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Spirituality and diet

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User
Posted 12 Sep 2018 at 11:48

I'm very much a newcomer - diagnosed Aug 2018 Gleason 7 (4+3) and immediately on HT - but also pulling into the picture spiritual and dietary practices (particularly fasting) which have helped me with other medical issues. I'd be very interested to hear the experiences of forum members further down the line than me on this journey.

User
Posted 05 Sep 2019 at 09:58
That is insulting, Heenan - what right do you have to say that I or anyone else here is retreating into fantasy? If the thread involved any of our Muslim or Jewish members talking about their faith, you would think twice before saying such things.

If you don't like the conversation, don't read the thread. No-one forces you to click on it.

"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." Soren Kierkegaard

User
Posted 12 Sep 2018 at 17:15

Diet and stress are risk factors for many cancers plenty of evidence for that.  Once you have the cancer the evidence is less conclusive but I think fasting is a promising avenue..

User
Posted 13 Sep 2018 at 09:42

There's a journalist called Jenni Russell who wrote about her years of illness with Crohns Disease being ended by part time fasting. She wrote of someone called Dr Valter Longo who was writing a book on the subject and his meals that fooled the body into thinking it was fasting.  His work is mainly about longevity but he's worked on immune system regeneration.

Here's an extract from Jenni Russells article from 2015.  It's behind The Times paywall.

'In the last few years diabetes researchers have found that the disease can be cured by a daily 
600-calorie diet for eight weeks. Longo’s own earlier research indicates that fasting is as effective as chemotherapy in treating cancer. Combining the two, fasting just before and after treatment, increases the efficacy of chemo by up to 40 per cent while minimising side-effects. Cancer cells cope badly with being simultaneously poisoned and starved. But normal cells gain protection, because fasting closes the pathways that let toxins in. Since a fifth of all cancer-related deaths are due to the effects of chemo, this may be a major breakthrough.'

 

User
Posted 04 Oct 2018 at 17:50
Haven't been able to discuss this medically with anyone, but the PSA level dropped from 55 to 5.6 in a month. The nurse said it was "a very good response" but whether this is due to "zero testosterone" or fasting, fitness training and other things I don't know.
User
Posted 04 Sep 2019 at 22:34
We’re here to support one another, Jasper. If someone finds their religious faith to be a useful support mechanism, I’m not going to say anything about that, whatever my personal opinion about it may be.

Best wishes,

Chris

User
Posted 12 Sep 2018 at 11:48

I'm very much a newcomer - diagnosed Aug 2018 Gleason 7 (4+3) and immediately on HT - but also pulling into the picture spiritual and dietary practices (particularly fasting) which have helped me with other medical issues. I'd be very interested to hear the experiences of forum members further down the line than me on this journey.

User
Posted 12 Sep 2018 at 12:02
I found the mental and emotional side of diagnosis to be a lot tougher than the physical side (I had no physical symptoms at all, in fact), so I can certainly see the value of practices such as meditation in coming to terms with the fact that one has cancer.

Chris

User
Posted 12 Sep 2018 at 19:03
Thanks francij1 - from what I'm finding on the web, about day 2/3 of a fast your body goes into ketosis (using up fat and getting energy from weak or diseased, like cancerous, cells). Up till now, I've fasted for purely spiritual reasons (prayer), and only when I wanted to. But seems like there's a medical reason too...and if it can help cut down the time of having to live with zero testosterone, so much the better :-)
User
Posted 12 Sep 2018 at 19:48
An interesting idea and I would like to see a study that would help show what difference this made, particularly for those with a PCa diagnosis which would be the most of men on this forum.

Please keep in regular contact. Anything that can help is worth consideration

Barry
User
Posted 13 Sep 2018 at 11:24

It's there in the listed side-effects for Prostap; sometimes living without testosterone can make you see life and the world more negatively than usual.
Long before my diagnosis, someone told us about “extreme thankfulness”. My wife and I did it then from time to time, but now it's a regular part of our battle for healing, at every level.
“Put your right hand on your heart. (There are neurons in the heart – and in the gut, as well as in the brain - and you want them on board). Now it's finding 3 things that you are really thankful for. Might be an experience, a person, a relationship, a surprise, a place, a song, an idea, a food or drink item (like the glass of red wine I had last night)...whatever has recently floated your boat.
Start with the first one. Take it steady. Relive the experience, remember or visualise the person or place. Do it as vividly as you can and then express your thankfulness (preferably aloud) whatever way is right for you. And then the 2nd one...
If you're doing this with another person, take the time to share with them your 3 things and anything that came out of your time of thankfulness".

Edited by member 13 Sep 2018 at 14:11  | Reason: Not specified

User
Posted 04 Oct 2018 at 19:05
That's the HT. Is there any evidence to suggest that fasting would reduce prostate activity?

Chris

User
Posted 05 Oct 2018 at 07:47

Sums it up:
https://sperlingprostatecenter.com/the-excitement-of-intermittent-fasting-and-you-thought-not-eating-was-boring/

 

I have binned breakfast to try and get ketatosis every day but you have to watch the urge to eat unhealthy !!

