natural girls
Comments
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Deanna,
The PRESS RELEASE on progesterone completely misrepresents the rat study. The researchers are trying to justify using an expensive lung cancer drug to suppress progesterone.
read the full study here. http://www.springerlink.com/content/2442385375833472/
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Oh no! Not the "Rat guts in the blender study" again!
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Ivory mom- I take everything on your list so looks good to me! I take a B complex that has all those Bs including the mthf form of the folate- it's called Thera-B, and is made by ProThera. If you can get it, it might cut down the # of pills. I get it from my oncs office directly so I don't know whether or not it's buyable...
MTG- I take 200 mg/day of SAM-e, for what it's worth. Don't know if that's standard- I think it's kind of on the low, maintenence side of standard.
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Could you explain what that mthf folate is?
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I just learnt that fennel has estrogenic properties and should not be eaten by those with estrogen + breast cancer. I kind of wish I had read up on it before I consumed a whole "bulb" within 2 days! Just thought I'd let you know....
Terri
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I think you guys are getting too worked up about food. Herbs, fruits, veggies and whole foods do not cause cancer. Environmental toxins do. If you are eating foods that are herbicide and pesticide free, it does not matter what you eat, as long as you eat a variety. It is okay to eat ground flax seed, fenniel, or whateever may affect hormones, but not everyday. The problem is not eating estrogen foods that will pass through. The problem is eating those that are stored in fat tissue. That is why weight loss around the middle is important. Estrogens are stored there.
The main "foods" to avoid are all the white stuff. Sugar, flour, dairy (except for unprocessed), etc. You should also all chemically adulterated foods, such as processed, junk food and soda, and of course, alcohol (though an occasional glass of wine is an okay treat).
Fairy-good to see you again. Are you drinking enough water? And are you getting enough of the good fats, like Omega 3? These are the best ways to keep the skin healthy. If you can pinch your skin and it does not "bounce back" immediately, you need to drink more water.
IvoryMom-good to see you again too. It is good to hear you are on the road to wellness. Do you know that flax seed must be chewed to pulverization in order for it to digest? That is why it is advised to eat ground flax instead of seeds.
I agree with Lucy about that progesterone study. As usual, it does not distinquish between BHRT and HRT. With BHRT, it is all about finding the balance. That is why I do not think anyone should be doing any hormone treatment with stuff bought online and without a doctor who can keep testing to see if you are balanced. The way my hormone doc explained it (and I am not reiterating very well, but hope you get the jist): Hormones are very tricky. If one hormone dominates over another, it can fill the receptor sites and act like the hormone it replaces. I am not sure how this happens, but she basically said that if you get too much progesterone it could act as estrogen. That is why this must be monitored. She also said she has tried and tested many of the over the counter progesterones. They do not have a long shelf life and thus can very tremendously in dosage. She said it is very difficult to know exactly the amount you are getting with these topicals. She is so persnickity, she recommends using a syringe that exactly measures each dose. As I said, she has studied at Harvard and Northwestern and is an internist, and was mentored by another Dr. out in CA. I forgot the name of this other doc, but I will try to get it when she gets back from vacation in a couple of weeks. You gals out there should try to see this doc.
If I were to have a recurrance, the first place I would head to is Sanoviv.com I have talked to two people who went there, and they raved about it. I am actually thinking about going there to complete my dental work, as they have a biological dentist and also tend to all the detoxing that is essential with mercury removal.
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This is just my opinion but I'd bet the many good properties fennel possess far outweigh the bad and I think as long as were aren't overdosing on any particular whole food, we can benefit from them.
According to foodforbreastcancer.com...Fennel is a good dietary source of vitamin C, potassium, and fiber, and a fair source of folate, manganese, and molybdenum. Fennel also contains various phytochemicals, including limonene, rutin, quercetin, and kaempferol, all of which have demonstrated chemopreventive activities....Fennel has been shown to have antioxidant, antifungal, antibacterial and antithrombotic properties....A methanolic extract of fennel was shown to be cytotoxic to human melanoma cells in one study. A fennel seed diet was shown to prevent carcinogen-induced skin cancer in mice in another study....
