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  • truebff
    truebff Member Posts: 322
    edited March 2012

    ewwww on the mamo as I feel conflicted - it seems to hurt me (small breasted and so sensitive since the lumpectomy and radiation) for days afterward and I am now concerned not to have radiation if I can avoid it. i'm not due for it until June but I donnawannago. it's more like iguessishould-butifidoi'llholdmynose.

    if anyone knows about the thermography near Ann Arbor, please let me know. Thanks!

  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Member Posts: 4,011
    edited March 2012

    Pink Ribbons, Inc.: The Movie

    Posted on February 22, 2012 by Caitlin C.

    "If people actually knew what was happening, they would be really pissed off." - Barbara Brenner, former BCAction Executive Director in the new documentary Pink Ribbons, Inc.

    Billions of dollars have been raised through the tireless efforts of women and men devoted to putting an end to breast cancer. Yet, breast cancer rates in North America have risen to 1 in 8. "What's going on?" asks our former Executive Director Barbara Brenner in Pink Ribbons, Inc. a new film now playing across Canada and debuting in the U.S. this year. 

    The Toronto International Film Festival says: "Léa Pool's devastating documentary about the industry and "culture" around breast cancer, addresses the rise of corporate involvement in fund-raising for charities ... and the impact it has had on research into the disease. Powerful and incendiary, the film is an important and timely piece from one of our finest filmmakers."

    Thank you, Léa Pool, from the bottom of our pink ribbon-fatigued hearts, for making this movie. We need powerful. We need incendiary.  

    This film has been a long time coming. Based on Samantha King's brilliant book of the same name, Pink Ribbons, Inc. pulls back the pink curtain on why we aren't making progress in ending this epidemic. It's a curtain we've been tugging on for over a decade through our Think Before You Pink® campaign, where we encourage people to ask critical questions about breast cancer fundraising. We are thrilled to see this message go mainstream.

    Pink Ribbons, Inc. also shines a much-needed spotlight on pinkwashing, a coin we termed to describe when a company or organization claims to care about breast cancer by promoting a pink ribbon product, but at the same time produces, manufactures and/or sells products that are linked to the disease.

    Breast cancer has become big business-corporations look good by associating themselves with breast cancer, but how much does their involvement benefit women? As one woman living with metastatic breast cancer says in the film, "Our disease is being used for people to profit. And that's not OK."

    This movie is a potential game-changer, showing just how much the shiny pink status quo has cost us-and how little we've gained from it. As an advocate says in the film, "For people to finally rise up and object, they have to be aware of the lies they're being fed."

    Pink Ribbons, Inc. is debuting at film festivals in the U.S. this spring and we'll keep you posted on where and when you can see it in theatres. In the meantime, get your free copy of our brand new Think Before You Pink Toolkit, which is a perfect companion to the film and, says, Samantha King, "gives both seasoned agitators and newcomers to breast cancer activism vital resources to change the conversation about breast cancer. Download it today and start changing the world, one pinkwasher at a time."

    When it comes to breast cancer, profits far too often are priority number one. This toolkit helps advocates like you challenge the status quo and make sure women at risk of and living with breast cancer come first.

    Breast Cancer Action is pleased to partner with First Run Features in the 2012 release of Pink Ribbons, Inc.

  • althea
    althea Member Posts: 506
    edited March 2012

    truebff, my tumor never showed up on mammo or ultrasound, so I have no inner conflict in ditching mammo in favor of thermography.  I did have a challenge, however, in finding a provider.  No one locally provides it where I live.  Fortunately, a provider up the road 100 miles comes to my city every few months and I go to them when they're here. 

  • vivre
    vivre Member Posts: 881
    edited March 2012

    I went through 3 thermographers before I found one I liked.She reads it as well, which is important. I had one done by a nurse who sent it to some MD to read. He sent back a report that I was high risk and needed to get on tamoxifen. I was so pissed off. He never looked at my other therms or he would see that the radiation is why my breast is red, and it is actually improving. It really made me mad. I did more research and heard a lot of good things about the flir cameras. They are supposed to be the best. So I called Flir and asked them who does therms in my area, and that is how I found the doc I use now who is wonderful. I have so much faith in her, and in thermography that I will never ever have another mammo. Yes, they do not replace each other. One looks at anatomy, the other physiology. But we should have a choice. It is our bodies. I choose to no longer be fried and smashed or to see any doctor who insists I do.

