An Alternative approach to Stage IV Health and choices

KatRNagain92

How about Chillipadi?  Haven't heard from her in a few weeks?

leggo

I'm very worried about Chillipadi. I tried to contact her a couple of weeks ago and she's always very quick to get back but I have not heard from her. The suffering she is going through....jeezus, I hope she's alright.

luv_gardening

Hi Athena.  Nerida said she is moving and won't have access to the internet for a while. It has been a month though.  Maybe she can't get a connection.  I hope our dear friends are both OK.

mamawells

PectaSol - C by eco Nugenics -- is this brand is a good one? Can you continue to take it even if getting a PET SCAN? Does it interfere with other conventional treatments? My oncologist suggested acupuncture, but told me to stay away from supplements and mushrooms, etc. etc. I had DCIS 12 years ago and bilat mastec --followed up yearly with the oncol -- all has been fine -- then last month I felt a lump above the right side of my clavicle -- biopsy showed metastatic cancer of breast origin -- crazy but true -- PET SCAN this week and then decisions to make re: treatment. Has anyone read the Moss Report on Breast Cancer?

luv_gardening

Hi Mamawells, I can't answer your question but wanted to welcome you to BCO, even though it's probably the last place you wanted to be joining after taking such decisive action so long ago. You must be reeling from the shock. My thoughts are with you. You'll find some lovely ladies here who are very supportive.

I too would like to hear from anyone who has read the Moss report on BC, and I wonder if he has separate reports for different types of BC.

lulubee

Mamawells, sorry you've had bad news after so long. Hopefully your course of treatment will knock it back for a long, long time.  

Pectasol-C is a brand that has been used in some clinical trials, and has a low molecular weight (a good thing).  I believe there is some information on their website about its use during conventional treatment.  I take it and have no problems with it.

1Athena1

This article appeared in The Washington Post and was posted elsewhere - thought it might be of interest to those who read here:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/terminal-breast-cancer-leads-woman-to-pick-palliative-care-not-aggressive-therapy/2012/04/30/gIQAY6rBsT_story.html

Last paragraph, which I found especially poignant:

"As you read this piece, I'm heading toward two years into a terminal diagnosis. I have the most deadly form of breast cancer, and it will eventually kill me. So far the disease seems to be held at bay by one small yellow pill each night (an estrogen blocker to slow the cancer's growth), some extra vitamins and minerals, and a monthly infusion to stave off such problems as spontaneous fractures that can be caused by the cancer eating at my spine. No treatment will work forever, though. I know that. But however my story evolves, then ends, I'm at peace. And I'm living just the way I want to."

Kaara

Athena:  Thank you for sharing that article.  When I was dx, my first thought was that if my bc turned out to be one that had spread I would not elect to do aggressive treatment, but rather follow a protocol such as the one outlined in the article.  I had the unfortunate experience of watching a close friend die from chemo overdose several months before.  Fortunately, I had early stage and grade, but I still opted not to do rads and rely on diet and vitamin therapy instead.  I do take a small dose of tamoxifen (10mg rather than the 20mg recommended) to ward off possible spread of the disease.  

I'm 71 now and if I can live to be 76 with good quality of life, I will consider that a blessing.  If I live longer it will be by the grace of God.  This disease has given me a new appreciation for life and I now look at things with a different perspective.

It is what it is...we can't control that...but we can control how we respond going forward. 

3littlegirls

Ok this has me super excited.  It is in British Columbia but it is a start.  I think it is time I started challenging the system as well.  

http://www.calgaryherald.com/health/relents+pays+cancer+patient+nutritional+supplements/6570004/story.html

 

KatRNagain92

Thanks Athena for sharing the article.  I love how she says 'keeping it at bay'  That says it all in a nutshell...I can go a long time like this if it just stops growing. 

Kaara...you are a beautiful at 71 and you'll be beautiful at 81 too!  You've got the perfect outlook

Kaara

KatR:  Thanks for the compliment.  I try my best to stay upbeat and pay it forward.  So many on this site have been kind to me when I was going through such a challenging time that I want to return the favor if I can.

3littlegirls

I just got back from the dentist.  He was so impressed with my mouth. I used to have a very acidic ph in my mouth and I'm sure my whole body. Anyway he has been doing some reading on eating green to alkalize your body and when he saw me today he was so excited. I proved to him that changing your diet can change your acidity. My mouth had no cavities and the last filling he put in looks like he put it in yesterday.  I needed to hear that confirmation on all that I have been doing is working.  Just wanted to share with those that would get it. 

ibcmets

3littlegirls,

I did not know that alkalinity would help with cavities.  I've been drinking alkaline water for the last 3 years since I was diagnosed stage IV bc.  Good to know.

