AS (S-357) is a 65-year-old Indonesian. He came to seek our help on 14 April 2013 after having undergone a failed liver surgery in Singapore.
His problem started in late December 2011 when AS felt gastric-like pain in the stomach. An ultrasound at a hospital in his hometown indicated a possibility of gallbladder infection.
Not satisfied, AS went to Jakarta and on 31 December 2011 underwent a cholecystectomy (surgery to remove gallbladder). During the operation, the surgeon also did a liver biopsy for suspicious liver lesions.
In February 2012, AS went to the National Cancer Centre in Singapore for a second opinion. The histology slides from the early surgery and liver biopsy were reviewed. The liver biopsy showed poorly differentiated tumour.
A whole body PET / CT on 2 February 2012 revealed left hepatic lobe mass, measuring 3.2 x 2.6 cm (picture below).
On 25 April 2012, AS had another CT scan. The report indicated interval increase in size of the dominant heterogenous hepatic mass from previous 2.9 x 2.6 cm to currently 0.3 x 3.5 cm. No other new focal hepatic lesion seen. (Note: this report stated a different tumour size compared to the earlier report. A mistake somewhere?).
On 3 May 2012, AS underwent a hemihepatectomy – i.e. a surgery to remove one-half or a lobe of the liver. The tumour was at the left lobe of his liver. AS was discharged on 9 May 2012. The procedure cost S$28,000.
Liver histology indicated a hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC or liver cancer), 4 cm, Edmondson Grade 3 with 3 satellite nodules. Resection margins were clear. Vascular invasion was present. The 2 diaphragmatic nodules were metastatic HCC. Gallbladder shows chronic cholecystitis with no malignancy seen within.
About three months later, 16 August 2012, AS went back to Singapore for review. A repeat CT of abdomen and pelvis showed NO evidence of recurrent HCC or focal liver lesion.
Unfortunately this euphoria did not last long. Six months later (i.e. about 9 months after the surgery) another PET /CT scan on 11 March 2013, revealed a new recurrent hetergenous hypodense mass in the liver at the resected margin measuring 8.0 x 4.8 cm (picture below).
On 22 March 2013, AS underwent TACE (transarterial chemo embolization) for his recurrent liver tumour. Unfortunately this procedure failed. The interventional radiologist was unable to access the tumour feeding vessel. So TACE could not be completed and the chemo drug not delivered. In spite of the failure, AS had to pay S$5,000 for the procedure.
AS was discharged on 25 March 2013 and was referred to an oncologist for chemotherapy. AS decided to give up further medical treatment and came to seek our help on 14 April 2013.
While talking to AS, his wife and son I posed this question: Why don’t you want to go for chemotherapy? After all AS had willingly undergone surgery and TACE – why chicken out now?
The wife replied, We are scared!
AS replied: The doctor did not show any responsibility.
My reply: What do you expect from the surgeon? What more do you want him to do? His job is to cut you. And has cut you and there is nothing more that he can do. He has done his job. Now, he is passing you to the oncologist because he is a surgeon and not an oncologist!
From his reply I fully understand how AS felt – being let down by the surgeon. He was totally disappointed. He came to the surgeon in Singapore believing that he was in the safe hands of the expert. He was willing to pay S$28,000 for the surgery but he did not get what he had bargained for. Now, he was passed on to another doctor – where is the responsibility then?
Let me tell you – AS is not the only one who felt let down or cheated. There are many, many others who come to us with a similar story. I am reminded of one really pathetic case. A man from Pontianak was pushed into undergoing surgery for his liver cancer (see A great failure and let down ) He was told that his condition was serious and surgery must be done immediately. The wife said: The surgeon even hugged me and assured me – Don’t worry, he (my husband) would be well and alright. Oh, it was so sweet of him. Unfortunately after the surgery, the cancer recurred. The patient and his wife tried to seek clarification from the surgeon. They were snubbed. The surgeon did not even want to talk to them. The wife was full of tears when she related this story.
Yes, I fully understand how patients feel after a medical failure.
I told AS and his family that his is a big problem and I am not sure if I could help him. I can only do my best. AS was prescribed Capsule A, B, C and D. In addition he has to take LL-tea, Liver 1 and 2 teas. We sent him for a blood test. The results as of 15 April 2013 showed his alpha-fetoprotein = 1,064.0 and total bilirubin = 25.0. Other liver function enzymes were within normal range.
Question You Should Ask: Can surgery cure me?
I always pose this question whenever a patient comes to see me, Before you undergo surgery, chemotherapy or radiotherapy, did you ever ask the doctor if the treatment he is giving you is going to cure you? You will be surprised most cancer patients don’t ask such question. They take it for granted that they will be cured!
AS told me. I did not ask that question. I only asked, What is the best way out for me! I told him, That’s the wrong question to ask! If you go to a barber, he will tell you the best option for your head is to cut your hair. If you ask a hammer what all of us look like in this world, the answer would invariably be, You all are nails meant to knocked down! You go to a surgeon he would most likely say, Operate. That’s his best option for you. Ask the oncologist, he would invariably say, Go for chemo! You have missed the point here. Isthe procedure suggested going to cure you? This ought to be the main concern.
By asking the wrong question, you get an answer that brings you elsewhere – perhaps where you don’t want to go. So, my advice to all patients, Ask this all important question – can your treatment cure me? Don’t be afraid, ask.
After you get the answer then use your commonsense to evaluate what the doctor tells you. Does it make sense? Do you believe in the statistics or percentage or whatever claim the doctor gave you? If this is not what you are looking for, go elsewhere. Look for another path.
Likewise, when you come to CA Care and tell me that you want me to cure you of your cancer I would tell you this, Go elsewhere – I don’t have the magic bullet and I cannot cure you! In my many years helping cancer patients I don’t really see any so-called cure for cancer. Cure means the disease goes away and never come back. Generally, the cancer recurs after some years. My auntie died of metastatic cervical cancer after an apparent cure, 13 years later! Where is the cure?
In the case of AS, surgery did not cure him! After 9 months, the tumour grew back and this time it grew more than twice its original size. Where is the cure?
The next question you probably need to ask is about your diet. This question will give you some idea about the kind of doctor you are dealing with! His answer shows his perception about health in general. And more important whether he is well read or not. Today the medical literature is replete with information about diet in spite of how important it is in helping cancer patients. If he says you can eat whatever you like – I am sorry, I am not sure if this is the kind of doctor you should go to! I am fully aware that diet in cancer is a big, sore point between medical doctors and alternative medicine practitioners. Suffice for me to quote what two doctors said about diet (below). Think hard about what your doctor tells you about diet and come to your own conclusion. If you are not convinced that he is right, how do you expect him to be able to solve the bigger problem of treating your cancer?
Let us assume that you are a person with a magic touch – what you say is granted – What would you do if you see more and more cancer people getting cancer every day? (Note: in USA alone, more than 1,500 people will die of cancer per day).
The experts surrounding you would probably advise you (assuming you don’t know how to think for yourself): Build more cancer hospitals! Trains more oncologists! Make chemo-drugs cheaper and easily available to all those who need them! Bravo problem solved. QED (Quiet Easily Done was what my mathematics teacher said we should write at the end of our assignment after solving a problem).
A brilliant suggestion indeed! So you think, but you can be dead wrong!
Let me share with you these e-mails. And I get to receive such e-mails or hear such horror stories all too often.
Dear Dr Chris Teo,
I came to know about you after reading Betty Khoo-Kingsley’s book on Cancer Cured and Prevented Naturally. I am amazed on your method of treatment and I believed you may be able to help my husband who is a cancer patient.
My husband was diagnosed with nose cancer in August 2010. He did radiation and it went into remission. The cancer recurred the following year after a year’s break. He did three cycles of chemotherapy but it did not work and he underwent surgery in November, 2011.
In May 2012, PET scan showed a recurrence. He did another three cycles of chemotherapy and the chemotherapy failed again.
He had no choice but to do a surgery on his nose again in July 2012. A PET scan done three months after the surgery showed recurrence of cancer again. He was put on oral chemo but the latest PET scan in November 2012 showed the cancer cell had gone into his cervical spine. He is not on any medication now.
I am truly desperate. Thanking you in advance. Warmest regards. God bless.
This is another e-mail, received on 30 December 2012.
Hello Chris,
My father was diagnosed with 4th stage cancer two years ago, when the doctor found a 13 cm tumor around his kidney. The tumor and the kidney were removed by surgery. He has been taking Sutent for the past two years under the treatment and supervision of an oncologist at Hospital KL.
About a month ago, he had fluid in his lungs and was hospitalized. A CT scan showed that the cancer had spread to his lung, bones, lymph nodes, liver and pelvis. The oncologist said Sutent is not working anymore and that they do not recommend taking another stronger medicine as his body is very weak now. So the doctor told him to go home and treat the fluid in lungs first and will not give any medication for the cancer.
I came across your centre with testimonials and would like to seek your consultation on my father’s condition. As my father is a stroke patient together with his lung condition, it may be quite difficult to put him in the car and drive to Penang for consultation. We live in Melaka.
Actually providing facilities – research money, hospitals, more oncologists, more drugs, etc. has proven to be a big flop when the whole concept of treatment is a basically flawed!
That was what President Nixon of the United States of American was trying to do when he declared war on cancer on 23 December 1971. He promised victory within five years. Money was poured into cancer research by the billions – after all American was said to be the first and only nation to have landed a man on the moon. So what is the big deal with conquering cancer? But for many decades the Americans and the world have been misled – even up to this day.
Read what Dr. Margaret Cuomo, has got to say in her book (below):
About The Author: Dr. Margaret Cuomo is a board-certified radiologist and an attending physician in diagnostic radiology at North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset, N.Y. for many years. She specializes in body imaging, involving CT, Ultrasound, MRI and interventional procedures. Much of her practice was dedicated to the diagnosis of cancer and AIDS. She is the daughter of former New York Governor Mario Cuomo and Mrs. Matilda Cuomo and sister to current New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and ABC’s Chris Cuomo.
Dr. Cuomo has observed first-hand the issues related to current treatment methods. Recognizing the lack of significant progress in the prevention of cancer, she wrote this book, which reveals how profit, politics, and personal ambition have hindered progress in cancer research and prevention. Dr. Cuomo interviewed 60 experts across the country and pored over hundreds of studies to analyze why we have lost so many lives despite $90 billion in federal funds spent over the last 40 years on cancer research.
What Did She Say?
·Cancer research has failed us. Cancer research has been a $90 billion waste. Our tax dollars aren’t being spent wisely.
Despite decades of promises and a vast amount of funding, the current model has failed.
We no longer expect to cure cancer and now talk mostly of living longer with the disease.
We’re still using the cut, poison and burn approach. Chemotherapy and radiation have side effects, and they can cause secondary cancers.
Our target should be cancer prevention. But the author was deeply disappointed” to learn that out of the $4.5 billion the National Cancer Institute asked Congress for this year, only about $200 million will go to prevent cancer.
Cancer is big business, and companies that manufacture chemo drugs don’t profit from telling people to drink more green tea and cook with turmeric — elements in Cuomo’s cancer-prevention diet.
This year, about 1.6 million new cases of cancer will be diagnosed and more than 1,500 people will die per day. We’ve been asked to accept the disappointing strategy to “manage cancer as a chronic disease.”
We’ve allowed pharmaceutical companies to position cancer drugs that extend life by just weeks and may cost $100,000 for a single course of treatment as breakthroughs.
Where is the bold leadership that will transform our system from treatment to prevention?
The system designed to study, diagnose, and treat cancer in the United States is fatally flawed. We would like to think that we have the tools to detect cancer early enough to cure it and that our treatments are safe and effective. We trust that compassion, not the quest for professional advancement and profits, is the primary driver of the cancer establishment. Sometimes, all of that is true. Too often, it is not.
For years, I have been observing our “cancer culture” and I have become convinced that it is not structured to do what we most need: to determine how to prevent cancer, and then implement our discoveries. Despite decades of promises and a vast amount of funding, the current model of research has failed us. We no longer expect to cure cancer and now talk mostly about living longer with the disease. We are not doing enough to pursue promising new approaches to prevention, and we are not dedicating sufficient energy to applying the strategies that already work.
Everyone who is diagnosed and treated with cancer has a unique story. Yet their journeys are also alike in many ways, with a painful and arduous course of treatment almost guaranteed. Together, we can change that, but only if we can first agree not to be shackled by the status quo.
In 1971, when President Richard Nixon signed the National Cancer Act, America declared a war on cancer, and for more than four decades we have continued to wage that war. Think of it: 40 years battling a disease, with billions of dollars spent to conduct research, build new cancer centers, and develop new drugs and new medical technologies. Still, victory eludes us. In 2012, according to our best estimates, some 1.6 million new cases of cancer will be diagnosed and about 577,000 people will die of the disease.
Why have we settled for a medical system that allows cancer to be recast as a chronic and tolerable disease rather than one we should try to prevent? Why do so many scientists at the nation’s drug companies and universities turn their backs on the possibility of prevention? How can we transform the agenda?
Dozens of conversations with some of the nation’s most accomplished and respected physicians and cancer researchers have confirmed my belief that while we may never be able to cure most cancers once they take hold, we can find ways to prevent cancer altogether, to eradicate it just as we have virtually wiped out devastating diseases like smallpox and polio.
More than 40 years after Nixon launched the war on cancer, we are not much closer to curing the disease. Why? Because finding a cure is the wrong goal.
In his 1971 State of the Union address, President Richard M. Nixon promised Americans that he would begin “an extensive campaign to find a cure for cancer.” He added: “The time has come in America when the same kind of concentrated effort that split the atom and took man to the moon should be turned toward conquering this dread disease.” The idea made perfect sense. We had made so many strides in so many areas of medicine earlier that century, discovering antibiotics to cure infections and vaccines to curb viruses. Surely, ending cancer would be no more difficult.
More than 40 years after the war on cancer was declared, we have spent billions fighting the good fight. The National Cancer Institute has spent some $90 billion on research and treatment during that time. Some 260 nonprofit organizations in the United States have dedicated themselves to cancer. Together, these 260 organizations have budgets that top $2.2 billion.
As a result, we know much more about the disease than we once did, but we are not much closer to curing it. Almost 1.6 million people were diagnosed with cancer in 2011. Meanwhile, the rates of certain cancers are rising. When have Americans ever waged such a long, drawn-out, and costly war, with no end in sight?
When it comes to treating cancer, we seem to be in a holding pattern. We are still relying on surgery, chemotherapy and other anticancer drugs, and radiation, just as we did 40 years ago. “We are stuck in a paradigm of treatment,” says Ronald Herberman, MD, the former director of the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute. And our treatments are not working.
With the “war on cancer,” we may have created a framework that allows us to declare a stalemate, with no expectation of ultimate victory. We may have put generals in charge who think we should start talking about living with cancer as the “new normal.” At least that is what the director of the National Cancer Institute seems to be suggesting when he talks about “making cancer a disease you can live with and go to work with.”
Harold Varmus, MD, who has also served as president of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City, one of the world’s great cancer hospitals, goes on to say, “We have many, many patients with lethal cancers who are actually feeling pretty good and are working full time and enjoying their families. As long as their symptoms can be kept under control by radiotherapy and drugs that control symptoms and other modalities, we’re doing right by our patients.”
What happened to ending cancer?
It’s true that … the prevention of cancer will be a formidable goal. But there are many promising avenues to pursue. It is time to commit our resources to more aggressively studying the ways in which diet, exercise, supplements, environmental exposure, and other factors can influence the development of cancer.
We also must get the word out about the prevention strategies we know are effective. As recently as March 2012, public health experts told us that we could prevent more than half the cancers that occur in the United States today if we applied the knowledge we already have.
