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