MY HOLISTIC ALTERNATIVE & COMPLEMENTARY CANCER CURE JOURNEY

This is covered in greater detail in my novel, Boob, A Story of Sex, Cancer & Stupidity, but here’s what happened in a nutshell. In 1991, I discovered a malignant lymph node and was diagnosed with Stage II breast cancer. Even though there was no discernable cancer in the breast itself (possibly due to drastic health changes I'd previously made), I was treated with 6 months of aggressive chemotherapy and one month of daily radiation. That is when I began my pursuit of alternative & complementary cures. Did they work? I think so since I’m alive and healthy today. However, it was not a straight path to this place. Six years after I was pronounced cured, I found a lump in the radiated breast, which resulted in a partial mastectomy. A year after that, I found a malignant lymph node above my collar bone, indicative, I was told, of Stage IV cancer. With each subsequent diagnosis, I became more holistic and less conventional in my treatment plan. I pursued a lot of alternative & complementary cures so I’m unable to tell you precisely which one worked. My aim is to pass on what I tried and why in the hope that it will be of use to those, like me, who want to take an active role in their own healing.

LIFESTYLE CHANGES I MADE (AND CONTINUE TO MAKE)

Eliminated cigarettes – Women who smoke 1 pack of cigarettes daily are 75% more likely to die from breast cancer. I do deep breathing exercises instead.

Eliminated alcohol – Research showed that alcohol tripled blood estrogen levels among women undergoing ERT. Also, a new study just found that more than 3 daily alcoholic drinks increases the risk of breast cancer by 30%. I drink water instead.

Eliminated caffeine/coffee—I don’t think I have to tell you of the deleterious effects of caffeine. I drink Calli (see below) and green tea which has cancer-fighting properties.

Eliminated red meat & pork-- Even if you get organic beef (I don’t think there’s such a thing as organic pork) to avoid the antibiotics, growth hormones and parasites, there’s still the problem that a meat-based diet is acidic, and cancer cells thrive in an acid environment. Meat protein is difficult to digest and requires a lot of digestive enzymes. Undigested meat remaining in the intestines becomes putrid and leads to more toxic buildup. Also, cancer cell walls have a tough protein covering so if you refrain from eating meat more enzymes are free to attack the cancer cells’ protein walls, which allows the body's killer cells to destroy the cancer cells. I eat a little organic chicken and fish (no shellfish) but there’s fewer and fewer fish that are safe to eat. Tempeh, soy, beans and lentils are great meat substitutes.

Eliminated dairy -- Milk causes the body to produce mucus, especially in the gastro-intestinal tract. Cancer feeds on mucus. Also, if you add milk to your tea, the proteins in milk, called caseins, block the beneficial effects of black tea. I use unsweetened soy milk and soy cheese, and olive oil in place of butter. I have not had a single cold since I gave up dairy.

Eliminated refined sugar – If sugar were invented today, it would be classified as a drug! (See Sugar Blues below.) Also, sugar is a cancer-feeder. Cutting off sugar eliminates an important food supply for cancer cells. I use real maple syrup most often as a sweetener but also barley malt, honey and turbinado sugar in baked goods. (I’m unable to completely give up dessert!)

Eliminated refined flour – There is no fiber in white bread, and fiber reduces estrogen levels. Plus, I find the more refined something is the less well I tolerate it. I’m always happy when I can find a good substitute for a bad jones. In this case, Ezekiel Bread does the trick. I also make my own baked goods using a mix of whole wheat and non-wheat flours. Rice cakes are good, too.

Eliminated artificial sweeteners – Good grief! They’ve been saying since the sixties that artificial sweeteners cause cancer! Aspartame, for instance, breaks down into 3 deadly poisons: methanol (wood alcohol), formic acid (ant venom), and formaldehyde (a neurotoxin).

Eliminated table salt – Table salt has a chemical added to make it white in color,and too much salt can cause serious health problems such as stroke and heart disease. The American Medical Association recently voted to urge the government to require high-salt foods to be labeled and also vowed to push the food industry to drastically cut the amount of salt in restaurant and processed foods. I use Umeboshi plum vinegar, Bragg's liquid aminos and sea salt.

Eliminated sodas – Carbonation stresses the kidneys, not to mention the deleterious effects of all the sugar or artificial sweetener (depending on your poison). I drink water instead.

