natural girls
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PATTY !!!!! Fantastic! Terrific ! Oh, I am soooooooo RELIEVED !!!!!
Enjoy your new solace. Pamper yourself. You deserve to treat yourself after all this worry.
YAY !!!
Keep those good reports coming......
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Beth - Yep, huge sigh for sure!!!! Thank-you! I use to live in the Clearwater area. Where are you?
Ps73 - WOOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOO Thank-you!
anom - I am feeling that group hug. Thank-you!
Deanna - Whew is right!!!!!! Thank-you!
Purple - Thank-you
Luna - I could honestly feel your excitement for me!!!!!! Thank-you!!!!!
Love to all,
Patty
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Patty- we are in Sarasota - retired far from the cold of Michigan winters.
Beth
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Spring, I am so sorry about your friend Marlana. What a blow.
Patty, so glad so see you got an all clear on your scan.
makingway, I don't even go to my oncologist anymore. I asked the nurse one time about getting my estrogen levels tested. She said, oh, we only run tests that are CANCER related. That was the same nurse who answered my question about getting a flu shot in the middle of radiation treatments. In her annoying perky voice, she said, "I dont' see why not!" wtf? I wondered if she knew the meaning of oncology! So I clamped down my tongue and didn't ask how estrogen levels are NOT related to cancer when my tumor was FEEDING on it! If she knows what metastatic means, I could be knocked over with a feather. The onc wasn't much better when I asked him. He said he 'doesn't find the information useful.' At my next visit, the perky voice nurse was replaced by a surly nurse, then a teenager nurse. She looked like a teenager anyway, and her baby pink fingernail polish irritated me way more than a color choice should.
vivre, there is a compounding pharmacy in town. I've looked at their website and didn't feel very instilled with confidence. In december I took a trial run into accupuncture treatments. I told y'all about that, and later I compared costs with people in Austin, southern Oregon, and Boston, and my local guy here at the end of the earth charges twice as much for an office visit.
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Congratulations, Patty!!!!!!!!!! Wheeeeewwwww!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Patty, that is such GREAT NEWS!!!! wonderful! Glad to hear it!
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Thanks everyone! It was good to hear from all of you what I suspected - knowledge is the real key to making the decision. Looks like I've got some reading to do. I see the BC specialist Monday, so I'll need to ask some good questions. He's supposed to be one of the best in town - according to my general. I'll see!
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Nan - Thanks so much for that link! Haven't read it all yet, but just the first paragraph addresses what I was questioning - What if surgery causes the cancer to spread?
Did you have surgery? Or did you go another route?
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althea- I can relate to what you posted about the oncologist:So I clamped down my tongue and didn't ask how estrogen levels are NOT related to cancer when my tumor was FEEDING on it! It makes no sense at all that hormone levels aren't automatically tested. I think it's because the oncologists want to 'keep' their customers. I helped a couple of women with the Penguin Cold Caps so they wouldn't lose their hair during chemo. There was one nurse in particular that was so disappointed my friend still had her hair. I wanted to cuss her out, but I've learned "You can catch more flies with honey than you can with vinegar"!
When I asked my oncologists nurse for an order to get a blood test for hormone levels, she didn't give me a problem. But, at that time they still thought I was going to do the chemo with them. I also had to tell the nurse exactly what to write on the prescription. Writing Estrogen doesn't suffice. It has to be broken down to the different types.You don't have to use the compound pharmacy. Just go there and ask for a referral for a few doctors that prescribe bioidentical hormones. Ask which doctor the pharmacy fills the most prescriptions for. That's how I found my doctor. She is an Internal Medicine doctor. I went to for the testing.
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Spring I am so Sorry to hear about that. Hugs to ya.
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Spring, I am so sorry about your friend, sending big hugs to you...
Patty! I PM'd you before checking the boards! YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! so happy for you!!!!
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Spring-I'm sorry for your loss. Her passing seemed quite sudden. This cancer epidemic is never ending, when do we get to stop grieving...
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PurpleMe: APBI required 2 treatments per day, 6 hours apart, for 5 days; my last 2 treatments were today. Everything went well; I'm glad I pushed for it. Still debating whether to do Arimidex. Any experience with it, Ladies?
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I am scheduled to have a Live Blood Cell Analysis at my local multidisciplinary, holistic health clinic, along with a thermogram - Computerized Regulation Thermography/CRT-2000. Have any of you had these tests before, and what was your experience with them? They sound very useful indeed, but are also over 100 bucks each, so I want to be sure they are worth it first...
