My Cancer Experiences Blog

Well, its now July... I had the PET scan and although it didn't show anything my oncologist said I still needed a CT scan as the PET scan doesn't pick up things as well as the CT scan. I found that quite annoying as the PET scan was not necessary and would have meant less radiation.
One CT scan is equivalent to about 4 years of the natural radiation and a PET scan is less, maybe 2 years worth. I've now had 1 PET and 3 CT's so that's about 14 years of radiation just in the last 14 months. Thankfully my naturopath found that there is a homeopathic remedy called "radiation" that is supposed to help reduce the effects. Radiation apparently interferes in DNA replication and its common knowledge radiation in high doses can kill you... comparing to the amounts needed for that, my dose is very small.
So, the CT is done now too. It was quite nerve racking going in again and although I was fairly confidant that it would be all clear, there is this nervous anticipation that grows the closer you get to the appointment.
Finally getting in to see the doctor and waiting for him to review the results, it was such a major relief to hear him say "all clear". Nothing else seemed to matter at that moment. Getting out of the doctors office as quickly as possible to call family and friends was the next major priority.
I'm home now and although the majority of my health drama is over and I can now call myself a 'Cancer Survivor' its not time to totally let loose yet (if ever). My body is still recovering from the whole ordeal and especially the chemo. The damage to my nerves is still apparent in the numbness in my feet and to a lesser degree my fingers. The soles of my feet feel a bit weird and I know I cannot feel some things. Hot and cold and textures of surfaces are a bit harder to distinguish than what they were pre-chemo. That being said I know I am very lucky that that is the only side affect to deal with. I didn't loose my hair and so there are no visible signs of what I've been through.
My stamina is taking a while to come back but that's totally understandable. Apparently it can take 12 months to get back to normal. That being a very good reason to keep looking after myself very well.
As I'm very motivated to eat and be healthy it just comes as a continuation of how I was living before. Reducing stress and having more fun has been pushed up the priority ladder, however things that used to stress me before don't stress me so much now. All I have to do is be thankful to be alive and not much else can compare to the stress of cancer. Some great subliminal meditation mp3's I listen to also helps keep a positive attitude in any situation.
One thing I was quiet surprised at when finishing chemo was the advice from the doctors - basically nothing. Just go home and eat and do what you normally would do. ????? eh????? wasn't that what got me cancer in the first place. No wonder I wasn't very good at listening to doctors. It still amazes me the wonderful things they did for me, the unbeliveable things they can do like cut you open, put your guts on a tray on your chest, chop a bit out, join you back together and then you keep living! On the flip side you ask a question and "We don't know" is a very common answer, surprisingly so considering the billions of dollars being pumped into cancer research. Cancer is a very profitable industry for drug companies but you'd think there was enough people with good intentions to overcome that.
I believe cancer is a nutritional disease. Not genetic, except for the tendency of different nutritional amounts requires by different people. After reading Professor Brian Peskin's Hidden Story of Cancer book with its many references to modern results I wonder why there are not cancer cures.
I am doing a lot for my health with specific reasons to build my system up and prevent me from getting cancer again. I know this is possible as I have heard a lot of stories of others with major cancer that has been chopped out and they are still surviving 20 years later with no other occurrences. Its nice to hear those stories, it give me hope - you only ever hear of people dying on the news from cancer but there is hope as there are a lot more people that you think walking around perfectly happy who have had cancer years and years ago. Someday that will be me I will be shouting it from the roof-tops to give others hope too.
Bye for now.
PS sign up for the blog updates on the right and I will continue to report my health and healthy lifestyle activities to hopefully inspire you to be healthy too ;)