    Thanks for that notice about the Pink Ribbons movie Laura. I am bummed it is not showing in Chicago. We could rendezvous. I think we will have to write them and ask why?

  • RaeBob
    RaeBob Member Posts: 2
    edited March 2012

    Hi everyone I have spent the past week trying to catch up on all the posts here trying to gain knowledge to help me in my quest for healthier life choices. I am a bit overwhelmed. I am on 20 different supplements and antioxidants and planning on pursuing the iodine protocol. I have pretty bad neuropathy from chemo and am taking I glutamine for it. I am eating all organic, no meat and raw as often as possible along with filtered water.So I have a couple of questions. I am on Herceptin until September is there any chance that these supplements and herbs can interfere with Herceptin? Also I am confused about the bioidenticals I am post menopause never had any problems sweats etc now I am ER/PR- so should I be taking something for the absence of those hormones. I want to do everything I can to prevent recurrence but since chemo I am never hungry and have a hard time forcing myself to eat the healthy foods spices and green teas that I should in a day. After I drink a protien shake and supplement in the morning I don't want anything else. Anyone else have this issue. Sorry to be so long but I am overwhelmed!!

  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Member Posts: 205
    edited March 2012

    Hi RaeBob, I don't know much about bio hormones, hopefully a sister who does will respond to your post.  I found the following info for you, hope it helps:

    http://foodforbreastcancer.com/articles/what-should-breast-cancer-patients-and-survivors-eat-during-herceptin-treatment?

    I am never hungry either since treatment, like you, a little goes a very long way.  I don't know if I should be worried, but I figure my body is in a total state of shock and needs to cleanse and recover and does so by minimizing appetite.  Just make sure that what you do take in is worth its weight in gold Wink

  • Bluebird-DE
    Bluebird-DE Member Posts: 1,233
    edited March 2012

    Laura, am passing the info on Pink Ribbons on to another thread too.  Thanks for sharing. 

    Vivre, I said that too, why not Chicago?  You gonna call them?

    RaeBob, wish I knew something to tell you, the questions are good ones, but I am all allternatives right now.  There is a thread just for Herceptin, I think.  

  • vivre
    vivre Member Posts: 881
    edited March 2012

    DianeEssa-I went to the website and noticed that there is a Cgo date in June. Maybe we should plan a girls weekend in the city with Laura?

    Raebob-the first thing I did after I finished treatments was to detox. Cleanse the liver, cleanse the intestines and cleanse the mind. Work up a sweat everyday, and consider some of the cleansing diets out there. Our toxic bodies are pumped full of more toxins with cancer treatments. You need to clean house and then get a fresh start. All the supplements in the world will not absorb if the immune system is over taxed.

  • RaeBob
    RaeBob Member Posts: 2
    edited April 2012

    Thanks for your help it is so appreciated. Vivre can you suggest a good cleansing program and since I am on Herceptin do you think it would be good to do it now or wait until I have finished with treatment?

  • vivre
    vivre Member Posts: 881
    edited April 2012

    Raebob-I would wait until after treatments, then get it all out. In the meantime, interview docs who might have a good program. I went through quite a search. Detoxing is not an easy process, so if you do not know what you are doing, you should get someone to guide you. I found a couple of chiros who put me on the path, but we still need to do the heavy lifting ourselves, since all our bodies react differently.

    My favorite detox is still with the FIR sauna. Sweating it out is great. Moving the lymph through yoga or rebounding is also important, drinking lots of water, a no sugar diet to take stress off the liver, etc etc. I also used a product that contains milk thistle. The milk thistle can make you itch and cause some terrible odors, but one has to work through it. Do the liver cleanse first, to open up the pathways. Our bodies are clogged with toxins, we do not want to release them all at once.  I did one step at a time, mostly by researching and figuring out what worked for me.

  • curedrn
    curedrn Member Posts: 2
    edited April 2012

    I weaned off the Arimedex and have been taking the Myomin.  My estradiol level was <5.1.  Doctor wants it rechecked in a month.