User
Posted 05 Oct 2018 at 09:23

Originally Posted by: Online Community Member
I found the mental and emotional side of diagnosis to be a lot tougher than the physical side (I had no physical symptoms at all, in fact), so I can certainly see the value of practices such as meditation in coming to terms with the fact that one has cancer.

Chris

 

Ditto to this. 

For the medical issues, I just relied on the advice given to me by the wonderful staff of the NHS. I used my energy to help me keep my emotions in check, so I rarely let my imagination run riot. For meditation I would perhaps substitute mindfulness (similar but different). It's just making sure I am aware of my thoughts and turning them positive.

I'm a bit sceptical of fasting, I'd rather keep my strength up, by eating sensibly, but each to their own. 

User
Posted 08 Oct 2018 at 09:50

Thanks Chris for your question, which has made me dig a bit deeper as I work through how best to fight the stuff showing up on my scan. A bit technical, but this summarises what I found
“An overview on the role of autophagy in cancer therapy

Autophagy is a highly regulated catabolic process through which cells recycle their own constituents by delivering them into lysosomes. Several studies have demonstrated that autophagy plays a wide variety of physiological and pathophysiological roles in cells. In cancer, autophagy has been described to have paradoxical roles, acting both as tumor suppressor and as tumor promoter. In particular, it may exert different functions in response to cancer therapy, causing cancer resistance or increasing sensitivity to chemotherapeutic drugs and radiation. Therefore, autophagy could provide new means for the enhancement of antitumor drugs and radiation effectiveness.”

So it ain't so simple... My first reaction to the diagnosis was to go on a wilderness trek and a 3 day fast. It was good and what I needed to do at the time.
But now I'm pretty sure that careful consideration is needed about autophagy.
As a thinker, it would take a lot to shift me from seeing us all as “Universe experiencing Itself”. That includes the NHS and medical expertise, but my personal conscious and unconscious experience of my physical body is also “part of the great scheme of things”.

So for me, fasting as part of the fight will be directed by what some would call “my inner voice” and what I “hear” arising out of the prayer and meditation I have been in since I was a teenager.

Edited by member 08 Oct 2018 at 09:52  | Reason: bold and layout

User
Posted 07 Jun 2019 at 11:56

Hi Barcud/David.

This testimony relates back to your original theme on this thread of fasting. I have just had my second session of chemotherapy. Following my first session I experienced 9 bad days of a racing heart, throbbing head, extreme fatigue, and almost total loss of taste. I believe that some of this was connected to the dosage of steroids that were administered alongside docetaxel and some was also possibly the docetaxel dosage itself. After 9 days I began to 'recover'. I reported this back to my oncologist who reduced both dosages slightly. Being a guitarist, I was also extremely worried by the neuropathy symptoms that I was experiencing. I did a bit of research and discovered that fasting was recommended as a possible method of alleviating chemotherapy side effects. Something released by the brain in reaction to food deprivation apparently causes healthy cells to temporarily shut down their ability to ingest anything. This allegedly to some extent protects them from cancer drugs. Cancer cells apparently don't shut down in the same way and continue to be affected. Hypothetical result, far fewer chemotherapy side effects. Well, I am now on day 3 of my second chemotherapy cycle and my experience of this cycle so far has been markedly different. Whereas I spent large chunks of the first three days of my last chemo round in bed exhausted I feel fine this time. No extreme lethargy, no heart racing, no thumping head, no loss of taste. So far, so good. I have also learnt a fair amount about myself. I wasn't at all sure that I'd be able to fast, that I'd have the mental strength. I was also fearful that it would prove very uncomfortable. In the practice of it it actually presented very few problems. I lived on water and unsweetened ginger tea and was fine. I will keep you in the loop as to how this cycle progresses, but so far, the results have been startlingly good.

Very best wishes,

Jonathan x

User
Posted 07 Jun 2019 at 12:05

That's brilliant Jonathan - thanks for sharing it openly. I'm sure it will encourage others on chemo. With you every way I can be in this chemo - I'll message you soon - David x

User
Posted 19 Jul 2019 at 22:26
I've read through this thread with interest. Pre diagnosis I rarely went to church then not long after the news one of those people who come into your life and then before leaving asked me to go to church (which actually lead to confirmation - to my faith not church). At church the unshockable Ray, who was seriously not going ahead with treatment (looking back how silly), froze to the spot when it seemed the earth had stooped with the message in no uncertain terms you will have treatment. I think you might regard that as faith stepping in? Do I or just co-incidence and emotions? That's the background to my asking, of which I don't intend to offend, is whilst I feel its right to pray for someone else its not so for yourself. I gather you might have a different view to that?.

Ray

User
Posted 20 Jul 2019 at 07:23
Thanks Ray, that's brilliant - like St Paul said "All things work together for good to those who love God". I'll do a personal reply later...a lot on today
User
Posted 04 Sep 2019 at 17:24

Hi

Good to hear of those who have a faith in God, as I do.  God is good, and He is able to do great things.  His peace sustains me in the midst of all the cancer stuff going on.

User
Posted 04 Sep 2019 at 22:31
Some of us don't think it is drivel. The title of the thread should be a bit of an indicator that the content might be something you don't need to read?
"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." Soren Kierkegaard

User
Posted 05 Sep 2019 at 13:23
Well said, Lyn. I have no religious faith myself, but if such faith brings people strength and comfort, that can only be a good thing.

