New and this is so alien
The breast MRI I had showed the right breast to be clear. My initial biopsy came back as
ER and PR positive(which they said is a good thing)but that it takes a fricking WEEK to get the HER2 results. That to me is unacceptable. We have (purportedly)some of the best technology on the planet and yet the game never changes. I have been SO BLESSED with (up until now)good health.No bp meds, no cholesterol meds, no diabetes zip nada so this particular issue is so alien. I keep asking myself--what have I missed in my regimen of
living? I call it FADS. Faith Attitude Diet Supplements.I'm so confused. I've been reading this board for over a week now..a lady friend told me about it when she had her
issues.When I was still working I went over 10 years without even a sick day!! I had my
bone scan and I asked the tech to let me see it--he said an anomaly would show up bright white. I didn't see anything just my bone structure. Didn't much care for being injected with 3 Mile Island waste, but "they" said there would be no ill effects. I'm having some
CT scans on Wednesday and I have to drink some kind of crap the night before and 2 hours
before the scan.I've been a Reiki Master for several years and a Tai Chi practioner so I can use both of those...and I have a large support network of friends, family and fellow light workers..what I really struggle with is mainstream medicine and big pharma.I will NEVER be convinced the path we have to follow is the "only way". I know it sounds like I'm crabbing--actually I'm very positive--just not very trusting. Thanks for letting me sound off.
Comments
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Welcome, starseed
I'm very glad you've found this site -- you won't find better companions for this journey than the women and men here.
Yes, ER+/PR+ is a good thing, because your doctors will be able to choose from all the available drugs and treatments -- ER-/PR- would limit that a bit.
If you can, I encourage you to try to be positive about the fact that you get to fight cancer from a starting point of good health, which will give you strength -- when I hear of women who already have chronic medical conditions who then have to pile cancer treatment on top of those, I just don't know how they do it.
If you haven't read it, I think you would really like the book Anticancer: A New Way of Life by David Servan-Schreiber, MD, PhD. My oncologist recommended it to me, and many women on this board have read it. The author is a psychiatric researcher and brain cancer survivor, and his book is about many of the issues you raise: diet, complementary treatments, such as Reiki and Tai Chi, and what he calls "terrain," which is similar to what I think you mean by "regimen of living." He also has a website: www.anticancerbook.com.
Please come here often, and ask all your questions -- we're glad to help you through this.
Traci0 -
Just want to welcome youTraciInLA said:Welcome, starseed
I'm very glad you've found this site -- you won't find better companions for this journey than the women and men here.
Yes, ER+/PR+ is a good thing, because your doctors will be able to choose from all the available drugs and treatments -- ER-/PR- would limit that a bit.
If you can, I encourage you to try to be positive about the fact that you get to fight cancer from a starting point of good health, which will give you strength -- when I hear of women who already have chronic medical conditions who then have to pile cancer treatment on top of those, I just don't know how they do it.
If you haven't read it, I think you would really like the book Anticancer: A New Way of Life by David Servan-Schreiber, MD, PhD. My oncologist recommended it to me, and many women on this board have read it. The author is a psychiatric researcher and brain cancer survivor, and his book is about many of the issues you raise: diet, complementary treatments, such as Reiki and Tai Chi, and what he calls "terrain," which is similar to what I think you mean by "regimen of living." He also has a website: www.anticancerbook.com.
Please come here often, and ask all your questions -- we're glad to help you through this.
Traci
Just want to welcome you starseed to this great site, full of support and encouragement.
Sue
0 -
You come here and sound offRitzy said:Just want to welcome you
Just want to welcome you starseed to this great site, full of support and encouragement.
Sue
You come here and sound off as often as you want. We all have and still do. Hi to you and wish you good luck with your tests and treatments.
Hugs, Debby0 -
glad you found us
As Tracy said glad you found this site. As some wise warrior has said before, , it is not a sprint race its a marathon. You actually have lots of good news so far. The CT is a breeze and the stuff you drink now is ten times better than it used to be. Yes you have to wait for surgery, tests, test results treatments etc and I don't think anyone gets used to it. Your Tai Chi should come in handy now and you can use the mental part of it to help you with the waiting. Good luck and hang in.0 -
I have been told that ER andTraciInLA said:Welcome, starseed
I'm very glad you've found this site -- you won't find better companions for this journey than the women and men here.