It does say however....Information concerning fennel consumption as it relates to risk of breast cancer is limited. Reports that fennel has been used to increase breast milk production are concerning because they suggest that fennel acts directly on breast tissue. Fennel has been shown to have estrogenic and progesterone-binding properties, although not all studies agree on this. Until more information becomes available, it appears inadvisable for breast cancer patients, survivors and those at high risk to consume more than modest amounts of fennel, fennel seed, fennel seed tea or fennel essential oil.
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Thank you Vivre for your never-ending wisdom on all this stuff....Just wish I could find myself a ND in my area that tests hormones, I'm going it alone in that area which kind of scares me after reading your post on how dominant hormones can "fill the receptor sites and act like the hormone it replaces." I have been getting bigger around the "middle" and can't seem to lose the weight no matter what I do. Thought that was just part of being in menopause but I can see now that I have to get this under control since as you say, I'm probably storing estrogen there. Never had this problem before menopause, in those days I just stored it in my thighs!......lol
Edited to add: Impositive, I guess as the study shows the verdict is still out. For the moment, I suppose a little here and there won't hurt along with the multitude of different supplements I'm taking. I suppose I need to stop second guessing myself and accept that I have made the right choices for me. I have to admit, it's really hard for me to go against what my ONC prescribed (Tamoxifen and then Femara) and do my own thing. Going against the stream is still something I deal with inwardly. I'm just so grateful to have this thread to bring me back on course when I start to waiver.....
Terri
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MBJ............ AWE.... your smile is beautiful..... those awesome teeth ! You look like a bright light... happy and content ! Of Course... you looked amazing in the non smiley ones...:)
...... I am just partial to a smile...:) Beautiful!!!!!!Ladies.... I have been reading on this thread for the past hour. You ladies are a resource of great health...... I for one, THANK YOU !
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Barry... I cannot add anything here, for your situation, as I am still learning so much. I wish I could...
I do offer you my empathy.I am sorry you even have to CONSIDER your options. For this, I feel empathy for you. Bless you !
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Estepp:
You are making me blush!!! You are the best! 0 -
Deanna: I sent that link to my Dr. and currently he only has me on the BiEst. I am seeing him once a month so I am closely being monitored, too.
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I began taking iodine about a month ago. Saw my doctor last week and she threw a fit over it. She was quite rude. I'm thinking of going to another doctor who might be more open about it. Yikes, I don't know what to do. Anyone had this problem? And how did you handle it? Thanks.
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Maya...why would a dr be upset over taking iodine? WOW.. i would think that this would be a necessary suppplement for any woman. At this juncture, what woman has a truly effective working thyroid? Sorry for you!!!0
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Nice Thread ... I have opted to not take the five year sentence of Tamoxifen ... my Naturopathic Oncologist has said that I can as good or better than with my 2 tablespoons of fresh ground organic flaxseed (one in am and one in pm) Plus he has me on some vitamins and supplements. I am on a very strict food intake and I am not permitted any processed foods ... I make my own salad dressings, eat at least 10 fresh fruits and vegies per day ... wild fish ... lots of nuts ... no dairy ... no breads or potatoes or rice ... 3 -5 cups of green tea ... All of my food when possible and affordable is organic and as close to local as possible. He reminds me that I am Hormone Receptor positive and I must keep that in mind .. No meat unless it is organic or hormone and antibiotic free ... includes dairy ... But also reminds me that sugar feeds cancer - processed foods are the worst! Berries are the best antioxidants and olive oil (100% cold pressed extra virgin organic in a green bottle) and organic nuts and seeds ... There is lots to eat out there, but cant seem to find it in most grocery stores or restaurants. Thats my mouthful for now
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I'm trying to do what you are doing but it is extremely hard. Damn, I love chocolate. But I must say my diet has improved. I try shopping at Whole Foods but it isn't always possible because it is 40 min. away. So when I go to the regular Stop & Shop, I freak out at what is in other peoples carts, especially those with children. I think people only feed children carbs! Not only that - but I'm a teacher and those school lunches - oh my! Even though there are some healthy choices - salad, yogurt, veggies, the kids are allowed to buy what they want. A little girl came to my room the other day with her lunch - a load of french fries - a breaded chicken patty on a white roll and a plastic bottle of water. The worst of this is that this is probably the main meal of 30% of the kids. I really think that only healthy and unprocessed foods should be allowed.
