Cancer-management-36-years,-4-big-changes-and-some-recommendations

Last week Ruth, Julia Broome, Siegfried Gutbrod, Michael Johnson and myself, along with the excellent team at the Yarra Valley Living Centre, presented the last cancer residential program of my working career.

The first cancer program I presented was at the Melbourne Cancer Support Group in Hawthorn, 16th September 1981.

During the intervening 36 years much has changed in the cancer world, especially for those directly affected; the patients.




So this week some observations around the biggest of those changes and some suggestions, but first


Thought for the day



Every public action which is not customary,
Either is wrong,
Or, if it is right,
Is a dangerous precedent.

It follows
That nothing should ever be done for the first time.


Francis Cornford, academic



FOUR BIG CHANGES 
that directly impact people affected by cancer in 2017 compared to 1981

1. Information has moved into overload
BACK THEN
In 1981 there were very few cancer self help books. A couple on nutrition, Ainslie Meares’ Relief Without Drugs on meditation from 1967, the Simonton’s Getting Well Again was published in 1978 and covered imagery and psychology of cancer; you could read all available in a couple of weeks.



No computers.

No internet.

What was in place was like an underground network where information was shared by adventurous patients and families via letters - remember them - phone calls and the occasional Roneo and Gestetner offering.

When our groups commenced, people came to learn.

They often came with the feeling there was nothing they could do. When they discovered what was possible, it was like a light was turned on. A surge of hope transformed their situation and state of mind and new possibilities opened. Confidence arose and healing was begun.

THESE DAYS
So much information.

A myriad of books.

The internet laden with possibilities. So many competing views.

Of course there is a lot that is good, but amidst the overload, confusion often reigns. People seem overawed by the choices. Many seem to become stuck; unable to sort the proverbial wheat from the chaff, and inaction often follows. Or at best for many, indecision. Uncertainty.

So while many do come to our groups seeking help to clarify what is in their own best interests, so much of this is compounded by the next issue.

2. The power to discriminate has diminished
BACK THEN
People diagnosed with cancer faced simpler choices. If a medical cure was on offer, they generally took it. If there was no cure on offer, they were often told rather bluntly with words to the effect of “there is nothing more we can do for you, you have a short time to live, go home and come back near the end and maybe Palliative Care will be helpful”.

So the choices were stark. If there was no medical cure and yet people still aspired to recovering against the odds, they knew it was up to them. Simple. Because competing sources of information were few, people trusted in what was available, applied it and for many, it worked. Simple.

THESE DAYS
So much information and so many people with an opinion, with advice and highly geared Social Media machines; and often with vested interests based on what is being sold.

Not simple. Confusing. What to do? A difficulty with discriminating further complicated by the next issue.

3. Palliative Care has become Palliative Treatment

BACK THEN
Palliative Care was just emerging as a medical discipline in its own right.

Dame Cicely Saunders started it all in London in 1967; Elizabeth Kubler-Ross published On Death and Dying in 1969.

Palliative Care was all about caring for the dying. Making life as comfortable and meaningful as possible. Minimal treatment, maximum symptom control; aiming for a good end to life, a good death.


THESE DAYS
Some while back, well meaning doctors realized telling people there was “nothing more we can do for you” was not very kind. At the same time, in my view big business in medicine realized they were missing a huge market. Palliative Care moved into Palliative Treatment.

Now most people who do not have a medical cure on offer for their cancer are being offered some
form of active treatment or are yearning to be on a trial.

Of course, much of this is good but there is a hidden cost that does not seem popular to talk about.

These Palliative Treatments by definition are non-curative.

They have the stated intention of what Palliative care used to offer - to extend life and improve Quality of life. But many can observe this is not always the case. The treatments can be demanding, quite often debilitating, and there is a hidden issue.


These treatments may - not always, but may - compete with a person’s own ability to heal.

To discuss this issue seems almost like a taboo in current time, yet surely for those aiming for full recovery, this is a real issue. There is always a balance to strike.

And it is no easy balance. Maybe through one’s own efforts one can transform a treatment whose intention is palliative into one that is curative. But equally, maybe if one is fully focussed on recovery, some Palliative Treatments are not in one’s best interests.

In a world of open-mindedness, these issues would be excellent ones to question, discuss, investigate and research seriously. But then complication of the final issue.

