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Cancer Survival Guide: "Fighting Cancer" Cancer issues, cancer facts, new thoughts, new information. For cancer resources, information about cancer treatment options and cancer patient support.. Cancer patients seeking links to cancer resources, information and support will find this site provides a general orientation designed to help you make your own choices and decisions concerning alternative cancer treatments or orthodox cancer treatments. |
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About the book "Fighting Cancer - A Survival Guide".
Readings from the cancer literature.
Other cancer books you might find useful.
You've just heard you've got cancer? Some advice.
Cancer: New thoughts/new facts.
Cancer Treatment: Personal Stories
Caring for someone with cancer
Resources: the start of an adventure.
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New Ideas/ Further thoughts/ Cancer Issues I want to use this page to update Fighting Cancer – A Survival Guide with new ideas, new thoughts and more specifically, new facts. Again, if you have any information that you think should be more widely known please send your information to me at [email protected] · Electrochemical therapy and Colloidal Silver · Kombucha
Electrochemical Therapy
& Colloidal Silver "Research proves cancer cells cannot
exist in a strong magnetic field" Robert O. Becker discovered that passing a
positive electrical current at a voltage harmless to normal cells -
using silver anodes (only silver was effective) - through a wound had the
effect of speeding up healing.His comment on this result: "what we had
actually done was rediscover the fact that silver killed bacteria, which had
been known for centuries." However, previous therapies based on silver
were inefficient and correspondingly difficult to use and not as effective as
they could be. The method Becker used - using a very low voltage positive
electric charge was very efficient. More important, however, than the fact
that it helped bones to mend - it also cured cancer by turning them
back into normal cells! "I also had a patient with a severe,
chronic bone infection who had an associated cancer in the wound. He refused
amputation, which would have been the treatment of choice, and insisted that
I treat his infection with the silver technique. After three months, the
infection was under control, and the cancer cells appeared to have changed
back to normal. When I last heard from him eight years after the treatment,
he was still fine." So... But this electrochemical therapy is
one thing. Is colloidal silver - a mixture of minute particles of
silver created electromagnetically - also of use in cancer treatment? There are
a number of people who are jumping up and down about colloidal silver and
saying it is so safe it can be used with babies. Certainly, I am convinced
that silver has a general anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-fungal and
anti-parasite egg effect that makes it very interesting for cancer patients.
To put it another way, I would certainly use it if I had AIDS, any viral
problem and, in cases of cancer, it could be sprayed on to any surface cancer
or taken into the body by way of a douche or retention enema - or simply
drunk. But I would not use it for long term
treatment. If it is hostile to bacteria, it will be hostile to good bacteria
- a very good reason against long term use. So, if used, you should
supplement with L. acidophilus and L. bulgaricus (as in the case of any
antibiotic). The safety question has not been
absolutely proven. There is a condition known as argyria which can result
from long term use of silver. This leaves the skin looking metallic grey.
However, the problem is purely cosmetic. No organic damage has been shown to
result from long term use of silver. It is also highly unlikely that the
concentrations of silver found in colloidal silver - 5 parts per million - is
likely to result in any ill effects. It has been brought to my attention by a
friend with breast cancer that what I wrote in Fighting Cancer - A
Survival Guide on the subject of mastectomies was either
confusing or misleading in that I confused the original radical mastectomy
(Halsted procedure) and the form of mastectomy now currently used. Here are two links that you will find
useful, The Breast Cancer Resource Centre http://members.aol.com/healwell/breast.htm I will therefore summarise the entire
history of breast cancer surgery. ·
Around the turn of
the century, William Halsted of John Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore developed
the radical mastectomy. His procedure involved removing the entire breast,
removing the two underlying main chest wall muscles leading to the shoulder
and removal of all the lymph nodes in the armpit. Ewan Cameron and Linus
Pauling comment: What Cameron and Pauling don't say is that
this swelling - oedema - is extremely painful and debilitating in its own
right. ·
After the Second
World War, Scottish surgeons started to do a simplified mastectomy - removing
the breast but not the underlying muscles or the lymphatic nodes. This was
accompanied by radiation. The results appeared to be rather better than the
Halsted procedure. ·
In the 1950s,
American surgeons developed a super-radical-mastectomy, This was the old
Halsted procudure plus removing the lymph nodes on the side of the neck and
dissecting out all the lymph nodes beneath the breast bone. Results did not
show any benefit - and this procedure has few proponents today. It developed
partly because technological developments permitted it. ·
Also in the 1950s,
Finnish doctors developed the lumpectomy - and claimed even better results
than with the mastectomy. This seems to have been supported by later studies. ·
Scottish surgeons
then announced that patients who had a mastectomy without radiation are doing
better than patients who had radiation. ·
Statisticians looking
at the whole picture, comparing different cohorts of women with breast cancer
choosing different treatments have found that there is no difference at all
in the death rate of women who have had mastectomies and women who have had
no treatment at all. Read that last sentence carefully. ·
Despite this, until
the 70s or 80s, American surgeons still tended to do radical mestectomies
while European surgeons tended to do `simple' mastectomies or lumpectomies.
The reason for American surgeons' preference for the radical mastectomy
appears to be a combination of income - they earned more for doing more - and
fear of litigation - you can't be sued for doing the maximum possible. ·
The current trend
even in America is away from the Halsted procedure to lumpectomies or
resections - the cutting away of part of the breast. However, the Halsted
procedure may still be advised where there is significant spread. In such a
case the patient might prefer not to undergo any surgery whatever, as there
is no proof that extensive surgery in breast cancer has any impact on
survival (see above) Ewan Cameron and Linus Pauling, who were
by no means opposed to surgery as a first line of attack against cancer had
this to say: "The observations from Halsted on
seem to be showing that the less that is done for breast cancer patients, the
better their chances of survival. The damage done to the body by surgical or
radiotherapeutic intervention may be greater than the benefit resulting from
partial control of the disease. This trend has led many thoughtful surgeons
to question seriously whether they should treat breast cancer patients at all
- whether these patients might not better be left alone. The question is a
serious one, demanding an answer." (Cameron & Pauling, Cancer &
Vitamin C). Kombucha is a fungus that looks like a
pale pancake that has the ability to transform heavily sugared tea into a
health drink over a period of 5-7 days. It has been around for a long time -
a few thousand years - and is highly regarded by the Koreans and Russians.
Communities where the resulting drink is consumed are credited with long
healthy lives. It is claimed that kombucha discourages cancer, lengthens the
lifespan, reduces the side effects of chemotherapy and radiation as well as
being good for a number of other problems: energy, sleep and menopausal problems.
A good sourcebook is Miracle Fungus by Harald Tietze. There is a kombucha network which
distributes kombuchas free of charge - one thing you should know about the
kombucha is that it replicates itself once every seven days so you will soon
be looking to pass on kombuchas to your own network of friends. If you do a net search on kombucha you
will find a number of warnings. To what extent these are valid it is hard to
say. Certainly, a word of caution is due: make sure there are no additional
molds on the kombucha and that when letting the drink mature - it is covered
in such a way as to prevent possibly dangerous stray molds from entering the
liquid. I have myself been drinking kombucha for about six months. Has it
done anything for me? Hard to say - certainly nothing earth shaking. It does
seem to be associated with very good and frequent bowel movements - a very
positive healthy sign. It is a pleasant drink - I add a little ginger to the
mix. To get a kombucha contact: The Kombucha
Network , PO Box 1887, Bath BA2 8YA England (send self addressed envelope).
