An Alternative approach to Stage IV Health and choices

sarahlou:  So sorry about your dx.  Please hang in there and continue doing your research.  You are your own advocate...no one else will do this for you!  Good that you got rid of the negative friend.  You don't need that kind of drama in your life right now.  Stay on this site...you will find lots of love and support.

Sending you prayers and positive energy!! 

Sarahlou - thought I hit submit when I wrote on Tuesday morning, it is missing today, so gues the memory plays tricks again.  Was saying something about the thread, how it is pertaining to the alternatives approach and what you shared is probably the most important part to do.... love and forgiveness.  I know that what I faced right before the mass came to my attention was a difficult time, I am not through it yet, do not think I ever will be, ever, and do not know how that will take me to wellness, but it is a fact in my life.  Forgiveness and love are key.  There are so many I have talked to who realized that the traumas, the emotional state made a difference for them.  Then there are those who do not think so.  In the symptoms of breast cancer thread I started, there are a multitude who share they went through traumas and hard hits before the cancer, others were like, no I was just happy and there it was anyway.  But for those of us who believe it makes the difference, that is key fo us.  I have to find my way through.  While I am not stage IV, the cancer is in my lymph nodes, has been for over a year, surgeon did not remove all he needed.  Anyway, the emotional and spiritual state is huge, I am not there yet.

Hi That's Life

As you've mentioned, we've had some losses recently so I've kind of delayed posting my progression in Stage IV section.

I've posted that I'd a good run with NED for the past 4 years at Stage IV. Recently, my liver met came back to haunt me and I'm back on chemo again. I'm certainly disappointed but life goes on. 

In the last 4 years, I've diligently had TCM, mushroom supplements, alkaline water, lots of cruciferous veg and also tried to lose some weight by going low-carb. My BMI has always been normal btw, just wanted to be more healthy. And yet I've had progression. So I ask myself, what now since I've pretty much done all that I can? I've concluded nothing much, just stick to what I've been doing I guess..

Like some of us have mentioned and experienced, cancer is more than just lifestyle or diet. I think what each and everyone of us need to realise is that we need to enjoy ourselves while the sun shines and make the most out of it. Most important of all, be happy

Thanks, Heidi. I've just started chemo last week so scans will be some weeks later. Fingers crossed that all will be well.

Yes, with recent studies, more Vit D can't hurt! Hope you'll have an easy time with Tamoxifen. A massage is a great idea, I wouldn't mind one myself! 

I wish I knew how to get rid of stress. Ever sine this recent stage4 dx I have been getting the anxiety symptiom of not being able to get a good deep breath. Even when I feel optomistic and in a good mood, its there. A friend told me its because even if I'm having a good time and not thinking about it, it always in the back of my mind "I have cancer". I have ativan which helps but I don't know if that's a good long term solution, plus my doc is stingy with things like that. He wrote me the script and I said "put a bunch of refills on it" joking but not really! He said "you'll come to grips with the new situation and you'll be alright". And no refills.

HLB I was wondering if you have had a chance to read Jon Kabbat-Zinn's book. Full Catastrophe Living. It is a really helpful book about mindful meditation. If books aren't your thing there are quite often classes in mindful meditation available-even here in my small town/city. The classes/book are very often recommended to people who live with chronic illness. We fit that category-sort of. Personally, I find the exercises very helpful, for times when the CTscan Voice says "hold your breath" "breathe".

HLB. For what it is worth, in a while it does settle down. Sometimes you (I) don't think of it for days at a time (honest). Then I do and I get in a snit and need to do something. A wise friend, long before breast cancer, used to say "breathe", when ever I was getting wound up about something over which I had no control, and therefore could change. Breathe. Good plan, in and out, in and out. There, don't you feel much better? Or like smacking me up the side of the head? Either response is ok cause we're in a virtual world. All the best.

Tonight reading 'Rediscovering Real Medicine' by Dr. Jean Elmiger, Switzerland (male) who was trailed in conventional medicine then went back to school and trained as a homeopath and more.  I looked up cancer in glossary and found this -

Through his reading the works of Dr. Victor Pauchet, 1929, he writes... "Above all I learned about that great offender, the intestinal tract, and its role in mental balance as well as in the origins of cancer.  The evident roll of constipation in breast cancer was a revelation."