  • vivre
    vivre Member Posts: 881
    edited April 2012

    One of the issues we all have is what products are safe to use on our skin. I often see the environmental working group, skin deep, breastcanceraction and others cited as sources of information. I started to do some research on these groups and was astounded to learn that they are mostly in the business of politics. Here is a blog that has done a pretty good job of exposing fact from fiction about skincare:

     http://personalcaretruth.com/2010/07/who-is-the-environmental-working-group-ewg/#disqus_thread

  • althea
    althea Member Posts: 506
    edited April 2012

    Hi ladies,

    I've been listening to a series of interviews that I found from subscribing to Donna Gates newsletter.  The host is Adoley Odunton, and I really like her!  The replays are available for limited windows of time, and the most recent one is about holistic dentistry.  Hope y'all like it as much as I do.  

    http://mywellnessrevolution.com/bonusreplay/

    Further down the page is the Donna Gates interview.  There's also a Sara Gottfried interview about balancing hormones naturally.  

  • vivre
    vivre Member Posts: 881
    edited April 2012

    Althea-I have not had time to check out others, but I listened to the skin care guy at that link above. What a joke. First of all, he gives a lot of misinformation that sounds it comes right from the EWG. The myth about the dangers of sodium laurel sulfates is totally unsubstatiated. I am all for safer skin care products, but when info comes from skindeep or ewg, it is usually just part of their anti capitalism, send us more money so we can give it to our favorite politicians, campaign. The guy goes on to talk about how skincare products are overpriced and he has the gall to offer his for $70,and that is half price! Makes me wonder if this whole website is nothing more than marketing.

  • althea
    althea Member Posts: 506
    edited April 2012

    I wasn't crazy about the skin care guy either.  And yes, there's something for sale with each speaker.  I've ordered the dental package and I'm very hopeful that it'll be what puts my dental health over the top. 

    If I don't keep up with coQ10, my gums bleed, and it's been that way ever since chemo.  Last time I went to my local breast cancer support group, most of the ladies who went through chemo the same time I did are either losing some teeth or having some other dental issues.  I thank my lucky stars that I found toothsoap and stopped using toothpaste years ago.  Even the health food store toothpastes have glycerin in them.  The glycerin coats the teeth and interupts the natural restorative action of saliva's ability to remineralize.  

  • Kaara
    Kaara Member Posts: 2,101
    edited April 2012

    althea:  Toothsoap?  That's a new one for me.  I have peridontal disease and am always looking for something to keep it in check.  Good thing I didn't do chemo or rads, or it would probably have flared up again.  Where do you get it, and what is the dental package?

  • vivre
    vivre Member Posts: 881
    edited July 2012

    Althea-Have you tried oil pulling? It works better than toothsoap any day. I had a gum flare up last week. I had the mercury amalgam removed almost 2 years ago but the tooth was still very sensitive so my holistic dentist told me to keep doing the oil pulling. When I started oil pulling, after a couple of days, it drew out bacteria and I ended up with a terrible toothache. I did not want to go to my dentist right away so I just worked on it myself. I doubled my Vit C and D, brushed with my Usana toothpaste, which contains xylitol which is a great for killing bacteria, and I continued oil pulling with coconut oil, with a drop of lugol's and a dab of honey, which is also antibacterial. I also use kyolic garlic because it is concentrated and is also antibacterial. By the next day, all the pain was gone and has not returned! Regular oil pulling can get rid of peridontal disease. I looked at the stuff that was in that dental kit and it seemed pretty expensive. Adding up all that I used, it was probably under $20. Oil pulling sounds crazy but it does work. Another thing I like is a mouthwash called Spry that is only about $5 a bottle. It too contains xylitol, no flouride and lots of other good stuff.

    The problem I had with that site is that it seems she lets anyone sell anything. I admit, I did not listen to all of the recordings, but the skin guy is a charleton and I the tooth kit seems outrageoously priced. She is not even a dentist. I just do not trust people who make their own concoctions anymore. There are too many ways they cannot control quality and their prices always seem so high. I spent a lot of time meeting people who have products at the health and freedom expo, and then researching where these people are coming from. It is a minefield. I am not saying it is all bad. I am just saying one really has to look in depth. 

  • Kaara
    Kaara Member Posts: 2,101
    edited April 2012

    OK....I don't know what oil pulling is either.  Guess I'll google it.  I'm going on vacation for about 10 days so you won't see me on here very much.  I'll have a lot to catch up on when I return...stay well and happy everyone!

