Your experience with side effects from head & neck cancer treatment (radiation / mucositis)

[Janine3220]

Hi Doug

Don't give up. If you are feeling tired of life then seek some counselling. I am a psychotherapist and nutritionist and have also quals in natural therapies (I treat herbs and spices with the greatest respect; they are so powerful and in the wrong hands can do damage - I often use them myself in preference to chemicals because a specific plant has more than one effect unlike a chemical). Reversing and preventing disease holistically is my passion.

I know that spontaneous recovery happens.

I know that cancer is a product.

I have 3 years of solid (think 12-18 / 7) study and continuous discovery, passionate study of nutrients, biology - which is more than any medically trained person has (1 to 12??, if that, hours of nutrition 'study').

The body is a system. The body includes the brain. THe one affects the other. A total healing program of looking at your lifestyle, emotions, stress, fears, life long 'damages', relationships, life purpose, environment, physiology, etc is essential. It's overhaul time. Don't you dare give up.

Conventional cancer therapy is exhausting. It has its place. But there is much much more to cancer recovery than chemo and radiation. Attacking the cancer is one thing, finding the pathway is the vital thing - what caused it.

I urge people to see a  counsellor or psychotherapist or psychologist. The soul and the mind are SO Powerful.  As a psychotherapist, I would want to know what things you have kept to yourself and suffered, resigned to, any anger whether overt or simmering, bitterness or sadness. I would want to know what grief, what personal burdens weigh you down what pressures you have had in your life. All this applies to everyone.  I would want to know what triggers long ago may have happened to you. I'd want to know how you live, how you think, are you a healthy eater, are you a diabetic, overweight, do you exercise, do you work with chemicals etc. So many many things.

And, I would want to know what infections you have had.  Poor oral health is a big contributor to breast, and prostate cancer as well as lung cancer (and alzheimers). Alcohol is a big contributor to systemic cancer eg bowel, prostate, head and neck, breast. Smoking ....  Cancer can be toying with Russian roulette, but preventable. Regardless, that's the past. You have the future. You still have a future, as much as anyone gets.              

These are all FIXABLE where there is the desire and the effort, with support.

When you start modifying the lifestyle with unburdening yourself, when you start exercising (what a mega-powerful thing exercise is) when you toss out chemicals in the house and outside, when you smile again, when you actively force yourself to laugh all these things trigger biological change. Take the pomegranate juice - do it today and make yourself LAUGH . Eat the veg, go for a walk with someone, go out into the sunshine. All these things are vital. Drink clean water to flush your system of toxins produced in the course of physiological natural processes and external impacts (such as pollution and medications) - ensure you poop every day (fibre, water). The body will detox itself and can only do so with exercise/movement/dance, rest, fibre and water. Take your meds/chemo in conjunction.

It's easy to fall into depression and in fact the cancer treatment can cause depression too.  So it's spread to your lungs. So what. It's still not a death sentence. When someone says 'you have x time left' the body will accommodate that pronouncement. That is a Medical Researched Fact. You can smile. You have every reason to smile.  

If anyone, or any Western medical person tells you the above is rubbish, or that you have x amount of time or whatever, go somewhere else. We do not hear of people who 'survive' - one reason could be that they are too busy getting on with life and their passions. What are your passions Doug? You have talents, you have gifts what are these? If someone has hurt you - that's them, not you, put it down to experience and move on.  

What makes me sad is when people disregard the above, when they prefer to feel sorry for themselves, they are stuck, and talk therapy could help them ...if they wanted to be helped.  Helpers like myself whether psychological or medical or naturopathic feel sad when people resist for one reason or another stuck in their ways.   

Here is just one article google these details

Thomas Jessy 2011. Immunity over inability: The spontaneous regression of cancer. 

Interested in reading more?

Your local library may have a copy of  these  or you can purchase from Amazon: 

Kelly A Turner. Radical Remission. Surviving Cancer Against All Odds.

William Li.  Eat to Beat Disease.

Levy. Curing the incurable.

I enjoy hearing from you Doug : ))

Janine

(c)

[Andz]

Hi Mate,

I’m a bit younger than you (54) but this is what I’m doing to control my mind and the cancer.  

It’s been almost three years since I had two occurrence of HVP16 throat and mouth cancer.  I had a major op first, then 12 month later on the reoccurrence, I had chemo and radiation.  I’ve got two under 10 age kids.  I still have dry mouth effect daily.

I run daily and most runs are threshold runs. I was an athlete before and just made high intensity runs a priority.  When you exhaust your body, you don’t have time for negative thoughts. Your body starts to love you again.  You drink more water and  your liver starts to work again cleaning your body. You then start to eat heather. You start to brighten up and enjoy you life.

 go for a jog today, nice and slow. Hiking and get out and about is essential.

good luck mate

Andrew

[Janine3220]

Hi Doug, this is my second reply to your email today. 

Let's reframe the '2 years' of a new round of therapy.  Two years is a lot for any target,  but let's think of it as one day at a time which becomes one day less at a time. One day at a time, and if you have read my voluminous first email today, when you fill up your day with other things - sure some days will be a croc - but you will be occupied with other distractions. And remember, no one, no one gets tomorrow, no one. We only get today : )).

