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Comments

  • Estepp
    Estepp Member Posts: 2,966
    edited April 2009

    WOW.. all this estrogen talk.. :)

    I took estrogen for YEARS as I stopped periods very young... I ate soy ... I drank a pot of coffee a day..... I drink wine.. an too much I am sure when I was younger.... EVERY ONE of my doctors new my BC would be Er+ ( highly).....

    I was hormone very negative... 0% ...

    I wonder.. now that I have removed my breast tissue.. can I get hormone + BC now?

    The "after" mast. gets me all confused..

  • lisasayers
    lisasayers Member Posts: 144
    edited April 2009

    lucky12 you are fortunate to be seeing Dr. Brownstein!  I actually grew up not too far from you and have considered coming home for a visit just to speak with him.  I tried getting my sister to go to him, but she isn't like me when it comes to more natural ways of dealing with health!  I enjoy reading his blogs! 

    Are you taking Iodoral or some other type of Iodine supplement?

  • character
    character Member Posts: 1
    edited April 2009

    My sister has recently been diagnosed with breast cancer. She is taking a holistic approach. She is looking at CanHelp and i was wondering if anyone has any experience with that?

  • mizbabygirl4
    mizbabygirl4 Member Posts: 42
    edited April 2009

    There's an interesting article on cancer today in the NY Times. Among the things it discusses is the lack of "innovative" research and why that is a problem, and also the unrealistic expectations of friends and family. Here's the link:

    http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/24/health/policy/24cancer.html?_r=1&th&emc=th

    Janet 

  • anondenet
    anondenet Member Posts: 261
    edited April 2009

    Oh, wow. You are actually seeing Dr. Brownstein! I've heard him speak and he is fabulous. His book, "Iodine: Why You Need It..." is great. You can get it at www.drbrownstein.com

    He really knows about the breast and how fibrocystic breast disease can be a pre-cursor to breast cancer. That's why iodine is so important. If your breasts don't have enough iodine, then the rest of your body is also much more vulnerable to toxins.

    Iodine protects the body by purging cancer-causing toxins and other actions like protecting the receptors in the breast from getting greedy.

    Iodoral is the gold standard of iodine supplementation so he recommends it.

  • Springtime
    Springtime Member Posts: 3,372
    edited April 2009

    My Stevia in walmart also, near vitamins. WITH vitamins actually.

    Lisa , YOU KNOW EVERYTHING I swear! Thanks for the link! 

    Vivre, did you do your iodine loading through breastcancerchoices.org? Someone here told me that I coudl get a short free phone consult with Dr. Flechas and he was excellent at telling me what my results meant and what to do next. Retest in 3 months. (Just FYI).

    Off this weekend for a women's church retreat in nature! Will breathe in the air for you beauties!

    Spring.

  • rinna40
    rinna40 Member Posts: 33
    edited April 2009

    I'd like to continue the question about water. I purchased the book 'Living Over Cancer' that was suggested somewhere in this strand. I just bought it yesterday - and it is long - so I haven't really got into it yet. But it does have a chart about what we should and shouldn't drink each day. It says absolutely no to tap water and bottled water. It says yes to purified water. But I am at a loss for what the best source is. Isn't a Britta container made of plastic? Has anyone heard about how good the purifiers are that you can attatch to your tap. I'd love to know....

    sorry about the tags  I can't seem to get rid of them

     
  • Springtime
    Springtime Member Posts: 3,372
    edited April 2009

    Excellent question. I am drinking water purified through a carbon filter. Do they not elaborate? I have not received my book yet! But the anti-cancer book, also, I believe, wants filtered water...

    (Hence I have the filter!)

    Spring.

