Chrissy’s Breast Cancer Update 5-13-10

[Chrissy Derksen]

Can technology be too advanced for our own good, with scientific tools too obsolete to test new products and medicines properly?

It is important to know one’s body well. When something is different or out of the ordinary, whether it is a physical lump we feel, a racing or slowed heartbeat, an abnormal pain, or
just a feeling that something is wrong, it should not be ignored. One must be one’s own advocate.

For example, I noticed lumps in my right breast a year before breast cancer was actually diagnosed. I pointed them out to doctors and was given a mammogram and ultra sound. Valley Radiology said the bumps were nothing and the mammogram was fine, but about ten
months later, I went in and had the right breast checked again and it was definitely cancer (4 out of 4 biopsies and it was stage 3). I think I knew before the results came back, although I didn’t know the stage.

Besides being your own advocate and looking for symptoms, it is more important than ever to take care of your body on a daily basis. This means exercising, nourishment, and environment. All aspects of the three require research, so you don’t do more harm than good by following not-to-date guidelines. There are many new discoveries to enhance our daily lives and make things easier. New medical drugs (for most ailments but there are usually side affects to consider), new food preservatives (and new research on old preservatives approved before science was as advanced), new plastics (touching our food and drinks), new industrial material (housing, clothing, cleaning, micro), existing fuel (causing air pollution – especially jets) and new wireless communications (possibly harmful)
for personal, business and entertainment usage. Is the FDA testing long-term results of all products and their byproducts for carcinogens? Do they know how to test properly, or will our grandkids wonder how we approved current products for usage?

I would like to be ensured cell phone technology is safe, considering their popularity amongst young adults. What about wireless gaming devices which are populating the store
shelves? Petroleum is used to make plastic and there is concern for the pollution from manufacturing plastic, let alone questioning the safety of plastics touching our food and water. We read, for instance, that Styrofoam is not healthy to drink from, but the cups are still sold in the stores.

Mixed with vitamin C, the preservative sodium benzoate causes benzene, a carcinogenic substance. I recently read an article about this, pointing out how bad that is for soda
drinkers. An article (not refuting this theory, but critiquing the study) added that benzene quantities were not tested and that some fruits in their natural state, such as apples, have benzene. That brings to mind; not only soft drinks, but also makes one question any acidic liquid fruit juice in a plastic bottle. Do we need to juice at home from our own organic garden as Dr. Gerson suggests? I am sure Dr. Gerson would roll over in his grave thinking about the toxins in my chemotherapy cocktails and the 30 radiation treatments I put my body through, as well as, the surgery trauma. I completed my radiation treatment and
will be going back to my oncologist in three weeks to find out the next step.

For the next part of my breast cancer treatment regimen, I have to decide if I want to take Tamoxifin, which is a known carcinogen. It may block estrogen, but increases risk for
other cancer, amongst other harmful side effects. It even affects the brain causing depression and mood swings in many women. Wouldn’t it be nice to know that prescribed medicine was actually safe to consume? Instead, you have to trust statistics from someone’s test that you have no way of knowing the accuracy of, or whether the criteria relates to your own circumstances, such as environment, age, lifestyle and stage.

The more I read about cancer, the more I believe the bottom line is that we should focus on
preventative methods, and optimizing our immune system. We need to reduce toxin intake, increase organic foods, and exercise to work towards preparing our bodies to be healthy enough to fight off infections, disease and other illnesses, which are brought about from a weak immune system. It is never too late for improvement, although there is not that much we can do about the environment and untested technology except hope our government makes healthy choices for the populous.

Now, besides what we do physically, mentally it is important to remember to feed our spirit as we do our bodies. It is impossible to remove stress from our lives, but it can be minimized and each individual knows what technique helps them, whether it is massage, gardening, facials, exercising, yoga, breathing practices, counseling, church, education, socializing or a combination of all. Don’t wait for January 1^st to change your lifestyle. Improve it everyday and set small goals to achieve. You may be surprised where this will get you a year from now.

I close with a quote I was reminded of by Eduarda from FamiliesCAN…

"Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seared with scars."

-Kahlil Gibran