After much thought and analysis as well as prayer and soul searching, I've decided to focus my efforts on nourishing and nurturing my body to prevent future recurrence. This is clearly not in line with the next recommended step in the conventional medicine protocol of radiation, which as much as I tried to get positive about, I could not on good conscience put myself through, just in case there might be something there.
I feel really good and healthy and I'm climbing my way back to what I hope to create which is a healthy immune system, so I am using my arsenal to achieve just that. Below is a copy of a letter I sent to Dr. Isakoff to let him know of my decision just yesterday.
Dr. Isakoff,
Thanks for the conversation last Friday regarding radiation and the statical facts on risk/benefit. After careful consideration, I feel that it would be difficult for me to take on this treatment with a positive attitude as I have with all of the other treatments. Maybe it's because of my personal experience with radiation from mammograms which would cause burning and soar breasts for days afterwards and the fact that I believe it to be one if my risk factors. I've decided to approach the statical chances of recurrence with my arsenal of nurturing therapies and supplements with the ultimate goal of getting my immune system to function properly.
I would like to thank you for being the best oncologist I could have ever had the fortune to be on my case. It was amazing to be in the hands of you and Dr. Gadd during those crisis months to get me in this place.
I am looking forward to my Herceptin treatment today and feel really good about my decision as well as my family. Attitude is everything as you know with treatments and I can not approach the next stage of prevention of recurrence from a place of fear, which is what would have happened had I decided to do the radiation.
I will look forward to seeing you at MGH next month for a follow up. Thanks again for EVERYTHING!
Warmest Regards,
Rachel Dowd