The Diet - pre surgery

The diet plays an important role in hospitalization. Many people find it difficult to eat because hospital food is tasteless, bland and monotonous. Initially I liked the food and then I too got tired of it. The hospital does not allow family members to carry food for their patients, expect fruits. So frankly there is no relief in the food front.

Anyway, when I first got hospitalized I was put on liquid diet. Water, coconut water, juice & soup. I had to take laxative before going for CT Scan and a night before my surgery. I had to drink 2 liters of laxative in 2 hours. Uphill task – but then I drank it. The malignant tumour was sitting in the colon and blocking the stool from coming out, thus the laxative before the surgery. After the onco surgeon met us he prescribed semi liquid diet – this included  kichdi, egg white, ice cream, dry fruits etc. Eating ice cream was fun – imagine a doctor telling you to eat ice cream‼! The hospital did not give dry fruits so I was told to get it from outside. The semi liquid diet would help me recover fast post surgery, specially the high protein egg white. When I frst tasted the egg white after 2 days of liquid diet it seemed like the most tastiest food on earth.  And yes, keep drinking water.  My water intake was stopped before certain procedures like CT Scan and the surgery.

The dietician visited me everyday. I would always share the doctor’s prescribed diet with the dietician to be doubly sure.  Most of the time dieticians are aware of the prescribed diet but I never let anything to chance.

Lesson learnt:

Good food can wait. The surgery and getting back to health is more important.

Tips:

I had some scraps with the dieticians because sometimes they would serve un-prescribed food. I wish I was a little more calm. So always listen to what the doctor is prescribing and be alert. And yes, be a little calm, donot get hyper like me ;) . But in case you feel things are getting out of control then involve your family member – let them solve it for you rather than you getting hyper. They will deal with it in a practical and calm way.  Remember mistakes happen, we are all humans.

Please do not get outsode food without asking the doctors or nurses. If you are hospitalized for a long time and don’t like the food you can always request the doctor for home food – I never tried this but you can give it a shot – never know if they suddenly allow for a day :D

Don’t feel too low about the diet – it’s the smallest element in the entire ordeal. Just go with the flow. Once you go home you will find many interesting recipes within your dietary restrictions. I found an entire world of yummy food when I started my chemo. Chemo diet is very restrictive – but that did not stop me from exploring. I customize the recipes as per my requirement. I always follow the dos and donts of the prescribed diet very strictly.  Later in the blog I’ll share my rendezvous with food. Thats it as of now.

I called this painting of mine as 'The Uglies'. It was one of my fav. The poached eggs added to the entire look. The backdrop was done using Scotch Brite. 

How I defined cancer ...

The thought of surgery never gave me any stress. I remember talking to my one of my spiritual gurus, earlier in the week, saying that I don’t want to under go a surgery. Her advice to me was to listen to the doctors and if they suggest surgery then I should just say yes. Just get the tumor out once and for all and you will be fine, is what she stressed on. And of course the confidence with which the onco surgeon had said that he would handle the entire procedure and that there was absolutely nothing to worry about, instilled a lot of conviction and self believe in me.

I also practiced a lot of affirmations suggested by my other spiritual guide – ‘I am happy now’, ‘I am divinely guided and protected now’.  Along with that I used to listen to the Hanuman Chalisa on my phone several times in a day. I was also gifted a small Hanuman statue that I kept next to my hospital bed always and He even accompanied me to the ICU, post my surgery.  Faith and belief in God gave me a lot of courage and hope.

My husband also kept my paintings in the hospital room – I loved seeing them and showing them off to the nurses and doctors ;)

Of course the company of friends helped a lot – they would come and go. Spend time with me laughing and gossiping. We never knew how time would just pass by. Its always important to be surrounded with positive people. As a group we had decided never to shed tears. Even if my friends cried – it was never in front of me. I hardly cried … even if I did it was never in front of them. As my brother-in-law, Soumodada, advised me ‘take up the responsibility … I know you will deliver. Don’t ever cry in front of your family and friends. They are depending on you. Tears will serve no purpose besides making the journey difficult for everyone.’ Such advice can only make you feel victorious.

