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Monday, April 2, 2018

Pancreatic Cancer Update

Last month, we met David ... fellow cancer warrior, fighting a good fight.  He shared his journey with us, candidly and with Hope.  One of the principal therapies that he uses is the Budwig Diet protocol and he details that with positive results.  He also shared a number of valuable links that have also offered encouragement in the fight.

It's so good to welcome him back to share his latest Update:

April 1, 2018:

Hi, Here's an update on my status.  No real change, feel fine.  I passed 6 months since diagnosis (median death is 6 months).  Next target is 15 months, next after that 2 years - one week at a time.  From my point of view at least I will be learning and improving my self until the end whenever that may be.

Since I last wrote I have explored a few things to help improve and maintain my overall health

Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT)
EFT is similar to acupuncture but using tapping rather than needles.  It is supposed to be a way to communicate with the subconscious. It can be used to treat phobias, PTSD, depression, anxiety, pain and many other things. It has been used effectively in veteran’s hospitals in the US to reduce symptoms of PTSD. I have just used it to cure a lifelong fear of heights - useful since I could easily measure the results (by bending over a 13th floor balcony at the hospital and looking straight down).  Surprisingly it worked - how I don’t know but I am trying to use it for more things. More controversially the claim is you can use it to improve energy flows in the body of Qi/Chi. The Chinese medical system TCM believes that blockages in the flow of Qi (electricity flows) are responsible for most illnesses. Does Qi exist – ask western doctor and they will be very sceptical – ask a Chinese doctor a lot less so and they often integrate TCM with western allopathic medicine. 

Qi Gong
Having been a long time runner and lately cyclist and one time rugby player, I have not been able to exercise since diagnosis except for gentle walks with my dogs and my fitness has declined. The feeling is the stress hormones released in hard exercise promote cancer growth. An alternative is Qi Gong (or Tai Chi similar) if you had asked me before I would and have rejected such options as being a bit weird and not very manly sort of embarrassing. I wouldn’t say any of those things now and will probably continue for the rest of my life. I have been learning some exercises. It’s based on slow repetitive slow movement stretching but it builds fitness, flexibility and strength without damaging joints – you don’t need a teacher just a decent book. So far doing about 25 min a day ( 6 exercises x8 – starting to get easier at first quite a lot of small pains which are always troubling but have gone now and I think were only due to stretching post-operative scars as well as underused muscles/tendons and ligaments.

Healing Art of Qi Gong   - Hong Liu / Paul Perry cost me a few dollars on Amazon is an interesting read written by a Chinese born doctor about his life which includes detailed descriptions of 8 general health promoting exercises. There are thousands.

Blood Tests

Blood Marker
Value - Normal Range 0 - 35
Date
Chemo
CA-19-9
818
Oct 7th
Yes
CA-19-9
584
Oct 22th
Yes
CA-19-9
1141
Nov 13th
Yes
CA-19-9
~5000
Nov 28th
Yes
CA-19-9
21043
Dec 12th
Yes
CA-19-9
~22000
Jan 5th
No
CA-19-9
12497
Feb 2th
No
CA-19-9
~30000
          Mar17th
No


So I have started using Qi Gong mainly as method of increasing electrical flow in the body but at least I will be fitter, have better balance and much more flexibility as for the rest it can’t do any harm. EFT has been beneficial and I have clear evidence it can work at least to some extent and the time involved is minimal. 

On the medical front the last blood test was a bit disappointing - cancer marker was back up but the doctor wasn’t that worried and didn’t suggest restarting chemo and I still have no symptoms. I have adjusted what I am doing more strictly to the Budwig protocol and feel very well and we shall see in another test in 5 weeks.

Cheers,
David

Links:

EFT 
 Emotional Freedom Techniques – Paul Ardennes  - free for kindle



Qi Gong
Healing Art of Qi Gong   - Hong Liu / Paul Perry



https://ymaa.com/sites/default/files/book/sample/Simple-Qigong-Exercises-for-Health.pdf

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