On June 6, 2013 I had a post-surgical appointment with my surgeon. Before I had left for the clinic in Mexico, he had asked me to consider seeing an oncologist while I was in San Diego. He had actually asked me to do this a couple of times, but I just didn't know if I would have the time. I also was pretty sure no matter what oncologist I saw anywhere they would all say the same thing. "Lets do radiation and chemo." This is their job to say these things because this is what their training is comprised of, so I don't get upset when I hear it. I just don't want to spend more time and money on something that won't change.
He also asked for me to have the Gerson Clinic send him a copy of any records so he could learn more about this therapy. I was happy that he seemed interested and wanted to learn about it at all. I told him I would bring something back for him.
The appointment starts the way most appointments start. I check in, wait for a few minutes (sometimes a lot of minutes), and then go back to the room with the nurse. She is very friendly and asks me about my time at the clinic. I answer with something like, "Very enlightening. I learned a lot." Next it's time for a set of vitals. No worries until I see my blood pressure as 140/80! What?! I must be nervous or something because my blood pressure had been running around 90/60 in the last few weeks. Weird.
She then goes through my medical history. Are my allergies the same? Am I taking any new prescriptions? This is a loaded question for sure. I hand her my hourly schedule with the list of meds on it and what time I take them. I know this will take forever for her to enter them in because they really only have prescription medications on their list and not supplements.
While she is trying to get all the meds taken care of we are making some small talk. She asks about my diet, and I mention that I have an all vegetarian diet low in sodium with lots of juice, etc. She asks if I eat any legumes or beans, and I state no as they are known to cause inflammation. She mentions that she has Rheumatoid Arthritis, and that she follows the Paleo (Paleolithic/Caveman) diet to combat this. She stated how interesting it was that many diets now are avoiding beans and legumes to fight inflammation. It was interesting that she took this to heart. Most people would just ask for a pill to cure their ill, but she was actually quite diligent in watching what she ate and she noticed when she strayed from her diet that her symptoms would worsen. Hmm...Maybe it's starting to sink in that diet and lifestyle play such a huge role in your health.
Mom also made a comment about how her auto-immune disorder can really be affected by GMO (Genetically Modified Organisms) foods. She kind of had a blank look on her face at this point. Not many people understand this, so my mom mentioned that she watch a movie called Genetic Roulette: The Gamble of Our Lives (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TrjlB5Lze98). This documentary shows how food is changed and how it hurts and damages anything that eats it. Mom stated that since our foods have been genetically modified, that the increase in all illnesses especially auto-immune diseases and cancer have risen. She thanked us kindly for the information, and then she left.
Before long, the surgeon came in. He was kind and said his normal professional, "Hello Ms. Darrough.", and shook my hand. Right off the bat he asked if I had seen an oncologist. I told him no. There was not any time for that (which there wasn't). He didn't seem very happy about that at all.
He then asked me what they did for me there at the clinic. Did they do any imaging or other testing on me. I tried to explain, but he seemed a little impatient. I told him I had weekly blood tests done, and based on those and my medical history, they made up a schedule. He had a copy of my schedule/treatment plan and my labs, and he looked at it with what seemed to me to be skepticism.
He nodded and changed the subject. He wanted to check my incisions and make sure I was healing alright. He was quite happy to see that everything looked good. He also thoroughly checked me for any swollen or hard lymph nodes. I was happy to hear there were none that he could feel. He on the other hand seemed a bit surprised.
After the exam, my surgeon sat down and looked at me with a very serious face. He then asked, "How do you want to follow-up with me from now on?" I wasn't quite sure what he was asking, and to save me from having to ask him, he then asked, "Do you want to do any imaging to track and follow the cancer process?" Oh! That's what he wanted to know.
I explained to him of course I wanted to follow up with imaging. How else was I going to see and know I was getting better? He took that as how will I know if it's getting worse or not? He then kindly explained to me that if I was going to do any chemo it should be done immediately. Once the cancer is large enough to see on any type of imaging, it was really too late. I nodded that I understood that loud and clear.
He then tried to convince me that if I wasn't going to do conventional chemo, I should at least do the Herceptin because I was HER2/neu+. This just means that I have a certain type of receptor on the cancer cells in my body that are over-expressed and can cause cancer cells to reproduce at a quicker rate. The Herceptin drug would then act as an antibody and interfere with the HER2/neu receptor and slow the process down.
I explained to him that I had expressed my interest in this when first speaking with the oncologist, and she had told me that I wasn't a candidate if I didn't also do conventional chemo. Now I wasn't interested in it at all. He asked me to reconsider due to the fact that some studies have shown that it can be used on its own now. I told him I would think about it.
He suggested then at this time we should be getting some type of imaging (CT scans) done about every 4 months or so, but to be sure, he thought it best I ask the oncologist at my next appointment. Otherwise, he would see me in three months and go over any results that I may have.
I got the general feeling from him on this visit that he was quite disappointed that I had not taken advantage of being in San Diego and the access to other oncologists there. I suppose for a doctor that has been trained in the manner that he has it would be upsetting to see a patient do the complete opposite of suggested and conventional treatment.
Now this makes me quite excited to have imaging done here in the next few months and prove to him (and the world) that this works. That by feeding your body with whole raw foods, you can provide your body with the nutrients to heal itself. Can you tell I'm excited about this?
Wednesday, June 26, 2013
Monday, June 17, 2013
Clinica Nutricion y Vida (The Gerson Clinic in Tijuana, Mexico)
Maybe I should start with the common question. What is the Gerson Therapy? I will answer this question by quoting straight from their website at http://gerson.org/gerpress/the-gerson-therapy/.
Once again, the above information and more was taken directly from the Gerson Website at: http://gerson.org/gerpress/the-gerson-therapy/
Mom and I packed and headed to San Diego to visit the Gerson Clinic in Mexico on May 8, 2013. We stayed the night in San Diego with a cousin and her sweet family. It was good to connect with them. We were up early the next morning to meet our shuttle to Tijuana.
We were to meet the shuttle at a local hotel where another couple were staying and also catch a ride to the clinic. The shuttle driver was named Jay and he was a hoot. He was very personable and funny. We got to the clinic in one piece and without a hitch.
The facility was beautiful and I can see why they chose this location for healing. Anyhow, I kept a journal of sort of my stay there, and here's what I had to say in the moment. (TMI disclosure and warning: If you are squeamish when speaking about bowel movements or other bodily functions, please refrain from reading the following. This may be Too Much Information for you!)
Day 1 May 9, 2013
We came to the clinic on the shuttle with another patient (Barbara) and her companion/husband (Warren). Jay (the man that runs the shuttle) was speaking about coincidences in his work with Gerson, and it was funny we found one of our own as patients. Barb was born and raised in Boise and now resides in St. George, UT. It was too funny!
When we got here we settled in right away. Soon after this we met with the doctor (Dr. Pedro Cervantes Macchetto). He went through my medical history extensively and then based on this gave me a schedule for my enemas, juices, and supplements. 10 juices to start and then 3 enemas a day to be started right away. He was very thorough. He even prescribed rest. In his words, "**Rest is super duper super important**". He is a very funny man and seems passionate about what he does.
I had my first enema right before lunch. Not so bad, but some cramping. Glad it is so close to the bathroom. Seems easy enough. We will have to perfect it if I need to start doing this by myself at home or even possibly work.
We have meals at 8am, 1pm, and 6pm. The food is wonderful. Lots of veggies prepared in a multitude of different ways. I can't wait to learn their techniques. Lots of fruit as well. Yay! Missed my fruit.
