Look on the Brighter Side of Things?

On Monday evening, I went to my first Support Group for Breast Cancer Patients.  I decided to go to a Support Group "in-person" instead of the on-line support groups I joined - because I wanted to talk to more than just an Avatar.  The Social Worker who oversees the group, asked me as I walked in - "when was I  Diagnosed and when did I start treatment and what kind of treatments I am receiving" - so I kindly told her that I was newly Dx about 2-3 weeks ago, I have not started treatment and that I was waiting for a cure - a Miracle.  Yeah she was hollering!  She says to me "everyone who walks in here is waiting for a cure!"  I start to laugh and told her - No you don't understand, I asked Jesus to perform a Miracle on me in which they will not find any Breast Cancer and I will not have to do chemo, surgery or radiation!  The look on her face, Priceless...Anyway, the ladies in the group were very supportive and at the same time very "sad" looking.  I mentioned to them, that I along with my husband and parents decided we should not tell the kids.  I'm going to TRY to retain the "normalcy" of my household as much as possible.  I also stated that I was taking herbal remedies and what was there opinion of it.  One lady mentioned it can be used as a Preventive measure and can be Integrated with my treatments but not as a sole Alternative.    

On Tuesday, I went for Genetic Counseling to take a BRAC test.  They took a blood sample from me to see  if I am genetically prone due to my DNA, to carry Breast Cancer or Ovarian cells.  I get the results in about 3-4 weeks.  (However, I do not the think the results of this test will determine the kind of treatment I will receive.)

On Thursday, is when it ALL hit me.  I have Breast Cancer and I am going to have Chemo!   I met the Medical Oncologist who says "I have good news Raquel"!  And as reassuring as she sounded - I was invisibly shaken and depressed!  I realized she was the one running the whole show (my breast cancer medical team).  Apparently, the Medical Oncologist was very enthusiastic and excited about some new drug the FDA approved for my "type" of Breast Cancer - IDC (HER2+, Grade 3). She did not want to use the word "cure" but said this treatment has long-lasting effects - where I will live to be an old lady and die of something else.  WHAT?!   Anyway she introduced me to my Chemo nurse who will help me through the whole process and that I will keep in touch with for the duration of my treatments that will last a year!!

On Friday, I had a "teaching" class for my whole family and me (which lasted an hour) -  to talk about the different types of medication I will be taking for chemo and the duration of each treatment.  I'll come in every three weeks for 6 cycles.  For example, I'll come in on Monday morning & will be given 3 different types of chemo (which will last half a day about 5-6 hours).  Then Tuesday I'll come in for another 2 medications (also chemo drugs) to target those HER2+ cancer cells.  The following day on Wednesday is the booster shot they will give me to help keep the white blood cell count and the bone marrow.  All of this to then return in three weeks to start the regimen again.  The whole process to last for 18 weeks.  The bad news - I'll start to lose my hair after the first treatment.  BUT the good news is it will start to grow again after six weeks.  Another bad news, I'll probably go into menopause - isn't that good news?  

"Look on the Brighter Side of Things" is a statement my husband tells us in regards to my Breast Cancer being Treatable almost to the extent of being "curable" - the point being that it's NOT fatal... 

 

In any event, unless my PET scan next week shows NO signs of breast cancer or any other cancer (that "it" has NOT spread to another part of my body) - the reality is I WILL need Chemo & I WILL have surgery!!

As always, please join me in this Journey of PRAYER, LOVE & HOPE...

There is Definitely HOPE...

