| Part II Conquering the Fear, Fighting | | | | for me to listen to while receiving the |
| the Cancer | | | | infusion of chemo. This guided exercise |
| Ovarian Cancer: Process and Survival | | | | included relaxation, healing messages, |
| | | | and suggestions for picturing my immune |
| Post Surgery | | | | cells taking care of things and using |
| Read Part I for information regarding | | | | the chemo effectively. Before each chemo |
| diagnosis and surgery...The next few | | | | session, even before they started the |
| weeks after my discharge from the | | | | IV, he would do a relaxation exercise |
| hospital, were very busy. My sister, | | | | with me. This ritual became a very |
| Nance, and my mom decorated the house | | | | important part of the process. By |
| and Christmas tree. My sister Lauren | | | | working on my "attitude" towards the |
| visited from Washington and cleaned, | | | | chemo and by connecting with these parts |
| cooked and lent invaluable support to | | | | of myself that can be powerful |
| all of us. There were visits to the | | | | self-healers, I felt I was taking back |
| surgeon for follow-up and the oncologist | | | | control of what was happening. Feeling |
| for the initial visit. John and my | | | | that you are part of the healing process |
| sisters accompanied me. It was so very | | | | instead of a passive receiver of |
| helpful to have someone else ask | | | | medications etc., is very |
| questions and write down information. It | | | | empowering.Rituals and routines are very |
| can be an overwhelming experience, | | | | comforting, especially when you're |
| especially when you're a little "spaced | | | | experiencing stressful times. My "chemo |
| out" on vicodin for pain management, as | | | | ritual" evolved from the very first |
| I was. I signed on to be part of a | | | | session. The night before, I meditated |
| clinical study using different | | | | and did my healing visualizations at |
| combinations of medications for eight | | | | bedtime. John drove me to the oncology |
| instead of the normal six cycles. Laurie | | | | center. I selected my chair and we |
| had brought a book with her that offered | | | | settled in with his relaxation exercise. |
| a lot of information on how to deal with | | | | My sister, Nance, arrived bearing |
| an ovarian cancer diagnosis and | | | | muffins and silly magazines. After |
| subsequent treatments. One suggestion | | | | visiting and chatting, John left for |
| was to research clinical studies. There | | | | work and Nance and I munched muffins and |
| is a great deal of "cutting edge" | | | | laughed at the National Enquirer |
| research out there but you may have to | | | | stories. About an hour before the |
| hunt for it, do your homework, and bring | | | | infusion was completed, my brother, Tom, |
| the information to your doctor. My | | | | would arrive for a visit and to take me |
| oncologist's office was conducting a | | | | home. Somewhere in the session, my |
| trial, I was accepted, and I was | | | | sister, Laurie, would call from |
| scheduled to begin treatment on December | | | | Washington to check in and often John |
| 21.Even though I was dreading the whole | | | | would "pop in" in his travels. I always |
| process, I knew I had to approach it in | | | | had company and felt lovingly supported. |
| much the same way I did the surgery, | | | | Sabrina included me in her meditation |
| almost like an athletic event or a race. | | | | every morning and my mom would stop by |
| I wanted to go in as strong and as | | | | the day after the session for tea and a |
| prepared as possible and with a better | | | | chat. Every three weeks from December 21 |
| "attitude."Attitude is defined as a | | | | through May 27, we followed this |
| manner of acting, feeling or thinking | | | | routine. The nurses and my family got to |
| that shows one's disposition, opinion | | | | know one another and we became a real |
| and mental set. We may not be able to | | | | team!Returning to work seven weeks after |
| control a situation, but we can choose | | | | surgery was another normalizing routine |
| our attitude about that situation- | | | | that made me feel like I was taking back |
| victim or fighter; passive or | | | | my life. Except for the day of chemo and |
| aggressive; depressed or striving toward | | | | the following day, I've worked full |
| joy and happiness; caught in the "why | | | | time, feeling productive, healthy and |
| me's" or searching for the "what can I | | | | normal. My co-workers have been very |
| learn from this." With the help of many | | | | supportive and caring. They even threw |
| people and through much reading and | | | | me a graduation party to celebrate the |
| research, my "attitude-adjustment" | | | | completion of chemo.Even before my last |
| process unfolded.A booklet entitled | | | | chemo, I was researching what to do to |
| "Preparing for Chemo" suggests several | | | | prevent a recurrence of the disease. I |
| things that I immediately put into | | | | found information on a clinical study |
| action. | | | | for Ovarex, a vaccine designed to |
| | | | prevent a recurrence of ovarian cancer. |
| 1) Get your hair cut short so that when | | | | After many phone calls, letters and |
