natural girls
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althea, I think being dx'd with any type of cancer can be an out-of-body experience. Then, on top of that, we have doctors quickly scheduling appointments and tests and surgery, and sometimes we're in too much shock to step back and ask for time to digest it all. Chances are your friend wasn't given time to even think there might be options beyond the treatment that was being recommended for her. And, as anon said, if she did, she may have been afraid of being confused by alternative opinions.
When I was dx'd, my best friend, who is extremely alternative minded, brought me all sorts of books and articles on alternative cancer treatment, And while I have also always been holistic minded, I strongly remember feeling confused and frustrated with the information she'd gathered for me, which I had a gut feeling was not right for me this time. Thankfully, she's such a lady and a true friend, she never let on if she was disappointed in the route I chose, and was nothing but supportive. But I also remember that really surprised me, because I'd worried about having to justify my choices to her.
I have a feeling your friend may have experienced similar feelings, if she even had time to think about it. And as I learned from my friend, the greatest gift we can give someone after they've made their decision -- even if we don't agree with it -- is our unconditional support.
Like anon, I so value your input here, and I'm happy whenever I see posts from you (or anon or vivre), because I know they will be full of great information and wisdom.
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Like Designer Mom, I live in a large city and going out to farms to buy produce is not a realistic option. So I do rely on Whole Foods and a small local health food store for the bulk of my produce. On occasion, I can drive to a Farmer's Market and get truly fresh and delicious produce but it is not a regular possibility.
By the way, I won't buy my organic applies at my local Whole foods because they "wax" them with a "natural" wax. Now if I go to the trouble and expense of buying organic apples and pears, why would I want them waxed? I have complained about the waxed apples and pears. But it has not helped at all. I understand that the California Whole Foods stores do not wax their produce so perhaps this is just an East Coast phenomena. But it still is frustrating.
Anyway, it is a glorious fall day here. Hope that you all enjoy your weekends.
Mandy
PS Althea, don't take to heart your friend's decision making process. Each of us reacts to a cancer diagnosis in our own way and there is the period of shock. I am sure that she did not mean to hurt you, but rather that this is what she needs to do at this point. When I was diagnosed, I avoided a cousin who was full of advice. I had to follow my own path and talking to her just stressed me out. I realize your situation is different, but please don't take this to heart. We are always glad to receive your helpful suggestions here.
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Althea, when I was diagnosed, I did consult a couple of friends who are cancer survivors, but I studiously avoided asking survivor family members for advice because the emotional toll was too high, and I really didn't want to worry them any more than I had to.
Your friend may have waited until she knew what she was dealing with before she talked to you about it. Remember that she may have had a "routine" visit that turned into a biopsy, and by the time she knew it was skin cancer, and not just suspicious, she was having the additional surgery to get clear margins. She may have been shocked when she realized just how much additonal surgery she got. Some doctors don't let their patients know that they can get a second opinion, or that there may be more than one way to move forward.
Your friend also may not realize how much of your research is about preventing all new cancers, not just breast cancer. Don't take her actions personally, recognize that when someone is in shock, they don't always make the best decisions. She did let you know relatively soon after, so maybe now she is ready for your help moving forward.
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I am headed out to the Saturday Farmers Market here. We have a great one. We have farmers from Wisc who raise grazed beef, no antibiotics. We also have a great egg farmer and a honey man, though he admits it is hard to keep the bees from straying off the farm so he cannot guarantee it is organic. I am disappointed that the cheese is not hormone free. I get most of my veggies from my own garden. Then I am off to a local festival at the theosophical society. I will be writing a blog about it for ChicagoNow so I will send you all a link when I get my blog going. I am still trying to figure out the techy stuff. My blog is going to be about walking, which many of you may know is what I believe healed me more than anything. I am very excited about doing it. It will be great exposure for me, and maybe it will encourage me to get my book finished someday!
Althea-I know how you feel. One of my dearest friends father got lung cancer. I kept trying to tell her that after chemo she had to force him to detox and eat better,etc, etc. She just did not take the time to do anything and his cancer came back. They wanted to give him more chemo. I told her it would kill him, to take him to Mexico or at least the Block center, and try something different but she would not listen. He died two weeks later, after just one chemo. Now she wishes she had listened to me.Why do they continue to give chemo to people when they already have compromised immune systems? I think doctors make us feel like they really have it under control, and unfortunately, we learn the hard way that they do not have a clue and their hands are tied. They refuse to stray from standard protocols because they are afraid they will get sued. It is really a shame. Hang in there with your friend. You know how hard it is to think straight at first. I did not talk to anyone for months, which I regret now. In fact, I did not even come here until I had finished treatments. I will always be thankful for those who were here, debating--- errr arguing, because back then, we could not have discussions about alternatives without a fight---who were willing to endure the hatred and try to give the other side. I ran across a thread where people were talking alternatives to arimidex, which was scaring the #$%^ out of me. This got me thinking, that maybe my doctors weren't the Gods I had thought they were. Maybe I could think for myself. I have not looked back. And I have not been back to the onc or any of those cancer doctors. I now only go to doctors who encourage me to be healthy.
