Health Notes, February 14th 2010, by Sarah Stacey

Loving through cancer

In March 2008, Gillian Steiner, then 25, was diagnosed with bowel cancer.  The symptoms had started over the previous Christmas. ‘I had a dodgy stomach, with alternating diarrhoea and constipation.’  She put them down to a stomach bug, but when it didn’t resolve after a month her doctor suggested avoiding various foods, such as dairy and wheat.  Nothing changed and she went for more investigations: blood tests showed inflammation in her body, stool samples found blood, and a colonoscopy identified a ‘fairly big’ tumour in her bowel, which a biopsy confirmed was malignant. 

Three months later, after scans to see if the tumour had spread (it hadn’t), Gillian had surgery to cut out the bit of her colon where the tumour was.  After the seven hour operation, she discovered she’d been given an ileostomy – where the end of the small intestine (ileum) is diverted to a hole (stoma) in the abdomen so waste can be collected in a bag.  Although she was told it would be temporary while her colon healed,  Gillian was ‘devastated.  The doctors had talked about the possibility but I’d shunned the information because I thought it wouldn’t happen to me.’   

Managing the bag day-to-day proved straightforward but Gillian’s biggest problem was her body image.  ‘I hated having the bag and the big scar that ran from my breast bone to my pubic bone.  It knocked my confidence and it was a big deal for me with my boyfriend David, a dairy farmer in Ayrshire, although he always said I was gorgeous.   I didn’t feel comfortable or confident so intimacy was very difficult.  We just didn’t talk about it.’  Then on Valentine’s Day 2008, Gillian had two big surprises:  ‘ I finished the chemotherapy, and David proposed.  I came back from the hospital at lunchtime after the all clear and found David had laid a treasure hunt with little clues around the house.  The last one led to the living room where he was down on one knee with a white gold and diamond engagement ring.’   

David’s proposal made Gillian feel ‘elated but also a bit shocked. I was a wee bit doubtful after being through so much.  And I still had the bag.’   Not for long, though; four weeks later, a reversal operation closed the stoma.  ‘I was told it could be reversed but the doctors didn’t know when.  Then a scan of my bowel showed it was strong enough to function again.’  Although the surgery is not risk-free – sometimes it doesn’t work very well and patients end up with permanent stomas -  it was successful for Gillian.  ‘I recovered from surgery in a week but my bowels are still calming down and I have to watch what I’m eating.  Bland foods suit me best, and peppermint tea helps.’  (She is also going to try aloe vera juice, which has proved successful in trials with inflammatory bowel disorders such as Crohn’s disease and irritable bowel syndrome.) 

One thing she regrets is not knowing there was psychological help available. ‘As well as the physical effect of the cancer, there’s the emotional aspect to deal with – it’s a whole package. So many relationships end because of it, rather than staying together and fighting through it. I only heard later that Macmillan support people with sexual and intimacy issues.’

For Gillian it’s the start of a new chapter.  She and David, now living on the farm together, plan to marry soon.  ‘And we realise that what we’ve been through has brought us a lot closer together.’ 

For information and/or support, call Macmillan free on  0808 808 0000, Monday to Friday 9am-8pm (interpretation service available in over 200 languages), or visit www.macmillan.org.uk 
 

Good fresh food - readymade for children

Even the most dedicated parent may not have time to make wholesome meals for little ones 24/7.  Little Dish brand uses only fresh natural ingredients with no added salt or sugar.  The recipes are developed with their Paediatric Dietician and taste-tested by children.  Campaigning dietician Nigel Denby (of grub4life.org.uk) says ‘Little Dish recipes are very tasty and the nutritional information looks good too’.  From Tesco, Waitrose and Ocado.com, for nearest stockist visit www.littledish.co.uk 
 

Gloves in a Bottle keeps police hands soft

One reader’s policeman husband who suffered from cracked and painfully sore hands now keeps Gloves In A Bottle lotion on his desk at work.  ‘His colleagues tried to take the mick but now they all use it too!’  Gloves In A Bottle, handbag size 60ml costs £5, 240 ml £10.20, from www.victoriahealth.com

Book of the week: The Natural Paint Decorator

With spring coming (yes, really!), you might consider redecorating and green goddesses will love this book by aromatherapist Julia Lawless and Lynn Edwards, formerly of The Green Shop, which gives you all the information you need about choosing and using natural paints.

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