Just to let you know...

What the doctor said...

My surgeon's name is David Speakman
he is a kind and caring man
you can hear this in his voice
and it is reflected in his manner
He makes you feel
each and EVERY time that you meet with him
that you are his ~only~ patient
In fact i never feel like a patient at all
because he treats me with the generousness of a friend
i am sure he treats everyone this way
for i believe that his work,
is his ~hearts~ work
i believe he is a healer
whether he is conscious of it or not
in the most ancient of ways
for it is his ~heart space~ that he comes from
when he treats you
And it goes without saying
that i feel blessed that our paths have crossed
and am sure that my healing journey has as much to do
with the respect and kindness that he affords me
as his talent in the operating theatre
He is a good man...



We spoke yesterday
of success with the radiotherapy (Yey!)
and he seemed as happy to be delivering this good news
as i was in receiving it X:-)

We talked on of 'the next step'
in cancer therapy
and that is prevention...

i have never felt comfortable about taking Tamoxifen
and so didn't first time around (2006)
But it is the only hormonal drug available for pre-menopausal women
with HR2 pos cancer
To me (and all women approach their illness the way that suits them (ie) what drug suits one may not suit another and visa versa)
But i was not comfortable with the two main side effects
of possible blood clots and uterine cancer
(Talk about the cure being worse than the disease!)

Anyway...
so we spoke about surgical options
and although i am not comfortable with unnecessary and invasive surgery
having my ovaries removed by 'key hole surgery', would be less so
and the most effective way (and more 'natural' way in my mind) to encourage my menopausal stage (Well 'tip' me straight into it actually!)
I am considering this because of my very high estrogen levels and the fact that the particular type of cancer i have had, basically feeds off it by having receptors to it
So we need to shut down the estrogen
and this way to me is makes the more sense
as it is less relying on drugs and more upon my body getting back some ~balance~
Now my body will try and off set this lack of estrogen
it is my understanding
by trying to produce it in other ways
by way of my adrenal system, other organs and fatty tissue
To offset this we have a 'drug' (i know, i know DRUGS yeech!)
that is called an aromatase inhibitor
it has ONLY the side effects of menopause symtoms in some women
and perhaps some bone density loss...
But this we can manage with diet, suppliments and some good old fashioned common sense

Quote:

Ugeskr Laeger. 2007 Sep 3;169 (36):2975-6 17953872 (P,S,G,E,B)

"About 80% of all breast cancers are oestrogen sensitive. Patients operated for breast cancer treated with tamoxifen or aromase inhibitors (AI) have a lower incidence of contralateral breast cancer. Based on this knowledge, prophylactic studies comparing tamoxifen with placebo have found a 30% reduction in breast cancer. Unacceptably many women developed endometrium cancer or thromboembolic side-effects in the tamoxifen group. Prophylactic studies have been initiated in recent years comparing AI with placebo. Much is expected from these studies where an 80% reduction in breast cancer incidence is anticipated. Unfortunately, this treatment will have no effect in the 20% of cancers that are oestrogen receptor negative. Chemoprevention is not recommended in Denmark. Some studies have shown that many cases are caused by lifestyle factors. It is thought that the incidence of breast cancer could be reduced by as much as 30% by increased exercise, reduction of alcohol use and avoiding HRT."



So this is a plan...

i have only one other concern...
and that is my ~mind~
i believe that i am a very delicate ~balance~
having had anorexia (a mental disorder)
in my early twenties (and the associated problems)
i have worked all my life trying to balance what i think of as ~my sensitivities~
and by that i mean
deep down i am
~very sensitive~

But when i checked out this check list for estrogen dominance:

Estrogen dominance is a condition where the toxic effects of estrogen are not countered by progesterone.)

• Estrogen dominance alters cell function to allow the influx of water and sodium into cells, while potassium and magnesium are lost from cells, causing water retention and high blood pressure.
  Estrogen dominance reduces the amount of oxygen present in the cells.
  Estrogen dominance interferes with thyroid hormone.
  Thyroid is the hormone that regulates metabolic rate. Low thyroid tends to cause low energy level, cold intolerance, and weight gain.
  Estrogen dominance promotes histamine release (which causes allergy-type symptoms).
  Estrogen dominance promotes blood clotting thus increases the risk of stroke and embolism.
  Estrogen dominance causes copper retention and zinc loss in blood and brain. Copper and zinc are important cofactors for brain enzymes and the low zinc level leads to exaggerated stress reactions, serious mood swings, and depression.
  Estrogen dominance increases the likelihood of fibrocystic breasts, uterine fibroids, uterine (endometrial) cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer, and colo-rectal cancer due to estrogen's cell proliferation function. Progesterone neutralizes this effect by differentiating cells....

My mouth dropped open! X;-o!
For THIS is me!



Sooooooo, running with this thought
perhaps...
Stopping this over production of estrogen may just be
the answer to my dreams...
perhaps this has always been my main problem to address
the reason for my ups and downs
and my deep running emotions
perhaps i just might, instead of turning into a raving lunatic (!!!)
(Which was what i have been afraid of)
i just might become more emotionally

~balanced~

Now i am not saying that i run around like someone out of control (Lol!)
i am a Capricorn and VERY good at appearing ~measured~
but my family and friends know that my 'rivers run deep'

So i can't tell you what a ~wonderful~ thought it is to think
that i may actually being going through all this...

for ~a reason~

and that this reason just might be...

to find myself again X:-)



Can you see more clearly
my ~lessons~ from yesterday?
xox