| Part II Conquering the Fear, Fighting the Cancer | | | | created a special tape for me to listen to while |
| Ovarian Cancer: Process and Survival | | | | receiving the infusion of chemo. This guided exercise |
| | | | included relaxation, healing messages, and suggestions |
| Post Surgery | | | | for picturing my immune cells taking care of things |
| Read Part I for information regarding diagnosis and | | | | and using the chemo effectively. Before each chemo |
| surgery...The next few weeks after my discharge | | | | session, even before they started the IV, he would |
| from the hospital, were very busy. My sister, Nance, | | | | do a relaxation exercise with me. This ritual became a |
| and my mom decorated the house and Christmas | | | | very important part of the process. By working on |
| tree. My sister Lauren visited from Washington and | | | | my "attitude" towards the chemo and by connecting |
| cleaned, cooked and lent invaluable support to all of | | | | with these parts of myself that can be powerful |
| us. There were visits to the surgeon for follow-up | | | | self-healers, I felt I was taking back control of what |
| and the oncologist for the initial visit. John and my | | | | was happening. Feeling that you are part of the |
| sisters accompanied me. It was so very helpful to | | | | healing process instead of a passive receiver of |
| have someone else ask questions and write down | | | | medications etc., is very empowering.Rituals and |
| information. It can be an overwhelming experience, | | | | routines are very comforting, especially when you're |
| especially when you're a little "spaced out" on vicodin | | | | experiencing stressful times. My "chemo ritual" |
| for pain management, as I was. I signed on to be | | | | evolved from the very first session. The night |
| part of a clinical study using different combinations of | | | | before, I meditated and did my healing visualizations |
| medications for eight instead of the normal six cycles. | | | | at bedtime. John drove me to the oncology center. I |
| Laurie had brought a book with her that offered a lot | | | | selected my chair and we settled in with his |
| of information on how to deal with an ovarian cancer | | | | relaxation exercise. My sister, Nance, arrived bearing |
| diagnosis and subsequent treatments. One suggestion | | | | muffins and silly magazines. After visiting and chatting, |
| was to research clinical studies. There is a great deal | | | | John left for work and Nance and I munched muffins |
| of "cutting edge" research out there but you may | | | | and laughed at the National Enquirer stories. About an |
| have to hunt for it, do your homework, and bring the | | | | hour before the infusion was completed, my brother, |
| information to your doctor. My oncologist's office | | | | Tom, would arrive for a visit and to take me home. |
| was conducting a trial, I was accepted, and I was | | | | Somewhere in the session, my sister, Laurie, would |
| scheduled to begin treatment on December 21.Even | | | | call from Washington to check in and often John |
| though I was dreading the whole process, I knew I | | | | would "pop in" in his travels. I always had company |
| had to approach it in much the same way I did the | | | | and felt lovingly supported. Sabrina included me in her |
| surgery, almost like an athletic event or a race. I | | | | meditation every morning and my mom would stop |
| wanted to go in as strong and as prepared as | | | | by the day after the session for tea and a chat. |
| possible and with a better "attitude."Attitude is | | | | Every three weeks from December 21 through May |
| defined as a manner of acting, feeling or thinking that | | | | 27, we followed this routine. The nurses and my |
| shows one's disposition, opinion and mental set. We | | | | family got to know one another and we became a |
| may not be able to control a situation, but we can | | | | real team!Returning to work seven weeks after |
| choose our attitude about that situation- victim or | | | | surgery was another normalizing routine that made |
| fighter; passive or aggressive; depressed or striving | | | | me feel like I was taking back my life. Except for the |
| toward joy and happiness; caught in the "why me's" | | | | day of chemo and the following day, I've worked full |
| or searching for the "what can I learn from this." | | | | time, feeling productive, healthy and normal. My |
| With the help of many people and through much | | | | co-workers have been very supportive and caring. |
| reading and research, my "attitude-adjustment" | | | | They even threw me a graduation party to celebrate |
| process unfolded.A booklet entitled "Preparing for | | | | the completion of chemo.Even before my last |
| Chemo" suggests several things that I immediately | | | | chemo, I was researching what to do to prevent a |
| put into action. | | | | recurrence of the disease. I found information on a |
| | | | clinical study for Ovarex, a vaccine designed to |
| 1) Get your hair cut short so that when your hair | | | | prevent a recurrence of ovarian cancer. After many |
