Month: April 2012

Lung Cancer: The Meaningless Decrease and Increase of Tumour Markers After Chemotherapy

HK (S97) is a 57-year-old man from Indonesia. Blood test showed that his CA 19.9 was elevated.  A CT scan on 15 March 2011 in Singapore revealed a small right pleural effusion and small nodules in his right lung.

A PET scan done on 17 March 2011 indicated:

  1. Hypermetabolic primary tumour at the right lung apex.
  2. Smaller subcentimeter nodules (below the resolution of PET) in the right lung, suspicious for intrapulmonary metastases.
  3. Right pleural effusion with multiple FDG-avid pleural nodules.
  4. FDG-avid left supraclavicular, subcarinal and right paratracheal nodes, suspicious for nodal involvement.

HK underwent chemotherapy as below:

Date

Procedure

CEA

CA 19.9
19 March 2011 Biopsy at a hospital in Kuala Lumpur.    
22 March 2011 Lung cancer confirmed.    
24 March 2011 Chemo – first cycle, day 1 – Gemcitabine + Cisplatin    
30 March 2011 Chemo – first cycle, second injection 12Apr 11 = 85.5 12Apr 11 = 435.9
20 April 2011 Chemo – second cycle, day 1 – Gemcitabine + Cisplatin    
26 April 2011 Chemo – second cycle, second injection    
28 April to 1 May 2011 Fevers  < 38 C, admitted to hospital    
11 May  2011 Chemo – third cycle, day 1 – Gemcitabine + Cisplatin 11May11 = 123.5 11May11 = 291.6
18 May 2011 Chemo – third  cycle, second injection    
31 May 2011 PET scan – results showed improvement 30May11 = 90.5 30May11= 220.3
1 June 2011 Chemo – fourth cycle, day 1 – Gemcitabine + Cisplatin    
8 June 2011 Chemo – fourth  cycle, second injection    
22 June 2011 Chemo – fifth  cycle, day 1 – Gemcitabine + Cisplatin    
29 June 2011 Chemo – fifth cycle, second injection    
13 July 2011 Chemo delayed due to lack of blood    
20 July 2011 Chemo – sixth cycle, day 1 – Gemcitabine + Cisplatin    
27 July 2011 Chemo – sixth cycle, second injection    
11 August 2011 PET scan – results showed no changes or further improvements 10Aug11 = 64.2 10Aug11 = 164.8
13 August to 17 Nov. 2011 Three months on Tarceva – Rashes in the face and legs. 14 Sep11 = 130.3

12 Oct 11 = 217.7

 14 Sep11 = 85.7

12 Oct 11= 114.1
17 November 2011 PET scan – results showed cancer  was more aggressive 16Nov 11 = 523.0 16Nov11 = 438.2
26 November 2011 Chemo – first cycle of Alimta    
16 December 2011 Chemo – second cycle of Alimta 4 Jan 12  = 666.5 4 Jan 12 = 4,422.0
5 Jan12  to

1 Feb.12

 Chinese herbs    
3 February 2012 Started on CA Care herbs  – Caspsule A + B, Lung 1 and Lung 2, Pain, Liver Tea 1 Feb. 2012

=737.5

 1 Feb. 2012

= 3,917.0
  While on CA Care’s herbs 10 Mar 2012

 = 629.8

 10 Mar 2012

= 3,609.0

 

Comments

Study carefully the rise and fall of his CEA. From 85.5 it increased to 123.5 and then decreased to 64.2 after which it started to climb to 130.3 to 737.5. After CA Care’s herbs it went down to 629.8.

Study carefully the rise and fall of his 19.9. It started with 435.9. With chemotherapy it decreased to 291.6, 164.8 and eventually 85.7. However with more treatment the CA 19.9 started to increase to 114.1, 438.2 and eventually 4,422.0. After CA Care’s herbs it went down to 3,609.0.

When the CEA or CA 19.9 went down after chemotherapy, patient and his family were happy and the doctor surely is similarly happy and “believes” that the treatment has done the trick. But there is no cause for celebration because the decrease of CEA and CA 19.9 are just meaningless. It happens often – only that those concerned never want to see reality. They want to believe that chemotherapy is going to cure their cancer!

In the case of HK above, again I say, the increase and decrease of his tumour markers is meaningless. At the end of the day, this is what his lung looked like. No use and no cure.

 

Increase or decrease of CEA and CA 19.9 after chemotherapy is meaningless when the end results of the treatment are like these!

This Is What We Often Encounter – Failed Medical Treatment, Healing Crisis after Herbs, Bad Diet and Family Problems

Part 1: Failed Medical Treatment

CE is a 56-year-old lady. She lives in Penang, down the road where our centre is.  Sometime in March 2010 she was diagnosed with Stage 4 breast cancer. No operation was indication. A doctor in a private hospital tried RFA (radiofrequency ablation) for her tumours.  She received two treatments with RFA – one to her breast lump and another to her bone.

Unfortunately, by August 2010 the tumour recurred in the same left breast.  She underwent 6 cycles of chemotherapy at a government hospital.  The treatments were completed in May 2011, by which time all the lumps in her breast were gone.

Six months later, in December 2011, CE developed breathing difficulties. Her lungs were filled with fluid. A month later, in January 2012, she had severe headaches for 2 weeks. The cancer had spread to her brain. She underwent 5 sessions of radiotherapy to her head. She was given painkiller medication.

In February 2012, she had breathing difficulty again. She had pains in her left leg. The cancer had spread to her bones. The doctor at the government hospital gave up on her. She was referred to the Hospice. She was prescribed morphine.  There was no hope.

Part 2: Healing Crisis After Taking Herbs but She Was Better

CE and her daughter came to seek our help on 17 February 2012. She was prescribed Capsule A, teas for her Bone, Lung, Brain and Pain.

24 February 2012: One week on the herbs, her condition improved. Her intake of painkiller was reduced by fifty-percent. Previously she needed to take 4 tablets a day, and after the herbs this was cut down to 2 tablets per day. She felt more energetic. Her facial expression was better.

CE (patient):  First day, I moved my bowels. Second day, I had diarrhea. Third day I had more diarrhea.

Chris: The first few days of taking herbs, patients generally go through a “healing crisis” – a cleansing process. There could be more pain, you become more tired or you have diarrhea, etc. These are good. Do not take any medication, the problems will resolve by themselves. I have a patient who moved  her bowels ten times a day after taking the herbs. Take it easy.

Daughter: She had five bowel movements!

C:  Oh, ten times would be better!  Take it easy and be patient. Now, do you still have diarrhea?

CE:  I have no more diarrhea.

C:  This is what I am telling patients. You may have pain after taking the herbs, then the next day more pain and perhaps more pain for some more days. Then the pain becomes less and less and eventually it will be gone. Everyone has to go through this difficulty or “healing crisis.”

D: She does not need to take so much pain medication now. Before she took four times of medication a day.

CE: After take the herbs, I only took painkiller twice a day. Today I only take one time.

C: No need to take four times a day anymore? You need to take the pain medication if there is pain. It is no use to suffer. Take the pain killer if the herbs do not help you. You need to relieve the pain. Only thing is we don’t want to take too much of pain medication and be dependent on it.

Okay, you took the herbs for a week now. Are you getting any better?

P: I am more “cheng sin” (more alert).

D: I don’t know if she has improved or not from the inside, but looking at her facial expression, certainly she is much better now.

C: Patient should be able to know if she is “improving” or not. She should be able to “feel” the improvements. I too would be able to “see” if patients are getting better or not by looking and talking to them. And I tell every patient who come here – if you take our herbs for two or three weeks and you don’t feel any better, then stop coming to see me. The herbs are not good for you. Better that you go and see someone else for help.

Part 3: Bad Diet and Family Problems

2 March 2012: Unfortunately her health deteriorated. She did not look healthy. Both her legs were swollen. After some questioning, she admitted to eating “outside food” the whole week.

Daughter: Both of her legs are swollen!

Chris:  Last week when you came, were the legs swollen?

D: No.

C: Do you still have pain?

CE (patient):  Yes.

D:  Her pain medication intake had increased to twice a day. This week she is less energetic. Last week she looked much better.

C: Did she take care of her diet? Or did she start to eat anything she liked?

D: This week I was not able to cook for her. My son was sick and so I was not able to take care of her (mother).

C: So, the whole of this week she had been taking “outside (hawker) food”?

D: Yes. The first week, I cooked her food.

C: This is the problem.

D: It was difficult for me.

C:  Are you the only daughter at home?

D: I live with my family (husband, son and in laws) in Batu Ferringgi (about an hour’s drive away) but my mother lives in Batu Lancang (near our cancer centre). She lives with my sister and brother.  But all of them are working so they have no time to take care of her.

C: What about you? Are you working?

D: Yes. But in the afternoon, I come to my mother’s house to cook for her. But this week my son was sick and I had to take care of him. So I did not have the time to cook for my mother.

C: I understand. But in cancer, diet is very important. As you notice, the first week she was doing much better with no swollen legs. But this week her legs swelled due to bad diet. It is all about “bad” food.

Indeed, there is nothing we can do really. Like they say, “A mother can take care of ten children, but ten children cannot take care of one mother.”  I understand your situation.

