Has anyone tried a diet vs. Chemo
Comments
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Could it be that the chemo killed the cancer first?scouty said:Sorry, been out of town
Dave,
You have brought up a topic that a couple of years ago was as contentious as some of the recent "religious" threads have been and probably would still be today if some of us continued to be bull headed know it alls.
Thanks for the kind words Phil and Greg I am the one you remember as having some treatments and I welcome your always predicable comments.
Dave, I was stage IV with 3 mets to the liver, 1 to my left lung, and several enlarged lymph nodes in early April 2004. Surgery was not an option so I did chemo (folfox with avastin) for 8 months. My CEA was an indicator for me and it was 37 at my first chemo treatment. The first 2-5 months did a great job of shrinking my 5 known tumors and my CEA steadily came down. You can read my web page on this site to find out more about my journey.
Anyway, after 8 months and my oncologist telling me I needed 4-7 more months of it I felt like the chemo was doing more damage than good. My CEA was down to 5.1 so I thought (thanks to my mentor Emily) boosting my immune system and changing my diet might be able to "replace the chemo". By FAR, the hardest decision I have ever had to make but since some of the Oxilplatin side effects were really getting to me, it was a non-brainer (I was having a hard time walking since I could not feel the balls of my feet hit the ground). I have since told my onc. that giving someone Oxy. for over 6 months is inhuman!!
I completely changed my diet and most of my lifestyle and am very pleased to say that I hopefully will be hitting my 5 year NED (cancer free) mark while we are at CP7 in Key West. WHO KNEW!!!!!!!!!
Before I can really answer your question I would need to know more about your situation (history and include blood levels if possible). I personally think that those that are in a surgical NED state that do chemo to "mop up" can benefit the most from diet/lifestyle vs. chemo the most (like Em did).
I also recommend diet changes for the majority of us in the US, Canada, and Australia (the countries with the highest incidence of colorectal cancer in the world, by far). I am always amazed at the bad ink "supplements" get in the press while you rarely hear about FDA approved poisons until they get recalled or banned after too many people die or are seriously injured. It's all about money and who can afford to fund the testing to prove the validity of a product, take control of you and do some research. If you have an oncologist that does not think diet has anything to do with colorectal cancer, get another one YESTERDAY!
Do yourself a favor and keep your blood levels up as best you can. Memorize each one, what it means to your body and how to help it, that is key to your success.
Enough for now,
Lisa P.
Hi Lisa,
I am so inspired by your story and all the work that it took for you to change your lifestyle and diet. I have a question however, as I am stage IV with mets to my lungs and am just starting chemo today. Do you think that doing folfox/Avastin for 8 months "killed" most of your cancer cells, reducing your "tumor burden" first and then you were able to manage, live with your cancer, etc, by boosting your immune system with diet/lifestyle so that it is undectable by scans, CEA, etc. Essentially NED! Good for you! I want to follow in your footsteps, but my second opinion says that I am a "high risk" patient and need to do this chemo.
I read Emily's bio and she was only a stage III. I say only, I don't mean to take away from her huge efforts at creating a healthy enviornment in her body, I'm just looking at it from the viewpoint that metastatic cancer is a different beast than stage III. I hope to learn more from both of you as my journey progresses.
With respect for all your hard work and self-care,
Susan0 -
Not showing itdixchi said:Context
well, I haven't seen yours....lol! Only if you make it so
does it go to religion.....it bothers me that these posts
are sometimes taken out of context.....can you imagine what
condition Emily's immune system is in....WOW!....I am
lucky to get a few walks in a week and yet I know more
would be better....I agree that none of us are doctors
and we should occasionally add a disclaimer to what
we are claiming.
Huggs,
Barbara
Butt, it's not mine :-0
I meant that this is another HOT topic like religion or politics.
There are many schools of thought on this and it can be discussed to death (bad use of phrasing?) with no definitive answers.
I don't think there is a right/wrong, good/bad, faith/medicine answer.
It's like finding the right shoe. (????)
It's all subjective IMO and the posts certainly can be taken out of context.
-p0 -
Chiming in..
Gotta chime in here. I think Phil has hit the nail on the head. One thing that has not really been mentioned is the power of the MIND. Healing is a mind/body exercise and personally I feel that you have to believe that your body has the ability to heal. If you believe you are doomed in other words, you probably will be. That is not to say that everyone w/ a positive attitude will survive, but you have to at least believe in the possibility of being cured.
I have heard many people say "Well, I never ate anything bad. I ate all organic, etc. and still got cancer". I don't think that the dietary problems that lead to cancer are habits that we had in the years immediately prior to diagnosis. You have to go back farther than that..It takes a polyp up to 10 years to develop and turn into cancer. So, it would make sense to me that your diet growing up, in your adolescent years plays a large role. Sadly, how many teenagers do you know who eat healthy diets? I know my Mom gave me lunch meat almost every day and I was not a stranger to Taco Bell, etc. Since I graduated from college I started cooking for myself and eating a much healthier diet, however, that was only really beginning at the age of 22 or 23, by which time I assume I already had "the polyp"...I was diagnosed at 31. With the recent revelation that more and more young people are being diagnosed, particularly in the 20-30 age group, I personally belive that our diets in our teenage years play a large role in early onset colon cancer.
As an aside, I have consulted w/ a N.D. throughout my ordeal w/ CC. and have taken a variety of supplements over the last 7 years and continue to strive to eat a healthy diet, exercise far more than your average bear and keep the negative yucky talk to a minimum.