Lost 30 pounds -- Once you’re post-menopausal, your estrogen levels are linked to the amount of body fat you have. The more fat, the higher your estrogen levels are likely to be. Also, studies show that being 30-40 pounds overweight increases the risk of cancer by 30%.

Quit cooking with Teflon – I use mostly cast iron, glass, and some stainless steel (which is supposed to be bad but sometimes you just have to be practical).

Quit using microwave – Supposedly the high heat destroys any nutritional value in food. I use a toaster oven instead and have never been inconvenienced as a result.

Quit drinking unfiltered water – I use a Dalton porcelain water filter to avoid toxins such as chlorine and lead in tap water.

Quit using plastic storage containers – See info at very bottom of this page if you’re one of the few people on the planet who doesn’t know that plastic isn’t good for you!

Quit using deodorant with aluminum – Some experts pooh pooh the detrimental effect of anti-perspirants. I use Kiss My Face liquid rock roll-on.

Quit using toothpaste with fluoride -- Some experts pooh pooh the detrimental effect of fluoride, a waste product in processing aluminum, which has been linked to Alzheimer’s. I use Tom’s of Maine.

Minimized silver amalgam fillings-- Some experts pooh pooh the detrimental effect of mercury, a deadly poison. I use porcelain whenever possible. (I‘ve actually returned to amalgam for my molars since the porcelain wears out much faster, and the faster it wears out, the more the dentist drills, and the sooner one needs a crown. I guess I’d rather lose a breast than a tooth!)

Quit buying bras that left marks on my chest because they’re too tight – Some experts pooh pooh the notion that a too-tight bra disrupts the lymphatic flow causing toxins to back up into the breast. But, hey! You have everything to gain and nothing to lose by having a bra that fits comfortably. (Underwire could be a culprit too but I have yet to find a decent bra without underwire -- until NOW! Check out "barely there invisible look" wireless bras -- they actually give me a better silhouette than underwire bras.)

NOTE: After my Stage IV diagnosis, the doctor wanted to radiate my head and give me bone and CT scans every 3 months. I did one round of diagnostic scans to check for metastasis (since my doctor terrified me) but refused to have my head radiated. I vowed never to do scans again unless I felt they were really warranted. At the time, my research indicated that the scans were useless since being clear was only a temporary guarantee, and if one did have something that would actually show up on a scan, one would have physical symptoms that presumably would alert one's doctor. Now reseach shows that ONE CT scan is the equivalent of 3 YEARS of  receiving DAILY radiation!!! So think twice before you do a CT scan. Talk to your doctor and  do some research to make sure there is a compelling reason to do so.

Most of these things have been researched and are commonly accepted as being detrimental, i.e. I’ve heard about them from more than one source. (I’ve skipped the more arcane or controversial approaches since it all eventually boils down to diet, exercise and stress reduction.) The bottom line is that I try to avoid anything harmful within reason and practicality -- I’m not going to give up using a toaster as one metallurgic fanatic advised! Cancer has been a great motivator for me so my notion of reason and practicality has changed over time but, even so, some of these things took years to accomplish – it’s not an overnight process.

CURRENT HEALING REGIMEN

I eat a LOT of:
tempeh, soy and miso (consuming soy at a young age may provide a lifetime of protection from the risk of cancer)
fish (omega-3 is protective)
broccoli (lutein protects against breast cancer & indoles break down estrogen)
cauliflower (indoles break down estrogen),
tomatoes (lycopene suppresses growth of breast cancer)
fruits and vegetables (diets high in vegetables reduce the risk of breast cancer by 56%)
olive oil (Omega-9 reduces risk of breast cancer)
raw almonds (excellent source of fiber which reduces estrogen levels in body)
flax seed (omega-3 is protective, and is another one of those natural estrogen blockers that’s also good for menopause mentioned below. I grind the seeds in a coffee mill and mix them with Acacia juice which is very high in antioxidants)

Exercise on a daily basis – aids in maintaining weight loss and reducing stress. I currently play tennis 2x/wk, do yoga 1x/wk, walk 30-60 min/day, ski daily (in season).

Pray & meditate on a daily basis – reduces stress. Severe psychological stress (to which I’m extremely prone – see Cancer as a Turning Point below) can increase the risk of breast cancer by 5%. Stress alters hormone production which can lead to cancer-promoting gene behavior.