All the best,

Chris

User
Posted 05 Sep 2019 at 15:59
It is 47 weeks since any meaningful information regarding diet was included on this thread 🤔
"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." Soren Kierkegaard

User
Posted 05 Sep 2019 at 16:04
Even atheists live in hope!
User
Posted 08 Sep 2019 at 23:05
I’m doing well, thank you. Six months since I finished RT and no major side-effects.

Best wishes,

Chris

User
Posted 05 Apr 2022 at 16:28

Mediterranean diet

I haven't been on this thread for a while, but CareAcross (who helped me so much in the early post-diagnosis months) put up this post:
"A study published in the “Cancer” Journal of the American Cancer Society focused on the impact of Mediterranean diet on the progression of prostate cancer, in patients with newly diagnosed localised disease and on active surveillance.

More specifically, researchers monitored 410 patients’ Gleason grade group score every two years and compared it with how much they followed a Mediterranean diet. (Gleason grade group is one of the measures of aggressiveness of prostate tumour cells.)

They found that the more closely a man was following the Mediterranean diet, the lower his risk of Gleason grade group progression. This was independent of whether the patient was taking statins, or if they also had diabetes.

This is a positive reminder that patients can do their part to support their overall health and wellbeing, even after a prostate cancer diagnosis. Although there is no evidence that food alone can treat any type of cancer, maintaining a balanced diet is very important – and also helps control some common side-effects"
I'm probably on a 80% Mediterranean diet. For the past 2 yrs my PSA has been steady, at about 2.5 (was 55 at Gleason 7 diagnosis, down to 0 with the 3 Prostap injections, then rose to this level as I came back to "life with testosterone")

Edited by member 05 Apr 2022 at 16:38  | Reason: Needed a title

Show Most Thanked Posts
User
Posted 12 Sep 2018 at 12:02
I found the mental and emotional side of diagnosis to be a lot tougher than the physical side (I had no physical symptoms at all, in fact), so I can certainly see the value of practices such as meditation in coming to terms with the fact that one has cancer.

Chris

User
Posted 12 Sep 2018 at 17:15

Diet and stress are risk factors for many cancers plenty of evidence for that.  Once you have the cancer the evidence is less conclusive but I think fasting is a promising avenue..

User
Posted 12 Sep 2018 at 19:03
Thanks francij1 - from what I'm finding on the web, about day 2/3 of a fast your body goes into ketosis (using up fat and getting energy from weak or diseased, like cancerous, cells). Up till now, I've fasted for purely spiritual reasons (prayer), and only when I wanted to. But seems like there's a medical reason too...and if it can help cut down the time of having to live with zero testosterone, so much the better :-)
User
Posted 12 Sep 2018 at 19:48
An interesting idea and I would like to see a study that would help show what difference this made, particularly for those with a PCa diagnosis which would be the most of men on this forum.

Please keep in regular contact. Anything that can help is worth consideration

Barry
User
Posted 12 Sep 2018 at 20:55
Thanks Barry, I'll let you know more after my next PSA (October)
User
Posted 13 Sep 2018 at 09:42

There's a journalist called Jenni Russell who wrote about her years of illness with Crohns Disease being ended by part time fasting. She wrote of someone called Dr Valter Longo who was writing a book on the subject and his meals that fooled the body into thinking it was fasting.  His work is mainly about longevity but he's worked on immune system regeneration.

Here's an extract from Jenni Russells article from 2015.  It's behind The Times paywall.

'In the last few years diabetes researchers have found that the disease can be cured by a daily 
600-calorie diet for eight weeks. Longo’s own earlier research indicates that fasting is as effective as chemotherapy in treating cancer. Combining the two, fasting just before and after treatment, increases the efficacy of chemo by up to 40 per cent while minimising side-effects. Cancer cells cope badly with being simultaneously poisoned and starved. But normal cells gain protection, because fasting closes the pathways that let toxins in. Since a fifth of all cancer-related deaths are due to the effects of chemo, this may be a major breakthrough.'

 

User
Posted 13 Sep 2018 at 09:58
Re fasting and chemo - is there any real hard evidence?
User
Posted 13 Sep 2018 at 10:51

Thanks Peter - I'm following my inner voice on fasting in this present situation, like I have all my adult life, but really helpful to have the detail in your post. I'll look into this 600 cal/day diet - I'm due for an oncology consultation so I'll see what they say about it.

User
Posted 13 Sep 2018 at 11:24

It's there in the listed side-effects for Prostap; sometimes living without testosterone can make you see life and the world more negatively than usual.
Long before my diagnosis, someone told us about “extreme thankfulness”. My wife and I did it then from time to time, but now it's a regular part of our battle for healing, at every level.
“Put your right hand on your heart. (There are neurons in the heart – and in the gut, as well as in the brain - and you want them on board). Now it's finding 3 things that you are really thankful for. Might be an experience, a person, a relationship, a surprise, a place, a song, an idea, a food or drink item (like the glass of red wine I had last night)...whatever has recently floated your boat.
Start with the first one. Take it steady. Relive the experience, remember or visualise the person or place. Do it as vividly as you can and then express your thankfulness (preferably aloud) whatever way is right for you. And then the 2nd one...
If you're doing this with another person, take the time to share with them your 3 things and anything that came out of your time of thankfulness".

