Please help me survive cancer [brain tumour]

[LetsRockOnTheMoon]

I'm lost, scared and really looking for huge list of healthy habits, lifestyle tips or nutritional tips, complimentary therapies, anything really...

I thought I would ask on chat rather than the cancer board as some ideas may not be cancer specific.

I am completely overwhelmed and for a seriously awful reason this has had to be on the back burner for a few months and now I am back to the panic/terror state.

I can't give you any tips but my mum has cancer. She was advised when she wasn't hungry for a full meal have calorie rich foods.
Also makesure you have someone to talk to, rant at, scream, shout and cry.
My mum would confide in her best mate about things she didn't want to worry me or my dad about.
Thinking of you xx

I'm a great believer in you are what you eat. Can you try to cut back on processed foods, and add lots of fruit/veg/fibre into your diet - that alone may help you feel better. Gentle exercise like walking is good for you - I've got 2 dogs and walk in all weathers, but never come home not feeling better. It helps clear the mind. Yoga/meditation can help when your stress levels are rising. And things like acupuncture have helped me in the past. And go easy on yourself - your body is working hard with this extra strain - do what feels OK and don't push yourself too hard.

I'm sorry you're carrying this burden. I'm not surprised you feel panicked and scared - do you have a specialist nurse on your care team?

Vipassana meditation - I've done a 10 day silent retreat (they're free and all over the world including the UK - although I gave money at the end).

You don't have to do the course but can be learnt at home. Meditation isn't always about 'mindfulness' etc.

I'd also recommend audiobooks to listen to at night when you've got a buzzy brain.

In regards to complimentary therapies I'd be wary, - keep to a massage a month, eat foods you enjoy and get something like a stressball or play dough to fiddle with when your anxiety is high x

I have recently read this very informative book, it might help you to understand cancer better, the author also has a website although I haven't looked there.

Not saying to buy it, I borrowed it from the library.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/How-Starve-Cancer-Jane-McLelland/dp/0951951734

Cut back on sugar & processed stuff. Cook from scratch. Aim for at least 30 different fruit & veg a week. It will strengthen your immune system. It sounds like it's hard work, but it's actually quite easy with a bit of planning.

I was also diagnosed with cancer (not brain), had chemo during covid and managed not to get covid at all despite travelling on public transport and having a teen ds who was in school.

It may be anecdotal but worth a try - and actually quite good fun when you get into it. Good luck op xx

Do you have a local maggies centre you can attend? Some offer yoga, meditation, and lifestyle advice as well as practical advice on how to look after yourself at this time.

Oh OP that's bad news.

See if you can get on a clinical trial for treating it with a vaccine. I have heard good things of it.

(Had a relative die of glioblastoma recently, he wasn't able to get on the trial as they would have needed to refrigerate a sample during the original procedure to remove the tumor).

Why the hell are you telling the OP about someone who's died?

There was a thread on here recently about shitty things to say to someone with cancer, and saying you know someone who died was top of that list.

I have breast cancer so I understand some of what you are going through, but of course many things - including treatment - will be very different.

We have a local cancer charity which offers counselling, advice, massages, and a restful place to sit and talk, or not talk, as you wish. Several of the national cancer charities offer help, advice, counselling etc. I strongly advise you to take advantage of whatever counselling and advice you can access. It helps just to have somebody to talk to and they don't judge.

I was extremely ill during treatment (most people aren't that ill) so just getting enough nourishment was a battle, and I couldn't even think about the benefits of 'healthy' food. I was given some stuff to add in to drinks, soups etc which wasn't too bad. If you are not feeling like eating then you need to consider foods that give you maximum nourishment for small quantity - and it there is something you fancy then just have it. Any food is better than no food. I lived on sour cream and onion pringles, apple slices, coca cola, chicken noodle soup without the noodles, and chocolate horlicks made with whole milk and the dietary supplement powder for about 2 months, before I added fish fingers, chicken nuggets and cottage pie ready meals. Not good food, but food I would eat.

I now eat properly.

High 5 @DilemmaDelilah , I was also unusually ill during my treatment and the number of people who told me to eat healthy organic foods was insane. It was a question of anything I could stomach.

Dear OP, you are not alone. I’ve been reading Full Catastrophe Living by Jon Kabat-Zinn and it’s helping me a lot. YMMV of course. Right now I’m basically inhaling any books I can find with a sympathetic and positive message that it’s ok not to be ok. I can really relate to your fear.

Yes. Agree with @DilemmaDelilah @13luckyforsomeone @Justwingingit2005

If your appetite is affected, eat what you fancy, but if within that, some options are more nutrient dense than others, choose those.

I appreciate why you’ve put this in chat, but unfortunately you may get people without cancer experience who cite the usual healthy eating info.

I have lung cancer. I try lots of distraction techniques, they don’t always work but include re reading comfort books, re watching films. I’m disabled and can’t get out for walks but you be amazed at how calming having a bird feeder can be.
As for eating healthily, do what you can. Sometimes I’m so exhausted I’ll have a bowl of cereal, or a ready meal, don’t let people demonise what you’re able to manage.

@totallybonkerswarning ok, noted. I imagine OP is aware it happens though!

I apologize for being insensitive.