Two days later the biopsy came back--the tumor was malignant. My doctor recommended a surgeon and on Monday afternoon, October 9, we sat in the surgeon's office while he explained the operation. At 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, October 11, I was wheeled in to surgery to have the tumor removed and a colon resection performed. Twelve inches and twenty-one lymph nodes were taken from my colon and the surrounding area. After a week in the hospital, I went home feeling very well. We waited for the pathology report. The result was that out of twenty-one lymph nodes seventeen had cancer cells involved. Devastation again took over my mind.

I was referred to a well-known oncologist at the Houston Medical Center. During my first appointment he was somewhat concerned because a CAT scan had not been performed before surgery. He made the comment that he "hoped" that the cancer had not spread to other organs, specifically my liver...something I had not even thought about! The CAT scan had not been performed before surgery because there had been a scheduling conflict, but now after the normal tumor marker test and blood work, I was scheduled for a CAT scan that evening.

The results of the tumor marker test and blood work came back well below normal and the CAT scan did not show evidence of cancer in any other organs. My oncologist pronounced me "well," but he wanted me to do "preventive" chemotherapy for six months. He also suggested that we do what he called a "double whammy." Instead of using the FDA two-drug approach, he explained, we would also add a third drug which would "supposedly" keep the side-effects down from the other two. (I have since found out that the FDA has stopped clinical trials on this third drug because people were dying from being given doses that were too high.) The oncologist assured me that side effects would be minimal...no nausea, probably no hair loss...and the only side effect would be diarrhea, which could easily be controlled.

I had my first chemotherapy on December 14, 2000. My cycle would involve one treatment each week for four weeks and then one week off. As the IV started on the first treatment, I could taste the drugs almost immediately. I could actually feel them going through my body. I remember feeling it even in my eyes. I asked the nurse if this was normal, and she assured me that it was.

After my second treatment the diarrhea started, and it was relentless. No amount of Immodium AD helped. Nausea followed, and not even the $1500 bottle of anti-nausea medication would touch it. Nothing looked good to me, not even water. Needless to say, Christmas, 2000, was a blur. By my third visit, I had lost seven pounds in one week. After the fourth chemo treatment, I ended up in the hospital for severe dehydration and was given eight bags of fluid. I knew that I could not keep this up and still be alive in 6 months. Emotionally, I was a wreck. A feeling of hopelessness had set in, and I felt that I would always be sick.

During my week off of chemo, as I was lying awake one night, (sleep did not come easy during this time) I prayed that if God didn't want me to do the chemo to show me by allowing my husband, Robert, to agree that we should look into some alternative methods. Robert had really wanted me to do the chemo thinking that it was my only hope to get well. The next day, I took a big breath and said to Robert, "Maybe we should consider stopping the chemo and begin to look into alternative methods." To my great surprise, he replied, "Yes. I've have been doing some research on the Internet and I think there's another route we should take." God had given me an answer plain and clear! We ordered about six books off of the Internet pertaining to alternative medicine and the treatment of cancer and read them in a week's time.

In the meantime, I went back to my oncologist and told him that we wanted to stop the chemo. He told me that I (a private piano teacher) and one other musician were the only ones having problems with the side effects which included unending nausea, diarrhea, blisters on the ends of the fingers, red spots on the legs and dehydration. When I told him that my husband and were going to look into alternative treatments, he reminded us of the statistics and told us how one of his patients with colon cancer had tried the alternative route and had to return and do chemo.

The oncologist suggested that I take a month off and then come back. Then we would continue the FDA approved regimen, which statistically would only give me a thirty percent chance of not having a recurrence. I was not willing to go through the hell of chemo while I had a seventy percent chance that the cancer would come back! We told him we would think about it, but we knew that we would not be back.

