Sometimes I get tired of fighting cancer, it's like a job. A really sucky job with a tyrant of a "boss," literally threatening to syphon the life out of me while offering zero benefits, no days off, and lousy earnings. BUT, my cancer is not advancing, and even if it was, I would never stop fighting; so, time to pull the plug on the pity party.
In fact, I will try nearly anything to outsmart cancer. Aside from the traditional medicinal treatment, I have tried to come at the cancer from all angles by incorporating natural healing as well. At different times, I have changed my diet, done energy cleansing, Reiki, massage therapy, mediation, acupuncture, and concocted daily "green," drinks consisting of juiced kale, spinach, and asparagus topped with smoky flavored Turmeric Spice. Yes, it tastes as good as it sounds. Blech.
I feel like it is my responsibility to leave no stone unturned and so I pay close attention to all of the advice that I receive from well-meaning friends and family who once had an aunt, who had a cousin, who's best friend was an oncologist's daughter who suggest that I sit on turnips for three days. Ok, perhaps that is a slight extension of the truth, but I really do at least research and read about all of the recommendations that come across my proverbial desk.
Recently, upon my move back to central Illinois, I realized that some of my external contractors, for natural treatments, would have to change. I started by trying to find an acupuncturist. I do acupuncture for pain control and to relax so it seemed to be higher on the list of importance. After a few unreturned phone calls, I finally found a place that I thought would do the trick. It was a traditional Chinese medicine place that seemed legit. Enough. I made my appointment for the same day and was excited but a little nervous (being a human pin cushion tends to have the latter effect on me).
The appointment wasn't quite what I was used to, but I figured it would be slightly different to go from a white female chiropractor to a male traditional Chinese medicine specialist, so I was open to the change of the environment. He started by having me lay face down so that he could treat my back pain (Stop it! This is natural cancer treatment, dirty minds need not apply!). He told me that he would need to use a slightly larger gauge needle to effectively reduce my pain. I wasn't sure what exactly that entailed, but I decided to be brave so I told him to go for it.
<Silence>
<More Silence>...
Like 45 seconds of pure silence and just as I'm about to pop my head up to investigate, it happens... I was stabbed with a Samurai Sword! I yelped like an injured animal but let him continue to do it three more times, the final time being the worst. He told me that he was finished and I could get up, but I just couldn't. I lay there with my face buried in his stupid traditional Chinese table and silently cursed him for the pain he had just subjected me to. I was stuck by needles and/or had my blood drawn 17 different times when I was in the hospital for my brain surgery in 2014, and I'm not sure which one that I would rather experience again...
Truth be told though, my back pain did subside for a few weeks. Will I ever go back and do that again? I'd pretty much hang from the ceiling by my toes if you told me it would cure cancer; but if and when I'm ready to dip said toes back in the acupuncture pool, I will definitely stick to something a little less "traditional," and in the meantime, I will plug my nose and drink twice the amount of green juice to make up for it. Cheers.
Monday, June 29, 2015
FoundationOne
It is probably a good thing that I have spent so much of my time in and out of the hospital and doctor's offices, I think I may have picked up a thing or two and maybe, just maybe, I can resuscitate my blog after six quiet months.
The truth is that I have had a lot of heavy stuff on my plate and I just wasn't in a creative head space. I wasn't ready to get down and dirty with the details of everything and felt a lack of inspiration. But, I'm here now and want to share some cool stuff that I have learned about my cancer.
I recently participated in something called FoundationOne testing. I say that I participated, but it actually required nothing more from me than to grant my permission for a sample of my biopsied tumor to be sent away and studied. FoundationOne is individualized testing that identifies that genetic makeup of my specific tumor.
So, that means that some medical professional has to unlock the broom closet where specimens are kept, brush away the cobwebs, shoo away the rats, and search for Ashley Barrett's original recipe booby tissue that was snatched from me back in early 2013. They then take a sample and send it off to somebody, somewhere, who I imagine must be very smart, to intricately study each strand of DNA that makes up my specific cancer. Just mine.
This isn't genetic testing that questions whether or not I carry a Breast Cancer gene that could run in my family; I already know that I do not have that, and this is different. The point in having this specific testing done is to help my doctor's understand my cancer is made up of and to help them determine the best and most effective way to treat me. So, the strongest genes, aka the "molecular growth drivers," of my cancer will be listed first and provide a relevant therapeutic option to help target and fight that gene specifically. There is a list that goes in order of importance as far as what will be most effective.
FoundationOne is newly used for Breast Cancer and has already proven to be beneficial for me. When I received my results, they showed the most prominent mutation to be most effectively treated by the medicine that I am currently on!!! If and when my cancer decides to take a detour or get off track, the results of FoundationOne will continue provide me with additional options that are tailored to my needs and will focus on battling the biggest sources.
This testing is an advancement that continues to provide me with the best care possible and allows for me to be treated as a 31 year old individual, instead of being thrown into the masses of what Breast Cancer used to look like. I hope it means that new stuff is continuing to happen everyday and that while I keep my head up and maintain a positive outlook, that the best is yet to come.
A cure.
The truth is that I have had a lot of heavy stuff on my plate and I just wasn't in a creative head space. I wasn't ready to get down and dirty with the details of everything and felt a lack of inspiration. But, I'm here now and want to share some cool stuff that I have learned about my cancer.
I recently participated in something called FoundationOne testing. I say that I participated, but it actually required nothing more from me than to grant my permission for a sample of my biopsied tumor to be sent away and studied. FoundationOne is individualized testing that identifies that genetic makeup of my specific tumor.
So, that means that some medical professional has to unlock the broom closet where specimens are kept, brush away the cobwebs, shoo away the rats, and search for Ashley Barrett's original recipe booby tissue that was snatched from me back in early 2013. They then take a sample and send it off to somebody, somewhere, who I imagine must be very smart, to intricately study each strand of DNA that makes up my specific cancer. Just mine.
This isn't genetic testing that questions whether or not I carry a Breast Cancer gene that could run in my family; I already know that I do not have that, and this is different. The point in having this specific testing done is to help my doctor's understand my cancer is made up of and to help them determine the best and most effective way to treat me. So, the strongest genes, aka the "molecular growth drivers," of my cancer will be listed first and provide a relevant therapeutic option to help target and fight that gene specifically. There is a list that goes in order of importance as far as what will be most effective.
FoundationOne is newly used for Breast Cancer and has already proven to be beneficial for me. When I received my results, they showed the most prominent mutation to be most effectively treated by the medicine that I am currently on!!! If and when my cancer decides to take a detour or get off track, the results of FoundationOne will continue provide me with additional options that are tailored to my needs and will focus on battling the biggest sources.
This testing is an advancement that continues to provide me with the best care possible and allows for me to be treated as a 31 year old individual, instead of being thrown into the masses of what Breast Cancer used to look like. I hope it means that new stuff is continuing to happen everyday and that while I keep my head up and maintain a positive outlook, that the best is yet to come.
A cure.
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