My story, the beginning...

December 10, 2010 my mother, Cindy Lovell, passed away after battling breast cancer for the second time.

Shortly before her passing we (my sister and I) decided to pursue genetic testing as urged my my doctor. The testing was done through Myriad Genetics, located in Salt Lake City, UT which was very costly.

My mother was tested for multiple genetic mutations, (thus the high cost...) my sister and I paid substantially less for our tests due the specific mutation already being identified through my mother.

Just two weeks after my mothers passing I was informed that I was a carrier of the same mutation as my mother and that my sister had tested negative.

Upon receipt of the test results I felt overwhelming despair. For several weeks all I could do was barely function. Having only had a couple of weeks to heal since my mother's passing, the pain was very fresh. For me, I went through a process of anger, denial and then different levels of acceptance all mixed together with the grieving and healing process of losing my beloved Mother.

As the weeks passed I was able to look at things a little more objectively and I began my process of research and understanding of my genetic mutation and all of my options associated with it.

With a combination of counseling with my doctor, my husband and theLord through personal prayer, we began our journey through hope, health and healing.

I am in constant search for the keys to a healthy and long life. I lost both of my parents In their 50's and I am determined to NOT walk down the same path of I'll health and premature death.

If you have any questions please feel free to email me at joshcami@yahoo.com


Location:My story...the beginning

Welcome!!

Welcome to my blog...the following two entries will explain my journey through the first six months of finding out about the BRCA mutation and my medical journey.   Following those posts are many more on the research I have done on the mutation and cancer in general.  I have done my best to TAG my posts for easy reference.  If you have any questions on anything posted here feel free to contact me at joshcami@yahoo.com.   


Happy Reading,
Cami

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Hysterectomy, my first step...

Right now the recommendation for a woman who tests posative for the BRCA mutation is to have a hysterectomy and total mastectomy, reducing both ovarian and breast cancer significantly...down to the risk of an average woman.

I took these recommendations hard. I feared dealing with hormonal problems and depression as my mother did after her hysterectomy at the age of 23. I wasn't sure if the risk of potentially facing mental instability was worth the procedure.

Choosing hysterectomy, for me, was a combination of logic, fear of cancer and lots of prayer.

Logically, it all made sense. With six children...I was not planning on any more babies. Likewise, ovarian cancer does not have very high survival rates as it is not usually found until very advanced stages. In addition to reducing my ovarian cancer risk, a hysterectomy also would cut my breast cancer risk in half by reducing the amount of estrogen my body would produce.

Fear of cancer played a large role as my mother had so recently passed away in my home and in my arms. I was committed to doing everything in my power to prevent walking down the same path as my sweet mother.

And of course, prayer and personal revelation. I felt strongly that I was moving in the right direction. So...without haste, I scheduled my procedure for the end of march...just 3 months after finding out my positive test results. The decision carried with it a large emotional burden as I was still grieving my mothers passing and now I had added to my life fear of the same fate, fear of not being able to grow old with my husband or see my children and grandchildren through their lives. I wanted to live a long and fulfilling life and now I was facing my own mortality in a way that i don't think anyone could prepare for properly.

I shed lots of tears, even up to being wheeled into the operating room. I didn't know what to expect and now I was just operating on faith.

Now I am 2 1/2 months down the road and I feel great. I have not had one single regret. Recovery was tedious, mostly because I felt great and was having a hard time with the physical restrictions by my doctor. With six kids it was almost impossible to refrain from lifting my baby, vacuuming, mopping, laundry and other heavy household chores.

One hurdle down...one more to go. With my appointments at the Huntsman Cancer center secured, anxiety continued to mount looking forward to the next potential and far more invasive procedure.

Stay tuned for the rest of the story...

Mastectomy, facing reality...

Let me preface my experience at the Huntsman with a little background of how I got there...

I spent months looking into mastectomy options. My Doctor and trusted friend recommended that I find a doctor who could do a total skin sparing mastectomy which spares all of the breast skin, nipple etc. Breast tissue is removed through an incision and then the patient has the option of reconstruction the breast using her own tissue (usually stomach fat) or implant. The surgeries are done simultaneously (8-12 hours of VERY invasive surgery) and is considered much less disfiguring than a traditional mastectomy and then more surgery with a reconstruction months later.

I spent months making phone calls only to find out that MOST (almost all) plastic surgeons choose to practice the cosmetic side of surgery and would do a reconstruction but only after the mastectomy had healed.