In lieu of pink october, I plan to organize a couple of Think beyond the Pink seminars. Why don't you all do the same thing in your town? Just find a venue, invite a couple of holistic doctors to speak about prevention, and educate women that prevention is the cure. I am promoting this campaign as an adjunct to my website, keep watching for the links.
Anon-good to see you!
Des. Mom-When you mentioned the firefighters, it really tugged at my heart. I will never forget all those brave men running into those doomed buildings. If there is one good thing that came of that horrific day, it is that their bravery encouraged many young people to serve. I am so very very proud that my son became a paramedic/fireman, even though I worry about his safety. He has a tough time seeing so many people die. I cannot imagine how hard it was for those who survived Sept. 11th. God bless them all.
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Hi ladies! Well today is my birthday and I'm just so flippin thankful to see another birthday that I could careless about turning 56!!!!!
I was watching Fox News. It showed the memorial service for the victims of 9/11. We must never forget them. I can't believe it has been 9 years!
Althea - Hey girlfriend, at least you have all of us
! We should all have some kind of get together and meet and have tons of fun!Peace, Love & Blessings to all, Patty
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Thanks ladies for all your feedback. This thread is truly such a safe haven. I've spent so much time here, I forget what it's like 'out there'. lol We're so very much on the same wavelength. I knew I'd receive kind words here, even though my post sort of sounds like "oh poor me, my friend has cancer". (there's a hilarious piece on this topic in The Onion website if you need a good laugh)
I'm glad y'all understood where I'm coming from. Even in my immediate family I've learned to accept that my knowledge doesn't have much credence in their eyes. I have a nephew with lyme and/or ankylosing (sp?) arthritis. I get very terse responses when I inquire about his health, and they certainly haven't picked my brain for even a reading suggestion. Plus I have dear friend in houston dying of a brain tumor that recurred very quickly, and I felt my heart sink when he described his 'nutty' sister in law who was suggesting alternatives. I can talk til I'm blue in the face to anyone interested in what I know, but if the interest is lacking, I think I'm very good at letting it go. I've never been bossy in any sense of the word.
With this particular friend, well, I thought we were more alike than this. Plus, she has no health insurance, so maybe she didn't believe she was in a position to question or consider an array of options. I spend so much time online with likeminded people that it's as if we have a language all our own and it takes years to gain fluency. I tend for forget how many people haven't learned even a few basic phrases yet. Thank goodness for the internet!
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That's freakin' hilarious! Thanks. (c:
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Were people talking about teeth a page or two ago? I meant to post sooner about using toothsoap instead of toothpaste. I've been using toothsoap for a year now and I really like it.
Toothpaste, even non-flouridated ones, use glycerin. If teeth are given proper conditions, they can remineralize themselves, but glycerin interferes with this process. I get mine from toothsoap.com. There's videos that explain it more. I was hesitant to try it for a long time. The idea of toothsoap was hugely unappealing to me. Plus, you just never know how much to believe a video from the same site that wants to sell you their products.
The owner has a bunch of youtubes and is very much a natural girl. She seems genuine, knowledgeable, and committed to quality. But as always, don't take my word for it. Decide for yourself. She has a subscriber list that she uses for communication and you'll get really great discount codes too when you decide to place an order.
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OMG The Onion article about someone who was needing therapeutic massage to deal with his friend's cancer! What is it with friend's thinking it is about them? People who I haven't seen in years, seem to need to participate in my treatment! I think some people live for drama. Even before this DX, I had plenty of drama! I have my own business, am married to an actor, homeschool our son and live in NYC. I don't have time to be dramatic about OTHER people's lives, supportive, yes, dramatic NO. People need to get a life!0
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designermom, it's a lampoon!
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althea- What's a lampoon? Do you mean it's not for real? That would be comforting.0
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The Onion is all spoof and satire. Often tongue-in-cheek, as good satire will be.
