Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: LAND OF YES!
w/home in Boca Raton, Florida
Orig from L.I., N.Y.
Ever hovering IN THE NOW...
Posts: 1,904
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Re: Why i take supplements
Hi Juls, and ALL,
I recurred in August iof '98. I began chemo in Sept of that year. Herceptin (Vitamin H as I like to call it) was fast tracked by the FDA on September 28, 1998. I was sooo lucky. After 2 mnths of Taxotere, doing CTs chest/abd/pelv, I added H. Docs wanted to see if Taxoterror was working. It was.
I had asked to be tested in August upon recurrance throughout my liver, as my husband and I had been keeping on top of all things bc since July of '95 when I was originally dx. I was 80% positive for HER2. That's how they graded back then.
I went to my integrative oncologist in Manhattan in October of '98. He gave me a longgg list of supplements. I researched each one, took notes, started one at a time. Waited 4 days to see what my body had to say, and if all was well, I proceeded to the next on the list. I believe I began with immune system boosters.
When I mentioned to my mainstream docs what I was planning on doing, each and every one balked. They felt it would be best for me to wait till after chemo. That didn't feel right to me. I asked my integrative onc or nutritional oncologist (who also taught meditation and holistic mind body spirit medicine, which felt exactly right to me) and my nut onc as I lovingly call him said, NO, IT'S WHEN YOU'RE ON CHEMOTHERAPY THAT YOU MOST NEED TO BE ON SUPPLEMENTS. Your body is under further attack then.
I (bravely) chose to follow his advice and began my supplements in October of '98. I still believe it was the right call.
I developed shingles in October, which I discovered getting a 4th opinion. Wanting to collect information and ideas from each who were all brilliant but each saw the situation slightly differently. I based my opinions, as the patient whose life we were talking about, on the collection of information I gathered.
The horrid news was that with shingles -- you cannot get chemo. I KNEW I needed the chemo to save my life. I also knew some had shingles for months, even yrs. I was desperate.
I have a book PRESCRIPTION FOR NUTRITIONAL HEALING by Phyliss Baulch, that was recommended to me and I started immediately taking supps for shingles, along with the medication prescribed for it. 10 days later I went to the oncologist.
He smiled and asked me how I was doing. Good, I said. Really? Yup. Well, let me see. I was dressed on the exam table. I lifted my shirt. He walked all around and said, with great surprise, You're right! All the pustules have crusted over and are healed. You can have chemo!
And, I was elated, even though Taxoterror was a ride through hell. I KNEW in the end, I would live!
So long answer to a short question, I know. Sorry. But cancer isn't so simple.
You are in a great place, on this site, with women who are full of experience and wisdom and generous with their advice though respectful.
Please feel free to ask me anything. I am here to help.
Also, please check out Pink's post of AndiBB's article -- that's me. It was posted today as today was the day this article appeared in the Florida Sun Sentinel in Broward and Palm Beach. I hope you find it interesting and inspiring. That would actually make my day!!
Thanks,
Andi
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Andi BB
'95 post-meno dx Invasive LOBULAR w/9cm tumor! YIKES + 2/21 nodes. Clear mammo 10 mnths earlier. Mastec/tram flap reconst/PORT/8 mnths chemo (4Adria/8CMF). Borderline ER/PR. Tamoxifen 2 yrs. Felt BLESSED. I could walk and talk, feed and bathe myself! I KNEW I would survive...
'98 -- multiple mets to liver. HER2+ 80%. ER/PR- Raging, highly aggressive tumors spreading fast. New PORT. 9 mnths Taxotere Fought fire w/fire! Pronounced in cautious remission 5/99. Taxotere weekly for 6 wks, 2 wks off -- for 9 mnths. TALK ABOUT GRUELING! (I believe they've altered that protocol since those days -- sure hope so!!)
+ good old Vit H wkly for 1st 3 yrs, then triple dosage ev 3 wks for 7 yrs more... The "easy" chemo, right?! Not a walk in the park, but not a freight train coming at 'ya either...
Added Herceptin Nov '98 (6 wks after FDA fast-tracked it for met bc). Stayed w/Vit H till July '08! Now I AM FREE! Humbly and eternally grateful for this life-saving drug! NED since '99 and planning on keeping it that way. To hell w/poor prognosis and nasty stats! STOPPED VIT H JULY '08...! REMAIN STABLE... Eternally grateful...Yes is a world & in this world of yes live (skillfully curled) all worlds ... (e e cummings) EVERY DAY I BEAT MY PREVIOUS RECORD FOR # OF CONSECUTIVE DAYS I'VE STAYED ALIVE. Smile KNOWING you too can be a miracle. Up to me and God now...
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