Since I was not interested in having my breast completely removed...my search went on.

I found various degrees of what I was looking for, but not exactly and many of the Surgeons were located states away. I decided to change the wording in my google search which brought me directly to the University of Utah, Huntsman Cancer Center. Their Breast care team included a woman by the name of Dr. Leigh Neighmeyer who (if I remember correctly) is a pioneer in the total skin sparing mastectomy, and Dr. Jay Arguwal the general surgeon who partners her on the procedure. I was excited to have finally found this amazing resource so close to home.

Shortly after my hysterectomy I made my appointment with the Huntsman Cancer Center and spent the preceding weeks in tears as I didn't really want to accept either of my fates...BRCA mutation and the large likelihood of early breast cancer or losing both of my breasts to surgery.

I feared self acceptance...would I be able to accept my body with major scars. Would I be able to accept the consequence of failed implants and potentially having no breasts. My answer was "i don't think so" to both questions. But if it was the right thing to do, I was trying to dig deep to find a way to move forward with faith.

As we entered the cancer center I looked around at the many patients sitting in the waiting rooms, some in wheel chairs, some on oxygen and I tried to remind myself that I was there because I was choosing to be...not because I had to be.

The next three hours of my appointments I will sum up quickly...Everything I had hoped for (and based my decision on,) was not possible.

First I had met with the general surgeon and I was informed that I did not have enough tissue (stomach fat) to reconstruct my breasts to the same size that I am currently. Dr. Arguwal also strongly encouraged going with implants (which surprised me,) because it was FAR less invasive and easier to recover from. He mainly recommended using your own tissue if a breast has been radiated...therefore too tender to support an implant.

He also mentioned that Total skin sparing was ideal for smaller size breasts (size A and B) because of blood flow. The main flow of blood comes from your chest cavity and is removed with mastectomy, therefore leaving the only blood supply coming from the clavicle area. The new blood supply is weaker and will not support sizes above B well, leaving the patient with the potential of dying skin.


Dr Leigh Neighmeyer upon examination also said that I was not a good candidate and she HIGHLY recommended a full mastectomy and full reconstruction (at the same time) with implant. We viewed many images of reconstructed breasts, different incision styles and different implants.

Both Josh and I were completely discouraged at this point as this is not what I had envisioned. They were ready to pencil me in for surgery, but we declined and needed to go home, revaluate and put a lot more thought into the procedure.

On the drive home and for a week to follow I spent much of the time in tears, Tears of fear. I feared Cancer as I had recently watched my mother die and I feared the disfiguring mastectomy. Neither seemed like a good option, I couldn't even bring myself to make a decision to take to the Lord. One day I prayed, I prayed that my mind would simply be led to the decision that would be right for me. I then picked up my computer and the first thing I found was THIS study about my EXACT mutation.

I have read lots of anti-cancerous news and studies, but this one was different, it lifted my heart and mind. I knew that my answer was not to have the surgery. I had the distinct impression that the hysterectomy was enough and that if I do all I can to be healthy then the Lord will make up the difference. I sobbed, but this time with gratitude. My heart hadn't felt this light for months and I knew that the Lord spoke to me that day and guided my heart and mind.

The study was very promising...but I need to make clear that I was following the promptings to my mind that "led" me there than putting all my trust into this one study. I do however believe that I can (largely) be the chooser of my own health if I choose to be educated and proactive in what I choose to put into my body.

I just read a study that Cancer is expected to increase 15% each year from now until 2020...YIKES that sounds really scary, but it doesn't have to be. I choose not to be scared, but instead be empowered!

Great News!!

Got my thyroid test back after supplimenting with iodine for about a year....aaaaand my thyroid came back normal. 

Hurrrrray!  I am so excited, a tangable victory for me.

My resources

A friend of mine asked me to post links to where I purchase all my supplements etc...here it is, hope it helps!

Vitamin D...Costco, it's about $16 for two large bottles of liquid Vit D. It tastes a lot like apple juice. My kids like it and happily take it daily. I add it to my vegetable juice and helps to sweeten it up a little.

Iodine: HERE is where I buy mine (15%,) I have also seen it on Amazon.com. I purchase at Herbal Healers because they sell a more concentrated form of iodine. I believe the highest concentration you can get in the US is 2% which is supplement level. If your going to help your thyroid...it's just not strong enough unless you are going to take like 30-40 drops at a time. I bought a larger bottle of 5% for food storage.

