MasterChef winner Thomasina Miers gives 'grim' health update following cancer treatment
MasterChef 2005 winner Thomasina Miers recently underwent a mastectomy after she spotted two lumps in her breast.
MasterChef champion Thomasina Miers has given a "grim" health update following her cancer treatment.
Just two months since she underwent a mastectomy after she spotted two lumps in her breast, the 50-year-old cook, who won the BBC cookery show in 2005, has had her first round of chemotherapy and admitted it was a rough experience.
Taking to Instagram on September 6, Thomasina shared a shot of a big white tent against a beautiful pink sunset backdrop, with the caption: "When you’ve done your first chemo and despite it being more grim than most other things thus far, you still get through it.
"Not only do you still get through it but you do this funny thing called a Fast Mimicking Diet through it which seems a radical way of improving the side effects and a week later you manage to dance until 1AM at your uni flatmate’s 50th birthday party and it feels B***** BRILLIANT…!!!!
"No-one is taking the dancing out of this stubborn, mad-capped, people-loving, life-loving, thrill-seeking cooker woman, no sireeeeeeee. (sic)"
Per journal Clinical Nutrition, a Fasting Mimicking Diet is a "short-term (4–7 days) very low in calories and protein diet designed to imitate the effects of prolonged and intermittent fasting while minimising the risks of chronic calorie and protein restriction".
On July 10, Thomasina underwent a mastectomy - a surgical procedure in which one of the breasts is removed - and five days later, she told her Instagram followers about the procedure, as well as urging them to get checked.
The co-founder of the Mexican restaurant chain Wahaca penned: "So….I had a mastectomy last Friday.
"Originally I’d had a cyst there but the 2nd (and 3rd) lump turned out not to be one at all. Quite the reverse. They were bad asses.
"Take out: Always check a lump EVEN if you think it’s a cyst and do it promptly!!! (sic)"
Thomasina added that her prognosis "so far is good", and thanked the "incredible doctors", who she is "in awe of", for their care.
The writer noted that she believes "in the ancient wisdom of Hippocrates and Ayurvedic medicine", adding that "food is medicine. Positive framing is everything".
Thomasina went on to explain how her emotional health and age have helped her.
She said: "Emotional health is as key in our modern lives as all the wellness hype. Coping with some fairly punchy ADHD means I have been excellent at worrying over the years.
"Battling with low self-esteem (in teens; 20s; 30s; even 40s!) is part of it too. Don’t bury that stuff. Address it and deal with it.
"Age helps. Age is wisdom. Women particularly benefit from the passing of time by absorbing small truths. We are actual experts in our fields by now, we are good at what we do. Knowing that, with quiet confidence is a gift. (sic)"
Thomasina is finding a silver lining in her health scare.
She said: "This scare, and what it puts in my path, may help me be braver at taking leaps into the unknown and making some scary decisions. This is a very good thing! We only get one life. (sic)"
The TV presenter, who is married to fund manager Mark Williams, is "feeling enormously grateful", adding: "For the care I have had so far.
"2. For the hamper my girls packed for my hospital visit. How sweet were those disco glasses?!
"3. For my family (my hubbie, and my mother, in particular, for just being so epic and kind in this v sudden roller coaster).
"4. For my friends and all their words of love that have made me feel the luckiest person in the world.
"5. For breast cancer care that has moved on SO MUCH in the last 10 years. Praying for no chemo.
"6. For life itself. We are fed s*** news on a drip by people who profit from dividing us but if humanity is going to save itself, we have to look for the good, and believe in it. (sic)"
Thomasina - who has three children - concluded: "So, hugest love to all of you. You follow me, you hang with me and I don’t tell you often enough what that means to me.
"Love, Tommi. Ps I got dressed today!!! (sic)"
Thomasina added in the post's comments section: "PPS If you feel moved this week, consider putting on a tune and doing a jig, a wiggle, a dance, a leap, a groove on with some good, non-chemo vibes for me. That is what I am praying for over here! (sic)."