Cheers,
Susan H.0 -
chemo/dietPhillieG said:Not showing it
Butt, it's not mine :-0
I meant that this is another HOT topic like religion or politics.
There are many schools of thought on this and it can be discussed to death (bad use of phrasing?) with no definitive answers.
I don't think there is a right/wrong, good/bad, faith/medicine answer.
It's like finding the right shoe. (????)
It's all subjective IMO and the posts certainly can be taken out of context.
-p
I appreciate the information shared regarding diet/chemo..Opinions and experiences differ, but I would like to be able to hear about those varying experiences. The discussion board is a place to "listen in" on what others have experienced and learned through their personal choices. I hope the posts continue regarding choices made and personal experiences regarding chemo/diet/supplements. I check in here to find out what others have experienced..And I will make my own decisions based on what I think is "right" for me.It appears that there have been some hot topics in the past, that's fine...Even though you don't agree with another point of view does not negate the the information or experience ...As always Thanks you all, for sharing.0 -
Well putelizabethgd said:chemo/diet
I appreciate the information shared regarding diet/chemo..Opinions and experiences differ, but I would like to be able to hear about those varying experiences. The discussion board is a place to "listen in" on what others have experienced and learned through their personal choices. I hope the posts continue regarding choices made and personal experiences regarding chemo/diet/supplements. I check in here to find out what others have experienced..And I will make my own decisions based on what I think is "right" for me.It appears that there have been some hot topics in the past, that's fine...Even though you don't agree with another point of view does not negate the the information or experience ...As always Thanks you all, for sharing.
We all have different stories. You are right, this is a great place to gather information and make your own decision.0 -
Absolutely Susancalifsue said:Could it be that the chemo killed the cancer first?
Hi Lisa,
I am so inspired by your story and all the work that it took for you to change your lifestyle and diet. I have a question however, as I am stage IV with mets to my lungs and am just starting chemo today. Do you think that doing folfox/Avastin for 8 months "killed" most of your cancer cells, reducing your "tumor burden" first and then you were able to manage, live with your cancer, etc, by boosting your immune system with diet/lifestyle so that it is undectable by scans, CEA, etc. Essentially NED! Good for you! I want to follow in your footsteps, but my second opinion says that I am a "high risk" patient and need to do this chemo.
I read Emily's bio and she was only a stage III. I say only, I don't mean to take away from her huge efforts at creating a healthy enviornment in her body, I'm just looking at it from the viewpoint that metastatic cancer is a different beast than stage III. I hope to learn more from both of you as my journey progresses.
With respect for all your hard work and self-care,
Susan
I watched my CEA very carefully and as it dropped (from 37 to 5.1) and the cumulative side effects got worse all while I was becoming terrified (and I mean terrified) of the chemo, I found someone to help me build back up my body as quickly as I could. Deep down inside it had gotten to the point that I felt that if I kept doing chemo, it was going to kill me. For some reason, I felt MY best chance at survival was by changing my lifestyle and try that for a few months. My red and white blood cell counts went from borderline lows on the scale to the highest possible in 2 quick months!!! And you are right, it was very hard work and cost some bucks too (since insurance didn't cover it) but I have to say at the end of the first 6 months I had spend less on my "new treatments goods" then I had on my insurance deductables in the previous 6 months. FYI, my CEA kept dropping for the next 8 months to where it has been the last 4 plus years 2-2.5.
My oncologist doesn't know what to think and says C&C worked for me (chemo and carrots). During one appt. I asked him what he thougth about some of the vaccines that were out there and he looked at me like I was crazy and said "Why would you do ANYTHING to compromise your obviously awesome immune system?" When he said that it made me wonder why we don't hear more about how to do that without popping a pill that some company is making a killing on. He and the staff use the M word (miracle) when they talk to me and it makes me extremely uncomfortable for some reason.
I am not sure if I could have made the diet changes early on in my chemo treatments (I didn't know anything about it then) but know for sure that I COULD NOT the last 2 months, since there was only so much I could tolerate. Keeping weight on during chemo is very important and sometimes you just eat whatever you can eat.
I'll be around to help you anyway I can but give the **** cells hell in the meantime. I am thrilled you got a second opinion, I'd be dead today if I had not gotten one.
Lisa P.0 -
It is all your decision Daveninetoes said:Thanks Lisa.
I was stage 2
Thanks Lisa.
I was stage 2 and had surgery to remove 1 foot of my colon and a baseball size tumor. I was told that I had a 75% chance of it coming back without Chemo and 80 - 85% chance if I did it. So they have me on Oxi and 5FU with the fanny pack for 2 days, 12 rounds of treatment. My onc told me she did not want me to change my diet right now, just to focus on the chemo. Then after that was done she would have me talk to a nutritionist and change my diet.
I have an appointment today with the onc to talk about the chemo, either way I'm going to start my new diet. I believe that my eating habits got me here, so it can't hurt to rid my body of all the junk and start eating right. I will stick to the chemo, but will reserve the right to change my mind in the coming weeks.
Thanks everyone for your support and comments, I wish everyone the best.
Dave
You may want to start educating yourself on how to eat smarter for when you finish your chemo treatments. "Beating Cancer with Nutrition" by Patrick Quillan is a very good book explaining things.
Mark Meads, a Nutritional Oncologist Specialist I've heard speak a couple of times highly recommends a new book "Life Over Cancer" published by Random House with a foreword by Andrew Weil, MD. He helped research the book and has also been the associate editor of a book called "Intergrative Cancer Therapies" published by Sage productions. I have ordered both books but know both books use diet to complement chemo, radiation, and surgery, that is the new direction I see in the cancer world of medicine.