  • Macchick
    Macchick Member Posts: 4
    edited April 2009

    Hi, new to this thread and glad someone tipped me off on its existence.  I decided to handle my bc with surgery only, which I had in late Feb 09.  Did not do chemo or rads and am totally opting out of Tamox, much to my onco's dismay.  I went to an integrative medicine conference on bc last weekend and found it exceedingly helpful and hopeful.  There really is so much more we can be doing to be healthy and to cut our recurrence risk.  It is so empowering and freeing to know that I'm done with treatment (just had my last PT appt today) and that now it is all up to me. 

    Many people feel betrayed by their bodies but I really feel like I betrayed my body.  For years I ate candy (chocolate was my downfall) and all kinds deep-fried evil.  Although I've always been active, my poor diet which was the sugar and the fat food groups, I'm sure contributed greatly to estrogen dominance.  Anyway, all this to say, alternative, integrative modalities give me a chance to do right by my body.  I've already lost 25 lbs since my bc diagnosis in late Dec. 08 and am on my way to losing 10 more to be at my ideal weight.

    I think the most hopeful thing to me from the conference I went to is hearing integrative oncologist, Mitch Gaynor (gaynoroncology.com), talk about the fact that losing weight can cut your risk of recurrence by half, which for me was about  the same numbers Tamox promises (according to my Oncotype).  He said "the best AI is weight loss."  (I realize Tamox is not an AI but I think it could also be applicable for Tamox).  This alone gives me great hope for survival because I know I can be at my ideal weight and maintain it through healthy lifestyle. 

    I'm trying to do everything as naturally as possible through diet.  I know diet has been discussed a lot on here so sorry if I'm overlapping other comments.  I want to use the supplements as supplements and focus on the food nutrition.  Instead of iodine or Iodoral, I've decided to eat seaweed twice a day, which hopefully can address these deficiencies through food alone.  Along with DIM, I'm eating cruciferous veggies three times per day (it's weird having cabbage for breakfast, but hey).  The vit D3 issue is harder because in NYC  there's not a lot of good quality sun so am taking the 2000 iu of D3 per day.  

    I'm grateful to everyone on this board and my apologies if some of this stuff has been discussed already (unfortunately, while I read many posts in this thread, I just didn't have time to read them all - I will try to keep up with it from here on out though).

    Sending healing thoughts your way,

    Melody

  • vivre
    vivre Member Posts: 881
    edited April 2009

    Melody-I could have written you note. Are you sure you are not me? Nonetheless, I am jealous that you got to go to an alternatives bc conference. Please let me know if you hear of another. You are way ahead of where I was when I finished rads(which I wish I had skipped,BTW). I too feel that my weight loss(40 lbs) was the best thing I could do to prevent recurrance. And the losing was so easy once I committed to good nutrtion. It just makes me furious that not one of my doctors told me this, just kept pushing the arimidex. But hearing you say your doctor told you this, is very reassuring! Thanks and welcome aboard.

  • Springtime
    Springtime Member Posts: 3,372
    edited April 2009

    Melody,

    "the fact that losing weight can cut your risk of recurrence by half"

    How empowering is THAT?? Thanks for letting us know. 

    Also, In the Anti-Cancer, A New Way of Life book, he mentions studies where BC women can cut risk of reoccurrance in half by 30 min walk, 6 days a week. 

    I think both ridding our bodies of fat and moving and staying active are critical.

    Spring. 

  • dlb823
    dlb823 Member Posts: 2,701
    edited April 2009

    Wow ~ such great information!  Glad you found us, Melody.  I, too, would be very interested in a future integrative medicine conference, especially if there is one with a focus on bc.  It has also occured to me after seeing the plans for the Ta Ta Sisterhood September trip to Las Vegas, that perhaps those of us especially interested in natural healing may want to do something ourselves in the future, and maybe an integrative conference would be just the ticket!

    If losing weight decreases our risk of a recurrence by 50%, it seems like knowing our body mass index (unless we look like Lisa! Wink) would be helpful, wouldn't it?  I think my scale has that feature, so I guess I need to figure out how to use it.

