Early Stage Natural Girls!

I'll even give you an example.  A while back I friended Dr Young on Facebook and asked him if he could cure my Parkinson's.  His reply was "Yes".  Yes?  No explanation.  Just "Yes".  Could it be that he is part of the big Avocado Industrial Complex?

I do, Marianne, but I do feel like I'm being bullied and driven away for expressing my ideas.  And I truly fear for some of the ladies here who will grasp onto any straw because of their fears.  I have been ridiculed, but my skin is 3" thick.

Exercise and good food is not based on quackery, so I agree with that.  I don't eat red meat either, fish and organic turkey or chicken maybe twice a week, and lots of greens and fruit.  I try to exercise because that helps my Parkinson's as well, but those things alone will not cure anything.  I also take Vitamin D, curicumin (tumeric) and B12.  If I don't take my synthroid, I will die (I don't have a thyroid gland anymore).  If I didn't have DBS I would be bedridden, and if I didn't take Arimidex, I don't know if I would have had a recurrence.  My oncologist did not push chemo, even though I was borderline, but I did have rads, and I hated every minute of it.

Well said Marianna.

Heidi-That was a very interesting video about the breast light, and coming from a radiologist, no less! That just goes to show how doctors in other countries are allowed to think outside the box, while ours are tied to FDA approved protocols and the FDA is bought and paid for by big pharma. Even though thermography is FDA approved, there is no insurance code thanks to intense lobbying by the companies that make the torture machines. I gladlly pay for my therms because they give me such peace of mind, even though I still can see all the damage done by radiation. I wish I had said no to rads. I do believe that the reason I had an emotional breakdown at every treatment was that my subconcious was telling me that it was overkill in my case. Wish I had listened to that little voice. If I get a recurrance, I will be convinced that it is because of rads. So I am working hard to get the red out. I have a doc who has a machine that supposedly repairs radiated tissue. We are using my breasts as a case study. I am getting another therm this week to see if it has improved. I will keep you posted.

Blue Dahlia-I have a friend who has no thyroid either. She does not take synthoid, she takes armour, which is a more natural form. And she follows the iodine protocol. I too am hypothyroid. Thyroid issues go hand and hand with breast cancer. There is an undeniable link. In fact, since the thyroid is the trigger for the whole endocrine system, I think it is just a matter of time until they stop doing hormone drugs for breast cancer and address the thryoid instead. I cannot tell you how much iodine has cleaned out my breasts and given me the energy I thought I had lost. It has been one of the keys to restoring my health. We have a long thread on the topic here. But of course, there too are the nonbelievers who will bash it as hogwash. I admit, I was skeptical at first and did a lot of research before I tried it, but now that I have, I am so glad I finally did. Taking iodine is one of the most important things I am doing to prevent recurrance. And you can actually see the change in your breasts on before and after therms. My girlfriend had lumpy breasts and her doc wanted to do a biopsy. I talked her into trying a therm, which did not indicate anything specific, even though her mammogram was suspicious. She went on the iodine protocol and had another therm three months later. Her doc was astounded at how her breasts had cleared up. He is now a believer in thermography as opposed to right away going to a biopsy.My friend also believes that iodine is saving her life.

I'll do some research on iodine.  Thanks.

I have read a lot of crazy theories though (not on iodine)  Here's one.  Apparently as per a doctor in Switzerland or was it Germany (it's been a while), we are sick because of unresolved issues of our ancestors.  Apparently, our cells remember the trauma and manifest in disease.  I asked my mother if she had any unresolved issues and the only thing she said to me was, I didn't win the lotto.  hahahahahaha  God bless her.  She is 84 and in the early stages of Alzheimers.

P.S.  DBS = Deep Brain Stimulation

I guess I'll have to check with my endocrinologist the next time I see him.

 http://www.thyroid.org/patients/patient_brochures/iodine_deficiency.html

 Are there problems with taking too much iodine?
Taking too much iodine can also cause problems. This is especially true in individuals that already have thyroid problems, such as nodules, hyperthyroidism and autoimmune thyroid disease. Administration of large amounts of iodine through medications (ie Amiodarone), radiology procedures (iodinated intravenous dye) and dietary excess (Dulce, kelp) can cause or worsen hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism.

In addition, individuals who move from an iodine-deficient region (for example, parts of Europe) to a region with adequate iodine intake (for example, the United States) may also develop thyroid problems since their thyroids have become very good at taking up and using small amounts of iodine. In particular, these patients may develop iodine-induced hyperthyroidism (see Hyperthyroidism brochure).

Thanks althea....I'm on synthroid and was considering the switch until I was diagnosed with bc.  Now I'm on hold with all hormones (taking or changing) until I get through the treatment part.  I've just had my surgery and am waiting to see if I get the all clear.  I have an app't with a holistic/integrative physician to see what I can do to prevent recurrance other than diet and supplementation which I am doing right now.

Good idea to bump the iodine thread Althea. I keep forgetting there are new people who have never heard of it.

blue-There are many doctors who are still misinformed about iodine and it's safety. There are thousands of people taking high doses of iodine and participating in both the breastcancerchoices study and in the yahoo iodine group. We have not died from taking iodine. Yes, there are detox symtoms and stages to get through, that is why no one should jump into taking iodine until they have done their homework. As I said, I researched like crazy. There is so much proof that iodine deficiency is connected to breast cancer that it can no longer be denied, and I have heard more and more doctors speaking out about it. As I said, it is only a matter of time until it will be at the forefront of bc treatments. The only reason it has not caught on faster is because it is cheap, and will cost the status quo a lot of money, and the fact that more doctors need to be educated.