| your hair starts falling out, it's less | | | | haggling with my insurance company, I |
| traumatic and won't clog the shower's | | | | was accepted into a study being |
| drain. (This worked for the drains but I | | | | conducted at Stanford's Cancer Center in |
| was still traumatized.) | | | | Palo Alto. It involved monthly infusions |
| | | | for the first three months and then |
| 2) If you plan to wear a wig, shop for | | | | every twelve weeks for the rest of the |
| it before starting chemo. My sisters and | | | | year, with routine labs and CT scans. |
| my dear friend and hairdresser Patty, | | | | I've experienced only mild side effects |
| helped with both of these steps. | | | | and feel fortunate to have access to one |
| Watching my long hair fall to the floor | | | | more tool.This past year has been one of |
| was very hard and yet made me feel the | | | | lessons for me. I would have preferred |
| tiniest bit more in control of what was | | | | the "universe" had given me a gentle |
| happening to me. To my surprise, | | | | tape on the shoulder instead of this |
| everyone loved my new hairdo. The | | | | Giant Thump on the head to let me know I |
| compliments boosted my ego when I really | | | | had things to learn about myself and how |
| needed it. Nance and Laurie accompanied | | | | "I am" in the world. Here are some of |
| me to the wig shop. Laughter is very | | | | the things I have learned from this |
| good medicine-and we laughed a lot as we | | | | experience: |
| all played with the wigs before settling | | | | |
| on two very nice ones. Four hundred | | | | 1. Pay attention - perhaps if I had |
| dollars later I was armed with my hair | | | | agitated more forcefully with my doctor |
| prosthetics and a sore belly from | | | | that something was NOT right, she would |
| laughing. At this writing, I'm sporting | | | | have responded with more attention. |
| my own very short hair after nine months | | | | LISTEN to your body and trust your |
| of wigs and hats. | | | | intuition. |
| | | | |
| 3) The booklet suggests having a dental | | | | 2. Don't take anything for granted - |
| check up and cleaning before starting | | | | people, job, health, hair. When you face |
| chemo. Also important is giving your | | | | the loss of these things, you realize |
| home a thorough cleaning and perhaps | | | | how special people are, how the |
| scheduling someone to come in once a | | | | day-to-day routine of a job is a gift, |
| week thereafter- a clean house can | | | | how precious good health is and even how |
| minimize exposure to infectious agents. | | | | much better a "bad hair" day is than NO |
| | | | HAIR! |
| 4) Building up strength through | | | | |
| exercise and a good diet can help | | | | 3. There are a great many sources of |
| minimize some of the side effects of | | | | invaluable information out there through |
| chemo. This booklet and other helpful | | | | people, libraries and the internet. |
| literature, is available through | | | | Taking advantage of these resources |
| oncology offices and offers good | | | | allowed me to create a comprehensive |
| practical information. I also found the | | | | plan to restore my health and fight the |
| library and the internet to be good | | | | disease using a combination of Western |
| resources. | | | | and alternative therapies. |
| Shortly after my homecoming, from the | | | | |
| hospital, I received a telephone call | | | | 4. We do have choices in how we deal |
| from Lindy, a volunteer with the Cancer | | | | with a crisis - probably the best choice |
| Society (set up by my husband and the | | | | for me was to reach out and ask for |
| cancer support staff at the hospital.) | | | | help. The more people I told about my |
| She had been diagnosed and treated for | | | | health issues, the more positive energy |
| Stage IIIc ovarian cancer seven years | | | | came my way. I felt empowered rather |
| ago. Hearing from her gave me a real | | | | than vulnerable and armed with my helmet |
| boost and some good tips for dealing | | | | (a wig, which, by the way, I got |
| with the upcoming chemo. She shared her | | | | complements on) and my armor |
| experiences with surgery, hair loss and | | | | (acupuncture, supplements, chemo, |
| complete recovery! She is still cancer | | | | prayers and visualization) I was ready |
| free! In addition to advice on make-up | | | | to do battle. I was "Warrior Princess" |
| to camouflage the fact that one has no | | | | instead of cancer patient. |
| eyebrows or eyelashes, she told me how | | | | |
| helpful acupuncture was for her. She | | | | 5. Laughter is GOOD MEDICINE! |
| felt that it really minimized some of | | | | |
| the chemo side-effects and "rebalanced" | | | | At this writing, my labs and CT scans |
| her body's energy. I had had a few | | | | are completely normal. I'm back to my |
| sessions of acupuncture many years ago, | | | | normal routines of work and exercise. |
| and I immediately knew that this would | | | | I'm sporting a "Jamie Lee Curtis" |
| be right for me. I believe in its | | | | hairdo. I am excited about decorating |
| efficacy and definitely feel the | | | | and shopping for Thanksgiving and when |
| sessions have been very beneficial.My | | | | we all come together, we'll have a lot |
