Three Sisters With Cancer: One Died Two Alive and Well – WHY?

On 16 November 2012, I had a chance to sit down for a chat with Henry (not real name). This is our conversation that day.

Let me highlight some of things that we talked about that day.

Henry has four sisters in his family. Sister No:1 was diagnosed with lung cancer in June 2010. She was the third member of the family to have cancer. Sister No:3 had breast cancer about ten years ago. She was the first member of the family to have cancer. She underwent a mastectomy, chemotherapy and radiotherapy and died within a year. Then Sister No: 4 had breast cancer in April 2004 – the second member of the family with cancer.

Dramatically we can put it this way (this is what the number-professionals do, i.e., massage and sweeten the data):

75 percent of the sisters ended up with cancer; and
50 percent had breast cancer.

Let us hope that this is NOT the kind of statistics the world has to contend with in the future.

Sister No: 1 with Lung Cancer – Alive

She was 66 years old. On 7 June 2010 her CA 19.9 was at 191.0. On 17 June 2010 a trucut biopsy confirmed she had lung cancer.

Chris: It is about two and a half years now, is she okay?

Henry: According to the CT scan, the tumour had grown smaller.

C: All these years, did she ever face any problem?

H: No problem at all.

C: And she did not go for any treatment – chemo or anything else?

H: Nothing, except taking your herbs.

C: Did she take care of her diet?

H: Yes. She took care of her diet and so far no problem.

C: I have not met her before.

H: No, no. All her problems seemed to go away. The cholesterol level went down, high blood pressure down and sugar level down after a few months on the herbs. Everything became normal.

C: Amazing!

H: She started off with a big tumour in her lung and now it has gone smaller.

Doctor said: Operate and chemo – otherwise you will die within 3 months

H: The doctor said she only has 3 months.

C: What do you mean?

H: The doctor told my sister if you don’t do chemo you will die within 3 months. And I told my sister if you want to live listen to me, don’t listen to the doctor. I told her if you operate, you die within 3 months! The doctor wanted to operate on her and then do chemo. The doctor didn’t want to give us back her medical report. I called the doctor and argued with him. If you don’t want to release the report, I shall make a police report. But I hope we don’t have to go to that extent. We just want the medical report back. The doctor asked me: What do you want to do? Go to another hospital? I told the doctor, we wanted to go for alternative medicine. He said: What is it? I replied: I have no problem sharing with you on this but I believe you are not interested to hear about this. He even asked me: Are you a doctor? No, no, I am not.

C: You mean you called the doctor and said all these?

H: Yes. I argued and argued. I told him I wanted to do a police report. Then I would come to see him with the police to get the medical report. That is the worst thing I can do. Ah, then he agreed to give us back the report.

C: I cannot understand this. You paid for his services, for the scan, etc. These are yours.

H: Money, money! He was asking for RM 60,000 plus for the treatment.

C: To do the surgery and the chemo?

H: Yes. I told her doctor: My sister did not have the money, but I have the money. But this is not about money. It is about life. The doctor said: What do you mean? I said: You do chemo you die! You operate you die! The doctor countered: But you are not a doctor! I answered him: Yes, I am not a doctor but I have read and I have experiences to tell me so. Then the doctor said to me: You don’t do, you only have 3 months. I told the doctor: If you insist, I shall bring her to see you after 3 years!

Lung tumour shrunk – Started CA Care Therapy on 2 July 2010

C: Are you sure that the tumour has shrunk?

H: Yes, yes. After about one and a half years but I don’t know exactly when.

C: Amazing but nobody is going to believe what you have said.

H: I told my sister’s daughter to ask the doctor two questions and get straight answers from him:

Is her current condition under control? I want that answer.
Do we still continue to do what we are currently doing based on this result?

C: Did you go back to the same doctor (who you argued with earlier)?

H: No, no.

C: Tell me again. When the doctor said she only has 3 months, did you talk to the doctor personally?

H: Yes. He also told my sister’s son: If you don’t operate you only have 3 months. Then they (family members) made a lot of noise. You see, the eldest son (my nephew) is almost the same age as me. The son wanted to follow the doctor’s advice. But my sister knew the experiences of what our two other sisters had gone through. My sister trusted me because I am the most educated in our family. Generally our family members will consult me and ask for advice.

C: Your sister wanted to follow you but her son wanted to follow the doctor? So you all fight?

