Ian Gawler Blog: Meditation in the Desert – A photographic essay

It is not just a cliché; a picture IS worth a thousand words. Well sometimes at least…

Truth is, it is hard to convey the atmosphere of the central Australian desert in words, much less what it is like to meditate for a week there and then spend time with senior indigenous leaders from the area.

So this week, just back from Meditation in the Desert, lots of photos and a few words – a glimpse of what this amazing experience really was like.

Then how you can get a significant discount (20%) to attend the Happiness and its Causes Conference I am honoured to be speaking at in Brisbane and Perth, and news of a TV appearance and my last public event in Melbourne this year: Mind-Body medicine in daily life with Dr Nimrod Sheinman. But first

Thought for the day
The more and more you listen,
The more and more you hear.
The more and more you hear,
The deeper and deeper your understanding becomes.
                  Dudjom Rinpoche


MEDITATION IN THE DESERT

We gathered in Alice Springs. From the UK, New Zealand and all around Australia, drawn by the allure of the desert, a traditional place for retreat, and the not so far away Uluru or Ayer’s Rock.

We travelled out the Tanami Track, then wound our way in to settle just North of Simpson’s Gap, looking across to the Western Macdonnell Ranges.














Hamilton Downs is a heritage pioneer station now used for school and other groups. We came under the heading of “Other”!













We were welcomed into the area by Peter Latz who grew up at remote Hermansburg amidst the local indigenous people.

A long time friend of Ruth, Peter was introduced as one who has become a world authority on desert plants and the land management techniques of the aboriginals.

A fascinating, earthy walk and talk ensued as Peter took us from one
food source to another in what might seem to city folk to be a harsh and barren landscape.













Many elected to sleep under the stars in a swag in the nearby sandy river bed.















We met for my talks and to meditate together under a protective canopy.
















Our cook turned out to be sensational. A vegetarian himself, Ken made our food from fresh, mostly organic ingredients and the taste was fabulous.














Everyone took turns to help – mindfulness at work – and a welcome opportunity to put some of the theory and sitting practice into action. Integration.

The day started with gentle yoga led by Ruth. Gentle stretching at everyone’s individual pace and a welcome way to prepare for the day.














Walking meditation came in two forms. Slow and short to provide an interlude, a stretch and some integration between meditation sessions.

Longer and a little quicker for more exercise, a different means to integration, and a good way to move the body.














We sat together and shared stories.

















Took a group photo to mark the occasion!















Then largely due to Ruth’s long-term connections with Alice Springs and indigenous people from the area, the fact I have been there many times too, and our old friend Peter Yates who has remarkable connections and experience, we were treated to several days with senior local people who offered some authentic insights into their world, their customs, their lives.











Peter Yates with Johnny Possum Japaljarri

















The men watched a stick being crafted into a boomerang – an amazing ancient craft.

















Then those who felt to were painted up for dancing.

Natural ochres.

Deeply personal.

Headbands made to measure.

Then led by Japaljarri and dancing in front of the women.

Touching something profound inside.

Deeply satisfying.
















The women were led with singing and painting as those who chose to prepared to be painted and to dance.















Singing and painting.



Talking and laughing and painting.















Such a sense of community and ritual and touching that same something deep inside.



A profound experience for all.







This was the fifth time Ruth and I have presented Meditation in the Desert. To be frank, it takes a great deal of organizing, but it has to be one of the best things we do. The powerful and multiple effects of connecting people with the desert, meditating together in that incredibly supportive atmosphere and then spending time with authentic aboriginal people is hard to put into words.

In a couple of weeks I will post images from the post-retreat tour where we visited Kings Canyon and the Rock, connecting again with more aboriginal people and culture.

The feedback this year has been so positive, and the requests to keep it going so frequent, plus the fact that we would like to maintain the regularity of the good connections we have with the indigenous people at the retreat and on the post retreat tour, that we have decided to commit to Meditation in the Desert 2014.

Yes, that is correct, we hope to do it again next year!

