Fighting Carcinoid Cancer and Boosting My Immune System with Food

Since there is no medication nor chemotherapy treatment for carcinoid cancer, my best defense will be coming through the food I eat. Having forever been a believer is the adage of you are what you eat, I've decided to change who I am by altering my eating habits. I am, however, a relatively typical American; over the years I've convinced myself that I too busy to cook from scratch so I heat frozen meals, mostly family sized so we'll have left-overs.

My wake-up call began in January 2011 when I was diagnosed with carcinoid cancer. February was filled with all types of tests, most of which required a needle in my vein. Don't like those. Based on the test results, surgery was scheduled for March 7th.

All this time I was operating on faith because I felt fine. I showed up for the doctor's appointment, the tests, and the surgery on blind faith that what everyone was telling me was true. I had nothing to go on but their expertise. I felt the same way I had been feeling for several years, months, and days -- over weight but fine. It felt strange to go into surgery without any pain or aggravation. Just blind faith. I digress ... .

Eating hospital food for seven days will change most appetites but I actually found it to be quite good. That is when I finally got to eat solid foods. For the first few days my diet progressed from crushed ice, to clear broths, pudding and jello, then to soft but solid foods like vegetables.

Hospitals don't know how to make coffee so I passed on that beverage throughout my stay. To my shagrin that absence of coffee changed my taste buds so dramatically that I can no longer tolerate coffee or hot tea. Decades of coffee-drinking tradition had been changed in seven days. Pout

Now I drink gallons of juice instead. You know, I'm living quite well without coffee. Didn't think that could happen. But since it did ... I'm wondering just how challenging it would be to make better food choices all the time. But which foods fight cancer and boost my immune system?

My research began in my cookbook library, which is quite extensive because I'm a book hound. Upon first glance I found three books:

• Macrobiotic Cooking for Everyone by Edward & Wendy Esko, Japan Publications, Inc., Tokyo; January 1980
• Meals that Heal by Anne Egan and Regina Ragone, MS, RD; Rodale, Inc., 2001; and
• The Healthy Kitchen by Andrew Weil, MD and Rosie Daley; Random House, NY, 2002

My oncologist gave me a cookbook that he hands out to his patients:

• Eating Well Through Cancer by Holly Clegg & Gerald Miletello, MD 2011.

Amazon.com offered several choices but I chose the following:

• The Anti-Cancer Cookbook by Julia B. Greer, MC, MPH; Sunrise River Press 2008; and
• The Cancer-Fighting Kitchen by Rebeca Katz with Mat Edelson, Ten Speed Press, 2009.

I've read most of them so far. But as I find interesting points in them, I'll pass that on to you so you can make your own choices.


Keep smiling,
Pat

I've been researching a variety of cancer related foods

So far most of the foods that have been recommended are foods that I like: fresh vegetables, fruits, nuts, fish and lean meat. However, I have found conflicting information on wine. One source says to stay away from any and all alcoholic beverages. Whereas my doctor and Dr. Oz say that one glass of red wine a day is a good thing. I'll let you know.

Before going into the hospital I'd have way more than two glasses a night. I'm glad that cycle was broken. I don't miss the wine but occasionally a glass might be good. Protecting my liver seems to be a more prudent choice. Hummm ... I haven't decided what to do yet.

Not drinking coffee wasn't my idea. After being in the hospital for seven days and not having access to coffee, I found that I didn't like the taste any more. Actually, I don't want a hot drink in the mornings. Two large pint glasses of juice tastes wonderful. Any kind of juice will do but my favorite is V8 with about 8 gluggs of Worcestershire sauce in it. Yummmmm ... . It's my version of a Bloody Mary. That's been the hubster's favorite drink for years. Now he can't leave his cup anywhere or it'll turn up empty.

We have prioritized our garden. I started one last year but it got too hot before I could finish it so it just sat there accumulating more and more weeds. I'm definitely a fair weather gardener. It's a 25 foot square garden with four 4x8 raised beds. I think. The weeds have taken over so I'm guessing.

