Some hope- my CEA has gone down!

lisa42
lisa42 Member Posts: 3,625 Member
Just wanted to share with everyone- I got the results today of my CEA, which was drawn on Tuesday right before getting chemo... it went down! It went from 277 the time before (4 wks ago) to 216. That's still quite elevated of course, but it WENT DOWN!! It had been going up, up, and up and I was going to fall apart if it went up again this time after all the things I've been doing. Since the last test at 277, my onc upped my Gemzar dose some, I changed from Xeloda back to the 5FU pump (that was due to severe hand/foot syndrome- don't know if that would have affected the CEA or not), AND I've been working with a naturopathic doctor- went on a cleanse/detox, cut out sugar and beef, and have been eating really healthy and also am on some supplements prescribed by the ND, and I'm working on keeping my ph at a healthy level.
It's working!! I will definitely continue what I've been doing. My onc gave his blessing to doing what the ND (naturopathic doctor) recommended, but said I should stop 24 hrs before getting chemo & not resume until 24 hrs after I get the pump unhooked. Since I get chemo every 2 weeks now, that means 5 days out of every 14 I won't be taking all the supplements. But I can still eat healthy every day, of course. My onc also ok'd what the ND recommended for metal detox- infrared sauna therapy to sweat it out- just don't do too near chemo days. I will be doing that a few days next week.

Anyhow, with all the stresses of life going on right now that aren't even related to my cancer, I was definitely in need of some good news today- and I got it!

Hugs,
Lisa
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Comments

  • maglets
    maglets Member Posts: 2,576 Member
    sooooo good
    lisa that is good news.......I love downwward CEA.....well done

    mags
  • pepebcn
    pepebcn Member Posts: 6,331 Member
    That sounds good Lisa ,beside vegetal what other kind of food
    are you allowed to eat?, can you put an example of a regular day menu?
    Hugs!
  • lisa42
    lisa42 Member Posts: 3,625 Member
    pepebcn said:

    That sounds good Lisa ,beside vegetal what other kind of food
    are you allowed to eat?, can you put an example of a regular day menu?
    Hugs!

    Pepe
    Pepe,
    I am still figuring out what I can eat! The test showed me as gluten intolerant and lactose intolerant. That gets rid of a whole bunch of food right there (all milk products- I am a cheese addict- that one's really hard to give up), plus being allergic to wheat, rye, and corn. Most people who are gluten intolerant go with things that are made from corn meal- well I'm also allergic to corn. That includes everything with corn meal and high fructose corn syrup. I feel like there's almost nothing I can eat!
    So, being honest, I don't think I can totally stick to this- rice, veggies, fish, chicken, and turkey is about it. I went through Taco Bell for my daughter on the way home & was realizing that I can't have beef, I'm also found to be allergic to three types of beans- pinto beans included, so not even a bean burrito would work. I'm allergic to both wheat and corn- so a corn tortilla vs. a regular tortilla made of wheat flour- neither one is good for me. I guess on some things I will just have to decide which gives me the least amount of problems by experimenting.
    Last night for dinner, I made my family spaghetti & I ate tilapia (a white fish) with brown rice and asparagus. I thought it was quite good, but it does get hard to make separate meals. The rest of my family (except for one daughter) won't eat fish & hubby doesn't like chicken- just beef.

    I will do what I have to do, though- I've used my family's interests and dislikes as an excuse for too long now & I'm not going to anymore- I will do what I have to do!!
  • sasjourney
    sasjourney Member Posts: 395 Member
    Wow!!! That is fantastic!
    Lisa,

    I am so happy to hear your news!!! I am so glad that all your hard work is paying off. Keep it up no matter what the family says...they will come around and may even begin to actually try some of the healthier alternatives. I know how hard it is to keep everyone happy...I have the same problem here. We will have to share recipe and menu ideas.

    Keep it up girlfriend!

    Hugs,
    Sara
  • Crow71
    Crow71 Member Posts: 679 Member
    This is great Lisa. Forget
    This is great Lisa. Forget how high the CEA is. Your plan is working. That's exciting. The number will be where you want it to be soon.

    I hope that whatever other stresses you have in your life will float away soon.

    You're awesome. Keep up the good work.