 We have tentatively booked Hamilton Downs again for September 5 to 14 2014. However, it will take a while to confirm we can get all the pieces together and to be in the position to say it is definitely on (about a month I am guessing). But you may like to keep the dates free for now!

This is a uniquely Australian event that for meditators really can be the experience of a lifetime.

RELATED BLOG
Meditation in the desert – the program and other details

NOTICEBOARD
1. Day seminar with Dr Nimrod Sheinman coming soon
MIND-BODY MEDICINE in DAILY LIFE
Relaxation, meditation and creative imagery for health, business, healing and wellbeing. A healthy lunch is included.  For details and to book CLICK HERE

2. New TV segment screening soon with Dr Francis Macnab
St Michaels Church in Melbourne has a 13 episode programme on Channel 31 called Conversations with Macnab (Dr Francis Macnab that is). They are broadcast at 7:30 am Saturday mornings and there are 11 programmes remaining.

The one on Saturday 5th October will be a conversation between Francis and myself that Francis led during a church service several weeks ago. There is an introduction by Roger Hersey, himself a long-term cancer survivor, then a fairly wide-ranging and punchy interview.

If you are unable to get Channel 31, it will be posted on YouTube.

3. Happiness and its Causes 
One of the World’s very best Mind-Body medicine conferences. Engaging, inspiring , informative – I am speaking and presenting workshops, and you can come with a 20% discount!
The Happiness & Its Causes Roadshow is coming to Brisbane & Perth!        4 & 5 November 2013 

Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre 7 & 8 November 2013 
Perth Convention & Exhibition Centre

Be part of the first ever Happiness & Its Causes Roadshow! Join us for one action packed conference day and one day of in-­‐depth workshops. Be dazzled by a faculty of 20+ international, interstate and local speakers – leaders in psychology, science, education, business, spirituality, the arts and more!

GIVEN I AM SPEAKING, AS ONE OF MY CONTACTS, YOU ARE ENTITLED TO A 20% DISCOUNT 
> For the Brisbane event: book online using promotion code ECJS
> For the Perth event: book online using promotion code AYDZ

Or call (02) 8719 5118 to register. Workshops are also discounted and can be booked separately.
KEYNOTES INCLUDE:

• Associate Professor Michael F Steger, USA, coaching psychologist and international authority in the study of meaning and the quality of life
  
• Eve Ekman, USA, expert working with emotion and mindfulness to reduce stress and burnout while enhancing 'professional empathy' in the workplace (Perth only)
  
• Professor Michael Corballis, New Zealand, outstanding cognitive neuroscientist and science communicator (Brisbane only)
  
• Dr Ian Gawler, Australia's most well known cancer survivor and mind-­‐body medicine pioneer
  
• Dr Suzy Green, respected researcher and positive education expert
  
• Dr Sarah Edelman, acclaimed clinical psychologist and best-­‐selling author of Change Your Thinking
  
• Dr Adam Fraser, innovative educator and researcher on human performance
  
• Dr Timothy Sharp, leading clinical psychologist and founder of The Happiness Institute
  
• Sue Langley, thought leader and trainer in emotional intelligence and neuroleadership
  
• Dr Craig Hassed, GP, lecturer and author on holistic paths to wellbeing
  
• Maggie Hamilton, researcher, regular media commentator, internationally published author and
  keen observer of social trends ... plus many more!
  www.happinesanditscauses.com.au/roadshow/brisbane www.happinessanditscauses.com.au/roadshow/perth 
  

Ian Gawler Blog: Is this the elixir of youth?

Who would like to live longer? Who would like less risk of illness and the prospect of recovering quicker if one did become sick? Who would not?

This week we go Out on a Limb and consider the implications of groundbreaking new research that shows how all this may be possible – and tap into how we can gain the benefits, but first

Thought for the day
In just 60 seconds, there are:
• 2 million searches on Google,
• 571 new websites created
• 204 million emails sent
• Amazon sells $83,000 worth of goods.
Tell me – exactly when did the world change?

