Natural help instead of Tamoxifen

I was encouraged to take Tamoxifen, but I have quite severe vision limitation (legally blind with glasses), so could not risk any possible further damage as SE.  I was so fortunate to find a nutritionist that really helped.  My oncologist was willing to work with me and my enhanced estradiol levels went down rapidly (I was 57 and still having heavy periods) and then I went into menopause (per lab and per my body) within a few months.  I actually did not ever have a hot flash or other usual symptoms!!  I was so amazed.  I would highly suggest you check out karenhurd.com and call 715-877-3510.  She does phone consults...is very thorough and reasonable with rates.

One of the key elements of the diet is high water soluble fiber (legumes or pysllium powder)...6 servings a day.  It forms a covalent bond with the bile which the hormones are attached to and they can not longer be reabsorbed by the body, but are excreted. The water soluble fiber also takes out excess cholesterol, pesticides and other toxins.  The Mighty Bean Cleaning Machine!

The diet isn't that hard (hardest part for most people is no sugar or sugar subs, caffeine, alcohol, perfumes)...lots of veggies and good amount of protein.  I am now six years post diagnosis and cancer free!!  YAAY!!  Feeling great!!  Still doing the diet (done to just 3 times a day of fiber...easy as pie now!).

Hope this is helpful!!!!

Jaine,

Sorry to hear about all the awful symptoms you're having!  I sure would encourage you to start right away and give Karen a call.  It can't hurt and I expect you will be helped in a way that is effective.

(((HUGS))) right back at you!

Wishing you all the best!!!

Randi

Jaine,

Excited to hear that you received some counsel that you trust that makes your life better!!  Makes sense to me that it's crazy to suffer so much when your cancer was caught so early....Tamoxifen not essential.  Powerful statements about Tamoxifen....sobering. 

Glad if I was helpful in some way.  For you or for others who might be interested in at least applying some of these principles...this is the basic plan:

My nutritionist is "all or nothing" no nonsense. She knows her stuff and is inspiring which sometimes helps with compliance.  I recomment counseling with her if your situation is crucial for estrogen reduction.  She has incredible results. For me this is instead of chemo or Tamoxifen, so I take it seriously.

I personally think it benefits everyone to increase water soluble fiber for a multitude of reasons...including reduction of estrogen. I love some garbanzo beans on a salad...and mix black beans into almost anything. I have a great Rainbow Rice and Beans recipe. To me, it seems very easy to just have beans (or Metamucil) 3 times a day...after doing 6 times a day for 5 years! Some people may need to adjust gradually...but the body does adjust...and gas really isn't the issue you might think it would be. Actually, it so cleans out the system...the odor is gone! It's when the system desperately needs cleaning out that the odor is bad. So, foul gas is a sign that more fiber is needed.
It is important to distinguish between soluble and insoluble fiber...one (insoluble) adds bulk and moves things along faster. It's the water soluble fiber that forms a covalent bond with hormones, cholesterol, pesticides so they can't be reabsorbed into the ileum, but have to pass out into the toilet...gone for good! Both are good, but the water soluble fiber is the work horse for estrogen reduction.
Here is the basic estrogen reduction (and immune system booster) diet plan:
Daily Do:
-3 palm size servings of protein (meat, fish or eggs only) (I do have eggs for B daily...make them all different kinds of ways....huevos rancheros with beans / sriracha sauce is my fav...the fiber takes away the cholesterol concern)
-5 to 7 servings of vegetables daily
-3 to 6 servings legumes (1/3 c beans or 6 Gm plain Metamucil in water)
-8 cups water (I like at least some of it to be the H2Oh type for the cold fizz pleasure)
I can have carbs, but if weight loss is desired...no carbs
8 to 9 hours sleep per day
NO list: (this is what turns away all but the most determined)
sugar or sugar substitutes (not even Stevia)
caffeine
alcohol
fruit (at least in the beginning stage...as I said, I can have 1 serving a day now)
milk (almond / rice milk are fine); cheese is ok (YAY!!), plain yogurt, cottage cheese, cream cheese all ok.
no skipping meals

I hope this might be helpful for many.  There are well known biochemical principles that back it up, not just "feel good" approaches.

Happy ((HUGS)) to you, Jaine!!  Life is good again!

Jaine, how do the oncs make money fromputting you on tamox? I am thinking it must be a different system than where I am.

I'll be sending you good thoughts.  my situation is some different as I'm 76, will be 77 the end of may, & I have pretty much no family.  so no telling what I would choose if I were younger or more connected.  gary null does say don't have nodes excizedd, & today says dcis & lcis have been recatigorized as not cancer.

I stopped my tamoxifen about a week ago just to see if I would feel better without it.  I'm not sure . . . I have less hot flushes but because of neuropathy from surgery and chemo I can't tell whether I have aches and pains because of that or the tamoxifen.

Anyway, I plan on at least taking a vacation from it.