    Roger
  • Nana b
    Nana b Member Posts: 3,030 Member
    lisa42 said:

    Pepe
    Pepe,
    I am still figuring out what I can eat! The test showed me as gluten intolerant and lactose intolerant. That gets rid of a whole bunch of food right there (all milk products- I am a cheese addict- that one's really hard to give up), plus being allergic to wheat, rye, and corn. Most people who are gluten intolerant go with things that are made from corn meal- well I'm also allergic to corn. That includes everything with corn meal and high fructose corn syrup. I feel like there's almost nothing I can eat!
    So, being honest, I don't think I can totally stick to this- rice, veggies, fish, chicken, and turkey is about it. I went through Taco Bell for my daughter on the way home & was realizing that I can't have beef, I'm also found to be allergic to three types of beans- pinto beans included, so not even a bean burrito would work. I'm allergic to both wheat and corn- so a corn tortilla vs. a regular tortilla made of wheat flour- neither one is good for me. I guess on some things I will just have to decide which gives me the least amount of problems by experimenting.
    Last night for dinner, I made my family spaghetti & I ate tilapia (a white fish) with brown rice and asparagus. I thought it was quite good, but it does get hard to make separate meals. The rest of my family (except for one daughter) won't eat fish & hubby doesn't like chicken- just beef.

    I will do what I have to do, though- I've used my family's interests and dislikes as an excuse for too long now & I'm not going to anymore- I will do what I have to do!!

    Lisa that is so great! Woo,
    Lisa that is so great! Woo, hoo!! I wish your hubby would eat better too, but that is his own battle, really it is. You continue to do what you have to do! What you are doing is working!!
    I eat Tilapia, orange roughy and cod with a rubbing mixture of Dijon mustard, olive oil and lemon.

    So very happy for you!
  • Nana b
    Nana b Member Posts: 3,030 Member
    Crow71 said:

    This is great Lisa. Forget
    This is great Lisa. Forget how high the CEA is. Your plan is working. That's exciting. The number will be where you want it to be soon.

    I hope that whatever other stresses you have in your life will float away soon.

    You're awesome. Keep up the good work.

    Roger

    Lisa do you like sauteed
    Lisa do you like sauteed greens, garlic, onion, northern beans? I have some recipes that I make in bulk then then take them out of the freezer.

    Are you taking the Aloe now?

    I have to figure out what this one supplement is. It's like C20 aome thing or other. Some one mentioned it here and then yesterday someone mentioned it at a doctor's office, but, forgetful me!
  • idlehunters
    idlehunters Member Posts: 1,787 Member
    Nana b said:

    Lisa do you like sauteed
    Lisa do you like sauteed greens, garlic, onion, northern beans? I have some recipes that I make in bulk then then take them out of the freezer.

    Are you taking the Aloe now?

    I have to figure out what this one supplement is. It's like C20 aome thing or other. Some one mentioned it here and then yesterday someone mentioned it at a doctor's office, but, forgetful me!

    YAY Lisa!!!!
    That is awesome news about your CEA!!!! I see a pattern here and it is going your way. I gotta tell ya girl.... I am so sold on the ND everything and I know you are feeling it to. Keep it up Lisa.... I am so happy for you!!

    Jennie
  • herdizziness
    herdizziness Member Posts: 3,624 Member
    Going Down
    Love seeing those CEA's going down, down, down. I'm glad you got the good news when you needed it!!!
    Winter Marie
  • AnneCan
    AnneCan Member Posts: 3,673 Member
    Great news, Lisa!
    I am so happy for you that the CEA is coming down!
  • PhillieG
    PhillieG Member Posts: 4,866 Member
    Great News
    Lisa, that's great. Every bit counts...
    -p
  • Lori-S
    Lori-S Member Posts: 1,277 Member
    Woo Hoo!
    Congratulations. Isn't it nice to get some positive news like that? HUGS
  • dmdwins
    dmdwins Member Posts: 454 Member
    PhillieG said:

    Great News
    Lisa, that's great. Every bit counts...
    -p

    Yea
    That is great news Lisa! I am also so glad to hear about your efforts with your diet. It really is a life style change and not an easy one especially when you have a family to cook for as well.