  • althea
    althea Member Posts: 506
    edited April 2012

    vivre, yes, I am familiar with oil pulling.  I slightly chipped a tooth years ago and it began to loosen and then be painful.  Oilpulling really turned that situation around.  I believe I read about it at oilpulling.com.  I learned about toothsoap at toothsoap.com.  I didn't try it right away because I was leery at the time of believing what the video said about glycerin in standard toothpastes.  I was more suspicious back then of sites that sold the same products they were educating people about. 

    Nowadays, I see websites, videos, interviews in a different light.  It certainly is a minefield of information out there.  If someone gives an interview, and has a book, or a dvd, or a tooth gel for sale at the end, I consider the interview as a free sample of what kind of person is behind the product.  Figuring out where to place trust is certainly a challenge.  

    I took my mom to her dentist last week.  He sent her home with a tube of colgate.  She has a mouth full of dental work.  Anyone who has DDS behind their name somehow got through advanced education that says it's ok to put mercury in people's mouths.  It's toxic before it gets to their office, it's toxic when it leaves their office, yet somehow an entire institution of dentistry has convinced a whole lot of people that mercury in our mouths is ok. From that vantage point, it's not a dealbreaker for me to accept holistic dentistry information from someone who is not a DDS.  I'll report back and let y'all know if I like the dental package I ordered.  If it turns out to be a disappointment, well, I already have a long list in that category!  

  • Bluebird-DE
    Bluebird-DE Member Posts: 1,233
    edited April 2012

    I used oilpulling when I had some amalgams and root canals removed three years back.  Because of my memory loss, I had sincerely forgotten all about it.  Will relearn and do some more.  I know it was cool, my friend told me about it, as she was using because she had mercury toxicity from where she worked.  Hubby has cadmium overload, ringing in ears, stiffness in all joints and this would be helpful to him, along with the acupuncture we will et him in on very soon.  Right now he uses NDF for heavy metal toxicity, an extract.

    I love my Eliminator mouthwash but really like to play with my own toothpaste.  In Michigan I purchsed a mouthwash with lavender and so many lovely herbs, would like to find that again too.

    Kaara - enjoy time away! 

  • geewhiz
    geewhiz Member Posts: 671
    edited April 2012

    Hi ladies, I have been reading until I am dizzy! I remember reading this thread awhile back some great info on hormone levels, only now I cannot find it!!



    I just got back from a new oncologist. I have never had hormone levels checked. I am on tamoxifen and we were talking about an AI, but based on test results he said to stick with tamox.



    My estradiol came back at 38. FSh 47, LH 16. The estradiol concerns me...isnt that a little high for being on tamox? I see all kinds of studies about recurrence and high estradiol. I also am vegan, take dim, grapefruit seed extract and a bunch of other things, and I workout a lot!



    Any guidance on the hormones? I could SO use some direction!!

  • dlb823
    dlb823 Member Posts: 2,701
    edited April 2012

    geewhiz, did you mean grapefruit seed or grape seed?  The latter is good for us.  Grapefruit, OTOH, is highly estrogenic and should not be consumed in large quantities.  I'm thinking grapefruit may have been just a typo.  If not, it might be a factor.     Deanna

    PS ~ An exception to the grapefruit being bad is citrus fruit pectin, which has shown some cancer fighting qualities. 

  • geewhiz
    geewhiz Member Posts: 671
    edited April 2012

    Yes sorry, packing for a trip to Mexico and dropped in my gse just in case of Montezuma's revenge. Works like a charm!! I take mcp. My naturoptah recommended a new brand name one, the molecules are more readily bioavailable? I cant remember the name offhand.

    I also take an IC-3 blend. I was a bit shocked by the 38 estradiol, but dont really know lots about it. I am 45 and was premeno at diagnosis, but the first chemo knocked that out.

  • dlb823
    dlb823 Member Posts: 2,701
    edited April 2012

    geewhiz, how did your onc check your estradiol level?  As you may know, our estrogen levels fluctuate throughout the day, so if "38" is from a blood test, that's only a snapshot of what was going on when they drew your blood.  A 24-hour urine test -- which you'll probably have to see an ND for -- is much more accurate.   My last estradiol level from a blood test came back at 50, a significant rise over the previous year.  But two 24-hr. urine tests 6 mos. apart have shown that my estradiol and all of my estrogens are extremely low.    

