Early Stage Natural Girls!

vivre

Kaara-I think you are talking about a mammosite. I was given that option at first, but it ended up since my tumor was so close to the skin, it was not a good option because it would have burned a big hole in my breast. Either way, we lose. I just cannot get over the fact that radiation is worth it for the absolute risk for early stage cancers. For me, the absolute risk with radiation was an advantage of about 5%. I still feel I would have been able to get that same advantage with diet and exercise alone. Then I would not be here, still looking at a red breast on my therms that was damaged from rads 4 years later. And my risk of recurrance is greater up the road because of radiation. If I ever have a recurrance, I will blame it on radiation. I just wish I had been told the truth. The only good thing I can say for rads is that it freaked my out so much, going there every day, that I started the research that put me on the path to holistic health. So I guess that is the silver lining.

I also think they are putting to much faith in those oncotype tests. I have been reading that they may not even be all that accurate. If breast cancer is a hereditary disease, then why was it so rare 100 years ago? And why was it mostly only wealthy women, with rich diets who got it back then. And why does the rate continue to rise, almost doubling in the past 25 years? The truth is, this is an environmental disease, and the best weapon we have is to prevent it by giving our body better weapons, starting with cellular nutrition. Women today are more stressed than ever, trying to juggle more in a  day than is humanely possible. Stress suppresses our immune system like nothing else. That is why it is so important to exercise (but not strenuously, that is more stress!).

And we need to stop using so many toxic chemicals on our skin and in our homes that create free radical damage which cause our immune systems to become overwhelmed. 

We also need to take the connection between breast cancer and thyroid disease and iodine deficiency more seriously. Our soils are deplete of iodine and this creates havoc with the thyroid. If younger women (and men) were told to supplement with iodine regularly, we would cut down on the incidence of thyroid, breast and prostate cancers. Iodine deficiency is also being linked to diabetes, and my SIL has been able to lower her use of meds with iodine. Our hormones are all out of whack because of our thyroids. So they try to block estrogen with drugs rather than get to the root issue, which is the thyroid!

My aunt had breast cancer 30 years ago. She had surgery and that was it, which was a standard protocol back then. She just turned 80 and is still beautiful and thriving.

Fighter_34

Where is that darn LIKE BUTTON^^^^!!!!

Sherryc

Vivre I so agree with you.  I was not educated on rads and was rushed through lumpectomy and rads.  Found out late in the game of rads that if I had had a MX I would not have had to have rads.  WTH did my BS not give me that information.  I could get on my soap box about this.  But as you the silver lining is I do alot more research not before I agree to anything.  I realized that I always have options even if that option is to do nothing and my Dr's do not agree with it.  My new BS told me that and I like the way he thinks.  In the old days of BC everyone got a MX and many were survivors.  My MIL had a MX and no chemo in 1969 and has never had a recurrance and is 83 years old now.  However surgery technics are so much better.  Back then they removed everything including all lymph nodes and she looks butchered, not a pretty site.

Kaara

Vivre:  External partial beam rads are similar to mammosite, except it is done externally 2x daily for 5 days, just to the surgical site and not the entire breast.  It's fairly new in the last five years, and should become the standard for early stage bc like mine.  Right now, it is only for women over 60.  I'm 71, so meet the criteria. My BS acted like he had never heard of it...he's kind of old school, but did a great job with my surgery, which was what I went to him for!

It just doesn't make sense that an early stage cancer has to have the same rads as one that is larger and more advanced, but that has been the standard of care for years.  For younger women, I think the best course of action is still the mx and reconstruction.  Thank heavens for plastic surgery, and you avoid all the post treatment.

I'll tell you, if this stuff ever comes back on me, it's curtains for these boobs...I'm just not that attached to them to go through all this nonsence again! 

