Metaplastic Breast Cancer

CtBPs can stop cancer’s sugar craving and is an alternative to chemotherapy

CtBPs can stop cancer’s sugar craving and is an alternative to chemotherapy

 

OK – this isn’t the latest research and it came out in August 2013. But bloody hell its good news!

The guru’s at Southampton University have found a new way to target breast cancer cells that love and grow and multiply because of sugar.  They have created an inhibitor that targets active cancer cells and NOT normal cells.

Any of you who have read this blog from the start will now how awful chemotherapy is and how it destroys your whole body.   I have been begging and searching for alternative to chemotherapy and this one sound GOOD!!!

Claudin-Low explained

The term Claudin-low explained

Once you get the results back from the several (thousand) tests you have had done prior to your breast cancer diagnosis you are often left spinning in acronyms and new words.

The first term you often come across is Triple Negative.  This is a standard term used for all cancers that are home negative.

Injecting mistletoe as an alternative treatment for breast cancer

As many of you know I live in Germany.  I have to say, even though I am not German.  I am proud of the way the nation has embraced homeopathic medicine and complimentary medicine. 

One very common alternative preventative treatment for cancer is mistletoe?

 

Survival of breast cancer based on stage

Earlier this week I spoke about breast cancer staging.  Suddenly I was inundated with a number of questions and emails about the survival rates depending on stage of cancer.

Survival of Breast Cancer Based on Stage

Now, we all know that this is a million dollar question.   But when I was first diagnosed I came across this site.  I have used it regularly for research and information since then.  The graphs below show excellent and realistic guide lines of what to expect in the war against cancer.

Are mammograms really worthwhile?

Sigh.

I am not sure where to begin with my conspiracy theory so I might as well start at the beginning.  Women under 40 aren’t supposed to get cancer – hence the start date for yearly mammograms.  Most women who get cancer are in their later years say 60+.  Detecting cancer or breast screening on older women has proven to show good results.

I was one of the under 40s to get cancer. So, out of interest I asked the 357 women on our breast cancer forum if their breast cancer was found via a mammogram.

Did your mammogram find cancer?

 

I found the lump first 36 votes. No 19 votes.  Yes 7 votes.... so far.

My hair is finally growing back...

Yippee.  After 3.5 years... after cancer.... after chemo... the baldness is going!

If I known back then that the chemo cocktail (Taxotere/ Docetaxol) that I took could have caused permanent hair loss - I probably would have prefered to have died. 

Now, however, I am happy I didn't die and the good news is that my hair is finally FINALLY coming back.  What a relief! 

Being bald has been horrible but doable.  Now with my curls coming back and the bald patches going; I am starting to feel normal again!

 

I have started using a Coffee based shampoo and I would recommend that to anyone else who is having hairloss problems after Taxotere. Also focus on a balanced diet and don't go extreme vegan like I did! 

Metaplastic Breast Cancer Group and Research Update

Why do people get cancer all the time?  Why is Metaplastic Breast Cancer so rare?  Why do some people survive and some people die?  For what reason do we fight on and try and live even though inside we are falling apart?

Could it be that the world in which we live in is plagued with chemicals, additives, bad food and too much sugar?  Stress is confused with career and cancer is sometimes a second chance for many of us?

I don’t know.  I am not Aristotle.  But what I do know is that if you find out you have Metaplastic Breast Cancer (MBC) and you need someone to talk to. Then we have the group just for you.

It can be found on Facebook.  It is completely private so no one from your family can see what you write.  We have three great Admins, Judy who is a three year survivor.  Cari who is finishing her own chemo and radiation plan for MBC now; and me, Bena.

 

What we have found?

With over 200 women on our forum we have conducted surveys and questionnaires on why we think we got cancer and specifically on MBC.  As you now MBC is extremely rare.  It effects 0.01% of the women with breast cancer and it is extremely aggressive.

We have found that there are two common types.  One that spreads to the lymph nodes and one that just grows in the breast and then jumps sporadically to other organs. We have about 15 hormone positive MBC patients on our site and the rest are triple negative.  

But there are some things that all types of MBC have in common:

• It grows very quickly and very aggressively
• It is often confused for a cyst
• It can be painful and hurt (usual breast cancer lumps do not hurt)

How do we deal with Metaplastic Breast Cancer?

• We must deal with this aggressively
• Depending on age this means chemo and radiation
• In 40% of cases chemo prior to lumpectomy has worked.  Unfortunately this is a bit of a gamble and depends on the type of MBC that you have.  Some ladies that have had chemo and it didn’t work – progressed to stage 4 cancer quickly.
• Your chances of survival with stage 4 MBC are slim.  But we have two girls on the forum that are alive and kicking.

 

If you are doing research on Metaplastic Breast Cancer please contact me.

If you have Metaplastic Breast Cancer and want to join our group please search Metaplastic Breast Cancer on Facebook or click here.

When Cancer Hits

When Cancer Hits

When Cancer Hits is one of many books on cancer.   But it is one of the few that does actually deserve an accolade.

I am surprised that I feel that way, because when I received the book – I was nervous about reading it.  When you live cancer and you have chemo, five operations and radiation… you read books and you try and be positive but the books that you read gloss over the bad bits. 

Or the alternative is that they blame you for everything you did wrong in your life (you drank too much, you ate too much sugar, you ate too much salt…).  Then you get more depressed and never finish them.

 

Today I ran 10KM and then cried like a baby

 
I can remember when I couldn’t run 100 meters.  During chemo – I couldn’t even complete Wii Fit exercises.  But earlier this year I joined a running club (www.zeitfuersport.com) and today I ran 10KM in 1 hour 11 minutes (www.jogandrock.com).  It’s not my best time – my best time is 1 hour 8 minutes.  But hell, it was GREAT and I feel great and I ran with some dear friends (see pictures).

Please donate to my metaplastic breast cancer charity

As the founder, Editor and more often than not the CEO of GoMo News, I have met some wonderful and remarkable people.