Anne
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Althea, I agree with comments above that some people aren't open to anything not recommended by their doctor and are afraid of a confrontation with us "nutty" alternative folks. They don't understand that we find it wrong that natural foods and supplements are considered "alternative", whereas chemicals and surgery are considered "normal" approaches.
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Althea, I am very interested in your tooth soap. I will check it out. I have already switched away from flouride toothpastes except occasionally. I use Tom's flouride free and sometimes toddler flouride toothpaste...right now I have Elmo and Thomas the Train!:)
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As some of you may recall....I had 7 reconstruction surgeries & a Davinci Robotic Hysty/Ooph in less than a year. At least 4 of my recon surgeries my PS and I believe were because of the infection in my root canal tooth.
Update.....
Just had #31 extracted yesterday instead of trying a root canal. #30 with root canal and apicoectomy and still infected was extracted last Dec after (my PS and I believe) causing 4 of my 7 breast surgeries. We believe the ongoing infection in the tooth caused recurring infections in my breast reconstruction. As soon as it was removed and healed....we replaced the TE and no more infections. I could have tried another root canal...but now I have no root canals and only one remaining crown. If it goes bad, I will extract it also as it is next to the back on the opposite lower side. You can't see the gaps when I smile as they are too far back. I have not yet decided whether I will have implants....although I did have bone grafts, the first of which has healed beautifully....so that I can have implants if I want. First I want to find out if they make a tiny denture that I can put in and out. I was thinking if they do I could wear it a lot just to support the upper two teeth to keep them from dropping. But...I don't know what a tiny denture would be made of versus the titanium with porcelain top implant........ANYONE know anything about this????
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This was posted over on the Root Canals and Breast Cancer Thread
23 hours ago kastbury wrote:
I had a root canal infection the same time that I was diagnosed with IDC. It was on the same side as my breast cancer and it was the second to the last molar, which is considered the mammary tooth on the acupuncture pathways. The root canal was about 9 years old. Apparently, your immune system can't get to the tooth as there is no blood supply. The tooth has thousands of tubes that a virus, bacteria, etc. can live in without the threat of your immune system. These parasites give off toxin which may be what causes the breast cancer or it may be the parasite itself that finds safe harbor in your tooth and then can reinfect you???? It was too much of a coincidence for me so I had the tooth taken out, I didn't want to take the chance. Also, I know the Gerson Institute makes their patients get rid of all their root canals too. I also think that birth control pills have to do with my breast cancer, but I am going to have to check out another discussion for that.
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Vivre...in one of your posts above you mentioned tumeric to shrink tumors. I have been taking curcumin and adding organic tumeric with black peppert and evoo to my food when I take the curcumin....how much tumeric per day is enough???
Thanks.
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Happy Birthday, Patty!
Nothing like cancer to make you appreciate getting older!
Beth
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Hey, it's our Patty's birthday! we love you!
I know you're not 80 but I thought you'd like the cake anyway.
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Oh anon, I love the cake and I hope one day to see 80 on my cake!!!!!! Thank you
.Thanks Beth. Yes, I appreciate everyday now!!! Cancer can have some positives!
If you girls have not check out the thread: you know your a cancer patient when....then you need too. It is hilarious.
Thanks vivre for the Happy Birthday message. You girls are amazing!!!!!
Love, Patty
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HAPPY BIRTHDAY PATTY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Luna- I was in the middle of getting an implant when I was diagnosed. It was a tooth that I had a root canal done on. Then in betweeen the root canal and crown being made, it cracked and had to be extracted. Joy! My oral surgeon is wonderful, and I trust him. When I asked about getting a bridge or denture instead, he said that it would have to attach to my good teeth on either side. He said that this very often could make those two supporting teeth unstable, and they could be lost too. So now I have the implant post in place awaiting the rest of the procedure. It was all interrupted by BC. Luckily the missing tooth is way in the back. I'm curious what your concern is about titanium and porcelain, I haven't even thought about all this. By the way, I have excellent teeth, floss and brush religiously. In the past 8 years I have had 4 root canals. They think they were probably caused by clenching and grinding in my sleep. If any of you do this, try to take steps to offset it. The pressure exerted when clenching actually can cause deep fractures.
Thanks for clarifying that The Onion is a spoof. Can't tell that I'm a bit gullible, can you! I once had a house in the country with a gas propane tank. When I closed the house for the season an elderly friend told me I better drain the natural gas or it would "go bad". I was in the process of asking how this was done when he burst out laughing at his joke. We still laugh about it!
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HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Patty!!! Hope you're having a beautiful day!
