Finally a Hot Flush Fixer!!!!

After trying a myriad of methods, treatments and therapies to rid myself of the dreaded sweating, nausea, and hot hot hot feeling (not in a good sunbathing way), I've finally think I may of found something its called Magnesium Citrate and is available from all good health shops you need a high dose not more than 350 mgs a day but it really really works, I've not had one so far today, usually I would be on hot flush and symptoms no 11 by now sometimes even worse, like every 5mins! It was getting ridiculous, to the point of wanting to live in a cold shower or just lie down and die! which I know sounds stupid but honestly this thing the menopause is no joke and for some of us doomed to suffer either from a natural menopause or a chemically induced one it affects all areas of your life. Making you so depressed you just want to end it all. Please don't underestimate how shit it makes you feel its NOT as suggested to me like going to a hot country and sunning yourself, its horrific.

Any women reading this and think they have tried everything just try this Magnesium Citrate not only does it help with your hot flushes it also helps with feeling tired and helps you if your constipated, I honestly can't recommend this enough.

Highs and lows

So went to the hospital for the results of my CT scan and to discuss the latest issues regarding the thyroid and cholesterol. The CT scan was good everything is stable or the same as the last scan big sigh of relief phew........

Not so good was the discussion regarding the massive 5 stone weight gain, treatments and my thyroid. Of course I didn't get to see my actual oncologist as always I see one of his minions a female Dr that for the purpose of this post shall be named Dr C. came out who is very nice BUT wow she just doesn't buy it that the treatments have made me put on this weight which I cannot shift. She told me that the thyroid wasn't anything to do with the cancer and was "something you probably always would of developed" WTF!!! so its got nothing to do with the chemo or the radiotherapy at all, bullshit! of course its to do with treatments I was fine before I got cancer I never went to the doctor and certainly never had a problem with weight gain, thyroid or cholesterol. She then proceeded to tell me that as for the weight gain I needed to watch what I was eating try to eat more green vegetables, eat smaller portions and change my diet. At this point I nearly blew but somehow managed to retain an air of calm in which I informed her of my monumental lifestyle changes she continued to prod me with "you need to do more exercise" I agree BUT I can't do to much as I get out of breath puff and pant and go deep red in the face then sweat profusely to dripping point I kid you not I actually think I am going to have a heart attack just walking up the fucking stairs!! did she listen to me did she hell!! No apparently its all my fault nothing to do with the treatments I eat too much of the wrong thing and don't exercise enough I need to swim for half an hour a day WTF!!! Luckily one of the nice nurses who has known me for as long as I've had cancer backed me up on the lifestyle changes and the organic green juicing etc the doctor just didn't want to hear it I reckon if she could of she would of sat there with both fingers stuck in her ears going lalalalala thats how far she didn't want to accept the fact that all of my problems are caused either directly or indirectly via drugs from the cancer, I have pondered on this and believe it is because if they put there hands up to this an admit its caused by treatments then they would have to deal with them, by denying it they dissolve any responsibility.

I then moved on to having my ovaries removed to which she actually giggled yes thats right laughed at me for such an absurd suggestion! not really though is it? I have ovaries that are fighting back and being kept at bay by a large nasty injection of Zoladex so why the fuck not take the bastards out and have done with it. At this point she left the room to check with my Onc. who sits in another room WHY!!!! god only knows whilst she was out of the room I chatted with the BCN who was just as mystified by the callous response to my questions she told me I could get a second opinion!  Dr C. came back to inform me that my Onc. agreed with her that I didn't need my ovaries out.  Just for the record I DONT FUCKING AGREE WITH EITHER OF THEM.

