A Young Survivor of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
With an infant son and a difficult-to-treat breast cancer, Salyndria Gregory, decided she had to gather strength through her faith and positive attitude.
April 2019 Vol 5 No 2
Sal Gregory
DeSoto, Texas
My name is Salyndria Gregory, but you can call me Sal. I am a young breast cancer warrior who fought cancer, and now have focused my attention on motivating and inspiring other young patients with breast cancer to conquer their fears.
My journey began on a hot summer day in July in Texas, when I went on a girls’ trip from Dallas to San Antonio. During that vacation, I discovered a small lump near my armpit. I was alarmed but remained calm and called my primary care physician.
Initially he told me I was too young for breast cancer. Finally, he agreed to examine me, which resulted in an immediate mammogram.
Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
A week later, I was diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma, and a type known as triple-negative breast cancer, which is a less common type of breast cancer and is often diagnosed in younger women under age 40, and in African-American women.
Triple-negative breast cancer means the cancer does not involve estrogen or progesterone (hormones often associated with breast cancer) receptors or HER2 receptors, and most recent treatments have been developed for breast cancer with these receptors.
Triple-negative breast cancer is more difficult to treat than other types of breast cancer, because until very recently no new treatments have been developed for it, and the treatment is currently limited to surgery and chemotherapy, which weakens the immune system and can cause serious short-term and long-term side effects.
When I received my diagnosis, I was completely devastated, because there aren’t many triumphant stories about patients with triple-negative breast cancer. In addition, I lost my father to an aggressive cancer when I was a teenager, which has haunted me since then.
Fighting to Survive
However, I decided that I had to fight for myself, as well as for my dad, my mom, grandmother, but most important, for my 1-year-old son, who needed me more than anyone. If I wanted to take cancer head on, I needed to change my attitude from defeat to a positive approach, so I decided to remain myself—a gracious, loving, and joyful woman. I also began to rely heavily on my faith to help me get through such a dark time.
At one point in my journey, after crying each day for hours, thinking that my life was over, I decided that if I wanted to survive, I couldn’t do so in my current condition. I needed to gather strength, and the only way to do that was by spending time with God.
So I began to read 101 healing scriptures, where God said that I am already healed, and as I read them each day, they became embedded in my spirit, and I began to believe that I was, indeed, already healed.
From then on, I had a new zest about me that was inspirational and appealing to everyone I came in contact with. I took to social media to share my journey, and I was able to help and motivate others to learn to conquer the challenges they may be facing in their lives.
My energy, zest for life, and faith seemed to break many of the stereotypes of what a patient with cancer often is.
I told myself, okay Sal, this situation is really crappy, but it is out of my hands. I have given it over to God, so now my job is to remain myself, to try my best to live a normal life and have fun while doing it.
The Trials and Tribulations of Treatment
Since being diagnosed with breast cancer, I’ve gone through several surgeries, including a double mastectomy, with reconstruction, and I have had three months of chemotherapy, losing 100% of what once was thick, long hair, which I vainly admit was about the hardest part of this experience.
When my hair began to fall out at work, it was so embarrassing, and 2 days later, when I lost it all in clumps, I was completely devastated. But a couple of hours later, I wiped my wet face, put on jeans and heels, plopped on a wig, and went to a rooftop to enjoy the rest of the day. My mom looked at me in complete awe, especially because she was holding me like a baby two hours before. I knew then that God had given me strength that I did not have before. I finished my chemotherapy treatments in early 2018, and had one last surgery scheduled for March, before I could start to find my “new normal” as a young survivor.
Be Your Own Health Advocate
When asked what advice I have for young women, I tell my peers under age 40 to be their own health advocates. If something does not seem right, or you notice a change in your body, no matter how small, push for further evaluation, until you are satisfied.
Breast cancer in a young women is one of the most ignored issues – in preventive care, because it’s supposed to have a low rate, but breast cancer in young women is not rare, and it can and does happen often.
Early detection is critical to increasing your chance for survival.
In addition, I believe that attitude is everything, not just with cancer, but with any obstacle in life. You can and will get through it, usually. If you have to cry sometimes, by all means, cry as much as you need. But continue to have faith, keep a positive attitude, and continue to smile and find joy through it all. We are all survivors in this thing called life.
Resources
CancerCare
www.cancercare.org/diagnosis/triple_negative_breast_cancer
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
www.cdc.gov/cancer/breast/triple-negative.htm
National Breast Cancer Foundation
www.nationalbreastcancer.org/triple-negative-breast-cancer
Triple Negative Breast Cancer Foundation
https://tnbcfoundation.org
Exercise and dietary advice intervention for survivors of triple-negative breast cancer: effects on body fat, physical function, quality of life, and adipokine profile
Stage 4 triple negative 5 year survivors – Advanced breast cancer 🙂
Meet Kim and Stephanie, 39-year-old fraternal twins. Diagnosed about three years ago, they are both survivors of triple-negative breast cancer and both have the BRCA1 gene. Only five percent of women have that gene, but those that do are much more likely to get breast cancer one day. The twist?
They are adopted, and didn’t know their birth mother and grandmother both died of the same cancer as theirs. Fortunately, after double mastectomies and hysterectomies, Kim and Stephanie are doing great. They strongly advocate for easier access to family medical records for the adopted, and for early BRCA gene testing for those with a family history. Hear them share about dating, breast reconstruction, and why an annual mammogram isn’t enough. Listen.