Layla2525

You are so right Princess 123! I am standing with you ladies and the local "girls gone green" club here is gonna have a No Meat March published info after Valentines Day for month of March and they already did a veggie fest.  Dunno if I can go vegan but fiance is heart patient and really needs to unclog his heart and I do NOT want to get bc or any cancr or any disease you gotta go to a hosp for ever again. I would recommend a book that has a lot of natural advice by Dr Christine Horner called Waking the Warrior Goddess.  Excellent book on natural ways against breast cancer. I had to give up my bioidentical hormones and without estro I am hungry and grouchy and sleepy and blood prez up etc but had to forego estro,proges cause of my tumore receptors and the testos can be converted to estro so stopped that also.  Tumor wants estro but so does body...but probably will be put on Tamox after surg huh?

Merritmalloy

I have a bit of a TMI question...did anyone experience unusual periods post-mx?  I had a uni-mx in early Nov, bled almost a week after (3 weeks early) and was told by OB/Gyn that surgery can certainly disrupt things.  OK.  Makes sense.  Then I got it early December (at usual time) and it lasted two weeks.  And not "light" towards the end.  Still decent amount of flow.  Got another period January 10th and still bleeding.  When I called OB/Gyn after surgery, they asked questions like "are you soaking through a pad an hour, etc. to see if this was something concerning.  I got the sense that unless it was competely wacky, they chalk it up to periods being weird sometimes.  I'm going to schedule my exam and pap soon and will bring up the issue with dr., but wondering in the meantime if anyone experienced this.  Thanks.

 Merrit

vivre

Merritt-are you on tamox? It could be fibroids if so. Also you hormones are definitely out whack. Those are classic menopause symptoms when we start to lose progesterone. Try to find a doctor who specializes in hormones. And don't be afraid to really shop around. They are not easy to find because litigation makes it tough for doctors to think outside the box. Just keep looking until you find one that you really connect with.

Merritmalloy

Hi Vivre - I should have clarified that I am not on any meds - no tamox, rads, chemo.  I do have an appt with a naturopath in early Feb.  Maybe they can provide some insight.  I had an ultrasound last May after an abnormally heavy period.  They found endo mititis (a bacterial infection).  I was treated with antibotics and that was that.  I would hope that the ultrasound would have noticed anything abnormal, but I gues sit is quite possible that things could have sprung up in the past 10 months.

FLwarrior

I am trying to figure out why I am having hip joint stiffness/pain, which is new for me.  I am wondering if any of you that are not on HT have joint pain. ( I did have FECx3 and Taxotere x3 last treatment in June 2010 and also took tamoxifen for 2 months mid Sept - mid Nov 2010. )  Wondering if it is lingering effects from one of those.  I am currently taking I3C, have any of you experienced hip stiffness/pain from I3C?

painterly

Flwarrior,

I got hip pain from 13c and Dim. My family compounding pharmacy recommended indole carbinol which I took for a month without any pain.  Must get some more.

FLwarrior

Thanks painterly, I will look into that.  Wonder what the difference is?  Well, obviously The "3", but what does that mean?  Did you have to have a script?

painterly

FLwarrior, no script required, it is sold in health food shops and family compounding pharmacies.

vivre

Check this out:

http://www.naturalhealth365.com/natural-healing/breast-cancer-2.html

scroll down to the bottom for a link to a webcast tonight on iodine and breast cancer

vivre

Sorry if that link does not get you to the webcast, and when I paste the info it comes out in a crazy format, but here is the info:

 

Talk Hour naturalnewsteam@optonline.net via aweber.com

 

2:33 AM (16 hours ago)

 

According to our next guest, David Brownstein, M.D. -

 

"over 95 percent of people are deficient in
Iodine".

 

This is a serious health warning - please join us

 

for an important discussion about the connection

 

between iodine and cancer risk plus much more.

 

We'll also talk about thyroid disease, ADD, fluoride

 

and detoxification. 
Dr. Brownstein believes that

 

holisitic medicine IS the future of modern medicine.

 

You're going to LOVE this program!  Please share this

 

email with your family and friends - encourage them to join
us!

