I am feeling much better, thank goodness. Never would have thought that detoxing your body of all the built up toxins could make you so sick, but once you are able to flush them from your system, it is amazing how much better your feel. Ive lost 10 pounds already. I know a lot of that is water, but it is also a lot of toxins. Today was a good day. I am learning to truly appreciate that and heal with gratitude.
Today I had my third round of IPT/low-dose chemotherapy and I feel really great! I also had another colonic treatment which really helps to remove the toxins. Whew!!
I have met so many amazing people and look at them with great admiration. Some are very sick and just starting their treatment and others have come a long way and are such an inspiration. It is a great support group and we are all encourage each other, which is helpful when you are not having such a good day.
My sister, Joyce, has been great and I am truly grateful she has been here for personal support and help. It has been a great blessing.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Monday, October 25, 2010
The Start of Week Two
I think it would be really unrealistic if I was always so upbeat, but truly it is easy to be upbeat when you feel good, but when you don't feel well, then the bottom falls out. In fact, yesterday I was ready to give up because I felt so rotten and this is not easy, but it is a commitment and it beats the heck out of the conventional route. I have to keep reminding myself of that. It is just hard right now because I am really homesick and I miss my family so I am being a big baby. Sorry to burst your bubble for all of you who think I am so strong, but I guess I am human. Best you know that now!
I have started on my juice fast and am cleaning the aquarium so to speak and it has been really rough. I had no idea how toxic I was and how crummy you can feel when you are going through the process. I actually had a colonic flush today which removed a boat load of toxins and I feel much improved, thank goodness. I also had a lymphatic massage and drainage and a vitamin C infusion. I have an IPT/chemo treatment tomorrow.
I so appreciate everyone's thoughts and prayers and I need them now more than ever. Thank you to all who have done so much for my family. My heart is full and very grateful to all of my friends and family.
I have started on my juice fast and am cleaning the aquarium so to speak and it has been really rough. I had no idea how toxic I was and how crummy you can feel when you are going through the process. I actually had a colonic flush today which removed a boat load of toxins and I feel much improved, thank goodness. I also had a lymphatic massage and drainage and a vitamin C infusion. I have an IPT/chemo treatment tomorrow.
I so appreciate everyone's thoughts and prayers and I need them now more than ever. Thank you to all who have done so much for my family. My heart is full and very grateful to all of my friends and family.
Saturday, October 23, 2010
The Honeymoon is Over and Reality is Setting In.
It has been quite a week, a rollercoaster to say the least. The first part of the week was so great! The last part of the week has still been good, but has been very emotional. It is part of the physical cleansing and emotional healing. I have been on a very cleansing juice throughout the week, but today starts my official juice cleanse to detox my body of all the chemicals and toxins that have been floating around for a long time that make it difficult to fight cancer or any other disease for that matter. I will be on this cleanse for a minimum of 10 days and hopefully I can make it the full 16 days. It just depends on when I hit my wall. I have heard from other patients that you hit a wall and then you know you are done and then they transition you slowly into a solid diet. Right now nothing sounds good or tastes good, so even though I feel a little hungry, I have no desire to eat. Another typical response to detox. One thing that I have found interesting is that each of our cells also becomes toxic with negative emotions. Our emotional experiences even from childhood imprint themselves on the DNA of each of our cells, so detoxing also releases a lot of those toxins and brings a lot of emotions to the surface. This has been very hard for me because I am the type of person that tries very hard to hold it together, and I am not holding it together that well, but this is a good thing because it is a great release of a lot of emotional stress, which is very healing and detoxing. What I am learning is that this is a complete mind, body and spirit healing experience and that is why they offer so many healing modalities.
In addition to IPT with chemo and vitamin C infusions, I have also had structural integration, colonics (not fun, but very beneficial in the detox) psychotherapy, yoga, and physical fitness by a personal trainer. Next week there will be a new onslaught of therapies including lymphatic massage and drainage, EWOT which is exercise with oxygen therapy, infrared sauna, chelation therapy which helps remove heavy metals from the body which are very toxic. It makes for a full week and full days. It starts at 8 and doesn't usually get through until 4 or 5 pm.