    I got the results of my Bone Density Test yesterday, and, not surprisingly, I'm osteopenic.  So, I'm interested in knowing which calcium supplement you all use.  I've always taken a high quality natural one with magnesium and D, but seldom have taken the 3 tablets a day that you should.  I've also occasionally used Biocalth, which I like, but it's very pricey.  Any suggestions, especially since dairy doesn't seem to be the best thing for us now?         Deanna

  • Macchick
    Macchick Member Posts: 4
    edited April 2009

    Hi,

    The complementary medicine conference I went to can be found on this website:

    www.breastcanceroptions.org

    The conference is one day, usually in April, and it's only $35 including lunch.  It's kind of a neat event because it's designed for health care practitioners (there were nurses and doctors there getting CEUs) it's also designed for patients, survivors, and people living with bc.  If you're in NYS, or nearby, this might be something to consider for next year.  I thought it was very good and I learned a lot.

    Enjoy your weekend!

    Melody

  • anondenet
    anondenet Member Posts: 261
    edited April 2009

    Melody,

    Was that the conference in New Paltz, NY? I saw the announcement.

    Did Scott Berliner speak on Iodine for breast cancer what did he say????

    Anom

  • Macchick
    Macchick Member Posts: 4
    edited April 2009

    Hi, Anom,

    Yep, Scott was there and did speak on iodine, vit D and bio-identical hormones.  Here's some of the major points he raised (some of which you probably already know):

    Iodine - what does it do:

    1. Essential to breast development and protects against cysts.
    2. Desensitized estrogen receptors in the breast
    3. Reduced fibrocystic breast disease, which often precedes bc
    4. Caused more apoptosis (cell death) than the chemo drug Fluorouracil
    5. Prevented most rats from getting tumors when they were fed the breast cancer causing drug DMBA
    6. Reduced bc cell proliferation between the time patients were biopsied to the time they had surgery

    Bromide:

    Bromide is an element in the same chemical family as iodine and flouride.  In large amounts it functions as a toxin which purges the protective iodine by sitting on the receptors in the breast, thyroid and other organs. This displacement mechanism is called "competitive inhibition."  When bromide dominates, iodine recedes.  Bromide is found in pesticides, computers, mattresses, some Gatorade, TV, haircare products, cell phones, etc.  Brominated vegetable oil (BVO) is found in Gatorade, Mountain Dew, "juice boxes." 

    Scott recommends taking an iodine loading test to determine your iodine levels.  He recommended as a preliminary non-clinical test, painting a 2" square of iodine on the fatty part of your belly and then timing its disappearance.  Usually iodine clears in 24 hours.  If the square you paint disappears in 12 hours or less, more testing would be indicated to determine your iodine levels.  

    There is bio-identical iodine which is elemental iodine and potassium called iodide (I believe Iodoral may be one product).  He also recommended curcumin (turmeric), which is used in Indian cooking.  It is efficacious if used with black pepper.  

    Finally he suggested that flax seed and its oil not be used because it is a phyto-estrogen (I didn't know this).

    So, sorry if this is long-winded or repetitive but I did want to write down some of the stuff he said.  He also talked a lot about vit D3.  The one statistic he gave which was startling was that in 2006 it was determined that 1 in 7 American women have a vit D deficiency.  There is also a 1 in 7 chance a woman will develop bc in her lifetime.  Interesting, no?

    Very good conference with lots of food for thought.  I'm not pushing any of this, just sharing.

  • vivre
    vivre Member Posts: 881
    edited April 2009

    Melody-keep "pushing" what you learned. You are singing to the choir. Thanks for the great info!

  • amberyba
    amberyba Member Posts: 180
    edited April 2009

    Melody,

    Is the reason that is the iodine disappears in less than 12 hours is that your body is deficient in iodine and is absorbine it to quickly?

    I was dabbing tincture of Iodine on my chest back last fall. and it disappear within hours, I told my oncologist. nurse practitioner and she didn't discourage it....

    iodine is curcial for thyroid function as well.

