Old timers

Old Timer
DX Stage IV CC Feb 04.
1: I made no significant dietary changes. I try to buy organic and also in season fruits and veggies but in today's world it's hard to do unless I only buy from the CSA farm I belong too. I still eat sugar. Still eat beef (maybe not as much) always ate chicken. Not a big fan of fish. I do like to catch them and return them.
2: I do not take any vitamins or supplements at all.
3: I credit my longevity to a VERY good medical team that I trust 100%. My kids are a huge factor in my staying healthy. Maintaining a good sense of humor with everything including with cancer. My music, kayaking, friends, trying to help others. I stay busy, I try to keep a positive attitude. Attitude is everything I've found. I'm living with cancer...so what.
I am not religious at all.

I want so much to make a comment about the last thing you said but I won't.
(but I'm thinking it!)
;-)
-p

Nice topic Chip
I have always found it interesting that some people that get a (if you don't have the genetic kind) mostly lifestyle kind of illness don't see any sense in making changes in their lives. I'm totally with you on the guilt thing and often wonder about "why me". Looking back on it, it doesn't surprise me that I got rectal cancer. I worked way too much, didn't relax much, ate like crap, smoked, didn't exercise and just wasn't very happy in general. It was make changes or die to me.

1. I completely changed my diet and still pretty much eat the same. I strictly follow the lists of fruits and veggies that have the most pesticides and only eat organic when they are involved. I don't eat anything with nitrates, pesticides, synthetic preservatives, msg, or high fructose corn syrup in it. I only use sea salt and natural sugars (just made a wicked batch of raspberry preserves with stevia and a little cane sugar). I do eat meat but only when it hasn't been shot up with steriods and/or fed antiboitics. I eat dairy products now too but only from cows that haven't been injected with bovine growth hormones and/or fed crap. I buy as much local products as I can. I ate much less meat and dairy when I was fighting the beast that year/year and a half.

2. I still juice but not as often and I make wicked gazpacho shots in the blender. I take fish oil, bone strength, and a b complex multivitamin for woman after menopause as supplements. I also take devils claw (a great and inexpensive herbal supplement) for sore joints from running etc. I started to give it to my dog for her hip dysplasia and the results are amazing. Those with arthritis or joint pains should check it out. I also took a lot more supplements back when I was in the fight.

3. Luck gets a lot of the credit. I do think concentrating on my bloodwork and keeping those levels as high as possible helped me fight off the cancer cells. Now I think keeping my life as stress free as possible, not sweating the small stuff, laughing, exercising, eating right, staying well hydrated, and just doing things I enjoy help. I also think letting loose and acting silly every once in a while acts as a great release. I still minimize my exposure to people with negative energy, they just aren't worth being around.

Lisa P.

PS. Phil, leaving your thoughts to our imaginations probably works much better!!!

LOL
Well, I was diagnosed Oct 2001, been clear of stage 4 ever since my surgery Jan 22, 2002. I believe I'm still here because, for those who believe, I need to "up my game" one way or the other....not bad enough for hell, and not quite good enough for heaven (wink!) lol


Still thankful for every single day,

Stacy