As with any journey, you are going to hit some bumps in the road or as they say it is not always smooth sailing and I am told that I am entering that part of the experience right now. It will get better and I know that this is where I am supposed to be. I am grateful that I feel as good as I do from a physical standpoint. IPT does not cut you off at your knees as conventional therapy does because they are using only 10% of the normal dose and the majority of that makes a direct hit on the cancer cells. The detoxing is probably the hardest part right now, but I will get through it.
I miss my family a ton and I am just grateful for the support of my sister who is here with me and also brother. I appreciate so very much the support my family is getting from everyone in the ward and from family. I feel so blessed.
In addition to IPT with chemo and vitamin C infusions, I have also had structural integration, colonics (not fun, but very beneficial in the detox) psychotherapy, yoga, and physical fitness by a personal trainer. Next week there will be a new onslaught of therapies including lymphatic massage and drainage, EWOT which is exercise with oxygen therapy, infrared sauna, chelation therapy which helps remove heavy metals from the body which are very toxic. It makes for a full week and full days. It starts at 8 and doesn't usually get through until 4 or 5 pm.
As with any journey, you are going to hit some bumps in the road or as they say it is not always smooth sailing and I am told that I am entering that part of the experience right now. It will get better and I know that this is where I am supposed to be. I am grateful that I feel as good as I do from a physical standpoint. IPT does not cut you off at your knees as conventional therapy does because they are using only 10% of the normal dose and the majority of that makes a direct hit on the cancer cells. The detoxing is probably the hardest part right now, but I will get through it.
I miss my family a ton and I am just grateful for the support of my sister who is here with me and also brother. I appreciate so very much the support my family is getting from everyone in the ward and from family. I feel so blessed.
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
The Fun Begins - I am being totally serious!!!
DAY #1
Oh man, what a whirlwind this week has been. Mike and I drove into Phoenix late Sunday evening. Our first day began at An Oasis of Healing on Monday morning, at 11:00 am. I had a nurse's evaluation, and then toured the facility and had a wonderful "Real Food" lunch. It was thoroughly enjoyable. I also started on 2 quarts of an amazing juice that consists of kale, cucumber, spinach, green apple, lemon and ginger. It is so good, so refreshing, and incredibly good for you, not to mention detoxifying.
After that, they did not waste any time and started me on high dose vitamin C like 5000 mg of vitamin C intravenously. This boosts your immune system and cancer cells are destroyed by high doses of vitamin C because healthy cells have a substance that break down the vitamin C with an enzyme called Catalase (sp?), which turns it into oxygen and water. Cancer cannot live in an oxygen rich environment so this is the first line of defense. Since cancer cells lack this enzyme, the chemical reaction of vitamin C on a cancer cell is hydrogen peroxide, which totally destroys the cancer cells. So big double WHAMMY.
Later that day, I met with Dr. Lodi. This man is brillant. We had a 3-hour consult with him. What doctor does that??? He asked a lot of questions to learn more about me and my lifestyle and my cancer diagnosis and so forth. He then spent a lot of time educating us about our bodies, about cancer, disease, health and how to stop making cancer. Positively amazing. Education is key. It really helps when you understand what makes cancer and how to stop it from coming back. When you understand how it all works, it is much easier to follow the protocol. And the truth of the matter is, it will be a life-long change. Dr. Lodi is a very spiritual man and knows the Bible and a lot about the LDS faith, Word of Wisdom, etc., even though he himself is not LDS. He said something very amazing to me. He said "Cancer is a divine tap on the shoulder. Heal with gratitude. It will allow you to fulfill your potential and through your experience, you will teach and inspire others." It was a very profound spiritual moment for me. I walked out of there so hopeful and without question that this is the answer and positively the cure for me. I truly view my cancer as a great blessing in my life. I am not scared of it all, but view it as an incredible journey!
