Early Stage Natural Girls!

Windy5:  I found my alternative physician in Suzanne Sommer's book "Breakout".  In the back she has a list of doctors broken down by state and town I believe.  Mine has turned out to be pretty good and has given me a lot of good advice about diet and supplements.  I'm also taking vitamin infusions weekly.  Just had a thermography done at the same office, and they also have accupuncture and chiorpractor on site.  It's a good system.  He ran tests on me that my conventional docs failed to do like the CTC (circulating tumor cell test) to determine if there are cancer cells floating around in your body that can be detected.  Mine was negative..zero...so that was comforting.  It helped me make my decision on how to proceed with treatment.

This looks to be a great thread. I have already read a couple of things I want to follow up on. I am only on the first page of the thread, and I'm going to take a break, will try to watch the Daniel Viatlis movie. Then I need a nap. Not feeling great today. So, I'll be reading lots more from you in the coming days.

Maud, I do tell every doctor about the penicillin and also a sulfa drug allergic reaction. I do appreciate your telling me to do that though - very thoughtful as these allergies are potentially life threatening.

Hi! Very excited to read this thread. I have been on my journey with DCIS for over two years, but have just recently started reading/posting on this site. I have quickly realized that I belong with the natural girls! I created a blog to share my story and to bring the controversy around overtreatment of (low grade) DCIS to light. I did not expect so much criticism of my views and resources. I would love any positive feedback. I look forward to reading more on this thread and in the alternative forum. Thank you all for sharing your insights!!! I have felt very alone and hesitant to share my views because I did not want to hear more statistics and concerns. I am very careful about protecting myself from the naysayers. If you're interested in hearing my whole story, please see "Donna's Journey" at www.dcis411.com  I look forward to more exchanges on this thread!

Donna  

Essa:  I wish I had insisted on surgery instead of the biopsy. But they probably wouldn't have done it.

In 1982, that was the standard procedure. If the diagnosis was cancer then you got a mastectomy. No further treatment.

I was lucky, the cancer never recurred.

But I discovered a new primary in the other breast last year. The onc insisted it was NOT a recurrence. 

I guess it is possible that the first cancer could still recur (but it is almost 30 years ago now)

Windy-I tried arimidex for 4 days and literally threw the pills as far across the bathroom because it just pissed me off so much that I felt so pressured to take a drug. I have never regretted nor looked back, nor do I worry about a recurrence. In fact, I know it sounds crazy but I wish I had had breast cancer years ago. It has taught me to take better care of myself, and take my health more seriously and it has led me back to doing things I love for myself, and not just always giving to others, with no guilt. I am healthier and happier than I ever have been, thanks to bc. And I have met so many amazing people who share my passion  for health.

When one door closes, take the window!

dpforpeace:  Black-cat's post above is what I refer to as an attack on this thread.  It serves no real purpose and lacks any useful information.  It's just pure scarcasm and an attempt to show scorn.  I just ignore and move on.  If we acted this way on the conventional threads we would be thrown off, so I don't understand why the moderators allow it here, but we deal with it.  What you don't want to do is let it scare you off.  It means nothing in the grand scheme of sharing information.

Essa, I had a core biopsy and then the lumpectomy. No rads and no AI. I tried, but the SEs were horrendous and I have a heart rhythm problem and very bad osteoporosis (I'm 76, but my bones are like an  85 year old woman. I'm at 65 percent only and that's taking into consideration my age. .  That is really scary -I've already broken a wrist and a hip (before the cancer diagnosis) I posted on another thread that I went in for another bone density test because I was worried about the state of my hip (it has 3 pins in it) but the tech said they can't measure the bone loss in that hip due to the pins!  I don't want to risk further bone damage. Quit Fosamax too, due to pain in my jaw.  Worried about "fossa-jaw" although the dentist said it is rare.  Take calcium with D and jog every day--

Maud: In 1982 I had just a mastectomy as lumpectomies were new and the surgeon advised me against them.  No other treatment followed the mastectomy except for an annual blood test to check for possible increases in embryonic cancer cells (which everyone has, according to the doc) After 5 years or so I quit doing the blood tests. 

PS They took 17 lymph nodes so I still have numbness down to my waist and down to my elbow. They said eventually the nerves would regenerate and my feeling would come back, but it never happened.  Luckily I never had lymphedema.  It wasn't even mentioned.  I was very active, running marathons ---I think all the running helped me heal fast.  I also had immediate reconstruction.

Blackcat, whenever I see your name, I expect to see negativity.  You rarely disappoint.  It gives me occasion to ask myself, why am I still coming here, seven YEARS later?  Oh yeah.  I remember.  To see my FRIENDS.  I'm here to keep up with friends and make new ones.  I have no clue why you're here.  You make it difficult for me avoid negativity whenever I do see you posting here.   The ignore button isn't enough.  I still see your name whenever you post, and I know that you're bringing negativity in here with you.  Just leave us alone why don't you?  

Hi Donna, welcome to the thread.  I must confess, I know so little about DCIS.  I spent a bit of time years ago in the dcis section in an attempt to be more aware of what's what.  There was a thread called something like 'how dare you minimize my diagnosis'.   There were people getting upset that some, like Dr Susan Love (I think I'm recalling correctly), say that DCIS isn't cancer but a precancer.  Boy howdy, if that had been my dx and I heard Dr Love's assessment, that would be the one I'd run into the hills with. 

Apparently, a lot of people get upset by such a notion.  That's as far as my dcis learning went.  It was definitely returning to my mind over recent months though.  My brother was dx'd with prostate cancer last October.  Watchful waiting, which I think they call active surveillance, is the first line of treatment for early stages.  It certainly gave me pause.  I had to wonder, is this truly not an option for women too?