Elder is a plant with a long history of being used for protection from “bad” energy. It is a plant much associated with the fairy realms. Elder blossoms and berries have been used medicinally for centuries. (Especially Black Elderberry Sambucus nigra.) Here on the coast we have Red Elderberry, which is blooming on the edge of forests…
Category: breast cancer
“When I grow up I want to be an Old Woman”
This last treatment seems to be a doozy. My blood counts, for red, white and platelets, were predictably at there lowest point when I went in for my last chemo treatment on the 1st. Because I am due for surgery on April 28th, Dr. Anderson scheduled a nuelesta shot for me- adding a whole new…
Moving forward
So, we actually decided against changing to the treatment plan outlined in the April Fools post – though we hear it’s working great for some (see 4/1 comments). Tuesday’s final session of chemotherapy went smoothly. Now we’re in recovery mode, and Preparation-for-Surgery mode. Iris is spending extra time horizontal, reading books pertinent to treatment. We’re planning…
Super Powers
If you believe that breast milk rocks, then you need to know about Hathor the Cow Goddess, really you need to. Many of the comics are a bit on the snarky side – so if you think babies breastfeeding in public is wrong, you probably won’t find the comic very funny. As of 1998, the…
Great Big Love
There is nothing like getting a big scary death threat from your body to kick up the level of self reflection and inner listening. So when I was first diagnosed, I started asking myself questions right away. One of the questions I asked was, “What thoughts or actions have I been engaged in that make my…
Resiliency
Early on Dr. Allderdice had me fill out a whole page of questions, and sign it. One of the Questions was “How committed are you to your healing?” He was asking for a percentage. I said 100%. So when I feel whiny about taking 25 pills everyday, or doing hydrotherapy in the shower (which means…
“Quick, Look at her elbows!”
Today we travel to PDX to go to the Hai Shan clinic for more TCM mojo and acupuncture. I love acupuncture. If you have never had it, know that it is not super painful- though there are definitely sensations. I can’t begin to explain what is happening. It is in the realm of energy medicine,…
Pick your Poison
There are times when we all have to pick our poison. When I chose to use big Pharma medicine, I signed up to get poisoned. This is definitely a case of the ends justifying the means. From the perspective of the mainstream Oncology world, I will have a hard year that hopefully will be followed…
Orion & Mary of the Miracles
Last night we didn’t take my daily walk until after dinner, when the sky was dark and filled with stars. Orion hovered over our house as he does each winter. I have a special relationship with those particular stars. When I was a child, and knew even less about the constellations then I…
“You’re soo sensitive.”
A kind nurse at St. Vincent told me during BC Bootcamp (the first intense week of my diagnosis) that taking this journey is not about being Tough, it is about being Resilient. On Tuesday Joe and I traveled into Portland to see Dr. Allderdice, the Naturopathic Oncologist. I enjoy seeing him, as he is honest, direct, kind…
The Meanest Woman in Town
“If I hadn’t seen the light in that old lady’s eyes I’d try to be a man you would hate an’ despise I’d rave an’ I’d rant an’ I’d scream an’ yell An’ I’d chase my neighbors from here to Hell… But I can’t be this bad because my folks are too good.” Billy Bragg/Woody…
Riding the Pooka 