I haven't worked on a new post for a month. I've been preoccupied with helping my sons with some last minute school projects. But mainly, I have been preoccupied with the dreaded, feared and hated C word.
C - A - N - C - E - R.
I cringe when I hear it. It makes me sad, frustrated and angry. And it is not me or my family, but 3 very close friends of mine and the sister of another friend. Two ovarian, one cervical and a possible re-occurrence of breast cancer.
I haven't been able to work my stress off on the bike path too much, the weather has not cooperated. Our temperatures tanked back into the 40's, we've had rain, wind and just all around crappy weather for riding. I've been irritable and tired.
However, I have had my friends over and we've had drinks and dinner at the Tiki Bar a/k/a my house.
We've had a lot of laughs this month. They've done a lot of talking and I've done a lot of listening. I sometimes feel like I am Lucy in her psychiatric booth, "the doctor is in". I am glad to be able to provide distractions, a listening ear and some prayers. I love my friends. But I feel so helpless.
Aloha Judi, that sucks. One book that came to mind is "Kitchen Table Wisdom" by Rachel Remen, I think that's her name. She's a medical doctor who is very compassionate and has worked with people after they have been diagnosed with some troubling disease. It's very uplifting. Also, conventional medical treatments tend to include chemo and heavy drugs. Your friends may want to get alternative advice from an acupuncturist, Ayurvedic medical doctor, or Traditional Chinese Medical Doctor. They can also supplement Western medicine w/ alternative treatment and herbs which can minimize side effects from chemo or radiation. There are ways to supplement diet as well, getting better nutrition, cutting out sugar and refined carbs like bread or pasta. Cancer thrives on sugar.
ReplyDeleteWhat I've read and heard about chemo in "The Beautiful Truth" documentary and other cancer documentaries is very disturbing and dark - even some chemo doctors say they would refuse to get chemo if they had cancer. Recommended watching includes "Crazy Sexy Cancer" and "Healing Cancer from the Inside Out." Do some research on your own too, or encourage your friends too. I have friends who have chosen various routes in dealing with their diagnosis. Some are alive, some are not.
Lastly, there is a story in AARP about some guy diagnosed w/ pancreatic cancer I think, and he decides to move his family back to Greece and enjoy his final year.. He meets old friends, starts a garden, drinks wine, plants olives, next thing you know, he's still alive 3 decades later. He goes back to visit his doctors who told him he was going to die, and all those doctors are dead. Conventional medicine does not have all the answers.
Aloha!
Thank you Courtney. I will have to check out and pass along the information you have given me to my friends. I have read several articles about diet which were very interesting. I know that one of my friends is going through grueling chemo as well as internal radiation.
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