me and my methods
December 5, 2007 by sheilamiller31
Hi, My name is Sheila. I am 30 and I am battling stage 4 breast cancer. This is a recurrence of a stage 1 breast cancer I thought I had beat 5 years ago. Last September the doc confirmed that the cancer had spread to my brain, bones and fluids around my heart which had to be drained immediately. So my rediagnosis was followed by pericardio window surgery (to drain the fluids around my heart) and a 5 day hospital stay at the Moffitt Cancer Center where they stuck tubes in my heart, ran me through every imaginable scanning device known to man and performed god knows how many x-rays on me. They even brought a special x-ray machine to my bed. They managed to turn both of my arms completely black and blue in their attempts to draw blood from or start an IV in me. Also, I was kept awake as they biopsied one of my rib bones with a giant drill/needle thingy. I found out recently that I also had cancer in my lungs and liver. My first doc didn’t inform me of this.
Unfortunately, the cancer began to reaccumulate in the fluids around my heart almost immediately after being sent home and I had to have the same surgery repeated one month later, shortly after my wedding. This time at my hospital stay they discovered that a tumor on my pituitary gland (in the brain) was causing diabetes insipidus. This explained (finally) why I had been so ridiculously thirsty. My body couldn’t hold on to fluids. They stuck me in the ICU and put me on all sorts of crazy drugs, leaving me totally disoriented and terrified. It was hell. Also, my arms and feet were reabused in their attempts to get blood from me. One night it took 5 different medical professionals to get one blood draw. I felt like a human pin cushion. After this second surgery, my main doc at Moffitt didn’t hold out much hope. The staff there kept trying to push full brain radiation and chemo on me. I knew my body couldn’t handle either of those options. During that time I came up with my plan- no chemo, no radiation, just hormonal therapy (zoladex, it shuts off my ovaries so they can’t feed the cancer estrogen) raw foods and juices, no more alcohol, no more meth (a joke, people) no more stress!! Back to the basics. I was and continue to be determined to beat this. At first I just told people I was going to beat it, I didn’t truly believe it. Now I know I am beating it. And it feels awesome! It’s a lot of work and requires a heaping dose of will power. But it is worth it. Below I’ve briefly described every way in which I am spitting in death’s face.
Gerson Therapy this involves preparing 10 fresh organic juices a day, daily coffee enemas, lots of supplements, fresh organic food and some cooked foods. follow link for details
Myers Cocktail weekly intravenous infusion of 75 grams of vitamin C, 5 milligrams vitamin B12, B complex, chloride, calcium gluconate, trace minerals, freomine, broad spectrum multi vitamin, zinc, lycene, glutothyone. There is a lot of research backing the cancer-killing ability of IV administered vitamin C. I’ve also read that 40% of cancer patients die from malnutrition. Cancer robs the body of nutrients, muscle, fat, all the essentials.
Zoladex this is the only conventional med I am doing. It is a painful monthly injection that requires a giant needle to insert what appears to be a pink bullet into my stomach. It dissolves slowly over the course of a month. Somehow the zoladex travels from my belly fat to my brain where it tells my brain to stop producing estrogen. Freaky, I know. How the hell does this stuff work?
Acupuncture
Graditude, attitude, lust for life, wonder, passion, love, creativity, humor and a renewed relationship with the divine source. The best medicine is a strong desire to live.
If you or someone you know is facing cancer and wants help going the natural route, please contact me. I’ve accumulated tons of valuable information in my quest to eradicate my cancer and I am more than happy to reveal my sources for supplies and information.
I like the skin brushing thing. It sounds pretty relaxing. Except for all the YELLING in the PAGE that you LINK TO.
This is very good. It is informative and very spirited…just like you! Thanks for the information and for sending me the link.
Sheila,
Thanks for sending me the invite to your blog. I’ve been keeping tabs on your progress through Mindy but it’s great to be able to read directly about how you’re doing and the fabulous milestones you’ve achieved thus far. I immediately got the blog’s title… Brilliant reference to one of the best movies of all time!
