Good results from today's checkup

Rewriter said:

Linda
You have given me very good advice, and I WILL heed it in time. I have never stopped embracing life. Even when I was sitting in the cancer center hooked up to chemo drugs, I was thinking about where I wanted to have dinner afterwards and who I should invite to join me. On my good days between treatments, I walked for miles and explored all of the neighborhoods in Brooklyn. And now, almost three and one-half years since my surgery, I am almost completely back to my usual activities. My time on these boards now is mostly for the purpose of checking in with friends, to try to give support to people just starting this journey, or to share information with women who are interested in an anti-cancer diet approach.

How I wish, though, that I were easily able to push cancer aside and have it be only a distant memory. Yes, I am in remission, with a good chance of being cured; but the cancer experience turned my world upside down too and scared me to my core. I KNOW that I am one of the lucky ones, that statistics are in my favor; and often I feel that I have no right to be afraid. But I am still dealing with the fallout, and I still need time to find the delirious bliss of recaptured health. I KNOW that I am coming to the end of my grieving process; but this process has phases and takes time no matter what the ultimate prognosis. We are all different in how long it takes us to process experiences and put them behind us.

I'll never be the old me, but that may not be a bad thing. Because of my diagnosis, I have found ways to become healthier than I have ever been in my life. I am a better friend, more compassionate, and with more life-affirming priorities. I will always enjoy my life. This grieving process, which I hope to end soon, has been absolutely necessary for me; and I am glad that I was able to go through it in my own time.

I hesitated to share these feeling here, given the experience of many of the women on this board. However, I want women in my shoes to know that it's ok to be scared, to grieve the loss of innocence, and to be comfortable coming here for support. Our chances for remission may be pretty good, but that doesn't mean that recovery from the experience is always lightning quick.

You will likely see less of me here now. I have pushed aside many things that I need to return to now. Heartfelt thanks to everyone kind enough to respond to my news.

(((Hugs)))

Jill

Jill--Again Thanks
Jill, your note to Linda expresses beautifully exactly what I have felt and continue to feel. Thank you for your words.

I, too, love Brooklyn. My son, daughter-in-law, and one-year-old grandsome live in Park Slope. What a wonderful place to walk and poke around! I never thought I would find a place I liked as well as Berkeley, but Brooklyn is that place.

I am so glad your appointment went so well, and may this be the end of UPSC for you! I wish it could be so for everyone here.

Best,
Bots

lindaprocopio said:

I hear you, Jill.
My longest remission was 5 1/2 months; for me this journey has been one of almost constant treatment. So from my perspective, remission is a place of bliss, perhaps because I have so little personal experience with it. In my longing eyes, remission is the BEST, a 2nd chance, and quite possibly the VICTORY for so many of you who will never recur. I want it to be like that for you; that's all. I want you to have come through this unscathed, wiser but LESS afraid of anything life can throw at you, because you've walked through hell and back already and lived to tell about it. My advice comes from a sincere place. In my eyes you seem whole and strong and capable of leaving this awful chapter of your life behind. I know you're close. I have such immense respect for you, and confidence in you. ((((Jill)))

Jill
I know that one of the main reasons I go on the board is wholly altruistic, as I would like to offer the women on the board the very best shot at not having a remission and I don't feel the standard treatments without diet and lifestyle changes are as effective as with the changes. I believe that you are of the same or similar mind set. That to keep out of the pool where remission awaits one even as long as five or six years down the road, we do need to be aware of how we are living on a daily basis.

Nearly all research shows that diet and lifestyle changes have an enormous effect of how well one does, both in regards to getting cancer in the first place and remaining in remission. I post all information I can find on how to enhance chemo and radiation treatment so that those may be most effective. I believe you post for the same or similar reasons.Doctors are very busy in their day to day practices and are not always on top of the latest information, so when I post here, women have the opportunity to bring new treatments to the attention of their doctors. I believe that some of you have already had your treatments changed because of some of your own research.

I really think it's beneficial to everyone to have the most and latest information available to have the most positive outcome. And I certainly have an hour or two to give to welfare of whomever it may help. As a case in point, the AACR 2011 post, all 85 pages of it, while I haven't read the whole thing is full of current information on research and treatment options. Lots of wonderful photos and illustrations, charts. Give it a whirl and see if there is something there that might be of help to any of you.

In love and caring,

Claudia

Rewriter said:

Minnie
What did your doctor say? Your internal is generally the most important part of the exam for women with our stage. My expectation is that you are just fine!

As for the angst, I thought it would lessen by now. Guess not.


Jill

Jill, I am going to keep
Jill, I am going to keep bugging you.
Angst? What is it?

Thank you!

Fayard said:

Jill
What kind of test did the doctor do?
I am having my 3 months check up on November 2, and I would like to know what to ask for?

Felicitaciones!