H: No need to fight. I told my nephew. I am paying for your mother’s medical treatment. If you want to pay for her bills you go ahead! As simple as that! If your mother takes the herbs, I pay for her. If you want to go for medical treatment you pay! You take the full responsibility. Just look at your auntie (our 4^th sister) – she is doing so well.

C: Request from CA Care. If you have a chance, please bring her complete medical reports / scans. We would like to make a study of this case.

Sister No: 3 with Breast Cancer – Died after surgery, chemo and radiation

C: The first time. Your sister No: 3 – you didn’t know (what to do)?

H: I did not have any experience with cancer before that. But actually I already knew about you but I was not sure – it did not come to my mind. They did not consult me. She went for surgery and chemo without letting me know. I did not know about it. Only after the (recurrence) and the second round of chemo that they told me about it.

C: Where do they live? From kampung (village)?

H: Yes, kampong.

C: Kampung people are very simple minded and they will follow whatever the doctors say.

H: I also brought her to Kuala Lumpur and talked to the oncologist there. At that time I did not know much about this.

C: Fair enough. You have to pay to learn.

H: Then I started to read. I have already known you after the TV and newspapers appearances.

Sister No: 4 with Breast Cancer – Still alive and well on CA Care Therapy

His 4^th sister had breast cancer and underwent an operation to remove her breast. She was then asked to undergo chemo and radiotherapy, Henry objected to these treatments and brought his sister to see us in May 2004. More of this story in: https://cancercaremalaysia.com/2010/12/09/after-mastectomy-chau-took-herbs-and-changed-her-diet-her-sister-died-after-medical-treatment/ As of this writing, 2012 – more than 8 years now, this sister is still doing fine. She is the second member of the family to have cancer.

C: So when the second one had cancer, you knew exactly what to do?

H: She went for the operation and then the doctor told her to go for chemo. She called me and I told her: If you want to live, you listen to me. Our third sister is an example for you already.

C: Yes, I remember that –both of you were here arguing about chemo! Now this sister is in Johor Baru – is she fine today? I was told she did not work anymore?

H: She is a volunteer (in a Buddhist organisation). Before she had cancer, she was a manager in a plastic company. She resigned her job after she had breast cancer. She is doing fine. She is normal and goes for blood test regularly. Nothing wrong with her.

Comments

From Henry’s story, it seems that an encounter with the doctor can be as tragic as being told that you have cancer. Why the arrogance – why the threat or instilling of fear? That unfortunately is the way patients are “beaten” into submission. And such unfortunate incidents happened not only in Malaysia but everywhere too! Dr. Morton Walker, D.P.M., (in Cancer’s cause, cancer’s cure) wrote about his experience with the oncologists at the Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, USA.

I was astounded at how distorted the physicians’ presentations … The doctors appeared to become almost like used-car salesmen in a pitch for their surgery, radiation therapy and/or chemotherapy. I know something about medical practices and oncology from my work as a medical researcher and as a former practicing podiatrist. In my opinion, the information the oncologists gave my fiancee was hardly an honest assessment of the relative benefits and risks associated with the recommended treatments … Both radiation and chemotherapy oncologists went about selling their separate treatments to the patient, her sons, and me … The oncologists were steadfast in their declarations. I knew they were lying.

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Often to keep patients in line or quiet, they will say: You doctor or I doctor? Henry was not intimidated by such remark. In fact I would say the doctor had barked at the wrong tree! No amount of bullying, threat or fear-mongering is going to make Henry toe the doctor’s line. Henry knew better through his own experience. His third sister had breast cancer – undergone surgery, chemo and radiation. Within a year she was dead. Do you really have to die within a year? Even if you do nothing you don’t die from breast cancer within a year!

When his fourth sister again had breast cancer he would not want her to travel the same road again. His sister did not go for chemo or radiation although she was under pressure for months by the doctor to do so. I knew of this because she was my patient. So when Henry’s first sister was diagnosed with lung cancer, and the doctor said she only had 3 months to live if she did not go for surgery and chemo, Henry knew the game just too well. No amount of pressure was going to work on him.

You don’t need an MD to understand things. What you need is just to have commonsense. It was commonsense that enabled Henry to tell his sister that if you want to live you listen to me but you want to die then listen to the doctor.

