Early Stage Natural Girls!

Zuvart, thank you for your excellent post!  I saw the documentary Pink Ribbons Inc last month and was shocked and yet not at all shocked to learn that the same company that makes Tamoxifen makes Atrazine.  Talk about double-dipping.  I start radiation next week so I'm a few weeks out from the tamoxifen but I am very leary about it and really leaning towards not taking it.  I know my oncologist and surgeon are going to stroke out if I say I don't want to do it.  Don't know yet how to handle it - present them with a bunch of research on why not or tell them I'm taking it and don't. Hmmm.  A few more weeks to come up with a plan.  

Grace

Graced, be sure to shop around for a really good naturopathic oncologist.  Unlike medical oncologists, they have advanced therapies which are not only aimed at eliminating the cancer, but changing the biochemistry of the body to a state of health which doesn't enable cancer to grow. Given the damage Tamoxifen can do to the body, it is not uncommon for a lot of people to decline it.  Therefore, if you present your research well and show your MO what your Naturopathic Onc recommends as an alternative and why,  s/he is more likely to respect your opinion and decisions.  If s/he is unreasonably narrow-minded, then maybe seriously consider letting that person go and finding a real professional.  That's what I had to do.

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Dunesleeper, I think that most MDs enter the profession with good intentions.  But just imagine spending all those long years in medical school only to realize that your job is pretty much to be the pharmaceutical industry's b*tch-just follow their cookie-cutter protocols and prescribe medications that aren't fit for human consumption.  Their hands are tied, so to get around addressing our questions, fears and concerns, they use arrogance to compensate for their inadequacies .  This article just really says it all. Harvard Medical School in Ethics Quandary - NY Times .com  http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/03/business/03medschool.html.  It discusses a full-blown movement by more than 200 Harvard Medical School students and sympathetic faculty, intent on exposing and curtailing the pharmaceutical industry's influence in their classrooms and laboratories, as well as in affiliated teaching  hospitals and institutes.

So frustrated on the Integrative/Naturopathic oncologist front. We have ONE practice in my town that is on my insurance. They are associated with the big cancer center at the University. Started off with an appointment at the end of May, which got rescheduled until July 20. Got a call yesterday rescheduling me to September! 

Was really hoping to get some help with the whole hormone/thyroid thing. Guess I will keep doing what I am doing and rely on you guys for help!

I am supposed to see my MO again before that appointment in September. That's when I will be telling her I am not taking the Femara, but oh, I'd really like a prescription for a sonocine of my remaining breast. Wonder how that will go over.

Maybe get the Femara Rx filled and tell her I couldn't tolerate it? That's pretty much the truth. 

THX Grace

I just recent enjoyed ANTI CANCER:  A  New way of Life.

It was written by a Dr who had brain cancer!

Where do you get maitake mushrooms? They do seem to be the most recommended type of mushroom for anti-cancer benefits.

They sell fresh maitake mushrooms at the grocery by my house but honestly, they don't look too appetizing, and I don't think you could eat enough to get the benefits.  I did some research and bought a brand by Host Defense called Maitake Dietary Supplement.  It's grown in the U.S. and certified organic and Dr. Weil endorses them. Vitacost has them.

I saw Dr. Joel Fuhrman speak a few weeks ago and his topic was 'winning the war on cancer' and he too said that all mushrooms, including white button, were beneficial. Though he said they need to be cooked, not raw.  He has a new book out called Super Immunity where he goes through cancer fighting properties of various foods.  He said the equiavalent of even just one or two white mushrooms a day had a benefit.  I guess I'll eat them when I can but still take the supplement too.

Has anyone hear discussed BOMBSHELL by S  Somers?
I have not read it.  I wonder what supplements she takes.  I heard she is on hormones.

THX Maud.  Thats interesting though I could care less about Somers one way or the other , actually.

Graced  . Thx for that info. I appreciate it !

One of the local docs I love went to Japan to learn about mushrooms they use as a form of chemo there. It is called AHCC and is available here. It certainly can't hurt to try, though I am not sure I would buy anything from Japan these days after Fukishima.

Maud, don't be surprised if your once does not even whince when you say no to armidex. Mine was actually okay with it in the end, after all those weeks of arguing! I later found out my hospital was selected to be part of a study on this drug. Great, make me a guinea pig. They get paid a lot for each person in the study. I guess I cost them some bucks by opting out. lol

Graced-that looks like a good link. So many books. So little time! Keep reading gals. I have to say that it was the thing that has been my motivation and inspiration. Every time I read another book, it just reinforces what I have learned. You should see my stack! I keep them because I keep going back to them from time to time. 

Don't forget to check out some of the books about the links to toxic teeth and cancer. Dr. Huggins and Dr. Wentz both have great books on this topic.

Yes, we did have some heated discussions on Suzanne Somers. I have to say, she is not a great writer, but I loved both Knockout and Breakthrough. It is crazy how some people around here hate her so much. I believe she is heroic. Her life would be easier if she just went away. But she is brave to speak out, because she gets so much flack. I learned a lot from those two books.

Happy reading.