Happy Eating!

Some people have asked me for a blog about being a vegan...so here it is. 

There's lot's to know, not just about veganism but more importantly, why move away from animal products, so I usually suggest to my friends to google and read about it first before drawing any conclusions. 

Now that I eat a vegan diet, I regularly get asked what I eat. In fact, many people do not know what a vegan is. A vegan is someone who does not eat any animal products. Some vegans choose to go further than just diet, restricting wearing clothes and shoes that have been made from animals, or cosmetics that have been tested on animals. 

Before my diagnosis, I had already been reading about vegan, raw and acid/alkaline diets so I already knew about the health benefits. (Please note though, some people can claim to eat a vegan or vegetarian diet without a vegetable ever passing their lips...and no, this is not healthy! A whole foods, plant based diet is what I eat and is what the WHO claim to be excellent for your health and the environment.) So, it was a very easy decision once diagnosed to make the switch to being vegan. I make all of my meals from scratch. It is easy to do and it means I can be completely sure that no animal products have sneaked into my meal. You would be surprised at just how many shop bought vegetable sauces, etc, have milk in them. In fact, have a look in your cupboards and fridges at the ingredient labels, especially those that you would not expect any dairy to be lurking...it's in everything. Not good for those with intolerances, skin, asthma or other inflammatory conditions.

Garlicky mushrooms with cannellini beans
and spinach

So here is a very small selection of what I love to eat;

Vegetable and rice noodle stir fries

Vegetable curry..one fav is sweet potato and spinach

Minestrone soup full of chunky veg including potatoes and beans

In fact any veg soup; carrot and coriander or spicy butternut squash especially!

vegemince chilli

vegemince spag bol

Mina's Minestrone Soup

salad and marinated tofu with roast potatoes

marinated artichokes, peppers and rice

The list goes on, I won't bore you further! 

I like to choose my favourite dishes and veganise them! 

I am also experimenting with vegan baking. I love chocolate cake, so here is the recipe (as I have promised some friends I would add it). It is a really moist cake and very quick to make. My kids love it!

Oven at 175 degrees Celsius

Vegan Chocolate Cake

I use a lined or greased loaf tin

210g plain flour

200g caster sugar

35g good quality 100% cocoa powder

1 teaspoon baking powder

Half teaspoon salt

Sift together in a large bowl

then add

225ml water

75mls of vegetable oil or you can use 75g vegetable spread (I use soya Pure)

1 teaspoon of vanilla extract

1 teaspoon of balsamic vinegar (or white vinegar, but the balsamic complements the chocolate)

Mix together to combine all ingredients.

Pour mixture into pan and bake for 45mins or until a skewer comes out clean.

Veganise your favourite buttercream using icing sugar and vegan margarine (I use Pure) to top, or serve warm with dairy free custard, or your favourite jam. Yum! 

If you fancy eating more healthier, especially after over eating during the festive period, why don't you do some reading around the subject of a whole foods, plant based diet. Have a look at the health benefits you can expect. It is particularly beneficial for those looking to lose weight in a healthy, gradual manner. It can reverse high cholesterol, diabetes and heart disease and protect against many cancers.

In a society where obesity, ill health and cancer are becoming epidemic we need to look at how we can take responsibility for our own health rather than expecting our doctors to simply dish out the drugs...it is no way to live.

One of my Facebook friends has just shared this excellent web site about giving veganism a go in January... have a look, the recipes are brilliant. Or, just ease yourself into it by having an animal free day, once a week. (p.s. you don't need to register to have a look at the recipes, etc)

Veganuary

Happy Eating!

Choices   

One of the choices I made to reduce my cancer risk was to have my ovaries removed. For those with the BRCA gene, it is one of the options (see link: BRCA gene mutations ) that you can take. Well, I did. I actually had a laparoscopic removal of my ovaries and uterus. Both had been shrunk to just about nothing following chemo anyway. I'm recovering fine. It's been four days. I opted to decline any analgesia post op. To be honest I just can't face any more drugs. I found it very difficult knowing that they were going to be giving me drugs during surgery, but obviously I needed to be put to sleep! I actually think I have recovered faster without any analgesia. A lot of these drugs can make you feel really doped post op, not to mention constipated and depressed and I didn't want to go down that route.  But, this again is a personal choice, everyone is different. The worst part of it all was the gas pain in my abdomen (they use gas to distend your abdomen so that they can see your organs clearly). It didn't hit me till I got home the day after surgery and I had to manage it with moving around and heat pads. 