BUT, make sure your oncologist is aware of any supplements or diet changes you want to make. My oncologist never had a problem with anything I did. He is at one of the comprehensive cancer centers and said while there is talk that supplements don't help, he never saw any data to confirm that it helped or hurt. He is all about the unmeasurables of attitude, beliefs, will power, peace of mind, etc. He says he has had too many miracle patients that he can not medically explain.
The best to you,
Lisa P.0 -
MD Anderson recently released updated survival figures for advanced CRC patients. Patients following conventional therapies that were diagnosed between 2000-2003 are surviving on average 30 months. With 5 year survival rates as high as 30%. They won't be able to release figures for those diagnosed between 2004-2006 for quite some time but there is talk that 5 year survival might be approaching 50%. Find me a diet that can compete with those numbers and I'm all over it.shmurciakova said:Chiming in..
Gotta chime in here. I think Phil has hit the nail on the head. One thing that has not really been mentioned is the power of the MIND. Healing is a mind/body exercise and personally I feel that you have to believe that your body has the ability to heal. If you believe you are doomed in other words, you probably will be. That is not to say that everyone w/ a positive attitude will survive, but you have to at least believe in the possibility of being cured.
I have heard many people say "Well, I never ate anything bad. I ate all organic, etc. and still got cancer". I don't think that the dietary problems that lead to cancer are habits that we had in the years immediately prior to diagnosis. You have to go back farther than that..It takes a polyp up to 10 years to develop and turn into cancer. So, it would make sense to me that your diet growing up, in your adolescent years plays a large role. Sadly, how many teenagers do you know who eat healthy diets? I know my Mom gave me lunch meat almost every day and I was not a stranger to Taco Bell, etc. Since I graduated from college I started cooking for myself and eating a much healthier diet, however, that was only really beginning at the age of 22 or 23, by which time I assume I already had "the polyp"...I was diagnosed at 31. With the recent revelation that more and more young people are being diagnosed, particularly in the 20-30 age group, I personally belive that our diets in our teenage years play a large role in early onset colon cancer.
As an aside, I have consulted w/ a N.D. throughout my ordeal w/ CC. and have taken a variety of supplements over the last 7 years and continue to strive to eat a healthy diet, exercise far more than your average bear and keep the negative yucky talk to a minimum.
Cheers,
Susan H.
I'm all for juicing and eating healthy, but you should definitely consider chemo in addition to diet.0 -
Complementary vs. Alternative Medicine
Right after I was diagnosed with stage I cc in 2006, I read a really inspiring book by a local stage IV breast cancer survivor. In addition to chemo and surgery at MD Anderson, she also changed her diet and had acupuncture and massage, as well as other forms of complementary medicine. The last I heard she was still cancer free. The name of the book is Bigger Than Pink: The Book I Could Not find When I Was Diagnosed With Stage Four Cancer. The author is Lori C. Lober.
Sometimes the term alternative medicine is used synonymously with complementary medicine. How confusing! I found a book about complementary medicine that was called Mayo Clinic Guide to Alternative Medicine 2007. It's about using both conventional and non-conventional treatments. I haven't looked for the 2008 or 2009 versions.
Since I was stage I, I have no experience with chemo and am not commenting on chemo vs. diet. I just wanted to mention these two resources.
Joy0 -
alternative/complementary/integrativelmliess said:My 2 cents...
I agree that it is what you feel best doing. I WISH I could stop the chemo and go totally organic and juice all day, and I am slowly doing that again, as my appetite will allow, but for me at this time, I think I need to get through this chemo THEN totally 100% focus on PREVENTION. I do not ever want to go through this or put my family through this again, as all of you, but I want whatever cell may remain to DIE!!! Being Stage IV I want my best option I feel.
Before my DX I was completely all about healthy foods, eat as natural as possible...although I did like my beer and wine. Ahhhhh....those summer days on the boat cracking open a ice cold beer........anyway, I will be cutting out that going forward. I guess my point is I ate pretty good and was fairly active, more so than even my husband and my friends, and I got the stage IV butt cancer. I was the one running around telling everyone the importance of healthy eating and wheatgrass!
I guess it is what you truely believe in that makes you feel the best.
I have found several clinics that offer integrative therapy ..they include the conventional procedures, but also include a variety of "complementary" therapies..I believe the Cancer Treatment Centers of America offer those types of services.
Does anyone have opinions on the Cancer Treatment Centers of America?0 -
Not manyelizabethgd said:alternative/complementary/integrative
I have found several clinics that offer integrative therapy ..they include the conventional procedures, but also include a variety of "complementary" therapies..I believe the Cancer Treatment Centers of America offer those types of services.
Does anyone have opinions on the Cancer Treatment Centers of America?
The only negative comments I have seen on this site are from those whose insurance wasn't accepted there. It is a private facility so HMOs and Medicare will not be accepted.
I do know one person I love and admire from here (Limey/Mark) that spent a month in the Illinois center a few months ago and he RAVED about how he was treated and how they treated him and his family. It was just too far from home but he did tell me he wished he had known more about them when he was originally diagnosed. He went as far as saying he thought he would be "better off today if I had gone there a few years ago". Those were his words.
I'm looking forward to hearing from others.
Lisa P.0 -
Lance, Centerfolds and Big Butts
Hello my Semi-colon compadres!
Sheesh! Ya go away for an extended weekend and look what happens!