1. Attention to diet – Your “daily plate” should contain two-thirds whole grains, vegetables and fruits, and one-third lean protein, including poultry and fish. Cruciferous vegetables, including broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower contain cancer-fighting compounds. Green leafy vegetables such as spinach, kale, and collard greens also have anti-carcinogenic activity. Cooked or processed tomatoes, including tomato juice and tomato sauce, contribute lycopene to your diet, which is a powerful antioxidant.
Berries such as strawberries and raspberries contain the cancer-fighting ellagic acid and blueberries are powerful antioxidants. Add the spice tumeric to your meals – which is being studied for its cancer-fighting properties.
Red meat should be eaten sparingly and processed meats should be eliminated from your diet. Avoid added sugar in beverages and avoid processed foods as much as possible. Buy organic products whenever possible. It’s a good investment in your good health.
2. Limit alcohol consumption – Alcohol has been linked to cancer risk. No more than one drink a day for women, or two drinks a day for men.
3. Stop smoking – which causes cancer for the smoker, and the person exposed to second-hand smoke.
4. Vitamin D – Have your doctor check your blood level of vitamin D. 40-60 ng/ml is the level recommended by over 40 vitamin D experts for cancer prevention. If your blood level is below this range, a vitamin D supplement is recommended. Vitamin D can also be found in salmon, sardines, vitamin D-fortified milk and orange juice.
5. Exercise daily – Exercise is good for your mind and body. Overweight and obesity are known risk factors for cancer, as well as heart disease and diabetes. Keep physcially fit, and maintain a healthy weight.
Include physical activity in your daily life – climb stairs instead of taking the elevator, or walk a few blocks rather than taking a subway or driving. Be a good role model for children – take frequent breaks from your computer – pace while on the phone – do jumping jacks – all of this can be done in your home or office.
6. Read labels on your consumer products and food packaging. If plastic bottles containing water or other beverages, or food containers, contain the number 3, 6, or 7 within a small triangle imprinted on the bottle or package, it contains BPA – a weak estrogen classified as an “endocrine disruptor,” that has been linked to breast, prostate, and ovarian cancers.
7. Read the labels on your cosmetics, body washes, shampoos, toothpaste, and other personal care products , and do not purchase any that contain harmful chemicals such as parabens, pthalates, and triclosans. Good news: In August, 2012, Johnson and Johnson becamse the first consumer product company to commit to removing a variety of chemicals, including the known carcinogen, formaldehyde, from its consumer products (including its subsidiaries Neutrogena, Clean and Clear and Aveeno) by 2015. Hopefully, other major consumer product and cosmetic companies will step forward to follow this important initiative to protect the public’s health.
(Note: This general advice on diet is for those who are still healthy and are not cancer victims yet. For cancer patients your diet will be much more restricted. No, cancer patients just cannot eat what you like. No, what you eat has everything to do whether your cancer is going to recur, spread or healed).
Related Article: Chemotherapy SPREADS and MAKES Cancer More AGGRESSIVE
Tag (not real name) was a 59-year-old man from Indonesia. In April 2011, he had coughs with itchy throat. He went to see his doctors and was give medication but these did not help. In August 2011, he came to Penang for further consultation. A CT scan on 22 August 2011 showed an irregular mass (6.6 x 8.0 cm) in the upper left lung extending to the pulmonary hilum with left hilar and mediastinal adenopathy. He also complained of pain in the left pelvis. MRI done on 6 September 2011 showed lesion at the body of C6, body and left pedicle of the L5 vertebra. This was probably metastatic in nature. The doctor said Tag had a Stage 4 cancer.
Subsequently Tag underwent 5 sessions of radiation treatment to his neck area. He also received Zometa injection and the oral drug, Tarceva. But later EGFR testing showed no mutation so Tarceva was discontinued. Tag underwent chemotherapy with Alimta (Pemetrexed ) plus cisplatin.
Tag was told that chemotherapy would not be able to cure him but would prolong his life. He was told he had 6 months to live.
After radiation and chemotherapy Tag seldom cough and the pain in the cervical and lumbar vertebrae nearly disappeared.
Re-examination of his chest CT scan showed his lung tumour had increased in size. Tag went to China for further treatment in October 2011. In China Tag underwent a biopsy again. The cancer was again confirmed as a poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma. Tag underwent the following treatments in China:
Microvessel interventional chemotherapy using Alimta + cisplatin and nano material.
Cryotherapy under CT guidance.
Iodin-125 seed implantation under ultrasound guidance – 10 seeds were implanted in the lymph nodes.
All done, the treatment in China consisted of 5 cycles of chemotherapy, 2 times of cryotherapy and one Iodine seed implantation. The treatment was spread over a few visits, each lasting 1, 3 or 6 weeks.
In March 2012, Tag returned to Indonesia and continued to receive chemotherapy with Alimta at the local hospital.
In August 2012 Tag returned to China again. After receiving one cycle of chemotherapy his condition “dropped” (worsened). He was asked to go home to Indonesia.
Not satisfied, Tag came to Penang again – to be hospitalized in the same hospital that he had received his first treatment. His main concern was his elevated leucocytes count. He was rather obsessed with this high number. He was only given antibiotics infusion because he refused anymore chemo-drugs. In spite of the antibiotics Tag’s leucocytes count remain stubbornly high.
In the meantime while in the hospital, Tag’s wife came to CA Care and asked for our opinion. The following are the images of his CT and PET scans.
Based on his medical history and failed medical treatment, I told Tag’s wife to learn how to accept and face reality. There would be no cure. And for him to come to Penang and check into a hospital trying to reduce his leucocytes count was surely mind boggling! He was barking at the wrong tree! Perhaps this is what Professor Jane Plant meant when she wrote, Conventional cancer treatment can process patients to the extent that they no longer understand what is really being done to them. They have lost the ability to think rationally! They come wanting to only hear that they can be cured.
Tag’s wife told me that after a few days on antibiotics infusion, the doctor planned to do a PET scan. I objected to this idea. What is the whole rationale of doing scan over and over again? Know that all these procedures are not good for cancer patients. Do it only if it is absolutely necessary. Just two months ago, you did a CT scan. Now you want to do it again. What do you expect to see and get?
I advised her to bring Tag home as soon as convenient. And if he was agreeable to take herbs, then he can start on our therapy while at home. If he were to stay in Penang, he would have problems cooking, preparing the herbs, etc. It would do him a lot of good to stay home in a familiar environment.
Unfortunately, the next day my wife received a SMS informing us the Tag would want to go ahead and do the PET scan!
A few days later, Tag and his wife came to our centre after being discharged from the hospital. No, his stay in the hospital receiving the antibiotic infusion did not do any good at all. Then Tag complained that his arm was painful after the PET scan and asked if I have any herbs for this. My answer, Go back to your doctor and ask him to “repair” you.
After some days in Penang, Tag and his wife went home to Indonesia with a supply of herbs.
Sometime later, I received an email from his son informing that Tag had gone into a hospital in Jakarta. He still complained that his leucocytes count was high! After a few days, his son wrote to say that Tag did another PET scan and this time he was concerned with the infected lymph nodes in his neck.
On 14 October 2012, I received an email from a medical doctor who is actually Tag’s relative. This is what the lady doctor wrote:
Hi Prof, I had sent you an email last week, did you receive it? Prof, last couple of weeks there was my family member with lung cancer who came to Penang..Now he is in hospital in Jakarta. There is fluid in his lung, The main tumor in his lung grew bigger and so he experienced dyspnea (breathlessness). Doctor wanted to do radiation to the main tumor because it is pressing his airway. I want to ask, can we give him Ascites tea? What do you think of radiation? He keeps drinking your tea. What about the radiation, should he do it? Thank you for your help. Best regards
Reply: Hello B. Sorry for taking so long to write you. I have been busy with so many patients needing my attention. Okay about your relative. I am afraid it is difficult for me to say anything or help. He did not follow my advice. Even when he was in Penang he was in the hospital trying to make his leucocytes count lower!!! I told him you are doing the wrong thing in the wrong hospital. When the doctor wanted to do PET scan his wife SMSed my wife. I told him earlier not to do the PET scan.but the next day he did the PET scan! After he went home to Jakarta his son wrote that he had another PET scan!!!
I really don’t know. Since he is in the hospital, let the doctors take care of him. He is NOT like you …you followed what I said. He did not. Well, that is the way it is. I am not angry but I just give up. It is better for me to move on and help others who really need me. Take care and I believe you father is doing fine. Regards, Chris
23 October 2012: Prof, thank you for your reply, but unfortunately patient died last week in a hospital. He had been in ICU for 1 week. I have same problem here too. One of my family member – 29-year-old, breast cancer metastised to the bone, liver, brain, pancreas and lungs. She did all that the doctor instructed — TACI, streotactic for her brain, etc. It is very difficult to persuade any person, if she does not believe us …even after she saw my father’s case. I also give up. Let her make her own decision. At least I have given her all the information. My father is in a good shape, he is gaining weight 12 kg, but still on Iressa. Regards, B.
(Note: Why did this lady doctor, B write such an email? The full story of her father’s recovery from advanced lung cancer is found in my latest book below – Chapter 11 Lung-Bone-Brain Cancer: When Doctor and Herbalist Collaborate Miracle Happens.)
2. Difficulty to recognize that doing nothing could be a better option!
The behavior of this patient really puzzled me. He came to ask for our opinion. He wanted to try our herbs, but he would not listen to what we say. There is no reason for such person to come and see us in the first place! Even more so, this man had done all the medical treatments and nothing had helped him. But why go on doing the same thing all over again?
In trying to understand him, I asked, What is your occupation? This is one question I would never my patients, especially during the first visit. To me who you are is not relevant and I don’t want to be bias or influenced by your answer. But in this case I thought by knowing what he is will shed some light about the attitude of the person. His answer: I am an administrator in the government. That explains it all. I told him, Your job is to make people follow rules. If they don’t follow what you say, you give them “hell.” You follow the rules handed down to you without questioning. You can do that with the human beings that you “administer”, but unfortunately cancer in you does not behave according to your wishes or rule. You have cancer in you and you want the leucocytes count to come down – by just decreasing that number does not cure you at all. I told you not to do the PET scan but you did it anyway because the doctor said so! You follow “the authority“ like you do in your job. Unfortunately it does not work when it comes to cancer.
3. Not all patients who come to us find healing!
At our centre is a poster on the wall. It says:
You come to find the best doctor There is none here, because the best doctor is found within you. We too wish to find the best, that is the best patient.For it is with the best patient that we can both find healing together — for you!
Tag came to us after knowing that the father of the lady doctor above recovered from his lung cancer. This man had cancer in 2010, a year earlier than Tag. His cancer is more advanced than Tag’s –having spread from his lung to his brain and bone. Yes, this man is still doing fine as of this writing. Why does he not die likeTag? It is because he chose “to do nothing.” Doing nothing does NOT mean that you go home and wait to die! It means you do not need to follow “the so-called established authority” and follow what they tell you to do. Dr. B’s father refused to “medical authority”. He went for alternative therapy. Unfortunately it did not work out well at first. He went down to the bottom of the pit before he found CA Care. That was when his two daughters flew to see us in Penang asking for help. Daughter B is a medical doctor and we agreed that we should work together and avoid as much invasive and toxic treatments as possible. The patient recovered.
Tag was able to see what happened to Dr. B’s father, who actually is a relative. But Tag wanted to follow his own path – doing things his own way. He followed the well established “rules” because he was “trained” not to question “authority.”
On Mon, Oct 15, 2012 at 11:18 a.m., the patient’s sister, MM, wrote me this email.
Dear Mr. Chris,
I saw your website accidentally this morning. I tried to search about the other ways of giving treatment to cancer patient whom doctor has already given up after giving chemotherapy treatment for 7 times. The first and second chemotherapy were given every 2 weeks. The third was given weekly 3 times and fourth chemotherapy given 2 cycles. The last 2 cycles of 4th chemotherapy showed the CA 125 (CA 19.9) increase … Based on these lab tests, the doctor suggested to stop using the same chemotherapy drug and change to other drugs. This is to be done on 16 October, and stressing that the drug is not for curing but only for prolonging life.
After discussing with family, I plan to go for herbal and found your website. At the same time, we are now staying at XYZ Hospital, Penang. So, I already tried to make an appointment with you this Friday at 3 p.m. and shall bring all medical report of the patient. For your information the patient is my youngest sister.
Reply: If you are in Penang, come and see me tomorrow at 10.30 a.m. Go to www.cacare.org and you see map in there. No need to bring the patient, but bring all medical reports. I don’t think you need to do the chemo tomorrow yet. Wait until you come and see me first.
MM wrote, She is very weak, hard to walk and sleep, her tummy getting bigger of the tumor cancer and liquid inside. Actually I would like to ask your opinion about the need to continue the next chemotherapy which doctor said is not meant to cure only to prolong life. The next chemotherapy is tomorrow on Tuesday.
Reply: I don’t think you need to do the chemo tomorrow yet. Wait until you come and see me first. Chris.
Meaningless Decrease and Increase of Tumour Markers
The initial chemo treatment cause both CA 125 and CA 19.9 to drop drastically. But that did not mean much. After more chemo, these markers started to rise again. And it was at this stage that the oncologist told the patient’s sister that the treatment did not work. She needed to go for more chemo using other drugs. Or she could just go home – and go ahead and take herbs if she would like to do so!
Date
CA 125
CA 19.9
10 August 2012
6,794
90,055
22 August 2012
2,798
49,301
18 September 2012
1,260
14,694
25 September 2012
1,462
21,496
2 October 2012
1,739
25,110
Do You Need Tumour Markers to Tell You That Patient Was Getting Better or Worse?
Medications While In Hospital
Based on the medical bills, MM was given the following medications while in the hospital.
Table 1: Medical drugs given to patient during one and half months in hospital
Short of breath, rapid heart rate, trouble concentrating, easy bruising, unusual bleeding, purple or red pinpoint spots under your skin, fever, chills, body aches, flu symptoms, sores in your mouth and throat, stomach pain, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice, numbness or tingly feeling in hands or feet, hearing or vision problems, low magnesium (confusion, uneven heart rate, jerking muscle movements, muscle weakness or limp feeling, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, tired feeling.
Chlorpheniramine
Allergies, itchy, sneezing
Fast or uneven heart rate, mood changes, tremor, seizure (convulsions), easy bruising or bleeding, unusual weakness, short of breath, urinating less than usual or not at all, dizziness, drowsiness, dry mouth, nose, or throat, constipation, blurred vision, feeling nervous or restless.
Controloc
Acid reflux
Most serious: allergies – hives, swelling or closing of air passages and throat. Less serious: flatulence, stomach upsets, diarrhea , insomnia.
Dexamethasone
Anti-inflammatory, immunosuppressant steroid
Acne, dry skin, thinning skin, bruising or discoloration, slow wound healing, increased sweating, headache, dizziness, spinning sensation, nausea, stomach pain, bloating, muscle weakness,vision problems, swelling, rapid weight gain, severe depression, seizure (convulsions), bloody or tarry stools, coughing up blood, low potassium (confusion, uneven heart rate, extreme thirst, increased urination, leg discomfort, muscle weakness or limp feeling), dangerously high blood pressure (severe headache, blurred vision, buzzing in your ears, anxiety, confusion, chest pain, shortness of breath, uneven heartbeats), sleep problems (insomnia).
Diphenoxylate / atropine (Lomotil)
Diarrhea
Stomach pain or bloating, diarrhea (watery or bloody), numbness of hands or feet, depressed mood, confusion, fast heart rate, urinating less than usual or not at all, drowsiness, dizziness, headache, tired or restless feeling, nausea, vomiting, upset stomach, loss of appetite, skin rash, or itching.
Dormicum
Sedative
Gastrointestinal disturbances, changes in libido, skin reactions, anterograde amnesia (selective memory loss), depression, restlessness, agitation, irritability, aggressiveness, delusion, rages, nightmares, hallucinations, abrupt withdrawal of Dormicum may provoke seizures.
