Still Kickin!!!!

Well it's now been a year since I was diagnosed. An interesting year for sure. I doubt that anyone ever checks this blog anymore - but I wanted to be sure to post this in case anyone finds it in a search, and wonders how someone who chooses alternative methods over western medicine makes out. I think so often when we get better, we stop posting and when people find these unfinished blogs, they assume we didn't make it. Well here I am 1 year later, and doing just fine. I know I made the right decision not to do chemo. I had a breast MRI in April and it came back clear, and my bloodwork is good too. I did have a little scare on my April bloodwork because my HGTb1 level came back elevated. That indicates cell growth. After initially being very concerned, it occurred to me that not only had I been doing low level laser therapy with my chiropractor, but I had had two laser eye surgeries in the month before the test. I wondered if the healthy cell growth that was supposed to promote could be what the test was reporting, rather than cell growth due to metastasis. So they retested, and sure enough - the levels went down. So all is looking good now. I never have the nipple surgery - recently, I found custom made prosthetic nipples online, and I LOVE it!!!! I had to send it back for color revisions, and I really miss it. I didn't even know I missed my nipple until I got the prosthetic. It looks SO real - you glue it on and it stays for 2 weeks - through showers and all. Kind of feels like a contact lens - you forget it's there. Here is a link: http://www.nippleprosthetics.com/ So I have now had my mascectomy and reconstruction all in one surgery! I like that! So all is well folks. I continue with Medical Qigong, Accupuncture, and my integrative oncologist, Dr. Stram. I am taking turkey tail mushrooms, Melatonin, Vitamin D, Alph Lipoic acid, YES fish oil, Del Immune, Resveritrol and Green Tea extract. All of these determined from my bloodwork. Dr. Stram checks the levels of several different things that might indicate my body was a hospitable or unhospitable environment for cancer. Thankfully, so far it has been the latter. Very grateful for the wonderful healers in my life that have helped me to maintain a very peaceful existence in spite of having had breast cancer. Love to all, k

Wow - My las post was December 28th - can't believe it. I thought I had at least written about the results of the blod test and my meeting with Dr. Stram, but apparently, I bowed ot before then. One thing about this alternative stuff is that it takes a lot of time and effort. It gets a little exhausting when you're trying to fit it into a real life. One thing you don't want to do when you get cancer is to stop "living" life. Otherwise - what is the point? So my original bloodwork that came back in January was great! Dr. Stram seemed genuinely surprised that it was so good. Basically, he told me that I didn'teven have to worry about my diet because everything looked so good. That was like getting a great big CHristmas present - because the food thing has been a constant struggle. It made me feel that at least I had time to gently grow into a more plant based sugar and dairy free diet. The blood tests basically indicated that my body was an inhospitable environment for cancer. And if I undertand Dr. Stram correctly, if I can keep doing that - I should be ok. So the last few months I hae continued to see Michael (accupuncturist), Wayne (chiropractor/kenesiology/low level laser) and Joe (medical qigong). I have continued to do some qigong and meditation. It's a challenge to keep up with the time and money, but other than that - I have felt great and am very happy with the decisions I've made. Even now, that I'm getting ready for my first post-surgery MRI, and had my bloodwork done again this morning, even though I'll admit I'm a little nervous, I know I did the right thing. I even get a little nauteous taking the supplements - I can't imagine how I ever would have tolerated chemo. When I simply consult my inner knowing - am so certain I've taken the right path that I actually feel sorry for those who take chemo. The only time even experience anything that remotely resembles fear is when I read an article about triple negative breast cancer. There is so much fear surrounding that. Over this haitus from my blog, I've had a rotator cuff injury, and a torn retina that needed two laser surgeries - I had begun to feel that my body was falling apart! Two weeks ago, my sewer line blocked up and I had to have a new sewer line dug. In the iddle of that week, my beautiful new grandaughter Ennea Jane Luther was born. It was a stressful labor - but all's well tat ends well. After the week was over though - I was SO exhausted. I haveto admit, it ocurred to me that maybe the cancer was back - I couldn't figure out why I was so tired. But yesterday, all of a sudden, I felt better. I think the week of stress just drained me. I guess it's natural to have your mind on thatwhen you are about to get anMRI. I had to get my blood work done first - so I did that this morning, and it should come bak on Friday - so I will scedule the MRI right after that. I'm anxious to get it done. More soon..... k

Time off for Christmas!

