Triumph Over Breast Cancer

Fifteen women die from breast cancer every day in Canada. But when Ontario resident Anne Brown was diagnosed in 1993, she refused to become a victim. Now, nine years later, her story remains a tribute to the power of a positive attitude and natural healing.

To see Anne Brown today with the sparkle in her eyes and healthy glow in her cheeks, you would never believe she once had cancer. The disease has changed the life of the small-framed woman with the Scottish brogue, forever and for the better.

On Dec. 10, 1993, at the age of 48, Anne Brown had a small lump and some surrounding tissue removed from her left breast, near the chest wall. Five days later she had 12 lymph nodes surgically removed and a partial mastectomy. The small lump was cancerous. The lymph nodes were not.

She was told follow-ups with radiation treatments were needed to ensure all the cancer cells were killed. Her first visit to the oncologist was not pleasant. Anne was examined and told, quite abruptly, that they could do nothing for her because another lump was felt under her right arm. Tearfully, she returned to her family doctor and was relieved to discover the lump was only a gristly mass of tissue. It was quickly removed along with a mole on the areola.

Anne admits there were times when she felt sorry for herself. Her strongest support came from other patients at the hospital. She also leaned on her friends and family. Two of her friends were living holistic lifestyles and guided Anne. Immediately after the removal of the second lump she started drinking Essiac tea while commencing a 21-day radiation treatment.

Once the radiation was complete, she was put on tamoxifen, a drug prescribed to women with a high risk of breast cancer and those that have completed radiation treatments due to breast cancer. When initially put on the market, the controversial drug was described as a wonder drug for women. It has since come under strong scrutiny.

Anne questioned the decision since she was told the cancer was not in the lymph nodes, leaving her with a 76 per cent chance of non-recurrence. She also wanted to know what side-effects she might have and what her options were. No options were offered. With her limited knowledge of natural alternatives, Anne did not know what to do.

"My emotional state was fearful, and so I co-operated," she says.

With instructions to stay on tamoxifen for five years, she was told her cancer was feeding on estrogen and the tamoxifen was serving as an estrogen blocker. What Anne did not know was that, in her pre-menopausal stage, by blocking her estrogen she would literally jump right into menopause. This caused her debilitating night sweats and hot flashes. She had to change frequently during the night and carry extra sets of clothing with her throughout the day.

She also suffered from digestive problems, lost libido, urinary tract problems, depression and allergies that she never experienced before, as well as mental confusion and poor memory.

She felt worse than she had when the cancer was in her body.

"I started reading everything I could get my hands on about natural health and nutrition. My daughter was 10 years old then. I thought if I was going to die, I wanted her to be proud that I went down fighting," says Anne.

And fight she did.

Realizing the medication was depleting her immune system, a feeble Anne stopped taking tamoxifen two and a half years after starting. Two years later, a thinning at the base of her spine was discovered during a bone density test, a classic side-effect of the drug.

Not being comfortable with her decision to stop the tamoxifen, her doctor then suggested hormone replacement therapy. Having suffered enough side-effects from medications, Anne was skeptical and decided against it.

Throughout all the turmoil in her life, Anne still managed to get certified in aromatherapy and reiki, and she thoroughly studied nutrition on her own. She continued with the Essiac tea and a wholesome diet including plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as calcium supplements, vitamins and minerals. She avoided all processed foods, both in and out of the home. A high quality water system was installed in her home, providing lots of clean drinking water. She took yoga classes, which helped her to focus on her wellness rather than her illness and, as she says, "I walked and walked and walked."

"I want people to know they have options. It scares me that [doctors] don't tell you that," Anne says.

It has been six years since Anne stopped taking tamoxifen and her doctor still recommends hormone replacement therapy whenever he sees her. She remains cancer-free and is a partner in Holistic Health and Nutrition, a natural health-care centre in Whitby, Ontario.