Kirsten's Healing Journey

Hello Support Team,

So many of you have walked with me on this journey and have supported us through the highs and lows. We are grateful for all of you. I am now at a place where I need to ask for more support. I am 4 years from my diagnosis and feel good. Everyday of my life is shaped by the choices I make and the protocols I follow to be as healthy as possible. I am still unwavering in my belief that I have a long, healthy life ahead of me. I also have to use the data I’m receiving to make the best choices for this current stage of healing.

My most recent PET/CT showed some new activity. A Signatera test that measures circulating tumor DNA was ordered and (after a month of waiting!) came back positive for circulating cancer cells, therefore at least some of the new activity on the scan is cancer. I’m tired of this whack-a-mole game of beating back every new recurrence with an invasive procedure. Every summer since 2020 has involved some kind of cancer procedure.

I am now looking for a holistic approach that respects and harnesses the power of the healing systems my body already has. An approach that focuses on understanding the root cause of why this happened and forming my response from that knowledge. I need an approach that not only targets the cancer cells but that brings my immune system to its optimal state. After trying and understanding the limitations of the cancer standard of care protocols (chemo, radiation, surgery) I now believe it is ONLY my own immune system that can create and maintain the balanced conditions my body needs to be and remain cancer free for the long term.

Right now my oncologist is recommending I restart intensive chemotherapy. I have many, many thoughts about chemo and I do recognize that it helped me. I also know what it does to my body, my spirit, and my immune system. If I know that long term wellness involves the best immune system I can build, tearing it down with chemo doesn’t make sense to me. I had those conflicting feelings when I went through a year of chemo and I still did it, because that was the course of action prescribed to me and it was helping. But it felt wrong the whole time. I don’t want to seem ungrateful for chemo that worked. I know that I am lucky that it worked and that it got me to a place where I could get surgery. Many people I know have had harder results when it comes to chemo. We are all walking our own paths of making the best decisions we can with the knowledge we have.

My research, my heart, and my body are telling me the next right step is outside the standard of care. There is an integrative cancer clinic in Mexico called Hope4Cancer . It is leading the world in cutting edge integrative treatments and its focus on root cause. The healing stories that come out of this clinic are incredible. I want to be one of those healing stories. It’s a 3 week in-clinic program and continued at-home protocols for a year. It’s also very expensive and not covered by insurance. We are humbly asking for donations of any amount to help me get there. We will find a way to cover the rest. I know I will get there. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for supporting us in whatever way you feel is right. We love you and are so grateful for our community.