So as this journey began for me, I first wasn’t surprised, when I was diagnosed with breast cancer, as I was symptomatic for years… it was just that no one knew what was causing my symptoms.
To this point, there are two main tests that were eye opening to me:
Your doctor may say they don’t know what caused your disease, or give a blanket term by saying that it is environmental. I agree, environment has something to do with it and that there are many factors that needed to happen in order for the disease to express itself.
What I am not comfortable with, is the lack of investigation around what may have caused a persons disease. Fair enough the health system has so many things to deal with, but I feel if a patient wants this information the option should be made available even at a cost. Since my diagnosis I have spent well over $15,000, to investigate and heal every aspect of my disease outside the conventional healthcare system.
Many supportive and investigative aspects could be integrated into they system in such a way that it would give patients an option to a clear structured pathway would cost a fraction of what it has cost me.
These tests I had done with my naturopathic doctors. Yes more than one. It has taken me meeting many different providers to learn about different tests as there is just so much out there that not one provider alone could provide me with everything I needed.
The Dutch Test
I feel if there is only one test to look at your hormone levels it should be this one. It tells you the exact state of your hormones and especially if they are travelling down a dangerous pathway.
When I saw what was happening with my hormones I immediately thought, why didn’t anyone look at these years earlier? Why isn’t this part of regular practice?
You always wish you could turn back time, I mean no one wants to make it to the point of having cancer. I would like to see in the future however, if doing these tests at pivotal ages, as 20 and 30 would help prevent future breast cancer? Is anyone up for this challenge?
Write me, I would love to hear from you, especially if you are a Naturopathic Doctor or Family Doctor lindsay@diagnosed.ca
PureGenomics & DNA sample
To top it off, once I had given my raw data from 23andMe to my naturopath, he found that my methylation pathway was out of whack and that my body is not able to detoxify estrogen!!! Additionally, after learning about this, research I read several research papers that include that homocysteine (Hcy) an sulfur amino acid and precursor to demethylation of methionine, Vitamins B6 , B12 and folate are important cofactors that participate in the metabolism of Hcy, which all play a role in oncogenesis. http://exp-oncology.com.ua/article/11320/increased-homocysteine-plasma-levels-in-breast-cancer-patients-of-a-mexican-population
For me in this moment, I wished that these tests could become a standard of practice.
I feel this is something worth investigating. As a public health researcher I look for gaps in the system and practical ways we can address them. If you are interesting in participating in an ad-hock study, I would love to hear from you.
The criteria for participation is that you are diagnosed with a hormone sensitive cancer of the breast. I am interested to see study the cause of your cancer by looking your methylation pathway. To participate you should have already done either 23andMe or Ancestry.com testing. You will just need to request the raw data. In return for your participation, you will receive a full report on the variations in your DNA by looking at your single nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs).
To participate please email and indicate Methylation Study in subject line. study@diagnosed.ca