Terri

Kaara

I've been doing an alkaline diet for about nine months now and the last time I was at the dentist, the hygenist said that my teeth were better than they had been in ages.  I usually have a lot of tarter and this time there was a lot less and it was softer.  It must be true, although I didn't make the connection at that time.

thats-life-

Hi all, finally have the internet/phoneline connected etc!...athena, joy, thanks for thinking of me! chillipaddi, thanks for the message, hope you are going ok too...bco's format has changed!..i feel very disoriented! ..dont know where everything is. I will have to spend some time learning how to navigate it and catch up on this thread, the stage IV thread. Had bone and ct scans this week. Results Monday. I hate scans. Lovely pic Kaara

Kaara

That's Life:  Glad to see you back online!

reesie

That's-life- it's good to hear from you. You've been missed!

steelrose

Hi thats-life! I came here looking for you again and am so happy that you're finally back! Moving can be very stressful, so I hope that you're de-stressing and settled in. Wishing you great luck on the scans too.

xoxo

Rose. 

NNBBFL

I was dx at Thanksgiving 2011 as Stage IV with bone (rib and spine) and lung mets. (The cancer broke through the skin at the rib bone with about a 1 inch open wound). I shuddered at the thought of chemotherapy when my primary mentioned it and did not think it was for me. At the time I also was uninsured and started reading about the Budwig Diet on the healing cancer naturally website (not the Budwig Center website which is a modification). In January I started on that plan. I have lost between 25-30 lbs since then and feel great. Everyone tells me how good I look (many are unaware of my diagnosis so I do not mention the Budwig Plan). I did get insurance in March and finally went to an oncologist who wanted me to start taking Arimidex, which I was hesitant to do. After reading that the way it works is by keeping my body from producing estrogen (I am post menopausal), I decided that I would go ahead (started April 2) and take it but still stay on the Budwig plan otherwise. I had my first follow-up visit this week with my oncologist. I no longer feel any pain at the tumor site even when touching the rib bone. The wound is starting to heal which really impressed my oncologist and she told me I was doing really, really well. I am happy since she said it was ok to swim with a waterproof bandage over the wound and commented that maybe by my next visit in 2 months I wouldn't even need the bandage. So of course now there are 2 variables in my treatment (Budwig and Arimidex) so it may be hard to know what to attribute my progress to but I can't help but feel a lot is because of the Budwig Diet. I read other topics on this site such as the side affects of Arimidex ( I only experience some hot flashes) and feel that my lack of them may be because of the diet as well.

sweetbean

Yay!  Welcome back, that'slife!

Kaara

NNBBFL:  Welcome to the thread!  It sounds like you are having good results with the Budwig protocol, so keep doing it.

Heidihill

Welcome back, thats-life! Hope the scans show good stuff only!

KatRNagain92

Scanxiety.  I don't even have one scheduled yet and I'm feeling it. 
Praying for good results for you tomorrow that's-life! 

NNBB, I am so happy you're having a positive experience on the Budwig diet.  That's how I feel (most of the time;) on Protocel 23.  I think it really goes to show you that you just need to believe that what you're doing is the right thing and that it's working...no matter what it is.  Alternative, conventional or complimentary.  I read somewhere that "cancer patients are the most compliant patients there are."  I would agree with that! 

Have a great day ladies!

NNBBFL

You are so right KatRN, to believe in what you are doing is so critical not only in fighting any disease but in life also. Internal conflict is simply not healthy for anyone and can be itself a component of disease.

Has anyone here tried Curves as an exercise or muscle strengthening program? I saw an ad on tv last week that they were offering a free month trial so I went to my local Curves on Saturday to sign-up. I go for my first workout on Wed. I wanted time to email my oncologist to be sure it is ok with my bone mets. I have heard that resistance training is good for muscle strength which is good for bone health. Up until my dx I mostly swam for exercise but an open wound kept me out of the pool from Nov. til now. I used to swim laps straight for 30-40 minutes and now am exhausted after 5 minutes which I was quite shocked to realize, I mean I have still been walking in the interim but I guess nothing for my upper body strength.

Kaara

NNBBFL:  I would think that any kind of moderate exercise is good for you...just don't overdo it, and work up to what you were doing before.  Most injuries from exercise come from trying to pick up where you left off after a down time.

thats-life-

ok, i have a little time on the computer, as we only have one now, my daughter hogs it....

STABLE!...i am so grateful, i was extra worried about these scans. Onc made next appt. for 6 months from now! (unless i am unwell) That will take it over the big 2 yr mark since dx...so happy. Now i just need to get over either a bad allergic reaction to new house, or a flu thing that has lasted 2 weeks. feeling weak and sneezy and wheezy, if i recover from that soon i can finally sit and enjoy the garden. Hi rose, heidi, sweetbean, reesie, nice to touch base again , and hi to Kat, NNB, and newbies, i have a bit of catching up to do. looking forward to catching up on the thread, i have lost a little motivation lately re diet, so need inspiration  

Kaara

thats-life:  So happy for you that your scans came out well and you are stable!  That is the best possible news.  Good luck in your new home.

Heidihill

STABLE is a beautiful word. It means cancer and you have struck a truce. No one is angry and wants to get even. Peace reigns. As for being under-the-weather, moving can do that to anyone.

steelrose

Wonderful news, thats-life-! Happy summer days ahead...

3littlegirls

That is excellent news!  Glad to see you back on here.