Our first meal was lunch, and everyone is soooo wonderful! Very welcoming and happy to see new comers. I feel a connection with them all. I feel so blessed. This is where I need to be for sure.
Excited for next week. Charlotte Gerson will be here on Wednesday and give us a lecture. She seems like a fun woman. Our shuttle driver described her as "honest to a fault". Excited for this as this is what we need.
(Charlotte Gerson is the founder of the Gerson Institute and the daughter of Dr. Max Gerson who first came up with the Gerson therapy.)
Day 2, May 10
Rise and shine at 6am. Vitals done first, and then coffee enema at 7am. I had to have blood drawn today as I forgot to fast yesterday morning. Oh well.
Lovely breakfast with fun people again, and then I stayed in the courtyard and chatted with a few. Everyone brings a story and their own experiences. Such an encouraging group and so supportive!
They offer yoga on Fridays, but I went back to the room and skipped yoga. I was so exhausted. :/. Rest is really needed especially after a double mastectomy!
Dr. Cervantes came to find us and go over our blood results with us. That was fast. Here they are. Not bad.
The enemas aren't so bad. The trick is to occupy your mind with something else. Keep your smart phone in hand and browse the Internet or something! Cramping seems a bit less today.
A new patient arrived today. Her name if Fatima, but she goes by Pat. She is Filipino She is an RN and she too has breast cancer. She caught it very early. Just a lumpectomy was performed, and I think she kept all of her lymph nodes. She came with her sister Violeta.
I watched an excellent movie/documentary today called "Dying to Have Known". It was so well done and gave me lots of hope. I highly recommend it to anyone and everyone!
My sweet cousin Brandi made a beautiful poster for the Race for the Cure run/walk. She is awesome and this touches me very much. I am so lucky to have so much support and love from so many different people.
Day 3, May 11
Coffee enemas aren't so bad when watching funny YouTube videos. Laughing helps you through it for sure! Mom said that she read somewhere that 15 minutes of laughing is comparable to 2 hrs of sleep. I need to laugh more because sleep is sometimes hard to get. Plus it makes you feel so good.
We had a lecture by Dr. Cervantes today about the Gerson diet in general. He went through the juices, the supplements, and the enemas in detail. He also touched on castor oil orally and rectally as well. I am not to do castor oil until I have healed more from my surgery. It can be very powerful. He also spoke on castor oil topically for pain. Clay packs were talked about as well. It is very good on swelling and lymph edema, etc. again it should not be used until I have healed a bit more as it is know to pull the toxins out of the skin and loosen the healed areas.
A couple other fun things he mentioned was that people who eat this type of diet have much nicer skin. He said that some age spots and disappear altogether. He also mentioned that you begin to feel old hurts. He said this happens because your body remembers the hurts, and it is trying to heal it better and fix the old hurts. I don't know about the old hurts yet, but I am feeling much more tender at my new surgical site, and I'm wondering if that means I'm healing wicker than I was before. Who knows.
He also made a point to tell us that at first when your body is detoxing, you may have rashes and acne and a very potent smell. He said that Often times when you detox it will come through your skin, and that is why they recommend you not wear any lotions, deodorants or other beauty products that could prevent the detoxing and cause clogged pores to boot.
A new patient arrived today from Australia. She is quite young and has melanoma. She has a 14 yr. old, a 16 yr. old, and an 18 yr. old. She is brave to come here. This will give her hope and heal what others have told her is unhealable. Melanoma has a good success rate here since it is untreatable with chemo. Melanoma patients haven't been poisoned first by the chemo and then sent here as a last try at life.
Day 4, May 12
It is very hard to sleep here with the weird noises and back aches, etc. I took two Valerian root herbal pills last night to help with sleep, but it didn't seem to help much. I finally got in the recliner in our room and was able to sleep a bit better there. I think I'll try a castor oil pack on my back tonight to see if it will help.
It is Mother's Day today. Lucky to be here with my mom. We walked to the beach with a couple others today, and that was nice. It was very foggy, so you couldn't see very far. I will have to go again and hopefully it will be nicer.
I got to know Angie (the patient from Australia) and her mother a bit better today. They are very nice and are a great addition here. She has a lot to offer and bring to the group.
Mom and I also had a great talk with the sweetest couple named Donna and Terry today. Terry was diagnosed with Mesothelioma and has an amazing life story to go with it. He was in the navy (where he contracted the disease), and they have lived all over the world. He also went to Harvard and got his business degree. Donna is equally amazing raising their children while Terry was out of town for the Navy.
Anyhow, they shared with us their inability to keep a pregnancy due to a heart shaped uterus. She had five pregnancies, but only two boys survived. They did adopt a little girl later. They shared their faith in God with us and it was amazing. What a great couple to learn from. They also do couples counseling through their church. Wow!
One thing that I have gotten from my diagnosis is an appreciation of God. With so many friends and family showing their love and support, I know I'm the luckiest girl around. I have a greater appreciation for God and all of his children. I also now know that I'm supposed to help others in some way. Maybe through my personal experience, and maybe in other ways as well.
Day 5, May 13
I seriously love all the patients and companions here right now. I am so blessed to be here with this great group of people. They are all so willing to share their experiences and help with problems. Angie's mom had an extra pair of ear plugs, so she gave to me! Yay!
Saw Dr. Cervantes today. He asked if I was having any troubles. Told him about my sleeping. Told him sitting up helps a bit and I slept better last night. He recommended castor oil as well for my back pain.
Rosa left today. She speaks mainly Spanish and lives in Southern California. She has inflammatory breast cancer. She had a left mastectomy, chemo, and radiation done. She is a sweet woman for sure. Very strong as well. She came down with her friend Maru. Both very sweet women. Even with the language barrier, there was a strong connection.
Mom has been very organized. She has collected the Information for all of the patients and companions so we can keep in touch. Yay! Love Mom!
I have officially gotten an invitation to go and visit Angie in Perth, Australia. I will do it one day too. First though I get myself healthy and through the next two years, and then we're off!
David the brother of Bruce (a patient with prostate cancer) said that he's going to come visit all of the patients he meets here. I think that would be so fun! I think I may just do the same thing.
This seems to be such a wonderful place to heal from all Chronic illnesses. Such a good track record and especially with autoimmune diseases. It is amazing what food does for the body.
Also, bring on the healing reactions. This just means a big response to the detox like lots of pain at the site of a tumor, etc. This is exciting for us because when your body starts to attack a tumor, the tumor will get inflamed and painful and then start to break down. It slowly dissolves, but it is painful, especially if it is in bone or a brain tumor, etc.
Day 6, May 14
The ear plugs did help a bit. I still woke to go to the bathroom, but seems I slept a bit more soundly. Just took some time to fall asleep again. The point is I did fall asleep again!
I walked to beach after breakfast today. Not quite so foggy today as on Mother's Day. Val came with us. She Is a sweet woman. We compared the names for plants the whole way there and back. The names can sometimes be so different from country to country. We also saw some very cool buildings. Very beautiful, but the sad thing is all of the trash and graffiti. Makes it look trashy when it could be so beautiful.
I feel quite full most of the time. It is hard to eat as much, so I try not to eat as much. The hot pack with castor oil is very relaxing too. Helps with the back pain.
Charlotte Gerson will be here tomorrow. I'm quite excited. It will be interesting to see what she is like in person. She seems highly intelligent and of such good health for 91 years old. Makes me wonder how long this spunky thing will be around to teach the world.
Today I heard that Angelina Jolie has gotten a double mastectomy because she tested positive for he BRAC-1 gene. Not sure how I feel about that. Did she do it for pure prevention? Did she do it to help those that created the test make money? Did she consider changing her life style before mutilating her body? Prevention is good. Just not sure about this type of prevention. In the end a person should do what they feel is right for them.
