“In 2012 I was unlucky enough to go through the classic global chemotherapy protocol for breast cancer; but lucky enough to have had my own float room at that time. I floated at least once a week and I am convinced that the benefits helped me get through probably the worst experience of my life, and helped to keep me working with a smile on my face.
Floating reduces stress, reduces stress hormones: the moment of that diagnosis your world falls in! Why me? What next? Surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, my hair? Yes, to say the least, it is a very stressful time.
Then the chemo starts, which feels like the systematic poisoning of your body. The worst hangover on top of a non-stop flight round the world – get the feeling?
It starts with steroids to prevent the chemo from poisoning your normal cells; anti-emetics, 1, 2 and 3 to reduce the nausea; laxatives, 1, 2, 3 to relieve the resulting constipation. Then get in that float room and detox the residues of that load of chemicals out of your body, which are then removed, broken down by the float room’s powerful sanitation protocol.
The first night after the chemo, one of the meds makes you agitated and insomnia follows. Floating for one hour has the recuperative effects of 4 hours of sleep, so true.
Increase the endorphins: endorphins are the body’s natural analgesics, they are also known as happy hormones, both aspects may be important during chemo, and certainly the latter, but new research suggests that they are involved in boosting the immune system. Very important as every day you all produce a few cancer cells in your body and the body’s natural defence system mops them up before that can do any harm. For some reason, in a cancer patient this immune system is not properly active and a tumour results.
During this time I was supported by colleagues and a number of therapists in the complementary field. I can’t say with certainty what worked what didn’t but I am convinced that the range of complementary therapies and especially floating regularly was key in coping.
I finally beat it!
More bad news
In March 2016, the cancer unfortunately came back (liver, lungs and sternum). An even bigger shock than the first time and I was straight back into the float room while I decided what to do.
I have been so lucky to have met and to be advised by Dr Rosy Daniel, an Integrative Medicine doctor in the UK. She advises on hospital and complementary/ natural therapy approaches. With her help and upon finding a lovely oncologist where I live, I asked for and was granted a lower dose of chemo, the monoclonal antibodies were started right from the beginning (they eliminate the nasty chemo side effects).
I’m following Dr Valter Longo’s fasting during chemo research (this is currently based on mice, but hey! You have to start somewhere) and I’m convinced this has helped me to keep my hair. It’s a much gentler approach, especially with the lower dose of chemo, but also because chemo doesn’t appear to damage/zap the healthy cells as much, as they are much calmer (and less detectible) due to the fast. Happily, it appears to be every bit as, if not more effective in zapping the nasty cells. My oncologist said my blood results were returning to normal in a ‘spectacular way!’
I float following every chemo session; it is once again helping with the sleepless night and resulting fatigue and of course the detox.
Then some great news…
In July 2016, after just 6 weekly sessions of lower dose chemotherapy, my oncologist has announced that all my blood parameters (liver function and cancer markers) have ALL returned to normal. He seems to be pleasantly surprised by the speed of this effect.
I simply say “Thank you Dr Rosy” and “Thank you” to my friend who put me in touch with Dr Valter Longo’s fasting research. And of course “Thank you Dr Longo” for doing the research in the first place. I have floated after every chemo session and as I said previously, that has helped me support the chemo, removing the toxins, helping me catch up on missed sleep, and kept me positive etc etc.
If anyone has been closely affected by cancer and would like to contact me, feel free, I will be happy to share my experience and my links. rosie@oceanfloatrooms.com”