Following that, we were given our evening meal, an amazing meal of raw whole food that was so very delicious and satisfying, topped off with more healing juice. It is so great!!
DAY #2
Day starts off with an exercise class with a personal trainer. I know what you are thinking -- Cancer treatment, sure, sounds more like a vacation. But exercise is a big important part of healing and overall good health. We actually just got to know each other and our stories. I will be blogging the stories of these people. They are amazing stories of healing and very inspiring. This is not just a place for treatment, it is a healing place, a place to heal mind, body and spirit. There are about 15 of us currently at the Oasis of Healing. We are all at various levels of cancer and healing. I would say that at leave 5 of us have breast cancer, one with glioblastoma (brain cancer), two with ovarian cancer both metastatic, one with uterine metastatic cancer, one with liver and colorectal cancer. We are fast becoming friends and there is a real positive energy of healing and support. We see each other every day and are all in a common area that is very comfortable where we receive our Vitamin C or chemo. While it is very professional and clinical when it needs to be, it is also a very relaxed nonthreatening family-like environment.
After the exercise class, we went to a food preparation class, where we are learning about the importance of eating a raw or real food diet, all plant based. They have a raw food chef on staff who does these classes daily and then provides our smoothies and our lunches and dinners. The food has been incredibly good. We had a taco (meatless) salad last night that would give Cafe Rio a run for their money. Tonight we actually had a pizza with nondairy cheese and not baked. It was so delicious and you don't feel guilty eating it. I never thought you could do the things you can do with completely uncooked food. Don't knock it until you've tried it. I have been amazed!!!
Following that, I had another high dose vitamin C infusion. Following that, I sat in on my sister's consult with Dr. Lodi and learned a ton more. Again, he spent at least 2 hours with her. He is incredibly knowledgeable and so very down to earth. He really listens and cares about every individual person and what they are dealing with. (An Oasis of Healing allows each patient to have a guest to participate in the classes and be a support. My sister is way into this sort of stuff and so I invited her to come down. She is interested in just becoming more healthy and will be doing some of the healing modalities and body cleanses so that is why she met with Dr. Lodi as well).
That was the end of day #2.
DAY #3
Today is Wednesday, October 20, 2010. Day started out with yoga and it was so very relaxing and healing. This is a very low key yoga as compared to some yoga classes I have been in where you are turned into a pretzel. Many patients are at various levels of health. Some are stage 3 and 4 and have already been conventional chemo and radiation and are pretty beat up when they get there, so it is more of a healing deep breathing relaxing type of yoga.
Following yoga, we had another food preparation class. We learned how to make breakfast foods with all kinds of grains and seeds (soaked and sprouted, not cooked). I couldn't try any of the things we made as I was fasting in preparation for my IPT therapy and first chemo session today.
A little later, I went through IPT. A very interesting and amazing method of administering chemotherapy. If you haven't watched the videos, please do so, it will explain a lot. In brief, all sugar feeds cancer. Cancer cells have an a ridiculous amount of insulin receptors on them, so when you eat, the cancers consume the sugar first. So with IPT, they have you fast so your blood sugar is low. Then they infuse you with more insulin which acts as a key to unlock the receptors on the cancer cells. The nurses monitor you very carefully so that your blood sugar drops even further, but not dangerously low. At that point, they inject the chemotherapy cocktail, followed by several drugs that weaken the cancer cell and to make it more prone to absorb the chemo. Then they had me start drinking fresh juiced apple juice (yum) and then a healthy raw food dessert which had bananas in it to help bring up my blood sugar. The sugar then pushes the chemotherapy into the cancer cells and this is how cancer cells are targeted, therefore, only 10% of a conventional dose of chemotherapy is needed. The rest of the cells in the body are minimally affected by the chemo, yet the cancer cells got a direct hit. I felt a little wiped afterwards, but that is due to the blood sugar roller coaster. I took a little nap and I have felt great the rest of the day!