 Of course what she doesn't know is that one of the so called life saving drugs Arimidex I haven't been taking they prescribed it for me last year after I stopped taking the Tamoxifen telling me that it would be better than Tamoxifen and wouldn't make me put on any weight, after reading the side effects lists I beg to differ weight gain being the most prominent problem with Arimidex so I chose not to take it but have been keeping it a secret from them at the hospital. It is a worry and I have really wrestled with this one but I decided I would rather not be around if I am the size of a house and have to be wheeled round in a chair. Again quality over quantity is my moto and I am sticking to it. The Arimidex is a blocker for oestrogen the Zoladex stops the ovaries from producing oestrogen.

I also asked about the possible removal of my remaining massive breast. I can't wear a bra as my Lymphoedema is on my right hand side torso every time I do wear a bra I get a lot of pain, recently went to a wedding and had to come home early because it was causing me so much pain. It was suggested that I go see the Lymph nurse again....... I don't find that it really helps that much certainly not enough to stop the pain when wearing a bra. So I hit another brick wall.

To end the discussion she pointed out that I am stable and that all the drugs they have so far given me are working and will continue to work for the time being. This kind of shuts me up and makes me feel guilty for even bringing up the subject.  She wasn't interested in the fact that I juice organic green veg, take supplements walk 5 miles a day, don't eat potatoes, bread or dairy.  I am left with this problem what is the point in living if you feel like utter shit and contemplate suicide? Why have I been through all of this shit to come out feeling like life is worthless?

Back on the tread mill...

I've had a mixed bag of a month and both ends of the scale extreme high's and rejoicing at selling one of my paintings for over a £1,000 pounds also at the other end so low I could lie down and die. Its is of course down to the hideous hormones and the equally horrible drugs with side effects that are keeping me alive urghhhhh....... its a conundrum and a pretty important one at that. One of the side effects of Zoladex is yet more weight gain and after feeling pretty good with myself about losing a stone I've now put on nearly half a stone and I'm pretty sure its down to the Zoladex oh fucking joy!

So after a break of nearly 4 months I've received a letter from the hospital requesting I attend a CT scan, FFS!!! The scans are obviously necessary BUT they don't half get on my nerves. The staff can never find a decent vein all thanks to chemo they invariably have to go get a doctor because they've exhausted there 3 attempts the doctor tries to put the needle into all the veins I've told them wont work because of chemo and eventually after a good half an hour of poking and prodding they resort to sticking it in my foot I always leave feeling sorry for myself and it takes a couple of days to get over the whole bloody affair. So as you will gather this has put me in a not so good mood and whilst Iv'e tried to put it to the back of my mind I find myself thinking WHY THE FUCK ME? and of course there's the added anxiety of results and the what if's?

This is the last week of my art exhibition and Iv'e got a few more visitors coming to stay then in June I am hoping that everything will go a bit calmer and that I might feel a bit happier.  June is one of my favourite months all the flowers are out and if the weathers alright it really is paradise on earth in the countryside.

Hemp Oil....its really gathering pace

Everyday there seems to be a new story relating to someone with any sort of cancer experiencing a complete turn around and tumour disappearance which they are attributing to the use of Hemp Oil. The more I think about it the more I reckon this is the reason I've been doing so well. I was at stage IV with only palliative care prescribed by the hospital. I am so grateful for my partner, brother and good friends that helped to make that first batch of hemp oil so quickly I was on it at the same time as chemo/herceptin and yeah initially I was spaced out, however it did make having chemo a lot easier to deal with I slept like a baby and didn't suffer as many nasty side effects as others claim to get. Hemp oil was in my system from about week 5 into my dx I continued to take it everyday for over a year as time passes your body does seem to tolerate the 'high' feeling you build up a resistance to that feeling.