Was I accused of having a Big But?? HA! Wow, though... what an honor to be called a centerfold or be mentioned in the same breath as Lance Armstrong when talking about athletes who had cancer! I couldn't even dream of being a domestique in his peloton or even worthy of handing him his feedbag for crying out loud. But it brought a smile to my face being called an athlete! Thanks! :-) Ok, now down to business.....
Dave,
First of all, at the Mayo Clinic where I had my diagnostics, surgery and follow-up care for the past 7.10 years, Stage II colon cancer does NOT get chemo recommended. Now they may have changed that, but even 4 (?) years ago their protocol for Stage II was no chemo- just surgery. You may want to research your options. www.cancerdecisions.com
When I was diagnosed in August, 2001 with Stage III lymph positive sigmoid colon cancer, the chemo scared me more than the cancer. NO ONE in my family, the 3 members who had cancer (lung, breast, intestinal) had their cancer cured OR survived chemo. So given those odds 3/3, you can believe that I was pretty darn concerned and I didn't want to make it an even 4/4. My sister died at 33 and I witnessed up close and personal a long and painful demise. I give you this background to tell you where I was coming from. Call it motivation.
I also had been a hippy crunchy-granola type (complete with Birkenstocks) since I was 20 dabbling in vegetarianism off and on for years. Growing up, my diet was SAD (Standard American Diet). I wholly agree with Susan about our formative years making a big difference. I tell you this because it explains that I already believed in a healthy lifestyle. I did not believe that chemo would benefit me in any way, shape or form. In fact, I truly thought it would kill me. Therefor it would have been counterproductive FOR ME to allow cytotoxic chemicals into my body. My tumor gave off no CEA so we had no way of knowing if the adjuvant chemo of 5-FU and leucovorin (the standard recommendation in 2001) was working.
So when I was diagnosed at 39 it was not a large stretch for me to embrace alternative medicine since I was already practicing it in my life. I just had to tweak it and delve deeper. I learned about the importance of LIVE ENZYMES and ALKALIZING YOUR pH. Those two issues are the KEY FOCUS to my choice of a healing path and on which I built my healing protocol.
Along with my wonderful oncologist at Mayo, I was under the care of a Naturopathic Doctor and a Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner. My oncologist managed my diagnostics, The ND came up with my supplement protocol (along with Patrick Quillin from his book scouty mentioned), and the TCM put it all together with her acupuncture, massages (bodywork), lymphatic drainage, herbs, etc. My juicing I did myself from The Gerson Method that I adapted to my own lifestyle (5 kids, farm ministry, homeschooling etc).
You have the choice to not do any chemo IF YOU CHOOSE no matter what the naysayers tell you. I had plenty believe me. Nothing like a challenge to prove them wrong. But I take nothing for granted and know that there are NO guarantees in life.
My juicing I call CHEMIA which means juice of the plant. I do maintenance CHEMIA now and still juice about 16 oz/day along with some supplements. I try to remain alkaline since cancer cannot live in an alkaline environment. Greens alkalize. Processed foods are acidic. Drugs are acidic. Alcohol is acidic. Sugar is acidic. I was doing a lot of acid until I was 20. HA! :-) There are natural foods that are acidic too but now I know how to balance them with the alkaline ones. You can get pH test strips and check your urine to see what I am talking about.
Juicing is a powerful tool to help your body heal from cancer. The juicer gives you optimal nutrition in a way that is easy for your body to assimilate and digest freeing up your energy for healing your disease.
Cancer is a SYMPTOM of a deeper issue and it helps if you dig to the ROOT of your problem. That issue is different for each person. The food we eat is only one aspect of contracting disease. We have emotional and spiritual breakdowns too that create disease. Toxic emotions, stress, volatile relationships etc. The acupuncture and massage helped on both a physical and emotional level for me. They are very detoxifying and worked in conjunction with the juicing. My temporary vegan diet helped this too since my body wasn't having to work hard to digest meats and animal products taking precious digestive enzymes from my pancreas, which was overtaxed to begin with and which happens in a diseased state.
I may be overloading you with info, but you can search my threads for more info. I have been preaching (for lack of a better word) juicing for 7 1/2 years on here and there are threads about it ad nauseam.
I have remained cancer free all this time and I am not a solo gig in the big world of alternative cancer healing, I'm just the pariah on the boards. Check out Kris Carr and her Crazy Sexy Cancer website.
If you have any specific questions I will do my best to answer them. Aside from putting on a juicing workshop at my local coop, I make no money on anything I ever recommend or promote and have no agenda other than HOPE.
Jeremiah 30:17
peace, emily the juice chick
ps. I only starting doing Triathlons last year at 47 trying to cross it off my "Bucket List" of things to accomplish before 50 and now am hooked and just bought a wetsuit. WOOHOO!0 -
Choices2bhealed said:Lance, Centerfolds and Big Butts
Hello my Semi-colon compadres!
Sheesh! Ya go away for an extended weekend and look what happens!
Was I accused of having a Big But?? HA! Wow, though... what an honor to be called a centerfold or be mentioned in the same breath as Lance Armstrong when talking about athletes who had cancer! I couldn't even dream of being a domestique in his peloton or even worthy of handing him his feedbag for crying out loud. But it brought a smile to my face being called an athlete! Thanks! :-) Ok, now down to business.....
