Re: Essiac

As you are no doubt aware these can be long stories.  A few months ago during my annual physical my primary care doctor noticed a "high platelet count" which was higher than the previous year.  He then sent me to a hematologist who sent me for more blood tests.  This guy told me what his concerns were but I'm hard of hearing and I don't understand medical jargon anyway so I went to his nurse and got a copy of the blood tests.  In it was a JAK2 mutation.  From there I did my Internet search and found that it's a myeloproliferative disorder.  From there I found that this could be Essential Thrombocythemia which is characterized by "sticky platelets" which I'd been told by another doctor that I had many months before so I began zeroing in on this.  Then the hematologist finally got back with me (if you know the area, I'm in Tacoma, the clinic extension is in Federal Way and he only visits it from the main Virginia Mason Clinic in Seattle on occasion) requesting the biopsy.  He did the biopsy (like I said - it's a pain in the butt literally, three hypodermic needles full of marrow from the hip bone) and still didn't diagnose multiple myeloma.  I also snuck in and got a copy of that report from an office assistant - and learned through the Internet from the results that it was "probably" multiple myeloma a 40% to 50% chance.  Oncologist still didn't call it that until more blood tests (which I haven't seen) said they did confirm the diagnosis.

So it was a long journey to get the diagnosis but now that I have I am glad because I know it is in the early stages.  I do not yet have symptoms though I do have low back pain from time to time but that's not new.

I'm in Tacoma, Washington.  I order my Essiac from Mountain Rose Herbs in Eugene Oregon.  Believe that they have a quality product.  During this and other issues it suddenly dawned on me that I had this product in my cupboard along with Pau d'arco and had forgotten about it.  I brewed a gallon about a month ago and have been taking it daily.  I have more energy but won't really know if it helps or not.  The reason I started Essiac was because I have a tumor growing in my left lung and will have surgery for it in three or four weeks.  They will test during surgery for cancer and go from there in their determination of what if anything to remove beyond it.  Lost a lobe in my right lung two years ago to a cancerous tumor and have known for years that I had tumors in my lungs.  I quit a two and a half pack cigarette habit - 42 years ago, but the damage can linger on for a long time.  The cancer surgery two years ago has not slowed me down.

Am not happy about all of this but do feel that I have many more good years left.  I walk almost daily for an hour at a time and feel that it has helped to maintain both good physical condition and a healthy attitude.