Dave's Viet Spring Hospital Report No.1 & thank you's!!!!

This was my message to my dad only 5 days ago:

My 9 to 5!

"Vietnam is going well - I think! Dr Ba says he needs a month to get the liver back on track but we will manage. last night had a miracle pain free night (with no sleep alas) plus theyve got night meds right a few times which has been a relief. It's tough daily schedule every day with herbal pills, potions, enemas, and infusions (4 today - all day in bed basically!) etc etc. anyway, hard work!!!! I had to take 60 pills in one day twice last week... Crazy!"

beeeeeeeeefaaaaaaaaake!!

And for you all: 

Been a bit different last few days - less pills more concoctions for a start. Rather worse has been a LOT of pain. Apparently my liver function test tesults were very bad when i arrived and have been sliding down since. they say my liver and kidneys (causing crazy bloated abdomen, bum even, legs and feet swelling) is not functioning properly either so whatever they're doing is having some negative effects first too. 

The pain in my liver area from swelling has been agony and as they are trying really hard to cut out "toxic" western drugs (one of the reasons I am like I am no doubt (they are reeeeeeally anti and likely spot on - i was on a lot of strong meds for month before i came) it has been hard for them to control pain at night. 2 hours sleep, wake up, 1 1/2 hours sleep, then hour awake, etc is not uncommon. Plus my cough gets going at night to add insult to injury. Some days I wake up feeling like a total zombie others I have walked down 6 flights of stairs sat and chilled for 20 in baking morning sun (ave temp outside is 34 with insane humidity, makes Tokyo summer look like stroll through the botanical gardens (ahhh, running through sprinklers ... ) in comparison!).

Will stick with it for sure though. staff's English is quite atrocious at times but they do listen and do genuinely seem to care. No rubber gloves on before every contact and like the the other day when i was in tearsof pain even the doctor was very sympathetic. We lost all that in the UK a loooooongntime ago.

Dr Ba rushes in and out 5 times a day somedays usually to drop off a gut wrenching concoction and is happy to explain all which is good. Very thorough in general. 

MONSTER fruit basket (dont freak eng teachers)

My mum sadly broke her toe by the pool (at a hotel! she is staying with me here thank god. dont know what i' d have done without her so far plus this week there have been tears a plenty) so even she is on some of the meds, mainly for solidarity (she rocks cos they are mostly VILE!) ... but his knowledge and enthusiasm fills you with his self belief too. It's just going to take time and a lot more wincing from me I can see before this liver starts to settle, then re- generate healthily. Dr Ba still doesnt seem overconcerned. Helps when your being treated by someone who has had such good results he really believes in his results. 

That's a about it

Lots a love to you all fight the good fight and for gods sake look after your liver...

Please keep giving generously if you can. It all helps so much!!! We have covered the flight now you are paying for my treatment. Makes me cry how generous you all are! AMAZING! Wish there werent so anonymouses - dont be so humble people!!!! 

Thank you all from all of YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Update June 2013 - I am still ALIVE (screw the oncologists) & ... VIETNAM!!!

My dear family, friends, & supporters

Well the next phase of my 3 plus year cancer journey has now been reached. My liver is officially kicking my arse and my energy levels have sapped to about 30% -50% depensing on the day. Running is out, walking very gently still in. Everything and I mean everything (except staring in to space - hardly a thrill-a-minute [things have improved somewhat since I originally typed this though not by much]) is a drag these last few weeks. My mum has been trying to hard to keep us busy with nice things to do which has been keeping me sane but the day to day reality is thats its really hard to keep a smile on my face. My oncologist has scanned me again, liver is enlarged due to enlarged tumours, lungs metastases are larger and growing, plus I now have polyps of cancer growing all round my stomach lining and digestive system from what I understand further causing digestive troubles. I am on lots of medication now with varying degrees of success, to help my bowels, things to help me sleep, things to me wake up, to reduce fluid (my legs blowing up like a weightlifter for a few days last week up), various pain killers, things to bring down inflammation, etc etc - a veritable pharmaceutical cornucopia. which of course isnt helping my energy levels either. I have pain too but we are managing that quite well well far in general, though daily dose changes are often required to get to sleep. Mainly the biggest drag is not waiting to sit still for long yet also not having the energy to really apply myself to anything either. I still havent found a book I want to read. I hope I have mainly eliminated the typos in this i'm writing now [am doing now actually - 20 Jun]. 

On the plus side, I did manage to get the 300 records from my new vinyl label 'Mariana' over to the distributors. Its funny how getting that done followed immediately me getting much worse; as if my body was given the extra ooopmh to do what it needed before finally taking a hard earned rest after Japan & Taiwan (a great success tour wise especially Taiwan which was gig of my life so far but a real struggle energetically to say the least) and getting the first Mariana release done and dusted. Now Its in the distributors capable hands to sell it though I will be selling some privately too to friends so drop me a line ASAP if you'd like a copy! 


