Alternative Medicine All the Way!!

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  • Hindsfeet
    Hindsfeet Member Posts: 2,456
    edited November 2008

    Aletha, I feel safer posting on the alernative medicine site.Those who come here are somewhat open to naturpathic medicine or treatment. Hopefully they won't think I'm out of bounds going this way.

     My patholgy report is, dcis grade 3 como type, 2 c.  pretty much same as last year except the area is smaller in size.

     I wrestled with so much the last two weeks, flip flopping to which surgeon to choose, and treatment. I' think I know what I want to do. I've decided to go with my naturapathic doctor and her recommendations, and the surgeon she works with. I would like to use alternative medicine after the lumpectomy. It all depends..just hope so. I will have to be discipline with my diet...although I disagree with many about leaving out meat. I have a vitamin B-12 deficincy. I have to get B-12 shots every week. There is also debate about the use of soy. Some say there's not enough evidence that it is linked to cancer, and others say it can cause cancer. My doc thinks there's not enough evidence to suggest it is, and it's ok as long as it's moderate, like in our morning cerial.

     I looked up sugar and it's linked to cancer. It is fuel for cancer..yikes. I do have a sweet tooth, not extreme. I need at least one thing sweet a day, or something small after a meal. Everyonce in a while I like ice cream. This is going to be tough, giving up sugar, especially since its in every thing.  I don't know if I can completely give it up, espcially over the holidays. Do you think its ok to treat yourself to a sweet now and then? Like once a week?

    Today I went to see the man who gives away free alkaline water. They recommend I do nothing but drink a gallon of water a day. They said, beware of the knife, radiation and chemo. Basically suggesting I go completely alternative.

     I'm a little afraid of the risk of leaving the cancer in me. If it does come back again I will remove the breast. I want to give alternative medicine a try...last time, I did nothing, forgot the surgery, and went my merry way. I thought I was done, it was gone, and the whole mess was history. I really didn't think it would return, and if it did it would be years later.

    I'm not for sure if it is a new cancer? The surgeon said, it's not far from the other one. They think it was there last year, just couldn't see it. the other one said, it could have developed within weeks. She said no one really knows for sure how long cancer develops..some fast and others slower.

    Thanks for your thoughts, and suggestions. B

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  • amberyba
    amberyba Member Posts: 608
    edited November 2008

    Barry, it is good to read your story, and Althea is a wonderful encourager. You have to go with your heart...and this being your second bout of BC you are learning a lot...

    I wish there were more studies using natural alternatives...I would probably get involved...

    I like my sugar too...and it is the holiday and there will be many temptations....I have been very weak in denying myself sugary foods since I was dx...but I know I can stop eating them...I was doing weight watchers and not eating any chocolate for a couple of month before my surgery....and I felt the best I have ever felt....but I got discouraged because I read that even some vegetarians got BC....Diana Dyer has a unique story and she eats healthier than any one I have read about...but eating healthy  is expensive....but probably not eating healthy is more expensive.

    I am inspired to eat healthier when I read others stories.

    I agree that cancer can grow fast or slow. mine was grade 2 but bordering grade 3....yet when the surgeon went to get clean margins the leftover cancer was grade 1....and like you said they never know if they get it all. Just a few tiny cells can show up years down the road.

    Are you getting the lumpectomy?

    Best wishes and God Bless

    Amber

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  • vivre
    vivre Member Posts: 2,167
    edited November 2008

    Barry, while I too agree that there are benefits to going the diet and exercise route, I sincerely hope you will at least get the surgery. Even though I chose to opt out of hormone therapy, saying no thanks to arimidex, I could not wait to get the damn tumor out. I did do rads, though I kinda wish I had not. But as soon as I finished treatments, I went on a crusade to get all the gunk out. I have detoxed and continue to do so. I walk, or do pilates almost daily and I am very diligent about what I eat and taking supplements. I have found a lot of help with chiropractors. While I do believe naturapaths have a good role, the chiros are a good bridge between alternative and regular medicine. They are trained to take blood, do exams and they also know a lot more about nutrition and phyiscal fitness. My chiro gives me the confidence that I am not in this alone. If she finds a problem, she will refer me to a regular doc, but  I feel so good that she is supportive and gives me the confidence that I am being monitored. This disease is beatable if it is caught early and we strenghtened our bodies to ward off recurrance. Do not let it get so bad that you cannot fight it. I feel very confident in an integrated approach, which I feel will be more of the norm in years to come, as we learn more about the benefits of alternatives.

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  • Hindsfeet
    Hindsfeet Member Posts: 2,456
    edited November 2008

    Right now I'm going for a second lumpectomy. Hopefully I will have a little reconstruction at the same time. I'll be working with a naturepath, who will help me through the naturalpathic after treatment.

    I've heard of so many horror stories of those who have had chemo. Radiation would make it almost impossible to have a reconstruction. For me it's about the quality of life. If I am to die I want to enjoy every minute I live. No one knows when its there time to leave planet earth.

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  • amberyba
    amberyba Member Posts: 608
    edited November 2008

    Barry, so glad you are getting the lumpectomy....and I am with you on the quality of life...and I second the "no one knows"

    Amber

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  • mysoulmate
    mysoulmate Member Posts: 14
    edited December 2008

    Dear Barry.

    Your posts are helping me a great deal. My wife was diagnosed with the breast cancer about 2 weeks ago. We went through the exact same (well, almost) decision process and agonies that you did. Her surgeon has been rather too aggresive recommending the mastectomy after the biopsy result. He tentatively scheduled the operation on the day after X-mas, and that's about 4 weeks after the initial discovery. We initially agreed since we were both scared but our senses came back over the weekend and put a break on that. I think we are doing the right thing. The pathology report stated DCIS, stage 0 and grade 3.

    My wife is kinda skeptical about the alternative medicine, and I'm open for that option. I've read about this "baking soda and maple syrups" treatment, too. I've read many articles about it, but not getting close to any comfort level, though.

    The bigggest stopper is this "maple syrup" thing. I sortof sum it up as -- cancer cells like to feed on "sweets" (maple syrup) and they will be killed by "baking soda" when they "eat" the baking-soda-on-maple-syrup. Okay, baking soda is not a "bad" thing and maple syrup is not a "bad" thing, either. However, what if those cells go nuts on maple syrups and don't get killed by the baking soda?

    Any of your thoughts and comments will be greatly appreciated.

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