One of the gals at my gym who is in a lot of my spinning and yoga classes asked me an interesting question after class. "What would you say was the one most important thing that got you through all this?" It has been an intense year with surgery and chemo treatments for sure, but I have done amazingly well.
I had to think for a minute because I had so many things working in my favor...supportive girl friends, an amazing naturopath, Dr. Ian Bier who helped prep for surgery and chemotherapy and supported body with amazing supplements and changed my food plan; and a very supportive oncologist, Dr. Stephen Isakoff, who was willing to work with me and answer all my many questions and even look at research I wanted to share with him; skilled surgeons, Dr. Michele Gadd and Dr. Jason Cooper for reconstruction. I had continued to exercise almost daily which I think really gave me more energy and cleared my stressed mind. But if I could classify the one thing that made the most difference, it was attitude. My shock only lasted about 2 weeks and then I focused on taking a proactive approach with research and tried to stay positive. Every decision and every step in my care was carefully researched and also I would contemplate until I knew the choices were what I needed to do, even if it took a little time. I tried to step outside my fear and make rational and logical decisions even in the midst of such a scary C word. I don't even want to give power to the word by saying it:)
Like most, I began with a feeling of "How did this happen to me?" and turned it into "What can I learn and do about this situation to heal?" We are all individuals and C strikes many for various reasons. I know what my perfect storm of factors was, so I knew what I needed to do to try my best to heal. But I did let my doctors help and work as partners with me and respected their opinions while making sure the recommendations made sense to me. This included stepping outside my box of natural medicine by doing conventional therapies that I knew could also be harmful. I decided to let them work for me and that I would fair well and be ok with the treatment because I would do all I learned to support myself. I think its really important to realize it's not black or white. Treatments can be both and can be grey, because we know C is has a lot of grey in what works in each case, so I dove tailed many treatment philosophies. Even though the harshest conventional means are behind me this goal to continue rebuilding my immune system continues.
Another friend asked me how long I am going to continue this diet and supplementation plan, treatments, exercise, etc? I said as long as I am able because my life has forever changed and I owe it to myself and my family to continue doing my best to stay healthy:)
Not sure when I would think I'm in the clear, but one thing is for sure, I would not have been able to do so well without this plan and the support of my friends as well. I've decided yo have a "Grattitude Girl Power Party" this weekend to thank the women who really helped me locally. Some drove me to chemo, cleaned my house, have me my Nulasta shots, organized meal drop off for me and my family, and even on occasion I would come out of a natural IV of Vitamin C & B vitamin therapy to pay and find out some anonymous friend(s) picked up my bill without my knowing! As an only child with little close family of my own who were able to help, I am somehow still incredibly blessed and full of immense grattitude!
I had to think for a minute because I had so many things working in my favor...supportive girl friends, an amazing naturopath, Dr. Ian Bier who helped prep for surgery and chemotherapy and supported body with amazing supplements and changed my food plan; and a very supportive oncologist, Dr. Stephen Isakoff, who was willing to work with me and answer all my many questions and even look at research I wanted to share with him; skilled surgeons, Dr. Michele Gadd and Dr. Jason Cooper for reconstruction. I had continued to exercise almost daily which I think really gave me more energy and cleared my stressed mind. But if I could classify the one thing that made the most difference, it was attitude. My shock only lasted about 2 weeks and then I focused on taking a proactive approach with research and tried to stay positive. Every decision and every step in my care was carefully researched and also I would contemplate until I knew the choices were what I needed to do, even if it took a little time. I tried to step outside my fear and make rational and logical decisions even in the midst of such a scary C word. I don't even want to give power to the word by saying it:)
Like most, I began with a feeling of "How did this happen to me?" and turned it into "What can I learn and do about this situation to heal?" We are all individuals and C strikes many for various reasons. I know what my perfect storm of factors was, so I knew what I needed to do to try my best to heal. But I did let my doctors help and work as partners with me and respected their opinions while making sure the recommendations made sense to me. This included stepping outside my box of natural medicine by doing conventional therapies that I knew could also be harmful. I decided to let them work for me and that I would fair well and be ok with the treatment because I would do all I learned to support myself. I think its really important to realize it's not black or white. Treatments can be both and can be grey, because we know C is has a lot of grey in what works in each case, so I dove tailed many treatment philosophies. Even though the harshest conventional means are behind me this goal to continue rebuilding my immune system continues.
Another friend asked me how long I am going to continue this diet and supplementation plan, treatments, exercise, etc? I said as long as I am able because my life has forever changed and I owe it to myself and my family to continue doing my best to stay healthy:)
Not sure when I would think I'm in the clear, but one thing is for sure, I would not have been able to do so well without this plan and the support of my friends as well. I've decided yo have a "Grattitude Girl Power Party" this weekend to thank the women who really helped me locally. Some drove me to chemo, cleaned my house, have me my Nulasta shots, organized meal drop off for me and my family, and even on occasion I would come out of a natural IV of Vitamin C & B vitamin therapy to pay and find out some anonymous friend(s) picked up my bill without my knowing! As an only child with little close family of my own who were able to help, I am somehow still incredibly blessed and full of immense grattitude!