Found the Right Oncologist Today

Dear Family,

I finally met with Dr Miho Scott for the second oncology opinion. She was not satisfied with the pathology and PET scan results, and was shocked that no blood work was done yet. So she took 12 vials of blood for extensive testing, and ordered an MRI for next Tuesday. She is not yet willing to say stage 3 or 4 without results from these tests, and feels her suggested treatments will be very different depending on the stage. She is also VERY willing to work with my natural/holistic practitioners and encourages her patients to use all resources to build their strength and ability to fight the cancer. At this point she does not see the point to any radiation, but may consider the cyberknife after testing and seeing how things progress. What a relief to find a western medicine doctor who sees the bigger picture and treats me like an individual, not like a cookie-cutter, stage 4 cancer. Some of the new test results will not be available for 3 weeks, but she does not feel we must rush as the cancer does not seem to be fast moving.

Also saw the surgeon today. Still struggling to heal the inflammation around the surgery site, but at least he is no longer pushing for a second surgery. My naturopathic doc suggested caster oil packs to reduce the inflammation, and the surgeon concurs, so we will start that this weekend. May take as much as a month if it works, but at least no scalpels are involved.

I'm starting the intake process for the Centre for Natural Health in Ashland, Oregon. This is Donald Yance's organization. He wrote "Herbal Medicine, Healing, and Cancer." This organization provides a comprehensive program for cancer prevention and treatment. I can work with my local naturopath, Dr Mike Sutton, and the CNH, and they will help me find which of the holistic treatments offered by Dr. Billica (Don's local holistic MD) would be most effective for me. They have a comprehensive intake process, using all the reports and tests so far, plus the new ones ordered by Dr Scott, plus more of their own tests will be ordered. Then there is a 2 hour phone consultation with one of their master practitioners, then a board of five meet to discuss my case, and they get back to me and Dr Sutton with their recommendations. They use some of the Gerson Therapy (natural cancer fighting) techniques, plusa lot of nutritional treatments and recommendations, but will even recommend chemo, radiation, western medicine hormone therapy or surgery if they think it is warranted. So I like their holistic approach and look forward to learning what they recommend for me. My oncologist, Dr Scott, is currently working with them and another of her patients and is willing to work with them again for me. She can order any western medicine testing needed to track my progress, regardless of what treatments we all decide on.

So I'm very encouraged today. Thanks everyone for all your well wishes, love and support! Right now I'm asking everyone to visualize my right chest as flat (not inflamed) and the skin as a healthy pink. That is my most immediate healing need. Also please share this update with Dorothy and Gene for me- thanks!

Love you all! -Kate

Dear Family- Update on living situation

Dear Family,

Ken and I have been living with my brother Don since November of 2009. To help Mom we found Don a townhome and renovated it for him. Then we moved in with him so Mom could have a break. Unfortunately she never regained her strength since we did not know she was dealing with colon cancer until it was too late. Did you know she passed away on the same day I had my PET scan last month? I have felt her there with me several times during this scary process. Cancer sure can sneak up on you!

This past year (2011) Ken and I (and Don) began to build and train Don's caregiver team with the goal of us returning to our mountain home every weekend. When the lumpectomy became a mastectomy with the cancer diagnosis we changed that to building his team to full time since we just don't know what the future will bring me- in terms of treatments, energy etc. We have been successful enough that starting this month, Ken and I are able to live at SunHaven 4 days a week and spent only Tues, Weds and Thurs at Don's townhome. So when I am in town with Don is when I schedule doctor appointments, tests, healing treatments, errands and shopping.

For contact info-

All three of us- Don, Ken and I have the same mailing address-

305 West Magnolia St PMB228, Fort Collins, CO 80521.

That is a mail stop that always has someone there during business hours that can receive FedEx, UPS and mail for us. We need that for the many packages and medications Don gets.

Don named his townhome "HobbitHouse" and it is located at 924 Gilgalad Way in Fort Collins, but none of us get mail there. Our mountain home, SunHaven, is located at 1154 Mount Ethel Rd in Bellvue, but we don't get mail there either. Don has a phone at HobbitHouse that his caregivers can answer for him. It is 970-224-2495. My cell phone is 970-402-4031 and that is the only phone we use, except Ken's cell at 970-305-0678.