Edited by member 13 Sep 2018 at 14:11  | Reason: Not specified

User
Posted 04 Oct 2018 at 17:50
Haven't been able to discuss this medically with anyone, but the PSA level dropped from 55 to 5.6 in a month. The nurse said it was "a very good response" but whether this is due to "zero testosterone" or fasting, fitness training and other things I don't know.
User
Posted 04 Oct 2018 at 19:05
That's the HT. Is there any evidence to suggest that fasting would reduce prostate activity?

Chris

User
Posted 05 Oct 2018 at 07:47

Sums it up:
https://sperlingprostatecenter.com/the-excitement-of-intermittent-fasting-and-you-thought-not-eating-was-boring/

 

I have binned breakfast to try and get ketatosis every day but you have to watch the urge to eat unhealthy !!

User
Posted 05 Oct 2018 at 09:23

Originally Posted by: Online Community Member
I found the mental and emotional side of diagnosis to be a lot tougher than the physical side (I had no physical symptoms at all, in fact), so I can certainly see the value of practices such as meditation in coming to terms with the fact that one has cancer.

Chris

 

Ditto to this. 

For the medical issues, I just relied on the advice given to me by the wonderful staff of the NHS. I used my energy to help me keep my emotions in check, so I rarely let my imagination run riot. For meditation I would perhaps substitute mindfulness (similar but different). It's just making sure I am aware of my thoughts and turning them positive.

I'm a bit sceptical of fasting, I'd rather keep my strength up, by eating sensibly, but each to their own. 

User
Posted 08 Oct 2018 at 09:50

Thanks Chris for your question, which has made me dig a bit deeper as I work through how best to fight the stuff showing up on my scan. A bit technical, but this summarises what I found
“An overview on the role of autophagy in cancer therapy

Autophagy is a highly regulated catabolic process through which cells recycle their own constituents by delivering them into lysosomes. Several studies have demonstrated that autophagy plays a wide variety of physiological and pathophysiological roles in cells. In cancer, autophagy has been described to have paradoxical roles, acting both as tumor suppressor and as tumor promoter. In particular, it may exert different functions in response to cancer therapy, causing cancer resistance or increasing sensitivity to chemotherapeutic drugs and radiation. Therefore, autophagy could provide new means for the enhancement of antitumor drugs and radiation effectiveness.”

So it ain't so simple... My first reaction to the diagnosis was to go on a wilderness trek and a 3 day fast. It was good and what I needed to do at the time.
But now I'm pretty sure that careful consideration is needed about autophagy.
As a thinker, it would take a lot to shift me from seeing us all as “Universe experiencing Itself”. That includes the NHS and medical expertise, but my personal conscious and unconscious experience of my physical body is also “part of the great scheme of things”.

So for me, fasting as part of the fight will be directed by what some would call “my inner voice” and what I “hear” arising out of the prayer and meditation I have been in since I was a teenager.

Edited by member 08 Oct 2018 at 09:52  | Reason: bold and layout

User
Posted 08 Oct 2018 at 10:01

Thanks francij for the link - I've copied the 6 intermittent diets to consider, as part of "listening to my inner voice"

And I'm on "no breakfast" too.

I've only ever fasted when I wanted to...and never regretted it

User
Posted 09 Oct 2018 at 09:09

There's so many alternative therapies on the web, so many conflicting imperatives and 10 minute hyped-up videos with little substantial to offer beyond an amazing book and a time-limited discount, but “Ty & Charlene” are a bit different. Transcript from a video:


Laura Bond: ...something that really surprised me in the research...is how important pleasure is in the healing paradigm... There’s a study from the University of Pittsburgh showing that pleasure, or a sense of joy, is the second most important factor for predicting cancer recovery.
So I’d advise people not to cut out completely anything that provides them with a lot of pleasure. Taking time out every day to do something that just makes you lose track of time, where you’re completely absorbed in it.
Ty Bollinger: That’s really congruent to the information that we’ve gotten from a lot of other interviewees, is that the emotional, the mental state, is very important. And so, joy, happiness, pleasure, laughter, all these things actually not only make you feel good, but they help regulate your immune system.


So it costs nothing...and it's fun. Sounds like a therapy I can live with.
For me it's music – playing/singing (alone or with others) and listening. There's so much for free on Youtube...great for exploring new composers/artists/genres. But whatever brings you pleasure and joy...it's “Doctor's Orders”.
OK this is anecdotal...you may have heard it before. A doctor tells a man he has 3 weeks to live. “The best thing you can do is to go home and watch as many funny films and TV programmes as you can”. The man does as the doctor says...and 3 weeks later he's back, symptom-free and well.
Also being around people you can laugh with*, choosing to see the funny side of things, radio and TV comedy programmes...or whatever tickles your funny bone.
https://thetruthaboutcancer.com/missing-ingredient-cancer-recovery/?mpweb=144-7351995-743469981

*Especially "snorfers" (people who snort when they laugh...and then laugh at themselves for snorting)

User
Posted 04 Jun 2019 at 08:36

I'm writing this post at this time for a man (or a carer) who will find it to be a step on in the process of reversing a prostate cancer diagnosis. Not to prove anything or to wind anyone up by triumphalistic claims...