Hydrogen Peroxide: I got mine in Idaho Falls at "Wealth of Health" natural food store along with glass dropper bottles. Not all health food stores carry HP, so get on the phone and call around before heading out to get it.

Sprouts: I order my sprouts from sproutpeople.com. Alfalfa is easy to sprout and you can get those seeds anywhere, but broccoli sprouts are more sensitive and I have had a significantly more successful harvest with broccoli seeds ordered from sprout people. I will be buying alfalfa seeds for long term storage at Walton Feed by the 50 lb bag and storing them in storage buckets. A food storage specialist summed up sprouting like this..."all the food you have stored for the long term is processed (it has to be to last years,) those foods are the fillers...your sprouts are the nutrients." I whole heartedly agree. It's a garden that grows in 3 days right inside your kitchen.

I sprout using the sprout master. I like it because it has good air circulation and drains easy. I can sprout 1/4 cup of alfalfa or broccoli in the large trays. I also have the easy sprouter (cups) they are about a quart in size and I use them when I travel, they are really easy to transport and you soak, grow and store all in the sami container. These both are also available at sproutpeople.com.

Coconut Oil: I have bought my coconut oil at Fred Meyer in their natural food section...also by the gallon at Nutivia.com. It doesn't matter what brand it is...just make sure is is extra virgin organic Coconut oil.

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Hydrogen Peroxide

When I was listing my daily regime I forgot to add Food Grade Hydrogen Peroxide. I put about 6-7 drops of 3% food grade HP in a glass of milk every morning and every night.

This is one supplement that I added to my regimen, going on the idea that the facts made sense since I couldn't find much info online about it. Since then I found some great info with studies that backs up HP and I continue to use it.

HP is H2O2...just one oxygen molecule more than water. When you ingest H2O2 the extra oxygen molecule oxygenates your body (like juicing...fresh fruits and veggies are anti-cancerous because they are full of oxygen and oxygenate your body.)

The first thing I noticed when I started taking HP is that my complexion changed...it started looking much better, more pinkish. Being a photographer I am familiar with skin undertones. Some people are blueish, some yellow, some reddish. I am guessing the change in my skin tone has to do with the color change that happens to blood when exposed to oxygen.

I have to note that I didn't notice anything big with the addition of HP to my diet (mainly because I am pretty healthy already)...mainly just my skin tone.

What convinced me that it had impacted my health was when I went to see Dr. West...a natural health chiropractor (that does WAY more than chiropractic) that uses intravenous HP and vitamin C to cure anything from lupus to cancer.

When I went to see Dr. W I was there to have my blood viewed microscopically...which is a pretty big indicator of someones overall health.

Honestly, I was a bit nervous, probably a little fearful of what I might found out. To my relief, my blood looked really good. I had very little environmental toxins if any in my blood (sprouts help connect the pathways that your body uses to get rid of toxic substances that enter our bodies,) and the most important thing of all...was I didn't have any ghost cells.

Ghost cells, which are disrupted (leaky) membranes and no longer contain hemoglobin They can indicate the presence of disease. Ghost cells are caused by oxidization in the body...since HP oxygenates it helps keep your body full of oxygen and free of disease.

A friend of mine also had her blood drawn by Dr. W and had pretty healthy looking blood, except that she had a lot of ghost cells. She does just about everything I do daily like juicing, iodine, vit D, and sprouts. The only difference in our daily regimen is that I have added HP. I dare say that she is even a little better in her diet than me. I truly believe that the excellent condition on my blood is due to my eating and lifestyle changes and the addition of HP. On a scale of 0-10, 0 being perfect and 10 being dead...Dr. W rated my blood at a 1. I was super excited considering all that I have been doing for my health, it was nice to see that it is making a difference inside...where it matters.

I read a good description of how HP works a while back...I will do my best to relay it here...

A lake is stagnant water and full of bacteria and other yucky stuff that thrives in low Oxygen environments, whereas a rushing mountain stream is is full of oxygen and you can drink straight from it. When the water is oxygenated it does not allow bacteria or the such to survive and maintains a pure quality. Our bodies function the same way...more oxygen less disease.

Click here to read about FOOD GRADE HP

Happy reading! I don't have all the answers on HP...just a few online resources and my own experience. Dr W in Pocatello successfully treats many diseases using IV treatments of HP and probably has much more information to share on the topic.

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