I'm sorry I've been away so long. I'm afraid my lap-band is a distant memory except when I occasionally feel my port -- and when my doctor freaks out because she forgets it's there when she's examining me. :wink_smile:

I first want to wish everyone a belated Happy Bandiversary! I look forward to checking out your posts and getting an idea of how everyone is doing.

As far as my situation, I switched treatments in November when my latest scans showed some tumor growth. I've been tolerating the new treatment very well and have been able to continue teaching. In January, I will be going to the Cancer Treatment Center of America in Zion, Illinois (near Chicago) for further evaluation., They treat the whole patient with diet, supplements, and exercise, in addition to treating the cancer. The majority of their patients are Stage III or IV and they're used to helping patients who have been told there is nothing else that can be done -- though I haven't been told that. I feel that I need a team that is more aggressively on my side than what I've been getting.

I hope all of y'all are doing well and I'll try to visit more often to keep up with your success! Take care!

Kendra

It's great to hear from you Kendra. We often wonder how you are doing. LOL. I bet a port WOULD scare a doctor who didn't know it was there.

I am glad you are still able to teach and are feeling relatively good. You are a real inspiration to us all. I wish you great success with Cancer Treatment Centers. I hear really good things about them.

Warm thoughts to you. Keep kickin and stompin.

Hi Kendra, It is so great to hear from you, I am so embarrassed by my lack of contact, please accept my apology. Great that you have been able to continue teaching, it's amazing how work, which can drive you crazy under the best of circumstances, can be such a lifesaver when there is stress coming in from other areas. What a source of identity, pride, accomplishment and social life the old 9 to 5 can be, huh?

Is you new treatment still at Andersen? When you get to Zion, remember that another meaning for that word (in Hebrew, of course, from whence it comes) is Israel and Jerusalem, and that people there sending a lots of good wishes your way. You are still on my synagogue's prayer list and will continue to be there until you get better. It's great that you are being assertive and pro-active about your treatment. I'm sure that you are a great advocate for yourself, and that your husband and family are not far behind.

Thanks for the bandiversary wishes - and thanks for keeping in touch.

Love, Bandpal

It's great to hear from you Kendra. We often wonder how you are doing. LOL. I bet a port WOULD scare a doctor who didn't know it was there.

I am glad you are still able to teach and are feeling relatively good. You are a real inspiration to us all. I wish you great success with Cancer Treatment Centers. I hear really good things about them.

Warm thoughts to you. Keep kickin and stompin.

Hi, Foofy! Thanks for posting and your positive thoughts. I'm so impressed with your progress! You're almost halfway there, girl! Good for you! :angry_smile:

Hi Kendra, It is so great to hear from you, I am so embarrassed by my lack of contact, please accept my apology. Great that you have been able to continue teaching, it's amazing how work, which can drive you crazy under the best of circumstances, can be such a lifesaver when there is stress coming in from other areas. What a source of identity, pride, accomplishment and social life the old 9 to 5 can be, huh?

Is you new treatment still at Andersen? When you get to Zion, remember that another meaning for that word (in Hebrew, of course, from whence it comes) is Israel and Jerusalem, and that people there sending a lots of good wishes your way. You are still on my synagogue's prayer list and will continue to be there until you get better. It's great that you are being assertive and pro-active about your treatment. I'm sure that you are a great advocate for yourself, and that your husband and family are not far behind.

Thanks for the bandiversary wishes - and thanks for keeping in touch.

Love, Bandpal

Bandpal, I saw your before and after photos in the other thread and you look absolutely amazing!!! It's hard to imagine how much better you must feel now! Your wife and children must be beside themselves with joy, knowing that you've probably added 20 years to your life! I'm so proud to know you!

You have nothing to apologize for. First, you do have an active, busy life! But second, I have no doubt that if I needed you, you're only an email or phone call away and there is so much comfort in knowing that. :frown:

I'm encouraged to know that y'all are still praying for me. I've probably set some kind of record as the atheist with the most prayers on her behalf. :w00t: But I wear a "prayer box" sent to me by a cousin on a chain around my neck. In it goes all of the prayers and positive thoughts that people have been kind enough to send. They give me strength.