Yes, ER+/PR+ is a good thing, because your doctors will be able to choose from all the available drugs and treatments -- ER-/PR- would limit that a bit.
If you can, I encourage you to try to be positive about the fact that you get to fight cancer from a starting point of good health, which will give you strength -- when I hear of women who already have chronic medical conditions who then have to pile cancer treatment on top of those, I just don't know how they do it.
If you haven't read it, I think you would really like the book Anticancer: A New Way of Life by David Servan-Schreiber, MD, PhD. My oncologist recommended it to me, and many women on this board have read it. The author is a psychiatric researcher and brain cancer survivor, and his book is about many of the issues you raise: diet, complementary treatments, such as Reiki and Tai Chi, and what he calls "terrain," which is similar to what I think you mean by "regimen of living." He also has a website: www.anticancerbook.com.
Please come here often, and ask all your questions -- we're glad to help you through this.
Traci
I have been told that ER and PR+ is good, well better than being negative. Like Traci said, you have more options with it. We all are fighting bc and will continue. It is a battle that we can win at and do win at!
I also like the book that Traci recommended. See if it might help you.
Hugs and welcome!0 -
Thankskatznc said:glad you found us
As Tracy said glad you found this site. As some wise warrior has said before, , it is not a sprint race its a marathon. You actually have lots of good news so far. The CT is a breeze and the stuff you drink now is ten times better than it used to be. Yes you have to wait for surgery, tests, test results treatments etc and I don't think anyone gets used to it. Your Tai Chi should come in handy now and you can use the mental part of it to help you with the waiting. Good luck and hang in.
I ordered that book from Amazon after reading the post...and another one which surprised me that I don't have on accupuncture and the chakras. I have two tuning forks also that I use..one is tuned to 50hz which is what nerves "fire" at.Have used it in the past when I injured my quadriceps after softball (oww-ee)and the other one I have is tuned to the mid range of the Om scale. I've used the 50hz fork where the biopsy poke was I can't tell you how good the vibration feels. I'm a retired AT&T tech so to give you a perspective..dial tone is about 400hz. 50 is really low, but it's just so soothing --you can feel it into your ribcage..it's hard to explain.At any rate what I've seen online about the breast center in Knoxville it's supposed to be a good one..and that's where I have to go. Luckily
I can go locally for the other tests. Thanks everyone for the positive-ity. It feels good.0 -
Your tuning forks soundstarseed said:Thanks
I ordered that book from Amazon after reading the post...and another one which surprised me that I don't have on accupuncture and the chakras. I have two tuning forks also that I use..one is tuned to 50hz which is what nerves "fire" at.Have used it in the past when I injured my quadriceps after softball (oww-ee)and the other one I have is tuned to the mid range of the Om scale. I've used the 50hz fork where the biopsy poke was I can't tell you how good the vibration feels. I'm a retired AT&T tech so to give you a perspective..dial tone is about 400hz. 50 is really low, but it's just so soothing --you can feel it into your ribcage..it's hard to explain.At any rate what I've seen online about the breast center in Knoxville it's supposed to be a good one..and that's where I have to go. Luckily
I can go locally for the other tests. Thanks everyone for the positive-ity. It feels good.
Your tuning forks sound interesting. I have heard of people using those before. Thanks for posting about them. I have also known others that used acupuncture and it worked for them. Good luck!0 -
Hi Starseed,DebbyM said:Your tuning forks sound
Your tuning forks sound interesting. I have heard of people using those before. Thanks for posting about them. I have also known others that used acupuncture and it worked for them. Good luck!
Welcome to the board and I am so sorry for you having to be here, but glad you found us. Lots of support and love here. here we all understand all moods, fears because we've all been there. Right now you sound very angry and bewildered with your dx. There is no magic pill that will prevent cancer. No matter how healthy we are. But the healthier you are the better jumping off place for getting thru treatment. My advice is to read, read, read everything you can about your dx, treatment, tests etc. Google it in, this website is great with info too. I always preferred the sites from the Mayo Clinic. You have already rec'd suggetions about good books to read. the more you know, the better you can deal with your docs. Remember, you still have the final say. But knowlege will help you choose the right onc and surgeon etc. I read my onc's education and background before I made my decision. However, waiting for tests, waiting for surgery dates, waiting to heal for the next treatment to start are all very frustrating.
