Stage IV update

Thanks Brian, Artie and Laurie!  Your comments are very well received!

newmanmark – I see that you have also embraced some alternative approaches which have apparently protected you from new metastases (very impressive) even though it has not stopped the growth of the one tumor (a separate biological process I believe).  I will gladly share with you if you will share with me!

1)  Biggest change was elimination of stress.  I had at least 5 years of chronic stress preceeding my diagnosis.  Many of those triggers removed themselves and the last, my job, I quit.  My husband is now supporting us and I am accepting that guilt-free (I would have felt very guilty previously).  To live stress-free is a HUGE attitude adjustment for me.  I believe this to have a large benefit to my immune system.

2) Diet changes – I eliminated all sugar, grains, legumes, processed foods and dairy except for raw butter (I have been very good about these changes).  For the remaining food that I do eat I have switched to organic, non-GMO, grass-fed, pastured, wild-caught, etc. (I have not been as good at this as I eat too often in restaurants).  As a side-effect, I lost 40 pounds since February which was most welcome!

3) Health evaluation with a Naturopath who discovered that I have low thyroid function (now corrected with Nature-Throid prescription) and I was anemic (now corrected with iron supplementation).  In addition, to optimize health and survival benefits for cancer, she has me taking the following supplements:

– Coenzyme Co Q10

– Curcumin Extract

– Green Tea Extract

– Melatonin

– Vitamin D3 (based on blood tests I was very deficient, now I am slightly high so have scaled back)

– Coriolus Super Strength (I started with Beta 1,3 Glucan on my own and she had me switch to this)

Additional things I have not done yet that my Naturopath has recommended:

1) Exercise (is there ever a good reason not to do this?  Not even controversial.  I am a couch potato.)

2) Avemar supplementation (actually Oncomar – which is a pill form of Avemar).  She wanted to wait to see if this was necessary as it is fairly expensive (around $200 for one month supply).  I expect I will be starting this soon.  Maybe if I had exercised I wouldn't need to.  Oh well.

3) To eat a higher ratio of vegetables (I tend to eat more animal products than vegetables) and achieve an alkaline PH (my PH is currently acidic).

I am hopeful that if I implement these additional changes, I may see some improvements at next scan.  Your turn, newmanmark – what have you been doing that has helped keep those new mets from forming?

Cheers – Maggie

Thank you, Squash.  I see my Naturopath this Thursday so I will run your suggestions past her.  I have considered yoga but I have serious balance problems due to Meniere's disease.   I might try it anyways as I've always liked the concepts behind it.  Thanks again for your suggestions.

Saw my Naturopath and asked about your suggestions, Squash.  She's not a fan of live blood analysis and does encourage me to eat more greens (I have a juicer now and will aim for 1 quart of fresh green juice per day).  She has given me the info to buy Avemar but has stressed that she doesn't think I need it as she is happy with my current status.  She switched me to a more bioavailable form of curcumin (Theracurcumin) and increased my melatonin to 20mg from 15.  She is also not a big fan of flaxseed oil.  But suggested fish oil if I wanted to boost my omega 3s.

There is so much variety among health practitioners.  I will continue with her advice for now….  But if I have any growth at my next scans, I will look for a second or third opinion.  Thanks for your suggestions.  I will be interested in continuing to learn about your path and how your body responds.

Maggie

Saw my Naturopath and asked about your suggestions, Squash.  She's not a fan of live blood analysis and does encourage me to eat more greens (I have a juicer now and will aim for 1 quart of fresh green juice per day).  She has given me the info to buy Avemar but has stressed that she doesn't think I need it as she is happy with my current status.  She switched me to a more bioavailable form of curcumin (Theracurcumin) and increased my melatonin to 20mg from 15.  She is also not a big fan of flaxseed oil.  But suggested fish oil if I wanted to boost my omega 3s.

There is so much variety among health practitioners.  I will continue with her advice for now….  But if I have any growth at my next scans, I will look for a second or third opinion.  Thanks for your suggestions.  I will be interested in continuing to learn about your path and how your body responds.

Maggie

Saw my Naturopath and asked about your suggestions, Squash.  She's not a fan of live blood analysis and does encourage me to eat more greens (I have a juicer now and will aim for 1 quart of fresh green juice per day).  She has given me the info to buy Avemar but has stressed that she doesn't think I need it as she is happy with my current status.  She switched me to a more bioavailable form of curcumin (Theracurcumin) and increased my melatonin to 20mg from 15.  She is also not a big fan of flaxseed oil.  But suggested fish oil if I wanted to boost my omega 3s.

There is so much variety among health practitioners.  I will continue with her advice for now….  But if I have any growth at my next scans, I will look for a second or third opinion.  Thanks for your suggestions.  I will be interested in continuing to learn about your path and how your body responds.

Maggie

Thank you, Squash.  I see my Naturopath this Thursday so I will run your suggestions past her.  I have considered yoga but I have serious balance problems due to Meniere's disease.   I might try it anyways as I've always liked the concepts behind it.  Thanks again for your suggestions.

