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.