Controlling physical reactions to stress

[Andrea Barnett Budin]

Okay Ellie, I have been thinking about what you wrote all day. We cannot avoid stress. Yes, stress that paralyzes you is full of fear, and I believe that is humanity's worst enemy. Not the canser, but FEAR. The emotions that come from that emotion are highly toxic.

I believe whatever illness/dysfunction we develop as a result strikes our genetically weakest area. I had a paternal grandmother and paternal aunt who had bc.

Yes, w/a positive attitude whatever time you have is more joyful for sure!! But, I know people who had a positive attitude but deep into the night, their stress came out, as is common in the middle of the night when you feel totally alone in the darkness.

So as I pondered your words today I realized that though (between '95 and '98) I was positive, indeed grateful yet not cocky, I wasn't on guard. And I mean that in an amazingly good way.

After '98 I was on guard at the tower. I offered my gratitude more often and out loud. I spoke to my body non-stop, all day, every day. I've been making my Intention and my Expectation vividly clear, in words and with mental pictures (since August of '98!). And I have read that these 2 ingredients are spiritually essential to our health!!

Deep in the night, when the pain in my arm where the 21 lymph nodes were removed, I have doing something new and interesting! I recently read something quite life-altering. Ken Wilbur again, in The Simple Feeling Of Being, speaks of blocks we develop. And we feel it in our gut, in our chest, other places I didn't relate to as readily so can't recall at the moment.

So, I've been speaking to my body deep in the night, when the pain in my arm comes. I stroke it and speak to it. I address my pain and its derivation. I tell myself -- it's okay to feel that fear and sadness you felt in '95. It's okay to let those feelings up and out. It's okay to let them go. Let them go. And I stroke my arm, and you know what????? The pain has been absent for about 4 nights now. Incredibly gone.

My buried thoughts and feelings about the loss of my breast and the pain like a tourniquet tied too tightly around my arm, choking it needed to stop blocking up my system. I needed to release all that. And to cognizantly acknowledge it -- finally -- and reassure myself that it is alright to admit to that feeling of frailty and vulnerability. I don't have to be strong and brave 24/7. It's okay.

I do embrace each day. I do live with love. Hugs. Expressing my love in many ways, to those I love and to strangers. And I believe that energy is returned to us. I do it to give back, to fulfill our purpose in Life, to help one another. I talk to people as if they are friends, and they become friends.

I used to be so shy. I wouldn't speak up. Now, I talk a lot. As you might guess. I find out the most amazing things. People open up to me and they have Messages for me, and I for them.

And right, Ellie, let's not waste a single day feeling sad or separate. Life is too precious. Valerie and Sarah and Bunty know this to name but a few!

Keep talking to your body! Remember -- it hears everything you think or whisper or say. It sees what you see. And it obeys your subtlest of directions!!!

Love and Light,

Andi

[Hopeful]

Saw this new abstract and thought it would be of interest: http://breast-cancer-research.com/co...5/320/abstract

Hopeful

[Ellie F]

Thanks for posting Hopeful. I tried to read the provisional PDF but its subscription only.this article seems to reinforce what myself and a number of others have believed about the effects of chronic stress on the development of our breast cancer. When you consider the suggested effect on the DNA plus the immune suppressant effects of stress this seems very plausible. I don't believe this is the whole story and suspect that the pre- existing conditions in the breast must have been present. What I feel is that stress ' lights the touch paper' and allows the cancerous cells to grow . This won't be the case for all bc but may explain some?
I would be interested to hear what others feel
Andi BB mentions that she feels stress may effect the weakest part of our body. This article may support that.
Ellie

[Hopeful]

Ellie, they keep the subscription papers as subcription only for 6 months after release, then they make it free to all. I will be sure to note the date and repost the entire article here when it becomes available.

The paper released a few days ago that has made all the news, concerning the genetic variations in individual cases of cancer, adds more weight to the theory that epigenetics are largely responsible for cancers. Epigenetics has to do with whether a specific gene is, for want of a better analogy, awake or asleep, and how they get turned off and on. I think the hormones secreted under stress are definitely part of this epigentic puzzle. All the more reason for endocrinologists to become involved in cancer treatment.

Hopeful

[Andrea Barnett Budin]

I've read that everybody has cancer cells in their body. The notion shocked me but Hopeful and Ellie are approaching the idea with new information.

A suppressed immune system (due to stress, not enough sleep) will wake up the dormant cells of our genetically most dysfunction parts.

Sleep (8 hrs for most) which is near impossible (for most) is essential for wellness. It's during that period of time that our bodies heal and repair! I've seen several studies over the yrs (of night shift workers/nurses with crazy schedules) and the impact on their health.

As a full-fledged insomniac, forever, I also suffer from chronic fatigue, forever. So, since bc, I treat myself to sleeping aids. I feel it is my duty to do this for myself, for my body and wellness.

I also take immune system boosters daily, since '98. It is a tough job swallowing that load of pills I've accumulated from my onc/nutritional guru, but it is my job. I diligently stick to the program.

Also, I went yrs ago to an endocrinologist for my hot flashes. She ran blood tests allll my oncs never ever dreamed of. Estradiol and such. She even checked my testosterone, which was slightly elevated. I am a strong-minded lady. Explains a lot. Made me wonder if all bc-ers have this proclivity. Just a thought. But, I realized -- we ALL need to have an endocrinologist in our lives. They see YOU in different ways than oncs do. Naturally.

Lastly my 7 fav supplements are -- CoEnzyme Q10 (150 x 2), Carnitine (500 x 2), Alpha Lipoic Acid 300 x 2), Omega 3 (2,000 x 2), B-6 (50), B-12 (3,000) and D 10,000 -- 5 days a wk. I have the B-12 and D checked w/my reg bld work and I am in normal range, on the low side -- with all of that!

Just sharing. Cause I love you Ladies!

Andi

[bejuce]

Makes total sense to me. I think my genes were woken up with all the stress I put in my body with years of birth control pills (including years taking Diane, a pill that was not approved in the US at the time), back-to-back pregnancies, breastfeeding non-stop around the clock with no break between the pregnancies, and added work stress. I also had bad episodes of reflux after each pregnancy which probably contributed to the genes being awake. But truly, who knows what caused my and each cancer out there. I'm now focusing on the future and hoping for a cure.

[Ellie F]

I'm with you ALL.
Marcia- I am hoping and praying for a cure. Today hearing about Brenda has made me so,so sad. I also sat next to a young woman with her 2 bc today and thought this can't be right that so many women are fighting this disease. I guess at some point the anecdotal links we make will all fit into some sort of pattern that may hopefully contribute to our cure, thats one of the reasons our sharing is so brilliant!

Andi- I think the sleep issue you raise is very important. I know it is now acknowledged as a factor but it's impact not fully understood, not unlike the issue of severe hunger amongst holocaust children and the greatly increased risk of bc in later life.

Hopeful- many thanks for offering to post the full article when available.

Ellie