[Andrea Barnett Budin]

My Keys To Success

Ladies, This list was designed for me -- with my particular pathology. I am NOT a medical professional. (As I think Marie says, I only play one in real life!) I AM a professional patient if ever there was one (since '95) and have read extensively for a layperson's understanding of Supplements. The Internet is a fabulous tool for information, as you all know.

I "met" Dr. Mitchell Gaynor when I read the first page of his book, HEALING ESSENCE. It gave me goose bumps and changed my life (in '98 w/mets). It was in a stack sent by caring friends. I would take one off, reject it, and move on. Hard to concentrate when you're staring at your own mortality. Then one early morning of sleeplessness, at 5 AM with pitch blackness outside, I went in to my bathroom, closed the door, not to disturb my husband, turned the light on and put the toilet seat down. I sat and began to read. IT TURNS OUT THAT THIS BOOK WAS GIVEN TO ME BY MY BABY DAUGHTER (now thirty something). It led me to Dr. Gaynor's door. If you GOOGLE -- DR. MITCHELL GAYNOR -- www.drgaynor.com --
you will learn much about this remarkable healer, running an INTEGRATIVE ONCOLOGY CENTER in Manhattan. I love this man and was surely led to him with some kind of divine intelligence. You can contact his office -- 212) 410 - 3820 for a copy of the book or an appt. His credentials are within the SITE above. Do yourself a huge favor and take the time to check out his recent TV appearances (by clicking on the bottom of the site! THEY ARE TRULY INSPIRING AND ENLIGHTENING!! May they touch your Soul and bless your life!

My spiritual journey has assisted me along w/all listed in my signature. Feeling mortally endangered I was moved to draw on every resource I possessed. I sensed a great force within me. Going deep within myself, meditating and using guided imagery, I tapped into the mindbody link, knowing it was TRUE. My emotions became quelled as I soared up into the Universe and became The Witness. As The Observor I connected with and became MY SOUL, my True Self!

Healing powers were awakened in me, as I called upon the Universe to conspire with me to bring healing energy to my body. I had seen the look on the faces of the doctors and nurses. I had been hugged by a nurse at the outset. I felt her chest heave as she fought back tears, having read my chart. I WILL PRAY FOR YOU, she whispered into my ear. I KNEW I was in big trouble! Peeks at bc bks confirmed my suspicions. My prognosis was beyond poor. So, instead I turned to HEALING ESSENCE, Wayne Dyer's books, Seat of the Soul, The Power of Now, slowly making my way to joy and harmony and wellness despite it all.

I opened my heart to discover a whole new world. I live with a Knowing -- the Spiritual Realm touches us daily with the power of Guardian Angels, Teachers and Guides sent to be at our side. WE ARE NEVER ALONE. NEVER! I have come to identify myself as a Spiritual Being, with a mind and a body. I now see others as the Souls they truly are. This perspective changes everything! I turned my back on a sense of frantic helplessness and despair, fear and dread. Instead I have embraced my WHOLENESS, my True Self. I feel my Oneness w/all that IS. My personal crisis became a spring board to fresh Awareness, epiphanies and perceptual alterations. I believe my wellness is more than miraculous. It includes the expertise of my surgeons and oncologists, my supplements boosting me up in every which way from the onset, and my awakening to a new reality that is sublime and EMPOWERING!!!

This is precisely what I wish for every one of you, my sweet Soul Sisters. I offer you my list below to be considered, based on your own pathology. I have included the supplements I take to fight off my 22 yrs of suffering from hot flashes. They are bold, and approved by Dr. Gaynor, but I hesitate to offer them as they are so controversial (including phytoestrogens, which some studies say can better bc outcomes and others fear). I am ER/PR-! So if you are plagued by constant flashing and desperation, think about these. My Plan B is to go on short term progesterone (pill or cream), hoping to stop the cycle.

Mainstream docs don't know much about vitamins/supplements, are not taught more than a single day's worth of info on this topic in medical school -- SHAME ON WESTERN MEDICINE! They are therefore suspicious, suspect you are wasting your time and money, worry that some may interfere with the chemo regime you are on.

So it took a lot of courage for me to decide, beginning with my recurrence in '98, to follow my beloved *nut oncs* (nutritional oncologist)advice. IT IS WHEN YOU ARE TAKING CHEMO, AND YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM IS COMPROMISED, THAT YOU MOST NEED TO BE TAKING SUPPLEMENTS.

I continue to take the vitamins/supplements listed below every single day. After carefully researching each one, one at a time, gathering other experts opinions (especially re dosages) and trying 1 at a time. Waiting to see if I had any adverse reactions I could pinpoint as coming from the correct source. Stopping that source for a few days. Trying it again. If the side effects recurred, I took the loss and either through the pills out or offered them to those who could better tolerate them.

Sending much loving and healing energy to all you wonderful women warriors with the courage of legions...

