Hello everyone, been awhile, but not as long as the time between my last 2 postings. Lots to mention though. Where to start?
Well. Needless to say it was a year since my tumor was detected on the 20th and the surgery performed on the 23rd. I am still alive and doing pretty well. Still living in San Antonio, Texas and waiting for the Army to decide if I get to stay in or not. Susanna and I have been discussing what our transition options are if I separate from the military and where we would like to settle down. I am really missing the Bay Area, and the Santa Cruz or Monterey area, while Susanna wants to see about San Diego.
While I am not anywhere near 100% and still have a long way to go in my recovery, I am doing so much better this past 7 weeks. I have more energy most days, fewer headaches, balance good most days, less episodes of vertigo, I am completely off of my steroids and am only taking 1 anticonvulsant, have not needed Vicodin in over a month and only use Motrin when absolutely needed, no seizures in over 5 months, I am down to 184# (down from 210# last December when loaded up on Decadron). The biggest news that has me excited is that I finally heard from my Oncologist regarding my MRI from a couple weeks ago, and not only has there been NO new growth or development, but it appears to have decreased in size slightly as well. YAY! I know this is not a sign that I am cured, but finally there is a change taking place that doesn't scare the crap out of me.
I am especially excited about this news because Susanna and I have been reading up on, researching and studying Tumor formations and the mechanisms that drive them and allow them to flourish. I am going to slip back into my science geek days because, as I mentioned, this is exciting to me. It started out with Susanna obsessing over all of these special diets that were supposed to help fight brain cancer and the professors and doctors who developed them. After awhile my interest was piqued and I picked up a couple of her books, "Budwigs", "Gershons" and a few cancer curing nutrition guides. So, a very layman summary of our findings is. In order to survive and grow, a tumor needs a few things, first, a blood supply to nourish the tumor and aid it in it’s' development and growth, second they need a place that has a low pH. Tumors strive in environments that are fairly acidic and have a very low pH. And food, SUGARS, especially processed sugars, caffeine and sodas are terrible when fighting cancer, so how did I begin to fight back against cancer. Well, in our reading we decided to cut off all of the bad things in my diet that may have been contributing to tumor development. Drawing back on my days of researching and studying back when I was in college, I drew on some natural medicines to help my body build its own strength and defenses, Shark Cartilage, Borage oil, CoQ10, Flax Seed, Essiac Tea, and switched to an organic and about 80% raw food diet, mostly veggies and fruits, which not only began to show an improvement in my energy and alertness, but has aided me in my weight loss after being on Decadron and vicodin for so long. I still indulge in cooked food sometimes, but not too often. Even working on finding some raw recipes. By staying off of soda pops, coffee, sugary snacks and junk food and instead getting my sugars through fruits and veggies. Staying positive and keeping my stress level down is key.
In additionally, as I mentioned, I have also slowly weaned myself off most of my medications over the past few months at a very safe rate, with no withdrawal symptoms or breakthrough seizures in over 5 months. At one point I was taking 3 anticonvulsants, 1 steroid, 2 allergy medications, 1 antidepressant, 1 anti-inflammatory, 1 anti-emetic, 1 vasodilator, and several antibiotics on and off. Now I have been 5 months seizure free and am off of all but 1 of my anticonvulsants, off all steroids, and have reduced my doses of everything else.
In other words, I am feeling incredibly happy and blessed. I won't say it's been an easy year; I've been through a physical and emotional rollercoaster on all levels. Susanna and I put each other through the ringer with my bad days where fear and anger occasionally got the better of us, but love always got us through and continues to hold us and our family strong. She is my Corazon. All of those who have cared, supported, and prayed for us, I thank you with all my heart.
Things are almost settled down; we still have one more move back to base because our lease at Operation Homefront is up. I have mixed feelings about this, I am happy because our apartment is so small and the place we are moving to is huge and right next to Carols and Destiny’s school, yet sad because we have so many friends there who we will miss living so close too. I have been feeling much more inspired lately and have several writing projects in the works now, plus I really want to be more active on my blog, so after the move I will be writing more regularly.
I have also been more active spiritually. We have been attending church again weekly, and I have been very grateful for the blessings and love God has shown for my family and me.