DURAGESIC patch
Pain
Slow heart rate, weak or shallow breathing, sighing, severe drowsiness, confusion, extreme fear, unusual thoughts or behavior; feeling like you might pass out, dry mouth, nausea, vomiting, constipation, headache, drowsiness, tired feeling, white patches or sores inside mouth or lips.
Eprex
Anemia, bone marrow to produce red blood cells
Hypertensive crisis, brain problems or seizures, nausea, deep vein thrombosis – this may be fatal, diarrhea, flu or flu-like symptoms including fever, jointpain, musclepain or tenderness, pulmonary embolism – this may be fatal, skin rash, vomiting, heart problems, oedema of the extremities.
Heparinised Saline injection
Anticoagulants, prevent blocking by blood clots
Unexplained nosebleeds, bleeding from gums when brushing teeth, red or dark brown urine, bloody or black stools, rash, itching, hives on the skin, swelling of the face, lips, tongue or other parts of the body, shortness of breath, wheezing or trouble breathing, fever, chills, runny nose, watering eyes, vomiting, nausea, itchy soles of the feet.
Decrease of blood cells, Numbness, tingling or burning of hands and feet, Increased blood pressure (severe headache, blurred vision, buzzing in your ears, anxiety, confusion, chest pain and shortness of breath, uneven heartbeats), Seizure, pale skin and unusual weakness, Fever, chills, body aches and flu symptoms, Joint and muscle pain, swelling, redness, skin color, mild nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or hair loss.
Kytril inj
Vomiting and nausea caused by chemotherapy.
Fast or pounding heartbeats, fever, body aches, flu symptoms, easy bruising or bleeding; unusual weakness, headache, stomach pain or upset, loss of appetite, diarrhea or constipation, dizziness; or
sleep problems (insomnia).LexaproAntidepressantConstipation, Insomnia, Dizziness, dry mouth, headache, nausea, exhaustion, Hallucinations, irregular heartbeat, panic attack, allergic reactions, seizures, stomach pain, deteriorating depression, mood change, irritability, severe insomnia, breath shortening, fatigue.Lignocaine InjectionDisturbances in the heart’s rhythmNausea, drowsiness, mental/mood changes, ringing in the ears, dizziness, vision changes, tremors, numbness, headache, backache, fever, unusually fast or slow pulse, trouble breathing, seizures, chest pain, allergic reactions – rash, itching, swelling, dizziness, trouble breathing.MetoclopramideHeartburn, nauseaTremors or shaking in of arms or legs, uncontrolled muscle movements in face, slow or jerky muscle movements, problems with balance or walking, stiff (rigid) muscles, high fever, sweating, confusion, fast or uneven heartbeats, depressed mood, thoughts of suicide, hallucinations, anxiety, agitation, jittery feeling, trouble staying still, swelling, feeling short of breath, rapid weight gain, jaundice, seizure (convulsions), feeling restless, drowsy, tired, or dizzy, headache, sleep problems (insomnia), nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, urinating more than usual.Morphine Sulfate InjectionPainMost serious: respiratory depression. Dizziness, lightheadedness, drowsiness, upset stomach, vomiting, constipation, stomach pain, rash, difficulty urinating, fainting.NeurontinEpileptic and seizuresDizziness, drowsiness, weakness, tired feeling, nausea, diarrhea, constipation, blurred vision, headache, dry mouth, loss of balance or coordination, increased seizures, fever, swollen glands, body aches, flu symptoms, skin rash, easy bruising or bleeding, severe tingling, numbness, pain, muscle weakness, upper stomach pain, loss of appetite, dark urine, jaundice, chest pain, irregular heart rhythm, feeling short of breath, confusion, nausea and vomiting, swelling, rapid weight gain, urinating less than usual or not at all, new or worsening cough, fever, trouble breathing; or rapid back and forth movement of your eyes.OxycotinPain killerConstipation, nausea, drowsiness, dizziness, itching , vomiting, dry mouth, weakness, sweating, loss of appetite, insomnia or abnormal dreams, fever or chills, abdominal pain (stomach pain), diarrhea , indigestion, or heartburn, nervousness, anxiety , or an unusual pleasant feeling (euphoria), shortness of breath, twitching, hiccups, slow heart rate (bradycardia), difficulty passing urine, low blood pressure (hypotension), slow or irregular breathing, ringing of the ears (tinnitus).OxyNorm (oxycodone)Opioid painkillerItching, nausea, vomiting, dry mouth, headache, sleepiness and drowsiness along with dizziness and euphoria (extreme happiness and feelings of well-being), difficulty passing urine, constipation, upset stomach, loss of appetite, slow body movements or tiredness, insomnia, disorientation, low blood pressure, rapid heartbeat, vision problems, hiccups, shortness of breath, fast or deep breathing, confusion, nervousness and anxiety or hallucinations and hypothermia (a drop below the normal body temperature), facial flushing, rigid muscles and nervousness as well as difficulty swallowing, edema (swelling) of the legs, ankles and feet.PanadolPainAllergic reaction – hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat, nausea, upper stomach pain, itching, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice, liver and kidney damage.SpironolactoneFluid retention (edema), low potassium levels in the bloodMild nausea or vomiting, dizziness, headache, gas, stomach pain, numbness or tingly feeling,muscle pain or weakness, slow, fast, or uneven heart rate, feeling drowsy, restless, or light-headed, urinating less than usual or not at all, shallow breathing, tremors, confusion, nausea, upper stomach pain, itching, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice, severe skin reaction — fever, sore throat, swelling in your face or tongue, burning in your eyes, skin pain, followed by a red or purple skin rash that spreads (especially in the face or upper body) and causes blistering and peeling.StilnoxInsomnia and brain disordersHeadaches, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, anterograde amnesia, hallucinations, delusions, altered thought patterns, difficulty maintaining balance, euphoria and/or dysphoria, impaired judgment and reasoning, when stopped, rebound insomnia may occur.XanaxAnxiety, depressionBlurred vision, headache, memory problems, trouble concentrating, sleep problems (insomnia), swelling in your hands or feet, muscle weakness, lack of balance or coordination, slurred speech, upset stomach, nausea, vomiting, constipation, diarrhea, increased sweating, dry mouth, stuffy nose, depressed mood, thoughts of suicide or hurting self, unusual risk-taking behavior, decreased inhibitions, no fear of danger, confusion, hyperactivity, agitation, hostility, hallucinations, feeling like passing out, urinating less than usual or not at all, chest pain, pounding heartbeats or fluttering in chest, uncontrolled muscle movements, tremor, seizure (convulsions) drowsiness, dizziness, feeling tired or irritable.ZantacUlcers in stomach and intestinesDrowsiness, dizziness, sleep problems (insomnia), nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, diarrhea, constipation, chest pain, fever, feeling short of breath, coughing up green or yellow mucus, easy bruising or bleeding, unusual weakness, fast or slow heart rate, problems with vision, fever, sore throat, and headache with a severe blistering, peeling, and red skin rash.ZofranNausea and vomitingDiarrhea or constipation, weakness or tired feeling, fever, headache, dizziness, drowsiness, blurred vision or temporary vision, short of breath, fainting, fast or pounding heartbeats, slow heart rate, trouble breathing, anxiety, agitation, shivering, feeling like you might pass out, urinating less than usual or not at all.
Let me ask you to ponder critically what Dr. Andrew Weil, graduate of Harvard Medical School and currently Director of Integrative Medicine at University of Arizona, said In Health & Healing:
The average patient in a hospital today is placed on half a dozen drugs simultaneously. How some of these chemicals react with each other is anybody’s guess. Moreover, a significant percentage of drug doses in hospitals involve errors: wrong drug, the wrong patient, the wrong dose, the wrong time …. Adverse drug reactions are the leading variety of iatrogenic illness (iatrogenic illness is caused by the effects of medical treatment by the doctors).
Voltaire penned this magnificent snipe: Physicians pour drugs of which they know little, to cure diseases of which they know less, into humans of which they know nothing.
The excesses of drugging in allopathic medicine are one of its worse sins.
I find allopathic medicine glaringly deficient in theory and philosophy of any sort … they have no clear conception or theory of what disease is, nor any general concept of treatment.
We understand – the doctors in the hospital were trying their best to help the patient. They did what they knew based on what they were taught in medical school. But Dr. Weil – a Harvard trained medical doctor concluded that:I find allopathic medicine glaringly deficient in theory and philosophy of any sort … they have no clear conception or theory of what disease is, nor any general concept of treatment.
Why did he say such a thing against his own profession? Let me venture to explain. Take a critical look at the table of medications above again. MM was given 11 to 19 drugs (either orally or infusion) each day while in the hospital. What do these drugs do while in the body? It is anybody imagination! And what is the purpose of each drug – trying to “repair” the damage caused by another drug?
Table 2. Patient received 19 drugs on chemo-day – 18 September 2012
Table 3. Patient received 18 drugs three days after receiving chemotherapy – 21 September 2012
Table 4: Patient received 11 drugs on an ordinary day – 6 October 2012.
Even on an ordinary day (Table 4), her daily staple was 11 drugs consisted of the following:
Albumin injection.
Three types of pain medication - Durogesic patch, Oxycontin, and Oxynorm.
Two types of anti-depression and anxiety medication – Laxpro and Xanax.
Medication to acid reflex.
Medication to prevent blood clot.
Medication for nausea and vomiting.
Medication for low potassium in blood.
Medication for insomnia or sleeping pill.
Why did she need 11 drugs a day?
Why did she need albumin every day?
Where did the albumin go to after infusion each day?
Ask this question:If you give these medications (11 to 19 types of drugs) a day to any healthy person– what do you think would become of that person? Would he/she not go ko-ko?
Study the various side effects that can be caused by each drug received by the patient.
Let’s take albumin injection for example. She was given this injection almost every day for the past one and a half months. This injection may give rise to various side effects such as allergic reactions – fever and chills, rash, nausea, vomiting, hypotension.
So she has to take medication for nausea and acid reflex, for example, to take care of the side effects of albumin infusion.
But this is not all. There are 10 more drugs that she was taking and all of them have side effects.
For example, she took 3 types of pain killers – Durogesic patch, Oxycontin, and Oxynorm. The possible side effects of these drugs are: Slow heart rate, weak or shallow breathing, severe drowsiness, confusion, extreme fear, unusual thoughts or behavior; feeling like you might pass out, dry mouth, nausea, vomiting, constipation, headache, tired feeling, dizziness, itching , sweating, loss of appetite, insomnia or abnormal dreams, fever or chills, abdominal pain (stomach pain), diarrhea , indigestion, or heartburn, shortness of breath, twitching, difficulty passing urine, low blood pressure (hypotension), slow or irregular breathing, slow body movements or tiredness, disorientation, low blood pressure, rapid heartbeat, vision problems, shortness of, nervousness and anxiety or hallucinations and hypothermia (a drop below the normal body temperature), facial flushing, rigid muscles and nervousness, difficulty swallowing, swelling of the legs, ankles and feet.
Looking at the list, is there any wonder that the patient was asked to take two types of anti-depression and anxiety drugs and one type of sleeping pill? Again, these three drugs – anti-depression / anxiety and sleeping pills, would by themselves bring on more side effects. So the list of side effects grows and grows.
On 18 October 2012, patient’s sister wrote:
Her main issues now:
1. Tummy hardened.
2. Hard to breathe.
3. Area on upper abdominal and gastric pain.
4. Swelling of legs.
5. Some redness of allergic that I observed maybe from the vitamin and milk infusion.
6. Hard to relax and cannot sleep well.
7. Tense.
Is this what Dr. Weil was trying to tell us when he wrote: The excesses of drugging in allopathic medicine are one of is worse sins?To Professor Jane Plant, this sounds like a battle between the disease and the treatments – with the patient as the battle ground!
Dr. Weil also said this: Adverse drug reactions are the leading variety of iatrogenic illness (iatrogenic illness is caused by the effects of medical treatment by the doctors).
The question we would like to ask is: To what extent are the drugs given to patient causing the problem? In other words, are her problems caused by cancer or by the drugs that she was asked to take?
Some important questions to ask are:
What is the aim of all these medications? Just to keep the patient alive?
What are the medications that would improve her health and make her healthy?
Is there hope that she would be able to come out of this staple diet of medicines and become normal and healthy again?
What is the philosophy of the treatment? Often we hear, Your cancer can be treated! Yes, it is possible to treat the patient by giving her medications but where is the cure?
Dr. Weil said it out again loud and clear: I find allopathic medicine glaringly deficient in theory and philosophy of any sort … they have no clear conception or theory of what disease is, nor any general concept of treatment.
(Note: As I was writing this sentence, someone sent me an email with this message: Doctors destroy health.)
As a conclusion, let me be clear. I am not here blaming the doctors. They have done their best in wanting to help and save life but unfortunately they have to operate within their medical system, which unfortunately is still stuck in a quagmire.
This is a tragic story of MS, a single, 41-year-old lady from Jakarta.
In early May 2012, MS felt uncomfortable in her abdomen. She felt something moving inside. She went to see an internist in Jakarta. A blood test showed elevated CA 125 – more than 1400. MS was asked to go and see a gynaecologist. A ultrasound was done and the gynecologist told her to go home and pray. She was told consult an oncologist. MS went to see a doctor who treated her with semi—chemo injection.
I was rather curious and enquired more about this treatment! This treatment was provided by a “retired” medical doctor who sees many patients a day. MS was given a concoction of “semi-chemo’ injection every day for two months. For her diet, MS was allowed to take only broccoli juice, egg white (albumin) – 12 eggs a day (4 eggs, thrice a day), banana and pears. MS felt better for the first month of treatment. But in the second month she felt the food rather boring. Her abdomen became bloated. In short, her condition worsened.
MS and her elder sister (MM) came to a private hospital in Penang for treatment in mid-August 2012. She stayed two weeks in Penang and received two cycles of chemotherapy. She went home to Jakarta but did not get any better.
After three days in Jakarta her condition deteriorated (drop!) She was admitted into a hospital in Jakarta due to low albumin. Her abdomen became bigger in size.
On 28 August 2012 MS and MM came back to Penang again and was admitted into the same private hospital. And she has been in this hospital up to this day – almost one and a half months. While in Penang she received seven cycles of chemotherapy. According to MM, the family had already spent RM 100,000 but the patient was not getting any better – in reality MS’s condition had worsened.
Since the current chemo regimen failed, the oncologist suggested switching to another regimen consisted of Caelyx and Topotecan. She was told that this would not cure her, but could prolong her life by about six to eight months. This information shocked MM and triggered here to try and look for another option. MM told me that after a short prayer that night she went off to sleep. The next morning she went to the internet and searched for kanker ovarium. This was her first attempt to find information for herself. There she found CA Care on the YouTube.
MM came to see us on 16 October 2012. She brought along a stack of medical bills but not much medical reports!
From her medical bills, I get to learn many things about staying in a private hospital.
1. It is not cheap to stay alive
The total cost for a 41-day-stay in a private hospital in Penang is almost RM 86,000. This works out to about an average of RM 2,000 per day.