It's about a year now since I peed a little bit of blood. That soon stopped, but I did what they say and the tests/scans/biopsies led to a diagnosis of Gleason 4+3. With 2 medically attested healings on me (including skin cancer) I thought: Do I have faith that God will heal me of this without conventional medicine?

I wasn't sure. I see conventional medicine anyway as part of God's healing...the issue was more about the side effects of treatment and whether they needed to be part of the journey. I felt I should stay within the NHS, so I consented to hormone therapy every 3 months with my PSA test. I was PSA 55 at the time.

The world looks a bit different without testosterone...but it still looks real good. One of the “signs that follow those who believe” in Mark 16 is to not be harmed if they drink deadly poison, so I took hold of that for injections and possible side effects. I had occasional hot flashes, but that was all.

Within 6 months the PSA was <0.1. The medics all said: That's the HT. Fair enough – they've put in all that studying and they've got the experience.

But my faith was rising and I had a FB Messenger page of folk praying for me. I had some dreams. People I prayed for felt the power of God touch them and the pain leave them instantly. The final step to coming off the HT was reading a translation from the Aramaic of John 16:23-4

 

"All things that you ask straightly and directly from inside my name you shall be given. So far you have not done this. Ask without hidden motive and be surrounded by your answer. Be enveloped by what you desire, that your gladness be full."

 

That version opened things up – I knew that was where I was at. S-----, my designated MacMillan nurse was brilliant in explaining to the medics that this old guy wasn't some religious nutter “following the teachings of his church” (though a lot of healings do happen at our church) but that he genuinely believes that he is cancer-free.

Without any mental gymnastics or white-knuckle praying I'm filled with thankfulness – to God, to those who care for me and to those who run sites like Prostate Cancer UK. Yes, sometimes negative thoughts and fears do show up (sometimes unexpectedly) but I invite them to take a hike and they move on out of my stream of consciousness PDQ. It's like having your birthday present before your birthday. It's being glad of the succession of good PSA results for the 2020s while it's still 2019...

If you're the guy this post is for, please get in touch, either publicly on this site or ask for contact details and we'll keep it private. The same for anyone who'd like me to pray for them “from a distance”. If it's not for you, then thanks for reading it and if my thinking doesn't fit with yours, be sure that no offence was intended - David

User
Posted 07 Jun 2019 at 11:56

Hi Barcud/David.

This testimony relates back to your original theme on this thread of fasting. I have just had my second session of chemotherapy. Following my first session I experienced 9 bad days of a racing heart, throbbing head, extreme fatigue, and almost total loss of taste. I believe that some of this was connected to the dosage of steroids that were administered alongside docetaxel and some was also possibly the docetaxel dosage itself. After 9 days I began to 'recover'. I reported this back to my oncologist who reduced both dosages slightly. Being a guitarist, I was also extremely worried by the neuropathy symptoms that I was experiencing. I did a bit of research and discovered that fasting was recommended as a possible method of alleviating chemotherapy side effects. Something released by the brain in reaction to food deprivation apparently causes healthy cells to temporarily shut down their ability to ingest anything. This allegedly to some extent protects them from cancer drugs. Cancer cells apparently don't shut down in the same way and continue to be affected. Hypothetical result, far fewer chemotherapy side effects. Well, I am now on day 3 of my second chemotherapy cycle and my experience of this cycle so far has been markedly different. Whereas I spent large chunks of the first three days of my last chemo round in bed exhausted I feel fine this time. No extreme lethargy, no heart racing, no thumping head, no loss of taste. So far, so good. I have also learnt a fair amount about myself. I wasn't at all sure that I'd be able to fast, that I'd have the mental strength. I was also fearful that it would prove very uncomfortable. In the practice of it it actually presented very few problems. I lived on water and unsweetened ginger tea and was fine. I will keep you in the loop as to how this cycle progresses, but so far, the results have been startlingly good.

Very best wishes,

Jonathan x

User
Posted 07 Jun 2019 at 12:05

That's brilliant Jonathan - thanks for sharing it openly. I'm sure it will encourage others on chemo. With you every way I can be in this chemo - I'll message you soon - David x

User
Posted 29 Jun 2019 at 08:10

Hot flashes/flushes I've moved this post to this thread from a more general forum

As always, I'm not posting to preach or to cause offence, but as soon as I found this post on

https://www.drugs.com/answers

I followed Highstrider47's advice... and they stopped, every time they tried. So I'm posting it for anyone who wants to try this approach -David

Highstrider47 27 Aug 2018

Hi - I posted about an hour ago but haven't seen it posted yet. I have had 4, 3 month shots of Lupron. Most serious side effect is/was hot flashes. I would drip sweat down my face and my shirt would turn damp. Am 70 years old and still working so this is totally disadvantageous. As a Christian man, I prayed and the Holy Spirit told me that the devil (the father of all lies) was sending a spirit of lies to my hippthalamus that I needed more heat, so my hippthalamus kicked in, resulting in a hot flash. I now pray against that spirit of lies, rebuking it, and commanding in the powerful name of Jesus, it be gone from my body and my mind. It works, and is a constant statement of faith that Jesus loves us and wants the best for us.