US supplier: Lee Vinocur, PO Box 81, North Palm Springs, The papaya - also known as pawpaw - is a
fruit with many healing qualities. Its skin will quickly heal wounds and the
fruit is known to help maintain a healthy digestive system. Now it is claimed
- by Australians living on the Gold Coast - that papaya leaves can be turned
into a powerful anti-cancer medicine. Chemicals in the leaves are considered
to be more powerfully toxic than many of the modern chemotherapy drugs,
without the side-effects. Australian Stanley Sheldon claims he cured his lung
cancer in this way in 1962. Other claims involving other cancers have also
been made. The method of preparation is to take eight or so papaya leaves and
put them in water, bring them to a boil and let simmer for two hours. Drain
off the resulting liquid - which is foul tasting and probably poisonous in
large quantities - dilute a teaspoon of the cooled liquid in a glass of water
and take at regular intervals throughout the day. For those who don't happen
to have a papaya tree in the back garden, a kombucha-papaya leaf concentrate
can be obtained from: May 1997: The world's media announces that
the cure for cancer has been found. Dr Judah Folkman, a researcher at
Children's Hospital in Boston has shown great results with the combination of
two drugs angiostatin and endostatin. Essentially they work by starving the
tumour of its blood supply. Endostatin is actually a chemical substance that
is naturally produced by tumours to stop other tumours developing in the
body. Once this substance is no longer produced - ie if a tumour is removed
from the body - other tumours in the body are no longer controlled. This
explains the known fact that some patients suddenly become riddled with
cancer once a main tumour has been surgically removed. Folkman's achievement
meant that he has pipped researchers at Texas and elsewhere who have been
working on other anti-angiogenesis factors (angiogenesis is the process by
which a cancer tumour creates a network of blood vessels to fuel its growth -
foetuses do the same). The age of chemotherapy is dead - we are witnessing
the start of the age of the anti-angiogenesis factor. That atleast is the
theory.In my opinion this is not hype. I do believe that a cure for cancer
has been found. In fact, it was found years ago. The search has not, in fact,
been for an anti-angiogenesis factor that works. Rather, it has been a search
for an anti-angiogenesis factor that is patentable. One anti-angiogenesis
factor that has quite a bit of anecdotal support is shark cartilage. This
product similarly interferes with the tumour's ability to build a blood
supply to support the growth of the tumour. Shark Cartilage is a food supplement made
from the powdered cartilage of Sharks. It is rich in calcium and phosphorus.
It also contains amino acids and mucopolysaccharides which seem to inhibit
cellular angiogenesis--the ability to generate NEW blood vessels--a factor in
the swellings and stiffness associated with over used or aging joints. Shark
cartilage also contains chondroitin sulfate, a powerful anti-inflammatory
agent. These make it also very suitable for arthritis.All cartilages -
including bovine - have been the subject of testing as health remedies for
years. Many kinds have been tested and indicate great healing properties.
Shark cartilage seems to be the most effective of all the cartilages which
have been tested.Sharks themselves have no bones; their skeletal structure is
entirely made of cartilage. As a species, sharks are among the oldest
survivors on earth, successfully lasting for more than 400 million years.
They are a species which seems to be naturally disease-free. It also seems to
be very difficult for scientists to implant diseases in sharks.Warning:Shark
Cartilage should NOT to be used by anyone who is still growing and needs
angiogenesis for blood vessel development; it is not to be used by pregnant
women, anyone with cardio-vascular problems or anyone recovering from
surgery.To obtain clinical grade shark's cartilage go http://www.anaturalchoice.com/index.shtml Urine Drinking the urine from a woman in the
first ten weeks of her pregnancy may have powerful anti-cancer effects.
Experiments with mice have found such an effect. Scientists trying to extract
pure chemicals with the same effect have finally managed to replicate the
same effect as the unprocessed urine, full as it is with a complex mix of
chemicals. Scientists have found that these chemicals in the urine of a newly
pregnant woman also act against the AIDS virus. What we need now is a service
for the collection of all this urine! Lactoferrin This is a component of mother’s milk. It
is claimed that this substance has the following effects
Cream clears skin cancer The Sunday Times (May 30 '98) reports that
a cream that activates the immune system has been successful in treating skin
cancer. "The cream, which stimulates the
production of proteins that inhibit cell growth, cleared up the skin lesions
of 14 out of 16 patients." The cream, whose name was not reported,
has been developed the American company 3M, not for skin cancer but for
genital warts! The report goes on to argue that the
damage that causes skin cancer is done in childhood. ". Research at the University of
Western Australia found that people who emigrated from Britain before the age
of 18 were subject to the much higher incidence of skin cancer in Australia.
But where they emigrated as adults, the incidence remained the same as if
they lived in Britain." Tributyrin - A new cancer
drug Some German clinics are treating cancer patients with Butyric acid, a substance that can be isolated from butter. Butyric acid has the interesting effect of normalising cancer cells . That is malignant cells change back into normal cells under the influence of butyric acid. (a demonstration perhaps that malignant cells are merely normal cells living under abnormal tissue conditions, as many alternatives have argued - and not an evil demented cell that has to be destroyed by cytotoxic chemotherapeutic drugs). For more information see the Spring Cancer Chronicles at www.ralphmoss.com Sunlight can reduce
breast cancer risk A study comparing the health habits of 133
breast cancer patients with women who did not have the disease found that
exposure to sunlight lowered the risk of breast cancer by 30 to 40 percent or
more (Cancer Weekly Plus, 11/17/97). This might explain why women who live in
the southern states below Kansas tend to get breast cancer significantly less
than those who live in the North, said Esther John, an epidemiologist from
Northern California Cancer Center. Southern states bask in the sun longer
than Northern states, so Southerners get more rays. It is suggested that
winter sunlight is so weak in the North, she said, that people living at or
above 40 degree north latitude do not get enough sun from November to
February to make the required levels of vitamin D. Boston, for example, is at
42 degree north latitude. "It's possible that all it takes is 10 or 15
minutes outside in bright sunlight to get a benefit," she said.
"And that's just casual exposure. The sunlight you get on your face and
neck and arms and hands when you're regularly dressed." So while the exact dose of sunlight needed
is not known, a brief outdoor stroll might do it. The amount needed to
protect against breast cancer is probably not enough to cause skin damage,
she added. Sunscreens that block ultraviolet rays would also block the
formation of vitamin D. Dietary sources of vitamin D include milk, tuna,
liver, egg yolk, salmon, eggs, margarine and cod liver oil. In addition to its preventive effects,
vitamin D has been shown to increase survival chances in women with advanced
breast cancer, according to British studies funded by the Association for
International Cancer Research. "Thirteen women with normal or high
levels of active vitamin D survived the six-month test period but, sadly, in
those with low levels, five out of 13 died within six months," said
professor Barbara Mawer of the Manchester Royal Infirmary in central England. However supplementing with vitamin D
should not be overdone. As large doses of vitamin D cause excessive blood levels
of calcium and potentially serious side effects such as kidney stones. You
probably should not get more than 800 IU total daily. This information comes from Richard
Harkness, a consultant pharmacist who writes nationally on health care topics
e-mail is [email protected]. Cancer Incidence &
Mortality falling There appears to be good evidence at last
that cancer incidence is falling – almost certainly this is due to a number
of factors
Whatever the
reasons, it is good news. Cancer cure on
supermarket shelves HIDDEN IN PLAIN SIGHT:
CANCER TREATMENT FOUND ON From The Cancer Chronicles #19 January
1994 by Ralph W. Moss, Ph.D. Benzaldehyde is a chemical found in nature
in many foods. It helps give coffee and cocoa their characteristically pleasant
aromas, and is also widely used in the chemical industry. Less known is the
fact that benzaldehyde has shown significant cancer-fighting abilities. In
the 1970s, Japanese scientists used a distillate of ordinary figs to
successfully treat cancer in mice. They eventually found that the active
ingredient in this distillate was ordinary benzaldehyde, present in mere
one-part-per-million concentrations. Building on this finding, in 1985, Dr.
