Carrot or Chemo

While waiting for the result of my biopsy, with fear of having cancer, I consulted Dr. Google for cancer cure.

Here's what I found:

Fresh juice of carrot and green apple every hour 13 times a day plus supplements. Administer to patient for 2 years (Gerson Therapy).

Apricot Seeds. Various "dosage" per cancer survivor story.

Vegetable juice. Drink abundantly throughout the day.

Lemon.

Guyabano fruit. Guyabano leaves.

Dandelion roots.

Turmeric.

Baking Soda.

Oxygen.

Vitamin C. Vitamin D.

Even before knowing the result of my biopsy, I told myself --> only natural, no chemo and no radiation.

But upon consultation with the oncologist, the treatment recommended is mastectomy + chemo + immuno therapy. NO SUPPLEMENTS. NO DIETARY RESTRICTION, EAT EVERYTHING IN MODERATION.

I hear and read many stories of curing cancer using natural remedies and health supplements.

Dilemma... Carrot or Chemo???

Think, think, think (and stop consulting Dr. Google!)

In my profession as a Quality Engineer, I make decisions based on data. Example, I have 100 pieces of parts for my machine. I need to know whether these 100 pieces are the correct part I purchased, if they are correct in dimention and quality as per specification. Do I check all 100 pieces? That is ideal but not economically sound. So we follow a standard method which is statistically proven. It's called SAMPLING. There is a standard table that provides guideline on how many pieces of samples would need to be taken for inspection for a given lot qunatity. For my 100 pieces of parts, I would need 20 samples to determine whether I would accept the whole lot or reject it. 

I used this principle to help in my decision making.

Yes, there are many stories or testimonies of curing cancer using natural way. But sadly, there is not enough concrete data. I mean, as simple as my sampling method above, get 100 breast cancer patients (all must be stage 2A - important factor in sampling) give them carrot juice for  6 months and let's see how many survive! If 98 of them are cured/no recurrence in the next 5 years, I would take carrot juice treatment, no doubt.

On the other hand, I've stumbled on more personal blogs and come to know of many survivors after taking chemo. PLUS the scientifically and formally recorded researches of survival after chemo. It's not a cure but it helped stop or delay recurrence.

Another factor is having my two young kids. I need to live for them. I do not want to blame myself in the end for doing the unorthodox treatment. If I am single or my kids are mature enough to look after themselves then yes, I would do the natural way. 

I have strong belief that God's pharmacy has the best medicines. But He has also blessed humans with intellect. That is why we have modern medicines. It takes years...20 to 30 years to do research for medicine so this should not be taken lightly. 

I was reminded through my sister to biblical teaching of submission to authorities - my oncologist is the authority when it comes to my cancer. My oncologist told me, would you believe a doctor or a salesman selling his supplements?

You would also notice that in my list of cures above, aside from the Gerson therapy, there is no dosage and instruction on how to properly administer for a guaranteed cure.  

Here's what I learned from reading. There is truth in all those news about natural cures. These are results of research. The thing that is not made known to the reader is that THE CANCER CELL OR TUMOR IS ACTUALLY ON A PETRI DISH (glass plate in a laboratory) OR THE EXPERIMENT WAS DONE ON A MICE WITH CANCER. My tumor has been removed. I may still have cancer cells in my body. So how do I use carrot to kill all my cancer cells? And I need to kill them fast before they multiply again! And hey, I am not minnie mouse!

Let us all pray together that scientists soon discover and release for public consumption a natural cure for cancer. By the way, the chemo drug Paclitaxel was first discovered from a tree bark then eventually duplicated into synthetic compounds. Don't blame it all to the big pharma. Let's pray that they are doing their part with integrity.

Carrot or Chemo? BOTH!

When you go through chemo, you are almost killing yourself. To fight, your immune system must be strengthened. I drink carrot juice daily, I make variations by adding lemon, beet root, apple, wheat grass, celery and cucumber. Sleep 10 hours a day. Rest, relax and exercise daily. I also get Vitamin D!

And most important and strongest cure for all is BELIEVING GOD's HEALING.