Needing things to pass the time is main challenge as that really is what I feel I am mainly just doing now. with only about 35% energy even checking emails is not fun - certainly doing yoga homework is not possible [ I realise I am having to give up the course with my decision to travel for treatment]. Even reading magazines, watching crappy films or books is not easy. The Simpsons is about all I can manage to sit still for. I still have a reasonable appetite having got through the sickness phase of my time in Japan, so am still cooking a bit which is good. I havent been able to do much yoga practice at all of late and I may oh so sadly have to quit my course in the not too distant future. Being realistic there's not much point being a teacher if I'm not alive to teach though is there so in reality its not as painful a decision to make as it might first seem. I'm sure I can pick up where I left off in the future sometime anyway. I have learned so much already thanks to my wonderful tutors & colleagues and I continue to wish them all the very best with the course. 

So, the future. My dream (we have our flights already & visas are on the way actually) is to go to a clinic in Hanoi, Vietnam to see a Dr Ba. We leave Thursday. Doctor Ba has over 30 years experience in both western & eastern medicine, comes highly recommended by my own acupuncture doctor David plus I will be treated in an all mod con's hospital under one roof. Kind of the situation I have been looking for ever since I first started researching alternative healing for cancer actually! See the next passage for some background as to why I am headed there this Thursday. It sounds from another patient of Dr Ba's (there now and doing very well herself so far) like the all day infusions will be tough but if its the right place to be I have just got to go for it, right?! The below from my own acupuncture doctor who has gone all the way to Vietnam to see for himself lately also adds massive impetus for me. 

David Nassim "HealthInstinct.org" June 2013

"Dear Dave. I don't feel another dose of chemo of any kind would be useful on your system when you have not gained weight for a long tim,...the key thing about Dr Ba and the Chinese medical approach is that hey are doing the reverse of chemo - they are aiming to strengthen the body from the moment you step though the door, everything is a tonic but specific to the damaged tissues; it turns chemo on its head really. You have done chemo and got the T-shirt and it was hard so suggesting now you do it again I think would be ill advised in my own personal opinion (with which I heartily agree - DT) but I'm not suggesting anything other than a conversation with Dr Ba as he will be able to advise you better then I. He is the specialist not me. This article explains the difference of approach to chemo (as opposed to my 2nd choice, finding which chemo drug I am sensitive too & targeting the tumours more specifcially - let's call it the 'German' approach as advocated by Dr Trefizer in UK & others in Europe - DT):

http://www.vietxuan.vn/en/tin-tuc/19-nghien-cuu/80-calming-membranes-taming-cancer
(some very interesting research & results from Ba's work in the USA here if you have the time to look)

Yes you will hear this same idea with Trefizer and with the Vitamin C people but they are using one approach and what Trefizer doesn't have is a foundational base in energetic medicine. From what I have seen he is doing research into cancer with patients. Dr Ba on the other hand has already DONE and continues to do research but he also actually knows what's going on with cancer, he knows when to egg it on and when not to, when to use this and when to use that … this is utterly unlike these clinics who basically have one protocol and apply it to everyone. Dr Ba's treatment is specific to you in every way. I still believe in the power of your body to heal and so does Ba - there I no attempt to kill off here only the attempt to build-up."

Its a bit of a nightmare that the clinic is so far away but such is life. So, I am once again (so sorry!) asking again for you to put your hands in your pockets again if I may. The bassline figure raised so far on my phase 2 started earlier this year is £3,411 FYI as of June 10th. Even if I can raise just 10,000GBP more this will help a great deal. Business class flight for myself to ease the burden of the long journey plus 2 months of treatment protocol (relatively cheap once I am there at 100USD per day & feeds me with macrobiotic type food as well as daily infusions and getting herbal medicine and acupuncture if I need it) but anything to help will so so appreciated. In fact just 1GBP plus a nice comment would be amazing. We are certainly not broke in my family its mainly just nice to be somewhat independant. As ever please excuse the lack of personal thank you's. I will try to upload a video once I am settled in. Plus this decision is very much MINE and being able to pay for it 'myself' means a lot to me. Dream trips to the HImalayas etc and continuation of my 'Bucket list' seem far away right now. Again no point having savings with no life with which to spend it! The other option for me doesn't really bear thinking about. I have already seen them and they are lovely but the hospice here seems like an end of the line thing for me no matter how you look at it and I am just not ready to 'leave it to god' as some might say it is time to do now. I am young and I have my dreams. I still have a strong will to live & I still picture myself with my future grandkids walking on a real beach in a real place. I'm just not ready to accept a prognosis of 3 months which is the max my oncologist is giving me & she said herself she is not even sure chemo would help me right now, when someone with whose ideals I relate to and actually agree with (namely my acupuncture man David and Dr Ba now too) still say I have the chance I could live 10 years more, or even be completely be cured. That I dont even have to fight… just accept and believe in what they are doing, which as it happens I jolly well do with all my heart!!! My oncologist continues to be amazing I am even alive right now yet my liver function and bloods miraculously are almost normal still so, go figure! As David says, he believes (and so do I even with all this symptomatic craziness right now) wants to heal. I just need to keep buying it more time now. 