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I majored in microbiology in college. True, I had to fight dinosaurs for a desk in my hematology class. All this "test" consists of is a standard blood smear. Yes the cells are alive but they always are until they are stained or until they dry out. Staining is what lights up the cellular structure and enables the lab tech or pathologist to identify the type of leukocytes, the age of the red blood cells and much other information. The dark contrast light and computer are all very nice but there is nothing special about them and they certainly don't disclose nutritional status or clotting ability when used by themselves.
One can identify bacterial infection and parasites by looking at unstained slides. But, unless you think you might have mononucleosis or syphilis, save yourself some money. Please read these links.
http://www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/Tests/livecell.html
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Spring: I am so sorry thatyou lost your friend.
Patty: Wonderful to hear your good news.
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A lot of us have mentioned teh ANti-Cancer book - Here is a great summary of the Anti-Cancer Rules from David Servan-SChreiber.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-servanschreiber-md-phd/20-new-anticancer-rules_b_450166.html
Michael Pollan's recent little gem of a book "Food Rules" inspired me to compile my own "rules" about what I'd like every person to know about how they can help avoid cancer - or slow it down if they have it.
FOOD RULES
1. Go retro: Your main course should be 80 percent vegetables, 20 percent animal protein, like it was in the old days. Opt for the opposite of the quarter pounder topped with a token leaf of iceberg lettuce and an anemic tomato slice. Meat should be used sparingly for taste, as when it used to be scarce, and should not be the focus of the meal.
2. Mix and match your vegetables: Vary the vegetables you eat from one meal to the next, or mix them together -- broccoli is an effective anticancer food, and is even more effective when combined with tomato sauce, onions or garlic. Get in the habit of adding onions, garlic or leeks to all your dishes as you cook.
3. Go organic: Choose organic foods whenever possible, but remember it's always better to eat broccoli that's been exposed to pesticide than to not eat broccoli at all (the same applies to any other anticancer vegetable).
4. Spice it up: Add turmeric (with black pepper) when cooking (delicious in salad dressings!). This yellow spice is the most powerful natural anti-inflammatory agent. Remember to add Mediterranean herbs to your food: thyme, oregano, basil, rosemary, marjoram, mint, etc. They don't just add flavor, they can also help reduce the growth of cancer cells.5. Skip the potato: Potatoes raise blood sugar, which can feed inflammation and cancer growth. They also contain high levels of pesticide residue (to the point that most potato farmers I know don't eat their own grown potatoes).
6. Go fish: Eat fish two or three times a week - sardines, mackerel, and anchovies have less mercury and PCBs than bigger fish like tuna. Avoid swordfish and shark, which the FDA says pregnant women should not eat because they contain a high concentration of contaminants.
7. Remember not all eggs are created equal: Choose only omega-3 eggs, or don't eat the yolks. Hens are now fed on mostly corn and soybeans, and their eggs contain 20 times more pro-inflammatory omega-6 fatty acids than cell-growth regulating omega-3s.
8. Change your oil: Use only olive and canola oil in cooking and salad dressings. Go through your kitchen cabinets and throw out your soybean, corn and sunflower oils. (And no, you can't give them to your neighbors or your relatives... They're much too rich in omega-6 fatty acids!)
9. Say "Brown is beautiful": Eat your grains whole and mixed (wheat with oats, barley, spelt, flax, etc.) and favor organic whole grains when possible since pesticides tend to accumulate on whole grains. Avoid refined, white flour (used in bagels, muffins, sandwich bread, buns, etc.) whenever possible, and eat white pasta only al dente.
10. Keep sweets down to fruits: Cut down on sugar by avoiding sweetened sodas and fruit juices, and skipping dessert or replacing it with fruit (especially stone fruits and berries) after most meals. Read the labels carefully, and steer clear of products that list any type of sugar (including brown sugar, corn syrup, etc.) in the first three ingredients. If you have an incorrigible sweet tooth, try a few squares of dark chocolate containing more than 70% cocoa.11. Go green: Instead of coffee or black tea, drink three cups of green tea per day. Use decaffeinated green tea if it gets you too wired. Regular consumption of green tea has been linked to a significant reduction in the risk for developing cancer.