I find it really strange that some would completely write off the possibility that this drug can and in some cases does work yet they would willing have chemo which is essentially a poison, obviously chemo works I know this first hand BUT how about being offered both hemp oil and chemo at the same time prescribed legal, clinically tested hemp oil. If you look at it like this ie: chemo is derived from plants I think the Yew tree is one such plant a highly poisonous tree the birds don't even eat the berries! Hemp oil is also derived from a plant which isn't poisonous at all its only downfall is that the powers that be deem it an illegal drug and make users criminals of course they would say that because if this is indeed the wonder drug of our times then the government, pharmaceutical companies and charities wont want a simple plant that anyone can grow easily to be the cure for the biggest disease on the planet, it stands to reason they would want to hush it up so that they can continue to rake in the millions of pounds/dollars in revenue that cancer brings. By far the worse out of the three is the charities everyone does there bit, run for life, cake bake, etc etc etc all in the name of charity the money raised is pumped into research and ultimately to find a cure for cancer yet the very drugs they have developed are now being pulled by the government because they are too expensive to administer so people who would benefit from those drugs die as a result, I ask you WHAT IS THE FUCKING POINT? I will never raise any more money for these particular charities and certainly wont be lining there pockets with money so they can wave the carrot in front of my face then pull it at the last hurdle FUCK EM!

Hemp oil has got to be the only sane way forward, easy to grow and to process and now you don't even have to take it as a capsule you can make it into a suppository which apparently stops the 'high' feeling. So there you have it Hemp Oil the wonder drug of our time I recommend you keep your eye out for hemp and cancer related stories in the press they are filtering through I've decided to collect them and paste them on my dedicated hemp page not because I need to be convinced but to help others come to the same conclusion.

Still in two minds about this topic and need to look into it further then I urge you to watch this film 'Bud Buddies Project Sorm' its nearly 2 hours long but in the whole scheme of things 2 hours in your life isn't that long and could potentially change your mind on the use of Hemp Oil and your outlook on life.
Here's the link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58X5KhW80pw#t=6381 and another link to an article from The Independent (its not all Daily Mail articles that talk about cannabis and and hemp oil)
http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/features/could-cannabis-oil-reverse-the-effects-of-cancer-9934577.html
the next link is to the Bud Buddies official website which is a non-profit organisation that administer the oil free of charge.
http://www.cannabiscure.info/files/bud_buddies.htm

Prolapsed WTF!

Ok this is a difficult post to write and I can't quite believe its happening to me BUT I've now got a prolapsed uterus again another secondary cause from a) being in menopause early b) continued cancer treatments ie: hormonal as lack of oestrogen can also cause it c) coughing so bad over xmas and new year that I've strained myself and think this is what finally caused it. I'd been feeling that things weren't right uh humm....... in the nether regions for a while and realised after some research on the net what it actually was. I'd found that something was sticking out where it never did before a sort of dare I say it lump....... as you can imagine finding any type of lump anywhere on my body tends to freak me out! I did mention this to my GP who decided to ignore this particular problem and chose to deal with the other things on my list as long as your arm. I've got a Onc. appt. this Friday morning for results of latest CT scan so will be mentioning this to them if they don't deal with it then I suppose I'll have to ask either GP or Onc. to refer me to Gyno dept. WTF this fucking disease just keeps on giving doesn't it? So been doing my pelvic floor exercises as many times a day as is humanely possible in a the vain hope that I can avoid any further surgery, I'm shitting myself over this one urghhhhhhh......

Will keep you all posted on this and the results of my latest CT scan.

Feeling like a piece of shit...

Today is a bad day. I don't have an awful lot to get excited about but a fortnight ago I was short listed for an art prize and on the same day had found out that the little chinese pot I bought in a charity shop was of interest to the Homes and Antiques magazine they published a pic of the pot and I had to wait until today to find out how much the pot was worth! Exciting stuff eh!!! started feeling really high with anticipation waited a week and found out that my painting hasn't made the final selection process and the little pot is worth £20 quid. What an absolute load of fucking shite! I deserved at the very least to of been selected for the RWA urghhhhhhhh..... feel like a failure again not very positive and quite frankly back to shitty square one.......whats the fucking point in this existence?????????? I literally had to force the green juice down my neck this morning and I did it with tears streaming down my face, its ridiculous fighting to stay a live for what?????? god only knows literally????? This was going to be a optimistic post on Hemp Oil however after today I need to regain some composure and sit on that particular post for a while. Don't want fucking cancer, don't want to take shit loads of supplements and other chemicals just too stay a live and don't know how I'm gonna carry on at the moment. Basically ITS ALL A LOAD OF ABSOLUTE FUCKING SHIT! and also wanted to add that for the first time in 3 years and 8 months I WANT A FUCKING SMOKE!

