Why Stay On Herceptin...?

[Andrea Barnett Budin]

Why Stay On Herceptin?
<HR style="COLOR: #aa8799" SIZE=1><!-- / icon and title --><!-- message -->Dr. Pegram says that if you have no physical, psychological or financial reason to go off Herceptin -- stay w/it. Slamon concurred. 3 of my oncs said the same, absolutely. My ev 6 mnth ECHOs show good EF, all good heart-wise. Little drippy nose. Fatigue. But my onc in NY who specializes in nutrition and supplements has me on some new ENERGY boosters that are kicking in. I have flagging Hemoglobin/red bld cells. My old normal was 13-15. My new norm is 12 ish. Then I dip into the low 11s. I feel like a slug. Miserable. Aranesp wd boost that for mnths. Even the 1/2 dosage (250) worked that way. But new rules on that. Must be under 11 to get shot. I know the studies that show scary scenarios re this.

I was on Herceptin wkly from '98 - '01. Then went to triple dose ev 3 wks. It's a party. It's like insulin for a diabetic. It's like bld press meds for those w/such issues. My defective HER2 gene overexpresses and causes radical cell growth = cancer. I had bc dx in '95. Chemo to '96. Mets into liver in '98. I do not want any more mets any where! Herceptin fixes the defective Her2 and keeps it stable. My insur co has not denied coverage. I have met all of Pegram's qualifications for staying on. Actually saw him in Ca in Feb '06 personally, to confirm this. Also saw Slamon, by accident. Gave him a giant hug and thanked him for saving my life. We had a mini party celebrating the gd news. They put me on a UCLA study on Survivors for a yr to try and figure out why I am a success story. Hr long interviews on phone, multiple questionnaires, indepth issues and places to essay, 3X a day swabs for 3 days (checking seratonin levels) -- all 3 X throughout the yr.

I HAVE A QUESTION -- WHEN YOU GET YOUR BRAIN MRI DO YOU GET IT WITH CONTRAST? My doc wrote the script for this but my isur co denied WITH. Said ok to without, if something shows up, then they'll cover WITH. Report says they see no evidence of ca but very difficult to read without contrast! I am very exasperated. Insur co making decisions contrary to top med advice! An outrage!! Any one having issues re this? Please tell me.

Wishing you much success in making your way to wellness. Sending loving, healing energy always to all my Sister Souls... ANDI
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[Sherryg683]

I'm on Herceptin until it quits working which I hope it doesn't. It's been 18 months since my diagnosis with lung mets and 14 months NED. I hope it works as long for me as for you. Every time I have had an brain MRI, it has been without contrast..don't know why. My latest scans was a PET/CT to the brain, my oncologist said it wasn't necessary to do an MRI if nothing showed up on the PET/CT. I still feel more comfortable with an MRI and will come up with some symptoms next or so to get him to order one for me..lol..sherryg683

[Andrea Barnett Budin]

They say a PET scan is the most reliable of all. That's what others have told me. I've never had one. Yes, I wish that Herceptin will keep working for you for decades to come. Expect that. Accept nothing less. Be determined. Make your intentions clear to your body. Sending loving, healing energy your way, and to all our brave Soul Sisters... ANDI

[TSund]

Andrea,


I and probably others would welcome info on what your nutrionist/oncologist recommends. It seems like an oxymoron with many oncologists, no matter how good they are. (and I find this fact confounding and frustrating!)

Esp. things to help blood counts; I've not seen much on this anywhere. But I'd be curious on all that he/she says.

THANK-YOU!!

Terri

[chrisy]

That is what I have gotten, and insurance has never denied this. It seems counterproductive to get a scan which may miss something because they do not do the contrast.

[Andrea Barnett Budin]

I totally agree Chrisy. But it seems I'm fighting city hall on this one. We'll see what happens next time. I plan on objecting loudly. It's absurd. The insur co making med decisions, contrary to my oncs orders. Outrageous. Thanks for the input. It gives me just enough strength to plead my case and demand my onc fight FOR me, not shrug his shoulders and say Catch 22...

