To have the op or try alternative

Hi Chloecat, 

I have just finished reading your entire post, all 16 pages of it with great interest! Sorry to hear about your mini stroke too and I hope you are recovering well from it. 

It is so strange as reading your early posts especially was like reading my own post on the breastcarecancer forum or something like that... 

I too on getting diagnosed with BC have declined virtually all conventional treatment, ie surgery chemo and radiation but have decided alongside some dietary changes and looking into alternative therapies preferably non invasive, to have the hormone treatment ie Letrozole starting in  a week or so.. 

Out of many less encouraging responses to my  post, one kind lady suggested I register here as she has followed your post since you started in 2012...

It was so comforting to read both your post with your humour, and regular updates as well as some supporting responses from several ladies here too... 

I am on largely raw vegan and transitioning to total raw vegan once my freezer is empty of food that needs cooking! , I have the book of Gerson therapy but found it heavy going and currently taking tips written by a British Nutritional expert and endorsed by an Oncologist called "Take Breast cancer off your menu".... 

I am so pleased that you are doing so well and sticking with your convictions and belief that some of the more aggressive cancer treatments are not necessarily suited to everyone... 

I only got diagnosed last Tuesday but they had strong suspicion of cancer when I had my biopsy the previous Tuesday (hurt like hell even with local anesthetic!!) still but a bruise over a week later... 

I read with added interest your posting detailing your supplements and ordered the 2 I had not tried yet... 

Thank you so much for being brave and looking into other options for cancer treatment, as on the other forum the women who have gone through conventional treatment and survived that and happy with  the lives they now live are to be admired also.. 

I believe cancer and how it should be treated is an individual thing, and don't believe "one size fits all" so to speak,.. 

I need to go back to see my oncologist on 1st Nov for a physical check up, then another US 3 months after that.... 

One of my interests other than nutrition is the Bob Beck protocol.... Considering buying the equipment that is the basis for it.... 

Take care.... You're not alone!! 

Elaine Xxx

Has anyone heard of Dr Johanna Budwig?

If you are going down the alternative route, this could be worth researching.  I only came across it yesterday, not done any research, could be more B/S!

Thanks. I have just googled it. When I was first diagnosed I got so confused with all these miracle diets making a lot of money for the people publishing them. But I am always open to the fact that there may be a diet out there that really can cure cancer. But I am very suspicious of sugar being cut out, and replaced with some other miracle substance so you can still eat sweet things. Most of them actually contain more sugar than refined sugar itself. And hardly any have any clinical backing behind them. When a study was done on honey most of them contained very little real honey. Just sugar and anti biotics and sold as real honey. But to be fair, I will take a proper look at Dr. Johanna Budwigs website and diet. I only skimmed over it and was put off when I saw the sugar alternative. I have read about flaxseed and cottage cheese as a cure for cancer in dogs. But there again, no clinical research details. But I think everything is worth a look at. The cure is out there somewhere!

pleased to know I m not the only one tto have refused conventional treatment !  I don't have a lot of money to waste

walking the path alone.  I have grade three breast cancer - underwent mastectomy and  radiotherapy, bbut balked at the chemotherapy and the hormone therapy.

I guess one can only do what one can do.  I am so so afraid of being disabled, bbeing ill,  having no one to help.  

as for the alternative that isn't an easy path either .  AM  kind of going by this wwebsite, trying like mad to give up dairy products.  Pretty hard to only eat raw food though, just don't like it, take such ages to prepare....[edited]

disappointed that medical oncologist didn't support my belief - this is a 'may be' according to Cancer research UK -- that oestrogen is produced if you eat loads of cheese etc.  I think one horrible truth people don't like/don't want to face is that no doctor knows everything.  

 I call bullshit on Johanna Budwig. Flax oil and quark ffs!!! I particularly liked the testimonial from the Stage 4 BC patient, who said she was an holistic health counsellor before diagnosis. Fat lot of good that did her.

Yes I must admit that once I started to read, it sounded like a lot of hokum! Forget I mentioned it! 

Tropicof, 

The problem is doctors receive very little training in nutrition so don't have a clue about why alternatives so can only recommend what they are experts in ie conventional treatment for cancer.... 

The book I mentioned in my quote is very well researched and written by a top British nutritionist who makes the book very readable with lots of different dietary advice which has been proven scientifically.... It is also recommended by a British Oncologist........... 