I am in the right place, doing the right thing, at the right time. I feel so blessed. I feel an incredible peace that can only come from our Savior's love and I am humbled by your faith and prayers. I know they are being heard and I am grateful!!
I am sorry for the epistle. I will try to post daily to avoid this in the future. LOL.
.
Oh man, what a whirlwind this week has been. Mike and I drove into Phoenix late Sunday evening. Our first day began at An Oasis of Healing on Monday morning, at 11:00 am. I had a nurse's evaluation, and then toured the facility and had a wonderful "Real Food" lunch. It was thoroughly enjoyable. I also started on 2 quarts of an amazing juice that consists of kale, cucumber, spinach, green apple, lemon and ginger. It is so good, so refreshing, and incredibly good for you, not to mention detoxifying.
After that, they did not waste any time and started me on high dose vitamin C like 5000 mg of vitamin C intravenously. This boosts your immune system and cancer cells are destroyed by high doses of vitamin C because healthy cells have a substance that break down the vitamin C with an enzyme called Catalase (sp?), which turns it into oxygen and water. Cancer cannot live in an oxygen rich environment so this is the first line of defense. Since cancer cells lack this enzyme, the chemical reaction of vitamin C on a cancer cell is hydrogen peroxide, which totally destroys the cancer cells. So big double WHAMMY.
Later that day, I met with Dr. Lodi. This man is brillant. We had a 3-hour consult with him. What doctor does that??? He asked a lot of questions to learn more about me and my lifestyle and my cancer diagnosis and so forth. He then spent a lot of time educating us about our bodies, about cancer, disease, health and how to stop making cancer. Positively amazing. Education is key. It really helps when you understand what makes cancer and how to stop it from coming back. When you understand how it all works, it is much easier to follow the protocol. And the truth of the matter is, it will be a life-long change. Dr. Lodi is a very spiritual man and knows the Bible and a lot about the LDS faith, Word of Wisdom, etc., even though he himself is not LDS. He said something very amazing to me. He said "Cancer is a divine tap on the shoulder. Heal with gratitude. It will allow you to fulfill your potential and through your experience, you will teach and inspire others." It was a very profound spiritual moment for me. I walked out of there so hopeful and without question that this is the answer and positively the cure for me. I truly view my cancer as a great blessing in my life. I am not scared of it all, but view it as an incredible journey!
Following that, we were given our evening meal, an amazing meal of raw whole food that was so very delicious and satisfying, topped off with more healing juice. It is so great!!
DAY #2
Day starts off with an exercise class with a personal trainer. I know what you are thinking -- Cancer treatment, sure, sounds more like a vacation. But exercise is a big important part of healing and overall good health. We actually just got to know each other and our stories. I will be blogging the stories of these people. They are amazing stories of healing and very inspiring. This is not just a place for treatment, it is a healing place, a place to heal mind, body and spirit. There are about 15 of us currently at the Oasis of Healing. We are all at various levels of cancer and healing. I would say that at leave 5 of us have breast cancer, one with glioblastoma (brain cancer), two with ovarian cancer both metastatic, one with uterine metastatic cancer, one with liver and colorectal cancer. We are fast becoming friends and there is a real positive energy of healing and support. We see each other every day and are all in a common area that is very comfortable where we receive our Vitamin C or chemo. While it is very professional and clinical when it needs to be, it is also a very relaxed nonthreatening family-like environment.
After the exercise class, we went to a food preparation class, where we are learning about the importance of eating a raw or real food diet, all plant based. They have a raw food chef on staff who does these classes daily and then provides our smoothies and our lunches and dinners. The food has been incredibly good. We had a taco (meatless) salad last night that would give Cafe Rio a run for their money. Tonight we actually had a pizza with nondairy cheese and not baked. It was so delicious and you don't feel guilty eating it. I never thought you could do the things you can do with completely uncooked food. Don't knock it until you've tried it. I have been amazed!!!
