A Very Belated Update

Hello again, family and friends,

It has been way too long since I have posted on this blog.  Several recent events compelled me to dust off the cobwebs and relearn how to post.  The first indication that an update was necessary was when someone I had not seen in some time approached me on the street recently and asked how I was doing.  She said she had been following my progress on my blog and because I haven't posted in some time, feared the worst.  I assured her that I am very much alive and feeling great.  Also, I have several close friends and acquaintances who have recently undergone surgery or other treatment for prostate cancer.  Yesterday, I attended a memorial service for another friend who died of a different type of cancer. These events really brought home the reality of how this disease touches us all.  I feel that we need to be more open, talk freely  about cancer, and support each other whenever and however we can. This blog is one way for me to continue that conversation with those I most care about.   

On the treatment side, I have one more Androgen Deprivation Therapy (ADT) injection scheduled in Oregon on July 29.  I chose Oregon because I want very specific details regarding post-treatment follow-up from my urologist and felt the best way to obtain a detailed timeline was to meet with him face-to-face.  The effects of the injection should start to wear off in November, and then I will begin routine testing for both testosterone and PSA levels.  I just don't know how frequently I will need the tests or if they can be on the same schedule.  As far as I'm concerned, the fewer blood draws, the better. 

For those of you who have been out of touch, we left Alaska the end of January and returned the end of the third week of April.  During the time we were gone we helped celebrate Rowan's first birthday in Oregon on Feb. 1, and Caden's seventh birthday in Massachusetts on April 4.  While we were in Massachusetts we made side trips to Connecticut and Maine.  While in Oregon we made a side trip to Hawaii.  Kathy and I spent 10 days on the Big Island and then joined Erika's family on Maui for another week.  I was able to cross several items off my "bucket list" including visits to Mystic Seaport and the New Bedford Whaling Museum back east, and Volcanoes National Park on Hawaii and birding on the Hosmer Grove Trail on Maui.

Spring in Southeast Alaska started out very cold and wet.  It was so bad that for the first couple of weeks back in Alaska we wondered if we should have stayed south longer.  Then the weather gradually morphed into one of the most pleasant summers we have had in a long time.  We are trying our best to take advantage of it every chance we get.
   
In other news, I decided not to do marine tours this year.  This is the first year in over 50 that I have no summer commitments, and I'm loving it.  I really thought I would miss doing the tours.  However, I find that not worrying about tomorrow's weather, boat performance, client compatibility, location and behavior of the whales, the amount of ice near the glacier and all the other factors that go along with running an eco-tour business, has been a huge relief.  I can just feel the usual summer stress melting away.  Kathy closed the Guest House last year, so we are both foot loose and fancy free.  A free summer has allowed us to catch up on some projects around the house and in the yard.  

This is not to say we aren't spending time on the water.  We kept the boat and I've caught more king salmon this year than any season since starting the business 19 years ago.  Also, Kathy and I have enjoyed the great weather and have taken several wonderful overnight trips with a focus on kayaking, relaxing and introducing her to new areas. The water has been generally calm and sunsets have been spectacular this summer.  

The serenity, the lack of stress, the wonderful companionship, and using the boat on our schedule rather than on someone else's schedule have left me feeling better than I have felt in a long, long time. 

We are looking forward to a lengthy visit from Erika, Brad and Rowan beginning tomorrow, July 7.  It will be great fun to watch Rowan explore a new and very different area from what he is used to.  I have a feeling the next two and a half weeks will be very busy.  I will return to Oregon with Erika and Rowan on July 25, for my final treatment. 

We also have some very exciting news from the other side of the continent.  We are looking forward to the arrival of our third grandson in about a month.  Caden is very anxious to be a big brother.  We are pretty certain this will require another trip to Massachusetts during late summer or early fall.  

We have continued to follow a primarily plant-based diet with the exception of

seafood and a very occasional meal of organic grass-fed beef or organic free-range chicken.  We exercise regularly, and feel that we are in better health than we have been in for some time.  The more we read about how poor diet, a sedentary lifestyle, and high stress levels are underlying causes for many chronic illnesses, the more we feel that what we are doing (or trying to do) makes sense.  Perhaps it is partly psychological, but I feel better than I have in years.  I recently came across this cartoon and think it sums up perfectly everything we have learned.  You can click on any of the pictures in this post to enlarge them, including the cartoon. 

As usual, I'd like to leave you with another healthy recipe.  This one is for Easy Homemade Hummus  which I modified from a published recipe. I started making our own hummus when I read that most commercial hummus, other than organic, is made from genetically modified garbanzos. The basic recipe makes about two cups of hummus.  It can be doubled if you want more.  It will keep in the refrigerator for quite awhile in an airtight container.  For some reason, ours never lasts long enough to find out how long it will keep.  

