7 Years and Still Kickin'!!

2bhealed
2bhealed Member Posts: 2,064 Member
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
Hello all you awesome Semi-colons!

What better place to announce my 7 years alive post cancer than on the boards! Many of you have listened to my rants and raves over the years (or you've deleted me and tuned me out! haha) about good nutrition and getting off sugar and testing your pH and juicing your organic veggies yada yada yada.

Well now I am shouting from the rooftops: I HAVE LIVED SEVEN YEARS CANCER FREE!!!

Well, my tests will actually be this fall sometime, but the point is that on August 6, 2001 I was dx'ed with Stage III sigmoid colon cancer and instead of doing any chemo after my surgery I did all alternatives and am alive and kickin'!!

My hope is that by sharing this I will encourage and give hope to some of you newbies who wonder what life may be like down the road. It can be healthy and awesome! Right now you may be walking in trepidation, but you will get through this, and your cancer may even bring gifts to your life if you are open to possiblities. For me it gave me my voice and underscored my determination to create the life I truly wanted. No exceptions.

And not only am I alive and kickin' but yesterday I participated in my very first TRIATHLON!

WOOHOO!! I swam 1/3 mile, biked 10 miles, and ran 2.5 miles. It was a total blast and I cannot wait to do it again next year! Faster!

May you all find your own race to challenge you to reach beyond....

LIVESTRONG!

peace, emily the juice chick

Comments

  • Kanort
    Kanort Member Posts: 1,272 Member
    #2
    Woo Hoo, Emily! What an awesome achievement to add to your survivorship resume! Your story will continue to inspire others. Thanks for sharing.

    Hugs,

    Kay
  • tootsie1
    tootsie1 Member Posts: 5,044 Member
    #3
    Emily, that's wonderful. I don't know how you were brave enough to nix chemo with Stage 3 cancer, but you've had amazing results.

    Gail
  • Limey
    Limey Member Posts: 446 Member
    #4
    you rock star Emily - Congratulations on a WELL DESERVED NED. you have always worked hard on your own behalf and have taken a very active role in your treatment program.

    You my friend were one of the first to reply to me regarding eating better, juicing, and what difference it makes. let me tell you how far your help has brought me.

    Although I am concidered to be slowely loosing the battle (Dr. words not mine) no one can deny that my time here has been greatly increased. I have continued to go NED for a period of time, leaving my body ample time to rest between poisonings. I know we differ in our holistic approach but there is room for many views.

    get this, my partner and a few big hitters here in MPLS are starting a foundation called Miracles for Mark. It will be a non profit org focused on assisting people dealing with cancer that want to focus more on holistic and alternative but do not have the resources. much has to be ironed out yet but I expect to have more info prior to the benefit this September. We are trying to get quality vitamin companies support the effort and even want to invite insurance companies to attend to helpspread awarness. I am so blown away with all of this.

    Anyway, this all from you replhying to my e-mail. me not doing anything, you replying a 2nd time, and then here we are. Please celebrate your wonderful news with your family and yourself and cut a rug girl.
    congrats.
    Mark
  • crazylady
    crazylady Member Posts: 543 Member
    #5
    Hi Emily,
    Congratulations on being cancer free 7 years and on participating in your first triathlon!
    Jamie
  • taraHK
    taraHK Member Posts: 1,952 Member
    #6
    Congratulations!!!! Yea!!!! YOu hero! Thanks for all your invaluable advice on this board -- and for being such a supportive friend to so many of us. Gosh, you've inspired me -- I gotta check out triathalons in my area! I wanna do that too!
    Love, Tara
  • ron50
    ron50 Member Posts: 1,723 Member
    #7
    Hugs Em,,,was it ever in doubt,,Ron.
  • Moesimo
    Moesimo Member Posts: 1,072 Member
    #8
    Congrats on your HUGE milestone.

    You have been an inspiration on this board.

    Maureen
  • impactzone
    impactzone Member Posts: 551 Member
    #9
    Awesome and congrats!
    Impactzone
  • fedester
    fedester Member Posts: 753 Member
    #10
    em
    awesome news!!!!!!7 years, you go girl.
    continue dancing with ned.
    be well
    never,ever give up!!
    bruce
  • KathiM
    KathiM Member Posts: 8,028 Member
    #11
    I'm dancin' with ya, gal!!! Congrats!

    I just passed 3 years going the other route....'Whatever works' is my philosophy....Johns Hopkins just posted a report that spoke to reoccurance: eating right will keep the beast from returning quite as easily....

    Hugs for 7 years! and at least 77 more!!!!