    Amber

  • Jackmd1
    Jackmd1 Member Posts: 5
    edited April 2009

    Dear everyone,

    I hope this post finds everyone in the best of health...   While I'm an orthopedic surgeon who deals quite a bit with bone cancer, I would like to share a recent non-conventional treatment modality that shown significant improvement in a patient with breast cancer.   

     As I was researching various alternative treatment regimens (evidence-based research), I stumbled upon CAAT (Controlled Amino Acid Therapy) produced by Angelo John at the Cancer Research Institute.  The rationale behind CAAT is the following:   Cancer cells require at least 10-fold the energy that a normal cell would as a result of their large size (multiple nucleuses).  They obtain their energy from an enzymatic chain reaction called "glycolosis".  That said, by inhibiting certain amino acids (essential amino acids) in the body starve cancer cells by depriving them from their required energy pathway.  Moreover, most proteins are known to stimulate the synthesis of DNA, a paramount step in the formation of a cell.  By inhibiting certain amino acids, a significant number of cancer cells self-destruct.    If you'd like additional information on this treatment, youre welcome to email me at jackmd1@aol.com.  I'll be glad to direct you to the appropriate medical literature which supports the rationale of this non-conventional treatment. 

     Jack

    Jack Haddad, MD, MBA
    Orthopedic Surgery
    San Francisco General Hospital, San Francisco, CA
    San Jose Orthopedic Medical Group, San Jose, CA
    Highland Hospital, Oakland, CA

    Director of Research and Education
    Central Coast Nutrition, Santa Cruz, CA

    Hedge Fund Manager, Merrill Lynch, Santa Clara, CA

  • Jackmd1
    Jackmd1 Member Posts: 5
    edited April 2009

    Stacy, green tea is excellent.  It contains a compound by the name of "Limonene" which is also found in olives.  This compound has shown to disrupt the glycolosis pathway were cancer cells go to get energy.

  • lucky12
    lucky12 Member Posts: 13
    edited April 2009

    Hi Ladies,

    Vivre yes I am lucky to have Dr. Brownstein and thrilled a lot of you have heard of him!  I do feel very lucky in many ways. The Lucky12  came from my oncotype score Kiss   I meant to mention I get an Meyer IV every Monday for a month. I will get more info on that.

    Lisa where are you from?  Brownstein has two other partners now if you do decide to go he has just recently stopped taking new patients.  I had talked about going to see him for two years and never got around to it.  I am very cystic, my breast (no longer bilateral mast 10/17) but my ovaries are and around my thyroid too.  He sent me for an US to check my neck too.  And yes these cystic areas can be precursors to breast cancer apparently. Iodoral is my iodine supplement. 

    I am going obviously going for myself and for my young daughters 18, and 22.  My mother and her sister both had BC.  I am not BRAC 1 or 2.  I doubt I could get my sisters to go to a holistic doctor. Brownstein did tell me that because I was the third child, that it can play a part in some diseases because the mother's body can be worn down. Interesting.

    Mizbaby I saw the article on the front of the NYT too.  Tough to read, but since I  lived around cancer for so many years it just encourages me to keep looking.

    I am going to Dr. Brownstein's lecture on May 9. I will let you know what he has to say. 

  • lisasayers
    lisasayers Member Posts: 144
    edited April 2009

    Hi Lucky

    I'm in Pennsyvlania...I grew up in Michigan and all my family is still there!

    Thanks Deanna...yes, BMI is important to know and you can find basic calculators online to get a good idea of BMI.

    Just got home from Zumba...did three hours last night and an hour this morning!!!!!!!

     Great information ladies...and welcome to the newbies!