| starts falling out, it's less traumatic and won't clog the | | | | phone calls, letters and haggling with my insurance |
| shower's drain. (This worked for the drains but I was | | | | company, I was accepted into a study being |
| still traumatized.) | | | | conducted at Stanford's Cancer Center in Palo Alto. It |
| | | | involved monthly infusions for the first three months |
| 2) If you plan to wear a wig, shop for it before | | | | and then every twelve weeks for the rest of the |
| starting chemo. My sisters and my dear friend and | | | | year, with routine labs and CT scans. I've |
| hairdresser Patty, helped with both of these steps. | | | | experienced only mild side effects and feel fortunate |
| Watching my long hair fall to the floor was very hard | | | | to have access to one more tool.This past year has |
| and yet made me feel the tiniest bit more in control | | | | been one of lessons for me. I would have preferred |
| of what was happening to me. To my surprise, | | | | the "universe" had given me a gentle tape on the |
| everyone loved my new hairdo. The compliments | | | | shoulder instead of this Giant Thump on the head to |
| boosted my ego when I really needed it. Nance and | | | | let me know I had things to learn about myself and |
| Laurie accompanied me to the wig shop. Laughter is | | | | how "I am" in the world. Here are some of the things |
| very good medicine-and we laughed a lot as we all | | | | I have learned from this experience: |
| played with the wigs before settling on two very | | | | |
| nice ones. Four hundred dollars later I was armed | | | | 1. Pay attention - perhaps if I had agitated more |
| with my hair prosthetics and a sore belly from | | | | forcefully with my doctor that something was NOT |
| laughing. At this writing, I'm sporting my own very | | | | right, she would have responded with more attention. |
| short hair after nine months of wigs and hats. | | | | LISTEN to your body and trust your intuition. |
| | | | |
| 3) The booklet suggests having a dental check up | | | | 2. Don't take anything for granted - people, job, |
| and cleaning before starting chemo. Also important is | | | | health, hair. When you face the loss of these things, |
| giving your home a thorough cleaning and perhaps | | | | you realize how special people are, how the |
| scheduling someone to come in once a week | | | | day-to-day routine of a job is a gift, how precious |
| thereafter- a clean house can minimize exposure to | | | | good health is and even how much better a "bad |
| infectious agents. | | | | hair" day is than NO HAIR! |
| | | | |
| 4) Building up strength through exercise and a good | | | | 3. There are a great many sources of invaluable |
| diet can help minimize some of the side effects of | | | | information out there through people, libraries and the |
| chemo. This booklet and other helpful literature, is | | | | internet. Taking advantage of these resources |
| available through oncology offices and offers good | | | | allowed me to create a comprehensive plan to |
| practical information. I also found the library and the | | | | restore my health and fight the disease using a |
| internet to be good resources. | | | | combination of Western and alternative therapies. |
| Shortly after my homecoming, from the hospital, I | | | | |
| received a telephone call from Lindy, a volunteer with | | | | 4. We do have choices in how we deal with a crisis - |
| the Cancer Society (set up by my husband and the | | | | probably the best choice for me was to reach out |
| cancer support staff at the hospital.) She had been | | | | and ask for help. The more people I told about my |
| diagnosed and treated for Stage IIIc ovarian cancer | | | | health issues, the more positive energy came my |
| seven years ago. Hearing from her gave me a real | | | | way. I felt empowered rather than vulnerable and |
| boost and some good tips for dealing with the | | | | armed with my helmet (a wig, which, by the way, I |
| upcoming chemo. She shared her experiences with | | | | got complements on) and my armor (acupuncture, |
| surgery, hair loss and complete recovery! She is still | | | | supplements, chemo, prayers and visualization) I was |
| cancer free! In addition to advice on make-up to | | | | ready to do battle. I was "Warrior Princess" instead |
| camouflage the fact that one has no eyebrows or | | | | of cancer patient. |
| eyelashes, she told me how helpful acupuncture was | | | | |
| for her. She felt that it really minimized some of the | | | | 5. Laughter is GOOD MEDICINE! |
| chemo side-effects and "rebalanced" her body's | | | | |
| energy. I had had a few sessions of acupuncture | | | | At this writing, my labs and CT scans are completely |
| many years ago, and I immediately knew that this | | | | normal. I'm back to my normal routines of work and |
| would be right for me. I believe in its efficacy and | | | | exercise. I'm sporting a "Jamie Lee Curtis" hairdo. I |
| definitely feel the sessions have been very | | | | am excited about decorating and shopping for |