Robert and I knew in our hearts that an alternative treatment was the way to go. Now our job was to find a trustworthy doctor in the Houston area. I thought this would be the easy part, but most doctors in alternative medicine must keep low profiles, especially if they are dealing with cancer. Legally, they can make no claims, even if what they are doing works. We went to an alternative medicine site on the Internet and typed in "Houston, TX." Two names came up--Dr. Stanislaw Burzynski, of the famous Burzynski Clinic, and Dr. Edward F. Group, III, of the Global Healing Center, Inc. We were familiar with Dr. Burzynski because of some trouble he had been in with the FDA a few years back. We thought he must have been doing something right if the FDA was on his back. We called the clinic and learned that the price for his services was enormous, to say the least. It was money we just didn't have. But Robert went ahead and made an appointment for a consultation. Next, he called the Global Healing Center and talked to Joan Group. He was very impressed by her kindness and concern. We found out that Dr. Group offered a two-hour consultation for much, much less than Dr. Burzynski charged, so we made the appointment and canceled the first one.

Not really knowing what to expect, we were very apprehensive about our first visit. As we were listening to Dr. Group's presentation, however, we realized that everything he was saying held true to what we had researched. We were impressed by his knowledge, his compassion, and his tell-it-like-it-is approach. He told us that when you get the body healthy and the immune system functioning properly, the cancer can't live under these conditions. He was very patient in answering our many questions. We were impressed and told him we needed to pray and talk and then we would make our decision. No pressure was put on us by Dr. Group.

When we got into the elevator, I told Robert, "I really believe this is where God wants us." We would need some help financially. Insurance would not cover one penny of this treatment, even though it would be considerably less than the chemotherapy (four treatments had amounted to over $18,000!) and certainly more effective. We both prayed that God would provide the means and that very afternoon our answer came. "Where God guides, God provides." Robert and I were in tears at how God was continuing to provide for me. We called Joan Group the next day and asked her to schedule our first appointment, and I started on the program the next week, February, 2001. I was so appreciative to finally be on a program that would not harm my body but would actually help it to get healthy. This program, or "regimen" as I like to call it, was very, very intense, but I was willing to do whatever was necessary to get well. It took a long time for my body to detoxify from the chemotherapy and all the other toxins that were in my body from years of abuse, but as the cleansing process continued I could see that changes were gradually beginning to take place.

My program consisted of a total body cleansing...liver/gall bladder flush and digestive tract cleansing with Oxy Powder and also parasite cleansing, organic vegetarian diet along with juicing, ozonated water (super-charged water), hi-tech supplementation which were rotated monthly, exercise and lymphatic drainage techniques, skin brushing, Zapper by Dr. Hulda Clark and toxin removal baths. I completely changed all my cosmetics, skin and hair products, deodorant, laundry soap, etc. to "all natural" products. I purchased a shower filter and a filter for the kitchen faucet. I did not put my hands or body in any chlorinated water...I used gloves when washing dishes. We purchased a negative ion air purification system for the main living areas of our home. I also learned about the importance of essential oils and Rose Bulgaria became my favorite because of its calming effect on the body. I kept myself educated by reading positive books and listening to healing music such as The Mozart Effect. I distanced myself from any type of negativity, which meant that I didn't watch much TV. I took long walks, meditated on Scripture and recited positive affirmations to myself.

I had an appointment each week with Dr. Group for chiropractic care and energy work. He also kept very close tabs about asking me if I was doing my program correctly. I had told him, in the beginning, that if he asked me to stand on my head for 3 hours each day, I would do it as I did not want to have to do chemo...ever! I was very, very faithful to the program that was set up for me. I knew that I had to take whatever time necessary for ME in order for my body to heal properly.

One very important aspect that I want to mention is the emotional effect that the diagnosis of cancer has on a person. At my initial consult, Dr. Group asked me how I was doing emotionally. I told him that basically I was devastated and not handling the situation very well. My mind seemed to be completely "out-of-control." I had a very bad case of the "victim" mentality and the "why me" mentality. Each week he counseled me and educated me about the tools needed to get control of my mind. I'll admit that I wasn't a very fast learner in this area. I needed to hear concepts over and over and finally I would start to grasp some of them...still very slowly, though. Dr. Group told me to think of my progress as climbing a ladder. It was ok to stay on the same step for a short time, but I needed to be careful not to fall back. Did I take some steps back? You bet I did. Between Dr. Group and Robert, I wasn't allowed to stay on those steps for very long. These two were a tremendous support group and were not afraid of "getting on my case" when I tended to get overwhelmed with self-pity. I realize, now, just how important it is to have people who are willing to "kick your behind" in order to get you back on track. There is a time and place for sympathy, but not when you are out there fighting for your life!