Comments

1.  Most patients come “shopping” for magic potion. They expect us to cure them even after medical treatments have failed them. This is unrealistic. We are only human and we can only do that much and no more. This case is not an exceptional case. Read my blog, www.ADayWithChrisTeo.wordpress.com and you understand what I mean.

2. Our path to healing is not a “honeymoon” trip. After taking the herbs or change of diet, there will be a ‘healing crisis”. You will probably have more pains, more coughs, more bowel movements, etc.  (Read more: Healing Crisis). Do not do anything to stop this cleansing process. The problem will solve by itself after a little while. No medication please. Remember that “healing crisis” is a law of cure. Without this happening there shall be no healing.

3.  Diet is the most sore point among patients. When patients start to get well, they want to eat what they like. And after they have eaten all the “bad food” they write us asking why their tumour markers, like CEA, CA 125, CA 19.9, etc., had increased? What can we do? You reap what you sow! It is okay, if patients admit to their mistakes like in the case above. At least we can teach them to do it right the next time. But the worst cases are those who would not want to admit their mistakes and keep on denying that they followed our dietary advice to the letter. Well, there is nothing to be upset or dispute. Winning over this matter does not benefit anyone. For these patients, our advice is – Stop our herbs and find someone else to help you.

4.  As said in the beginning of this article, cancer is not about a tumour in your body, it is about you as a human being. Many patients come and go, unfortunately never recognizing this important aspect – to them cancer is only a misery or disaster in life! Such people die or suffer in vain. They believe that their problems are due to outside factors. They don’t look into themselves to know what have gone wrong. Most cancer patients carry with them a load of unresolved personal baggage – bitterness, hatred, lack of love, family problems, etc. Unfortunately, no chemo, radiation or herbs can help in such matters.  This is what I mean when I said in the beginning of this article, After talking to you for about five minutes I would probably know if I can help you or not. Your personality and problems show up during our conversation. And it is hard to change a patient’s attitudes and lifestyle – it has to be the person himself/herself who wants to change. Without change, no healing can ever take place.

Meaningless Decline of CA 15.3 and Tumour Shrinkage Following Treatment With Iressa and Tarceva

I received an e-mail from Dr. Mark (not real name), a Ph.D. in cancer biology working in a hospital. This is what he wrote:

After visiting the CA CARE website … I realized that this is what I have been looking for in order to help my mum. I would like my mum to try your herbal therapy.

My mum is 70 years old.

At the end of April 2007, she kept complaining of stomach discomforts, bloatedness and loss of appetite. She saw a Gastro-specialist and the diagnosis was H. pyroli infection and she was given antibiotic treatment. Unexpectedly, an X-ray test was also done and her lung was found abnormal. She did a CT scan and blood test including tumor markers on that same day. The results showed a possibility of lung cancer. One week later she did a lung biopsy. The result showed that the lung tumor mass was a moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma. However, she didn’t have breathing problems or coughs at that time.

She was then referred to an oncologist at the same hospital. My mum is an Asian woman with non-smoking history and the tumor type is adenocarcinoma. Hence she falls into the category that may respond well to a new targeted drug called Iressa. The doctor said we can monitor her progress using CA15.3, the tumor marker with highest titer when first found (5,147 on 24 April 2007).

After one month of taking Iressa, her CA15.3 went down to 367 (on 28 May 2007).

On 30 July 2007, it declined further to 68. 

We were so happy that the drug worked so well. A CT scan showed that tumor had shrunk (August 2007).

At the forth month, the CA15.3 raised to 154 (on 27 August). The doctor was a bit worried but mum continued taking Iressa.

A month later the marker rose to 713 (on 28 September 2007). A CT scan showed more shadow in the lung compared to scan done in August 2007. She did a brain CT scan for the first time and some metastases were found in the brain and bones but the lesions were small.

My mother started taking another targeted drug called Tarceva (works on similar mechanism but seemed to be more effective). She had side effects like rashes, dry skin and loss of appetite.

We were very positive of this new drug because according to the literatures more side effects means higher chances of response. However one month after taking the Tarceva, her CA 15.3 went up to 1,496 (on 26 October 2007). The doctor suggested that she go ahead and take for one more month and then do a CT scan after that. I have asked the doctor if results showed that Tarceva doesn’t work, will he put my mum into chemotherapy. He said yes, but due to my mum’s weak conditions, it will be a mild one.

Besides having Tarceva, she is on Bonefos for her bone metastasis. We also give her supplements.

On 18 December 2007, I received an e-mail from Dr. Mark again. He wrote:

My mum has passed away on 30 November 2007. I think she died from pneumonia. Her left lung was totally white. She had yellow sticky phlegm but she had no strength to cough them out. Her white blood count was very high and neutrophil count was over 94%.

My mum only managed to take the herbs and capsule A+B for a few days before she could became unable to swallow anything, including drinks. She deteriorated very, very fast. I didn’t notice that she had any lung problems before visiting you, hence I didn’t get the Lung Phlegm tea for her.

On the evening of 26 November 2007, we managed to get a doctor to make a home visit. He said that my mum’s left lung was hardly functioning and she was dehydrated. He suggested giving her oxygen and dripped her with dextran saline. My mum shook her head when I asked her whether she wanted to go to the hospital. The next day, we rented an oxygen tank and set up drips for her by a nurse at home. The nurse pointed out that my mum was having lots of phlegm and since she couldn’t cough it out, she might be at a risk of getting pneumonia.

On 28 November 2007, she was not improving at all and I asked her again trying to convince her to go to the hospital to solve the phlegm and constipation problems. She finally nodded her head. So we immediately arranged for an ambulance to send her to the hospital which is about 5 to 10 minutes away from our house.

An X-ray film showed that her left lung was totally white. Her heart was shifted to the right, probably due to the fluid in the lung. She had high blood pressure and her heart rate was over 130/min. On the evening of the second day, she became unconscious. The doctors told us that they wouldn’t do resuscitation because it would only prolong her suffering. On the night of the third day we lost her, while all the family members gathered around her. Although we were really sad, we were also glad that she didn’t suffer much from pain.

I really want to say thanks to you and your wife again, for your kindness and hospitality and of course your herbs. It’s too late for my mum to take your herbs. However, it is never too late to know you and CA Care Therapy.

Comments

Dr. Mark had written a detailed account of about his mother’s case – thanks to his training as a observant scientist. I have the privilege of meeting Dr. Mark when he came to see us with his mother’s medical report on 20 November 2007. What struck me most about this case was that CA 15.3 was used to monitor the progress of lung cancer. I asked him if this is a typing error in his e-mail. Shockingly the answer was no.

Initially on 24 April 2007, the doctors used a few markers such as CEA = 462.9; CA 125 = 324; CA 15.3 = 5147; and CA 19.9 = 14. Among them CA 15.3 turned out to give the highest reading. That being so the doctor decided that CA 15.3 could best reflect the treatment progress. Conventionally CA 15-3 is used mainly to monitor patients with breast cancer.

One notorious side effect of Iressa is pulmonary (lung) toxicity. Patients taking Iressa have been reported to suffer from a complex disease known as interstitial lung disease (ILD). This disease causes difficulty in breathing with or without coughs or low-grade fever. The symptoms become severe rapidly and patients have to be hospitalized. The New Straits Times of 6 December 2002 had this heading: 81 deaths linked to lung cancer drug. The Japan’s Health Ministry confirmed 291 cases of debilitating side effects and 81 patients died due to Iressa. On 19 September 2005, Japan Today,had this heading: Miracle cancer drug turns into deadly remedy: The drug produced serious side effects such as severe pneumonia, resulting in death.  

Recall what Dr. Mark said: She deteriorated very, very fast. I didn’t notice that she had any lung problems before visiting you. Was Dr. Mark’s mother another victim of the fatal side effect of Iressa? No one asked. No one dared to ask? Or no one wanted to know?

We felt sorry that the herbs were unable to help in this case. This is what we often tell our patients. It is not how long we live – it is the quality of life that we live while still alive that matters. Be happy and grateful if we can eat, can sleep, and can move around. To fight cancer and destroy it totally is an impossible task no matter what others may want us to believe. 

The initial drop in the tumour maker and the shrinkage of tumour are meaningless as this case had demonstrated. Don’t be misled by such an illusion. In fact, this is not an isolated case. We have encountered and documented many other cases like this, which delivers the same message of misguided and misplaced hope.

You may wish to read our other articles (The Meaningless Shrinkage of Tumor While on Tarceva Treatment, Even High-tech Treatments Do Not Guarantee That Cancer Can Be Cured or Will Not Spread) about Iressa, Tarceva and Bonefos and what they can do for cancer patients.

Meaningless Shrinking of Tumor While on Tarceva

Mark (not real name) is a 34-year old male. Sometime in September 2006 he had coughs which led to the diagnosis of lung cancer. A CT scan on 18 December 2006 showed a 5 x 5 cm mass at the right upper lobe of this lung. The right lung also had fluid (pleural effusion). In addition, there were several metastatic lesions in the partially collapsed right mid and lower lobes of the lung. The left lung was clear. Unfortunately the cancer had already spread to the fourth and sixth ribs. A core biopsy of the lung mass indicated a moderately differentiated papillary adenocarcinoma. 