Dave,
First of all, at the Mayo Clinic where I had my diagnostics, surgery and follow-up care for the past 7.10 years, Stage II colon cancer does NOT get chemo recommended. Now they may have changed that, but even 4 (?) years ago their protocol for Stage II was no chemo- just surgery. You may want to research your options. www.cancerdecisions.com
When I was diagnosed in August, 2001 with Stage III lymph positive sigmoid colon cancer, the chemo scared me more than the cancer. NO ONE in my family, the 3 members who had cancer (lung, breast, intestinal) had their cancer cured OR survived chemo. So given those odds 3/3, you can believe that I was pretty darn concerned and I didn't want to make it an even 4/4. My sister died at 33 and I witnessed up close and personal a long and painful demise. I give you this background to tell you where I was coming from. Call it motivation.
I also had been a hippy crunchy-granola type (complete with Birkenstocks) since I was 20 dabbling in vegetarianism off and on for years. Growing up, my diet was SAD (Standard American Diet). I wholly agree with Susan about our formative years making a big difference. I tell you this because it explains that I already believed in a healthy lifestyle. I did not believe that chemo would benefit me in any way, shape or form. In fact, I truly thought it would kill me. Therefor it would have been counterproductive FOR ME to allow cytotoxic chemicals into my body. My tumor gave off no CEA so we had no way of knowing if the adjuvant chemo of 5-FU and leucovorin (the standard recommendation in 2001) was working.
So when I was diagnosed at 39 it was not a large stretch for me to embrace alternative medicine since I was already practicing it in my life. I just had to tweak it and delve deeper. I learned about the importance of LIVE ENZYMES and ALKALIZING YOUR pH. Those two issues are the KEY FOCUS to my choice of a healing path and on which I built my healing protocol.
Along with my wonderful oncologist at Mayo, I was under the care of a Naturopathic Doctor and a Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner. My oncologist managed my diagnostics, The ND came up with my supplement protocol (along with Patrick Quillin from his book scouty mentioned), and the TCM put it all together with her acupuncture, massages (bodywork), lymphatic drainage, herbs, etc. My juicing I did myself from The Gerson Method that I adapted to my own lifestyle (5 kids, farm ministry, homeschooling etc).
You have the choice to not do any chemo IF YOU CHOOSE no matter what the naysayers tell you. I had plenty believe me. Nothing like a challenge to prove them wrong. But I take nothing for granted and know that there are NO guarantees in life.
My juicing I call CHEMIA which means juice of the plant. I do maintenance CHEMIA now and still juice about 16 oz/day along with some supplements. I try to remain alkaline since cancer cannot live in an alkaline environment. Greens alkalize. Processed foods are acidic. Drugs are acidic. Alcohol is acidic. Sugar is acidic. I was doing a lot of acid until I was 20. HA! :-) There are natural foods that are acidic too but now I know how to balance them with the alkaline ones. You can get pH test strips and check your urine to see what I am talking about.
Juicing is a powerful tool to help your body heal from cancer. The juicer gives you optimal nutrition in a way that is easy for your body to assimilate and digest freeing up your energy for healing your disease.
Cancer is a SYMPTOM of a deeper issue and it helps if you dig to the ROOT of your problem. That issue is different for each person. The food we eat is only one aspect of contracting disease. We have emotional and spiritual breakdowns too that create disease. Toxic emotions, stress, volatile relationships etc. The acupuncture and massage helped on both a physical and emotional level for me. They are very detoxifying and worked in conjunction with the juicing. My temporary vegan diet helped this too since my body wasn't having to work hard to digest meats and animal products taking precious digestive enzymes from my pancreas, which was overtaxed to begin with and which happens in a diseased state.
I may be overloading you with info, but you can search my threads for more info. I have been preaching (for lack of a better word) juicing for 7 1/2 years on here and there are threads about it ad nauseam.
I have remained cancer free all this time and I am not a solo gig in the big world of alternative cancer healing, I'm just the pariah on the boards. Check out Kris Carr and her Crazy Sexy Cancer website.
If you have any specific questions I will do my best to answer them. Aside from putting on a juicing workshop at my local coop, I make no money on anything I ever recommend or promote and have no agenda other than HOPE.
Jeremiah 30:17
peace, emily the juice chick
ps. I only starting doing Triathlons last year at 47 trying to cross it off my "Bucket List" of things to accomplish before 50 and now am hooked and just bought a wetsuit. WOOHOO!
Emily, you are much too modest.....even thinking about doing
a triathlon at that age means you at least believed that you
had been working out enough to attempt it....I ADMIRE you.
You look like a very healthy, robust person so I give credits
to your juicing, acupuncture and all the other alternative
programs.....I know what yoga and guided imagery have done
to help me. And we all have choices to make but we need to
make informed decisions as well. All colorectal cancers
are not the same and some will respond better than others
to what we throw at them. On the 3C website they are talking
about new markers to use to determine whether Stage 2ers should
have chemo or not. I was a Stage 2, chemo was not recommended
and I went 3 years without a recurrence, then last year they
found it in my liver and surgery removed 50 percent of my
liver....just had my one year colonoscopy and they found
nothing there.....I am NED right now...I responded to the
chemo I was given in conjunction with the surgery....I made
the choice, along with recommendation from my doctor, not to
get chemo in 2004.....would I not have had a recurrence to
my liver in 2008 if I had had chemo.....who knows....this
at time becomes more an art than a science but they are learning
more every day....time will tell if I have permanently licked
this thing or not.....just as you said there are no guarantees.
Barbara0 -
Chemo vs Diet2bhealed said:Lance, Centerfolds and Big Butts
Hello my Semi-colon compadres!
Sheesh! Ya go away for an extended weekend and look what happens!