    Ive been at it for almost 3 1/2 years now......my family now eats many of the things I do. Even in the last year it had become easier to eat gluten free....many restaurants now have gluten free items PF Changs is my favorite. I have tried may products over the years as well and many recipes. If you are interested Id be happy to share some of my favorites.

    We have pasta frequently as I am Italian.....I make rice pasta( or corn but I know you are allergic) for myself and regular pasta for the family although my kids will eat my pasta too...just not my hubby yet. Trader Joes makes a good rice pasta and its reasonably priced. Im a cheese addict as well. Have you tried sheep milk feta or other sheep milk cheese? Pecorino Romano is usually made from sheeps milk and I use it any recipes that call for Parmesan. There is goat milk cheese as well but I never could get used to that but like the sheep milk varieties.

    Let me know if I can help in anyway.

    Smiles,
    Dawn
  • scouty
    scouty Member Posts: 1,965 Member
    Excellent news Other Lisa
    I do hope it's okay to call you that. There is already a semi-colon baby lisa so that is all I can come up.

    YAHOOOOOOOOOOO for you. You certainly deserve it with all the hard work you are putting in.

    There are brown rice pastas out there too. I ate lots of ground elk since I had a local farm to get it from. I also have a wicked mushroom ragu recipe that is like spagetti sauce with just mushrooms and onions. You can add meat and you are supposed to put it on egg noodles but I just made it like a stew and ate it by the bowl. Did you know tomato products (like spag sauce) help your immune system? I lived alone when I was going thru my changes and would make a big batch and eat it for several days.

    I am currently trying to drop a few pounds while also trying to figure out what my "explosive diarrhea" trigger/triggers are so I just dropped all grain and dairy products for 6 weeks. I've learned a great deal and feel awesome! My running and other workouts are the best ever and it has been really interesting how creative you can be. Lettuce wraps are my new thing. BLTs, burgers, tacos......everying I used to eat in between bread I now put into lettuce leaves!

    Also remember the basic "cleansing veggies": steamed broc, cauliflower, and asparagus along with sauteed spinach. Avocados will give you some of the much needed good fats. I've never eaten them that much but now crave them.

    Again great news and you just keep on keeping on!

    Lisa P.
  • lisa42
    lisa42 Member Posts: 3,625 Member
    scouty said:

    Excellent news Other Lisa
    I do hope it's okay to call you that. There is already a semi-colon baby lisa so that is all I can come up.

    YAHOOOOOOOOOOO for you. You certainly deserve it with all the hard work you are putting in.

    There are brown rice pastas out there too. I ate lots of ground elk since I had a local farm to get it from. I also have a wicked mushroom ragu recipe that is like spagetti sauce with just mushrooms and onions. You can add meat and you are supposed to put it on egg noodles but I just made it like a stew and ate it by the bowl. Did you know tomato products (like spag sauce) help your immune system? I lived alone when I was going thru my changes and would make a big batch and eat it for several days.

    I am currently trying to drop a few pounds while also trying to figure out what my "explosive diarrhea" trigger/triggers are so I just dropped all grain and dairy products for 6 weeks. I've learned a great deal and feel awesome! My running and other workouts are the best ever and it has been really interesting how creative you can be. Lettuce wraps are my new thing. BLTs, burgers, tacos......everying I used to eat in between bread I now put into lettuce leaves!

    Also remember the basic "cleansing veggies": steamed broc, cauliflower, and asparagus along with sauteed spinach. Avocados will give you some of the much needed good fats. I've never eaten them that much but now crave them.

    Again great news and you just keep on keeping on!

    Lisa P.

    Thanks everyone!
    Thanks for the support everyone! Lisa/Scouty- yes, it's okay to call me the "Other Lisa" :D I love mushrooms, so that sounds good, but my sensitivity testing revealed that I have a problem with mushrooms, among many things. I've always eaten lots of mushrooms, but guess I should cut them out now. :( Yes, I know about the cleansing veggies- fortunately I love brocolli and cauliflower and have no allergies or sensitivities to them.
    I'll have to start doing the lettuce wrap thing- I know it's becoming an option at more restaurants now instead of buns or bread. I do also love tomatos and spaghetti sauce & have no problem w/ them, so I will consume a lot of them. I also love avocados and Fallbrook is considered the "avocado capital" (but we don't get them for a cheap price- what's up with that?!).