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10-Instill-fears-in-patient

Henry had learnt his lesson. When his third sister died, he knew why. He began to read books and learned from what others have got to say, besides reflecting on his own experiences. Unfortunately knowledge does not come easy served on a silver platter. You need to do your part to be learned and be knowledgeable. Read and read and read – that’s the only answer.

Unfortunately not many people like to read. Why don’t people want to read? To them ignorance is bliss. Why want to know so much? Let the doctors take care, they know best. Reflect again seriously on the three quotations above!

And to those who want an easy way out, good luck!

Die of Cancer But Don’t Die A Bankrupt!

It is bad enough to be diagnosed with a metastatic kidney cancer. The situation gets to be real grim when you are told that for this type of cancer there would be no cure. But how do you take it if on top if this you were told to take a drug that cost 100 million rupiah a month that would NOT cure you? And you were scolded for not wanting to take the medication! What can you do if you were just a 33-year-old man earning 1.5 million rupiah per month? You have not accumulated enough savings to be able to transfer that life’s saving to the hospital’s account! Do people realize that with that amount of monthly income you still have to feed your wife and young children? How could this world be so cruel? Perhaps the gods of the cancer world has gone crazy?

Let me share with you his tragic story.

Wanto (not real name) is a 33-year-old man from a town in Central Sumatera, Indonesia. He and his wife came to seek our help on 16 November 2012. Typical of a young man, Wanto was a smoker – burning away a packet of cigarette a day for the past 16 years. He was also a drinker. Two months ago, Wanto had backaches that lasted for about two weeks. Then he had difficulty breathing. His chest was painful.

Wanto came to a private hospital in Penang. He had to travel for 9 hours by bus to get to Medan. After an overnight stay in Medan he flew to Penang. A chest X-ray and ultrasound of the abdomen were done on 29 September 2012. The results indicated:

Lobulated appearance of right hilum inferiorly suspicious of lung nodules.
A large solid heterogenous mass occupying the whole left renal bed measuring 142.1 x 11.6 x 121.6 mm.
Thrombosed left renal vein seen.

Blood test results were as below:

ESR	78 H
Platelet	499 H
Alanine transaminase	56 H
GGT	104 H
AST	117 H
Uric acid	518 H
Creatinine	98

Wanto was asked to undergo a biopsy. He declined. This procedure would cost about 8 million rupiah (RM 2,544.00). Then he was asked to take an oral drug, Sutent (sunitinib). Wanto also declined. According to Wanto’s wife a month’s supply of Sutent would cost 100 million rupiah (that is RM 31,807.00) per month. In addition, Wanto’s wife read about the various side effects of the drug.

Wanto then consulted an herbalist and took his herbs. This cost about 10 million rupiah (RM 3,180.00) per month. Wanto was told to abstain from taking broccoli, cabbage, beans, toxic fish, meat, etc. (Note: This is partly opposite of what we tell patients at CA Care). Wanto was told by the herbalist that the herbs can cure his cancer.

Initially he felt better after taking the herbs but after one and a half months he did NOT feel the herbs were helping him anymore.

Wanto came back to Penang again on 14 November 2012. He went to the same private hospital that he went earlier. This time a CT scan was done.

Composite-1-Kidney

Composite-2-Lung-Met

The results of the CT scan showed extensive well circumscribed nodules in almost all broncho-pulmonary segments of both lungs. The nodules measured approximately 4 to 25 mm in diameter each. Enlarged lymph nodes noted in both right and left perihilar regions and azygo-oesophageal recess. The nodules measured approximately 15 to 25 mm in diameter each.

About two weeks later, 1 October 2012, another CT scan was done. The results showed multiple well defined nodules of different sizes in both lungs and aortopulmonary region. Large mass lesion seen in the left lung with paraaortic lymphadenopathy. Conclusion: Carcinoma left kidney with paraaortic lymphadenopathy, lung metastasis.

Wanto and his wife came to seek our help on 16 November 2012. The following are excerpts of our conversation on that day.

Chris: Was the doctor angry when you told him that you were taking herbs?

Wife: Yes, he was angry and asked me why I did not follow his advice.

C: But what did he want you to do?

W: He insisted that I take sunitinib (Sutent).

C: What was his reaction when you said you did not want to take sunitinib?

W: He said: “You must take the medication. Otherwise you have zero chance. The cancer will spread all over the body.”

C: Did you tell him that sunitinib cost so much money?

W: Yes I told him that. But he said even though it is expensive I must still buy it!