4. Big business has moved into cancer medicine.
BACK THEN
Cancer medicine was somewhat under-serviced and under-resourced. Because there were limited treatments there was a limited market. The influence of Big Pharma was limited.

THESE DAYS

As Palliative Treatment developed so too did the interests of big business.

Investigations became big business.

Doctors were convinced to have less confidence in their very cheap, but previously highly developed clinical skills, and instead to trust in not just X Rays but highly expensive scans and extensive blood tests.

New treatments whilst still clearly palliative in nature, are hugely expensive. Many of the recent “breakthroughs” offer some life extension, quite a side-effect profile, almost irresistible allure to patients and families, and great cost. Many of the new treatments are $100,000 and beyond per person per year.

Maybe these innovations will lead to real cures in the future. Maybe. For now, they are incredibly expensive and there is a limit to how many more the public purse can fund. And how many of us have the resources to fund them privately?

What is clear from the medical literature at present is that many cancer services, both investigatory and for treatment, are being over-recommended and over-utilised. Cancer is very big business.

WHAT TO DO?
Trust in your own capacity to discriminate - or find someone highly trustworthy to tell you what to do.

Ideally work out what you really want. If you are fully intent on recovering from cancer then the number one question has to be “What is most likely to heal me?”

Back in the mid seventies when I was totally committed to recovery, everything I did was put through the first big filter… Will this thing I am considering to do actually help me to recover?” Everything went through that filter. Everything. I was uncompromising.

Everything I did was considered deliberately. Everything was subjected to the discrimination we are talking about. I sought the best advice I could. I read what was relevant. I considered people’s qualifications and experience. I consider the impact of vested interests and big business. I asked heaps of questions. I made notes, lists. I analysed and then I sat quietly to reflect, to contemplate and to seek counsel from my own inner wisdom through contemplation.

Once I made a decision I stuck with it long enough to find out whether it was actually working for me or not and while very focussed, was not stupid enough to keep doing something that was not working.



So my work with residential cancer groups has come to an end.


There are probably many ways of explaining this - many levels - but perhaps the simplest is to say that I trust that inner wisdom, that intuitive capacity we all have and that tells me loud and clear this is the right thing to have done at the right time.


So amidst this awkward sense of knowing there has been so much knowledge and experience built up over the years that could still be helpful to others, there is the comfort of knowing that the Foundation I established is in good hands and going well and that others are spreading this work far and wide. So much more on offer now compared to when we were all that was on offer in 1981.

So my heart will always be with those affected by cancer.

In the longer term, cancer is clearly a lifestyle related disease and the best way to treat it is to prevent it. Much better never to develop cancer than to get it and recover - wonderful as recovering, especially against the odds may be.

I will continue to post blogs and write elsewhere on these issues. Maybe I will be persuaded to do the occasional public event. Maybe. Whatever happens there, my over-riding wish is that you all find long-lasting peace, deep inner contentment and live long and fulfilling lives.

RELATED BLOGS
Cancer survivors? Cancer thrivers!

The Gawler cancer program since 1981

REFERENCE
You Can Conquer Cancer

The challenge of unexpected survival - from metastatic breast cancer

Great news! Another remarkable story from another remarkable long-term cancer survivor. Karen Alexander is fit and well having survived extensive metastatic breast cancer from 10 years ago.

I love these stories. Sometimes they come to me from people I meet in the street, sometimes from people I have known for years, sometimes from people who simply read one of my books.

Yet some people react with trepidation to these stories, even some form of dismissal. “She did not do what I did... “, “Not sure if I would do what he did….”  Or, for the intellectually lazy – “She was probably misdiagnosed”.

For sure Karen’s story is challenging. She did do a lot I would recommend as well as some things I have reserve about. But that is a feature of most long-term cancer survivors – they got help with a good start, were diligent and steadily worked out what worked best for them.

Given all this, sharing your very personal story of survival is not always as easy as it first might seem, so many thanks to Karen for offering to do so. I know for a fact how inspiring these stories are, how much real hope they provide, and how much comfort they can be to those people just starting out, or to those facing tough times.

As Ainslie Meares so famously said about my case so many years ago “It only has to be done once to show that it is possible”.

The truth, however, is that there are many of these stories to be told and they all deserve far more recognition and far more intense study and analysis than mainstream medicine is currently giving them.

