It’s been an emotional week of ups and downs over in the Carter household. I think the fact I am at the halfway point through chemo and just completed the end of the weekly chemo sessions, has hit home. It’s been a 12-week long journey, which on some days feels like 12 minutes and at other times it feels like 12 very long years.
I am now facing another 12 weeks of treatment but the way I am seeing this is just four actual chemo treatments (every three weeks) as it sounds more manageable.
Physically chemo is taking its toll. I am weary and tired and feel battered internally if that makes sense. I want food to taste like food and I really would like to have my energy levels back. I miss not feeling joy or having that excitement of something to look forward to. I can’t remember the last time I had a good old belly laugh. Not because I’m miserable but because this treatment has zapped the zing right out of me at the moment.
What poisons the body also tries its absolute best to poison the mind and it feels like both are constantly fighting to keep the gremlins at bay.
Meanwhile, I have gone from rattling around the house on my own (which when you work from home is idyllic) to both Sol and hubby now off school until mid-September and on their three month sabbatical.
Plus, Luna who has spent a year volunteering over in South Africa patching up injured Vervet monkeys, is on her way home next month. She’s ready for a new adventure and will be home for 6 months or so to finish her online vet tech course and earn some money to fund her next trip away.
So, one will become four over the summer months. Which is gonna go one of two ways!
One bonus is being able to send hubby on errands – like this morning’s Anneka Rice challenge to “make me pancakes” as that was my request for breakfast after a 24 involuntary fasting period. I felt like a demanding pregnant lady with a craving. But when your appetite starts to return it does so with some specific preferences I find. Which is odd as I have never in my life been a big fan of pancakes!
The whole nutrition thing and cancer is a minefield. Eating healthy is one thing. But sometimes it is hard to digest certain foods during treatment and the need to fuel your body is vital.
I have been following oncology.nutrition on Instagram, posted by a nurse who suggests these seven things to avoid the risk of cancer:
- Omit all processed meats such as bacon, sausage, deli meats and limit red meats to less than 500g per week. Opt for lean protein sources like fish and plant-based proteins instead.
- Cut down or omit alcohol. Alcohol increases your risk of six cancers – liver, colon. breast, mouth, throat and stomach.
- Don’t smoke!
- Boost your fibre intake to at least 30g per day.
- Maintain a healthy weight. High levels of body fat tissue have been linked to increased cancer risk. Avoid sugary beverages as this leads to excessive calorie intake and in turn excess fat which is then linked to 13 different cancers.
- Be cautious with supplements as they can sometimes do more harm than good.
- Protect your skin from excessive sun exposure.
She says artificial sweeteners; tea and coffee; sugar; dairy; plant milks and red meats (in moderation) do not increase the risk of cancer.
Which is a relief as I do enjoy my morning coffee!
Meanwhile as I apparently resemble Mammy-Two-Shoes out of Tom and Jerry in some of my headscarves (flattery is not hubby’s strong point) I now have the full look with a useless cat and one unwanted guest in our kitchen.
This is the second time a mouse has entered the house. The first time I bought a humane trap and set it up under the cupboards behind the kickboards. However, I duly then forgot to check it. So sadly although it caught the mouse safely I still managed to kill it after it remained stuck inside the trap for 3 days.
“If a man can write a better book, preach a better sermon or make a better mousetrap than his neighbours, though he builds his house in the woods, the world will make a beaten path to his door.”
This saying was coined by American philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson who wrote at length about the connection between quality and success and about making an innovative improvement of something that already exists.
Basically, I need to up my game.
two steps freelance 