On St. Patrick’s Day 2017, I was first diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma (cancer) on my tongue. I was 37 years old and had a 5 year old, a 2 year old, and a 3 month old at the time. It was an extremely scary time as I worried I would not be here for my children. I let myself be sad for a few days and cuddled my kids the whole time. After a few days I decided to start my research as I wanted to be as knowledgeable as possible to guarantee I WOULD be here for my children. It was then 5 days before the scheduled surgery on my tongue when I said to my husband, “Maybe I don’t want to do this surgery”. He assured me I should just go through with it because it was already scheduled and didn’t I just want to be done with this cancer? I thought that was right so I went through with this horrendous surgery.
It was far worse than I ever could have imagined. I couldn’t even swallow my own spit because it hurt my tongue so badly. I could not eat anything because I couldn’t move my tongue; it was too painful. I was breastfeeding at that time and nearly lost my milk supply. In a week’s time I lost 20 pounds. I finally got through it and the doctor said he got “clean margins” so I would not need to do any chemo or radiation. That was a big relief and I cautiously moved ahead with my life thinking cancer was behind me.
Just 11 months later I felt a swollen lymph node under my jaw, directly below the area of my tongue where they removed the cancer. I again went back to the doctor where they biopsied the lymph node and again squamous cell carcinoma was found. This time it was considered stage 3 as it had metastasized (spread) from my tongue to my neck. The doctors recommended immediate surgery followed by chemo and radiation. They were extremely urgent in this recommendation even saying, “You have three little kids you need to live for so you should start immediately”. \
However, by this time I had done an exorbitant amount of research. I also thought I was already cut into once and it obviously hadn’t taken care of it. To do the same thing over again expecting a different result is the very definition of insanity. So I knew I did not want to go forward with surgery again.
Because I did not want to do surgery again I immediately implemented everything I had learned about in my research. I started a vegan diet as that is the recommendation at cancer conferences all over the world. I started detox baths, infrared saunas, juicing, supplements, and herbs. I found a holistic treatment center which was founded in Dallas, TX but now has relocated to Tijuana, Mexico. There they put me on an herbal drink called the Hoxsey Tonic. I am quite convinced I am only here today because of all these measures I took. I had a PET scan in May 2018 and another one in Oct. 2018 and the cancer had not grown. The doctors were speechless as they had never seen anyone control the growth of squamous cell; which is normally a very aggressive cancer.
However, in November 2018 I unexpectedly became pregnant with my 4th baby. The growth hormones from the baby caused the growth of the tumor to grow out of control. It went from the size of a blueberry to the size of a plum in 6 weeks. I had no choice but to have surgery as I would be dead by the time the baby was 40 weeks. So, while 16 weeks pregnant I underwent surgery to have it removed. After the surgery they informed me it was stage 4 as it was now in my nerves. My nerves are a high wire to my brain so they recommended radiation immediately. I called the Tijuana clinic and informed them and they agreed that I needed radiation. I was devastated. I was fully prepared to decline radiation so that threw me for a loop that Tijuana agreed. I sobbed and sobbed as my baby would also have to go through radiation and I did not know what the outcome would be. To this day I wish I would not have gone through radiation as there are so many long term effects that I continue to deal with and will deal with for the rest of my life.
So, 7 weeks after surgery I started radiation at Mayo as this is the only hospital close to me that had a fetal shield to protect the baby as much as they could. My baby and I went through 30 rounds of radiation and I was back to the nightmare of having tongue surgery; only this went on for much longer than the 2 week recovery from tongue surgery. I distinctly remember having several thoughts in my head but deciding not to speak because it hurt too much. For the first time in my life I kept my mouth shut 90% of the time and was just present listening and not adding anything to the conversation. I had to be on oxycodone and fentanyl for pain just so I could drink a 500 calorie shake. It was quite literally hell on earth. I would not wish mouth and neck radiation on my worst enemy.
Following radiation, I was 6 months pregnant and had never been so weak in my life. I would plan the trips I needed to take to walk across my home as I did not want to walk more than once from my room to the laundry room. I was a college athlete and now I was functioning as a 90 year old. I had no idea how my body would be able to deliver this baby. However, I had been a college athlete so I trusted I would get my strength back.
On August 6th, 2019, I delivered my beautiful baby boy. I had zero strength to do this and somehow my body knew what to do and totally did it. I felt like I was not even cognitively present and my miraculous body pushed him out. I took 3 months to recover at home before going back to work.
In August 2021 I opened this business, Restore & Renew Therapeutics with the idea that people needed to implement all the strategies I had used right now; not wait for a cancer diagnosis. Therefore, Restore and Renew Therapeutics has an Infrared Sauna, Cold-Pressed Juices with as much organic produce as we can get, and Counterstrain. Counterstrain opens lymphatic valves so stagnant lymph can get out the tissue and inflammation will reduce in the body. Saunas will mobilize the lymphatic fluid so your skin will sweat out the inflammation/toxins. The juice cleans the lymphatic fluid.
Dubuque is among the highest rates in the world for cancer diagnosis’. People have got to start preventatively taking care of themselves to avoid a cancer diagnosis. What goes in your mouth is the #1 thing that will affect whether you receive a cancer diagnosis. Glyphosate was added to the food supply in 1979. I was born in 1979. Therefore, I have eaten glyphosate my entire life. However, now that I am aware, I eat all organic produce so I am not putting glyphosate in my body and certainly not in my children’s body.
Currently, 8 years after my original diagnosis, I am actually very grateful for this experience. It was by far one of the toughest times of my life, but I gained so many insights and have softened in all areas. Additionally, I was able to put into a business what I had learned to essentially help others and hopefully prevent them from going through what I did. I hope you will take advantage of all Restore and Renew has to offer and spread the word to others.
As always, please contact me with any questions or concerns.
Thank you for reading!