I have been looking at the role of oestrogen in the body..especially now I have very little. Most people don't realise that your adrenal glands also make oestrogen. We have oestrogen receptor sites all round our bodies because this hormone plays an important role in many of our biological functions. A reduction in oestrogen affects our hearts, bones, skin, nervous system, brain as well as the more obvious gynaecological changes. (see link:role of oestrogen) 

I'm worried about the long term health effects of no oestrogen. It's like Russian Roulette..keep the hormones, have some breast cancer...get rid of them and take your choice between stroke, high cholesterol, dementia, and Parkinson's. And that is without the drug Letrozole, which further removes oestrogen from our body which I am supposed to take! I am going to have to make another choice regarding taking this or not.

I'm also worried that I have removed the protective, healing factor that my brain needed to recover from the chemo as oestrogen influences the blood flow and nerve impulses in the brain. Oh god, I'm going to be this forgetful forever!

Well, it is done. All I can do is continue to improve my health with proper nutrition and hope that I can reverse any damage I have done through eating the so called 'balanced diet' that we in the west claim to be healthy (and is anything but).

In hospital, a couple of the older women that I shared a room with, asked me why I chose to eat a vegan diet. One asked "what do you eat?" in such a way that she could not possibly fathom what I put on my dinner plate every day. I told her about the various meals that I had, which seemed to stir her interest and she was going home to do some research herself.

I too, am continually researching about food. I am fed up being misled about what a healthy diet really is. It is important that I make dietary changes to avoid a cancer reoccurrence and to correct the damage already done by previous choices (animal products, sugar, refined foods) and chemotherapy.
Coincidently (or not), my favourite nutritionist Dr Michael Greger, posted an article yesterday just as I was looking into the subject of pesticides. Is this something we should be worried about? Surely the government, environmental and health agencies would have something to say if we were being poisoned...right?  It can be difficult not to mention costly, to get all organic. Should we care? Well yes, we should and here is why.
Animal studies on the effects of pesticides have shown that they can affect foetal development, disrupt hormones, damage DNA and cause infertility. Studies however, failed to show the same negative effects on humans when they looked at the active ingredient. As a result, pesticides have been declared relatively safe for humans and the allowed pesticide residual levels have risen over the years. So, we're safe right?  Er, no! We're not! When another study looked at the effect of the active ingredient plus all the other adjuvants (basically everything else in the actual solution they spray on the crops which they normally don't test for), they found that they were 1000 times more toxic than the active ingredient alone! 1000 times! And these were the so-called inert substances. So, we can clearly state that pesticides are definitely harmful to us and environmental agencies will need to reassess this information with regard to the way that they test for toxicity levels and inform the public on safety.
So you think you are safe now just eating all your animal products...well no. Putting aside the carcinogenic effect of animal protein, the crops and many of them are GMO, that they feed to the animals are obviously sprayed too, thus impacting on their meat.
So what to do? Well, don't just take my word for it.
Do some research yourself. You can start with the paper that I have just discussed (here is the link: Major Pesticides Are More Toxic To Human Cells Than Their Declared Active Principles).
Make it your business to know what big agrochemical companies are making you and your family eat. What goes into the ground also contaminates marine life.
Eat more organic produce (including animal products if you eat them). In the USA, The Environmental Working Group advise us to steer clear of the "Dirty Dozen" fruits and veg and to only eat them if organically grown. Sadly, they are the ones we most routinely buy so it is worth reading their fact sheet (See link here: Health Risks of Pesticides in Foods) as it is info that also impacts us here in the UK too.
Don't leave it to the environmental, agricultural or health agencies to look after your health. They don't. They are too busy protecting big business interests to tell us the real truth.

Side effects and musicals

I said in my last blog that October would be busy and it has been. Kid's birthdays, parties and school holidays have had me running about like headless chicken. And believe me, I really feel headless. Or brainless to be more accurate. Chemobrain is a real side effect and it is becoming quite frustrating. I forget people's names, places, what I need to do and other important things. I am reading alot to keep my mind active, but things are still foggy. I am hoping that it improves over time.

Chemo has been finished for 3 months now but the effects of chemo are really far reaching and enduring. Each person responds differently, but I do feel that most will suffer the same symptoms that I have. I had my bloods done recently and thinking they would be completely normal, I was shocked to find that they are still on the low side, despite my healthy diet. It makes me scared to think about the damage that has been done. The surgery, the chemo, the radiation. I feel depleted. Was there another way?

I was too scared to try another way. I want to be here for my children and husband. I didn't want to let my family down, or worry them by trying something else. Our medical institutions don't give you an alternative choice...it's the big three. It's not doctor's faults, it is how they are educated...by the drug companies.  Don't take my word for it. Do some research into the history of how medicine came to be.