He's just amazed I'm still here. Maybe he figures nothing is going to stop me. But I plan on getting satisfaction on this. Enough is enough. You're right. I'm right... Sending healing energy your way... ANDI (Thanks again. Appreciate your support.)

[chrisy]

"He's just amazed I'm still here. Maybe he figures nothing is going to stop me."

Well, Andi, he's probably right about that! Now you just need to get the insurance company to understand that - they'll be much happier! Has your onc written an appeal to them on the contrast? If they are denying on the grounds of medical necessity, this can sometimes work. I had to 'ask twice' for something in the past.

Sometimes I think they say no just to see if they can get away with it, and when they are challenged they change their mind.

[Andrea Barnett Budin]

You are 100% correct on that. I will ask for an appeal next time. I'm getting all wound up, having stuffed my annoyance down last time, during a rough pd. New onc, old one left town. Tk my lifeline away. Facing genetic testing, CT scans, MRI, had new grandchild on the other coast and had to be there, of course -- pressured and distracted, trying to keep it all together. Next time, I'll see it coming and be prepared.

In the past, I have learned you can call the insur co for a precert and be denied. If you wait five min and call again, you get a diff person and can get a reasonable one vs one with the sense of a penny, just like that.

I'm on the case. Thanks again for your words. With love... ANDI

[Andrea Barnett Budin]

I would share anything with you that you would like. Just want to add the caveat that I am not a med profssnl. This list is from my NY onc/hematol/nutiritional expert. I have checked the Internet on ea and ev one before taking. I listen to experts on TV, like Andrew Weill or Oz and verify. I give an alphabetized list to all my oncs of all my meds, inclding dosages and reasons for taking. 3 oncs just laugh and dismiss my foolery. Don't even read the list as it is long and time-consuming. I think that is close-minded, reflecting old school thinking, lack of knowledge re nutrition and a gen'l bias against all vita and supplements. I have IBS during and ever since Taxotere so can't eat many fds to keep a well balanced diet. Wouldn't take these if I didn't have at least 1 onc to ok it all. Others don't know, or want to know.

I take a multi, probiotic, friendly bacteria for proper digestion and bowel func, alpha lipoic Acid (300X2)detoxifies liver, antiox, neutralizes free radicals, protects cells from damage, can cross the brain barrier, energy. Argenine 350, for strong heart. B-6 50mg, healthy heart.B-12 1000 sublingual-energy. C 1000 w/bioflavonoids and green tea. Calcium 600 w/D400 AM/PM for bone density, Chromium 400 boosts energy, maintains sugar levels, CO-ENZYM Q10 -- 150 AM/PM inhibis cell growth, enhances imm sys, energizes, healthy heart, gums, D3-1000 bones,Echinacea 300 w/golden seal 100 AM/PM - 1 wk on, 1 wk alternate w/Thymulus 750 w/Astragalus 250 AM/PM - imm booster, E400 AM/PM, Fennel Seed 480 (1-3) w/food-rids intestinal tract of mucous, Flaxseed Oil w/Omega 3 EFA 1480 (EPA 800 & DHA 400)-inhibits cell growth along w/extra virgin olive oil when possible, uncooked, Ginkgo Biloba Extract 60 AM/PM mental alertness, Grapeseed Extract 150-anti-oxi, can cross blood-brain barrier and protect brain and spinal nerves against free radical damage, protects liver, strengthen connective tissue, including heart sys, supp imm sys), Carnithane 500 empty stomach (amino acid assists in gastro absorption, energy, heart), Glutamine 500 empty stomach (ditto),
Lysine 500 empty stomach (ditto)
Magnesium 200 regulates bowels, energizes, healthy heart, lowers bld sugar and triglyc, raises gd choles, prevents stroke), NADH 5 Co Enzy AM/PM -- 1 scoop in potassium rich OJ (lycopenes, relieves hot flashes, boosts imm sys and mental clarity, helps reg bowels) + 1 banana a day for potassium, strength, energy and a host of gd reasons, zinc 25 (anti-canc, imm booster).