C: Oh, where are you going to get the money from? Rob a bank? You did not buy the medication but went to an herbalist instead. You told the doctor about this. Then you went back to the doctor again for more scan after a month or so.

W: Yes. The doctor was angry. He said: “You see the scan, there is no improvement.”

C: But was your husband getting worse?

W: According to him (husband), NO.

C: According to your husband, he was better after taking the herbs?

Wife: Yes (while the patient nodded in agreement).

C: What else do you want?

CT scan: Once is enough!

C: What is important for you to know is that there is no need to do CT scan all the time or too often. Once is enough. If the patient feels he is good means he is doing good. What else do you want? I am here trying to teach you commonsense. Go and do CT scan every month (every visit to the hospital) is not good for you! Do it once is enough!

Take care of your diet

C: The herbalist told you not to take broccoli, cabbage beans, certain fish and meat. Did he tell you not to take sugar?

W: No, can take sugar. He (husband) drinks Milo everyday!

C: Oh no. Here we teach you differently. You need to avoid sugar, oil, table salt, dairy products and meat. Avoid taking anything that walks. That is the way we do here.

Expensive Drug That Does Not Cure

C: You saw the doctor twice – first in October and a month later you went back to him again. You did the scan and the doctor asked you to take sunitinib. Okay, did he tell you that after taking that expensive drug, it is going to cure you?

W: The doctor said sunitinib cannot cure his (husband) cancer.

C: Cannot cure? Then why did he want you to take the medication then?

W: Just to prolong his life. By taking the drug, he can live for another two years.

C: Prolong life by two years – that was what the doctor said?

W: Yes.

C: Okay, extending life for two years but the medication is going to cost you 100 million rupiah per month. If you live for two years, that is going to cost a lot of money. But that drug cannot cure?

W: Yes, cannot cure. There is no guarantee.

C: In addition to this, there are a lot of side effects. How would you know that after taking the drug for a few months, he may even die?

W: Yes, exactly.

C: So, what is the meaning of all these? You need to understand that correctly. Even you take the drug it is not going to cure you. You have been clearly told about this. Everyone who comes to see me also wants to find a cure – wanting me to cure him/her. But in a serious condition like this there is nothing anybody can do – especially in your case, where the cancer has already spread extensively to the lungs. I have read many medical books and I have not come across anything that says metastatic kidney cancer can be cured. To ask you to take medication – that is fine. After all somebody wants to sell his medicine and make some profit out of it. But the point is, there is NO cure. And in addition you have to contend with all the severe side effects. Then you have to find 100 million rupiah a month. Where are you going to find that kind of money? In Indonesia, how much does an ordinary person with an ordinary job gets paid?

W: A worker earns about 1.5 million rupiah a month.

C: Oh, only 1.5 million? So you need to have a lot of people earning for him, to make 100 million rupiah.

W: Ya.

C: The solution provided for you is really NOT a solution at all. If you have to spend 100 million for a month and then it cures you, that is fine.

W: Ya, if it is only for a month that is okay.

C: But that is not so!

Under Pressure and Facing Reality

W: You know doc. After the CT scan the doctor wanted to do a biopsy. My husband refused. But the doctor insisted on doing the biopsy. It was going to cost 8 million rupiahs. Actually I wanted to do the biopsy and even take the medication – sunitinib, but my husband just refused to do the biopsy. I was the foolish one. In fact, before going home, I planned to buy the medication. But he (husband) refused.

C: Your husband refused the medication? Let me tell you this truthfully. At this point, you need to face reality.

W: I was under pressure. The doctor said the longer we wait the more the cancer is going to spread and spread and spread. He said: Your husband will not have any more hope.

C: But if he takes the medication, would there be any hope?

W: The doctor said with the medication the cancer will keep quiet.

C: Keep quiet for how long? How many months or years? But the doctor said your husband will eventually die anyway.

W: Yes.

C: You take sunitinib and it cost you 100 million per month and the doctor said you can live for two years. If you go back and go to the bank and ask for a loan – can you ever repay that loan? Can pay back the bank?

W: That’s true.

C: I know. It does not make sense – meaningless – having to pay so much for a drug that does not cure. What is the purpose? On top of that you suffer the side effects. Do you understand this? So yesterday you said you wanted to buy the drug – what was your expectation? You were expecting a cure?

W: Laughed!