THE IMPORTANCE of TELOMERES and TELOMERASE

Telomeres are like the protective caps on the end of shoelaces that protect them from fraying. Only telomeres protect your DNA from fraying.

Short telomeres are associated with many things that can go wrong with your health right up to premature death. Shortening telomeres are also crucial in the process of aging. Delay telomere shortening, have longer telomeres, and all the evidence points to significantly better health, delayed aging, and increased longevity.

In related blogs, I have presented evidence that shows shorter telomeres are associated with an increased likelihood of developing cancer and other chronic degenerative diseases, and that for people who do develop cancer, the longer their telomeres, the less likely they are to die of cancer. (See the links below)

So clearly, looking after our telomeres, preventing them from shortening and lengthening them if possible, is crucial to our good health and a vibrant old age.

Happily the body has it’s own built in telomere protector and regenerator. Telomerase is the enzyme that does just this and evidence has been mounting that increased telomerase levels increase telomere length and reduce wear and tear on telomeres.

To date the things that have been shown to increase telomerase activity are a fairly seriously healthy lifestyle (which includes a way of eating very similar to the Wellness (or maintenance) Diet I have advocated for years and is detailed in You Can Conquer Cancer), meditation and some herbs.

On the herb front, Product B (a synergistic blend of herbs) which I researched thoroughly and began to recommend about a year ago, has recently been approved for registration by the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) as a therapeutic substance that provides telomere support (the only substance registered by the TGA so far for that purpose) and is a protector of liver function. For full details CLICK HERE.

Now the exciting new research

In a small pilot study, Dean Ornish, along with Australia’s own Nobel Prize winner for medicine Elizabeth Blackburn, have investigated the long-term effects of a programme of comprehensive lifestyle changes (diet, activity, stress management, and social support).

The results are compelling, showing that in this small pilot study, comprehensive lifestyle intervention, when compared with controls, was associated with increases in relative telomere length after 5 years of follow-up.

To quote directly from the research
Relative telomere length increased from baseline by a median of 0·06 telomere to single-copy gene ratio (T/S) units (IQR—0·05 to 0·11) in the lifestyle intervention group, but decreased in the control group (−0·03 T/S units, −0·05 to 0·03, difference p=0·03). 

When data from the two groups were combined, adherence to lifestyle changes was significantly associated with relative telomere length after adjustment for age and the length of follow-up (for each percentage point increase in lifestyle adherence score, T/S units increased by 0·07, 95% CI 0·02—0·12, p=0·005). 

Larger randomised controlled trials are warranted to confirm this finding.

COMMENTS

1. A major new rationale
Currently there are many ways to explain the seemingly obvious suggestion that a healthy lifestyle is good for us. However, this new research offers a whole new way of understanding how this may unfold on a cellular level.

We know longer telomeres are associated with lower risks of the chronic degenerative diseases including cancer. We know longer telomeres are associated with longer cancer survival and even a longer life span for everyone.

We have known for a while that activating the enzyme telomerase was possible through a healthy lifestyle, meditation and some herbs.

This new research suggests is the first to suggest that increasing telomerase activity does translate into longer telomeres over time. The implications for preventive medicine, recovery from the chronic degenerative diseases and for longer, vibrant lifespans are exciting indeed and this pilot study is bound to stimulate a mass of follow-up research to test these implications.

Are we seeing a benefit or a norm?
When research shows us that a healthy lifestyle is associated with longer telomeres over time compared to controls, I suspect what it is really telling us is that the controls, who are really ordinary people doing what ordinary people do these days, are knocking their telomeres around unduly.

I suspect the healthy lifestyle tells us what a normal, healthy telomere does; the controls tell us what so many in our current society are doing – eating badly, not exercising, getting stressed out – and prematurely shortening their telomeres with all the unhappy consequences that follow.

What we do not know yet is can we do better than a thoroughly healthy lifestyle. Do the herbs such as those in Product B add an extra benefit, or are they too just helping protect people with an unhealthy lifestyle and supporting them to return to normal telomere function? Time and research will tell.

