Good news

 I saw the Dr. yesterday and he says the tumor has gone down considerably.  He believes I am close to just scar tissue.   I have 4 more treatments (2 months) in Mexico then I will wait 3 months or so before having another MRI.   This last round was BRUTAL!   I was given a treatment for Hep and it made me incredibly sick.  The nausea usually lasts 5 days and subsides or at least I have a reprieve for a couple of hours a day.   This time the nausea was in full force each day.   I received acupuncture yesterday and today seems to be a lot better.   Tim is in awe (Denise is not) that I continue to have an appetite while being so nauseous.  Well, all I have to say about that is "pot".   It stops dry heaves immediately and then I have a craving about 2 hours later.  Even with all my diet restrictions there is always something that sounds good.  OK seriously, if there is anyone that is in my situation, talk to your Dr.  It's recommended because its natural and you want to give your body the least about of toxins to process.  I still take Zofran but only for 1 or 2 days.
Radiation is a Bi!@#.   It's turned my breast and underarm red and black. Trip huh?   Freaked me out at first but then the Dr. said it was normal.  He recommended aloe and vitamin E to help soothe the burn.  I talked to a couple of people at Oasis and they had the same experience.  It takes a couple of months after the last radiation to start fading.

First day of treatment

I have been receiving natural treatment at Oasis of Hope in Irvine for 3 weeks now.   That consists of Hyberbaric chamber, Vitamin C drips,  foot bath detox, lymph massage, sauna,  nutrition, and wheat grass.  This is to build my immune system and fight cancer.   As a result of receiving these treatments here, I did not need to stay the month in Mexico.  Since I just need the vaccine and chemo, Dr. Rubio set up for me to only go for the day twice a month.


Nov. 4th-   Aana drove me down.  We got to the pick up spot at about 10:00am and Mario drove us across the boarder.   The Dr. examined me and immediately noticed the swollen lymph close to my armpit.  This was one of the places that was initially bothering me.  The Dr. at Oasis had noticed it as well two weeks earlier.  So off to radiation I went.  It's about 10 minutes off site and took about 30 minutes to complete.  When I returned to the clinic they started with detox.    I did Rife therapy(Electric Frequency integrated with Light Sound Magnetic Laser),  foot detox,  light therapy (to stimulate brain), and shark cartilage(for immune system) enema  (EWWW) is right. Not the most pleasant of experiences or smell.  Then I had about 4 different IV's.  During the 2nd IV the nurse brought in hot cabbage and placed it all over my chest.   Apparently cabbage draws out toxins..who knew?   It was  a very long day.  I didn't realize that Radiation can cause nausea but I have been sick ever since.   Yesterday was worse but today seems better and I have high hopes for tomorrow.  It's weird, I'm hungry but then sick at the same time.  Mexico uses very low dose of radiation.  I can only imagine how this makes some people feel when they get full dose.  No thanks!

Disneyland and Dragonflies

So what do you do when you find out you have cancer?   Go to Disneyland!   The day after I got the call from Dr. Barnes that the biopsy confirmed cancer, Denise, Tim and I headed to Disneyland.   I think it was a Tuesday because I got to the parking lot of work and called Brenda in office and told her I couldn't make it.   It was too overwhelming and she concurred.   For some reason I thought working was going to a good distraction but I realized that I was not going to be able to hold it together if anyone asked.  So at that point I called Denise and asked her if she wanted to go to Disneyland and of course she was in.  It was either that or take of my friend's advise of setting me up with someone for the day so I could cuddle.  It was actually a great idea, buuuut could have been awkward. :0  So Mickey it was.   On our way off the Tower of Terror, Tim randomly picks up a penny from the ground and hands it so me.  You should have seen the look on Denise's and my face.  This is where the dragonflies come in.  
About two years ago we were at the river floating on rafts when she told me a story about a man that was having hard time in his faith.  One day during his struggle, he picked up a penny off the ground and read "IN GOD WE TRUST".   From that point on he said he said he would always be reminded that God was thinking of him whenever he found a penny.   Denise then told me that she asked God to remind her that he was thinking of her with birds.  As a result, at the most crucial or not so crucial times, God reveals himself through birds (incredible stories, you'll have to ask her).    So there I go, hmmmm what do I asked for?   As I am speaking with HIM about the very thing, a vibrant blue dragonfly lands right on my big toe as I'm floating on the lake.  Since that day I have come across a few and of course am always reminded.  However, since the C-diagnosis, they have shown up on every significant day.   The first was day of the biopsy.  As Jill was driving me home, I saw one as we were getting on the fwy.   Two days later when the Dr. Barnes called to confirm what the Dr. doing the biopsy already told me, I saw one again as I was driving home from the beach with Rick.   The following day while on our way to Disney, Denise and I were stopped at a light when I saw two balls flying up and down in front of the car.   I asked her what it was because I couldn't quite make it out.  It kind of looked like a Bubble bee, or dragonfly but not, too many balls.  Needless to say I was confused until she said it was two dragonflies mating.   At that point I reminded her of the conversation at the river and the dragonfly.   So this is why Tim handing me the penny that same day was significant.   The best part is when we were driving home from Rubio's Cancer Center a month later.  As I said in the last post, I was very upset.  It had been raining most of the day.   I was staring out the window at a double rainbow.  I thought of HI of course and then of God's promise to Noah.  I wondered if God was trying to comfort me but it didn't seem like it pertained it to me in this situation.  Denise could see I was crying and said that everything was going to be fine.   She said "What other sign do you want?  God sent a rainbow".    At the very moment I was responding with "A dragonfly" in my head, she spoke A DRAGONFLY? out loud.    Then she told me she didn't think I would get a dragonfly in the middle of the fwy going about 40 mph.   Well folks, that is exactly what happen.   A dragonfly comes up on the passenger side of the window and stays with us for a minute before taking off.   Yes, that was a great moment we will soon not forget.

