natural girls
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Vivre, your lineup sounds fantastic. If I get a windfall, I'd be there in a heartbeat. I felt like the whole month of january was one big crash and burn after the holidays. My energy level is similar to a helium balloon with hardly any helium. A part on my juicer broke, so between sugary treats and no juice for two weeks, I lost some momentum.
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Just signed a petition I thought might interest some of you as well:
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Happy Birthday, Vivre, and many happy returns.
Deanna, I have signed the EWG petition. I am a member, too; what an awsome organization!
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Vivre...It is a pleasure to WISH you a Happy Belated Birthday!!Thank you for ALL your help this year.. you are such a gift to know!!!!
Hugs,
Donna
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Happy birthday Vivre....all the best!
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Wow, the birthday wishes lasted a whole week past my birthday. Thank you all so much for the well wishes.
If anyone still needs the link to the wellness weekend and our new site, please let me know.
The sun is finally shining around here, but another storm is on the way. What a winter! Stay warm everyone.
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Vivre,
Please post links! Thanks for doing all this work for us.
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Great to find this thread. Working hard at eating healthy (9 servings of organic fruits & veggies a day), about to start exercise (waylaid from 5 fay a week workouts by congestive heart failure brought on by the Avastin trial), but I loooove cheese. I've given up sugar and salt, can someone tell me why/what the research is concerning the negative effects of dairy? Thanks!
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Probably not news to most of us, but worth posting in case anyone isn't aware of it...
littletower ~ We're glad you've found us, too. The problem with dairy products, even if they're hormone-free, is that dairy cows are frequently pregnant, so there's a concern that milk products contain high amounts of hidden estrogen and/or other hormones that can be harmful to us. One of the major proponents of no animal products, including dairy, is Dr. T. Colin Campbell, author of The China Study. Another problem with whole milk dairy products, which includes most cheeses, is that they're high calorie and full of fat. And too much of our own body fat can produce excess estrogen that those of us who are ER+ do not want.
While there has been some criticism of Dr. Campbell's research, overall I think his book has some extremely thought-provoking information and ideas re. diet & cancer.
Deanna
P.S. For the sake of full disclosure, I should add that I ate way too much cheese yesterday during the game! But that was a rare treat, and I'm not going to do it again for awhile!
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Welcome Littletower! You have come to a wonderful thread!
So, I went to the onologist on Friday for my 4 month followup, all blood work was good except I am slightly anemic, I have always been low in that area, any suggestions?
Also, I told him that I had my hormones done, he wanted to see copies blah blah, but when I asked him for what to do about hot flashes etc he said to deal with it......didn't expect anything else from him to be honest, but thought I would humor myself!! He did say to avoid any phytoestrogens i.e. soy, flax etc, I didn't tell him that the naturopath has me on flax meal for hot flashes, which I must say has helped, he is very conservative, he wants all estrogens and progesterone at zip, that would make him very happy!
He wants me to have a scan of my chest wall to check things, he says he does that once a year, he said I didn't have to do it but he thinks its a good idea......any opinions on this?
Oh and he wants me to schedule a colonoscopy (sp?) as I am now over 50....eeekkk!!!
All in all a fun visit LOL!!!
L
ox
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Hi ladies,
I am newly diagnosed with stage 1 IDC. I am having a bilateral double mastectomy on Friday. I have been prepping for surgery with Vitamin drips and will have a hyperbaric chamber session the day before. I am also taking modified citrus pectin (which is really gross!) a long with all my other vitamins, juicing etc. I have met with two western oncologist and at this point they are both suggesting Tamoxifen - I am stage 1 ER/PR +. I meet with an integrated oncologist next Tuesday. I am wondering what your thoughts are on DIM. I first heard about this from an alternative doctor I went to go see but it is exciting to see posts about it. Is anyone doing both Tamoxifen and DIM? I have heard about benefits of this combo. Both western oncologists said that I could take Tamoxifen for a shorter period of time 2-3 years instead of 5 because I do want to have another baby. I currently have a 3 year old boy. Any advice or thougths would be appreciated. Oh - has anyone tried Cimetidine before/after surgery? Also.... don't want Morphine after surgery because it hurts your natural killer cells. Any suggestions there? I have heard of Tramadol and Dialudin... Thanks!!!
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I'm sorry about your diagnosis, but welcome. You sound like you are empowering yourself and well on the way to owning your treatment. COngratulations!
I didn't find this out until months after my surgery - but there is a lot of information at Life Extension and it suggests both Cimetidine and Modified Citrus Pectin before surgery.
http://www.lef.org/magazine/mag2009/dec2009_Preventing-Surgery-Induced-Cancer-Metastasis_01.htm
All the best!
