I tried to get an appointment with Peter d'Adamo or his colleague,Ginger Nash, at the 'center for personalized medicine'. They are very booked up and I will have to wait for another visit to the States to do that. They deal with nutrition and supplements to suit your blood profile. It seems interesting and of value so I will go back to his book on this subject and try and see if I can incorporate some of the principles in my eating habbits.
I then tried to get an appointment at the Boyd Center with Dr Barry Boyd who was recommended to me by a doctor friend as a great integrative practitioner. Dr Boyd is an oncologist who has a more integrative approach. He was also busy but his assistant did manage to get me in this morning. So my dear sister in law drove Alex and I to Greenwich for this appointment.
I felt somewhat disappointed at this meeting...maybe because I was expecting a lot (lesson no 1 !). But also because in the end cancer is not a precise science and there is no one who will tell you what exactly to do to banish reoccurrance. It is all about statistics in a rather elementary way...by this I mean that statistics about human beings are for me very suspect by the virtue of the fact that it is so hard to take all factors into account and draw conclusions that are truly accurate. It is a little like testing an individual drug for safety levels in laboratory conditions and then extrapolating into real life when any individual may be taking several different drugs as well as eat different things and be exposed to different environments...etc.,...
However, on second thoughts, the meeting was interesting in that I did learn some things. Firstly that I should ask for a test called "Oncotype DX"test to be done on my sample of tumour tissue. This test looks at 21 genes within the tumour sample to see how active they are. It further enables the oncologist to understand the specific biology of the cancer and hence tailor make the therapies recommended. Secondly that from all the different things that one can do to improve one's chances of survival , activity takes the highest place in lifestyle domain and adequate vitamin D takes the highest place amongst supplements. This according to latest research not as yet proven because of the years of trials needed to get there but believed amongst the savvy. Anyhow I have come away convinced that I should incorporate an hour of exercise such as walking/swimming/qi gong/yoga into my daily life. This will be in 'plein air' so that the vit D situation will also be addressed. I kind of think I do that ...but in reality I'm always skimping ...so no more skimping. Btw my vit D levels are very good thanks to my outdoorsy life in Monaco!
Alex left for LA this afternoon. And I miss him very much. It has been so lovely to have him by my side and to feel safe in his care. I have to stand on my own now!! I shall miss his company and his gentle and efficient ways.
Off to bed now as Nico is telling me off for staying up late.
sima
Friday, August 27, 2010
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
easier movement
This afternoon Alex and I went to the doctor's to have my drain taken out...it was relatively painless and such a relief not to have it dangling at my side any more ... I now feel more on the road to recovery and normal albeit not so. Easier to move around...
I had some more conversations with different nutritionists around here but I am coming to the conclusion that I will be better off making my way back home sooner, via London so I can see some of my friends.
The boys need to get back to their lives and I am feeling antsy! I want to start the rest of my life!
I am also feeling my emotions a lot more and that always makes me wish to be home to feel safe. These days I am so reminded of what my mother went through all those years ago ...she shared so little and I honestly cannot imagine how she summoned up the courage and resilience to get through her similar ordeal on her own. I know she did not wish to dwell on it with me anyways, and I feel bad that I did not try harder to be there for her even if she pushed me away. Amazing how different we all are.
I'm off to bed again.
sima
I had some more conversations with different nutritionists around here but I am coming to the conclusion that I will be better off making my way back home sooner, via London so I can see some of my friends.
The boys need to get back to their lives and I am feeling antsy! I want to start the rest of my life!
I am also feeling my emotions a lot more and that always makes me wish to be home to feel safe. These days I am so reminded of what my mother went through all those years ago ...she shared so little and I honestly cannot imagine how she summoned up the courage and resilience to get through her similar ordeal on her own. I know she did not wish to dwell on it with me anyways, and I feel bad that I did not try harder to be there for her even if she pushed me away. Amazing how different we all are.
I'm off to bed again.
sima
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Some different 'cures'!
I have for a long time believed in the Gerson Therapy and every so often thought about doing some version of it for myself...just to see how I might feel. It was something that really inspired me after I read Beata Bishop's book, a time to heal, and studied the theory behind Gerson's work.
So I am thinking of going to Hungary where there now exists the second Gerson Clinic, the first being in Mexico and so far away. In Hungary they do 2 week long courses to teach you and introduce you to Gerson Therapy so that you can then continue at home. This really appeals to me. Has any one heard about this?
I also read about blood types and diets a while back. I am now looking at this again. I happen to be in CT where Peter d'Adamo has set up his clinic. Alas on enquiring today the first appointment with him is in November and I do want to get back to europe soon. Still I will read his book again and see what I can gain from it. Any one know about this?