Day 7, May 15
Charlotte Gerson was amazing. She came with her daughter Margaret (often called Peggy). Her daughter was amazing as well. Must run in the family.
She truly was honest in every way. Not sure if I would call it honest to a fault, but others could interpret it that way. For a 91 year old woman she sure is bright and with it. She sure had a sense if humor too. She could make you laugh as well. She wasn't afraid to call you out on little things like hair dye, or make-up, or nail polish. She would give you her opinion, and then she would let you ponder the rest on your own. She was a very good speaker as well. I guess with as much experience as she has had with it it shouldn't be a surprise. We are definitely very lucky to have seen her. What a talented family.
Day 8, May 16
Today I had very little appetite, and I really didn't feel great. I felt bloated and irritable. I am told this is very common when you start the diet and that more cooked veggies will help. I much preferred to be in my room than out of it. Maybe that was me detoxing, who knows. I felt bad enough that I started to cry when on the phone with Nick. He told me how bad he had been eating and I chewed him out a bit and then he called me to make sure I was doing okay, which I wasn't...
Tomorrow I will start the castor oil enemas. This consists of some oral castor oil around 6:30 am with some oral coffee to chase it down. This is the only time oral coffee is allowed. Do the first enema like normal. Then around 11:30 am you get your coffee enema with added castor oil and ox bile powder (used to emulsify the castor oil). You are then to try to hold it, but it then states you will not be able to hold it...don't wait.
Day 9, May 17
I gave another blood and urine sample today. Maybe we will go over them with the doctor today or tomorrow. Hopefully they are showing good stuff.
The oral castor oil and coffee chase wasn't horrible, but I can tell they are doing their job. I have had some cramping, and I definitely want to be near a toilet. I had a tiny bowel movement. Now just waiting for the castor oil enema...
It wasn't as bad as everyone has said. Maybe a bit more cramping with the enema, but not much. Maybe next time it will be different. I guess I will be doing this every other day, so we will see what happens.
On another note, I started niacin yesterday. They held off for a while there since I had had surgery and it can cause bleeding. It's been just over three weeks now. Anyhow, I had a niacin flush and reaction with the itching at dinner. Of course David noticed. David and his stories...
Day 10, May 18
Maybe I can go for a walk today. Yesterday I didn't want to be too far from the toilet. The beach sounds nice today though.
We got the blood results back. It looks like there are slight improvements. it seems like my body responds well to the therapy as it should be.
It was a pretty typical day today. Dr. Cervantes did a presentation on diabetes and the Gerson Therapy today. Good information. He is a funny guy. He is a good person to have around for sure.
We did go for a walk. I was laying in bed right after my 3 pm juice getting ready to take a nap, and I just sat up and asked Mom if she wanted to go. She was game, so we left for about an hour. We walked to the beach took our sandals off, and went all the way to the wall that separates the US and Mexico. It was so nice. The sun was shining, and even though there were a lot of people out, it was amazing! The only bad thing, I'm pretty sure I got a sunburn on my face. I should have worn my hat...
Tomorrow, more castor oil. Yay!
Day 11, May 19
So, I had my oral castor oil and coffee again this morning. Not horrible I suppose. I had my normal coffee enema afterwards. No worries. After breakfast I had a bit of cramping and a slightly loose stool. This is abnormal while doing enemas with Gerson to have any type or normal bowel movement. The enemas usually break it up and wash it out before you can have a normal bowel movement. Anyhow, that seems like the only abnormal part of the the castor oil treatment so far...
Since it is Sunday, Ted will do a service for us today. He is a companion for his wife Diane who has ovarian cancer and was pre-treated with chemotherapy. They were missionaries in Africa for years before Diane's diagnosis. So glad they have come. They came after Rosa left. They seem so amazing with their faith.
The service was different from what I'm used to. We started off by singing a few different songs. I wasn't familiar with any of them. Ted and Diane seem to really get into them. Very motivating. Ted then gave his sermon . It was about finding the light in the dark. Basically finding out why we were given cancer as a gift. Very good.
Terry (a mesothelioma patient) then spoke about us all being here at this time to learn from one another. There is no doubt in my mind that he is right. Everyone here is so inspiring and encouraging. We are so blessed! Maybe this is our light in the dark or even just a part of the light in the dark.
The castor oil today wasn't horrible. There was one occasion after breakfast that I needed to use the toilet, but not horrible at all.
Day 12, May 20
Today Steve and Heather will leave. :(. So sad. Steve has prostate cancer that metastasized to some bone (we know in the hip bone at least). His sweet daughter Heather convinced him to come. She is amazing. He would be dead without her. They didn't want to take him at all because of the painful way the bone heals, but because another patient had to cancel, they allowed him to take his place. So glad we met them. They have made the experience amazing for sure.
We were all so sad for them to leave. They would have liked to stay longer, but it was not possible. To make them happy and wish them well, Rochelle decided to sing the Star Gas jingle as a send off. Then mom made her own verse with Rochelle's help. We all sang it and did a little dance. Steve had Terry read something for the whole group. He thanked us all for the experience, and he gave a special thanks for his daughter Heather. It was so beautiful and heartwarming.
We were all so sad to see them go, but we know he will get healthy now. They were meant to be here with the rest of us and to teach us something.
We get live music in the courtyard today! Yay!
The music was good. I think it lifted everyone's spirits. It was some jazzy blues type music. There was a saxophone, a keyboard, and some shakers? Anyhow, it was very nice.
Dinner was nice tonight. We all had a lot of fun visiting afterwards. I took a video of David's "niacin reaction" story he had at home with his wife. So funny! Mom wanted it to show to dad. Can't wait!
Such fun people for sure. I will miss them all when I go on Thursday, but will also be happy to be home.
Day 13, May 21
Day three of castor oil. I felt the cramping a bit more today during breakfast, but still not bad at all.
It was a pretty lazy day for sure. Mom went with a group of companions to Costco. I told her to look for a thermos, but Costco didn't have any thermos. Instead, they ended up going to another store to find some. They made it back after lunch, but they were a bit late.
We met with the rep for all the meds we take everyday. Thank goodness for Mom is all I can say. I'm truly blessed to have parents that support me in so many ways.
In two days I should be home with the boys again. I miss them and I'm ready to be home. This will be a very time intensive program, but I know that it will help. Dr. Cervantes recommends that I stay home for a minimum of three months, and that when I go back, I go back only part-time to start. We shall see...
Oh! We got another couple that took Heather and Steve's room. They are a beautiful couple from Nigeria. They speak English very well. The wife has breast cancer diagnosed in March. She has not had any treatment at all not even surgery. She is so brave!
Day 14, May 22
This is our last day here. I saw Dr. Cervantes and he will start me on some thyroid meds and an extra CO Q10 at each meal. He started me on a very small amount of thyroid to make sure that it doesn't affect me negatively.
I'm ready to go home, but I will miss all of the help that the staff provides for us. It will be a big adjustment for us, but it will be worth it. I will be healthy and whole and a great mom for my boys.
Day 15, May 23
Going home today! Bittersweet for sure. I will miss these people that have inspired me and shared their stories with me. I will miss the support and the unconditional love. I have found some forever friends for sure. I will be happy to see my boys though. All three of them.
"The Gerson Therapy is a natural treatment that
activates the body’s extraordinary ability to heal itself through an organic,
vegetarian diet, raw juices, coffee enemas and natural supplements.