In April, Dr. Group decided it was time to do an AMAS test, which is a highly sensitive blood test that measures cancer cells in the blood. It can detect cancer cells as early as sixteen months before the conventional tests do. A normal or cancer-free score is 134 and below. My reading was 188, which was on the high side of low. I was not happy with the results, but Dr. Group assured me that he believed this number was on its way down and that I would continue to get well and would be okay. Actually he had to repeat those words more than we both care to remember!

In the meantime, I was continuing to see that my body was getting healthier. Between October, 2000, and August, 2001, I had lost eighty-two pounds, which I desperately needed to lose, anyway. Friends and family began telling me how great I looked and how they couldn't believe I was the same person who had been diagnosed with cancer in just last October. I felt better than I had in fifteen years. My energy level was tremendous. Slowly but surely my confidence level was rising. I was beginning to realize the true meaning of health.

On August 13, 2001, I took another AMAS test. I was very apprehensive, but I had been told so many times that I was going to be okay that I actually began to allow myself to believe it. (Well, most days anyway.) On Thursday, August 16, 2001, I went in for my weekly appointment. Dr. Group was thrilled to be able to tell me that my number was 76. I almost could not believe it. Dr. Group said, "You are fine. You are cancer-free!" CANCER FREE. What wonderful words those were to hear. My family and friends were ecstatic. Needless to say, I was elated, but by that time I was also numb. Could I really let myself believe those words? Not many people diagnosed with cancer get the privilege to hear such good news.

I had learned so much during those ten months. Thanks to my newfound interest in alternative medicine and Dr. Group's encouragement, I began studying for my C.N. (Clinical Nutritionist) certificate in September, 2001. After completing this, I began studying to become a naturopath. I now know that cancer is not the dreaded disease that the allopathic community makes it out to be. There are answers, and we need to be willing to educate ourselves, if for no other reason, because "the powers that be" would love to keep us in the dark.

In September 2002 had the privilege of attending the ABEIM Cancer Symposium in Dallas, Texas. Many of the brightest minds in alternative cancer protocols were in attendance. I was in "alternative medicine heaven" and was so excited to actually meet many of the doctors whose books I read at the beginning of my "path to healing." At the Speaker's Banquet we were all asked to get up and give a two-minute introduction about ourselves. I just had to take that opportunity to publicly thank all the wonderful doctors there who have not been afraid to "step-out-of-the-box" when it comes to cancer treatment. I was so humbled to even get to be in the same room as them...definitely an experience I will never forget!

As of September 2004 I remain cancer free. I now have a naturopathic doctorate degree and after doing my internship under Dr. Group and serving as Vice-President of Global Healing Center, Inc. for three years, I recently opened up my own company and practice, Oasis Advanced Wellness, Inc. My specialties include men and women's hormonal balancing and nutritional balancing for cancer. I also conduct seminars on disease elimination, hi-tech solutions and the cancer industry. What a journey this continues to be! I have no doubt that God has been with me during every step of my healing process and that there has been a purpose for each step that had to be taken. I thank God every day for the healing He has performed in my body.

One thing I do want to make very clear. I am no one special when it comes to being healed of cancer. If I can do it, so can others. No, it's not as easy as going once a week and sitting in a chair for 45 minutes while the most toxic of chemicals races through your system and then going home to "live your life" until your next appointment. The most difficult part was learning that "I" was totally responsible for my own health...not my doctor, not my husband, not my friends, not my family...but ME! If I didn't do my program everyday...it was my fault...no excuses. This is a foreign concept to most people. We have learned to be a people of "excuses"...no matter what facet of life we are talking about. I want to change that concept. I want to challenge and help people to take that first step "out-of-the-box" toward a life of health and well-being. Yes, You Can Do It!