Researching Cancer Treatments, etc.

As is my nature, I am doing some researching of cancer, cancer treatments, diet during cancer treatment, diet to prevent cancer, and to prevent recurrence of cancer.

Naturally my first go-to source is Wildwood Lifestyle Center. I came across their category of cancer information. The articles are informative, and helpful.
 

Frankly, that's as far as I got! 

A New Journey Begins

Back in May of this year, I posted that I am trying to going vegan/whole food plant based. I have since learned that is imperative that I do go whole food plant based.

In April, during a pelvic exam, a polyp was removed from my cervix, and tested precancerous. Off to the gynecologic oncologist I was sent, and an appointment set for a complete hysterectomy (uterus, ovaries, fallopian tubes, cervix and all), for July 31. They also did biopsies of 3 lymph nodes. 

This past Monday (August 14) I had a two-week follow up. My incision sites are healing well. There hasn't been a tremendous amount of pain, which I've managed with acetaminophen. There was tremendous bruising on my abdomen, though. At one point it was such a dark purple, it almost looked black. Now, though, the bruising is nearly all gone.

At my follow up, I learned that, yes, I do have cancer. It sounds like it was mostly contained within the uterus and endometrium. But they want me to have radiation, to make sure to kill all the cancer cells, and to keep them from coming back.

In the meanwhile, I am also planning to go completely whole food plant based. At the moment, our finances will make it quite challenging, but for my health, I need to do this! Your prayers will be much appreciated!!     

Wendy

Going Vegan/Whole Food Plant Based

Have you ever seen the movie, "Julie and Julia"? I imagine most foodies have! I have long toyed with the idea of doing something similar to what Julie did: cook my way through a cookbook and blog about it. I am having a bit of a struggle deciding which book I want to use, though. Would you like to help me out?

Nature's Harvest was my very first vegan cookbook. I received it nearly 40 years ago, around the time I married my first husband.

I picked up Nature's Banquet after I left Living Springs Retreat, having worked there a few months. It's another worn, well-loved cookbook.

Dr. Agatha Thrash, from Uchee Pines, wrote the Eat for Strength cookbook.

The Country Life cookbook is another of my favorite go-to cookbooks. I haven't used the Silver Hills book much.

During my second marriage, our church had a health seminar. I volunteered to babysit for any attendees who needed a baby sitter. I was given a copy of the cookbook they used during the seminar. More Choices does also offer dairy options, if one so chooses.

Weimar Institute and Wildwood Health Institute both have lifestyle programs that will change one's life. Their programs are based on God's health plan: Nutrition, Exercise, Water, Sunlight, Temperance, Air, Rest, and Trust in God.

Chef Mark Anthony is now at the Black Hills Health and Education Center. I enjoy his plant-based cooking very much. I even had the opportunity to see one of his live presentations once a few years ago.

Karen Houghton and the Micheff sisters have done cooking shows on 3ABN. Their cooking shows are always fun to watch, and are sure to make you hungry. 

The rest of these are new to me, and I haven't used them much. I picked them up, either at church (from someone who was getting rid of them), or used on Amazon or EBay.

Look! Mastering the Art of Vegan Cooking takes Julia Child's book, Mastering the Art of French Cooking, and veganizes it! And Betty Goes Vegan takes the Betty Crocker cookbook and veganizes it!

I picked up The College Vegan Cookbook, because I know the recipes would be smaller, and use more readily accessible ingredients.

So, what do you think? Which one should I start with? Leave your comment below. And join me on this journey.

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Time to Catch Up...A LOT!

This blog really suffers from "malnutrition"!! I don't really intend to go so long between posts, but...LIFE...

My dear handful of readers, the past couple years have been a bit brutal (an understatement) and challenging. In a previous post, I mentioned how hard we were working to preserve our health and prevent contracting covid. Well, we remained unscathed...until July, 2021...

In spite of our most valiant efforts, our bodies lost that battle. On July 15 or 16, my youngest son's temperature spiked. He complained of a headache, and he had a bit of a sniffly nose. By Sunday he was feeling better. 