Don and I put a mesh fence around it a couple of days ago so we can put several goats in the garden. They'll have the weeds out of there in one or two days. AND, they'll fertilize it while they're in there. They're my little edgers and lawn mowers.

Be on the lookout for pictures of this. It'll be a site to see. More later ... I'm finally getting sleepy so it's back to bed for me.

Meeting My Oncologist for the First Time

My husband and I stood in line at the receptionist's desk to let her know we were here for our appointment. I looked at Bob and said, "We're not really here. This isn't really happening, is it?"

"No," he said as we both glanced at the ceiling. I'm OK with denial. It's a comfortable place to be ... most of the time. We sat and waited.

The sound of the nurse's voice calling my name to come back to meet the doctor resonated throughout my body. What a reality check. No more denial allowed. I had to step up to the plate and face this cancer. Cancer is scary word.

We met the doctor in a conference room instead of an exam room; this was a first. Hummm ... . He entered the room with my records in his hands then proceeded to introduce himself. He reviewed my medical records with us then started talking about treatment options.

Since the tumor had been removed, there would be no need for more surgeries. But the carcinoid cells had traveled to my liver where the other doctors found more then seven spots. Now we have to deal with those.

My oncologist took the time to describe the various options and which route would be best for me. Thankfully carcinoid cancer is an extremely slow growing cancer so we're going to 'watch it' for now. I'll go in for a CAT scan and other tests in three months before returning to his office. That way, we'll have more information on how my little intruder is acting.

My plan of attack is to re-evaluate the foods we eat. Several foods have cancer-fighting properties, we'll definitely be eating those. As well as eliminating as many processed foods as possible. Being typical Americans, I've fallen into the rut of preparing many packaged meals because we're busy. Those must fall to the way side.

You know, all of a sudden, I'm NOT that busy because my longevity and the quality of my family's life depends on it. It's my job to slow down the growth of these carcinoid cells. Or, better yet, stop their growth all together.

As I discover food tips, I'll include them here. So please check back from time to time to find out how you too could improve your health.

I'll also ad the links where I find value. Like the one below.

Here's the first link I visited:

http://www.thenetalliance.com/index.jsp

More later, Pat

Carcinoid Tumor Removed via Surgery

It's taking time for all this cancer-stuff to soak in. Even though I was diagnosed with carcinoid cancer in early January, recent events still feel like a bad dream. Sigh ... with that said, my research on carcinoid continues. Some discoveries are exciting while others are not likable at all. For instance, I'm not happy about there being no cure; nor am I happy with the expected life span of between eight and fifteen years. That's not enough time for me to accomplish certain goals. (Sound familiar to you, too?)

Bob and I had a good meeting with my surgeon today. He answered all our questions to our satisfaction even though some discussions didn't tell what us what we wanted to hear. Mainly that there really is no cure for carcinoid. Nope. No such luck.CRAP

My surgeon is super, though. He takes the time to talk with us about anything we bring up. Bob and I came away with a new understanding of carcinoid cancer and how we'll be dealing with it. And he reinforced my oncologist's mode of treatment, too. That's always a good thing when doctors agree on YOUR treatment.

Right now we're doing nothing with medication or surgery. But we will continue monitoring my liver with CAT or MRI scans. The carcinoid spread to my liver and caused several spots to show up on a previous MRI. Unfortunately, none of the spots could be removed during my previous surgery. CRAP

I return to both doctors in July following additional tests. So far, we've established a baseline of my health from earlier tests. The July tests will be measured against the original tests to see what's happening with my liver. The differences between the two tests will help us determine our next course of action.

Since carcinoid is soooooooooo slow growing, we'll probably do nothing but watch it for a long time. (That's my hope.) However, since each carcinoid and person are vastly different, we'll respond as needed to keep me healthy and honory.

In a way I'm OK with this modality but in another way, I'd like to pursue a more aggressive treatment for the spots in my liver seeing as my liver's health is my challenge now. Taking the watch and see road is so passive. But then again, passive can be a good thing. Although it doesn't help release my anger and frustration for all this cancer-stuff.

More later ...