...from Panic to Peace
Colleen Flowers educates about holistic, natural, and alternative cancer treatment and care.
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This morning I had my blood drawn. Prior to a mastectomy and removal of 5 lymph nodes after being given a diagnosis of cancer, I never had ANY problems with blood draws. Now... it's often a bit tricky.
Because the lymph nodes were removed from my right armpit, it's highly recommended that I never have a blood draw, IV, or even blood pressure taken on my right arm. There's other things too...
Read MoreWow. Where do I even begin? So much has happened in the 6 weeks since I last wrote an update; therefore, this will probably end up being a bit on the very long-ish side (…like almost 2,800 words on the long-ish side). The weeks I spent at Hufeland Klinik in Germany were just as magical as they were last year. Before I left I thought, “Am I hyping this place up too much? Am I going to be disappointed?” Not.In.The.Least! I flew back to Philadelphia on Tuesday, June 22, 2016 and...
Read MoreI'll be in Germany!
In case you haven't heard it through the grapevine... this time next week I'll be at the Hufeland Klinik in Germany for another 4 weeks of alternative cancer treatment. I'm really excited to go!
I most recently met with my oncologist in April and all of my lab work continues to look good. Based on that, my all-clear PET/CT scan results, and alternative cancer testing results, the doctors I work with at Hufeland recommended that I come back for 4 weeks of treatment... so I'm following their advice. I'll be receiving treatment there from...
It was the Fall of 2013 and I just felt FRANTIC. The church that we go to, Highlands Church, has a Be Still contemplative prayer service most Wednesday evenings. This evening, we had the opportunity to do art. I took a piece of paper and scribbled with watercolor crayons. Then I sprayed it. Then I thought, "Crap! There's too much water!" So I took another piece of paper, ...
Read More"All formal religion is based on fear: some on fear of death (Occidental), others on fear of life (Oriental) and all to a large degree on fear of both."
Read MoreI've found that working with a Naturopathic Doctor that specializes in cancer treatment has been invaluable. See if there's one in your area by using the Oncology Association of Naturopathic Physicians, Inc (OncANP).
For an up-to-date list, Cancer Tutor compiles it here: https://www.cancertutor.com/clinics/ ...
Read MoreJosh and I met with our oncologist today to get the results of my PET/CT scan, left breast ultrasound, and blood tests results... all of it came back clear/negative/great! :)
We're thrilled with the news and...
Maybe you've already found great online resources. These are some of my favorites.
Their information is well-organized. My favorite part is their "Dirt Cheap" protocol. This includes free or very inexpensive ways to natural help your body deal with cancer. https://www.cancertutor.com/
Kris has been living with Stage 4 cancer for over 10 years. http://kriscarr.com/meet-kris/
Read MoreIf I have 10 minutes with someone newly diagnosed with cancer and they’re interested in more than just what their M.D. can offer them, then these are the 5 things I would talk about in the midst of the frantic chaos that they are most likely experiencing...
Read MoreThe transition home has been... hard.
This "figuring-out-how-we-do-life-now" has been a rough transition. From June 1 to October 6 was a whirlwind and we're just now coming up for air and seeing what happened around us. In addition, there's also the ever-demanding, hum-drum naggings of doing life... cleaning out the remnants of a mouse's party in our pantry, wading through medical bills, figuring out a new insurance plan as mine is discontinued, and establishing new routines... but we're getting there! ...
I feel a bit like a broken record, but thank you for all of the prayers and many ways of support you all continue to give to Josh and me. (And no, it’s not “Josh and I,” in case you were wondering… I graduated with an English degree… which does come in handy, Dad! See?!)
Here are answers to the Top Ten Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) we’ve gotten since we returned:
Yes… and no. Of course we love seeing our family and friends, but reverse culture shock and other things have made it difficult...
Read MoreTomorrow... Monday, September 21, 2015, will be the 4th and final Fever Therapy I receive in Germany for this round of treatments. I know so many of you are praying for me, and Josh and I are continually laying my entire being and experience at Jesus' feet, and so I wanted to let you know about some of the tangible things that have helped me get through each day and the challenging treatments here.