Daily Cost in Hospital
RM (Ringgit Malaysia)
28 August 2012
3,932.70
29 August 2012
1,568.50
30 August 2012
1,436.20
31 August 2012
1,590.80
1 September 2012
2,065.20
2 September 2012
1,917.50
3 September 2012
2,006.00
4 September 2012
1,355.70
5 September 2012
1,723.90
6 September 2012
1,804.30
7 September 2012
1,609.80
8 September 2012
1,663.00
9 September 2012
1,618.30
10 September 2012
1,859.60
11 September 2012
2,459.80
12 September 2012
1,592.50
13 September 2012
1,220.50
14 September 2012
2,999.70
15 September 2012
1,264.50
16 September 2012
1,531.50
17 September 2012
1,178.00
18 September 2012
4,000.80
19 September 2012
2,389.80
20 September 2012
1,479.50
21 September 2012
4,041.70
22 September 2012
2,055.30
23 September 2012
1,856.60
24 September 2012
3,016.20
25 September 2012
2,826.20
26 September 2012
2,312.20
27 September 2012
3,036.10
28 September 2012
2,642.50
29 September 2012
2,164.60
30 September 2013
2,038.50
1 October 2012
2,108.10
2 October 2012
2,922.70
3 October 2012
2,605.40
4 October 2012
1,418.70
5 October 2012
1,664.80
6 October 2012
1,394.20
7 October 2012
1,014.40
Total cost of 41 days in hospital
85,386.30
Average cost of hospital per day
2,082.59
2. The Most Expensive and Cheapest Seven Days in Hospital
At certain days the cost could be as high as RM 4,000 and the cheapest day is about RM 1,000
The most expensive 7 days in hospital
21 September 2012
4,041.70
18 September 2012
4,000.80
28 August 2012
3,932.70
27 September 2012
3,036.10
24 September 2012
3,016.20
14 September 2012
2,999.70
2 October 2012
2,922.70
The cheapest 7 days in hospital
4 October 2012
1,418.70
6 October 2012
1,394.20
4 September 2012
1,355.70
15 September 2012
1,264.50
13 September 2012
1,220.50
17 September 2012
1,178.00
7 October 2012
1,014.40
3. What Makes A Hospital Stay Expensive?
The cost of a hospital stay consist of: room charge, doctors’ fees, nursing care, laboratory services, medical supplies, medication / pharmacy charges, procedures – dressing or nursing, X-ray and CT scan charges.
Laboratory services
RM (Ringgit Malaysia)
CA 125
85.20
CA 19.9
85.20
Full blood picture
53.20
Liver Function Test
47.20
Creatinine
39.60
Prothrombin time (PT)
47.20
Cancer Treatment Monitoring Profile
220.40
Blood-screening and processing
304.00
Blood transfusion
100.00
Imaging
CT scan
880.00
X-ray Charges
800.00
Professional Services
Doctor attendance fee
80.00
Dietetic for follow up
35.00
Nursing care
60.00
Lodging & Physical Facilities
Lodger
20.00
Room – single
310.00
Regular meal – single room
60.00
Clinical waste
10.00
Ripple mattress
20.00
4. The Week of Chemotherapy in Hospital
The Week of Chemotherapy
18 September 2012
4,000.80
19 September 2012
2,389.80
20 September 2012
1,479.50
21 September 2012
4,041.70
22 September 2012
2,055.30
23 September 2012
1,856.60
24 September 2012
3,016.20
Total cost for the week
18,839.90
On 18 September 2012 MS underwent chemotherapy. The drugs used were Carboplatin and Intaxel (generic Indian paclitaxel). And these are the drugs that matters – trying to “kill” the cancer. Take note that the cost of Carboplatin and Intaxel are only RM 363.30 + RM 363.30. But the total cost for the day in hospital was RM 4,000.80. Just imagine, it would be most wonderful if Carboplatin + Intaxel were not toxic – treating cancer would be cheap and everyone could afford it! But the problem is, chemo drugs are toxic, i.e. poisonous! Because of that a lot of other drugs are needed to support and keep the patient alive! Study the details of the costs and types of drugs used for that day.
Itemised bill of 18 September 2012
After receiving the chemo injection, patients generally suffer side effects. Three days later the situation had probably become severe and the patient needed more support. The total bill for the day shot up to RM 4,041.70. Then three days later, further support was needed and this time the bill came to RM 3,016.20
Itemised bill of 21 September 2012
Itemised bill of 24 September 2012
(For information on what these drugs are for, go to Part 2 of this story)
From the above, I learned that to administer a drug to “kill cancer” which costs only RM 363.30 + RM 363.30, patient had to spend more than RM 18,000 in the form of supporting drugs and services. Again I say, how nice it would have been if that RM363 + RM 363.30-chemo-drugs were not toxic to healthy cells. Then we don’t need all those supporting drugs and don’t have to incur all those additional costs.
Can someone “invent”, synthesize or make a drug for cancer that is entirely safe? Or it is AGAINST their vested interest to look into such a proposition? I am not naïve when I ask these questions. Read the quotations below:
DS is a 54-year-old lady from Singapore. In 2010, she had persistent coughs for about six months. In November 2010, she went to the hospital after having severe headaches and vomiting. She was hospitalised for tests. Subsequent imaging procedures revealed lung cancer that had spread to her bones and brain.
Brain scan on 29 November 2010: Multiple small intra-axial solid and ring enhancing lesions in the brain parenchyma. Findings highly suggestive of brain metastasis.
CT Thorax of 30 November 2010: A 4.8 x 4.6 cm mass is seen in the medial basal segment of the left lower lobe. Few satellite nodules measuring up to 1.2 cm are also seen distally in the left lower lobe. Left hilar lymph nodes are enlarged measuring up to 2.6 x 1.4 cm. Further, mediastinal lymph adenopathy is also seen involving the subcarinal and aorto pulmonary lymph nodes. Small subcentimeter sized pre tracheal lymph nodes are also seen.
Bone scan on 8 December 2010: Abnormal uptake projected over the right scapula /glenoid, suspicious of metastasis. Indeterminate uptake at the L5 vertebra. Mildly increased tracer uptake over the right temporal-mandibular junction. Degenerative changes involving the sternum, knees and feet.
DS was treated with Iressa (150 mg daily from December 2010 to mid-April 2012) and monthly injection of Zometa (for her bones). Iressa was stopped after the drug was found to be no more effective.
Her doctor then prescribed Tarceva. From mid-April 20-12 to June 2012, DS was on Tarceva (75 mg daily, and one 150 mg pill taken every two days). DS still continued receiving Zometa infusion once a month.
Within two weeks on Tarceva she suffered side effects such as: pimples and rashes. The doctor reduced the dosage to half. Her tumour marker – CEA – kept on rising. The lung tumour increased in size, her bone and brain metastases worsened.
Vitamins and Supplements
Barley Green / chorella powder
Vitamin B12 or B-complex
Vitamin C – 500 mg
Calcium 800 mg
IP6 (inosital hexaphosphate) 800 mg
Milk thistle
Glucosamine + Chondrotin
Omega 3 or Krill oil
Curcumin extract
Probiotics plus enzymes
Chia seeds, protein shakes, blueberry concentrate.
CT Thorax of 27 October 2011: Since CT scan of 30 May 2011, a mixed response is seen where the dominant left lower lobe nodule shows increase in size whereas the subcentimeter nodule nodule in the left lower lobe lateral basal segment has virtually resolved.
Bone Scan of 13 April 2012: Scan shows foci of increased tracer uptake at: inferior glenoid region of the right scapula (more intense and extensive); T12 vertebra (new) and L5 vertebra (more extensive). Since 25 May 2011, there is interval progression of bone metastases.
MRI Brain with Contrast of 16 April 2012: There are multiple new areas of pial /cortical as well as parenchymal enhancing lesions, highly suggestive of metastases.
Now, the doctor is suggesting that DS undergo chemotherapy with Alimta + Cisplatin. She refused.
DS decided to stop Tarceva and came to Penang to seek our help. She presented with the following:
Pains in left shoulder (scale 5 out of 10) if carry things.
Chest congested and “tight.”
“Crawling” sensation on back of head and sometimes face.
Internal “ticks or twitches” on face.
Sometimes, feet swollen.
Urination 7 to 8 times during waking hours, once at night.
Persistent non-productive coughs. Sometimes felt like being strangled and this feeling passes after a while. Very strong coughing fits sometimes causes urinary incontinence.
Pain in chest after coughing.
DS was prescribed Capsule A, Lung 1 and 2 tea, Brain 1 tea, Bone Tea, Pain Tea and Cough 10 and Cough 11.
Her AcuGraph reading on 7 September 2012 appeared fairly good compared to other cancer patients. She had imbalances of her LU (lung), SP (spleen), KI (kidney) and GB (gall bladder) meridians. Based on this reading, DS was prescribed A-Lung-2 and A-Kid-2 tea.
Comments
If you have been reading our articles in this website, I am sure you would have come across stories of lung cancer patients who have taken Iressa and /or Tarceva. I think I have said and written enough, just read the stories below:
Cellulitis After Breast Reconstruction Surgery and Chemo
The file of EC laid buried on my table for almost four years. At first I thought I wanted to write her story but then perhaps it was not necessary – let her secret go away with her, buried in her grave! But on 13 August 2012, a lady came to our centre for help. She too had breast cancer. And her story resembled EC’s case. This make me think again – I should write this story!
EC – an Indonesia female, was 40 years old when a mammogram on 29 August 2003, showed the following results:
Following further evaluation, EC was diagnosed with breast cancer. She subsequently underwent a biopsy leading to a right mastectomy with axillary clearance. At the same time she had a right breast reconstruction with latissimus dorsi flap and saline implant.
The histology reported a Grade 3 ductal carcinoma measuring 2.5 x 2 x 1 cm. Three of 17 dissected lymph nodes showed metastatic disease. None of the 2 lymph nodes in level 2 showed metastatic disease.
The immunohistochemistry showed the tumour had hormonal receptors as below:
Taking into account of the 3 involved lymph nodes, EC was started on adjuvant chemotherapy with Cyclophosphamide and Andriamycin (A + C) for 4 cycles. Another 4 cycles of taxol was schedule after the AC. However, the use of taxol had to be aborted due to severe reaction and complications as explained by her oncologist’s report dated 6 January 2004:
She tolerated chemotherapy fairly well with growth support using Granocyte. Although she is not diabetic on repeated measures, she unfortunately developed repeated episodes of skin infection following the last dose of Cyclophosphamide and Andriamycin.
There was substantial celulitis over the implanted right breast. For that reason, EC is finding it difficult to proceed with further chemotherapy with the fear of recurrent flare of cellulitis.
Since there is a fear of further exacerbation of her cellulitis with ongoing chemotherapy, Tamoxifen for 5 years was proceeded instead. As she has already achieved post menopausal status, there is no further recommendation for ovarian ablation at this stage.
EC took Tamoxifen from 2003 to 2005. She received Zometa injection (for bone) ever six-monthly.
Her progress was monitored regularly.
3 April 2004: Mammogram and ultrasound of her left breast and CT of thorax and abdomen showed everything in order. A bone scan on 5 April 2004 showed no specific evidence of bone metastasis.
21 March 2005: Mammographic findings are unchanged. On the four-quadrant ultrasound examination, there are two hypoechoic nodules demonstrated within the left breast. These are benign looking lesions. These ultrasound finds are already present in a previous examination dated 3 April 2004 and allowing for technical differences, are essentially unchanged. CT scan of the thorax does not reveal any mediastinal lymphadenopathy or pulmonary nodules. Two hypodense lesions demonstrated in the liver were also seen previously with no significant interval change in size or in character. These may represent small hepatic cysts. Bone scan showed no specific evidence of bone metastasis.
(Note:Tamoxifen was stopped and changed to Arimidex in 2005 until 2008).
27 March 2006: No suspicious lesion is seen in the left breast. A small cyst is seen at 9 0’oclock position. The other cyst demonstrated previously is not seen today. Ultrasound of abdomen showed liver is normal in size and there are two small cysts present. These are likely to correspond to the hypodense lesions seen in previous CT scan done in March 2005. No solid mass seen. No pulmonary nodules demonstated. No hilar masses seen. No specific evidence of bone metastases.
5 July 2007: No mammographic evidence of malignancy. Tiny left breast cyst. No focal solid mass lesion is visualised. Ultrasound of abdomen showed a 1.9 x 1.7 x 1.5 cm anechoic cyst in segment 7 of the liver. This appears to have shown slight interval increase in size. The previously noted subcentimetre cyst in segment 6 is no longer seen. No other abnormality is seen.
17 December 2007: Bone scan showed no specific evidence of any new bone metastases. Ultrasound of liver showed no sonographic evidence of hepatic metastases apart from a 1.9 x 1.8 x 1.6 cm anechoic cyst in segment 7 of the liver.
15 January 2008: Due to rising tumour markers, PET was ordered to assess for recurrent disease. The cancer had spread to her brain.
EC underwent a craniotomy or brain surgery to remove the tumour. Her tumour was consistent with metastatic carcinoma, possibly breast.
Oral drug Arimidex was abandoned and EC was given Aromasin instead. Zometa injection was continued as usual – every six-monthly.
11 February 2008: EC received 5 times of stereotactic radiotherapy to her brain.
17 July 2008: The cyst in her liver seemed to grow bigger.
EC received another 5 times of stereotactic radiotherapy to her brain.
20 October 2008: Her brain surgery and 10 radiation treatment did not cure her brain cancer. The tumour recurred.
24 October 2008: EC and her husband came to Penang to seek our help. EC was prescribed Capsule A, Brain 1 and Brain Brain 2 teas and Breast M, C-tea plus Brain Leaf Tea.
Comments
Unfortunately EC was not able to follow our therapy properly. We always tell patients – our herbal teas are smelly and taste awful. They have to be brewed and this could be a great chore indeed. And if you have undergone chemo and radiation, the chances are that you will suffer when you first start taking the herbs. Well, but that could not be as bad as the chemo or radiation side effects. Nevertheless, some people are less tolerant when they come to us. The reality is – they expect magic even if medical science has failed them.
We did not get to meet EC and her husband again after their initial visit to us. They had decided to continue with more medical treatments. When nothing worked, EC decided to give up and turned to God for a miracle. She then died.
EC and her husband told us that after the reconstruction surgery and chemotherapy, her breast became red, swollen and painful. I wondered what could have caused this. If you read the oncologist report above, an innocent-sounding terminology was used –cellulitis. What doesthis actually mean? The word cellulitis means inflammation of the cells. Specifically, cellulitis refers to an infection of the tissue just below the skin surface.
The following are information from the internet when I searched for breast reconstruction and cellulitis,and breast implant infection.
Someone posted this question – Is cellulitis of a reconstructed breast (after breast cancer) common?and she wrote: I have gotten cellulitis of my reconstructed breast three times in the last six months. The first time I was hospitalized for a week. I was very sick and it was very painful. Is this a common occurrence? http://www.medpedia.com/questions/1823-is-cellulitis-of-a-reconstructed-breast-after-breast-cancer-common
The Answers:
Cellulitis is an inflammatory reaction involving the skin and underlying subcutaneous tissue. Patients who undergo surgery for breast cancer, whether in the setting of breast conservation or mastectomy, are at risk of developing infection at the surgical site and in soft tissue. Surgical trauma predisposes patients to skin infection. Postoperative skin infections develop after 2%–7% of all surgical procedures. The incidence of surgical site infections is 12.4% following mastectomy with immediate implant reconstruction.
Infection following breast implants is an uncommon event. This is somewhat surprising, since the human breast is not a sterile anatomical structure. Treatment of the periprosthetic infection usually involves implant removal, but salvage by systemic antibiotics is sometimes possible. ( http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2663982)
Infection can occur with any surgery. Most infections resulting from surgery appear within a few days to weeks after the operation. However, infection is possible at any time after surgery. Infections with a breast implant present are harder to treat than infections in normal body tissues. Toxic Shock Syndrome has been noted in women after breast implant surgery, and it is a life-threatening condition. Symptoms include sudden fever, vomiting, diarrhea, fainting, dizziness, and/or sunburn-like rash. A surgeon should be seen immediately for diagnosis and treatment for this condition. http://www.lookingyourbest.com/info/breastimplant-complications.php
Infection is the leading cause of morbidity that occurs after breast implantation and complicates 2·0—2·5% of interventions in most case series. Two-thirds of infections develop within the acute post-operative period, whereas some infections may develop years or even decades after surgery. http://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(05)01281-8/abstract
Complications of Breast Implants
After having breast implant surgery, about 30% of women will require further surgery within 10 years of their initial operation.