Chemotherapy Failed

From December 2006 to February 2007, Mark underwent chemotherapy with Gemzar and cisplatin. Two cycles were given each month and he received a total of six cycles. The cost of each cycle was around RM 4,000. The oncologist told him that there would be no cure but the size of the tumor could be reduced by the treatment.

After the chemotherapy was completed, a CT scan on 7 March 2007 showed right lung severely collapsed with a mass lesion measuring 6 cm over the hilum. Mark had to undergo a procedure to re-inflate his lung.

Oral Drug Tarceva

Mark was told that chemotherapy was not effective. He was asked to take the oral drug, Tarceva which cost RM 270 / pill. The progress of the treatment responses are as follows:

1.  CT scan on 9 March 2007 showed a 7.5 cm x 6 cm mass and a daughter nodule measuring 4.5 cm x 3.5 cm.

2.  CT scan on 31 May 2007 showed a mass measuring 4 cm x 2 cm, a significant reduction in size of the right lung mass. 

3.  CT scan on 13 September 2007 showed no significant change compared to the previous CXR. 

4.  CT scan on 13 November 2007 showed a larger mass measuring 8 x 6 x 4 cm. There was fibrosis in the right apex and the right lung base. There was destruction of one of the lower left rib suggestive of bony metastasis.

While on Tarceva, Mark was told that initially the tumour had shrunk to about eighty percent of its initial size. Unfortunately this shrinkage did not last. After eight months of Tarceva (costing him approximately RM 64,000) it was clear that the treatment had failed.

Mark was told the disappointing news that the tumour had grown bigger again. Tarceva was not effective.

Bony Metastasis – Bonefos

In addition, the bony metastasis got worse. Mark was on Bonefos since his diagnosis and this medication cost about RM 400 per month.

Mark and his wife came to see us on December 2007. They wanted to know if by taking the herbs the tumour would shrink and how long would it take for the herbs to be able to do this. Honestly and frankly my respond was: I am sorry I don’t know. 

Comments

Mark and his wife came to us to seek an assurance that herbs can help him. We have lung cancer patients who were told by their doctors that they only had six months to live, but after taking the herbs they went on to lead a normal life for another two to three years before they eventually succumb to the cancer.

A man with bone cancer was told: Go home and prepare your will. You only have six months to live. He declined Bonefos medication, took herbs and is still alive to this day – almost seven years now. However, it is absolutely wrong on our part to claim that herbs can cure cancer. Unfortunately when Mark came to see us, I was unable to provide him the guarantee that herbs can cure anything if that was what he and his wife came to see me for. I told them, we could only do our best to help.

I am reminded by what Randall Fitzgerald said (in The Hundred Years Lie):

  • For many people who grew by and dependent on technology and the laboratory drugs of Western medicine, breaking free of that paradigm or even considering the use of strange-sounding treatments from other cultures, requires a leap of faith.  
  • For many of us, before we can discover natural healing alternatives, we must first experience the desperation of having exhausted the entire range of synthetic chemical remedies offered by modern medicine. 

However, for some people even the experience of failure does not bring any message. The sad truth about advanced stage lung cancer is that there is no cure for it – not even with chemotherapy or Tarceva.

Stephen Spiro and Joanna Porter in an article: Lung cancer– where are we today? (American J. Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. 166:1166-1196, 2000), wrote that although chemotherapy may be a logical approach, there is virtually no evidence that it can cure NSCLC (non-small cell lung cancer).

Ronald Feld et al. (in Lung. Clinical Oncology. 2nd ed. Harcourt Asia) summed up the present scenario: Despite this large patient base for clinical trials, the role of systemic chemotherapy in the management of NSCLC remains one of the most controversial issues in medical oncology today.

Dr. Jeffrey Tobias and Kay Eaton (in Living with Cancer) were more explicit when they wrote

  • For patients with NSCLC …(treatment) in truth is likely to be more valuable for palliation of symptoms rather than a treatment with a real prospect of cure… a cure couldn’t realistically be attempted.
  • the early dramatic  response to chemotherapy is rarely beyond a year or two … perhaps six months later (there is) clear evidence of the return of the cancer. 

What is Bonefos?

Bonefos is used in some cancers to reduce bone destruction that could result in bone pain and fractures. Its chemical name is Clodronate disodium belonging to a class of drugs called bisphosphonates. It stops the calcium from coming out of the bone which makes it weaker and hence increasing the risk of fractures and pain besides increasing calcium blood levels.  Nowhere is it stated that it cures bone cancer. And in this case, Bonefos was not effective. 

What is Tarceva?

Go into the website and find some hard truth about this oral drug. According to the earalier company’s website,  (http://www.tarceva.net/survivalresults.aspx), Tarceva is the first and only oral HER1/EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor proven to significantly prolong survival. It significantly increased overall survival by 37% and demonstrated significant symptom benefits by prolonging the time to progression of symptoms.

This write-up is very impressive. But as always, let me caution patients to read information using some common sense. Ask what does increased survival by 37%  means in real term? The data presented by the company are as below:

  1. Median survival was 9.5 months with Tarceva versus 6.7 months with placebo.  In real terms Tarceva only increased survival by 2.8 months. Mathematically it is very correct to say that the increased survival due to Tarceva is 41.8%. Definitely 41.8% increased survival sounds very attractive indeed.
  2. Tarceva significantly prolonged progression-free survival (PFS) by 82%. The actual figures are: PFS 3.6 months with Tarceva versus 1.8 months with placebo.

Nowhere in the medical literature is there a claim that Tarceva cures lung cancer! Patients need to decide if it is worth spending RM 8,000 each month on medication that was shown to only prolong life by 2.8 months. In this case, Mark had already spent RM 64,000, and found out that Tarceva had failed him.

Lung Cancer: Why do a biopsy when you don’t want to go for chemotherapy?

SK (S123) is a 59-year-old lady from Indonesia. On 11 November 2011 she came to a private hospital in Penang for a general wellness check-up.  She did not have any symptoms. She was given a “booklet” containing the data of her health screening and was told by the doctor that she was healthy – no problems. The following are some of the information for us to study carefully.

  • The chest X-ray report showed both lungs are clear.
  • Ultrasound of abdomen indicated fatty liver.
  • Blood test results are as follows:

Parameters
ESR 42     High
Platelet 102   Low
Free T4 (ng/dl) 1.5    High
Free T4 (pmol/L) 19.3  High
Alanine transaminase 52      High
GGT 31
AST 37      High
Alkaline phosphatase 136

SK went home to Jakarta feeling satisfied and happy after being given a clean bill of health by the doctor. However, about three months later, SK developed fevers and breathing difficulties. She consulted a lung specialist in Jakarta and was hospitalized. There was fluid in her lungs. Pleural tapping was done. Four liters of fluid were tapped out of her lungs during the 5 days in the hospital. The doctor suggested a biopsy to be followed by chemotherapy or take an oral chemo-drug, Tarceva. SK refused. She was afraid of the side effects. The total cost for this hospital stay came to about 30 million Indonesian rupiahs.

SK came to a private hospital in Kuala Lumpur for a second opinion.  She was hospitalized for a week where a  CT scan and biopsy were performed. During that time too, another 700 ml of fluid was tapped out of her lungs. The report of the biopsy of her lung dated 28 February 2012 indicated a moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma.

SK refused chemotherapy.  The doctor gave up and she was asked to go home. The total medical expenses in Kuala Lumpur came to RM 10,500.

On 28 February 2012 we received this e-mail.
Dear Mr. Chris,

My name is S. The doctor in Jakarta said my aunty has lung cancer stage 4. At the moment, we are in Kuala Lumpur (hospital). The result of biopsy will come out on Thursday or Friday, but the doctor said it’s seems advanced cancer. We would like to seek your help. Can we come to Penang without result or should we wait for the result? Your prompt reply will be highly appreciated

Thank you, best regards.

Reply:  Wait for the results and bring all the medical reports. No need to hurry. Come on Friday if you can, or Sunday night. See my website: www.cacare.com

Comments

Over the years, I have noticed a peculiarity about cancer patients, especially those from Indonesia.  They come to hospitals in Malaysia for a second opinion after being told that they have cancer by doctors in their home country. They undergo all the test, scans, biopsy, etc. Again they are told they have cancer. They refused treatment and pack their bags and go home. I cannot understand such behavior. If you do not want to do follow up treatment why do you proceed to do the biopsy? SK spent RM 10,500 and then she decided to go home without any treatment. Actually, even the CT scans done in Jakarta were indicative enough of her lung cancer. Why go the extra step and then quit half way? As I have said earlier, this happens very often!

Health or wellness screening is another phenomenon. Do you see the flaw of going for such check-up?  I wonder how helpful is such a screening procedure?  SK was told her health was in perfect condition in November 2011 after the check up. I, however, would disagree with that.   Her ESR was high, plantlet count was low and two of her liver enzymes were elevated. Her health was not perfect. There was something wrong somewhere? But the doctor said she was in perfect health! Can you believe that? What the doctor said might not be correct!