Healthwise-

The PET scan was an easier process than I expected, but the results were somewhat mixed. We were not able to rule out stage IV since the cancer still shows up on the scan. But there appears to be no tumors on organs or cancer in my bones- Yeah! Just in 2 more lymph nodes. Still the oncologist wants to treat it as stage IV and do aggressive chemo, radiation and then hormone therapy for several years. Nothing can start until I'm more recovered from the surgery so I'm reading, researching, and visiting with all kinds of experts like a 2nd oncologist (this Weds), MDs, my surgeon, Don's holistic MD, and my naturopathic doctor to help me decide what course(s) of action to take. Meanwhile I'm on a strict, but yummy, anti-cancer diet, and doing a number of holistic treatments designed to help me recover from the surgery and fight the cancer. 

Don is doing well. He is enjoying the team of caregivers we've developed and trained for him these past few months. (Just in time!) Most of them are young college coeds who share his interests in music, movies and adventures. He text messages with all of them often and they share pictures with him of their ski trips and rock climbing adventures. His 54th birthday was last week and several of his caregivers took him shopping for birthday cake ingredients, then off to one gal's apartment where together they all baked his birthday cake. So even though he can not eat it, he had birthday cake to share with the many birthday well-wishers who stopped in the next day.

To help with my surgery healing process and recovering my range of motion, Ken and I found a small used hot tub online on Craigs List. We set it up on Don's deck at his townhome. So while Ken and I are having a peaceful retreat this weekend at our mountain home, Don can have a hot tub party for his friends. Even paralyzed in the wheelchair, they can help him dabble his feet in the water while they soak. As you know, he loves to try all kinds of new adventures. Very little gets him down- he is my model for dealing with challenges.

Thanks for your encouragement and support.

Dear Family- Updating letter

Dear Family,

As many of you know, the PET scan results came yesterday. They showed cancer in one one lymph node near my heart, and another suspicious looking lymph node under my collar bone. No tumors on my organs, bones or elsewhere. It also showed my other breast is very clear of anything suspicious. Yeah! I get to keep that one!

Unfortunately since the PET scan shows anything at all, it is classified as a very low level Stage IV cancer. Naturally the oncologist that Don, Ken and I visited with yesterday wants to do some very aggressive treatments designed for stage IV cancer. She recommends 12 weeks of very ugly IV chemo to poison me, and hopefully- the cancer, 2 months of radiation, then 5 years on a hormone therapy that is still a poison, but only in pill form with lesser side effects.

I visited with Don's holistic MD, Dr Billica, with the results and recommendations. He says if I decide to do the chemo/radiation his therapies can help me survive the treatments. Then we can use natural remedies to inhibit the estrogen (this cancer seems to be estrogen driven) instead of another poison.

I will be visiting with a Naturopathic doctor who is not in favor of any poisoning, to learn more supportive ways to stop and cure cancer that requirement a big lifestyle commitment. And I have an appointment with another oncologist so I can get even more opinions on my medical options.

I've, of course, already made big changes to my nutrition, started some IV vitamin C and Bs today, and some other natural health boosting treatments these past weeks. Chemo can not be considered until May- not until my surgery is fully healed. The surgery site unfortunately has an infection, so I'm treating it with antibiotics. Plus I have what is called torso edema from the loss of the lymph nodes, so I need more healing time until they can consider poisoning me. Good! I need the time to decide how I want to spend the rest of my life.

One of the first things Ken and I need is a new adventure to look forward to during this ugly process. So we are heading on a cruise to Alaska in May, before any chemo would start. We are so excited! We've always wanted to see Alaska, and this way we will be pampered all the way! We are taking Holland America from May 14-21. Want to sign up and join us?

Meanwhile it is a matter of actively gathering information and recommendations, visiting with doctors and collecting success stories. I love all the success stories! Keep them coming! Thanks everyone for helping me keep a positive attitude everyday, for all your prayers, candles, and healing circles. Thanks to all Don's awesome caregivers- starting this month I will be mostly focusing on my own journey- they have Don covered! And he feels very safe and well cared for. Wahoo!

Thanks for all your love and support!