The Answer to Cancer Interview
So this exciting thing happened!!!! Amy Redford (Robert Redford’s daughter) interviewed me for a new docuseries called THE ANSWER TO CANCER today!!!! They are concentrating on alternative methods of treatment to go along with western medicine by interviewing doctors and integrative doctors and people who specialize in their respective fields of research.
I am so incredibly honored to be able to share my story and journey and possibly inspire or help other people through this!!! Brookwell/McNamara Entertainment and Jeff Hays and Amy Redford are helping to shift the perspective on this disease and being hope that there ARE other ways to bring yourself back to wellness!!!! BRAVO!!!!
The Evolution of Oncology with Dr. Nalini
Here is a link to a free talk my alternative medicine doctor gave! Please feel free to share!
Celebrating my Supporters
2 years ago I was celebrating the goddesses and my husband that got me through my darkest days!!!! So grateful (not pictured: Jason Saffran who is also one of those goddesses)
Bookending this saga...it definitely isn’t over but we started this journey with a photo and we decided to book end it with another at my 3 month check up! Thank you so much Cecilia Najar for traveling to Duarte yesterday like it was nothing...it is NOT nothing it is SOME-THING AMAZING! I am so blessed for my man who is my person and safe harbor and my circle of girlfriends who surrounded me with love and never let me be alone in this process. Them and all of YOU who reminded me over and over that I was not alone. I’m back to wearing my jeans and t shirt uniform every once in a while even!!! Now if that isn’t a sign I don’t know what is! Doctor is very pleased and said my blood work is great! Love love love Dr Ernest Han at City of Hope. He is a badass along with my oncologist Dr Gottfried Konecny who is also a total badass!!!! EVERY Dr. will have their own unique perspective on what you need to do...they will sometimes agree on certain things like the normal protocol but interestingly enough they disagreed about the trial I was offered. It can be daunting to try and figure out who is “right”. I can only try and truly listen to myself when I am calm and grounded and take my direction from there after really listening to all the experts in this field. Here’s what I know right now...technically I am “no evidence of disease” -yay! Statistically the recurrence rate is 80 percent within 18 months. Boo! One Dr. says all you can do is wait...one says more drugs in a trial...opposite ends of the spectrum. My alternative doctors say there are MANY things I can do to treat the microscopic cells that are still inside. I feel that is my happy medium between these two extremes and I feel that this is the best route for ME. Alternative medicine as I get healthier and healthier the further away I get from my chemo treatments is my choice. Getting myself to a place where I can live a stress free life...that is my goal and I’m putting it out there for everyone and the universe to hear! I am not scared to die but I am scared of dying without truly living my best life and being creative and doing things that matter if that makes any sense...but I’m going to squeeze every bit of magic out of the time I have on this planet and maybe that will last for 30 more years!!!! Ya never know do ya? Sending love to everyone who is reading this and who is following my journey
How I Stay Positive
All of us who have been touched by cancer (whether we have had it or someone we know has had it and we helped walk with them on the journey) have already known what it feels like to feel helpless. And because of this we have a skill set to get through a time like this that others might not.
Anyway I want to answer a question somebody asked me today about how I stay positive and I just wanted to share it with all of you. I would love to know if you feel the same or if you have any other suggestions for people who are just feeling really low right now. No suggestion is too big or small because I know that we never know who might need to hear our words
Done With Treatment
You are never alone in your feeling of overwhelm. We can’t always be a face of happiness...there is always room for every feeling and vulnerability. Being where you are at...that’s all we can do...and I believe that’s where we all connect. This was 2 years ago AFTER I was done with treatment.
You would think I would be so happy all the time bc my treatment is over. But here is the truth....when life comes crashing back in there are feelings of such overwhelm...it’s a very confusing time.
2 Years Cancer-Free
TODAY IS MY TWO YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF BEING CANCER FREEEEEE! I made this video two years ago as soon as I found out! It was not the end of the decisions nor the end of the journey to staying well but this is a day to celebrate
June 10th, 2020
Up since 4am. It was my 50th birthday yesterday and honestly when I was diagnosed at 47 i didn't think i would make it to 50 so it's pretty monumental. I awoke at 4am...cannot sleep -probably due to going to an actual restaurant for the first time since covid hit and i had a REAL dessert with SUGAR! Against my diet i know...but it was my birthday. Now feeling guilty...mostly bc I am getting my HUGE (biocept microscopic cancer cell test and 20-25 more vials for around 40 other blood tests needed for Dr Nalini Chilkov) battery of blood tests drawn and i know the sugar will show up on them. it was a silly thing to do but i am letting it go. It was just one dessert!!!! I am also scared...there are several fears I have now regarding blood tests.
