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Old 09-04-2012, 10:07 PM   #1
Kayakr01
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Arrow Survey: Have you consumed Aspartame Sweetener?

Do you attribute your cancer to aspartame?

Reply here with quantities and for how long.

See 'Sweet Misery' available on Netflix, which documents why aspertame should never have been approved as a sweetener.

I am convinced this is causing cancer in many individuals; yet it is still out there. My fiance' drinks it daily, even after watching the above documentary. She has stage 4 breast cancer. I have been unable to convince her to give it up.

I avoid it myself, because it has an immediate affect on me; it makes me irritable and my heart rate increases.
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Jen's Guy

-11/09 Pregnancy
-12/10 lump in right breast found
-02/11 Needle biopsy pos for HER2 stage 1
02/10-07-10: Taxol 8 weeks
07/21/10 healthy baby Molly born
08/10 - 05/11 Chemo only: adriamycin and Citoxan
then? Herceptin, localized radiation
-05/11 Stage 4, lung mass
-07/30/11 CLINICAL TRIAL: EMILIA/TDM4370g
-08/6/11 Emergency room visit for severe stomach pain; prognosis in progress
09-11 Prognosis: too much Xeloda (cabecitabine)
-01-16-12 Middle lobectomy for tumor
02-7-12 Frequently tired and nauseous though not on any chemo for 8 weeks
-05/2012 clear Pet Scan/MRI post lobectomy
08/2012 Scan reveals progression to lung and liver.
8/24/2012 resume Herceptin; Tykerb pending. First round created heavy chest, chills, and fever (Reaction). Heart test in 3 weeks.
9/4/12 nausea.
09/14/12: T-DM1 Candidate testing; start trial
10/18/12 2.5 cycles in to TH3RESA study; lots of chest pressure; signs of bruising; infusion effects last 3-5 days
2/2013 5 weeks whole brain radiation therapy due to 8 visible brain tumors
9/12/13 Cyberknife treatment for three tumors
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Old 09-05-2012, 02:33 PM   #2
jacqueline1102
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Re: Survey: Have you consumed Aspartame Sweetener?

Hello Bob,

I have not heard any research about aspartame. I work with physicians also and have not heard that. When pulling the research the factors for breast cancer, which we can't control are being female, getting older, dense breasts, family history of breast cancer, women who start their period before 12, exposure to radiation for treatment of another cancer and the BRCA gene. Other factors, which we can control, recent oral contraception use (and I think more long term use), being overweight or obese, alcohol use, and physical inactivity. Having never had children or having your children after 30 poses a slight risk. There have been studies from the University of Chicago that are pointing to stress as being a variable which shows changes in DNA/RNA of mice. That was an interesting study. A recent study also discussed sleep disturbances associated with breast cancer risk. All this is very complex, indeed. Some people will say we don't know what causes it for sure. You may wish to look at the American Cancer Society about facts and such. I am so sorry that your family is suffering with this.

Jackie
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10/11 IBC Stage IV; 1 liver met 4.6 cm.
10/11-2/12 TCH for 6 rounds
3/12 Right MRM
5/12-7/12 33 Radiation treatments
8/1/12 Started Perjeta along with the Herceptin
10/12 Scans said NED for first time
5/15 UWSeattle Vaccine Trial 3 months
12/16 Scans still show NED. Herceptin and Perjeta continue indef.
8/17 Taken off Perjeta;staying on Herceptin. Still NEAD.
3/18 Still NEAD
8/19 Now on Subcutaneous Herceptin
10/21 Remain on Subcutaneous Herceptin (Hylecta)
11/21 CT showed possible lung mets. Was told to wait and see until scan
1/22 CT shows continued growth
03/22 Lung Biopsy said sample was too small but nodules keep growing and IR is convinced that it is indeed cancer
04/22 Oncologist referred for consult for a transbronchial biopsy. This does not sound pleasant
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Old 09-09-2012, 08:19 AM   #3
Jackie07
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Re: Survey: Have you consumed Aspartame Sweetener?

