CancerCompass: Healthy Behaviors Extend Life After Cancer, Experts Say

CancerCompass: Healthy Behaviors Extend Life After Cancer, Experts Say

Dress Size reduced dramatically

A couple of Sabbaths ago when getting ready for church I found myself having to change 3 times and the reason for this was that my clothes did not only fall off my shoulders but sagged badly. Those old favourites are now just filling my wardrobe and tonight I will need to go through it and take out the clothes which no longer fit me. I know when I was around 21 years of age, I was a size 10 and after marriage and the children I slowly graduated to a Size 14 and remained there for many years. After lunch today, I decided to walk into a 'linen' shop and to browse what was available. I found a skirt sized 8 and decided to try it on. Lo and behold, the skirt fitted perfectly. It is official, I am now a Size 8.

Ovarian cancer | Better Health Channel

Ovarian cancer | Better Health Channel

What causes Ovarian cancer?

As soon as I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer I immediately began reading about it. For the average woman this cancer is not easy to detect.

Ovarian cancer often goes undetected until it has spread within the pelvis and abdomen. http://cancercure-d.blogspot.com  pic.twitter.com/msSJfQu4

The symptoms are associated with bloating, feelings of indigestion and stomach pains all of which I experienced and treated myself with over the counter medicines such as Mylanta, Eno and the likes.

It wasn't until last year that another symptom surfaced and that was the frequent need to urinate but even that was manageable. What actually took me to the doctors in 2009 and last year was associated with the mild pelvic pains.

Unfortunately for me my cancer was not detected until it had metastasized even though it probably could have been dealt with in 2009 when Dr Fatiaki suggested that the mass was not something to worry about and that it was merely a cyst.

It would be good to read the article provided at the link for some wise advice.http://t.co/o7qccMNp

Everyday is a blessing!

"The most handsome man in my life" - Eli Waisea Vakamocea

Tata Levu with Eli and Lusianne

Lusianne and Mafa share some special moments together.

Pate and Lusianne in January 2012.

Trying to understand the results

I finally received a written version of my medical results on the 19th January this year. Technical terminology which one needs to get their head around was included. I smile because the lumps which took me to the doctor in the first place are actually located in the "supraclav cular lymph node". The histology of the left supraclavicular node confirmed a "metastatic adenocarcinoma" moderately differentiated. The tests done on my blood was called a CA125 and my results were 149.3. What this numeral means would be interesting to know. I can only guess that it is high and confirms the presence of the cancer in the ovary. The CT scan found a left pelvic cystic lesion of 8.2cm x 8.5cm x 6cm. This scan also confirmed that the vital organs were normal. The abdominal mass found through the physical examination was 16 weeks in size and partially mobile. This information was based on tests done in November, December and early January. Oncologist specialists in Australia basically refused to deal with my case based on these results. 

Palliative care hasn't kicked in yet but at home a basically alkaline focused diet has been the emphasis. A wonderful brother in Christ, Tale Maimanuku wrote to me yesterday to recommend the RAVE diet and in researching it I have found that this has basically been what I have been doing since November. To anyone reading this blog, I sincerely hope you would take seriously the importance of watching what you eat. I recall the Grandmother who introduced herself by saying that she was a grandmother who ate nothing that had a mother. Like many others who watched the recording, I laughed when I heard this line as it was original. But, through this introduction she was basically promoting a healthy lifestyle. There is much wisdom in going the way of reducing or getting rid of, out of our diets, foods which would increase the acidity of our blood. It would help keep us healthier and would protect us from life damaging diseases.

It has grown

On the 16th of January the abdominal mass was 16 weeks in size. At that point I could hardly feel it but now I know it has grown because I can no longer sleep in my favourite position - on my stomach. I watched Waisea and Lusianne sleep last night and tried my very best to find a comfortable position in order to sleep. I whispered a prayer asking the Lord to help me sleep and then I know I fell asleep but it was very light. This morning I looked myself in the mirror and told myself, "you need a hair cut Lady... you must not let yourself look drab or sickly". So, I acted on it and my hair dresser was free to trim my hair. After the hair cut I decided to get myself a vegetable sandwich and while waiting for the lady making it a beautiful lady stepped up beside me at the counter and said, "bula Louise, how are you?" I replied politely but she saw my lack of recognition and responded by saying that she was a member of the Raiwaqa SDA Church and that they had been praying for me. This entry had to be made today in order to register my immense gratitude for the dedication, the act of ministry, empathy and the time given by total strangers to present my case before the Lord.They just like Abraham, Moses and Samuel of the Old Testament prayed and mighty miracles occurred. 

