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

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!

My Daily Regimine

I have had several people ask me to post about my daily nutrition routine. On an optimal day I get everything in...but being that I am a mother of six children, optimal days are few and far between! I would say that I get everything in about 70% of the time. I am dedicated to my health and it is A LOT of work. After awhile it mostly becomes a matter of routine.

I usually start my day off with exercise. Exercise cuts your cancer risks in half for multiple reasons. 1. keeps insulin levels low which prevents systemic inflammation (research is showing huge links to chronic inflammation and disease.) 2. Keeps your lymph system moving. Our bodies have twice as much lymph fluid as blood and our blood has a pump (heart.) Exercise and movement is what keeps our lymph system moving and preventing it from becoming stagnant. 3. Reduced estrogen levels which is particularly beneficial to breast cancers.

A study by Harvard Medical School showed that Women with Breast Cancer who exercised 3 times a week improved their chance of survival by 40%. This benefit also remained regardless of whether the cancer was an isolated tumor or it had already spread.

It has also been suggested that apoptosis (programmed cell death) is triggered by exercise, causing cancer cells to die.

Breakfast: 2 C freshly juiced veggies usually carrot, tomato, cucumber, broccoli, spinach celery. From there it varies to what i have on hand. In my juice I add iodine and liquid vitamin D3. I also take a probiotic in the morning.

Vitamins: magnesium, krill oil supplement, selenium (key to body utilizing the iodine)

Sprouts: I eat about a cup of alfalfa sprouts and a half a cup of brocolli sprouts. I put them in a bowl and eat them like a salad (I don't put dressing on them...some people do.)

Coconut Oil: I melt a coupled tablespoons of coconut oil into a small cup of hot chocolate sometime in the early afternoon.

Melatonin: I take a melatonin at night. We all know that sleep has a hand on our overall health and we produce melatonin when we sleep. The older we get the less melatonin we produce. I read a study (which I can't find now) that showed that nurses who worked the night shift had a 60% increased incidence of breast cancer (our bodies can't produce melatonin while sleeping during the light hours,) and blind women (who produce melatonin all the time) had a zero incidence of breast cancer. It has been suggested, especially as we age that a melatonin supplement in very beneficial. I prefer to get mine from Mercola.com (go to products) as his is bio identical melatonin and not artificial.

Other than this I try to fill the rest of my diet with as much nutritious whole, low sugar food. Do I eat desserts, absolutely...I just try to limit them. The more I embrace a wholistic diet the less I crave junk, but I definitely do indulge...keeps my diet realistic and not extreme!


Some reads on Melatonin

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