Tuesday 30 June 2015

Profiting from Cancer - don't eat kale if you break your leg!

Profiting and Cancer are two words that don't sit comfortably together yet that's exactly what Belle Gibson did.  For those of you that don't know the now infamous Ms Gibson, she is a young Mum who fraudulently claimed to have Brain Cancer and, even worse (yes, it can get worse!) she claimed to have cured this incurable cancer through alternative therapies.  Her initially tragic tale and then miraculous survival story generating an enormous interest, attracting hundreds of thousands of followers, an app and, of course, a book deal.

This young lady was interviewed last night on 60 Minutes and whilst I don't want to give her any more airplay I must say there were a couple of themes that came out of it that really worried me.

Firstly, this strange and misguided belief that there is strength to be gained from rejecting conventional medicine.  If you broke your leg would you start eating kale?  If you had a car accident would you start taking Vitamin B17? If you cut your finger off would you start meditating?  So why when faced with an equivalently traumatic disease like cancer would you reject the professionals that can re-set your leg, can cut you out of that car or can sew your finger back on?!

That's not to say that once the symptom is treated you shouldn't optimise your future health.  For example, the broken leg may increase your chances of osteoporosis and it may have damaged your muscles.  It would be wise to watch your calcium intake, ensure you're within an optimal weight range, exercise to strengthen those muscles.  The best method to empower yourself, in my mind at least, is to have all avenues on your side.  Eat well, exercise, reduce stress, discipline your mind, love your family and find connections.

The second theme that concerned me was that being a 'wellness warrior' is easy to achieve.  The cold hard facts are that it takes effort to eat organic, homemade meals.  It takes effort to get up before the kids to go for a run.  It takes effort (and a whole lot of support if you are a parent!) to close that computer at work and reach your meditation class/writing class/friends dinner (insert any type of hobby here!) on time.  We lead such an "and" life...I am a parent "and" I work "and" I exercise "and" I eat only organic food "and" I etc etc  Something, somehow has to give - don't let it be your health.

I almost felt sorry for Ms Gibson last night - she was torn to shreds by the interviewer and seemed so genuinely tangled up in all her lies that the truth was indecipherable to her.  I ALMOST felt sorry for her but then I remembered she appealed to an incredibly vulnerable group of people and potentially cost some their lives....all in the name of making a few dollars!

Wednesday 17 June 2015

The brighter side of adversity - cancer can help someone...

The brighter side of adversity

When I found out I had cancer I just wanted the d@mn thing out of me!  It didn't occur to me to be worried about my hair (until of course I was bald, but that's for another post!).  Initially, I used the hair loss as a wonderful fund-raising distraction.  Many of you participated in my "Cut and Cullen" campaign which raised a staggering $23,000 for Youth Off The Streets.  Who'd have thought that cutting off a pony tail could be so rewarding!

I am really pleased to tell you that all the funds have finally reached the charity (after some administrative hiccups with matched giving).  Last week I had the most humbling and inspirational conversation with one of the representatives from Youth Off The Streets (YOTS) which I wanted to share with you all....

The rep explained to me that their services are devoted to children 12-25 who are forced into homelessness by drug addiction, social isolation, neglect or abuse.  Kids who receive no family support, who are ridiculed by peers, who are 'written off' as dumb, no hopers or worse still, fall into criminal circles.  It is YOTS goal that these young people will leave their care drug free, with a high school education, with living skills and a job.  The kind of money we raised will completely change someone's life!

Can you imagine your home-life being so bad that your best option is to live in a car or worse still live on the streets...these are the options being faced by 14,15,16 year old children.  When I found out I was sick I wanted my Mum&Dad.  I wanted my Mum to hug me and my Dad "to fix it"...cause he fixes everything :)  I took for granted that they would both be there to help me, to hold me, to guide me.  These kids, when faced with their own problems, receive abuse from their parents.  The very people who are meant to protect and repair them, shatter their self esteem and physically hurt them.  

I've noticed an increase in beggars in Melbourne recently - is that because I'm now more aware or because there is a genuine increase?  And have I stopped to talk to one?!  Money can of course go along way, and sure I did my part to cut my hair off and donate to YOTS but I think it would be more powerful to have a conversation....so that's this week's goal.  Look up from that i-phone/i-Pad/i-pod and see the people who need to be seen!

