Guest Blogger
Katalin Lemasson
Wellness Advocate
Ten years ago, I began experiencing terrible episodes of intense itching and burning sensation after showering. My husband and I kept searching the web for a solution. With the exception of one serious illness that was considered so rare that I dismissed it completely, nothing precisely matched the symptoms. My dermatologist prescribed expensive anti-itch creams and antihistamines. She also suggested I change laundry detergent, take colder showers, and filter the water. However, nothing brought relief. Special allergy tests were performed, and all the results were inconclusive.
Three years ago, when my father passed away, I stayed with my grieving mother, who desperately needed a strong and supportive daughter. The stress bottled up, and I began having debilitating chest pains. Unable to function, I went to the hospital and was diagnosed with acute gastritis caused by emotional strain. I was given a prescription of proton inhibitors, along with a special diet and referral to an oncologist because of an anomaly detected in my blood. Additional tests were conducted, and I was diagnosed with a rare chronic blood cancer called Polycythemia Vera (PV). Lo and behold, itching is one of the main symptoms of this Myeloproliferative Neoplasm disorder (MPN). The condition occurs when the JAK2 gene in the bone marrow mutates red blood cells without shutting off production. A few drugs are available to help manage this mutation through chemo pills or injections.
Fear hit me and I immediately agreed to start taking the chemo pills – Leukemia had already taken my younger sister’s life at the age of five. I needed to do whatever was necessary to stop this defective gene from taking my life. The chemo pills were somewhat effective; however, they introduced undesired side effects increasing my sickness. My health continued to spiral downward as I went from one specialist to another, having been prescribed to numerous drugs to counteract the side effects of each drug. This insanity had to stop!
Deep in my heart, I knew there had to be a better way to manage this. Although conventional medicine has certain merits, treating symptoms solely with prescriptions has its limitations. While continuing my own research, I found reputable sites that showed promising outcomes using alternative treatments. These natural options resonated with my convictions, encouraging me to take control of my health and tackle the root cause of the cancer.
“Most people are paralyzed by fear. Overcome it and you take charge of your life and your world.” ~ Mark Victor Hansen
Under the guidance of an integrative medicine doctor to help me regain my health, I was slowly weaned off the chemo pills and all other medication. I followed a metabolic detox program, changed my diet, and introduced key supplements. As my symptoms disappeared, I knew I was clearly on the right path; a strong and healthy immune system can fight most diseases. This life experience sparked a flame in me to want to help others, renewing my passion to learn more about this wonderfully created body. My dream is to share this message of hope and inspire others to know that, against all adversity, it is possible for the body to heal itself naturally.
Cancer doesn’t have to be a death sentence.
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