What to do?
Obviously, this research provides another compelling reason to take up on a really healthy lifestyle and to meditate regularly. The research showed a “dose dependent relationship”. The more thorough you are, the greater the benefit. It is worth developing healthy habits and sticking to them.

For me, it makes sense to use herbs to support telomerase activity and by implication, to extend telomere length. I take Product B regularly and this research makes me feel even better about it.

RESOURCES
Product B: Product B is available on-line and I have created a website that details the contents of Product B, some of the research on the herbs it contains and makes ordering easy.
For details, CLICK HERE

You Can Conquer Cancer – not just for those seeking to recover from cancer, this book details what a healthy lifestyle really is and points to how we can actively prevent chronic degenerative disease including cancer.

RELATED BLOGS

DNA and the dangly bits

Telomeres, meditation and length of life

NOTICEBOARD
1. Melbourne Day seminar with Ian Gawler and Dr Nimrod Sheinman coming soon
 MIND-BODY MEDICINE in DAILY LIFE
Relaxation, meditation and creative imagery for health, business, healing and wellbeing.
A healthy lunch is included.

ii) IMAGES, WORDS and SILENCE 
Training/retreat for those interested in mind made healing – either for personal use or as a health professional.
With Dr Nimrod Sheinman, Ruth and myself in the Yarra Valley.

2. NEW ZEALAND
i) AUCKLAND
Evening Public Lecture: Medicine of the Mind.  Thursday November 14th.
Let go of stress, activate healing, maximise performance in all you do. The power of the mind at work in everyday life.

ii) Weekend workshop: A New Way of Living
Saturday November 30th: Meditation and the power of the mind
Sunday December 1st: Living Well, Being Well –
A way of living that generates good health, profound healing and log-term wellbeing.

iii) Rotorua: Health, Healing and Wellbeing – Saturday 16th November 2013
The essence of what Ian has found most helpful.

iv) Christchurch: Inner peace, Outer health. Sunday November 24th.
A free event - find peace and clarity amidst troubled times.

v) Nelson: Mind-Body Medicine in Daily Life. Evening of November 26th.
Relaxation, meditation and creative imagery for health, business, healing and wellbeing

vi) Meditation Under the Long White Cloud. December 2nd – 8th. Seven day meditation retreat – the first from Ian and Ruth in New Zealand.
Ian will detail how to deepen your understanding and experience of relaxation, mindfulness and meditation; then he and Ruth will guide you into the direct experience of inner peace.

vii) Five day follow-up cancer program.
Specifically for people who have attended a CanLive program in NZ, or Gawler Foundation program. November 18 – 22 at Wanaka out of Queenstown - one of the most beautiful environments there is. Details: CLICK HERE

NEXT WEEK - A PHOTOGRAPHIC ESSAY FROM MEDITATION IN THE DESERT
Here is a taster!






The evening walking meditation heads out from Hamilton Downs

The iconic Uluru or Ayers Rock,
photographed during the add-on tour










KEY REFERENCE WITH LINK

Ornish D, Lin J, Blackburn E, et al. Effect of comprehensive lifestyle changes on telomerase activity and telomere length in men with biopsy-proven low-risk prostate cancer: 5-year follow-up of a descriptive pilot study. Lancet Oncol. 17 September 2013. DOI: 10.1016/S1470-2045(13)70366-8.

Ian Gawler Blog: Mind-Body Medicine in daily life – the big 3

We hear so much about the wide-ranging benefits of Mind-Body Medicine these days. Relief from stress and anxiety, mind made healing, the power of the mind. So many possibilities.

The recurring question I have been asked over many years is “How do I apply this in daily life? What works best? Where do I start? What next?”

Well, it comes down to three things. So this week we examine the big three with the intention of making clear how Mind-Body Medicine can bring comfort and ease, along with chronic good health into a busy, modern life.