Additional surgery may be needed as a result of complications such as capsular contracture (hardening of the scar capsule around the implant, see below), age-related changes to the breast or the shell of the implant rupturing (splitting).
If you are having an implant fitted for breast reconstruction following a mastectomy (breast removal) you may have a greater risk of infection and bleeding.
Most infections can be treated using antibiotics. But if your breast becomes severely infected, you may need to have the implant removed to prevent further complications developing. You should be able to have the implant re-inserted once the infection has cleared up. http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Breast-implants/Pages/Complications.aspx
Why not solve one problem at a time?
I am fully aware that for some ladies losing a breast is most traumatic. Many patients come to us with rotten breast and they still harbour the hope that I would say herbs can cure their breast cancer. When I suggested removal of their breast, they hesitated. To get the message across I said this: You choose – you life or your breast. In the 16 years dealing with cancer patients, I rarely come across patients who had breast reconstruction after a mastectomy. I also understand some ladies are very sensitive about their body image. They want their breast replaced immediately after losing one.
One lady told us, she only agreed to undergo a mastectomy after her husband promised that she could go for a breast reconstruction. While writing this article, one lady came. She has just had a mastectomy. I asked her: How is it like – the mastectomy? She replied: I don’t know. I went in and when I came out I felt one breast was gone. Then I knew that it was cancerous. This lady just laughed after that! To her saving her life comes first. She and her surgeon had made an agreement that she would not want a needle biopsy but rather the tumour be removed and tested immediately. If it was found to be malignant, the surgeon would proceed with the mastectomy right away.
I just wonder – why does someone want to rush into trying to fix problems all at once – immediately? Removal of the cancerous breast is not a cure. The cancer can recur. Would it not be sensible to wait until everything looks promising first before you move to the next problem of the missing breast? If there is a flare up of cellulitis as in the above case, are you not making your problem more complicated? Why not solve one problem at a time?
She Might Have Won Many Battles But Ultimately She Lost Her War
The thick file of SA laid buried on my table for the past three years. Perhaps I should write her story. May be some patients can learn some lessons from her tragic experience.
SA’s problem started in 2006 when she felt a pea-sized, painless lump in her left breast. She went to Singapore for evaluation.
Bilateral mammograms on 6 March 2006 showed an irregular solid mass, measuring 29.4 x 17 x 23.2 mm with abnormal blood flow within it. Ultrasound of the liver showed normal size, configuration and echnogenicity. No focal lesions seen. Whole body bone scan was normal with no specific evidence of bone metastasis.
SA subsequently underwent a total mastectomy on 10 March 2006. The pathologist report indicated a poorly differentiated invasive ductal carcinoma with lymphatic and vascular infiltration. This was classified as T2NoMx (Stage 2A).
The tumour was negative for oestrogen and progesterone receptors. It was strongly positive for C-erb-B2 and moderately positive for P53. These imply that the breast cancer is unlikely to show any response to tamoxifen / hormonal therapy.
After surgery SA underwent six cycles of chemotherapy with FEC (5-FU + Epirubicin + Cyclophosphamide). No radiation or oral medication was indicated.
SA was well after the chemotherapy. She went back to her doctor every six months for routine checkup. Nothing was amiss. But about two years later SA started to have coughs for about a month. SA went to Kuala Lumpur and underwent a whole body PET CT scan on 28 April 2008,
Her brain and neck showed no abnormality.
There were multiple nodules in both lungs. Possibility of lung metastasis.
A 2.5 x 2.6 x 3.2 cm FDG-avid lesion was seen in the right lobe, segment of liver. Possibility of liver metastasis.
Extensive hypermetabolic nodal involvement in the thorax and left supraclavicular region.
SA was then advised to have chemotherapy but she decided to return to consult with her Singapore doctors. An ENT surgeon detected vocal cord paralysis. Another cancer specialist performed a biopsy of her left supraclavicular lymph node on 6 May 2008. It showed metastatic adenocarcinoma consistent with a primary from the breast. The tumour was strongly positive for HER-2. SA’s Stage 2 cancer had turned into a Stage 4.
SA consulted another oncologist.
Subsequently SA underwent another round of palliative chemotherapy with Herceptin + Vinorelbine and Xeloda.
A repeat CT was done on 9 July 2008. The result showed a reduction in size of the pulmonary and liver masses and resolution of the mediastinal and hilar lymphadenopathy (see below).
SA continued with her chemotherapy, as usual (from 8 May 2008 to 20 October 2008).
SA was again evaluated. X-ray, MRI and PET / CT scan done on 12 November 2008 indicated the following:
Chest X-ray showed lungs were well inflated. No focal mass lesion, lobar collapse or consolidation was seen. Normal chest radiograph.
CT brain is normal. No intracranial bleed or space-occupying mass lesion.
MRI of thoracolumbar spine showed no evidence of enhancing mass lesion in the distal spinal cord and conus medullaris. No bone metastasis was detected. However, there was abnormal soft tissue enhancement seen in the interspinous space from L2-L3 to L4-L5 levels. Mild disc protrusions were present at L3-L4 and L4-L5 levels.
PET / CT scan showed:
SA remained well and she continued to receive her Herceptin injections in Indonesia. However, in the early morning of 2 January 2009, she fainted and was unconscious for a few hours. She was sent to a hospital where she regained her consciousness.
SA suffered generalised epilepsy with dizziness. She had memory loss, confusion and vomiting. SA went back to her oncologist in Singapore on 12 January 2009. MRI of her brain showed the cancer had spread to many parts of her brain. The biggest of these multiple lesions was 3.5 cm x 3. 5 cm.
MRI Report 13 January 2009
As a result of the above, the neurologist started SA on Keppra (leveticetam) – an anti-epileptic drug to treat seizures. She was also referred to the radiation oncologist for whole brain radiotherapy.
This was what her oncologist wrote:
Impression: Metastatic HER 2 positive breast cancer with multiple brain metastases.
SA was started on Xeloda and Tykerb
Tentative Chemotherapy Schedule 1 April 2009
A PET / CT scan was done on 8 July 2009. Unfortunately the nodules in her lung showed increase in FDG activity. And some of the lung nodules had grown in size.
PET / CT Study 8 July 2009
In July 2009, SA fainted again while at home. This time it took a longer time for her to regain her consciousness. Nevertheless she continued taking her medications.
SA and her husband came to seek our help on 24 August 2009. She was unable to walk straight. She could not focus her eyes and her angle of vision was narrow.
She was prescribed herbs: Capsule A, Breast M, Lung and Brain Teas. Unfortunately, no long after her visit, SA died.
Comments:
SA was diagnosed with Stage 2 breast cancer in March 2006 and about two years later, it progressed to Stage 4 – with metastases in her lungs and liver. How and why could this happen? Perhaps her breast cancer was of an aggressive kind?
Treatment of Stage 4 is just palliative as stated by her oncologist’s report. Do patients understand what palliative means? Perhaps patients need to take note of what Amy Cohen said:
Herceptin and other drugs were used after the discovery of SA’s metastases. The treatment probably cost a lot of money. And this was just to keep her alive for a while more? Not to cure her, of course. Please understand that!
SA was on Herceptin from May 2008 to December 2008 – a three weekly treatment. A CT scan of her brain on 12 November 2008 did not show any abnormality. However, less than two months later, 2 January 2009, SA fainted and was unconscious. The cancer went to her brain. The multiple lesions in her brain were mind boggling. How could this happen so fast? Why did the cancer spread to the brain in no time?
I must admit I feel a chill in my spine whenever patients come to me after being treated with Herceptin for their breast cancer. I have two patients like SA before this.
Fransiska, an Indonesian lady, was thirty-two years old when she found a 1.6 cm lump in her breast. She underwent a lumpectomy in a Singapore hospital in November 2004. Some lymph nodes in her arm pit were also infected. After surgery, Fransiska received 35 radiation treatments. She was well after the treatment. About two years later her cancer spread to her lungs. She underwent chemotherapy and received six cycles of Taxol plus eight injections of Herceptin. A bone scan showed the cancer had spread to her spine. In January 2008, a scan showed a 8 x 7 mm mass in her brain and a 1.4 x 9.0 cm mass in her liver. She was prescribed Xeloda and Tykerb (lapatinib). The last email I received from Fransiska was on 30 October 2008. Soon after this, Fransiska slipped into coma and she died in mid-December 2008 – four years after being diagnosed with breast cancer. http://cancercaremalaysia.com/2010/12/09/fransiska-died-after-surgery-radiotherapy-chemotherapy-herceptin-tamoxifen-xeloda-and-tykerb/
Yee was 40 years old when she was diagnosed with breast cancer in October 2005. She underwent a mastectomy. It was a Stage 2 disease with no lymph node involvement. The tumour was 3 x 2 x 2 cm in size. After surgery, Yee received six cycles of FAC chemotherapy (5-FU, Andiamycin and Cyclophosphamide). No radiotherapy was indicated. After chemotherapy she was started on tamoxifen. Yee was well for about 9 months. In January 2007, she noted a swelling in the right side of her neck. The cancer had spread to her lungs. Yee was given eight cycles of taxane-based chemotherapy but the treatment was not effective. Yee received more chemotherapy – six cycles of Navelbine + Herceptin. Yee was also on the oral drug, Tykerb. The treatment failed again. Yee received 28 times of radiation treatment while at the same time continuing with Tykerb. A CT scan done on 19 December 2008, indicatedmultiple brain metastases. Yee diedin early February 2009. http://cancercaremalaysia.com/2010/12/08/yee-died-after-extensive-and-costly-medical-treatments/
Doing the Same Thing and Expecting Different Results?
Study the three tragic cases above. Do you see a common trend? Fransiska – with Stage 2 breast cancer with some node involvement – underwent surgery and received chemotherapy, radiotherapy, Herceptin, Tykerb and Xeloda. The cancer went to her brain. Fransiska died.
Yee had Stage 2 breast cancer without lymph node involvement. She underwent chemotherapy – FAC, and later taxane- based drugs, and lastly Navelbine + Herceptin – at different stages of disease progression. She also took Tamoxifen and Tykerb. The cancer spread to her brain. Yee died.
In this case, SA had Stage 2 breast cancer with node involvement. She had chemotherapy, Herceptin, radiotherapy, Xeloda and Tykerb. She too had brain metastases and died.
Einstein once said: Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.
Herceptin and Brain Metastasis
The analysis of 231 patients who received trastuzumab as first-line therapy and 61 who did not receive the drug showed that patients who received trastuzumab (Herceptin) had nearly a threefold higher risk of developing CNS (central nervous system) metastases compared with patients not receiving trastuzumab. http://www.cancernetwork.com/display/article/10165/61283
A posting in the internet by Gregory Pawelski said: In regards to Herceptin, you might want to note that past studies have suggested a potentially very serious weakness in the drug, the problem with central nervous system (CNS) metastasis. Patients receiving Herceptin as first-line therapy for metastatic disease frequently developed brain metastases while responding to or stable on Herceptin at other disease sites.
Herceptin combined with standard chemotherapy will have as many as 4% of women who take the regimen develop symptoms of congestive heart failure, compared with less than 1% of women given chemotherapy alone. Herceptin has been in use only a few years. We don’t know what will happen 10 or 20 years from now. http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/opinions/10503/
Japanese researchers wrote this: A high rate of brain metastases has been reported among patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER2)-over-expressing metastatic breast cancer who were treated with trastuzumab (Herceptin).
In their research they found that patients with HER2-overexpressing breast cancer treated with trastuzumab had a high incidence of brain metastases (36.3%). http://www.springerlink.com/content/t377q1587m66n0m3/ Brain metastases in patients who receive trastuzumab-containing chemotherapy for HER2-overexpressing metastatic breast cancer.
This is a write up in the website of City of Hope (a well known cancer hospital in California, USA):
Physicians know it. Researchers know it. Breast cancer patients learn it quickly after diagnosis. Cancer isn’t one disease with one cure for everyone. That helps to explain why some treatments don’t work against breast cancer, even when they seem like they should.
A patient whose breast cancer is HER2-positive is often treated with the drug Herceptin. But some HER2-positive patients don’t respond to Herceptin. There’s currently no easy way to tell in advance whether the drug will work for each HER2-positive patient. So how can a woman avoid the side effects and cost of the drug if it’s unlikely to work? http://breakthroughs.cityofhope.org/tag/herceptin/
Look At the Big Picture
After the mastectomy and chemotherapy, SA was well for two years. Ask this question: Even WITHOUT chemotherapy could she not be well for two years? Anyway, let us give everyone the benefit of the doubt (let’s say that you need chemo to live for two years, without chemo you are dead right away). In this round one, SA won a battle.
SA’s cancer recurred and spread to her lungs and liver. Why?
Dr. Barry Boyd (in The Cancer Recovery Plan) said: Once cancer treatment is completed, most patients are left on their own to cope with the rest of their lives. This is what I call falling off the cliff. Patients are left in free fall. I would call this MISMANAGEMENT or BAD MANAGEMENT. Often patients are told to go home – eat anything they like and live the old-lifestyle that had brought about their cancer. In short, patients are not taught to change and live a healthier life.
After the metastasis, more chemos were given. The tumours in her lungs and liver decreased in size. Again another battle appeared to have been won. The idea that after treatment the tumour has shrunk in size is very attractive indeed – to both doctors and patients alike. The point not clearly told to patients is that the shrinkage of tumour may eventually turn out to be meaningless. Shrinkage may not translate into cure or prolonged survival. It is true in this case – and it is equally true with many other cases that I have seen. A PET scan in July 2009 unfortunately showed that the lung nodules had increased activity and had grown in size. The earlier good and encouraging results are just meaningless.
In the earlier stages of treatment, SA seemed to have won some battles but she lost the war against her cancer. Not long after her apparent victory SA died.
Let me reproduce our email exchanges with one grandson who is desperately in need of help. His emails are reproduced as it is, with no editing done.
8 July 2012: i have problem my grrand father diagnosis got pancreas cancer stadium 4 and have spread at liver we have pat ct mri and all and the result my grand father proven got that cancer. now my grandfather at china but here is still the same china doctor talk pancreas cancer there is no medicine. i have read http://cacare.com/indonesia/component/option,com_easyfaq/task,view/id,212/Itemid,108/ there was a way about pancreas cancer. so doctor can help my grand father? you have phone or messenger so we can talk easly. thx
Reply: No … I cannot help people so far away …there is no cure for pancreatic cancer. Chris
Reply: Read this story, Computer Genius, Steve Jobs Died of Pancreatic Cancer – cancer patients can learn from is experience.Click this link and learn for yourself: http://cancercaremalaysia.com/category/pancreatic-cancer/ Anyway, I don’t treat people via internet or just by writing emails. Come and see me if you think I can help you.
yes i know steve jobs died of pancrearit cancer. yes i know you cant treatmen by internet or mailing but i need your suggestion about my grand father heal i read your blog there filiphine person can be heal by you on this link http://cacare.com/indonesia/component/option,com_easyfaq/task,view/id,212/Itemid,108/ so, can you help my grandfather too just that i want to ask doctor
Reply: You can learn from these stories: Miraculous Healing of Pancreatic Cancer turned Rotten
yes i have learn its about herbal, about medicine you give so you can help my grandpa? if yes i will go Penang from guang zhou tommorow or day after really i neeed medicine to heal my grandpa
Reply: I only see patients on Friday at 3 pm to 5 pm or Sunday at 7 pm to 9 pm. The whole of July I am not free on other days. I cannot cure your grandfather so don’t say that I am cheating you if he dies or do not benefit from my herbs. Or that you are wasting your time or money. There is no cure for pancreatic cancer. That is why Steve Jobs died — he has all the money in the world. He can go to any doctors in the world…but he still died. I must see all the medical reports and scan. No use coming without such data. Chris
10 July 2012: but i dont know about the testimonial , the patient can heal by your herbs? but now you say no medicine about the pancreatic cancer. please doctor give me the true answer i very need that
Reply: I have herbs for pancreatic but they cannot cure —- healing and cure are not the same. Cure means the disease goes away and disappears. That is what you want, I cannot do that. Chris
Comments
Let me relate a case I encountered many years ago.
