The Hoddle of Coffee: Tottenham news and links for Wednesday, August 27

Blissful Hump Day, y’all! Fitzie acquired referred to as away, so that you get me right this moment.

Currently, after I’ve had the chance to guest-write the Hoddle I’ve taken the chance to provide y’all an replace on my most cancers journey. Since I final Hoddled, I completed my chemotherapy routine (accomplished final January), solely to find one other liver lesion on the identical lobe I had eliminated final yr, very near the location of the unique tumor. I had surgical procedure in early July to take away that lesion, my third main surgical procedure and second liver resection in 18 months.

My kind of most cancers, stage IV colon adenocarcinoma, has a excessive danger of recurrence, and I’ve genetic markers (KRAS+) that make me extra prone to have one other recurrence sooner or later. Due to that, my docs have me on a really delicate blood check, a circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) that appears for teeny tiny fragments of most cancers DNA in my bloodstream. My oncologists have been so involved about me that that they had me scheduled to start out one other 12-cycle spherical of chemotherapy if my check got here again even marginally constructive.

My check got here again two weeks in the past — undetectable ranges of most cancers DNA in my system. This implies I’m clear and again in monitoring — no additional chemo or systemic remedy, and I get examined once more in November. It’s the very best information I might’ve had.

Since my adverse check, I’ve shifted my focus to what I must be doing to maximise my probabilities of staying adverse. There’s an enormous quantity of holistic and naturopathic information that implies I will help myself by altering my food regimen, avoiding extreme alcohol and processed meals, and actually dialing in my microbiome to maximise the gut-head connection. I’m simply beginning this journey, however I determine I’ve acquired nothing to lose.

It’s not a tough shift for me, actually. I cook dinner at dwelling rather a lot and barely eat out, and so it’s extra a matter of getting extra greens and lean protein in me often, including fermented meals (sauerkraut, yogurt, kimchi), turmeric and turkey tail/reishi dietary supplements, and probiotics. Train, meditation, ingesting extra water, higher and extra common sleep. All stuff I actually must be doing anyway, solely this time I’ve acquired a extremely good cause for doing it — as a result of I need to stay to see my youngsters graduate from faculty, get married, have youngsters of their very own.

Nothing’s a assure, however this positive does really feel like a terrific alternative to make some adjustments that may profit me.

Are any of the remainder of you on an identical journey? I’d love to listen to about your experiences, possibly get some suggestions or recommendation.

Monitor of the Day: “From the Begin,” Laufey