Then details of new events along these lines in Melbourne and around New Zealand; but first

Thought for the day
Recent definition of meditation

Learning to focus our attention 
and suspend the stream of thoughts 
that normally occupy our mind

from the (USA) National Centre for Complementary and Alternative Medicine 





The Big 3 of Mind-Body Medicine
Number 1. RELAXATION
Yes, simple old relaxation. Well perhaps quite not so simple in that Mind-Body relaxation involves relaxation of body and mind.

But a major principle. Based on many years of experience, it is my view that many people, books, even institutions fail to recognize the importance of physical relaxation. The point?

The basic tenet of Mind-Body Medicine is that the mind and the body are connected. A tense body equates with unhealthy changes in the body’s biochemistry and physiology. If we want to have a healthy body, we need to be free of physical tension.

Now, it is possible to be mindful in a tense body. It is possible to do creative imagery or meditation in a tense body. And yes, maybe enough mindfulness, imagery or meditation does enable us to let go of tension. But in my experience it can take years and some never seem to get there. What about you? Ever met a tense meditator?

The answer? Take time to learn, practice and become proficient at relaxing the body and the mind. Start with the body, allow it to flow into the mind. Number 1 taken care of!

Number 2. MEDITATION
For simplicity we will include mindfulness, contemplation, and imagery in this process of training the mind. All are useful. All warrant serious attention with more time dedicated to learning, practicing and become proficient.

Number 2 taken care of in 3 lines! Could take a little longer in practice, but well worth the effort.

Number 3: POSITIVE THINKING
Yes, good old positive thinking. So under-rated. So misunderstood.

When I speak of positive thinking I speak of studying how the mind works and using it intelligently to best advantage.

Clearly it is the mind that changes everything and in Mind-Body Medicine we recognise that the mind decides what we eat and how much of it, what we drink, whether we smoke or exercise, how we manage our relationships, our own mind and our spiritual life.

At the very least, positive thinking is about how we make decisions and how we follow them through. So there is a huge difference between “wishful thinking”, which is when you hope for the best and do nothing about it; and “positive thinking” which is when you hope for the best and do a lot about it.

Positive thinking is not just a state of mind, commonly it is an invitation to quite a deal of focused hard work!

So Number 3 is using the thinking mind intelligently.

PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER.
Again the common question: Where to start? Well, I usually suggest meditation. Meditation that takes Mind-Body Medicine into account and so begins with a focus on relaxing the body and calming the mind. Instant relief from stress and anxiety. A rapid calming and clearing of the mind so that decisions seem easy to make and the confidence is there to follow them through to conclusion.

Sure it makes good sense to develop all three, but meditation is at the heart of Mind-Body Medicine.

COMING EVENTS
Ruth and I are fortunate to be hosting a world authority in Mind-Body Medicine during October. Dr Nimrod Sheinman has taught mindfulness and creative imagery techniques in a wide range of settings – including Universities, schools and hospitals. He and I will present a day seminar in Melbourne, then combine with Ruth for a 5 day retreat/training for individuals and health practitioners in the Yarra Valley.

In November and December, Ruth and I travel to beautiful New Zealand for a series of seminars, evening talks and retreats – see below for details.

We hope to re-connect with those of you who live locally at one of these events. Please help others know about them by sharing this blog post.

NOTICEBOARD - for full details, CLICK on the highlighted sections

1. With Dr Nimrod Sheinman
i) MIND-BODY MEDICINE in DAILY LIFE. Sunday, October 20th - day seminar
Relaxation, meditation and creative imagery for health, business, healing and wellbeing

ii) IMAGES, WORDS and SILENCE  October 28th - November 1st
Five day training/retreat for those interested in mind made healing – either for personal use or as a health professional.
With Dr Nimrod Sheinman, Ruth and myself in the Yarra Valley.