Yoga, lymphedema, menopause

Started back at Yoga today after a break over the half term and I really was feeling it! It really does help if you keep doing it your stamina and flexibility increase and gradually you are able to do things you would never imagine you would be able to, Yoga is really good for you and I recommend anyone who can to join a gentle form of yoga ie: Kundalini or Hatha Yoga. The bunch of ladies that are in my yoga group are so lovely and always ask me how I am, I have told them what has happened to me I decided that they needed to understand why a woman whose not that old (45) was getting so out of breath and knackered doing the exercises, now I don't get the questioning looks from them.

Good news, I think I'm losing weight, finally!!! cutting out dairy and keeping sugary treats like cakes and pastries to a minimum are working, also the yoga with a good walk at least once a week probably has something to do with it. The Clonidine that I was on for my hot flushes I stopped about 4 months ago has finally worn off, there was a multitude of side effects from it one being weight gain and fluid retention, I'm putting up with the hot flushes and actually they aren't that bad at this time of the year, also drinking more nettle tea which helps with fluid retention and I believe is helping me to release all that water, as I've been going to the toilet more often.

The lymphedema on my right hand side of my body is being moved around by the wonderful lymph nurse who gives me a special massage once every 2 weeks also my partner has learned how to do it for me so if its really bad I get him to push it around this massage always makes me want to pee more often as well. I'm no pre-cancer size 8 but at least I'm not putting anymore weight on and feeling swollen all over my tummy, I think my organs were swollen from the chemo and its taken all this time for them to go back to normal, still got a bloody tummy tho but then what menopausal woman hasn't got a tire tummy it appears to be the norm unfortunately.

My girlfriends who haven't been through menopause just don't get it, however I have warned them what is too come, the menopause is definitely not a walk in the park, hormones are so very important for a woman they govern your life you don't realise it until your not producing them anymore or in my case blocking them with drugs.

Day four of taking the beta blockers that my GP prescribed for the migraines and so far so good, don't want to say any more about that just incase I jinx it!!

Love and light to all xxxxx

RIP Linda and Caron.....

Ever since my dx and right up until now there are a few things I've tried to avoid namely reading the stories of high profile celebrity's who fought and lost the battle against breast cancer, they are Caron Keating and Linda McCartney. To be honest with you I was afraid to read their stories and didn't want anything negative to affect me, however whilst channel hoping on the TV yesterday I came across a film 'The Linda McCartney Story' I sat glued to the screen I watched, got angry then cried and acknowledged her life and death. Afterwards and this morning I feel different in a sort of weird way I think I needed to learn about Linda and how she had coped with breast cancer. Part of the reason why I didn't want to know about her story before was because Linda was and had been a vegetarian she lived a healthy lifestyle and was able to afford the very best not only in general living but in treatments for her disease, similarly was the Caron Keating story another rich healthy, young vibrant woman taken to soon by this evil disease. I suppose looking into there lives and deaths I have sort of exercised a demon, certainly a deeply held fear, I am not afraid of death (when your not here you don't suffer, its those that are left behind that feel sadness and grief) its the process of dying that I'm in fear of,  will I be in pain? will it be quick? who will look after Lee and the cats? sounds ridiculous when you write it down but these thoughts have occupied my mind on and off ever since I was dx nearly 2 years ago (2 years on March the 11th). I don't accept that I'm dying, I am however living and breathing, I'm still in a stable condition with hardly any symptoms this I am eternally grateful for.

In homage to Linda and Caron today I'm going paint like I've never painted before, like its the last painting I will ever do. RIP Linda and Caron.

