shouldice, Scarborough: Gluten/dairy-free

Eating gluten-free has resolved her IBS issues

Story 5: Robert Gavreluk, Huron/Perth

Friend had angina, needed 3 puffers, over-weight: Read: "The China Study" by Dr Colin Campbell, and "Preventing and Reversing Heart Disease" by Dr Caldwell Esselstyn
Followed plant-based diet, discourages meats, dairy, eggs, refined and processed foods.
Result: weight dropped to normal, cholesteroly, triglycerides, blood pressure, glucose, Vit D all normal, strong immune system.
At 75, takes no medication.
Favourite foods: black beans, fresh salads, vegan chili, pizza, vegan and cabbage rolls, none contain meat or dairy.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3662288/

An article (not advertisement) for JuicePlus+

http://canada.juiceplus.com/content/...l#.VDa4ZhJG5LY

Benefits of an alkaline-based diet:

...acidity contributes to disease, constipation, diarrhea, kidney and liver problems;
vegetables, fruits=highly alkaline
meats, dairy and grains=acid forming
Books: "Digestive Wellness" by Dr. Elizabeth Lipski; "Grain Brain", Dr Perlmutter; "No Guts, No Glory", Dr Lamm

Whew!
Well, there you have it. That magazine shredded down to the essentials...
I hope this gives you and anyone else reading this post food ... ahem ... for thought; I know that lately I've been growing really sick and tired of eating 'normal' foods. The fact that this magazine dropped into our mailbox yesterday was the push I needed to not only get back on my diet, but to eat for health.

Blessings, Sweetie...Lynn

[avoncallingu]

Hey! I KNOW Linda Ness in Waterloo! We were principals together! She is a very respected member of that community. I didn't even check the site yet, but I certainly WILL! Just dropping in to say "Hey!" hope you have a nice day!

[Lynn49]

Hey! I KNOW Linda Ness in Waterloo! We were principals together! She is a very respected member of that community. I didn't even check the site yet, but I certainly WILL! Just dropping in to say "Hey!" hope you have a nice day!

You know what, Avon? As I typed that, I WONDERED if you knew her!! Teachers in each town the size of ours and your former one almost can't help bumping into each other at one time or another!!

[TaraF]

madchives, sorry to hear about your dads girlfriends daughter, that's horrible. I wish her the best in a very difficult time. This disease just sucks.


Ah Lynn you totally are what you eat! I believe that now more than ever! Thank you for all of the links, I will totally get to them at some point (after the goober nephews leave tonight) lol As for the alkaline diet...YES! YES! YES!!! I also only drink alkaline water now!


And look at you and avon, such a small world isn't it?

[IthinkIcan]

OK, I am suddenly seeing this "alkaline food" thing in many places, care to elaborate, Tara and others... ....ahhh! how I wish yummy didn't mean unhealthy