We keep in touch with clinical nurse specialists, local cancer-specific support groups and a wide range of complementary therapists and mind/body/spirit practitioners.
By using the menu at the top of the page you can access details of local groups, hospital transport and further resources and links.
We are building up a library of relevant books and hold a wide range of Macmillan Cancer Support leaflets. We have reviewed a number of the books in our library.
Posts & Articles
Artichoke Hearts, Sita Brahmachari
This story is written from the perspective of Mira, a young girl of 12, whose beloved grandmother Josie, an artist and political activist who’s lived a happy and fulfilled life, is dying of cancer. It’s about how Nana and Mira deal with all that this involves...
Bowel-friendly recipes and tips needed
Bowel Cancer UK would like you to contribute bowel-friendly recipes for publication on their website. They are looking for recipes that patients have found to be useful following treatment for bowel cancer or that has affected bowel habits. If you don’t have recipes,...
Steamfrying
Some books recommend not frying your food as it changes the chemical composition of the food in a way that makes it more difficult to digest. I compromise: when frying onions for example, I put in a tablespoon full of oil with my chopped onions, add just enough water...
Using less dairy
After breast cancer I read that it is advisable to cut down on a number of foods, for example milk products (to avoid hormones) and refined sugar (which is deemed to “feed” cancer). Easier said than done. By experimenting, I found that in my baking I can easily...
Weaning yourself off refined sugar
I like my cakes. I have cut down on my consumption of sweet things significantly since being diagnosed with breast cancer but haven’t cut it out completely. What I found a useful exercise is simply reducing the amount of sugar I put into a cake. First time I left out...
Reducing the craving for sugar
Years before I was diagnosed with cancer, I developed digestive trouble. I stopped eating wheat as it made me feel sick. Lo and behold, I stopped craving sugar (for a while). If you are someone who thinks they can’t possibly live without bread, please find a recipe...
Cheese flapjacks
5 oz porridge oats 6 oz grated cheese 2 oz sunflower or olive oil 1 egg Half tsp crushed rosemary Salt and pepper Mix all the ingredients together and press into a 7”/8” shallow tin. Bake at 180C/350F/gas 4 for 40 minutes.
Bread substitutes (wheat-free)
When I gave up wheat I found it all very well to eat a lot of fruit and veg, salads and soups but I often found myself scouring the kitchen for food in the late morning or mid afternoon because I felt hungry. What could I eat that is healthy and fills me up for longer...
Swimming despite central line
Nearly 12 months ago I had a Hickman line fitted for salvage chemo aimed at stem cell transplant. I discovered afterwards that I shouldn’t swim or even splash around in a swimming pool with my grandchildren nor do exercise which involved lifting my right arm above...
Looking after nails
Painting nails during chemotherapy When I went to my first chemotherapy session, the nurse looked at my nails and said: “You know, if you paint your finger and toe nails the darkest colour you can bear, your nails may not fall out.” Until that moment I hadn’t even...
Dental care
I happened to visit my dentist shortly before starting chemotherapy, so I mentioned this fact to her. She gave me a lot of good advice re mouth care and some special toothpaste to use all the time I was on chemo. As a result I had no problems with my mouth, and I...
Coping with hair loss
Many people lose some or all of their hair during chemotherapy treatment. Hats, scarves, turbans, wigs – there’s a lot of choice, both to keep warm and avoid being stared at. Living Tree members coped as follows: Scarves and turbans/soft hats I didn’t want a wig as I...