It is true that people can react to the intravenous dyes injected for medical testing, but it is usually the dye that is the issue. Every cell in our body needs iodine. It is not true that there is enough iodine in the US. For those of us who live inland, it is especially an issue. They have known this for over a hundred years when the high incidence of goiter in the midwest caused it to get the nickname of the goiter belt. It was treated with iodine supplements. Now it is very hard to find iodine, thanks to drug companies getting off the shelves by claiming it is dangerous. Ironic isn't it.Something that has been used fo hundreds of years has been labeled dangerous, yet we are subjected to drugs that are considered safe, yet kill thousands every year.

But there is no need to rehash all this info. It is already on the iodine thread with lots of links. I have also  archived a lot of info on my website for those who are interested and do not want to read a long thread.

Kaara, I am only ever doing Thermography. From now on. It is a superior test. To predict breast cancer. As I have said on this board, the test is "pleasant," compared to a mammogram. But the real deal is that the test can say so much more; like you don't have breast cancer. 

Mammograms? Not so much. I don't have the exact statistics, but of all of the biopsies prompted by mammograms, 10% are cancer. That is terrible. So 90% of the women "suspected" of cancer from a mammogram, have a totally invasive breast biopsy and don't have cancer. Why do all that? When a thermogram, as the first test, can weed out the 90%. 

Sure, the 10% need to go on and have a mammogram. To figure out what the cancer is.

And the real beauty of the Thermogram is that it can really help the younger women. Susan G. Komen was 33 when she was diagnosed with breast cancer and 36 when she died of breast cancer. Even, today, nobody is offering mammograms to women in their thirties. If Susan G. Komen was living, today, her breast cancer would STILL not have been caught. And she would still have died. Despite all of this nonsense by the Susan G. Komen "Race for the Cure." Which is more mammograms for everyone. And then all of these "treatments," which I have rejected.

Yet, we could offer Thermograms to these women.  Why aren't we doing this? 

The Thermogram is the superior predictive test, for breast cancer.

And yeah, I paid $250 of my own $ for my Breast Thermogram. But $ WELL spent.  

Blue-  You might be more interested in the holistic/complementary threads. The alternative threads are for those who are looking for alternative medicine to conventional medicine...or to those who choose both.

 In regard to your insensitive statement about me having 4 dx's because I didn't get rads was mean. Also, apparently you haven't followed my threads well enough to know my decision making process as to why I' initially made the decisions I did. First, even if you read my Why I'm not doing chemo thread introduction you would had a history to why I didn't do early treatment.

As a reminder the first 2 dx's I was self pay. Being that I'm self-pay a simple lumpectomy was a financial stetch for me. Since, I knew I could not initially pay for treatment, I begin looking into affordable alternative treatment I could do, and I began on the journey to alternative medicine, and to find the root cause to why our bodies fall a part the first place. After the second dx, I learned I'm hypothyroid and had hashiminto's. The third dx was on the other breast, and it was a low grade slowing cancer that probably would never leave the breast area. It didn't demand radical treatment and the other breast had not had a recurrence in over 2 years so I had my fingers cross. At the 4 year screening, I learned that the initial dx recurred as idc with the her2+ ... I've had enough time to learn, research, experience and think through cancer treatment to know pretty much what's right for me. To add to that, having rads doesn't guarantee you that you won't have a recurrence. The consultation I had with a rads oncologist the first time around said the advantages with surgery only was only 5%. We all take risks in life...I didn't have the money for rads or meds anyway, so 5% was good odds as the doc said that with surgery & wide margins I would not be dx again.

Unforltunately, it was not the case for me. With what I know now, and if I had the money to pay for a mastectomy then that would had been my best bet. Life doesn't often afford us what we need...does it?

Right now...I am comfortable with my choice. It is my life, my choice. I prefer quality of life. I will not choose treatments that I feel will suppress my immune system. I need my killer cells now more than ever. I am choosing that the body is smart and if we do the right thing for it ... it can heal itself. We need to all know...what is that right thing that will aid our body healing. Also...my plastic surgeon are thrilled that I didn't have rads. It's going to make reconstruction easier.

To add to what Blue says - Eve - do you really understand how agressive HER2+ve bc is? Can you really take the risk to not do chemo/herceptin?

I had surgery on Monday.  I got up this morning, looked at my surgical scar and it is beginning to heal fast.  I had very little pain and no SE's from the surgery or sedation I was given.  I know it's because of the diet and supplementation program I've been on for the last three months!  This is a new way of life for me going forward.

 I know I can beat this disease by staying on my diet and exercise plan, and working with the integrative physician that I've selected to see me though this challenge.

Even better news today....path report is back and I have all clear margins and nodes!!  YEA!!!

Kaara, Hooray for your great path report.  So happy for this great news. Hope I have the same report in about 6 days.  Do you know what follow up treatment you are to have?  I have to take this breast binder and bandage off in a couple hours. I am a little apprehensive but I will do it shakey hands and all.lol.  Have a great weekend again congrats on the path report.  Eileen

Kaara ... YAY !!!

Blue ... you are fortunate to have doctors you respect.  Unfortunately, I was referred to an oncologist who wasn't up to date and luckily a few women had mentioned things like the OncotypeDX test to me.  I dove into the research and discoved the doc was very wrong on 3 life threatening recommendations.  If I had followed the advice of my ex-oncologist I would have done chemo for no benefit.  Following that doc could have killed me.   I think it would be wonderful to repect my doc enough to put my life in her/his hands. Unfortunately, I don't currently have an onco who fills that need.  I do, however, have other docs I trust including my hormone balancing specialist.  So, Blue, I'm happy for you that you have found an oncologist that you can trust.  I currently don't have one.  If this disease comes back, I will need to do some serious traveling to find someone I can trust with my life.