Three months later SK’s lungs were filled with fluid. The irony was three months earlier an X-ray showed her lungs were clear. How could that be? Are we to say that within three months from “nowhere” her lungs have grown so many tumours? Another question is  –  what could have caused her lung cancer? Could it be a metastasis from somewhere? I was curious and tried to find out more. SK told me that some eight years ago she had an operation to remove a 10-cm fibroid. I wondered aloud. Could that be cancerous, and she was not told about it? And now the lung cancer is actually a metastasis?  SK had been having coughs on and off for many years. Is this not an early sign of metastasis? My aunty also had chronic coughs for two years before a CT showed that her cervical cancer had metastatised extensively to her lungs. Unfortunately, SK is not educated and could not read much – she did not have any clue of what was happening to her.

Colon Cancer Part 3: Our Privilege to Help This Determined African Lady Who Has So Much Common Sense

You wrote to me sometime in December 2011 asking for help but I hesitated and virtually did not want to take on your case. Why were you persistent in wanting to take our herbs?  Other patients would just have given up and go elsewhere. After all internet / website information are not reliable.

My mind just felt very positive towards trying the herbs. Nobody recommended me, God pointed me in the direction I needed to go.

You have been taking all these supplements before the herbs. These were: a lot of vitamin – B, D, E and K, (mostly chelated), licorice root, milk thistle, wheat grass, raw vegetable protein powder, Poly MVA, Selenium, Chelated iron tablets, broccoli sprouts, colostrums, beta glucans, Co Q10, barley juice, chorella and digestive enzymes. This is besides taking Ibuprofen (for pain) and Xeloda (Oral chemo). Are you still on them now?

I stopped taking some of them. Initially, when I started taking the herbs, I stopped all supplements because I wanted to feel the effects of the herbs. I wanted to know exactly what the herbs will make me feel. I started some of the vitamins after a month on the herbs so that I will be able to identify if need be whichever one causing a feeling/symptom.

How was your health before taking the herbs?

  1. I got intense heartburn that felt like I was having a heart-attack sometimes.
  2. Right now I have a lot of heat! I sweat all time, and I am always hot. I also feel a lot of internal heat. This started after the radiation, I got a test of my hormones and they were elevated and this puts me in pre-menopause.
  3. I don’t get my menstrual period anymore, although I got what I felt like really painful ovulation last month.
  4. I started having psoriasis all over my skin and also a skin outbreak looking like small boils behind my thigh and butt.
  5. The last ultrasound scan showed about 3 uterine fibroids the biggest was about 5cm.
  6. I rarely sleep before 4a.m., although I have gained about 10kg.
  7. I also have a bump on the right inner side of my tongue,
  8. The hospital was planning to remove the whole rectum/vagina and give a permanent colostomy, but I have declined this.  Even the oncologist agrees with me not to do the surgery.  The only thing I am planning to do is close the colostomy after the rectum heals so bowel movements can go the normal route.

Are you in pain? Describe, where, what type and how serious? 

Yes, there is pain, but it has reduced. The pain is in the rectal area, sometimes radiates to the vagina. It aches, sometimes burns. On a scale of 1-10 pain is about 5. 

Can you sleep? 

No can’t sleep. 

Do you feel tired?

No.

How often is your bowel movement? Difficult, constipated, with blood?

Two to three times daily, normal, soft, no blood. 

How is your appetite? 

Appetite is okay, but can be better.

Any swelling?

No

Do you have any other medical problems such as: gastric?

Multiple uterine fibroids.

Urination: how frequent? Is it painful? Any blood?  

Six to seven  times daily. No pain. 

Do you cough?

No. 

Do you have difficulty breathing? Elaborate. 

No.

List and explain any other complaints. 

Very dry skin. Recently I started getting eczema and acne. The bottom of my feet sometimes hurt when I walk. There is a bump on my tongue (pink).

When you started to take the herbs for the first week (r two), did you suffer from any healing crisis? Your conditions got worse and then improved later?

Yes, I had pains all over my body, headache, sore throat, mild temperature and rashes. Some of the symptoms got worse before they got better.

After how long taking the herbs that you felt you were beginning to feel the herbs were helping you?  

From the first week after using the herbs, I felt a difference and I knew that the herbs were helping me.

Why did you say you were getting better after talking the herbs?

  1. In terms of general feelings, I feel great. I am getting stronger physically,
  2.  I don’t sleep at 4 a.m. anymore. I don’t feel tired when I wake up.
  3. Basically, if not for the fistula, I have no symptoms.
  4.  I do more things myself now.
  5. Before I started the herbs, I had slight burning pains from the rectum and sometimes I had to use Ibuprofen (pain killer).  This week, I have not had that pain at all (even when I don’t use the pain tea).
  6. I can sit on a hard surface better now, prior to this moment, it was uncomfortable.
  7. My vagina does not itch anymore. Previously, it was itching so bad that I would scratch it until it bleeds. (Probably this is because you have stopped Xeloda?)  Yes, I was taking Xeloda the month before I started taking the herbs. The psoriasis on my body is also clearing up. They appeared after I started taking Xeloda.
  8. My lower abdomen was very tender upon touch, now I can press it without wincing.
  9. I definitely feel I am making positive progress both mentally and physically. I don’t know what it is but I feel happier!
  10. I tried out my shoulder and neck today. Unbelievable! Zero pain! Just five days ago I was in severe pain.
  11. I walked around for over an hour without getting tired. Before the herbs, I felt tired, and I would always get irritated and my mood changes and I become “snappy.”
  12. I am back to preparing my teas myself without help.
  13. The headache is gone as well as the sore throat and body aches. Yes, I believe it was a healing crisis. It started suddenly, got worse and then disappeared.
  14. I still have some phlegm but, it is clear in color.   It started during the healing crisis, it was milky in colour.
  15. I was able to take a bath without getting fatigued.  I typically spend an hour in the bathroom because of the colostomy. The colostomy is not regulated so, feces  come through it at anytime. Because of the difference in water temperature and body temperature, it stimulates the colon however lightly when water touches it. As I wash, it may come just when I finished washing and before I notice it it’s on my skin, I have to wash again. I could easily take a quick shower to prevent this but, if I go at a normal pace, I would start breathing hard.
  16. I don’t urinate as often as I used to! Previously, I used to urinate about every two hours or four times during the night. Now, maximum is once a night. Lately I don’t urinate throughout the night.
  17. Now, I sleep through the night without the need for urinating. Before the herbs it was difficult getting some sleep. Even if all the lights were off, I still couldn’t sleep till the early hours of the day.  Following the use of herbs, I sleep earlier, even when I try to stay up, I always become sleepy. But most importantly, even if I get six hours of sleep, I still feel very well rested upon waking up.
  18. Now I wake up and I don’t feel tired, I feel well rested.  Previously, I would wake-up, even after sleeping for nine hours and I would be tired.
  19. For me, if I didn’t have the colostomy or if the fistula was fully closed I wouldn’t remember I am healing cancer.
  20. The drainage from the fistula has reduced greatly and the mucus has also reduced. (I remember you saying that one day after the herbs the stools came out a lot into the bag, as never before?) I kept going to the bathroom and frequently too; the stool kept coming and coming like something was pushing them out. But it wasn’t diarrhea, it was soft, very frequent and in copious amount. The second night, the bag would have burst if I didn’t notice it on-time, it was that full.
  21. My nails look better!!! I was looking at them yesterday and I was admiring them because they look pretty, previously they looked terrible. They would bend and contour in odd ways.
  22. I just started sweating and felt the prickly sensation as I was typing this. It happens several times a day, even at night when I am sleeping. 

27 March 2012 

How are you doing over there? What about the fistula wound? Is it closing and improving? Then the heaty feeling inside? Does the C-tea help?

1 April 2012 

Hi Dr. Chris,
I am doing great! I cooked dinner today.  Turned out great! The only thing was, I had to keep my sweat from getting inside the pot.

The fistula is closing, the mucus barely comes out anymore and the exudate has reduced greatly. With the C-tea, I think it transfers the heat from inside the body to outside. I don’t feel the inside heat surge as much as I used to, but the sweating is a lot which is not bad. This is because,  sometimes I don’t feel the heat inside it’s only when I start sweating that I realize my body was hot. I don’t know if what I am saying makes sense? Now I look at the sweating in a positive way. I just tell myself my body is trying to get rid of all the chemo and radiation I bombarded it with. How is Auntie Im? My greetings to her. 

5 April 2012 

Thanks for your email. I am glad that you are living a happier life now —are you going to reconnect the colon? I thought you have done that already since I did not hear from you for a while. 

Okay — you have been on the herbs for more than two months now, going to be three? While on the herbs, did you also take any of the doctor’s medication? 

Compare your life now – after taking the herbs versus those days when you did not take the herbs. A lot of improvements? How do you describe your situation now? Taking the herbs indeed helped you?  Take care, Chris 

Hi Dr. Chris.

I am doing really, really well. I still expelled the dark stuff from my rectum this morning but the horrid smell is reduced.   I am not reconnecting the colon at this time. I prefer not to rush and wait a while for the rectum to heal fully. I may give it another year before deciding.

I am planning to come to Penang soon. But, I will be coming alone.  I will like to have enough money before coming so I can leave with enough herbs.

I have not taken any doctor’s medication since December last year. Now I feel strong /energetic, like I can do anything now. Well, except for my wrist. First it was the left wrist that was hurting. After a while it stopped. Now the right wrist hurts.