 

(2) ways to hear this show - LIVE!

 

Thu. Feb. 2, 2012 - 9:00 pm (EST) / 6:00 pm (PST)

 

Phone Number:     
760-569-7676

 

Access Code:         
815676#

 

or, listen to our LIVE Webcast - use the link
below:http://www.naturalhealth365.com/talkhourshow.html

 

Talk soon,

 

Jonathan Landsman, Host

 

NaturalNews Talk Hour

 

Merritmalloy

Hi everyone.  I have my first appt. with a naturopath tomorrow!  So excited.  Of course insurance doesn't cover, but I'm going anyway and paying the full rate.  Does anyone have any suggestions for thngs I should bring up?  I'm thinking of asking about blood work to check iodine, Vitamin D, etc.  Also want to ask about food allergies affect on energy levels, colds, etc.  Suggestions welcome. 

vivre

Merritt-Ask about liver detox. This was the first thing my ND did for me.

Kaara

Merrit:  Mine ran several different blood tests to see what nutrients I was deficient in, as well as a test for heavy metals (not sure that was needed for me) and a circulating tumor test to see if I had any cancer cells floating around in my body.  My boyfriend had an allergy test run for food allergies, and he was allergic to some surprising things like tomatoes, banannas, kidney beans, green beans and so on.  

Our naturopath put us on a gluten free diet for several months to help clean out our guts and detox our bodies.  We are feeling much better and have lost weight.  It's been a good experience.

We both doing infusions...me vitamins and my boyfriend chelation for metals because he has MS.

Good luck to you...let us know how it went. 

Cat123

I have been hypothyroid for 20 years and have been on synthetic thyroid.  I was finally referred to an endocronologist who I saw a few weeks ago.  He said that everyone gets enough iodine....I don't believe him.  I have never consumed alot of salt for one thing.  But I thing Iodine is lacking.

Kaara

Cat123:  I'm also hypothroid and on synthroid.  My naturopath put me on Iodine after bc dx.  I take 12.5 mg daily and could take up to 25 mg.  It's to protect my breast.

Merritmalloy

Do you feel differently after incorporating iodine or is it more of a silent helper that works behind the scenes?

Kaara

I think initially it had an effect on my thyroid because I started exhibiting symptoms of hypo again, so I cut back the dose and now I'm fine.

vivre

It is sad that there is so much misinformation about iodine. Every cell in our body has receptor sites for this important element. We especially have a lot in our breast tissue. I heard it explained like this by a microbiologist: Iodine is in the halide family along with toxins such as bromine, chlorine, and flouride. These toxins are everywhere and they have a heavier molecule than iodine. So when we are iodine deficient, the toxic halides are able to take over the iodine receptor sites and we become very toxic. The thyroid needs iodine to function so we become hypo thyroid.For those of us who spent a lot of time in pools, as I did, we get heavy exposure, as we also do when all our drinking water is flouridated. In addition, bromines are in many foods. It takes alot of iodine to displace the toxic halides. That is why one often has a lot of detox symptoms when using the iodine protocol, and the TSH tests will sometimes go way up.

I also have heard Dr. John Apsley, who was once an Olympic level swimmer talk about how his whole endocrine system shut down and ended his Olympic dream. In his search for answers, he became a doctor and has spent his life studying toxic water.

Iodine was the standard of care for goiters for decades. Then the drug companies came out with their drugs and started telling people iodine was dangerous, due to one false study that was later refuted, but doctors are still believing. It is called Wolf-Chaikoff:

  http://www.optimox.com/pics/Iodine/IOD-04/IOD_04.html

More and more doctors are beginning to see the correlation to breast and thyroid disorders and iodine deficiency. It is just a matter of time until it will be taken more seriously. I believe they are totally missing the point when try to turn off our hormones with drugs after bc. If they would turn on our thyroids with iodine, the whole endocrine system will function better and that is the root of the problem. 

There is nothing that gives me more peace of mind and has helped me to feel energized more than following the iodine protocol.