Beth
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Hi Ladies,
Is there anyone out there who DID NOT TAKE TAMOXIFEN and they are cancer free after 5 years or more. I have chosen not to take it and I need to know if anyone else chose not to take it and just do everything natural. I need a little support - Thanks!
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c3353, you can take other supplements to reduce your estrogen, like I3C, DIM (one or the other not both). Also, Calcium D Glucarate. A Probiotic to cleanse your gut (make sure free of soy). Keep your immune system strong, so look at taking vit. D, Maitake Mushroom, Vit C, B Complex, Magnesium, Zinc, Selenium, Vit A, Vit E or Tocotrienol...reduced glutathione, iodine...
I'm looking over at my counter where my pill stash is to see if I'm leaving anything out. I'm sure the Natural girls will chime in shortly with anything I've missed.
Just got my D results back today and I'm at 122! woo hoo! So, I'm now down to 5000 D3 / day and will re test in the summer.
I picked up the iscador. It cost about $200.00 and it's a month supply. I inject myself every other day varying the doses as per the label, 14 injections in all. Then I break 2 weeks and resume for another month. Crap, I hope I do the needle thing okay, I'm starting tomorrow morning.
Also, going to start Zometa. Spring, I think you took Zometa too right? My naturopath said he thought I would benefit can you believe it? My onc. basically said it would not benefit me much.
Let you know how I do with the.....neeeeedles!
Christine
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Indeed, Vivre, I am very much interested in the wellness week, as well as in the new site. I have an upcoming trip, but if I am in the country at the time of the event, I would really, really want to attend it. Thanks so much....
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Vivre, can you tell us your site address?
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Welcome to the thread bridget and c3553. I took tamoxifen for 26 months. My onc practically yawned when I told him I'd stopped taking it, and he didn't even mention arimidex or any revised risk factors for not taking tamoxifen. I'm still here, for whatever that's worth as a tamoxifen half-wayer. I stopped taking it 2 years ago.
I just read a book by Norman Cousins, Anatomy of an Illness. Back in the 60's he was dx'd with anklosing spondylitis (sp?), which is a really bad form of arthiritis that my 25 yo nephew has. The book was of interest to me because Cousins refused what little mainstream medicine was available and used intravenous vitamin C and lots of marx brothers videos to reverse the effects of his illness. I was anticipating the book to be about his own journey to wellness, but that was pratically a footnote.
Cousins used laughter as a big part of his recovery. In the last chapter he's brimming with optimism about the future of medicine and how doctors will be more open to well informed patients playing an integral part of the recovery process. This book went to press over 30 years ago! I don't know how much vitamin C drips were maligned back then, but they're anything but mainstream all these years later. I suspect Cousins simply had an optimistic outlook, which undoubtedly played an important role in this recovery.
The chapter that really gave me mixed feelings was the chapter on placebo. He cited a number of studies that seemed to indicate people get better purely as a result of the placebo effect. Today it's chemotherapy. Historically, all kinds of creepy things have been used in the name of healing -- eyes of bats, chickens feet, potions and lotions filled with things that seem ludicrous today. Yet, people would get better after taking these things. And even if people were taking a sugar pill while thinking they were getting the real thing, they'd still get better.
I just can't help but wonder, am I still here today after chemo/surgery/rads/tamoxifen BECAUSE of those treatments or IN SPITE of them? What if it was ultimately my own power to heal myself that I'm still here? hmmm.... But then, if the placebo effect is so pronounced, why am I still battling fatigue after literally years of being tired? When I first dusted off my jucing machine, I thought that was my ticket for kicking some fatigue ass. When learned about sublingual B12, I thought, aha!, that's what I need to feel energized. After that theory fizzled, it was tyrosine, then iodine, then thyroid glandulars (3 maybe 4 different brands), then ATP cofactors, and a laundry list of all the things I've been trying for a looong time.
Every single time, I believe, I hope, I pray that my fatigue will finally give way and let me reclaim my vibrance. So where's that placebo effect gone to?? If it really works, it's sure bailing out on me. Or could it work on some things and not others? I found it interesting food for thought.
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I haven't posted in awhile, been busy. Welcome to all the newcomers, and Bridget, sounds like you've really taken things into your own hands. Hope you get that baby someday!
Vivre, I wish your conference was nearby, would love to attend something like that, what motivation you have to put something like that together. Hope you get a good turnout.