The herbs really, really helped the fibroids too! There is no more pressure on my bladder. I gained more weight too. People keep asking me if I am the caregiver to the patient and where the patient is. Of course I say with a huge smile I am the patient.

I thank God for His many mercies. Health is Wealth. 

One last question …

You said you felt well after taking the herbs. What if people put it to you that it is not true and that the “feel good” stuff who wrote about is just your imagination to justify what you are doing for yourself? It is not true!

Fortunately, some of the people who have cancer don’t have pain. However, for those who have pain it can leave you begging for death; even I found myself weighing the benefits of dying rather than continue to suffer the pain. If anyone has been in this kind of extreme pain, I don’t think there is anything in the world that can lead you to imagine “feeling good” when you don’t (well, maybe hypnosis, but I wasn’t hypnotized).

It’s like someone being burned alive, you know your body is healing when the pain reduces even if the scars are yet to fully heal.

When you start losing the muscles in your butt from inactivity, and then you start being active later own, your commonsense should tell you that both experiences are absolute opposites hence they are different and not imagination.

When people around you and even doctors get excited about the changes in you without telling them what you are using, then this is the most definite part proving it’s not being imagined. People are not in my head and they can see me becoming different.

When people can look at you and ask you where the patient is, and even argue with you that you are not the patient; I don’t need anyone to tell me otherwise.

When I can walk for an hour without pain when I could not walk five minutes previously, commonsense tells me things are very different and getting better.

When the pain stopped acting as my alarm clock and I was actually sleeping and waking up on my own terms…oh I knew, I knew without a doubt things were changing for the better.

I could go on, but I’ll hope you get the gist by now. With Stage 4 cancer pain, there is no imagination that can block the pain you are used to experiencing for two years. Unless maybe you are a monk or something (I apologize if that statement is rude). 

Comments 

I can only say this. This young lady has a lot of common sense. She is not rushing to get herself “cured.” Let the fistula “really” heals first before doing the surgery to reconnect the colon. It is our pleasure to be able to help such an exceptional lady. I am glad that I did recognize my mistake for trying to ignore here request for help. But all the same, this story has a happy ending. May God guide us as we go forward!

Colon Cancer Part 2: Her Treatment in India

India is cheaper with medical treatments and they have similar equipments to advanced countries.

CT scan revealed the tumor was almost obstructing the rectum, the surgeon suggested an emergency surgery to divert the stools so as to prevent blockage. I have had thirty radiation treatments and three cycles of chemotherapy.

You had radiotherapy at the same time took xeloda? Did they tell you radiotherapy is going to cure or shrink your tumour? Why did you agree to do the radiotherapy? Did you suffer any side effects when on radiation?

They told me radiation would shrink the tumor so they could do the surgery because I did not want a permanent colostomy.  Now that I think back, if the tumor was truly about to block the rectum, then I would not be having normal size bowel movements. But my bowel movements were normal in size, I guess they deceived me there again.

I had side effects; my bladder was on fire (burning)! Every time I urinated I cried because it burned as I urinated, I reduced my liquid intake because I did not want to urinate. I was urinating about every 30 minutes.  When I told the radiologist about the pain, he said it was impossible; it was too early to have any symptoms. I started having symptoms after the first week. I lost all my genital hair.  My whole genital area was irritated and which itched and itched and itched! Nothing relieved this itch.  One of the doctors said “you’re young, you should be able tolerate the pain”.  They then gave me Urispass after I complained for 3 weeks, to help with the burn when urinating.

A week after I started radiation was when I started to sweat excessively.  I have bouts of internal heat even when I am in an air-conditioned room. My whole head/face/back and chest would look like I poured water on it.

Also, with the chemo, I had nerve tingles in my hands and feet. I also had prickly sensation all over my body occasionally. I don’t get the tingles anymore, but the prickly sensation still appears once in while.

I was not informed about any side effect of radiation. The only thing they did was to ask if I am married. I said no, and they proceeded. I asked, begged for the doctors to talk to me, all I got was, we are trying to help you, calm down be grateful and take the pain.  But eventually I got tired of them saying they were trying to help me, I quit for three weeks after I had a fight with the clinic.  The doctor actually said “you are going to die if you stop the treatment, the disease is advanced” and I yelled, it’s been advanced for almost two years I AM STILL ALIVE!!!  They then told me, if I do not continue the treatment the only surgery they could do was take out the whole rectum and take out the vagina and if they should try to do that, it would result in death. I cried, my mum cried, nobody cared that I was just another random paying patient!

I asked to know the amount of radiation I was getting, they said they couldn’t tell me, I asked to view my file, they said I couldn’t.  I know every patient has a right to view their file upon request because they paid for it!

I have refused surgery because the surgeon plans to take out the whole rectum and vagina.   I refused Chemo IV after the first, gave me bad burns on both my arms and close up my throat.

When did you complete all these treatment?   

Radiation was completed in October. I stopped taking Xeloda December last year (2011).

What are your plans after treatment?

My plan is to start a fulfilling job in the health industry and enjoy the life I have prevented myself from enjoying for all these years.   Everyone that can afford it wants to eat what Americans are eating.  They need someone to teach them to stick to their own food.

Give us an idea of what it cost to be treated in an Indian hospital.

  1. Visit to oncologist,what is the consulation?  Less than US$20 per visit
  2. Total cost of opeation for colostomy?  About US$6,000
  3. Total cost of 30 radiation?  US$8,000 including tests.
  4. One cycle of Xeloda? Around US$5 per pill. Around $270 for a cycle.
  5. Are the facilities good — clean? The facilities are okay since it’s an international hospital.  About 50percent overall cleanliness, but the toilets were 20 percent clean. I bought my own bleach and cleaning supplies because I am very fussy about clean bathrooms.
  6. Are the doctors and nurses pleasant to deal with, well trained?

For every ten nurses, only two spoke English at a level that can be fairly understood.  I believe they are well trained but the nurses don’t follow procedures like I believe they were trained. I had to remind them to clean the injection site with alcohol/spirit before giving the injection. They rarely wear gloves so there could be cross contamination among patients.

I had to inject myself a few times because they didn’t know how to administer Intramuscular injections in the thigh. My butt was in a sea of pain, because they don’t administer pain medications through the IV unless in the ICU.  However, most of them are pleasant!  The doctors are well trained and spoke good English. The surgeon was trained in France.  I think that is one of their strongest qualities, general surgery, transplant/orthopedics, cosmetic surgery.

What are your experiences with the doctors in indian hospital?

They feel the doctors have the final say and know all, even the nurses dare not question the doctors.  It was surprising that, aside from Indian food, patients were provided junk food like French fries.  The fresh juices were again loaded with sugar.  They didn’t seem to understand that sugar feeds cancer. I declined dextrose IV because it caused pain since it was sugar. They thought it was in my head.  They ignored me until I pulled out the IV myself.

There were flies in the hospital and the food had stones and hair in them.  Most people don’t wear shoes in the hospital with the amount of diseases in the hospital.  In the clinic I went to receive radiation, I was told I would not receive treatment if I do not remove my sandals, meanwhile people walk barefoot on the street, so there really is no difference between those wearing shoes and those walking barefoot. We are all bringing in the same dirt.

I noticed the doctors don’t follow-up with their patients.  If you don’t show up for an appointment, they don’t even bother to ask the nurses to find out the status of the patient.  I stopped seeing my surgeon since October 2011. It wasn’t until I went to the hospital in January 2012 that he saw me walking by and asked “Oh, are you okay?”

The Oncologist

Your article made me remember when I was arguing with the oncologist a few months ago about chemo.  I accused him about the so-called cure and ask for the percentage rate. He said the best is 25%!!! I was flabbergasted! And even when radiation is included the maximum is 30%. Then he proceeded to suggest I have chemo for one whole year. I laughed and said that’s not going to happen, God forbid I stay on chemo for a year. He looked at me as if I didn’t know the severity of the illness. I told him, But you know that chemo and radiation cause secondary cancers.  He told me to stop reading the internet and all those are not true! I smiled and made a mental note not to share anything with him again.

Radiologist

Before radiation, nobody ever bothered to explain the side effects to me, I knew that there would be some effects with my reproductive organs, I asked for a fertility center, so I could at least preserve my eggs. They said there was none in the state and I stupidly believed them.  After twenty bouts of radiation later, I found a clinic, they said they couldn’t help by then.  I cried so much and had a fight with the doctors for acting like they were God and the sole decision maker. I was very upset. I learned that because the cancer was stage 4, they didn’t think I would survive to be able to have children anyway.

Before the treatment you were not told about the side effects of chemo or radiation?

They told me nothing with radiation. But for chemo, they said nausea, hair loss and fatigue but, I didn’t have them.  Instead, I had terrible heart burns that felt like a heart attack.  I still have hair on my head. I’m sure the oncologist will have a heart attack if he sees me without my hat/scarf.

Did the oncologist / radiologist know that you are taking supplements and herbs?

The radiologist said I should not take anything. These might make the side-effects of the radiation worse. The oncologist said not to take anything that may reduce the efficacy of the chemo.  I told them I was only taking one multi-vitamin but continued taking all my supplements.