But finding a doctor who is literate in the iodine protocol is really hard. I searched and searched but most are afraid to touch it, or they go very cautiously. I spent two years researching it before I started the iodine protocol.

Kaara

vivre:  So you're say it was probably normal for me to exhibit some symptoms of hypothyroid when I was taking the larger dose of Iodine?  I cut back from 2 pills a day to one, but I can start back up again, as my symptoms have normalized.  My naturopath definitely believes in it.  It was one of the first supplements he started me on, even before my tests came back.

althea

Another thing to remember with iodine supplementation is poor absorption.  Just because you take 50 mg of iodine doesn't mean you're absorbing 50 mg of iodine.  The iodine competes with bromine, chlorine, and flourdine.  Even if you manage to eliminate all dietary sources of these toxins, exposure to bromines is unavoidable in modern society.  Carpets, mattresses, fabrics, new cars, anything treated with fire retardent have bromides.  They're also present in electronics (televisions, computers, cell phones).  Thus it's in the dust we breathe. 

truebff

So glad I found this thread! Will make my way through all the comments over the next couple weeks.

I am definitely one of you!

dp4peace

I have recently created a website/blog to share my DCIS journey and offer support, options and sanity for this women and their families facing this diagnosis. Please visit and share your stories/comments: www.dcis411.com

I also have a facebook group called "Donna's Choice: Global Healing From The Inside Out."

 Hope to hear from some of you!!!  Donna

Anonymous

Hi - I am hypothyroid, have been forever.  Was properly dx 1 1/2 to 2 yrs before the bc dx. 

I waant to use elemental iodine, along w Vit D3 and selenium, like is in BioResponse Breast Balance but am leaning to the iodine extract or liquid. 

This thread is not in my favorites, I am a newly diagnosed with IIB highly invasive, just now had blood tests done and will have a bone scan to see where I am after months of alternative therapies.  

Honestly though, I have been hitting it hard but know I have not been serious enough and esp not with food and juicing.  So difficult for me.  And man do I hate cleaning that juicer, it is what throws me off most I think.  But thank god we had the juicer to haul out and use.  

Anonymous

FL WARRIOR wrote "I am currently taking I3C, have any of you experienced hip stiffness/pain from I3C?"

After researching Tamo, DIM and 13C, I went for the DIM because the 13C is not as bioavailable and you have to take more and it can be too much for system, esp after 400 mg which I need and then some.   DIM has not had any effects for me so far, and I use it with the Breast Balance which also supports my thyroid issues. two DIM and one BB in morn, another DIM or two in eve.  Plus I want to add the elemental iodine drops. 

Am happy with the choice. My main influence came from the producers of BioResponse, a study.... http://www.dimfaq.com/site/cruchoice.htm    which made me order without pause. My integrative med physican had suggested the 13C prior and I almost went for it until I found this info which I sent to him.

Having trouble w submit so hitting it again after checking this post in a seperate tab.....

Merritmalloy

Had my first appt with naturopath last week.  I loved it!  Finally someone who speaks my language.  She put me on something called Chaste Berry Extract.  It tells your body to make more progesterone.  She thinks my wacky periods are because of a hormonal imbalance.  Instead of being put on hormones (dread the side effects and who knows what else long-term!), she thinks
this herb will help my body do what it needs to do naturally.  She also took blood to run a food sensitivities panel (different from an allergy scratch test that just test severe reactions).  She believes that knowing what you are "sensitive" to vs. "allergic" to is a good way to help your body be made happy.  Don't eat things that irritate your body and you'll be rewarded with better health/energy.  She also gave me a list of blood tests to have my primary cary run and report on - that way insurance will cover cost.  Insurance won't cover her and prob won't cover the sensitivities allergy test.

Kaara

Merritmalloy:  That's a good idea to have the PCP run the blood and urine tests to get insurance approval.  I'm going to mention that to my naturopath next time I need tests.