12. Make room for exceptions. What matters is what you do on a daily basis, not the occasional treat.
NON FOOD RULES
1. Get physical: Make time to exercise, be it walking, dancing or running. Aim for 30 minutes of physical activity at least 5 days a week. This can be as easy as just walking part of the way to the office, or the grocery store. A dog is often a better walking partner than an exercise buddy. Choose an activity you enjoy; if you're having fun, you're more likely to stick with it.
2. Let the sun shine in: Try to get at least 20 minutes of daily sun exposure (torso, arms and legs) without sunscreen, preferably at noon in the summer (but take care to avoid sunburns!). This will boost your body's natural production of Vitamin D. As an alternative: discuss the option of taking a Vitamin D3 supplement with your doctor.3. Banish bad chemicals: Avoid exposure to common household contaminants. You should air our your dry-cleaning for two hours before storing or wearing it; use organic cleaning products (or wear gloves); don't heat liquids or food in hard plastics; avoid cosmetics with parabens and phthalates; don't use chemical pesticides in your house or garden; replace your scratched Teflon pans; filter your tap water (or used bottled water) if you live in a contaminated area; don't keep your cell phone close to you when it is turned on.
4. Reach out (and touch someone!): Reach out to at least two friends for support (logistical and emotional) during times of stress, even if it's through the internet. But if they're within arms reach, go ahead and hug them, often!
5. Remember to breathe: Learn a basic breathing relaxation technique to let out some steam whenever you start to feel stressed.
6. Get involved: Find out how you can best give something back to your local community, then give it.
7. Cultivate happiness like a garden: Make sure you do one thing you love for yourself on most days (it doesn't have to take long!).
You can fInd more Anticancer info at: http://www.anticancerbook.com/
Beth
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Hlth: Thanks for posting those eating rules. Though I know them and try to follow them, it is good to see them in a clear list.
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Beth, thanks so much for posting that! I have read Anticancer and I love it... I have completely overhauled my diet, and have made a list of other lifestyle changes I need to make. I'm now trying to figure out how to make those changes, and in what order. I'm starting by quitting my stressful job (going to give notice within the next 10 days) and moving to a mold-free apartment (Apr. 1). I'm trying to break my Internet addiction, which would probably help me do all the other "good stuff" by default (exercise, meditation, etc) by default, because the Internet would no longer be chewing up all of my time.
I have a question for you all... when do you decide to used past tense verbs, in terms of "I have cancer" vs. "I had cancer"?? I know it's even better to not use possessive words with it at all, and to instead say "There was cancer in my body" so you are not claiming the cancer as something you have/own/possess. I have friends who are really careful about their language in this way, because language is so powerful... and I understand that. But using non-possessive language re: cancer is not something I've chosen to put my energies towards, because it's so much easier, simpler, and automatic to use the phrase "I have cancer" in writing or speaking.
But yesterday during conversation, when I said "There's cancer in my body," a friend of mine told me to affirm that the cancer is NOT in my body anymore, and may be entirely gone. I have only just completed the surgical phase of treatment. After a lumpectomy and 2 reexcisions, I have clear margins. But I'm going to be starting radiation in a few weeks, and I don't think I could do so unless I accepted the possibility at least that there are microscopic cancer cells in me that radiation will eradicate.
I would really LIKE to believe all of the cancer is gone from my body, but I don't think that me merely thinking it and hoping for it makes it so. When do you use past tense? When do you say "I used to have cancer, but now I don't," and how can you KNOW? How do you balance optimism and the power of positive affirmations, with pragmatism? I can't decide if I feel annoyed with my friend for oversimplifying the situation (and further eroding my faith in the upcoming treatments that I'm already resistant to!) by saying "Stop thinking there's cancer in your body" when she hasn't been through it and can't know what it's like, or if I'm annoyed with myself for not feeling able to believe the cancer's gone.
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Raili, I got these thoughts from my family doc. He said to say and think "you have a history of cancer."
He is very big on mind-body and that you program your body with your thoughts. He doesn't think people should claim their cancers as if they own them. They should never say "my cancer" but instead "the cancer."
I hope this makes sense.
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Raili ~ Maybe you can just say/think I "had" cancer...the words are very powerful and it sure can't hurt to say it. And it doesn't actually preclude the unspoken possibility that you could ever have it again, so then it doesn't have feel disingenuous, and you won't have to wrestle with yourself to justify having said it. It is really something that we all have had to learn this new language, eh?
