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."