Supplements taken w/food if not otherwise indicated. Best to take things that are AM/PM split in that way, rather than all at once.

E and fish oils (Omegas) must be stopped for 1 wk prior to any surg. Must not be taken w/bld thinners.

The onc that recommnds these is cutting edge knowledgeable about vitamins and supplem and is totally familiar with my bc history and overall health (high bld press and choles, high bld sgr). All is under control w/prescrip meds. And VITAMIN H, my gift from God and Slamon and Pegram, et al, is keeping mets at bay we all think (Pegram, Slamon, 3 oncs). On this we all agree.

I wish you all safe passage. Do your best. May you ea become stable, NED and stay there!!! With much loving energy... ANDI

Welcome input from any of you re supplements, or anything for that matter. Please share...

[Adriana Mangus]

Dear Andi:

You are free to express anything you wish. You are a "walking" miracle.

Did you watch the movie "The Devils wears Prada" ...do you remember what the mean lady said to the poor assistant "'THAT'S ALL", " THAT WAS NOT A QUESTION" :-)

Some of us perhaps feel just a little, maybe a tiny tiny tiny bit jealous of you; and it's ok, we are "creatures", it's normal to have those feeling, it's called "human" I'm thinking that perhaps the timing was wrong, with Sandy's passing on and Andi from Iowa not doing well. I do not know???

Me personally, I cried hard and long, I was scared for a few days but am back to "normal" I have read wonderful books on Death and Dying and am at peace with myself, when my time comes, it's nothing I can do. My mission in life will be over, and that's it. I know God has a plan for us and I have lived longer than I ever expected.

I think you received a not so "warm" reception to your posting, but I admire the way you handle the situation.

It did not make you shy away from what you believe, and that's called "having big ones" . I don't think I would have been able to handled it the way you did.

Like I said before, I love your postings, I find them inspirational.

Please ladies, do not get mad at me, am simply posting my "two cents" That's all.........

With love,

[TSund]

Andi,

Thanks for the post. Just starting Taxotere/Carboplatin/Herceptin and sure would like to avoid neuropathy, IBS, or other long lasting side effects. Of course, don't want to get in the way of the chemo either. I don't believe those two have to be mutually exclusive. It's hard, tho, when most oncs don't ascribe to the supplement/nutrition thing and we don't have expert advice.

Is this "tri" indeed one person (oncologist, nutrionist, etc)? Or are you talking about consulting with 3 different people?

Could you could ask him/her if any of these would interfere with TCH chemo?

If you had to do it over again, what preventive measures would you take against the taxotere (and again yet let the taxotere do its job). Again, would your onc have an opinion on this?

We tried to get in at CTCA, which as I understand is a holistic approach to cancer, but they don't take our brand of BC/BS, which makes it absolutely prohibitive. Or I guess more correctly our BS/BS doesn't take them. I hugely respect our current oncologist, except for my great frustrations on these issues.

I know I've taken this thread off-track as I responded to something you had in your post. Re: my subject, "duality"; I think it is clear that you don't believe that we can cure ourselves simply by mind over matter, or you wouldn't be doing herceptin, or supplements, or oncologists. But perhaps you have come to believe that emotional healing is actually more important for you than physical healing, though physical healing certainly might follow close behind and help to put the body right. I do believe in the power of the spirit (I call it the FORCE rather like Star Wars - anyone a reader of Joseph Campbell?)) but nor do I believe all sickness comes from unresolved issues. In fact, in Ruth's case, I believe it is the DDT and pesticide exposure she had in the Phillipines that was a huge contributing factor. (The good old U.S. of A. sold it to them for bug control after it was banned here in the U.S!)

