Positive thoughts and thinking only to beat Breast Cancer

sophie786

I was dx with invasive ductal carcinoma end of january.  Tumor is aggressive and was between 4 and 5 cm and there was another smaller one around nipple and possibly another one by sternum.  the biggest one was bioposed by vacuum and found malignant.  I'm 40 with 4 children.  My oldest who is 17 is set to graduate high school.  I have 15 old son, 13 year old son with autism and a 5 year old daughter who is kindergarten.  I was about to begin party planning for my daugther's HS graduation and I'm figthing for my life right now.  I have no family history of cancer (I am the first person to be dx with cancer), I exercised vigorously 2 days a week, was pretty fit.  I probably didn't eat the healthiest diet but it was not the worst either.  Honestly I felt the best the past few years than I have ever felt.

Anyways, the oncologist began chemotherapy to shrink the tumors.  I had my second round of chemo last monday (feb. 25.)  cancer has made me realize what is important.  I love my kids and I want to be around for them.  that's why I'm try valiantly to go thru all the treatments.  My Kids need me.  I want to surround myself with POSITIVE PEOPLE, POSITIVE THINKING, AND ANYTHING POSITIVE I CAN DO.  I don't need any negativity nor do I want to wallow in self-pity.  I want to beat this thing and do everything possible to have a favorable outcome.

Please refer me to positive/inspiration books by survivors, diet changes (I have already implemented many since dx), drinking fresh juices), tips.

I have started to eat as much organic veggies and fruits as possible.

Please keep this thread going with POSITIVE ENERGY, POSITIVE THOUGHTS...PLEASE JOIN ME 

fd1

Hi Sophie! 

I'll preface this by saying that I realize that what I am about to write might be controversial.  It helped me gain a sense of control, but I am in no means saying this is a cure or the only way to deal with things.  In fact, I believe that a balance in all aspects, Western medicine and alternative therapy is the best way to health.

I worked intensively through my chemotherapy with a Traditional Chinese doctor who is a strong believer that most disease, especially cancer, is a result of the environment of the cells, and less often caused by genetic defects. She believes in teaching you to shower your subconscious in love and guide it into achieving the outcome that you want for yourself.  I read the book "The Biology of Belief" by Bruce Lipton and watched his online videos.  These are a small introduction into this concept which has been in Chinese medicine for hundreds of years.

I also have noticed that inflammation seems to have a big role in cancer and how it spreads.  I have been following Dr. Weil's anit-inflammatory diet but without the vitamins since my diagnosis.  It is not too restrictive and his food pyramid is available online for free.  It is very similar to the diet that my TCD put me on during chemotherapy in which she encouraged me to not eat meat, dairy, or sugar.  I could sweeten things preferably with stevia or alternatively with organic maple syrup or honey.  I've since reintergrated some dairy (greek yogurt, occasional cheese) and very occassionally meat and one dessert per week.

Anyways, I found reading these resources (and others) if anything a good way to distract myself during treatments.

Wish you best of luck! 

fd1

http://www.thehaven.org.uk/how-we-can-help-you/where-we-do-it/haven-home

I will also add this link to the Haven which is an organization in the UK that provides complementary/alternative therapies.  They have some great audios at this link which are relaxation and stress management scripts.  Whenever I had trouble sleeping or was stressed, I found listening to these very helpful. 

sophie786

thanks.  I will check those out.  I having been reading about positive enegy and its favorable outcome on cancer patients.  I'm want to surround myself with positive people and positive ENERGY.

THANK YOU AND BEST OF LUCK.

Momine

Sophie, I am sorry you have to deal with this. I would warmly ditto looking at the lists of anti-inflammatory foods and try to incorporate them in your diet. Not only might it help against the cancer, it will also help against the side effects from treatment. One of my standard things during treatment when the inflammation was bad was canned sardines topped with raw garlic and fresh chilis. It often helped better than pills.

Second, get yourself some pro-biotics. They will help during treatment and are a good idea anyway.

Third, it helped me through treatment and neo-adjuvant chemo to curse the tumor. OK, perhaps not all positive and shiny but, boy, it felt good to tell that thing to die, which it did.

DivineMrsM

sophie, I was diagnosed two years before you, in January.  My son was a senior in high school.  I'd been mentally planning celebrations surrounding his graduation for several years, and then I got 'hit by the bc bus'.  I had six rounds of chemo, three weeks apart.  That took me up to June 3.  I had my moments yet was still able to make it to all of dear son's end-of-school activities, banquets, band concerts, awards ceremonies and graduation. Certainly, I was glad I made the effort, especially the days when I'd have rather stayed in bed with the covers over my head.

On June 12, we held the most beautiful graduation party in our back yard. The weather was gorgeous, the food delicious, and we entertained about 150 friends and family. Of course, I relied heavily on my husband, sister and several close friends to help bring it all together.  Now, two years out from the diagnosis, it's surprising to realize how much life I've lived in that time.

So I am sending my very best wishes your way that you will get through this incredibly rough and difficult time in your life.

One of the best books I read at the beginning of my 'journey' was "Getting Well Again" by O. Carl Simonton.  I most often prefer newer books.  Yet it's so incredibly insightful that it doesn't matter when it was written (1992).

January, whoa, you are still incredibly new to your diagnosis.  You'll go through a roller coaster of emotions, that's for sure.  God bless you, hugs to you, and prayers being sent up for you.