I've been reading up on natural foods that will help block estrogen in the cells and really appreciate this thread for the information you gals/guys? have provided.

Exercises is so difficult but I am trying with pilates and walking - I agree this is very important for us

Hopefuleigh, I was diagnosed with Ductal In Situ, stage 1, with no nodes affected - left side only. I opted to have both breasts removed since there is strong history of breast cancer in my family. Then I made huge changes to my diet; vegetable based and very little sugar. I also drink a green juice daily and carrot at least 3x a week. I was a huge sugar junkie and ate lots of animal source products. I made these changes after a good friend was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. She had a full hysterectomy and oophorectomy and was told she needed chemo or the cancer would return. She opted for the Gerson Diet instead of chemo after seeing "Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead", "The Beautiful Truth" and other such info-videos. Immediately after surgery her cancer blood markers were in the high 1000s. Within 3 months of being on the Gerson diet they dropped to 10! After her success I became convinced, so did her very skeptical oncologist.

Her success also convinced me to stop Tamoxifen. I'd been on it for over one year and although the side effects weren't too bad (the poor sleep was the most annoying) I was very concerned about a possible blood clot and the effect on my liver. The 2-4% chance of recurrence just wasn't worth the damage it might do to my body. I am going to step up my diet changes and add the coffee enemas that Gerson people swear by just to be more proactive. I am also demanding that my doctor order the blood cancer marker tests every 6 months so I can monitor my success.

Another change I am making is adding a Reverse Osmosis filter system to my drinking water. My water isn't Fluoridated but they put lots of Chlorine in it.

I just want to support you. I pray you have perfect health.

Giving up sweets was so hard for me. After reading Crazy, Sexy Cancer by Kris Carr and about her insights into sugar and addiction to it, I did my own research. Turns out sugar feeds cancer. I asked my oncologist about this and she confirmed that when they lab test cancer cells for aggressiveness they add sugar. I ate sugar every day without fail and if it wasn't in the house I would go to the store. It took two weeks for me to kill the craving. Now, if I take a bite of something really sweet it tastes like I'm eating concentrated sugar.

The other food I'm told to give up is white flour. I'm still learning about that one. Haven't found definitive evidence yet that it 'ferments' in your gut but I've switched to whole wheat just to be careful; anyway, it's healthier.

This is Kris Carr's website: http://kriscarr.com/blog/love-list-15-crazy-sexy-diet-tips/

Marytg, when you eat food, it goes into the stomach, where your digestive system converts the carbohydrates into glucose. The glucose goes into you bloodstream and feeds your cells.

It is not as simple as "cancer lives on sugar." First of all, ALL cells "live on sugar," but also they live on blood glucose, not table sugar.

So, it is thought that it may be beneficial to keep your blood sugar steady and within the normal range. It is good not to eat sweets, but you also want to avoid white carbs and lots and lots of carbs in one meal, for example. A big plate of spaghetti with a side of garlic bread is not a good meal if you want to avoid a blood sugar spike. Further, it is important to get some exercise. Even a 15-minute walk after a meal will help control blood sugar.

Lifelover I am a recovering sugar addict too, when I'm feeling really desperate for a sugar hit I defrost some frozen blue berries and raspberries plonk some organic acidophilus yoghurt on top with a couple of drops of stevia. I do this at least once a day and if I'm feeling really hard done by I'll have it twice. It helps to keep me sane. Probably not ideal but for me I think its better than scoffing the cookies I make for the kids lunches.

Hi ladies. I'm so happy to be reading all of your posts. I have my F/U post bilateral mastectomy appointment with my oncologist to go over the final pathology. Also, she will be trying to convince me to take tamoxifen, which I do not want to do. First, I'm waiting for my first period to return, then I am freezing my eggs. (I'm 38, no children). I just don't want to hear her say, "You can't wait to get your period....it's too risky!"
Two nodes, both negative, were removed from the right side, with clear margins. The left was done as a prophylactic measure. There is no evidence of cancer anywhere else in my body. (ER+/PR+, HER-)
I've already done the research on the Gerson Therapy. I done some coffee enemies at a safe time distance after I was finished with chemo to start the detox process. I eat and juice organic foods, eliminated the bad "whites" and processed foods, installed filters on shower and faucet, and take Gerson supplements. I cannot start working out yet though because I am new with the expanders and they are too uncomfortable.
Anyway, I am seeking a holistic physician in NJ. I doubt my insurance will cover it, because it is Medicaid. I've heard of Dr. Wong through the internet. Does anyone know a physician with reasonable rates in my area? I plan on getting a second opinion from a different oncologist, but he/she will be "conventional" as well, because I know that insurance will pay for it. I'm hoping that I'll get a different suggestion. My gut is telling me not to go on this drug. I really need an affordable holistic practitioner. Any information, advice, suggestions, are appreciated. PM me if you want. Thanks,
Laura