My background in setting up the Cancer and Nutrition database for the then Bristol Cancer Help Centre (now Penny Brohn) predisposes me to receive numerous queries regarding cancer diagnoses. It is hellishly difficult, yet essential, to correctly perceive and locate the best and most practical treatment options for that person, considering where they live, their condition, their type of treatment preferences, whether in fact they want to be deluged with more information. Does the term ‘King Solomon’ come to mind regarding the improbability of getting this correct? This extract from Life with Intense Gerson Nutritional Therapy Programme by Meena Cayzer perhaps says it all:

“There are pivotal moments in our lives that we will never forget. They define us. One of those times, for me, came in February of 2011. At the age of 41, I was diagnosed with grade 2 invasive ductal carcinoma, i.e. breast cancer. The treatment plan: mastectomy, chemotherapy and radiation. Excuse me? Could you repeat that please? My thoughts ... you must be mistaken, these are two wee lumps. How could this be happening ... cancer happens, but it doesn’t happen to me?

“While I awaited the ‘results’ of my biopsy, I consulted Dr Google. I read the testimonials and stories of how others had cured themselves of cancer naturally. I also read horror stories of heartless doctors who’d hexed their patients with a dismal prognosis. I was fortunate to be surrounded by compassion. My doctor told me, “whatever you do, do it quickly”.

“With those words ringing in my head, I made the decision to shift from a place of fear and uncertainty to a place of health and happiness. I knew the statistics surrounding conventional therapy and I realized that if I wanted a fighting chance, I had to help my body to heal. I made the decision to embark on the Gerson Therapy.

Even when the condition is not life-threatening, treatment approaches may be fairly dramatic, as illustrated in several articles published in this Issue 199 of Positive Health PH Online.

Case Study: How to Cope and Live with Psoriasis by Elena Schalburg

“Dan’s history: Aged 13 yrs he went to school and started to suffer from stomach cramps. The school let him leave early as he was in so much pain - he got the bus back home, then took the bus to Tunbridge Wells (home). By the time he arrived home he was doubled up in agony  - he was rushed by ambulance to The Kent and Sussex hospital with suspected appendicitis, which turned out not to be appendicitis, I don’t think they ever did find out what the problem was; however as a result of the stress his body suffered - he left the hospital covered from head to toe with psoriasis and has suffered from it ever since.

“Both his parents did suffer from eczema / mild psoriasis but both grew out of it when they reached adulthood. They never suffered from it as severely as Dan, and I don’t think either of them had a proper diagnosus. Dan’s siblings are all free from psoriasis and have never suffered from problems with their skin.

“Dan works in Sales for an Electric bike company and is now 30 yrs. He has suffered from psoriasis for 23 yrs.”

A Beginner’s Guide to ME/CFS: Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, by So Many Names - Part I by Nancy Blake

“So when this illness comes out of the blue, it is totally alien to the kind of person that you are. When you find yourself just going limp, for no obvious reason, and it goes on and goes on, you feel more than just sick. You are losing not just the activities you used to do - you may be threatened about losing your job, your income, with all that that would mean, or you find yourself unable to take proper care of your children. Your family or partner may even be sceptical and unhelpful, believing it is best to tell you to ‘pull yourself together’.  (You only wish you could!) And if they are sympathetic and helpful, you feel terribly guilty about being a burden, more so because there is no visible reason for your being so incapacitated.

“But, even more disturbingly, this illness forces you to change your way of living to such a degree that you may even feel you are losing your sense of your identity - the person you have always believed yourself to be, the person you want to continue to be. That is the most profound psychological challenge of all.”

Psychosomatic Disorders and Hypnotherapy by Sally Stubbs

“Neuro scientific investigation is really exciting for us in our health professions, to unite our therapeutic technologies with these ongoing research results and really consider the extent to which our work has massive, as yet maybe, unthought-of benefits for those who are suffering.

“In my practice through the mid eighties and early nineties when I’d amplified my studies, particularly with Ernest Rossi and the late, sadly missed, David Grove, I observed a physical phenomena in a number of my clients. These clients were mostly women of differing ages who presented with the symptoms of depression and or anxiety. More than a few of these women were suffering alopecia and as our Therapy Work progressed to resolution of the depression and or anxiety, their hair would start to re grow and flourish.

“About ten years ago two doctors recommended that I take long term steroids to (maybe?) restore my hair as I suddenly started to suffer with alopecia. This was not a route that I would agree to, as I know the side effects, particularly the loss of bone mass, when taking steroids long term. I restored my own hair to full growth with no recurrence of loss now for the past ten years with my Therapeutic Strategies and two Session of 1:1 work with my Hypnotherapist Georgina Evers-Barnes. Georgina herself is a true disciple of Rossi, Gilligan and “Grovian” (David Grove) work.

Ill health or a medial condition will probably afflict the majority of us or one of our loved ones. Hopefully each of us will be fortunate to find just what we need to restore our health.

We have recently had a makeover of the PH Home Page and have implemented a series of Storyboards which provide a visual snapshot and links to a few of the thousands of articles published over the past 18+ years. We are soon approaching Issue 200!! Amazing. Please re-acquaint yourself with some of the gems from past issues and enjoy!