I just had my Onc visit today, and he wasn't happy that I'm no longer having hot flashes. He says that's how he knows tamoxifen is working. He also wasn't thrilled that my ovaries have woken up again. After going 10 months without a period, it started up again last month, and now again this month along with all the PMS symptoms. But I'm happy about it, because now they can't push their AIs on me, which I've told them I don't want to take.
Lorraine, I did use something called tincture of rhubarb for hot flashes when they were really bad, and it did work after using it for about 2-3 weeks. I stopped it about a month ago when the bottle finished and they still haven't started back up, don't know whether it's due to lasting effects of the herbal or the fact that periods have started, or just that I do exercise regularly.
I also use flax, but my Onc said that that is fine, and that soy is also fine, but in moderation. He was also the one who suggested the herbal remedy, so it's funny how different they all are.
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Welcome Bridget and c3353!!
Bridget, I also took modified citrus pectin and cimetadine before and after my lumpectomy and told my anesthesiologist I did not want morphine used.
c3353, I too was diagnosed with DCIS and there is NO WAY I'm taking tamoxifen. I told my breast surgeon that in the past (when trying to conceive a baby), drugs were not able to correct my estrogen dominance, whereas diet/exercise/lifestyle did - so that's the approach I'm taking now. He said, "I'm fine with that!" (and he's a super-traditional doctor.) When I made this decision, I found plenty of people who refused Tamoxifen and were fine 5-10+ years later... I can try to dig them up but believe me, there are plenty. I do take DIM but also do a lot of other diet/lifestyle stuff to keep my hormones in balance.
Althea, watching/reading comedies in some fashion was part of my "fight cancer" plan and I've fallen down on the job on that front. (I have succeeded in not watching TV news, though, which is at least a step in the right direction!) I agree completely with Cousins' theory and recently read a scientific study that backed it up. It definitely makes sense knowing what we know about the mind-body connection.
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I think tamox and the other drugs are fine for those who do not want to make a committment to figuring out what caused their cancer and do not want to try what we are doing. We get cancer when our system is out of balance. When we are not in sync, mind, body, and soul, we leave our bodies vulnerable to attack. It takes a lot of work to find that balance, and our little group here is proof that this search goes in all kinds of directions. None of us got cancer for the exact same reason, so why do they think that there is only one method of prevention? We know for sure that there are many causes of cancer. Our best hope is to try to minimize as many causes as possible. That means, eating healthier, exercising regularly, trying to avoid as many toxins as we can, including toxic people, and figuring out where our own bodies are deficient, so that we can put it all in balance again. I felt so much better when I took control of my own health and said no to the drugs. I have spent the last two years on this endeavor, and while it is a lot of work, the payoff is that I feel better now than I have in my whole life. I am more at peace emotionally, than I ever was before, and my energy is better than when I was a kid. Facing all my health issues is what has kept me cancer free for over 2 years, and gives me the the total confindence that it will not come back. Although I must admit, I have one more hurdle. I have been trying to figure out how to have these friggin amalgam fillings removed from my mouth. After all the research I have done, I am certain that they are the reason for the constant post nasal drip that I have had for years. Nothing else has stopped it, and I know this constant fight by my immune system to overcome this toxic mercury, means it cannot fight other invaders. So I am going to find a way to pay for this, come hell or high water. I have a great dentist who is going to speak at our prevention convention on this, plus the dangers of root canals (which I also need removed) and flourides and chlorines used in dentistry(do not use those tooth whiteners). On Sunday morning, I have someone who is going to talk about finding balance with TaiChi and my Chinese doctor is going to talk about the wisdom of Chinese medicine. Chinese medicine is all about finding balance. It is such a shame that we cannot get our medical community to combine the best of both worlds. Modern medicine preforms many miracles, but sometimes the old tried and trued ways are just as powerful.
We are not ready to publish our website yet, as we are still trying to organize the forums. But I will sent those of you who are interested the link, so you can see what we have set up so far, though we are still changing it constantly. We appreciate your ideas for the site too. I sure hope you guys will try to come to the weekend. If you bring a friend or spouse it will only cost you 50 bucks per night per person for the room. The seminars are free. You can often get really good fares to Chicago on southwest.
Welcome to our newbies. We hope you will find the answers you are looking forward here in our little corner of the world.
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hello, I am now taking tamoxifen off and on, It really makes me feel irritable, achy, and tired. Sometimes I feel like I can have a stroke. I told the Onc and he said some people react this way; to it. But he also said he feels I should try to continue to take it, or think about removing my ovaries. I want to find some healthy alternative. I haven't been really good with my diet since I finished chemo. I have gained about 10 pounds I am constantly snacking at work, on cookies, or chocolate, popcorn. It maybe a nervous habit. I do eat lots a vegetables, organic fruits, and I have oatmeal with walnuts and blueberries every morning. but find myself not having the energy to work out the way I want to.
