Complementary and integrative approaches

Enjoyful

Here's a link to the Environmental Working Group's website, with their recommendations for sunscreens, moisturizers, makeup, etc.:

http://breakingnews.ewg.org/2011sunscreen/

vivre

I don't believe in using any sunscreens. I think they are all too full of chemicals and the reason skin cancer has doubled in the past 20 years. I do use coconut oil-hey it works for the island natives and I have found that since I started using fish oil and injesting coconut oil, my skin has been great and does not burn. I also try to protect my face when i am in the garden. My father worked outside his whole life and never had any skin issues. He died of lung cancer in his mid 70's but I attribute he lived that long because of his hard work in the sun. He started smoking before he went to HS so lung cancer was inevitable. I also think that the fact I grew up in a household where the adults all smoked like chimneys contributed to my dx.

Ang7

We use Maui natural organics sunscreen. 

Works well on my kids etc.

Member_of_the_Club

I don't think there is a one size fits all prescription for dealing with the sun.  I have extremely fair skin and a cousin who was diagnosed with melanoma in her teens (eventually dying of the disease).  You bet I wear sunscreen.  And my cousin didn't -- so much for the idea that it was the sunscreen that caused her cancer.    However, I do get a bit of sun exposure without it when I go running, though if I'm going to be out for over 90 minutes, I will still wear the sunscreen.  My vitamin D levels have been tested and they are fine.

Women here who live closest to the Earth's poles, where the ozone layer is thinner, have to be more careful about sunscreen because of a heightened risk of skin cancer.

 And all of us who had radiation should wear sunscreen on the areas that were radiated if they are exposed to the sun.  If you choose to expose the rest of you thats fine, but those areas are very vulnerable to the effects of the sun.

Finally, my dermatologist tells me there is a link between melanoma and breast cancer and that breast cancer patients should have a skin check once a year.  I don't think this link is very strong, but I do go in for the skin checks.  Thats a cancer that can and should be detected early.

Sherryc

vivre my parents smoked the entire time I was growing up.  I remember being in the car and they were both smoking and the windows were up because you did not want to loose the AC.  I hated it and have never smoked myself.  Dad died at 49, mom had pre-cancer cells on her larynx and step dad now has lung cancer.  I often wonder if this contributed to my BC as well. As least my Mom did quit after her pre-cancer issue, step dad did not quite until he got lung cancer.

otter

Re:  cranberries (cranberry juice) to prevent UTI's...

Sherri, how the heck are you able to find cranberry juice anymore?  Five years ago, it was easy to find 100% cranberry juice in any decent grocery store.  Now, it's darn near impossible.  Nearly everything labeled "cranberry juice" is "cocktail" and/or contains less than 20% cranberry juice.  Most of them have something like 13% now.  And, finding "100% juice" is easy, but it's almost all grape juice or apple juice, with just a smidge of cranberry despite the front label.

I love craisins.  Do they work?

otter

pip57

Only yesterday I read a study that said cranberry is not that effective for UTIs.  I will see if I can find it.

pip57

Found it!

 http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/07/26/antibiotics-cranberry-uti_n_910161.html

pip57

Sherri, that part made me cringe too.  

Anonymous

Sherri - If you ever do have to take anti-biotcs, you should also take a pro-biotic, such as Culturelle.

otter

Thanks, pip, but... here's a quote from that article:

"The main UTI-fighting ingredient in cranberries is believed to be A-type proanthocyanidins (PACs), a so-called flavonoid compound that prevents bacteria from sticking to the urinary tract.
The cranberry capsules used in this study contained 9.1 milligrams of active ingredient in each two-capsule daily dose, about the same as 2.5 ounces of Ocean Spray cranberry juice.  [Bold-faced type is mine.]

" 'One pitfall of this study was that the dosage of cranberry was on the low end, so it would be conceivable that a higher dose would be effective,' Marks says. A study sponsored by the National Institutes of Health is under way to determine the ideal dose of cranberry for UTI prevention."

Oops.  Two and a half ounces of cranberry juice?  And I thought 6-ounce cans were small.  Yeah, I guess they need to re-do the study, using an amount of juice most people are likely to consume. 

Sherri, I don't know what "Uva Ursi" is... and I still can't get over the mental hurdle of wanting to visualize the source of what I'm putting in my mouth, whenever possible.  Any clues?

OTOH, I know what causes my UTI's.  I talked to my GYN about it once, shortly after we agreed I was menopausal but before all this BC stuff began.  I am not interested in taking a daily, low-dose antibiotic for the rest of my life to prevent UTI's, so my GYN offered an alternative:  he could prescribe a higher-dose antibiotic that I would take immediately after each event of the type that was leading to my UTI's.  I think he was assuming that would be once or twice a month.  I said, "Well, that would be pretty much every day."  He looked down at his shoes and said, "Okay, then... I guess that wouldn't work either."

otter

revkat

Oh, Otter. LOL. You animal, you! I would love to have a picture of that doctor's face!

sewingnut

Otter,

You and Mr. Otter must walk around with smiles all day!

kira1234

Otter, I take a cranberry pill daily I get it a my local grocery store. It has really worked so far. Of course I've got little desire since I'm on an AL so not much action.