Was I accused of having a Big But?? HA! Wow, though... what an honor to be called a centerfold or be mentioned in the same breath as Lance Armstrong when talking about athletes who had cancer! I couldn't even dream of being a domestique in his peloton or even worthy of handing him his feedbag for crying out loud. But it brought a smile to my face being called an athlete! Thanks! :-) Ok, now down to business.....
Dave,
First of all, at the Mayo Clinic where I had my diagnostics, surgery and follow-up care for the past 7.10 years, Stage II colon cancer does NOT get chemo recommended. Now they may have changed that, but even 4 (?) years ago their protocol for Stage II was no chemo- just surgery. You may want to research your options. www.cancerdecisions.com
When I was diagnosed in August, 2001 with Stage III lymph positive sigmoid colon cancer, the chemo scared me more than the cancer. NO ONE in my family, the 3 members who had cancer (lung, breast, intestinal) had their cancer cured OR survived chemo. So given those odds 3/3, you can believe that I was pretty darn concerned and I didn't want to make it an even 4/4. My sister died at 33 and I witnessed up close and personal a long and painful demise. I give you this background to tell you where I was coming from. Call it motivation.
I also had been a hippy crunchy-granola type (complete with Birkenstocks) since I was 20 dabbling in vegetarianism off and on for years. Growing up, my diet was SAD (Standard American Diet). I wholly agree with Susan about our formative years making a big difference. I tell you this because it explains that I already believed in a healthy lifestyle. I did not believe that chemo would benefit me in any way, shape or form. In fact, I truly thought it would kill me. Therefor it would have been counterproductive FOR ME to allow cytotoxic chemicals into my body. My tumor gave off no CEA so we had no way of knowing if the adjuvant chemo of 5-FU and leucovorin (the standard recommendation in 2001) was working.
So when I was diagnosed at 39 it was not a large stretch for me to embrace alternative medicine since I was already practicing it in my life. I just had to tweak it and delve deeper. I learned about the importance of LIVE ENZYMES and ALKALIZING YOUR pH. Those two issues are the KEY FOCUS to my choice of a healing path and on which I built my healing protocol.
Along with my wonderful oncologist at Mayo, I was under the care of a Naturopathic Doctor and a Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner. My oncologist managed my diagnostics, The ND came up with my supplement protocol (along with Patrick Quillin from his book scouty mentioned), and the TCM put it all together with her acupuncture, massages (bodywork), lymphatic drainage, herbs, etc. My juicing I did myself from The Gerson Method that I adapted to my own lifestyle (5 kids, farm ministry, homeschooling etc).
You have the choice to not do any chemo IF YOU CHOOSE no matter what the naysayers tell you. I had plenty believe me. Nothing like a challenge to prove them wrong. But I take nothing for granted and know that there are NO guarantees in life.
My juicing I call CHEMIA which means juice of the plant. I do maintenance CHEMIA now and still juice about 16 oz/day along with some supplements. I try to remain alkaline since cancer cannot live in an alkaline environment. Greens alkalize. Processed foods are acidic. Drugs are acidic. Alcohol is acidic. Sugar is acidic. I was doing a lot of acid until I was 20. HA! :-) There are natural foods that are acidic too but now I know how to balance them with the alkaline ones. You can get pH test strips and check your urine to see what I am talking about.
Juicing is a powerful tool to help your body heal from cancer. The juicer gives you optimal nutrition in a way that is easy for your body to assimilate and digest freeing up your energy for healing your disease.
Cancer is a SYMPTOM of a deeper issue and it helps if you dig to the ROOT of your problem. That issue is different for each person. The food we eat is only one aspect of contracting disease. We have emotional and spiritual breakdowns too that create disease. Toxic emotions, stress, volatile relationships etc. The acupuncture and massage helped on both a physical and emotional level for me. They are very detoxifying and worked in conjunction with the juicing. My temporary vegan diet helped this too since my body wasn't having to work hard to digest meats and animal products taking precious digestive enzymes from my pancreas, which was overtaxed to begin with and which happens in a diseased state.
I may be overloading you with info, but you can search my threads for more info. I have been preaching (for lack of a better word) juicing for 7 1/2 years on here and there are threads about it ad nauseam.
I have remained cancer free all this time and I am not a solo gig in the big world of alternative cancer healing, I'm just the pariah on the boards. Check out Kris Carr and her Crazy Sexy Cancer website.
If you have any specific questions I will do my best to answer them. Aside from putting on a juicing workshop at my local coop, I make no money on anything I ever recommend or promote and have no agenda other than HOPE.
Jeremiah 30:17
peace, emily the juice chick
ps. I only starting doing Triathlons last year at 47 trying to cross it off my "Bucket List" of things to accomplish before 50 and now am hooked and just bought a wetsuit. WOOHOO!
Thanks Emily, a lot of good info. I spoke to my onc yesterday and I am going to continue with the Chemo and also change my diet. After thinking about everything, I decided that I want to give myself the best chance possible. I want to be here for my Son and daughter. I have a new Grandson and I want to see him grow up. My son is in college and I want to be here for his graduation and marriage.
I think the mind plays a very big roll in healing, I have to get my mind around all this and move forward.
Thanks everyone for your comments, this is the best site to come to for information and support!
Good luck to everyone, and you all will be in my thoughts and prayers.
Dave0 -
Juicer2bhealed said:Lance, Centerfolds and Big Butts
Hello my Semi-colon compadres!
Sheesh! Ya go away for an extended weekend and look what happens!