With its
whole-body approach to healing, the Gerson Therapy naturally reactivates your
body’s magnificent ability to heal itself – with no damaging side effects. This
a powerful, natural treatment boosts the body’s own immune system to heal
cancer, arthritis, heart disease, allergies, and many other degenerative
diseases. Dr. Max Gerson developed the Gerson Therapy in the 1930s, initially
as a treatment for his own debilitating migraines, and eventually as a
treatment for degenerative diseases such as skin tuberculosis, diabetes and,
most famously (and recently), cancer.
The
Gerson Therapy‘s all-encompassing nature sets it apart from most other
treatment methods. The Gerson Therapy effectively treats a wide range of
different ailments because it restores the body’s incredible ability to heal
itself. Rather than treating only the symptoms of a particular disease, the
Gerson Therapy treats the causes of most degenerative diseases: toxicity and
nutritional deficiency.
An
abundance of nutrients from copious amounts of fresh, organic juices are
consumed every day, providing your body with a super-dose of enzymes, minerals
and nutrients. These substances then break down diseased tissue in the body,
while coffee enemas aid in eliminating toxins from the liver.
Throughout
our lives our bodies are being filled with a variety of carcinogens and toxic
pollutants. These toxins reach us through the air we breathe, the food we eat,
the medicines we take and the water we drink. The Gerson Therapy’s intensive
detoxification regimen eliminates these toxins from the body, so that true
healing can begin."
Mom and I packed and headed to San Diego to visit the Gerson Clinic in Mexico on May 8, 2013. We stayed the night in San Diego with a cousin and her sweet family. It was good to connect with them. We were up early the next morning to meet our shuttle to Tijuana.
We were to meet the shuttle at a local hotel where another couple were staying and also catch a ride to the clinic. The shuttle driver was named Jay and he was a hoot. He was very personable and funny. We got to the clinic in one piece and without a hitch.
 |
| Clinica Nutricion Y Vida |
 |
| Barb and Warren |
We came to the clinic on the shuttle with another patient (Barbara) and her companion/husband (Warren). Jay (the man that runs the shuttle) was speaking about coincidences in his work with Gerson, and it was funny we found one of our own as patients. Barb was born and raised in Boise and now resides in St. George, UT. It was too funny!
When we got here we settled in right away. Soon after this we met with the doctor (Dr. Pedro Cervantes Macchetto). He went through my medical history extensively and then based on this gave me a schedule for my enemas, juices, and supplements. 10 juices to start and then 3 enemas a day to be started right away. He was very thorough. He even prescribed rest. In his words, "**Rest is super duper super important**". He is a very funny man and seems passionate about what he does.
I had my first enema right before lunch. Not so bad, but some cramping. Glad it is so close to the bathroom. Seems easy enough. We will have to perfect it if I need to start doing this by myself at home or even possibly work.
We have meals at 8am, 1pm, and 6pm. The food is wonderful. Lots of veggies prepared in a multitude of different ways. I can't wait to learn their techniques. Lots of fruit as well. Yay! Missed my fruit.
Our first meal was lunch, and everyone is soooo wonderful! Very welcoming and happy to see new comers. I feel a connection with them all. I feel so blessed. This is where I need to be for sure.
Excited for next week. Charlotte Gerson will be here on Wednesday and give us a lecture. She seems like a fun woman. Our shuttle driver described her as "honest to a fault". Excited for this as this is what we need.
(Charlotte Gerson is the founder of the Gerson Institute and the daughter of Dr. Max Gerson who first came up with the Gerson therapy.)
Day 2, May 10
Rise and shine at 6am. Vitals done first, and then coffee enema at 7am. I had to have blood drawn today as I forgot to fast yesterday morning. Oh well.
Lovely breakfast with fun people again, and then I stayed in the courtyard and chatted with a few. Everyone brings a story and their own experiences. Such an encouraging group and so supportive!
They offer yoga on Fridays, but I went back to the room and skipped yoga. I was so exhausted. :/. Rest is really needed especially after a double mastectomy!
Dr. Cervantes came to find us and go over our blood results with us. That was fast. Here they are. Not bad.
The enemas aren't so bad. The trick is to occupy your mind with something else. Keep your smart phone in hand and browse the Internet or something! Cramping seems a bit less today.
A new patient arrived today. Her name if Fatima, but she goes by Pat. She is Filipino She is an RN and she too has breast cancer. She caught it very early. Just a lumpectomy was performed, and I think she kept all of her lymph nodes. She came with her sister Violeta.
 |
| Me, Violeta, Mom, and Fatima |
My sweet cousin Brandi made a beautiful poster for the Race for the Cure run/walk. She is awesome and this touches me very much. I am so lucky to have so much support and love from so many different people.
Day 3, May 11
Coffee enemas aren't so bad when watching funny YouTube videos. Laughing helps you through it for sure! Mom said that she read somewhere that 15 minutes of laughing is comparable to 2 hrs of sleep. I need to laugh more because sleep is sometimes hard to get. Plus it makes you feel so good.
We had a lecture by Dr. Cervantes today about the Gerson diet in general. He went through the juices, the supplements, and the enemas in detail. He also touched on castor oil orally and rectally as well. I am not to do castor oil until I have healed more from my surgery. It can be very powerful. He also spoke on castor oil topically for pain. Clay packs were talked about as well. It is very good on swelling and lymph edema, etc. again it should not be used until I have healed a bit more as it is know to pull the toxins out of the skin and loosen the healed areas.
A couple other fun things he mentioned was that people who eat this type of diet have much nicer skin. He said that some age spots and disappear altogether. He also mentioned that you begin to feel old hurts. He said this happens because your body remembers the hurts, and it is trying to heal it better and fix the old hurts. I don't know about the old hurts yet, but I am feeling much more tender at my new surgical site, and I'm wondering if that means I'm healing wicker than I was before. Who knows.
He also made a point to tell us that at first when your body is detoxing, you may have rashes and acne and a very potent smell. He said that Often times when you detox it will come through your skin, and that is why they recommend you not wear any lotions, deodorants or other beauty products that could prevent the detoxing and cause clogged pores to boot.
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| Dr. Cervantes Macchetto doing his presentation. This is the point where he does his Elvis impression. ;) |
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| Angie and her "mum" Val |
It is very hard to sleep here with the weird noises and back aches, etc. I took two Valerian root herbal pills last night to help with sleep, but it didn't seem to help much. I finally got in the recliner in our room and was able to sleep a bit better there. I think I'll try a castor oil pack on my back tonight to see if it will help.
It is Mother's Day today. Lucky to be here with my mom. We walked to the beach with a couple others today, and that was nice. It was very foggy, so you couldn't see very far. I will have to go again and hopefully it will be nicer.
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| Me and Mom on the beach |
Mom and I also had a great talk with the sweetest couple named Donna and Terry today. Terry was diagnosed with Mesothelioma and has an amazing life story to go with it. He was in the navy (where he contracted the disease), and they have lived all over the world. He also went to Harvard and got his business degree. Donna is equally amazing raising their children while Terry was out of town for the Navy.
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| Terry and Donna |
One thing that I have gotten from my diagnosis is an appreciation of God. With so many friends and family showing their love and support, I know I'm the luckiest girl around. I have a greater appreciation for God and all of his children. I also now know that I'm supposed to help others in some way. Maybe through my personal experience, and maybe in other ways as well.
Day 5, May 13
I seriously love all the patients and companions here right now. I am so blessed to be here with this great group of people. They are all so willing to share their experiences and help with problems. Angie's mom had an extra pair of ear plugs, so she gave to me! Yay!
Saw Dr. Cervantes today. He asked if I was having any troubles. Told him about my sleeping. Told him sitting up helps a bit and I slept better last night. He recommended castor oil as well for my back pain.
