Puyssentut - un refuge holistique en France

Today's blog was written by Jane Fior, who recently visited Puyssentut, a retreat near Toulouse in France. Read on to hear about the amazing experience Jane had, and to see if you might fancy it yourself!

A while ago, Yes to Life drew attention to Puyssentut, a centre in France. A young couple with two small children were restoring a chateau near Toulouse, with the intention of hosting holistic retreats for people who had been diagnosed and treated for cancer. At that point they were looking for volunteers to help with the renovation.

I noticed this and kept it in mind, now and then having a look at their website and the progress of the venture but at that point having no idea that I would turn out to be an appropriate candidate.

Seeds of Change - Our Recent Linseed Workshop

Today's post is about our recent well-being workshop special at The Linseed Farm, where we were hosted by lovely owner Durwin Banks and got to hear some fantastic talks from Yvette Jordan and Pete Cohen.

The sun was shining and the day started with a fascinating tour around The Linseed Farm. As well as generally enjoying the country air, we also got to see the entire process of production from seed to oil.

'The linseed farm aspect was fascinating, we saw them milling the meal and pressing the oil. It was amazing to actually watch this happening in real time.' - Simone  

Durwin grows linseed/flax in all its forms and supplies direct to individuals across the country and was happy to share all kinds of facts.

Linseed contains a high source of omega 3 fatty acids ALA (alpha linolenic acid), as well as protein, fibre and vitamins and minerals such as  Zinc, Iron, Magnesium & Calcium.

The Linseed (Flaxseed) Oil produced on Durwin's farm contains 60% omega 3 making it one of the richest sources and because it’s plant based, it’s a great vegetarian and vegan source. Omega 3 is well documented for it's health benefits, and is particularity important for people with cancer so it was great to discover such a rich source.

Re-purposing old drugs for cancer: sometimes old ‘uns can be good ‘uns

Today's post is from our chairman Robin Daly who discusses how the re-purposing of drugs could unlock new potentials for treating cancer.

The re-purposing of old drugs for cancer is making headline news this year. So is this really ‘new’? Is it even ‘newsworthy’? Or is it simply yet another of those endless ‘cancer breakthrough’ stories so beloved of the media?

To answer the first question: this is far from a new idea. The incidental positive effects of some old, safe, tried and tested drugs on cancer has been noted for many years. For example, metformin, given to people with diabetes to control their blood sugar levels, has the striking effect of transforming their risk of developing cancer from higher than normal healthy people to lower. The thing that is new is the level of interest around this phenomenon.

'I'm gonna love you through it'

Today's post is about a video that has gone viral and why it has a very important message for us all.

Last week a class in Staten Island NYC marked the end of term with a special tribute to their teacher, who has been undergoing treatment for breast cancer. She struggled to hold back tears (and so did I) as their moving rendition of 'I'm gonna love you through it' filled the room with hope and solidarity. The teachers response? 'It's not easy but I will get through it because I have wonderful friends in this school'. (Watch the video here)

This got me to thinking as to how important loving support really is. My name is Tash and I have been working at Yes to Life for over a year. In this time I have had the honour to meet and talk with many people who are facing up to cancer with incredible courage. I am continuously humbled by these individuals, but also by the people around them who are the ears that listen, the shoulders to cry on, the hands that help and the ones to say 'I am with you, no matter what'.

From all I have seen and heard so far, it is this kind of love and support which in so many ways makes all the difference.

Like, Comment, Share: Top posts

Today's blog is a round up of your favourite posts from our Facebook page over the past three months. We love sharing the latest news, research and all the inspiring stories which come our way. Please 'like' us if you are interested in joining the conversation.

In case you missed them here are the top 5 posts which got you all talking over the past few months.

1. Why I'm saying no to a smear

An interesting, and in many ways controversial article from GP Dr Margaret McCartney explaining the reasons why she will not be taking parting in cervical and breast screening. She says 'I'm not against screening, but I am against unthinking screening' and presents a strong case for rethinking our current approach to screening for cancer.

2. I ate 40 teaspoons of sugar a day. This is what happened

A shocking (and hilarious) article from Damon Gameau, who after giving up sugar for three years, reintroduced 40 hidden teaspoons a day for 60 days to see how would it affect his health. No prizes for guessing that it wasn't an improvement...  His story features in the documentary 'That Sugar Film', a huge hit across Australia.

The Final Furlong, into the Centre of Africa - Part 4

Today’s post is our fourth and final instalment from Mike ‘the Bike’ McLellan, cycling enthusiast and long-time supporter of Yes to Life who just completed his mammoth trip from Italy to West Africa to embark on the adventure of a lifetime and raise lots of money to help us support people with cancer along the way.

For most of the journey through Europe then North and West Africa I had been travelling on the coast with its moderating effect on the climate, so it was rarely too hot or too cold. After reaching Casamance in Southern Senegal I headed inland rather than continue into the Ebola ridden countries along the coast and from here it got just got hotter and hotter.

As I said goodbye to my English fellow cyclists Zak and Alice who were taking a different route I crossed the border from Mali to Burkina Faso. I stopped for a long time at the border settling into a comfy chair under a mango tree and chatting to the very friendly Burkina border police. Stopping and resting in the shade during the day had already become a necessity as temperatures soared. I didn't  think it could get any hotter, but it did!

The hardest part of the whole journey was the few days from the Burkina border to the capital, Ougadougou. It had become too hot at night to camp so I planned a route that would bring me to a town, which meant a room in a hotel or guest house each evening. The thought of being under a cooling ceiling fan was enough to give me the strength to keep going.

Broccoli & Sundried Tomato Frittata

Today's post is a recipe from Jenny Phillips who specialises in supporting cancer patients with diet & lifestyle interventions. She herself recovered from breast cancer 10 years ago and is about to release her first recipe book called 'Eat to OUTSMART Cancer', watch this space! You can catch Jenny in person at our Cooks and Cancer Workshop on Saturday (4th July), the last few tickets are available here.

Broccoli is indeed a star of the vegetable world. It contains a host of anti-cancer nutrients including sulfurophane and indole-3-carbinol, which support detoxification and healthy oestrogen metabolism. One study found that four servings of broccoli a week could protect men from prostate cancer.

This oven baked frittata is simple to make and makes a convenient lunch, supper or picnic item. The miso adds a deeper flavour and is a source of B vitamins, antioxidants and probiotics.

This is just one of the recipes we are featuring at the cookery workshop on Saturday 4 July – click here for more info.