| beneficial.My first acupuncture session was four days | | | | Thanksgiving and when we all come together, we'll |
| after the first chemo treatment. The meds they | | | | have a lot to be thankful for! Before we dig into our |
| gave me to prevent nausea worked very well. I | | | | feast, I'll be asking each person to write on a piece |
| didn't have much of an appetite and felt a little achy | | | | of paper, one thing that they are grateful for. Each |
| and tired but the only real side effect I experienced | | | | of us will then withdraw one of these papers from |
| was a terrible, hand-wringing itching and tingling in my | | | | the basket and try to guess who wrote the |
| hands and feet. Amy, my acupuncturist, has worked | | | | message. It will be easy to guess mine. I'm grateful |
| with several people undergoing chemo, is very | | | | for all the love and support from my family and |
| knowledgeable, and had a good treatment plan in | | | | friends (with a special thanks to my son, Matt, and |
| place for me. I scheduled to see her 2 days before | | | | my husband for shaving their heads to support me |
| and 4 days after every chemo session. After my | | | | and to my son, Mike, and his band for dedicating |
| first visit with her, I did feel better, more energized | | | | songs to me at concerts and their fund raising for |
| and the itching had definitely dissipated a good deal. | | | | the Cancer Society.) I'm grateful for the prayers and |
| She gave me some suggestions on supplements and | | | | best wishes that came my way from people I don't |
| some Chinese herbs to use.The side effect of itching, | | | | even know. I thank you!!! Well, of course, that's more |
| burning and tingling is called neuropathy and is fairly | | | | than one thing on my piece of paper but so what! |
| common with the types of chemo protocol I was on. | | | | It's time to celebrate!Happy Thanksgiving 2004 and |
| After my second and third sessions, the symptoms | | | | celebrate every day of your life.Barbara's Complete |
| worsened! I turned to the internet to learn more | | | | Ovarian Cancer Fighting Supplement List:Three |
| about neuropathy and what, if anything, I could do | | | | Imperial Mushroom Capsules - available through |
| about it. I found an article by Cindy H. Makencon, | | | | acupuncture office |
| website: entitled "coping-Tips for dealing with | | | | |
| neuropathy." She offered a great deal of helpful | | | | A) Reishi- Immuno stimulant: enhances immune |
| information including reports of studies on the | | | | system; use is sanctioned by the Japanese Health |
| benefits of taking fairly large doses of L-Glutamine | | | | Ministry as an adjunct treatment for cancer; |
| Sulfate and Chondroitin. I forwarded this information | | | | Increases activity of chemotheraputic agents and |
| onto Carolyn, the research nurse in charge of my | | | | reduces adverse effects such as nausea, decreased |
| clinical study, and she shared the information with the | | | | white blood cell counts; helps protect the liver against |
| oncologist. I had already started taking L-Glutamine | | | | damage caused by viral, drug and environmental |
| when I met with him. He had further researched and | | | | toxins.B) Shitaki- strengthens immune system |
| developed a new treatment plan for me which | | | | response; improves survival times of cancer patients |
| included large doses of L-Glutamine, a change in one | | | | when used concurrently with chemo.C) Maitake- best |
| of the chemo meds, and the addition of a medication | | | | known for cancer fighting properties; many doctors in |
| called neurontin. The combination of all these things | | | | Japan use it to lower blood pressure and blood lipids; |
| worked! The neuropathy gradually subsided and I've | | | | effective as an anti-tumor agent and immune system |
| had no further problems.I believe a few other factors | | | | modulator.Echinacia- used in Germany along with |
| contributed to my being able to handle the chemo | | | | chemo in the treatment of cancer. May enhance |
| pretty well. I continued to increase my exercise | | | | white blood cell counts in persons undergoing |
| regimen, progressing to walking everyday and then | | | | chemo.Cat's Claw- reduces side effects of chemo; |
| back to the gym for step-classes, albeit modified, | | | | used in clinical practice in Europe for cancer & HIV; |
| and lifting light weights. Exercise builds muscle | | | | has important immune enhancing properties; helps |
| strength, increases oxygen and blood flow and for | | | | increase the number of T-cells, the true soldiers of |
| me, was and is a real physical and mental energy | | | | the immune system. In Austria, it is used together |
| boost.I came across a book entitled: "Herbal Therapy | | | | with conventional treatment (chemo, radiation &/or |
| & Supplements- a Scientific and Traditional Approach" | | | | surgery) to treat hundreds of cancer patients per |
| written by Merrily A. Kuhn, RN, Ph.D. and David | | | | year.Graviola- scientists have been studying this herb |
