Toronto Members?

I'm from GTA, Ontario.
I was
I'm from GTA, Ontario.
I was diagnosed in 2001 after regular pop smear test, but LEEP and D&C have not confirmed a cancer then. I had to wait 9 years and run more tests (pop smears, Ultrasounds, colposcopies, biopsies, MRI's etc. for my cancer to be confirmed in March 2010. The bleading between the periods that I had all the time was taken as a symptom of my uterine fibroids and uterine polip. Other symptoms -changes in bowel pattern - were misdiagnosed with irritable bowel syndrom.
My cancer was staged as 1B (after a D&C)and upstage by another pathologist (from PMH)to 3A grade 1/2. The cancer had spread to the outer lining of the uterus, but not to the other organs. I was operated by my gyn. not the oncologist so the limph nodes were not removed. I have refused all other conventional treatments (chemo and radiation). My six months tests (blood, pap, ultrasound) are OK. So far so good. My treatment now: anticancer diet, herbal suplements, reiki etc.

janh_in_ontario said:

GTA
How did you arrive at the decision to refuse chemo and/or radiation? Did they offer both? I am leaning that way as well but I am not sure if my husband and son will support that decision. I am not "giving up", rather I don't see any concrete proof that people who take both live any longer or have any less recurrences than those who do not.
But I am just starting this path and am sure I will learn more as I go along.
Thanks for your post
jan

My story
Basically I had 2 months to make a decision (that was time between my surgery and first appointment with my oncologist). Plus the extra time when I was waiting for my radiation simulation (postponed due to G7 demonstrations in Toronto) I’ve used this time to educate myself and I advise you to do the same. I think that every cancer patient should get the alternative choice and be educated on at least basic level what the cancer really is?
I’ve read many books the one that I can recommend most are:
‘Natural Strategies for Cancer Patients’ by Russell L. Blaylock, MD
‘Healing Cancer from inside out’ by Mike Anderson
‘Foods that Fight Cancer’ by Richard Beliveau, Ph.D.
...and many more
But the biggest help with making my decision was the conclusion made after reading posts on this Cancer Network (not only uterine but many different boards) I simply couldn’t’ find any positive story.
Everyone knows that there is no ‘conventional’ cure for cancer (painful, but true). This is why doctors still running different researches and trials and patients are simply rats (painful, but true) to find this cure.
First I was offered to go into a trial (sandwich treatment: chemo, radiation, and chemo). When they found out that I’m not eligible for this trial (I was more than 8 weeks after my surgery) they said: first chemo and then radiation. Next.... they had their big consultation (pathologists, oncologists and radiologists) and came up with the idea that radiation only will be enough. This is when I have realized that I’m another ‘laboratory rat’. I better be on my own and have quality of life and try something that has more ‘happy endings’.
My husband didn’t push me in any direction; he said that this must be my sole decision. I’m thankful him for that. Only after telling him that I will refuse treatments offered by doctors, he said that he would do the same (never poisoned his body).
I must say that it was very hard to make this decision, I was crying and crying and crying for help....but now I feel big relieve. Especially when I realize that at this time I could be after the radiation suffering from its side effects being basically sick and instead I feel healthy. If I knew what I know now I wouldn’t even had the surgery.

Good luck with your decision and make it really YOUR OWN.