Rosa left today. She speaks mainly Spanish and lives in Southern California. She has inflammatory breast cancer. She had a left mastectomy, chemo, and radiation done. She is a sweet woman for sure. Very strong as well. She came down with her friend Maru. Both very sweet women. Even with the language barrier, there was a strong connection.
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| Me and Rosa |
I have officially gotten an invitation to go and visit Angie in Perth, Australia. I will do it one day too. First though I get myself healthy and through the next two years, and then we're off!
David the brother of Bruce (a patient with prostate cancer) said that he's going to come visit all of the patients he meets here. I think that would be so fun! I think I may just do the same thing.
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| David and Bruce |
“Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food”― Hippocrates
Oh, I have officially moved from 10 drinks a day to 13 drinks a day. Also, I will have 4 coffee enemas instead of 3. That is exciting around here. The joke is to have more juice and more enemas. This just means you are getting healthy enough to heal at a faster rate.Also, bring on the healing reactions. This just means a big response to the detox like lots of pain at the site of a tumor, etc. This is exciting for us because when your body starts to attack a tumor, the tumor will get inflamed and painful and then start to break down. It slowly dissolves, but it is painful, especially if it is in bone or a brain tumor, etc.
Day 6, May 14
The ear plugs did help a bit. I still woke to go to the bathroom, but seems I slept a bit more soundly. Just took some time to fall asleep again. The point is I did fall asleep again!
I walked to beach after breakfast today. Not quite so foggy today as on Mother's Day. Val came with us. She Is a sweet woman. We compared the names for plants the whole way there and back. The names can sometimes be so different from country to country. We also saw some very cool buildings. Very beautiful, but the sad thing is all of the trash and graffiti. Makes it look trashy when it could be so beautiful.
I feel quite full most of the time. It is hard to eat as much, so I try not to eat as much. The hot pack with castor oil is very relaxing too. Helps with the back pain.
Charlotte Gerson will be here tomorrow. I'm quite excited. It will be interesting to see what she is like in person. She seems highly intelligent and of such good health for 91 years old. Makes me wonder how long this spunky thing will be around to teach the world.
Today I heard that Angelina Jolie has gotten a double mastectomy because she tested positive for he BRAC-1 gene. Not sure how I feel about that. Did she do it for pure prevention? Did she do it to help those that created the test make money? Did she consider changing her life style before mutilating her body? Prevention is good. Just not sure about this type of prevention. In the end a person should do what they feel is right for them.
Day 7, May 15
Charlotte Gerson was amazing. She came with her daughter Margaret (often called Peggy). Her daughter was amazing as well. Must run in the family.
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| Charlotte and Peggy (Photo taken from the Gerson Institute's Newsletter Healing News) |
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| Charlotte, Me, and Mom |
Today I had very little appetite, and I really didn't feel great. I felt bloated and irritable. I am told this is very common when you start the diet and that more cooked veggies will help. I much preferred to be in my room than out of it. Maybe that was me detoxing, who knows. I felt bad enough that I started to cry when on the phone with Nick. He told me how bad he had been eating and I chewed him out a bit and then he called me to make sure I was doing okay, which I wasn't...
Tomorrow I will start the castor oil enemas. This consists of some oral castor oil around 6:30 am with some oral coffee to chase it down. This is the only time oral coffee is allowed. Do the first enema like normal. Then around 11:30 am you get your coffee enema with added castor oil and ox bile powder (used to emulsify the castor oil). You are then to try to hold it, but it then states you will not be able to hold it...don't wait.
Day 9, May 17
I gave another blood and urine sample today. Maybe we will go over them with the doctor today or tomorrow. Hopefully they are showing good stuff.
The oral castor oil and coffee chase wasn't horrible, but I can tell they are doing their job. I have had some cramping, and I definitely want to be near a toilet. I had a tiny bowel movement. Now just waiting for the castor oil enema...
It wasn't as bad as everyone has said. Maybe a bit more cramping with the enema, but not much. Maybe next time it will be different. I guess I will be doing this every other day, so we will see what happens.
On another note, I started niacin yesterday. They held off for a while there since I had had surgery and it can cause bleeding. It's been just over three weeks now. Anyhow, I had a niacin flush and reaction with the itching at dinner. Of course David noticed. David and his stories...
Day 10, May 18
Maybe I can go for a walk today. Yesterday I didn't want to be too far from the toilet. The beach sounds nice today though.
We got the blood results back. It looks like there are slight improvements. it seems like my body responds well to the therapy as it should be.
It was a pretty typical day today. Dr. Cervantes did a presentation on diabetes and the Gerson Therapy today. Good information. He is a funny guy. He is a good person to have around for sure.
We did go for a walk. I was laying in bed right after my 3 pm juice getting ready to take a nap, and I just sat up and asked Mom if she wanted to go. She was game, so we left for about an hour. We walked to the beach took our sandals off, and went all the way to the wall that separates the US and Mexico. It was so nice. The sun was shining, and even though there were a lot of people out, it was amazing! The only bad thing, I'm pretty sure I got a sunburn on my face. I should have worn my hat...
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| The wall that separates Mexico and the U.S. |
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| Some cool art at the beach |
Day 11, May 19
So, I had my oral castor oil and coffee again this morning. Not horrible I suppose. I had my normal coffee enema afterwards. No worries. After breakfast I had a bit of cramping and a slightly loose stool. This is abnormal while doing enemas with Gerson to have any type or normal bowel movement. The enemas usually break it up and wash it out before you can have a normal bowel movement. Anyhow, that seems like the only abnormal part of the the castor oil treatment so far...
Since it is Sunday, Ted will do a service for us today. He is a companion for his wife Diane who has ovarian cancer and was pre-treated with chemotherapy. They were missionaries in Africa for years before Diane's diagnosis. So glad they have come. They came after Rosa left. They seem so amazing with their faith.
The service was different from what I'm used to. We started off by singing a few different songs. I wasn't familiar with any of them. Ted and Diane seem to really get into them. Very motivating. Ted then gave his sermon . It was about finding the light in the dark. Basically finding out why we were given cancer as a gift. Very good.
Terry (a mesothelioma patient) then spoke about us all being here at this time to learn from one another. There is no doubt in my mind that he is right. Everyone here is so inspiring and encouraging. We are so blessed! Maybe this is our light in the dark or even just a part of the light in the dark.
The castor oil today wasn't horrible. There was one occasion after breakfast that I needed to use the toilet, but not horrible at all.
Day 12, May 20
Today Steve and Heather will leave. :(. So sad. Steve has prostate cancer that metastasized to some bone (we know in the hip bone at least). His sweet daughter Heather convinced him to come. She is amazing. He would be dead without her. They didn't want to take him at all because of the painful way the bone heals, but because another patient had to cancel, they allowed him to take his place. So glad we met them. They have made the experience amazing for sure.
We were all so sad for them to leave. They would have liked to stay longer, but it was not possible. To make them happy and wish them well, Rochelle decided to sing the Star Gas jingle as a send off. Then mom made her own verse with Rochelle's help. We all sang it and did a little dance. Steve had Terry read something for the whole group. He thanked us all for the experience, and he gave a special thanks for his daughter Heather. It was so beautiful and heartwarming.
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| Me, Mom, Steve, and Heather |
We get live music in the courtyard today! Yay!
The music was good. I think it lifted everyone's spirits. It was some jazzy blues type music. There was a saxophone, a keyboard, and some shakers? Anyhow, it was very nice.