Following that, I had another high dose vitamin C infusion. Following that, I sat in on my sister's consult with Dr. Lodi and learned a ton more. Again, he spent at least 2 hours with her. He is incredibly knowledgeable and so very down to earth. He really listens and cares about every individual person and what they are dealing with. (An Oasis of Healing allows each patient to have a guest to participate in the classes and be a support. My sister is way into this sort of stuff and so I invited her to come down. She is interested in just becoming more healthy and will be doing some of the healing modalities and body cleanses so that is why she met with Dr. Lodi as well).
That was the end of day #2.
DAY #3
Today is Wednesday, October 20, 2010. Day started out with yoga and it was so very relaxing and healing. This is a very low key yoga as compared to some yoga classes I have been in where you are turned into a pretzel. Many patients are at various levels of health. Some are stage 3 and 4 and have already been conventional chemo and radiation and are pretty beat up when they get there, so it is more of a healing deep breathing relaxing type of yoga.
Following yoga, we had another food preparation class. We learned how to make breakfast foods with all kinds of grains and seeds (soaked and sprouted, not cooked). I couldn't try any of the things we made as I was fasting in preparation for my IPT therapy and first chemo session today.
A little later, I went through IPT. A very interesting and amazing method of administering chemotherapy. If you haven't watched the videos, please do so, it will explain a lot. In brief, all sugar feeds cancer. Cancer cells have an a ridiculous amount of insulin receptors on them, so when you eat, the cancers consume the sugar first. So with IPT, they have you fast so your blood sugar is low. Then they infuse you with more insulin which acts as a key to unlock the receptors on the cancer cells. The nurses monitor you very carefully so that your blood sugar drops even further, but not dangerously low. At that point, they inject the chemotherapy cocktail, followed by several drugs that weaken the cancer cell and to make it more prone to absorb the chemo. Then they had me start drinking fresh juiced apple juice (yum) and then a healthy raw food dessert which had bananas in it to help bring up my blood sugar. The sugar then pushes the chemotherapy into the cancer cells and this is how cancer cells are targeted, therefore, only 10% of a conventional dose of chemotherapy is needed. The rest of the cells in the body are minimally affected by the chemo, yet the cancer cells got a direct hit. I felt a little wiped afterwards, but that is due to the blood sugar roller coaster. I took a little nap and I have felt great the rest of the day!
I am in the right place, doing the right thing, at the right time. I feel so blessed. I feel an incredible peace that can only come from our Savior's love and I am humbled by your faith and prayers. I know they are being heard and I am grateful!!
I am sorry for the epistle. I will try to post daily to avoid this in the future. LOL.
.
Friday, October 15, 2010
Alternative Cancer Care 5
Here is the last of the Alternatives to Cancer videos. More information will follow not only about IPT therapy, but other cancer doctors who are curing cancer using other modalities for healing without darn near killing their patient to do it. I am looking really forward to starting my treatment. It is going to be so great!!
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Alternative Cancer Care 4
Great news today. My PET scan showed no metastatic cancer anywhere. Just a very small uptake on the left breast, but I already knew that. (There was a very small residual following my lumpectomy.) No mass or lesion associated. Woohoo. Now we are going to kick this to the curb in a big hurry!
I have packed and left for Arizona with a brief two-day stop in Midway to spend time with the whole family. I feel good and so amazingly positive. I am just so grateful that I have found An Oasis of Healing in Arizona. I cringe to think what I could be going through if I didn't follow my heart.
Monday I start my workup and treatments. Stay tuned for a day by day log of my treatments. Also part 5 of Alternative Cancer Care to follow tomorrow.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Alternative Cancer Care 3
As promised, here is part 3. Very very interesting about the role sugar plays in cancer.
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