BC takes time away from our lives, but only for a while and we are able to get back to our lives, a little changed, a little smarter. You have a head start because you already knoow about good nutrition and taking care of yourself. This is a scary journey and we are all here for you.
Please keep us posted on your journey,
Hugs, Judy :-)0 -
Hey my tumor was in the same
Hey my tumor was in the same location just slightly larger...sounds like you are not a fan of medicine but I found after my initial dx that taking ativan helped take the edge off and made the waiting easier..That was in Jan.2010 doing much better now do not need the meds.as often I take it right before my chemo.treatment as the thought of those chemicals in my body scares me.....Hope everything is moving along for you now..
Blessings!!0 -
♥ Starseed ♥waffle8 said:Hey my tumor was in the same
Hey my tumor was in the same location just slightly larger...sounds like you are not a fan of medicine but I found after my initial dx that taking ativan helped take the edge off and made the waiting easier..That was in Jan.2010 doing much better now do not need the meds.as often I take it right before my chemo.treatment as the thought of those chemicals in my body scares me.....Hope everything is moving along for you now..
Blessings!!
Hi Starseed! I am glad that you finally posted after reading the posts. You have found the greatest site for support and encouragement. After all, we all have been thru the treatments and know what each and everyone is feeling. I want to wish you good luck with your test on Wednesday. Please post to let us know your results. Someone is always on here, 24/7, to answer your questions and to offer a kind word.
Love, Jeanne ♥0 -
When I had my CT scans, theykatznc said:glad you found us
As Tracy said glad you found this site. As some wise warrior has said before, , it is not a sprint race its a marathon. You actually have lots of good news so far. The CT is a breeze and the stuff you drink now is ten times better than it used to be. Yes you have to wait for surgery, tests, test results treatments etc and I don't think anyone gets used to it. Your Tai Chi should come in handy now and you can use the mental part of it to help you with the waiting. Good luck and hang in.
When I had my CT scans, they injected me with something. I didn't drink anything. What is it that you drank?
Good luck to you with your test! And, as everyone says, the waiting is the hard part.0 -
Welcome Starseed, I am glad
Welcome Starseed, I am glad you found this site. There is an amazing group of women full of experience and wisdom.
BC is a mystery and such a personal one too. I an stage 3a her2+ (ER-, PR-). I have rarely delved into Western medicine and was very suspicious of it. I have done a great deal of energy work, worked with herbs, acupunture, meditate and have a strong spiritual practice. Not to mention a very good diet since I was a kid. I really got very quite and went inward to determine the path I needed to take for my BC and it was to go through surgery, chemo and eventually radiation. It is very bizarre going through chemo, putting very toxic substances in your body, energetically it is something else and quite an experience and really a very profound spiritual one. I don't think Western medicine is the only way or that it is only Western medicine vs nothing else. I got my oncologist to okay taking milk thistle during chemo to help support my liver, I juice cucumber and dandelions for this as well. Watermelon juice has worked wonders on my kidneys, I eat largely a raw diet with some protein through in and this helps. I spend time meditating, doing energy work on myself and just being there for me. My immune system seems to recover pretty well each time after chemo.
I see it as a process, one that you take one day at a time and stay as spiritually present as you possible can. There are moments when it feels crap and it is crap and there are moments when I forget I even have cancer and feel just fine.
I wish you well. Take care
Mariam0 -
another book suggestion
Breast Health - The Wise Woman Way - by Susun S. Weed.
While she recommends herbs that can be used during chemo and radiation, some I would make sure that they won't conflict with your treatment.0 -
Traci, thanks forTraciInLA said:Welcome, starseed
I'm very glad you've found this site -- you won't find better companions for this journey than the women and men here.
Yes, ER+/PR+ is a good thing, because your doctors will be able to choose from all the available drugs and treatments -- ER-/PR- would limit that a bit.
If you can, I encourage you to try to be positive about the fact that you get to fight cancer from a starting point of good health, which will give you strength -- when I hear of women who already have chronic medical conditions who then have to pile cancer treatment on top of those, I just don't know how they do it.