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claire good news about chocolate. If you will eat the dark chocolate with a high cocoa content it actually has antioxidants in it which is good for us. The dark chocolate does not have as much sugar, but with a high cocoa content you don't need as much sugar for it to taste good. Hooray!!!!
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Maya-Not all doctors are iodine literate these days. It use to me a mainstay of medicine until the drug companies took over med schools and have since scared doctors away from iodine and other natural solutions. It is sad. Most doctors still believe that iodine can kill people because they only look at the TSH and not the T3 and T4. Tell your doctor to read the research of Dr. Brownstein and Abramson and more. Or look for a doctor who has done the homework. Bon Chance!
Jainey-It sounds like you pretty much follow the exact plan I started out with, except I do not take flax seed, except occasionally. I think we need to use variety, and not have the same thing of any estrognic, phytoestrogen, or xenoestrogen on a daily basis. There is still a lot of research to be done so I just like to be more cautious. I know how you feel in the grocery store. I have to bite my tongue all the way when I look at people's carts. It really is sad what young Mom's think is food these days.
Claire-Dark chocolate is an antioxidant. It is okay to eat it, just don't overdo it, and find chocolate that is as much cocoa, and as little sugar as possible. I get my chocolate fix by adding a tbs of organic cocoa powder, and a tsp of cinnamon to my daily Usana nutrimeal. I replace breakfast or lunch with a Nutrimeal (chocolate whey). It helps to keep my glycemic index balanced, and I love the taste. Plus, it keeps me energized for several hours.
Terri-I know how you feel. I was always bottom heavy and added a lot to my middle at menopause. The most protective thing I did after bc was to lose 40 pounds. It took me a year, because I did it the right way. No crash diet or counting calories. I simply stopped eating anything white, including pasta, which was hard for me since I am 50% Italian. Low glycemic is the answer. I eat the classic mediterranean diet now, without the pasta of course. I also committed to daily exercise. I walk in the winter and bike in the summer, and of course I do my rebounding almost daily. Also, adding free weights will add muscle and that revs the metabolism. I also do a little yoga and ballet bar exercises on my rebounder. I never imagined that I could lose weight. I thought I was destined to have the "italian mama" look of my relatives. But I now wear a size 6 comfortably. Meanwhile, my cousins are all battling diabetes so I am on a mission to get them on board. The one thing I heard about diabetes is that it somehow protects against cancer. Not sure which is worse. But I know cancer saved me from the plight of the rest of my family.
One more thing-They thyroid is the key to weight loss. Being hypothyroid is a major cause of breast cancer. I have gone to hear so many doctors speak who believe this is more important than blocking estrogens. Keep shopping until you find a doctor who is iodine/thyroid literate. And read Dr. Brownstein's book.
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Hi all. I guess, I am not new to BC but, I am new to this forum per say. I was diagnosed 7/09; IDC; 1.1 CM; Stage 1; Grade 2; ER and PR+; HER-; No Lymph node involvement; Oncotype DX score-8. No Chemo, Radiation due to staging, grade, ER and PR+, HER- and low Oncotype score and bilateral Mastectomy (both) removed. Currently taking Femara.
Medical issues prior to BC diagnosis: Osteoporosis stage 3 which my Oncologist is having me get 1x per year infusion of Zometa for as, one of the SE's of Femara can be decrease in bone density. I also broke my neck in 1983 and had to have C-3, C-4, and C-5 vertebraes fused, so I believe, I also have some Arthritis happening now or my age is catching up!
Supplements I currently take: Vitamin D-3 5000 IU 1x per day; Calcium 500 Mg 2x a day; Sublingual Vitamin B12 1x a day; Extra Strength Cranberry 1680 Mg ;Chewable baby aspirn 1 x per day (Oncologist wanted me to take this due to potential for blood clots while taking Femara.)
Perscriptions: Femara 1 x per day; Methocarbamol 750 Mg 4x per day for muscle spasms due to neck/cervical issues; Tylenol 3 for pain; Omerprazole 20 Mg 2 x day or as needed for GERD, and the generic of Flonase nasal steroid spray due to a history of Chronic Sinus issues/infections.
