Latest Learnings

More nutritional support, timing of chemo meds, and a general progress update.

I’ve written before about the beneficial power of Sulforaphane, a compound our bodies naturally produce when we eat cruciferous vegetables like Broccoli, Cabbage. New learning - serving them up with a sprinkling of mustard seeds somehow unlocks even more of that good stuff!

Also continued to work on the right nutrition to support bloodwork. Red and White counts have been holding up well with the approaches I documented here, but Platelets have taken a real battering every time, apparently very much a standard side effect with my kind of chemo (every kind lands differently apparently, and every patient more individual still!) Research shows that lentils, beans and lean meats are on my side here, so that’s seen a subtle shift in my cooking but one that seems to be paying dividends. Kids weren’t hugely impressed with the appearance of lentils in the Ragu or Shepherds Pie, but frankly they’re good for them too and they’re on board with supporting me!

Also been researching other food with general anti-cancer properties and mushrooms come up time and again. All kinds of supplements available but since they’re unregulated, they’re variable quality and interactions aren’t fully documented. My Clinical Oncologist would rather I avoid supplements, at least while on treatment, and get what I need from natural food sources. In the case of mushrooms, the UK supermarket variety with the best anti-cancer properties seem to be Shiitake. As this summary makes clear, more research needed, but certainly plenty of encouragement to be eating several portions a week!

Next learning is one only applicable to those on TMZ chemo. I was originally advised to take my chemo (it’s oral) at night, just before bed. I’d then sleep through the worst of any side effects. Recent research indicates it’s actual more potent as a treatment if taken in the morning as that allows it to work in partnership with your circadian rhythms. It feels really good to take action and do something that improves outcomes, so I wanted to push further on this. My stomach actually seems to be better with a morning dose. I hadn't expected that, but it's a solid improvement and I feel mentally brighter for it too.

For those who need details, I now set a couple of alarms - 6am Ondansetron (anti sickness), 7am for chemo pills. Back to sleep after each, then 8.30am up and breakfast. Now on the second cycle with this approach and I’ll continue. The only downsides I’ve found: setting serial early alarms for medications, and slightly more brain fog during the morning as a result of the anti-sickness meds. That and the nausea clear fast though, and I actually need less of the anti nausea meds through the rest of the day - and less drugs overall has to be a win!

In terms of progress made: MRIs since surgery, regularly through radio and chemo, have all been stable. The clinical team are really pleased with the results shown there - and have been astonished that I’ve been able to keep exercising right through. A dear friend christened me Tough Chap To Kill in the very early days and I do my best to make him proud every day. I’ve been maintaining the daily sessions of yoga inspired stretches to keep the blood flowing and keep some muscle tone, with a free weights session a few times a week and average a 3-5km run roughly every week. Here’s me, out for a beach walk yesterday - proof of life!

Not setting any records there, but enough that an NHS insider decided I deserved my own NHS name badge. I now have this amazing artefact as a reminder of the attitude that carried me this far, and I know my mother would be proud of that, she was one of the strongest people I’ve ever known.

I’ve got just two more cycles of Chemo to go now. That’s a tough mental transition as this battle has become the defining factor of my life this year, but it’s one I’m excited to start addressing. Andy and Josh have been brilliant and we’ll have a product Beta for Rodeo out soon, and along side that, the book we’re launching with is also nearing completion and should move into typesetting this week.

That means we now feel comfortable going back to the wonderful angel investors who expressed a desire to support us before we put things on hold with diagnosis. One ask of any readers who move in these circles? I often hear investors saying that they “like to back founders who’ve proven they can thrive in adversity”. If any come to mind, tell them to take a closer look at what we’ve come through this year, they can show some interest here!