My (perhaps controversial) thoughts as a "newbie" to CA.

Talk about “controversial" approaches to IDC. Last night was my monthly bc support group meeting (also attended by fellow BCO member Peaches1). We had a new gal last night whose approach to her treatment pretty much horrified us all. Three years ago she had 3 courses of neoadjuvant chemo and decided “it wasn't for" her. Fair enough. But she has done NOTHING else beyond taking vitamins, baking soda, drinking peroxide and meditating. Period. We asked her what kind of bc she has—she couldn't tell us its hormonal status. She said it was “Type 2." She couldn't say if it was Stage II or Grade 2 or both, never mind ductal, lobular or whatever. (She was an intelligent, otherwise articulate, presumably American or Canadian educated woman in her late 60s—early 70s, which made the disconnect so jarring for me).

Trill, at least you had surgery. (And being triple-neg, antihormonals weren't even on the table for you). She hasn't, and refuses to—not even a lumpectomy. (One could tell, because her intact and unrestrained breasts hung nearly to her waist). She bragged about checking her lump every day and being fascinated with how it changes. After her bad experience with chemo, she ditched her MO here and went to some woo-woo alternative doc. in NY who prescribed (besides vites and the aforementioned substances) “enzymes." But because she's vegan, he let her use “plant enzymes." She also eschews sugar—heck, I'm with her there, nobody needs sugar in their diets—and gluten. But is she celiac? Allergic to wheat? Nope. And then she complained about how all-consuming it is to stick to her regimen. We pressed her as to the name of her NY doctor, but said she saw him only once—and has her “regular guy" draw blood (and snip hair samples) and send them “out" to “a lab." No idea if her current doctor is an allopath or alternative practitioner, nor what he's testing for nor the legitimacy of the lab. (No need to venture a guess, IMHO). Peaches gently mentioned that even the foremost alternative natural onc in the Chicago area realized that alternative medicine is inadequate, and so he became an integrative MO instead. The new gal adamantly said that “integrative" medicine was not for her—she is “allergic to everything." Our nurse-facilitator sat wide-eyed in silent disbelief. The guest social worker exhibited a level of diplomacy and tact worthy of an ambassador.

I asked her (knowing the answer I'd get) how and why vitamins, baking soda and peroxide work, and she launched into the usual tirade about drug companies suppressing information and refusing trials for anything that couldn't make them money. I pressed her, saying I wasn't asking about success rates and trial results, but rather the scientific (biological and chemical mechanisms) by how the stuff works, and she answered that since baking soda and peroxide “dissolve the mold and gunk on your bathroom tile" it stands to reason they'd do the same “for cancer cells in your system." I mentioned that bathroom tile is a hard and inert substance, unlike soft tissue. Again with the “it cleans your bathroom…"

I gave it one more shot—could she tell me what was the mechanism (whether from her own knowledge or secondhand from her doctor) by which the stuff even supposedly works? She looked at me as if I were demanding a Nobel-level doctoral dissertation and continued to rail against conventional medicine.

Look, I get it. Cancer is scary. Dr. Google is a quack, even a filterless idiot. When you have nothing to lose, at the advanced part of Stage IV, you're willing to try anything even if it makes no sense whatsoever other than it doesn't make you feel worse. But she still has everything to lose—why squander your chances on junk science (or no science, not even faith-based laying-on-of-hands)? But if you have any disease—cancer, heart, lung, autoimmune, orthopedic, infection, whatever—shouldn't you have a desire to learn all you can about it from reliable sources, so that you have all the right questions ready if some treatment is suggested that doesn't seem to add up (or about which you simply don't understand)?