DivineMrsM

One more thing:

Some time during the first year after the stage iv diagnosis, I read a book or article that cautioned against certain ways of 'framing' cancer.

For example, it suggested never to 'own' cancer by saying things like "when I found MY cancer." or "MY cancer is hormone positive."  It also suggested that you never capitalize the word, (*never* call it "the big C") or the diagnosis letters such as er+, her2-, ect.  It even suggested changing the spelling to 'canser' (this isn't something I do as the misspelling makes it stand out more for me).

Also, if I reference cancer, I never say I'm 'sick'.  I usually say something along the lines of 'I have health issues'.  

Another train of thought from someone who objects to the 'militarization' of cancer:  it doesn't make sense to say I'm fighting cancer or battling cancer or that cancer is an invader. That seems to give it too much power and personality.  I prefer to think of it as a mindless aberration in my body's chemistry, something to be treated with the hope that enough of it can be removed or starved so that normal processes can restore health......I want to concentrate on living well.

Sophie, you will find MUCH positivity here.

 

Momine

Divine, I can definitely get behind this one: "I want to concentrate on living well." I think it is very important to enjoy all that can be enjoyed as fully as possible, even during evil chemo days and other objectively miserable stuff.

fd1

I had two mantras that helped me out.  The first was, "I am happy, healthy, strong, and fit in body, mind and spirit."  At first I felt like it was completely untrue, but everytime I felt down, which was several times a day at the beginning, I repeated over and over again, sometimes with breathing exercises if I was alone.  I now feel that it perfectly describes my state of being!  The second one I had forgotten about, but you just reminded me with the "canser" thing.  Everytime you think of the word cancer, think that it means, "I can-survive!"  Heehee - cheesy, I know.

sophie786

I will definitely check out those books.  I am very much into looking into organic foods and natural cures. I wont to avoid taking more medication for side effects.  first round of chemo i got horrible mouth sores.  oncologist prescribed swish and swallow, acycolvir, diflucan.  I use on online that taking organic honey was very good for mouth sores as it is antibacterial and anti fungal.  I've been taking organic raw honey for and putting on my tongue and sores.  It seems to have helped alot and I havent had to take any med in second round of chemo.

this time around my eyes have been bothering me and tearing and produced some discharge.  I'm hoping to find a natural cure for the that.

since my dx. I have all avoid processed sugar and take only 1 spoon of honey every day.  I have a very big sweet tooth but have decided no sweets during treatment.  

Its been a process and struggle but I'm fighting this fight for my kids. They need me.  My youngest just turned 6.

one blog i looked at was perks of cancer.  there is another called savvy sister.  What I am trying to focus my energy on is natural cures to fight symptoms and nourish my body thru diet.  I have been taking tumeric pills and am adding tumeric to all of my cooked food.  ginger seem to be my best friends.

gutsy

Read this

http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2011/dec/04/siddhartha-mukherjee-talk-about-cancer

Momine

Gutsy, thank so much for posting that. I had seen an interview with this guy ages ago, and then promptly forgot about it, till now. He is very thoughtful and knows an awful lot.

DivineMrsM

gutsy, thanks for the link.  Here's the title of your interesting article:

Siddhartha Mukherjee: 'A positive attitude does not cure cancer, any more than a negative one causes it'

How, exactly, do you go about writing a prize-winning book about cancer? Siddhartha Mukherjee, who has just won the Guardian First Book award for The Emperor of All Maladies, explains

I hadn't heard of this author before, and will try to get his book thru my library.  I see the book has 4 1/2 stars (out of 5) on Amazon out of 484 reviews.

exbrnxgrl

It is a wonderful book. A great retrospective on cancer through the ages and how society has dealt with it.The author is a doctor.

ReneeinOH

Sophie, I'd recommend checking out Dr. Bernie Siegel.  He's a surgeon, and a big proponent of visualization, positive attitude toward healing.  

MishaT

Have you read the Anti-Cancer Diet?



It's a fabulous book, IMO. ...I have been reading about cancer and diet, and this book is amazing. Gives you some of the science and also a very clear idea about cancer-fighting foods. (Just check with your doctor to make sure all of them are indicated given your particular diagnosis).



One thing the book emphasizes is the importance of green tea in the diet. The best green tea in terms of cancer comes from Japan (the processing in Japan maintains the health properties better than the processing in other countries, go figure) Also should be steeped for 8-10 minutes for fullest effect. I have started drinking it like crazy, they say 3-5 cups a day and it is an incredible food.

maltomlin

I'm sorry I'm not into alternative therapy but I am 5 years out, after surgery, chemo and rads, and feeling good.

Yes, you need to be positive. All the statistics show that the treatment does work, but you also need to keep yourself positive. That's a mindset but is easier said than done. 

Knowing you have to have chemo is scary but if you want to do everything to rid yourself of this cancer, then it's a necessary evil. Cos it works.

Yes, it's scary but it's ok and it works.

Do yourself a favour. Take the chemo and then get on with your life with your kids. 

Life will be waiting for you.

Mardibra

A positive attitude is certainly great for stress levels....too much stress is bad for a lot of reasons.  However, I just cant understand how a positive attitude helps with cancer.  I highly doubt that my cancer cells understand what im thinking!

HLB

Stress is bad for cancer.

Lisa1637

Divine...I love what you had to say...thank you!! xo Lisa