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