M. Kochi and colleagues reported in the USNational Cancer Institute's own
Cancer Treatment Reports (69:533-537) that a `gluconated' form of
benzaldehyde (called BG) caused an "overall objective response rate [of]
55 percent. Seven patients achieved complete response, 29 achieved partial
response, 24 remained stable, and 5 showed progressive disease." In
1990, Dr. Tatsumura and colleagues at Toyama University reported similar
results (41.7 percent responses). In all cases, the treatment was free of
toxicity. It is thus documented, safe, inexpensive and generally unavailable
in America. How is it possible that such a promising anti-cancer agent is
unused here? Why hasn't the NCI publicized these results as they have, say,
the interleukin-2 or taxol trials? One reason may be the lack of incentive
for pharmaceutical companies to become involved in research on natural food
constituents. It currently costs over $230 million to shepherd a new drug
through the FDA's approval maze. This compels pharmaceutical companies to
seek out only expensive, patentable drugs, to the detriment of non-patented
agents like benzaldehyde. Benzaldehyde is remarkably cheap about $8
an ounce at chemical supply houses. (Such companies do sell it, but may
require a pledge that it is not to be used for medicine - only for laboratory
research.) Since the average person needs less than a gram per day [see
below], the cost per year, astonishingly, would be about $2.00, or less than
a penny a day. Another factor is benzaldehyde's close
link to amygdalin (a.k.a. laetrile), the bete noire of the cancer establishment.
Amygdalin, found in apricot kernels, etc. breaks down into benzaldehyde,
glucose, and hydrogen cyanide in the body. Gluconated benzaldehyde (BG) is
essentially laetrile without the hydrogen cyanide.... Readers seeking
treatment for cancer should seek out competent medical help, including
doctors open to alternative treatments. Scientific references on benzaldehyde
research, as well as other treatment options, are to be found in Ralph W.
Moss's book, Cancer Therapy, published by Equinox Press. You can get benzaldehyde by eating figs,
apple seeds, peach or apricot kernels. It is also found in almond extract.
Almond extract is available in most supermarkets. One teaspoon of almond
extract usually contains approximately 90 mg of benzaldehyde. 1.When taken internally, 1.7 to 2 ounces
of pure benzaldehyde can be fatal. It can slow down your central nervous
system and cause respiratory failure. Benzaldehyde
oil is also available from the Essential Oil Source for a cost of
approximately $8.50 U.S. for a ounce. Protecting yourself
against radiation In Fighting Cancer - A Survival
Guide, I list a range of supplements that are said to have
protective value. In the book Double Vision by
Alexandra Dundas Todd, about her son's fight with cancer using both
chemotherapy and radiation, on the one hand, and eatern methods for coping
with the side effects. She recommends a diet that is high in
Herbs
External Aids
To prevent hairloss
Louise adds - vitamin E (2,400 iu per day for duration
of treatment) also helps prevent hairloss While doing the research for Fighting
Cancer - A Survival Guide, I came across two warnings about calcium promoting
the growth of cancer, which is why I wrote in the book that cancer patients
should avoid calcium supplements completely. However, Belinda Berry has
queried this as a number of her sources recommend calcium supplementation. I
think it is therefore useful to examine what our sources of information
actually say. The quotes that I had at hand were as
follows: 1. Max Gerson: "...ten to fourteen
days after administration of calcium compound the cancers started a rapid
regrowth and were beyond cure. " These referred to cases of
osteosarcoma. (Max Gerson: A Cancer Therapy) 2. Max Gerson: "I administered
calcium and phosphate compositions in a number of cases where the X-rays
showed far advanced decalcification and in three cases of haemophilia,
complicated by osteosarcoma tumours. The bleedings had been stopped with this
medication but the tumours started to grow immensely. Several of these cases
were lost." Here it is not certain that the description applies only to
osteosarcoma. (Max Gerson: A Cancer Therapy) 3. Dr Forbes Ross: "On another
occasion I had reason to administer calcium salts...to cases of cancer...I
was appalled at the rate of growth of the cancers." (quoted in Dettman ,
Kalokerinos & Dettman: Vitamin C: Nature's Miraculous Healing Missile) However, Belinda makes the following
points: "I see from Max Gerson's book, that
he is referring to the growth of tumours after administering calcium
phosphate compositions in the case of osteosarcoma. "It is not clear what the composition
actually was, and I remain to be convinced, although I can surmise that the
growth of calcium-dependant tumours or calcifications could be exacerbated by
a high intake of calcium. "I note however, from 'Alternative
Medicine Guide to Cancer' that Jesse Stoff M.D. "advises his cancer
patients to take a calcium supplement, particularly if they are suffering
from a cancer that has infiltrated the bones. Dr Stoff recommends working
within a range of 800 to 100mg of calcium daily, and 400 to 800 mg of
magnesium. The proper amounts of these nutrients will vary depending on the
individual's age, sex, blood chemistry and other factors." "Further, in the same book, Lawrence
H.Taylor M.D. "recommends amounts of both calcium and magnesium vary
depending on the individual's age, sex, blood chemistry and other factors. A
19-year prospective study found that calcium deficiency was associated with a
higher risk of colorectal cancer (22). Supplementation should be based on two
factors (1)serum calcium-to-phosphorus ratio (ideally 4 to 1); and (2) the
relative amounts of magnesium in the daily diet (ideally 2-to-1 ratio of
calcium to magnesium). "Women need more calcium in general to help
prevent osteoporosis", says Dr Taylor. "Though the connection with
colon cancer is not definitive, calcium is also needed for numerous other
aspects of human health, including heart, muscle and nerve function." Dr Taylor's recommended range for
supplementation is 800 to 1200mg per day. Another intriguing thought picked up from
the same book: "shark cartilage is 22% calcium, which puts 14 times the
normal RDA for calcium in your system." Dr Rosy Daniel from the Bristol Cancer
Help does not have anything contrary to say about calcium in her 1997 book
'Healing Foods', and neither is it commented on in Sandra Goodman PhD's
recently updated 'Nutrition and Cancer: State of the Art". Seems I have run into yet another of
cancer's conundrums, where if you delve beneath the surface, there are
contradictory and opposing views to almost every topic!" My Comments Many doctors are claiming that today's
problem with calcium is not that people are not getting enough of it but that
they're getting too much. One of vitamin C's jobs is to take out excess
minerals from the body. Some people think this may be why calcium ascorbate
form of vitamin C are less useful than the sodium ascorbate form - it's too
busy eliminating the excess calcium to do anything else. Perhaps. One piece
of evidence that people are getting too much calcium is the fact that elderly
people in Northern Europe and the States have a far higher hip fracture rate
than elderly people in third world countries - or in countries where dairy
products are little consumed. Bones have two component substances: calcium
and collagen. Calcium makes the bones harder and more brittle, collagen makes
them more flexible. Vitamin C is, incidentally, an important component for
healthy collagen production. The more the bones are calcified the more likely
they are to break. I, personally, have grown very suspicious of anything containing supplementary calcium. I think that the benefit of calcium
supplementation for cancer patients is unproven and there is sufficient
personal testimony that it is dangerous. Sufficient to persuade me that it
may possibly be dangerous. But everyone has to take their own reading of the
evidence. These substances may be the cure for
cancer that we've all been waiting for - and a cure for heart disease at the
same time - a miraculous 2-in-1 package. Originally used to lower cholesterol
levels, they have also been found to be powerful anti-oxidants (60 times more
powerful than vitamin E) and at the same time they interfere with
inappropriate cell division. In effect they slow down and eventually stop the
proliferation of tumours. They do not interfere with normal cell division. In
addition they are, by all accounts, safe, having virtually no bad
side-effects. A tocotrienol formula is marketed under
the name Cardiem by Aspen Nutritional Products It has been well-established that