So this week, let us celebrate the survivors as Karen shares her story, but first




             Thought for the day

                    Nothing ever goes away 
                   Until it has taught us 
                   What we need to know.


                                Pema Chödrön








Here is Karen’s story as she sent it to me of surviving metastatic breast cancer. Karen calls her story

Inspiration Through Innovation
Over 10 years ago, I had a successful consulting business and post graduate Masters Degree in Business Administration - Specialising in Project Management.

THEN.... in January 2006 I had the misfortune of being diagnosed with Stage IV Terminal Cancer, metastasised into the bones.

After being very much a recluse for the past 10 years. I have decided to move on with my life. I have taken inspiration from you, and like you have decided to try and help other people by starting my own Life Coaching Business here in Mackay, Queensland.

Not long after I was first diagnosed my vertebrae broke in two places. Due to the tumours I was flown to Townville as it was the closest radiation unit and I spent 8 weeks on my back, being treated and recovering.

The following assisted me greatly:-
Your book "You Can Conquer Cancer" and also your book "Meditation Pure & Simple", inspired me when my days and nights were so black.  I wanted to come to one of your retreats and my husband offered to bring me, but the Doctors told me not to fly due to the fragile state of my vertebrae.

Firstly, I found unbelievable pain relief with the pain meditation in your book.  My beautiful husband used to lie beside me on the bed and read your pain meditation technique. As he did, I experienced the endorphin release equivalent to a pethidine injection.  The pain relief would last for about 3-4 hours and this gave me the confidence and belief that I could beat the odds.

After being able to get off my opiate pain medication, Physeptone, I then tackled getting of the most evil drug I have ever encountered, Dexamethasone. This was the hardest.  The depression and pain that came though every time I reduced the dosage was awful (to say it mildly)!

With all the synthetic drugs causing a domino effect on the rest of my body, I had been putting on .5kg a day in fluid, and the doctors just kept prescribing a higher dosage of diuretics.  After gaining 20kgs, and being fobbed off about my concerns about the drugs, my instinct and survival skills kicked in.

I rang a pharmacist late one Sunday afternoon, and told him the drugs they had me on.  He pointed out that they all affected my heart. That night I found Google was my best friend!  I made parsley tea, and did not stop peeing for a week! I stopped taking the diuretics. I know I would not be here today without my instinct and intuition.

By this time I had already bought the funeral plot and picked out a coffin as the doctors had been repeatedly subjecting me to the following words " You are going to die", as I flatly refused Chemo. I reasoned why subject myself to that poison when the doctors had already told me it would not help.  I remember coming home from that Oncologist appointment and crying for 8 weeks.  Of course it was me grieving, as all hope of living and life was taken from me. I loved life!

So by this time, getting the pain under control and finding that I could get better results with the fresh parsley tea, I saw a glimmer of hope! I discussed it with my husband, as it was a critical time...I could give up and die and he would grieve and move on with his life OR I could fight with everything I had and all the will power I could summon. We both knew it would take a long time, due to the injuries as I was riddled with the cancer in the bones.

Do not get me wrong. The medical system had its place for me in the critical stages with all the damage I sustained from the disease, but then the overuse of drugs prescribed was killing me. Since my port a Cath came out, 7 years ago now, I have not been near any medical doctors since!

In my recovery, I also used Wormwood (made it into capsules), Black Walnut Tincture, and Lugol’s Iodine. Vitamin C powder gave me great pain relief. Also I used Colloidal Silver and Magnesium Oil, plus I benefit from Amino Acids which I also make into capsules, and Castor Oil heat packs.

My husband did carrot, ginger and apple juices each morning before he went to work. Would you believe he still does this after 10 years?

I was ruthless, and slightly paranoid in the early days. I stopped using washing powder, cosmetics, shampoo and used the recommendations in Dr Hilda Clarke's book. I used your recommended fruits and vegetables.  I did not eat meat for about 5 years; this would have over burdened my poor body.

During my course of recovery, I become more and more involved with meditation. For one whole year, my only focus was to meditate on "Emptiness", as you would know this highlighted my false belief systems, delusions and my emotional pain gradually ceased. :)

It took me about 5 years to finally remove the mental blockage and those damning words from the Oncologist that were still ringing in my ears. EFT (tapping) also assisted with letting go of the intense rage I had felt towards the medical doctors.