That day (July 18) we went to Cedar Key, one of Jen's favorite places for a brief outing, to celebrate her birthday. We like to go, walk along the stores at water's edge, take a few pictures, perhaps eat while we're there.

The next day I had a headache, and my temperature began to spike, and the following day, Jen's spiked. She spent her birthday with a fever of 102. We did test positive, so we remained isolated as much as possible. But we did still need to help my parents; Steven had to fill in for Jen. 

Steven's place of work did close down for awhile, because others tested positive as well.

The morning of July 28, I told Jen I couldn't breathe. The next thing I knew the ambulance was there, to take me to the hospital. Thus began 23 long days in the hospital. I found out my dad was taken to the hospital the same day.

I was finally discharged on August 19. I came home on oxygen, and with a walker and bedside commode...and very little strength. It was a long recovery. I still suffer some after effects: my senses of taste and smell are still not right!

In August of 2022, I had to have a blood transfusion because my hemoglobin levels were so low. They gave me two units. 

Because we finally established a primary care provider that we really like, I am having some other health issues taken care of. In April, 2023, I had a gynecologist appointment to check into the cause of nearly a decade of vaginal bleeding. Initial pelvic exam found a polyp on my cervix, which the doctor removed. Then I had an intervaginal ultrasound, then they did biopsies from the uterine wall.

The uterine wall is supposed to be 4mm thick. Mine is 46mm thick! And the results from the biopsies came back as precancerous. So, now I await the next step.

A couple other events which have affected us are: my father passed away in October, 2022; and my mother passed away in March, 2023. Just five months and four days apart.

In the meantime, I am attempting to go vegan, and attempting to get back into nearly-daily walks. I hope you will join me as I again embark on this "journey to healthy."

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Health Report...on Wendy!

Let me tell you about my weekend.

Due to some middle-of-the-night events, I had my daughter take me to the ER on Friday. When I mentioned chest discomfort, shortness of breath, headache and nausea, they immediately took me to a room and proceeded doing an EKG.

They admitted me for at least overnight, for observation. I was in a single-occupancy room, which was spacious!

They never put me in a gown, so I was in my street clothes the whole time!! Yay!

Due to the fact that I have been bleeding at least lightly and nearly continuously for over 6 years now, they did an ultrasound.

Of course, they also took vials of blood. And they did an echocardiogram. There was one mention of doing a scan on my brain (because of my lightheadedness and dizziness), but that never happened.

My heart monitor

My heart passes inspection. Apparently it's strong and healthy. But my blood pressure is high...And my A1C was 8.4. So now I am on meds for blood pressure and diabetes.

The gynecologist wants to do a D&C, or at least a biopsy, which is to be done outpatient.

I was discharged yesterday.

At least I had a nice view from my hospital room!

 And, hey, you know what?! The food wasn't too bad, either!

Friday supper

I didn't get to have Sabbath breakfast, since they had me NPO because they planned to do a stress test.

Lunch was a turkey sandwich, and fresh fruit.

Sabbath supper

Sunday breakfast

Sunday lunch

Sunday supper

Monday breakfast

(There was a thick slice of turkey and a slice of swiss cheese on that croissant. Those tater tots were way over cooked. This was the worst meal I had at the hospital)

Monday lunch

And I was there for Monday supper: beef stew, rice, broccoli spears, canned peaches.

I am mostly vegetarian, and I really want to get back to it, or even go vegan. But they served me meat 2 or 3 times a day while I was in the hospital, and I'm used to having nor more than that much in a week! It was hard to handle, in a way.

So, now I am definitely getting serious about my health. It is going to be a lot of hard work, I know, and I am going to need lots of encouragement. Won't you please become a part of my team of personal trainers and encouragers?!

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Wordless Wednesday, December 26

Here are some of this month's collages from my morning walks.

I'm linking up on Wordless Wednesday, over on my new blog, Life on Chickadee Lane.