User
Posted 19 Jul 2019 at 19:07

Spirituality and healing

This encouraging  testimony is on Prostate.Net

https://prostatecancer.net/living/becoming-cancer-warrior/?utm_source=weekly&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=07dab36e-79d2-4adf-9cc4-3c40aca9c86a&utm_confid=sovkmsupw&aGVhbHRoIHVuaW9uIGJsYWg=213a3ac4514be06cafecad5a9aab90f68803666ba928e6b85ba282942111aca4

Fight the fight and stay strong - Barcud

A follow up article on Prostate.Net

https://prostatecancer.net/living/power-hope/?utm_source=weekly&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=07dab36e-79d2-4adf-9cc4-3c40aca9c86a&utm_confid=sovkmsupw&aGVhbHRoIHVuaW9uIGJsYWg=213a3ac4514be06cafecad5a9aab90f68803666ba928e6b85ba282942111aca4

 

 

Edited by member 19 Jul 2019 at 19:16  | Reason: Forgot to sign off/found the follow up article

User
Posted 19 Jul 2019 at 22:26
I've read through this thread with interest. Pre diagnosis I rarely went to church then not long after the news one of those people who come into your life and then before leaving asked me to go to church (which actually lead to confirmation - to my faith not church). At church the unshockable Ray, who was seriously not going ahead with treatment (looking back how silly), froze to the spot when it seemed the earth had stooped with the message in no uncertain terms you will have treatment. I think you might regard that as faith stepping in? Do I or just co-incidence and emotions? That's the background to my asking, of which I don't intend to offend, is whilst I feel its right to pray for someone else its not so for yourself. I gather you might have a different view to that?.

Ray

User
Posted 20 Jul 2019 at 07:23
Thanks Ray, that's brilliant - like St Paul said "All things work together for good to those who love God". I'll do a personal reply later...a lot on today
User
Posted 21 Jul 2019 at 09:56
Thanks for the food for thought pm. A copy here may help those on the PCa path decide whether praying for oneself is for them or not. I'm not yet convinced but thats not saying I'm right.

Ray

User
Posted 21 Jul 2019 at 13:13
Thanks Ray for the permission to put this in the public domain:

Hi Ray, just read your really encouraging profile. Gotta go soon - to a festival (Lafrowda in St Just) where I'll be praying for folk with pain or medical/other difficulties. If you read my whole thread you'll know why I believe in miracles🙂...including for me.

This translation really helped me

a translation from the Aramaic of John 16:23-4

"All things that you ask straightly and directly from inside my name you shall be given. So far you have not done this. Ask without hidden motive and be surrounded by your answer. Be enveloped by what you desire, that your gladness be full."

To pray with real power, we must be free of selfishness. I want to be alive and well for Jill, my wife, our very large extended family, and for everything my Heavenly Father wants to do through me. for everyone I can bring happiness and well-being to in the years ahead. So I pray for myself too 🙂

Blessings - David (on Facebook as David Derrington and miraclesincornwall)

User
Posted 04 Sep 2019 at 17:24

Hi

Good to hear of those who have a faith in God, as I do.  God is good, and He is able to do great things.  His peace sustains me in the midst of all the cancer stuff going on.

User
Posted 04 Sep 2019 at 17:39
With you Dave in the peace that passes all understanding... who needs to understand when we're surrounded by His Peace? - David
User
Posted 04 Sep 2019 at 22:21
Why do the Mods allow this Bible bashing drivel?
User
Posted 04 Sep 2019 at 22:31
Some of us don't think it is drivel. The title of the thread should be a bit of an indicator that the content might be something you don't need to read?
"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." Soren Kierkegaard

User
Posted 04 Sep 2019 at 22:34
We’re here to support one another, Jasper. If someone finds their religious faith to be a useful support mechanism, I’m not going to say anything about that, whatever my personal opinion about it may be.

Best wishes,

Chris

User
Posted 05 Sep 2019 at 09:58
That is insulting, Heenan - what right do you have to say that I or anyone else here is retreating into fantasy? If the thread involved any of our Muslim or Jewish members talking about their faith, you would think twice before saying such things.

If you don't like the conversation, don't read the thread. No-one forces you to click on it.

"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." Soren Kierkegaard

User
Posted 05 Sep 2019 at 13:23
Well said, Lyn. I have no religious faith myself, but if such faith brings people strength and comfort, that can only be a good thing.

All the best,

Chris

User
Posted 05 Sep 2019 at 15:43

Originally Posted by: Online Community Member
That is insulting, Heenan - what right do you have to say that I or anyone else here is retreating into fantasy? If the thread involved any of our Muslim or Jewish members talking about their faith, you would think twice before saying such things.

If you don't like the conversation, don't read the thread. No-one forces you to click on it.

The same right you have to say it's insulting!

Personally I was on this thread for the Diet component.