I gave as an example a "diet secrets" online video I watched yesterday after clicking a “health newsletter" e-mail link (you know the kind, where you have no idea how long it will be, are unable to skip ahead or go back, some cartoon hand draws equally cartoonish illustrations and scribbles words, the first half-hour is consumed by the author's credentials, testimonials, patients' personal stories, and “In a minute, I'm going to tell you…absolutely free..." but ten minutes later she still hasn't told you squat?) This was supposedly a board-certified bariatrician. She finally began to cut to the chase and reveal that we shouldn't eat artificial sweeteners or HFCS (duh). She said they make us store fat, which is the most simplified explanation of a biological process which not only any med student but any 10th grader has studied to some extent. She then went on to explain that since we never evolved to process this stuff (fair enough), the body doesn't recognize it, and what does the body do to a substance it doesn't recognize? You would logically say “reject it, eject it, yada yada." According to your bio teacher (or a med school anatomy prof), that's right. But according to this supposed “bariatric M.D.," you'd be wrong. According to her, what does your body do with an unfamiliar ingested substance? “It turns it into fat and stores it."

AAARGH!!! We all know that's bullshit. We learned about the Krebs cycle, the pancreas, liver, kidneys, stomach, gut, etc. We learned about how sugar not burned nor turned into glycogen for muscle storage gets eventually, through the actions of insulin and then the liver, converted into and stored as fat. Sugar, not “substances the body doesn't recognize." As Judge Judy says (translated from Yiddish) “don't pee on my foot and tell me it's raining."

The point is, any of us with a high school education (or who passed 10th grade biology) must have the anatomic and scientific knowledge to possess a working bullshit detector. Telling me that baking soda, vitamins and peroxide kills cancer, without being able to explain the process, is the medical equivalent of peeing on my foot.

Maybe it's just me, but when it's your life at stake, don't you owe it to yourself to have a modicum of intellectual curiosity? (On the way out, another member, frustrated with her letrozole SEs and why her breast MO couldn't give her the same tests and guarantees that her multiple myeloma MO could, asked me incredulously why I “don't believe in anecdotal evidence." Uh, maybe because it's an oxymoron)?

ChiSandy, WOW!it will be a year soon since my diagnosis and I don't think I would have gotten the education I have about BC/IDC if it weren't for you and a few others here. That woman sounds a lot like my sister. She has used all kinds of mixtures to help her with ailments, even tried talking me into some of them. I know that drinking a glass of water with lemon and vinegar will not cleanse cancer cells from your body. My mom still asks me "Why are you putting yourself through all of this surgery, chemo, radiation and then more surgery? It's just not worth it." I tell mom "I'm not 84 as you are and praying for our Lord to take me home. I have many more years to live." Some people just don't get it. Thank you, for keeping us informed and up to date on all the research you do. I don't think I would have gotten through all things BC without you. Your knowledge is priceless!

Hi everyone! I'm smiling as I read all that has gone on since I last said a hello. Big hello meows to Miss.P. I can't believe in the time I've been out of the loop I've missed the start and end to your blocks at the Evergreen Trill.

I've gone back to work and life and things have been so busy and so wonderful. My mom has moved to within 5 minutes drive from us to a little row house with and elevator - yes an elevator ! She can live on 2 floors! And I'm so pleased - she seems happier and can manage so much better.

It's quite chilly out now but the warm weather in February showed me my bees made it through the first part of winter as they came out flying and pooping one warm day - a glorious sight. (Oh my goodness, I nearly spelled that "site" - eeek!)

Kids are keeping me busy and just as the winter sports of skating and curling are winding down for us all here my mother-in-law has convinced me to sign my eldest up for speed skating this April. She is Dutch so I understand her interest but this goes beyond interest - I think she's developed a nostalgic obsession as she used to skate on long blades.

And finally - I've taken up crochet. I love it! Years ago my Grandmother told me I didn't have the patience for knitting but if I put my mind to it she was sure I could crochet. As it turns out she was right!

I do hope you are all well. Would love to get together to chat over coffee. ;-) Here's to it!🍺 (Whoops that's a beer) ;-)

xo all

Hello Trill and Miss Panty! That's a great photo of your blocks!!! Are you still working on your book? Here is a photo of two of my cats, Nico and Angie.

Awww, what sweet cats.

Maybe we are all emerging from our hibernation and ready to connect again, I know I am. C'mon back when you thaw out Ruth.

Molly, of course I wouldn't have it any other way 😍

Trill, thank you for directing me where to go so I can fix my poor blocks. They aren't as much fun to play with when they are separated lol