I reflect on my journey and realise that in the early days, 80% was mind and willpower, focusing on trying to get my mind to believe and maintaining the high self-efficacy. I used a mantra when I could not block out the hopelessness of my situation. I chose to never give up hope, no matter what the doctors told me.

Focusing on diet was the other 20%. I became a recluse, and just focused on gardening, research and shutting out the negative beliefs from well meaning people.

Around this time I had an AHA! moment … I was watching my craving for meat... this was a turning point in my addictive behaviours and thoughts. I asked myself "Why do I crave meat so much?" It isn't a drug?”  I sought the answers in my meditation sessions. Oh wow!

Around the 5 year mark, my focus changed. I focused 80% on the diet and because I had made the behavioural changes and practiced meditation each day (sometimes up to 3 hours a day), 20% of my focus switched to the mind and willpower.

I studied and experimented on the ph and alkalinity diet. And studied not just my thoughts, negative emotions, and meditation techniques, but I studied how my body reacted to the foods I ate, and how to spike the alkalinity when my ph dropped below 6.0.  I always try to maintain the 7 to 8 ph reading. Wow! this was an eye opener.

I have studied the benefits of Herbs, and use many of the everyday herbs frequently. Another huge benefit was green coconut juice and the meat from the green coconuts.  Things were getting better and better.

I never touch sugar, most dairy products, alcohol, and especially soy, I still focus on not eating foods out of a packet or tin, although since I am in the maintenance phase, I have slowly relaxed my strict diet.

So to summarise .....

My experiences in bullet points:

• My vertebrae broke in two places due to the tumours. I was riddled with cancer.

• I had to learn to walk again.

• I was subjected to medical Doctors repeatedly telling me I was going to die.

• I let them take all hope of living and life from me.

• A funeral plot was purchased and coffin picked out for my demise.

• I lay on my bed waiting to die.

• This was 10 years ago.

• The first step I implemented was to learn to meditate to control the pain, instead of the pain controlling me.

• I have not been to seek any medical Doctors assistance or help for the past 7 years.

• Friends and work colleagues drifted away and this actually proved to be a huge benefit. It de-cluttered my days.

• Despite the hopelessness in my life.... I set out on a quest.

• Over the past 10 years, I have researched and studied my body's reaction to foods, thoughts, behaviours and emotions.

• Other people started to contact me for assistance and help, as they did not want to fight cancer with synthetic drugs made by the big pharmaceutical companies either.

• They want the right to fight it on their own terms and in their own right, like I do, after all when the Doctors have given up on you, what have you got to lose?

• We make choices in our lives, and this is one road that you learn to fight alone. There is no magic pill or quick solution.  You become your own cheerleader when you overcome an obstacle.

• It is a slow journey, but with it comes major milestones to celebrate.

• I celebrated each additional week from the terminal life expectancy that I was given. After a while this became a month, then I counted by half years, finally I started to count by years again.

• Be mindful that it is your body, and what is one man's medicine is another man's poison.

• If you are fortunate like me, you will have a supportive group of people that stick by you through thick and thin. They believe in you and encourage you to fight this disease on your terms and your way.

• I do not deny that the medical system has its place.

• I do not blindly believe, however, that if the medical drugs start causing a domino effect, and more problems develop from what you are trying to fix, that you should continue. Search and find answers yourself... look elsewhere.

• Why should you blindly follow someone's advice when they have never experienced cancer?

• To those who try to instil fear in you just remember "Life is Terminal so what is so special about Cancer?"

• Most importantly, I have found what foods trigger cancer.  If I was in charge of food in a palliative care hospital, the first thing I would change is the food on the menu.

• Nature cannot be patented, and that is where I found most of the solutions to my own improved health. The win-win effect of being responsible for yourself is at very little cost to the patient, and no burden on the Australian Government Medical System.

• Sometimes the enormity of what I have accomplished overwhelms me, after being so close to death, and it keeps me so very humble.
I trust this fills you in as to how grateful I am towards you, and granting me that spark of hope from your books, on those dark, dark days.

