For Informed People Using Alternative Treatments

Sorry you are not doing well, Abigail, and sorry about the loss of your true love. I think that kind of stress causes a lot of damage to your body.

Good news to the ladies who responded a few weeks ago about my ovarian cyst.  I got another ultrasound and a second opinion yesterday and LOVED the new doctor.  He was talking about all these new advances and studies (including hemp/cannabis oil versus chemo!!)  He even seemed knowledgeable about my BRCA2 gene.  He told me I have 4 cysts on my left ovary  NOT 1 like the other doctor and advised that they are not worrisome to him at this time and he recommends a wait and see approach and to cancel my surgery!  It is so nice to find honest open doctors!  He even brought up a study on the internet for me that stated that mammograms are harmful to pre-menopausal women with my gene mutation!  How great is that?  Yay!

@Momine - I suppose it is a case of  "Which came first, the chicken or the egg..?", and that is particularly true of a slow growing estrogen cancer. It could have been around for years, but I think Her2 can be a whole different ballgame. I had an MRI for a questionable spot off a mammogram several months prior. Both the mammogram and the MRI were completely clear (other than a blip that was a film issue) - Fast forward to 6 months later and 3, 3 cm tumors multi focal, multicentric. From the diagnostic MRI even, to the surgery my surgeon said it had changed drastically. In weeks. My sister is a doctor and requested the films herself saying that no way could the earlier imaging been clear. She saw them and shook her head in disbelief.

I saw a study posted on BCO here within the past few days stating that it was better to have chemo start soon , within 30 days, after surgery. I think there is a lot to be said for hitting it hard and early.

@Hipz - glad to hear you have someone you trust. Sounds like things are well!

Hipz, mindfulness mediation rescued me years ago when stress was causing really disabling vertigo issues.  It took a long time, but it had a truly significant effect on me (physical and emotional).  If I recall correctly, the gist of the process is just to sit quietly, repeating a mantra, allowing thoughts to float by, as though on a river, acknowledging each thought/stress/issue, then letting it go, returning to your mantra. 

In my ever-so-humble opinion, exercise is a form of meditiation--We focus on moving our bodies it prescribed ways (walking, dancing, skiing, aerobics, whatever), allow our breathing patterns to change, and separate ourselves from our everyday lives.  

Brookside, I completely agree. 

Global Girly, not sure about dosages on Ca and Mg but I was taking the recommended amounts listed on the label and just used the drugstore vitamins.  Nowadays my holistic MD has me on higher dosages of everything and I take a handful of pills 3x/day so don't do that anymore, but still sleeping well.  It could be due to my exercising more than I was.  

Which reminds me--I bought a rebounder (mini trampoline) and have been having fun with that.  If you do a google with "cancer and rebounding" you'll find a lot of stuff about the benefits of this for us with BC, and it's esp good b/c it gets the lymph fluids moving and detoxes your body.  Even though I was exercising before, I do seem to feel extra special good now and that's with my little $15 model from WalMart.  I'm planning to splurge and get the cadillac model now b/c I know it's good and that I'll do it--it's that much fun.  The best part is my brain has cleared out a lot--the cancer dx really whopped my brain for a loop and I was just floundering at my new job but this week was so much better.  Here's a link to a page about the benefits of rebounding:  33 Rebounding Benefits It's a commercial site but I've seen the info elsewhere.  I esp liked this:  "4. Rebounding benefits lymphatic circulation by stimulating the millions of one-way valves in the lymphatic system. This benefits the body's immune capacity for fighting current disease, destroying cancer cells, eliminating antigens and preventing future illness.

pipers_dream - Funny you mentioned rebounding! I do it for 20 min a day as my cardio workout. It's easy, and I watch TV while doing it.

Thanks for all the encouragement ladies!

BrooksideVT I am hoping I can get into the mindfulness thing because I have a lot of racing insignificant thoughts all day every day.  I am reading a few books on it and one is written by a guy who sounds like me  - my hyper - and he finally mastered mindfulness and says he has special techniques for people who find it hard to mediate so I hope it works! Thanks  for your thoughts on it.

Anyone hear about the fiber-optic array scanning blood test?

http://www.healthline.com/health-news/cancer-detecting-blood-test-fastcell-022814

Momine this is the first I have heard of it (my hubby actually brought it to my attention because he is always on the look out for cancer news).  I am also very intrigued!

Scandophile. : your story sounds a lot like mine. I did go to two surgeons after delivery and they both agreed I had breast cysts. Low and behold I didn't worried again for a whole year and got pregnant again

Hey I am lazy and love this thread so I am going to ask here first.  I know the actual TE removal and implant surgery is only around 1-2 hours so I was assuming I would take a week off work to recover.  For those who have had this surgery does this sound reasonable?? FYI I generally rebound very quickly.   Also, I just noticed something about some other women having drains for their implant surgery and I am NOT happy.  I hope I was reading that wrong. 

Juneping I have not heard of oil pulling.  Sounds strange!  Wonder if it works. So many interesting things out there that I have never heard of before this thread!  Thanks for your thoughts on my surgery too.  I recover pretty quickly normally so I will see what my PS thinks about time off but I always like to know about others experiences.  I do believe 100% that a positive attitude goes a long way with recovery.  I took vitamins (not E) before my last surgery and listened to a pre-surgery hypnosis CD for two weeks prior and think it really helped.  I plan to do it again!