1/26/2008 Ann Fonfa and the Annie Appleseed Project has been one of the websites I have utilized regularly in my search for alternative and complementary treatments for my breast cancer challenges. Luckily, I have a strong support system behind me. I work as an Office Manager for a Naturopath here in Austin who has been a great support for me during my journey. She enabled me to go through chemo with little to no side effects. My mate studied acupuncture and TCM at OCOM in Portland Oregon so he too had many ideas about my treatment. Even with all this support, I still needed to find my own way, which felt right towards my treatment. So I decided I would talk and research to find the right approach for me. Early on, I met a woman through the Breast Cancer Resource Center here in Austin who suggested I look into the Annie Appleseed Project since this woman, Ann Fonfa, was a breast cancer survivor and her site was dedicated to ‘research based’ complementary and alternative treatments. I found the website a bit overwhelming at first until I learned how to navigate and find exactly what I was in search of. During my treatment, I took many supplements, homeopathics, etc. All seemed to help me overcome the terrible side effects associated with chemo. The next step was to decide if Tamoxifen, which the doctor’s recommended for my type of cancer, was the best approach since I have read and heard many bad things about this particular drug. Now, let me say here, my choice may not be the best for all in the same situation. This is just that “MY CHOICE”. I wrote to Ann Fonfa to ask her advice on alternatives to Tamoxifen, not really knowing if she would even respond. Much to my surprise, she not only responded, but also sent me some documents to check into so I could make a more educated decision. Ann and I emailed each other for a couple of months with research and sometime around November or so, she asked if I would be able to attend the conference. I wrote back and told her since I was still in treatment and only working part time, I did not think I would be able to afford it. Much to my surprise, she wrote back offering me a scholarship so I could attend. What a wonderful thing Ann did by giving me the opportunity to attend the 1st Annie Appleseed Conference. Thank you so much Ann, you are truly an angel walking the earth. I was able to attend the conference and actually talked my employer into attending with me. This conference was geared more towards patients than professionals, (but this is only my opinion) but I was able to get a lot of helpful information I would otherwise not been able get on my own without many, many hours of intensive research. I would like to thank Ann for getting so many professional together to share their wealth of knowledge with us. There were some presenters who seemed to contradict each other. I find this common in the alternative and complementary arena. One of the speakers, whom I would rather not name, seemed very rude to mostly everyone who questioned his approach. This was a little unsetteling to me and overheard others saying the same thing. I know when it comes to individual approaches to care, people do get very passionate, but those speaking should remember that we (attendee’s) are those who could possibly enter into the program you are speaking about. Since this was the 1st year Annie Appleseed sponsored this event, there was a tendency for speakers to go over the 30 minutes allowed, which put things a bit behind. I am sure they all had much more information they wanted to share, but the time was just insufficient I suggest (if anyone cares) that either allow 45 minutes/speaker and/or reduce the # of speakers. I was able to make some wonderful contacts, met (face to face) some people I have met online during my many hours or research and postings on message boards looking for answers to so many questions. The vast majority of speakers were wonderful and were able to give some evidence behind the alternative medicine they use (and which has been used by many native peoples for many, many years) I would highly recommend that anyone, patient, advocate, and practitioner plan to attend next year’s conference. I am sure the longer this conference continues, the more organized it will become and Ann, being the passionate advocate, will continue to bring together the best and brightest in the CAM arena. Ann, thank you for the opportunity to participate in this groundbreaking event. I am looking forward to next year’s event. May be by that time, I will be in the position (financially) to do some volunteer work for the Annie Appleseed Project. Peace and Blessings, Karen Kirchem Austin, TX Remember we are NOT Doctors and have NO medical training. This site is like an Encylopedia - there are many pages, many links on many topics. Support our work with any size DONATION - see left side of any page - for how to donate. You can help raise awareness of CAM.