Love and light Sarah xxx


Link to Linda's Story http://www.wingspan.ru/bookseng/linda/17.html
Link to Carons's Story http://realityandbiscuits.blogspot.co.uk/2011/03/caron-keating.html

Rewind back.....U Turn....

So I've made a sort of U turn on the advice that the Kinesiologist told me (see previous post) not because I don't believe in it but because I have a greater intuition on myself and my body since being dx with breast cancer and something was telling me that I still needed the evening primrose capsules and all the other products she advised against. I feel good, other people say I look healthy so I've decided on the 'if it ain't broke why fix it?' approach a few of the things she recommended like taking Vit B complex with magnesium and Milk Thistle drops I've already gone out and bought and have started taking them I've stopped taking Vit B12 (because the B complex has it in) and co-enzyme Q10 because I'm not on chemo anymore and feel my nerves are doing fine at the moment, also was not sure that the Sea Kelp or the Biotin was doing me any good so stopped taking them, I still take quite a lot of supplements and whilst it's good to take advice and get another perspective on the situation its also good to take note of your own intuition. I would also like to add at £50 quid a visit I quite simply cannot afford to keep going to her and would like to try other complementary treatments like going to a nutritionist.

Healing, healers and energy workers...

Last year I chanced upon a brilliant blog called 'Spiritual Light on Cancer' the lady Fiona that runs the blog is based in england but receives absent healing from a healer called Zoe based in Australia, Zoe can also channel spirits and asks her guides questions to which Fiona posts the responses. I asked a question about healing, physic surgeons etc and Fiona has kindly posted the response here's the link its a fascinating read. http://spiritual-light-on-cancer.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/21-can-energy-healing-help-to-cure.html#comment-form. Here's what I've posted as a response in the comments section.

Hi Fiona, Wanted to say thank you for asking the question and for posting this article it is truly fascinating, I have been going to a healer ever since I was dx with SBC (secondary breast cancer) and feel this has played an important part in my continued stable status, I believe in healing BUT I also believe that we have to do everything we can within our power to survive especially if you have cancer so doing all the conventional treatments like chemo/surgery/rads was always going to be part of my plan in addition to these treatments I also have tried a variety of complementary treatments like acupuncture, reflexology, organic juicing, supplements more recently yoga and I've booked an appointment with a lady that specialises in kinesiology to assess whether or not I need to take any additional supplements or add anything to my diet all of this including my weekly visits to a healer are I believe hugely important to my continued well being and stable status, I am living with breast cancer and doing everything within my power to fight it and survive. Whilst I am receiving the healing I meditate on healing myself and every time I drink one of my fresh green veg juices I feel the cells in my body power up. Thanks again for such a fascinating article and Happy New Year to you. Sending you and your healers/guides lots of love and light sarah xxxx

The importance of being honest......

We have all heard of phrases like 'keeping it real, living in the here and now, being truthful with yourself' today I have been reminded that to be honest with oneself is the only way to be, some get by with living in denial, shoving it under the carpet and just plain pretending, me I live with it up close and personal somedays its sitting somewhere on my shoulders other days its in my face. We all have to come to terms with whatever it is that is challenging us whether that's our health our finances or family life we all live our lives as best we can taking each day one at a time.

Two things have prompted this post one is the passing of an old school friend who at the age of 44 passed away in her sleep on Friday night, she had a heart condition (same as her mother) she'd been out with her sisters and daughter that night and had a great time, went to bed and didn't wake up, shocking isn't it! I am glad she was spared the suffering and pain albeit she was taken way too young. The second by a fellow cancer patient who was worried about sharing the latest news of her disease progression and her decision to have chemo, as she is a self confessed juice junkie and advocate of alternative treatments she had up until now been successfully treating herself with a raw/juice diet and was worried about telling all her followers/readers of her decision

My advice to everyone reading this blog and anyone affected by the issues it raises, be kind to yourself and those around you no one knows when our time is up our bodies are just vehicles for the soul, all of us pass at some point and remember its not about the dying its about what we do whilst we are alive.  Live for the moment.

