The Real Truth About Breast Cancer

I think when we hear "cancer" we think there is only one way, one method to cure it, which is chemo or radiation. I was talking to a good friend of mine who is related to Patrick Swayze's wife who told me that he first tried all of the western medicine things, and when it was too late, he started on alternatives. I do not mean to offend anyone, but I watched two family members die before my eyes from chemo. It systematically killed them, and it caused a great suffering that I felt was not necessary.

We tried getting my dad and auntie to drop white man's medicine and try for alternative but they would not out of the fear their doctors put on them.

Sorry but I have met with western medicine and I found much fear in it, terror even.

I know that Russell Means was diagnosed with cancer too, and has been using western medicine to beat it with success. So again I do not want to put down western medicine, and I think it can save some lives, but I myself would not use it for me unless it was a cardiovascular issue.

And since I bring the heart up, I had a good friend on the reservation who was told in her 20's go into A-Fib. They tried their western medication such as warfarin to thin down her blood and increase medicines to bring her out of a-fib. When that did not work, they insisted on putting her to sleep for a couple minutes and using paddles to restart her heart and bring her out of A-Fib.

She was so afraid to do this. So what does she go do? Went to a library and researched. She studied minerals and on her own, came to her conclusion she needed magnesium. She started taking magnesium that day and performed epsom salt baths. To everyone's surprise she went out of a-fib on her own and never had a-fib again.

So I need to say that there are a variety of things we can do that can save our lives, and I think the bottom line is, follow your own road/intuition. You will know inside what you need and where to get that from.

reply to post by newsoul


I had breast cancer and had a radical mastectomy, too. I have never written out my story like you did in the first two posts, but I was pleasantly surprised to see that someone else wasn't into the whole "commercialism" of breast cancer.

I chose not to have radiation or chemo and I didn't join any clubs. I don't wear a pink ribbon or belong to a breast cancer survivor network, nor do I walk or run for breast cancer or send endless and encouraging emails to other women... It all makes me kind of ill.

I've been cancer free for 9 years now.

I wish you all the best.

Your story touched me! You sound like a very strong and beautiful soul. Keep loving and fighting, you will get through it!

reply to post by newsoul


Thank You for sharing Your story here, that could not have been easy for You. I want to say that I am so sorry for what You have gone through and for what You have lost. You are still here though and Your family is still here. Focus on that and taking care of Yourself and try not to dwell on what cannot be changed. You are a true hero, like the battlefield soldier that never gives up. You have more power than You could ever know, and that my friend NO one can take from You [ it is called spirit ]. Best wishes for You in the future...

Thanks for your heartfelt story. Stay strong , you've got a loving family and hopefully will get back to living your dream. My wife was diagnosed at 43 years old with stage 4 breast cancer with mets to her bones...she passed on 1-11-2010. Just be happy you caught your cancer early and will stay in remission. As for all the new age and homeopathic wonder cures , don't concern yourself; that you didn't try eating asparagus three times a day and could of saved yourself all that pain and agony. It seems that all those pushing these wonder cures don't have cancer themselves and have no idea what it's like to make quality of life medical decisions that will forever change their lives. You picked your path of treatment because you're in the medical field yourself . Just focus on living healthy and loving your family...Good Luck !!

reply to post by Benevolent Heretic


First, let me say I love your avatar. We have had 3 german shepherds, they are the most wonderful dogs!!! Thank you for sharing a part of your story with me. It is never easy to talk about. I am not a member of a survivor group either, although half of my home is now concealed in pink ribbon memorebelia (?) I know that people mean well when they bring them to me, I just don't want to forever be known in my community as the lady with breast cancer. I wish you good health forever more!

reply to post by conspiracytheoristIAM


I am so sorry to hear about the loss of your wife. It makes it all too real, doesn't it. See, that is kind of my point, this other side of brest cancer. This is the side you don't really hear about. The articles that I have read about breast cancer normally have a women wearing a pink ribbon, smiling because she beat this dreaded disease. They don't show us that between the diagnosis and the outcome there are a million different emotions, there are soooo many tears. There is anger beyond our control, there are times that we laugh only to end up screaming. One night I found myself in the middle of my living room floor playing with my 5 year old daughter, and as I watched her play and laugh and giggle, I just started to cry. What if I miss this, what if I miss a single minute of her beautiful life? She looked at me with all the seriousness in the world and said "mommy, when will I get breast cancer?" I think that is when the anger really started to come out of me, because I realized that there is really a possiblity that she will be going through this someday.