Once again thank you all and God bless you. Til next time
Well. Needless to say it was a year since my tumor was detected on the 20th and the surgery performed on the 23rd. I am still alive and doing pretty well. Still living in San Antonio, Texas and waiting for the Army to decide if I get to stay in or not. Susanna and I have been discussing what our transition options are if I separate from the military and where we would like to settle down. I am really missing the Bay Area, and the Santa Cruz or Monterey area, while Susanna wants to see about San Diego.
While I am not anywhere near 100% and still have a long way to go in my recovery, I am doing so much better this past 7 weeks. I have more energy most days, fewer headaches, balance good most days, less episodes of vertigo, I am completely off of my steroids and am only taking 1 anticonvulsant, have not needed Vicodin in over a month and only use Motrin when absolutely needed, no seizures in over 5 months, I am down to 184# (down from 210# last December when loaded up on Decadron). The biggest news that has me excited is that I finally heard from my Oncologist regarding my MRI from a couple weeks ago, and not only has there been NO new growth or development, but it appears to have decreased in size slightly as well. YAY! I know this is not a sign that I am cured, but finally there is a change taking place that doesn't scare the crap out of me.
I am especially excited about this news because Susanna and I have been reading up on, researching and studying Tumor formations and the mechanisms that drive them and allow them to flourish. I am going to slip back into my science geek days because, as I mentioned, this is exciting to me. It started out with Susanna obsessing over all of these special diets that were supposed to help fight brain cancer and the professors and doctors who developed them. After awhile my interest was piqued and I picked up a couple of her books, "Budwigs", "Gershons" and a few cancer curing nutrition guides. So, a very layman summary of our findings is. In order to survive and grow, a tumor needs a few things, first, a blood supply to nourish the tumor and aid it in it’s' development and growth, second they need a place that has a low pH. Tumors strive in environments that are fairly acidic and have a very low pH. And food, SUGARS, especially processed sugars, caffeine and sodas are terrible when fighting cancer, so how did I begin to fight back against cancer. Well, in our reading we decided to cut off all of the bad things in my diet that may have been contributing to tumor development. Drawing back on my days of researching and studying back when I was in college, I drew on some natural medicines to help my body build its own strength and defenses, Shark Cartilage, Borage oil, CoQ10, Flax Seed, Essiac Tea, and switched to an organic and about 80% raw food diet, mostly veggies and fruits, which not only began to show an improvement in my energy and alertness, but has aided me in my weight loss after being on Decadron and vicodin for so long. I still indulge in cooked food sometimes, but not too often. Even working on finding some raw recipes. By staying off of soda pops, coffee, sugary snacks and junk food and instead getting my sugars through fruits and veggies. Staying positive and keeping my stress level down is key.
In additionally, as I mentioned, I have also slowly weaned myself off most of my medications over the past few months at a very safe rate, with no withdrawal symptoms or breakthrough seizures in over 5 months. At one point I was taking 3 anticonvulsants, 1 steroid, 2 allergy medications, 1 antidepressant, 1 anti-inflammatory, 1 anti-emetic, 1 vasodilator, and several antibiotics on and off. Now I have been 5 months seizure free and am off of all but 1 of my anticonvulsants, off all steroids, and have reduced my doses of everything else.
In other words, I am feeling incredibly happy and blessed. I won't say it's been an easy year; I've been through a physical and emotional rollercoaster on all levels. Susanna and I put each other through the ringer with my bad days where fear and anger occasionally got the better of us, but love always got us through and continues to hold us and our family strong. She is my Corazon. All of those who have cared, supported, and prayed for us, I thank you with all my heart.
Things are almost settled down; we still have one more move back to base because our lease at Operation Homefront is up. I have mixed feelings about this, I am happy because our apartment is so small and the place we are moving to is huge and right next to Carols and Destiny’s school, yet sad because we have so many friends there who we will miss living so close too. I have been feeling much more inspired lately and have several writing projects in the works now, plus I really want to be more active on my blog, so after the move I will be writing more regularly.
I have also been more active spiritually. We have been attending church again weekly, and I have been very grateful for the blessings and love God has shown for my family and me.
Once again thank you all and God bless you. Til next time