I also kept remembering one of my favourite TED Talks by Ananda Shankar Jayant who fought cancer with dance. ‘Cancer is only one page in my life and I will not allow this page to impact the rest of my’.  Her determination always inspired me. Given below is the link. If you are fighting cancer, or know someone fighting cancer, or just going through a lean phase in life watch the video … it will give you the strength to forge ahead with grit and valour.

https://www.ted.com/talks/ananda_shankar_jayant_fights_cancer_with_a_dance#t-618587

'Friends' - one of my paintings that says always surround yourself with good hearted positive people! 

Lesson learnt: 

Take responsibility of yourself, your ailment and fight it out. You owe it to your friends, your family and most importantly to yourself.

Tips: 

Surround yourself with positive people, listen to good music, watch motivational videos, and keep faith in God.

Remember, 'Cancer' is just another physical ailment. What defines it is your attitude ... either you KICK BUTT or choose to whine! Its all in the head!  

The Big Reveal

The gastroentrologist took 2 days to reveal the word cancer to me. It was a well thought out process that began with me having a tumour in the colon. Then I was told that it needs to be removed either through medication or through surgery. Meanwhile I had to undergo several tests, like liver profile, renal profile, CEA, prothrombin time, urine profile, cancer antigen 125 & 19.9, bleeding and clotting time etc. The tumour specimen taken from colon during the colonoscopy was also sent for a medium histopathology (biopsy). Along with these tests I also underwent a CT Scan to determine if the tumour had spread into the system.

Finally on the 2nd day she said that its cancer. But put it in a very positive way - 'if i were to have cancer I would prefer your kind of cancer which is a good cancer.' By good cancer she meant that it was a curable cancer and most probably the surgery was enough to take care of it. Bad cancer is something which is difficult to cure and tackle. So my cancer remained in the colon (till the surgeon removed it), it never spread its ugly tentacles in my mind. I preferred to stay calm then react. Frankly, I was too busy having a good time with my friends who would drop in every now and then. Gossiping & laughing are any day more important than cancer!!!

Then, after 2 days, walked in the Oncology surgeon. He spoke at length about his observations, and calmly used words & phrases like ‘malignant’, '2nd stage’, '3rd stage’. He did not beat around the bush. For the first time I had tears in my eyes. These big words scared me. However he then patiently took all our questions and tried to alleviate all our apprehensions & fears about the next steps. 

I believe that God is always around … if he gives you cancer he also sends his angels to you. Thus spoke the angel … ‘I will take care of the cancer. Nothing will happen to you. You focus on the fact that the cancer has not spread’. Magical words. They were my were my life support and pulled me out every time I would border on the lines of depression. 

Some of the questions that we had written down the surgeon :

At what stage is the tumour/cancer?

What will be the next step?

The date of the operation

Post surgery process/therapy 

Chances of complete recuperation

From when will the patient resume normal life. 

Most of these were answered by the surgeon in his initial discussion with us.  

As a concerned doctor he also enquired about the medical insurance. 

Lesson learnt:

Stay calm, don’t react, listen to doctors - When revealing a mega disorder like cancer doctors are like playwright. They create several scenes and acts so that the magnitude of the disorder does not take the patient by complete surprise. As a patient we need to stay calm, control our reactions and wait till the play is over. I realised that I had no clue what the word malignant meant. It struck me hours after the onco-surgeon left. I cried because I was ignorant … how stupid. The next day my gastroentrologist explained me the word and it sounded absolutely ok to me. Ignorance causes the wrong kind of chemical reactions in the mind - I learnt this the hard way. Henceforth I always created list of questions for my doctors. And yes, doctors are the experts. they have knowledge. Friends, aunties, colleagues, neighbours have perceptions. So always listen to the expert. 

After this talk I went back to my books and friends. Friends would come and go … they knew how to dodge the security in the hospital. Room no 515 in the hospital was the most happiest place in the entire hospital. Here was a young patient who gave a damn about cancer and had a gala time with her friends gossiping, laughing, chatting and enjoying herself. This party mode carried on till I reached the OT. Coz you strictly cannot take your friends to the OT with you!!! 

Tips: 

When we met the onco surgeon for the first time we had made a list of questions, so that all our doubts and queries were addressed. Always keep a small note book and pen handy. Each time you have a question write it down and ask the relevant doctor.  

Every time the doctor visits he always says something positive that helps you stay positive. Listen to them carefully and stay calm. 