I am following her guidance and there is so much we can do to change our lives to help beat cancer naturally.... She is however advising that the advice should be followed to prevent breast cancer or stop recurrence after treatment.... 

I am using it alongside Letrozole..... Mostly so I have some control over trying to heal my own body and build my defence up to prevent recurrence.... 

I am transitioning to raw vegan from other research and personal experience from when I did it previously and it gave me a multitude of health benefits... 

But her book and dietary advice is for simple things you can add to your food intake including cooked foods and things to avoid and why... All backed up by science including cutting out sugar.... Good luck 

Hello to everyone who has posted

Many thanks for that.  Looked into numerous diets and mechanical aids all of which were out of my price range requiring, for better outcomes, a trip abroad.  Although, the new 'equipment' on the Budwig Protocol seems a lot more reasonable in price - she says!  What we are not getting are alternative therapies that can really assist us.  Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy alone could do so much as a conventional cancer therapy but are we offered it - No.  Does it cost a lot - very probably not.  Chemo drugs - expensive - oh yes.  HIFU (High Frequency Focussed Ultrasound) being used but not on Breast Cancer.  Can it be used for BC - of course.  Photodynamic Therapy - I think - absolutely brilliant and can be used as many times as it is needed should there be a recurrence AND of course no side effects - like loss of some anatomy, scarring and the mental anguish at the loss of an important part of our anatomy.  Ablatherm is another one.  Nanoknife all the rage in America which delivers electrical pulses at the tumour - kills them - just like a part of the Budwig protocol.  So many with clinical trials/studies behind them and some even without the Phase 3 Clinical Trial.  Most being used elsewhere but not in the UK.  Some are being used in the UK but not being used for BC.  We are, really, so backward in the UK.

On the sight front - eyesight slowly, slowly returning.  Checking everyday and only see marginal improvements.  From 18 July, however, I suppose there is a marked improvement but oh how I wish it was all back right here and now.  The 'lace' effect still in effect!

Blood Pressure - last one was 147/78 - a remarkable improvement.  Next one due on 17 August in the morning before I go off to see the consultant in the afternoon.

Cholesterol test shows 4.0 with HDL's (good) at 3.3.  I am now wondering if a sandwich I ate with ham and cheese was the cause of that (at the time) as I am not allowed to eat dairy, red meat or salt which that sandwich all contained!!!!!!

Finally, going away for a long weekend this weekend.  Looking forward to it as it is beside the seaside.  Good lungfuls of fresh air from the Westerlies and it's going to be sunny'ish.

Take care of yourselves everyone and will be back after the consult.

Hi All

Well, had the consult.  Old guy who I have never seen before.  Original Consultant/Oncologist sick again - poor man.  He does overdo it though.

Doctor mentioned a new 'tumour' and wanted to do a stereotactic mamm.  I said I had just had a mamm after 3 years of saying no so not prepared for have that.  By the way left boob okay.  In the end it was ascertained that the 'other tumour' was the lymph node.  They also said that the original tumour had increased to 11x9mm - bu--ar!  However I am not sure we are all talking about the same one!!  Got no size for the 'lymph' one!  I will however be having another US on Friday 25th with the Consultant Radiographer and I can tell you I will be asking some very searching questions.  Therefore Letrozole not working for me at all and Arimidex mentioned which I am happy to take.  Also discussed the trial Photodynamic therapy but as the Consultant/Oncologist on sick leave this has been stopped temporarily.  I am however hopeful that this will be resurrected.  According to my BCN nurse they were on the 2nd Phase of the trial.  Will ask more questions when I have a later consult on 7 September.  Hopefully I can talk with someone who knows about it and the criteria for taking part.

So not good but not so bad.

Eyesight - very slowly coming back.  30 August sees me go for a EchoCardiogram and 24hr Electrocardiogram.  Fun eh!  It just seems to keep on coming.  BORAX!!!!!!!!!

it is refreshing to find someone who does not just automatically follow the medical route.

OMG scary, if letrozole hasn't worked.   there was something written  think 2003, , 'cure at what a cost'

one kind of figuring that if I don't have much life left, would rather spend what I have doing things that interest me rather than things which  I hate.  So am interested in alternative treatments.  Surely that has to be the future ?  something non-invasive, that does not cause such terrible damage as the present treatments?