I can't believe how long it has been since I updated this blog. I had good intentions to and lots of thoughts of what to write but obviously I never quite got there. For close friends you have had quick updates on Facebook which was much easier than having to rethink all the unpleasant days during my worst days each chemo cycle.
I've heard so much about being positive helping with cancer treatments and so I find looking back is still hard as I have set many goals for a fantastic future to look forward to.
Well, from my last post just after my first treatment when I felt okish, things slowly progressed down-hill. The same day after the 'injection' was ok but progressively got worse,. to where on the last cycle (I had 8 all up) I walked in the door and went straight to bed.
Generally the first week I stuck to the couch and slept or watched TV in a bit of a daze. "Chemo brain" which is this fog and really weird and annoying mental inability to process anything kicked in, I think in the first cycle, until I discovered Sudoku about the 3rd cycle and it seemed to settle somewhat. Its hard when someone says something to you and although you can hear the words (only just - hearing is affected too), your brain just doesn't want to compute and you have absolutely no idea what they are saying. Adding numbers was impossible - 3 + 4 becomes: ok i've got 3, then i'm going to ad something, yes ADD it to the first number, what was that number again, oh yes 3.... 3 plus, ok I'm adding 4 to the first number, that number was 3, plus what again?.... to remember 3 little components I would have to go over 3 + 4 a dozen times because as soon as I thought 4 I'd forgotten 3!  Playing sudoku definitely helped and I got better and better at it as the 3 week cycle got to the end and then it seemed to help lift the majority of the fog the rest of the time, except for some short relapses ;) Now I'm listening to brainwave technology meditations which I think are helping and may get my brain functioning better than before.
The main side effects I got from my chemo drugs (which were Oxaliplatin and Xeloda) were, peripheral neuropathy (nerve damage) which causes pins and needles in fingers, toes and mouth when exposed to hot or cold things (or weather), cramping fingers and toes, nausea, constipation, tired, lethargy, fatigue, weak muscles. As I started chemo 13th July the weather was cold - this was not good for my hands as metal knives and forks would give me stabbing pins and needles in my hands. Getting things out of the fridge was hard (I avoided the freezer) as I would have to pick things up in tea towels for the first week. Turning the tap on, just having cold hands would give pins and needles. Drinking water out of the tap would give the sensation in the roof of my mouth. Nausea: I have tablets to help, but as cycles went by it got worse and until I have more tablets it wasn't pleasant feeling like being sick for 24hrs straight. The first week was never good.... at the start of the second it all started to subside and by the end of the third I would almost start to feel normal again....and then it would start all over again.
Thankfully I am over that now. I finished my last lot of tablets on the 21st December and was feeling ok for Christmas. The following Monday the 28th was a great day as I didn't have to go back for another cycle. I had just about all I could take.
Almost two months after finishing chemo I am back at work - started 1st Feb. January was a lot of resting and recovering. Today, to look at me, I look healthy and like last year never happened. I don't need a midday nap anymore. My finger and toes are still recovering though. The feelings in them keep changing. During chemo, except from the hot and cold, they felt ok. After chemo stopped I started to feel what I wasn't feeling a whole lot more. I can only describe it like when you've had pins and needles in a big way and then the blood starts coming back and you get a numb, dead, tingling feeling all at once and it slowly progresses for a few minutes - my few minutes is lasting weeks and weeks. My joints get sore, my fingers and toes are puffy and I feel like I've got a massive blister under my left foot just below where the middle toes join. I'm still thinking its getting better - looking forward to seeing the oncologist again on the 8th March to ask him more about it. Lasting effects only continue forever for a very few people.... I don't think I'll be one of them, fingers crossed.
On Monday I have a PET scan, which is a type of CT or cat scan to do a final check that all is clear. I'll be glad when its over and I get the all clear... then I will really get on with living life : ) I'll post the results as soon as I can after I see the doctor on 1st March, til then, have a great day!
PS - If you want to do something nice for someone going through chemo, get them a massage voucher (check with them first just incase). Massage is good for boosting the immune system - I noticed improved results in my blood tests after having massages which just help me to have a good day anyway.

http://www.caring.com/cancer-symptoms

Hi Everyone,

Thank you for everyone's thoughts last Wednesday - my chemo was postponed due to a separate issue (don't worry nothing major!)...

I went in to the hospital for my egg collection day surgery. After having major surgery and a couple of colonoscopies the thought of this surgery didn't worry me one bit. There was nothing major to lead up to it - just the final injection and fasting for 6 hours before surgery.
I walked into the surgery room and laid down on the table had some oxygen, a drip, then a nice snooze and woke up feeling well. The sandwiches they give you in recovery are very welcome. I was in at 10am and left around 3pm.
The doctor said I had 21 eggs harvested, which is quiet a lot, average is around 12 - 15 and too many is 30. 16 were good enough to freeze so I've got a good backup if ever needed or if not needed, I can donate them to someone else, which I will definitely do.
The thing with having 21 eggs when females usually only produce 1 can send ovaries into a bit of a spin and OHS - not Operational Health and Safety ;) but Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome can set in, which it did, luckily only fairly mild for me as I did not require hospitalization. I have heard of ladies spending a good week on a drip with a drain tube in their stomachs. What happens is that fluid gets sucked into the stomach cavity instead of everywhere else as well or going through the kidneys to get flushed out. So I had a very large stomach, I looked about 3 or 4 months pregnant and it was not very comfortable. Apart from going in to see if I could start chemo I was on complete bed rest, lots of fluids and eating protein. It was uncomfortable to stand and it seemed to put more outward pressure like I was going to explode and sometimes it was a bit tight to breath as my lungs were getting a bit squashed. I'm on the mend since yesterday. Today I still have a bigger tummy but am feeling much better.

