Cancer Support and Caregivers Who Are Trail Blazers!

[easygoingfemme]

Hey Dapper,
Your memory is mostly correct- well done! I've worked for years as a holistic health counselor/nutrition educator. I went vegetarian at the age 12 (I'm 42 years old now) and have spent a lot of my life as vegan. However, as a recovered anorexic I live a life where I eat what I want when I want it and sometimes that means I eat chicken, turkey or fish. I don't really like sweets/sugary things so that cancer feeding food has never really had a frequent place in my diet.

I was diagnosed in May 2015, surgery June 2015, then 4 months chemo and 6 weeks radiation. My initial diagnosis was stage I so I thought surgery was going to be it but it turned out stage II so I went further with treatment. I also did an alternative chemo on weeks when I didn't have traditional chemo- with my naturopath. We did Vitamin C chemotherapy and acupuncture treatments throughout my "other" cancer treatments. Since my cancer was 95% estrogen positive (fed by estrogen) I take a drug that works to essentially prevent any other cancer cells that could develop in my body from absorbing estrogen. I'll be on that for another 9 years.

(I also want to say that my diagnosis stemmed from self exam at home, 6 months after I had a "clean and clear" mammo and ultrasound. So all of you here with breasts, please check them monthly! If I wasn't checking mine this could have been much worse)

I have most always kept a very clean healthy life. Eating well, exercising, keeping to a healthy weight for my body (Since I was about 20), not using toxic body products or chemicals in my house (not obsessively but living a mostly natural life) I followed all of the protocol for "preventing breast cancer" due to extensive family history of it.

So, it was a very traumatic feeling, betrayal, to after all of that, be diagnosed with cancer. Even though I knew my genetics would make me at a higher risk than most, I thought I was doing everything I should do to prevent it.

I went to a naturopathic oncologist for answers. She took about a gallon of my blood to check for reasons, nutritional deficiencies, inflammation markers, etc. When the results came in, she told me that I had the best biological terrain she had ever seen and didn't have any answers for me, other than genetics, on why I had developed cancer, especially at such a young age.

In my own searching for "why" I had to set my mind on some emotions that were stuck in me and I feel in my gut that was what allowed my cancer to grow. A dear friend of mine had died unexpectedly a year and a half before and I did not process my grief well. I stayed on my knees for a long time after that and am still processing it. I also had some unhealthy relationships (friends, family, etc) that I was accepting in my life and they kept me bottling up some hurt feelings and anger that I wasn't letting go of or dealing with. So that's the area I've changed the most I think. I'm sharper with checking in with my emotions. I've cut off toxic people who were in my life and keep a sharper check on fresh relationships that I develop and I keep stronger boundaries up with people who I think could threaten my emotional well being.

[DapperButch]

Originally Posted by easygoingfemme

Hey Dapper,
Your memory is mostly correct- well done! I've worked for years as a holistic health counselor/nutrition educator. I went vegetarian at the age 12 (I'm 42 years old now) and have spent a lot of my life as vegan. However, as a recovered anorexic I live a life where I eat what I want when I want it and sometimes that means I eat chicken, turkey or fish. I don't really like sweets/sugary things so that cancer feeding food has never really had a frequent place in my diet.

I was diagnosed in May 2015, surgery June 2015, then 4 months chemo and 6 weeks radiation. My initial diagnosis was stage I so I thought surgery was going to be it but it turned out stage II so I went further with treatment. I also did an alternative chemo on weeks when I didn't have traditional chemo- with my naturopath. We did Vitamin C chemotherapy and acupuncture treatments throughout my "other" cancer treatments. Since my cancer was 95% estrogen positive (fed by estrogen) I take a drug that works to essentially prevent any other cancer cells that could develop in my body from absorbing estrogen. I'll be on that for another 9 years.

(I also want to say that my diagnosis stemmed from self exam at home, 6 months after I had a "clean and clear" mammo and ultrasound. So all of you here with breasts, please check them monthly! If I wasn't checking mine this could have been much worse)

I have most always kept a very clean healthy life. Eating well, exercising, keeping to a healthy weight for my body (Since I was about 20), not using toxic body products or chemicals in my house (not obsessively but living a mostly natural life) I followed all of the protocol for "preventing breast cancer" due to extensive family history of it.