Wow - it's been quite a while since I've posted. No doctor news to report, as I cancelled my appt. in Boston on the 20th, but will head out there soon. I have an appt. with Dr. Stram on the 17th (I think!). I've figured out some things with the gluten free diet - but am still struggling with diet issues. Hopefully, they will all become clear on the 17th when my blood test results will be back. In the meantime, Wayne (my chiropractor) asked if I would talk with another patient of his that was just diagnosed with BC, who wants to do alternative therapies. I've had several chats with her as she goes through the decision making process. It's so different with each person - but my advice to her was to just wait until she was sure of something before she makes a decision....not to let them railroad her into rushing if she wasn't ready. I remember what it felt like to bounce from dr to dr. and test to test - very frustrating, but I know she'll make the right choices for her in the long run. I'll try to be more active here as I go back to the docs this month and get more results. Hope everyone had a nice Christmas - and wishing everyone a fabulous new year. I'm getting ready for our Spirit Thursday Christmas party Sat night - that should be fun! till then... Namaste, Kathi

SOLD stickers

Wow - it's been almost a week since I've posted. That's because I've been SO busy getting ready for my Studio Open House. I can't believe the response - I've already sold 27 paintings! So at least I know ahead of time that it's a success. I wondered when I did this if I might get just a few people and sell $50 worth of art, and spend $100 on food and wine, and just tire myself out. But clearly, it was a good idea. Thanks to Bob for convincing me I should do this when I wasn't sure. Cleaning my house is the worst part - You all know how good I am with that! Hey - I'll bet those good housekeepers can't paint either LOL!!! I think I'm in good shape - we'll see. I think there may be a lot of people coming. It should be interesting. In all this confusion though - I'm feeling a bit guilty. The new doc changed the foods I'm supposed to eat until he gives me my final diet, and I haven't had food in my house that fits that bill, so I've been cheating more than I would like this week. I tried my first gluten free bread this morning - Yuuck!!!! I bought two loaves - one made with tapioca and one with brown rice - I think I'd rather go without bread!!! But then what do I put my tuna and peanut butter on??? All things I need to figure out - but I honestly haven't had time. It seems as I get older, I can only focus on one thing at a time, and this week, it's been the open house. Thank you everyone who purchased paintings. The whole idea of doing this was to payfor my medical bills so I wouldn't be stressed about them. I haven't added it all up yet, but I'm pretty sure I've paid up all my past bills and have some extra to put towards future ones. I may even take a huge step and spend $250 on getting my passport as a serious intention to fulfill the first thing on my bucket list, which is to go to Tuscany. Ok, break over - back to work now. more SOLD stickers to put up, and more cleaning to do (yuck!)

Convenient Confusion~

Seems to be a little pause here in the flow of things. Friday I went to have my bloodwork done, only to find that I was supposed to have fasted. The doc never mentioned that - so that was a waste of time. Later, I noticed some notes he made in my paperwork that indicated other dietary suggestions. But some were a bit inconsistent with the notes he gave me from the nutritionist. So between the nutritionist, the doc notes, and what my previous guys had been telling me - I'm completely confused. So I used that conveniently to cheat on my anniversary dinner with Bob Friday night at One Caroline, and yesterday when we went to a reception for his friend Bill, who had a military commission ceremony yesterday (Sorry - I can't remember what title he had now!) Today, I'll have church, then a choir rehearsal, then off to Bob's cousin's house in Cheshire MA for a holiday party. I'll try to be good this afternoon. But I'm going to have to sit down and figure out just what diet I'm on until I get the results of the tests back, and see doc end of Jan. I suppose this is a conventient time to have questions - during the holidays. But i have to remember that ther reason I'm doing this is to keep cancer away, and I'm grateful to have the option to do it this way rather than with chemo.

