By ’standard’ I simply meant that one of my oncologists kept repeating “that’s our protocol” that’s what we do for everybody but I felt they needed to know more about me and my lifestyle. They couldn’t answer why the cancer center where I had surgery recommended 6 chemo and they don't do radiation. I Indicated that if that was their protocol then I was trusting they weren’t sending all their patients home to die so why would my new place recommend it?thats when the only answer they could give me was “because that’s what we do.” It sounds like you had excellent care and I myself am very thankful but did feel like a number and not a person a lot of the time. I diligently did my own research and sought out a naturopathic oncologist as well for his input. I am going to try the mushrooms and I know to avoid sugar as ours is a glucose driven cancer. I’m happy to have found this sister hood as well. I too keep learning everything I can but it does get a bit overwhelming. My sore armpits seem to come and go and then my brain goes to dark places but happily I just get outside and distract myself in the garden or a game of mahjong with friends . I have read that others get that sometimes too . This chemo takes a long time to really clear effects and apparently late ones that haven’t occurred yet can happen. I am hoping all my weird little twinges and things are just that but it is disconcerting. However, life is good right now so I focus on that =)