My chemo was rescheduled to today and I really wanted to get it done as it seemed fitting being the 13th exactly 2 months since my surgery. I take 13 as being lucky as surgery saved my life and chemo will kill of any cancer that may still be there and prolong my life so its a good thing.
So, although my tummy is bigger than normal, everything else is starting to work much better. Fluids are going through and so are solids - I'm not sure if people want more details than that... do you? The detail is my poo was really hard and in small balls as all the moisture was being sucked into my belly and now it getting softer and normal. Its easy to avoid the icky subject of poo but I found out today that bowel cancer is the leading cancer even ahead of breast cancer but for some reason it doesn't get talked about as much.... You can even get a book called "The Poo in You" for more information.
Back to chemo - yes I had my first treatment today. I was a bit nervous of the unknown but all went well and I didn't have any bad reactions. It was basically just having a drip for a good 3 hours - 2 of chemo and 2 x half hour calcium magnesium which is to help reduce a side effect of neuropathy which is the nerves in the fingers and toes going numb and tingling. The world is a small place...  walking into the treatment ward I had to see a Chris - thinking I had to see a man I was surprised to see Christine who I went to high school with.
Obviously I'm home now and feeling fine. Just had my first lot of tablets. Nothing much is different so nothing much to report. Will update you again soon.
xo Sharan

Well this is now the second time I'm writing this second update. I was about 10 seconds away from saving it and the power went out because the builder working on some renos has an air compressor that keeps cutting the power out. It did start off with "Well, I'm feeling great!" but now I'm still feeling angry because I have to do it all over again - I'm on hormones so sometimes things irritate me a little more than they should... This time it might be much shorter.

Things have been going well. My tummy is healing very well and the scar is disappearing a little more every week. I've put on weight and look normal and healthy again.... I've been trying to get back into work but my head is always not far away from other things....
The other things have been cancer, beating it, eating well, appointments.....
Appointment with the surgeon, 2 with the oncologist - yes I have to do chemo, more detail in a bit, another CT scan, an ultrasound, blood tests, chiropractor, naturopath, cancer support group and a bunch of 6.30am appointments at the fertility clinic.

I'm getting some eggs frozen just in case the chemo is not very nice to me - after reading about the particular drugs I don't think it will be a problem but its always nice to have a backup. Getting eggs frozen involves a nasal spray twice a day and learning to give yourself injections in the stomach. I know that may have made some of you cringe, it did to me too, but its more in your head that its hard or bad. After all the needles I've have over the last 2 months its nothing really. Diabetics do it every day, I only have to do it 10 - 12 days then off to day surgery to have them harvested this Monday.

Chemo involves a 2 hour chemo drip, then chemo tablets twice a day for 2 weeks, then 1 week off all drugs and start all over again on a 3 week cycle for 6 months. I'm going to talk to my oncologist and try to get it a tad shorter - I start this Wednesday 8th July - I want to finish it before the end of the year so I can start 2010 fresh. Chemo is such a backwards thing.... Doctors know that generally our immune system rids our bodies of cancer cells unless its not working well or deficient in something, but the chemo practically kills off the immune system as well as the cancer cells. (By the way, I consider myself cancer free seeing they chopped it out will a heap of my bowl but they want to do the chemo in case there are some microscopic cells there that they can't see.) I found out at a support group I just went to on Tuesday that they are now looking at drugs that enhance the immune system - only 50+ years and billions of dollars later for them to get to that.....) At first I was really scared about chemo, now I'm just really nervous. The reason for this change is that I finally took some action and googled the particular drugs.  I have age on my side and reading what others have experienced with the same drugs makes me believe that it wont be too bad, considering the situation, it still sucks to have to be doing it at all.

Its lunch time now, I'm hungry and have to eat. I will try to write more often as I have heaps to say, especially on my symptoms.

I'd also like to thank everyone out there for your thoughts, well wishes and flowers. The support has been amazing and is keeping me strong. I have to say no more flowers please - I will ask you to donate some funds to a support foundation (maybe mine when I set it up through our business : )  in the near future).

I know some of you have already heard and others will have no idea of the curve ball life has thrown at me in the last couple of weeks, so this is to let you know, so you have the correct information and to help me get me head around it.