PTSD: my former juicy veins are now tiny hard to find strings which makes getting my blood taken quite frustrating and painful. I just started crying even thinking about it. There is a PTSD that came after the cancer was long gone...and part of it for me was needles. THANKFULLY i have found a mobile phlebotomist named Keith who is sooooo good. it's rare to find a good phlebotomist but on of my BEST PIECES OF ADVICE is to ALWAYS ask "who is your best sticker" when you are getting blood drawn. At a doctors office there is always one or two women/men that everyone knows is the best. try to wait for them! I did not get a port so i got stuck a lot! I pray I have pounded enough water yesterday and this morning to make my veins more visible.
TIP: 1. Drink LOTS of water even if you are fasting before a blood test and even put a little salt into the water to help retain it.(trying to down another bottle as i type this!)
TIP 2. Take a face towel and run hot water over it. make it into a compress over ur veins right up until it's time to get stuck. it helps!
FEAR OF THE RESULTS: Along with staying vigilant comes a fear about getting a bad test result. this time even more so bc it has been many months since i have been tested. Covid has made me a bit lazy with taking both sets of my supplements each day...and also my diet hasn't been 100%. these are the things i think about the night before a blood test. when you have a cancer that normally recurs there is always the fear of it coming back. so i'm there. right now. hello fear...
TIP: 1. Remember most everyone feels thing way...DAILY! So none of us are alone.
TIP: 2. If you stay on top of your blood tests...every two to three months you can catch microscopic cells BEFORE they start to create something unmanageable.
I am not sure if this helped or gave any helpful information. Sometimes it's just good to share so i thank you for being here and listening...
Acupuncture & Energy Work
One of the many treatments I did during chemo after chemo and still keep up with is acupuncture and energy work! I do monthly check ins (not right now bc of covid) with both Nalini Chilkov and Iris Tanz at Fusion Healing(pictured below). It is an amazing way to keep the blood moving, release stagnation and anxiety, boost immunity and keep me feeling calm and grounded. Dr Chilkov is more medical and concentrated on the points to heal and keep my body healthy and Iris does that as well but also does cupping and concentrates on my energy too! Both amazing and needed for me. Do you have any people or doctors or healers you would like to share with the group?
Chemical-Free Products
Here are some of the products I switched to 2 years back to keep myself as chemical free as I could. I still use these plus others from Beautycounter!
Original post:
Ok as promised! Here are a few of the all natural no chemical products that I love! Please let me know if you want me to show you more! Now that I have switched I wish I had done this a long time ago....and now I want to take better care of my liver and kidneys Astara Skin Care Native
Quarantine Looks
I wanted to share this post with all of you....because we are connected is a very different and deeply revealing way. So IF you are inspired to share I would love to know what this quarantine time has revealed to you about yourself...or your life...or how you move through the world. You can certainly share it here with the group and/or if it stirs your creative juices to figure out how to take a photo of an image that symbolizes that for you I am sharing mine in Instagram with the hashtag #revealandshift . Or if you are more private I invite you to just share with me
Snacks, Snacks, Snacks
Wanted to share some of my favorite snack items that are healthy and that make being on a restricted diet more FUN!
Please let me know if you have any to share with all of us as well!
www.integritycacao.com -low sugar content chocolate
www.blodekuh.com -cheese and yogurt
Welcome!
I wanted to welcome everyone! This is a page I created after I started my journey back in 2017. I had walked my father down the road of pancreatic cancer and after his funeral I returned to my home in California to then be diagnosed with Stage 3c Ovarian Cancer less than two weeks later. 10 years before that my mother died of breast cancer. Because I felt like I had nothing to lose I decided to try EVERYTHING ALTERNATIVE I could to work alongside of western medicine and I documented it all. Unfortunately I don't have it all curated into folders but I promise to get more organized.
I want to talk about my diet and what I continue to eat and not eat now that I am cancer free (or no evidence of disease as they like to call it.) Please let me know if there is anything else you want to know! I am happy to come on and answer any questions you might have. Please ask them below!
Welcome. We are in this together.
Two Years Ago!
This was the day (two years ago!) I made the decision to stop chemo at six rounds and I explain why....I also shared a bread recipe!