Anyhow I probably have not been the best at, healthy eating habits. I have never bought organic, while working sometimes to be honest when I got home I was pooped so, easy and fast was what I did. Don't get me wrong, I did and actually do cook home made meals from scratch.
I'd try to cook ahead on weekends and freeze meals, that was easy and what I thought to be nutritious for our family of 3 that we could thaw out as needed.
This organic idea and supplements are so confusing and overwhelming to me now. I want to eat more healthy, and use supplements that will be beneficial. However one site says for instance soy is bad, another says it is good. One says flaxs seed is bad, another says it is good and ok for someone with BC. One site says not to take Vitamin E, due to this being a blood thinner like aspirn.
I've heard about something called Usana but have no idea what this is, or if this will interfere/counteract the Femara I am on, among the many other perscribed medications, supplements I take above.
I am trying to be more conscious of healthy foods, and health in general but wow information overload! I do belong to a gym/fitness club that my daughter and I just joined. I use to go to the YMCA before and shortly after breast cancer diagnosis however, there idea of strength training was bench pressing up to 50 pounds! I could not do this. And my Oncologist said, "No more than 15-30 pounds." She said, she worked with a personal trainer and hurt herself, so to be very careful in regards to these things.
At the gym/club we now go to they have a program called: " Design a program." This is where they work with you, give you a plan for exercise with your medical situation in mind, and within each individuals ability per say so hopefully one does not do more damage.
My daughter and I, went Wednesday night for the first time. I walked the tread mill for 15 minutes, then did the bike for another 15 minutes and some arm exercises. And boy did thy bones/muscles know it afterwards...I can tell it has been a while since I have worked an excercise program!
I guess, I am confused as to what foods I should/shouldn't be eating. I like protein shakes because I have heard these are good for you. I use Whey for these gotten at Sams Club, throw in my yogurt, fruits and sometimes a little milk and the other night on one of the forums they said not to use Whey because it also has Soy in it which, is not good for BC. So I am flustered as to what to do/eat/not eat/take for supplements/not take for supplements.
I apologize if I am on the wrong forum here, and that this is so long. But this food thing,supplement thing is pretty confusing to me. Thanks:)) Have a good day:)))
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Anyone else getting their exercise by shoveling out AGAIN? (It sure is pretty though.) Hope you ladies will indulge me and take a look at my website www.supermom101.com. It's been many months in the making and I'm in the final edits of the cooking show that I hope to air on our local cable TV channel.
I too was confused about what to eat, etc. and many friends and colleagues have suggested I share my recipes and tips. So...please let me know what you think. Would love to upload some of your recipes as well so please be in touch.Just realizing that it was 10 years ago this month that I was first diagnosed and treated!
Best health always...
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parent of 1- sorry to give such a little response to such a big post, but i just wanted to say, whey does not contain soy. Some whey powder blends may have soy in them, but whey is milk protein (without the lactose) and that's all. As for the rest- keep at it. Change one thing, then another...it gets easier. And if you can afford it, maybe try to find a good professional in yr area (a naturopath or some such) to help- because it is overwhelming and a lot to figure out all at once.0
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supermom- Congratulations on the launch of your webswite. It looks terrific! I can't wait to see more recipes and I'll send you some too. I can vouch for those coconut, cocoa , almond meal cookies that MBJ gave the recipe for! No dairy, you should like them. Speaking of dairy, I'm off to try your silver polishing trick. Good luck!
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Dare I ask...Has anyone read the new Suzanne Somers book, Sexy Forever, How to fight fat after 40 ? As the title indicates, it's not about bc but as I understand, she talks about being healthy, something we all aspire to. I saw her in an interview on the today show and plan on getting it. Just wanted to know if anyone has a review.0
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Wow. Lots of info here. I take: vit D, fish oil/Omega 3, calcium/magnesium and an immune suystem booster of red clover. What is the CoQ10 for? I have read abou tit but am unsure of how it relatesd to breast cancer.