This is an epidemic. Walks and runs and pink ribbons will not cure it. Someone needs to get mad enough to find out what in the world is causing 1 out of 8 women to get breast cancer. That is a huge number and it needs to stop. And people need to know the truth, it doesn't always change you into Ghandi.

I wish you peace and tender moments in your life. Thank you for sharing that part of your journey with me.

First of all, I am incredibly moved by your story. Not because I have breast cancer, or know someone who does, but because you admit this crap isn't easy. Here is why, I have to explain some of my back ground to make sense.

I suffered post partum depression. Not the Mother Dearest kind, just over worrying and seperation anxiety to the extreme. Learning to mother, for me, was increeedddiibblllyyy hard. Here I was with this beautiful innocent baby in my arms, and I would look around at all the other mothers and fathers in the Pediatric's waiting room filled with hatred.

How are they wearing makeup and dressed to the 9's? My child had colic, we -literally- did not sleep. Ever. For the better part of three months. I came to Dr's visits in pajamas and a bird's nest for hair. Here these ladies are, already back to work after a couple of weeks. They all must be lying.

As the post partum faded, and I blossomed into what I like to think is a FANTASTIC mother, I started to speak out to other women about what I went through. When a friend with a small child would dote on what a "good" baby they had, I was honest. "He had colic. I had post partum. It was hell".. You don't read about that in baby books, you read about the greatest joy you will face as a woman. They left a few things out.

I was wildly honest with our trials and tribulations, I let my friends know we had trouble bonding, I let them know I struggled and never cleaned the house the first three months. Then...privately...a friend sought me out. "Val, I really need to talk to you".

I had my friend over and we sat outside for a while and talked. Eventually she said "Can we sit in your car? This is really private" no one was home, but I agreed to make her comfortable. Sitting cramped in my messy car she confided " I never bonded with my second child. It's been hell. No one talks about this but you and I need help. She -never- stops screaming". I said "Sweetheart, it's okay, just spill it all" and she did. And she cried. And I cried. And I helped her.

Not trying to make this about me, but here is the point:
Women have this drive to go through great trials and tribulations stalwart and with their heads held high. We are STRONG women! Right? Women are crazy, right? If we wear pajamas to a Dr. appointment, might we be letting ourselves go? This crap is exhausting. I decided I was going to end this, and SO DID YOU!

Women feel like they can't talk about this stuff. Because a bunch of Maya Angelou's came around and glorified horrible experiences. I feel this huge weight on the shoulders of women now to just keep it together, be it post partum with a colic baby or breast cancer for goodness sakes!

These things are hard. You need help. Do not be ashamed, and good for you for being honest and stopping this madness women have been feeding for too long (IMO). When we all stop fueling this fire I think the gender as a whole will breathe a sigh of relief.

As far as what I have to say about those women...

The illusion of effortlessness requires a great effort indeed.

S+F, this thread could change someone's life.

reply to post by ValentineWiggin


Wow!! Thank you. You and I should write a book about the struggles women secretly go through trying to maintain "perfection", because I think that is the bottom line isn't it. The fact that I don't have beautiful breasts is really just a side note. The truth is, if we don't live up to the expections of society we feel like failures.

At the beginning of this journey I was so ashamed of myself. Why couldn't I be one of those other women, the ones that seem to have it all together, all the time. The smiling. I wanted to choke them...lol And why, because that is what the media wants us to see, that's what they want us to be.

Your story is a testament to the fact that it isn't just breast cancer, it is a myriad of reasons. From weight, health issues, motherhood, relationships. The list goes on and on.

Your voice is loud, let it out!!

Originally posted by newsoul
reply to post by ValentineWiggin

 

Wow!! Thank you. You and I should write a book about the struggles women secretly go through trying to maintain "perfection", because I think that is the bottom line isn't it.

I'm ready when you are! lol That is absolutely the bottom line, well said!

So many on here have suffering and sorrow. One of the nice things is that we share and help each other that way. I salute you for sharing and for not making it "nice" Your grit will help you as you go on this journey.