Strengthen thymus gland – located behind the breastbone, the thymus produces immune-system cells that help fight infection. With age, the thymus shrinks and loses its effectiveness. A quick and easy way to stimulate the thymus is to tap on the middle of the breastbone. I use the finger side of my fist (like apes when they’re displaying their strength – I wonder if it boosts their immune system too) and hit my breastbone nine times just before I exit the shower.

Lavender – I recently read lavender has the same natural estrogenic properties as soy (see below) as well as being a stress reliever so I use lavender oil, cream, soap, cologne, etc.

The bottom line is that I try not to indulge in anything, whether it be food ingestion or mental activity. that is not conducive to healing!!!

ESSENTIAL VITAMIN SUPPLEMENTS

Natural Vitamin E (400 I.U. /day) In the late 90s, Dr. Raymond Chang, a western doctor with eastern sensibilities (located in NYC), advised me to take Vitamin E since it compensates for lack of catalase, an antioxidant enzyme whose lack was found to increase the risk of breast cancer. Also induces apoptosis, or programmed cell death, the body's normal method of disposing of damaged, unwanted, or unneeded cells.

Co-Q-10 (100-400 mg/day) Dr. Raymond Chang advised me to take this since there’s strong evidence that Co-Q-10 can reduce the risk and recurrence of breast cancer. (100 mg=preventative dose, 400mg=therapeutic dose)

Vitamin C (1000 mg/day) – Dr. Raymond Chang advised me to take this to boost my immune system.

Melatonin (3mg/night) – Dr. Raymond Chang advised me to take this since the brain decreases production after the age of 40, and melatonin suppresses tumor development. This was recently confirmed by several studies which found that women working at night for many years are more prone to breast cancer, and animals who have their light-dark schedules switched grow more cancerous tumors and die quicker. Night shift work is dangerous because it disrupts the circadian rhythm, the body's biological clock. Light shuts down melatonin production, which is normally produced at night, so people working in artificial light at night develop lower melatonin levels which scientists think raises their chances of developing cancer. The American Cancer Society said it would most likely add shift work to its list of "known and probable carcinogens."

Optimin Plus trace minerals— a nutritionist advised me to take this since without the proper mineral base vitamins are useless.

OTHER PRODUCTS THAT REALLY HELPED ME

Ambrotose (Mannatech) -- Mannatech is one of the few companies whose product claims are substantiated by research. The NIH issued a report in 1971 indicating that L-fucose (one of the eight saccharides in Ambrotose, not available in our diet) “demonstrated a statistically significant inhibition of growth of transplantable rat mammary tumors when 600 mg of L-fucose was given to the rats daily for 2 weeks.” I was advised to take 20 daily servings (1½ tsp) of Ambrotose, 10 of PLUS (Manatech) and 10 of Phytaloe (Manatech). The downside is that you have to purchase these products through a distributor (I became one to reduce cost) and they are a bit pricy. NB: I’m no longer a distributor so you’ll have to go online to get it: www.mannatech.com

Calli herbal beverage (Sunrider) – Sunrider is another company whose products are not sold in stores, but I’m so impressed with their products that I became a distributor with them, as well. The founder, Dr. Chen, inherited ancient Chinese herb practices from a long line of practitioners. They have a bunch of great stuff that I used to use but have now narrowed it down to Calli (a cell rejuvenator) which I cannot live without!!! (I also used Dr. Winters tea and Esiac tea but Calli is the one I’ve stuck with.) NB: If you’re trying to get off caffeine, Calli is the way to go – you get the lift without the jitters. Also, I have no desire to sell this stuff so you’ll have to go online to get it: www.sunrider.com

Chinese herbs – Blue Citrus & Coriolus 3 – got from my herbalogist/acupuncturist

Green Magma – health food store

Reishi mushrooms (pure ganoderma) – got from Dr. Raymond Chang

SINCE I HAD ESTROGEN-RECEPTOR POSITIVE BREAST CANCER, I WAS INTERESTED IN USING NATURAL SUBSTANCES TO ACT AS A BLOCK TO THE HARMFUL ESTROGENS IN MY BODY. I USED THESE 2 PRODUCTS FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS, AND THEY PROVED VERY USEFUL IN REDUCING MENOPAUSE SYMPTOMS AS WELL:

Ecogen – soybean isoflavone concentrate– got from my herbalogist/acupuncturist – (Unfortunately, the makers of this brand discontinued it, however, genistein is also effective.) Eating a high-soy diet can be just as beneficial. Research indicates that the isoflavones found in soy products are weak estrogens that attach to cells and block the cell-proliferating effect of the actual, more powerful hormone.