Sunday week ago I thought I had a very bad case of constipation (it had been 7 days since a bowel movement) and after trying stuff from the chemist, to no avail, I got Corrine to take me to hospital. After they tried the same stuff which had the same outcome - nothing (surprise, surprise!) they sent me off for xrays and then a CT scan on the Monday which showed a blockage which they said from preliminary looks was probably cancer and would need surgery to remove. This was a shock to say the least. It kinda freaked me out for a moment and I said something about getting a second opinion. Soon after the surgical "A team" came to see me. When some one said it altogether, "Bowel Cancer" it really sunk in and on Tuesday they told me I was booked in for surgery the following day. They explained there was a possibility of me needing a Stoma or bag as when they chopped out part of my bowel one end would be normal and the other swollen from being backed up, so may not be possible to join up straight away. Not something very appealing.

So Wednesday 13th May, surgery day came quickly enough to get me out of my current discomfort. A lovely lady came around beforehand and drew a lady bug and a flower on my stomach to mark where my bag would come out if I needed one. Someone informed me that I would have surgery at 4pm that afternoon. Then an orderly came suddenly came around to collect me at about 2.30 which sent me into a spin as Viki (my sister) was not there to wish me farewell. False alarm, he took me down for an xray which I didn't need (and didn't have) and so I was just transported back. Maybe could have done without that, however I think it helped prepare me for when the real time came as I was much calmer.

I was nervous going into the pre surgery room - nothing like this has ever happened to me before. The doctors and anesthetist were very caring and comforting and when I asked them to be gentle to my insides, they said they would. I said to myself 'they do this all the time, I'm in safe hands'. I was asleep before being wheeled into the surgical room, which I am thankful for, as there were something like 10-12 people involved throughout the procedure.

When I came to, the first thing I asked was if I had a bag. The No that followed was the best no I have ever heard in my life and gave me such great relief. (All my graphic friends will like this: my experience of coming out of the anesthetic was this strange experience of me having to deep etch myself out of my slumber, the nurse looking after me didn't have a clue what I was going on about!). As I was being wheeled out I remember seeing some very fuzzy people which I knew was my family and it gave me great comfort to say to them "Hi guys, no bag" and gave them the thumbs up. I wanted them to know I was ok as I could only imagine the stress, worry and strain they had to go through while waiting for my 4 hr surgery to be complete and seeing me with tubes sticking out of me which isn't a pleasant sight for anyone, least of all my family. I was fine, I was on morphine, time flew for me. Now I just had to stay in hospital and recover for approximately 7 - 10 days before going home.

The first day out I heavily dosed myself with morphine as they had said I shouldn't be in any pain and I had heard that people on morphine couldn't feel anything - I could feel a lot discomfort so I kept pressing that button. They said it had a 5 min block out so I couldn't overdose. On day two they said I was using it too much and it was what was making me drowsy. Great! nice if somebody had let me know sooner! I was over the drowsiness so I stopped pressing the button as it didn't ease the discomfort which was probably from lying on my back for many days and they were amazed at how little i used it and said I didn't need it any more so went on to 12 hourly tablets instead. Day three apparently is the worst and while my family said I looked the worst it didn't feel much different from the previous days. I just felt like I was getting better. Day four I had tubes taken out and the doctors were happy with the sounds they could hear in my bowels. (After being handled our bowels like to shut up shop for a few days and not work. Sounds mean that they are back in the shop if not yet producing anything, so this was great news.) When the doctor comes along and his face lights up and glows because you have done a fart, you know it it a significant thing. Telling him you can poo again just makes his day. He asked if I would like to go home tomorrow and I thought he was joking.

Day five and everyone said I was doing amazingly well. They were all extra happy for me as most people on the gastro ward are much older and not very healthy. All tubes and drips were removed and I was already on liquid foods. Eating again after no food passing my lips for about 8 days was a bit strange. The surgical doctor was around again in the morning and asked if i wanted to go home today or tomorrow - he wasn't joking. I said tomorrow as having an automatic bed that sits you up is very handy when your stomach muscles have been chopped in the middle. I started eating more solid foods and when I could see some evidence of it in the toilet I knew that things were starting to work again and it felt great. I have no problems saying that I am as excited as a little kid who announces "I've done a poo!". I knew the next day I was going home and couldn't wait.