Ingredients:

·         1 can garbanzo beans rinsed and drained (organic)

·         2 cloves garlic (peeled)

·         Juice of one lemon

·         3 Tbs tahini (organic)

·         1 Tbs extra virgin olive oil (organic)

·         1 tsp sea salt

·         1 tsp cumin

·         1 tsp paprika (I use smoked paprika and sometimes a dash of cayenne or 1/2 tsp regular paprika and 1/2 tsp chipotle powder)

Combine all ingredients in a food processor or blender and blend until smooth.  If using a blender I've found it works best to put in about half of the beans and all the other ingredients and slowly add the rest of the beans while blending.  Pulse blending on low works well and I stop periodically to push the ingredients to the bottom of the blender with a rubber spatula.   

This is perfect to use as a healthy dip for fresh summer vegetables such as baby carrots, broccoli, cucumber slices, or bell peppers. Enjoy! 

   We wish all of you many days of contentment followed by beautiful sunsets.  

Shalom,

Barry and Kathy

All is Calm...

Hello again friends and family,

As we enter this Holiday season we are so very thankful for all of our friends, our family, 
and our health.  At this time last year I was nearly overwhelmed by the diagnosis and the prospect of going south for extensive radiation treatment.  There were so many unknowns.  This year we can relax a lot more, sit back, and really count our blessings.  We consider all of you to be a very big part of our many many blessings. Your encouragement and support made our journey over the past year a whole lot easier for us.  Thank you!!!

December snow

  We have been back in Alaska for three weeks from our fall trip to Oregon.  It is great to look out over the Sound, particularly during the few clear periods there have been since our return.  Even the calm overcast days are very soothing to the soul.  There has been a lot of snow already this December. The nearly two feet of light fluffy snow on the ground at one time was quite beautiful and very peaceful while it lasted.  Now the forecast is back to rain and mixed rain and snow well into next week.  As is often the case this time of year, it seems the weather can't quite figure out what it wants to do.  A degree or two of temperature makes a world of difference.   It is forecast to cool off a bit next week and although it might be kind of soggy, it looks very likely that we will have a white Christmas.  We are still getting used to the very short days and the early sunsets. 

Since we have been back in Petersburg several folks have asked me how my treatments went during the two months we were gone.  That question made me realize that perhaps a blog update is long overdue.  Looking back, I see we haven't posted since July.  I'm very sorry about that.  I guess I just didn't feel that there was anything new or significant enough to comment on. 

I am happy to report that we did not go south for medical treatment.  In fact, other than a routine injection that I receive every four months as a hormone blocker, and a very brief visit with my oncologist, I had no medical treatment this fall.  Oh wait, I did go to a dentist and also had my eyes examined.  

The visit with the oncologist went something like this: 
O - You are looking good. How do you feel?
Me- Quite well, thank you.
O - Any more problems with side effects after you left last spring?
Me - They pretty much went away after a month or so just as you said they would.
O - OK.  I'll want to be kept in the loop after the end of your ADT (androgen deprivation therapy) next fall, but I hope I never have to see you again.  

That was pretty much it. I had a PSA test during the visit with my urologist when I received the scheduled ADT injection shortly before we left Oregon to return home.  The PSA level was "undetectable", which is exactly where it should be at this point.  By all accounts my cancer is in full remission and a recurrence is very unlikely while I'm still on ADT.  I am scheduled for two more injections, one toward the end of March and one in late July or early August.  After that, we just have to wait and see.  All in all, we couldn't be more pleased with the outcome at this point.  Late next fall the hormone blocker will eventually work out of my system and my hormone levels will return to "normal".  At that time I will be put on an intensive monitoring program tracking both testosterone and PSA levels.  Those tests will determine if the treatment was  successful. There is really nothing for us to worry about at all until then, and even afterward we have been assured that the risk of recurrence is quite small.  

We continue to concentrate on trying to maintain a healthy diet, but have found it a bit more difficult in Petersburg, particularly in regard to organic produce.  The one advantage we have here is that our Alaska freezer has a lot more fresh-frozen fish in it.  Also, our exercise routine here is enhanced by having the water aerobics at the aquatic center for Kathy and the new equipment now available at my favorite fitness center.  Having a much more consistent and predictable schedule makes it possible for us to establish a routine.  Snow/slush removal has also been providing a lot of not-so-welcome exercise for me.  Hopefully there will be some cross country skiing before we leave. Meditation is still on my list of things to look into.    

