Cancer and Fear, Doubt, and Worry

My crowd funding project is over and I didn't meet my financial goal, but I got a lot of other benefits, including learning a lot about the cancer community in general.  Tweeting was the biggest catalyst for that because it is so quick and there are SO many places where groups and information are made available.  That is what brings to mind a subject that deserves some attention.


Science has now proven that thoughts really are things.  People with positive attitudes and some religious beliefs long considered it true before scientists found a way to prove it.  So, you would think that a world fraught with burgeoning cancer diagnoses and websites and support groups and treatment options that there would be a focus on keeping fear, doubt, and worry at bay.  But it just isn't so.


I am a person who falls into the positive attitude crowd and my spiritual beliefs support the idea that thoughts have influence, so I looked long and hard the last 6 weeks to find anywhere where that was the foundational support for any group or site.  I didn't find it.  If it exists, it certainly isn't front and center or easily found.


What is easy to find is information on the latest drug research and chemotherapy treatment and places to get access to them.  So are places where people chronicle their treatments, surgeries, and physical aches, pains, and symptoms.  There are diaries of stories written by husbands and relatives.  There are financial pleas for assistance.  I found myself feeling bogged down and moving away from my knowing that all is well and I am being healed by what I am doing based on all the "evidence" of people who also believed in and hoped for a cure and are still dying.


I don't know have an answer to what I or anyone else can do to change the collective thinking or the consciousness around having a cancer diagnosis, but I do know that the answer to every problem is inherent in the description of it.  Information that leads to fear, doubt, and worry are center stage on the web for cancer patients when hope, encouragement, and right thinking are what is needed.  Ponder that.

Blogging, Tweeting, and Breast Cancer

At the ripe age of 63, the idea of restricting my pithy thoughts to 140 characters to Tweet seemed so odd that I didn't think it could matter to me or anyone else.  I had no idea what a hash tag was or how to set up an account (my daughter did it for me.)  Yet in the last 6 weeks since my Indiegogo campaign was launched and I have done some tweeting, I have learned that people spend so much time online, they do like to get a taste of a subject in those few characters and decide if they want to dive deeper into the subject.  Actually kind of makes sense.  As my first attempt at crowd source funding project comes to a close, I have followers with thousands of fellow tweeters and I have learned a lot more about what is out there than I ever conceived or dreamed of.  Resources, interesting stories, connection points, and points of view.


On the other hand, it seems to me that blogging is a kind of "thinking out loud" about a subject, whether or not it's directly relevant to any project at hand and without the character or space restrictions.  Everything is so much better explored with more words and letters to people like me - in the process of writing a book about my personal journey with breast cancer.    I have found that there are already a lot of books out there about people and their cancer journeys - many specifically about breast cancer.  My daughter and her husband were absolutely convinced that my story is unusual in that I have done virtually nothing that I was "supposed" to do by traditional medicine standards.  In that regard, I do think what I have done is very different, but not sure what message that will deliver in the positive light I have in mind.


On the one hand, I am here 8+ years after diagnosis, feeling well, but a slave to a lot of health protocols to keep the cancer at bay and my immune system on fire.  That's great, of course, but my needle phobia, distaste for the very negative messages I got when I went to regular doctors, and having no health insurance for some of the time has put me in a place where I don't have a lot of numbers and test results to which I can refer in a scientific way as I report on what I have done.  That lack of information might daunt some people if they were in my shoes, but feeling great doesn't make me feel like I have "needed" to know more than that.


So, as I consider changing or adding a nontoxic protocol now, I feel like it's time to become more measured about what is going on so I can really tell about the efficacy of what I am doing.  An ultrasound and some blood work are in order.  Now I just have to find out where I stand in the Obamacare system and my eligibility to get them.  Stay tuned.

The End and A New Beginning

With less than 10% of my financial goal met on Indiegogo and only 3 days left, the end simply sets things up for a new beginning with different options based on financial reality. Obviously, getting the treatment I want won't be an option without a miracle funding it in the next 60 hours.  I have been thinking about what I should do now.  I can and may start a new campaign because I know a lot more than I did 6 weeks ago.  I have learned about so many projects on Indiegogo, found interesting groups to follow on Twitter, and even how to blog, all of which would benefit me if I go down this path again.  (I never did figure out how to join groups of related interest on LinkedIn.) 

I will escrow the net-of-Indiegogo-fees money in a special account and allocate enough to cover the costs of publishing the book so I honor that commitment.  I have several leads on how to do that.  There is more that has come to mind about options I have to arrest the cancer in more affordable, heretofore unexplored ways.

