Testing & Protocol

I just scheduled an MRI  for July 11 and will have a consultation with the surgeon shortly after that. It will be the six-month anniversary of my diagnosis. Much hinges upon the results.

I also recently joined a Facebook group for women following an alternate path of treatment for DCIS, and several have periodic MRIs to monitor their disease. One woman recently reported a reduction from 5.7 cm to 4.5 cm over a six-month period. Another’s went from 7.4 cm to 5.4 cm in nine months. If I have similar results, my DCIS would be reduced from 4 cm to 3 cm or so by mid-July. That I should be so lucky.

Every woman is different, though, and what works for one may not work for another. Through testing, a protocol can be tailored to a woman’s unique cancer and internal environment. This is where conventional medicine is weak and natural medicine is strong.

In February, I was tested for vitamins D and B12, magnesium and natural killer cells. My body was deficient in all of them. My estrogen levels were also tested. In my case, estrogen was shown to be virtually non-existent, which is a good thing for my kind of cancer. For other women, the presence of estrogen may warrant corrective therapy to minimize the cancer risk.

The protocol I’ve been on since March includes supplements to restore a healthier balance within my body and common sense measures known to prevent cancer and counteract its growth. Here it is.

Diet

• Organic plant-based diet with wild fish or organic chicken once or twice a week. I eat virtually no prepared foods that come out of a jar or a box. The herbicides, pesticides, hormones, chemicals and additives used in our modern day foods are toxic and a cancer risk.
• A smoothie or raw extracted juice each day, made mostly out of green vegetables, especially cruciferous. I’m actually enjoying them. Kale blended with a green apple, parsley, celery, burdock root and some flaxseed is pretty good. I add half a lemon to prevent the kidney stones that can form as a result of overindulgence in cruciferous vegetables.
• No alcohol. This is sad for me. I enjoy wine, but I can do without if I have to. And I have to. Alcohol is implicated strongly in breast cancer studies.

Supplements

I have never been a pill taker, and it’s taken some discipline but I’m now up to the task. This is what I take each day:

• Vitamins D3 and B12. D3 is especially essential for breast health.
• Magnesium. Generally good for health.
• CoQ10. Helps the immune system and is an antioxidant.
• Curcumin. Also an antioxidant and helps relieve inflammation in the body.
• Artemisinin. Has anti-proliferative effects.
• AHCC and Stamets 7. Mushrooms are really good for the immune system. These mushroom supplements are said to build the natural killer cells the body needs to ward off viruses and cancer.
• Iodine. Needed for breast health. I take 3 drops of 5% Lugols Iodine per day.
• Liposomal Vitamin C. Easier to absorb than a pill.
• PH Balance. This product helps the body maintain a healthy acid/alkaline balance. It’s said that cancer can’t grow within an alkaline environment.
• Breast Defend. This is a proprietary blend of mushrooms and herbs for breast health.

Natural Products

The beauty industry loads up its products with all kinds of chemicals known as xenoestrogens that are toxic to the human body and promote estrogen-positive breast cancer. Cleaning products also contain a ton of chemicals. I’ve gone natural with both.

Exercise

I try to exercise daily. I’m not always able to accomplish this but I try.

I’d love to hear the regimen of anyone with DCIS, striving to maintain breast health or recovering from treatment. I’m also happy to help in any way I can. Please let me know of any questions.