Kindest regards,

Karen Alexander

RELATED BLOG
What happens when an oncology nurse attends a cancer self-help program? - Kathryn’s story 

NOTICEBOARD

Cancer Retreats
Full details of the specific cancer retreats Ruth and I will lead in 2016 CLICK HERE

Cancer self-help residential program – a photographic essay

What happens when a major dairy farmer begins to grapple with the connection between their cancer and consuming dairy products?

What happens when a senior surgeon is exposed to Mind-Body Medicine?

How about when a palliative care nurse begins to consider that cancer may not be as “terminal” as first thought?

There is a joy in realising that cancer is a potentially reversible, degenerative disease that is fuelled by inflammation.

There is an even greater joy in realising that Lifestyle Medicine potentially offers everyone the personal means to reverse any chronic, inflammatory, degenerative disease with a highly anti-inflammatory, highly regenerative process.

But then there is a challenge that comes with Lifestyle Medicine when one realises that to change a chronic, inflammatory, degenerative disease process into a highly anti-inflammatory, highly regenerative process, one needs to change one's lifestyle; one's habits.

And so this week we ask for your help. Your help to help more people with cancer know what is possible. It is remarkable how many people newly diagnosed with cancer still do not know how much they can do to help themselves, and how much they are missing out on if they do not.

It seems there are two big barriers that stop people from helping themselves. Firstly knowing what is possible; secondly getting over the awkwardness, the uncertainties, the hesitancy, to actually begin, to join in with a self-help, educational program.

You can help by informing people and inspiring them to make a start. 

One of the reasons Ruth and I love presenting these types of programs is that we get to travel along with a group of people with cancer as they go through a residential program designed to help them to learn in detail how lifestyle impacts on cancer, and how by changing their habits, they can change the momentum of the disease.

And what stands out? People of all ages, from all walks of life say “why didn’t I do this earlier? Why didn’t I know about this earlier? Why didn’t someone tell me about this? Why isn’t everyone doing a program like this?”

So this week, a photographic essay of the cancer self-help residential programs, compiled from our recent 8 day program Cancer, Healing and Wellbeing presented in  Wanaka, New Zealand, with a few shots from follow-up programs presented in the Yarra Valley and New Zealand.

The request is that you share this post with anyone who has been diagnosed with cancer and may be thinking of coming to one of our programs, or one presented at the Gawler Foundation itself, or one of the affiliated “Gawler” programs. Hopefully it will help them to get a better idea of what they might come to, and help them to feel more comfortable coming for the first time.

So a big thank you to all who gave approval to appear below, but first

        
Thought for the day

The patterns of our lives reveal us.
Our habits measure us.
In the shapeliness of a life, habit plays its sovereign role...

Most people take action by habit in small things
More often than in important things,
For it’s the simple matters that get done readily,
While the more somber and interesting,
Taking more effort and being more complex,
Often must wait for another day.

Thus, we could improve ourselves quite well by habit,
By its judicious assistance,
But it’s more likely that habits rule us.

                   Mary Oliver

    A new group gathers 

Excitement. Anticipation.

A little trepidation – what are we in for?                
So many possibilities.





     There are presentations

New things to learn.
Notes to take.

Learning of a Lifestyle
That is highly anti-inflammatory,
Highly regenerative.

What we as individuals
And we as a collective of family and friends can do
To bring about healing.
Radical healing.
And long-lasting inner peace.

        So lots of practise


        We meditate together.










       
                    We share the food.


                    Lots of great food.












Mostly organic. Always fresh.

Always consistent with the theory.

A chance to experience it all.







                            





   

                                     Prepared with love.

         Maddy, herself with a story of recovery
               - a fabulous, gourmet, natural food chef.















      People loosen up

- and speak more directly.

The women meet together

- and the men, and the partners.

And speak amongst like-minded people
going through similar situations.












Then the occasion treat thrown in by the locals.


This time courtesy of Lake Wanaka Cruises.

Where amazing scenery

And the clarity that comes with stillness

Lends itself to informal,
but meaningful conversation.











Here, we do not show the full range of emotion so directly.
And yes there are some tears
And an amazing amount of laughter.
Lots of laughter.
Amidst a gentle intensity.

For this is the work of transformation.
Learning and transformation.

Maybe one day someone will make a documentary
And more will become apparent.

But for now, another group goes home
Filled with hope.
Aware of their choices.
Experiencing a new level of inner peace that often surprises them.

