Happy Cows

I read a great article (Optimum Wellness magazine) that describes the difference between conventional and organic dairy. Following is a synopsis of the article;

In 1993 the FDA approved the use of rBGH (recombinant bovine growth hormone), which dairy farmers use to increase milk production. The Center for Food Safety reports that additional research has shown that levels of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IFG-1) are higher in milk from rBGH-treated cows than in milk from cows not treated the synthetic hormone. IFG-1 has been shown to be a factor in the growth of certain cancers, including those of the breast, prostate, and colon.

5 Good Reasons to Choose Organic:

1. We don’t need more hormones. Organic dairy milk must, by definition, be free of rBGH

2. Antibiotics in dairy may contribute to bacterial resistance. Antibiotics are often added to animal feed as a precautionary measure. Organic milk comes from cows that have not been treated with antibiotics; organic dairy products don’t contribute to the growing problem of bacterial resistance, which is the ability of bacteria to withstand or survive the impact of the antibiotics used to destroy them.

3. Pesticides have no place in our food supply. When grain or feed is sprayed with pesticides and then fed to cows, there is a very high likelihood that the pesticides, will end up in the cows’ milk (and meat). Pesticide runoff is a big cause of water pollution nationwide.

4. Organic dairy is higher in conjugated linoleic acid. CLA is a fatty acid that has been shown to have anticancer and anti-inflammatory properties, and may reduce risk of heart disease. Some studies have suggested that CLA may help reduce body fat and increase lean muscle mass.

5. Organic cows have greater access to pasture. Organic cows see the light of day and have access to the outdoors, fresh air, and sunshine.

The role of estrogen

Estrogen played a major role in the development of my breast tumors. I have come to find that this is most likely due to birth control pills, eating foods that contain hormones (e.g. dairy and meat with added hormones), food that converts into estrogen in the body (soy-very bad for premenopausal women), and a genetic problem with my estrogen (e.g. low estriol levels). The cure to my cancer is to keep my estrogen levels very low, otherwise known as menopause, but more on that later. I feel a hot flash coming on…


I came across an article on the Tahoma Clinic web-site and worth a read if you are premenopausal women. Here is a blurb from the article (see link), “In the June issue, I told you about the importance of an estrogen metabolite called estriol. The recent resurgence in estriol research is confirming the discoveries made in the mid-20th century: Estriol is a "good" estrogen. More estriol means less cancer risk. Estriol appears to block many of the effects of estradiol (E2), estrone (E1), and other "pro-carcinogenic" estrogens. So how do you find out if your body is producing enough estriol to protect you from cancer? You calculate your EQ.”

http://www.tahomaclinic.com/hrtbreastcancer.shtml

The Next Phase and Stats

The Adriamycin and Cytoxan chemo routine did not agree with my body and my doctor cancelled the last round of treatment. I was so excited to be done as I have never felt that sick before. That stuff will take you down and I had reached my personal breaking point. I took a month vacation from chemo and started the weekly low dose Taxol last week. It felt amazing to be off of chemo for awhile and feel normal again. On chemo one’s new normal is not feeling well every day, like you are coming down with the flu or a cold, so to feel well again is like being on a happy drug. I am counting the days until September 8th when I’ll be done with chemo!!


When you are diagnosed with cancer the doctors speak to you in statistics lingo and for a right-brained person like me that can be frustrating. I think without any treatment and only having the mastectomy my recurrence stat is 50%. Now with chemo it drops to 20-30% and with the herceptin and tamoxifen drugs I’ll be down to 10%. 10% is the general public risk for getting cancer. However, in speaking with a Radiation Oncologist today he stated a 20-30% risk of recurrence without radiation which is very confusing when figuring in the othet stats?  I see it as I have 80% chance it will not come back.  Though he was not figuring in the herceptin and tamoxifen drugs and did not want to talk about how lifestyle changes like diet/excercise will improve the stats.  Just to note I am in a big gray area for needing to receive radiation and I am not doing it.  So I am going to move on from this experience and mentally plan that it was my one and only bout with cancer. My hope is changing my diet, exercising more, combining Western and Eastern medicine, and a new mental outlook on life will aid in me living a long and prosperous life!