Wishing you all a very merry xmas and a much much happier new year.
Love and light to all
xxxxxxxxx

Communications from the other side......

If you are a follower of this blog you will know that I am a spiritual person with a deep held belief system. In light of this and the previous posts which if I am being honest were fairly negative and I think you could describe my mind set presently as acutely depressed. So by chance I came across a blog that I haven't looked at in over a year, to explain, I found this blog site 'Spiritual light on Cancer' (link at the bottom) way back when I was dx but due to being in a heightened state of panic and fear didn't read it at the time but saved it for a later date, well that later date has finally arrived and I have spent the afternoon reading the blog in fact I printed it out and laid out on the couch and read it in my warm lounge (computer room is freezing) whilst I might add listening to some wonderfully deep meditation music by Osho. Anyway back to the blog, it is written by a fellow breast cancer patient Fiona and one with secondary's or mets basically the same as me, she is a spiritual person and due to her dx has lots of questions about her disease (as we all do) she has a friend called Zoe who lives in England who is a medium and channels spirit, Fiona and Zoe have been working together asking questions and obtaining replies from spirit guides, if you are interested in this then I highly recommend that you read the blog as I feel there is something fundamentally truthful in this, although I have to say that its taken a bit of re-reading to fully understand some of what has been said. I am presently forming a list of 1-10 points pertaining to this blog and the questions it posses and want to try and get the gist of it written down in a more coherent format, so that it is easier to digest. This is not too say that any of you wont understand what has been written, but it is for myself to completely understand and make some sense of what has been said. This could take some time but I think it will be well worth it in the long run. If your interested here's the link http://spiritual-light-on-cancer.blogspot.co.uk/
I will post next when I have put the list together. Love and light to all xxx

The lovely lymph nurse....

I suspected that the pain in my arm and trunk was more than normal mastectomy site mending itself pain and my oncologist referred me to a Lymphedema Nurse called Vikki. I felt a bit strange about going for this appointment because I was dreading the possible prospect of having to wear a compression sleeve and also the nurse is based in our local hospice. I have too say I was pleasantly surprised, the hospice was so calm and blissful a huge manor house converted, very friendly offering you tea and coffee in a comfortable waiting area with big armchairs, I don't really know what I was expecting to find but it certainly was not something as comforting as it proved to be and I no longer have 'the fear' as regards to a hospice.

As for lymphedema I do have it but very mild and early stages which is mainly in my trunk on the side, the pains I was experiencing turned out to be nothing to do with lymphedema but everything to do with my nerves knitting themselves back together (its been a year since my mastectomy). Vikki measured both of my arms and told me that my right arm (which is the affected limb) is 2% larger than my left, although my right arm is my dominant arm anyway so it would always be slightly larger, needless to say I am hugely relieved that all the exercises are paying off and keeping the dam lymphedema at bay.  We had a great chat and I found her to be so sympathetic and understanding.

During the consultation she said would I like to be referred to a Bowen Technique practitioner, I have heard of this complementary treatment and wanted to try it out anyway so was pleased to find that its free of charge on the NHS if your referred by your lymph nurse and a series of appointments have been made. My first appointment was on Friday and was very interesting, a series of light touch movements all over my body and it really did seem to work wonders, aligning and correcting my spine whilst attempting to deal with my side effects ie: migraines/hot flushes/neck and back pain. I will keep you all posted on how I progress with these treatments but I already feel something inside me has clicked and am looking forward to my next session which will be next week.

Fair weather health....