2. NEW ZEALAND
i) AUCKLAND
       Evening Public Lecture: Medicine of the Mind.  Thursday November 14th.
Let go of stress, activate healing, maximise performance in all you do. The power of the mind at work in everyday life.
       Weekend workshop: A New Way of Living
Saturday November 30th: Meditation and the power of the mind
Sunday December 1st: Living Well, Being Well –
A way of living that generates good health, profound healing and log-term wellbeing.

iii) Rotorua: Health, Healing and Wellbeing – Saturday November 16th - day seminar
The essence of what Ian has found most helpful.

iv) Christchurch: Inner peace, Outer health. Sunday November 24th.
A free event - find peace and clarity amidst troubled times.

v) Nelson: Mind-Body Medicine in Daily Life. Evening of November 26th.
Relaxation, meditation and creative imagery for health, business, healing and wellbeing

vi) Meditation Under the Long White Cloud. December 2nd – 8th. Seven day meditation retreat – the first from Ian and Ruth in New Zealand - at Mana Retreat Centre.
Ian will detail how to deepen your understanding and experience of relaxation, mindfulness and meditation; then he and Ruth will guide you into the direct experience of inner peace.

vii) Five day follow-up cancer program.
Specifically for people who have attended a CanLive program in NZ, or Gawler Foundation program. November 18 – 22 at Wanaka out of Queenstown - one of the most beautiful environments there is.

RESOURCES
My books, CDs and CD downloads are all now available once more on line: CLICK HERE
Downloads going to all parts of the world!





Ruth and I are leading
Meditation in the Desert
in the incredible, meditative
Central Australian Desert
so there will be no new post for 2 weeks.

Ian Gawler Blog: Cancer, Four Corners and hope

Anyone with advanced cancer who watched the recent Four Corners program Buying Time (ABC TV 26 8 13), could be forgiven for thinking they were in a pretty bleak position. For patients and families, as I suggest in the attached letter I sent to the Four Corners team, the message bordered on the hopeless.

The suggestion of Buying Time was clear – find a new drug, find a way to meet the incredible cost of the new drug – or die. No real mention of quality of life. No mention at all of other possibilities.

So this week we go way Out on a Limb and ask, why no options? Why no choices? Why does a great program like Four Corners focus on these new cancer drugs with their incredible price tags, multiple side effects and marginal benefits; and at the same time give the impression to the uninformed that there is nothing else on offer?

What do you think? What did you think of Buying Time? (Link below). What sort of program would you like to see? But first

Thought for the day


So long as you write what you wish to write,
That is all that matters;
And whether it matters for ages or only for hours,
Nobody can say.

     
        Virginia Woolf, A Room of One's Own




                                                                                        The daffodils are out in force - delightful!
Dear Four Corners
I have had the chance to speak or communicate in writing with quite a few people now who saw your program Buying Time and I feel it important to share the feedback and ask for your help.

The program did a good job of clarifying how the modern cancer drugs are offered as a new hope, yet cost vast amounts and produce incredibly modest gains at the additional price of serious side-effects.

I would love to be more positive, but I think you need to know a number of patients I spoke to turned the program off early into the story. Many others report feeling deeply despondent. Where was the hope?  In fact, for patients and families I suggest the message of Buying Time actually bordered on the hopeless. The suggestion was clear – find a new drug, find a way to meet the incredible cost of the new drug – or die. No real mention of quality of life. No mention at all of other possibilities.

Sure, what Buying Time did achieve was to accurately portray the modern cancer dilemma. Many new drugs are coming onto the market, often heralded with the words “significant new breakthrough” and building the hope of major benefits.

However, when the reality is examined, these drugs commonly improve survival times in terms of a few weeks; at best a few months. To achieve these modest gains, they have price tags that can run over $100,000 per person per year and they have even higher side-effect profiles than the old chemotherapeutic agents.

Obviously there is a limit to how many of these new, expensive drugs we the taxpayers can afford to fund. Already the real growth in healthcare spending over the last decade has gone up 5.3%, close to twice the average annual growth in GDP for that time of 3.1%.

As you now know, Yervoy, the new drug for people with advanced melanoma, adds 4 months to average survival times, has multiple side-effects and will cost the public purse up to $60 million dollars a year. Is this the best way to spend $60 million dollars? As a community, we are not very far away from needing to make difficult choices about how we spend our health dollars.