Our Oregon House

Much of our time in Oregon was spent working on the townhouse we bought last spring.  The interior is now repainted, the new carpet is laid, and the new window coverings are hung.  Those were the three big items on our to-do list, and I'm very happy and relieved to report that all were completed before we returned home. Next time down we can decorate a bit more and then relax and enjoy the fruits of our labor.  Furnishing the house and replacing Erika and Brad's hand-me-up furniture will be an on-going process.

Our guest bedroom and bath are ready for company.  So, if you are in the Hillsboro area during the same time we are, please stop by.  We'd love to visit and share the area. 

The littlest viking and the mighty oak

 When we weren't working on the house, looking at samples, or lining up contractors, we were often at Brad and Erika's house. Actually, it is Rowan's house.  Brad and Erika are just the caretakers.  What a fascinating time to be involved in a little person's life.  It is hard to believe how much he developed during the two short months we were there.  We were able to spend several full days taking care of Rowan (I refuse to use the word "babysit" because I don't believe you can babysit your own child or grandchild) while his mommy and daddy were at work.  We got out on walks as often as possible to take advantage of the wonderful fall weather. He is very happy little guy and excited by everything and everyone he sees. 

One of our favorite parks with fall colors

Erika's family will be in Petersburg over Christmas.  We are very anxious to see how many new things Rowan has discovered he can do in the past month.  Unfortunately, we will not see Matt's family this Christmas, but hopefully will be able to visit them sometime in the spring.  

We plan to stay in Petersburg until the end of January and then will head south again for an, as yet, undetermined length of time.  No medical treatment is anticipated, other than some dental work and the scheduled ADT injection in March.  

I will leave you with an original healthy recipe that we call Fiesta Rice.  This recipe is still evolving.  We make it frequently as a vegetarian dish with a Tex-Mex flare.  Like the black bean soup recipe in an earlier post, modifications to this basic recipe are only limited by your imagination.  It is very handy to have a big batch on hand because it can be used in a number of different ways.  We often use it as a side dish or as a filling for burritos or stuffed bell peppers.  We also use it as a filler in another great recipe called Tex Mex Lasagna which uses corn tortillas instead of noodles and mashed tofu instead of ricotta cheese (sounds kind of weird doesn't it? - but it is very very tasty!).  Fiesta rice is also very good with diced chicken cooked into it, topped with your favorite cheese, and baked as a casserole and served as a main dish.  That said - we have nearly eliminated both chicken and cheese from our diet.  However, I remember it being incredibly good cooked this way, especially topped with grated pepper jack cheese.

Fiesta Rice 

This is more of a guideline than an actual recipe as I've never used a written recipe to make it.
   
4-6 cloves of garlic minced or finely chopped  
1 medium-to-large onion, diced or chopped
1 large bell pepper (or equivalent amount) diced (we prefer red peppers or a mix of colored peppers for both color and flavor)
1 small-to-medium-sized jalapeno pepper, seeded and finely diced (more if you like it spicy) 
1/4 to 1/2 cup of cilantro leaves washed and broken or cut into smaller pieces
8 to 12 oz of whole-kernel corn, thawed frozen or canned drained (A small can of Mexicorn is perfect)
1 14.5 oz can of black beans drained and rinsed
1 14.5 oz can of diced tomatoes drained, but save the juice
2 to 3 cups of cooked rice (we use organic brown basmati when we can find it)

1 tsp cumin
1 tsp seasoned salt
1+ tsp chipotle chilli powder or other chilli powder
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
1/4 tsp black pepper

The spice amounts are approximate and should be adjusted to taste.  For example, if the jalapeno is hot you might want to eliminate or cut back on the cayenne.

Saute the garlic in olive oil in a large frying pan or pot. 
After a couple of minutes add the onion, pepper, and jalapeno, and saute until the onion is translucent.

Stir in the corn, black beans, and cilantro and cook until well heated.
I like to add the spices before adding the rice to better blend in the flavors
Stir in the rice and cook until heated through.
Stir in the drained tomatoes until well mixed.  

At this point you can check for consistency.  If it is too dry, add some of the set-aside tomato juice. If it is too moist, try adding more rice.  Taste and adjust the seasoning to your liking.  The flavors continue to blend over time and left-overs are also very good.  Top with your favorite salsa and enjoy!!  

May you all be blessed this Holiday season.  You are certainly a blessing to us. Thank you again for being part of our journey during the past year and especially for just being you!!!

Happy Holidays!!