If you haven't read it, I think you would really like the book Anticancer: A New Way of Life by David Servan-Schreiber, MD, PhD. My oncologist recommended it to me, and many women on this board have read it. The author is a psychiatric researcher and brain cancer survivor, and his book is about many of the issues you raise: diet, complementary treatments, such as Reiki and Tai Chi, and what he calls "terrain," which is similar to what I think you mean by "regimen of living." He also has a website: www.anticancerbook.com.
Please come here often, and ask all your questions -- we're glad to help you through this.
Traci
Traci, thanks for recommending this book. I have just ordered it. It looks to be good reading.0 -
BleeccchhhKylez said:When I had my CT scans, they
When I had my CT scans, they injected me with something. I didn't drink anything. What is it that you drank?
Good luck to you with your test! And, as everyone says, the waiting is the hard part.
Hi there-
I'll be drinking 64oz of something called "Gastroview". Starting 19:30 hours tomorrow.
Mix this STUFF with 64 oz of h2o since I won't drink crystal lite, kool aid etc..anyway
16oz at 19:30, 16oz at 21:30 than 16oz at 07:30 and again at 08:30 with test at 09:30.It's
some kind of stuff that's supposed to help with the CT scans. I believe I will also be injected with something. I thought it was some kind of like colonoscopy stuff, but the prep person said it wasn't like that..she said it will like fill your insides so I'm wondering if it sort of inflates them so when they inject you with the 3 mile island stuff perhaps it shows bad stuff better if there is any. I googled it, but there's so much medical jargon it's like PLEASE EXPLAIN IN ENGLISH...so it should be interesting...especially for THEM since I can't have anything but that STUFF after midnight. No extra water and YIKES- NO COFFEE!!! Sucks to be them when I come through the door!! LOL!0 -
Surgeon seems openmariam_11_09 said:Welcome Starseed, I am glad
Welcome Starseed, I am glad you found this site. There is an amazing group of women full of experience and wisdom.
BC is a mystery and such a personal one too. I an stage 3a her2+ (ER-, PR-). I have rarely delved into Western medicine and was very suspicious of it. I have done a great deal of energy work, worked with herbs, acupunture, meditate and have a strong spiritual practice. Not to mention a very good diet since I was a kid. I really got very quite and went inward to determine the path I needed to take for my BC and it was to go through surgery, chemo and eventually radiation. It is very bizarre going through chemo, putting very toxic substances in your body, energetically it is something else and quite an experience and really a very profound spiritual one. I don't think Western medicine is the only way or that it is only Western medicine vs nothing else. I got my oncologist to okay taking milk thistle during chemo to help support my liver, I juice cucumber and dandelions for this as well. Watermelon juice has worked wonders on my kidneys, I eat largely a raw diet with some protein through in and this helps. I spend time meditating, doing energy work on myself and just being there for me. My immune system seems to recover pretty well each time after chemo.
I see it as a process, one that you take one day at a time and stay as spiritually present as you possible can. There are moments when it feels crap and it is crap and there are moments when I forget I even have cancer and feel just fine.
I wish you well. Take care
Mariam
to alternative treatment as "complimentary to, but not superseding what is common practice"
I looked him up on line as his bio was posted at the Knoxville Breast center site and I couldn't find anything bad at least what I did find..at least no one posted him as the
"bad boy of the bay area". (I cleaned that up for this site so as not to offend anyone)I have a good friend who sent me some stuff on Lorraine Day, but I heard about her a long time ago and I thought back then that she was a bit of a charlatan.
Besides my drumming music, my books etc I rely on Rescue Remedy. 5 drops in some water to sip and I can mellow out.
When I had my colonoscopy back in 2004 I kept telling the anesthesia person "I FIGHT going under". She kept telling me, "yeah okay, we'll adjust yada yada yada"..well imagine her
surprise--let alone the doctors when I WOKE UP about 1/2 way through!!! Needless to say
HE wasn't happy with HER, but she gave me something more so they could finish!!