Fayard:
Here is something
Fayard:

Here is something that you may want to do. When I was on my three month check up (I am on a 6 month check up now because I am so far away from my doctor [3 hours]), check with the doctor what tests you will be needing the future and if those tests will be required by your next visit. Ask for the scripts when you are there and then get those tests done prior to your next visit.

If you are like me, the worst part about testing is the waiting for the results or when you go to the doctor they want you to get tests like the next day or so and then you have to wait for the results. (That phone ringgy thing really used to get me nervous).

But if you get the tests right before your doctor visit, the results will be there and if you or the doctor has any questions you can iron them out right there instead of doing all that extra stuff. I think it made me feel more in control and somehow that calmed me down.

Here are the usual tests that they would usually do. CT Scan (or PET), CA125, other blood work, and then at your exam they usually do a PAP smear. So if you know you get a CT scan every six months, prior to that exam see if you can get your scan done before that appointment.

My best to you!

Kathy

Fayard said:

Jill and Kathy
Thank you for the advice.
I called my onco yesterday to let them know that I was coming in for a complete blood work the week before my appointment. I also told the nurse that I wanted to have PAP. When I finished chemo, my onco told me I would have a scan in a year.

Gracias!

tests and exams
I have my blood work results faxed to me and to my doctor. I get the fax within 18 hours, usually in the middle of the night. I started doing this when I was having chemo and did not want to drive all the way to my gyn onc (85 miles away) if my tests said that I could not have chemo.

Exams - both of my gyn ons do an vaginal and a rectal exam. Both the vaginal and rectal at the same time and then the vaginal exam by itself. Is this TMI?

Rewriter said:

Video on anti-cancer diet posted by a former board member
This was posted a while ago, but it is a good introduction to the diet. Also, I would suggest using the search option to find more information on the anti-cancer diet. Good luck!

Incredible lecture given by Servan-Schreiber at UCSF. Discusses the studies and perspectives of why oncologists say what they say, dismissively, about diet and exercise. His arguments backed by science. A must-see!

Natural Defenses in Preventing and Treating Cancer - UCtelevision
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XaDt3AJQ98c

(28:20 in) “…For the last 40 years, all of oncology has been focused on destroying cancer cells….We spent between 150 and 200 billion dollars on cancer research in the last 40 years and we’ve improved the median survival of metastatic cancer, which is really the only one that kills you, by 3 months….So maybe we’re not pursuing quite the right roadmap. And what [I and others are] saying…is that yes it’s great to kill cancer cells but obviously it doesn’t seem to be enough. It is important, at the same time, to strengthen the body’s ability to resist cancer by creating an inhospitable terrain to cancer growth. And you can do both at the same time. This is not about alternative medicine.”

Thank you so much; I will
Thank you so much; I will start my research!

Rewriter said:

Video on anti-cancer diet posted by a former board member
This was posted a while ago, but it is a good introduction to the diet. Also, I would suggest using the search option to find more information on the anti-cancer diet. Good luck!

Incredible lecture given by Servan-Schreiber at UCSF. Discusses the studies and perspectives of why oncologists say what they say, dismissively, about diet and exercise. His arguments backed by science. A must-see!

Natural Defenses in Preventing and Treating Cancer - UCtelevision
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XaDt3AJQ98c

(28:20 in) “…For the last 40 years, all of oncology has been focused on destroying cancer cells….We spent between 150 and 200 billion dollars on cancer research in the last 40 years and we’ve improved the median survival of metastatic cancer, which is really the only one that kills you, by 3 months….So maybe we’re not pursuing quite the right roadmap. And what [I and others are] saying…is that yes it’s great to kill cancer cells but obviously it doesn’t seem to be enough. It is important, at the same time, to strengthen the body’s ability to resist cancer by creating an inhospitable terrain to cancer growth. And you can do both at the same time. This is not about alternative medicine.”

Thank you so much; I will
Thank you so much; I will start my research!

Rewriter said:

Video on anti-cancer diet posted by a former board member
This was posted a while ago, but it is a good introduction to the diet. Also, I would suggest using the search option to find more information on the anti-cancer diet. Good luck!

Incredible lecture given by Servan-Schreiber at UCSF. Discusses the studies and perspectives of why oncologists say what they say, dismissively, about diet and exercise. His arguments backed by science. A must-see!

Natural Defenses in Preventing and Treating Cancer - UCtelevision
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XaDt3AJQ98c

(28:20 in) “…For the last 40 years, all of oncology has been focused on destroying cancer cells….We spent between 150 and 200 billion dollars on cancer research in the last 40 years and we’ve improved the median survival of metastatic cancer, which is really the only one that kills you, by 3 months….So maybe we’re not pursuing quite the right roadmap. And what [I and others are] saying…is that yes it’s great to kill cancer cells but obviously it doesn’t seem to be enough. It is important, at the same time, to strengthen the body’s ability to resist cancer by creating an inhospitable terrain to cancer growth. And you can do both at the same time. This is not about alternative medicine.”

Thank you so much; I will
Thank you so much; I will start my research!