Going home to begin the next phase of their lives.

A life renewed.



Finally then, two big thank yous

Firstly to the team in New Zealand.
Special mention to Stew Burt who came to the Gawler Foundation with his first wife,
gained so much and was driven to start the charity Canlive that has brought the programs to New Zealand.
What commitment. What an organiser!

And Liz Maluschnig, one time an oncology nurse, motivated to help in a fresh way.
Now with years of training and experience
as a counselor and group facilitator.


Secondly to all the staff and volunteers at the Gawler Foundation.
Especially Siegfried Gutbrod who has my old job of Therapeutic Director - and does it so well.
And Julia Broome, a physiotherapist who extended her training to become a Feldenkrais authority.

What incredible, wonderful, authentic people we get to work with – and for!!!

And well you might wonder what happened to the initial trio???

The dairy couple have currently taken up on a 10 day mono-diet while they plan for becoming vegans.

The surgeon is one of the more committed adherents to the Lifestyle program.

And the palliative care nurse knows that people survive against the odds and is working out how understanding death in a new light brings new meaning and relevance to palliative care.

So please spread the word. 

I dream of the day when everyone diagnosed with cancer is told by their doctor right at first diagnosis to start their plan for recovery by learning and implementing what they can do for themselves.

I dream of the day when everyone has access to these programs and is keen to benefit.

Many people will benefit from surgery, many from chemotherapy, radiotherapy and complimentary therapies. But everyone will benefit from applying themselves and gaining the therapeutic benefits of Lifestyle Medicine.

People need help to fully realize what is possible, and to implement it.
Maybe you can help someone else to help themselves.

Please share…..



And with the program ended,
Ruth gets to hang out for a while
With her favourite mutt
- Dougall, Stew Burt’s Brittany Spaniel





RELATED BLOG
Radical Remission – The 9 key factors that long-term cancer survivors have in common.

RESOURCES
Programs that Ian and Ruth present personally

Ian and Ruth’s books, CDs. DVDs

The Gawler Foundation’s Programs

Canlive’s programs

NOTICEBOARD

MEDITATION RETREAT – VERY CLOSE NOW

Meditation and the Inner Journey        8th  – 12th  June     Yarra Valley
This retreat brings together 2 powerful experiences - the deep natural peace of meditation, and a gentle process of introspection that will help you reconnect with your own inner wisdom.

FULL DETAILS  -  Click here

MEDITATION POSSIBILITIES IN QUEENSLAND 
– Coming soon
Brisbane day workshop - Sunday, June 14th, 2015

A Relaxing, Regenerative Meditation Intensive

Designed for experienced meditators, but definitely open to those newer to meditation 

Date        Sunday, June 14th, 2015 from 10am (arrive 9.30) to 5pm
Venue     The Relaxation Centre, 15 South Pine Rd, Alderley, Brisbane
Enquiries and Bookings    The Relaxation Centre        Telephone: 07 3856 3733
                                                                                         www.relaxationcentreqld.com.au

Cairns weekend meditation intensive 

June 20 and 21 – Non-residential

Meditation is the greatest gift you can give to yourself, or someone you care for

Date              Saturday, Sunday 20th and 21st June. Starts 10am (arrive 9.30) to 5pm
Venue           Khacho Yulo Ling Buddhist Centre, 348 Severin Street, Cairns
Enquiries      Call  07 4041 5556    or email   info@yuloling.com
Bookings      Online, go to :  www.yuloling.com     or call Rinchen    07 4041 5556


Medicine of the Mind – Cairns Evening Public Lecture 

Tuesday June 23  7pm

For everyone interested in the power within 

Date                Tuesday 23rd June, 2015      Starts 7pm (arrive 6.30) to 10pm
Venue             Khacho Yulo Ling Buddhist Centre, 348 Severin St
Enquiries        Call  07 4041 5556    or email   info@yuloling.com
Bookings        Online, go to :  www.yuloling.com     or call Rinchen    07 4041 5556

Truly remarkable healing – Sabina’s story including 12 key points for overcoming cancer

One of the things Ruth and I look forward to during the speaking tour up the East Coast that starts in Sydney on Thursday 3^rd July in Sth Sydney, then Katoomba Saturday 5^th,  Sydney again Sunday 6^th, is catching up with family, friends and some remarkable colleagues.

