Category: Cancer Talk

True Blue

I felt compelled to write this blog today since March is Colon Cancer Awareness month and I am  a Colon Cancer Survivor.   I have to admit that I first started seeing “Blue” on Social Media which reminded me that I too needed to get the word out about the importance of pre-screening for Colon Cancer since a colonoscopy literally saved my life:  Check out this blog post:  Black coffee and lemon Italian Ice…eeech!

 

 

I realize that I have a story that everyday people can relate to which I witnessed firsthand while sharing it through one of the most popular blogs on The View from Lajeune:Check out this blog post:   A Place of Desert…(almost) 4 years cancer free

 

Also, check out my interview on Nyberg on News 8 television with Ann Nyberg:  http://networkconnecticut.com/2015/07/colon-cancer-was-no-match-for-lajeune-hollis/

 

My podcast on 94.3 WYBC-FM radio with Juan Castillo: My Happy Surprise this week on The Electric Drum?

 

and through speaking about it at my church, Christian Tabernacle Baptist Church in Hamden, CT.

 

People I know from all walks of my life watched me go through colon cancer and beat it so I hope they felt encouraged not only for themselves, but for their loved ones who may or may not one day encounter the C word…

 

 

As it turns out, Colon Cancer is one of the most preventable and treatable cancers out there so I felt the urge to create my own fundraising page on the Colon Cancer Challenge Foundation (CCCF) website: http://events.coloncancerchallenge.org/site/TR/Events/TributeDonateYourWay?px=1104261&pg=personal&fr_id=1060

 

My page is on this website because I admire the fact that CCCF “has been working since 2003 to fund screening programs for the uninsured and provide much-needed funds to young investigators who are committed to finding a cure for colorectal cancer.”

 

So my the answer is:  I am “true blue” in a good way, for I am not only a Survivor, but a Believer…

 

 

Sincerely,

 

 

TVFL

 

 

 

 

Black coffee and lemon Italian Ice…eeech!

I am prepping for my colonoscopy tomorrow.  A colonoscopy 4 1/2 years ago literally saved my life so I’m not mad about it.  What grosses me out is the prep.

 

 

Part I:  The entire day before (or today for me) I have to stick to a clear liquid diet.  There is no limit to the amount of clear liquids I can drink during the day.  This diet can include water, clear broth, bouillon, soda, gatorade, clear fruit juice, limeade or lemonade, popsicles, Jello-O, Italian ice, coffee or tea.  Here’s the catch: I cannot have anything with the colors red, purple or orange.  I cannot have any solid food, I cannot have any alcoholic beverages, I cannot have any milk, cream or dairy substitutes.  That pretty much wipes out my whole diet (smile).

Part II:  At 3pm this afternoon I start cleaning out my system with the Suprep Bowel Prep Kit.  This is the prescription medication that my GI doctor ordered for me to pick up from the local pharmacy one week before my procedure. There are 4 steps involved here which all center around drinking the entire first bottle of the prep medication which must be diluted with a 16 ounce container of water.

By the way, if you cannot find a responsible adult to go with you, you must arrange for transportation to and from your colonoscopy    There are reputable medical taxi services in the area that can help with this step.

Part III:  The next morning (or the day of your colonoscopy) approximately 4 hours before your arrival time, repeat steps 1 – 4 with the Suprep Bowel Prep Kit.  I will now be on the second (last bottle) and all liquids must be completed 3 hours before my arrival time.  What I find difficult is that I now have barely anything in my stomach, I’ll most likely be feeling even more dizzy than I feel right now, and I still have to get all of that icky drink down as quickly as possible…

Part IV:  To me this is the easy part:  the actual procedure.  In and of itself it’s  quick, it’s painless and there’s very little memory of it as you are sedated.

Part V:  The fun part. It’s over and you can eat again – yay!!!

Update:  just completed colonoscopy — all clear — no polyps!   Next one in 3 years due to my history.

 

Sincerely,

 

TVFL

16 Bean & Clean!

One of my favorite seasons in New England is the Fall and it’s just around the corner.  Me and my partner James are gathering fire wood for weekend backyard bonfires as we speak!

 

Weekend bonfire in the fire pit

 

And I’m feeling like cooking again so here is another one of my favorite clean bean soup recipes.  This one is packed with nutrients and sure to fill you up on a crisp Fall day or night!

 

Ingredients:

one bag of 16 bean soup mix

1 – 2 tablespoons of olive oil

1 package of Herb-Ox low sodium chicken stock

4 to 5 cloves of garlic or 2 large tablespoons of minced garlic

2 cups of organic carrots

3 stalks of organic celery

one large red onion

one box of organic grape tomatoes

one package of chicken sausage

2 tbsps of crushed red pepper seasoning

1 tbsp of pure ground black pepper

6 to 8 cups of water

Rinse entire bag of beans well and soak in a large pan overnight.  In the morning drain and rinse beans. Here is where I detract from the recipe.  From this point on I use a large crock pot which I find to be a timesaver and I also find it creates added flavor.  Add pre-soaked beans to large crock pot.

Put all veggies (red onion, carrots, celery stalks) separately in the food processor to get them super fine.  Now put the veggies, the olive oil, the minced garlic (my preference is minced), the chicken stock and the water in with the beans in the large crock pot.  Sprinkle in crushed red pepper seasoning and pure ground black pepper.  Stir everything together and place the cover on the crock pot.  Then bring to a rapid boil, lower heat and cook on low for up to 7 hours.

While the bean soup is cooking, cut chicken sausage links in half and then cut into small squares and bake in oven on 350 degree for 30 minutes.  Add the cooked chicken sausage pieces to soup dish when finished.

Slice grape tomatoes in half and put them aside in refrigerator.  Don’t add them to 16 bean soup until one hour before soup is finished cooking.

Cook on low and slow until beans are soft.  Once done, serve in small bowls – delish!

 

 

Sincerely,

 

 

TVFL

 

Bean Clean!

In a perfect world I would always eat clean and get the proper rest.  However, from time to time, I find  myself overindulging on vino and eating food with too much sodium.  It is during these times when I break down and start cooking my clean dishes.  Here’s a recipe I received from my former co-worker Michele which is so easy to make and soooooooooo good!  I call it Clean Bean:

In a large saucepan put about 2 tbsp of olive oil and heat on low heat

Chop by hand or in a food processor 3 to 4 cloves of garlic, 1 large red onion, 1/2 bunch of cilantro and add to heated oil

Sauté until soft

Add 2 cans of kidney beans and 2 cans of black beans with most of the juice drained

Add 1 cup of whole grain or brown rice and 1 and a 1/2 cups of water

Stir well and add 1 teaspoon of black pepper and 1 teaspoon of chili powder.  If it tastes like it needs salt, feel free to add it

Bring to a boil, cover and reduce heat to a simmer.  Cook until all water is absorbed which may take up to an hour.

Add cooked chicken sausage (sliced in to quarters) and cherry or grape tomatoes (sliced in half)

All done!  Yummy! Continue reading Bean Clean!

My Happy Surprise this week on Nyberg!

imageAnn Nyberg reads The View from Lajeune and after re-posting ‘My Clean Living Life’  blog on her Twitter page, asked me to appear on her News 8 program aptly titled “Nyberg.”   I respect Ann as a long running top Connecticut News Anchor, co-worker and friend so after some arm twisting, said yes.  Here is the interview we taped last night:

http://networkconnecticut.com/2015/07/colon-cancer-was-no-match-for-lajeune-hollis/