I strongly urge you to go beyond standard western medical treatment to include the other health measures. Working with an experienced naturopath in conjuction with your GP, and seeing a counsellor to just talk in private are positive beneficial. Think of this as Doug's Reno Project. : ))   

We are fortunate to have some wonderful doctors and science available to us, we would be even healthier if the medical system focused on prevention and acknowledged that prevention is through a healthy outlook and healthy diet and healthy practices.

What is one thing you are going to do today (besides the Pomegranate juice and having a (forced) belly laugh) ?  : ))

Janine

(c)

[Janine3220]

Absolutely right Andrew

: ))

Janine

[Olddoug]

I like the sound of some of those books. So thanks again for all your effort Doug

[Olddoug]

Thanks Andrew, I must start walking again as we have some lovely walks on the central coast. Good luck to you as well especially with young kids. 

[Janine3220]

You are most welcome : )) Doug.

William Li's book. He is a cardiovascular surgeon, another medical specialist who has seen the light. He felt he could do more for humanity by taking up preventive holistic medical practice, like in the old days.  His mum had cancer, he put her on pomegranate juice. Her surgeon could not believe her cancer had vanished. Antioxidants are powerful killers.

In a way, we are all cancerising. And every day our body fights errant cells that have been damaged. Such is the wonder of our complex physiology. 

Enjoy those walks.

[Olddoug]

I'm Doug's wife and I appreciate your advice too. We are starting with the nutritional  info and exercise. thank you !

[Janine3220]

Hello Doug's Missus : )

I am so pleased. You have both made my day!

Some more tips to get you started.

Ensure that any raw food eg salad veg, are thoroughly scrubbed under running water. Avoid apples with wax coating. You can buy unwaxed apples at Coles Aldi and Safeway sometimes. They come prepackaged and the plastic sleeve will read "unwaxed". Often you may find the apples they have packaged for children are "No Wax" labelled. Be on the look out.    Wax harbours pesticides in some instances. It's hard to wash off. The skin is loaded with nutrients. If the skin is tough, grate the apple - even nicer.

Also note that raw fish, and underdone meat is ill-advised, likewise runny eggs, while immune system is recovering.

Avoid added sugar like the plague. Two serves of fruit, and one of these being berries  is fine. Oranges, kiwi, apple, melons are low sugar and low fructose.  No juices, except 40ml swig of unsweetened organic pomegranate. No sugared tea/coffee. No white flour. No cordials. No agave/rice bran syrup - all sugar! Try soft-dried figs or poached dried figs, or prunes,  with nuts or nut butter and or piece of dark 70%  chocolate (Aldi has organic, free trade chocolate) for a sweet treat.  Occasional other sinfulness is excused.  Use chickpea flour instead of white flour in baking - a bit different - search online for banana, chickpea, egg, chocolate brownie - you will never look back.

Nuts. A tablespoon a day as nuts or nut butter. Aldi good.

Jam? Nup.  Make your own with berries and chia - see internet for recipes. I add sultanas which plump up and lend their sweetness.  No margarine, only grass-fed organic butter >> Coles "Mainland".  Oils? Nup only Extra virgin olive, avocado, walnut. No canola - it (like light olive oil and other seed oils) goes through a chemical wash to extract the canola. No seed oils like safflower and never cottonseed. Coconut - I wouldn't. I could write a book on the coconut oil fallacy.

Half the plate should be veg/salad, 1/4 should be a half-cup serve of potato with skin, 1/2 corn cob, or rice*. palm size serve of animal protein - not deep fried and not charred.  Up to two slices of delicious bread (pref sourdough) with dinner. Desert? fruit if you can find the room : ).     If you are going to chop wood or go for a big hike of course you would add more carbs for energy such as apples/banana or more bread/rice before the activity.     

*Palm size generally means Doug's palm for Doug; Mrs Doug's palm for Mrs Doug : ).   Hands are in proportion 99% to body size.  Rice, white is not good unless it is cold left over rice reheated. Suggest a mix of brown and white if you are not used to brown rice.   Vary the veg during the week to increase gut bacteria and variety of nutrients and antioxidants. THere are specials every day at the supermarkets, and green grocers.  Snap frozen veg very good. No tinned veg because of the plastic lining.

Don't forget fresh herbs. They are powerful. Snipped into salads and sandwiches.

Ditch the alcohol. It is a carcinogen. If you really really must: only at lunchtime and with food and only one small glass of wine.

Remember to chew everything to a pulp. As we age we don't digest efficiently.  Gastric reflux? Eat smaller meals, more frequently. Gastric meds dry up the vital acid we need for digestion and cause a swathe of other problems. Check with pharmacist.

And water to transport, remove garbage, hydrate. If you are on Blood pressure meds check with your GP or pharmacist. Water, preferably only pre-boiled water.

Relax, sleep well. Make plans : )).

God Bless you both.

[Ankrhealth]

Surviving Head & Neck Cancer: Sharing Experiences 

Your stories are inspiring! 🌟 Has anyone else dealt with post-treatment throat/neck pain and mucous issues? Let's exchange insights on managing these challenges.

Plus, I've come across some helpful resources that offer support for cancer survivors.