Sabina Rabold trained with me and has led meditation and cancer groups in Sydney for many years. Recently her loved one was diagnosed with bowel cancer spread to the liver, thoroughly testing all the principles.

So this week Sabina provides a fascinating report on what they did and how things have turned out – an inspiring and informative read that includes her 12 key points for overcoming cancer – now honed by personal experience! Plus details of the tour (you can link here, or see the details below), but first

Thought for the Day

The intuitive mind is a sacred gift 

And the rational mind is a faithful servant. 

We have created a society that honors the servant 

And has forgotten the gift. 

We will not solve the problems of the world 

From the same level of thinking we were at 

When we created them. 

More than anything else, 

This new century demands new thinking.

We must change our materially based analyses of the world around us 

To include broader, more multidimensional perspectives. 
 

                                Albert Einstein 

I have a great deal of respect for Sabina Rabold. Sabina is a counselor and psychotherapist in private practice in Crows Nest, Sydney.  Sabina is authentic, deeply committed, and embodies what she teaches - mindfulness and meditation, as well as a 3 Day Living and Thriving Program for people with cancer and their support people.

So for her loved one to be diagnosed with a difficult cancer challenged all she does and all she believes in. How would all this stuff work when it involved the person she is closest to?

Sabina takes up the story as a guest blog:

Last August my loved one, aged 47, was diagnosed with Stage IV Colorectal Cancer with secondaries in the liver. For some years I had been running The Gawler Foundation’s 12 Week Cancer, Healing and Wellbeing Programs and other related programs and workshops in Sydney. I have worked with hundreds of people diagnosed with cancer and their support people.

I have learnt much from Ian and Ruth Gawler, the people at the Gawler Foundation, learned people in the field of cancer care and also from the many courageous people that I have come to know over the years. Those people who have faced up to cancer in an empowered way, working hard to become well and stay well. Now I needed this knowledge to support my loved one, helping him weather the storms of treatment, heal and stay well myself along the way.

With so much good information on board we were able to step straight into action. The full Gawler program started the very next day after the diagnosis - juicing, diet, extra meditation and more. We found an excellent holistic GP who did a number of tests to help us determine the regime of supplements needed. We bought a better juicer. We bought a sauna. My loved one started on IV Vitamin C. We bought mountains of organic veggies and other supernutritious food. I became the kitchen Goddess, spending hours juicing, sprouting, cooking every day.

The relief that came from knowing what to do was immense.

While I started to research this illness, its treatment and cure intensely, we also stepped on the medical merry-go-round: doctors, oncologist, radio-oncologist and surgeon. Each new meeting saw me give a little speech: ‘Dear Doctor, please assume that my loved one will be a survivor of cancer. While we realize that this is a life-threatening illness, we are doing everything we can to heal and recover. We are going all out for cure. Please support us in this’.

The response of each of the physicians was interesting: from doubtful, to silence, to enthusiastic encouragement (from the oncologist - we will always love him for this). 

Then came chemotherapy: six months of intense chemotherapy, IV for two days, every two weeks. Throughout this time we continued all out with the Gawler Healing Diet, six juices per day, as well as meditation, about 35 supplement tablets, IV Vitamin C, saunas, exercise and so on.

While my loved one lost a bit of hair, he gained a bit of weight. He worked part-time throughout the treatment, never threw up, never spent a full day in bed and continued to feel reasonable most of the time. Some unpleasant side-effects from the medical treatment came and mostly went again soon.

The first glimmer of hope came in October: the CT showed indication that the tumours were shrinking. This was confirmed by a PET scan in November that showed that the primary tumour as well as all five liver metastases had shrunk significantly. Hearing this was wind beneath our wings.

Despite the significant shrinkage of the tumours we agreed for my loved one to undergo five weeks of daily radiotherapy parallel to the chemo in January 2014. Despite being advised to cease holistic treatment during radiotherapy by the radiotherapy doctor we continued, after having done much research and in-depth discussions with our holistic GP.

Again, my loved one came through this ordeal with flying colours, worse for wear of course but nothing like what had been predicted. Then a Godsend break from treatment and a further PET scan that confirmed that there was no observable tumour activity in the colon or liver. This was confirmed by the biopsy done on the remaining tumour tissue that was removed in an operation some weeks later - no live cancer cells detectable. Phew.

