One of my teachers in the old Town Convent (Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus, Victoria Street) once said that during the War her family ate sweet potatoes all the time so she absolutely refused to eat that once the war was over and alternatives became available.
On the other hand, both Dad and Mum loved sweet potatoes BECAUSE that was all they had to eat. Totally opposite perspectives.
Since suspecting that there might be a problem when I received a letter from SingHealth in late May 2017 asking me to go for a repeat mammogram and " further investigations", I tweaked my diet. I stopped sugar-as far as I could that is- and increased my fruit and vegetable intake. Having sort-of been on a Paleo diet since 1 Jan 2016, the transition wasn't too difficult.
On 21 June 2017 I was told that the tests had uncovered 2 lumps that were malignant. I decided to tweak my diet one notch up. I decided to start on supplements for the sole purpose of building my strength and immunity in case chemotherapy was necessary. On that day the surgeon told me that my cancer was just at Stage 1 and they hoped that surgery would remove all delinquent cells. Thereafter I would be given " hormone blockers" as the cancer was feeding off oestrogen hormones so that source of " food" had to be denied.
After the mastectomy on 28 June 2017 I was told that one of four sentinel lymph noes was affected to they did an auxiliary removal of all twenty-two lymph nodes in right armpit. These lymph nodes were sent for testing and praise the Lord only one of twenty-two were found to have been affected. This was enough for the re-classification to Stage 2. Praise the Lord again as scans on bones, abdomen, kidneys and liver all clear. There was a shadow in the left lung but Dr Tina Koh ( NCCS) said it was too small and translucent even to do a biopsy so they scheduled another scan on 19 Dec 2017. We'll see if it develops or disappears.
Now, back to the issue of food. I know that battle belongs to the Lord. I have no doubts about that at all. I felt as Bilbo might have felt in the battle of the Five Armies - too small to make an impact when the Almighty was waging battle on my behalf. So I decided that my part in the battle was to build my strength up.
I was a little apprehensive at first but, hey do I want to live? Answer's Yes of Course so I eat all that is ( reasonably) needed to enable me to optimise my health so I can have the benefits of chemo with none ( or at least minimal) side effects. More vegetables, more fruits, no sugar and minimal carbohydrates. No more of my favourite custard puffs or brownies or sugee cake. More broccoli and sprouts and spinach. It's all a matter of perspective!
Another post will list what I have been guided, after prayer, to take.
God bless you all.
Bless you Gerry
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