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Hi AMANN. Coincidentally, I was searching for information about Thal/Min. tonight on BC.O, came across one of your posts and was planning to write to you. I was dx'd with Thal/Min and wanted to know how or if it has affected your treament plan and if your Oncs made any special recommendations to you.
Regarding the Tamox, I am so sorry to hear that you are having such nasty S/E's. I decided against Tamox so I can't offer any advice on what to do in your situation however, there are some othes faced with this challenge who might be able to offer you some guidance.
In the meantime you can check out some Tamoxifen threads here: http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/79/topic/745914?page=5#post_1690905http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/79/topic/745914?page=5#post_1690905
and here
http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/79/topic/745914?page=5#post_1690905
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Deciding about whether or not to take arimidex(my doctors drug of choice) was agonizing for me. In fact, it was this inner debate that actually brought me to this forum, where I found women like me, who had chosen to go another route. I was scared too death to start putting chemicals into me every day, and when I read about the side effects I really freaked out. My doctors of course kept miniminzing the side effects and scaring me into believing this would save my life and I should be happy they have invented this drug. I still get so furious when I think about it. They never even checked my hormone levels or told me one way I could lower my estrogen levels naturally! I started researching on my own, and found out some really troubling things that they would not tell me about. For instance, body builders use arimidex in their steroid "cocktail". I finally could not take the pressure any more. I tossed the pills, made a committment to take care of myself, and never looked back. I lost 40 pounds easily, just by eating better, omitting all the junk in my diet, and exercising daily. Certain foods are natural hormone inhibitors. Eat lots of things like broccoli, and brussel sprouts. There are lots of herbal remedies that have proven to do the same thing as these drugs. I take myomin which does the same thing as DIM/I3C. We have a thread that discusses all of this. We also have a couple of links to studies that the show real dangers of these drugs, including the possibility of other cancers and aggressive reoccurances after long term use. Putting any chemical in our bodies is not without consequences.
There is no magic pill. There are plenty of studies that show things like daily exercise and a healthier diet lowers your risk the same as taking these drugs. It takes diligence and a lot of self discipline, but changing my habits to healthier choices has made me feel so great that that is my motivation to stay on this path. I will never go back to where I was before. That is why I do not worry about a recurrance, just because I do not take a drug. We all need to trust that little voice in our heads that will guide us with these decisions. We all also need to do all the research, and not take anyone's word for gospel, before choosing which path we will follow. In the end, we all must feel confident in our choices, no matter what they are. Make an educated decision. Read, read, read.
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rgiuff...question for you re tincture of rhubarb. I have checked my local Whole Foods and have not been able to find this tincture. did you order yours online or pick it up in a health foods store? I am still searching because even though I am 8 years post menopausal, I still have the hot flashes.
thanks
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rgiuff...me again. I think I may have found it online..go figure I have been searching for awhile and as soon as I post my question and then do another search I find a different online company. anyhoo...is your tincture..."rheum palmatum (chinese rhubarb)"?? thanks again0
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I have decided that I will not take Tamox...obviously against my onc's directives. Although I have never once thought that I should take it, I do get anxious about it. The stats are so hard to make sense of...
Does anyone have stats on how many women do take Tamox and STILL have a recurrence?
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Suzanne---
To answer your question, 96.5% of the time, for node negative patients, it doesn't make any difference whether you take Tamoxifen or not. See below.
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Here is a list of super foods that comes from a book called Super Foods Health Style. The book explains why each one of these is a super food.
apples
Avocado
beans
blueberry
broccoli
cinnamon
dark chocolate
dried superfruits
extra virgin olive oil
garlic
honey
kiwi
low fat yogurt
oats
onions
oranges
pomegranates
pumpkin
soy
spinach
tea
tomatoes turkey
wild salmon
walnuts
I really enjoyed this book
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lucy: Thanks for the link: this one is going straight into my folder of facts on Tamoxifen.....
EDITED TO ADD: Ditto (everything luna wrote below). Your research is invaluable
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Thank you Lucy for the stats. Putting it in my folder too so that I can pass the info on to anyone who wants to know this same info that we do. I was already satisfied with my decision not to take Tamox or any of the AIs. Your helpful link and direct, to the point summation has helped immensely. Thank you to you and all the giving people on these threads who spend countless hours doing research and bless us by passing it on to us all !!!
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