HA! Then we went out for Mexican food!!!0 -
I have found, since choosingstarseed said:Surgeon seems open
to alternative treatment as "complimentary to, but not superseding what is common practice"
I looked him up on line as his bio was posted at the Knoxville Breast center site and I couldn't find anything bad at least what I did find..at least no one posted him as the
"bad boy of the bay area". (I cleaned that up for this site so as not to offend anyone)I have a good friend who sent me some stuff on Lorraine Day, but I heard about her a long time ago and I thought back then that she was a bit of a charlatan.
Besides my drumming music, my books etc I rely on Rescue Remedy. 5 drops in some water to sip and I can mellow out.
When I had my colonoscopy back in 2004 I kept telling the anesthesia person "I FIGHT going under". She kept telling me, "yeah okay, we'll adjust yada yada yada"..well imagine her
surprise--let alone the doctors when I WOKE UP about 1/2 way through!!! Needless to say
HE wasn't happy with HER, but she gave me something more so they could finish!!
HA! Then we went out for Mexican food!!!
I have found, since choosing to go with Western medicine that anything else you do is complimentry. I don't mind, I do plenty of complimentry medicine and do keep the Western doctors informed. I have to admit, that the doctors I do have are very caring and concerned about my well-being and have been honest with me that with these treatments that there are no guarrantees. There are no in life there are no guarrantees either.
I think you should trust your judgement with Lorraine Day as a charlatan. I did some research on her and there are many inconsistancies in her story. It is not even clear that what she cured was actually cancer. There are many people promoting 'alternative' therapies for cancer and while some may have cured their own, every cancer is different. Oftentimes wellness centers do not offer follow up treatment after you leave, nor can provide the necessary medical care should something turn for the worse.
A site you might find informative is http://crazysexylife.com/. Kris Carr has an interesting story. However whatever treatment you choose to follow is a personal one as personal as your cancer. And the journey can be very profound.
Wish you all the best.0 -
Welcome starseed to the site
Welcome starseed to the site no one wants to join but are really glad you did. You can find a wealth of info on this site and don't hesitate to call the American Cancer Society if you have any questions. I did and they sent me a wealth of informative items and it was all free. They also have someone to talk to 24/7 and other services & resources they can send you to also. The main thing is find out as much as you can about your type cancer and you will feel more in control.
I too was upset when I found out I would become a walking nuclear reactor from the Petscan and now am a toxic waste dump from the chemo I have to take. I have triple negative bc so my options are limited. Take it one day at a time, be patient with all the doctors appointments you will have, and even though it may be hard to do...try to find something humorous about this whole situation. I try to laugh at this disease as much as possible because I am determined not to let it get the best of me.
I also have a deep faith in God and his healing power...I consider Him the great healer and the doctors as his instruments to do this.
God bless you and give you peace about your situation
Pat0 -
Welcom to the Club
Hi Starseed and welcome to the club no one wanted a membership to. I am like you, healthy, healthy, healthy, but one day I must have gotten into the wrong line for something and was handed bc instead of what ever I was looking for. Your attitude will help a lot of how well you get through the treatment. Keep happy, eat well, laugh a lot regardless of what people think. I made jell-o using pediolite, drank it too just to keep my electrolites up. Fruit smoothies and popsicles come in handy too when you don't feel like eating. We are all here rooting for you and everyone else. Strength in numbers, strength in numbers.0 -
Preliminary test results
Been reading the posts--thanks to everyone..
I do try to be patient, but I'm really anal when it comes to people being ineffecient..
at any rate I do have some good news.BEER IS GOOD FOR YOUR BONES!! And I'm ER positive
PR positive and YEAH--HER2 -NEGATIVE. Part of the ct scan shows a small liver cyst(nurse
said probably age(NICE))Said looks like a small amount of calcification near the thyroid..
bone scan saw small focal area near the sternal region-with nothing defined(which to me means not worth looking at)and a small high-a-tull(I'm spelling it phonetically because I
don't feel like going to websters..)hernia. I'm like REALLY?? She asked if I have gerd or
reflux and I said no and she said lots of people have those types of hernias and never know it.(I take a probiotic every day along with green papaya so that might be why I don't have gerd or digestive issues)So tomorrow we truck back to Knoxville so I can meet with the Doc and make my decision for Mast or lump.Guess it depends on the lymph node trial.
I was leaning towards mast to just be done with all this, but I need more info..anyway..
I'm going to go have that beer now!!0
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