supplementation with `good' bacteria is extremely beneficial for cancer
patients - in theory. The problem has not been with the bacteria - which are
known to be good - but with the supplements, which are extremely
variable in quality. The problem is that the bacteria are very sensitive and
many if not most of the bacteria originally present in any capsule may have
been killed before it is ingested. Now two researchers, Barry Goldin and Sherwood
Gorbach have found a Lactobaccillus (Lactobacillus GG) which is native to the
human gut and which has powerful health benefits. In the case of cancer, it
interferes with the development of intestinal tumours and it also stimulates
the production of immune system chemicals like tumour necrosis factor
(TNF). They have also developed a way of maintaining it in a stable
state so that it is guaranteed to be potent. It is available from under the
trade name of Culturelle (probiotic formula) from Vitamin Research Products The work of this Italian doctor has
recently hit the headlines in a big way. Unfortunately, although a large
number of individuals are claiming his treatment methods have cured them of
their cancers, trials currently underway do not appear to be supporting this. Professor Di Bella is shouting that
medical researchers have falsified his protocols. The researchers are denying
this. Certainly there have been cases of medical
researchers sabotaging clinical trials: Vitamin C and Hydrazine Sulphate
(Sulfate) being two cases in point - not to mention laetrile. For a
description of these see Ralph Moss's book: The Cancer Industry. However, that doesn't mean that in this
case these trials are being falsified. I think we need to be cautious in
evaluating this therapy - especially as some of the drugs used are
prohibitively expensive (some are as much as DM150 a vial) Here is an extract
from an article by Margaret Straus on the Di Bella therapy It would take considerably more space than
is available here to describe Professor Di Bella's "Multi-therapy"
and the rationale behind it. The various elements, individually tailored to
each patient, are according to Di Bella's claims, non-toxic, with an emphasis
on the cell-growth control functions of melatonin, bromocryptin, and special
slow-release injections of somatostatin. In addition, he uses prolactine
inhibitors, and ACTH, a vitamin mix of retinoids, carotenoids, vitamins E and
C, selenium, and in occasional cases very small doses of cyclophosphamide (a
form of chemotherapy). His claims are of a "control" of cancer, a
"return to normal life," and "tumor encapsulation." Many patients that have come forward to
testify for his method would appear by most criteria to qualify as
"cures". It is interesting to note that Di Bella's greatest
successes are in areas where the Gerson Therapy has in recent years found
results lacking: notably in leukemia's and brain metastasized breast cancer.
However, the area where Di Bella admits he has most difficulty, is where
Gerson has the greatest success rate: malignant melanoma. It would certainly
be interesting for notes to be compared between exponents of the two
methodologies. The parallels between the Di Bella story
and Dr. Max Gerson's American experience were not lost on Giuliano Dego,
Italian author of the biographical Gerson novel, Doctor Max. Dego began
publishing a series of 15 articles in his regular newspaper column, warning
the Italian public of the lengths to which the cancer establishment will go
to in order to block intruders in their territory. His articles also tell the
story of Dr. Gerson in detail. While the role of the press in this whole
affair has been under attack by orthodox oncologists, it has at least
demonstrated a freedom of public information that the U.S. could well envy.
Meanwhile, experimentation has gotten underway, criticized by Professor and
Dr. Di Bella and overshadowed by the government decree. In March, Professor
Di Bella traveled to Argentina to explain his therapy to doctors there, but
Italy's most powerful oncologist, Professor Umberto Veronesi mysteriously
preceded him to meet with his Argentinian colleagues. Di Bella was snubbed by
all but a host of journalists. Brazil and Canada, on the other hand, have
offered him facilities for research and freedom to teach his method. The saga
continues... A Note from Charlotte Gerson: It is interesting to notice that there has
been almost no mention of this major event in the U.S. news media. With more
Americans facing cancer than anywhere else in the world, it would seem the
media have a responsibility to inform their U.S. public about such a thing.
Not until April 18th of 1998, almost 6 months after the Di Bella affair began
in Italy, did I see a small mention of it on the local TV news. For more information on doctors using the
therapy contact the following website http://microwebcom.com/melatonina/indexe.html or write to AIAN - Associazione Italiana
Assistenza Malati Neoplastici Via Magna Grecia, 39 - ROMA The enzymes contained in bean-sprouts have
been claimed by many to have powerful anti-cancer properties. However, not
everyone agrees. The Gerson Institute, for example, is opposed to the use of
sprouts. Here is a comment by a Gerson practitioner: There is no mention
anywhere in A Cancer Therapy of sprouts! It has also been proven by research
and in our own seriously negative experience, that sprouted alfalfa contains
precursor amino acids that have caused lupus in healthy monkeys,
Unfortunately, we do not have the funds nor research facilities to test other
sprouts for the possibly toxic precursor amino acid (l-canavanine, see Gerson
Healing Newsletter No. 11, Jan/Feb '86 ) Therefore, in order to avoid any
possible damage from immature proteins, we have prohibited all sprouts. For
further information on Gerson Therapy contact http://www.gerson.org. Milk and the Cancer
Connection With complete references for
researchers On January 23, 1998 researchers at the
Harvard Medical School released a major study providing conclusive evidence
that IGF-1 is a potent risk factor for prostate cancer. Should you be
concerned? Yes, you certainly should, particularly if you drink milk produced
in the United States. IGF-1 or insulin-like growth factor 1 is
an important hormone which is produced in the liver and body tissues. It is a
polypeptide and consists of 70 amino acids linked together. All mammals
produce IGF-1 molecules very similar in structure and human and bovine IGF-1
are completely identical. IGF-1 acquired its name because it has insulin-like
activity in fat (adipose) tissue and has a structure which is very similar to
that of proinsulin. The body's production of IGF-1 is regulated by the human
growth hormone and peaks at puberty. IGF-1 production declines with age and
is only about half the adult value at the age of 70 years. IGF-1 is a very
powerful hormone which has profound effects even though its concentration in
the blood serum is only about 200 ng/mL or 0.2 millionth of a gram per
milliliter(1-4). IGF-1 and cancer IGF-1 is known to stimulate the growth of
both normal and cancerous cells(2,5). In 1990 researchers at Stanford
University reported that IGF-1 promotes the growth of prostate cells(2). This
was followed by the discovery that IGF-1 accelerates the growth of breast
cancer cells (6-8). In 1995 researchers at the National Institutes of Health
reported that IGF-1 plays a central role in the progression of many
childhood cancers and in the growth of tumours in breast cancer, small
cell lung cancer, melanoma, and cancers of the pancreas and prostate(9). In
September 1997 an international team of researchers reported the first
epidemiological evidence that high IGF-1 concentrations are closely linked to
an increased risk of prostate cancer(10). Other researchers provided evidence
of IGF-1's link to breast and colon cancers(10,11). The January 1998
report by the Harvard researchers confirmed the link between IGF-1 levels in
the blood and the risk of prostate cancer. The effects of IGF-1
concentrations on prostate cancer risk were found to be astoundingly large -
much higher than for any other known risk factor. Men having an IGF-1 level
between approximately 300 and 500 ng/mL were found to have more than four
times the risk of developing prostate cancer than did men with a level
between 100 and 185 ng/mL. The detrimental effect of high IGF-1 levels was
particularly pronounced in men over 60 years of age. In this age group men
with the highest levels of IGF-1 were eight times more likely to develop
prostate cancer than men with low levels. The elevated IGF-1 levels were
found to be present several years before an actual diagnosis of prostate
cancer was made(12).\\ (reprinted with permission) Letter from Sharon S.