Peter was a very rich, 59-year-old man from Hong Kong. On 28 June 1999, he was diagnosed with cancer at the head of his pancreas. Subsequently he underwent a pancreatico-duodenectomy. This procedure is also known as Whipple procedure.The surgeon would remove the distal half of the stomach, the gall bladder, cystic duct, the common bile duct, the head of the pancreas, duodenum, proximal jejunum, and regional lymph nodes. You would probably end up with a Mercedes Benz scar in your abdomen after the surgery.
After the surgery, he underwent the following treatments:
August 1999 to September 1999: Peter underwent concurrent chemotherapy with 5-FU and radiotherapy.
14 October 1999: The doctor said there was no solid evidence that the treatment would help.
19 October 1999 to 14 March 2000: Peter had finished a total of 13 cycles of chemotherapy. The drug used was Gemzar. He suffered neutropenia, i.e., low white blood count. The initial Gemzar dosage used was 1400 mg. This was then reduced to 1260 mg, 1000 mg and subsequently settled at 800 mg.
28 June 2000: His CA 19.9 started to rise from 4.67 to 41.3, indicating occult recurrence.
8 September 2000 to 12 February 2001: Chemotherapy using Gemzar was again started. A total of 13 cycles were given until 12 February 2001. The dosages used ranged from 1000 mg, 1400 mg to 1760 mg.
19 February 2001: The result was disappointing. His CA 19.9 shot up to 473.
26 February 2001: Peter underwent chemotherapy again. This time with Gemzar at 1780 mg plus Xeloda, an oral chemo-drug often used for breast and bone cancers. He was on Xeloda for 10 days.
26 March 2001: It was Gemzar plus Xeloda for 14 days.
25 May 2001: Peter had completed 20 cycles of chemotherapy with Gemzar.
28 June 2001: His CA 19.9 was at 586. Peter developed SVCO (superior vena cava obstruction). A CT scan showed the obstruction was due to the mediastinal nodes.
3 July 2001 to 15 August 2001: Peter underwent radiotherapy to take care of the SVCO.
9 October 2001: His CA 19.9 was at 558. Peter decided to take a break and came to find treatment in Malaysia. He again underwent chemotherapy in a private hospital in Kuala Lumpur.
4 March 2002: It was at this point that I met Peter in Kuala Lumpur. He was indeed a jovial man. During our conversation Peter joked that he had told his doctors that with the amount of chemo-drugs being pumped into him, he would die of the drugs rather than the cancer. Indeed, Peter could qualify for a listing in the Guinness Book of Record for having the capacity to endure more than 50 cycles of chemotherapy and numerous radiation treatments and still remained alive.
25 March 2002: Peter underwent chemotherapy again. This time the drugs used were CPT-11 plus oxaliplatin. He suffered intense abdominal pains, nausea and vomiting.
18 May 2002: The doctor confirmed that Peter had suffered metastasis to the bones. Peter underwent 10 times of radiation treatment to the spine and 10 times to the two lumps found on the left neck.
23 May 2002: Peter was admitted to the hospital because of fluid in his lungs. Tapping of lung fluid was done.
20 June 2002: Peter was hospitalized again due to fluid in the lungs. His wife said he was giving up.
1 July 2002: Peter died in a hospital in Kuala Lumpur. He was then still on chemotherapy. I was told that Peter’s brother, who is a medical doctor , flew in from London to be at his bedside when he died.
Comments
This is indeed a classical example of how a war against cancer is being carried out. I am reminded of what John Robbins (in Reclaiming Our Health) wrote:
Very often, the effort to “destroy the enemy” at all costs ends up counterproductive.
Chemotherapy practitioners do not want to think that the weapons they employ to kill cancer cells are of little or no use to their patients. They want to believe they are helping people.
When we take a closer look at what were used as weapons for this war, I cannot help coming to a conclusion that Peter was made a subject of experimentation. The initial drug used was 5-FU. Since it was not effective, Gemzar was used instead. The dosage of Gemzar used was initially high and was subsequently lowered. This showed that the oncologist was not really sure of what was best for Peter. Since Gemzar by itself did not do any good, the oncologist added Xeloda to the recipe. Even that, it did not work. Then back in Kuala Lumpur, Gemzar and Xeloda were abandoned – why not try something more powerful? So, Peter was given CPT-11 and oxaliplatin.
Dr. Andrew Weil, a Harvard-trained medical doctor (in Health and Healing) wrote:
There is a never ending struggle … Patients are sucked into the same way of thinking … Finding themselves more and more dependent on the system giving one treatment after another.
In the course of the treatment, Peter suffered SVCO (superior vena cava obstruction) and he had to have radiotherapy to alleviate this problem. The superior vena cava is the main vein which drains blood from the head, neck and arms into the heart. It lies in the upper part of the chest. Unfortunately, this vein was blocked in Peter’s case. Why was this so?
When the war was about to be over, Peter had bone cancer and his lungs were filled with fluid. Could this represent the ultimate and fatal side-effects of the aggressive treatments he was subjected to earlier?
After three years, the battlefield was quiet. Death prevailed. Peter found peace in death. It was a medical failure – perhaps from the very start failure was apparent, if we care to objectively evaluate it.
Dr. Jerome Groopman, professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School (in Second Opinions) related his experience with what he thought as medicine being omniscience – doctors having all the answers. This is what he wrote:
I wanted an immediate remedy and stubbornly believed I knew what was best. After all, my medical training had been as a student atColumbia, an intern and resident at the Massachusetts GeneralHospital, and a fellow at UCLA (UniversityofCaliforniaatLos Angeles). Waiting patiently for nature to heal me seemed passive and paltry.
I finally realised that my desperate belief in a perfect solution was a fantasy.
I also realised that it was up to me, in part, to try to rebuild myself …
But what is the “best” hospital or the “best” doctor? … specialist touted as at the top in his field, based at a prestigious medical center … this distinguished doctor proved far from the best …
Let me conclude this article by quoting what Dr. Martin Scurr wrote in an article: Why MOST doctors like me would rather DIE than endure the pain of treatment we inflict on others for terminal diseases: Insider smashes medicine’s big taboo, in the Daily Mail, UK, 14 February 2012.
Should I discover tomorrow that I have advanced, life-threatening cancer, I won’t go rushing to the doctors for a heavily invasive course of medical treatment. No, I will shut up my London surgery, head to my home in Norfolk, stock up on gin and tonic and have a jolly good time until I meet my end.
Like most doctors, I understand that much of the care we offer patients who have serious, life-threatening illnesses is ultimately futile.
Worse, it can involve many months of gruelling treatments that might possibly extend the length of one’s life, but do nothing for its quality.
On 20 May 2012, RO (B-696) came to our centre. It has been some years since we last saw her. Anyway, we were glad that RO is still doing fine. RO came with her blood test results (see table) and we read RO’s meridian using the AcuGraph. Basically the results were alright. RO also felt that she was doing fine without any complaints whatsoever.
We told RO, “There is nothing much to worry about. Do what you are doing and keep it that way!” She had “won” the battle against her breast cancer – without chemotherapy or radiotherapy of course!
The Story of RO
Sometime in 2001, RO felt a lump in her right breast. The lump was mobile and it came on and off. There was no pain. RO was only 36 years old then. A year later, on 9 October 2002, she went to consult a doctor in a private hospital. An ultrasound indicated an irregular mass with an approximate size of 1.7 x 1.4 x 1.1 cm. Multiple small microcalcification are noted in this lesion, very suspicious of a primary malignancy. A tru-cut biopsy was performed and confirmed an invasive mammary ductual carcinoma, Grade 3.
RO subsequently underwent a right mastectomy. The pathology report dated 16 October 2002 indicated an infiltrating ductal carcinoma with presence of tumour cells close to the deep surgical margin. All six right axillary lymph nodes are free of tumour. The tumour cells are moderately positive for estrogen and progesterone receptors. There is an over expression of P53 in about 40% of the tumour cells. There is focal membrane positivity for c-ErbB2 oncoprotein in the tumour cells.
Comment by Consultant Pathologist: An ER and PR positive tumour is likely to respond to hormone therapy and is associated with a greater probability of a disease-free survival. ErbB2 (neu/HER-2) is an independent prognostic marker, and overexpression is correlated with a poor prognosis. It is generally associated with a shorter disease-free interval and lower overall survival rate. In some studies, p-53 has been shown to be an independent marker of adverse prognosis.
An ultrasound on 17 October 2002 indicated presence of a 3.4 x 2.5 cm uterine fibroid. There was no evidence of metastatic disease.
RO was referred to an oncologist for further management. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy were suggested. She refused further medical treatment and came to seek our help on 1 November 2002. She was prescribed Capsule A, C-tea and Breast M. In addition she was asked to take GY 5 and GY 6 for her uterine fibroid which she continued to take for a while and then stopped.
Since October 2002 until 2012, we got to see RO once a while. Her blood test results over the years (from November 2002 to May 2012) are as follows:
11 Nov02
12 Nov03
29May04
26Aug06
4Jun08
10 Oct10
8Jun 11
16May12
ESR
22 H
10
4
24 H
2
33 H
22 H
20
RBC
4.6
4.4 L
4.5
4.4
4.6
4.8
5.0
4.0
Haemoglobin
9.4 L
9.9 L
10.4 L
8.9 L
9.6 L
8.9
9.6 L
7.3 L
Platelet
390
332
394
359
385
469 H
487 H
397
WBC
6.1
6.0
8.6
7.2
5.4
4.7
5.2
5.0
CEA
0.1
1.3
0.8
0.2
<0.5
1.1
1.5
1.4
CA 15.3
14.0
11.2
12.1
10.5
7.7
10.9
13.5
11.7
CA 125
n/a
49.1 H
65.3 H
108.4 H
99.9 H
53.5 H
74.3 H
156.6 H
The Story of RA (sister of RO)
In mid-July 2004, we received a fax from RO requesting us to help her sister, RA (T-20), who had just discovered a lump in her right breast. RA was 41 years old then. A biopsy was performed followed by a right mastectomy. According to the pathology report of 6 July 2004, the tumour was about 4.0 x 30 x 25 mm in size. It was an infiltrating ductal as well as intraductal and comedo type carcinoma. There was lymphatic vascular embolization of tumour with metastases to four out of thirteen right axillary lymph nodes. There was also Paget’s disease of the right nipple.
RA was asked to undergo chemotherapy and radiotherapy. She refused and came to seek our help on 17 July 2004. She was prescribed Capsule A, Breast M and C-tea. RA took our herbs for more than a year and was doing alright.
1 Oct 04
24 Jan 05
24 Dec05
ESR
6
2
5
RBC
4.4
4.3
4.5
Platelet
193
192
232
WBC
5.9
5.7
7.3
Alkaline phosphatase
65
78
59
AST
21
26
21
ALT
28
27
36
GGT
9
11
11
CEA
20
2.4
1.8
CA 15.3
6.9
4.1
7.1
In 2004 (from July to December) we got to see RA only three times. In 2005 RA came to see us five times. We suspected from then on she defaulted taking the herbs and also did not take care of her diet. Her first visit to us in the year 2006 was in July. She told us that she felt like there was a “hard bone” in her right breast. We suggested that she go and check it out with her doctor. She was reluctant. We got to see RA again three months later, in October 2006. After that she disappeared from our “radar.”
On 10 June 2007, RA came back to see us again. She told us of what had happened the past one year. The “hard bone” which she told us earlier was actually a recurrence and this occurred at the previous operation scar. But there was also a lump under her right armpit. Since she ignored it for a while, the lump “burst” and left a hole in her breast. She went back to her surgeon and was referred to an oncologist. So from January to May 2007. RA underwent six cycles of chemotherapy. On completion of the treatment RA was awarded a “Certificate of Achievement” below.
The chemo treatment cost RM 18,000. After the chemo, the lump in the armpit shrunk. She was then referred to the government hospital for further management. The doctor at the government hospital told her that radiation was not necessary in her case. A bone scan showed that the cancer had spread to her bones. She was put on Tamoxifen and had been taking it when she came to see us.
On 2 December 2007, RA came back to see us again with her CT scan report done on 21 November 2007. The study showed presence of 0.5 and 0.7 cm nodules in the apex of her right lung and a 0.3 cm nodule in the apex of her left lung. There is a 0.9 cm node seen at the right side of her chest wall which could represent recurrence. There is a 1 cm hypodense cyst in Segment 2 of her liver and multiple hypodense lesions in Segments 3, 4, 5 and 8. These represent liver secondaries.
RA was told that her cancer was a Stage 4. She had to undergo more chemotherapy. We did not get to see RA again. We came to know from her sister that RA went for more chemotherapy and died after that.
Mary (not real name) was a forty-six year-old lady. She was diagnosed with right breast cancer in October 2004 and underwent a mastectomy. She was asked to undergo chemotherapy but declined, preferring to follow the CA Care Therapy. She was started on the herbs: Capsule A & B, LL-tea, Liver-P and Breast M on 28 November 2004. She was doing very well while on our therapy. On 28 November 2006 we interviewed Mary about her health. For full details of her story read Chapter 9 of Breast Cancer: The Herbal Option.
Breast Cancer: Well After Two Years on CA Care Therapy
Chris: How are you, today?
Mary: Do look at me. No words can describe how well I feel. Actually before this medical report was out (showing her latest blood test results), my heart already knew that it would be better than the last time because I could feel it myself. I feel better although I am tired at times. But with the right balance of food, and a little bit of rest in between, I am up and about again. Fifteen minutes nap and a few deep breaths – even though I might be very tired, I would be up again.
C: Compared to the days before you had cancer, are you just as good?
Husband: Her health condition was very bad before that. She would have constant flu which would last up to three months.
Mary:In terms of health, I think I am better now. I am healthier. Before the cancer, it was terrible. I had backaches. After I had walked a little bit, I had to sit down. My heels were hurting. I always had headaches. I often had flu and coughs. I was always sick – like going down and down. It would start with a sore throat, then runny nose, fevers and finally coughs. It would go on and on for two to three months. The doctor gave courses of antibiotics. At one time, the doctor wanted to take out my tonsils but I said no, no, no. Somehow, something made me say no. I had to take antibiotics. I recovered for a short while after all the medications the doctor had given. They made me so blur and not know what was going on. Then I got sick again. I had been ignoring all these problems for two or three years and my health then was up and down. My body was sort of trying to cope.
C: With cancer, you changed your diet and lifestyle? What happened to all the problems you had before your cancer?
Mary: For the past two years, I only have had two flu attacks. I was careless. I was pushing myself too hard. When I realised what was happening, I pulled back, had more rest and did a little bit more exercise – then I was back on top again.
Cancer Returned
We met Mary again on 22 April 2009 (about five years after her diagnosis). She had bad news for us. The cancer had recurred to her bones. This happened all too often. But the question we want to ask is – why? Must this happen?
In an earlier article, I have written about MT, a lady with breast cancer. She underwent a mastectomy, 6 cycles of chemotherapy, 30 sessions of radiotherapy and 5 years of Tamoxifen. She also had a recurrence. So this is not a matter of Mary not receiving all the “total ingredients” of medical treatment and that she was taking herbs instead. It does not matter, MT had done all that were needed to be done. She also ended with bone metastasis (for her full story, click this link When a so called “cure” is not a cure).
So, the question is why – the recurrence? MT’s doctor said this, “I do not know why. But don’t blame yourself. It is your fate. Also the recurrence has nothing to do with what you eat. It is just your fate.” That unfortunately is a doctor’s view. Unfortunately too, I don’t find such answers convincing or intelligent.
