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  Nana asked a questionBreast Cancer

  Any suggestions for herbal or alternative medicine to reduce risk of breast cancer recurrence?

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  over 6 years ago

  9 answers

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    Nana

    Cpland16 – congratulations on your 1 year anniversary of being cancer free!
    I’ve also read that in Japan, something like 1 in 30 women get breast cancer, as opposed to 1 in 8 in the US. What’s ironic is that I’m Japanese (but lived in the US for the past 30 years) and I drink green tea almost every day, even before my cancer. Unlike Japan, US is with people with mixed ethnic backgrounds, so it must have something to do with our diet, the way we live, air, water, etc… I heard broccoli is good for breast cancer, so I’ve been eating lots of those these days.

    Karen – your link is extremely helpful. I’m definitely interested in exploring herbal medicine in conjunction with the Western medicine. The success rate statistics of Dr. George Wong’s patients look so promising. I live in San Jose California and I’ll also do some research on local herbal medicine doctors who may be able to mix the herbs for me. Thank you for the information.

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    over 6 years ago
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    attypatty

    Dear Nana:
    I am reading a great book called "Anti Cancer" by Dr. Servan Schreiber, a doctor/scientist/brain cancer survivor (he died last July after living with brain cancer for 20 years). It is a wonderful book about his own experience and how he changed his lifestyle to combat cancer - diet, exercise, environment, and stress. He teaches what foods fight cancer, which foods to avoid because they can create a "terrain" in the body where cancer can grow; how to "de-stress" to avoid cancer recurrence; how and why exercise helps fight cancer; what environmental factors are toxic and can allow cancer to grow and how to "clean up" your environment to avoid cancer causing toxins. I would encourage you to read it.
    Attypatty

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    over 6 years ago
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    attypatty

    Dear Nana:
    I read your post about Vitamin C and wanted to share something with you. Vitamin C in large doses is anti-inflammatory and so can be anti-cancer, but I have learned that during the treatment phase, we should avoid antioxidants because they can mask cancer cells. During our treatment phase (although I see you are not having chemo so this may not apply to you - but it may apply during hormonal therapy as well), you don't necessarily want to mask the activity of potential cancer cells. You should discuss this with your oncologist. Attypatty

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    over 6 years ago
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  Nana started following

  Question: Any suggestions for herbal or alternative medicine to reduce risk of breast cancer recurrence?

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  over 6 years ago
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  Nana started following

  User: GregP_WN

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  over 6 years ago
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  Nana shared an experience

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  over 6 years ago
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  Nana started following

  Question: Can people who’s had bilateral mastectomy with concurrent reconstruction surgery share your experiences with me?

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  almost 7 years ago
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  Nana asked a questionBreast Cancer

  Can people who’s had bilateral mastectomy with concurrent reconstruction surgery share your experiences with me?

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  almost 7 years ago

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    Hamsagal

    I just joined this group yesterday and am impressed with the dialogue here. though everyon's situation is always a bit different and every decision has to be "one's own", I was searching hard for someone to talk to who had a similar experience. I am through my surgery and radiation now (3 wks ago) but will share my story in the event it is helpful to someone else. I am 57, slight build and quite fit and was shocked to get my diagnosis (IDC) on a routine mammogram. I had a biopsy and US which indicated a small tumor and then had the decision to make re: partial mastectomy (lumpectomy) followed by radiation and hormone treatment or full mastectomy.My dilemna was that my bra size is A cup and the tumor appeared to be near the middle of my chest. My surgeon said she had to take a 1cm margin around the tumor which looked like half of my breast tissue would be removed! With no option of reconstruction post radiation, I had a very difficult decision and consulted a plastic surgeon. I was told that matching would be very difficult because I was so small. Bilateral mastectomy was clearly over-treatment in my mind. So, in the end, I chose partial (lumpectomy) and ended up with the best case scenario. the tumor was very small (.7mm) and the margins and SNB were clear. I only (amazing how perspective changes) required radiation and hormone therapy. I am now 3 wks post radiation (that's another story) and aking Arimidex and I have to say that my surgery choice was the right one for me. If one didn't know that I had breast surgery, one could not tell. the scar is almost invisible and the tissue loss is minimal.

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    over 6 years ago
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    cbutinski

    I had what they called stage 4 breast cancer on my right breast, they asked me about a lumpectomy but the idea of going through this again if it happened again was more than I could bare, it was not possible for me to have only one breast removed because i had large breast and the plasic surgeon that it could not be duplicated, so I chose a bilateral masectomy with reconstruction expanders, please read my profile because after all is said and done I have the implants one is practically in my armpit, I also have this extra skin on the side of my chest because I became smaller.

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    almost 6 years ago
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    DaveWaz

    Nana,
    Thank you for question and urging other WhatNexters to share their experiences. This is what we're all about! I hope all is well.

    Your question reminded me of some content we have on reconstruction experiences.

    https://www.whatnext.com/experiences/procedure/breast-reconstruction-flap

    https://www.whatnext.com/experiences/procedure/breast-reconstruction-implant

    https://www.whatnext.com/experiences/procedure/reconstructive-surgery

    It also reminded me to let WhatNexters know about our Beginner's Guide to Cancer, including a guide on how women chose between a lumpectomy and mastectomy.

    https://www.whatnext.com/cc/how_we_chose_between_a_lumpectomy_and_mastectomy

    Best of luck to all,
    David

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    almost 5 years ago

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