I've been out of the hospital for just under a week and am feeling up to doing some reading and research about my health situation.  I've started with two books:  Recalled by Life by Anthony J. Sattilaro, MD and Choices in Healing by Michael Lerner. 

I read through Sattilaro's book in two sittings.  It's a fascinating account of his diagnosis with Stage IV (D) metastatic prostate cancer back in the 1970's.  The cancer had gone from his prostate to the bones of his back, head, ribs and collarbone.  He was given less than 3 years to live according to doctors. 

Coming home from his father's funeral (his father died from a different type of cancer soon after Sattilaro's diagnosis), he picked up two hitchhikers.  One of them immediately fell asleep, but the other talked to Sattilaro about his cancer, about how it could be cured by "eating right," and then went on to insist they stop by a health food store before he dropped them off.

A few weeks later, a package outlining the miracles of a macrobiotic diet, including healing claims for several people, arrived at Sattilaro's door.  Willing to try anything to prolong his life, he made a few inquiries and immediately switched to a macrobiotic diet.

Macrobiotic diets consist mainly of whole grains (50%), vegetables (25 - 30%) and beans/sea vegetables (15%) along with condiments and soups.  It's a radically different diet than most Americans, even most health conscious Americans, eat.

In the years since the 70's, we've come to see that our diets (rich in animal fats, high in salt, low in fiber) are not good for us.  True to form, instead of shifting to a more basic diet, we've tried to produce our way out of "bad foods" by creating "low-fat, low-salt, low-calorie" foods...many of which just make the problem worse by creating chemically laden foods that are significantly short in nutritional value.

What's interesting to me after reading this book is that I am not inclined to immediately start a macrobiotic diet.  Which is not at all to say I don't want to live enough to alter my diet.

I'm just not convinced that the reason for my getting cancer is poor diet and nutrition.  True, I was about 35 pounds overweight and I like desserts and wine.  However, I also exercised regularly; ate whole grains and nuts rather than chips and pasta; gobbled down veggies; made healthy, home cooked meals that left out animal fats, excess salt and red meat.

And yet, I have a Stage IV cancer despite my healthier than not eating habits and exercise habits.  It's perplexing...and it makes me a bit hesitant to jump onto a macrobiotic wagon at this point.

Still doing my research, and I might meet with someone who's an expert in such a diet...but at this point...it's a no go.

The other book, Choices in Healing is written from the standpoint of understanding the difference between traditional (Western) medicine and complementary approaches to cancer (like diet, meditation, etc).  This is a lot slower going but may prove to be more useful in the long run.

Still, I recommend Recalled by Life to anyone interested in the topic of cancer and diet.  It's well-written, compelling and a quick read.

I suppose the last thing that I take issue with in Sattilaro's book comes in the last couple pages (and it's a topic for a whole 'nother blog).  Sattilaro says, "My cancer was the result of my taking and taking until I had to ask for my very life.  Selfishness is its own terminal illness."

While I respect the spiritual journey that this man (who went on to live for years past his prognosis before eventually dying from cancer after going off the macrobiotic diet) took, I cannot share his conviction about what leads to cancer.  It may be true that, in his case, the causes were both spiritual and dietary...a sort of selfishness and isolation that took him through excess to illness.

In my case, I simply don't know why I'm fighting the monster.  I just know I am. 

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