Sunday 14 June 2015

The Cure Cancer regime - Check in Number #1

Being told I have Cancer is the most confronting experience I have ever been through.  In the minutes after I finished with the doctor all I wanted was quietness.  The sound of people on their typewriters, phones demanding answering, of the coffee machine hissing out steam - it was all so acute...it felt like everything and everyone was screaming at me.

In a hospital quietness is actually very hard to find!  I wandered aimlessly through hallways until I accidentally (subliminally?) found the chapel. I've never been a particularly religious person so it seemed rather odd to me when I finally registered where I was sitting.  I collected myself enough to ring my husband and my sister and then I just waited.  I waited for them to tell me it was all going to be OK.

In those waiting minutes (and it was only about 20 minutes) I resolved that I would do everything possible to get better.  Little did I know that 'doing everything' would be nearly as overwhelming as the initial diagnosis. The amount of information that is out there and, worse still, that contradicts each other is mind blowing. Supposedly I can cure cancer via chemotherapy & surgery, by starving cancer through nutritional strategies, by using a corrosive topical paste called black salve (which burns and destroys tissue leaving behind a black scar), by surrounding myself with love or, my personal favourite, by jumping on the trampoline!

Overwhelmed with choices I fear I have very little 'Cure Cancer' regime established (other than the western medicine requirements) so my check in #1 is embarrassingly weak.  Dr IM (the Integrated Medicine doctor I told you about a while back, 1st June) wants me to:
(1) Introduce Meditation: Meditate twice a day for 10-15 minutes
(2) Change my Diet: NO Refined Sugar, Dairy, Grains, Soy or Fried foods plus 10 glasses of water
(3) Prioritise Sleep: Aim for 8 hours sleep a night
(4) Take Supplements: 8 in total

The oncologist, genetic councelor and surgeon added to the list:
(5) Chemo: 4 rounds
(6) Regular Exercise: 30mins a day
(7) More Surgeries

According to additional research I also need to ensure I have 'fuel for the soul', so let's throw in:
(8) Soul Food

So I now have an 8-step program - you've gotta have a stepped program right?
Meditation
No
I have tried once with very little success (refer my post 10th May)
Diet
1/2
I’ve made friends with salad, eat lots of fresh produce but sugar is my nemesis and I now spend too much time cooking (my son told his kindergarten teacher that mummy’s job is “to grow food”!)
Sleep
No
The drugs running through me (and I have two kids) have affected my sleep
Supplements
No
Not sold on these plus I've failed to do anymore research
Chemo
Yes
4 rounds done, awaiting confirmation this is it :)
Exercise
1/2
I have introduced some brisk walks but it seems amazing to my lethargic body that I ran a half marathon a year ago!
Surgeries
WIP
Awaiting doctor’s instructions
Soul Food
No
Apparently I have a soul I just choose not to feed it…

Thursday 11 June 2015

Lycra, phones and boob jobs - the beating cancer combination?!

Lycra and the overheard conversation.

May I first start with an apology - I have succumbed to the lycra.  I'm not talking the 2XU or Skins type fluorescent striped leggings with coordinated bright orange Nikes....but, alas, it's still lyrca.  And what's worse (confession time)...they are magnificent -  comfortable, flexible and even helpful in reducing some movement.  

As I hang my head in shame at this first 'yuppification' I find myself drawn to my phone.   You see part of beating chemo fatigue is to get yourself out and about for 1/2 an hour a day to do some light exercise.  But my over-active, poorly disciplined mind sees that as 1/2 an hour I could be returning calls, helping a friend plan her engagement party, organising a babysitter, checking in on Mum etc. So that awful female habit of multi-tasking creeps in and I find myself the perpetrator of the annoyingly loud phone call as I trot around the park in my black leggings.  

And then it happens...I pass someone walking their dog whilst mid-sentence on the phone to a friend: "And then the surgeon said to me I'll have the best rack in the nursing home".  I start laughing but quickly stop when I realise this stranger is staring at me.  The yuppification process is complete, well at least in that stranger's eyes - they see lycra and hands-free cables and hear me laughing about my boob job.  