"Lord, I thank you for every individual who has remembered me in their prayers definitely fulfilling the directives in your word for us to pray for each other.I am so aware Lord that praying requires people's time and I pray for blessings on all of them. I believe You are the Rewarder of those who diligently seek You and our requests Lord are at Your feet. I pray for faith, Lord the faith that would move mountains, the faith of the Woman in the New testament that bled for many years. I know Lord intercessory prayer is the sweetest of prayers You ever hear and I pray for Your spirit to move amongst the church and to continue to uphold each other in prayer. In you mighty name I pray. Amen."

Alternative Treatments

Grandchildren visit me from Sydney

Immediately after the diagnosis I went full out to find out as much information about cancer in general and what the contributing factors are. Interestingly, factors included a range of things some of which included, food, stress, external factors such as pollutants, chemicals, additives and of course the genes!

My namesake and I at the beach - Dec, 2011

I decided immediately while going through the tests that I would immediately change my diet and began detoxing regimes. This included the removal from my diet all dairy and sweet foods. It was torture as this went into the Christmas period when we had to prepare special meals for visiting relatives. My childhood sister-cousin, Susie arrived immediately to spend time with me and of course my namesake who had left Fiji some 20 odd years ago returned with her six children and Susie's older daughter, Marilyn came too with her son Isaac. It was a special time for me. They all joined me in attending church the few Sabbaths that they were in Fiji and like true Fijians food has such social value and significance, our family table at Laucala Beach Estate always had foods I could no longer eat, these included, lovo - chicken, lamb, palusami,curried lamb, beef, fish or chicken and other Fijian delicacies which are not so available in Australia. Walking into the dining area of kitchen was so difficult but at this time I was mainly having vegetable juices of all sorts and eating raw as much as possible.

Coffee enemas were also the order of each day for most of this period. My mornings usually began at five am, with a warm glass of lemon water and then I would go outside and walk briskly around the compound. Half an hour of this and then I would return indoors to begin my vegetable juices- some green inter-spaced with carrot juice. I was able to continue this during my leave as I had much time at home.

I found myself looking for ways to make my raw salads exciting and edible. Dr Loata then suggested adding in grated green pawpaws and even 'lumi' which was a favourite but something I had stopped taking because it had to be cooked and in coconut cream.

And then I met up with Waisea's aunt, Fulori Bola, Pacific Adventist University lecturer and survivor of cancer who shared what she had also done and upon her recommendation I was slowly able to begin eating cooked foods in the form of soups. I had never loved so much dhal following the five years of dhal and blue peas 'overdose' at Fulton but the comeback was sweet. I just had to remind myself to do things in moderation and to slowly introduce cooked food to my body.

In March, I had a couple of weeks of Fijian herbal medicine for cancer. This was difficult to stomach but I continued until I completed the white biscuit bucket and two other containers. The third phase was a combination of all the barks they could get around Suva and that remains in a couple of 1.5L bottles still un-drunk as I have not really felt the beneficial effects of the medicine as suggested. I know this has deeply disappointed my dear husband and I do hope he understands my decision.

Other treatments have included Vitamin C doses given intravenously but I developed side effects and this was discontinued. I also tried 'RIFE" treatment but even this was clearly not having any effect as I did not notice changes. I decided to stop this treatment as well.

So what am I doing now?

I still continue to take daily doses of carrot juice. I have decided to remain a vegetarian and have continued to drink on a daily basis green coconut juice. Rest is definitely an important part of my treatment plan and so is exercise and the continued enemas. The detoxing is also a regular part of my new lifestyle at least once a month.

I also find it so, so important to keep my spirits high and to be at peace knowing that this experience is not mine alone, I share it with the family and most importantly my dear Lord is helping me through it as well.

Dreaded it was but my Jesus is travelling this journey with me

Myself, Eli, Lusianne and Wais during one of our family outings to the Coral Coast

I continue to praise God daily and thank Him for each new day. I have witnessed over and over again the leading hand of God and what more could one want than the knowledge that He is and will be there with me each step of the way.

I am thankful for family especially my dear husband, Waisea and my children, Tulagi, Alipate and Mafa. Each day I marvel at the blessings of my grandchildren, Eli and Lusianne and of course my extended family who are on a weekly basis checking up on progress.

I praise God for the church and friends here in Fiji and across the Pacific who have said many intercessory prayers on my behalf, whole churches including my own, the PTEC church, the Raiwaqa church and even Wainadoi English have all included my name in their prayer requests.