    Have fun in Mexico!  Deanna

  • geewhiz
    geewhiz Member Posts: 671
    edited April 2012

    Yes, blood. My ND gave me a test kit that I never used, but I think it was a saliva test.. Guess I will now take a look at it.



    I feel better hearing yours was 50 in blood serum, but low otherwise. It seems that everywhere I was reading of others who had super low blood levels.



    I juiced twice but missed my yoga class. I am new to bikram, which I know I shouldnt do with axillary clearance...but WOW!! I feel great. I sleep through the night. Hotflashes have really diminished as well. The breathwork is helping me tremendously. I am paying attention to magnesium and potassium in my diet because of the loss of buckets of sweat. LOVE IT!!



    However, my very holistic natural self stole not one, but 2 reese's peanut butter eggs from my son's Easter basket. Yes the big eggs, not the puny foil wrapped ones. I feel sick, blech!!

  • luv_gardening
    luv_gardening Member Posts: 362
    edited April 2012

    As far as I can explain with my limited biochemistry, Tamoxifen doesn't lower estrogen levels, rather it blocks breast cells (including BC cells), from taking up the estrogen.  I thought grapefruit was contra-indicated for Tamoxifen.  It causes many medications to become much stronger due to a liver interaction and can be dangerous with some drugs such as heart medications.

  • vivre
    vivre Member Posts: 881
    edited April 2012

    GeeWhiz-try to find a doctor who specializes in hormones. Oncs usually have no clue. A great book to read is "Hormones Explained". Dr. Raschid does a great job of explaining hormones, one of the best hormone books I have read, and I have read several. And also check your thyroid levels. For me, that was the key to hormone balance, along with diet, and as you discovered, sweating. Exercise produces serotonin and serotonin helps to produce melatonin, the sleep hormone. All of the hormones are interelated and the thryoid is the regulator of them all. That is why I could not get balanced until I addressed my hypothyroid. I do not take any medications. I just follow the iodine protocol and add supplements as needed. I also use my far infrared sauna almost everyday, which releases built up toxins and helped me to sleep again, like I use to. My girlfriend was reluctant to spend the money on one, but she finally bought one because she could not sleep and she could not believe how it has worked for her. Check out the thryoid/iodine thread for lots of information about the iodine protocol.

  • truebff
    truebff Member Posts: 322
    edited April 2012

    Anyone here do regular detox? I am thinking about a 1 day a week or maybe a 3 day.

    I'd LOVE a way to sweat too, but can't afford the sauna.

    I'm also still so confused about the "iodine protocol"  -so many many articles about it and all confusing to me.

  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Member Posts: 205
    edited April 2012

    Hi Truebff !  I would suggest to go easy on the detox, start very very gradually, you don't want to have all the toxins recirculated without being eliminated.  I have yet to read a doc I found called "the case against detox" buried somewhere.  Here's an article about it (never mind the sales pitch, I just googled really fast):

    "Modified citrus pectin is one of the most powerful chelating [detoxifying] substances I've found in the world," says Dr. Nan Kathryn Fuchs.

    http://undergroundhealthreporter.com/detox-your-body-naturally-take-this-toxicity-quiz-now#ixzz1sQZftVLt

    I take the pectin and also chorella which is really amazing: it chelates heavy metals, radiation, good for the thyroid, it's full of vitamins, minerals and chlorophyll which builds up blood.  Make sure if you get chorella that you get bio-cultered only.

    Re iodine: Until I'm able to see a naturopath, I only have the "conventional" thyroid results which put me in the normal range.  But I know  something is wrong with my thyroid, I have ALL the hypothyroid symptoms.  So in the meantime, I got myself some iodine (food grade) from the health food store (not the iodine from the pharmacy that you put on cuts, very different I believe) and for the past few days I've been putting a few drops on my skin inside my 'bad' upper arm.  Apparently, this is the best way to take in iodine.  If the spot disappears within a few hours, it means that your body needs it, if not, then I would not pursue.  Mine is absorbed within the half hour

    Hope this helps Wink 

  • truebff
    truebff Member Posts: 322
    edited April 2012

    Thanks. I'll check it out. Have you / are you using it?

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