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Oh yes, "History"....I like that, Lucy!
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Hello all my sisters, I have been around only to read your post, and they help so much. I had this same problem, do I say I have cancer maybe? or I had cancer? After my Mast. I just say, I had cancer, and figure, now I have no more of a chance than the guy walking down the street. So why say, I'm this guy, never had cancer, but I may get it someday, and every living person may have it and not know it. Do they go around saying I may get cancer someday? So thats my point, hope you sisters understand. My problem now is since I started going on dates again, the hardest thing is to tell them that I'm minus a breast, and at what point in the relationship do you tell them? The ones I have told seem not to care, but I do not know for we never went that far, I tell you it sure could mess up a relationship. Any other girls have this problem?
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I always say I HAD cancer. I felt that once I finished rads I was done with all the crap and moving forward. The truth is every human being has cancerous cells swimming around our bodies. Whether or not they grow into a tumor and spread, depends on how stressed our immune systems are. So I just continue to give my body the ammo it needs, with good nutrtion, supplements, and avoiding as many toxins in the environment and in my life (people) as possible. That is the best insurance policy we can have. The one reason I will not go back to any onc is that I do not like them telling me all their negative crap. I hate being labeled NED by them. I consider myself cured and I could care less what the medical community calls it. In fact, I never called my cancer doc, MY oncologist. She was always THE oncologist. It was my way of telling cancer to F Off! I never took it personally. I guess that is why I have been able to feel so positive that I have beat it and that I do not fear it coming back. I am not the same person I was when cancer invaded my body. I am now fully armed.
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For me - I have cancer now, but as soon as the surgery is over - I will have HAD cancer.
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Thanks for posting a summary of the anti-cancer rules. Is there a consensus on the consumption of organic dairy products? I love yogurt and cheese and have been buying mostly organic foods since well before my diagnosis.
I personally dislike the label of "cancer survivor." Since I have had surgery and completed radiation, I say I HAD breast cancer. I just don't want to be defined by this disease or any other.
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Thanks for taking the time to post on anti-cancer. I believe many of us are doing this already which shows just how in the know we all are about nutrition and health. There is a lot of difference of opinion on the excercise aspect between every book and doctor. My own theory is more days of the week then less. The weather has not cooperated with my theory lately though.
Helena, I think the dairy consumption choices will vary from person to person. I prefer to stay away from dairy because of the inflammatory aspect of it. If I do eat it, I make sure it is organic and antibiotic/hormone free and the animals were grass fed. If a recipe calls for it I add goat milk because it takes a fraction of the time cows milk takes to digest and is less stress on your body (and less inflammation). The anti cancer diet is my perfect world which Im usually pretty good about - I would give myself about a 90 on sticking to. Unfortunately last weekend, I made terrible choices- I had sugar, some alcohol and a half a diet soda - the sugar was in an energy drink so add caffeine to the mix. WTF. I have massive guilt about this - so mad at myself. Im preparing to go for a long run - the first one of the season. Hoping my boobs dont fall off.
*yah to March!!!!
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helena1018...I was on Arimidex for about 5 months and did not like the SEs at all. For me the decision came down to quality of life and so I went off the drug. Granted the oncologist I see would prefer me to stay on it or another AI, however, he said it is my body and my decision. I am on DIM plus other supplements, I'm a vegetarian, work out regularly (weights, running, yoga) and feel that my healthy lifestyle plus the supplements will keep me cancer free.
Stay strong my sisters...we are not cancer survivors...we are LIFE THRIVERS!!!!
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Purple - LIFE THRIVERS!!!!! I love it
PS73 - I did not know that about goat mild, thanks, I will use it. I know how you feel with the guilt thing. When I got my news of the all clear pet scan, to celebrate, I had a dark beer and some chocolate (woohoo). The beer made me pee all night and the chocolate kept me awake most of the night. The next day I felt like crap, lol. We have to remember guilt is not good for us and we can have some "bad stuff" sometimes just don't go crazy which I'm sure you don't. I hope your boobs are still on!!!!
We need to be praying for our dear sister, Meg. She did not get good news
Love to all, Patty
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Lots of prayers for Meg.
Patty and PS73...I'm of the belief if we stick to our "clean" eating most of the time then all is good, and that stressing out about the time we do not stick to our clean eating is worse than having sugar the odd time, drinking a beer or wine, etc. Just MHO.
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