Healthy Eating: Living with Recurrent Cancer
Eating healthily is a top priority as I live with recurrent ovarian cancer, practice a healthy lifestyle and guide clients to make good diet and nutrition choices.
From an early age, I became interested in eating healthy nutritious foods and understand the benefits this would provide in keeping me fit and healthy. I also completed many courses in the science of diet and nutrition as part of my personal trainer and health coaching certifications.
So when I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2014, I was already prepared to handle this part of the journey. There was still a lot to learn about diet and cancer which was challenging, but at least I was better informed than most cancer patients.
At the time, I was eating like most healthy people. I followed a diet of green leafy vegetables, carbs and fiber, and healthy proteins including fish, poultry and other meats. I had no issues then and enjoyed a good balanced meal.
My active lifestyle required a high-calorie intake. I was well nourished, energetic and strong. Clients relied on my expertise to guide and support them with their dietary choices as they improved and achieved their goals working with me.
Of course, cancer would significantly change this as it became chronic and recurrent. These have been challenging years, especially the difficulty of living with multiple abdominal issues, the site of my cancer.
Discovering the Wahl’s diet was pivotal in giving me a new direction and I followed the protocol for several years. It is a type of Paleo diet that our ancestors followed thousands of years ago, based on eating unprocessed foods and foods grown on the land where the hunter gathers lived.
The Wahl’s diet was developed by a physician living with multiple schlerosis. She emphasizes a heavy protein intake and interesting vegetables. I was lucky to live close to many organic farmers markets in New York City where I could find a lot of these foods. Her findings were scientific and evidenced based. I admired her determination in finding a source to help herself and others.
As I continued to have recurrences, I developed gastrointestinal issues and had to be admitted to the hospital twice. Both times I was put on a liquid, soft food diet and told to stay away from fiber. This was hard to accept, but there was no other choice. My body was having a hard time digesting these foods and as a result developed a stomach blockage.
It was a difficult time physically and emotionally. I struggled to understand what was happening to me and never resisted the help that was offered by my doctors and medical team. The importance of this probably saved my life too.
It took months of living with this condition. I started losing a lot of weight, and wasn’t getting the proper nutrition I needed to be healthy. My diet now consisted of miso soup, different types of broths, noodles, pasta, occasional small portions of chicken and fish, ice cream, cakes and pies. My weight was so low and I was calorie deficient, that eating ice cream, cakes and pies were life-savers.
I did consult with several nutritionist, who encouraged me to try protein shakes, which I did occasionally.
After giving it some thought, I agreed to have a stent put in my stomach to help speed up the digestive process. It has not cured the issue but made it more manageable.
a challenging transition and sometimes felt lost and confused. I couldn’t find any foods that I could tolerate that were healthy. Eventually, I narrowed it down and for months my diet consisted of miso soup, broth, ramen, pasta, occasional chicken and fish, cake and ice cream. I knew that was far from ideal, and my weight loss was noticable.
My low weight, intolerance for certain foods have become chronic. I still struggle with the fact that I cannot eat spinach, kale or any green leafy vegetables.
I have also developed an intolerance for beans, and other legumes. I am vigilant about what I can eat and gave up forcing myself to eat what I already know won’t agree with me.
Letting go of the anger and frustration built up after years struggling over this is slowly lifting but not gone yet.
Cancer did impact my taste buds and how much I can eat. In many ways, I like that I am lean and prefer to stay this way. I hope to eventually gain at least ten pounds, but for today, I am grateful that I can still enjoy a nice meal. I also understand the seriousness involved in compromising this.
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I make sure I get adequate supply of daily proteins, and a balance of carbs and fats. Breakfast is now my main meal of the day and usually consists of hard boiled eggs, toast, butter, coffee and juice or a protein smoothie.
I take time to eat mindfully, journal and give thanks to a higher power every day as a reminder of the eleven year journey when my cancer started and where it has take.
hope this Blog will inspire you to pay closer attention to your diet and nutrition and put effort to adjusting some of your daily habits that may be working against you at this time in your life.
n me.
I try my best to eat small meals throughout the day and usually have some chicken or fish with some carbs. I have a small salad occasionally but need to watch the fiber content.
I make every effort to get my foods from locally grown organic sources, and choose foods that are grass or pasture raised. I admit that this can be costly and may not be affordable for everyone.
With time and effort you can find similar foods at a more modest cost. Fast or process foods is harmful and they’re many options to eating better for everyone.
If you are struggling with an illness or setback and having a hard time finding or maintaining a healthy diet, help is available.
I hope this Blog will inspire you to want to improve your diet and nutrition. With effort and willingness you can change or modify the lifestyle habits that prevent you from living life to its fullest.
Please contact me for further information and to learn more about my Programs and Services.
Wahl’s protocol information ://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39385461/