| Winston, a herbalist and ethnobiologist. The book was | | | | since the 1940's - four studies were published in 1998 |
| part of an at-home study course that I needed to | | | | re: significant anti-tumor properties and selective |
| complete for my RN Continuing Education Credits. | | | | toxicity against various types of cancer cells (without |
| The book offers a comprehensive guide to many | | | | harming healthy cells; Purdue University has |
| common and some less common herbs and | | | | conducted a great deal of research on the |
| supplements, their uses, adverse effects, | | | | Annonaceous acetogenins family to which graviola |
| contraindications, and drug-herb interactions. After | | | | belongs) much of which has been funded by the |
| careful research, I started using several herbs and | | | | National Cancer Institute or the National Institute of |
| supplements designed to minimize chemo side effects | | | | Health.Acidophyllis- rebalances intestinal flora |
| and boost my immune system. I was careful to use | | | | (especially important when you're taking a lot of |
| things that do not stimulate estrogen in the body as | | | | medications.)Multivitamins with Vitamin ECalcium |
| my cancer was estrogen-receptor positive. I started | | | | SupplementIP-6 with Insositol- has been studied |
| taking these supplements one or two things at a | | | | extensively for over 20 years; has powerful effects |
| time in smaller doses in order to monitor any | | | | on the immune system.Wheat Grass Juice- increases |
| unfavorable reactions, before adding more. Most | | | | hemoglobin; rebuilds the blood; improves body's ability |
| importantly, I notified my doctor that I was taking | | | | to heal wounds; washes drug deposits from the |
| supplements and having acupuncture.At the end of | | | | body; neutralizes toxins and carcinogens in the |
| this article, I will offer a complete list of the | | | | body.Green and White Tea- Chinese believe green |
| supplements and herbs that I have been using and | | | | tea is a cure for cancer and a longevity tonic; boosts |
| some information regarding the rationale for each of | | | | immune system function; research being done all over |
| these additions.For several months, our kitchen | | | | the world and in the US by the National Cancer |
| counter resembled a drug and supplement store. I | | | | Institute re: anti-tumor activity. Both green and white |
| had to write up a daily schedule of what to take | | | | tea are excellent antioxidants.Website for researching |
| when. It was worth it! Once the neuropathy was | | | | herbs- Plant Database Raintree NutritionI used the |
| under control, I tolerated the remainder of the | | | | guided relaxations/visualizations CD's from the Stress |
| chemo treatments pretty well. I was able to work | | | | Education 1. #209 Stress Management for Pre and |
| full time and exercise, and my appetite and energy | | | | Post-op Survival |
| levels were good. Physically, acupuncture, exercise, | | | | 2. #208 Stress Management for HealingReference: |
| diet, and supplements were, and still are, valuable | | | | Health Update from SELF Magazine by Jennifer |
| tools which helped me deal with the chemo and | | | | Nelson November, 2004 |
| recover from its serious effects.On another level, the | | | | Ovarian cancer: a not-so-silent killer"Early diagnosis is |
| emotional and spiritual aids were an even more | | | | crucial. When disease is caught before it spreads, 80 |
| powerful part of the healing process. Previously, I | | | | percent of women will survive."by Barbara |
| mentioned my visualizations regarding pre and post | | | | Ehlers-Mason, RN and L. John Mason, Ph.D.Written in |
| operative healing and seeing myself healthy and | | | | November, 2004, one year after the Surgery for |
| cancer free. Now, it was time to take it a step | | | | Ovarian Cancer, in November, 2003Stress Education |
| further and include it as a powerful adjunct to the | | | | Center (707) 795-2228 website: John Mason, Ph.D. is |
| chemo medications. Rather than seeing the meds as | | | | the author of the best selling "Guide to Stress |
| a poison, I started to visualize it as "nectar from the | | | | Reduction." Since 1977, he has offered Executive |
| gods," washing through me and being taken up by | | | | Coaching and Training. His wife, Barbara Ehlers-Mason, |
| my immune cells as a potion to destroy cancer cells. | | | | RN, was diagnosed in October, 2003 with Stage III |
| A few weeks before my first treatment, I read an | | | | Ovarian Cancer.Learn everything that you can if you |
| article about a young local girl who had battled cancer | | | | think you or someone you know has Ovarian Cancer. |
| at age 16. She wrote a book about her experience | | | | Be prepared to fight.Please visit the Stress Education |
| and included her thoughts on seeing her chemo as | | | | Center's website at for articles, free ezine signup, |
| "nectar from the gods." I admired her outlook and | | | | and learn about the new telecourses that are |
| incorporated it into my work. My husband, John, | | | | available.Please take good care of yourself! |