| first acupuncture session was four days | | | | to be thankful for! Before we dig into |
| after the first chemo treatment. The | | | | our feast, I'll be asking each person to |
| meds they gave me to prevent nausea | | | | write on a piece of paper, one thing |
| worked very well. I didn't have much of | | | | that they are grateful for. Each of us |
| an appetite and felt a little achy and | | | | will then withdraw one of these papers |
| tired but the only real side effect I | | | | from the basket and try to guess who |
| experienced was a terrible, | | | | wrote the message. It will be easy to |
| hand-wringing itching and tingling in my | | | | guess mine. I'm grateful for all the |
| hands and feet. Amy, my acupuncturist, | | | | love and support from my family and |
| has worked with several people | | | | friends (with a special thanks to my |
| undergoing chemo, is very knowledgeable, | | | | son, Matt, and my husband for shaving |
| and had a good treatment plan in place | | | | their heads to support me and to my son, |
| for me. I scheduled to see her 2 days | | | | Mike, and his band for dedicating songs |
| before and 4 days after every chemo | | | | to me at concerts and their fund raising |
| session. After my first visit with her, | | | | for the Cancer Society.) I'm grateful |
| I did feel better, more energized and | | | | for the prayers and best wishes that |
| the itching had definitely dissipated a | | | | came my way from people I don't even |
| good deal. She gave me some suggestions | | | | know. I thank you!!! Well, of course, |
| on supplements and some Chinese herbs to | | | | that's more than one thing on my piece |
| use.The side effect of itching, burning | | | | of paper but so what! It's time to |
| and tingling is called neuropathy and is | | | | celebrate!Happy Thanksgiving 2004 and |
| fairly common with the types of chemo | | | | celebrate every day of your |
| protocol I was on. After my second and | | | | life.Barbara's Complete Ovarian Cancer |
| third sessions, the symptoms worsened! I | | | | Fighting Supplement List:Three Imperial |
| turned to the internet to learn more | | | | Mushroom Capsules - available through |
| about neuropathy and what, if anything, | | | | acupuncture office |
| I could do about it. I found an article | | | | |
| by Cindy H. Makencon, website: entitled | | | | A) Reishi- Immuno stimulant: enhances |
| "coping-Tips for dealing with | | | | immune system; use is sanctioned by the |
| neuropathy." She offered a great deal of | | | | Japanese Health Ministry as an adjunct |
| helpful information including reports of | | | | treatment for cancer; Increases activity |
| studies on the benefits of taking fairly | | | | of chemotheraputic agents and reduces |
| large doses of L-Glutamine Sulfate and | | | | adverse effects such as nausea, |
| Chondroitin. I forwarded this | | | | decreased white blood cell counts; helps |
| information onto Carolyn, the research | | | | protect the liver against damage caused |
| nurse in charge of my clinical study, | | | | by viral, drug and environmental |
| and she shared the information with the | | | | toxins.B) Shitaki- strengthens immune |
| oncologist. I had already started taking | | | | system response; improves survival times |
| L-Glutamine when I met with him. He had | | | | of cancer patients when used |
| further researched and developed a new | | | | concurrently with chemo.C) Maitake- best |
| treatment plan for me which included | | | | known for cancer fighting properties; |
| large doses of L-Glutamine, a change in | | | | many doctors in Japan use it to lower |
| one of the chemo meds, and the addition | | | | blood pressure and blood lipids; |
| of a medication called neurontin. The | | | | effective as an anti-tumor agent and |
| combination of all these things worked! | | | | immune system modulator.Echinacia- used |
| The neuropathy gradually subsided and | | | | in Germany along with chemo in the |
| I've had no further problems.I believe a | | | | treatment of cancer. May enhance white |
| few other factors contributed to my | | | | blood cell counts in persons undergoing |
| being able to handle the chemo pretty | | | | chemo.Cat's Claw- reduces side effects |
| well. I continued to increase my | | | | of chemo; used in clinical practice in |
| exercise regimen, progressing to walking | | | | Europe for cancer & HIV; has important |
| everyday and then back to the gym for | | | | immune enhancing properties; helps |
| step-classes, albeit modified, and | | | | increase the number of T-cells, the true |
| lifting light weights. Exercise builds | | | | soldiers of the immune system. In |
| muscle strength, increases oxygen and | | | | Austria, it is used together with |
| blood flow and for me, was and is a real | | | | conventional treatment (chemo, radiation |
| physical and mental energy boost.I came | | | | &/or surgery) to treat hundreds of |
| across a book entitled: "Herbal Therapy | | | | cancer patients per year.Graviola- |
| & Supplements- a Scientific and | | | | scientists have been studying this herb |
| Traditional Approach" written by Merrily | | | | since the 1940's - four studies were |
| A. Kuhn, RN, Ph.D. and David Winston, a | | | | published in 1998 re: significant |
