Thriving with cancer

[Vicart]

Hi my name is Vickie.

I was diagnosed with stage 4 ovarian cancer in February of 2016, after having been misdiagnosed for 4 years with fibromyalgia and chemical sensitivity syndrome. By the time my debulking surgery was performed the cancer had spread to all my abdominal organs except the kidneys and pancreas. The surgeon at Hershey medical said he had never seen such an advanced case. I was also so ill by that time I was unrecognizable, and had gone from 135bls down to 85lbs by the day of my surgery. Best case scenario was 1 year to 18 months survival.

I am here and healthy. I immediately began researching and discovered low dose chemo was being used at some hospitals. My doc agreed to do it, I believe that was a big step in how well I’m doing. I began juicing greens with beets, carrots, cabbage, ginger, and celery. I am vegan now as well.

I did 7 months chemo initially and went into remission. That lasted 7 months. Then I decided I didn’t want chemo so I did homeopathic remedies for 15 months. In Dec of 2017 I went to Chipsa hospital in Mexico for 3 weeks and my Ca125 which was 3975 droppedto 1175 with 2 micro doses of chemo. and a vegan diet. When I got back to the states my doc was dumbfounded. In the month that followed my # dropped to 30 with no additional treatment.

Then in March of 2018 my abdomen filled with 1 1/2 gallons of ascites. Because of the success with low dose at the hospital he agreed to do that. I have been on low dose chemo now since March of last year. I have fatigue and severe allergies, but otherwise feel very good. The low doses have allowed me keep on treatment without destroying my body.

I have 2 children and 4 grandchildren that keep me going. I plan on being here a long time. I believe I can live “with” my cancer even if it never fully resolves. I believe our body wants to heal if we give it the proper nutrients to survive. I am not perfect, I have a terrible sweet tooth and give in to it too often. But I eat plenty of veggies, take supplements and herbs that I read about for cancer on the Internet, and have lots of hope. I believe all of us can beat this! Love to all of you brave women!💕

[GwenHP]

Welcome to the group Vicart. Glad you found us.

[Vicart in reply to GwenHP]

Me too Gwen🤗

[shortfriend]

What a positive, cheerful post! Thank you, I am in the UK but will try some of what you have tried. I to have stage 4 OC and was told for a long time it was irritable bowel! Glad to read about you and welcome to the forum. All the best for your future, look forward to hearing from you again

love

Pat

[Vicart in reply to shortfriend]

Oh you’re very sweet Pat. I am always happy to send info out, been researching 3 years and have tried many different things. I wish you all the best in everything!

[Sherryp]

So happy for you! What a miracle💕

[Vicart in reply to Sherryp]

Thank you Sherry!

[Hidden]

Hello Vicky, You mention "low dose chemo" which I am very interested in, not sure if it would be available here but its worth investigating, how often do you have that administered? what chemo do they use? Good luck with your continued treatment, and thank you for sharing your journey with us, you are inspirational.

[Vicart in reply to Hidden]

Thank you Lynn

I’m receiving 20mg of cisplatin and 20mg of taxol every other week for a year now. I have a ct scan being done fri to see how things look. I’ll post when I get the results. I also am on a product called DCA(sodium dichloroacetate) that the doctors in Mexico put me on. It causes apoptosis. Been on it a year and I think it has really helped. Metformin keeps my blood sugar low as well as lots of cinnamon. I buy the dca off the Internet. For 7 months last year I did the Gerson therapy, but stopped after the ascites scare. I have begun green juicing again though. I hope this helps. 💕

[Flower2011]

An inspiring story, I’m so pleased how well you’re doing. What supplements and herbs do you take, I changed my diet to almost vegan, but kind of make it up as I’m going along, I get hungry so I have to eat fish, chicken or eggs a couple of times a week, hence the ‘almost vegan’ I would like to cut these out but find just veg and beans don’t give me enough energy. I have just had first session of chemo 2 weeks ago and have been ok apart from a couple days. I would be really interested in what you eat as that’s the hardest thing to get straight answers to.

[Vicart in reply to Flower2011]

Hi 🌸 Flower,

I eat vegan and gluten-free except for an occasional egg in pancakes or other baked goods. Processed food is like poison for us cancer people. If you must look for clean labels like Annie’s Organics.

I make bean and nut burgers for “substantial” food. For a long time I was doing pastured chicken, eggs, and butter but went completely dairy and meat free about 8 months ago. I do as much organic as I can. A big bowl of oatmeal with walnuts and blueberries everymorn with a tablespoon of ginger. Ginger causes cancer cell death in lab studies, particularly ovarian. I juice fresh ginger with every juice I make.😊Cinnamon is good as well, keeps blood sugar levels low. A big salad everyday, broccoli EVERYDAY. The brassicas family of veggies are the best for cancer prevention Chris beat cancer.com is the best site for learning about natural remedies. I implore you to check it out. It has been a lifesaver for me.

Hope this helps 💕

[Flower2011 in reply to Vicart]

Thank you so much

[Vicart in reply to Flower2011]

Glad to help flower. There is so much in the food world our docs don’t know about that can help us. We have to teach each other as we learn. I feel blessed to have found a place to share things I discover. God bless💕

[AAND]

Thank you for your post!

[Basketofhope]

Thank you for your post you are an inspiration!

[Basketofhope]

I

Congratulations on doing so great. I am also interested in the specifics on the low dose chemo. Thank you and God bless you.