So, it was a very traumatic feeling, betrayal, to after all of that, be diagnosed with cancer. Even though I knew my genetics would make me at a higher risk than most, I thought I was doing everything I should do to prevent it.

I went to a naturopathic oncologist for answers. She took about a gallon of my blood to check for reasons, nutritional deficiencies, inflammation markers, etc. When the results came in, she told me that I had the best biological terrain she had ever seen and didn't have any answers for me, other than genetics, on why I had developed cancer, especially at such a young age.

In my own searching for "why" I had to set my mind on some emotions that were stuck in me and I feel in my gut that was what allowed my cancer to grow. A dear friend of mine had died unexpectedly a year and a half before and I did not process my grief well. I stayed on my knees for a long time after that and am still processing it. I also had some unhealthy relationships (friends, family, etc) that I was accepting in my life and they kept me bottling up some hurt feelings and anger that I wasn't letting go of or dealing with. So that's the area I've changed the most I think. I'm sharper with checking in with my emotions. I've cut off toxic people who were in my life and keep a sharper check on fresh relationships that I develop and I keep stronger boundaries up with people who I think could threaten my emotional well being.

Thanks so much for your extensive response!

Although prior to cancer I didn't eat well, I was always at a healthy weight and pretty active. Hearing what you said about emotionally where you were makes sense to me. I have been fighting gender dysphoria my entire life. Part of me didn't even realize it was that and just placed it into other boxes (being stone, just having issues having "breasts", my social dysphoria was actually just social anxiety, my anger was because of ?, etc).

I am quite different since I got on testosterone and transitioned. I don't want to take the time to ramble on about it...which I could...but just suffice it to say that my emotional health and relationships is much improved since I got on testosterone, and got through the initial humps. I believe that if I had transitioned earlier, I may not have gotten the cancer. I believe that stress is such a huge factor.

I do want to clarify what you said...you mentioned vegan, vegetarian, and then said you will eat meat.
What did you eat for the 5 years prior to your cancer?
Does the fact that your cancer was estrogen based mean that your biological terrain didn't matter?
Do you mind sharing with me/us what you take for inflammation in the body (since that is the key to all)? Since you have this kick ass biological terrain, I don't want to miss any and I need to get back on supplements.
Thanks!

[easygoingfemme]

Dapper, I totally hear you. I'm so glad to hear that your emotional health and relationships are so improved since transitioning. It all makes sense. Would you still have had cancer if you had transitioned earlier? You'll never know. But I think we really need to listen to our gut when it tells us to pay attention to those matters. Regardless, holding onto stress and negativity will never be good for our overall health, cancer or not. So, we grow and learn.

The five years prior to diagnosis,I was probably 50% vegan/vegetarian and 50% having a diet that included fish, chicken, turkey. When vegetarian I would eat eggs but mostly stayed away from dairy. Vegan/vegetarian or not, food through the 5 years was consistent at about 90-95% whole foods/natural/cooked at home. I trend to eating more plant based in the spring and summer and crave more animal protein/fats in the fall winter and that's where my diet tends to swing.

I don't believe that the estrogen base and biological terrain related to each other in a way that my baseline health was irrelevant. It's just a type of breast cancer- hormone based or not. My grandmother and mother both had the same hormone based breast cancer. For some reason, it was able to grow despite my starting place of health. However, I can't help but think that it would have been a lot worse if my starting point had been worse.

I don't really take anything for the inflammation. Rather than that I make choices that reduce or don't cause inflammation. Such as, dairy, sugar, wheat, red meat- all cause inflammation in your body. So I don't eat them, or eat them in very minimal doses. I drink lots of water and exercise regularly and that keeps my body circulating and prevents some buildup of inflammation. If I feel inflammation, which I will if I eat some of those items or if I'm stagnant for a bit, I'll detox and go on a really clean plant based diet for a few days, guzzle lemon water, and snap out of it.

When I was in chemo and my body was going to be more prone to inflammation I took high level doses of turmeric, which reduces inflammation, and mega doses of three different prescription level probiotics and the probiotics can also reduce inflammation. Which, actually, I do still take probiotics, just not the mega mega dose, so I guess I'm still taking one inflammation fighting supplement.