Avoiding all white foods (white rice, white bread etc)...but then again, I did not eat them before either...thinking it is time again to go gluten free but it is soo hard to do...so baby steps...only have whole wheat bread for breakfast and then no more. Not eating much dairy, avoiding processed soy (since it is often genetically modified in Canada anyway) and rarely having any sugar or red wine. Adding nuts (almonds and walnuts) to my meals and making my sister proud by drinking lots of green tea and flushing my system with more water than my bladder wants...Guess it eventually levels out!
Exercising 3-4 days a week....two days of core work and weights, one day of dance and walking and skating...surely this must all help!
And,,,,of course, singing and laughing whenever possible....both lower stress levels.
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Thanks Jessamine for replying. Yes it was a long post I did..lol! However this diet and supplement stuff can be overwhelming...whew! Never knew one thing like BC could be soo involved-. Thanks for clarifying Whey for me. I sure appreciate this:)) Have a wonderful day! 0
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Wow Ivory Mom...didn't know we were so close location wise. I thought I was they "only" one on these forms from twin cities area...
! Thanks so much Ivory mom for replying and making suggestions. This diet/supplement/vitamin thing is soo overwhelming and information over load per say for me! I am glad to have you fine folks to come to-
Have a wonderful day!0 -
Hi everyone
Thought I'd share my experience fighting post-chemo nausea without additional meds. I had my second AC treatment yesterday. The first was two weeks ago, and I ended up taking compazine and atavan (in addition to the Emend and Zofran and Decadron they gave me pre-infusion.) My nausea went away but I woke in the night with heartburn.
This time I took along crystalized ginger and a pint of very strong ginger tea (with a little honey, agave, and a good squeeze of lemon.) Every time I felt the nausea creep up I would take a little sip of the tea or a piece of the dry ginger. The nausea disappeared immediately each time. Unfortunately, the ginger felt very hot going down to my stomach, and I began to feel some heartburn.
I also took a Chinese herbal concoction called "Curing Pills" given to me by my naturopath. These are capsules with little black chinese herb pills inside. I broke open the first capsule and took half the little pills (five or six). An hour or so later, I took another full capsule (but took the pills out of the capsule so that they could be digested in my stomach without having to dissolve the capsule.)
This second dose seemed to turn things around. My nausea was greatly decreased. I continued to use the ginger tea in small sips, but the heartburn increased.
Eventually, I noticed that I had absolutely no nausea but terrible heartburn. I called my (naturopathic) doc who suggested licorice, yogurt, and very ripe plantains boiled in their skins. I didn't have plantains handy and I was a little afraid of yogurt as I don't digest dairy well, so my husband made a strong licorice te. It wasn't appetizing to me but in small sips, I had immediate relief. But the heartburn continued to get worse in general and I gave in to taking antacids anaticids and had enough relief to sleep through a good deal of the night.
Today, I feel no worse than I felt second-day of the last cycle. Maybe even better, without the extra meds to process through my body.
Thought I'd share in case this of use to anybody...
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Amy... Good info and thinking of you as I remeber it all like it was yesterday. The tips given will defimnely help someone goin thru tx's! Is that your golden doodle on your profile.. he or she is adorable and sure is a great comfort to have. I had three goldens just two years ago when goin thru the BC journey and now have one left. Hold onto your furkid as there is no better Rx!!!!t0
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Hi ladies, hope no one's still stuck in that stupid survey loop! Kinda made me wonder just how addicted am I to this place when I'm not able to get in. !?!?
I'm just loving the quote from Jack LaLanne that's been repeated in many stories that sadly report of his passing -- Exercise is King, Nutrition is Queen, put them together, and you have a kingdom. To think he started on tv clear back in 1951!
On a different topic, here's a link to a petition protesting the approval of GMO alfalfa.
Say no to GMO
Food Democracy Now will present the petition. I trust everyone on this thread already knows what GMO is and why it's bad. ...but if not, feel free to ask. Bringing on more GMO crops is a horrible direction to go.
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I would LOVE to hear about a reputable hormone Doc in CA. I just spent $800 going to an MD/ homeopath that was basically a joke! What a waste of time and money. His website looked great so I don't know what happened.. Dr. Dan Harper....a real nut case! I'm in San Diego if anyone knows of anyone my way. Alison
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