Dinner was nice tonight. We all had a lot of fun visiting afterwards. I took a video of David's "niacin reaction" story he had at home with his wife. So funny! Mom wanted it to show to dad. Can't wait!
Such fun people for sure. I will miss them all when I go on Thursday, but will also be happy to be home.
Day 13, May 21
Day three of castor oil. I felt the cramping a bit more today during breakfast, but still not bad at all.
It was a pretty lazy day for sure. Mom went with a group of companions to Costco. I told her to look for a thermos, but Costco didn't have any thermos. Instead, they ended up going to another store to find some. They made it back after lunch, but they were a bit late.
We met with the rep for all the meds we take everyday. Thank goodness for Mom is all I can say. I'm truly blessed to have parents that support me in so many ways.
In two days I should be home with the boys again. I miss them and I'm ready to be home. This will be a very time intensive program, but I know that it will help. Dr. Cervantes recommends that I stay home for a minimum of three months, and that when I go back, I go back only part-time to start. We shall see...
Oh! We got another couple that took Heather and Steve's room. They are a beautiful couple from Nigeria. They speak English very well. The wife has breast cancer diagnosed in March. She has not had any treatment at all not even surgery. She is so brave!
Day 14, May 22
This is our last day here. I saw Dr. Cervantes and he will start me on some thyroid meds and an extra CO Q10 at each meal. He started me on a very small amount of thyroid to make sure that it doesn't affect me negatively.
I'm ready to go home, but I will miss all of the help that the staff provides for us. It will be a big adjustment for us, but it will be worth it. I will be healthy and whole and a great mom for my boys.
Day 15, May 23
Going home today! Bittersweet for sure. I will miss these people that have inspired me and shared their stories with me. I will miss the support and the unconditional love. I have found some forever friends for sure. I will be happy to see my boys though. All three of them.
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| Dr. Pedro Cervantes Macchetto, Me, and Mom |
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| Most of our group minus a couple... |
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| Magdalena the nurse at CNV is hilarious! |
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| Me and Angie |
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| Angie, Mom, Me, and Val |
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| Me, Mom, Barb, and Warren |
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| Me, Mom, Dilon (the brilliant biologist with his ridiculous good looks and his lion-like mane) and Emily (the equally brilliant Physician's Assistant) |
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| Me, Felix (the coordinator of CNV), and Mom |
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| Me, Rachelle, and Mom |
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| Me, Terry, Mom, and Donna |
Thursday, June 6, 2013
My Recovery and Surgical Pathology Report
I was lucky in that I never really had any pain. Of course I sometimes was uncomfortable, but that was about it. I took the pain medication they gave me for less than two days. I started to get a rash, and I thought it may be the hydrocodone or the anesthesia. Either way I didn't really need it, and it was controllable with just Tylenol.
I was super tired, and for the first time in a long time I had a great excuse to take a nap. I took advantage, and I tried to nap a lot. I went between my house and Mom's so that I would have someone with me all the time and also so Mom could accomplish her own things. My mom was there with me through it all. I couldn't have done it without her.
Showers were a challenge. Lucky for me my surgeon's office had provided me with a pink ribbon-like necklace with a hook on the bottom part that I could just attach the drains to so they wouldn't just hang loose and pull while I took a shower. This was so useful in so many ways. Without it showers would have taken much longer and possibly have been painful.
It only took two days to get the verbal pathology report from the surgeon. He called me late on a Friday. I was in the car on the way to my mom's house, and I didn't get the phone quick enough. He left a message and gave me his cell phone number and said to call him anytime. This made me a bit nervous. Once I got to my mom's I got settled, checked my feelings, and I made the phone call.
He answered right away, and he said he had bad news. He said that of the 31 lymph nodes he had taken all 31 of them were positive for cancer. This led him to believe that of course there were more out there, and he was sure that if I didn't have chemo quickly it would spread and fast. He also said that he thought he had clear borders when he cut, but it appears that he cut into some cancerous tissue on the anterior margin of the resection. He said that on Monday morning he would go through each slide with the pathologist and let me know if there was any major risks here. The last thing he said was that cancer was present in about 90% of my left breast. Not a real comforting thought at all.
One the other hand, the right side was completely clear of any neoplasm or cancer. At least there was that good news.
So, that was a bit upsetting. I felt like I had just gotten my diagnosis all over again. Why it bothered me so much I'm not sure. I knew that the cancer was extensive on the left side from the PET results. I knew that it went to multiple lymph nodes, so I'm not sure why I reacted the way I did. I'm just glad I got the results on the phone. He can't see you crying through the phone.
I did tell my mom, but I kept this from everyone else. Not sure why now, but I'm thinking I did it so people wouldn't be so scared. I wanted only positives and when there was negative out there it was easy for me to pick up on that. I needed positive thoughts and energies to keep me going.
I had an appointment with the surgeon the next Thursday, so he would follow up on the pathology report at that time. In the mean time, my mom had me busy bossing her around while she cleaned and organized my house. She said the body can't heal when it lives in chaos. I never thought of that, but I felt like it was true. I know it sure did feel good to have it done.
My mom was good enough to enlist some help in the cause too. She had her sisters come over twice and together they cleaned my house from top to bottom. It is amazing what one collects when you have children. One thing for sure is that we had too many toys, clothes, and clutter. We gave away so much stuff.
Thursday came soon enough. I was feeling much better by then. I wonder if it had anything to do with the small talk the staff and I had. It really made the surgeon seem more human. For some reason the subject of losing teeth came up. I told him that when we were younger we got $0.50 for each tooth that came out naturally, but if we let my dad pull them out with pliers, we got a whole $1.00.
He laughed and shared a story about his own daughter. She was determined to get her tooth out, so she tried by tying her tooth to some helium balloons, but no luck with that method. For her second attempt she tied her tooth to an model boat and let her rip. That didn't work. Her last attempt involved the family dog. She tied her tooth to the dog's collar, and then she threw a ball. It came out very quickly that time.
He did go over the report again and gave me my own copy. It sounded much more positive in his office than on the phone. The area he had cut into on the anterior margin was no big deal. He said the pathologist that went through the slides with him was the best and he said it was just a small focal area of DCIS (ductal carcinoma insitu). No big deal.
One very good thing at the appointment was that he removed the drain on the right side. Yay! This made life so much easier. I was leaving for the Gerson Clinic the next Wednesday, and he was unavailable to take the left drain out because he would be out of the office. He did give his nurse permission to remove the left one in his absence if the drainage was less than 40 mL of fluid in 24 hours. This would make traveling easier for sure.
In the event that the drain wasn't able to come out, he said my mom or the doctor at the clinic could remove it. He wasn't worried about it at all. He did want to remind me to wear my sleeve to prevent any possible lymph edema, but otherwise I was free to go without any restrictions.
I went into his office the day before I left for San Diego. My surgeon actually was in the office that day. Another patient of his was having some difficulties, so he stopped by for a visit. I think he was actually growing fond of me.(Okay, maybe not, but maybe more intrigued by the situation.) He encouraged me to seek out a second opinion with an oncologist in the San Diego area while I was there, and I should send him any information if I did. He also wanted copies of any and all work that they did for me at the Gerson Clinic. He said he was very interested in what they do. He had his nurse give me a small stack of cards. I didn't want to tell him, but I wouldn't be going to see an oncologist. I just knew I wouldn't have time for that, and I wanted to focus all my time on learning and doing the therapy correctly without any distractions.
I was super tired, and for the first time in a long time I had a great excuse to take a nap. I took advantage, and I tried to nap a lot. I went between my house and Mom's so that I would have someone with me all the time and also so Mom could accomplish her own things. My mom was there with me through it all. I couldn't have done it without her.