I've never consumed Aspartame or any other types of sugar substitute. My side of family seems to have the HNPCC cluster (colon cancer, NHL, breast cancer, brain...) My late Mother-in-law used sweet-N-Low daily as she's diabetic. She passed away before turning 82 - 14 years after undergoing a quardruple by-pass surgery (her family/relatives seemed all died of strokes in their early 80's.) She began to show signs of dimentia in her mid 70's, but was never formerly diagnosed with Alzheimer's. None of her family/relatives had been diagnosed with cancer.

Below is an entry of Aspartme in Wikipedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aspartame
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http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2011/06/doctors-letter-patient-newly-diagnosed-cancer.html
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3-11 Appendectomy - visually O.K., a lot of puss. Final path result - not cancer.
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Last edited by Jackie07; 09-09-2012 at 08:37 AM..
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Old 09-09-2012, 11:48 AM   #4
StephN
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Re: Survey: Have you consumed Aspartame Sweetener?

Never used any kind of artificial sweetner myself. Hate the taste of the "diet" drinks. So, I can't say this is a factor in my cancer.

My dear hubby has type 1 diabetes and I finally got him to cut down on the artificial sweetners and switch over to Stevia a few years ago.

Stevia has a different taste, but it was not hard to get used to.

Sorry you have to deal with this cancer, but you are doing the right thing in watching Jen's diet. Maybe you could ask her to try the Stevia as an alternative.

I stopped using sugar and put honey in my tea and drink coffee with a bit of Stevia or organic sugar.
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"When I hear music, I fear no danger. I am invulnerable. I see no foe. I am related to the earliest times, and to the latest." H.D. Thoreau
Live in the moment.

MY STORY SO FAR ~~~~
Found suspicious lump 9/2000
Lumpectomy, then node dissection and port placement
Stage IIB, 8 pos nodes of 18, Grade 3, ER & PR -
Adriamycin 12 weekly, taxotere 4 rounds
36 rads - very little burning
3 mos after rads liver full of tumors, Stage IV Jan 2002, one spot on sternum
Weekly Taxol, Navelbine, Herceptin for 27 rounds to NED!
2003 & 2004 no active disease - 3 weekly Herceptin + Zometa
Jan 2005 two mets to brain - Gamma Knife on Jan 18
All clear until treated cerebellum spot showing activity on Jan 2006 brain MRI & brain PET
Brain surgery on Feb 9, 2006 - no cancer, 100% radiation necrosis - tumor was still dying
Continue as NED while on Herceptin & quarterly Zometa
Fall-2006 - off Zometa - watching one small brain spot (scar?)
2007 - spot/scar in brain stable - finished anticoagulation therapy for clot along my port-a-catheter - 3 angioplasties to unblock vena cava
2008 - Brain and body still NED! Port removed and scans in Dec.
Dec 2008 - stop Herceptin - Vaccine Trial at U of W begun in Oct. of 2011
STILL NED everywhere in Feb 2014 - on wing & prayer
7/14 - Started twice yearly Zometa for my bones
Jan. 2015 checkup still shows NED
2015 Neuropathy in feet - otherwise all OK - still NED.
Same news for 2016 and all of 2017.
Nov of 2017 - had small skin cancer removed from my face. Will have Zometa end of Jan. 2018.
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Old 12-21-2013, 09:36 PM   #5
Tams20136
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Re: Survey: Have you consumed Aspartame Sweetener?

I have been drinking diet drinks for two years.My familynow tells me leave them alone since i have breast cancer..My father tells me...drink more water...
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Old 12-22-2013, 06:53 PM   #6
KDR
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Re: Survey: Have you consumed Aspartame Sweetener?