Cocanour: Navaho Indians and Cancer While scanning your reviews of cancer
books, I was stunned to see a book based on the premise that Navaho Indians
rarely get cancer. (Cancerproof Your Body by Ross Horne) While on a recent trip to Logan, Utah, I
picked up an obscure book in a used bookstore entitled, `Their Secrets: Why
the Navaho Indians Never Get Cancer', written by a medical doc, DeLamar
Gibbons M.D., who tended some 5000 Navahos for more than 30 years in San Juan
County Utah! In all that time, only one of his patients developed cancer
(prostate), and that was a man who violated the chicken "taboos".
Essentially, the Navahos don't (or at least didn't, as this book is now ten
years old) consume chicken, eggs or milk...the author goes into impressive
scientific detail about how these items transmit cancer viruses to humans...
another factor he cites is the fact that the Navaho have a much less intimate
relationship with their pets than we do, meaning they don't allow them
indoors or allow them so physically close. Basically, the idea is that
chicken/eggs/fresh milk can and DO transmit cancer viruses to humans... most
chickens have cancer before they are slaughtered/ die, even the young birds.
And the viral component in eggs isn't destroyed unless cooked at high temps,
such as when hard-boiled. (The man who got the cancer kept, and ate, eggs and
chickens.) Dr. Gibbons felt the Navaho's didn't really connect these
practices with their low-incidence of cancer, it was just the result of their
particular cultural traditions. Sorry this is so jumbled and that I'm can't
give you a more concise summation of the book. I've only just skimmed the
surface, but instinctively felt that I was really onto something, so you can
see why I'm anxious to share it immediately with you! Dr. Gibbons cites an impressive list of
credible, scientific references to support these theories, by the way, on
both avian and bovine viral disease and their transmission to humans.
SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT..... Thanks for the great website; it is so needed!
Side-effects of radiation and chemotherapy as provided by members of the Sapient Health Network Copyright (c) 1998 by Sapient Health Network, Inc. All rights reserved. http://www.shn.net -- Sign up for a free membership today! Sapient Health Network's Question of the Week provides members of the Breast cancer community an opportunity to share their opinions on a variety of issues relevant to that community. Question: Treatment Side Effects Have you, or someone you love, undergone chemotherapy or radiation for breast cancer? What, if any, side effects did you experience? Carrie Sue, Kansas.Hair loss, vomiting, severe weakness, used Neupogen and with that had bone pain. RO_13, California I begin radiation next week. Currently I have a friend going through it and her biggest compliant is the "burn" feeling and itching. She is a littletired, but that might have to do with the distance she has to travel for the treatment. Her only real compliant is the uncomfortableness of the breast being radiated - skin discomfort, and she uses a cream twice a day. maebird_99, Illinois Taxol = severe numbness in hands and feet. Major swelling feet and ankles. reepy Treatment was CAF -- at different times I experienced burning in esophagus, mouth, stomach and rectum. Naseua, headache, fatigue, overwhelming at times, and inflammation of the hair follicles. patimer About 1-2 months after radiation I seemed to be very tired all the time. How long did this last- less than a month and it was never awful, just for awhile I needed to sit when I usually would stand & walk when I used to run. djaskela, British Columbia Canada Radiation in 1980 after modified radical mastectomy and then radiationin l996 when discovered that back pain was mets in pelvic area both sides and also lower spin and radiation in1998 to left ribs for further mets. Some discomfort and redness which was helped by liberal applications of Aloe Vera (from live plant). Definite decrease of pain after radiation but comes back in a couple of years but grateful for any time frame with little pain. sukeyQ, New York I'm in the middle of CMf chemo now; except for a few days of nausea which can be controlled with Tigan, I'm doing very well;1/3 hair loss; some GERD controlled with Prilosec and some constipation aided with Metamucil. No energy loss; minimal fatigue; working full time; exercising @ the gym 3 days a week. trace_48, United Kingdom After 4 days, started with sores in the head and glands in head swelled. Carried on for over a week, 8 pain killers a day, just to put head on pillow because of antibiotics and my chemotherapy put on hold. I am awaiting review next week, more antibiotics for 10 days, just got the marks where the sores were now 3 weeks later. Alatanu, Washington I have undergone 35 sessions of radiation and am now on tamoxifen. I am African American and of course I started "tanning" right away. I had a real dry skin problem. So I used pure aloe AFTER treatment. I also used a natural deodorant AFTER treatments because going without did not work for me. Eventually, the entire aerola and nipple were so dry and damaged from the radiation, that the skin was cracking.I could not wear a bra the entire time I was undergoing radiation. Besides that, I was extremely tired. And was able to only work part time. I had no other side effects that were directly related to the radiation. Except that I went into a severe depression once I completed radiation (for 2 - 3 weeks). tghall, Illinois Numb fingertips and toes. DAPPLE My breast that I had the radiation treatment on is still sore. It will be 5 years in December of this year. I do not know of any other side effects. How do we really know though? saysay97 I will not ever subject my body to the effect of CHEMO again. The surgery (bilateral mast), hair loss and emotional trauma were nothing compared with the side affects of chemo. Severe nausea uncontrolled by none of the new drugs. Vomit every third week as leaving the MD's from treatment, vomit for 3 more day after that. Go home to bed and not be able to get up for 4 days. On 4th day I could crawl on hands and knees to kitchen -- was too weak to walk. 5th day post-treatment I couldwalk to kitchen and sit. Experienced severe constipation. Red and whiteblood counts constantly low so always on procrit and Neupogen. Mouth sores, bone pain from Neupogen. I was too weak to drive for the entire 6 treatments. Became nearly housebound. I have now developed myelodysplastic anemia. Looks like the supposed chemo cure will now by my killer. joanne_14 I have survived breast cancer twice. The first time in 1985 at age 35 I underwent surgery, chemo CAF, and radiation. During that course of treatment I kept a journal which highlights the usual side effects - nausea, hair loss, body sores - the worst, and mental distress. On a scale of 1 to 10 - 10 the worst - I would say for the most part the experience of chemo rated at a 10. The radiation for the most part wore on me making me tired. I did end up with severe sun burn as well. The second breast cancer came in 1997. This time I went through CA and Taxol. The side effects were basically the same - nausea, hair loss, body sores - worse than the first time, and mental distress. However this time used both conventional and homeopathic medicine to make it through. I also kept a detailed journal. It would be difficult to put all of my journey into this short essay. gahoy, Wyoming I have had 6 treatments of chemo with 6 more to go. Side effects have been constipation, heartburn, hair loss, weakness and aches & pains. Have also been given medicines which have helped a lot. LizaJ, Saskatchewan Canada Chemo (ACx4) rads (25) side effects: nausau, fatigue, blackened finger nails, total hair lose, aching joints - hips back, stiff cramping sore hands, depression, fear, anxiety, and of course brain damage (unable to remember what else I suffered!! #1mouse, Washington Both breasts, (only had surgery on right side) swollen and very painful. Cannot sleep on stomach, hurts to wear a bra or hurts not to. Blistered and suffered from fatigue during treatments. I am very worried now about what the side effects long-term may be in store for myself and others. jbughall, North Carolina I have had 3 cycles of adriamycin. So far, side effects have been minimal. I am given zytril, Decadron, and Compazine 30 minutes before my chemo. Then I take compazine every 12 hours for the next3 days. I