At any rate, we cannot change the past. We can only go forward as best we can. Hopefully with love, integrity, honesty, compassion, wisdom. Doing the best can do heal ourselves from the inside out and the outside in as the case may be.

Sending good vibes out there for all. (May the Force be with you!

TRS

[TSund]

Dang,

I think I mixed two threads. Sorry. Hope I'm not confusing people as well. So sorry.

TRS

[Andrea Barnett Budin]

Dear TRS, I don't think you have a signature or bio or name we can call you by. Would be interested in knowing yr situation re bc and details. Don't even know if you're in the US, and if so, in what state, but I'll do my best to try and be of help. It's an honor, really. Just would like to call you something other than the mysterious TRS. Feels impersonal, I suppose. As you know -- I'm all out there. No secrets. Maybe I should have come up with a clever or meaningful pseudonym. Guess that would be something like TRUTHSEEKER. Anyway, you ask wonderful questions and have a handle on the holistic thing, and THE FORCE which puts you w/the top contenders for survival. HURRAY for you! Honestly.

My oncol/hematol/nutritional expert is one man. A gem to be sure. A real find! Was led to him by reading one of his bks. Dx w/bc '95 -- everyone sent flowers (it moved me to tears one day, after 5 days in hosp, returning home frm mastec/tram flap reconst). The darn doorbell kept ringing. The dogs kept barking as the delivery man approached till he left. Sweet dogs, protecting me. I would get another bunch of flwrs, one more gorgeous than the other. I wld put them here and there and finally ran out of room in my 3000 sq ft home. One day I went to count them. I started to cry. Dzns of pp had reached out w/love to me. Tears of joy swept over me. Then there were the bks. Again, dzns along w/cards. Our hearts and prayers are w/you. I felt their love. The bks were stacked in sev piles. I'd open one, read a bit, hard to focus mdst initial dx I fnd. I'd start a new pile of rejects. I know that. Don't really feel that. Whatever. The 1 night at around 5 AM I went into the bathroom, put the toilet seat down, opened HEALING ESSENCE (not wanting to disturb my husband turning on the light). Gaynor had me on page 1. Goose bumps. I KNEW I WAS GOING TO BE ALL RIGHT. The bk was wonderful, inspiring and all frm a man who was an onc/hematol/true healer in my eyes. Way more than hope. IT TURNED OUT THAT THIS PARTIC BK HAD BEEN GIVEN TO ME BY MY DGHTR, PAMELA!

And so I decided to go see this man in Manhattan (liing on Long Island). He was then w/Cornell Strang Memorial, now NY Presby I think. Teaches meditation, guided imagery and ministers in ev way any onc would but more so! Needless to say I LOVE THIS MAN. DR. MITCHELL GAYNOR.

There is a holistic place in Westchester, but again, I do not know where you are or how accessible this all is to you. I do know Gaynor will not ans ques abt an unknwn pati. He did put me on supplements dur chemo to boost my immune sys and I think that is key, though most oncs are afraid of potential interactions. It's a conundrum.

I do totally believe WE CAN HARNESS THE POWER OF OUR MINDS TO DO AMAZING THINGS. I am unclear as to whether I could have reset my brkn ankle and didn't have the courage to go solo against bc. The chemo, the surgeries were key, along w/my attitude. The oncs all admit that counters in big time. When I offer 90%, they scrunch their chins and say, maybe even more. But it is all necessary, I believe. I thank God for the expertise of my surgeons, my oncs, my chemo nurses (angels from Heaven and incredibly knowledgeable -- a fabulous source of info you won't get from your onc). I also have spent many hrs in chemo rms in NY and Fl ('95-96 and '98-99) + Herceptin beginning ev wk in '98 to today (now at triple dose ev 3 wks)! I GRADUATED! As a gift I now get ev 6 mnth CT scans (chest/abd/pelv with and without contrast). I must get precert #s for ea body part with and without contrast -- diff #s if done otherwise. I say this becz finding it out the hard way, when the insur co denied paym, my Paul spent hrs on the phone and writing appeals to get what should have been given in the first place. He'd start off calmly, speak as the bright attorney and reasonable person he is and I'd stop by seeing him STILL on the phone, his voice raised, sitting forward and out of his seat, his face reddening. I kept reminding -- please don't let this make you sick (he was so very exasperated speaking to a moron on the other end of the phone). I'd tell him I need you to stay healthy. We can't both be sick at the same time. He totally got that.
To be continued (as I fear I'm running on too long and will be denied posting having too many "characters"...) ANDI