Hi all, it's literally the calm after the storm, we had rain all night quite heavy with thunder and finally the oppressive atmosphere has finally lifted including the way I was feeling (see previous post), so I am glad to report back to being my upbeat self again. My mood swings have been quite bad recently and I am putting it down to the tamoxifen and the endless migraines, the headaches come with nausea and are therefore migraines, I've had one a week for the past five weeks they seem to occur on a Friday and can last all weekend. I went to see my GP as I was running out of Co-Codamol (my life saver) otherwise I think I would go out of my head! He prescribed some more of the strong stuff as well as taking extra Clonidine so I now take three of those twice a day and thank god it seems to be working. So I'm hoping I can say ta da to the head fuck headaches and the extreme nausea and hello to some fair weather health and feeling more like a human being, trying to get back to some sort of normality.

I am cooking a sunday roast but not like you would imagine, yes there is a freerange chicken but no roast potatoes instead I am cooking sweet potatoes in there jackets first time ever also some green beans and broccoli, have to admit really looking forward to this meal, so will post soon, but promise to be a more positive and happier soul. Love to ya xx

Cartenoids stop reocurrence

There are over 600 different carotenoids, for example:

Alpha-Carotene - found in carrots, coriander and green beans

Beta-Carotene - found in apricots, cantaloupe melon and broccoli

Beta-Cryptoxanthin - found in persimmon (Sharon fruit), papaya and tangerines

Capsaicin - found in chilli, sweet red bell and jalapeno peppers

Lycopene - found in tomatoes, guava and watermelon

Lutein - found in turnip, kale and spinach

Zeaxanthin - a strong yellow pigment found in fruits and vegetables


Many have been found to inhibit cancer development but this inhibition is reversible, meaning that stopping a diet rich in carotenoids may allow the cancer to grow again.

There’s a great deal of research into the effects of carotenoids. One way that carotenoids inhibit cancer growth is related to their ability to improve intercellular ‘communication’ by increasing the production of a protein (connexion 43, C43) which sits between cells. Cancer cells lack the C43 protein, which means they also lack a vital growth control system. A diet rich in carotenoids can help return the situation to normal, especially when combined with selenium – a constituent mineral of C43 found in brown rice, fish and Brazil nuts.

Two studies, one from Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York and the other from Harvard in 2009 showed that eating colourful red, yellow and orange vegetables not only reduced the risk of developing breast cancer, but helped prevent it returning. In both cases the groups eating the carotenoids almost halved their risk. (International Journal of Cancer, 2009 Jun 15; 124(12):2929-37. Cancer Epidemiology; Biomarkers and Prevention. 2009 Feb; 18(2):486-94).
Shhwartz and Shklar at Harvard University studied the ability of carotenoids to inhibit tumour growth in breast, lung, oral and skin tissue. They found a positive response to treatment within 1 to 5 hours.

Stahelin and colleagues from the University of Basel researched the role of a number of antioxidants, including carotene in 3000 men over a period of 15 years. They found that there was an increase in cancers of the stomach and bronchus in subjects with low plasma levels of carotene.

Another example from research concerns vitamin A, mainly created in the body from carotenoids consumed. Known to drive many cancers from breast, to colon, to prostate and even some brain tumours, oestrogen causes its damage by binding to cellular receptor sites. Scientists at the University of Chicago have shown that a metabolite of vitamin A (retenoic acid) can compete with and block this damaging action. Whereas oestrogen causes random and rapid cell growth to occur, the vitamin A was found to ´normalise proceedings´.

Taken from Chris Woollams Newsletter July 2012

Complementary..

Whilst out and about in Totnes the other day I came across a sign outside of Neals Yard "20% off all treatments if booked throughout July" so went in and booked an appointment for acupuncture, I have been recommended this too help with the hot flushes as well as a host of other side effects from the drugs I'm on, I am sooooo excited, I know it sounds ridiculous but I am really looking forward to this, I haven't had any complimentary treatments for quite some time the only one I do regularly is spiritual healing which to be fair is generally hands off, so can't wait to try something new, also thinking about trying some reflexology as a general calm down and relax therapy, will keep you all informed how I get on.