Wild Yam Root cream (natural progesterone)— recommended by my herbalogist/acupuncturist – ordered from Women’s International Pharmacy (800-279-5708) in order to ensure consistent high standard of production, a problem with OTC wild yam root creams which often don’t have the content they claim. This product functions in much the same way as the isoflavones described above.

ACTIVITIES THAT REALLY HELPED ME

Colonics—cleanses chemotherapy drugs out of colon which otherwise remain for a long time

Lemonade fast – a good way to maintain colon health after colonics

Qigong – I found this much easier to do than t’ai chi

Yoga – Iyengar & Hatha

Reflexology

Alexander Technique

Rolfing & Massage

Reiki & Vibrational healing

Acupuncture

Nutritionist – In the beginning, I needed help!

Trampoline – stimulates lymphatic flow. I used a mini-trampoline (about 3’ in diameter).

Dry skin brushing – stimulates lymphatic flow. Use a dry back brush and brush your skin BEFORE getting into the shower.

Gilda’s Club (in NYC) – didn’t like the support groups but got a lot out of the activities such as art group, qigong, social events. Even better was the free childcare offered so I could easily attend these activities.

SHARE (in NYC) – they also host support groups but I got a lot out of their informative workshops, particularly on alternative & complementary treatments.

WRITING THAT REALLY HELPED ME (alphabetically listed by author)

2.      Beinfield, Harriet and Malcolm. “Revisiting Accepted Wisdom in the Management of Breast Cancer.” Alternative Therapies 3.5 (1997): 35-53.
I quoted this article extensively in my novel, Boob, A Story of Sex, Cancer & Stupidity. Even though it was written in 1997, the issues it raises are still salient.

3.      Chia, Mantak. Transform Stress Into Vitality. Huntington: Healing Tao Books, 1985.
If anyone needs to transform stress into vitality ‘tis I! (Surely a more useful skill than spinning straw into gold as Rumpelstiltskin was able to do.) I’m still trying to master the techniques in this book but even at my current level, I find them amazingly effective.

4.      Dufty, William. Sugar Blues. New York: Warner Books, 1975. If you have even the slightest thought that sugar is a problem for you, read this book. It will open your eyes!!!

5.      Kupferle, Mary L. God Will See You Through. Unity Village: Unity Books, 1997.
I love the Unity philosophy! They have a free 24-hour prayer line (800-669-7729) that has comforted me on many occasions. The chapter/affirmation that helped me the most is called, “God Is Healing You Now.”

6.      LeShan, Lawrence. Cancer as a Turning Point. New York: Plume, 1994.
Bernie siegel refers to LeShan as “the father of mind-body therapy.” LeShan, who spent 35 years doing mind-body cancer research, says “the book’s primary purpose [is] to help individuals with cancer mobilize their own self-healing abilities and bring them to the aid of their medical program.”  He adds “…the critical change needed to stimulate the immune system is an inner change. There must be a change in one’s fundamental attitude toward oneself – toward a strong belief that you are worth fighting for and taking care of as a special, unique person with your own special ways of being, relating, and creating.” One of the things he said that really spoke to me was, “What kind of life would they be living if they adjusted the world to themselves instead of – as our patients generally have doen – adjusted themselves to the world?”

7.      Levine, Stephen. Guided Meditations, Explorations and Healings. New York: Doubleday, 1991.
I did a workshop with Stephen Levine and his wife, Ondrea, at the Omega Institute. These meditations really helped me to experience the mind-body connection, to let go in new and unexpected ways, especially around food.

8.      Love, Dr. Susan. Dr. Susan Love’s Breast Book. New York: Addison-Wesley Publishing Company, inc., 1991.
Dr. Susan Love simply and thoroughly answered just about every question I had and provided me with information I could use to have an actual dialogue with my doctors about my choices.

9.      Siegel, Bernie. Love, Medicine and Miracles.
I met Bernie Siegel when I took his workshop at the Omega Institute. Here were the key suggestions he made: keep a journal, take your emotional pulse regularly, take time for healing intervals, look at yourself naked in the mirror, join a group, leave your troubles to God, see your illness as a chance for growth, express yourself, don’t feel that you have to make all your changes at once, two hours a week help someone you’re not related to.