STAY STRONG, BRAVE AND DETERMINED. AND NEVER STOP BELIEVING IN YOUR OWN POWER TO CALL YOUR DESIRED DESTINY TO YOU! REFUSE TO ALLOW FEAR-DRIVEN CONCEPTS TO MANIPULATE YOU AND PLAY GAMES WITH YOUR LIFE AND WELL-BEING. AND FOR THOSE WHO NEED ADDL HELP (anti-depressant, anti-anxiety) I believe if anyone needs such assistance -- it's a ca patient! As my fav onc says -- YOU SHOULD NEVER HAVE TO SUFFER. WE HAVE REMEDIES FOR YOU TO HELP YOU GET THROUGH THIS... OOOOO XXXXX


MY VITAMINS/SUPPLEMENTS:

Asidophilus (AKA Lactobacilius Asidopholus) Probiotic, friendly bacteria/30 billion
viable cells per capsule, maintaining healthy microflora) (promotes healthy bowel function, provides gas pain and spasm relief) -- AM/PM

Alpha Lipoic Acid – 300 AM/PM (detoxifies liver, antioxidant, neutralizes free radicals, protects cells from damage, can cross the brain barrier, energy)

Biotin – 5 (AM) (healthy hair/nails)

B-6 (P5P50 activated B-6 -- AM (healthy heart)

B-12 – 1000 sublingual -- AM (boosts energy)

C-1000 w/Bioflavonoids 1000 (AM) (enhances immune system, reduces recurrence of cancer)

Calcium – 1200 softgel w/D 800 -- AM (increases bone density)

Chromium – 400 mcg -- PM (boosts energy, maintains sugar levels)

Co-Enzyme Q-10 – 150 -- AM/PM (enhances immune system, prevents cancer cell proliferation,energizes, healthy heart, good gums)

D-3 – 1000 (AM) (bones)

DL-Phenylalanine – 500 (appetite suppressant, mood enhancer)

DIM-PLUS (Diindolylmethane) – 100 -- AM/PM (metabolizes estrogen) GOOD FOR "ME" -- as ER/PR-

E – 400 X 3 -- 2 - AM + 1 - PM (healthy heart, relieves hot flashes, immune booster, inhibits metastases, decreases tumor burden)

Echinacea – 300 w/golden seal – 100 -- AM/PM -- l wk on/1 wk off (staggered w/Thymulus) (immune booster)
Thymulus – 750 w/Astragalus – 250 -- AM/PM -- 1 wk on/1 wk off (staggered w/Echinacea/goldenseal) (immune booster)


Evening Primrose Oil -- 1000 (relieves hot flashes, downregulates HER2 by binding to extra cellular HER2 receptor, down regulates internal proliferation)

Exhilarin – 615 Holy Basil Leaf Extract, Ashwagunda Root Extract (AM/PM) (relieves hot flashes, ENERGIZES)


Fennel (Seed) – 480 X 1 AM/1-2PM (relieves gas, stomach pain, spasms, helps rid intestinal tract of mucous)

Flaxseed Oil – 1000 + -- AM/PM (heart healthy, anti-cancer, detoxifies, improves brain function, helps painful, severely dry eyes since Taxotere ’98) NOTE: I AM ER/PR-!

Ginkgo Biloba Extract – 60 -- AM/PM (mental alertness)

Grapeseed Extract 150 -- AM (anti-oxidant, can cross blood-brain barrier and protect
brain and spinal nerves against free radical damage, enhances anti-tumor effect, protect liver, strengthen connective tissue, including heart system, supports immune
system and slows aging)

Green Tea Extract Reservatol – 200 -- PM -- or drink 3 cups daily (anti-oxidant, heart
healthy, anti-cancer)

L-Carnithane Fumerate – 500 --AM/PM– empty stomach (amino acid, assists in gastro
absorption, energy, heart, assists weight loss, immune booster)

L-Glutamine – 500 --AM – empty stomach (amino acid, assists in gastro absorption, energizes)

L-Lysine – 500 --AM – empty stomach (amino acid, assists in gastro absorption,
energizes, lowers triglyclerides)

Magnesium – 200 and Potassium – 545 -- PM (bone healthy, helps sleep, regulates

bowels, energiezes, healthy heart, lowers blood sugar and triglycerides,
raises good cholesterol, prevents stroke)

NADH – 5 Co Enzyme 1 AM/PM --on empty stomach, 1/2 hr before eating)
(relieves chronic fatigue/ENERGIZES, improves mental acuity. DNA repair. good for muscle/joint pain)

OMEGA 3 -- MEGA EFA (OMEGA-3 EPA (800) & DHA (400) -- AM/PM (suppreses
tumors, inhibiting their growth, may slow or prevent recurrence of cancer,
improves blood glucose, anti-inflammatory properties) NOTE: I add 1 pill when having belly pain...

PERFUSIA SR (L-Argenine) – 350 --AM (EJECTION FRACTION elevator, strengthens heart)

<BLOCKQUOTE style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: blue 2px solid"><DIV><FONT lang=0 face="Lucida Calligraphy" size=6 PTSIZE="24" FAMILY="SCRIPT"><FONT style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" face=Arial size=2><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" size=3>Phyto Formula – 1 scoop of soy lechitin powder. Spirulina barley grass powder, tomato
<STRONG><FONT color=magenta>powder, wheat grass powder + MULTIPLE powdered FRUIT/VEG anti-cancer lycopenes and antioxidants … in 8 oz potassium rich OJ (relieves hot flashes, promotes ENERGY BIG TIME, boosts immune system and mental clarity, helps regulate bowels)
+ 1 banana a day for potassium/strength/energy