C: And the doctor had already told you that there would be no cure. I want you to understand this first before we go further.

Misled & Misinformed – Herbs Can Cure Cancer!

C: Then you went to see an herbalist and you paid for his herbs – 10 million rupiah per month. At least that was cheaper! What did the herbalist tell you? Did he say his herbs were going to cure your husband?

W: Nodding.

C: Can cure? Are you sure that he said can cure? What does it mean by can cure? Do you understand him correctly? Some people say – take herbs today, tomorrow you feel well and he is cured. But the day after tomorrow the patient is dead. That is still cure! You need to understand what cure means. Do you really hear him correctly when he said he can cure your husband?

W: Yes.

C: You have seen your medical doctor and he told you your husband cannot be cured. Now this herbalist said your husband’s cancer can be cured. Whom do you believe now?

W: I don’t believe the herbalist. That is why I come to see you doc.!

C: You need to think properly. Don’t be stupid. The herbalist said he can cure, the doctor said no cure. Ask – who is telling the truth? Do you want to know the real answer? I want to say this as frankly, honestly and directly to you – there is no medicine in this world that can cure cancer – even more so for the kind of cancer your husband has. Don’t be shocked – but you have already been told by the doctor anyway. In my experience helping cancer patients for the past 16 years, and I have read most of the books on cancer that are found in this world, I must say I have not found any medication that can totally cure cancer. So if you come to me and ask for herbs that can cure your cancer then I must say to you: NO, I don’t have any. So don’t have the wrong expectation when you come here. You have gone to see this herbalist and you have taken his herbs for about one and half months and he promised you a cure. Why don’t you go and see him again and take more of his herbs? He promised you a cure, but when you come to see me I say I cannot cure you!

There Is No Cure For Cancer

C: To all those who come and see me, I cannot promise you a cure. I tell them this: After you take the herbs, you need to take care of your diet and if you feel better – can sleep, can eat, can more around – don’t ask for more! This is because I don’t know of anybody in this world who can cure your cancer. But if you want to live longer without much suffering or problem, you need to change your lifestyle, your attitude and your diet. All these must change! By doing these, I hope you can live a bit longer without much suffering. If we can achieve that, I have done my job. Don’t ask for more.

12 Wellbeing

C: Who ask you to come here?

W: I have been wanting to come and see you for a long time already but I did not know where to find you. Now, this uncle brought me here.

Comments

Wanto’s wife was told that sunitinib would cost 100 million rupiah per month or about RM 30,000. That is extremely expensive. I think she has been misquoted. The first time I knew about sunitinib some years ago, the cost was only about RM 20,000. I believe it is cheaper now? Nevertheless, by any standard it is still expensive to the ordinary Indonesians who earn about 1.5 million rupiah (RM 450) per month. They still need to burst their bank account to pay for such medication!

Let me be quick to say – this is not about money alone. Ask this question, What can I get in return? Cure? Not at all. Prolong life – probably, but for a few months. The doctor quoted the good side – two years of life prolongation which may be rare. The norm is just a few months. Is it worth it? To the wealthy, every minute of life is worth all the gold he has but to the poor it may mean accumulating debt for the next few generations to pay!

Let’s face it. Even the Americans and English living in advanced countries of the world find the cost of this drug mind boggling – the drug is too expensive and it does not cure the disease. (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/6087834/Sutent-for-kidney-cancer-approved-on-NHS-but-other-drugs-turned-down.html )

At http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=aER.9zj2HmSk there is this headline: Miracle Cancer Drug Extends Life With $48,720 Cost

You may wish to read my earlier article: Dissecting Chemotherapy Part 4: How Much Is Life Worth? Erbitux for Lung Cancer. Let me once again quote what Drs. Tito Fojo and Christine Grady in the USA said:

The all too common practice of administrating a new, marginally beneficial drug to a patient with advanced cancer should be strongly discouraged.
In cases where there are no further treatment options, emphasis should be first on quality of life and then cost.
For therapies with marginal benefits, toxic effects should receive greater scrutiny.
We must deal with escalating price of cancer therapy now.
The current condition cannot continue … the time to start is now.