Valerie Woo states: This is my advice to women with tnbc n part of my success treating it. Don’t get sucked into the fear of it. Fear causes cancer n also makes it spread. Why? Does lowers ur immune system, depletes nutrients, raises cortisol, causes hormonal imbalances etc. Then if u put a lot of toxic chemicals into your body filled with fear it may not be very helpful. It is imp to do your own research n surround urself with people who beat all odds with any cancer. Hope is imp n unfortunately there is a lot of fear in our medical systems. Also look at your body type, sensitivities and your other health conditions. I have shaken my head at how doctors completely ignored this — yet it is the basics of medicine. Chemotherapy may make other health conditions worst or cause more havoc in a sensitive body making TNBC spread quickly. Also explore nutrition, herbs et… cetera as many cultures have been using them to successfully treat C for centuries way before chemo. Unfortunately we also have a system where greed has taken over n demonized many of this which is very sad. Be aware of the greed n do not let doctors push u into a treatment that may not work for you. Yes you have the time to pull back, research and listen to your inner guidance unless the tumor is affecting a major organ etc. Also another key to my success has been asking the universe for guidance. They are there and will…just ask. It is Never easy when your dealing with breast cancer but ask them to send clearer messages an to give youu strength to get through it. One thing I think is really important is the cost to treating TNBC. Most women do better with all natural/diet changes etc. 0r combination of both natural/special diet/alternative therapies etc. and conventional. Natural remedies etc. get expensive n this needs to start to be covered by govt programs and insurance. It’s not only the very wealthy who should be able to survive this type of bc.
I fully believe that people need to fine tune things to their body type. As a medium I know everyone is unique. For example: I can’t do the liquid iodine thing…way too much for me. I take iodine in Atlantic Dulse and my multi vitamin. I’ve done a lot of meditation/mind and body work (people have healed from just doing that.) I have healed my body a lot with those techniques. So cannot handle as much cannabis & Essiac Tea anymore. We become a brand new person every 7 years (though cells regeneration). So proper nutrition, herbs, lifestyle changes (includes changing ones thought and beliefs) a person can build a brand new body. With cancer rates so high (and with so many diseases on the increase) and with aggressive types of cancer as the rise. Maybe it’s high time we start combining the best of Eastern n Western medicine.
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Upcoming classes at the Vanderbilt Osher Center for Integrative Health:
Introductory Tai Chi: This level introduces the basic principles and movements of Yang-style Tai Chi Chuan. This series is suitable for beginning Tai Chi practitioners.
Healing Qigong: Teaches breathing techniques, gentle movements and also simple meditations to relax the mind, help to rejuvenate the spirit and may optimize the possibility for healing. All the movements are slow and gentle and can be modified according to an individual’s physical capacity. Contact Diane Sussman, program coordinator, for more information at 615-343-1170.
Mind body connection is very important in healing. Also important is to do some diet changes…check out Dr. Isabella Wentz. She describes in her book diff reasons why people get the disease. Could be diet changes that r needed, adrenal and other deficiencies Estrogen dominance, hypothyroidism, histamine intolerance, and high cortisol are all closely connected, and in fact they all stem from the same root cause. Fix it and the rest will fall into place. Start fixing the wrong one on its own and you will make the rest worse. It could also be a combination. She also doesn’t believe iodine deficiency is the main cause. Increasing Iodine may help some but actually hurt others. She reversed hers with dietary changes n supplements.
She also offers videos like Chris Wark does. U may wish to see if she’s still on YouTube.
Dr. Bruce Lipton’s work shows us the scientific proof that there is no cancer gene. I highly recommend his work.
One of the reasons I removed my first oncologist was she was trying to put a lot of fear in me n putting down anything
I said about healing. I knew her energy would just make my diagnosis worst. One of things I did to heal was mediate and affirm I was C free and I really felt it….
very important to do in every healing protocol
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCIgxYuNGu0
Positive Energy can provide great healing source!!!
I remember Rosa Parkin came into our Facebook group with a 8 cm. tumor in her uterus. The excitement provided and New Hope that she found caused her tumor to disappear over night. Through her newfound excitement she got out of bed again and began to walk. I believe it was the excitement in her heart that strengthen her immune system. When panic at the two year mark that her doctors gave her to live hit. It was the trip to panic Oregon to meet me & visit those providing cannabis oil and rapid decline through a suppressed immune system that may have caused her passing !!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VLPahLakP_Q
TNBC is a bitch as we know but it is able to be dealt with.
Since I wrote my book I’ve discovered more to keep it at bay that what I wrote about in my book, I now take Serrapeptase, Lugol iodine drops and colloidal silver. Also keep the immune system super boosted which is key to all cancer types! I use Health Leads brand Beta Glucans as they contain no magnesium stearate or other crap in them. As for the cannabis oil. I’ve got my dosage down to a fine art now, there was a time I struggled with keeping the hormones settled but Lugol iodine has sorted that out.
From the masses of people that contact me the most are fellow TNBC sufferers, the majority of them tried chemo and/or radiation the first tine around and I’d say 99.99% of those had a recurrence soon after, the ones gone au natural are still healed.
To recap don’t let the medics “brainwash” you into believing that TNBC can only be cured with chemo/rads (toxicity), speak to other TNBC warriors with a mix of conventional and alternative methods. Make your decision and 110% believe you’ve made the right choice and go with the flow! You CAN CERvive! ~Dee Mani-Mitchell 🙂
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dsLdhSulnGk