So in my previous post, things were moving pretty damn fast, bits of info were flying around in my head and my sub-conscious created a weird vision of throwing balls (cancer treatments) at a target (tumor) and being successful! What a great dream, ay? Yeah, but which ball is making the difference? The scientist in me is saying, Way too many variables here. Let's narrow it down.
Now here's where I lose a lot of people. Well, why would you care which ball did the trick? (this from the IPT guy). Are you sure you're a musician and not a researcher? (this from the oncologist). But what if it DOESN'T work? What if you do hit that brick wall? (surgeon and well-meaning loved ones).
Yes, I guess you could say I am taking somewhat of a risk. If all three of these therapies work, why not try all of them at once? You have to understand. I am so excited to be on a therapy that doesn't come from a test-tube, isn't lining the pockets of some big pharmaceutical company -- it's something that grows on God's green earth. It's a strange little plant that the Druids, for centuries, have revered as having healing qualities. I just WANT TO KNOW if it works.
When I next meet with Dr. Grundmann (Nov. 7), I am going to discuss a reasonable time-table for the mistletoe to do its work. I am going to watch the tumor carefully. I can feel it; I will know if it is increasing in size. My surgeon (who is NOT happy with my decision to forego the Tamoxifen "for the time being") wants to see me in January to determine if the tumor is stagnant, growing, or diminishing in size. I'm cool with that. Even patients on Tamoxifen usually do not see any reduction in tumor size for 6 months to a year!
What about the IPT therapy? It's still an option. Now that I know the tumor is estrogen-driven, I am putting it in the Plan C box. So, Plan A is mistletoe, Plan B is MT combined with Tamoxifen, Plan C is adding IPT. Stay tuned. I will update as I know more.
Thank you, everyone, for prayers and well-wishes. I apologize for being so cryptic about disclosing info about my situation, but as you can see, situations have been changing daily. This blog allows me to keep everyone informed without repeating myself myself myself.
I am new at this blogging thing, but I think you can comment, if you like.
You are Elizabeth Ann Reed, a woman who fought the system to get her birth name back. I admired you for that and I admire the way you are going about this. I'm not quite sure some days how to define my faith but I have come to believe in prayer, or as we Quakers say, holding someone in the Light. I will be holding you, dear Bets, in that warm place where dear ones are loved unconditionally and they can feel accompanied in this crazy world we live in. You are being held in the Light.... Kathy
ReplyDeletethanks, "Kackie," for the LIGHT.
DeleteBetsy--tamoxifen is also a 'something that grows on God's green Earth"---it is a purified extract of the Yew tree. Honestly! Nearly 75% of all AMA medicines have their roots in plant extracts, many of which are still used in 'herbal' medicine. An very old Mayan healer, who taught all he could about his belief system and his herbal remedies from the rain forest once said: "God has not abandoned us by sending us sickness and suffering. If a disease comes, all we have to do is look for the cure, and we will find it in the forest".
ReplyDeleteox Alex