AnnNYC

Otter, way to make your doc blush!

Here's a link to more about Uva Ursi or bearberry (taxonomic name: Arctostaphylos uva ursi):

http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/uva-ursi-000278.htm

Sherri, thanks for the tip about the CranAid tea!

ETA: please note, as it says in the link I provided: Uva Ursi leaf contains hydroquinone, which gives it some of its antibiotic properties, but which can also be toxic to the liver. Therefore, Uva Ursi should not be used by someone who has liver disease.

MaryNY

Otter: I noticed the dosage of cranberry used in the study too. I'm fortunate not to be troubled by UTIs but if I was I would be consuming cranberry juice in much higher quantities than that.

Also I noticed this:

Differences in antibiotic resistance were even more dramatic between the two groups. After one month of treatment, about 90% of the bacteria specimens collected from the women in the antibiotics group (via urine and stool samples) were resistant to TMP-SMX, compared to roughly one-quarter of the specimens from the cranberry group.

Antibiotic resistance rates did return to pre-study levels three months after treatment was stopped.

If antibiotics are taken long term to stave off UTIs, this developement of antibiotic resistance can't be a good thing.

otter

True confession:  That conversation I had with my GYN took place more than 5 years ago.  Things have changed since then, partly because of Arimidex but partly because of the predictable effects of menopause in a woman who never took any sort of hormonal replacement therapy.  So, Mr. otter is not smiling nearly as much as he once did.  But, we're doing okay.  Better than okay, in fact. 

Uva Ursi:  interesting article, Ann.  Darn -- I thought I was going to get to eat some berries, but apparently they make the product (extract?) from the leaves.  And, thanks for the heads-up about the liver problems.  That's one organ I'd like to keep healthy for as long as possible.  (That's one reason why I don't take Tylenol/acetaminophen.)

otter

pebee

Um Luan

Willow bark is aspirin.... Bayer was one of the first to succeed in making a uniform commercially produced pill.  From what I can tell - this guy is simply peeling off the bark and selling it......

Anonymous

Um Pebee, I know that aspirin is a "generic" of willow bark...I'd rather take the willow bark

Sherri, if I feel anything coming on, i.e. UTI, cranberry juice is my solution, even Tropicana will do it for me....thanks for the other herbs in case cranberry juice no longer works for any reason

StayHuman

I am getting chemotherapy right now.  My naturopath has been so wonderful in helping me make the decision to get chemotherapy and supporting my body.  Although I have only had one treatment so far (10 days ago), the only side effect I have had is a weird sensation in my mouth.  I feel really good.   I am taking probiotics, Vitamin D (high dose due tio deficiency), Krill Fish Oil, Tumeric, Juniper Shoots and Melatonin.  I do my best to avoid dairy but am NOT giving up my daily cup of Dunkin Donuts iced coffee.  I live for that!!!!  I also do acupuncture every 2 weeks.  I have switched out almost all of my beauty, hygiene and cleaning supplies to safer products.  I feel good being able to take action.  Great thread!!!!

Ang7

Hang in there StayHuman!

Keep yourself hydrated and try to get rest when you can...

vivre

SherriC-I think we grew up in the same house! lol  I use to get so mad about smoking in the car. And how did you like it when they would flick their butts out the window and they would come back in? I hated smoking. I broke up with a gorgeous hunk of a football star in college when he started smoking.  I told him he could kiss an ashtray or me. I never took a drag off a joint when all my peers were getting high in college. They all thought I was such a square. I was so friggin mad when I got bc because I had been the one who was doing healthy things! But we cannot underestimate our environment. Growing up in a toxic house is bound to effect us. I also did a lot of swimming and then I had a reaction when our town changed to Lake Michigan water, so I think it is all related. I was literally swimming in toxins.

We moved to get on our own well. No flouride in our water now, and I do not have mold growing on my shower walls from whatever was in that Lake Michigan water by the time it got to our old  house. I have all kinds of filters on my water and since it takes great, we drink more.

And thats my rant for the day!

BobbiMarie

I too have a great interest in this - have to read the whole thread and tally who is where.  Grade 3 and PR- make chemo a possibility but my choice because I am in the gray area (onco 20).  I'm very concerned about the side effects of chemo due to other immune issues I have.  I'm exploring alternatives.  I will do rads and probably AIs (not Tam unless someone tells me that is my only option).  I've scheduled an appointment with an acupuncturist and chinese medicine 'doctor' to discuss a treatment plan.  The doctors told me they would support my decision either way I chose to go (with or without chemo and got 2 opinions which were identical).  I need to lose weight - fat cells generate estrogen.  I haven't figured out if they do progesteron as well....need to research more.  Has anyone made this a choice - diet/acupuncture/herbs instead of chemo?