My message to all of you is this.There must be a reason why this happened. Second, you are not helpless. You can do something for yourself to minimize the chances of recurrence happening to you. But, it is your choice. It is up to you. Let Mary tell you why she had a relapse. This video was recorded in the late evening of 22 April 2009.
Breast Cancer Recurrence
The gists of our conversation:
Complacency: In 2005 (when first diagnosed) and 2006 she complied fully with our therapy. In 2007, she started to become adventurous – hovering around In the forbidden territory. And in 2008, she totally forgot about what CA Care Therapy was all about.
No herbs, bad diet: In December 2008, cancer reared its ugly head again!
No monitoring: She did not even do any blood test in 2008.
Pushing the Boundary: What prompted her to try push her boundary? She was overconfident! She felt she was already well and therefore “cured.” Her explanation was, “I was trying to live a normal life.” She wanted to go into the “main stream” and behaved like others who did not have cancer.
The Gathering Storm: Cancer did not strike back like a thunder bolt. There were clear signs that the storm was gathering. In December 2008, she was not feeling good – feeling bloated, winds in the stomach, started to have coughs and flu, and her blood test results were not good. In March 2009, a CT scan showered recurrence. She had severe pains after pushing her car. Disaster struck.
Returned to CA Care For Help: She was weak and thin, had severe pains and had difficulty breathing. After a week on the herbs (again!) she got better.
Did you realize your mistakes? Mary said, “ I never take time to take care of myself and never slow down.” Her business took priority over her health causing a lot of stress. In addition she did not take the herbs and ate anything she liked, etc. etc. My advice: You know how to take care of yourself. Go back to Step 1 and start all over again!
It is with regrets to note that we never get to meet Mary again. She died not long afterwards.
Han (S121) was a70-year old lady from Indonesia. Some time in June 2011, she went for a medical checkup in her hometown before a planed holiday trip to Korea. Unfortunate her CEA was high – at 25.0. The doctor did a CT scan and found that Han had a cancerous pancreas.
Han went to Singapore for further management. A blood test done on 7 July 2011 showed elevated liver function enzymes. Her tumour markers – CEA, CA 125 and CA 19.9 were also high.
Alkaline phosphatase
228 High
AST / SGOT
50 High
ALT ‘ SGPT
67 High
GGT
209 High
CEA
19.6 High
CA 125
141.5 High
CA 19.9
Recorded as >100 + (actual value 236,000)
PET scan done on 8 June 2011 showed:
A 9 x 6.2 x 7.2 cm mass with irregular margins at the upper abdomen. This represents a FDG avid tumour arising from the pancreas.
Multiple foci mesentery / peritoneum ranging from 1 to 2.5 cm.
Mild ascites.
Hydronephrosis at left kidney.
Liver with multiple foci of FDG ranging from subcentimetre to 36 cm, the largest being at Segment 6.
Lymphadenopathy with possible left supraclavicular spread.
Han subsequently underwent a total of 10 cycles of chemotherapy, 6 of which were with Gemzar + Taxol + Avastin. Each treatment cost S$7,000. Han was told that chemotherapy would not cure her – only prolongation of her life by 6 months to a year. Without chemo she would only have 4 months.
Since the treatment in Singapore could not cure her, Han went to China for more treatments in October 2011. She underwent the following treatments in China.
A CT guided cryotherapy for her liver metastases.
Immunotherapy.
Iodin-125 seed implantation – a total of 80 seeds were implanted.
Chemotherapy with Gemzar and Cisplatin.
The first visit to China was for 3 weeks. The subsequent visits were shorter. In total Han went to China five times. Her last visit was in February 2012. Her CA 19.9 on 11 February 2011 was written as > 1000 (note: earlier in Singapore >100 means 236,000. So > 1000 could be any number. Her CEA was at 387.6. In fact, the doctors in China did not think that Han need to come back to their hospital again for further treatment. The doctor said Han probably had only three more months to live.
On 23 February 2012, we received this e-mail.
Hi Dr. Chris, Good afternoon.
My name is Alu from Jakarta, Indonesia. I was introduced to you by Mr.HM from Indonesia. Dr. Chris, my mom has pancreatic cancer (diagnosed last year June 2011). She already got chemotherapy treatment in Singapore from June until October 2011. In November 2011, she went to a hospital in China to undergo Cryosurgery, Nano Chemo. She already received several times of nano chemo treatment in China.
Last week, she went to do a PET/CT scan in China and found out that the cancer has metastasied to her colon and liver.
The doctor did cryoablation for her liver cancer but for the other tumor cancer, it can’t. So they planted Iodine-125 seeds. But today, the doctor said that probably my mom has only three months to live.
So our family is looking for alternative treatment and we’re told about your treatment in Penang. Dr. Chris, could you please advise what to do next? Should we bring our mom to Penang to see you? She’s still in good condition. Can walk, can eat, etc. She is now 70 years old.
Btw, my mom’s condition now is still OK. The last condition of my mom, her stomach was a bit bloating. So the doctors in China released the fluid from her stomach through a tube (from stomach) into a bag. The fluid color is a bit brown (old yellow). The doctor said it is probably due to liver problem (?). Thank you Dr. Chris.
Han and her family came to seek our help on 2 March 2012.
Her PET scan results were as follows:
Han was prescribed herbs and the only message we could impart to Han was that we would try our best to help her. There was far too much damage for us to handle. Anyway, We prescribed herbs for her to try.
On 29 April 2012, we received this e-mail.
Dear Dr. Chris,
My mum has finally ended her sufferings in fighting pancreatic cancer. On Thursday morning 4.10 am, Apr 26, 2012 she passed away in a very peaceful way. All our family member were around her, praying with her, singing a hymn and read Bible together. She has been laid in bed for around ten days – almost no energy to do any activity. During those ten days, I was beside her and we talked much about the Bible. She’s ready to go to her Creator …. Thank you for all your kind support during my mum’s heavy days.
We appreciate your kindness during those days. Regards.
Comments
There is an important lesson we can learn from this case. For those with serious cancer, such as pancreas, the options are extremely limited. I can only say this. If you do something – go for whatever medical treatments you can find –chances is that you will die. If you opt to do nothing – or go for alternative medicine – you also die. I am sorry I cannot offer you comforting words. If I try to paint a more optimistic scenerio than this, I am cheating you and I am also cheating myself.
Han was told by the oncologist in Singapore, before the treatment, that chemotherapy would not cure her – only prolongation of her life by 6 months to a year. Without chemo she would only have 4 months. The reality was Han survived 10 months even with the best of treatments. The family has spent probably no less than US$ 100,000 for all the treatments in Singapore and China. In addition, she had to endure the side effects of the treatments. When Han was here, I asked her and her family members – Would you rather die in 4 months peacefully or try medical treatments to prolong your life for 6 to 12 months? And with that suffer all the side effects besides spending all the money? The answer was they wanted to try medical treatments in spite of all the odds.
Everyone should respect that decision. By doing that everyone involved would be satisfied, “I have done my best to fight the disease.”
Some of you reading this article would not like what I wrote. You want to win – or at least have a chance to try. I understand that. I cannot tell those who go to the casinos that it is futile trying to earn easy money that way!
Sometimes I would like to pose this question: What happens if the patient opted to do nothing invasive? Meaning just take herbs, change lifestyle and diet? Can she/he live longer and without suffering? Nobody can answer that. It is entirely for the patient and her/his family to decide.
Let me end by quoting what some experts have got to say.
Dr. Murray is a retired family medical physician who had a private practice of general medicine in Studio City, California for about 25 years, until his retirement in 2006. He also held a Clinical Assistant Professorship in Family Medicine at the University of Southern California.
Lisa (not real name, M805) is a 35-year-old Indonesian lady. In October 2009 she passed out black stools. She came to Penang for a medical check-up. An upper endoscopy showed acute gastric ulcer but the rapid urease test was negative for H. pylori. Her blood test showed low levels of haemoglobin (8.3), red blood cell (2.9) and high platelet count (431). She was prescribed medication for gastritis and was told to come back for further observation after a month.
On 3 December 2009, another endoscopy was performed. It showed an almost completely healed ulcer. A repeat rapid urease test again was negative for H. pylori. A gastric biopsy was also performed and indicated an adenocarcinoma, diffuse type. A CT scan on 11 January 2010 showed a thickening of the gastric antral wall consistent with the clinical finding of carcinoma. The diffuse hypodensity of the liver parenchyma was in keeping with fatty liver change. No mass lesion was seen in the liver. There was no evidence of any focal lung lesion or lymphadenopathy.
Lisa underwent an operation to remove her stomach. The histopathology dated 12 January 2010 confirmed a diffuse type adenocarcinoma of stomach, T3N1M1, Stage 4. Lisa was asked to go for chemotherapy. She returned to Jakarta and received one cycle of chemotherapy. The treatment was a disaster. She fainted and had to be admitted to the ICU. She was discharge after four days but could hardly remember many things. She only recovered after a month.
Lisa returned to Penang for a follow-up examination with her surgeon. A CT scan on 21 July 2010 showed no evidence of pancreatic, splenic or renal mass lesion. There was no evidence of any lymphadenopathy. There was no obvious recurrence in the surgical bed.
Lisa and her husband came to seek our help on 23 July 2010 as she was not prepared to go for any morechemotherapy. She was prescribed Capsule A, Stomach 1 and Stomach 2 teas and C-tea.
Sometime just around the Chinese New Year (end of January 2012) Lisa felt a small lump in her stomach. She returned to Penang on 20 February 2012. A CT scan showed the following:
Fatty liver change.
Mild to moderately dilated intrahepatic ducts.
Ill-defined enhancing soft tissue around the pancreas and common bile duct which extends inferiorly along the right retroperitoneum, right paracaval and ilio-psoas down to the right inguinal and upper anterior thigh region. This has infiltrated the right upper ureter. Features are suspicious of tumour/metastatic deposits.
Moderate to gross hydronephrosis of the right kidney with diffuse cortical thinning.
Mild ascites.
Blood test showed elevated liver function enzymes:
Alkaline phosphatase
188.74 H
GGT
102.44 H
ALT
48.1
AST
47.77 H
CEA
1.23
CA 19.9
36.2
Lisa and her husband met with the surgeon. The surgeon said it was not possible to undergo further surgery. She was told to go for chemotherapy. That was the only option left.
The following is the transcript of our video-taped conversation on 22 February 2012.
Wanting a cure, whatever it may cost
Husband: January 2011, she had the surgery.
Chris: Her stomach was removed. Before the surgery, did you ask the surgeon if the operation could cure her?
H: He told us after the removal of her stomach, she would be okay. Then we need to go for chemotherapy.
C: Did you explicitly ask if after the surgery, she will be cured?
H: He did not answer that question. The surgeon explained that after the surgery, everything would be clean. The cancer would not spread anymore. We believed whatever he said. The reason why we went to him was because we wanted to find a cure.
C: Yes, I understand – all patients who come here (from Indonesia) are searching for a cure. So whatever answers you get or what the doctors said, you all would believe them. And also pay whatever it may cost. What you all want is a “cure.” I understand that. So, after the operation, how long was she in the hospital?
H: About two weeks.
Health worsened after the surgery
C: How was her health before and after the surgery?
H: After the surgery she became weaker – she was worse off. Before the operation, she was okay- okay, normal and there was nothing wrong.
C: Why did you go for the surgery then?
H: She was okay, she could eat – there not nothing wrong with her. She was told that she had cancer and we were afraid that disease would spread.
C (to patient): Can you tell me – before the operation, you were okay?
Patient: Nodding vigorously.
H: Nothing wrong with her except she passed out black stools. Then they did a biopsy after a scan and said it was cancer.
C: That was all?
H: Nothing – no pain, nothing. If she had pains it would it would have been a different matter. But she was able to eat well.
C: And when the doctor asked you to operate, you went ahead with the surgery? And after the surgery, she was not getting better?
H: No, not better.
Surgery – a RM 20,000 adventure
C: How much did the surgery cost you?
H. About RM 20,000.
First Chemo – she fainted and four days in ICU
C: After the surgery, she had chemo?
H: Three months later, she had chemotherapy in Jakarta. There was no problem on the first day after the chemo. The night of the second day, she had a seizure and her hands were shaking vigorously and she fainted. She was admitted into the ICU and was there for four days.
C (to patient): Did you remember anything when you were in the ICU? Did you remember going off or flying away somewhere?
P: No (shaking her head).
H: After coming out of the ICU she could not remember things – memory loss. She could only recognize me. But gradually her memory started to come back. It took about a month for her to become normal again.
C: Did the doctor want you to continue with the chemo after this episode?
H: At first he said she had to do 3 cycles of chemo, but after seeing what had happened, the doctor did not ask her to continue with her chemo anymore.
No more chemo for me
C (to patient): If you were asked to go for more chemo – do you want to do it again?
P: No, I don’t want any more chemo.
After extensive recurrence – the only solution is chemotherapy
H: Now, the only solution is chemotherapy.
C: You went to talk to the surgeon. He told you she should go for chemotherapy. Did he know what had happened to your wife after the first chemo?
H: He knew. But he did not have any more words to say. He told us, there was nothing else he could do except chemotherapy. But how are we to go for chemo after such a bad experience? We are afraid. She is going to lose her hairs and what not.
C: Loosing hair is not a problem at all – it will grow again. But what we need to worry is if she would “fly away.”
Next-bed-patient became blind after two chemo and died after three
C: You told me earlier that there was another patient in the next bed. She also had chemo when your wife was having hers.
H: After the chemo, she became blind. Her eyes could not see anymore.
C: What? Before the chemo, were her eyes okay – could she see?
H: Yes, her eyes were normal. After two chemos her eyes could not see anymore. She died after the third chemo.
C: What? She died after the third chemo? After the second she became blind – why did she continue with the third chemo then?
H: Her husband made that decision. Because of what I have seen, I would not want her to do any more chemo.
C: Did you really talk to her husband?
H: Yes, I talked to him.
C: Even after becoming blind, the husband still wanted her to continue with the chemo?
H: Yes, he wanted to continue with the treatment.
C: Did he tell you why he wanted to do that?
H: No and I did not ask.
Comments
1. Lisa passed out black stools, otherwise she was okay. What could have happened if she did nothing? Do no surgery or chemo? How bad could she be?
2. Lisa and her husband asked the surgeon if surgery would cure her. The answer was rather evasive – He told us after the removal of her stomach, she would be okay. Then we need to go for chemotherapy. We believed whatever he said. We would like to believe that whatever doctors say or do, it is always for the best interest of their patients. But let’s not be naïve. At time it is good to be reminded of what Dr. Mendelsohn said:
3. Lisa had her first cycle of chemotherapy and she fainted and lost her memory. Her next-bed fellow patient was blind after two chemos and was dead after the third. This clearly shows that chemo is not for everybody.
4. The story of Lisa clearly showed that surgery did not cure her cancer. She expected a cure but she was short-changed. In fact she became weaker and was worse off.
5. As it is now, after two years, the cancer had metastatised extensively – could her cancer be worse than this if she did nothing?
Amy (not real name) is a 39 year old lady from Indonesia. She came to seek our help on 13 January 2012. She had severe discomforts – her stomach was bloated, very tired and afraid of the cold – even unable to withstand the air-conditioning in our centre. The first words to me were, “Please help me get rid of the wind in my stomach. I was not able to pass out any gas. And I did not have my bowel movements for the past few days.”
Generally for such a case, I would advise the patient to go back to their doctors. Let their doctors help them. At CA Care we want to heal the whole person – and we don’t know how to “repair your problem” through piece meal effort. So I told her, “Before I try to help you, please tell me what have you been doing? Only then I can understand what have gone wrong.”
This is her tragic story.
