Chemo Done - What I learnt which will hopefully help others

Hi Everyone,

Just finished my 7 cycles of Chemo (Abraxane) and have a month of Radiotherapy as step 2 ahead of me.

Guilt held me back from giving regular updates during chemo.

This is because I felt so well during treatment, that I felt like sharing only positives is a slap in the face for others who have not been so lucky.

I was able to hold down a full-time position as an Account Manager all of the way through treatment with little side effects or mouth ulcers.

People have said that I SHOULD share my experience, because this can be a motivator for others who are about to start treatment - and if my experience can give anyone hope and my approach can help one person get a better experience and outcome, then I hope this helps.

My only side effects during my 7 Chemo cycles have been the usual Tiredness and Fatigue and I have worked everyday (except for treatment day (Thur) and the day after which I took off. I work from home, I am not a labourer or physical worker (for context)

I have felt very lucky that I have been able to side-step any of the usual side-effects associated.

When I was first diagnosed and started discussion around treatment plans etc, I started Googling and researching side effects and ways to combat them etc - crazy stuff like Vit C infusions etc are all over the Web.

I was recommended a Cancer Nutritionist by a work colleague. I had an initial consultation and was quoted £400+ a month for a tailored plan and advice (this price was only for advice, it does not include the tests, vitamins, food etc, that's all extra!!.

This was too much money for me and I decided at that point, that I would research and buy whatever supplements I felt would help instead.

Following, is the list of what I decided to spend my money on, instead of paying somebody else :-

From day one of Chemo, I have taken the following every day:-

• Spoonful of Honey - morning and afternoon
• Picked Garlic - 3 cloves in the morning
• Olive Oil - 10ml every morning
• Mushrooms x 2 tablets morning and night
• Turkey Tail
• Lions  Mane

Natural Local Honey - not one mouth ulcer during my treatment

I do not know if or how many people have written about honey previously, but during treatment I believe that honey has made such a difference (for me) that I have even been learning to be a BeeKeeper.

My Oncologist told me at my first meeting with him that - Local Honey is the one thing that he would recommend.

I took this advice onboard and found that our local butchers sell it. I’ve never liked Honey, to me, it’s always had a strange taste, which I never liked - but my perception was completely rocked when I opened that first jar -it’s amazing, like switching from Black & White TV to Colour for the first time.

Honey is a natural antibiotic (amongst many other things) and as mentioned above, have been mouth ulcer free all the way through.

Olive Oil - I believe is good for the skin, which dries out so much during treatment, my skin still looks 10 years older, but I have no issues at all.

Pickled Garlic - I believe that’s that there’s a lot of research about the benefits of Garlic - you’ll need to do your own research

Mushrooms.

Mushrooms have been used by the Chinese for centuries and their stated benefits well documented - to to mention research in the last few years which I know may not have been conclusive, for me, certainly point towards potential benefits.

I know they’re not cheap to buy, but I very much do attribute (in my mind) a lot of credit to my easy treatment.

I feel like I still need to make the disclaimer statement - that this worked for me and I very much that this could help others, but for anyone reading this, if there’s one single thing I would hope that people take away - is Honey, it’s been used for thousands of years and I can not recommend it enough - it’s amazing stuff and tastes so good. Such a win, win!

I wish you all, the best of luck with your treatments.