I keep you and your family in my thoughts… Wishing you well and looking forward to your next update.
My best,
Britt Pearson
Sheila,
Although you didn’t know where all the cancer was and now you do, nothing has really changed. The amount of cancer, whether you knew or not, was the same…….SOOOOOOO, don’t let this blow your mind. It has to be so shocking, but don’t spend your energy on it. Keep up your amazing spirit and positive forward healing. Remember how you told me you just had to focus on getting better and not worry about things? I believe you will beat this! Your progress already is totally a w e s o m e —just like y o u!
Sheila,
I recently got in touch with Sarah Graddy who told me about your cancer. I am so sorry to hear all that you ahve been struggling with in recent few years- I had no idea! It sounds absolutely awful- however if anyone can beat cancer, it would be you. Your attitude toward the whole thing is awe-inspiring. Reading your blogs reminds me of hanging out in your room and talking as teenagers - I’ve always been impressed by your facility with words and your ability to express things in such a meanignful way. And your theory about identifying the goner-character in the movies is right on- funny but then again not.
I wish you the best!
Dana
Hi,
It does my heart good everytime I run across another warrior! I had breast cancer in ‘06 and had lumpectomy/node dissection, then later radiation…but refused chemotherapy. I am also taking lots of supplements, i.e. Indolegard (similar to DIM), flax hull lignans, COQ10, alpha lipoic acid, vit c (from Acerola Cherries). I cut out soft drinks, chips, fries ( in fact, almost all fast foods), most processed foods, sugar (not an easy one!). People just don’t understand what it takes to regain your health. I have a friend in Knoxville, TN with liver cancer, and she still drinks Diet Coke like there’s no tomorrow. She begins another round of chemo, after a 3-year lull. She eats whatever she wants and it makes me so angry!
I was taking Tamoxifen, but I gained 20 lbs very quickly and it seemed to be doing something to my stomach…plus absolutely no energy.
I would be interested in more info/details on exactly what you are doing.
Peace,
Ellie
Hi Ellie!
Thanks so much for your comment. Just out of curiosity, how did you find my blog? As a Gerson therapy patient I only eat things made with organic fruits and vegetables. Occasionally I will have some organic brown rice or organic wheat free yeast free rye bread and organic hormone-free yogurt. No microwave, I use a ionic water filter that turns the water alkaline, the only makeup I use is natural mascara and brow pencil. All products are made with very natural (and, if possible, organic) ingredients. By natural I mean free of parabens, chemicals, etc. Of course I abstain from all processed foods, sugar and alcohol. I refused the tamoxifin. I did try arimadex for a few days but it made me feel really ill and depressed so I stopped it. If you follow the links on this page (green words) the websites they lead to give good descriptions of each healing method. If you are interested in gerson therapy a good book to get is “healing the gerson way” by charlotte gerson. It’s a lot of work and it ain’t cheap! but it’s so worth it. Thanks for reading!
Hi Sheila,
Its me again: what do you think about distilled and reverse osmosis water? I have not heard until now about the water filter you have on this site.
Also, what type of skin care/hair care do you use?
I have been using organic skin care for years now and am surprised (to say the least) that some of my friends, who have “c” but use regular make up and cosmetics, with all those horrible toxic ingredients in them. I have been using Aubrey Organics and Terrressentials for years now. What do you think about green tea? Do you drink it or recommend it? How about regular, black organic tea - I love this one but am not sure if its good or bad. Does Gerson permit it? I have not found info on that.