I feel a sudden urge to hang up the phone and tell this complete stranger that it's not exactly elective breast surgery!  But then, this is a stranger - how odd it would it be to engage in any conversation with them at all.   

Lessons learnt: 
(1) don't judge, there may be more to a person's story,
(2) lower my voice and pull the beanie down a little further

Tuesday 9 June 2015

Saucy Salmon Salad - a good way to lose the dressing...

Saucy Salmon Salad

Ingredients
* 1 cup baby spinach - fresh and washed
* A small avocado
* Two eggs
* 50-100g smoked salmon

Method
* Wash the spinach and put it in a salad bowl
* Cut up the avocado and salmon into bite size pieces and add to the salad bowl
* Pan fry two eggs with a little coconut oil but make sure the yokes remain runny (the key here is to not let the oil get too hot as the eggs will go crispy so have your frying pan on a medium to low heat)
* When the eggs are cooked (sunny side up) add them to the salad bowl as well

The runny egg yolks give this salad all the moisture it needs. If you're not a salmon fan, substitute it for poached chicken.

Do I need to be a doctor, a hippy or a cancer-patient to be a wellness guru?

What is a wellness guru? Surf the net and you'll find a plethora of candidates - predominantly young females with surprisingly little credentials and either a celebrity status (think Gwyneth Paltrow's blog Goop) or a serious illness (think Belle Gibson, oops, except she didn't actually have cancer!). Parking the fact that it is unfathomable to me that someone can lie about having cancer to generate blog followers, the fact remains most people want "an answer" to wellness that is not dripping with difficult-to-understand medical lingo nor does it require us all to move to the nearest commune to burn incense, participate in ear candling and only eat green things!

Where is the balance? Do I believe the Pharmaceutical and Supermarket Giants who manipulate me, incorrectly label products to sell higher-margin items and want to poison the world so we're dependent on their medicines? Or do I believe the inexperienced hippies who wouldn't know their @rse from their mouth when it comes to cleansing rituals? The internet, blogs and the media are saturated with options and with information but they're not really clear on "an answer". Given this, people like me start exploring, researching and inevitably reaching out so they can find a digestible solution...and when you're sick you need 'an avenue' - you need a strong belief that there's a pathway to wellness.

The one 'answer' I have been able to glean thus far from my cancer travels is that, contrary to some conspiracy claims, the medical fraternity indeed supports the value of a healthy diet, regular exercise and the reduction of stress (of course in addition to their surgical or pharmaceutical medical management programs):
* "Each year, about 589,430 Americans die of cancer; around one-third of these deaths are linked to poor diet, physical inactivity, and carrying too much weight."
* "Physical inactivity is the second greatest contributor, behind tobacco smoking, to the cancer burden in Australia".

I'm excited by this - it's accessible (I don't need to crush the horn of some nearly extinct Rhino afterall!). Now the exploration becomes - what are 'healthy food choices' and what constitutes 'regular exercise'? Here are my starting points:

1. Healthy diet = HEALTHY EATING PYRAMID (refer http://www.nutritionaustralia.org/national/resource/healthy-living-pyramid)
2. Regular exercise = ABOUT 30 MINS PER DAY of moderate to vigorous activity (refer http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/health-pubhlth-strateg-phys-act-guidelines/$File/FS-Adults-18-64-Years.PDF)
3. Reduce stress/be more mindful = well now here is a can of worms....back to the meditation classes for me?

So do I qualify now as a 'wellness guru' - I'm 38, I'm female, I have Breast Cancer and I have an 'answer'...oh, and I have a blog!! I'm not a wellness guru...I actually don't think there is any such thing! It all comes down to your definition of "well". Am I well if I am happy and loved but riddled with cancer or do I need to be 80 and rich? I think I'll set about defining what "well" looks like for me before I go striving for "guru-dom".

Wednesday 3 June 2015

Body Image - what we tell ourselves VS what we tell our children

A really interesting piece from Oz about Body Image...



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yAzPz94b4mc

Sanctimonious, organic bullsh!t versus caffeine fuelled power Mum

Anyone read the recent article by Susie O'Brien about how unrealistic Jodhi Meares "sanctimonious, organic vegan horsesh!t" of a life is?
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/opinion/hey-jodhi-heres-what-a-real-persons-life-looks-like/story-fni0fhie-1227374226653

I found it fascinating!