Was I accused of having a Big But?? HA! Wow, though... what an honor to be called a centerfold or be mentioned in the same breath as Lance Armstrong when talking about athletes who had cancer! I couldn't even dream of being a domestique in his peloton or even worthy of handing him his feedbag for crying out loud. But it brought a smile to my face being called an athlete! Thanks! :-) Ok, now down to business.....
Dave,
First of all, at the Mayo Clinic where I had my diagnostics, surgery and follow-up care for the past 7.10 years, Stage II colon cancer does NOT get chemo recommended. Now they may have changed that, but even 4 (?) years ago their protocol for Stage II was no chemo- just surgery. You may want to research your options. www.cancerdecisions.com
When I was diagnosed in August, 2001 with Stage III lymph positive sigmoid colon cancer, the chemo scared me more than the cancer. NO ONE in my family, the 3 members who had cancer (lung, breast, intestinal) had their cancer cured OR survived chemo. So given those odds 3/3, you can believe that I was pretty darn concerned and I didn't want to make it an even 4/4. My sister died at 33 and I witnessed up close and personal a long and painful demise. I give you this background to tell you where I was coming from. Call it motivation.
I also had been a hippy crunchy-granola type (complete with Birkenstocks) since I was 20 dabbling in vegetarianism off and on for years. Growing up, my diet was SAD (Standard American Diet). I wholly agree with Susan about our formative years making a big difference. I tell you this because it explains that I already believed in a healthy lifestyle. I did not believe that chemo would benefit me in any way, shape or form. In fact, I truly thought it would kill me. Therefor it would have been counterproductive FOR ME to allow cytotoxic chemicals into my body. My tumor gave off no CEA so we had no way of knowing if the adjuvant chemo of 5-FU and leucovorin (the standard recommendation in 2001) was working.
So when I was diagnosed at 39 it was not a large stretch for me to embrace alternative medicine since I was already practicing it in my life. I just had to tweak it and delve deeper. I learned about the importance of LIVE ENZYMES and ALKALIZING YOUR pH. Those two issues are the KEY FOCUS to my choice of a healing path and on which I built my healing protocol.
Along with my wonderful oncologist at Mayo, I was under the care of a Naturopathic Doctor and a Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner. My oncologist managed my diagnostics, The ND came up with my supplement protocol (along with Patrick Quillin from his book scouty mentioned), and the TCM put it all together with her acupuncture, massages (bodywork), lymphatic drainage, herbs, etc. My juicing I did myself from The Gerson Method that I adapted to my own lifestyle (5 kids, farm ministry, homeschooling etc).
You have the choice to not do any chemo IF YOU CHOOSE no matter what the naysayers tell you. I had plenty believe me. Nothing like a challenge to prove them wrong. But I take nothing for granted and know that there are NO guarantees in life.
My juicing I call CHEMIA which means juice of the plant. I do maintenance CHEMIA now and still juice about 16 oz/day along with some supplements. I try to remain alkaline since cancer cannot live in an alkaline environment. Greens alkalize. Processed foods are acidic. Drugs are acidic. Alcohol is acidic. Sugar is acidic. I was doing a lot of acid until I was 20. HA! :-) There are natural foods that are acidic too but now I know how to balance them with the alkaline ones. You can get pH test strips and check your urine to see what I am talking about.
Juicing is a powerful tool to help your body heal from cancer. The juicer gives you optimal nutrition in a way that is easy for your body to assimilate and digest freeing up your energy for healing your disease.
Cancer is a SYMPTOM of a deeper issue and it helps if you dig to the ROOT of your problem. That issue is different for each person. The food we eat is only one aspect of contracting disease. We have emotional and spiritual breakdowns too that create disease. Toxic emotions, stress, volatile relationships etc. The acupuncture and massage helped on both a physical and emotional level for me. They are very detoxifying and worked in conjunction with the juicing. My temporary vegan diet helped this too since my body wasn't having to work hard to digest meats and animal products taking precious digestive enzymes from my pancreas, which was overtaxed to begin with and which happens in a diseased state.
I may be overloading you with info, but you can search my threads for more info. I have been preaching (for lack of a better word) juicing for 7 1/2 years on here and there are threads about it ad nauseam.
I have remained cancer free all this time and I am not a solo gig in the big world of alternative cancer healing, I'm just the pariah on the boards. Check out Kris Carr and her Crazy Sexy Cancer website.
If you have any specific questions I will do my best to answer them. Aside from putting on a juicing workshop at my local coop, I make no money on anything I ever recommend or promote and have no agenda other than HOPE.
Jeremiah 30:17
peace, emily the juice chick
ps. I only starting doing Triathlons last year at 47 trying to cross it off my "Bucket List" of things to accomplish before 50 and now am hooked and just bought a wetsuit. WOOHOO!
Emily,
Do you recommend a particular brand of Juicer Machine ??
Thanks,
John0 -
JuicersJR said:Juicer
Emily,
Do you recommend a particular brand of Juicer Machine ??
Thanks,
John
Hi John,
I recommend the Champion Juicer (www.discountjuicers.com) but that's only because i have one and have been happy with it. When I started juicing back in 1991 I used a JuiceMan (not the kind from Target) that I got at a juicing seminar I went to when my sister was very sick. Unfortunately mine went into the cupboard only to sit for years unused. When I was diagnosed a friend loaned me her Champion and I was hooked. I didn't take time to research juicers. The Champ was so much easier to clean up than the JuiceMan and when you're juicing multiple times a day, that is an important aspect.
The JuiceMan is a centrifugal juicer--meaning it spins around in a circle. It's the most affordable type of juicer but it also heats up the juice more than others (killing enzymes).
