In February 2004, my mum was diagnosed by her GP as having Irritable bowel syndrome and high cholesterol. Medication was prescribed for both ailments including cholesterol lowering drugs, known as Statins. Mum had also taken medication for numerous years to “treat” high blood preasure (Atenol). During the summer months I remember my mum saying to me “I think I have pulled a muscle on my right side, I have a ‘stitch like’ pain”. After visiting her GP, he agreed that she may have pulled something, but also adjusted her medication for IBS. As the months went by, my mum was concerned that this was more serious. Eventually, after months of worrying and waiting, my mum eventually received an appointment for an ultrasound scan in November 2004; this showed cysts in her liver. At the time we were relieved as we presumed the worst. However, her consultant put mum forward for a CT scan to clarify, due to some abnormalities in her blood results. Yet again we had to wait until mid December before the CT scan took place.

On December 28th 2004, my mum was diagnosed with metastatic liver tumors. Our life as we knew it stopped that day. We felt this is the kind of thing that happens to other people. We thought, why us? Why my mum? Cancer has never run in the family, so this doesn’t make sense! All these questions and thoughts haunted us and still do today. We also felt anger and disillusionment at the NHS because it had taken almost a year to diagnose mums problem, which first occurred in February that year. We were all so distraught and devastated. I tried to be positive for my mum and told her “don’t worry, there are ways of treating this” and “there are good doctors out there who are specialists in this thing, we will get you sorted." In reality, I was devastated that this thing had hit my mum and the thought of losing her was just unimaginable. My mum is the most precious thing to me, not only as my mum, but as my best friend too.

Upon my mums diagnosis, the consultant simply made us a “matter of fact” appointment to visit Manchester’s cancer hospital, Christies. The first stage was to undergo a biopsy which will determine the type of “chemotherapy” treatment my mum will have. At this point we wanted things to go ahead urgently. Like most people, we accepted that this is the correct, and ONLY path to take.

During the weeks waiting for the appointment, I spent every night, sometimes untill the early hours of the morning researching this disease. I found lots of very helpful information on diet guidelines, and the reasons for avoiding certain foods; basically everything that could possibly boost the immune system to reverse this disease. I spoke to various specialists in the field of alternative medicine and gained additional advice. The slightest thought of ever losing my mum sent a shockwave of adrenaline though me, which gave me the added determination to fight this thing with her, every step of the way.

The information I found related to certain supplements that are essential for people suffering cancer, foods to avoid that actually feed cancer cells, foods that fuel the immune system and fight cancer. This information was never told to us by the NHS. The reasons for this will be explained later! I also learned about ozone water, importance of organic produce, whole foods, apricot kernels, supplements, protein and juicing, as well as how cancer forms, its weaknesses and its ways of growth. All the diet aspects were implemented into mums diet from then on.