    Raquel and Dawn- I'd love to see any recipes you want to share- send them to me as a PM, if you don't mind. Thanks- :)

    Roger- I'm glad you're sold on the naturopathic path now too :)

    Jennie- Well, I commented to you on your other thread, but I'm so thrilled that you're doing the natural stuff too & feeling good from it!

    If I missed anyone- well, thanks for the support and encouraging words!!

    I actually am suffering from bad indigestion right at the moment- I gave in and went out for pizza tonight for dinner- had a salad and just one piece of pizza, but I think that maybe my body is reacting more than it normally would just because I've been off the stuff lately. I do have some tablets for lactose, which I should have taken right before the pizza (because of the cheese). I took my digestive enzymes, but forgot the lactose pill. Too bad they don't make pizza with goat cheese.

    Oh- someone commented on sheep cheese- never heard of that possibility, but will look into trying it soon.

    Cheers everyone,
    Lisa
  • pete43lost_at_sea
    pete43lost_at_sea Member Posts: 3,900 Member
    its just fantastic news
    and your onc sounds very supportive
    i had pizza as a treat for my kids a few nights ago, the first time in 8 months i've had any, it was sooo gooood!!
    but i did feel a bit guilty, back to the veges and strict diet for me.
    i have gained 12 kg in 2 months since xmass while on chemo.

    i appreicate the detail in all of these naturopathic posts, its given me a practical background that i can goto my naturopaths and be more discerning re treatments.

    keep up the great work lisa and i hope the stresses disolve and your cea continues to fall.

    pete
  • dianetavegia
    dianetavegia Member Posts: 1,942 Member
    Wonderful news!
    Lisa I am so happy to hear this. I continue to lift you in prayer for healing!
  • Sundanceh
    Sundanceh Member Posts: 4,392 Member
    Do-Da-Dippity!!!
    Just wonderful, Lisa:)

    I'm watching all of you and observing.

    -Craig
  • Nana b
    Nana b Member Posts: 3,030 Member
    lisa42 said:

    Thanks everyone!
    Thanks for the support everyone! Lisa/Scouty- yes, it's okay to call me the "Other Lisa" :D I love mushrooms, so that sounds good, but my sensitivity testing revealed that I have a problem with mushrooms, among many things. I've always eaten lots of mushrooms, but guess I should cut them out now. :( Yes, I know about the cleansing veggies- fortunately I love brocolli and cauliflower and have no allergies or sensitivities to them.
    I'll have to start doing the lettuce wrap thing- I know it's becoming an option at more restaurants now instead of buns or bread. I do also love tomatos and spaghetti sauce & have no problem w/ them, so I will consume a lot of them. I also love avocados and Fallbrook is considered the "avocado capital" (but we don't get them for a cheap price- what's up with that?!).

    Raquel and Dawn- I'd love to see any recipes you want to share- send them to me as a PM, if you don't mind. Thanks- :)

    Roger- I'm glad you're sold on the naturopathic path now too :)

    Jennie- Well, I commented to you on your other thread, but I'm so thrilled that you're doing the natural stuff too & feeling good from it!

    If I missed anyone- well, thanks for the support and encouraging words!!

    I actually am suffering from bad indigestion right at the moment- I gave in and went out for pizza tonight for dinner- had a salad and just one piece of pizza, but I think that maybe my body is reacting more than it normally would just because I've been off the stuff lately. I do have some tablets for lactose, which I should have taken right before the pizza (because of the cheese). I took my digestive enzymes, but forgot the lactose pill. Too bad they don't make pizza with goat cheese.

    Oh- someone commented on sheep cheese- never heard of that possibility, but will look into trying it soon.

    Cheers everyone,
    Lisa

    Lisa, try queso fresco, it
    Lisa, try queso fresco, it is very gentle on the stomach. It would probably make a good pizza with tomatoes, artichoke hearts, and garlic! lol

    Forgot you can't have pizza. It may be good in a roasted tomato though.
  • angelsbaby
    angelsbaby Member Posts: 1,165 Member
    Sundanceh said:

    Do-Da-Dippity!!!
    Just wonderful, Lisa:)

    I'm watching all of you and observing.

    -Craig

    Lisa
    good news, have a wonderful weekend

    michelle