[Andrea Barnett Budin]

Forgive my need to tell ALL. My father used to scream -- GET TO THE PINT ALREADY! I want to give you the full pic, however. Back in the day, when I was 1st dx, I would get dexamethazone (?sp) steroids the day before and the day of the ward off side effects. These are great, but you can't sleep w/them. You can clean out all yr closets. Then 2 days after, I'd crash.

Chemos are long, w/pre meds. I went prepared w/2 bks, in case one got boring. Couldn't focus and never read. Didn't bring headset and music. Talked to other patients. A VERITABLE FUND OF INFORMATION, comparing notes, what are you in for -- bonding -- side effects they had and what they found to fix it. Zofran was a Godsend for the major nausea. They gave me all my prescrip at the first chemo -- I wished they'd given them before, so I didn't have to deal w/filling them and HAVING them at the ready after 5 hrs of chemo. I left, I felt fine. My dghtr Pami tk to LIRR out and held my hand for the first hr. I felt her loving energy, along w/Paul's who sat beside me, as he does ev single time I go to a doc, have a test, get chemo, Vit H or whatever.
We are a team. I felt surrounded by love. Paul said with pained words, I wish I could take the chemo for you. He meant it. Pami tried to take all she could holding my hand. The needle inserted in my arm, the drugs to annihilate any malig cells going in, her energy racing through me on the left. I was well armed.

After 1 chemo I decided having lousy veins is so not fair. Turned myself in for an outpatient clinic PORT to be inserted. BEST THING I EVER DID. I love my port! Just didn't want any more surgery, but it was nothing. And no more poking and poking and prodding and failing to get IN to my skinny veins. My luck -- the one skinny thing about me -- my veins. Again, so unfair.

Taxotere was tough for me, but it did what it had to and so I would submit to it's grueling side effects to rid mys of all ca cells. Tk me 8 mnts but it shrunk ev 1 of my multiple tumors. I had 4 or 5 oncs. All brilliant. All added something to the mix that was a vital ingredient. I continued to see them after the met bc, during treatment. 1 fnd my shingles prob that wouldn't have bn fnd until my next chemo, so I got on the med to kill that nasty painful raging virus days before I wld have. I got rid of the damn thing in 10 days (having bn denied chemo w/shingles raging). I knew I wld die w/o the chemo so I MADE UP MY MIND to get rid of it fast. Had the edge w/the early dx and added supplements from my bible PRESCRIPTION FOR NUTRITIONAL HEALING (James Balch, MD and Phyllis Balch) re shingles. Got back on track in 10 days.

Had a really rough time accepting the 2nd dx, believing I was doing ev thing right. Didn't know that w/Her2+ you must attend to that partic and most aggressive gene or you'll recur. I thought I'd failed to keep myself well. I was full of fear beyond the 1st dx. My dear friend Sue had tried to explain that to me. I thought if you recur it's easier becz you've bn through it already, so you know what's coming. No, it's way harder, she would tell me, with this enormous love we had for each other holding us together (even whn in separate states). I felt trapped and doomed and as the side effects worsened and they kept tweaking my protocol -- ev 3 wks, 1 wk off, except for the Vit H, YOU ALW GET THE HERCEPTIN, NO MATTER WHAT then ev 4 wks w2 wks off, I can't even rem now, but nothing helped, bottom line. I was shuffling, not walking, tripping on my own ft. Paul asked what's wrong w/you. I leaned on him on ev imag way. When I could barely talk, my tongue weighing 50 lbs, I was ready to give up. Then I read ONE DAY MY SOUL JUST OPENED UP, it provoked me to write my PRAYER FOR SURVIVAL which is powerful medicine! Major turning point! 4 mnths into treatment. I tk the next 5 mnths well. Dec '98 changed my life!