The start of a journey

Where do I begin?  With Gemma of course!   Thank you G for setting this up for me.

This blog is for all those who have come along side me on this road to healing.   I can't thank you enough for all your love and support.  I am so touched and grateful to be joined with such wonderful caring people.

I first recognized the discomfort of my breasts last year.   The nipples were itchy  and the right breast felt as if the ducts were clogged from breast feeding.   This went on for a few months before I mentioned it to Denise.  However, I only brought up the gland part because my nipple , particularly the right had been itchy for a lot longer.   She thought I may be getting sick.  Around the first of the year I bought it back up to her and she suggested at that time to see a Dr.   Well, the Dr. thought it was nothing until the mammogram came back in Feb as -Stage 5 probability of being cancer.  This was based on the characteristics o the tumor.   Incidentally, I now know that itchy nipples are an indication of breast cancer.  Although, not always.

I didn't get a Biopsy done until Sept and that was when the Invasive Ductal Carcinoma was diagnosed.  Why did I wait so long?   Well, because I knew what I DIDN'T want to do (conventional medicine) but I didn't know what I did want to do.   That was until I met the founder of Envita. I went to a  seminar he was speaking at on Cancer in San Juan.   He mentioned only using 10% of chemo because it is administered with glucose.   Cancer cell have something like 45% more sugar receptors than normal cells.  Therefore, they lower the insulin level so the cancer cell are starving and BAM!  Brilliant, right?  I had remembered coming across this years earlier when I was researching alternatives with Anthony (this treatment is not offered in U.S).  Not only do facitities like Enivta offer this form of chemo but the focus on building the immune system, not break it down.

Not only did I research Envita, I sought the opinion from a panel of 10 Doctors at Mission Hospital who reviewed my file.  Their recommendation was not sugary due to the size of the tumor but 3 months of chemo first,  I also visited Rubio's Cancer Center, RCC in Mexico during the same time.  I was impressed with the treatment plan of the same 10% chemo and glucose,  immune therapy but most of all the vaccine.   They take the tumor extract the cancer cells,  treat with enzymes to break down protein coating, then introduce my t-cells.   Once the t-cells kill the cancer this becomes the vaccine.  It is administer through an IV and the t-cell go to work teaching the others who to kill the cancer cells.

Before I even got out of the door at RCC, I was in tears.  How the hell was I going to afford this?   I tried to maintain my composure but the ride back in van across the boarder was filled with tears streaming down my face.   Denise gently took my hand and asked why I was upset.  REALLY?   She may have even asked something like what I was believing, because it was a lie (based on my negative emotions) .  Ok, REALLY!?!  is what I'm thinking because I am unable to speak.   Maybe because I have no tissues and i'm trying to stop the snot from seeping into my mouth.   Did she not hear the cost! Or did she forget that part?  Since I don't remember saying anything, I must have given her a look because she says, in her "Denise" way of saying things,  "I have a plan".

I have to continue later because Oasis not only has me on strict recommendations for diet but sleep schedule as well.