10.  The Urantia Book. Chicago: Urantia Foundation, 1955.
This book came into my life just as my atheism was wearing off. I really love and am comforted by the picture it paints of the universe (and the spiritual beings who populate it), the history of our planet, and the life and teachings of Jesus.

OTHER USEFUL BOOKS

1.      Chopra, Deepak. Quantum Healing – Exploring the Frontiers of Mind/Body Medicine. New York: Bantam books, 1990.
The title says it all!

2.      Colbin, Annemarie. Food and Healing – How What You Eat Determines Your Health, Your Well-Being, and the Quality of Your Life. New York: Ballantine Books, 1986.
The title says it all!

3.      DuPree, Dr. Beth. The Healing Consciousness -- A Doctor’s Journey to Healing. Boulder: WovenWord Press, 2006.
I swapped a copy of Boob for this book when I was at the PA Breast Cancer Coalition. It’s always wonderful to read about a doctor’s spiritual journey! When I donate sales from Boob, it’s a pleasure to donate them to The Healing Consciousness Foundation which benefits breast cancer patients so they will be able to receive the healing services they need to recover from breast cancer physically, emotionally and spiritually. (www.thehealingconsciousness.com)

4.      Goldner, Diane. Infinite Grace – Where the Worlds of Science and Spiritual Healing Meet. New York: Hampton Roads, 1999
This is a stimulating exploration into the role mind plays in bodily health and in life outcomes. It also explores healers and how they work. Of particular interest is the chapter on cancer.

5.      Levine, Stephen. Who Dies? New York: Doubleday, 1982.
His work really helped me to accept the idea of death. As Ram Das said in the introduction, “It divests the incredible melodrama called ‘death’ of its frightful power, supplanting fear with calm, simple, compassionate understanding.”

6.      Siegel, Bernie. Peace, Love, and Healing. New York: Harper & Row, 1990.
Siegel writes, “My emphasis in this new book and in Love, Medicine and Miracles is on self-healing, that ability given to us by our Creator and too long neglected by medicine.”

7.      Weill, Dr. Andrew. Spontaneous Healing – How to Discover and Enhance Your body’s Natural Ability to Maintain and Heal Itself. New York: Fawcett Columbine, 1995.

Also, books and tapes by Louise Hay and Carolyn Myss were very helpful.

This un-cited info was sent to me by a friend but it confirms what I’ve read elsewhere.

Every person has cancer cells in the body. These cancer cells do not show up in the standard tests until they have multiplied to a few billion. When doctors tell cancer patients that there are no more cancer cells in their bodies after treatment, it just means the tests are unable to detect the cancer cells because they have not reached the detectable size. Cancer cells occur between 6 to more than 10 times in a person's lifetime. When the person's immune system is strong the cancer cells will be destroyed and prevented from multiplying and forming tumors. When a person has cancer it indicates the person has multiple nutritional deficiencies. These could be due to genetic, environmental, food and lifestyle factors. To overcome the multiple nutritional deficiencies, changing diet and including supplements will strengthen the immune system.
Chemotherapy involves poisoning the rapidly-growing cancer cells and also destroys rapidly-growing healthy cells in the bone marrow, gastro-intestinal tract etc, and can cause organ damage, like liver, kidneys, heart, lungs etc. Radiation while destroying cancer cells also burns, scars and damages healthy cells, tissues and organs. Initial treatment with chemotherapy and radiation will often reduce tumor size. However prolonged use of chemotherapy and radiation do not result in more tumor destruction. When the body has too much toxic burden from chemotherapy and radiation the immune system is either compromised or destroyed, hence the person can succumb to various kinds of infections and complications. Chemotherapy and radiation can cause cancer cells to mutate and become resistant and difficult to destroy. Surgery can also cause cancer cells to spread to other sites.

Cancer is a disease of the mind, body, and spirit. A proactive and positive spirit will help the cancer warrior be a survivor. Anger, unforgiveness and bitterness put the body into a stressful and acidic environment. Learn to have a loving and forgiving spirit. Learn to relax and enjoy life.
Cancer cells cannot thrive in an oxygenated environment. Exercising daily, and deep breathing help to get more oxygen down to the cellular level. Oxygen therapy is another means employed to destroy cancer cells.Another effective way to battle cancer is to starve the cancer cells by not feeding it with the foods it needs to multiply.