Showers were a challenge. Lucky for me my surgeon's office had provided me with a pink ribbon-like necklace with a hook on the bottom part that I could just attach the drains to so they wouldn't just hang loose and pull while I took a shower. This was so useful in so many ways. Without it showers would have taken much longer and possibly have been painful.
It only took two days to get the verbal pathology report from the surgeon. He called me late on a Friday. I was in the car on the way to my mom's house, and I didn't get the phone quick enough. He left a message and gave me his cell phone number and said to call him anytime. This made me a bit nervous. Once I got to my mom's I got settled, checked my feelings, and I made the phone call.
He answered right away, and he said he had bad news. He said that of the 31 lymph nodes he had taken all 31 of them were positive for cancer. This led him to believe that of course there were more out there, and he was sure that if I didn't have chemo quickly it would spread and fast. He also said that he thought he had clear borders when he cut, but it appears that he cut into some cancerous tissue on the anterior margin of the resection. He said that on Monday morning he would go through each slide with the pathologist and let me know if there was any major risks here. The last thing he said was that cancer was present in about 90% of my left breast. Not a real comforting thought at all.
One the other hand, the right side was completely clear of any neoplasm or cancer. At least there was that good news.
So, that was a bit upsetting. I felt like I had just gotten my diagnosis all over again. Why it bothered me so much I'm not sure. I knew that the cancer was extensive on the left side from the PET results. I knew that it went to multiple lymph nodes, so I'm not sure why I reacted the way I did. I'm just glad I got the results on the phone. He can't see you crying through the phone.
I did tell my mom, but I kept this from everyone else. Not sure why now, but I'm thinking I did it so people wouldn't be so scared. I wanted only positives and when there was negative out there it was easy for me to pick up on that. I needed positive thoughts and energies to keep me going.
I had an appointment with the surgeon the next Thursday, so he would follow up on the pathology report at that time. In the mean time, my mom had me busy bossing her around while she cleaned and organized my house. She said the body can't heal when it lives in chaos. I never thought of that, but I felt like it was true. I know it sure did feel good to have it done.
My mom was good enough to enlist some help in the cause too. She had her sisters come over twice and together they cleaned my house from top to bottom. It is amazing what one collects when you have children. One thing for sure is that we had too many toys, clothes, and clutter. We gave away so much stuff.
Thursday came soon enough. I was feeling much better by then. I wonder if it had anything to do with the small talk the staff and I had. It really made the surgeon seem more human. For some reason the subject of losing teeth came up. I told him that when we were younger we got $0.50 for each tooth that came out naturally, but if we let my dad pull them out with pliers, we got a whole $1.00.
He laughed and shared a story about his own daughter. She was determined to get her tooth out, so she tried by tying her tooth to some helium balloons, but no luck with that method. For her second attempt she tied her tooth to an model boat and let her rip. That didn't work. Her last attempt involved the family dog. She tied her tooth to the dog's collar, and then she threw a ball. It came out very quickly that time.
He did go over the report again and gave me my own copy. It sounded much more positive in his office than on the phone. The area he had cut into on the anterior margin was no big deal. He said the pathologist that went through the slides with him was the best and he said it was just a small focal area of DCIS (ductal carcinoma insitu). No big deal.
One very good thing at the appointment was that he removed the drain on the right side. Yay! This made life so much easier. I was leaving for the Gerson Clinic the next Wednesday, and he was unavailable to take the left drain out because he would be out of the office. He did give his nurse permission to remove the left one in his absence if the drainage was less than 40 mL of fluid in 24 hours. This would make traveling easier for sure.
In the event that the drain wasn't able to come out, he said my mom or the doctor at the clinic could remove it. He wasn't worried about it at all. He did want to remind me to wear my sleeve to prevent any possible lymph edema, but otherwise I was free to go without any restrictions.
I went into his office the day before I left for San Diego. My surgeon actually was in the office that day. Another patient of his was having some difficulties, so he stopped by for a visit. I think he was actually growing fond of me.(Okay, maybe not, but maybe more intrigued by the situation.) He encouraged me to seek out a second opinion with an oncologist in the San Diego area while I was there, and I should send him any information if I did. He also wanted copies of any and all work that they did for me at the Gerson Clinic. He said he was very interested in what they do. He had his nurse give me a small stack of cards. I didn't want to tell him, but I wouldn't be going to see an oncologist. I just knew I wouldn't have time for that, and I wanted to focus all my time on learning and doing the therapy correctly without any distractions.
Sunday, June 2, 2013
My Surgery
One April 24, 2013, I had a double mastectomy. On the left
side it could be described more like a modified radical mastectomy with lymph
node dissection. There really was not any reason to take the right side,
but I am vain enough to want to be balanced. Plus the fact that I
wouldn't ever have to wear a bra again and that I would be more aerodynamic for
my running weighed on my mind as well. Also, if I ever chose to have
breast reconstruction they would truly be considered twins.
Mom met Nick and I at the hospital early
in the morning. We didn't have to wait too long before we were called
back to pre-op. they took my weight, my vitals, and even a little urine.
I got an IV almost immediately, gave me a few drugs to help me relax, and
some antibiotics to prevent any infection. After that it was wait time.
While we waited, a nurse named Renee from
MSTI (Mountain States Tumor Institute) came to visit me. We had exchanged
quite a few messages, but we had never spoken or met in person. She was a
nurse navigator which basically means she walks us through the whole MSTI
experience. If I need any support she can refer to different groups and
classes, etc. She was super kind and helpful. She also brought me a
few gifts. The first was a charm bracelet with a breast cancer charm.
It was very nice. The second was a necklace of sorts. It was
a homemade beaded necklace made by a breast cancer survivor. It was meant
to hold and support the drains after surgery. It was very thoughtful and
a great gift.
A little while later we saw our surgeon.
He marked the correct sides so that he wouldn't take the lymph nodes from
the wrong side. He then went over any questions that I may have. I din't really have many, so he said he would see me once he was finished with the patient ahead of me. He said the expected amount of time in surgery would be anywhere from 3-4 hours.
Before I knew it, they were sweeping me away from my mom and husband and into surgery. After that, I don't remember much until I came to in the recovery room.
Pretty quickly my husband was able to come to the recovery room, and before I knew it I was up in my room for the night. Mom was there waiting for me, and even Dad was on his way over. I felt pretty good for the most part. I was just a bit weak and tired which is to be expected.
Soon everyone left at my request. Nick needed to be with the boys, and Mom and Dad needed their rest. I needed my rest too. but that is sometimes hard when your staying in the hospital. My blood pressure was quite low, so my monitor went off every few minutes. Also, my nurses did my vitals at least every two hours and gave me pain medication as well. I couldn't sleep for long.
Soon morning came. With morning came my surgeon. He told me that he removed the expected lymph nodes. He also went on the tell me that he removed more than the expected because of my decision to not do chemo. I wasn't too happy about that part, but I know he felt like he was doing me a favor. So I had six less lymph nodes. I could live with it. He described the process as chasing the lymph nodes. If they felt hard, he took them out. He staged my cancer as 3C.
Again at this time he encouraged me to think more on the subject of chemo and radiation. I told him I would keep an open mind. He was happy with that at least.
He left by saying he would call me as soon as the pathology report came back. I thanked him, and then I waited to have my sleeve fitted and be discharged. I was ready to be home.
Before I knew it, they were sweeping me away from my mom and husband and into surgery. After that, I don't remember much until I came to in the recovery room.
Pretty quickly my husband was able to come to the recovery room, and before I knew it I was up in my room for the night. Mom was there waiting for me, and even Dad was on his way over. I felt pretty good for the most part. I was just a bit weak and tired which is to be expected.
