It’s time for my quarterly Blog post and again it feels like there is more unknown than known. Since I don’t have any symptoms from my cancer, I can’t tell what’s going on by how I’m feeling. Gratefully, I’m feeling fine. My most reliable marker has been my CA 27.29 blood test which I have every month. Since starting on Faslodex (treatment for estrogen positive breast cancer) last January, that number has mostly gone down. This past month it went up by 71, to 318. (Just for context, normal is 38 and the highest mine has ever been is 1379, a year ago.) So 318 isn’t time to panic, but it tells me the cancer might be more active. If it continues to go up, it will most likely be time for a PET scan to see what is happening.

I was very disappointed to see that number go up because I have been injecting the Iscador (mistletoe treatment) for about 6 weeks and I expected it to do some cancer-kicking by now. But the dose starts out very small and gradually builds up. Maybe the dose hasn’t gotten big enough yet to do its job. Just yesterday I started the Series II, which is an increased dose from the Series I that I’ve been doing for 6 weeks.

There is abundant research and new information coming out about nutritional strategies for health. I have embraced the restricted eating pattern of eating in an 8 hour window and fasting for 16 hours daily. I finish dinner by 7 and don’t eat again till 11 the next day. The theory behind this is that our bodies need time of not digesting to clean out damaged cells. It’s called autophagy. I’ve been eating this way several days a week for a while, but have just recently committed to doing it daily.

And then there’s the ketogenic diet. My diet is close to being ketogenic in that I eat a low carb, high fat diet, but I haven’t taken it seriously enough to have a scale in my kitchen and keep track of all my macronutrients. It’s a weight issue for me. A ketogenic diet is known for being a weight-loss diet and I don’t want to lose weight.

I asked my oncologist during my last visit — “If I did one more thing to improve my health, what would you recommend?” Her thoughtful response was, “Break a sweat.” I am excited that I have just discovered a senior fitness class in my neighborhood in which I actually do break a sweat. I have gone three times a week for 2 weeks now (and I walk on the alternate days). My body is a little sore, but I know it’s a good thing.

In my last Blog I wrote about wondering what my purpose in life is now that there will be no more conferences. I am still passionate about the Healing Journeys mission to support healing, activate hope, and promote thriving. I am continuing to be guided to other ways I can do that. As I live with my own cancer, I am an information junkie — wanting to learn all the possible strategies I can use to create a body not conducive to the growth of cancer. And I am passionate about sharing that information with others. So at least for this next year, that gives me a reason to get up in the morning. Healing Journeys will offer workshops, retreats, movie nights, online resources, and personal conversations that will support healing, activate hope, and promote thriving, both for myself and others.

One of the 9 factors from Radical Remission that I will mention is having more joy in my life. In this holiday season, I am focusing on the joyful aspects. It’s easy to get caught up in feeling sad because I don’t have family nearby to be with. And there are many things to feel grateful and joyful about and I am focusing my camera in that direction. I got to spend a week with my son in Montreal in October; I have many friends to enjoy the holiday festivities with; this season is a great time to spend quality time with myself and be grateful for so many blessings in my life.

Wishing you an awareness of gratitude and joy in your life.