"Update"---(without Chemo)

If you have been following my updates, then perhaps you remember me telling you of the swelling that I continued to have under my chin, the right side and back of my neck. The right arm and hand remains swollen, for which I wear a compression sleeve. The neck swelling causes the right lower portion of my face to swell with numbness at times, especially upon wakening---for which I now try to sleep elevated. Recently, I noticed difficulty forming some words & sipping from a cup. When looking in the mirror, I noticed some right sided facial paralysis, the right side of my lips don't move as well---causing slanted smiles and uneven mouth opening. My eyes (mostly the right), has been watering for 3 weeks. The therapist and the doctor feel it is from back up lymphatic drainage. I was not aware that my right eye doesn't blink until the doctor pointed that out. I can close it, but makes wearing contacts uncomfortable. When I saw the oncologist Thursday, he immediately believed that the neck had more tumor growth---causing these symptoms. He insisted on repeat CT scans. I had gone to his office determined that I would not have any more radiation which create free radicals--promoting cancer, but again---I was very concerned for my airway. The repeat head, stomach, and pelvis scans remain negative/normal. The right breast and axilla, and surprisingly---the neck showed a shrinkage of tumors. The doctor confirmed that the swelling under the chin and neck is from enlarged lymph nodes with the blocked drainage from scar tissue and the remaining--but shrinking tumors. But the chest shows new areas of tumors in the right upper chest and now also seen in the left upper chest. So the doctor is going to present to me next week what other chemo options I have and their expected side effects, of which I am not sold on having any further chemo---but also, afraid not to. Thank God for the support and love of my family, they hold me up when I not sure if I can. Ironically, my labs had improved from the previous week, so all the chemistry's blood counts, & platelets, are excellent, as well as the immune markers. I suppose the facial and eye problems will let up when the lymph nodes slowly drain. I continue to get the lymphatic massage twice a week from the therapist, and do it myself often.
On the nutritional side, I am trying to do a juice fast; only drinking my green smoothies, increasing the amount of wheatgrass, and alkaline water. I did have a couple of little cheats like Miso soup and a few potatoes and grapes, it's really difficult--but I will continue to try. There are many document articles on people that have reversed their cancers with doing this. It gives you concentrated amounts of nutrients and especially chlorophyll while detoxing the system. The side effects of this route are few and especially not harmful. I will post some of these articles for you over this next week, and will update you after my doctors appointment and decision on treatment. I was very relieved that the original location of cancer, the right breast, has improved, but I have to keep it from spreading to new areas--like the upper left chest. It's not that I trust conventional treatment more than I do the nutritional route, I am just not sure if I trust myself to have the conviction to stick to this juice fast for the minimum of 3 weeks--then to go on only a raw alkaline diet. I was close to this with eating vegan--about 60-80% raw, but I did eat fruit---which will be off limits for a long time. (Cancer thrives on sugar, even from fruit). It is frustrating to me that not only do I have to bear with this disease, but that so much of my life has to change. I do recognize---but haven't fully embraced, that the changes are for the good. I have asked God what He would like me to do to serve him, perhaps he is getting me ready to help many through the experience of going through it myself first.
Health and happiness to you; United in health, humanity, and the environment; Laura