1. In May 2011, Amy had vaginal bleeding once and then there was watery discharge. A biopsy was done at a hospital in Indonesia. It was confirmed carcinoma of the cervix.
2. Amy came to a private hospital in Penang for further investigation. Physical examination showed presence of a huge mass arising from the cervix involving the left parametrium. The doctor indicated it was a cervical adenocarcinoma, Stage 2B.
3. She also had a 1.9 x 1.5 x 2.0 cm mass in her left breast. A lumpectomy was performed for her breast. She was started on Tamoxifen.
4. Amy was referred to a cancer hospital for radiotherapy of her cervical cancer. She underwent 25 sessions of radiotherapy and at the same time received 5 cycles of chemotherapy. The drug used was cisplatin given at weekly interval.
5. Amy also underwent 2 sessions of brachytherapy (internal radiotherapy). This second treatment was done on 2 August 2011. Amy refused a third session of brachytherapy.
6. Her medical report on 9 November 2011 stated,
“ There was suboptimal response during brachytherapy which patient was aware of.
”“She was psychologically frail towards end of treatment.”
“She still has persistent vaginal mucoid discharge.”
7. After radiotherapy in Penang, Amy still had vaginal bleeding. She went to a specialist centre in PJ, Selangor for second opinion. The oncologist said, “She came to see me on 24 August 2011 for profuse vaginal bleeding. There was an area of ulceration in the right vaginal vault. I managed to stop the bleeding after using vaginal tampon. Then I referred her to another professor in Kuala Lumpur.”
8. Amy returned to Penang and underwent an operation – TAHBSO (Total abdominal hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy) on 14 November 2011. “The histopathology report showed well differentiated endocervical adenocarcinoma of the cervix. There is metastasis to both ovaries. There is no tumour response to chemo-radiation therapy.”
9. Back in Indonesia, Amy suffered abdominal pains in mid December 2011. This was what her doctor in a Indonesia hospital wrote, “A recent CT scan was done which showed:
Pulmonary metastases – i.e., the cancer has spread to both her lungs.
Bilateral hydronephrosis – i.e., swelling of both kidneys due to build-up of urine. This was later found to be due to blockage of the urinary tract.
Mass in pelvis with suspected infiltration to bladder and rectum, peritoneum and omentum with ascites.”
The doctor in Indonesia prescribed pain killers and antibiotics.
10. In January 2012, Amy went back to a university hospital in Kuala Lumpur. A CT scan on 4 January 2011 indicated “recurrence of CA cervix with widespread metastasis with IVC (inferior vena cava) thrombous.” AMY remained in the university for 10 days and underwent two surgical procedures;
Installation of two stents to relieve the blockage of her urinary tubes.
Installation of IVC filter – an “umbrella” structure to reduce the incidence of arterial blockage caused by a blood clot. The device is made from very thin wires, having a mesh-like structure which resembles an umbrella.
In spite of all the above “treatment” and “rescue” procedures, Amy did not get well.
On 13 January 2012 Amy and her husband came to seek our help – complaining of gas accumulation in her abdomen and not being able to move her bowels for the past few days.
Comments
Let me ask you to reflect on these questions.
What do you think are the causes of all these problems? Is it the cancer or the treatments?
What would happen if she just did nothing? Would she be in trouble within six months like she is in now?
Is this the first “tragic case” that such a thing happened?
The surgeon wrote a significant comment after the surgery – “There is no tumour response to chemo-radiation therapy.” Think hard – is this the first time someone had realized that chemotherapy and radiotherapy were not effective? If they were not effective, why was the patient subjected to such treatments? Think again – besides being ineffective, don’t they do more harm?
At CA Care we often come across such cases. Take time to reflect on the following cases.
They Died Soon Afterwards – After Radio-Chemotherapy
1. Cervical Cancer Stage 2A – After Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy, She Died Within 1 year 8 months
Mother was 64 years old and was diagnosed with cancer of the cervix, Stage 2A in December 2000. She underwent 26 times of radiation and 6 cycles of chemotherapy. The cancer recurred after a year. She had radiotherapy again for 11 times. Her health deteriorated and she was in severe pain. Mother died 1 year and 8 months after being diagnosed with cervical cancer.
What had gone wrong? Was it the treatment or the cancer that killed her?
Listen to what the daughter said.
2. The Biggest Mistake I Have Ever Made
In his book: Cancer Recovery Guide, pg. 28, Jonathan Chamberlain wrote:
When my wife Bernadette learned that despite all the surgery, radiation and chemotherapy her tumour had returned, she was informed that she had three months to live. She was told this on 17 January. She died on 16 April. Three months exactly.
In our conversation that evening, Jonathan said:
From my own experience with my wife, we were in awe of the doctors …. We were in awe of our ignorance. We assumed that the doctors were best … I realized that was the biggest mistake I have ever made – to do what the doctors advise. You learn the hard way.
She (wife) suffered from chemotherapy and it killed her. She died not just from cancer. She died from cancer plus chemotherapy. She died within one year because she did everything that doctor advised her.
Melisa Abandoned Medical Treatments, After Much Damage Being Done
Melisa-A61, was a 44-year old female. She underwent a hysterectomy for her cancer of the cervix, Stage 1b (take note – early stage). After the operation, she underwent 25 times of radiation treatments and one time of brachytherapy (internal therapy). Melisa ended up having to go in and out of the hospital due to pains, fevers and temperatures. Later, a scan showed that there was pus in her abdomen. A scan revealed that the cancer had spread to the lungs and liver. Melisa ended up in a hospital in Singapore – in search for a cure. The doctor at first suggested that she undergo surgery to remove the infected parts. Melisa reasoned out how surgery could have helped her when the entire liver and lungs were infected with cancer? She declined surgery but went ahead with chemotherapy. The first shot of chemotherapy was tolerable but the second and third shots were real bad. She preferred to die rather than complete the treatments.
Listen to what she said in the following videos:
What if the patients forgo medical treatments?
1. Cervical Cancer Stage 2A –Survived Five Years With Herbs Only, Refused Radiotherapy
This was a 70-year-old lady. She was diagnosed with cancer of the cervix, Stage 2A, in May 2000. She declined medical treatments and came to seek our help. She was on herbs. Watch the video clips below – they were recorded on 9 November 2001, 6 September 2002, 9 January 2005 and 3 February 2005. Patient had survived about five years – she did not die like the above lady who had the same type and stage of cancer and died 1 year 8 months after undergoing radiotherapy and chemotherapy.
Unfortunately, in November of 2004, this patient had to take care of her grandchild, was under a lot of stress, decided not to take her herbs that kept her alive all these years. Then she started to take all the “bad food.” About two months later, she suffered a relapse. Later we learned that she died.
2. You Can Give Me Anything But Not Chemotherapy or Radiotherapy
Yin was diagnosed with cancer of the cervix in 1999. This was followed by an operation. Since everything was clean, no further treatment was indicated. Barely four years later, in August 2003,Yin suffered severe pains in her backbone. The CT scan indicated a small right thyroid nodule and bilateral pleural effusion (fluid in both lungs).
Yin was 67 years old when she suffered this recurrence. Consultation with three oncologists in Kuala Lumpur yielded the same opinion – Go for chemotherapy and radiotherapy. However, the treatment would be only palliative. It would not cure her. At best it was only to promote her quality of life. The prognosis by these cancer experts was six months to live! Yin said she would rather die than undergo chemotherapy and radiotherapy. She had seen how two of her brothers suffered and died while undergoing these treatments.
Yin’s son decided to bring her mother to see us on 23 September 2003. Yin was started on Capsule A, Cervical Tea, Utero-ovary Tea, Bone Tea, Lung Tea and C-Tea. Within six months after taking these herbs, Yin’s life was restored to normalcy and she was free of pains.
Yin died in 2011 because of a heart attack, not because of her cancer. She had been taking the herbs for EIGHT years.
Acknowledgment: The patient granted her permission to use this video without having to mask her face.
1. A Long Journey From Home to Penang
MN (S-81) is a 56-year-old lady from Indonesia. She and her husband came to a private hospital in Penang to search for an alternative treatment for her Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. But there was none. She was given the same option – undergo chemotherapy again.
They live in Labuan Batu, a town south of Medan. Coming to Penang is a long journey indeed. From home, first they had to travel for 9 hours by bus (or 6 hours by train) to Medan. After an overnight stay in Medan, they took a plane to Penang.
2. Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
Sometime in early 2011, MN felt lethargic. Her stomach was painful. She had profuse sweating, specially her head . For the past one year she had been coughing. Doctors were unable to cure her coughs.
In May 2011, MN was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. She underwent six cycles of chemotherapy with CHOP.
After the completion of the chemo treatment the cancer recurred in the form of a small swelling at her left collar bone – at the same spot where she did a biopsy earlier. MN was asked to undergo another round of chemotherapy. She refused and came to Penang looking for alternative medicine.
(Note: CHOP regimen consists of four drugs – Cyclophosphamide, Doxorubicin (or Adriamycin), Vincristine and Prednisolone. The first three drugs of the CHOP chemotherapy regimen are usually given as injections or infusions in veins on a single day, while prednisolone is taken as pills for five days. Each cycle is repeated every 3 weeks for 6 to 8 cycles).
MN received her treatment in a government hospital in Medan. Each treatment required a two-day stay in the hospital.
3. Life was Difficult During and After Chemotherapy
The first five chemos seemed to help MN. Her health seemed to improve. However, the sixth chemo was “bad”. Her health deteriorated – “dropped”. She had no strength and was not even able to climb out of bed by herself. She had to be hospitalized for two weeks. After being discharged from the hospital, she regained some strength. She was able to walk for about 10 metres and had to stop. At home she was not able to do anything. Her husband had to do all the house chores.
She said, “I walked a bit, my feet felt numb. My hands felt numb. I felt difficult, nauseous. I was bald.”
After chemo, her stomach pains disappeared but her one-year-old problem of coughs and profuse sweating persisted.
4. Recurrence
One and a half months after the completion of her chemo, a small lump appeared at the collar bone – the same site where she first had her biopsy. The doctor in Medan confirmed it was a recurrence. She was asked to undergo a second round of chemotherapy.
5. More of the Same Advice in Penang
MN said, “I do not want any more chemo. That is why I come here.”
MN and her husband came to a private hospital in Penang in December 2011 in the hope of finding an alternative treatment to chemo. But she was told to do more of the same thing – undergo more chemotherapy!
Husband: “No point. If we wanted to do chemo, we could have stayed back in Medan (treatment was given free-of-charge because he was an ex-government staff). In Penang, I have to pay for the treatment.”
The oncologist suggested two options. The first option is to use drugs that cost RM 7,000 per cycle. This means, the six-cycle-treatment would come to about RM 42,000. The oncologist told them that this treatment will cure her cancer. The second option is to use cheaper drugs costing RM 3,000 per cycle. But the effectiveness is uncertain.
Chris: Well, that means you have to sell your house to pay for the treatment?
MN: “No, we have no house to sell. Even to come here now – the expenses are provided by our children.”
Chris: Do you believe what the oncologist told you - that the expensive chemo can cure you?
MN and Husband: “No, we never believe what he said.”
MN: “I refused to do more chemo. I can’t stand chemo any more. I can’t walk, I can’t eat. I am still bald now.”
6. Disappointed – But Later They Found CA Care
MN and her husband were disappointed. They did not find the alternative treatment they wanted from the hospital. They did not know what to do next. However, a day later a lady told them about CA Care.
Chris: So you came to see us (on 18 December 2011).
MN: “Actually my son also asked me to find for an alternative way. He said I should find that herbalist in Penang. But he did not know who.”
7. CA Care’s Herbs and e-Therapy Restored Her Health
MN was prescribed Capsule A, Lympho 1 and Lympho 2 teas, C-tea and Cough No 3, 5 and 11 for her problems. She was also told to take care of her diet.
Husband: “Her health improved within three weeks.”
Chris: Yesterday you told us that before you first came to Penang (in December 2011), all your friends who saw you cried. Why did they cry?
Husband: “They looked at her – her health was so bad. She was so weak. When we went home all her friends were smiling. She looked better.”
MN: “ I was so full of hope after meeting you, doctor.”
Chris: Are you sure that after taking the herbs for three weeks you are really better?
MN: “Yes.”
Husband: “Now she can walk for some distance without any problem. Before she had difficulty after walking 10 metres.”
MN: “My husband had to massage my legs every day.”
Husband:”Every time after she walked I had to massage her legs. Now I don’t have to do that anymore. She had not recovered 100 percent yet but her health has recovered by some 75 percent now.”
MN:”I had coughs for a year. I did X-ray three times and I saw all these doctors. The cough persisted. I took your herbs for four days and the coughs were almost gone!”
Chris: Praise and be thankful to God for this blessing.
MN: “When I first came here in December and was in the hospital, there was this patient who also came from Medan. She came to my room and help massaged my legs. She felt sorry for me. My legs were numb. That was before I came to see you. After I took your herbs there was no need for anyone to massage my legs any more.”
Chris to Husband: Ho, ho, you don’t have to do any more work! Very good, very good.
NM and husband returned to Penang after taking three weeks of herbs. This was in January 2012. She underwent three days of treatment with the e-Therapy.
MN:”My health improved further. I don’t feel numb or tired anymore. Instead it is my husband who felt tired when we walked this morning.”
Chris: Oh no – I have to take care of your husband too?
8. You are Blessed!
Chris: You are indeed blessed. After seeing the oncologist in the hospital you all were disappointed because you could not find what you wanted from the hospital. You did not know where else to turn to. But a day later – after you prayed – an “angel lady” appeared and told you about CA Care.
Husband:”We were ready to go home “empty handed.”We did not have the funds to pay for such expensive treatment which we did not come for anway.”
Chris: Indeed it was a blessing from God. I fully understand the situation you are in.
9. Go Home and Be Careful – Take Care of Yourself
Chris: I am so happy that I am able to help you. This is my advice – please go home and take care of yourself well. Take care of your diet, exercise and take the herbs. My herbs are not magic but I believe they do help you.
MN and her husband returned to CA Care on 8 January 2012 and underwent the e-Therapy.
Watch this video.
After three weeks of herbs
She reported her health had improved:
Her coughs were almost gone – now she coughs once a while. Previously it was continuously.
She had more energy.
Her appetite improved.
The “heaty” feeling in the left side of her abdomen comes once in a while. Previously it was often.
Profuse sweating in the head was much less. Previously it was soaking wet and happened often, day and night.
She slept well. Before it was difficult.
Numbness of her fingers was gone but the numbness of her legs persisted although there was improvement.
She had more strength to walk. She could walk 100 metres without feeling tired. Previously even doing 10 or 20 metres was difficult.
The only problem she has now is a feeling of “ discomfort /numbness” in her right shoulder.
After first session of e-Therapy
She felt real good.
The body felt lighter.
Numbness of the legs was much less.
After second session of e-Therapy
She felt better.
Numbness of her legs had improved further.
Urination and bowel movements were better.
She had more energy.
She had no more coughs.
Discomfort in the left shoulder still persisted.
After third session of e-Therapy
The discomfort in the left should was gone.
Comments
Many Indonesian patients who come to seek our help need to travel from afar. We empathize with them. This is indeed a test of their commitment and a testimony of their real desire of wanting to help themselves. In contrast, we have phone calls and e-mails from patients who live just a few miles away and yet they complained that it is difficult to come and see us. They prefer consultation over the phone. Similarly we have patients from Sarawak, Sabah or Singapore who only want us to help them through the phone or internet. Unfortunately, we cannot help such patients. It is better that they go and seek help from herbalists nearby their homes. Life is easier that way – for them and also for us.
But for those like MN, who have travel so far to come and seek help, we pray that we never let them down. We shall do our utmost best to help them. Indeed this case is an example of a wonderful and rewarding effort that makes our day real great. We thank God for His blessings – and hope many more cases like this will continue to come by our way.