God says, “I am the Lord who heals you.”  Exodus 15:26

“I will take away sickness from among you. . .”  Exodus 23:25,26

“He forgives all my sins and heals ALL my Diseases.”  Psalm 103:3

“I will give you back your health again and heal your wounds.”  Jeremiah 30:17

“The Lord will remove from you all sickness. . .”  Deuteronomy 7:15

I have been blessed to be introduced to Lighthouse Evangelism Miracle Service. I go to the service every Saturday evening where I learn more about God's love and His desire to heal me. I have peace knowing that my God is my Healer....no sampling required :-) 

Thank You is Enough

I have been a born-again Christian since I was 8 years old but have been inactive in church for so many years, since high school.

I read on-line devotions in between tasks but have not been in deep communion with God.

My prayer time is usually in the morning when I am walking to work. I am in awe of God's creation everyday. The beautiful sky, the sun, green trees and singing birds put me in the mood to pray, to thank God for another day and for all the blessings He has been showering me.  I would pray for good health for my family and protection of everyone in the household as we are all in different places  during the day. Kids are in school, husband and me at work and Mama at home. I just say a big thank you to God and I've reached the office.

The rest of the day is gone in a flash. It even seems that days are not enough to accomplish so many tasks. I don't regularly pray at night.

I knew and felt that I was so far from God. On my breast cancer diagnosis, I did not immediately pray to God for help. Maybe due to the shock.

It was only before my mastectomy that I came to God on my knees, seeking for His forgiveness and begging Him to give me a chance to live. 

Keeping myself in a prayerful mood and reading scripture about healing, I was immediately brought in the presence of God. I know that I am forgiven and that God loves me just the same. 

I trully realized that God does not change! Even if I changed. It did not matter that the only prayer I uttered for so many years is Thank You, He received me back to His embrace when I ran back to Him. 

Meet the Alien that tried to kill me

Cancer is caused by cell mutation. Wrong DNA reproduction. Our cells become "aliens" and start reproducing uncontrollably thus building up a tumor.

Diagnosis through ultrasound guided core biopsy:

Right breast mass at 8 o'clock, 5cm away from the nipple has INVASIVE CARCINOMA WITH DUCTAL FEATURES.

ER and PR both positive

HER2 equivocal

>> Pre operative diagnosis STAGE 2A Breast Cancer

Immediate intervention required.

To get rid of the alien that is trying to kill me, I had mastectomy.

WARNING: Photos not for the weak!

>>Post operative diagnosis: Stage 2A Breast Cancer, no lymph nodes affected.

ER/PR and Her2 positive.

A Her2 positive marker means that the cancer is an aggressive type. Common diagnosis in younger women.

AT THIS POINT, I PRAISED AND THANKED GOD FOR TELLING ME EARLY THAT AN ALIEN IS TRYING TO KILL ME.  THIS FOR ME IS A CONFIRMATION THAT GOD WANTS TO SAVE MY LIFE THROUGH EARLY DETECTION.

By having a mastectomy, I have 70% chance of a five year survival without recurrence.  I am advised to go through chemotherapy and immuno-therapy which can increase my chance of 5 year survival upto 93%.

Survivors!

After being able to share my situation to my sisters (we've not yet informed our parents), the first thing I asked from them is to find a breast cancer survivor who I could talk to. 

I only knew two people with breast cancer and unfortunately, they've passed on so my vision of hope in surviving was so bleak. Both these ladies are from Baguio, my age. One is an ex-colleague and one is a friend whose family used to rent a room in our house. Later on I found out that our neighbor also lost the fight on breast cancer. This made me think, 3 of use lived close together....

My eldest sister, the friendliest among all of us knew someone and immediately arranged a meeting.

Meet ate Vina - 6 year breast cancer survivor from Stage IIB. She shared her chemo and radiation experience and told me to fight. The only way to survive is fight.  This simple meeting with her gave me a boost of hope.

Thank you ate Vina!

Also through Ate Vina, I was invited to join a Breast Cancer awareness talk. There I met ladies who fought the good fight who only told me one thing, YOU MUST FIGHT TO SURVIVE!

I met both young and not so young survivors. A mother, a Nun, a young single lady...  10 years, 7 years, 6 years survivors... They had one thing in common, they LOVED OTHERS-through the service they do. I also noticed and commented, they were all glowing, beautiful. That probably is the result of the goodness from their hearts and because they are thankful to live, one day at a time.

Ladies of the iCanserve foundation, and the women who attended the forum. Photo taken by my dear husband who was the only male participant, woot!