[Vicart in reply to Basketofhope]

Hi Basketofhope

I’m not sure if you see all posts here or just your own. If you can’t see my response to Lynn and Want health let me know. I could try and copy and paste it. The doses I’m on are 20 mg of cisplatin and 20 mg of taxol every other week. I did develop chemical sensitivity syndrome with my cancer, and my doc thinks it’s working because I’m so sensitive. I think it may have a little to do with it but I feel all the other stuff I do is what is helping with the tumor stability.

Hope you can use this info. Best wishes💕

[Wanthealth]

Congrats!! Sounds like a great plan .. curious what does “ low dose chemo” mean actually and what drugs are they using?? I too try dietary changes. Juice plus .. plant based diet .. no sugar .. and exercise daily and take herbal supplements. .. what supplements do you take?? Thx. Sur

[Vicart in reply to Wanthealth]

Hi Sur

I do 16,000 mg of buffered C powder daily, a daily whole food multivitamin, 10,000iu vit D, zinc, b12 because I don’t eat meat, Pau D’arco tea, probiotics, Biggest thing here is don’t use synthetic vitamins. They are so toxic to the body. A doctor won’t tell you this because they don’t really know about vitamins or nutrition and what role it plays in cancer. They aren’t taught these things. I’ve also started low doses of Rich Simpson cannibas oil before bed. Studies show it can cause apoptosis. My state just legalized it for medical use.

I hope this is of some use for you, and remember we are all different, what works for one may not work as good for another. It can be a frustrating trial and error game, but definitely worth it. I still play around with different things I read about all the time. Recently I’ve been using chlorella and spirulina, they are sea algae’s. Very nutritious and detoxifying. Go slow with them and do some research if you try them.

Best of luck, hope this helps.💕

[Wanthealth in reply to Vicart]

Yes think this info is helpful .. thank you so much !! Do you go to a organic natural health vitamin store?? I’ve been getting my supplements at one since don’t like regular ones from drugstore... thx again. HUGS. Sue

[Vicart in reply to Wanthealth]

Hi Sue,

I find what I want and get most from Vitacost.com as they are cheaper. Some vitamins at health stores are synthetic so read labels. The vitamin C I use is called C salts, even in large doses I never have stomach upset. Garden of Life brand is a good whole food vitamin co. A little pricey though. If you google whole food or non synthetic vitamins you’ll get suggestions. Hope this helps💕

[Wanthealth in reply to Vicart]

Thanks again hugs😉

[Wanthealth]

Sue not sur. Haha

[Archeveritas]

You are an inspiration! Thank you so much for sharing your story.

[DocIt]

Wow! I am at awe with the decrease in your CA125 when you got to Mexico. I think I will start recommending it to my patients.

That’s my sister Martha in the picture. Sadly I lost her in 2008, but since her passing I devotmy life to helping other women.

God bless you please keep us posted.

[Vicart]

I’m very sorry for your loss docit.💕

[Vicart]

I received my ct scan results yesterday. Tumors are all half what they were a year ago! Just had to share.💕

[kittens2019]

Hi Vickie,

So glad to hear that you’re on low dose chemo but doing well. I had stage four ovarian cancer and was in remission 2 Yrs and several months. I had a metastatic recurrence in my cerebellum of a lesion and they successfully removed it and I had ten sessions of radiation. My dr wants to start me on a parp inhibitor which I’m looking into. God bless and we can keep each other in our prayers. 🙏 Mary

[Vicart in reply to kittens2019]

Hi Mary,

I will pray all goes well with you! I found out that my ca125 is on a slow rise. I’m hoping it doesn’t continue. I decided to really cut down on grains in the hope that it helps.

Best wishes to you!💕

[kittens2019 in reply to Vicart]

Hi Vickie,

I will pray your ca-125 will go down and down. I hope that you continue to get better and better.

God bless,

Mary

[Vicart in reply to kittens2019]

Thank you Mary💕

[kittens2019]

You are welcome. 💕

[lucynine]

Hi Vickie,

Thank you so much for your post and this information. I have stage 3C Fallopian tube cancer and just finished with my protocol of debulking surgery and 6 rounds of cisplatin and taxol. I have decided to move forward with a focus on nutrition and supplementation, but no more drugs at this time.

As it sounds like you know all to well, it can be incredibly frightening to "go your own way" and your post was just what I needed to see right now to stay focused, positive and informed!

I want to clarify that my decision is in no way a judgement of anyone else's journey. I applaud all of the strong women on this site who are doing what they need to do to stay positive and to fight. I am in awe of the incredible strength represented here.

I pray that all of us can survive AND thrive!

[Tabor]

Thank you for sharing so much great information, you are a very strong Lady. Best to you always

[T-Roper]

We go to Oasis in Mexico! I've heard great things about the one you go to as well!

[T-Roper]

Hello, my mother is suffering from a ton of abdominal fluid right now. It caused blood clots which gave her a stroke last Sunday night. Her Ca125 is now at 463.3 and the last time in March we had it tested it was 41. She went off all supplements from her hospital in Mexico to do a cleanse and that's when the fluid started coming back. She is show great improvement from the stroke symptoms, but the Ca125 number has be very concerned! We can't get back to Mexico because of the blood clots. She also is practically vegan, but at this point after the stroke we just need her to eat.

The hospital in Mexico is wanting her to do some chemo here at home right now since her Ca125 is so high. They want her to do gemzar/avastin.

I was hoping maybe you would have some words of encouragement for us because it sounds like you have an amazing story. I'm very afraid we can't come back from the 463.3- we've never been that high.

Thank you for any insight and strength you may be able to give.