I had Hodgkins in the 70's. During the biopsy, on my neck I could feel the atmosphere in the room change, so I asked "How is it?". The Doctor said; ,"It doen't look good." My response was "Oh #." He later told me, "I knew you would make it when you said "Oh #" on the operating table." I am well past 20 years.

Know that you are not alone, that people do care. I will pray for you.

reply to post by Iamschist


You are an inspiration!! I have never been the quiet type, I guess this has just really amped it up..lol

Sometimes I think we just need to let go, let it all out. I think when we let it out, it helps us heal.

Originally posted by newsoul
You and I should write a book about the struggles women secretly go through trying to maintain "perfection", because I think that is the bottom line isn't it. The fact that I don't have beautiful breasts is really just a side note. The truth is, if we don't live up to the expections of society we feel like failures.

You are never a failure and please don't think this way.
You are very much a success in my eyes...
Keep your head up because you have more support than you think.
Only the weak and shallow view people as "failures" if they do not look "perfect".

I am proud of you, regardless if you know me personally or not.
You women who struggle so much and overcome, are the woman I enjoy reading about.

Your struggles are mountains compared to the crap spewed forth from a society filled with vanity.
The problems that I see these fake women deal with...tan lines or smudged makeup...
Pale in comparison to the real problems that most real women face.
But when I read about how women try to maintain "perfection", I cringe to myself.
You should never have that burden on your mind.
The world around you and every evil thing in it tells us that perfection is on the outside.
When in reality, it lies within.

This herein lies the problem.

You should never strive to be perfect.
You should strive to be yourself.


But it looks like you already know that...


Great thread.

Thank you for sharing your experience with us. I know it wasn't all rainbows and glitterbombs. I appreciate your candidness. That took guts. I agree with FissonSurplus, you were brought through this, baptism by fire so to speak, to help and to be compassionate with your future patients. Undoubtedly, you will have some who will mirror your own experience. Your honesty and forthright approach will be just what those women will need. That will save others from a lifetime of wasted energies in anger and bitterness. Kudos to you!

reply to post by havok


I have to say, with every response to this thread, I am more and more convinced that I should have started my journey here. The support and the amount of people who seem to understand me is overwhelming. I would be proud to call any of you my friend. Your words left me speechless.

Thank you so much.

reply to post by SunflowerStar


I hope and pray that someday I can bring all of this around full circle. It would be an honor for me to work with women who are in this situation, so often people have no idea what to say (and that includes people in the medical field). I believe honesty is the best policy and I have a very hard time sugar coating things, sometimes people think that I am harsh. I say what's on my mind way to often. My sister thinks that the filter between my brain and my mouth is broken...lol I am sarcastic and I find humor in the oddest situations, I guess that's why the pink fluffies have done nothing for me.

Thank you for the encouragement!

Oh my very beautiful, dearest sister, Know how much I love you, how proud I am of you, how your "no filter" lights up my days. Though we have both been through what most would call the same thing, It can't be the same thing when two separate souls go through it. Your will remember my first post about my beautiful, strong, stubborn, hard headed sister. You are the light of my life. Mayhaps, you should write that book. I Love You Very Much!

reply to post by salyo65


Our journeys are different, be we always seem to be on the same path. How is that so?? I'm very glad that you have joined me here, you are everywhere that I go. I love you and I miss you. And of course since you act as the filter for my mouth, you would have to be in on the book too. If for nothing other than the laughter, because we are so freakin' funny!!!

reply to post by newsoul


Newsoul...I know you may hear this a lot, but I'm sorry, I'll say a prayer for you and your family. Cancer is a tough subject, regardless it's type, and being in a Nurse...I've seen more than what I ever wanted. I really don't know what to say in regards of trying to say something comforting, I can't tell you it will be doom and gloom or that it won't be just fine, it's not what I've been trained to do. Really at this point, in my opinion, is to keep your loved ones close. People can draw such amazing strength solely off the love of their family, and nothing is more touching than knowing that no matter what happens next, you have people who have your back every step of the way. Hell, you've told us your story and you have us (some of) who support you! I hope that bliss finds you, I really do, just as well, I wish I could help in some way.

I wish upon you anand (Profound peace and bliss)