User
Posted 05 Sep 2019 at 15:59
It is 47 weeks since any meaningful information regarding diet was included on this thread 🤔
"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." Soren Kierkegaard

User
Posted 05 Sep 2019 at 16:04
Even atheists live in hope!
User
Posted 05 Sep 2019 at 17:42
😂
"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." Soren Kierkegaard

User
Posted 05 Sep 2019 at 18:16

Thanks Lyn for all your posts, and for noting the change in balance of my posts on this thread. In many ways it represents my personal journey since the shock of the diagnosis just over 12 months ago. My diet changed drastically at that time and the posts reflect this. Over the months I have stopped weekly reporting to Care Across about diet and exercise, but I continue to follow their advice in a more relaxed way (no red meat, a little more dairy than they recommend and recently, much less exercise while my broken wrist has been healing up).

In terms of getting and staying cancer-free, the spirituality element has been far more important for me...as documented in the posts since about April. But diet enters into this. I know that if I reverted to my pre-diagnosis "eat and drink whatever I want" diet I would not have the faith that my present level of well-being will continue. So "no red meat, basic vegetarian diet, careful with dairy and alcohol" is very much a personal spiritual issue.  I see staying in that place of faith as crucial to my remaining cancer-free, so I will not do anything to prejudice it.

A short time after I took the decision, in consultation with my oncologist, to stop all ADT, I discovered that 2 friends of mine had done the same thing. They are both church leaders, one older, the other younger than me, the younger with 12 yrs of negligible PSA the other with 2 yrs. Their experiences have been a great encouragement to me, and as I'm sure you are well aware, what I've posted has been in the same spirit - to encourage those who, while grateful for medical support, believe that there may be additional healing resources which could help them beat cancer and to offer them pointers for their journey from what has worked for me.

Thank you for your understanding replies to some who have been offended by posts on this thread - David

 

User
Posted 08 Sep 2019 at 19:22

Diet and CareAcross

The immediate big changes in my life following diagnosis (apart from hospital and doctor's appointments) were dietary. All my adult life I'd been able to eat and drink as I wished without any evident weight or medical problems. Now I start hearing all sorts of messages about the importance of diet in getting (and staying) cancer-free.

I soon found https://prostatecancer.careacross.com. OK its advice and monitoring are computer-generated, but any time I hit a problem, a real-life person got back to sort it. The CareAcross programme with its personalised comments and suggestions really helped me settle, after about 2 months, into a diet and exercise regime that I (and my wife) could live with and that I could believe was going to help in dealing with the diagnosis. CareAcross are very good in keeping you up to date with details of new treatments or research.

So what diet did I follow? Basically vegetarian with no red meat, no eggs, limited chicken and fish, protein from nuts (especially Brazil nuts – 6 a day) and pulses, 5 a day fruit/veg esp broccoli and kale, sensible dairy/alcohol/sugar. As supplements – turmeric (golden paste), ground flaxseed, Omega 3, green tea (Matcha is the nicest)...and 85% dark chocolate.

I'd never done planned exercise before. Mostly 20 mins resistance exercises and running every 2-3 days. When I'm in Wales, up a mountain/wild swimming every 2-3 days.

I feel very well on this diet and go faster/further than younger family members in anything long-or medium-distance. I see it as an important part of staying cancer-free, strengthening the spiritual side of my battle.

10 years ago I was due to have an operation on my right eye, with warnings that it must not be delayed for more than 3 months. I have a precious picture of the retina of that eye, with every single blood vessel joined up perfectly, taken when I asked for re-assessment near the end of the 3 months. The notes sent to my GP by Mr. Lxxxxx from St Thomas's said “the patient's strong religious faith and positive outlook were significant in his spontaneous recovery”.

Diet, for me, is a big part of this faith-battle. Not because of some religious teaching, but simply to make it easier for my body to fight cancer and to keep it clear of what current medical research indicates as risky. I'm not going to shorten the odds against another “spontaneous recovery”.

Speaking to my body

“This doesn't happen. You're regenerating your retina” Mr Lxxxxx told me 10 years ago. I didn't use those words, but I (and others) had been telling my right eye to do that over the previous 3 months. OK, that might sound stupid, but eventually the eye actually did what I told it to do. Not the first time. “Keep believing” said a friend of mine. I did...and it happened.

I could see some of the healing taking place inside my eye so it was easy to know it had happened. Not so easy with PCa, when you have no symptoms. But about April this year I realised that without any white knuckles or mental gymnastics I was believing that the tumour and everything associated with it had done what I'd been telling it to do. It had shrunk, disintegrated and left my body. There was no “doubt in my heart” or in my mind. So I notified my GP and oncologist of my decision not to have any more Prostap injections, because I didn't believe I needed them.

Just like with my right eye, I'd been speaking to the tumour, only this time for about 8 months, on the basis of an ancient teaching that more recently is being given serious attention, particularly in the light of particle physics and quantum mechanics.* “If anyone believes...that 1. what they say will come to pass, and 2. does not doubt in their heart, it shall be done for them”. Just two conditions...and anyone can do it, said Jesus of Nazareth.(Gospel of Mark ch. 11 v. 22-24)

 

August 2018, after diagnosis, I believed that I could speak and cause changes in my body. I'd seen it happen for me and for many others. But...there was doubt in my heart. I couldn't believe, at that time, for getting cancer-free without any treatment. So I agreed to the Prostap injections – I had 3 with no serious side effects. PSA quickly plummeted from 58 to unrecordable, where it has stayed.