Nothing is impossible!!! 

* * * 

Buy Mariana Wax 000 on vinyl (including one of my own tracks as 'Tr nch' - with James Cameron starting to promote the film of his own voyage to the Mariana Trench oh-so perfect timing too!

a] via Bandcamp (I can post next Monday Tuesday or Wednesday only though as I will be away - digital version is to follow in a month or so, with bonus tracks I hope. there is no plan for CD version at this stage, sorry! 
b] in all your favourite online record stores www.boomkat.com www.juno.co.uk etc by June 22nd

Plus my DJ set from recent tour to Japan:

Dave Twomey recorded Mariana 4th Birthday @ Eleven, Tokyo

Looking Out Over The Vast Blue Sea

Something I wrote some time ago, recently edited & so thought I would share it. Any feedback be greatly appreciated... 

Today

I sit, looking out over the sea eating my hearty, salty, warming soup. 

Children shriek down by the windy sea. 

A girl in pink walks her very happy-looking dog. If dogs could smile…

Behind me a daughter fondly puts her arm around her mother, threading her fingers into her mother's hand. 

Smiling. 

I  find myself pondering … how did we get here? 

Why? 

The vastness of the ocean in front of me, the land behind me full of concrete, a statue of a past regent, a circus tent to my right, cars. 

In motion, whether years ago, right now or looking into the future. 

The water seems unchanging beyond its surface palpitations and undulations. changing to my eyes only the shape of our portion of the globe that which is not sea. 

How easy we now fly over it to new pastures. 

Not even out of need or curiosity like our ancestors but on a mere whim knowing we can be safe in our own comfort zone we call home again. 

We change so much every day with the uncountable, insurmountable options available to us, the pleasures at our disposal. 

Yet mother nature designs not out of choice but pure purpose.

Function. Perfect design that boggles the mind. 

A mind that for certain now, thinks too much, feels too little. 

Evolution of our intelligence-mind wins versus mossed-over intuitive response. Ambition and ego rules to oft destructive ends

Out of sync with our true nature, onness with the boundlessly deep well of the natural world and yet we too, in our own way, are perfect in design. 

But we continue to defy our intuition. 

Inability to control - or see beyond mind, the ego, pure consciousness remains a pipe dream, found only by those investing in their present, and making the space for just that. 

We meditate for 10 minutes, then we once again set the wrecking ball on our world around us. 

Is it all some inexplicable test?

A test of our will and our want.  

Why is it that only we humans, surely no more unique, no more ingenius in design than the marvels of the living world around us - plant animal or simply space, matter, energy, have the seemingly innate ability to go beyond that which is in tune with nature, that is nature. 

And consequently go on systematically destroying that small drop in the ocean of the universe that is our home; planet earth.

* * * 

Grow your own vegetables!!! 

* * * 

Exciting times: 

http://www.residentadvisor.net/news.aspx?id=19752

Some choice pics from my tour:

Mariana 4th Birthday @ eleven Tokyo - by Ryu Kasai

Me, Mine & a whole host of burps ...

I have been absent for far to long I know. Its been a bit of a rollercoaster the last few months to be honest. Sometimes I feel pretty desperate about my situation - the acidosis/gastritis problem of last year reared its ugly head again in February - but at other times, even at the most unlikely time (case in point sudden onset mid personal yoga practice that I hadnt planned to do when I woke up 5am but then suddenly felt like at 7am after fitful night of sweats and weird dreams!) I experience nothing short of bliss. Its a funny old life... 

Joys have been a visit from a dear friend from the US, a long weekend with Dad and family (the little ones are 13 now!!!), a trip to Rome, my mum & Pippa's return from their month plus antipododealicious (whatever!) adventure, continuation of my yoga teacher training course (though was it cold up in Wales in Feb & March ... brrrr!), 

a fun bread-making class in Canterbury (how pro do I look!), hiking in Pembrokeshire (god that was cold though), the excitement (& minor stress!) of preparing for my 2 festival gigs in Taiwan & Shikoku island Japan and the 3 club gigs, the joy (& moderate pain) of preparing release number one of my new vinyl record label ... and more which I cant put my finger on right now. Its good to reflect on hat seems like a hellish few months ... what a lot of great stuff I still have going on notwithstanding the health problems! 

Lows have been nearly skipping 2 (I dont feel much like this weekend either, though this time my Mum will share the driving with me which makes it a LOT more enjoyable) teacher training weekends due to health (which of course turned into profound peace and fullness by the end of each weekend), really suffering from the cold, the acidosis (possibly caused by the cold or by overdoing the brown rice again?), chest congestion/breathing issues, fallout from aforementioned Rome trip, bad decisions to agree to take anti-biotics (my body is getting more and more sensitive to anything unnatural as I detox more and more through the macrobiotic diet!), inability to run due to low energy, pain, swelling in the abdomen, sleeplessness ... there have been a few thats for sure and my acidosis issues are ongoing even with my pending trip to Japan to DJ. Bit of a worry but at least food will be easier. My digestive system is so weak lately I have returned to some white rice & plenty noodles like soba / buckwheat just to get some energy assimilating. I have been eating a lot of puddings too. Hope I am not overdoing it ...    