In America, not everyone has the money or the appropriate level of healthcare insurance to get the big three and have been turning to other ways to treat their cancer. For many it has been the best choice that they could have made. Many try raw nutrition, laetrile, detoxing, juicing, supplements, or a combination of these approaches and many more. And they are getting good...no, excellent results without having to endure the barbaric big three. I too, would have preferred one of these routes...but as I said, I was too scared. Now I feel scared in another way. That the treatment I was given was so toxic and carcinogenic in itself, that I will never really be free from the worry. So I will continue on my anti cancer diet and look into the other approaches to keep me cancer free. 

The truth about cancer episode 1

And so the time has finally arrived, the YDNY musical is currently on at the Glasgow Mitchell Theatre. And it is wonderful. I am truly impressed by how professional a performance it is. It is funny, sad, happy, educational and inspiring. It has been a very exciting time for me as I have been helping out. Selling programmes, meeting crowdfunders, helping the cast to change costumes and assiting wherever I can...and watching the show too of course! I don't think that the last performance tonight will be the last we see of this wonderful musical. My sister has done a wonderful thing. Raised awareness, raised money and done it all through hard work and determination. I'm proud of my sister. She is really living her dream.

Last chance today to see YDNY

Hello October

The nights are fair drawing in! I'm sad to see the end of warm days and light nights, but this October will be busy so I'm hoping to ease in to Autumn without too much of a fuss.
Autumn is a beautiful season. I love the sunny, cold, crisp days where I can go for walks bundled up with jumpers, hats and scarves. They give you a chance to say goodbye to summer before the shorter, darker, wetter days of Winter make you want to curl up in doors until Spring comes around again. It won't be long.

The month started off with an unexpected visit to see "The Full Monty" at the King's Theatre. It was great...and very funny! I was even at the pub beforehand where after one glass of wine, I was anybody's! That's what happens when you stop drinking for so long. I really need to get out more often!


I also popped in to see rehearsals for my sister's fab musical "Your Disco Needs You". I was really impressed. Even though the limelight isn't something I crave, I felt envious that I wasn't one of the cast. Rehearsals looked very enjoyable, sociable and the cast looked like one big happy family.

 It isn't long now until the show is on for real. I'm really looking forward to it. I'm told it will be a roller coaster for the emotions, a mirror on reality and a great chance to raise some breast cancer awareness. I'm bringing my hanky!
Have a look at the web page it is really interesting...
YDNY website

This month also sees my daughter's 7th birthday and my son's 10th birthday party (his birthday was last month). The years pass by so quickly. I'm grateful to be here experiencing each one. You know that your perspective on life has changed when you pray to see many more birthdays and each hug is gratefully shared while you silently acknowledge that you just don't know what is round the corner of each new day.

From Demi to Alyssa

Back in April, not long after I had started chemo, I had to shave my head. It was difficult task but one that was necessary due to the side effects of the drugs. I cried at the loss of self image. I put on a wonderful wig and to people that I didn't know, they were oblivious to the fact that my hair was not my own. I felt normal once again. I wanted people to see me, not the cancer.
As the chemotherapy was coming to an end my own hair started to slowly grow back. It takes time. Everyday I found myself examining it's length. I'm not very patient!
Whilst at the Beatson, I would regularly see women without scarves, hats or wigs. I envied them in their boldness to show the world. I wasn't that brave.
I started to become used to the new 'cropped' look, even when it was grey! It was only going out that I continued to wear my wig. At home I rarely wore it. I really couldn't wait to feel comfortable enough with the shortness to take the wig off completely. My impatience saw me buy some hair dyes (well there was no way I was uncovering this greyness!). I had a henna one, a non chemical one and a chemical one. It was a new dilemma. Should I just go for it? Some may wonder what was the problem, but I was worried about the non chemical dyes not taking and worried about the harshness of the chemical one (it is advised that you wait 6 months after chemo before dying your hair). I'm not very good at following rules, it is the small rebel in me. I opted for the chemicals. My rational was that the non chemicals probably wouldn't take and I would end up using the chemicals anyway on top  of some strange coloured rinse!
I looked for inspiration for my new look and it came in the form of the beautiful Alyssa Milano, the actress from one of my favourite shows "Charmed". Her pixie look hairstyle stunned her fans who were used to seeing her long dark locks, but I thought it really suited her.
So Friday night came. I dyed my hair. I was uncertain of the redness. I was uncertain of the shortness.  I took my children to their karate lessons on saturday and peeled off my wig in the toilets to show my friends. With their positive response, I too felt positive and that afternoon the wig finally came off.
Me and my family headed to my sisters house for a September barbie. It was the perfect day. I felt free. Even though my hair is still too short to style and I'm no Alyssa Milano, I like knowing that it is my own hair. It's me again!

