Combining approaches for lung cancer - by one of our beneficiaries

Today's blog is from Suzanne*, 66, from Cornwall who writes about her experiences putting together a integrative plan following her diagnosis with lung cancer in 2012.

When I was first told I had cancer my heart sunk like a stone. This information was given to me by GP who also told me I could cough, haemorrhage and die (!) I met a friend and we went straight to the pub for a glass of wine, followed by shock and tears.

I had no symptoms prior to coughing up blood, but soon developed excess sputum and coughing, although no breathlessness. Lung cancer was confirmed with a CT scan, MRI scan and bronchoscopy, all arranged at two weekly intervals and I was finally diagnosed in June 2012. 

The consultant thought the tumour could be removed with surgery; I was thrilled and saw this as a cure. I couldn’t wait for the operation which happened in August 2012 but unfortunately the thoracotomy failed as I had cancerous nodules.

At this point I have to say I resisted orthodox treatments until December 2014. I pursued all the complementary I could and believed what I did helped enormously until my last scan, which showed that the cancer had spread from my lung to my spine. I then felt I should try chemotherapy alongside the complementary therapies I was doing.

I was, and still am, well looked after whilst continuing with chemotherapy – scans, blood tests, consultations, and I am happy to have support from my team to continue with my complementary care.

I have been on a huge journey trying different approaches including the Budwig diet, Alkaline diet, Journey work, meditation, Reiki, Japanese acupuncture, coffee enemas, green juices, cutting out sugar, dairy, processed food and the nightshade family, detox baths, supplements and HBOT.

This journey has often featured conflicting information and at points has been confusing and depressing. I am now settled with guidance from a nutritionist on the Ketogenic diet and am taking recommended supplements including Vitamin C. I try to exercise when I’m able to including going to yoga twice a week.

Running alongside my maintenance chemotherapy and Denosumab injections, I am on a trial of four generic drugs from the Care Oncology Clinic in Harley Street. 

I first heard about Yes to Life when I was having IV Vitamin C at the Vision of Hope Clinic. I spoke to someone very friendly and helpful on the Yes to Life helpline, which comforted me as it was the beginning of my journey and I felt there was help out there after all and support for someone who wanted to take a different route.

Yes to Life offered information on diet and exercise and funded a consultation with Patricia Peat of Cancer Options. I found this very helpful and she offered good advice on what supplements could benefit me. 

Yes to Life have continued to support me by sending me a monthly supply of Liposomal Vitamin C, which helps me support my immune system. This is of great help as it means I am able to still afford other therapies and approaches.

I think Yes to Life is an amazing charity, which helps to give people choice. The support I have had, not only financial, has been informative and friendly and has been a strong crutch to me. I see Yes to Life as an organisation who I can ask for support from like a second family.

With awareness rising and demand for our services at an all-time high we need your backing more than ever.  Donate today and help us support more people like Suzanne*

(*name has been changed)

Combining approaches for lung cancer

Today's blog is from Suzanne*,66, from Cornwall who writes about her experiences putting together a integrative plan following her diagnosis with Lung Cancer in 2012.

When I was first told I had cancer my heart sunk like a stone. This information was given to me by GP who also told me I could cough, haemorrhage and die (!) I met a friend and we went straight to the pub for a glass of wine, followed by shock and tears.

I had no symptoms prior to coughing up blood, but soon developed excess sputum and coughing, although no breathlessness. Lung cancer was confirmed with a CT scan, MRI scan and bronchoscopy, all arranged at two weekly intervals and I was finally diagnosed in June 2012.

The consultant thought the tumour could be removed with surgery; I was thrilled and saw this as a cure. I couldn’t wait for the operation which happened in August 2012 but unfortunately the thoracotomy failed as I had cancerous nodules.

Pauline's Long and Far Reaching Breast Cancer Journey

Today's post is from one of our beneficiaries, Pauline, 64, from the Wirral who has kindly shared her experience of finding an alternative path for breast cancer. 

I was diagnosed in 2001 with breast cancer. Of course it came as a huge shock to me but I realised that prior to my diagnosis I had been through a very sad period in my life - separating from the man I loved and being severely depressed.