I'm glad you're taking care of yourself and being mindful of your choices, Dapper. Life after cancer can be a big mind f*ck when you sit back and contemplate choices and decisions with an ultimate goal of never going through it again.

[easygoingfemme]

Articles like these are way too few and far between, but I'm glad they are popping up:

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/a-matter...econstruction/

http://nypost.com/2017/03/13/why-i-s...breast-cancer/

[clay]

I wanted to come here to open my heart...once again,..to the wonderful friends & supporters I have !

About 2 months ago I began to have really severe pain, deep down in my bones, esp in the long bones. Initially was just hip & shoulder. Then about a month ago I began to have long bone pain, loss of appetite, weight changes, nausea after eating, and a sudden onset of pain in ribs, shoulders, neck, & down into my hands. I saw an oncologist who ordered a bone scan, a CT of whole body, and a plethora of labs.

I was very concerned & tried to remain positive, and not think the worst. Having survived cancer once, it was a difficult thing to do. I pulled on my inner reserves, had an amazing support group, & weathered the next couple weeks.

Today I saw the oncologist. While I do NOT have multiple myeloma, which was the suspect, I have severe anemia, and RA (rheumatoid arthritis, a severe case of it.)

That is okay because now I have a definitive diagnosis & a plan of action. While treatment varies and can be hard on one's body, I at least KNOW what I am dealing with.

Next step is to see a rheumatologist, get a plan of attack going, and hoping to be able to get these bouts tamped down to a minimum of discomfort. I have answers now! That was so stressful NOT knowing.

So I have an incredible team of loved ones, an amazing partner, & wonderful support system in place. Now off to the battlefield I go....I will slay this "dragon", too.

Thanks for listening, for your kind words, warmth, & support during this very trying time. As I usually do, I smile, and remain positive, & focused on a plan of attack now.

Peace & much love to you all....I am so happy knowing now what I have to work with....

[easygoingfemme]

Originally Posted by clay

I wanted to come here to open my heart...once again,..to the wonderful friends & supporters I have !

About 2 months ago I began to have really severe pain, deep down in my bones, esp in the long bones. Initially was just hip & shoulder. Then about a month ago I began to have long bone pain, loss of appetite, weight changes, nausea after eating, and a sudden onset of pain in ribs, shoulders, neck, & down into my hands. I saw an oncologist who ordered a bone scan, a CT of whole body, and a plethora of labs.

I was very concerned & tried to remain positive, and not think the worst. Having survived cancer once, it was a difficult thing to do. I pulled on my inner reserves, had an amazing support group, & weathered the next couple weeks.

Today I saw the oncologist. While I do NOT have multiple myeloma, which was the suspect, I have severe anemia, and RA (rheumatoid arthritis, a severe case of it.)

That is okay because now I have a definitive diagnosis & a plan of action. While treatment varies and can be hard on one's body, I at least KNOW what I am dealing with.

Next step is to see a rheumatologist, get a plan of attack going, and hoping to be able to get these bouts tamped down to a minimum of discomfort. I have answers now! That was so stressful NOT knowing.

So I have an incredible team of loved ones, an amazing partner, & wonderful support system in place. Now off to the battlefield I go....I will slay this "dragon", too.

Thanks for listening, for your kind words, warmth, & support during this very trying time. As I usually do, I smile, and remain positive, & focused on a plan of attack now.

Peace & much love to you all....I am so happy knowing now what I have to work with....

I am so sorry you went through this scare, I am so glad you have an answer to the mystery and I am so very very glad it's not what you were worrying it was. Still a challenge to tackle, but not the same dragon to slay. Those "what if's" are such a different world after a cancer diagnosis. You got this!

[clay]

Originally Posted by easygoingfemme

I am so sorry you went through this scare, I am so glad you have an answer to the mystery and I am so very very glad it's not what you were worrying it was. Still a challenge to tackle, but not the same dragon to slay. Those "what if's" are such a different world after a cancer diagnosis. You got this!

Words can't begin to convey the worries, concerns, & being afraid nanners & I went through the last couple of months. She was scared out of her mind BUT was like a real trooper, she kept me buoyed, strong, & positive.

Though RA is a real bugger to deal with, at least I KNOW what I am facing now.

Thanks so very much for your friendship, kind words, & support for me. I appreciate you, my friend!!