In addition, prolonging life comes with another price – severe side effects. The following list of side effects are obtained from the drug company’s own website: http://www.sutent.com/rcc.aspx

Common side effects of SUTENT include: Skin and hair may get lighter in color, Tiredness, Weakness, Fever, Gastrointestinal symptoms, including diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, mouth sores, upset stomach, abdominal pain, and constipation; Rash or other skin changes, including drier, thicker, or cracking skin; Blisters or a rash on the palms of hands and soles of feet; Taste changes; Loss of appetite; Pain or swelling in your arms or legs; Cough; Shortness of breath and Bleeding, such as nosebleeds or bleeding from cuts.

SUTENT may cause serious side effects, including:

Serious liver problems, including death.
Heart problems—heart failure and heart muscle problems (cardiomyopathy) that can lead to death.
Abnormal heart rhythm changes— dizzy, faint, or abnormal heartbeats.
High blood pressure.
Bleeding sometimes leading to death – Painful, swollen stomach (abdomen), Bloody urine, Vomiting blood.
Headache or change in mental status.
Black, sticky stools.
Jaw-bone problems (osteonecrosis)—Severe jaw bone problems may happen.
Tumor lysis syndrome (TLS)—TLS is caused by the fast breakdown of cancer cells and may lead to death
Hormone problems, including thyroid and adrenal gland problems.
Tiredness that worsens and does not go away.
Heat intolerance.
Loss of appetite.
Feeling nervous or agitated, tremors.
Nausea or vomiting.
Sweating.
Diarrhea.
Fast heart rate.
Headache.
Weight gain or weight loss.
Hair loss.
Feeling depressed.

Patient’s Experiences

To know more about the effects of Sutent on patients who take them, go to the links below:

1. Kidney-Lung-Brain Cancer: Sutent = Heart Damage

https://cancercaremalaysia.com/2011/09/19/kidney-lung-brain-cancer-sutent-heart-damage/

2.Kidney Cancer Part 2: Two Oncologists Two Different Opinions – Is Sutent indicated in this case?

https://cancercaremalaysia.com/2011/09/19/kidney-cancer-part-2-two-oncologists-two-different-opinions-%E2%80%93-is-sutent-indicated-in-this-case/

3. Sutent for Advanced Kidney Cancer

https://cancercaremalaysia.com/2011/09/18/sutent-for-advanced-kidney-cancer/

Role of CA Care

In 1995, I prayed in my heart: O God, with the knowledge You bestowed upon me, show me Lord, Your way! Sometime later CA Care was founded. We adopted St. Francis Assisi’s prayer as our guiding principle:

23-Prayer-of-CA-Care

When I was confronted with this case, I could not help but remember our reason-to-be. Wanto and his wife came to us in desperate need of help. We at CA Care should do our best to help the best way we know how. So, help us Lord.

My first task was to tell Wanto and his wife the truth but without depriving them of hope. I asked them to face reality – no use burying their heads under the sand. Medically there is no cure for his cancer. Therefore for someone to tell him that herbs can cure his cancer is indeed tragic. It sounds like the herbalist is after his money rather than his cancer. On the other hand to offer a solution whereby the drug cost so much money but does nothing much to cure is useless. It is bad enough to get cancer but it would be even worse to make a person bankrupt while he is still alive – perhaps leave a pile of debt that may require even his grandchildren to repay. What good is that?

While at CA Care we clearly tell patients our herbs cannot cure their cancer, but we also tell them they need not have to give up. We don’t want to raise unrealistic false hope but we also don’t want to extinguish hope. At CA Care we have numerous cases of terminal cancer – the doctors say: You only have 2 or 3 months to live. With our therapy, many of these patients go on to live for years, not months! We are optimistic about this because we have seen many successes.

It really sadden me to see that in the face of inability-to-do-anything-meaningful patients are pressured into following medical advice even if it does not sound reasonable. Indeed Mrs. Wanto felt the pressure and wanted to do what she was asked to do. Amazingly, Wanto being the patient himself kept a cool head!

3 Dont-accept-everything-you-

4-b-Whitaker-Doctor-Biased-

The Virtue of Doing Nothing

It is human nature that once told that we got cancer we go into a frenzy – madly rushing here and there believing that we must get things done quickly. There is no need to behave like that. I always tell patients: Don’t panic. There is no need to rush. You did not get cancer yesterday. The cancer has been in you for years already – only that you don’t know that it is there. So take it easy and calm down. At CA Care we ask you to relax and reflect to understand what has gone wrong. Then we sit down with you to plot your cancer journey using as much common sense as possible.

