Onion, Garlic and Leeks Fight Breast Cancer

Onions and other alliums are part of everyday cooking all around the world. When cut up, onions can make you teary eyed due to the sulphuric compound bursting. When placed on pan with olive oil over medium heat, it becomes aromatic though. Alliums are bulbous plants related to the lily family that have relatively long leaves and flower stalks. These plants include onions, garlic, leeks, shallots and chives. When cooked and eaten with other foods, alliums help lower your insulin peaks, reducing inflammation, and protect you against cancer. Dr. Richard Béliveau, , at the Charles-Bruneau Cancerology Centre in Canada, tested extracts from many foods on cancerous cells in a petri dish. For breast cancer, Dr. Béliveau lists "garlic, leeks and scallions [green onions]" as the top-three foods that inhibit cancer cell growth.

Source: American Journal of Clinical Nutrition

Lab results make me feel like flying

In my “to do list”, seeing my oncologist has been the one long delayed. It should have been over with since two weeks ago but it was always hindered by some irresistible invitations to eat out on a much loved Chinese Resto. Yes, I know, I should always give priority to my health. But on some instances, I get to be peacefully at ease with my gut feeling. And by God’s grace, it wasn’t a wrong impression after all! The several laboratory examination I had which included Liver Function Test, Lipid Profile, Calcium, Glucose, Potassium, Uric Acid, Urinalysis, CA15-3 and CEA ( the last two are tumor markers) turned out almost perfectly well except for my Lipid Profile which is slightly higher than normal. Imagine? I got to accumulate lots of cholesterol with this very thin figure of mine?! (Lol!) There’s nothing to worry anyway. I just have to lessen my indulgence in steaks. my one fave food! Over all, everything about my state of health is super all right! And I feel like flying with glee.

Careful with your words

It is never easy to learn that you have cancer. But it is even more difficult if your friends, family or someone you know would be too callous or insensitive to your present feeling or situation. I could only talk about this now, after being comfortable with my current state of health. I want to bring this up for the sake of those who are presently on the same boat where I was in before.

I am sure, you know of someone who has or who had the Big C. He may be a family member, a relative, a friend or just an acquaintance. If you are to visit a friend or loved one who just learned he has cancer, you should understand that he may still be in a state of denial. The health situation isn’t that easy to accept, hence, the patient may be seeking a protective cocoon from the upshot of the shocking findings. Don’t aggravate his fear by mentioning of someone you know who passed away due to same sickness. Don’t express your pity for him lest you want to make him feel hopeless. Give him encouragement instead of bringing up the odds of his condition.

On the whole, what I am trying to convey here is be tactful. Find out first how the patient is coping or know his present emotional state so you won’t be adding salt to the wound.

My Chemotherapy

When I was advised to undergo chemo, I really didn’t have any idea what the thing is until it was explained to me by my doctor. Chemotheraphy is the use of cancer drugs to kill or damage cancer cells in certain area, but it works through out the whole body. Most chemo drugs are given intravenously while others are taken orally. I should have had the former for 6 sessions only ( with gaps of 21 days in between) but because the previous first 3 session drugs were incorrect, I had to start all over again, hence, the 9 sessions for me. Chemo drugs are actually toxic drugs. Their purpose is to kill cancer cells. But since the drug couldn’t exactly pinpoint which cell is good and which one is bad, it works like a man running amok, hitting and hurting anyone that comes near him.

Thus, the result in depletion of the immune system.

Chemo time was one of the most difficult for me. I had to be confined in the hospital while receiving the drug intravenously. The toxic drug brought continuous feeling of restlessness. I wondered why I wanted to scream, hit my body hard on the wall and most of the time made me very irritable. There was also the continuous throwing up with just any amount of food intake. My skin was darkened including my finger and toenails, not to forget the horrendous appearance of a bald head. It seemed like only a single worm hadn’t signed yet to let go of me. With God’s grace, now I can laugh at that joke.

There were jokes and words of sympathy. I understood them all. But I wished they were a little more tactful! More of this on my next update.

A Blessing in Disguise

For some of you who have been my blogger friends for quite sometime now, sure knows my health story. I was diagnosed with a stage 3 Breast Cancer, was treated with adjuvant chemotheraphy and cobalt radiation. I was first handled by a doctor who we thought is an Oncologist. He prescribed the chemotheraphy in a manner that is contrary to the medical protocol (I learned later). He would just give the chemo medicines and the procedure to us and it’s up to us to look for someone (can just be a nurse according to him) who could administer the IV insertion on me. In short, I went to my OB Gyne in a nearby clinic and she did the first three sessions of my chemo. Until I was hit by a serious Pneumonia and was rushed to the ER. Then and there I found out that the doctor who posed to be a Cancer Specialist isn’t an Oncologist but a Radiologist. I thought he is one because of the huge signage in his clinic that says “Cancer Specialist”. My pneumonia turned out to be a blessing in disguise coz I was handled by the real oncologist. This doctor reviewed my case and the medicines given to me. How scared I was when we found out that the chemo medicines the impostor gave me was meant to only clean the dirt in my pinky fingernail. That's how she pictured it to be. I figured that it was the reason why not a single hair fell off from my head unlike when I received the right treatment that I instantly became bald. Looking back at the wrongdoings of the said oncologist impostor, I could have already been six feet under the ground since maybe a long time ago had I not been rushed to the ER for that pneumonia. God sent me an “Angel” through the person of my first rate Oncologist, Dr. Gloria Cristal-Luna of St Lukes Medical Center and the National Kidney and Transplant Institute. I’ll never forget the fact that she was and still is the instrument being used by God for my present physical wellness. She made me a Big C Survivor since December of 1992. Praise be to God!

Risks on Men

I am mulling over what is next to post. I don’t know, perhaps I better share on what Breast Cancer is. Though I am not an authority, I’d like to share a synopsis of what this illness is.

Breast Cancer is a malignant tumor that starts from cells of the breast. A malignant tumor is a group of cancer cells that may grow into (invade) surrounding tissues or spread (Metastasize) to distant areas of the body. The disease occurs almost entirely in women but men can get it too.

Being exposed to ionizing radiation is one factor for getting Breast Cancer for men. Like those who have gone through radiation theraphy to treat malignancies in the chest area such as Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Additionally, abnormal increase on the female hormone called estrogen is also a factor for men to increase the risk concerning BC.

So to all men out there, don’t lax too much! This illness is not exclusively for ladies. But don’t worry, the statistics for men getting BC is very very low compared to women. It’s more of a woman thing.

Introducing my new baby

Welcome to my newest spot in blogland! This has been a blog in waiting for a very long time. I have considered a number of titles for different concepts until I finally decided to carry out a blog that would talk about Health, particularly Breast Cancer. Having been through a victorious tough battle with the dreaded disease, I recognized the desire to share and reach out to all the women out there concerning the Big C, most especially the one that has changed my outlook in life, the Breast Cancer.

It is October and it is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Very aptly for the birth of this new baby of mine, “The Pink Blog” Accompany me in my journey to absolute wellness while I share health facts and experiences. Likewise, allow me to share the wonderful blessings of living life after cancer . . . one step at a time!