Costs: 

CBC - Rs. 350 

Liver profile - Rs. 1600

Renal profile - Rs. 1300

CEA - Rs. 1600

Prothrombin Time - Rs. 400

Cancer Antigen 125 & 19.9 - Rs. 1900 each

Bleeding & clothing time - Rs. 250 

Histopathology charges: Rs. 1800 

Doctor visit charges - Rs. 1200 per day per doctor 

These tests are however not standard and depend upon the discretion of your consulting doctor/s only. So do check with them on these tests before suggesting to anyone you may know,having a similar disease.

Once you get admitted in the hospital the cost are different from an out patient cost and depend upon the class of room you choose. I have shared the cost to give you an indication of the expenditure that was involved. In our search we could not find any information on the indicative cost for treating cancer. Thus I hope this serves as a reference for people seeking such information. 

Sunflower, one of my paintings that defines the attitude of staying positive!

Discovery in high definition!

Sometimes life just happens. It happened to me when I was painting and having fun at my art exhibitions. I had loose motion that would not stop and blood in my stool. Thought it was a minor problem and went to the doc after almost 3 weeks of noticing it. The gastroentrologist at LH Hiranandani Hospital, Powai, was furious at my lackadaisical attitude. I smiled secretly while she was scolding me. She suggested some blood tests and a colonoscopy. The next mistake I did was delaying the colonoscopy by 2 weeks. I had some exhibitions lined up and did not want to miss them. So I showed her my blood report after two weeks and and bunked the 1st colonoscopy appointment. My haemoglobin level had come down to 7.5 and my doctor was shocked as to how I was standing on my two feet!!! She was furious. 

Finally on May 5, 2015 when I went for the colonoscopy at 8:30 am. The colonoscopy was done. The doctor came out of the process room. Met my husband.  And then boom - she used one of the most dreaded words in this planet - Cancer! Yes, Cancer. I had colon cancer!!! My husband did not know how to react. He was shocked but decided to stay calm. Then came the golden words from the doctor ‘Don’t worry. I am there.’ They gave my husband assurance, confidence and a huge emotional support. 

I was yet to be informed. I was just told that I need to be admitted in the hospital immediately because there is a tumour in the colon. In fact, I was joking around with my husband that we should go dancing after getting discharged from the hospital, which I thought would be the next day. 

Little did I know that I have already embarked on an extraordinary journey - a journey that is going to change my life forever. And not only my life but my family and friends too. 

Lesson learnt: 

Health is wealth. I will never again delay going to the doctor or take any health symptoms for granted. 

Tip: 

The doctor insisted that we first pay the colonoscopy bill and then get admitted. If I had got admitted and then paid the colonoscopy bill I would have had to pay a premium. So even if the billing department wants you to first get admitted then pay pre admission process bill then please refuse. 

Costs:

Consultation of gastroentrologist - Rs. 1500 for each consultation/visit. I had consulted the doctor 3 times because of my delay in under going the colonoscopy. 

Blood tests - Rs. 300 + Rs. 300 (I had to under go 2 CBC blood tests because of my delay in under going the colonoscopy)

Colonoscopy - Rs. 6500 + taxes

Security deposit for admission at the hospital - Rs 25,000.00 

Thats all for today. Hope it helps you. 

Cancer did not happen to me, I HAPPENED TO CANCER!

Sometime back I along with a mad friend started our own art venture called Beerbelly. I started painting as a hobby and gradually it became my identity. We created some wacky art products. As I evolved in my art, I gave up my advertising career and started taking Beerbelly seriously. Just when the fun was begining life threw a lemon at me.  

What seemed like a normal case of acidity now turned into a lifestyle disorder called Cancer! Yes, cancer - colorectal cancer. But I recovered fast and took everything in my stride like a true blue mad hatter. But what I realised in my journey was the lack of information & knowledge in reference to cancer care - health check ups, early symptoms of cancer, insurance, hospitals, costs etc. So why am I starting this blog is to create awareness and clear misconceptions of cancer, through my experiences. Hopefully it will help those seeking information on the disorder.

And finally those who may wonder why am I calling my blog  Beercan  - apart from it being a combination of Beerbelly and Cancer, I believe the only way to take on cancer is by being high on life !Because there no medicine like positivity.