I've now sold 6 paintings from my open house show, and could have sold another but it was already gone. Now to stay home long enough to clean my house and get it ready for the show!!!
Hope everyone is enjoying the holiday season. Be sure to stop by for some wine next Sunday - whether or not you need a painting!
Noel Noel!
K

Dueling Doctors!

Saved my place at the women's breast cancer conference for Tuesday. The plan is to work 1/2 day, then attend the conference. It's right in Latham, and Dr. Stram doesn't start till 1pm so that should work fine. Then, I'll work 1/2 day from home on Wed. Went to see Wayne Hogan today - he worked on my shoulder and it feels good right now - let's hope it stays that way. That's been bothering me for 3 months now. I figured out that I injured it when I was framing - screwing the brackets in the frames. Feels a little strange - He recommended the Essiac Tea, and the Del Immune, now this dr. is saying that the turkey mushrooms are better than the Essaic Tea, and there is a better probiotic than the Del Immune (which I guess is what that is). Each dr. has a little bit different slant on things. It's difficult, as I think they're all very good - but they all have a certain area of expertise, but because they're all holistic, they spread over into other areas. So then, I have to figure out which one I listen to for what. Ultimately, a lot is going to depend on my gut. At least with Dr. Stram, he will be getting a lot of testing done to determine what is best for me. That makes me feel better. And they have a nutritionist on staff to help me as well. So far this week, I've spent $600 on medical costs - really hoping I can get some of that back on insurance, but I have no idea how much. I'm not expecting much. Hopefully, I'll make a few bucks on my Open House Studio Sale on the 9th - that would be great. I've already sold 4 paintings, so that's a good sign.

I did get my 20 minute walk in today, and my meditation, but haven't done my qigong exercises yet. I put up some more Christmas decorations, and went to the market. I've been busy all day - but it never seems like I have enough time. I forgot to schedule an appt. for the blood test which should have been the first thing I did. Hopefully, they can fit me in tomorrow.
till then....
Have a great day!

Progress!

Had a really nice doctor visit today with Dr. Stram. He really seems to know his stuff. I'm going to have a ton of blood tests done - he said they'd be taking about 10 vials of blood. Apparently, he has it narrowed down to 5 conditions that either promote or prevent breast cancer return, and he'll test for levels that will give him the indication for either positive or negative. Things like glucose levels, inflamation, immune system - and honestly - I couldn't keep up with him after that. He told me I need to do more aerobic exercise, and to continue with what I was already doing. He did say that the Essiac tea has not proven as effective as turkey tail mushrooms, so I'm going to discontinue the Essaic tea when I run out, and start the turkey tail mushrooms. Hope they don't taste worse than the tea - I didn't mind that at all. I'm still supposed to take D3 5000 capsules twice a day.

He did say that he believes diets should have some moderation, that if they're too strict, the stress of that is counterproductive....so we were on the same page with that. However, I have to keep a diary of everything I eat for a week, and with that, and the results of the bloodwork, the nutritionist on staff there will come up with some specific dietary recommendations for me. He said that with breast cancer, diet is very effective. He said that he's not as much a fan of grains - which is a lot of what I've been eating - so I'm a little confused now. But thrilled that in a few weeks I'll have a diet that is really right for me. The question is....what do I eat in the meantime?????

They offer thermography there, which is a thermal scanning technique that is supposed to track cancer even before MRI's and cat scans. It looks like all the blood work should be covered, but I have to see how much if any of his visit will be covered.

On Tuesday, He is speaking at the TO Life Women's Health Breast Cancer Conference in Latham. I'm going to try to go. It's an all day event - but I'd like to at least see him. He said there would be a lot more information for me there, beyond what we discussed today.

I found out earlier that he has trained under Dr. Andrew Weil - internationally known holistic doctor and author.  I'm very hopeful that I've found the right place for me. He also seemed to understand that I had limited funds, so I had to keep my ongoing expenses under control. He supports my continuing with accupuncture and qigong. I feel like I'm finally getting somewhere! Yeay!!!