Cancer Crap

Food and Drink and Cancer and Me So, after being diagnosed, I have to leave my job, I get treatment that makes me feel ill, and not only that the bang goes that feeling of “Its Friday! Let’s have a beer lads” and the “Shall we stay in and get a few bottles of wine”. In this podcast I talk about the predicament many cancer patients have of either eating the food I have enjoyed all my life or turning all “zen” and eating healthy! Hopefully not too preachy, I give an honest description of how I’ve dealt with my food and lifestyle choices during my diagnosis and also give a few signposts to where cancer patients might find some help with living a little better through nutrition and lifestyle. “When you choose hope, anything is possible.” Christopher Reeves. Useful sources for nutrition. “The metabolic approach to Cancer Integrating Deep Nutrition, the Ketogenic Diet and Non-Toxic Bio-Individualized Therapies”. Dr Nasha Winters Jess Higging Kelley. “Keto for Cancer”. Miriam Kalamian “The Longevity Diet”.  Valter Longo www.embracingnutrition.co.uk Notes regarding sources The metabolic approach by Nasha Winters- is a hard read as there’s lots in there and for me at times difficulty to understand/take in. But it’s got lots of really useful info so stick with it if you can. Keto for Cancer - is a bit easier reading (but only marginally). Again, though full of great advice for tackling the keto diet if that’s a route your thinking of taking. The longevity diet - only has a small section on cancer and you can get most of the ideas by googling “Valter Longo fasting cancer” so if you want to save some money id just do that. Embracing nutrition - are great. You can skip all the reading and research and they will give you a diet, lifestyle and supplement that they think will help you best. And it’s almost certain the experts are going to know more than you. I’ve had a number of consultations that have been invaluable, but there getting further apart as personally now I feel I need to take a more proactive approach myself to keep me motivated and fully understanding why I’m doing things. I’ll be booking in soon though to check I’m on the right path.

Advice for Undergoing Chemotherapy 1. POSITIVE - Don't expect it to be a given that you are going to be sick, tired, depressed... you might also feel positive, go for walks, take up new hobbies during this time if you can. Live. 2. GET UP AND BE ACTIVE IF YOU CAN - If you wake up feeling sick, tired, can’t be bothered. Ignore those feelings, get your backside out of bed and in the shower and move! It’s surprising how often simply having a shower led me to a more productive day. If after that by all means sit down and rest up. As many will say listen to your body (but give the day a go first). You might want to consider some exercise, something that your used to and have done before. 3. HYDRATE - Drink as much as you can around chemo, it will help you feel better and better quicker. Water, hydration tablets (I used the SIS ones), tea etc. Also try to eat veg and fruit as this will hydrate you. Cucumber is particularly good. 4. KEEP A CHEMO DIARY - For a few reasons. Basically, over the 14 days of chemo (That’s how long my cycle was) I found I would feel certain ways on certain days, certain days I’d feel sick etc. For instance, on chemo day Id also get a shot of steroids which would keep me awake at night and Id also feel very "enthusiastic". (I sent some very weird emails at 2am in the morning - One to the British shellfish association asking them how I could support them!!!!). On day 2-4 I’d feel very teary. It was great to recognise this as although we shouldn't hold things in and its ok to cry, I think if it’s the steroids putting you on a downer then maybe I should take this emotion with a pinch of salt. I then began to think "yeah I’m upset, I’m crying but actually this is all being exacerbated by them bloody steroids and tiredness and I’ll feel better soon. With that acceptance, the down times were shorter. That’s just one example and my best reason for keeping that chemo diary, but it also helped me plan how I would eat, pre preparing meals to try and stay healthy. 5. PLAN – Try and make things easy when you need them to be. If you know you’re going to be tired at a certain time, prepare you food or get jobs that need to be done in advance. Plan when you’re going to enjoy yourself too. Don’t fail to plan in good times during chemo just because you “might” have to cancel. Give yourself the opportunity to live why you’re doing this. If you have to let people down, they will understand. I found arranging to meet friends for a walk worked really well and if I wasn’t up to it, we could change it to a coffee. Plan holidays/weekends away at times when you’re feeling better (towards the end of the chemo cycle). 6. BEFORE CHEMO (FASTING) – Do your research, don’t just believe what I think. I believe a good 72 Hour fast is great for side effects and efficacy of chemo. Have a google of Valter Longos research on this. Refences Nasha Winters – The metabolic approach to cancer Radical Remission – Kelly Turner Valter Longo – The Longevity diet.

The first episode. I introduce myself and give a brief overview of what I’ve been up to since diagnosis. Following this I describe life when I was diagnosed, symptoms and other experiences at the time. Since diagnosis I’ve had to cope with what I would call “Identity loss” and talk through this. I then will give a brief overview of whats to come on “Cancer Crap”. Thanks for joining me!!

A brief overview of whats in store for Cancer Crap listeners. The Series will cover... Episode 1 – Me, My diagnosis and things to come. Episode 2 – Chemo Crap (Coping with chemotherapy) Episode 3 – I bloody love food (Food, Drink and Cancer) Episode 4 –Telling your seven year old daughter you have terminal cancer Episode 5 – Crappy little pills (Supplements and off label drugs) Episode 6 – Exercise and Cancer