It is for these reasons that I sing, "never failed me yet, never failed me yet, Jesus love has NEVER failed me yet. There's one thing I know and that wherever I may go...Jesus love has never failed me yet and the words of Andrae Crouch's my tribute ring loudly in my ears:

How can I say thanks for the things

You have done for me?

Things so undeserved yet you gave

To prove your love for me

The voices of a million angels

Could not express my gratitude

All that I am, and ever hope to be

I owe it all to thee

Receiving the dreaded news

Sometime in August, 2011 I felt some unusual pains in my stomach that were tolerable but at the same time uncomfortable. I decided to visit Dr De Asa and was fortunate to get the senior De Asa. He recommended that I immediately get a scan which did suggest a mass but Dr De Asa informed me that it was not something to worry about as it would go away. I happily accepted this verdict and went off back to work as normal. The pains came and went and I recalled Dr De Asa's assurance that it was not something to worry about. This kinda reiterated Dr John Fatiaki's verdict for pains I also went to see him about in 2009.

Sadly, after receiving the news that I had ovarian cancer which had already spread through my body, I wished I had forced the two earlier doctors to further investigate as the dreaded cancer had already taken a few of my close relatives on Mum's maternal side.

One evening late in October on my way home. my hand went to my left lymph where I felt a few lumps. It did cause a slight fright feeling these but I forgot about it until Tuesday morning when I made an appointment to see Dr Theresa Yee Chief. She immediately recommended that I have x-rays and scans to determine what the cause of the lumps were. I received the results a couple of days later and took them back to her. Based on the results she recommended that I get a second opinion on the results as they were serious. Her words were, "I had hoped the lumps were connected to tuberculosis but the test results suggest otherwise".

I was scheduled to fly out to Kiribati later that week but she immediately recommended that I not take the trip as I would probably require immediate treatment. I really thought she was being overly dramatic but went along with her professional opinion.

I immediately began seeing the hands of God leading out with my case. The consultant that she recommended me to was none other than Dr Rao, my next door neighbour. Dr Rao immediately asked for more tests, bloods and a scan of my stomach and biopsy was done on the 16th November.I received a call on the 22nd November from Dr Rao who asked me to go in and see him as my results were out. I informed him that I could see him straight away but he asked me to go in with Waisea. I told him that Waisea was on duty travel to Canberra and he said he would arrange with Pate to go in with me the next day.

Our appointment was on the 23rd November at 11am. I had a strong suspicion that the news was not good and was grateful that both Pate and Mafa accompanied me on this visit. Dr Rao asked me if I could guess what the results were and I confirmed that I suspected the lumps were connected to cancer. He then said that the lumps were a secondary source of the cancer and that at that point the primary source was not known. He recommended that I have further tests including a CAT scan. The scan confirmed the source of the cancer being ovarian and I was then handed over to the Gynae section for the treatment plan, etc.

 

Caption: Ovarian cancer often goes undetected until it has spread within the pelvis and abdomen. http:// 

cancercure-d.blogspot.com  pic.twitter.com/msSJfQu4

On the 25th November the whole family was informed about the results at a vespers service conducted by Pr Mike Sikuri at home. We had to wait for Waisea's return from Australia before informing the rest of the family. Through all of this Pate and Mafa were able to get time to come to Suva to help pass the information on to the extended family.

In the following week, I had the most blessed experience of having several senior pastors from the Trans Pacific Union Mission office including our church pastor, TL Joe Talemaitoga come in to annoint me. It was a service I will never forget.

Just before Christmas and after a few other tests, I was informed that in the new year they would do a de-bulking and give me chemo to treat my cancer until then I was to enjoy my break with family. However in January when I went in to see the consultant in charge Dr Tupou Wata, she recommended finding out what costs would be like to have me go to Australia for treatment. A week later I went back in to be informed that Australia had said they could not treat my case as the cancer had spread to inoperable areas including my spine. Dr Wata then had me booked for the 19th February for them to operate on me. This caused me much confusion and I had no intention of going into hospital for the operation. When the hospital contacted Pate for me to go in for my re-ops I decided rather than burn bridges I would go in and question them on their decision to operate.

I got to see Dr James Fong who was coming into my case quite fresh and when he asked me what I was told, I immediately seized the opportunity to ask my burning question, "why operate on me when advanced Australia had refused to do so?" I didn't realise this made it easier for Dr Fong to then say he also felt it was not wise to operate as it would basically affect my current quality of life which was basically "healthy". The option he offered me was that of palliative care and I was introduced to the beautiful oncology nurse Sister Marica. She explained how I would be able to use the services of the hospital if any complications occurred and that she could be called on at any time for anything related to my case. I was given an open card and then I returned to work.