Did they oppose or support your desire to take herbs and supplements? What did they say?

They opposed as they didn’t think it could have positive effects, only negative. When I informed the oncologist I was going to use herbs to improve my WBC, he said herbs won’t work, that I was better off taking the injection to boost it. When I asked  where I could find alternate treatments, they said only the temple/church.

Then you found cancer care? How do you know us then? Any one told you about us.

God pointed me in the direction of CA Care. Nobody told me. Nobody I know knows CA Care. I prayed during my ordeal and I told God, I don’t want all these chemicals, they are hurting me. I was always sad when taking these treatments. I wanted to be better and not become more sick. A few days later, I started seeing advertisements on TV about Malaysia.  It would show pictures of Malaysia and how beautiful it is, and encouraged tourists to visit.  The commercial always ended with “Malaysia, truly Asia”. I told my mum, I want to visit Malaysia. One of my friends promised me a vacation after I get out of the hospital, and asked where I would like to go. I said Malaysia. I didn’t know anyone or anything about Malaysia but, my spirit wanted to go for some reason. My subconscious knew something I didn’t know.  A few weeks later, I said a prayer and got on the internet just searching. I don’t remember the specific thing I was searching for. I was just searching, knowing God will lead me where I needed to go and I came upon www.cacare.com

I don’t believe in coincidences and I know everything happens for a reason. I went through the site and it clicked in my mind, this is why I have been seeing Malaysia on TV.  Since then, I have not seen that commercial on TV. God is indeed wonderful!

 

 

Colon Cancer Part 1: Helping A Young, Relentless and Well-mannered Lady from Africa

We received numerous emails from foreign countries asking for help. Like the walk-in cancer patients, not all, but most of them were only “shopping” for a magic bullet. We don’t have such magic potion at CA Care. After an earlier initial effort to help patients through the Internet, we have decided not to accept any more patients from foreign countries if they only send us emails. However,  a young lady from Africa made out a case for me to change my mind – at least an exception for her case. Why? This is because, I strongly believe in what I have written earlier. I have respect for those who are committed. Yes, even the grave would make way for such people!

This was what happened. Let us call this lady Nancy (not real name).

7 December 2011

Hello Sir,

I filled out the form online about last week. My name is … I am following up with the scanned reports from the hospital.  I am looking forward to your reply on how we can proceed.

24 December 2011

Hello Dr. Chris!
I keep getting success news from you, but you haven’t responded to several emails I sent.  I believe I came across your website, not by chance, not by coincidence, but, by divine planning. I am a young lady who will really like to use your herbs for rectal cancer.  I really hope you will consider helping me with your knowledge. I await your response.  Thank you.

30 December 2011

Greetings sir, I have been trying to get back in contact with you for a while now.  I will please like to try your herbs. 

31 December 2011

I am sorry for not replying sooner. I have so many people coming to me from different places even on Christmas day. They are all desperate for help. As for your case, I did go through your medical reports:

1.  You are now under the care of medical doctors. I really can’t say much about this. But do what is comfortable for yourself.

2.  India is also a good place for alternative medicine — they have the Ayurvedic  medicine, Sinddha, etc., besides homeopathy. Have you looked into these?

3.  My herbs are not magic. It needs time to get response. And my experience with people writing on line is that it is not going to work. To be useful, I need to monitor your situation regularly and know what is going on. How you live your life, what you eat, etc., etc. Even by just talking to my patients I would know what is wrong. Because of that I have given up trying to help people from foreign countries through the net. In fact I have now another similar request from India. A   few days ago, I had a request from Melbourne. I am not going to take these up. It is extremely hard. At the end of it all, it is just a waste of effort. Experience tells me it does not work.

5. But if you have someone here in Malaysia … even if I know it is not going to make any magic … and if you still insist on wanting to try … you may ask your friend to come and see me in Penang or go to my centre in Kuala Lumpur, whichever is convenient. I can give the herbs and some instructions and you can try.

6. If you have been reading my articles and they talk about miraculous healing, you will note that these patients come here and we do the therapy together. That is the reason why they succeed.

I don’t what to be negative.  I understand you need help but I must be sincere and honest to myself too. In my heart I know there are times and situation when I just cannot help. The problem is beyond me to solve. And I also know that I cannot solve everybody’s problem in this world. I have been working very, very hard every day to help cancer patients and I know in my heart I can do that much only and no more.  Take care, Chris.

31 December 2011

Thank you kindly for your response Dr Chris, it is truly appreciated.  I understand and respect you are a very busy man. I also understand your herbs are not magic, only God performs miracles. I had decided even before getting your email that I will come to Malaysia.  I already looked up visa requirements and other information.  I can make an initial consultation with you physically after getting the visa and we can proceed from there.  Considering this, I will like to know how many days I should plan to stay so I can estimate the length of time I need to put on the visa application. There is no magic bullet. However, I will like to do what my heart feels strongly towards.  I am sure we can work something out after my first visit. Happy New Year to you and loved ones!

(In another e-mail, Nancy wrote to say that the Malaysian authority in India had rejected her visa application to visit Malaysia. This saddened me. It is not Nancy’s fault. And since she had taken that extra mile to do what was necessary to help herself but failed and this was beyond her control, I felt I ought to reciprocate accordingly. I wrote her …)

10 January 2012

Okay Nancy! I am sorry to have made your life so difficult — actually I have just replied an email to a lady in New Zealand saying that I am not able to help her husband. To be honest I just cannot afford to help people outside Malaysia. But I do realise that you have made a lot of efforts in trying to get my herbs — okay, so be it. God has probably opened my heart. I shall try to help you the best I can via the net. So I shall try to send the herbs to you by post and see what comes out of it. 

10 January 2012

Thank you kindly sir! You have just put a smile on my face. God bless you! You have not made my life difficult, I am the one actually making your life difficult by bothering you with my relentlessness, and I thank God for giving me a chance with your herbs.  I can use any herbs, no matter how bitter is it, it is only for my own benefit.   I put God in control of the herbs. Thank you kindly sir! You have no idea how happy you have made me.

This is Nancy’s story in her own words.

My problem started when I was about 19 years old, i.e. ten years ago (I am now 29 years old). I started to bleed from the rectum after bowel movements.  I went to the doctors and may be because of my age, they said it was just hemorrhoids and was advised that I increased my fiber intake.

Before this bleeding problem did you eat a lot of bbq meat, fried stuff and bottles/canned drinsk like coke, etc. —the typical us-diet

I didn’t really eat a lot of BBQ meat. I had lots of sugared drinks/juice though.  Ice-cream, junk food like cookies, chocolate, chips and most of all, I was under extreme stress.

What doctors told you that you had hemorrhoids? Did any examintion, test or scan done? And what medication did they give you?

The first doctor (general physician) I went to did the fecal occult blood test (FOBT) and said I was fine.  You usually need a referral to see specialists like a proctologist.  I didn’t get one then because she felt I did not need it.          The second doctor actually gave the typical rectal exam, by using her fingers. She said she could not feel anything.  This was 3 years after the bleeding started.  She diagnosed as hemorrhoids.  My hemoglobin had dropped very slightly.  She advised I start taking fiber supplements.  I was not given any medication.

Since the bleeding until the next episode, augsut 2009, what did you do? Did the problem disturb you at all? Any symptom? Discomforts?

The only symptom was the bleeding after bowel movements.  Since they told me it was a hemorrhoid, this was what I focused on. I found different natural treatments for hemorrhoids, from oils, to creams, to paste to pills, and freezing device. When that didn’t work I tried immortelle oil. It stopped the bleeding for like 2 days.  I stopped eating anything containing sugar, because I noticed the bleeding got worse when I consumed anything sweet.

In 2005, my gynecologist put me on birth control pills because my periods were heavy and painful.  I think this actually made everything worse.  Immediately I got on the pill, I started having recurrent yeast infections, literarily every month. I told my gynecologist, I thought the pill was giving me the yeast infections and she said it was impossible.  I started having colds like every three months.  My blood pressure went up. When I complained, all they did was put me on another pill.

I used to go to the hospital only once a year for a physical check-up, but I got on the pill and started going to the hospital every month for one complaint or another.  The birth control pills made my menses worse.  I used to have them for 5 days. I got on the pill and they became 7 days and even more painful. That was the first time I noticed my lower belly was getting big (it used to be flat).

I started getting fatigued.  By the time I got home in the evening my whole body will be hurting like I worked on a construction site.  My mum also gave me herbal concoction for hemorrhoids, they helped with the bleeding too but, not for long. I went to another doctor but she also said hemorrhoids.

After researching on the internet, I found out the pill lowers the immune system and actually puts the body in a state of dominant estrogen, which all give way to cancer.  A lot of my research always pointed to cancer, but for some reason, I never thought it would get to that level with me. I thought I was very far away from getting cancer.

In 2008, I had pain in my tummy, although it turned out to be gas. However, I had an ultrasound, both vaginal and abdominal.  They never mentioned a fibroid in the report, neither did they mention a mass in the rectum.  I had done a bi-manual exam on myself and felt something in the rectum.  When I told me doctor, she said it was impossible for me to examine myself. By August 2009, a ball in the left side of my vagina ruptured.