     Barry and Kathy



 

A Conundrum, Plus Two Great Vegetarian Recipes

Hello again, family and friends,

Have you ever had the feeling that the more you look into a subject, the more confused you become?  My quest to seek information regarding the relationship between lifestyle and chronic illness has been very much like that.  A recent addition to our knowledge base was the DVD "Forks Over Knives" which was loaned to us by our long-time friend, Don Koenigs.  This is a film that I highly recommend that everyone see!!  We watched it twice and took notes to make certain that we didn't miss anything.  You might not totally buy into the recommendations, but the evidence is so overwhelming that, at the very least, it will make you think twice about what you put into your mouth.  I won't give everything away because I believe it is important for each of you to take the time to watch the film.  Don't miss the bonus features.  They are short, but very powerful.  We've ordered a copy for ourselves and are happy to share with the "locals".

There were three points in the film that were new to me and really caught my attention.  The first is that dairy products were highly implicated as a major problem in the western diet, and not only from fat or cholesterol.  Cheese has had a bad rap, but I'd not heard much concern over low-fat or non-fat milk or milk products.  In fact, we have always heard how important calcium is in our diet, and when we think of calcium in food, we have been trained (brainwashed?) into thinking dairy.  On the other hand, we have one of the highest rates of dietary calcium consumption in the world, yet at the same time we have one of the highest rates of hip fractures.  The film claims that osteoporosis is not caused by a lack of dietary calcium, but rather caused by a chronic state of metabolic acidosis which is a direct result of our high intake of sugar and so much highly-processed foods in our diet.  This condition pulls calcium, a lot of calcium, from our bones to neutralize the acid, leading directly to osteoporosis.  There are other causes for loss in bone density and this condition should be monitored routinely through bone scans as we age and/or as we undergo certain medical treatments.  However, if changing our diet can reduce the odds of developing this potentially debilitating condition, isn't it worth a try?  

The second area of interest also concerns dairy products.  Cows' milk has about twice the level of casein, one of several milk proteins, than human milk.  Studies conducted by T. Colin Campbell, one of the doctors featured in the film, showed a direct correlation between the amount of casein consumed in our diet and the promotion of cancerous cell growth. Casein is also implicated in other human health problems. As stated in the film, cows' milk is good for calves, but perhaps not so good for humans. 

The third interesting point is something I probably should have known, but either overlooked or forgot.  Plants do not contain cholesterol and all dietary cholesterol comes from consuming animal products - meat, dairy products, and eggs.  High cholesterol has become a major indicator of deteriorating health and is a precursor to coronary heart disease.  An alarming number of American adults take statin drugs to control their cholesterol levels.  While no one should quit taking prescribed drugs without the advise of their physician, the film shows that dramatic reductions in cholesterol levels are possible by changing to and adhering to a strict vegetarian diet.

The other doctor featured in the film, Caldwell Esselstyn Jr., claims that Americans could prevent 75-80% of all lifestyle diseases - coronary heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and cancer by changing our diet.  His concern is that western medicine has become very accomplished at treating disease once it occurs, but is terrible at preventing disease.  Further, he clearly demonstrates how disease prevention and even disease reversal are both possible through diet alone.  It is very exciting to watch how he does this and to see the positive results on his patients.  If it were possible to prevent disease by convincing the majority of Americans to change their diet, many of the concerns regarding the high costs of healthcare to our nation would simply disappear. 

So, what should we eat?   The film presents a compelling argument for converting entirely to a whole foods plant-based diet.  And therein lies the conundrum.  I thought we had been doing very well modifying our eating habits.  We have cut way back on red meat with only occasional small amounts of grass-fed beef.  The little bit of chicken and few eggs we eat are organic.  We use almost exclusively organic low-fat or no-fat dairy products and have cut way back on our consumption of cheese.  Our main source of animal protein is seafood, and we still have a lot of fish, and some other seafood, in our freezer.  Should we or, better yet, could we go the rest of the way?  I think, after watching the film, we were leaning heavily in that direction. 

As they say on the TV infomercials, "but wait, there's more".  As I was researching Dr. Campbell's work, I came across another study. It is called the "Nurses Health Study" which was started in 1976 with nearly 122,000 registered nurses to study how nutrition relates to heart disease and, at that time, primarily breast cancer.  Nurses were chosen because it was felt they would be more honest with their nutritional and other lifestyle information.  In 1999, the project enrolled 116,000 more nurses plus 52,000 men in a Health Professionals Follow-Up study.  The study was expanded to look at risk factors for other common diseases.  I recently read an interview with Dr. Walter Willett, chairman of the Dept. of Nutrition at the Harvard School of Public Health, professor of  medicine at Harvard Medical School, and co-author of "Eat, Drink, & Weigh Less", who was instrumental in the Nurses Health Study.  He claims that adult weight gain turned out to be a major risk factor in many cancers.  In fact, he concludes, "In the U.S. (being) overweight is about equal to smoking in terms of its contribution to cancer rates". That totally blew me away!  The interview goes on to say that, besides the big four diet-related epidemics we have discussed previously, effects of diet were related to almost every condition studied, including cataracts, gallstones, infertility, kidney stones, and macular degeneration.  Wow!!!! 