All in all I feel ok ... I have so much going on in my life I am so blessed and I know it. Will try to upload some more photos of the last month in a seperate blog soon ... 

BONSAI CEDAR TREE, KEW GARDENS

And lastly: 

An interesting article sent my my friend if you fancy it. Simple stuff in theory but right on I am sure...

Also many from my dear friend David Nassim some that resonate particularly with me, considering the struggle I am having with overeating (bizarre I know what with me being so skinny!), which adds to the bloating and basically leads to the digestive system just shutting down. The maxim 'Too much of a good thing' was never so true... actually I cant find it but you can choose. any of his writing is an inspiration to be honest! HERE

Also, for those wanting a good way in to macrobiotics I really recommend Dirk Benedict (aka Face from The A-Team's ''Kamikaze Cowboy''. My Dad just read it and loved it. Dufty's ''Sugar Blues'' is also an absolute MUST for anyone who cares about their health... if you can get hold of a copy of this classic! Just search on amazon... 

Be well and ... EAT WHOLE FOODS & decrease your risk of cancer, heart disease and many many more!!! 

Race 1 COMPLETE + organics ...

Race one DONE AND DUSTED! Pretty slow chugging in at 1:07:47 (last year did 47 minutes!!!!) but to be honest that was challenging enough on a cold winters day ... am on my way that's all I care about right now. 10k's down, 90 to go! Eek! Slowly slowly is the goal, then I wont burn out. Please sponsor me to add to my motivation (doing really well so far thank you soooo much for those who have given so far!!!) and / or PLEASE pass the link to my story on to your friends! SHARING IS CARING and all that... 

Much love to you all

d.

* * * 

And from my (olive oil) soap box: 

I just think if you can afford it or find a way to ... why would you not?! 

Go Organic

What does ‘organic' really mean and why is it better for you? When people say their goods have organic ingredients in them what does that mean? For most people the first thing that comes to mind when they think of word ‘organic' is food. Yet ‘organic' means so much more. It is only a short step to becoming aware of other products and meaning of the word, e.g. clothing, skincare, holidays, wine and gardening, to name but a few. There are many ways to establish an organic way of life. So why do people choose to ‘go organic' ? Here are just some of the reasons: Their own wellbeing - as far as possible unnecessary chemical sprays are avoided. The environment - organic philosophy is a holistic approach and encourages a much greater diversity of wildlife. The use of GM technology is prohibited. The welfare of animals -a natural lifestyle for all animals is in-keeping with the organic ethos. Products in an Organic category are free from: Pesticides, Artificial fertilizers, Human waste, or sewage sludge, - do we really need say this? (yes if you're Ricky Gervais) Genetic modification. Also they were processed without: Ionizing radiation, Food additives. For the rearing of animals this means: No routine use of antibiotics, No use of growth hormones. Organic is simply the natural choice (excuse the pun) (paraphrased from TheGreenshop.co.uk)

For my friends in Japan/日本の友達に。。。

Official kinda update just published on my website mainly for my friends in Japan plus a link to a new ambient and synth DJ set. Hope you like it! 

HERE (日本語もあります)

- - - 

Click to listen...

Happy New Year, daily invocation & macro pics ...

Happy New Year! I have a really good feeling about this: my goals are ...

Travel less!

Eat simple, tasty meals & not too much.

Do one thing at a time. 

Continue my yoga studies with patience, discipline & a sense of unending playfulness. 

Get my music studio set up so I can just jam & have fun with it! 

Start a vinyl record label (oooh, exciting!)

DJ a few daytime festivals or events.

There is one more goal related to a certain special girl who I met last year in the US. No its not that! I do hope we get to meet again this year though, wherever it may be... ;-]

So this update mainly to share a reiki invocation I have been using for a few months. Highly recommended if you have any issues at all relating to any dis-ease. I say dis-ease because I think this problem of fear can apply to any sense of unease or malaise you might currently be feeling & really help to dissolve both the fear and the issue ... if you know you have symptoms giving you notice of something that can easily lead to a full blown disease then PLEASE do what you have to to nip it in the bud. Prevention is sooooo much easier than cure. 

Invocation for a Soul to release the Fear concerning Disease

" I choose to free myself from the negative energy called fear - I release it now. 

I know that fear is a distortion of my reality, and lack of faith in myself and my universe. 

I trust myself & my universe (or god) to heal & free me.

I ask that the same be true for all others who are willing to accept this divine truth. 

No one has the right to tell me when to die. My powerful soul chooses to live.