Now let me quickly add -- others got the same Taxotere and got up and went to work. So ev body is diff, ev bc is diff, ev drg acts diff in ea of us so don't set yrslf up for a hard time. 1st chemo they gave me scrips for meds. Told me to take Zofran next morning. They'd given me anti-naus med in my IV w/chemo. What if I don't need it>, I asked the nurse. She thought for a second and said -- TAKE IT ANYWAY! First thing in the AM. Felt good. Went to dinner w/dgthr and husb. Felt a bit queasy tow the end. Want to go home. Got washed up. Paul feel asleep. I began tossing and turning, heard mys moaning and groaning. Finally wke P up in desperation, rdy to jump out the window. TAKE THE ZOFRAN he said. But they said to take it tmrrw. What time is it? he asked. Midnight. It's tmrrw. TAKE IT NOW. In 1/2 hr I was fine! So after that I tk the Zofran 4 hrs after chemo, regardless of what they put in my IV. For general queasiness, not big time NAUSEA, I would take Phenergan. That worked for me. Compazeen (?sp) did NOT work for ME (usually given). To be continued... ANDI

[Andrea Barnett Budin]

DIARRHEA -- If 2 Imodium don't work w/ea outburst take 2 more. I have taken 20 to stop it all and onc says as long as that doesn't constipate me -- go for it. Have resorted to prescript Lomotil. Knocks you out. GAYNOR gave me Wobenzym N 22 in AM and 2 in PM once I established that I now had IBS. Stayed w/me throughout Taxotere to present. Wobenzyme makes a world of diff. But now Effexor -- to relieve my hot flashes, also anti-depressant -- has pretty much cured by IBS if I watch for what I learned are my "trigger" foods -- anything greasy or fried, nuts, corn, sugar, splenda... Still have hot flashes but feel even happier or more alive so gd drg for me in other ways. Much good luck and I have a few questions. To be continued... Keep us posted TRS! ANDI

[Andrea Barnett Budin]

What is CTCA?????????? What is BC/BS... BC I know, BS only 1 thing comes to mind.

I LOVE JOSEPH CAMPBELL. Have read THE POWER OF MYTH several times. Actually saw a rebroadcast of the PBS talk w/Bill Moyers. He is/was brilliant!

Surely we all have unresolved issues within us, to varying degrees.

As you say -- "we cannot change the past. We can only go forward as best we can. Hopefully with love, integrity, honesty, compassion, wisdom. Doing the best we can do to heal ourselves from the inside out and the outside, in as the case may be". I so thoroughly agree. Much love to the mysterious TRS and all Warrior Women... ANDI

[TSund]

Sorry,

When you see TSund, that's me, Terri. I am so used to signing off that way on my work emails I do it automatically unless I think about it. I am the spouse of Ruth, who has been diagnosed with stage 2-3 bc, (though literature says 3 for locally advanced bc, which she qualifies for) several tumors, possible node involvement (probable given the size of her tumors according to the literature) doing TCH preadjuvant chemo right now. This is the love of my life and I am scared shitless, to be frank. Me - music professor, 46, Ruth, CPA, 50.

I am the researcher ad nauseum, Ruth is very different. She does well in living in the moment,(better than I, my imagination takes me all sorts of not nice places) but I know is scared at times. This week was hard (1st chemo a week ago) for her as she is simply not used to feeling sick. STILL didn't feel sick up to chemo!