| herbalist and ethnobiologist. The book | | | | anti-tumor properties and selective |
| was part of an at-home study course that | | | | toxicity against various types of cancer |
| I needed to complete for my RN | | | | cells (without harming healthy cells; |
| Continuing Education Credits. The book | | | | Purdue University has conducted a great |
| offers a comprehensive guide to many | | | | deal of research on the Annonaceous |
| common and some less common herbs and | | | | acetogenins family to which graviola |
| supplements, their uses, adverse | | | | belongs) much of which has been funded |
| effects, contraindications, and | | | | by the National Cancer Institute or the |
| drug-herb interactions. After careful | | | | National Institute of |
| research, I started using several herbs | | | | Health.Acidophyllis- rebalances |
| and supplements designed to minimize | | | | intestinal flora (especially important |
| chemo side effects and boost my immune | | | | when you're taking a lot of |
| system. I was careful to use things that | | | | medications.)Multivitamins with Vitamin |
| do not stimulate estrogen in the body as | | | | ECalcium SupplementIP-6 with Insositol- |
| my cancer was estrogen-receptor | | | | has been studied extensively for over 20 |
| positive. I started taking these | | | | years; has powerful effects on the |
| supplements one or two things at a time | | | | immune system.Wheat Grass Juice- |
| in smaller doses in order to monitor any | | | | increases hemoglobin; rebuilds the |
| unfavorable reactions, before adding | | | | blood; improves body's ability to heal |
| more. Most importantly, I notified my | | | | wounds; washes drug deposits from the |
| doctor that I was taking supplements and | | | | body; neutralizes toxins and carcinogens |
| having acupuncture.At the end of this | | | | in the body.Green and White Tea- Chinese |
| article, I will offer a complete list of | | | | believe green tea is a cure for cancer |
| the supplements and herbs that I have | | | | and a longevity tonic; boosts immune |
| been using and some information | | | | system function; research being done all |
| regarding the rationale for each of | | | | over the world and in the US by the |
| these additions.For several months, our | | | | National Cancer Institute re: anti-tumor |
| kitchen counter resembled a drug and | | | | activity. Both green and white tea are |
| supplement store. I had to write up a | | | | excellent antioxidants.Website for |
| daily schedule of what to take when. It | | | | researching herbs- Plant Database |
| was worth it! Once the neuropathy was | | | | Raintree NutritionI used the guided |
| under control, I tolerated the remainder | | | | relaxations/visualizations CD's from the |
| of the chemo treatments pretty well. I | | | | Stress Education 1. #209 Stress |
| was able to work full time and exercise, | | | | Management for Pre and Post-op Survival |
| and my appetite and energy levels were | | | | 2. #208 Stress Management for |
| good. Physically, acupuncture, exercise, | | | | HealingReference: |
| diet, and supplements were, and still | | | | Health Update from SELF Magazine by |
| are, valuable tools which helped me deal | | | | Jennifer Nelson November, 2004 |
| with the chemo and recover from its | | | | Ovarian cancer: a not-so-silent |
| serious effects.On another level, the | | | | killer"Early diagnosis is crucial. When |
| emotional and spiritual aids were an | | | | disease is caught before it spreads, 80 |
| even more powerful part of the healing | | | | percent of women will survive."by |
| process. Previously, I mentioned my | | | | Barbara Ehlers-Mason, RN and L. John |
| visualizations regarding pre and post | | | | Mason, Ph.D.Written in November, 2004, |
| operative healing and seeing myself | | | | one year after the Surgery for Ovarian |
| healthy and cancer free. Now, it was | | | | Cancer, in November, 2003Stress |
| time to take it a step further and | | | | Education Center (707) 795-2228 website: |
| include it as a powerful adjunct to the | | | | John Mason, Ph.D. is the author of the |
| chemo medications. Rather than seeing | | | | best selling "Guide to Stress |
| the meds as a poison, I started to | | | | Reduction." Since 1977, he has offered |
| visualize it as "nectar from the gods," | | | | Executive Coaching and Training. His |
| washing through me and being taken up by | | | | wife, Barbara Ehlers-Mason, RN, was |
| my immune cells as a potion to destroy | | | | diagnosed in October, 2003 with Stage |
| cancer cells. A few weeks before my | | | | III Ovarian Cancer.Learn everything that |
| first treatment, I read an article about | | | | you can if you think you or someone you |
| a young local girl who had battled | | | | know has Ovarian Cancer. Be prepared to |
| cancer at age 16. She wrote a book about | | | | fight.Please visit the Stress Education |
| her experience and included her thoughts | | | | Center's website at for articles, free |
| on seeing her chemo as "nectar from the | | | | ezine signup, and learn about the new |
| gods." I admired her outlook and | | | | telecourses that are available.Please |
| incorporated it into my work. My | | | | take good care of yourself! |
| husband, John, created a special tape | | | | |