I affirm my life & all of life. If I had a death wish for any reason in the past, I release it now!

I ask through the power of Grace that all karma related to this disease be healed. 

I also ask that I be made aware of the change of consciousness needed to heal. 

I ask for forgiveness of myself & all others, whom I may have offended. Through all time, space and dimensions. Within & without, I forgive, I accept Love from myself and others. 

I am healed, I am whole, I am well, I am healed, I am whole, I am well & I accept.

On all levels of my being, I accept this healing and ask that it be so for others as well who are ready for it. 

As above, so below, so be it! I now ordain all cells of my body to respond. 

The light of healing shines through me, and I reflect the Light of the Universe."

Karen K. Mitchell PhD, N.D

And for those with an interest in it, below some of my latest macrobiotic meals ... seriously tasty even if I do say so myself, though if anyone has a trick to de-bitter the aduki squash dish further I'd be happy to hear it. I know its good for me but its not my favourite dish I have to admit! 

(Breakfast of miso soup, steamed rye sourdough & steamed veggies)

(Lunch of aduki beans with squash, nishime vegetables & steamed greens)

(Dinner of grilled fish, miso soup, blanched greens & miso cauliflower and lentils)

I am still having issues with fatigue so I am focusing on the idea of less is more - echoing one of the father of macrobiotics' favourite saying "quantity affects quality" (the other is "the bigger the front the bigger the back" also a very useful one roughly equal to "what comes up must come down") - eating less at meals and making my body work more for the nutrients contained within the smaller more select food. The idea is too reduce the burden on my digestive system in general, saving more energy for my daily activities. Not over-eating has toi be one of the hardest things in the world when you enjoy the food as much as I do... 

I even managed a macro Xmas though on that occasion I ate so much I thought I would burst. Not clever... 

(tuna steak [rare appearance!], garlic brown rice with kale, mashed sweet potato & celeriac, celeriac & cashew salad, pressed salad, roast root veg with ginger & soy sauce & cumin brussel sprouts ... phew!)

Lastly a favourite recipe tried out this month: butterbean hummus! 

- personally my mum and I think 1.5 tbsp of the balsamic vinegar are enough... but its up to YOU! Dont forget to soak the butterbeans with a little square of konbu the night before to increase digestibility & 'windlessness' if thats a problem for you! 

Much love

d.

Thanks for 2012 & thinking ahead to 2013...

Place de la Concorde Paris Dec 2012

"Until one is committed, there is always the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation) there is one elementary truth, the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitively commits oneself then Providence moves too. 

All sorts of things occur to help one that would never have otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favour all manner of unforseen incidents & meetings & material assistance, which no man could have dreamed would have come his way"

Scottish Himalayan Expedition

Thanks to those of you who have stuck close to me through joy, pain and downright grumpiness this year. Challenges & successes both aplenty, but all in all a throughly inspiring year! I am feeling as well as can be expected at this time of year. Studying plenty including my daily hour plus of yoga, pranayama (breath work) and meditation, eating well & seeing friends as much as possible. The focus now for me is on 'emotional work' mainly through The Journey 'processes' which is a challenge but seems to be having an effect. I am dreaming like never before, a sure sign of 'clearing' they tell me. Digestive ailments continue and very much associated with held emotion according to many holistic practitioners so thats the path I am headed down right now, with the cancer growth showing no signs of slowing despite my best efforts with diet, etc. I also continue to have regular reiki and shiatsu to support my body as well as various other bits and bobs, as support via my fund and my parents allows. I'm looking forward to heading to Avebury tomorrow for the winter solstice on Thursday. A new era for us all I hope! The Xmas at home in Deal ... quiet but all I need right now. Lovely!

Thanks to Mum & Pip for a great time in Paris for my recent 33rd birthday & my rellies for chipping in to buy me a new fantastic camera... some early efforts attached 
                                

Merry Christmas to you all & warmest, brightest wishes for 2013!!!

My November - more on the macro!

Just got back from teacher training weekend 3 followed by lovely week studying HEREat the International Macrobiotic School. Head honcho Oliver Cowmeadow has been working in macrobiotics since the 80's and is quite the authority. It was nice to learn about macrobiotics without the over emphasis on japanese foods and recipes,

though of course many of ingredients do still come from Japan as we seem to have lost so much of our traditional food. To be honest with all the talk about 'eat local and according to what grows nearby' I do find it hard to understand the obsession sometimes with 100% japanese recipes, as delicious as they are. I am on the hunt for some really old maybe even ancient celtic recipes from before we started using meat, eggs and milk so readily that will likely fit the macrobiotic way now. On the course not only did we learn about the food but also how the more energetically extreme foods like animal foods (on the yang side) and alcohol / drugs / sugar (on the yang side) affect us but also how to facially diagnose organ weakness. I have very low kidney & spleen energy which is why I get tired so easily and very much need to look after my liver due to its over zealous effect on my stomach/small intestine. I have been recommended to keep going on the 'emotional issues' stuff

(I have been feeling like I am making good progress with 'The Journey' process' work, another great course I went on a month ago or so) and to get regular bodywork (aka massage). All very interesting & actually Oliver's diagnosis very much fits that of my dear acupuncture doc David! I found time for one very relieving shiatsu massage from Oliver. They are usually expensive but I find them absolutely fantastic. Sometimes not 100% comfortable but when I get pain it feels like pain I need to feel... there is so much blocked energy in my body and I feel it.