Many of you may not like to learn this. For certain cases and under certain situations perhaps doing nothing is more logical and humane. Read this interesting story: The Island Where People Forget to Diehttp://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/28/magazine/the-island-where-people-forget-to-die.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

Stamatis Moraitis, a 60-plus-year-old man living in the US was diagnosed with lung cancer. Nine doctors confirmed the diagnosis. He was given 9 months to live. This was in 1976. Moraitis declined to seek the aggressive cancer treatment. He and his wife decided to return to Ikaria – his native Greek island to live out the rest of his life. He figured a funeral in the United States would cost thousands, a traditional Ikarian one only $200, leaving more of his retirement savings for his wife, Elpiniki. Moraitis said: I might as well die happy. With good, clean fresh air, simple but healthy diet, gardening, good company and care-free life Moraitis got well. About 25 years later Moraitis returned to the US hoping to see his doctors again and to see if the doctors could explain it to me what had actually happened. Moraitis said: My doctors were all dead.

This is indeed an inspiring story that we can learn from.

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2 No-tretment-dont die sooner

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My Last Word

I am glad that I have set up CA Care! Doing nothing is not about you not doing anything to help yourself. When you come to CA Care we teach you to live a “happy life” to take care of yourself – to take care of your diet, change your life style and mental attitude, take herbs and seek blessing from Above. All these, could probably make your remaining time on earth more meaningful. And you can also be sure you would not end up being a bankrupt when you go home!

Part 4: Can the e-Therapy help him?

Lung Cancer: An Outstanding Survivor

This case study consists of four parts:

Part 1: Tragedy struck again and again.

Part 2: Experience with Iressa & Tarceva while on CA Care Therapy.

Part 3: Side effects of medical treatment and attitude of doctors.

Part 4: Can the e-Therapy help him?

When patients come to see us, they face two problems. One – they suffer the side effects of the treatments as discussed in Part 3 of this article. We are expected to solve these problems for them, i.e., to “repair” the damage. Two, we also have to take care of their cancer – which actually should be our main concern. But most often than not, we ended up doing the “repair” work while the management of cancer has taken second place.

As I have said, we are indeed amazed that Sujo did not have any problem with respect to his lung cancer! Look again at the condition of his lungs when he first came to see us. He started to take the herbs and was well. Since then he did not have any problems with his lungs. Now, he has problems with his mobility!

Lung-compo-2 Lung-compo-1

One way to help Sujo with his current problems is to use the e-Therapy.

Muscle Tightness, Numbness and Trembling of Legs

Chris: When you came you said you have problems. What are these problems?

Patient: My legs feel numb. The muscles at the backbone feel tight.

C: You said the stomach muscles on both sides of the stomach also feel tight?

P: Yes, I feel tight on both sides of my stomach.

Wife: This happen after eating – he does not feel comfortable.

C: If your stomach is not full – okay?

P: Less problem.

The e-Therapy Helped to a Certain Extent

C: You did Program 66 – for the hip and leg. Did you feel any better?

P: I feel better – less tight.

C: Yesterday, you did Program 102 for the backache and muscle spasm. How was it?

W: The muscle does not feel as tight as before.

P: But not much better – a bit better only.

C: About 20 percent better?

P: About like that.

C: Your leg – how is it now?

W: His leg trembled involuntarily. This happens especially at night.

D: His legs shake by themselves.

C: Both legs?

W: Yes.

C: What happened to the trembling last night?

P: The trembling was much less.

C: The numbness in your legs – what happen?

P: The numbness is still there. No improvement.

After Four Days of e-Therapy

C: Last night – you did the therapy?

P: Yes.

C: After doing the e-Therapy for a few days now, do you feel any better?

P: I feel a bit lighter.

C: You have three problems. One is the numbness of the leg. How is it now?

P: The leg numbness still persists. The therapy does not help.

C: What about the tightness of the back muscles?

P: The back muscles are less tight now – better.

C: The muscles are less tight now and there is no pain?

P: No pain.

C: The hip muscle – you said the muscles were tight. What happen now?

P: I feel a bit better now.

C: You said there was pulling of the stomach muscles. This usually occurs after a meal.
What happen now?

P: The same – not helpful.

C: The numbness of your legs?

P: No difference – also not helpful.

C: The leg numbness – the e-therapy does not help you at all?

P: After undergoing the e-therapy I feel a bit better – it helps. But then after that the problem comes back again.