rest a lot those three days and eat small meals. I will take short walks, and get outside as much as possible. I am more tired but that is about all. pata2ne After three weeks of radiation, I had a skin reaction. With an interveninglong weekend and about three days off, I resumed tx. Boosters gave me a ring of pimples which are disappearing. trishJ, Nevada I received chemo (CMF) and radiation treatments for breast cancer in 1994. Side effects from chemo were: yeast infections, thrush, instant menopause, hair loss (not all, just a lot of thinning). Side effects from radiation were irritated red skin like sunburn and tiredness. Of course the other side effect from both treatments was periods of depression. chuey, California I had 6 cycles of CMF and the only side effects I had were hair loss and fatigue. The fatigue was not bad in the beginning but towards the last session I found myself getting pretty tired after working all day. All in all It was not a bad experience you just have to remember that the chemo is helping you. trudsif, Oregon I went through 6 weeks of radiation therapy after a lumpectomy almost 4 years ago. My only side effect was a "sunburn" on my breast. This was toward the end of my treatments. At present, my breast is still very tender to the touch, the tissue composition has changed (a tender ridge of tissue around the perimeter of the breast) and my nipple's sensitivity has changed from stimulating to irritating. pam_04, New Hampshire I have undergone radiation therapy for breast cancer (2 1/2 yrs ago), I experienced some pain in the treated breast, extreme fatigue, I got skin desquimation really bad, so bad that when I accidentally touched that area (under the breast) it bled. These side effects were nothing compared to the lack of compassion by my radiation oncologist and some of the radiation technologists. The worst was the feelings of dehumanization. I now suffer from PTSD due to severe emotional traumas I experienced. If I had to do it over I would not do it again. pepper1, Wisconsin I underwent both. The worst side effects of chemo were caused by the neupogen injections that I had to give myself. Back spasms and bone aches were sometimes almost unbearable. Radiation caused a third degree burn under my arm. Silvadene and a week off of work helped it to heal nicely but it was really painful for awhile. Even though I had some bad experiences, I would still go through the clinical study that I did. JBW_56, Georgia My mother experienced sharp, shooting pains during and after her radiation therapy. She is 2 weeks out from completing her radiation tx and continues to have those pains. JoanneK, North Carolina Chemo: sleepiness and oddness from the anti-nausea medications (Kytril first day, then Compazine, Decadron, and Reglan) (and the chemo?). I'd be out of it for 3 to 5 days. I couldn't walk far unassisted (balance out of whack and weakness). Lost hair by end of third week after first treatment (CA). Radiation: light sunburn effect. Loss of hair in target zone; underarm hair came back after a few months. Some fatigue; needed about 2 hours of nap by Friday each week. Lorenak, California Hair loss, nausea, fatigue, 3rd degree burns, finger & toe nail problems, finger and toe tingling, aching body, etc. LINSKY, Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada I had 8 months of chemo and 6 weeks (every day except Saturday and Sunday) of radiation. Radiation was not bad except toward the end I did experience radiation burns. Chemo was not fun!!! I lost all my hair (and I mean ALL my hair, everywhere on my body). My eyelashes did not grow back as long as they were. Too bad. During chemo I experience, in addition to nausea, weight loss, very dry skin, and my treatments were very often postponed because of low white cells. I took 10 months off work and was very bored when I was not throwing up. That was almost 3 years ago. My hair has grown back, and I have my life back again. In August of this year they found another lump in my breast, the same breast that I had the lumpectomy on. I underwent another biopsy (which really was a lumpectomy) and much to my relief, it was nothing. At least that is what the surgeon said. When I had my stitches removed he did not have the results from the lab but he said "no news is good news" which at the time sounded very good however I still do not know exactly what they found. I go for a check up in November to my oncologist and hopefully he will tell me more. Spiga, California While I did not have to undergo chemotherapy for my breast cancer, I did receive radiation therapy. The major side effect I experienced was a very severe burn. The providers needed to place a "second skin" on my breast area. This was the only problem I had. I did not experience any tiredness. I consider myself very lucky, indeed. Anja_75, Sweden I have gone through radiation treatment and got very tired from it. Also my skin got very sore at the end of the treatment. After the treatment it took me about three weeks to recover. whamdiddle, Maryland I went through radiation for breast cancer nearly two years ago and am still experiencing effects from it. I was exhausted before the first week of treatment in a 7 week course. Not just tired, but sleeping 11 – 12 hours at night, napping for 1/2 hour at lunch, sleeping most of Saturday afternoon. I still get a little overtired sometimes. My white blood count was low for about 1 1/2 years. My skin still peels occasionally. And, although I can not get medical verification, I am definitely weaker on my right side, especially when I get tired. iwillsurvive, Indiana I have undergone chemotherapy. My hair thinned, I lost weight, had bouts of painful colicky diarrhea, couldn't drink the Diet Coke (which I previously practically "lived on"(didn't taste good; caused alot of heartburn), had altered sense of taste for food in general, but most of all, I was extremely tired and weak, lost a certain part of my memory functioning after my 3rd chemo and I have, since chemo, put on an enormous amount of weight (weigh a little more than 150% of what I did prior to chemo) which I seem to be unable to take back off. EILEEN1 Hair loss, nausea, vomiting, made me feel old before my time. Memory loss and general aging. beezay, Mexico My mother had breast cancer and underwent radiation and then chemo. From the radiation, she suffered pain in her ribs. From the chemo, she felt as if she had the flu real bad and lost her hair and lost her appetite. rotorup, Florida Severe nausea, tired, bruising, mood swings, loss of appetite, loss of hair, depression, agitation. grammy_sam, Ohio I had radiation therapy and got so burned that I had to take tome off three times. A week each time which lengthened my treatment. I was in total misery and no one could tell me what may help. My mother finally told me to use ice cold cloths and put them on the breast. I would take a bowl full of ice and water into my bedroom and put the cloths on my breast. I was so burned and hot that in a matter of seconds the cloth would be hot and dry. I got so burned toward the end of treatment that I would dip my breast right into the bowl for some relief. I was also very tired, but I had no help at the time with taking care of my house or my 2 year old grandson. My husband and my daughter were not supportive at all so that added to the misery of the burns. Rudi_23, Oregon I experienced the following side effects as a result of chemotheraphy with Adriamycin, Cytoxin and Taxol: Weight loss/weight gain (with Tamoxifen and Taxol); complete hair loss (head, facial and body); vomiting, nausea and fatigue; mouth sores; joint pain and stiffness; constipation; anxiety/depression; visual auras (Taxol); hot flashes. JudithF, Illinois I am now undergoing chemo. I am taking taxol and experience, nausea, numbness in the fingers and toes. Pain for the first 3 days in my joints. Have lost my hair. eheh, New Jersey I have one more chemo treatment (8 total) and am just starting my third week of radiation. The main problems I have encountered have been about two days after chemo. Just tired, and as I describe it feel like I was hit by a truck. The radiation is not bad just with the two I am tired. lumpless, Delaware There were many besides the usual: nausea, hair loss. I had lots of indigestion and constipation, bad taste in mouth, fatigue. The worst was just a general bad feeling that stayed the whole six months of chemotherapy. Kathann Some tiredness. Increase in weight. bunny_97 Intensified