It is my second day here at the Penny Brohn centre.  Yesterday was a long day, we started at 8am and did not finish until 9pm!  And, we only had 30 minutes of free time during the day.  Needless to say, I slept very well last night.

Today we started the day with some breathing and stretching exercises.  After breakfast we did some meditation and during the morning and the afternoon we have had individual appointments with a nutritionist, a psychotherapist, a healer and a doctor.

The nutritionist thought my diet was really good.  However, I need more protein and fibre in my diet, and I must increase my vegetable intake.  I should also try and have a little bit less cheese.  I should introduce more pulses and nuts in my diet as well.  Apparently, my juice only counts as ‘one a day’ no matter how many fruit and vegetables I put in it!  But, she said juicing is a great way to increase vitamin intake, thus giving me the boots, and I should still do it.

The session with the psychotherapist was draining but again helpful.  I did a lot of crying, but I am beginning to learn a lot about myself, and about the purpose of my life.  It is very exciting.

The healing was lovely.  I could feel this warm energy flowing from my head to my toes.  I also had this strange sensation there were more hands on me than just the healer’s!

I also saw a doctor, Claire.  I had a 45-60 minute appointment with her!  How often do you get to talk to a doctor for that long?  She wanted to know not only about my cancer but also how I was coping.  She said that often people ask her what is the one thing that she would recommend patients to do above all?  She said meditation.  She also made me realise that since the relapse I have become a very passive patient not really getting involved with my treatment, whereas before I was a very active patient, quizzing and challenging my medical team and making notes.  This is going to change, and I will be an active patient again!