Now we are under no illusion; cancer is an unpredictable illness and these are early days. But we are trying to stay a step ahead. We are continuing indefinitely with all the things that we have found to be helpful; the holistic treatments, the check-ups, the diet and juicing. If need be we will draw in any medical treatment that seems helpful.   I am also researching preventative treatments that will see the cancer ‘nipped in the bud’ should it decide to come back. So the effort continues.

Twelve things that I have been confirmed in through my experience so far:

    After a cancer diagnosis how we respond matters a great deal. The sooner we respond the better.

    In order to heal from cancer, we need to consider all options that are available.

    Knowledge is power, the better informed we are the more confident we are in making good choices.

    A holistic path is essential, for healing and for wellbeing and conventional medicine is a powerful ally.

    Listening to the needs of the body, the mind and the heart is confirming of self and healing.

    The Gawler Program offers a solid foundation for this holistic path, other aspects can be added from other sources. A good holistic GP is important.

    It takes an empowered and courageous person with cancer to participate fully in the healing journey and go all out for cure.

    A good support team is worth their weight in gold. It takes a dedicated, knowledgeable, determined and resilient support person or team to last the distance.

    The task of the support person is different but also enormously challenging and we often do not get the care and attention that the person with cancer gets.

    It is important to ask for help and support and let people know what help is best at what time

    It helps to hold 2 realities lightly: the reality that the future is uncertain and life is finite; and the reality that there is much that can be done to be well and healed each day.

    To accept that this is a difficult journey and to be ok with ‘whatever gets you through the night’

There is of course so much more knowledge, experience, insight and understanding that this last year has added to my understanding of the Cancer Healing Journey. 

I have re-commenced offering my 3 Day Living and Thriving Programs for people with cancer and their support people in Sydney, and I will teach this program with renewed energy, increased depth of faith in the possibility of healing and greater knowledge in how to approach the healing journey.

Right after the journey with cancer started, Ian and Ruth advised me to prepare for a marathon, that this is the long haul….. and they are right. I am happy to say that so far, I have lasted the distance. And in this moment my loved one is cancer free.

If you know someone who needs some inspiration, some hope, some direction; perhaps this is a blog to share.

Next Living and Thriving Program starting in July 2014

The 3 Day 'Living & Thriving" Program is a unique educational program specifically designed for people with cancer (whether newly diagnosed or long-term survivor) and their support people. The program brings together the best of the various holistic methods and approaches available and introduces participants to various lifestyle medicine options that help to live well with and overcome the challenges of cancer. There are no prerequisites for this program and everyone is welcome. The approaches taught are additional and complementary to any other treatment choices.

NEXT PROGRAM   •Day 1: 26.7.2014   •Day 2: 3.8.2014   •Day 3: 17.8.2014

More information about the program can be found on www.WellforLife.net.au

or contact Sabina on 0419 980 923, or email: Sabina@WellforLife.net.au.

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NOTICEBOARD

1. IAN’S EAST COAST TOUR – 

HEALTH, HEALING and the MIND 

– from JULY onwards

Only a few days now and Ruth and I will in Sydney for the first of our series of speaking engagements up the East Coast.

Thursday July 3^rd we are in Sth Sydneyfor an evening public talk.

Saturday July 5^th it is Katoomba for a day workshop.

Sunday July 4^th Sydney again – this time centrally at Camperdown for another day open to all.

Then we head for Pt Stephens on Saturday 12^th, before continuing right on up to Cairns with a few talks along the way, across to Mt Isa and Alice Springs for Meditation in the Desert, then down to Adelaide. A road trip with a difference.

Know someone who might benefit from attending? 

Hope to see many of you along the way. There will be the chance for a refresher, to help get back on track if needed; but also exciting new information and the opportunity to meditate together and to deepen the experience of what meditation really is.

A good opportunity to share what we do with family, friends and colleagues.

FULL DETAILS – CLICK HERE  and please do share the link.

2. Meditation in the Desert : August 29 – September 7

Still a few spaces available, so come, join Ruth and myself along with like-minded people for 7 days of meditation in the extraordinary atmosphere of the Central Australian desert, followed by several days of close contact with senior local indigenous leaders.

Secure your place with a deposit. For details CLICK HERE