 So as many of you know I went to the BS (Breast Surgeon) on Tuesday and he "supposedly" gave me my options - Chemo, surgery, then Radiation.  While I was there they scheduled me for the following day - Wednesday, for another Biopsy (in the underarm) called Axillary Lymph Nodes.  The samples were hard to extract because they were small - they had to do it 5x.  It was really uncomfortable and of course my anxiety was running away with me again. I kept praying in my mind to St. Peregrine - which I just found out was the Patron Saint of Cancer.  We finished rather quickly (last procedure - Biopsy of the right breast - took a total of 3 hours).  Therefore my parents and I went to eat brunch.  Afterwards my mother and I headed to the South Bronx -  an appointment we had with an Herbalist - Holistic practitioner.  (No, not a "Spiritual" practitioner or the other kind of "herbalist" lol. )  So after two hours and a bill totaling $358, I walked out with a bag of 12 bottles of herbs ( I needed a total of 17) !  From herbs to clean my Liver/Kidney, Bowels, to Detox, to Lymph/Bacteria, to cleaning the Breast Ducts, and I did not even get them all.  I had to order some online because the place I went to ran out.  I know you are probably thinking Rocky lost her mind or am I desperate?!  Both.  I figured whatever I can use "naturally" to help my body get back on track for the past 20 years...
I read on several online support groups, that some of the women who already received cancer treatments are using these homeopathic remedies to help clean out their system from the after effects of these cancer treatments.  Some even suggested they would have done the herbs first before surgery or treatments had they known about them.  {I told you guys before I already had prior knowledge of these herbs and did my own research before I went to this particular Holistic Practitioner.}
I also ordered an herb (fruit), Puerto Ricans & Hispanics call Guanabana - in English called Soursop.  Some other places like Amazon or Zen Medica - call it Graviola.  It's some kind of "miracle fruit."  BUT as with any herb or food in general - you have to take things in moderation.  "Too much of any good thing is not always GOOD."
My whole take on this is:  if I can avoid Chemo or no Radiation or less surgery , why not try the Holistic approach - it can ONLY help.  Can it possibly make me any worst than I am now?!

And for those of you who "really" know me - I been praying (like I always have) - for a MIRACLE!  I believe in the Glory of GOD and of course the Powerful Intercession of MARY!  (Can you tell I'm not really trying to have Chemo or Radiation?!)  Let me be clear for all those that think I "suddenly" had some kind of "Epiphany."  (And not that I have to anything to prove!)  However, I would like to prove to certain people the Miraculous Powers of GOD...

Not to prove anything:  the results of the Biopsy of the Axillary Lymph Nodes came back negative - in other words, the cancer did not spread to the lymph nodes!  And I quit smoking - cold turkey!  (I think the herbs are making my cigarettes taste like Ajax in my mouth.)


 And as always, please join me in this Journey of PRAYER, LOVE & HOPE...

Treament vs. Herbs

I went in today to see my Breast Specialist/Surgeon (BS), and although he could not tell me specifically my stage of the "mass" which is only 1.0 cm, he did say I was a Grade 3 and I am HER2+ (whatever that means).  He goes on to say they would like to treat me with chemo first (to shrink the "lesion"), surgery & then radiation.  Of course my mother and I are sitting there with our mouths open.  Hey, wait didn't he say I have options?!  But because of my medical history - HTN & Diabetes, healing from surgery can be difficult.  Treatment for chemo would be about 5 weeks.  I never thought to ask how that works?  And surgery is a decision between a lumpectomy or a mastectomy.  But reassured me they can do reconstructive surgery if I have the mastectomy.  So now I'll have one ta ta upright & the other sagging?!  Oh yeah great options...
In the meantime, I have to see the hematologist (because I have low platelets), and have to do a genetic testing done -  called BRCA (because both maternal grandparents died of cancer).  GRRREATTT (In my Tony the Tiger voice) !!

This past weekend as I do my researching online about my options - I was thinking about my herbal remedies I use to concoct for my clients.  Mind you this came to me as I was doing my daily ritual of prayers and my rosary.  So when I finished praying I went to get my Back to Eden book, that list common ailments and diseases, and the herbs used to treat them.  Then I get a phone call from an old friend that validated my past with herbs, and said after reading my prior posts he realized that I did not mention my herbs and thought I would consider the Holistic approach?  I told him I was considering it.  Then another validation came to my mother late one night while she was asleep and she received a phone call long distance - to see a Holistic Practitioner in the South Bronx!  (And yes I checked her credentials with the AHMA.)  They said they might actually HEAL me of Breast Cancer within 2 months?!   Now I'm a "practitioner" of many things -  but even I'm somewhat of a skeptic of this news.  

So my dilemma is to wait and do the Holistic approach first - which consist of teas, herbs, detox, diet, etc... or my treatments first?  Perhaps a combination of the two?

Although I will use the marvels of modern medicine, I prefer to use the wisdom and guidance of my ancestors with herbs...

As I stated before, please join me in this Journey of PRAYER, LOVE and HOPE!