The future choice

I am not a political person. I have never fully understood politics or economics. In fact, I generally shied away from them even when I had to do these subjects in university. I quickly dumped them in favour of studying psychology and sociology. But I have realised over the years that to shy away, to not even try to understand, is itself, a political choice. I was leaving the choice to those that did choose to vote or to make their political voice heard. But what about my voice, my opinions? Even though I don't fully understand the in's and out's of the political world, and I often say nothing for fear that I embarrass myself, I was allowing other people to create the world they wanted. 

Not doing something through fear of what 'might' happen, or of looking/sounding silly, or believing that it won't matter what I say/do, won't cut it anymore. My recent health issue has impacted my life in so many ways...I guess I have 'grown up' a lot. It has made me look at the world in a very different way. I'm not so scared to voice my opinion, to leave my mark in this world. I'm not so worried about what I think other people will think, as long as what I say and do is done with my best intentions for my fellow beings.

So where is all this going? Well as I filled in my indyref postal voting form this week I questioned whether to discuss it here at all. Did my opinion re independence figure at all in this blog?...well I guess it does.

For such a long time now I have been learning, researching, trying to understand the world around me. I have read about controversy, health, big corp, money and the ordinary person. Some things I have read have shocked, stunned and disgusted me. Our western world just isn't working for the needs of the ordinary person. It is working for the top 1% only. And while you may feel quite happy purchasing your latest iPhone or pair of Manolo Blahniks, please know that the wool is being quite firmly being pulled over your eyes. Our need to consume helps to drown out the inner voices that tell you all is not right with this way of life. 

While I was being treated for this disease I thought "why me?" Why was my life and the life of so many victims to this disease affected, what choices had I made that led me to this? I do believe that our so called 'healthy' lifestyles and 'balanced' diets are simply reflection of what the large corporations want us to eat. They are not healthy or balanced. I've done my research and I've made my changes.

And while I received scan after scan and treatment after treatment, I didn't need to think about cost or insurance, or whether I could afford to get the prescription medications that I needed, because the Scottish health service provided a first class service that I am deeply grateful for. This is not a service we want to lose. Most people do not realise how good it is until they need to use the inferior health services of another country. And so, while I watch as the NHS in England is rapidly being privatised and where people have to decide what medications they can afford to buy...I vote YES to save the Scottish NHS and free prescriptions. http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/tories-want-privatise-nhs-cuts-3102993

I am also grateful for the higher education that I received, that gave me the skills and academic knowledge which has helped to serve our talented Scottish workforce. I want the same thing for my children. I have voted YES to protect their right to the same education that I had without a lifetime of debt.

I also want to know that by the age I retire, both the health and pension services that we have been helping to build, will be there to support me in my elder years. So I will vote YES to protect this. 

These are the main issues that I am concerned about that have attracted my attention and vote. I feel quite strongly that if we are currently not better together now, then it is unlikely that a UK government that we haven't voted for is the right one to lead us into the future. It would be like staying in a bad marriage because your too frightened of the financial repercussions and the risk to let it go.

I firmly believe the risk will be one worth taking to build a great future. Quite frankly, I'm pretty sick of the scaremongering and lies from the UK government. I won't go into them here, but they are not too hard to uncover. I'm fed up struggling for a bigger share of the pie that ends up on the top 1% plates. It is time to build a fairer country. I think the Scottish people are truly inspiring. I have been inspired by the grassroots initiative that that led this campaign. People like me, that simply want a better, fairer way of life. I love it that we have shaken off our apathy, we are finally awake and we are getting our voices heard. 

Here is my voice...I have voted YES!

The Wee Blue Book Link

Pat Kane & Dr Philippa Whitford @ YES Clarkston Q&A

Done!

Yesterday morning I walked in to the Beatson Radiotherapy Treatment Room H for the last of my sessions. It was a great and positive feeling to come to this point. I did it!
Today is the start of the rest of my life. Yes, I still have some surgery to go through, but I see those as recovery events which will help to keep me healthy and cancer free.
I am not a victim of cancer. In fact, I am grateful for the lessons I have learned. I am grateful for the wonderful body and health that I have and feel. I am grateful for each beautiful day that I am here on this planet to see and be with my wonderful family. I am grateful for all the lovely things that have manifested in my life. I am grateful for the gorgeous friends that I have, those that I have met during this journey and for those that will be part of it in the future. I am grateful for the experiences that have taught me to let go of the small, insignificant fears that keep us in the past or worrying about the future. So, I guess, as difficult as the experience was, I am grateful for my wake up call to see the silver lining that was always there, even when I couldn't see it.
And yes, it is all a bit soppy...so here is my sister's ice bucket challenge to give you a little giggle!

Click on the link - Neet's Ice Bucket Challenge