April 2019 – There's no medical proof, of course. Faith is spelt – RISK. The unrecordable PSA could be residual Prostap, but my faith rose over the months to the point where it overtook the doubt. I discovered that 2 friends (one with 12 yrs low PSA, the other with 2 yrs) had each made the same decision as me, for the same reasons. It's happening for them – why not for me?

12 months on, I've gone into a lot of detail, not to prove anything or to proselytise and certainly not to offend anyone, but because I believe anyone can fight cancer this way if they want to and that guys facing a PCa diagnosis need to know all the options to make quality decisions. The forums on Prostate Cancer UK are there to do that and do it so well. And there are those on the forums who one way or another are fighting PCa spiritually. Knowing some of the details of my journey may help or encourage them.

* Energy Medicine: The Scientific Basis, James L. Oschman (Churchill Livingstone)

 

 

 

 

 

User
Posted 08 Sep 2019 at 20:09
How long is it since you had your last Prostap injection?

Best wishes,

Chris

User
Posted 08 Sep 2019 at 21:55

8 months - how are things going for you Chris ?

Edited by member 08 Sep 2019 at 22:07  | Reason: Not specified

User
Posted 08 Sep 2019 at 23:05
I’m doing well, thank you. Six months since I finished RT and no major side-effects.

Best wishes,

Chris

User
Posted 09 Sep 2019 at 09:41
Couldn't agree more Gilly - fasting is best when it's a happy time between you, your body and God. Not some legalistic religious duty. With you and your oh in thanksgiving for the 10 years...and believing for the way through for him to be cancer-free - David and Jill
User
Posted 11 Mar 2020 at 20:29
User
Posted 20 Oct 2020 at 09:37
No I didn't - have you found it beneficial? Looking back on the past 27 months, the diet aspect of facing the diagnosis has been on a downward curve, though it is still significant. My first reaction - 3 day fasting and following the CareAcross diet and fitness programme - was mostly a way of "drawing a line". I'm still following the broad lines of CareAcross, because I want to, and because I feel good on them, but I don't submit my data very often. They were very helpful dealing with the shock in the early days, but I'm much more settled, bodily and spiritually now. I can sense much more "what my body is saying"...and go with that. In fitness, diet and in fasting..

The relation between diet and the spiritual side is so important, I believe. My PSA is steady on 1.8, after coming off Prostap 18 months ago, and part of it staying that way depends on my staying in faith. I don't have faith that (like pre-diagnosis) I can eat or drink whatever I like with no ill effects - so "no red meat, not much dairy and taking turmeric/flaxseed/Vitamin D" - are part of me staying in faith for the moment.

But please, Bembry, if you've had good experiences with keto, I'd be glad to hear of them.

Stay positive - test negative - David

User
Posted 17 Dec 2020 at 18:26
Snake oil
"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." Soren Kierkegaard

User
Posted 14 Jan 2021 at 12:18

Unlike fake reviews on the Internet, no doctor can fake a good attitude from patients and colleagues. It is not a fact that you will be able to notice this during the first consultation, but if you have ever witnessed how other patients say “thank you” to your doctor, and other doctors are happy to discuss professional matters with him, you are probably in good hands. 

User
Posted 05 Apr 2022 at 16:28

Mediterranean diet

I haven't been on this thread for a while, but CareAcross (who helped me so much in the early post-diagnosis months) put up this post:
"A study published in the “Cancer” Journal of the American Cancer Society focused on the impact of Mediterranean diet on the progression of prostate cancer, in patients with newly diagnosed localised disease and on active surveillance.

More specifically, researchers monitored 410 patients’ Gleason grade group score every two years and compared it with how much they followed a Mediterranean diet. (Gleason grade group is one of the measures of aggressiveness of prostate tumour cells.)

They found that the more closely a man was following the Mediterranean diet, the lower his risk of Gleason grade group progression. This was independent of whether the patient was taking statins, or if they also had diabetes.

This is a positive reminder that patients can do their part to support their overall health and wellbeing, even after a prostate cancer diagnosis. Although there is no evidence that food alone can treat any type of cancer, maintaining a balanced diet is very important – and also helps control some common side-effects"
I'm probably on a 80% Mediterranean diet. For the past 2 yrs my PSA has been steady, at about 2.5 (was 55 at Gleason 7 diagnosis, down to 0 with the 3 Prostap injections, then rose to this level as I came back to "life with testosterone")

Edited by member 05 Apr 2022 at 16:38  | Reason: Needed a title

User
Posted 10 Aug 2022 at 13:47
I’ve come in on the tail end of this conversation and realise David that it’s tailing off now. However I just wanted to say thank you for starting the thread. As a 74 year old ex businessman (who’s far too overweight) this thread has proved both useful and encouraging. I was diagnosed a few weeks ago and am on a steep learning curve. For myself, spirituality is a very positive dimension to my life but diet… a new discipline I find hard to adhere to. Again, thanks for the encouragement.
User
Posted 11 Aug 2022 at 18:44
There is no evidence to support the suggestion that diet has any impact on the progression or recurrence of prostate cancer. If you want to diet for other reasons, such as to lose weight, by all means do so, but it's not going to affect your cancer in any way.

Best wishes,

Chris

 
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