And I thought what? But this book is about treating the whole person, not the breast.  Let us make certain we are not in the least constipated then. *_*

Diane Essa

I adapted my avatar and online name to my disposition a little bit, mad bluebird but cute too, even when making the ugly face.  I will still be signing as Diane Essa or more likely LOVEssa which is a nickname given on another thread, Fuzzy's Romp Room.  If you need to relieve stress on BCO, you can go to

• Fuzzy's,
• Bonfire of the Goddesses,
• OMG They found a cure for stupid, and even
• You know you're a cancer patient when....

Just saying, there are stress-buster threads for you here on bco.   I think when we laugh it does reduce stress.

Tnight I attempted watching comedy.  I recored several possibilities this week and went through all in a few hours, delete delete delete.  I hate comedy when the movie says it is a comedy.  Hate slapstick, hate gross and ignorant stuff.  Love dramas, so the watching of comedy is harsh for me to attempt.  Tried watching Bean who sometimes makes me laugh, you know the UK actor, but he was blowing his nose during my dinner, ugh, and sticking out his tongue and shaving it, see what I mean.....  Soooo then went through several comedy standups before finding one comedian with some intellect and tact, John Oliver.  Looking for more.  Dr. Webb told me to be beautiful and laugh again, it will take some doing, haha  ha.

LOVEssa

Michelle - one small step - actually HUGE!!!! I am so excited too!!!!!!  Here the cryoablation and radiofrequency ablation are taking ground, even for Medicare or whatever and some insurance.  How much are those things?  What ideas do you have for fundraising?  Online so other bc-ers can participate?

Today I needed a nap and to destress, you know what I chose, I turned on a recording of Barefoot Contessa, Ina Garten the cook.  Her voice and low key always relaxes me, I nap to her talking and cooking all the time but I had forgotten of late.  

I am waiting for more info from dr on the red and black raspberry powder for cancer in lymph nodes and for mets, anxious but doing 2x day now, and man does that stuff clean one out.  Plus doing a liver detox I got from the Oleander group on yahoo using apple juice for 3 days then epsom salts and grapefruit juice for the next two, details were sent in a pdf and I had no idea how this thing worked, but am game to do once a month, the liver takes a hit w everything we do for ourselves, must be clear too.  So much to remember.

Michelle, let us know.

Michelle, you are a star! Really exciting about the hyperthermia. I've wanted to post on this subject for a while but never got around to it.

http://urology.jhu.edu/newsletter/2009/prostate_cancer_2009_15.php

You could say you are "turning up the heat on metastatic breast cancer." The idea of getting donations at the checkout counter also sounds good.

Also thinking of taking a "sports" multivitamin which contains berry extract. All the exercise I do has got to be a form of whole-body hyperthermia.

Yes, I read about that and I think it was femara and faslodex (fulvestrant) together. Or was it Arimidex and Faslodex? That would be easier to remember with the rhyme. Lol.

I think it sounds reasonable that cancer cells that grow in cooler climes like the testes (or small breasts? or near surface of big breasts?) can't stand heat as much. I wish we knew more. What is known is that exercise does heat muscles up which they think triggers immune cell activity in response. I've been thinking of hot stones massage as a way to relax, but maybe it could offer "localized hyperthermia" benefits as well? BTW massage can also activate the immune system. I'm wondering if it's because of the heat from rubbing?

That's Life

Congrats and oh, do bask in those wondrous words of your doctor! I believe this is what Kathy Rich's doctor told her, that she'd an indolent cancer. I'm not sure if she found NED but she certainly did very well. I hope many of us here would too:)

Thanks, admittedly it was a good run with NED but one does get greedy:p especially since several doctors thought I was actually "cured". Well, it's good while it lasted but I guess it's also important to point out that good diet and healthy living with good supplements certainly can't prevent the BC from rearing its ugly head again. Not for me at Stage IV anyway. 

Thanks for the lemon tip. I have been having honey with lemon at night to soothe my dry throat before bedtime. Gs I might change that to a morning routine!  Both my onco and TCM doctors have said I can eat anything. No issue at all:) 

Hi all,

Thats-life sounds like you had a great onc appt. and good to hear yours is a slow moving cancer I was wondering if during your research you have come across the chaga mushroom? Its quite interesting and has anti-cancer properties here's a link to anther thread on this forum that I found on the subject (apologies if you have already covered this) http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/79/topic/774628?page=1#post_2610666. My brother ordered some from china and has just had it delivered, he's making his first brew of mushroom tea as I type, he's going to send me some of it so I can try it so will keep you all posted on that one.

Hope you are all keeping well, sending you all love and light

sarahxx