So, fast, practical advice from anyone would be appreciated! Does the Wobenzym help with diarehha? Gave RUth one immodium, really constipated her. But it seems like w/o it the diarreha continues. Does the benzonite clay I've read about deal with this issue in a more healthy way? HOw can we try to prevent the IBC? The neuropathy?

Andi, would love to know what your onc would give WITH the TCH regimine. Or anyone else that's working with a holistically inclined onc. (Still seems an oxymoron for the most part) AND, would he avoid any supplements the days around the chemo?

THanks to all,

Terri

[Andrea Barnett Budin]

Hope all my info was noted and of help to you. Yes, Terri, we all pray Ruth (the love of yr life) will fair well. Ea of us can relate to loving someone w/bc and hw hard that is. The disease impact the whole of the unit, the family, those that love the one suffering. May Ruth's treatments go easy. I kept looking at my husb and asking him, somewhat alarmed by the lk on his face -- DO YOU KNOW SOMETHING I DON'T? He KNEW I wanted to know it all. Did not want to be "protected" from my Truth. I needed to know my enemy well and fight it. He did the googling and research, got an incredible educa and shared parts w/me. He signed me up for a spec treatment back in '98 being done in Calif only, micro-waving the tumors (in my liver). Got all the paper work done, exhausted himself in the effort, and we decided not to go w/it for some reason. I think convinced that surg wld only mean still doing the chemo in case the bc was present microscopically. Also looked into stem cell transplant seeing 3 specialists, reading up and then deciding not to go that way. 99 hrs of chemo was a major turn off. As my uncertain feeling removing blood from my neck and then putting it back in. How do they know for sure it's cleansed of all ca, I had to wonder.

We all have our fearful moments pretty much daily, but we choose not to give in to them as best we can, distracting ourselves w/research, posting on this site, helping others in even worse straits, for me working on writing my bk, meditating and talking to my body telling it to HEAL and do it's proper job!!

Have you read Eckhardt Tolle's THE POWER OF NOW? Mindblowing and wondrous. Slow read. Such profundity. But staying in the Now, the moment, is where happiness and wellness reside. Not lingering in the woes of yesterday, remorse, anger, blame, all the negative thoughts and emotions that brings to bear. Good to look to the future, in fact seeing yrself far into the future is very therapeutic. It becomes self-prophesizing! Programming your inner dialogue is key, I feel, as does Tolle. He is quite brilliant and it took my mind much effort to wrap itself around his truths but they resonated and enriched me. I read w/highlighter in hand. My husb laughs that I can't read any other way. I need to review and pour over what I read with ferocity.

I checked my calendar for '98-'99. I went to see Gaynor in Sept '98 as I found I had recurred. My whole life flashed before me as I read my daily comings and goings. Abd sono, Ct scan, liver biop, onc, another onc, another, stem cell guys, chemo, test for Her2, applica for clin trial (Vit H not yet approved). Couldn't wait. Too aggressive, spreading fast. Got on Taxotere. Had shingles. Off chemo. Won't give w/shingles. Determined to get better in a hurry. Tk Valtrex (in '98 for shingles) + supplements. 10 days back to onc. How are you doing? I'm cured. He laughed. Let me see. Sure enough I was "allowed" to go back on chemo and glad for it! Knew I'd die without it. Started Vit H in Nov, 6 wks after starting chemo, w/6wk CT scan to be sure Taxotere was working. Didn't want to want 2 more wks.

Yes, had neuropathy. Dropped stuff mostly, inexplicably. Tingling in fingertips and pain there, then black nails, then lifting from nail bed and yucky crusty stuff in between nail and finger. At least that explained finger tip pain. Ev day was something new. But I was on supplem and believe I wld have reacted even worse without them. Boosted imm sys, helped fght off ca. Don't have that '98 list now. Sorry, or I'd share. Diff from pres list. We all keep learning, even the nutri exp, "naturally"... Are you in NY area?

Terri and Ruth -- be well, support one another with yr LOVE and positive thoughts. Sending you more love and healing energy... ANDI