So, included are some pics of our last day food in Totnes. So amazing that my mum could come and support me. In fact we have been cooking macro since we got back too. My mum is really giving it a try so thanks to her and Pippa for that! let's see if we cant all get healthier with it!!!

I am off to Paris for my birthday next week. Just 2 nights so I cant wait! A tout a l'heure mes amis!!! One more running race to go - keep your pledges to maustokyo@gmail.com coming (much better than Xmas or Bday presents!)
Winter love,
D.

ps keep supporting my treatment fund too if you so wish. I hope you had a chance to read my update!

YesToLife Fund Phase 2 . full update on 'treatments'!!

Reset! ... and, here we go again! FULL UPDATE - perfect to achieve that deserved & needed deep sleep ;-)!!!!  

Click click click

(From the Fundraising page)
A quick note to start to acknowledge a reset of my fund total with this new blog - just over £25,000 has already been raised and invested in my future wellbeing, not a penny wasted in my opinion (I am quite the authority on alternative therapies for cancer now!) - with new goals and aims in mind. A huge thanks to all who contributed heart warming messages and funds over the last year or so. This time is not like the last when I really just didn't have the money for the expensive treatment protocol which has no doubt helped me to stay pretty well all things considered since. If you are broke please do not donate further. However if you do wish to continue to support any help would be very appreciated. Being without a job it provides me with a level of motivation & independence which to me is invaluable, and means I can continue with no holds barred doing the things I believe keep me on the path to 100% recovery.

So - STATUS UPDATE FOLLOWS!!!
My name is Dave Twomey & I was diagnosed with Stage IV colorectal cancer with liver and lung metastases in February 2010. I was given a 'terminal' prognosis of a few months to 5 years. Well, its already nearly 3 years since my oncologist made that proclamation and not only am I still here but I am quite frankly having the time of my life. I have lost approximately 10kg since I first started getting the symptoms (rectal bleeding - beware!), my face has changed shape somewhat (some old friends say) and my attitude to life & the world around me has changed beyond all recognition I think. For the better! I definitely do NOT feel like I am dying as my oncologist seems to think. My cancer continues to progress with 3 tumours remaining in the liver and multiple ever growing tumours in the lungs ... Well to be fair to her she is just surprised I remain asymptomatic and I appear on the outside to all intents and purposes to be quite well, notwithstanding the weight loss. Contrary to the western idea of my condition I do NOT believe I am dying. Very much the opposite, I am really living for the FIRST TIME IN MY LIFE. Thriving in fact! And I plan to go on doing do until I am 100 - the image of myself walking along the beach with my future grandchildren is an image I will not let go of easily. But I don't think its about fighting, its about being at peace with myself and allowing my body the time to heal ITSELF from within. Still, I have no doubt the reason I continue to feel so good - so loved, supported and cared for is thanks in large in my opinion to YOU ALL and your incredible generosity raising to date such a huge amount of money, which I have duly spent all of on keeping well or at least experimenting with what does, without the nasty and potentially life threatening effects of chemotherapy. I haven't had any conventional treatment for almost 2 years now (its Oct 2012 as I write this & I last had chemo ending in Feb 2010!). Incredible really!

Spending that fund not a penny has been wasted in my opinion on: my home ozone/sauna system, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, extensive vitamin C doses both orally and intravenously, high grade supplements such as vitamin d, krill oil, magnesium and many many more under the guidance of my nutritionist, trips to various clinics & wellness centres and courses around the country, my complicated but essential dental work at Munro-Hall to rid me of 4 chronic infections, my running gear (I haven't managed to get any where near the 100km I had hoped to complete for charity this year [still ongoing though] but I haven't wanted to push my body too much   ... READ MORE HERE

Running again today - your pledges needed!

Pouring with rain and blowing a hooligan as we like to say in the UK ... BUT, am doing the DEAL TRI 5-MILER today ... Very determined! So, any pledges for sponsorship support would be gladly appreciated. My poor sleep patterns have meant I have only managed 48km of my 100km challenge this year (I havent run in a race since June!!) but hoping to add a few more before the end of the year. Please pledge as comment below!! Thanks so much! Money raised from this race mainly going to help build a new Multiple Sclerosis Centre in Canterbury, a cause very close to my heart - MS is a horrible disease of gradual and painful degeneration of the body. Some of the money raised over the year has already gone and will continue to go to to the Willow Foundation in the UK or to the Ashinaga Orphanage in Japan if thats where you make your pledge. YOUR MOTIVATIONAL PLEDGES VERY MUCH NEEDED TODAY!!! (please share this with your friends if you can)

Starts in 20 minutes... god this weather is AWFUL!!!

