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BENEFITS OF TAKING FIVE MUSHROOMS  

Barbara's Ovarian Cancer Story Part II

Part II Conquering the Fear, Fighting theThis guided exercise included relaxation,
Cancerhealing messages, and suggestions for
picturing my immune cells taking care of
Ovarian  Cancer:  Process  and  Survivalthings and using the chemo effectively.
Before each chemo session, even before they
started the IV, he would do a relaxation
exercise with me. This ritual became a very
Post  Surgeryimportant part of the process. By working on
my "attitude" towards the chemo and by
Read Part I for information regardingconnecting with these parts of myself that
diagnosis and surgery...The next few weekscan be powerful self-healers, I felt I was
after my discharge from the hospital, weretaking back control of what was happening.
very busy. My sister, Nance, and my momFeeling that you are part of the healing
decorated the house and Christmas tree. Myprocess instead of a passive receiver of
sister Lauren visited from Washington andmedications etc., is very empowering.Rituals
cleaned, cooked and lent invaluable supportand routines are very comforting, especially
to all of us. There were visits to thewhen you're experiencing stressful times. My
surgeon for follow-up and the oncologist for"chemo ritual" evolved from the very first
the initial visit. John and my sisterssession. The night before, I meditated and
accompanied me. It was so very helpful todid my healing visualizations at bedtime.
have someone else ask questions and writeJohn drove me to the oncology center. I
down information. It can be an overwhelmingselected my chair and we settled in with his
experience, especially when you're a littlerelaxation exercise. My sister, Nance,
"spaced out" on vicodin for pain management,arrived bearing muffins and silly magazines.
as I was. I signed on to be part of aAfter visiting and chatting, John left for
clinical study using different combinationswork and Nance and I munched muffins and
of medications for eight instead of thelaughed at the National Enquirer stories.
normal six cycles. Laurie had brought a bookAbout an hour before the infusion was
with her that offered a lot of information oncompleted, my brother, Tom, would arrive for
how to deal with an ovarian cancer diagnosisa visit and to take me home. Somewhere in the
and subsequent treatments. One suggestion wassession, my sister, Laurie, would call from
to research clinical studies. There is aWashington to check in and often John would
great deal of "cutting edge" research out"pop in" in his travels. I always had company
there but you may have to hunt for it, doand felt lovingly supported. Sabrina included
your homework, and bring the information tome in her meditation every morning and my mom
your doctor. My oncologist's office waswould stop by the day after the session for
conducting a trial, I was accepted, and I wastea and a chat. Every three weeks from
scheduled to begin treatment on DecemberDecember 21 through May 27, we followed this
21.Even though I was dreading the wholeroutine. The nurses and my family got to know
process, I knew I had to approach it in muchone another and we became a real
the same way I did the surgery, almost liketeam!Returning to work seven weeks after
an athletic event or a race. I wanted to gosurgery was another normalizing routine that
in as strong and as prepared as possible andmade me feel like I was taking back my life.