I just swung by my fav natural foods market on the way home from a day in apple orchard country, and I was chatting with one of their nutrition experts about my root canal concern. She highly recommended a book called Cure Tooth Decay by Ramiel Nagel. I bought the Super Echinacea (in a dropper bottle) she recommended, and she also gave me information on oil pulling, which she said is good for any mouth infection. Oh, and she also gave me the name of a holistic dentist. She also said that dentists are notorious for varying opinions on the same concern, so she questioned if a recommendation for a root canal would even fly with a different dentist. I'll keep you posted, but I'm really glad I stopped and talked to her. Deanna
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Patty: Happy Birthday!!! Many many many happy returns!
Deanna: Absolutely get a second opinion on a root canal or any involved dental work. Ten years ago I cracked a tooth. My dentist wanted to do a crown but I wanted a second opinion before I did even that. So I went to a highly recommended dentist. The second dentist not only recommended a root canal but said it was an emergency and I needed it immediately (and tried to get me to use him and sign a contract). Back I went to my dentist who looked at the tooth and the xray, brought in her partner to look as well and both said they did not see any need for a root canal and that it could always be done later. Well it is 10 years later and I had the crown but not the root canal---so far as I can tell, I don't need it even now.
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Deanna- Thanks for the input on the Block Center, that's where I'll be getting chemo. Port was put in Thursday. Take care.
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I did some oil pulling a couple of years ago due to a troubled tooth. Something happened during my mast/recon surgery and the top of one tooth on my lower jaw got scraped, resulting in some roughness. I didn't have money for dental work, so onto the back burner it went, but after a couple of years, that tooth was getting loose and painful. Oil pulling helped that tooth tighten up again. Later, the toothsoap resulted in the roughness disappearing.
Ramiel Nagel also has a free subscriber email with helpful tips. In one newsletter he talks about the benefits of beef broth. I sighed in exasperation because I've been doing really well on Dr Sandra Cabot's liver cleansing diet. In a nutshell, she recommends no red meat, no dairy, and everything from scratch. I tried the beef broth anyway.
The meat market where I shopped had a sign in the window advertising grass fed beef. I was unfamiliar with the ingredients I needed and they were very helpful, but I forgot to ask until it was all wrapped if I was getting bones from a grass fed cow. I got the look we all know too well -- the look we would get if we were suddenly sprouting a second head or two. Turns out the grass fed beef was specially ordered and in limited supply. I proceeded with their soup bones anyway.
The process of making broth is rather messy when it's time to strain and skim. It was on my stove for three days. The recipe warned that the material to be discarded would look disgusting, and it did. After I strained and skimmed and ladeled out a cup, I took a taste and wrinkled my nose. Then I added just a modest amount of unrefined salt, and omg, it was the best beef broth I've ever tasted in my life.
Then I proceeded to make vegetable beef barley soup, and it was divine. I ate the whole giant pot all by myself over the next couple of weeks. I also reverted back to some dinners that contained cheese last month. In July I had finally been feeling pretty darn good. Even had 3 good days in a row. All that took a backslide when I reintroduced beef and cheese. Part of me wonders if it was just the time of year. My grass wilts in the august heat, why wouldn't I.
Nevertheless, I'll be steering clear of beef and cheese and hoping to get back on track again. I'm so tired of feeling like a fizzled pop all this time after treatments. I kept reading things that mention detoxification pathways and that led me to suspect that my liver needed some support. I could feel noticeable improvement from the liver cleansing diet. Even my library has Dr Cabot's book. I recommend it to anyone who wants to improve their liver health. As for Ramiel Nagel, I'll probably not be making lots of beef broth, but he does recommend the toothsoap also. Lots of information is available free from him if you don't have $$ for purchasing his book.
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Happy Birthday Patty, hope you enjoyed your day! Many, many happy returns!!!
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Can I ask what is oil pulling??
Is it just that I am in UK....I have never heard of it!
Sam
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Happy birthday Patty! Hope you had a wonderful day!
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Sam52, I don't know what oil pulling is either, hope someone can explain.
I agree that grinding the teeth really creates havoc. Have done it since childhood and the dentist is always getting after me about it. I can't stand anything in my mouth since I have a gag reflex. UGH.
Anyway I started over 10 years ago to eliminate the metal fillings and had the amalgams removed. Be cautious because there are different strengths of fillers. The first dentist I was using filled my molars with - what my dentist said were only for the front teeth. Never the less, they started cracking (probably because of my grinding) The replacements have lasted without any problems. I've had dentists say all my fillings needed to be redone because they were all bad.... I got a 2nd opinion from a friend that is a dentist and he said no way, they're all ok. They highly recommend flossing and water pic.
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