| Every human being is the author of his own | | | | than normal. But I was not idle during this year. I |
| health, -an old Buddhist saying. | | | | read hundreds of medical journals, poured through |
| It began in August 2005, when I was diagnosed | | | | hundreds of medical studies, and read dozens of |
| with breast cancer. The tumor was located | | | | books on nutrition and soil depletion. When my |
| toward the back of the breast close to the chest | | | | doctor wanted to begin treatment for my liver, I |
| wall. My best option was to have the breast | | | | decided to put my research to work. I became |
| removed. The day before the surgery was | | | | my own guinea pig. |
| scheduled, the surgeon called. | | | | "I'm going to take six months," I told him, "and |
| "Your pre-opt tests came back," he said. "Your | | | | then I'll be back." |
| liver enzymes are about three times higher than | | | | The liver, I discovered, removes toxic substances |
| normal." | | | | from the body, produces most of the body's |
| "What are liver enzymes?" I asked. | | | | cholesterol, and acts as a storage unit for |
| "Liver enzymes let us know how healthy the liver | | | | vitamins A, D, K, and B12. The liver enzymes |
| is," he explained. "You're not taking any medication | | | | show how well the liver is functioning and, |
| that would affect the liver so we better find out | | | | obviously, mine wasn't functioning too well. With |
| what's going on. Surgery is on hold until we run | | | | research notes in hand, I developed a plan of |
| some tests." | | | | action. For the storage unit, I stopped the daily |
| On hold. This malignancy was growing inside me | | | | vitamin and mineral supplements that I had taken |
| and I was on hold. The tests were inconclusive. | | | | for years, to prevent overdosing. For the toxic |
| The CAT scan, ultrasound, hepatitis tests, and iron | | | | substances and cholesterol, I switched to organic |
| absorption test offered no answers. | | | | foods and olive oil for cooking and baking. I stuck |
| "The surgery is still risky," the surgeon warned. | | | | to this plan for six months. After the six months |
| "Surgery could make your liver worse." | | | | passed, I called my doctor to arrange tests. |
| At this stage I was more worried about the | | | | Two weeks later I sat in the doctor's office. He |
| cancer than the liver, so I told him, "I'll take my | | | | walked in with a puzzled expression. |
| chances." | | | | "Well?" I asked. |
| Three days later I had the mastectomy. The | | | | "Your tests are normal." He acted surprised. |
| cancer didn't appear to have spread to my lymph | | | | "Actually, they are better than normal. Your liver |
| nodes. This good news was short-lived when we | | | | enzymes are below normal. Your overall |
| decided I would not undergo any further cancer | | | | cholesterol dropped forty points. Your good |
| treatment because of my unhealthy liver. | | | | cholesterol went up forty points. Even your bad |
| Every three months for the next year I took | | | | cholesterol dropped a few points. What did you |
| liver function tests. The results were always the | | | | do? |
| same: the liver enzymes were three times higher | | | | |