with a better "attitude."Attitude is definedExcept for the day of chemo and the following
as a manner of acting, feeling or thinkingday, I've worked full time, feeling
that shows one's disposition, opinion andproductive, healthy and normal. My co-workers
mental set. We may not be able to control ahave been very supportive and caring. They
situation, but we can choose our attitudeeven threw me a graduation party to celebrate
about that situation- victim or fighter;the completion of chemo.Even before my last
passive or aggressive; depressed or strivingchemo, I was researching what to do to
toward joy and happiness; caught in the "whyprevent a recurrence of the disease. I found
me's" or searching for the "what can I learninformation on a clinical study for Ovarex, a
from this." With the help of many people andvaccine designed to prevent a recurrence of
through much reading and research, myovarian cancer. After many phone calls,
"attitude-adjustment" process unfolded.Aletters and haggling with my insurance
booklet entitled "Preparing for Chemo"company, I was accepted into a study being
suggests several things that I immediatelyconducted at Stanford's Cancer Center in Palo
put  into  action.Alto. It involved monthly infusions for the
first three months and then every twelve
weeks for the rest of the year, with routine
labs and CT scans. I've experienced only mild
1) Get your hair cut short so that when yourside effects and feel fortunate to have
hair starts falling out, it's less traumaticaccess to one more tool.This past year has
and won't clog the shower's drain. (Thisbeen one of lessons for me. I would have
worked for the drains but I was stillpreferred the "universe" had given me a
traumatized.)gentle tape on the shoulder instead of this
Giant Thump on the head to let me know I had
things to learn about myself and how "I am"
in the world. Here are some of the things I
2) If you plan to wear a wig, shop for ithave  learned  from  this  experience:
before starting chemo. My sisters and my dear
friend and hairdresser Patty, helped with
both of these steps. Watching my long hair
fall to the floor was very hard and yet made1. Pay attention - perhaps if I had agitated
me feel the tiniest bit more in control ofmore forcefully with my doctor that something
what was happening to me. To my surprise,was NOT right, she would have responded with
everyone loved my new hairdo. The complimentsmore attention. LISTEN to your body and trust
boosted my ego when I really needed it. Nanceyour  intuition.
and Laurie accompanied me to the wig shop.
Laughter is very good medicine-and we laughed
a lot as we all played with the wigs before
settling on two very nice ones. Four hundred2. Don't take anything for granted - people,
dollars later I was armed with my hairjob, health, hair. When you face the loss of
prosthetics and a sore belly from laughing.these things, you realize how special people
At this writing, I'm sporting my own veryare, how the day-to-day routine of a job is a
short hair after nine months of wigs andgift, how precious good health is and even
hats.how much better a "bad hair" day is than NO
HAIR!
3) The booklet suggests having a dental
check up and cleaning before starting chemo.3. There are a great many sources of
Also important is giving your home a thoroughinvaluable information out there through
cleaning and perhaps scheduling someone topeople, libraries and the internet. Taking
come in once a week thereafter- a clean houseadvantage of these resources allowed me to
can  minimize  exposure to infectious agents.create a comprehensive plan to restore my
health and fight the disease using a
combination of Western and alternative
therapies.
4) Building up strength through exercise and
a good diet can help minimize some of the
side effects of chemo. This booklet and other
helpful literature, is available through4. We do have choices in how we deal with a
oncology offices and offers good practicalcrisis - probably the best choice for me was
information. I also found the library and theto reach out and ask for help. The more
internet  to  be  good  resources.people I told about my health issues, the
more positive energy came my way. I felt
Shortly after my homecoming, from theempowered rather than vulnerable and armed
hospital, I received a telephone call fromwith my helmet (a wig, which, by the way, I
Lindy, a volunteer with the Cancer Societygot complements on) and my armor
(set up by my husband and the cancer support(acupuncture, supplements, chemo, prayers and
staff at the hospital.) She had beenvisualization) I was ready to do battle. I
diagnosed and treated for Stage IIIc ovarianwas "Warrior Princess" instead of cancer
cancer seven years ago. Hearing from her gavepatient.
me a real boost and some good tips for
dealing with the upcoming chemo. She shared
her experiences with surgery, hair loss and
complete recovery! She is still cancer free!5.  Laughter  is  GOOD  MEDICINE!