  • fairy49
    fairy49 Member Posts: 536
    edited April 2009

    Hi Lisa!

    quick question for you, how much DIM to you take daily? I take 100mg, should it be more?

    thanks!
    Lorraine ox

  • AccidentalTourist
    AccidentalTourist Member Posts: 72
    edited April 2009

    Thank you all for very useful information. I take kelp for iodine but am not sure about quantities.  Sorry if this has already been discussed.  What are the quantities recommended for iodine?

  • anondenet
    anondenet Member Posts: 261
    edited April 2009

    The Iodine specialist doctors recommend NOT to take kelp because 9 out of 10 kelp supplements tested were contaminated with arsenic, heavy metals and organochlorine pesticides. It was in the news how a woman taking kelp ended up in the emergency room from kelp-derived aresenic poisoning.

    Also, it is impossible to get enough iodine from kelp unless you take it 5 times a day according to Dr. Flechas.

    Until someone comes up with something better, Iodoral is the gold standard for iodine (from mineral deposits) because every batch manufactured is tested.

    <

  • Munchy
    Munchy Member Posts: 59
    edited April 2009

    OMG... I can hardly keep up with this thread!  Lots of good input.

    Amber - I just use a Britta pitcher - added benefit of the water being nice and cold too.  As far as the plastic of the pitcher itself - I believe that it's the soft, flexible plastics, not hard plastic, that have the cancer-causing stuff (forget what it's called - chemo brain).

    I too use Stevia for sweetening - don't necessarily think it really tastes like sugar, but you get used to it.

    I'm very interested in iodine supplementation.  This is the first I'd heard of it.  Will check out Dr. Brownstein's website. 

  • althea
    althea Member Posts: 506
    edited April 2009

    lucky, I am so envious you are seeing Dr Brownstein!  I'll be requesting his book through the interlibrary loan system this week.  I've been taking iodoral since december.  I take 50 mg/day. 

    I've heard Brita has a glass pitcher out now.  I'd like to get one.  I'm also concerned about my favorite tumblers that I use. It's made from polycarbonate, which is the material known to leach BPA (bisphenol A).  The hard plastic Lexan is in this category, and I'm worried that my tervis brand tumblers might have this undesirable BPA.  I'm doing some research to see if all or just some of the polycarbonate plastics contains BPA.  BPA is a xenoestrogen, so it's definitely something we could all do without.  

  • lisasayers
    lisasayers Member Posts: 144
    edited April 2009

    Good Fabulous Morning Ladies!

    I'm sure many of you get the Breast Cancer Wellness magazine in the mail...but if you don't, you can download it from their site, and there are a couple great articles in this issue:

    Plant Estrogens:  Are they Good or Evil, by Dr. Christine Horner

    Happiness is Essential for Healing, by Beverly Vote...and interview with Marci Shimoff

    Making Integrative Medicine a Reality for You

    There are other great articles...check it out

    http://www.breastcancerwellness.org/

    Make it a great day!

    Lisa

  • lisasayers
    lisasayers Member Posts: 144
    edited April 2009

    Good Fabulous Morning Ladies!

    I'm sure many of you get the Breast Cancer Wellness magazine in the mail...but if you don't, you can download it from their site, and there are a couple great articles in this issue:

    Plant Estrogens:  Are they Good or Evil, by Dr. Christine Horner

    Happiness is Essential for Healing, by Beverly Vote...and interview with Marci Shimoff

    Making Integrative Medicine a Reality for You

    There are other great articles...check it out

    http://www.breastcancerwellness.org/

    Make it a great day!

    Lisa

  • lisasayers
    lisasayers Member Posts: 144
    edited April 2009

    Lorraine I'm taking 150 of DIM per day

  • amberyba
    amberyba Member Posts: 180
    edited April 2009

    Munchy thanks for the info on the Britta, I think I can afford that one, and Althea I'll look for the new glass one, Althea, I have tervis tumblers as well, my DH loves those tumblers, and last week I was wondering the same thing "are they safe?".Lisa thanks for the link..."plant estrogens" will be a good one...

    Amber

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