Calgon Take Me Away!

Round 4 and 5 of chemo have not been idealistic for me and downright painful. I have been plagued by an on/off migraine, endured a two night stay at the hospital for a cold with fever, dangerously low white and red blood cell counts, and topped it off with a blood transfusion today. I’m pooped and so ready to have my health, energy, and hair back. And this phase shall pass…

Livestrong Challenge - Seattle. June 20th

My Husband Mike will be running in the 2010 Seattle LIVESTRONG Challenge in June to support me. He is looking to raise a modest amount of funds on behalf of the LIVESTRONG organization.

Click on the provided link and you should be directed to his web-page that has directions regarding donations.  Let me know if you have any technical difficulties.

http://seattle2010.livestrong.org/forbeth

Many Thanks,
Beth

Some of my friends and family have asked what information I have read regarding preventing cancer. The breastcancer.org and the China Study book are the best resources I have come by so far. Of course, most of it is news that many Americans do not want to hear. The Western diet is one of the main attributers to cancer, heart disease, and diabetes. There are very low percentages of these diseases in countries where large amounts of fruits and vegetables are consumed and very little or no animal products (see China Study). However how many Americans are going to change to a vegan diet…not many. So unfortunately the cancer, heart disease, and diabetes are here to stay. By the way, only 2-3% diagnosed cancers are of the heredity form. I will be changing to a vegan diet but I’ve been scared into the lifestyle change. Who knows if I would have made the change before being diagnosed? Here is a list from the breastcancer.org web-site on how to prevent breast cancer;


1. Stop smoking…duh
2. Get more exercise – minimum 5 hours a week
3. Maintain a healthy weight – overweight women have an increased rate of getting breast cancer.
4. Reduce your exposure to estrogen
a. Extra fat cells make extra estrogen
b. Avoid taking estrogen like products (HRT-hormonal therapy & DHEA-dehydroepiandrosterone)
c. Limit alcohol use – no more than 5 drinks a week
d. Restrict animal products (meat, fish, dairy).
e. Have children before age 30 and breast feed.
5. Learn about good nutrition – everything your body does – from healing a wound to fighting cancer cells – is affected by what you eat. Bad nutrition seriously hampers your body’s ability to function in top form.
6. Eat fruits and vegetables – ideally in raw form. Do not overcook.
7. Relax – reduce stress and enhance comfort, joy, and satisfaction.

Half way through the hard stuff and that is not the whiskey bottle.

Tomorrow is my 4th session (6 total) of chemo (Adriamycin and Cytoxan). Session #3 was very similar to #1 & #2 with the only difference being is I became dehydrated and anemic last week. Woke up Wednesday morning and felt so weak, faint, and ill. Unbelievable I was dehydrated because I have been drinking three quarts of water a day but chemo sucks the juice right out of you…literally. I’ve been eating a vegan diet as I have read countless articles and books that claim it is the ideal diet for fending off cancer. Animal products produce an acidic environment in your body which cancer loves. An alkaline environment for your body is best (vegetables, fruit, nuts, and grains) but more on that later. However the change of diet caused my red blood cell count to drop as the chemo is already hard on it. I am embracing the cheese and beef for the remainder of my chemo and then back to vegan-hood. I do have to say I felt very energetic eating vegan and my skin looked great. Oh but the cheese tastes so good…darn it! Otherwise we all are doing well and getting somewhat comfortable with the chemo routine. Speaking about comfort I find it uncanny that the head accessories that have become my staples are the free wig from the American Cancer Society and the bandana I stole from our dog (I washed it of course). Guess I did not need to spend money on scarves, hats, and an expensive real hair wig. Oh well, live and learn…right!