A ball in your vagina ruptured? How big? How do you know it is ball size? Any pain before that? No symptoms?

It was like a big boil (sty).  I could touch it under the skin of the vagina.  No pain before that, but the boil was very painful before it ruptured.  Again I went to the hospital; the doctor said it may be Bartholin cyst, and I should use sitz baths.   The drainage never stopped, although it was very light blood, I noticed something was still coming out.

Again, I went to another doctor, a man this time and he said he didn’t see any bleeding. He noticed the fibroid and said it was very common and I shouldn’t worry about it.  The very light bleeding continued and I went back to see the doctor, I tried to explain to him that I am not crazy and something is wrong in my body but he got tired of me ranting wrote a prescription for progesterone for me and opened his office door for me to leave his office while I was still talking.  I threw the prescription in the garbage after I Ieft his office.  He told me it was my cycle messing up and that’s why there was blood, this was after I told him the bleeding was close to the exit of the vagina.

I started going back to the hospital, after seeing about five doctors, the last one finally figured out that the ball like thing from the vagina was actually a mass growing from the rectum.  The diagnosis in 2009 was low grade invasive adenocarcinoma. In December 2009, I went for a biopsy and the malignancy was confirmed.

I declined chemo, surgery and radiation.  I did nothing but used immune boosters and antioxidants.

Why did you not want to do chemo, surgery, radiotheraphy? Have you read anything about them before?

I’ve read a whole lot of books and articles about them. I watched documentaries about them and the evil they bring.  I discovered a fistula a few weeks after the biopsy, I guess they took out too much tissue.  I was in severe pain. Morphine was only working 50%, I had to combine with high dose of ibuprofen. The ibuprofen eventually gave me a black tongue and pitting edema on my right foot which also became black. I was bleeding heavily, even in clumps; I was using the bathroom after every meal, so I stopped eating until I was starving to death.

Anytime I used the bathroom, the pain increased one thousand percent.  If I used morphine and ibuprofen around 9a.m. and I used the bathroom at 9:45am, the pain surpasses the effect of the morphine and I can’t use more morphine, I will have to cry and start rolling on the bed, because I was basically confined to one room and the bed. Then I got codeine.  So, I would use morphine plus ibuprofen, then for break through pain, I would use codeine plus ibuprofen.

I found some herbs that stopped the bleeding for about 2 weeks, but it came back.  The herbs did not improve the pain or tumor, at this time I could already feel the tumor under my left butt check if I pressed it.  The steady/constant pain started after the biopsy.

I actually took some herbs  I found some after I conducted some research.  I wouldn’t say it worked, although they stated the tumor was going to get bigger before it started healing.  It did get bigger but after over 3 months on it, the pain only got worse.

I  continued searching for herbs.

Up On My Feet Again Four Days After Another (slipped disc) Attack

What does earthquake and backache (or slipped disc) have in common? Both are unpredictable. They strike at any time – at any unsuspecting moment. Let me share with you what happened in this second week of April.

On Monday morning, 9 April 2012, I was getting ready to go to our cancer centre. As usual I went to my computer to check if I have any emails waiting to be answered. The Google Chrome did not work!  I looked at the wire connection and thought it could be due to some misconnection. I bent down to check. I turned a bit and twisted my back! I could feel the muscle “snapped.” Initially it did not feel that bad. I could still go downstairs to have my breakfast. Then I went upstairs into my study to try to “repair” my back. After all I expected to have a busy morning at the centre – formulating all those herbal teas that had to be replenished. But it was not to be. The problem became more serious. I thought I should just stay home. I sat on my reclining chair and did the e-Therapy, using my favourite program – Lumbago. It did not work! In fact, it gave me more pain. I felt tightness of my stomach muscle. I could not stand up straight after being in a sitting position. Then I found it hard to walk. Lying down or etting up was a torture. The amazing thing was – I did not feel any numbness in my feet.

So for the whole day, I stayed in bed – reading many books! Since I could not walk much, I had to take lunch and dinner in our bedroom! Wah, good to have a loving wife sitting together for (sorry, not candle light) dinner. Then it was back to bed again to rest by “fragile” back. I did more programs from the e-Therapy machine, such as Backache & Spasm.

Day 2: Tuesday 10 April 2012. I did not get any better! It seemed that the machine was “useless”. It was indeed a difficult day – painful to wake up, painful to sit up straight and painful to lie down. I had to use a walking stick to push myself up.  But when I lie down on my back, I was just fine. But turning to the left or right was painful. Unfortunately, I did not video tape what I had suffered. But to give you an idea of I went through, just see the video of this Aceh lady – how she struggled to get up and walk. Yes, I was just like that, more or less.

Then I remembered that I had appointments with two patients on Wednesday (tomorrow). One was from India. It would be unfair if I could not meet this person who had to fly all the way from India. I managed to write an email to him asking if it was possible to defer his trip. I wrote the same to another patient in Kuala Lumpur. Good that both understood my situation and agreed.

I did not let up on using the e-Therapy but the problem did not seem to improve. I took a few doses of the Backache Wine over a period of time. These generally would help based on previous experiences. But the wine did not help either. What has gone wrong? With this same therapy, I managed to help others “like magic” but I could not do that for myself? Was this just a placebo effect that we the alternative practitioners are often being accused of? It is all in the mind! And my mind cannot work on me?

Day 3: Wednesday 11 April 2012. My condition improved slightly. There was less pain and less muscle tension. Actually when I was lying down I felt great. I was my normal self in that position. In fact I told my wife that if the person in India comes because he has already bought his plane ticket, then what we could do is – let him come and see me in my home. I can still talk – just cannot walk around too much. Fortunately we did not have to come to that.

In the late afternoon – the house trembled! I was in bed reading. I felt the bed shaking lightly at first and then it became more violent. The glass panels of our three-tier- from-floor-to-ceiling book shelf rattled vigorously.  I thought it was going to topple down. The shaking lasted for quite a while and then stopped. That was the 8.7-magnitude earthquake off the coast of Sumatra.

Day 4: Thursday 12 April 2012. I felt much better. I was able to walk downstairs and have my meals – breakfast, lunch and dinner. It looked like I would be okay by tomorrow! I found out that the e-Therapy program: Muscle Spasm and Detox seemed to make me better.

Day 5: Friday 13 April 2012. This is our cancer care day. I was able to go up and down the stairs with a lot more confidence. I took a walk in the garden. And just be sure that I would be well rested for our afternoon consultation, I remained in bed all morning. Then at about 2.30 p.m. we went to see patients at our centre. About a dozen patients came for help that afternoon. The consultation session ended by 6.30 p.m. I came home to take a rest.

Day 6: Saturday 14 April 2012. Great day! I could manage to sit up in front of my computer and write the first draft of this story! Yesterday’s consultation session with patients did not cause any adverse effects. But I was aware that I was still fragile. I felt my back was still “soft” – perhaps could break any time!  No, I have no more pains when waking up or lying down. There were no pains when I stood up. I could walk about without a walking stick.  I could now bathe by myself but I could not bend down to wipe and dry my legs! Yes, I did recover. But not fully yet!

At the end, I realised that the e-Therapy did not let me down! Perhaps I was expecting too much too soon. Okay, let me go back to my bed and rest. I should not be sitting down in front of the computer for too long!

In the evening we brought our visiting relatives for dinner in town.

Comments

  1. I am aware that there is no cure for low back pain. It will recur and recur. I just have to be careful and try to avoid any situation that can cause it to come back. Indeed it is hard to anticipate. It can strike at any odd moment at any place. I just have to learn to live with it.
  2. This was not the first time I suffered from such problems. It happened many times before. The first two times landed me in hospital. That was in the “good (or bad?) old days” when I believed modern medicine could solve all the world’s problem. I have written about this earlier (see  My Own Personal Experience With Lower Back Pain)  With a problem like this, the obvious reaction is to rush to the hospital. No, I did not do that now.  I just wanted to relax and allow my body to heal. It is not an emergency!
  3. This week’s episode is just unfortunate but it was one of the worst that I have ever suffered since the past many years. Nevertheless, I thought I could handle it myself. My earlier experiences with the orthopedic taught me  that I need not rush to the hospital for this kind of problem. I just need to take care of myself. I would “reserve” going to the hospital for some other more serious problem!
  4. While in bed, I took time to read many books. I read Mitch Albom’s – Have a Little Faith and Randy Pausch’s The Last lecture. Professor Pausch had pancreatic cancer and underwent surgery and chemo. Then he ended up with 10 spots in his liver and was told he had a few months to live. Read this if you have time.  I also read Life Before Life – documentation about young children telling about their past lives. Then I read some chapters of Michio Kaku’s, Parallel World, Bruce Lipton’s, The Biology of Belief and Jerome Groopman’s,  How Doctors Think. So, it was a time well spent in bed.
  5. Those of you who have this e-Therapy machine – can you read at the same time you do the program? No, you have to hold the hand-set! About a month ago, I made a bit of modification and instead of using the hand set we could also use a stick-on electrode (used for ECG, etc.). So, this time I have the opportunity to try out this hands-free treatment on myself for the first time. So with my hands free, I can do other things. Real cool!

Let me conclude by quoting some of what Dr. Jerome Groopman wrote in his book, How doctors think.