The NHS's backward 'nutritional' advice!

Sure you all know how much further I think we can go to heal through correct diet (macrobiotics is my weapon of choice as many of you know) but good to know some US hospitals at least starting to change the shocking advice oncologists give patients... Time to a change NHS - wake up!!! Even the American Cancer Society has information on macrobiotics... This is all the Royal Marsden has to say and this from the 'top' cancer hospital in the UK. By 'a sensible and balanced diet' they mean anything you like pretty much - as long as you dont lose weight! Ridiculous... even if you're overweight (a LOT of cancer patients) they will still say if you lose weight its a sign you are being overtaken by the cancer. Wrong on so many levels ... I am 10kg lighter than I was diagnosed but you know what, I feel GREAT!!! When I was on chemo and started losing weight they gave me carte blanche to eat as many pudding as I wanted despite the huuuuuuge body of research into how suga can feed cancer (one such article here) and sent me off with me a crate of nasty aspartame-filled drinks (I think we stlll have almost ever single one of them dont we Mum?). Truly revolting & it seems quite poisonous too (decide for yourself here here or here!)

This is more for those who have chosen the conventional route of treatment, long put behind me (I wont see my oncologist til April next year now so really going it alone now!) 
Anyway...


Memorial Sloan-Kettering and MD Anderson urge people on Chemotherapy to ‘Choose Healthy Foods’

In contrast to UK recommendations, which include pictures of cheeseburgers, sticky, sugary buns and milk shakes, top American cancer centres MD Anderson, Texas, and Memorial Sloan-Kettering in New York recommend much the same as Chris Woollams and CANCERactive do in the article ‘A Diet for chemotherapy’. You will note they talk about limiting sugar intake – but then six or so studies in the last 18 months have shown glucose feeds cancer.

"When you´re being treated for cancer, it´s important to avoid extreme diets that may leave you short on key nutrients," says Veronica McLymont, PhD, RD, director of food and nutrition services at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center

* Choose whole grain breads and cereals.

* Drink 100% fruit or vegetable juices.

* Fill half of your plate with vegetables and fruits.

* A few times a week, choose meatless meals such as vegetarian lasagna or vegetable stir-fry.
* Snack on carrot sticks, sweet pepper slices, and fresh or dried fruits.
* Have a leafy green salad with dinner.
* Limit sugary foods -- the kind with lots of calories but very little        
nutrition.
* Pick lean meats and fish more often than red meat and processed
meats.

 

Try to Eat, Even If You Don´t Have an Appetite

Lack of appetite is common during cancer treatment. Some treatments can even make food taste unpleasant. "Even though you don´t feel like eating, it´s important to get adequate nutrition," says Sarah Rafat, RD, a senior dietitian at MD Anderson Cancer Center.

Here’s what to do: 

* Choose high-calorie, nutrient-rich foods such as avocados, nuts, beans,      
seeds, puddings (not sure about this one!?!?!?), and cooked cereals.

* Eat small meals throughout your day.
* Don’t wait until you´re hungry to eat. Instead, eat at certain times of day.
* Keep your favourite foods close at hand - not burgers my friends!!!
* Make your meals look appealing. Add parsley, lemon slices, cherry      
tomatoes, and other colourful garnishes to your plate.

read more here ... Source Cancer Active

To read the CANCERactive article, ‘A Diet for Chemotherapy’

JustGiving and full personal update coming next few days I promise...
 

Macrobiotics, intro to beans & recipes!

So, due to popular demand here goes with my monthly or so food section of the blog. The ideas is to focus on one food group each week and give some ideas for recipes mainly from the Kushi Institute too.

''Some general guidelines for the Japanese style macrobiotic diet are the following (it is also said that a macrobiotic diet varies greatly, depending on geographical and life circumstances):
    •    Well chewed whole cereal grains, especially brown rice: 40–60%
    •    Vegetables: 25–30%
    •    Beans and legumes: 5–10%
    •    Miso soup: 5%
    •    Sea vegetables: 5%
    •    Traditionally or naturally processed foods: 5–10%
Fish and seafood, seeds and nuts, seed and nut butters, seasonings, sweeteners, fruits, and beverages may be enjoyed occasionally, 2–3 times per week. Other naturally raised animal products may be included if needed during dietary transition or according to individual needs.''
(source Wikipedia)

I should be starting with whole arguably but this month its BEANS, mainly cos everyone seems to want my recipe (thank you to my teachers) for hummous! So, a few snippets of info from Bettina Zumdick's excellent new book follows with some information I learned over the summer. Beans are from the western perspective a valuable source of protein, fibre, minerals and fat. In combination with whole grains will provide all the daily requirements of essential amino acids, which are the essential protein building blocks that cant be synthesised by the body. Bean products like tofu or tempeh (yum!) can easily replace animal protein in a diet to give you all the protein you need and unlike animal products which contain high levels of saturated fats which are well known factors to increasing cholesterol and chance of heart disease (see the China Study) beans have been found to do the opposite. From an eastern perspective beans strengthen the kidney and urinary function. Beans also contain valuable amounts of minerals such as iron, phosphate, copper, the list goes on. They also help regulate blood sugar level, and contain good levels of insoluble fibre linked to preventing gallstones and normalising overproduction of bile acids. I hugely recommend Bettins's book 'Authentic Foods' if you want to know more. If you are worried about lack of vitamin B12 wild caught atlantic fish would be your best bet.