There is a certain privilege bestowed upon those that have been dealt the better hand of the beauty pool (of course briefly marrying a Packer and dating a rock legend also helps!). Research has shown good looking people receive better service, preferential treatment and of course rarely 'get picked last in gym class'. Does this give them a platform from which they can pursue life on their terms - the 'it's all about me' ticket...

Some of the comments Meares makes are extraordinarily and naively privileged:
* "there's a sanity that comes with getting up at first light"
* "If I'm about to get on a plane...I see my doctor for a course of Vitamin C that's administered intravenously"
* "It's ridiculous how many yoga mats I own: I keep five in Hawaii, store a few in New York..keep at least four at home"
* "I've got three wardrobes and am building another one...One is purely devoted to shoes"
* "I can only cope with about 5 to 6 hours cooped up in an office"
* "In Summer I'll often finish the day with a swim at one of Sydney's harbour beaches"

But then again that's the cards she's been dealt! I really don't see her harming too many people (other than the recent cars she smashed in to!). My problem with the life that Jodhi portrays is that a 'charmed life' consists of chai tea, vinyasa yoga, ten wardrobes and first class holidays. It reminds me too much of the dreaded Kardashian clan whose pursuit of surgically created beauty and the perfect pair of heels are regarded as triumphs. Now don't get me wrong, I'd love to be a little taller, have Ang-style lips and who doesn't love a bit of glitz and glam when you're out on the town. But to me, it just isn't enough!

So I'd take your life Susie:
* Yes a little hand whacks you on the back to wake you up rather than the sun
* Your taxi service starts early and finishes late but you're the recipient of their bubbling pride as they show you their latest school project
* You may sit in your office for a little longer than 5 hours but you surround yourself with intelligent, worldly people who are diverse in their opinions and passionate about things greater than themselves
* Your chardy (or in my case, bubbles) may flow a little more freely than the intravenous Vitamin C but you can laugh uncontrollably with good family and friends

To me, Susie, your life is rich and charmed. BUT....there's always a but!

You're so "busy" you may just forget to look after you. And that, unfortunately, is just as dangerous a message as the superficial cashed-up celebrities. You have done what so many modern day Superwomen do - you've put yourself last. That hamburger dinner, non-existent exercise and zero time for yourself (sans children and work iPads) is doing you no favours. I don't know how to get this balance right - does anyone?! It would seem a more worthy discussion than advocating two unhealthy options.

I've recently thrown 'beat cancer' on to my TO DO list so this perilous juggle of life's buckets seems more acute than ever. I'd love to know how other people fit it all in!

http://imtoobusyto.blogspot.com.au/search/label/Home

Tuesday 2 June 2015

The caveats, disclaimers and rules

* I am not a doctor, a naturopath, a physio or a lawyer. I am a young(ish) Mum fighting cancer and trying to find out all the information I can with pragmatism not degrees.

* All views and opinions expressed on this blog are owned by "I'm Too Busy To" unless otherwise stated.

* I share my knowledge and my research with the hope you will do the same

* Please don't steal my content or photos. If you are going to share this content on any social media platforms I would be most flattered so please just link back to my blog: http://www.imtoobusyto.blogspot.com.au/search/label/Home

* I would love to have a healthy (excuse the pun!) debate about everything and anything however if your comments are discriminatory, hateful, extreme, abusive or threatening I will delete them, block you from my site and take further action if required.

Squeaky, sweet salad - you can make friends with salad

Squeaky, sweet salad was an invention of necessity - it comprised the items left over in my fridge with a drop of adventurousness!

Ingredients

1 punnet (container) of strawberries 250g
1 packet of haloumi cheese 180g (most supermarkets have an organic version)
2 small avocados
1 tablespoon of olive oil.

Method
* Most haloumi comes in a rectangular block which I cut into 1cm strips before cooking. Grill or pan fry (with a little oil) the haloumi and set aside to cool on a paper towel.
* Take the green tips off the strawberries and cut each one in to four pieces
* Cut up the avocado in to small squares (similar in size to the quartered strawberries)
* Cut up the cooled haloumi into small squares (I do it smaller than the strawberries as the texture is still 'unique' for the kids)
* Put all the diced ingredients in to a bowl and drizzle over the olive oil.
* Toss before serving

The combination of salt, good fat and sweetness is delicious :)

A natural diet, two small kids and an underlying addiction to chocolate!