Common sense would indicate I should get an Oncoblot blood test, which is not covered by any insurance.  This blood test can tell if your body has any cancer cells in it and the kind(s) you have.  People who wonder if they are cured, really in remission, if cancer is recurring or has metastasized should get this test done.  It would be grand to corroborate my feeling really good all the time based on knowing that the cancer is still confined to just my breast and to the degree of activity.  At $950, it would make a big dent in the pool of money.      

Something I was interested in several years ago was Poly-MVA (polymva.com), but it was cost-prohibitive then and still is in the long run.  I filled out paperwork two days ago to become part of a study with them, which would reduce the current cost by over 30%.  There is enough to cover several months of this and allow other financial options to unfold.

Intravenous vitamin C is something I have never done, but is available and affordable if I can get past my needle phobia long enough to do it.  I confess it's kind of at the bottom of my pile of likely choices.

Hyperbaric oxygen treatments are also in the "wanted to do, but out of financial range" category. 

Buying any (especially a portable) bio-energetic mat has also long been on my shopping list.

The new laws in Colorado may make THC oil therapy practical. The prescribed dose and treatment period take several months. 

Some viewers of my video have wanted to learn the name of the clinic where I wanted treatment.  The clinic wants to stay under the radar because of the unbelievable hassles that nontraditional cancer treatments get from the government who purportedly is watching out for our best interest through the FDA, the AMA, and the pharmaceutical companies, all of which have agendas and financial reasons to support the traditional approach to cancer treatments.

It is the perfect time to welcome in the new year as new answers unfold for me and people like me.  Onward and upward. 

Nontoxic Cancer Treatment Financial Need Vastly Underestimated

I had gotten the information about the nontoxic treatment for my breast cancer from my holistic health practitioner, who had gotten hers from the clinic.  What she had not done is get the entire overview of what actually happens beyond the initial 4 days of IV treatment with the $32,000 price tag.  A few days after my Indiegogo crowd funding project was up and running, I took the time to call the clinic myself to get the full download.  As someone who prides herself on being a wise researcher, this is something I can't believe I didn't do earlier because I got seriously brought up short. 

I was truly sobered to hear that a much higher total is needed to get everything handled under the current protocol and during the first year of required follow-up to be certain the cancer is gone and stays that way.  In case new readers come on board and just for the collective memory, I must elaborate.

The clinic does have an initial 4-day treatment with a price tag of $32,000, but the current average stay is 9 or 10 days.  Each subsequent day beyond the fist 4 costs $5,000 per day at the clinic. Blood test expenses at a local lab are not included in that number and, even if there were insurance that might pay, it would certainly be "out of network" and covered at a reduced rate.  Some people have had to continue the IV for much longer with the longest infusion being an incredible 22 days!  With everyone's system being different, they have no way to estimate how long I would need to be there.  So, just planning for an additional 6 extra days to be "average" tacks an additional $30,000 on to the bill. 

It is important to note that the woman to whom I spoke who had been there since early in 2013 had yet to see anyone come with an uncompromised immune system like mine is.  Most have compromised or ruined their immune system with chemo and the cancer was not gone back or had returned with a vengeance and the patient was looking for another answer to give them hope.  This is the tragedy of the traditional approach to cancer.  Chemotherapy is so counter-intuitive to maintaining good health.      

But,  I digress.  Back to the treatment costs.  Two days prior to the infusion beginning, a PetScan must be taken and a port inserted in a large vein.  Price tag for those items - $4,400-$6,600 for the PetScan and $2,000 - $3,000 for the port.  I split the difference on them both which added $8,000 more to the total need.

Required blood tests beyond the 4th day and during the first year bump the total by another $10,000.  While a few might be covered by insurance under Obamacare, the biggest share of that total are not.
Adding the required post-IV immune system testing, paying for the organic food and its preparation to accommodate the rigid dietary requirements while at the clinic that is not included in the cost, and travel to and from brings the war chest requirement to nearly $100,000. 

After I got over the initial shock and my jaw off the floor, I thanked Rebecca for the reality check and then asked if she was aware of any other options with a smaller price tag.  She told me that Cancer Treatment Centers of America requires a bank roll of a minimum of $250,000 for anyone who seeks to take advantage of treatment outside that which traditional insurance covers, which they do offer - things like acupuncture, vitamin supplementation, massage therapy, hot infrared treatments, and more.  So, with that in mind, the more holistic treatment I want is quite the bargain.

That's it for today.  A lot to digest, but I figure anyone following my blog now or who may do so in the future should know the truth that I know. 