However, for people directly affected by cancer, the problem is more immediate, more dire. The program clearly portrayed these drugs as being out of reach financially and not very effective; yet people were still clinging to them anyway. What people affected by cancer need is realistic hope. They need genuine options. At the very least a good quality of life and a good quality of death. But more, they need to know that there are real possibilities available to them through things they can do for themselves.

In my opinion and from what I hear from others, this is where Four Corners failed. By focusing on the medical dilemma, the program omitted the imperative for modern cancer management to be more inclusive. A huge resource; an affordable, credible resource was overlooked.

There are constant reports in the media and the scientific literature of people surviving against the odds. At the same time, there is an impressive body of evidence for the quality of life and increased survival gains to be had through the application of nutrition therapeutically, through the generation of positive states of mind and the practice of meditation.

Lifestyle Medicine, the study and implementation of what people can do to help themselves, empowers the patient and their families. Lifestyle medicine offers the promise of dramatic improvements in quality of life – and the research establishes that it delivers on this promise. Lifestyle Medicine offers the prospect of significant increases in survival times – in a highly cost effective manner with almost no adverse side effects.

Maybe Lifestyle Medicine is complementary to the current mainstream cancer treatments. Synergistic. But what if the benefits of Lifestyle Medicine were actually more cost effective than these new high-powered cancer drugs?

What if as a community we had the basic common sense to push our cancer authorities to fund serious research to investigate this compelling question? Why not a three arm trial to compare one, the standard medical treatment with two, standard treatment plus the lifestyle options with 3, the lifestyle options on their own. If a super expensive, high side effect drug trial qualifies as being ethical, surely there is enough grounds to compare it to the cheap, almost side effect free lifestyle option. What does help a person with cancer the best?

I call on you all at Four Corners to prepare and screen the logical follow up to Buying Time. The public needs to know. What does the patient bring to cancer management? Why has mainstream oncology spent years blocking or even attacking the growing cancer self-help movement? When will researchers cast their nets wider and investigate the many, many stories of long-term survival? When will the patients and their families, the public and the doctors realise just how much lifestyle has to do with the successful management of cancer?

How many people do we need to watch suffer and die? How broke does the health budget need to become before Lifestyle Medicine is taken seriously?

As I said, I would like to have been able to be more positive about the program. It did open discussion around the cost/benefits of modern cancer drugs and that is a very good thing. The public needs to engage in the conversation around how the health budget is allocated. But as I mentioned to you when the decision was taken to drop lifestyle factors from the program, from the patient's perspective there was the risk of lowering hope, increasing despondency.

So now I look forward to when you are ready to do the next part of this story; the part that has the chance to be uplifting and foster evidence based hope as it focuses on the role and potentials of the patients and their families to contribute to their own health and wellbeing through the therapeutic application of Lifestyle Medicine.

Many people would offer to contribute to such a program. Many would welcome it. Many would be informed by it.

be well

Ian Gawler

RELATED BLOG

Cancer, facts and fiction

RESOURCES
Link to view Buying Time: CLICK HERE

The Gawler Foundation for Lifestyle Medicine information and programs

You Can Conquer Cancer - a comprehensive, integrated lifestyle based, self-help approach to cancer

NOTICEBOARD

IMAGES, WORDS and SILENCE 
Training/retreat for those interested in mind made healing – either for personal use or as a health professional.
With Dr Nimrod Sheinman, Ruth and myself in the Yarra Valley. Details: CLICK HERE

MEDITATION UNDER the LONG WHITE CLOUD
Ruth and I are leading our first meditation retreat in New Zealand in December at the beautiful Mana Retreat centre that has a similar high reputation for a good environment and great food as the Foundation. Details: CLICK HERE

5 DAY FOLLOW-UP CANCER PROGRAM
Specifically for people who have attended a CanLive program in NZ, or Gawler Foundation program. November 18 – 22 at Wanaka out of Queenstown - one of the most beautiful environments there is. Details: CLICK HERE

 

               More daffies   

      
      A couple of early tulips 
      glistening in the sun