One of the rather large obstacles with genuinely following through with this Earth Mother diet is children - I don't see too many kids running around the playground with kale chips, spinach wraps and grilled fish for lunch. They are not allowed to take nuts to school/care and for the little ones I think there is some leniency required by us parents to understand that their palettes are not quite as mature nor their jaws quite so strong. Having said that I very rarely cook a separate dinner for my children - they are served what we eat but with some minor kid-friendly alterations (if required) ie. remove the chili or finely dice the bok choy/spinach (which they unfortunately choke on). The one habit I'm really determined for them not to adopt is my psychological need to 'round out' lunch and dinner with something sweet. It is 100% an absolute HABIT - a psychological need that I've turned into a physiological necessity (or maybe it's the other way around?) which is SO difficult to break. So my kids now know - there's no dessert at our house...they can have it at Nan & Granddad's (most Tuesday nights). Overlaying all of this has to be some pragmatism...it seems wrong to me to have a low-carb or no dairy diet for children (unless there are allergies) and birthday parties are no fun if you're the child crying in the corner because you're not allowed cake. The newly introduced healthy eating pyramid is a great guide: http://www.nutritionaustralia.org/national/resource/healthy-living-pyramid

The three things I'm doing to help the family eat well are:

1. Hide - my kids happily eat spinach, celery, watercress or anything green if it's pulverised in a blender with a handful of frozen berries, a tablespoon of rice malt syrup and some milk (or OJ if you're a bit over the dairy). We have fun turning the drinks green or red or yellow (banana).

2. Slow Cook - the traditional roast, pulled pork, lamb shanks, paprika chicken...it's all so much easier to chew if it's been in the slow cooker (not to mention the fact you can add carrot, celery, tomatoes and yummy herbs to the sauces)

3. Make my own snacks - this has been a major hit and miss for me! I've tried:
a) 85% dark chocolate and zucchini brownies - too bitter for the kids, OK for the adults...the lack of sugar takes some getting use to
b) roasted nuts - too hard for the kids but yummy for the adults
c) my own muesli bars - moderate success with the kids but again quite good for the adults
d) coconut cream and mango ice-creams - pretty good
e) dipping fingers (carrots, celery, zucchini) with hummus or cream cheese - my daughter just shovels the dip in without taking a bite of any of the fingers!
f) Of course a piece of fruit is quick, convenient and usually consumed (particularly apples in our house!)

Would love to hear other people's ideas on snacks...any winners in your house?

Monday 1 June 2015

The Cure Cancer regime - is this getting the balance right or are we a slave to a different tune?

The overhaul of my health begins with the primary pillars of Diet, Meditation, Sleep and Supplements;

The diet:
* NO Refined Sugar
* NO Dairy
* NO Grains
* NO Soy
* NO Fried foods

A typical day will consist of:
Breakfast = 2 serves of fruit plus 2 eggs poached, steamed spinach, grilled mushrooms or tomatoes
Mid-morning = handful of almonds or walnuts plus a serve of fruit
Lunch = 150gms protein and 3 cups fresh salad with avocado
Afternoon = handful of almonds or walnuts plus a serve of fruit
Dinner = 150gms protein and 2 cups fresh salad and 2 cups cooked vegetables
Supper = Herbal tea

Drink 10 glasses of water a day

Meditation and Sleep
Meditate twice a day for 10-15 minutes
Aim for 8 hours sleep a night

Supplements
Femme Essentials
BioQ150
Cell Protect
Lipoic
Fibroplex Plus
C-Ultrascorb
Gluthathione
Calcium D-Glucarate
Note to self - must actually find out what these are before pumping them in to my body!

The likelihood of seeing these strict guidelines through with two small children, a marathon training husband, a job and generally speaking a life (!) is....well, not high. But then I think, Cancer is a fairly significant catalyst. Even if I only get half way there, it's an improvement. Oh but to say goodbye to Haigh's chocolate frogs and Lindt balls - man I hate cancer!!!