blood levels of medicines I needed to take to control my epilepsy, thus poisoning my system. Drug levels were almost 2 x the top of the range for AED drugs. Otherwise, I had experienced extremely severe mouth sores that I could not difficulty swallowing even soft food through my mouth nausea, extremely high fever. I found it very disheartening that in bringing some of this to the doctor's attention they had no clue that it would have an effect. I would be interested in knowing if there were many more people that have had the same problems, such as having a preexisting illness of epilepsy and also having breast cancer. kbcoop5, California I am currently receiving CMF x 6 mos. The chemo has caused me to have blurred vision. The Eye Dr. said it was muscle spasms behind the eye. I now have to wear glasses. My other side effects are the usual, tiredness, headaches and backaches. JoniJ While on chemotherapy, I experienced nausea, loss of hair, went through menopause, was hospitalized for a high fever and low white cell count. Radiation caused some fatigue, itchy skin blisters, red skin which turned tan eventually and then went back to almost normal a month after finishing. Radiation caused my reconstructive surgery to tighten and caused the new nipple to shrink. The American Cancer Society stated that immediate reconstructive surgery wouldn't affect chemotherapy or radiation(it didn't), but they neglect to say that radiation affects reconstruction. Lorilu I experienced nausea after the first 3-4 treatments. Zofran gave me headaches so my doctor narrowed the treatment field to avoid my stomach, nausea slowly resolved over next week. heff, Pennsylvania I had radiation treatments. My breast became red, swollen and I had shooting pains. I was pretty sore for several months and probably still having pain 1 year later. It's been 2 1/2 years and my breast is still tender. I also hated the odor from that arm pit. I became very tired after about 2-3 weeks of treatment and left work early every day. Scarlettangel, Arizona I had six cycles of CMF and the main side effect I had was fatigue. I have never been so tired in my life as I was during treatment. My onc seemed to think this was abnormal though everything I read says that is a common side effect. She wanted me to see a counselor cause she thought I was tired because I was depressed, when actually I did get a little depressed cause I was so tired! I also had a few mouth sores, diarrhea, nausea, and I was anemic by the time it was over with and it lasted about six months after treatment. glory, Florida Taxotere caused neuromotor problems (went away after treatment ended). Also, my nails are separating from the nailbed. pooh_74 Chemo: hair loss, nausea, vomiting, mouth sores, fatigue. Radiation: some fatigue, although since this was after chemo, it seemed like a walk in the park. LouJ, Ontario Canada Nausea, burns (open weeping sores), and extreme fatigue from radiation treatment. paintedwoman, Florida Neutropenia, anemia, fatigue, dry skin & mucous membranes, no libido, darkening of the skin that was irradiated, as well as other non-related areas, sebaceous cysts on labia, nausea, some hair thinning, dry eyes, "burned" metallic taste, anorexia, depression, fear, brittle nails, weight loss, sensitivity to sunlight and heat, esophagitis, skin loss during radiation, lymphedema, isolation, pneumonia, pleuresy on the radiation side, hot flashes with extreme night sweats, cold when not "flashing". Beckyhl, Canada I had radiation and 7 cycles of CAF. Radiation was no problem with just a "sunburn" toward the end. No other side effects. I was one of the lucky ones where chemo was concerned. I was tired, tired, tired but was not sick. I worked throughout my treatment, having my chemo on Friday afternoons and back to work on Monday. dubiedoo, New York I have had chemo therapy, short term side effects included mouth sores, hot flashes, reflux, fatigue. Long term effects are memory problems and neuropathy. Bobsy, Ohio Fatigue and burns under the arm and under the breast were the only side effects. Had to stop for 1 week till healed. suemin, Ontario Canada I have experienced hair loss, extreme fatigue, mouth sores, dry mouth, aches in my leg bones, nose bleeds, nausea and vomiting.... It's all worth it because I'm going to beat this horrible disease, even though I was told I'm terminal! Connie_E, Alabama I have had both the chemo and radiation and was left totally drained. With chemo, I was nauseated and scared. Simple smells would make me sick. I would come home after chemo and not move for the next two days because I felt so weak then the nausea and vomiting set in. I was told I had a very easy time with it though. Radiation started two weeks after chemo ended. I was so tired after the first week that it was very hard to function. I was so susceptible to every but that my kids and husband brought home, I had pneumonia three time in about a two month period. lmta, Wisconsin I had six weeks of radiation this past February-March and I guess I must be one of the lucky ones who did not experience any uncomfortable side effects. My "suntan" was minimal and I had very little dryness/peeling. beezay, New Mexico My mother had breast cancer and underwent radiation and then chemo. From the radiation, she suffered pain in her ribs. From the chemo, she felt as if she had the flu real bad and lost her hair and lost her appetite. toniaburk, Alabama My mother has COMPLETELY lost feeling in her hand, onset 6-8 years after mastectomy and radiation treatment. kj-98, California I received radiation to my right breast for 6 weeks. I had mild pinkness to my breast area around 5 weeks and perhaps very mild itching (not bad enough to recall). I continued my usual 30-35 miles a week of running. I think that a positive attitude doesn't hurt either. Stitches-El, North Dakota When I had chemo, I was sick to my stomach for several days and I had a salty taste in my mouth and I just generally didn't feel good. The radiation was a lot easier. The only side effect I got from that was the burns on my breast area. sfarquhar, Washington I have undergone extensive chemo. My last two chemo treatments were high dose CEP without SCR in Sept and Nov 97. As a result and previous regimens, I have developed peripheral neuropathy in both my hands and feet. The worst damage is in my feet. I have also had radiation treatment for IBC, but appear to have no side effects from it. wai, Hawaii Yes. 3 Hawaiian women whom I love and was very close to passed on within 6 months of each other. One battled breast cancer for over 10 years the other two less than one year each. The most obvious side effects of chemo and radiation were the loss of appetite and nausea with their equilibrium being affected. ctaylor_50, Oregon I had 33 Radiation treatments ending on June 8, 1998. I had all the standard side effects, fatigue, sunburn, peeling skin, etc. In September I started getting rib pain. After 2 MRI's and a full Neurological workup, they have determined that the radiation did so much damage to the small nerves under my arm that control pain sensation and heat and cold sensation, that those nerves are now dying. They have put me on a low dose of Elavil to help control the discomfort. denise_89, Massachusetts I went through chemo and was lucky to not have lost all of my hair. Maybe 35%, never had to wear a wig. The chemo made me very tired and depressed. I spend months on the couch doing nothing, caring about nothing. I also experience hot flashes that were incredible. I would wake up soaked in the middle of the night all of the time. About a month after chemo stopped hot flashes stopped too. I am now on tamoxifen and have been for 4 months now. No side affects from that at all. Faye53, Ohio The first two weeks of treatments I thought there would be no side effects as I had been told. I thought maybe I was different. But after two weeks the side effects started. That was burning of the skin in the area of treatment. It was like a severe sunburn day after day with some relief on the weekends. Another side effect is tiredness. I was working full time. I went to the cancer center for radiation treatments on my lunch hour. But by around 2:00 I became so tired. I could barely drive home after work. Now it's been seven months since the treatments. My breast is very lumpy feeling and there is some pain which I guess I will always have. I had a lumpectomy and I still have my breast although it doesn't quite match the other