Day six: the surgical team was back again. The doctor looked at my stomach and then just started pulling off the waterproof strip covering the staples helping hold me together - freaked me out! I was worried the staples would come out at the same time, they didn't. "They can come out too" the doctor said pointing at my staples. I had been given the impression it would be a couple more days before that happened, oh no, how much will that hurt... one of the student nurses said people had told her it was like being pinched and didn't hurt but I was still skeptical. The nurse came round with some plastic tweezer things and pulled all 38 staples from my belly - it didn't hurt at all. Mum came to pick me up and I walked out of there at about 10.30am.

So I'm home now on day 9 after surgery. I've lost a lot of weight (currently weigh 46Kg) so am trying to eat as much as possible to put it back on. Sleeping is something I'm doing a lot of too but every day I feel stronger and better. Because of my age the doctors have suggested chemo so I'm preparing myself for that. I have an appointment with the surgical doctor and oncologist in a week or so to find out details and what happens next. Nothing with happen until at least 5 weeks after surgery.

You may be wondering "Why me?" a question most people in my situation ask and get frustrated and annoyed over. I haven't pondered that question long as I believe I know roughly the answer: I have a sensitive system, this is why I try to be healthy - I know I have been slack in many areas and this cancer may have started before then. Also the last quite a few years has been stressful with the start of our business, as you probably already know, which could very well be a major factor. I have luckily read a lot of information on cancer and I don't believe it is genetic (apart from a sensitive system which is), I believe it is nutritional so I know I can correct my diet, not be slack and not have it keep affecting my life. I know that once cells are cancerous the best way to get rid of them is by removal or chemo to kill them, so the thought of having a heap of chemicals pumped into my body is something I will probably have to do and then I will work on rebuilding my strength and getting the right nutrition so no other cells fall into dis-ease and become cancerous. As you may have noticed I'm happy to share my experience and would prefer to talk about it as its all a bit shocking and numbing and an unbelievable experience which those around me are feeling too. I'm in a very positive space, my spirit is flying high and know it is what is getting me through this and anything else yet to come. If anyone has any questions I'm happy to answer them.

Wishing you all the best of health.

Hi,

I'm Sharan West. Co-founder and co-owner of Australian Pumpkin Seed Company. The original idea for starting this business was to provide top quality pumpkin seed oil for men with prostate enlargement and/or cancer. Since the very beginning in 2002 we have started getting an increase in men finding benefits from taking our pumpkin seed oil.

My own interest in health and nutrition has lead me into lots of reading on both subjects as well as cancer. From reading Professor Brian Peskins book The Hidden Story of Cancer I gained, what I still believe, to be correct knowledge on the primary cause of cancer (a 100% result rate is hard to dispute) and how to prevent it. One of the main requirements is to get sufficient parent essential fatty acids in your diet. I thought that since I was taking our pumpkin seed oil (source of parent Omega 6) and not eating lots of lollies or deep fried foods, I don’t smoke or drink alcohol excessively, I do exercise, eat wholemeal bread, generally eat healthy and try to cut out as many preservatives as possible that I would never be one of the people to get cancer. How wrong was I. Now I feel somewhat cheated as there are so many people out there who disregard and abuse their bodies or simply don’t care about it that don’t ever get cancer or anything to the same degree.

I got it wrong. Yes the pumpkin seed oil has definitely helped with what I have been through. I just had a comment this morning from a nurse taking a blood sample that I have kept my veins in very good condition - I think this is from the oil and how it keeps cells and therefore veins flexible.

Taking pumpkin seed oil is not the only thing you need to prevent cancer. Professor Peskins book explains other things needed too. Some of which I know I was lacking but with my “minor” symptoms I never thought they would result in cancer in such a big fashion. Stress increases the need for nutrients and as you can imagine starting a new industry and business isn’t easy, so my body required more that just eating 80% healthy. It needed added support of which I obviously wasn’t giving it.

I’m 32 and now have had a chunk of my bowel removed from bowel cancer.

This blog is for me to express my thoughts and ideas and to get some thing off my chest as they occur as reducing stress in my life is a big priority at the moment. I’m putting a lot of faith in Professor Peskins work and findings and I want to share it with anyone who is interested. If he is right, which I believe and want to prove, then I will be around for a long time to come to do all the things in life that I want to do including setting up a foundation to prove the results and give everyone the information they need to help themselves prevent their bodies from getting cancer.

I'm sharing what's happening and how I feel with Cancer unexpectedly showing up in my body and entering my life in the most personal way - to me rather than all the other people I've spoken to with first for second hand experiences where it has touched their lives also. Writing things down helps me get some of it out and sort my thoughts and feelings and I hope also that by sharing my experience it will help someone else too.