Beans should make up no more than 10% of your daily intake of food by weight, next to 40-50% grains (that's about a quarter of your plate only) and most of the rest vegetables, according to macrobiotic principles if I am not mistaken. The macrobiotics also love to have a pickle at the end of a meal, the fermentation of which I have started to get quite into lately. The recommended for daily use beans (most energetically helpful on regular basis) in macrobiotics are: lentils, chick peas, black soybeans (hard to find) & aduki beans. Aduki beans are a favourite as they work so well in desserts too!

Guide to approx soaking amounts per cup of beans (cups) / cooking times for UK pre-soaked / unsoaked:
Chickpeas: 3-4 cups / 2-2.5 hours / 3 hrs
Aduki beans: 2 cups? / 45 mins / 1 hour?
Lentils: 2-3 / 15-20 mins / 30-45 mins
Black soybeans: 4 / 2-4 hours?
Butter beans: 4 / 45 mins - 1 hour? / 1.5-2 hrs
Kidney beaks: 3 / 1 hour / 2 hours
Black beans: 4 / 30-45 mins / 1 hour
Mung beans: 2.5 / 1 hour / 1.5 hours

The main trick with beans is don't add salt til the last 10 minutes or the beans wont cook. About 1/4 tsp salt (good quality sea salt only!) per cup is maximum you should ever use. Use konbu to soak regularly but if you have trouble with gas/indigestion after eating omit the konbu until cooking starts and make sure you soak with lemon juice for up to 24 hours and then throw out the soaking water before adding your cooking water. Also if the beans are taking forever you can 'shock' them to speed up process - pour cold water carefully down the sides of the hot saucepan onto the beans. You can eat the konbu after the cooking process - it contains plenty of excellent trace minerals.

Macro hummous (serves 2-4)

- 2 cups chick peas
(if from dry soak overnight with postage stamp sized piece of konbu* aka kelp. cook for approx 1 hour or until soft)
- 1 clove garlic (optional)
- 1/4 onion / grated (optional)
- 2 tbsp tahini (experiment with different types)
- 2 tbsp of olive oil
- 1 tbsp ume paste*
- 1 tbsp ume vinegar*
- lemon juice to taste

Blend all ingredients until smooth. Be sure to save the chickpea water to use as you need to achieve the desired creaminess. You can leave thicker or go for smooth peanut butter consistency. This chickpea water is highly nutritious and can also be used as base for a soup if you cook an extra 1/4 cup of chick peas to add as well plus one veg such as cauliflower. You can use spring onions instead of onions or neither if you want too keep the hummus for more than a 2 days. if no veg is used this will keep for 4 days or so. I like to keep a few chick peas aside and add at the end to give the end result a bit of texture when adding them into the blended hummus. Enjoy!

Cauliflower & chickpea soup soup

- 1/4 cup chickpeas
- 2 cups cauliflower florets
- 1 litre of pure water
- 1/2 cup cauli greens/branches sliced thin
- 1 small onion
- whole cumin seeds
- bay leaf
- pinch of salt
- pepper to taste

Dry roast the cumin for a few minutes in a hot saucepan. Add some oil and once hot add the onion. Cook until glassy. Add water, chickpeas, cauliflower, salt & bayleaf plus any other veg leftovers like carrot (diced small) if you wish. Bring to boil and simmer for about 10 minutes until the cauliflower is starting to soften. Don't overcook it. Serve immediately with parsley garnish.


Aduki bean & squash pudding

- 1.5 cups cubed squash
- pinch salt
- 1 cup fresh apple juice
- 1 tbsp tahini
- 1/2 cup rice syrup*
- 2 pinches cinnamon
- 1/2 cup kuzu* or other thickening agent like arrowroot
- few drops vanilla essence

Boil squash with 1 cup apple juice and pinch of salt. Mash. Dissolve kudzu with small amount of water, add to squash 6 apple juice plus other ingredients. Blend, adding any seeds or buts at the end if you wish. Deeelicious!

* all starred items are available at any good whole foods store or at the macro shop I use. the brand to look out for in the UK is clearspring. I use konbu every day, kuzu is bit pricey but very useful and ume paste for a LOT of dressings.

Hope you find this informative and useful! sorry I dont have pics!!!
Health update coming soon…
d.