Soon everyone left at my request. Nick needed to be with the boys, and Mom and Dad needed their rest. I needed my rest too. but that is sometimes hard when your staying in the hospital. My blood pressure was quite low, so my monitor went off every few minutes. Also, my nurses did my vitals at least every two hours and gave me pain medication as well. I couldn't sleep for long.
Soon morning came. With morning came my surgeon. He told me that he removed the expected lymph nodes. He also went on the tell me that he removed more than the expected because of my decision to not do chemo. I wasn't too happy about that part, but I know he felt like he was doing me a favor. So I had six less lymph nodes. I could live with it. He described the process as chasing the lymph nodes. If they felt hard, he took them out. He staged my cancer as 3C.
Again at this time he encouraged me to think more on the subject of chemo and radiation. I told him I would keep an open mind. He was happy with that at least.
He left by saying he would call me as soon as the pathology report came back. I thanked him, and then I waited to have my sleeve fitted and be discharged. I was ready to be home.
My Pre-Surgical Consult
The Monday after my oncology appointment I called my surgeon's office to let them know I was ready for surgery. I actually chose to have both breasts removed. If one goes the other may as well go too. I called late in the evening, so they couldn't schedule it that day. Also, I couldn't have the surgery until after April 20. I had signed up for the Race to Robie Creek Half Marathon, and I couldn't back out. In fact, my diagnosis made me that much more determined to do it. I had done half marathons in the past, but they were all flat runs. This one was nine miles uphill, and the last four down hill. If I could do this half marathon, then I can
definitely beat cancer.
I got a call the next day to let me know they go me in the Wednesday after my half marathon. The date was April 24. No problem. The sooner the better for me. I just needed to let work know so it could get covered. I let my boss know that day.
Also this same day I was able to get all my paperwork in for the Gerson Clinic. They would look over my labs, all of my imaging, and my pathology reports and determine if I was even a candidate for the therapy and being a patient at the clinic. At one point, I thought I would do everything at home, but after meeting with the oncologist the Friday prior, I knew I needed complete immersion.
Lucky for me I was accepted right away. I got a call later that day and they told me I could get in on May 24. Yay! I asked if they had any cancellations if I could get in sooner, and they told me they would let me know. To my astonishment, they called me back just two days later to let me know they did get a cancellation. I could go on May 9. I told them I had no problems with that as long as they were okay with me having had surgery just two weeks before that. They said no problem.
I felt like I was acting now. I had made a decision about my treatment, and I was following through.
My mom and I met with the surgeon the day before my surgery. He had gotten the results to the PET scan, and for the most part he was happy with them. There was no involvement in the lungs, bones, or liver. This is really what we had expected.
Another thing he wanted to discuss was that there was no need to remove both breasts. I told him I didn't want to look awkward. He then mentioned that if I wanted I could have just one breast removed now, and then they could take to other one later. This would ensure that if I chose reconstruction the breasts would look closer to the real thing. I told him I only wanted to have one surgery to remove my breasts, and I was not really concerned about reconstruction of my breasts at this time. I wasn't sure I would even reconstruct them at all.
He also got a report from the oncologist. He was surprised with my decision to say the least. He did his best to convince me that I was making a bad decision. He did say that no matter my decision, he would stand by me as a doctor. That was appreciated. He asked why I chose this route, and I responded that I felt like chemo was a poison that destroys the immune system rather than build it up. It is also a known carcinogen. If I was going to beat cancer I needed to keep my immune system stronger, not weaker.
He did ask my mom what she and Dad thought about my decision. She responded that they were supportive of whatever I chose. He really didn't have a comment to that. I think he was even quite surprised. I know he was trying to do his job as a doctor and save the patient, and that is good. If he didn't care what I did and just let me go and do something he felt was dangerous, I wouldn't want him as my doctor at all.
Once he was done trying to convince me of the error of my ways, he asked if I had any questions about the surgery. I had a few. Most were very simple questions. How long would I need to stay in the hospital? How long did I have to have the drains in? Could I travel with the drains if need be? I would only need to stay in the hospital for one night. The drains usually stayed in for and average of 10 days to two weeks. There was no problem with me traveling, but if I did travel by plane, he wanted me to be fitted for a sleeve to prevent lymph edema.
Because he was taking out a large portion of lymph nodes from my left arm, there is an increased risk that I could develop lymph edema or swelling in my arm from lymph fluid that is unable to drain. He said that if I were to fly and experience a change in cabin pressure, the chance of getting lymph edema was increased. No problem. A sleeve was easy.
Now for the surgery itself...
definitely beat cancer.
I got a call the next day to let me know they go me in the Wednesday after my half marathon. The date was April 24. No problem. The sooner the better for me. I just needed to let work know so it could get covered. I let my boss know that day.
Also this same day I was able to get all my paperwork in for the Gerson Clinic. They would look over my labs, all of my imaging, and my pathology reports and determine if I was even a candidate for the therapy and being a patient at the clinic. At one point, I thought I would do everything at home, but after meeting with the oncologist the Friday prior, I knew I needed complete immersion.
Lucky for me I was accepted right away. I got a call later that day and they told me I could get in on May 24. Yay! I asked if they had any cancellations if I could get in sooner, and they told me they would let me know. To my astonishment, they called me back just two days later to let me know they did get a cancellation. I could go on May 9. I told them I had no problems with that as long as they were okay with me having had surgery just two weeks before that. They said no problem.
I felt like I was acting now. I had made a decision about my treatment, and I was following through.
My mom and I met with the surgeon the day before my surgery. He had gotten the results to the PET scan, and for the most part he was happy with them. There was no involvement in the lungs, bones, or liver. This is really what we had expected.
Another thing he wanted to discuss was that there was no need to remove both breasts. I told him I didn't want to look awkward. He then mentioned that if I wanted I could have just one breast removed now, and then they could take to other one later. This would ensure that if I chose reconstruction the breasts would look closer to the real thing. I told him I only wanted to have one surgery to remove my breasts, and I was not really concerned about reconstruction of my breasts at this time. I wasn't sure I would even reconstruct them at all.
He also got a report from the oncologist. He was surprised with my decision to say the least. He did his best to convince me that I was making a bad decision. He did say that no matter my decision, he would stand by me as a doctor. That was appreciated. He asked why I chose this route, and I responded that I felt like chemo was a poison that destroys the immune system rather than build it up. It is also a known carcinogen. If I was going to beat cancer I needed to keep my immune system stronger, not weaker.
He did ask my mom what she and Dad thought about my decision. She responded that they were supportive of whatever I chose. He really didn't have a comment to that. I think he was even quite surprised. I know he was trying to do his job as a doctor and save the patient, and that is good. If he didn't care what I did and just let me go and do something he felt was dangerous, I wouldn't want him as my doctor at all.
Once he was done trying to convince me of the error of my ways, he asked if I had any questions about the surgery. I had a few. Most were very simple questions. How long would I need to stay in the hospital? How long did I have to have the drains in? Could I travel with the drains if need be? I would only need to stay in the hospital for one night. The drains usually stayed in for and average of 10 days to two weeks. There was no problem with me traveling, but if I did travel by plane, he wanted me to be fitted for a sleeve to prevent lymph edema.
Because he was taking out a large portion of lymph nodes from my left arm, there is an increased risk that I could develop lymph edema or swelling in my arm from lymph fluid that is unable to drain. He said that if I were to fly and experience a change in cabin pressure, the chance of getting lymph edema was increased. No problem. A sleeve was easy.
Now for the surgery itself...
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