I'll be sure to let y'all know how my visit to Zion goes. Thanks for dropping by! :angry_smile:

Hi Kendra! So good to hear from you! I'm glad that you're taking the next step in your treatment. I've no doubt that with your determination and optimism, you will beat this thing. Keep kicking and stomping! We're right there with you!

Hi Kendra! So good to hear from you! I'm glad that you're taking the next step in your treatment. I've no doubt that with your determination and optimism, you will beat this thing. Keep kicking and stomping! We're right there with you!

Thanks, Cindy! Your support means a lot to me!

Hi Kendra! It's so nice to hear from you. I think of you often! I've sent a few prayers your way myself, so they're probably in that prayer box of yours.

Hi Kendra! It's so nice to hear from you. I think of you often! I've sent a few prayers your way myself, so they're probably in that prayer box of yours.

Your prayers are very much appreciated, Sweetie! And congratulations on your fantastic progress! :tt1:

Hi Kendra,

It is so wonderful to hear from you. I think it is great that you are being so proactive with your treatment. It is very smart to take that route now so that you will never have to hear the words "There is nothing more we can do." I believe this will kill that cancer and be a rewarding experience at the same time.

Take care and let us know if you need anything!

Still stompin' and kickin'!

Jill

Hi Kendra,

It is so wonderful to hear from you. I think it is great that you are being so proactive with your treatment. It is very smart to take that route now so that you will never have to hear the words "There is nothing more we can do." I believe this will kill that cancer and be a rewarding experience at the same time.

Take care and let us know if you need anything!

Still stompin' and kickin'!

Jill

Hi, Jill!

It's too bad that patients have to work so hard to be sure they're getting the best, most appropriate care but our medical system is set up so that everyone is a specialist with little knowledge outside his or her own field. And they see so many patients that they don't have much time for each one, especially outside of the visit. But I'm not going to let the system defeat me!

You're doing fantastic! Congratulations!

Thanks!

Kendra, I find a lot of info on www.mercola.com and www.naturalnews.com very useful. There's tonnes of stuff on there about what kinds of food and supplements help kill off cancer cells. Vitamin D is supposed to be one of the very best things to take (at least 4,000 iu/day). I would highly recommend going to these sites and checking it out.

Hi Kendra, So glad you checked in with the November group. Great to hear that you are feeling well enough to work and you're being proactive in your treatment.

My son's wedding is past already! It was a wonderful, fun day and I was happy with my dress ( remember what a big concern that was a year ago?). You shared your story of your daughters wedding with me.

Since my band was removed in Aug. I am doing fairly well by at least maintaining what I lost.

Thanks for letting us know how you are. We're thinking of you and you're always in our prayers.

Kendra, I find a lot of info on www.mercola.com and www.naturalnews.com very useful. There's tonnes of stuff on there about what kinds of food and supplements help kill off cancer cells. Vitamin D is supposed to be one of the very best things to take (at least 4,000 iu/day). I would highly recommend going to these sites and checking it out.

Thanks! One of the reasons I'm glad to be going to CTCA is that some supplements can actually interfere with the chemotherapy so I will follow the advice of the doctor of naturapathy that will be examining me.

Hi Kendra, So glad you checked in with the November group. Great to hear that you are feeling well enough to work and you're being proactive in your treatment.

My son's wedding is past already! It was a wonderful, fun day and I was happy with my dress ( remember what a big concern that was a year ago?). You shared your story of your daughters wedding with me.

Since my band was removed in Aug. I am doing fairly well by at least maintaining what I lost.

Thanks for letting us know how you are. We're thinking of you and you're always in our prayers.

I wondered about the wedding! I'm glad it was a great day! I knew about the band removal and also wondered how you were doing. Maintaining is no easy trick, especially without the help of a band. Good for you!

Thanks for thinking of me!

Hey Longhorn, sorry, it's mostly the type of food (they call them superfoods!) that I wanted you to look at, not really supplements - things like berries, green tea, etc. I knew that sounded off when I typed it.

Hey Longhorn, sorry, it's mostly the type of food (they call them superfoods!) that I wanted you to look at, not really supplements - things like berries, green tea, etc. I knew that sounded off when I typed it.

No need to apologize! I'll be seeing a dietitian, too!