My breast cancer returned
after 10 years. That is why I have been neglecting my blog. You might conclude
it is because I am struggling physically and emotionally. This is not the case.
(I am not claiming things are perfect but my life is very manageable.)
I haven't been writing
because as a person who lives what I advocate and l advocate for alternative,
and healthy lifestyle interventions, I was torn mentally; I want to be a
responsible person. Am I advocating to others interventions that don't work? I
am now completely convinced that alternative interventions and healthy
lifestyle are essential to successful healing and maintaining good health. So,
I feel free to write again.
Basically, I have learned
that some types of cancer are a chronic disease and my health choices were
working up to this point. The unfortunate truth is aging has a negative effect
on the immune system, as does living in an increasingly polluted environment,
and so do unresolved fears/angers (stress chemicals are released into the body.)
I do not like the idea of describing myself as a person with a chronic disease
because I view that as giving in, defeatist. Rather, I view myself as a person on a journey toward excellent
health.
I had a consultation with
an oncologist, he said in effect, after 10 years and cancer returns, this is
just bad luck. He stated the seeds of cancer are always with us hiding in
places that even chemotherapy can't get to. Some might find this a negative,
fatalistic statement. But what it said to me was chemotherapy is not a cure for
everything. And the body's immune system is everywhere so I need to put my
focus there. I had gotten lax about following through with my healthy lifestyle
and lazy about food choices. I need to be mindful and consistent in healthy living
choices.
My functional medicine
doctor said she found it impressive that after reading my case history I had no
cancer reoccurrence for ten years. My personal belief system is to not over
invest in the details of my diagnosis. Because I have studied psychology and
hypnosis I know the power of the mind. In the end, it is the mind that heals,
or the mind that kills. For the scientifically inclined we call it stress
reaction.
The stages of cancer are
irrelevant to me. It's more important to know that refined sugar, dairy
products, alcohol, and red meat are acidic, inflammatory foods that create a
cancer prone environment in the body (blood). While vitamin C, iodine,
turmeric, fresh fruit and vegetables, and managing your glucose levels through
the day, along with good sleep create an anticancer environment in the
body.
I am very angry to have
to deal with cancer again. I recently read a book where the author explained
that individuals with chronic pain or chronic diseases feel betrayed by their
bodies. I gave this a lot of thought and realized this was true for me.
Accepting my anger is essential to the healing process. Most of the time I can
move past it but sometimes not so much. It is important not to live in anger
because it creates stress and the biochemical conditions of stress feed cancer
cells.
The doctors of 10 years
ago treated cancer like an automatic death sentence. I am sure that is part of
why I rejected the allopathic standard of care. Now the approach seems to be
that cancer is a chronic disease that can be dealt with and lived with. The
body's immune system always has had the ability to identify and destroy mutated
cancer cells. Why does the body lose that ability? Many researchers think the
problem is caused by viruses, or our polluted food and water. For example,
sometimes the body can’t recognize virus mutated cells because they have the DNA of the
body itself. When it comes to things like mercury (found in fish), the body has
no process for eliminating it from the body so it accumulates in the organs.
I first started writing
my blog in response to having breast cancer. I wanted to share what I had
learned with others so they could make informed choices. I chose to do a
mixture of interventions including surgery, as well as, complementary and
alternative treatments. I did not do chemotherapy or radiation
treatments.
When I tell people my
beliefs about chemotherapy I am always surprised how many get personally
offended. I am not criticizing anyone; I'm talking about me. However, anyone
who chooses chemotherapy should be honest enough with themselves to accept the
fact that you are poisoning every cell in your body and will have future
effects that doctors tend not to mention. Even surgery has long term after
effects.
For those who need to
know specifically what my interventions are, I see an oncologist for hormone
therapy. I work with a D.O. at a health and wellness clinic on stress and
receive vitamin C infusions. I take a variety of researched supplements daily.
I eat a diet I personalized for myself based on Anthony William's books...lots
of fruit, and a potato and bone broth soup every day, also Reishi mushroom
coffee. I get 8 hours of sleep, drink lots of water, avoid stress, and visit
friends. I get massages, see a chiropractor, and have a body talk session
(energy work) with a friend. I also try to swim often and am taking up an
exercise program called MELT. I pray a lot, have my name on prayer lists, and
have a bottle of sacred water from Lourdes. I feel very good now. I did not
realize how bad I felt previous to my recent diagnosis. I just thought it was
old age, extreme allergies, or maybe pneumonia. I've been on this healing
program three months and I feel really good. Please do not think of me as “battling cancer.” I don’t like that mental approach; to me it implies winners
and losers. I prefer to view myself on a life journey to reveal excellent
health, Mind/Body and Spirit.
I believe every person
must choose a course of action that they believe in because the belief in one’s ability to heal is
absolutely essential to the process. Every person is worthy of healing. If you
don't know this to the core of your being, then you need to start there. The
energy of the Spirit is the energy that empowers healing. Mind, Body and
Spirit, it all works together.