The Champion Juicer is a masticating type juicer--it "chews" the veggies extracting the juice from the fiber.
There is a good juicer called the Omega 8000 (?) that crushes the veggies to extract and that one comes highly recommended by some of the juicing gurus out there.
The Norwalk is the granddaddy of juicers and is a hydraulic press (I think that's the name--I need to review my info I guess) and is quite expensive but is the recommended juicer by Gerson whose juicing program I based my 3 qts of organic veggies juice/day protocol. (he recommends 12 8oz juices/day).
I have limited experience so you may want to research to see what would work best for you. There is a ton of info on the internet. I highly recommend checking out the Crazy Sexy Cancer website because Kris Carr has done a lot of personal research on different juicers and her blog readers give a ton of feedback on their juicers too.
The Champion is a popular middle of the road juicer and an affordable ($250) INVESTMENT for your future. I use mine just about every day for the past 7.10 years and it's still kickin'! It's the workhorse of juicers.
I hope this helps.
peace, emily the carrot-colored juice chick0 -
I....JR said:Juicer
Emily,
Do you recommend a particular brand of Juicer Machine ??
Thanks,
John
...was just going to ask that JR LOL!!!
I just ordered the book from Patrick Quillen on Beating Cancer with Nutrition by Patrick Quillen through Amazon, and will give this a whirl...I did want to know what a good juicer was, and does this book teach you how to even juice, and give recipes in it as well?
Thanks for the info, you are an inspiration Emily, my kids are wanting to try to getting into a healthier lifestyle as well, so we're all going to do this, I'm just confused on the kinds of food or how to get alkaline tested, that sounds abit confusing.
How does this juicer sound..it's on sale for 219.00 here:
http://www.discountjuicers.com/omega4000.html
The Champion is now $199.00, and they pay for the shipping on the omega 4000
I been to that Crazy Sexy website, and loved her book...but she don't ship to the USA
Hugssss to you!
~Donna0 -
The pH MiracleShayenne said:I....
...was just going to ask that JR LOL!!!
I just ordered the book from Patrick Quillen on Beating Cancer with Nutrition by Patrick Quillen through Amazon, and will give this a whirl...I did want to know what a good juicer was, and does this book teach you how to even juice, and give recipes in it as well?
Thanks for the info, you are an inspiration Emily, my kids are wanting to try to getting into a healthier lifestyle as well, so we're all going to do this, I'm just confused on the kinds of food or how to get alkaline tested, that sounds abit confusing.
How does this juicer sound..it's on sale for 219.00 here:
http://www.discountjuicers.com/omega4000.html
The Champion is now $199.00, and they pay for the shipping on the omega 4000
I been to that Crazy Sexy website, and loved her book...but she don't ship to the USA
Hugssss to you!
~Donna
This is a good book to have in your cancer healing library as well as the Quillin book. It's by Robert Young, PhD. Kris Carr also recommends his work. For juicing info: Juice Alive by Steven Bailey, ND and anything by Cherie Calbom, MS.
A wonderful read for general healing is Spontaneous Healing by Dr. Andrew Weil. I love this book since he articulates so well my thoughts exactly to my style of healing.
I don't think you can go wrong with either the Omega or the Champ.
Cheers!
peace, emily0 -
healthy food2bhealed said:The pH Miracle
This is a good book to have in your cancer healing library as well as the Quillin book. It's by Robert Young, PhD. Kris Carr also recommends his work. For juicing info: Juice Alive by Steven Bailey, ND and anything by Cherie Calbom, MS.
A wonderful read for general healing is Spontaneous Healing by Dr. Andrew Weil. I love this book since he articulates so well my thoughts exactly to my style of healing.
I don't think you can go wrong with either the Omega or the Champ.
Cheers!
peace, emily
I have just completed chemo and radiation..My disgestive abilities are shot...my stomach is miserable...And .I am trying to figure out what I can eat during this time..things that my system will handle, since i have been radiated and chemo and all digestive enzymes etc are gone...I have been told to eat bland...avoid whole grains, vegies, etc.. Does anyone have suggestions of what I should eat during this "after chemo radiation time" while things are trying to heal..bread?? vegies? greens? juices? or just oatmeal noodles and broth..0 -
Hey Elizabeth...elizabethgd said:healthy food
I have just completed chemo and radiation..My disgestive abilities are shot...my stomach is miserable...And .I am trying to figure out what I can eat during this time..things that my system will handle, since i have been radiated and chemo and all digestive enzymes etc are gone...I have been told to eat bland...avoid whole grains, vegies, etc.. Does anyone have suggestions of what I should eat during this "after chemo radiation time" while things are trying to heal..bread?? vegies? greens? juices? or just oatmeal noodles and broth..
I got a few books on what to eat during and after chemo, and they have some good interesting stuff...Here's what I ordered from Amazon:
1. Eating Well Through Cancer by:Hoilly Clegg and Gerald Miltello, MD
2. One Bite At A Time Nourishing recipes for cancer survivors and their families by: Rebecca Katz with Matt Edelson...
My other books are around somewhere, but one them even color codes to what to eat for what symptom you have, if you have diarrhea, they have a section of recipes for that, if you have nausea, they have a recipe section for that, it's so cool, and I know you can find it on Amazon..
Just go to Amazon and type in the books I told you, and they will also bring up other suggestions of books you may be interested in..I always buy them used but in very good condition, since it's cheaper, I found a juicing bible that looks interesting, so I'm there looking for books as well! Hope you find some of great cancer cookbooks, there's alot on there
0
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