And finally a friend sent me an article to do with the qualities of asparagus in beating cancer and in general in promoting health. Any one knows about this? I will post that article tomorrow.
Reading a lot online I do get some similar messages. OXYGEN (hence any exercises to do with good breathing as well as antioxidents as supplements or food components), CLEAN WATER (to drink,cook with, and wash in), NO added SODIUM diet, plenty of DIFFERENT COLOURED VEGETABLES AND FRUITS juiced, souped,steamed,or simply eaten raw). These are the definite common factors in most different therapies I have read about so far. I add laughter and meditation.
And REST...so I'm off to bed.
sima
So I am thinking of going to Hungary where there now exists the second Gerson Clinic, the first being in Mexico and so far away. In Hungary they do 2 week long courses to teach you and introduce you to Gerson Therapy so that you can then continue at home. This really appeals to me. Has any one heard about this?
I also read about blood types and diets a while back. I am now looking at this again. I happen to be in CT where Peter d'Adamo has set up his clinic. Alas on enquiring today the first appointment with him is in November and I do want to get back to europe soon. Still I will read his book again and see what I can gain from it. Any one know about this?
And finally a friend sent me an article to do with the qualities of asparagus in beating cancer and in general in promoting health. Any one knows about this? I will post that article tomorrow.
Reading a lot online I do get some similar messages. OXYGEN (hence any exercises to do with good breathing as well as antioxidents as supplements or food components), CLEAN WATER (to drink,cook with, and wash in), NO added SODIUM diet, plenty of DIFFERENT COLOURED VEGETABLES AND FRUITS juiced, souped,steamed,or simply eaten raw). These are the definite common factors in most different therapies I have read about so far. I add laughter and meditation.
And REST...so I'm off to bed.
sima
Monday, August 23, 2010
1st step on the journey back home
I left Rochester and the Mayo Clinic today with Alex as my chaperone and protector.
These days I have become so aware of all the blessings that I have and that at times I lose sight of...
I am so proud of my two boys who have so rallyed around me at this time. Nico made the journey to Mayo with me despite my protestations that I like doing things on my own. Very quickly I was so grateful to have him with me! I had no idea how broken I would feel as the results of tests started to pour in and doctors looking grave would move to hold my hands before speaking to me....he was a strong and loving shoulder for me to lean on as well as very wise counsel. And we still had some laughs together.
Alex followed us here a few days later and together with my dear loving friend, Jane, this was my team and 'entourage' as we visited doctors, asked pertinent questions, and made notes on their opinions and findings. A few days later my team sat waiting for me as I was wheeled off to be operated on. And then they were there to celebrate the good results. That night we all slept well, relieved from our worst imaginings.
Then as Nico left to go back to work and then Jane, Amanda arrived to hold the fort with Alex during the post op recovery time. I don't know how I would have coped without all these most wonderful, loving, and efficient helpers...Alex stands out as he somehow does not flinch at having to change dressings and doing all sorts of horrid routines...his gentleness and precision and proficiency touch me deeply. Again he left no question unasked as we moved towards the final stage of being discharged.
I am indeed a very lucky woman.
And so after a 3 hour flight here i am at the house of my brother and his family in CT. I sit in my beautiful room listening to Handel with my window open letting in the backdrop of frog sounds...so peaceful and wonderful. I shall sleep well tonight knowing I have crossed the first hurdle.
My thanks to my boys and Jane and Amanda for being my on the ground team at this stage. And my deep gratitude to all of my family and friends who have been sending me love and light and so much more form all corners of the world.
sima
These days I have become so aware of all the blessings that I have and that at times I lose sight of...
I am so proud of my two boys who have so rallyed around me at this time. Nico made the journey to Mayo with me despite my protestations that I like doing things on my own. Very quickly I was so grateful to have him with me! I had no idea how broken I would feel as the results of tests started to pour in and doctors looking grave would move to hold my hands before speaking to me....he was a strong and loving shoulder for me to lean on as well as very wise counsel. And we still had some laughs together.
Alex followed us here a few days later and together with my dear loving friend, Jane, this was my team and 'entourage' as we visited doctors, asked pertinent questions, and made notes on their opinions and findings. A few days later my team sat waiting for me as I was wheeled off to be operated on. And then they were there to celebrate the good results. That night we all slept well, relieved from our worst imaginings.
Then as Nico left to go back to work and then Jane, Amanda arrived to hold the fort with Alex during the post op recovery time. I don't know how I would have coped without all these most wonderful, loving, and efficient helpers...Alex stands out as he somehow does not flinch at having to change dressings and doing all sorts of horrid routines...his gentleness and precision and proficiency touch me deeply. Again he left no question unasked as we moved towards the final stage of being discharged.
