Swimming Against the Current ~ Conquering Breast Cancer Naturally: Roller Coaster

Roller coaster is the best way to describe my Mexico journey. I have always loved roller coasters, but this one isn't the most fun--although it is quite a ride! My symptoms intensified when I started treatments (increased pain and several fevers), but the doctors say that it is completely expected, and it is a good sign indicating that the treatments are working and causing my immune system to "reset" and have a good response. It was easier to accept the increased discomfort, knowing that it is part of the process of healing. I will remind you that one of the keys to fighting cancer is having a healthy, functioning immune system. Every individual day is a roller coaster in and of itself. I will alternate between feeling quite well and then not so well--or even downright lousy.

I stopped taking Aleve after I arrived, and I have been able to cut back significantly on the hydrocodone, because they have much better and safer pain meds here which are administered through my port (I had a subclavian catheter put in the day after I arrived), and therefore take effect much faster than oral meds. I get a dose at 8:00 a.m., and a second dose at 8:00 p.m. One morning the dose ran way too fast and caused me to lose my breakfast, so after that we ran it more slowly, and I had no further problems. For the past several days we have been running it faster again, but it has not caused any nausea or vomiting, so I assume my body has adjusted to it better now.

My schedule begins around 7:00 a.m. every day. My nurse will take my vitals and start my IV pain meds, then breakfast is at 8:00, I have a coffee enema at 9:00--my kids call it my "butt coffee" LOL (30 minutes), local hyperthermia at 10:30 (30 minutes), lunch at 1:00, hyperbarics at 2:00 (1 hour), either infrared sauna (25 minutes) or full body hyperthermia (45 minutes) on alternating days at 4:00, and dinner at 5:30. After the pain med IV is finished, I have either a B17 or a Vitamin C IV (alternating days), which can run while getting many of the other therapies. During free time between those scheduled therapies, I have to complete photo therapy (1 hour), sono therapy (30 minutes), laser pads therapy (30 minutes), PEMF therapy (10 minutes), and infrared lamp therapy (30 minutes). Twice a week I also have UVBI (ultra violet blood ozone therapy), which takes at least a couple hours. I will explain all the therapies in more detail in a later post. As you can see, I am quite busy!

One week after I arrived, I began the Sunivera protocol which includes four different supplements taken in conjunction with a gcMAF injection. The injections are given for five day increments with a two day break in between; the supplements are taken every day. I have explained Sunivera and gcMAF in detail in a separate post.

When I first arrived, I had blood work done, a urine sample, and an ultrasound of my neck (thyroid), breasts, chest, and abdomen (organs and reproductive organs). There was nothing of concern other than the already-known cancer. Another ultrasound and blood work will be done before I leave. I will not have another PET scan for 3 months--not until just before I return here for my three-month follow up visit. The reason for the delay is because no significant visible changes would be expected prior to that. When cancer is dying and breaking up, it can actually take up more physical space and look like it is growing; it can take a few months before it shows shrinkage on an image, so it could be deceiving to get a scan too early.

The meals are great! Breakfast is usually some kind of porridge (oatmeal, quinoa, coconut) with a bit of fresh fruit in it, eggs, and fruit or veggies, and a seed "milk". Once a week on Tuesdays, we get pancakes for breakfast, and they are really good--eveyone looks forward to breakfast on Tuesday! Cinnamon, honey, salt & pepper, and VERY hot sauce are available for condiments. Lunch consists of a vegetable soup, some type of fish, and salad. Dinner is always another type of vegetable soup, cooked vegetables (lots of variety and served with tasty sauces or guacamole), salad, and occasionally couscous or rice or even a pasta (which has been served twice). There are several daily juices that we are required to have as well. First thing in the morning we have a glass of freshly squeezed lemon in water followed by shots of wheat grass, golden milk (turmeric), and hibiscus juice. Midmorning we have a glass of green juice, and midafternoon we have a glass of red juice. Some patients have protein shakes, too, if ordered by the doctor. All day there are three pitchers of flavored water available for our enjoyment, and I have liked them all. Orange and strawberry slices, cherries, mixed berries, peach slices, guava slices, pear slices and cinnamon sticks, cucumber slices, cranberries, lemon slices, and orange slices are the flavors I can remember.