Joe's Cancer Diagnosis and learning to live with Cancer.
Many of you know my husband Joe, has recently been diagnosed with big, scary Cancer. It's horrific news and for now seeams to be consuming every element of our life. I've done some venting and blurting, because it is so life impacting and also an awkward thing to discuss. I find writing about it therapeutic though, so bear with me.
I have no idea what an appropriate level of sharing online is for this situation, so this is likely an overshare and it still feels awkward and yet important to talk about it.
Stage 4
Joe's cancer is quite unusual, not so much in the type, but rather the spread.
They haven't been able to track down exactly where it originated, but they have identified a type. They assume it started in the lungs or neck, but there are no visible tumors there.
Since it started in one place and is now in his lymph nodes and head that gets an automatic Stage 4 diagnosis. Meaning Conventional Western Medicine does not foresee he will ever be Cancer Free.
People confuse that with being terminal. At this time there are no large tumors interfering with his organs. Stage 4 is acknowledging it has access to his entire body and there is no way to track where microscopic spots might be.
Prognosis Unknown
Since the spread is unusual and they determine Prognosis by statistics there is really nothing to go on here.
We don't know if he has had it for years and it hasn't taken root with large tumors or if it is a new illness with aggressive spread. Atypical spread makes it impossible to guess.
Our Plan and Actions
Today is his second Chemo treatment, the idea is to knock back cancer in his lymph node system to slow or stop the growth. That is really all that Western Medicine has to offer at this time. Chemo, Steroids, and Immunotherapy. We have already started this process and we need to do it to buy time.
We consider this the first step and are planning on an integrated approach, fortunately, natural medicine also has a lot to offer.
The work becomes learning how to LIVE with Cancer. There are 1000s of researched, evidence-based ways to make your body resistant to cancer.
The first step is to stop feeding it (sugar, simple carbs, processed foods) and feed your body the things it needs to fight it. This idea is documented in Radical Remission, but those who understands it knows it is not a fast thing. It is a series of actions meant for repairing and re-training your body to fight cancer and many are living happily and comfortably with cancer for a decade or more. The solution includes diet, exercise, restoring sleep patterns as well as mental health and outlook. All geared at lowering inflammation and restoring the body's natural healing process. There are thousands who have managed to become cancer-free and thousands more who hold cancer at bay for decades. This is researched and documented and backed by scientific study, for some reason few talk about the relationship between sugar, simple carbs, and cancer.
Due to the lack of large tumors and Joe's good health, we are really hopeful the first rounds of chemo will be effective and we will continue to seek knowledge and health.
We will know more about his prognosis when they check at 12 weeks to see if the cancer is regressing or growing.
It's one day at a time situation and all prayers, healing thoughts, and good wishes are appreciated. This literally imploded every part of the life we had 8 weeks ago. From daily routines, finances, health, and all of our life plans.
To say it's been a huge shock is an understatement and we are just now able to try to regroup after the rush of diagnostic and treatment procedures.