Thanks for listening again,
Mary
Hi Mary
Reverse osmosis water is really good, I think it is what Gerson recommends. The one we have here is not RO but it does filter chlorine, fluoride and other contaminants and allows us to control the pH of the water, we tend to make it very alkaline since cancer can not live in an alkaline environment.
hair care, Cosmetics, etc- I use Pure Life Organics for my hair, skin and body care. http://www.purelifesoap.com. And I use good ol’ Dr. Bronner’s magic pure castile soap (but not the lavender one! Lavender is bad news for estrogen-related cancers) not just on my body but also around the house. When I wear makeup (which is seldom these days) I curl my lashes and put on some Suncoat Natural Mascara http://www.suncoatproducts.com/index-mascara.htm and occasionally some Alba Botanica TerraGloss http://www.albabotanica.com/?id=411 and I’ll just go ahead and admit to you that I still use a Cover Girl eyebrow pencil. I’ve used the same kind for about 8 years now and I just haven’t found a natural alternative in the right color that works as well.
No, Geron does not allow tea but I drink it anyway. I drink green tea a couple of times a day. I am trying to quit but it’s hard. I didn’t drink it for the first few months of my Gerson therapy. Green is better than black. Black is acid-forming in the body.
I know, I know rules, Rules RULES! But in the end it’s worth it and once you get used to it, it’s not so bad. Occasionally I cheat and have something forbidden but I just try to avoid making a habit of it (but I screwed up on the green tea…) I hope this helps you!!
Hi Sheila,
Thanks very much for your reply. I will definitely try the Pure Life Organics but I am very surprised about using lavender ! Wow, I had no idea about this at all!!! I have been using all organic products BUT with lavender, like body lotions, creams, etc for it’s calming effects but had no idea whatsoever that it can be harmful for estrogen related cancers! I took all that stuff and tossed it the other day - thank you!!
You are soooo right about juicing: my pain was gone after doing Gerson dilligently for the past several weeks; these four days I have been very busy and stopped juicing and today - yeah! - the pain has returned. So today it’s back to juicing and staying there for a very long time to come.
I have a question: I know that Gerson does not include any flax in their program but I have been using sprouted flax for many years now. Just recently though I have found out that flax is not that good after all!! Flax contains Vitamin B antagonists and it contains Linamarin which breaks down into cyanide upon eating it! It also slows down thyroid - had no idea until now! So, now I stopped flax completely.
Have you ever used flax or very popular now chia seeds?
Some people use Vitamineral Green in their smoothies from Health Force Nutritionals - have you ever used it and what do you think about those powdered green supplements??
Thanks for your time and THANKS FOR YOUR TWO GREAT SITES: THEY ARE TRULY LIFE-SAVERS!!!!
Mary
Hi Mary!
OK, about the flax- Actually, Gerson is all about the flax oil. It is the only fat allowed in the diet. I am supposed to take 4 tablespoons a day! But I read all that scary stuff about flax too, I also read all sorts of good things about fish oil. For a couple of months I was taking fish oil instead of the flax oil. Well, I stopped doing that. Now I still don’t eat the 4 tablespoons of flax oil straight up like Gerson recommends, instead I make a salad dressing with lots of flaxseed oil and have it at least 2x a day, on a salad or on a baked potato. I know, it’s confusing. I still occasionally take the fish oil (every couple of weeks.) I think the thyroid problems associated with flax are taken care of by the thyroid supplements and the iodine drops in the program. Also, Gerson does not believe in sprouts or sprouted grain! That was a tough one for me since I had been eating sprouted grain bread and broccoli sprouts for years. Supposedly sprouts are no good for the immune system.
As far as powdered green stuff is concerned- When I have to go somewhere (like a couple of appointments in a row) I pack a cooler with 8oz jars of juice, carrot and apple in separate containers. You have to keep them separated because of the different enzymes in each will keep better if they are not together. Make sure there is no air when you seal the jar, it takes a little practice to get it just right. Then I take the straight carrot in place of carrot apple and instead of green I have apple juice and then put a teaspoon of Kyo Green powder in it. You are really not supposed to jar at all with Gerson but sometimes that’s just not realistic, especially with all the appointments cancer patients often have. I just try not to do it too much. Kyo Green is packed with the good stuff, young barley greens, young wheatgrass, chlorella, kelp, FOS, brown rice. You can get it at any healthfood store.
Thanks so much for reading!I hope this helps!!!