A Little Memoir on Cancer Remissions

Self-Education helped put Breast Cancer in remission. Memoir By Debby Blettner

My cancer journey began in 1995 when, due to my mother’s insistence and the hereditary factor in our family, I had a mammogram, an x-ray of the breasts for cancer detection. Immediately it was discovered that I had some pre-malignant breast cells.

After a biopsy, surgery removing a small section of the breast it was decided that I was in need of a mastectomy, complete removal of my left breast. The doctor strongly recommended I had the surgery in 6 days time. Knowing I didn’t have enough information regarding cancer to really make an educated decision, I declined.

I didn’t have peace about such a drastic surgery, being only 35 years of age. I learnt the name of my cancer being Ductal Carcinoma In Situ (DCIS) meaning non malignant, (Stage 0 Cancer).

The doctor referred me to a surgeon, who suggested I talk to a Radiologist for a second opinion. The radiologist suggested only partial surgical removal of the breast with Radiotherapy.

A Naturopathic Doctor also suggested radical mastectomy, with information about carrot juice, staying positive, looking after myself and getting enough rest.

With the news that I was pregnant with my second child, the surgeon referred to see me in a year, causing me to question the urgency of the Stage 0 cancer. After I miscarried at 3 months I continued with conceiving once again as I was told I was fertile for a short period of time.

Four months later I again conceived and gave birth to a healthy baby. Out of concern I took another mammogram to check if the calcification levels had increased, before I moved overseas with my family. The results showed a 50% chance of malignancy, referring me for a biopsy. Once again I was pressured to have a double mastectomy due to my family’s heredity, with both my mother and grandmother having breast cancer.

With strong denial of having breast cancer I took a 7 month break in Asia, with my family, doing voluntary work with a Mission Based Project. Political instability forced us to return to our homeland, Australia.

A close friend who had recently lost her husband to cancer, referred me to a doctor who delivered Cancer Retreats to self-educate patients to help them make educated decisions, which I was looking for. My reluctance was clear as I had very uncomfortable sessions with the doctors, surgeons, radiologists in the past, but fortunately I found Dr Ivy Bullen to be someone I could trust.

Dr Ivy, as she was called, discovered a lump which had not been present before. From the test results it showed up very suspicious but not 100% proven cancer. I kept my hopes very high and actually went into denial, I simply could not face the facts.

I accepted a Lumpectomy procedure to remove the tumor having it tested under “frozen section” testing for malignant cancer, and a surgical check of the lymph nodes, under my armpit. Although the one centimetre tumor was malignant, my lymph nodes were all clear.

Dr. Ivy consulted me about building up my immune system to fight off the cancer. With less malignant cells/tumors, my immune system would have less work to do. Once the tumor was removed, my immune system could be built up to fight off any recurrence. She explained everything to me in great detail, very gently and motherly and even hugged me. It was my first experience with a doctor with such personal care for her patients.

I went to hospital with full faith that I did not have cancer and was very surprised to find out I had 2 incisions instead of one! The lumpectomy, removal of the lump from my breast and the auxiliary clearance, removal of lymph nodes under my left armpit.

Soon after the surgery I had a fall, resulting in an acute frozen shoulder which took 16 months of recovery. I was invited to my first Cancer Retreat known as the BALYA Retreat, a 5 day retreat for cancer patients and their carers to learn about cancer and self-help. The information was both stimulating and hopeful for natural healing. After the 5 Day Retreat, for the next 6 weeks I put all I learnt into practice with the support of my husband and my two young girls.

My blood draw, checking for Natural Killer Cell Count, before the Retreat was compared with the blood draw 6 weeks after the Retreat with outstanding results. My results were due on Monday morning at 9am, but Dr. Ivy phoned me at 8pm on Sunday instead, so excited to tell me my results. My Natural Killer Cells, had risen by 60% which was a medical phenomena resulting in optional surgery, which I declined, for extracting more tissue to clear the margin.

She explained it was possible to convert suspicious cells back to normal cells using my immune system. I decided to take that course. I was given a goal to reach my optimum Natural Killer Cell count five years from then. Within the same year my husband was diagnosed with cancer had an Orchiectomy, my childhood best friend had a colostomy, but sadly passed, my brother-in-law also with cancer had a Colectomy, and my disability with a frozen shoulder, two young children, resulted in my NK Cell count dropping by 25% due to extreme stress. Fortunately three out of the four of us went into remission and became cancer survivors.

The pressure was on to accept the mastectomy, so my optional surgery became a non-option. I gave into a preventative surgery, even without having the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene, including mastectomy reconstruction. The combination of the multiple surgeries resulted in Lymphodema in my left arm which has become more of a disability as I age.

Forced to slow down as a workaholic my life, as it was, had to change. Dietary changes for our whole family focused on a vegetarian diet, for alkalinity to help cancer to reverse. All home made meals, no junk food, no sugar, no dairy and a lot of other no’s. Lifestyle changes included slowing down, exercising, taking self care into our lives, appreciating each day as it comes and keeping the faith.

Through these dietary changes of supplementation, wheat free, dairy free, sugar free diet I found a much more relaxed lifestyle. I also had the benefit of no longer facing laryngitis and bronchitis which I had constantly been afflicted twice a year for over a 8 years. I am so grateful for all the self-help and wellness programs I learnt from the cancer retreats, having my husband move from cancer survivors for the past 20 years, to cancer thrivers.