I worked in conventional medicine for 10+ years as a registered dietitian, before I received the life threatening diagnosis of Leukemia. At the time, the only hope for Leukemia victims was a bone marrow transplant with an 80% mortality rate. My daughter was 5 years old at the time, and I refused to leave the planet so early in her and my life. I chose MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas, for my care. Little did I know, this would be a very frequent trip for many months and years to come. When I met with Dr. G, he gave me the “bad” news, that I would have only about 2 1/2 to 3 years to live unless I had a successful bone marrow transplant. He then began the process of genetically testing my large Italian family, for possible donors of bone marrow.
My Transplant doctor found, that in my large family, there was no genetic match for a transplant. From here, he began a search in the transplant registry. After a 6 month, he found a genetic match with a gentleman in Europe. I was excited and anxious for a decision. I wanted this to happen. I thought this would be my “new lease on life”. I find it interesting though, how emotional life moments factor into things, even logical, rational things. Dr. G had just had a baby several weeks before my case for a transplant was presented to the board. My case was not approved for the transplant, due to the even high mortality rate. I was dismayed, disappointed and sad. They were considering the young age of my daughter; 5 years old.
My transplant doctor sent me over Dr. K who was running a clinical trial with a new chemotherapy. Dr K decided I was a canditate. I was admitted to the study, and started the trial immediatelly. I was put on a chemotherapy pump every 28 days for almost 2 years. I had to fly to Texas every 3 months for checkups.The trial drug placed me into remission within a short time.I was happy until the drug stopped working and negatively affecting my thyroid and kidneys. I was sent home with no drugs, and no options at the time.
Out of remission, Dr. K called to recruit me for another experimental drug. This time it was an injectible.
I had to inject myself nightly before bed. If I was lucky, I would be asleep before I got sick. I was on this injectable for 18 months, put into remission once again, while thinking this would be the one!
In September 1999, I was sent home again, out of remission and told “to see how long I can live”. My doctors told me, “if only I could stay alive long enough, technology was changing so fast,’ they’ will come up with something.” That was not comforting to me. Once home, I was determined to find “something” out there . There were no email groups like there are today, only message boards. I was a member of several leukemia message boards, and on the message boards there was beginning to be chatter, about a lone doc, doing research on my type of leukemia in Oregon. I dug a little deeper. I called his research lab and they told me that a phase II clinical trial was starting at 3 different locations in the US, and MD Anderson was one of them. I called my leukemia doc and asked him about it. He confirmed that the study was starting in December, but I was not a candidate because I had not failed interferon, which was considered first line therapy at the time. Well, in my unconventional wisdom, I decided that these were very arbitrary guidelines, so I did what any strong-willed, determined woman would do, I stretched the truth a little, and got in the study!
Thank God I did, because friends I knew from message boards were dying. I was very sad and happy at the same time. I entered the study having no idea what would happen. But having been in 2 studies already, and not having any hopes, I decided to go for it.
In June of 2,000, I went into remission. I am still in remission today! I continued the research in cancer nutrition and wellness that I had started, when I was diagnosed. Originally the research had been aimed at helping myself to survive. Now, things were shifting in my life. I had to concentrate on getting stronger after 4 years of chemotherapy. As my strength increased, I started to work with patients/clients again. I used the knowledge I had gained from my research, my experience, my growth during my cancer journey.
During this time, a new way of practicing nutrition was emerging; Integrative and Functional Medicine Nutrition. Once I learned about it, I realized this was my new way to practice nutrition and wellness. At that time, I met a physician who mentored me in Functional medicine. (even though it didn’t have a name at the time) It was an entirely new paradigm of how to work with health conditions;working with the individual as a whole system, instead of treating each symptom separately. I have gone on to do post graduate studies in the field, along with many workshops, seminars, and in Wellness coaching. Today, when I work with someone, I put it all together.