Enjoying Bread While Keeping Carbs Down

Years ago I met a doctor who was over the top about carbs and managing leptin resistance in the body as weight management tools.  He snacked nonstop on things like herrings in olive oil and nuts.  He was thin as a twig. 

A key way to keeping your weight down is by limiting carbs, which is virtually impossible if you eat bread.  The doctor told us about Heavenly Manna Bread, SmartCarb1, and SmartCarb2 bread made by the Julian Bakery in La Jolla, CA.  This stuff is chock full of proteins and carbs, tastes great, and only has 1 net carb per piece in the plain bread.  There are 2 net carbs in the cinnamon, raisin almond bread.  If you knew how persnickety I am about food, you would believe me when I tell you it is yummy!

The bakery recently changed their formula and made slices thinner, probably to reduce the calories per slice.  I liked the old formula and size better, but it is still a terrific way to keep bread in your diet.  I think it tastes best toasted.

You can order it online and have it shipped to you, but some small natural grocers and a few #Whole Foods carry it, too. 

Cancer and Sugar Connection Still on My Mind

I started on this subject in September and it is still dominating my mind an unfair amount.  Knowing that if food is not a protein or a fat, then it must be a carb that turns into sugar in your body is a basic fact that a lot of people don't get.  Vegetables and fruits are all carbs.  Some, like arugula and spinach, have some protein, too.  Same with milk.  The less the fat content, the higher the carb level. Most breads and cereals are virtually 100% carbs, making label reading an absolute necessity.   

I have long known that carbs turn into sugar in the body, but did not understand how MUCH sugar can be in so LITTLE food.  For example, a medium tomato contains 5 grams of sugar!!!  In an ideal world, if anyone wants to starve cancer cells, they should consume less than 30 grams of carbs per day with absolutely none of them coming from refined sugar. 

So, you look at a package label that indicates there are 9 grams of carbohydrates, but there are 7 grams of fiber in the serving, you only have to count 2 net grams of carbs.  My latest brain download said that my own cancer gets an unhealthy level of stimulation with more than just 7 grams of sugar per day!  That is so little as to be virtually impossible to avoid going over.  Counting carbs and measuring portions is a pain if you are truly disciplined and want to stay in control.  I wax and wane on this.

The bottom line is that healthy eating means limiting carbs and sugar to a great degree.     

The Hill to Climb is a Lot Bigger Than I Knew

I may be talking to the wind, but a couple of weeks ago, I talked to the clinic where I plan to have this treatment.  I had gotten information about the treatment and costs from my health practitioner and talked with the doctor in charge a couple of times who, of course, was not in touch with administrative procedures by the front office.

The bottom line is that my $42,000 goal is WAY too small.  I was told I need a war chest of $100,000 before I head to the clinic.  The 4-day treatment for $32,000 is the beginning, basic, required, expected initiation.  After that, the individual's personal circumstances and internal health and cancer status dictate the number of additional days needed at the clinic.  The average patient gets treatment 9-10 days, with each additional day beyond day 4 costing $5,000.  That adds $25-30K to the basic $32K before anything else gets done.  Some people have had to stay even longer.  One man was there for 22 total days!

Furthermore, the first 2 days at the clinic are not part of the treatment during which a port is inserted and a current PetScan taken at an additional cost of $8-10K depending on the vendor.  Then there are blood tests for days beyond the first 4 and during the first year of follow-up to make certain the cancer is gone that builds the total higher.  The sublingual capsules of the intravenous product cost $1,400/month and a minimum of 4 months must be budgeted.  Finally, an immune system test before clinic departure which costs $4,000 is mandatory and the suggested protocols for immune system boosting make the monetary need even higher.  Travel and food costs are additional.

I went through the items one by one with the staff there and it was indeed perilously close to $100,000 for a 9-10 day stay and the first year of testing and support beyond the clinical treatment.  When I shared the information with my health practitioner, she was floored and surprised, too.  Information is power, isn't it?

Rather than staying discouraged very long, I realized that, while the hill is a lot higher than I understood initially, I don't need a lot of wealthy people supporting my project.  It only takes 100,000 people contributing $1 to get there.  Or 20,000 people chipping in $5.  Or 10,000 people letting go of $10 and getting the book.  Or 4,000 people with $25.  Or 2,500 people with $40.  You get the drift.  Now I am just on a mission to find enough bloggers to write about me so the message can get out.  I know people out there are interested in learning about ways to handle a dreadful disease without compromising their body. 

Join me in getting the message out.