I'm with your father! Diet drinks trick your brain and can actually make you hungry. So if you are going to have a soda once in a while, have a real one.
JMHO,
Karen
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World Trade Center Survivor (56th Floor/North Tower): 14 years and still just like yesterday.
Graves Disease, became Euthyroid via Radioactive Iodine, June 2001.
Thyroid Eye Disease. 2003. Decompression surgery in 2009; eyelid lowering surgery in 2010.
Diagnosed: June 2010, liver mets. ER-/PR+10%; HER2+++.
July 2010: Begin Taxol/Herceptin. Eliminate sugar from diet. No surgery or radiation.
January 2011: NED
April 2011: Progression in liver only. Other previous affected areas eradicated. Stop Taxol/Herceptin after 32 infusions.
May 2011: Brain MRI: clear.
May 2011: Begin Tykerb daily, Xeloda twice per day for one week on, one week off, and Herceptin.
November 2011: Progression in liver. All other tumors remain eradicated.
December 2011: BEGIN TRIAL #09-093 Taxol, MCC-DM1 (T-DM1), Perjeta.
Trial requires scans every six weeks, bloodwork and infusions weekly.
Brain MRI: clear.
January 2012: NED. Liver mets, good riddance!
March 2012: NED. Developed SMA (rare blood clot) in intestinal artery and loss of sight in right eye due to optical nerve neuropathy. Resolved when Taxol removed this month.
Continue Protocol of T-DM1 weekly and Perjeta every 3 weeks.
May 2012: NED.
June 2012: Brain MRI: clear.
June-December 2012: NED.
December 2012: TRIAL CONCLUDED; ENTER TRIAL EXTENSION #09-037. CT, Brain MRI, bone scan: clear. NED.
January-March 2013: NED.
June 2013: Brain MRI: clear. CEA upticking; CT shows new met on liver.
July 3, 2013: DISASTER STRIKES during liver ablation: sloppy surgeon cuts intercostal artery and I bleed out, lose 3.5 liters of blood, have major hemothorax, and collapsed lung requiring emergency resuscitative thoracotomy, lung surgery, rib rearrangement and cutting deep connective tissue, transfusion. Ablation incomplete. This life-saving procedure would end up causing me unforgiving pain with every movement I make, permanently, otherwise known as forever.
July 26, 2013: Try Navelbine/Herceptin. Body too weak after surgery and transfusion. Fever. CEA: Normal.
August 16, 2016: second dose Navelbine/Herceptin; CEA: Normal. Will skip doses. Watching and waiting.
September 2013: NED, Herceptin only. CEA: Normal. Started Arimidex.
October-November 2013: NED. Herceptin and Arimidex. CEA, CA125, 15-3: Normal.
December 2013: Something brewing. PET lights up on little spot on liver; CEA upward trend, just outside normal. PET and triphasic liver scan confirm Little Met. Restart Perjeta with Herceptin, stay on Arimidex. Genomic sequencing completed for future treatments, if necessary.
January 2014: Ablate Little Met on the 6th. Happy New Year.
March 2014: Brain MRI: clear. PET/CT reveal liver mets return; new lung mets. This is not funny.
March 2014: BEGIN TRIAL #10-005 A(11)-Temsirolimus plus Neratinib.
April 2014: Genomic testing indicated they could work, they did not. Very strange drug combo for me, felt weird.
April 2014: Started Navelbine and Herceptin. Needed something tried and true, but had significant progression.
June 2014: Doxil and Herceptin.
July 2014: Progression. Got nothing out of it. Brain: NED.
July 2014: Add integrative medical hematologist-oncologist to my team. Begin supplements. These are tumor-busting, immune system boosters. Add glutathione, lysine and taurine IV infusions every three weeks.
July 2014: Begin Gemzar, Herceptin & Perjeta. Happy.
August 2014: ECHO perfect.
January 2015: Begin weekly Vitamin D Analog infusions. 25 mcg. via port.
February 2015: CT: stable.
April 2015: Gem working, but not 100%. Looking into immunotherapy. Finally, treatments for the 21st century!
April 2015: Penn Medicine. Dendritic cell immunotherapy.
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