Heal Documentary
Oh my lord!!!!
Heal Documentary featured me today!!! I feel so honored And I want to WELCOME all the new people who just joined...it’s amazing honor. Please feel free to browse through or ask me any questions. I am just beyond grateful for Heal and for my health and for being able to share my journey.
ALL My Supplements
Here is a video list of ALL of the supplements I take to keep my body an environment that cancer will not like!!! I want to make sure to say that you need to consult an alternative doctor before taking any of these things. This is just what works for me.
It’s a LOT of stuff! I have grouped them into categories: immunity, cancer fighters, emotion feel good supplements for my mind and heart and things to help me sleep. I understand that most everyone wouldn’t want to do all of this and it’s definitely a financial commitment!!! I decided very early on that I was going to commit fully to whatever Dr. Nalini Chilkov wanted me to take. So this was just the right path for me.
If you have any questions put them below and I will try my best to answer or to get you answers
We Know.
We are somewhat uniquely prepared for this strange time
Aren’t we?
Those of us who have faced our death...absorbed toxic chemicals...
Those of us who had to reach as far down into ourselves as we could go to fight
To keep going
To weather the storm
It’s still hard...still a shock
But for me at least there is a remembering
That We have done this before
We came up against the edge
We stayed in bed
Inside
We got sick and sicker
Over and over
And then we saw the light at the end of the tunnel
And we realized how strong we are
And we still are
Remembering that
We will overcome
And this will be another turning point
Another shedding of what doesn’t matter
A deeper understanding of ourselves and what we want for our life.
We know.
You Are Enough, I Am Enough
Today
I have to write this down
The message I’m getting
Is that this isolation is
An extremely important
Opportunity
Something is brewing inside me
As I slow down
Like the cancer made me do
As I strip away
All that I thought made up my identity
All the movement
The have to
The should
The striving
The accomplishing
The finish lines
The paths
ANY end points at all.
Even the movement in my isolation
The organizing
The cleaning
It’s all part of the same
Energetic filling.
This is a stripping away
To the truth
You are enough
This is the time
To fill the hole or void
To sooth the pain
To heal
To realize
To embrace
You are enough
I am enough
The purpose is connection
And through connections
Evolution
Within ourselves
And just That
Is
So
Much
Peace
Earthing
Earthing! This helps me ground and come back to center. Roots me back into nature and what is actually real and important for my wellbeing! I highly recommend! No special way to do it just take off your shoes and walk around on the grass...easy! You can also google it!
Kelly Gores Heal Documentary #earthing
Covid
I felt compelled to write to you all...to tell you I am sending you love and light during this time. For so many of us this is extra scary bc Chemo has made our immune system weaker...maybe you just got through your fight and now here is another! A few weeks back I was in the hospital on oxygen and iv antibiotics bc I had pneumonia!!! I’m better now but the thought of having to do that again during this time when our hospitals are stretched to capacity is a frightening thought!
But here’s what I really want to say. Let’s try to focus on being helpers in whatever way that means. Let’s try and help each other take the focus off the fear and turn to our fellow humans and tell them u love them. Or ask them how they are doing...or buy someone something on amazon if you know they are somehow finding themselves without food for their children.
We know what it’s like to fight for our lives. We have done it! Which means we can help each other through this. Covid 19 ain’t for nuthin on us survivors!!!!!
Only love
Stacy
No One is Perfect
Today
My
Mind
Is
Jumbled.
Even as I sit outside,
Sipping tea
And hearing the birds,
With the sun lightly shining on my face.
Sometimes I am attached to misery-
Or upset.
Even though I know
It’s ridiculous.
And that at the end
I will laugh at myself-
At the very end I mean.
Sometimes the soup is sticky,
And i just can’t seem to turn on the shower...
Not yet.
So I sit with my tea
And feel justified
In my anger.
While the birds
Look at me knowing I don’t understand how to
Truly
Live
I’m posting this because no one is perfect. Everyone has moments or days where the smiles fail...and even hope wears thin. EVERYONE. I put a lot of pressure on myself in these moments to remember how far I have come. To remember I beat cancer. To remember I am alive!
But sometimes I just have to give myself a break and let myself sit in the soup until the feelings pass. And during this time just try my best not to attach myself or ANY meaning to the thoughts.
It’s just a storm. And the birds are still singing...and the sun is patiently waiting for my gaze to see more clearly...forgiving all my humanness.
No one is perfect.