Thank you, Squash.  I see my Naturopath this Thursday so I will run your suggestions past her.  I have considered yoga but I have serious balance problems due to Meniere's disease.   I might try it anyways as I've always liked the concepts behind it.  Thanks again for your suggestions.

Thanks Brian, Artie and Laurie!  Your comments are very well received!

newmanmark – I see that you have also embraced some alternative approaches which have apparently protected you from new metastases (very impressive) even though it has not stopped the growth of the one tumor (a separate biological process I believe).  I will gladly share with you if you will share with me!

1)  Biggest change was elimination of stress.  I had at least 5 years of chronic stress preceeding my diagnosis.  Many of those triggers removed themselves and the last, my job, I quit.  My husband is now supporting us and I am accepting that guilt-free (I would have felt very guilty previously).  To live stress-free is a HUGE attitude adjustment for me.  I believe this to have a large benefit to my immune system.

2) Diet changes – I eliminated all sugar, grains, legumes, processed foods and dairy except for raw butter (I have been very good about these changes).  For the remaining food that I do eat I have switched to organic, non-GMO, grass-fed, pastured, wild-caught, etc. (I have not been as good at this as I eat too often in restaurants).  As a side-effect, I lost 40 pounds since February which was most welcome!

3) Health evaluation with a Naturopath who discovered that I have low thyroid function (now corrected with Nature-Throid prescription) and I was anemic (now corrected with iron supplementation).  In addition, to optimize health and survival benefits for cancer, she has me taking the following supplements:

– Coenzyme Co Q10

– Curcumin Extract

– Green Tea Extract

– Melatonin

– Vitamin D3 (based on blood tests I was very deficient, now I am slightly high so have scaled back)

– Coriolus Super Strength (I started with Beta 1,3 Glucan on my own and she had me switch to this)

Additional things I have not done yet that my Naturopath has recommended:

1) Exercise (is there ever a good reason not to do this?  Not even controversial.  I am a couch potato.)

2) Avemar supplementation (actually Oncomar – which is a pill form of Avemar).  She wanted to wait to see if this was necessary as it is fairly expensive (around $200 for one month supply).  I expect I will be starting this soon.  Maybe if I had exercised I wouldn't need to.  Oh well.

3) To eat a higher ratio of vegetables (I tend to eat more animal products than vegetables) and achieve an alkaline PH (my PH is currently acidic).

I am hopeful that if I implement these additional changes, I may see some improvements at next scan.  Your turn, newmanmark – what have you been doing that has helped keep those new mets from forming?

Cheers – Maggie

Thanks Brian, Artie and Laurie!  Your comments are very well received!

newmanmark – I see that you have also embraced some alternative approaches which have apparently protected you from new metastases (very impressive) even though it has not stopped the growth of the one tumor (a separate biological process I believe).  I will gladly share with you if you will share with me!

1)  Biggest change was elimination of stress.  I had at least 5 years of chronic stress preceeding my diagnosis.  Many of those triggers removed themselves and the last, my job, I quit.  My husband is now supporting us and I am accepting that guilt-free (I would have felt very guilty previously).  To live stress-free is a HUGE attitude adjustment for me.  I believe this to have a large benefit to my immune system.

2) Diet changes – I eliminated all sugar, grains, legumes, processed foods and dairy except for raw butter (I have been very good about these changes).  For the remaining food that I do eat I have switched to organic, non-GMO, grass-fed, pastured, wild-caught, etc. (I have not been as good at this as I eat too often in restaurants).  As a side-effect, I lost 40 pounds since February which was most welcome!

3) Health evaluation with a Naturopath who discovered that I have low thyroid function (now corrected with Nature-Throid prescription) and I was anemic (now corrected with iron supplementation).  In addition, to optimize health and survival benefits for cancer, she has me taking the following supplements:

– Coenzyme Co Q10

– Curcumin Extract

– Green Tea Extract

– Melatonin

– Vitamin D3 (based on blood tests I was very deficient, now I am slightly high so have scaled back)

– Coriolus Super Strength (I started with Beta 1,3 Glucan on my own and she had me switch to this)

Additional things I have not done yet that my Naturopath has recommended:

1) Exercise (is there ever a good reason not to do this?  Not even controversial.  I am a couch potato.)

2) Avemar supplementation (actually Oncomar – which is a pill form of Avemar).  She wanted to wait to see if this was necessary as it is fairly expensive (around $200 for one month supply).  I expect I will be starting this soon.  Maybe if I had exercised I wouldn't need to.  Oh well.

3) To eat a higher ratio of vegetables (I tend to eat more animal products than vegetables) and achieve an alkaline PH (my PH is currently acidic).

I am hopeful that if I implement these additional changes, I may see some improvements at next scan.  Your turn, newmanmark – what have you been doing that has helped keep those new mets from forming?

Cheers – Maggie