Looking outside of the window today and again the sun is hidden behind a thick blanket of mist and rain :0( WHERE IS OUR SUMMER!!!! It has at the very least afforded me time to sort out selling my old Mac powerbook and I'm thinking of doing some proper baking today, try and fill the freezer up with some goodies.
Love to all
sarahxx

Note to self... Can I come back as a cat in the next life....

Feeling perky today, went into town shopping for some of those shape-up shoes only too find none in my size in TK Maxx and I'm not buying them anywhere else cause they are way too much money at £89 quid in TK's they are only £20. Made an appointment with the lovely lady on the 'Bare Minerals' counter for a make over as this range is paraben free and basically trying to take my mind off the fact that I get my CT scan results on friday....no its not working I'm not taking my mind off anything only kidding myself.

Anyway back to the title of this post, thats right gonna come back as a cat in the next life please cause they got it good, here's some pics of my gorgeous pair, my partner Lee bought Mitzi a Bengal for me nearly 4 years ago only too find that he'd bought a pregnant cat we let her have her kittens and found great homes for all of them, we kept one and named him Ted he's massive and looks a bit like a Maine Coon breed of cat, I love them both so very much. Mitzi is my constant companion, she would sit with me when I was going through the awful chemo and keeps me company on my off days, besides the fact that she knew something was wrong with me she kept nudging and sniffing the affected armpit and breast. Anyway here's the promised pics xx

Great news for Her2+

Found this article on the forum today talking about two new drugs that are going to made available to all Her2+ patients in the near future it means instead of having Herceptin by IV every 3 weeks you could take it in pill form, here's the article:

Friday, 2 March, 2012 

PHARMAC is funding two new targeted cancer medicines following an agreement with GlaxoSmithKline.

From 1 April 2012 PHARMAC will begin funding lapatinib (Tykerb) and pazopanib (Votrient). These two new orally administered treatments are designed to specifically target cancer cells. Lapatinib is used in patients with advanced, HER2+ breast cancer, and pazopanib in advanced kidney cancer patients. Both will be funded as alternatives to the currently funded treatment options; trastuzumab (Herceptin) for advanced HER 2 + breast cancer patients and sunitinib (Sutent) for advanced kidney cancer patients.

PHARMAC medical director Dr Peter Moodie says that in addition to expanding the range of treatment options available, both new treatments are pills that patients can take at home.

"The funding of lapatinib in particular will make treatment more convenient for those breast cancer patients who choose to receive it instead of trastuzumab, because it avoids the need for them to go to hospital every 3 weeks for infusion treatments," says Dr Moodie. "It also means that if patients choose lapatinib rather than trastuzumab DHB hospitals will have additional capacity for treating cancer patients, which will help reduce waiting times for cancer treatment, one of the Government's key health targets."

As well as being taken in pill form, lapatinib is a smaller molecule than trastuzumab which means it can pass through the `blood/brain barrier' - which may be an important factor in deciding the best treatment option for patients with advanced disease.

"The features of lapatinib make it a useful addition to funded treatment options. We know from the studies that it has a similar mode of action to trastuzumab, and it is effective in delaying the progression of HER 2 + metastatic breast cancer, as is trastuzumab."

Dr Moodie says that although targeted treatments generally have fewer side effects than standard chemotherapy treatments they do have their own toxicity issues, some of which can be serious. The funding rules for these treatments mean that, if patients experience early side effects on their first choice treatment, then they can have access to funding for the alternative treatment.

Pazopanib is the second targeted oral cancer treatment funded for metastatic renal cell carcinoma, following the funding of sunitinib (Sutent) in 2010. While both drugs have similar modes of action and appear to have similar benefits for patients, Dr Moodie says having an alternative treatment is useful in patients who experience early toxicity.

PHARMAC estimates that up to 180 patients per year will receive pazopanib or lapatinib, and that spending on the two drugs will be in the region of $15 million over five years. However, because of the drugs' net cost compared with the currently funded treatment options for these patients overall the decision is cost-saving to DHBs.

Great news for all of us with HER2+ BC.

Love and light

xxx