Read MoreSo for months I've been asking for prayers... this is the non-exhaustive list of answered prayers that Josh and I have come up with...
A typical day here looks like me going down to the basement to get Kneipp Therapy... very warm water on my legs, then very cold water on my legs... it's supposed to stimulate and support the immune system. Then we have breakfast and on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday I go to the Infusion Room for an IV (detoxification or liver support or vitamins) and on Mondays and Fridays I also get Ozone Therapy (they take 100ml of blood, add ozone, and then give it back to me). On Tuesday mornings I've been getting the Fever Therapy IV and on Thursday mornings (and the rest of the afternoons) I have relaxing treatments in the basement such as Biofeedback, Brain Light, AHT (Auto Hormone Therapy), Lymphatic Massage, Magnet Therapy, Liver & Spleen Electrotherapy, and Reflexology...
Read MoreIf you would like to join us in starting the prayer this week, we will be praying for Colleen’s bodily systems that have been“fearfully and wonderfully made.” Obviously you can use your own words, but this may give you an idea...
Lord Jesus, we lift your daughter Colleen and her body up to You and we ask that, in the best possible way, You will orchestrate whatever changes need to take place within her DNA, cells, tissues, organs, immune system, digestive system, lymphatic system, cardiovascular system, skeletal system, muscular system, nervous system, respiratory system, endocrine system, reproductive system, chakras, energy fields, mind, heart, soul, and spirit. We ask this in your Holy name. Amen...
Read MoreSo far all of the food we have eaten here has been at the Hufeland Klinik... and oh... my... goodness is it good! Imagine having the best quality food prepared excellently for you and then served beautifully... then times that by 10 :) Seriously, as someone who has avoided dairy (milk products like cheese, butter, cream, etc) for years, it’s refreshing to see how easily they can accommodate my dietary restrictions...
Read MoreOur favorite thing so far is being able to amble across the road from the Klinik into a park that has every fabulous thing that we have ever seen at a park before, all in one big tree-filled park: river complete with paddle boat rentals (check), life size chess boards complete with old men serious about the game (check), fountains and water show choreographed to music (check), music stage (check), apple and pear trees (check), beautiful rose garden (check), exercise circuit with some strange thing that makes you "moon walk" (check), built in playground musical instruments (check) and our favorite a simple walking labyrinth (check). And just past the park you walk through an old castle gate into a fantastic little town with cobble stone streets, old churches, and lots of boutiques and cafes...
Read MoreThank you for the overwhelming support since my last journal entry!
Here are some answers to your Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
Normally, I wouldn't put this information on a public forum... but God is Jehovah-Jireh which means "The LORD Will Provide" (Genesis 22:14). A family friend from Josh's childhood will be staying at our home with his family while they look for work and relocate to Denver. This answers their prayer as well as ours! So...
Read MoreI realize that it has been 4 weeks since the last journal entry here and I'm sorry about that. The news we received post-surgery was harder than expected and not knowing what our next step in this journey was going to be, made it difficult to write a journal entry. Thank you, thank you, thank you for each and every prayer along the way. I have needed all of them...
Read MoreThroughout her whole time in the hospital post-surgery, the nurses and other providers who stopped by to check on Colleen kept expressing how impressed they were with her as she was recovering and how well she was able to manage the tasks they encouraged her to do: lung exercises, walking the hall, eating, drinking fluids, etc. She was assertive in getting to it and...
Read More“Before you speak ask yourself if what you are going to say is true, is kind, is necessary, is helpful. If the answer is no, maybe what you are about to say should be left unsaid.”
First of all, I would love to hear from you and what you have to say. I do a lot of talking on here and would enjoy hearing the other side of this conversation. What's been an amazing experience for you on this journey? What were the kind words that people said to you that made your day, week, or year? This journey can sometimes feel so very lonely and isolating. The more that people comment, the more that all of us we know that to some degree we're not alone.
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