one. No one can tell and my husband doesn't mind at all. He still has me. keak, Pennsylvania Extreme fatigue throughout radiation. Food cravings. Very bad burns. Jeri_84, Arkansas The only side effects I had to chemotherapy (Adriamycin & cytoxan) washair loss (on my head). I had very little nausea or other symptoms. slo_28, Georgia I received radiation therapy last spring and I experienced a lot of fatigue by the end of the cycle of treatments. Maggie_O, Ohio Had four treatments of Cytoxin and adriamycin, had nausea once but with change of medication didn't have it again, but the increase in zofran made my head feel strange. Did have phlebitis, heartburn, and pneumonia. Also got tired with legs that felt very heavy, but could control that by pacing myself and stopping to rest when walking up hill or climbing steps. I also required a lot more sleep. The arm on the side of the lymph node removal also would swell a bit but I don't have any remaining lymphodemia. My taste and smell was affected, and I gained 8 lbs. in one week because food didn't satisfy me. But I learned my lesson for the remaining treatments. My mouth didn't get very sore, no real problem. My blood counts got low enough that twice the treatment had to be postponed for a week or two, but never low enough that I needed the neupogen shots. I'm a year and four months after my last chemo, and I still haven't been able to walk on the treadmill as fast or as long as I had before, but otherwise I do feel really good now. If I am cured it was all well worth it. Dawn_evelyn I had a lumpectomy with 6 weeks of radiation in 1996. I experienced blisters that oozed during the radiation boost. I originally had shooting pain in my breast but that has gone away almost completely. My breast is extremely sensitive, I have hand numbness, joint pain and stiffness. I also experienced another lump that I located in a self-check in June that was located under the original cancer but that was benign. 4katz I experienced being sick at my stomach and not being able to eat much of anything. I also was so weak that I could barely walk from my bed to the kitchen and back. I also suffered from dehydration due to not drinking enough water. I ended up in the hospital for four days after my first treatment. The doctor prescribed Neupogen injections from then on. This helped build up my white count. I think the worst part was feeling sick and really tired. Cela I am a breast cancer survivor who had a simple mastectomy in February 1996, followed by 12 sessions of chemotherapy over a period of six months, followed by a course of tamoxifen, which I am still taking. In December 1997 I developed a full-blown cataract in my left eye and the beginnings of one in my right. My ophthalmologist associates this condition with the chemo I have received. My oncologist is non-commital about this outcome. A secondary result of my taking tamoxifen is frequent hot flashes, 8-10x per day, lasting 10 minutes or so each. My oncologist recommended upping my intake of Vitamin E to 1200 mg per day (I had been taking 800 mg) and this has decreased the frequency of hot flashes to 3-4x per day. The anti-nausea medicine that I received during the chemotherapy prevented me from experiencing the nausea many women report. Smells, on the other hand, were enhanced or altered to be very disagreeable, e.g., the smell of brown rice cooking. This effect was not a major problem or unendurable. My hair also thinned considerably, although I did not lose it all. Sue_09 I had radiation only after breast cancer. The treatments were for six weeks Feb-Mar 1998. Near the end of the radiation treatment program and for quite an extended time thereafter, I had limited use of my shoulder on the affected side. I believe that I had hyper-extended my arm when I had to raise it over my head for treatment. I am short (4'10"),and the handle that I had to hold on to is a non-movable handle which does not accommodate short people. The pain continued until such time as I ceased doing my exercises which were required after surgery. My breast is still somewhat hard but is beginning to soften. My suntan is slowly dissipating also. Other than what I mentioned two paragraphs above, my most discomfort was from the area in which the nodes were removed, not the breast area itself. El.M I had side effects from radiation which consisted mostly of fatigue. However, chemo caused the following problems - anemia, mouth sores, anorexia, peripheral neuropathy, various aches and pains, loss of 20 lbs, various bowel problems, fatigue, low white counts, and a few others I may have forgotten. I finished chemo last February and
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Cancer
Your body is creating new cells 24 hours a day. You
have white
corpuscles running around in your body eating things
up like a little
pacman. To protect that new cell from the white
corpuscle, your body
puts a negative charged
protein layer around the new cell, and because
the white corpuscle is also a negative charged
element, they repel each
other.
Each cell contains the complete encyclopedia or DNA of
your whole
body. If you have a computer and they give 2 manuals 3
inches thick,
you'd never learn to use the computer. But if I tell
you to read pages 10
through 15, you will learn how to use your computer.
When your body
needs a cell, at the last minute it decides if it
needs a kidney, eye, or
fingernail cell. The body then tells the cell what
pages of the DNA to
read and when it takes the place of a dying cell, it
begins to function.
Once in a while a cell gets old that hasn't been
programmed, your body
then puts out an enzyme that dissolves the protein
layer and a white
corpuscle gets recycles
it. If a unprogrammed cell gets away and
replaces a dying cell, it can't be replaced until it
dies. But it doesn’t
know what to do, because it doesn't know which pages
of the DNA to
read. One cell here and there doesn’t hurt you, but if
half your kidney is
unprogramed cells your going to die of kidney failure.
Doctors call it a
tumor and their answer is to cut out the tumor and
throw it away. Well
if they cut your arm off and throw it away the body
cannot rebuild it.
Sew the arm back on and the body will do everything
possible to
rebuild it, even make new nerves and blood vessels to
save the arm. If
the body can get a bad cell to die and a good
programmed cell to
replace it, you go into remission. Doctors often use
radiation and
chemotherapy to kill bad cells. The only problem is
those treatments
cannot tell the good cells from the bad cells and
tears up your whole
system. Layatrell, which is a food, has a cyanide
molecule and two
sugar molecules. In a healthy area of your body, you
put out an enzyme
that changes the cyanide to a food and the cells are
very happy with it.
In a cancerous area, that enzyme is not available so
the cancer cells
gobble up the cyanide intact and it kills the cell. So
layatrell is very
fussy as to which cells it kills. The only problem is,
with chemotherapy,
radiation, or layatrell some people go into remission
and some people
do not. Some people don't do anything and they get a
remission. Killing
bad cells is treating the symptoms and not the cause.
If you get rid of
bad cell, and replace it with another bad cell your
treading water and
you can't win. You have to work on the other end,
where your creating
nothing but good, healthy programmed cells. Then it
doesn’t matter
why the old cell dies, you are in remission. That is
where getting the
glands to put out the right hormones and enzymes are
very important so
the body will heal itself.
Testimonial:
Dear Mr. Rich,
I want to let you know how happy I am with your
products, especially
the MSM powder. I have multiple myelome, a cancer of
the
bloodforming system with severe bonepain in my back,
ribs, and pelvis.
I was taking 5-6 painkillers daily just to be able to
function. Then I
went to Idaho to visit friends and was introduced to
MSM. After two
weeks on the powder I was totally off painpills, there
is some pain, but
it is bearable. I have more energy and just feel
better. Seeing what a
natural product can do I have also decided to get off
chemotherapy,
and am going to a doctor that is into natural healing;
he even knows
you! Don't know if you ever get to read this, but just
keep up the good
work and the great products. I am very grateful to
you, and I am
sharing this MSM with many people, also have my
Wolfdogs on it.
So thank you very much!
Gratefully,
Astrid Barbara Hope
Flagstaff, AZ