Sherryc

Justing checking in and no one has posted in quiet a few days.  Maybe that is good!

BobbiMarie

Just checking in.  Am considering changing my acupunturist simply for convenience of location - I found one near where I am going to have my radiation.  Is anyone taking herbal supplements and, if so, have you figured out what all of the ingredients are and what they do?  I cut back on the dosage after the first 6 pills at lunch on the first day because I felt like my heart was racing.  Fortunately that went away and have gradually built up the number of pills now to the number I am to take - 9 of each one each day... 18 total.   They are HORSE pills.  Hopefully they are doing everything I want them to do!

BobbiMarie

Actually there is one more reason.  This one has my insurance as an in network where the other one is not and they will bill direct so I get out of some paperwork.  Just got done paying all of my bills that insurance didn't cover.  OUCH!!!  I'm glad I have good coverage but it sure stings to take the savings down like that.  Oh well....I didn't want to retire anyway.

SuperMom101

Dear Merilee,

Terrific post!  Guess you can say I combined the two worlds of "standard of care" and complementary (if changing diet could be classified that way) completely unintentionally.

Had terrible side effects from the tamoxifen (vertigo, etc) and stopped taking it after the first three months.  My oncologists has always been very thoughtful in providing the statistics and since I was 38 at the time there was not a significant statistical significance for my patient population.  (Apparently most studies are conducted on post menopausal women.)

When I was deciding my course of treatment it was suggested I receive a second if not a third opinon and for that I am truly grateful.  He was presenting at the Friday grand rounds, "Is adjunct chemotherapy on pre menaousapl woman too much?"  Which was exactly where I fit in.  (Not looking to debate this issue.  For me, with my stage and grade it had been suggested by the original team of doctors that I receive a second and even third opinion as to the course of my treatment and for that I am truly grateful.)  I did have the 6 weeks of radiation.

Since the tumor was ER+ and I had read Jane Plants book, "Your Life in Your Hands, Understanding, Preventing and Overcoming Breast Cancer and the hormone connection, I have not eaten dairy products since and only very eat limited amounts of organic meat and wild caught fish that do not contain growth hormones, steroids or antibiotics.

I drink soy milk for the hot flashes (not more than maybe 6 ounces/day) because I've been in menopause since I was first diagnosed and treated at age 38. (One ovary removed because it had an 11 centimeter cyst that twisted and died - this lead to the BC diagnosis - and the other was removed as adjunct therapy because it too was growing an enormous cyst.)

Saw on here that someone else enjoys Ezikeiel bread!  Me too! My favorite is toasted with Earth Balance - non dairy margarine that my husband had no idea he wa eating for over a year.

Practiced Bikram yoga (hot yoga) to help regulate the hot flashes and get the range of motion back in my arm. (Basically no longer have an armpit.)   

Have always supported and encouraged integrated massage, acupuncture, etc.  Figure acupuncture has been around for a very, very long time so there must be some merit to it and it's worked for me.

Hope I haven't come across trying to be "all about me."  Thought I needed to be clear on why (for me) I enjoy posting in the complementary section. 

So, I guess my complementary therapy is (as one poster has on her tag line)...

Let food be your medicine and medicine be your food. - Hippocrates 

Thanks for making it this far in the post.

Wishing everyone best health and peace as they travel this journey! 

Merilee

Thanks for posting and bring this thread back to life. I also do yoga and use massage therapy and see a PT for my arm which was damaged on my 6th surgery. Still in radiation therapy now so not to many anti oxidants but one done I will load upon them again and try to get my system cleaned out from all the toxins.

Anonymous

Hi Ladies,

For those of you who do yoga, do you go to classes, use tapes, etc?  I am really wanting to integrate this into my life, but am having a hard time.  I did a very basic yoga DVD for a while, but I think I am ready to move on to something else.  What I really need is a good, easy (i.e. at home) way to learn the different positions. I have 2 little ones, and I work FT, and work out for one hour every morning before work.  I just started using Fluidity (yes, I got sucked in watching the infomercial one morning while I was exercising, but I actually think the stretching and weight-bearing is really good for me for one aspect of my fitness goals.).  So, I don't know when I would do it, but I am really hoping to add some yoga to my routine.

Merilee

My local YMCA has a set of free classes for breast cancer ladies, called Turning Point, so I go there.  But when I bought my yoga mat it came with a dvd of very basic poses. I got it at Target.

It is really helping me with balance and strength which I lost big time with chemo.