  • How doctors think about a problem like chronic low back pain is heavily influenced by the speciality that they are trained in – who you see is what you get.
  • Each of the various muscles, tendons, bones, joints and ligaments in the lower back contains sensory nerves that can transmit messages of pain through the spinal cord to the brain. There are also organs in the abdomen and pelvis that, when they become inflamed or diseased, can signal pain in the back. Given all of these structures, the source of the chronic low back pain is often a mystery. Doctors can be hard-pressed to identify why a patient is uncomfortable.
  • Each approach to diagnosis and treatment is essentially a “franchise,” and that too many franchises are battling for control.
  • The technology has also developed rapidly. New sorts of screws, rods, and cages, as well as other devices, can be inserted into the spine. These instruments are aggressively marketed and generate high profit margins for both the manufacturer and the hospitals that use them.
  • Research showed that 85 percent of patients who suffer from low back pain cannot be given a precise diagnosis; the pain is usually vaguely ascribed to “strain” or “sprain” in the lumber region. It turns out that the diagnosis is not critical, because the outcomes tend to be similar anyway. With acute low back pain, 90 percent improve within two to seven weeks without specific therapy. Even with an acute ruptured disc … 80 percent feel significantly better within six weeks without surgery. Over time the disc retracts, so it no longer presses on the nerves and the inflammation subsides.

Wow! Lower back pain heals by itself but it takes about two to seven weeks to do so. So, I am not doing badly  – being able to be on my feet after a few days!

Update: 30 April 2012 

I was able to drive to the Botanical Gardens and walked around. There was not more pain anywhere in my body. It appeared that I was back to my normal self again. One lesson learnt: As one gets older, the body will need more time to recover from any health challenge!

Chronic Leukemia: Doing Well on CA Care’s Herbs

Sometime in August 2010, I received an e-mail from a lady from a neighboring country.  She works in the radiology department of a hospital. That means her work involves taking X-rays, CT scans, etc., for patients.  She was down with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL, suspected).  She declined medical intervention and decided to seek our help.

In fact, she is not the only person who wrote us. Two others in the same department of the same hospital  are also CA Care’s patients.  They were also diagnosed with cancer and they too took our herbs.

This lady with leukemia has been faithfully taking our herbs: Capsule A, Leuk 3, Leuk 4 and LL-tea since August 2010 until now.

On March 2012, this patient wrote:

Dr. Teo,

Attached is my blood test result on 22 March 2012  for your reference. Thank you very much for your help. Regards.

Reply:  Thanks for sending me the blood results. Wonderful ! What did the doctor say? Also besides taking my herbs, did you take any other medications? How do you feel? Chris.

Dr. Teo,

My doctor does not know why I can improve as he did not give me any medication.  I told him yesterday that I receive your herbal treatment. His response is just asks what types of herbs I take.

I only take the Herbs you give me and follow the no animal meat diet. I also inhale oxygen few times a week for 10-15 minutes, if I have time.

Starting from middle of February, I have influenza and upper respiratory infections and took   medications including antibiotics few times for these but stop a week ago before my blood test. However my flu is not completely recovered until now.  Anyway, everything is quite OK apart from the flu. Thank you very much for your help again. I will continue to keep the treatment and diet.

Comments

 

Prostate Cancer: PSA Declined With Herbs, PSA Increased Without Herbs

LES (H608) is a 60-year-old man. He had the following underlying medical problems:

  1. Hypertension.
  2. Depression.
  3. Ischaemic heart disease (reduced blood supply of the heart muscle to coronary artery disease).
  4. Childhood asthma.

In 2004 he was diagnosed with a benign prostatic hyperplasia  —  a non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate gland. This makes urination difficult and uncomfortable. He has been taking Hytrin (Terzosin) ever since.

In May 2011, his PSA reading was at 9.2. A biopsy was done and indicated cancer of the prostate, Gleason score 3 + 3. The doctor suggested that LES undergo chemotherapy or TURP (transurethral resection of the prostate). LES declined both procedures. Instead, he came to seek our help on 15 May 2011.

LES was prescribed Capsue A, deTox tea and Prostate A tea. After a week on the herbs, LES reported that he felt “heaty”. Four days on the herbs he did not have any more pain when urinating. But if he stopped taking the herbs, the pain recurred.

We did not get to see LES again until the end of March 2012.

 

 

When LES came in March 2012 – i.e. ten months later, he said that:

  • He was not committed enough – As you said, I must be faithful in taking your herbs. When I became well I did not take your herbs!
  • When he first came his PSA was 9.4. After taking the herbs it dropped to 7.5, then to 5.5. He decided to stop taking the herbs – I was too lazy to cook the herbs!  His PSA went up to 9.2.
  • His doctor suggested medical intervention – surgery and radiation –  but he declined. He decided to come back to us and start with the herbs again!
  • He told his doctor that he was taking our herbs.
  • Chris: Okay, that is fine. Don’t worry, you don’t have to die with PSA 9.4!

Comments

 

Brain Tumour: Herbs and e-Therapy Helped Him

Ron (s24-not real name) is a 22-year-old male from Indonesia. About two years ago he felt numbness in his right leg but did not do anything about it. Then in June 2011, Ron had seizure in his right leg. The seizure attack lasted about 20 to 25 minutes. Ron suffered about three seizures per week. However, his right leg felt numb every day.

A CT scan in Indonesia showed tumour in his brain. Ron and his parents came to a private hospital in Penang in August 2011. MRI of his brain was done and similarly confirmed the presence of left fronto-parietal lobe tumour with cystic central necrosis. The lesion measures about 6 x 6.2 x 6.7 cm in size.

 

Ron was asked to go to Kuala Lumpur to consult with another specialist. Another brain MRI was performed.  The report dated 22 August 2011 indicated a 7.5 x 6.5 cm mass in the left fronto-parietal region with involvement of the motor cortex. There is also involvement in the sensory cortex.

The doctor suggested a biopsy which the family refused to do. According to the doctor, the mass cannot be removed by surgery. Ron was asked to undergo radiotherapy which the family also declined. A 25-radiation-treatment would cost RM 25,000. Ron was told the following:

  1. Even with radiation, the treatment would not cure him.
  2. Radiation may just shrink the tumour.
  3. Ron will have to come back to Penang again after 9 months and do another MRI. If the tumour grows bigger, he needs more radiation.

Ron was prescribed four drugs: Levetiracetam, Phenytoin (both for epilepsy),  Dexamethasone (steroid) and Lansoprazole (for ulcer and reflux to take care of the side effects of the medications). He did not take these drugs after coming to see us on 26 August 2011. Ron was prescribed: Capsule A, Brain 1 and brain 2 tea, C-tea + Brain Leaf tea.  At the same time Ron underwent e-Therapy. After only a few days, his condition improved tremendously.

Listen to our conversation.

 

 

Part 1: 

  • After a week on herbs, Ron’s health improved significantly. There was no more muscle spasm or numbness in his right leg. There was no more full blown seizure. According to his father, Ron’s facial expression was much better. He looked healthier and he felt better too.
  • I reminded Ron and his father that our herbs are no magic potion. Don’t expect instant cure. Ron will have to take care of his diet and take the herbs regularly.
  • The father asked, “Can we try your e-Therapy?” Yes, if you want to!

 

 

Part 2:

  • Before a seizure, I had muscle cramp. Muscle cramp means numbness in my leg. Seizure means violent jerking of my leg. Before a seizure sets in, I felt the numbness of my leg first followed by violent jerking of my leg and sometimes even the upper part of my body. I was not able to stand upright and needed to lie down flat   wherever I happened to be. Sometimes, I also fainted.
  • I had muscle cramps everyday and this could last the whole day. But this numbness did not necessarily result in a seizure. But sometimes, there was a seizure. My leg jerked violently. This lasted for about 20 to 25 minutes. My heart pumped rapidly. My whole body was drained off energy and I felt tired after this. Sometimes I also sweated.
  • The doctor prescribed four medications. These helped but I still had seizure once even with the medications.
  • When I started to take the herbs, I stopped taking the doctor’s medications. I have no more full blown seizure. Even if a seizure seemed to come, it went off after five minutes. My heart did not beat rapidly anymore, like before.
  • Father: His leg still felt numb but the jerking of his leg had stopped. After taking the herbs, his health had improved tremendously.
  • Chris: Take care of your diet. Don’t worry about the initial loss of your weight. You will get back your weight after a while.

Ron came to Penang again in March 2012. He had another MRI. MRI report dated 9 March 2012 stated: The tumour is still present in this current MRI and the size is 6.7 x 6 x 6 cm. There was no significant change in size compared to previous MRI. Findings suggestive of low grade glioma. (Note: previous size was stated as 6 x 6.2 x 6.7 cm).

Some Points to Ponder

  1. After six months without any medical treatment and with only herbs, the tumour did not grow bigger. Why? Could it grow smaller with time?
  2. Ron was not on any doctor’s medication but his health improved – no more serious seizure! Does this not prove that the herbs are effective?
  3.  What do you think could happen if Ron were to undergo radiation treatment as suggested by the doctor?
  4. Why do you think patients (even rural folks!) do not readily follow or accept their doctors’ advice when it comes to chemotherapy, radiotherapy or surgery for cancer?