    Hugs, Kathi
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #12
    This comment has been removed by the Moderator
  • brn2ride
    brn2ride Member Posts: 32
    #13
    great news. I have taken heed to your post, I have more sugar than i should but otherwise the alternative thing seems to have great results for many.
    thanks for the upbeat attitude and good advice
  • sladich
    sladich Member Posts: 429 Member
    #14
    Congratulations! and NO CHEMO! How great is that. Enjoy your continued freedom.

    Debbie
  • Faith4Cure
    Faith4Cure Member Posts: 405 Member
    #15
    Congratulations Emily! Your hard work and determination definately paid off in a huge way. You are a great inspiration to all here.

    Faith
  • pamness
    pamness Member Posts: 524 Member
    #16
    I am so happy that you are doing so well. But, please, for people (newbies), who read this. There is a 60 percent chance, at least, for those with stage IIIA colon cancer, that you are cancer free after surgery, it was risk I was not willing to take. Unfortunately, no one can know that, until it might be too late. The difference between a 60 percent cure rate (surgery no chemo) and 80 percent (surgery with chemo) doubles the chance of failure. If you are one of the lucky ones, great, if not, you are risking quite a bit. It is entirely a personal decision and following a healthy diet couldn't possibly hurt. I applaud 2bhealded's success and would encourage everyone to be healthy and awesome.

    Pam
  • jsabol
    jsabol Member Posts: 1,145 Member
    #17
    Great news, Emily, enjoy and celebrate.
    Judy
  • KierstenRx
    KierstenRx Member Posts: 249
    #18
    Emily,
    YOU RULE!!!!! Congratulations on the 7 years NED!!!! How inspiring you are!!!! You completed a triathalon?? That is soooo amazing. I am so out of shape right now. Your story makes me want to head to the gym so that I can do something like that.

    Congrats and go celebrate!!!

    Kiersten
  • shmurciakova
    shmurciakova Member Posts: 906 Member
    #19
    Hi Emily!
    Yay!!!! Thanks for posting your awesome news. It's great to hear that you completed a triathalon. Great job! I can't wait until I too reach the 7 year mark. You have been a great help and inspiration to me and many others as I'm sure you know. I couldn't have made it this far without your words of wisdom which honestly were part of the foundation of my philosophy of fighting this disease and HEALING from it!
    Take it easy and enjoy the rest of the summer,
    Love,
    Susan
  • 2bhealed
    2bhealed Member Posts: 2,064 Member
    #20
    pamness said:

    I am so happy that you are doing so well. But, please, for people (newbies), who read this. There is a 60 percent chance, at least, for those with stage IIIA colon cancer, that you are cancer free after surgery, it was risk I was not willing to take. Unfortunately, no one can know that, until it might be too late. The difference between a 60 percent cure rate (surgery no chemo) and 80 percent (surgery with chemo) doubles the chance of failure. If you are one of the lucky ones, great, if not, you are risking quite a bit. It is entirely a personal decision and following a healthy diet couldn't possibly hurt. I applaud 2bhealded's success and would encourage everyone to be healthy and awesome.

    Pam

    hi Pam!

    Wow, my onc gave me 30% chance of living 5 years post surgery w/out the chemo and 60% chance with the chemo. Your odds given were better than what I was given!

    Yeah, I took a chance absolutely, but you see I will never ever fear these things from chemo:

    1)permanent heart and/or kidney damage
    2) peripheral neuropathy
    3) secondary cancers
    4) chemo induced leukemia
    5) mouth sores
    6) erbitux rashes
    7) dehydration and/or diahrrea

    Instead, I am orange from the beta carotene and I have an abundance of energy. yea!

    So the chance I took and the incredible hard work I continue to do has paid off. It has been worth every step.

    :-)

    peace, emily the juice chick
  • 2bhealed
    2bhealed Member Posts: 2,064 Member
    #21
    shmurciakova said:

    Hi Emily!
    Yay!!!! Thanks for posting your awesome news. It's great to hear that you completed a triathalon. Great job! I can't wait until I too reach the 7 year mark. You have been a great help and inspiration to me and many others as I'm sure you know. I couldn't have made it this far without your words of wisdom which honestly were part of the foundation of my philosophy of fighting this disease and HEALING from it!
    Take it easy and enjoy the rest of the summer,
    Love,
    Susan

    HEY all you awesome Semi-Colons!

    THANKS for all the replies! You all ROCK!

    I am on vacation so good thing my daughter brought her laptop so I could read your kind messages. I would reply individually to each of you butm hey I'm on vacation with the fam! :-)

    Thanks for being here over the years. (ron-you and I are the "oldies" on here!).

    The support here is priceless.

    peace, emily the juice chick

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