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Blossom1961's avatar
7 years ago

This is where I'm at

Fifteen years ago I started on a journey to stop using man made chemicals in or on my body. It took ten years to find alternatives that worked for me but I finally made it. Headaches, hiatus hernia, hot flashes, mood swings, arthritis, IBS, TIAs, hayfever, muscle cramps, and whatever. All under control with natural products and cranial osteopathy. Unfortunately cancer doesn't care how healthy you are. It is happy to attack anyone. I was diagnosed with breast cancer in April this year, so with disgust I accepted that I needed to poison my body with chemotherapy, but I would do so also using complimentary therapies. Ten years natural solutions down the drain. Chemo has a mind of its own and takes over everything. My natural remedies no longer work. I am trying to find new natural solutions but so far have had limited success. Headaches, hot flushes, heartburn plus the usual side effects of chemo are now all controlled by more chemicals. Arghhhhhhh. On the positive side, chemotherapy has taken over the cancer and shrunk it to miniscule proportions. Hooray! My arthritis seems to have disappeared. Hooray! My IBS has not played up. Hooray! I have not had any TIAs. Hooray! On top of that, the blisters I have on my toes as a result of the chemo are responding well to lavender oil, hooray! and the blood nose is reduced by poking lucas paw paw ointment up it, hooray! I know I have glossed over lots of negatives, but by keeping hold of what is good I can keep moving forward. On Tuesday I have an appointment with the Psych to try to deal with the overwhelming sense of grief that hits me unawares. One step at a time! I have now finished all four rounds of AC and am currently in the Paclitaxel cycle (four down, eight to go) with Herceptin every third week for a year. I will be having a mastectomy and lymph node clearance before Christmas. Love to all Melody
  • Oh dear. The counselling though helps you cope with the constant fatigue and life change. Maybe worth a second visit. ..but so get it. I went to a psychologist as my GP insisted as I was tired. Whilst I work in mental health myself I also appreciate what chemo does. My work with post cancer patience is all about sleep and self care and pushing oneself a little but not overdoing it. Together we set mini goals. 
  • Well the psych was a waste of time. She kept asking why I was tired. She is supposed to be an oncology psych specialist. When I kept pointing out it was a result of the chemo she resorted to my childhood experiences. She could not accept that chemo could cause these issues and suggested that the mental health program might be worth considering even though she felt I was dealing with everything really well. Apparently Nothing wrong with me but lets stay in the system! I think she was a bigger nut than me. I thanked her for her time and said I wouldn't be back.
  • Weird, isn't it, chemo does wonders for your skin (unless it makes it all fall off) sorts out your arthritis ( while destroying your connective tissue) and kills off both good and bad gut organisms in equal quantities. 
     It's really heartening to hear the chemo is having a measurable impact, that gives everyone hope it is worth the drama. Keep plodding MXX
  • Thank you for all your encouragement. It is so nice to be able to share with people who understand, although I wish none of us did. A world without cancer. Maybe one day. 
  • It's the pits but know your complimentary therapies will be crucial in your chemo recovery period once all completed as your body heals itself from the chemical onslaught. Power to you. Kath x
  • I hope the psych really helps. I have a couple of visits and cried the entire time of my first and yes just really angry about the whole situation but I have found a bit more calm after the visits
  • Well done so far, you are acing it! Just think, one day you will be all done with hardly any appointments due. Not a fun time of life but a necessary one. Keep on the natural remedies where possible. <3