In addition to advice on make-up to
camouflage the fact that one has no eyebrows
or eyelashes, she told me how helpful
acupuncture was for her. She felt that itAt this writing, my labs and CT scans are
really minimized some of the chemocompletely normal. I'm back to my normal
side-effects and "rebalanced" her body'sroutines of work and exercise. I'm sporting a
energy. I had had a few sessions of"Jamie Lee Curtis" hairdo. I am excited about
acupuncture many years ago, and I immediatelydecorating and shopping for Thanksgiving and
knew that this would be right for me. Iwhen we all come together, we'll have a lot
believe in its efficacy and definitely feelto be thankful for! Before we dig into our
the sessions have been very beneficial.Myfeast, I'll be asking each person to write on
first acupuncture session was four days aftera piece of paper, one thing that they are
the first chemo treatment. The meds they gavegrateful for. Each of us will then withdraw
me to prevent nausea worked very well. Ione of these papers from the basket and try
didn't have much of an appetite and felt ato guess who wrote the message. It will be
little achy and tired but the only real sideeasy to guess mine. I'm grateful for all the
effect I experienced was a terrible,love and support from my family and friends
hand-wringing itching and tingling in my(with a special thanks to my son, Matt, and
hands and feet. Amy, my acupuncturist, hasmy husband for shaving their heads to support
worked with several people undergoing chemo,me and to my son, Mike, and his band for
is very knowledgeable, and had a gooddedicating songs to me at concerts and their
treatment plan in place for me. I scheduledfund raising for the Cancer Society.) I'm
to see her 2 days before and 4 days aftergrateful for the prayers and best wishes that
every chemo session. After my first visitcame my way from people I don't even know. I
with her, I did feel better, more energizedthank you!!! Well, of course, that's more
and the itching had definitely dissipated athan one thing on my piece of paper but so
good deal. She gave me some suggestions onwhat! It's time to celebrate!Happy
supplements and some Chinese herbs to use.TheThanksgiving 2004 and celebrate every day of
side effect of itching, burning and tinglingyour life.Barbara's Complete Ovarian Cancer
is called neuropathy and is fairly commonFighting Supplement List:Three Imperial
with the types of chemo protocol I was on.Mushroom Capsules - available through
After my second and third sessions, theacupuncture  office
symptoms worsened! I turned to the internet
to learn more about neuropathy and what, if
anything, I could do about it. I found an
article by Cindy H. Makencon, website:A) Reishi- Immuno stimulant: enhances immune
entitled "coping-Tips for dealing withsystem; use is sanctioned by the Japanese
neuropathy." She offered a great deal ofHealth Ministry as an adjunct treatment for
helpful information including reports ofcancer; Increases activity of chemotheraputic
studies on the benefits of taking fairlyagents and reduces adverse effects such as
large doses of L-Glutamine Sulfate andnausea, decreased white blood cell counts;
Chondroitin. I forwarded this informationhelps protect the liver against damage caused
onto Carolyn, the research nurse in charge ofby viral, drug and environmental toxins.B)
my clinical study, and she shared theShitaki- strengthens immune system response;
information with the oncologist. I hadimproves survival times of cancer patients
already started taking L-Glutamine when I metwhen used concurrently with chemo.C) Maitake-
with him. He had further researched andbest known for cancer fighting properties;
developed a new treatment plan for me whichmany doctors in Japan use it to lower blood
included large doses of L-Glutamine, a changepressure and blood lipids; effective as an
in one of the chemo meds, and the addition ofanti-tumor agent and immune system
a medication called neurontin. Themodulator.Echinacia- used in Germany along
combination of all these things worked! Thewith chemo in the treatment of cancer. May
neuropathy gradually subsided and I've had noenhance white blood cell counts in persons
further problems.I believe a few otherundergoing chemo.Cat's Claw- reduces side
factors contributed to my being able toeffects of chemo; used in clinical practice
handle the chemo pretty well. I continued toin Europe for cancer & HIV; has important
increase my exercise regimen, progressing toimmune enhancing properties; helps increase
walking everyday and then back to the gym forthe number of T-cells, the true soldiers of
step-classes, albeit modified, and liftingthe immune system. In Austria, it is used
light weights. Exercise builds muscletogether with conventional treatment (chemo,
strength, increases oxygen and blood flow andradiation &/or surgery) to treat hundreds of
for me, was and is a real physical and mentalcancer patients per year.Graviola- scientists