The only physical symptom was the lump I found whilst crying myself to sleep one night. At the time I refused all orthodox treatment.  It wasn't until 2005 that I underwent any treatment, when I had ECT (Electroconvulsive Therapy) in Spain - electrical voltages basically cooked the tumour and it came out through the breast.  I lost most of the breast and thought I was clear, so had become less diligent with my routine, but slowly it came back.

A few words of gratitude

Today’s post is a short thank you from one of our beneficiaries, Keith, who has been following the Gerson Therapy protocol with support from Yes to Life.

May I offer a few words of gratitude to Yes To Life and of course it’s fundraisers for the incredible self-less consideration being paid to others like myself. I was diagnosed over two years ago with an advanced stage blood cancer, which can only be treated conventionally but not cured.

             

My body was literally riddled with disease both visibly on the surface and within. Immediately after my diagnosis I embarked on the Gerson Therapy in order to rebuild my immune system. Gerson is well established as an answer to cancer but of course the costs are not borne by drug companies or governments. Thanks in no small part to the kindness of Yes to Life and others I have been able to maintain the rather demanding cost of the full Gerson protocol alongside other adjunct therapies which combined have put me into an advanced state of recovery.

Navigating Breast Cancer at 24

Today’s post is from one of our younger beneficiaries who has kindly agreed to share her story. Josephine, 26, from London suffered awful reactions to nearly all the treatments she underwent but has since found many complementary approaches to support her recovery.

I was diagnosed at 24 years old in the spring of 2014, May to be exact, following an operation to remove what they thought was something called an “Intraductal Papilloma”.

I initially found the lump on Valentine’s Day, or rather my partner did. It was a very small pea-size lump under my nipple. I made a GP appointment soon after and got referred to the breast unit at The Royal Free Hospital. They did a mammogram, ultrasound and biopsy and told me that I didn't have cancer but they wanted to remove the lump.

They told me I should celebrate! How wrong they were… and how sad it was, because I did celebrate and thought that would be the end of it.

On the surgery day I was then told they needed to “re-check the tissue”. Low and behold, two weeks later I was called in early and told that it was cancer; grade 2, invasive lobular carcinoma, highly oestrogen and progesterone positive.

Regaining Control - My Breast Cancer Journey

Today’s post is from one of our beneficiaries who kindly agreed to share her story. Laurence, 53, from South East London underwent extensive treatment after being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2014. Whilst suffering gruelling side effects, she began to explore other options that could support her recovery.

I was diagnosed with breast cancer in October 2014. I had noticed a thickening of the skin in my breast, but no lump as such just a change of texture. I had been having yearly mammograms for the past 20 years due to family history but they had always been clear. Both my mum and her sister had breast cancer and their mother, my grandmother, died of colon cancer aged 54.

My GP referred me for tests immediately. At the hospital, I noted that I was being processed completely differently. Previously when I was given a mammogram, I would be sent home and told to wait for a letter. On this day, I had a mammogram, a scan and four biopsies, followed by a meeting with the consultant and breast cancer nurse who invited me to the Macmillan unit the following week to talk about the results. It was obvious there was something wrong.

'The C Word - Your questions answered' at Camexpo 2015

Today's post is from our chairman Robin Daly introducing the expert panel 'The C Word - Your questions answered' that he is hosting at this years Camexpo at 3pm on Saturday 26th September. If you are interesting in registering to come along this weekend you can do so here.

Autumn is drawing in and it’s coming round to Camexpo time again. Yes to Life has been generously supported in having a stand at the show for many years, but this year, as a part of our 10th birthday celebrations, the charity is camexpo Charity of the Year...woohoo! We will also be hosting a panel Q&A on the subject of cancer and complementary therapies called 'The C Word - Your questions answered'.

Camexpo is a professional event, targeting the complete spectrum of complementary therapists, many of whom will have had some degree of contact with those with cancer and probably also many questions regarding supporting them. With this in mind, we have assembled a formidable team of experts who share between them a vast range of expertise and experience, with the aim of being able to give an authoritative answer to any question on the subject that a therapist may have.