I am indeed a very lucky woman.
And so after a 3 hour flight here i am at the house of my brother and his family in CT. I sit in my beautiful room listening to Handel with my window open letting in the backdrop of frog sounds...so peaceful and wonderful. I shall sleep well tonight knowing I have crossed the first hurdle.
My thanks to my boys and Jane and Amanda for being my on the ground team at this stage. And my deep gratitude to all of my family and friends who have been sending me love and light and so much more form all corners of the world.
sima
Sunday, August 22, 2010
how did i get here?
Well ... less than a week ago I was walking around much the same as I had done for several decades, a woman sporting 2 breasts, as is the norm, be it an anxious woman unsure as to what may lie ahead... less than a month ago I was innocent of any knowledge about what was already brewing inside my body ... I could not have predicted where I stand today.
It has all happened so fast. I feel as if I have been swept up into someone else's story and now cannot extricate myself. I have had to make so many decisions so fast that I have not been able to prepare myself for this moment when I have to face the consequences of those decisions turned into action.
And yet something in me is also aware that maybe from long ago I have known about this moment. And maybe some of my life so far has been in preparation for this. Seems strange as I would not have chosen it this way and yet I feel I am in a place known to me on some other level.
The story goes like this: I was diagnosed with breast cancer a week ago, and I had a Simple Mastectomy on my left breast 4 days ago. The results were good in that the operation was successful, the cancer diagnosed in the main as DCIS with an area contained inside already turning invasive gradeII, the lymph nodes showed negative, and I have not been advised to do radiation or chemotherapy. I am waiting for results of blood test to see if I am a good candidate for hormone therapy with medication called Tamoxifen. I would then have to decide whether to to take this or not.
This blog is going to serve a very important purpose for me. It is going to be my story. It is going to record my journey into this next stage of my life which may be of interest to some of my friends and family and others. This particularly so as I intend to investigate and find all sorts of interesting and exciting ways of getting myself back into total health ...in the oncology language : to maximize my chances of NOT having a recurrence or metastasis. Every option oncology offers carries several sets of percentages attached to it in terms of survival chances as well as the various possible negative side effects to the rest of the body.
The options I propose to look into and get going with are going to be fun to learn and to engage with as well as being beneficial for the whole of me. No negative side effects for any other body parts and plenty of positive side effects for my mind and body as a whole. I may even learn things that will be of interest to my friends and family. How exciting!!
This is also a call for help or an open invitation to come in with your input. I would wholeheartedly appreciate comments on my findings/chosen paths as well as any input form any of you regarding stuff that you know about that might help me in my quest.
so here is the first posting on my brand new blog.
Sima
It has all happened so fast. I feel as if I have been swept up into someone else's story and now cannot extricate myself. I have had to make so many decisions so fast that I have not been able to prepare myself for this moment when I have to face the consequences of those decisions turned into action.
And yet something in me is also aware that maybe from long ago I have known about this moment. And maybe some of my life so far has been in preparation for this. Seems strange as I would not have chosen it this way and yet I feel I am in a place known to me on some other level.
The story goes like this: I was diagnosed with breast cancer a week ago, and I had a Simple Mastectomy on my left breast 4 days ago. The results were good in that the operation was successful, the cancer diagnosed in the main as DCIS with an area contained inside already turning invasive gradeII, the lymph nodes showed negative, and I have not been advised to do radiation or chemotherapy. I am waiting for results of blood test to see if I am a good candidate for hormone therapy with medication called Tamoxifen. I would then have to decide whether to to take this or not.
This blog is going to serve a very important purpose for me. It is going to be my story. It is going to record my journey into this next stage of my life which may be of interest to some of my friends and family and others. This particularly so as I intend to investigate and find all sorts of interesting and exciting ways of getting myself back into total health ...in the oncology language : to maximize my chances of NOT having a recurrence or metastasis. Every option oncology offers carries several sets of percentages attached to it in terms of survival chances as well as the various possible negative side effects to the rest of the body.
The options I propose to look into and get going with are going to be fun to learn and to engage with as well as being beneficial for the whole of me. No negative side effects for any other body parts and plenty of positive side effects for my mind and body as a whole. I may even learn things that will be of interest to my friends and family. How exciting!!
This is also a call for help or an open invitation to come in with your input. I would wholeheartedly appreciate comments on my findings/chosen paths as well as any input form any of you regarding stuff that you know about that might help me in my quest.
so here is the first posting on my brand new blog.
Sima
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