energy boost.I came across a book entitled:have been studying this herb since the 1940's
"Herbal Therapy & Supplements- a Scientific- four studies were published in 1998 re:
and Traditional Approach" written by Merrilysignificant anti-tumor properties and
A. Kuhn, RN, Ph.D. and David Winston, aselective toxicity against various types of
herbalist and ethnobiologist. The book wascancer cells (without harming healthy cells;
part of an at-home study course that I neededPurdue University has conducted a great deal
to complete for my RN Continuing Educationof research on the Annonaceous acetogenins
Credits. The book offers a comprehensivefamily to which graviola belongs) much of
guide to many common and some less commonwhich has been funded by the National Cancer
herbs and supplements, their uses, adverseInstitute or the National Institute of
effects, contraindications, and drug-herbHealth.Acidophyllis- rebalances intestinal
interactions. After careful research, Iflora (especially important when you're
started using several herbs and supplementstaking a lot of medications.)Multivitamins
designed to minimize chemo side effects andwith Vitamin ECalcium SupplementIP-6 with
boost my immune system. I was careful to useInsositol- has been studied extensively for
things that do not stimulate estrogen in theover 20 years; has powerful effects on the
body as my cancer was estrogen-receptorimmune system.Wheat Grass Juice- increases
positive. I started taking these supplementshemoglobin; rebuilds the blood; improves
one or two things at a time in smaller dosesbody's ability to heal wounds; washes drug
in order to monitor any unfavorabledeposits from the body; neutralizes toxins
reactions, before adding more. Mostand carcinogens in the body.Green and White
importantly, I notified my doctor that I wasTea- Chinese believe green tea is a cure for
taking supplements and having acupuncture.Atcancer and a longevity tonic; boosts immune
the end of this article, I will offer asystem function; research being done all over
complete list of the supplements and herbsthe world and in the US by the National
that I have been using and some informationCancer Institute re: anti-tumor activity.
regarding the rationale for each of theseBoth green and white tea are excellent
additions.For several months, our kitchenantioxidants.Website for researching herbs-
counter resembled a drug and supplementPlant Database Raintree NutritionI used the
store. I had to write up a daily schedule ofguided relaxations/visualizations CD's from
what to take when. It was worth it! Once thethe Stress Education 1. #209 Stress
neuropathy was under control, I tolerated theManagement  for  Pre  and  Post-op  Survival
remainder of the chemo treatments pretty
well. I was able to work full time and2. #208 Stress Management for
exercise, and my appetite and energy levelsHealingReference:
were good. Physically, acupuncture, exercise,
diet, and supplements were, and still are,Health Update from SELF Magazine by Jennifer
valuable tools which helped me deal with theNelson  November,  2004
chemo and recover from its serious effects.On
another level, the emotional and spiritualOvarian cancer: a not-so-silent killer"Early
aids were an even more powerful part of thediagnosis is crucial. When disease is caught
healing process. Previously, I mentioned mybefore it spreads, 80 percent of women will
visualizations regarding pre and postsurvive."by Barbara Ehlers-Mason, RN and L.
operative healing and seeing myself healthyJohn Mason, Ph.D.Written in November, 2004,
and cancer free. Now, it was time to take itone year after the Surgery for Ovarian
a step further and include it as a powerfulCancer, in November, 2003Stress Education
adjunct to the chemo medications. Rather thanCenter (707) 795-2228 website: John Mason,
seeing the meds as a poison, I started toPh.D. is the author of the best selling
visualize it as "nectar from the gods,""Guide to Stress Reduction." Since 1977, he
washing through me and being taken up by myhas offered Executive Coaching and Training.
immune cells as a potion to destroy cancerHis wife, Barbara Ehlers-Mason, RN, was
cells. A few weeks before my first treatment,diagnosed in October, 2003 with Stage III
I read an article about a young local girlOvarian Cancer.Learn everything that you can
who had battled cancer at age 16. She wrote aif you think you or someone you know has
book about her experience and included herOvarian Cancer. Be prepared to fight.Please
thoughts on seeing her chemo as "nectar fromvisit the Stress Education Center's website
the gods." I admired her outlook andat for articles, free ezine signup, and
incorporated it into my work. My husband,learn about the new telecourses that are
John, created a special tape for me to listenavailable.Please take good care of yourself!
to while receiving the infusion of chemo.



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