According to the study, the type of fat and the quality of carbohydrates in the modern Western diet are the main culprits.  Dr. Willett's recommendation from this study is that we eat a low-glycemic diet centered on complex carbohydrates.  More specifically, "healthy whole-grain, high-fiber sources of carbohydrates, healthy vegetable oil, less red meat, more protein from nuts, beans and a modest amount of poultry and fish, plus plenty of fruits and vegetables.  While dairy is not essential, one or two servings per day are OK".  This contradicts the no-dairy position of the film, but still urges very low levels of dairy consumption.  Although not specifically stated, I seriously doubt that Dr. Willett would consider ice cream to be one of the acceptable daily servings.  Another reliable diet reference strongly suggests that all foods, whether plant or animal-based should be "as unaltered and unprocessed as possible".   Whew, this sounds a lot more like how we have been trying to eat.  I think I can live with that, at least until our fish supply is gone.  

Just in case, after seeing the film, you do decide to become a strict vegetarian, here are two recipes we really enjoy.  What the heck, they are both very good whether you are a vegetarian or not. 

Szechuan Noodle Toss  (thanks to Susan Holmes)

8 oz thin spaghetti (we use organic whole wheat)

2 large red bell peppers, julienned

4 green onions, cut diagonally in 1-inch pieces

1 medium clove garlic, crushed or very finely chopped

1 lb spinach leaves, washed, drained and cut or broken into 1-inch pieces

1 8 oz can sliced water chestnuts, drained

3/4 lb firm tofu, drained and cut into 3/4-inch cubes (we often use the whole pound)

1/4 cup low sodium soy sauce 

2 Tbs dark sesame oil

2 Tbs rice vinegar

1 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes

1 tsp minced ginger root

1) Cook pasta according to package label.  Drain; rinse with cold water.  Drain again. Place in a large bowl and set aside.

2) In a large skillet, heat 2 Tbs salad (olive) oil. Add red bell peppers, green onions and garlic; saute' two minutes or until tender-crisp.  Stir in spinach.  Cover; cook 1 minute, or until spinach wilts.  Add pepper mixture to pasta.  Stir in water chestnuts and tofu.  Set aside.  

3) In a small bowl, combine remaining ingredients with 3 Tbs salad (olive) oil.  Add to pasta mixture; toss to coat.  Serve immediately or refrigerate and serve chilled.  Makes 6 servings.  

This recipe can easily be halved, but when the flavors combine, the leftovers are great.  We have served it alone, in bowls, as a complete meal. 

Vegetable Pulao (rice with vegetables; adapted from a recipe given to us by Paul Bless)

1-2 Tbs Olive oil

1 cup chopped onions

2 cinnamon sticks or 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

4 whole cloves or 1/4 tsp ground cloves

2 cardamom pods or 1/2 tsp ground cardamom

2 bay leaves broken in half  

1/2 tsp cumin seeds or ground cumin

1/2 tsp turmeric

1/2 tsp curry

1 cup Basmoti rice (we have used organic brown Basmoti rice with mixed results)

1 2/3 cup water

1/2 to 1 tsp salt

1/2 to 1 tsp brown or raw sugar

2 cups vegetables (1 cup frozen peas and 1 cup chopped or thinly sliced carrots works well)

Saute' onions in oil over medium heat.

While cooking add spices.

When onion is soft, about 5 minutes, stir in 1 cup of Basmoti rice.  Stir and heat for 2-3 minutes.

Add water.  Stir in salt and sugar.  Cover and cook on low for 20 minutes.

Fluff rice and add vegetables.  Cover and heat on low 5 more minutes before serving. 

(When preparing this, we've found that it works better to saute' the onions with the spices in the larger amount of oil in a saute' or fry pan, then transfer to a pot with a tight-fitting lid when it's time to add the rice & water.)

We love the smell of this recipe while it is cooking and the house smells great for several hours afterward.  It is more of a side dish that goes very well with almost any preparation of poultry or fish.

Shalom,

    Barry and Kathy

A View From the South End of Our Island Looking East