Comment

Indeed, the e-therapy is not a magic therapy. Sujo underwent only four sessions of the therapy here. I don’t expect any magic either! Nevertheless, in all it was not a wasted effort. He did benefit from the e-therapy even though this did not solve all his problems all at once. I am hoping with more of the therapy over a period of time, his problems will improve. He needs to undergo the therapy 2 to 3 hours daily. I have taught his wife and daughter how to go about doing the e-therapy properly. I am optimistic Sujo would improve.

Part 3: Side effects of medical treatment and attitude of doctors

Part 3: Side effects of medical treatment and Attitude of doctors

This case study consists of four parts:

Part 1: Tragedy struck again and again.

Part 2: Experience with Iressa & Tarceva while on CA Care Therapy.

Part 3: Side effects of medical treatment and attitude of doctors.

Part 4: Can the e-Therapy help him?

I often ask patients: After the oncologists tell you to do chemo, radiation or take the oral drug – do you ever ask them if all these can cure your cancer? Unfortunately, not many patients ask such question! They take it for granted that doctors know best! They believe that these interventions are going to cure them. For patients who “dare” to ask such a question – the answers they get usually vary from being ambiguous or evasive: You don’t even try it yet, why ask so much? There is no guarantee! We do this to control the cancer from spreading. Generally the consultation does not go further than that. But what about asking another question: What are the long-term side effects of the treatment? Most likely this question would draw a lot of flak from your doctors!

Before I proceed, let me ask you to reflect on the follow quotations:

Side Effects of Medical Treatment

1-surgery-radiation-etc-cau

2-toxic-effects-and-seconda

6-Surgery-drug-cause-chroni

4-Surgery-a-gamble-with-hea

14-Surgery-cause-inflammati

5-Misinformation-and-arroga

Let me highlight what these authors said:

Four medical researchers at Vilnius University, Lithuania and VU University Medical Center in the Netherlands (in the EPMA journal) said clearly and bluntly that current medical treatment modalities can stimulate tumour growth, spread cancer and decrease survival of patients (meaning kill patients sooner?).
Perhaps that is the reason why Dr. Harvey Bigelsen, M.D. wrote: Misdirection and misinformation serve the status quo and industry profit….. damaging surgeries are being performed … we are given chemicals and poisons under the euphemism of prescription drugs!
Dr. John Trowbridge wrote: We gamble with a devil in the hope of bringing back a full life …. But instead of a full life we have chronic disease, treatment effects … problems that crop up years later, directly related to a past treatment. No one experiences surgery and remains in full health.
Dr. Patricia Ganz of UCLA Cancer Centre, Lost Angeles, USA asked: What is the price of cure or long-term survival? The answer is: Many problems. She suggested: We need a greater investment in research to study the late effects of cancer treatments! Well said doc., but your statement is not likely to be well accepted by the vested interests and researchers. We all know that researchers need funds to do their studies – and who pays for the study? The vested interest! No one is going to risk their “rice bowls” doing things that do not please their “sugar daddy.” Yes, the answer to this question is very important for patients to know, but who cares? That is not going to add to the bottom line – there is no profit to know the truth.

Perhaps that is the reason why there is a dearth of information about the long-term side effects of medical treatment. In fact, I too did not realize the significance of this question until I read the article – The price of anticancer intervention by Dr. Patricia Ganz?

On reflection – a patient come to mind when talking about long-term side effects: Tok Eng who had NPC (nose cancer). She underwent chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The cancer recurred and she was asked to undergo more chemo. She promptly refused and came to seek our help. She has been on our CA Care Therapy for some sixteen years now and is doing well to this day. After her medical treatment, one ear became deaf due to the radiation. Some ten years later, the other ear started to fail and now she has hearing difficulty. This, according to the doctor, is due to the radiation she had earlier. Most patients die after treatment so we do not get to “see” the long-term effects for their treatment but if a patient survives long enough, like Tok Eng, we see problems cropping up.

Study this video carefully. When Sujo came to see me he was limping. I was wondering why.

Side Effect of Surgery

Chris: When you walk, you have no pain?

Patient: No pain.

C: When you walk, why are you limping towards one side (left)?

P: This is because of the (lung) operation I had before.

1-Limping-after-surgery

C: Oh, after you had that (lung) surgery then you started to limp to one side. Before the surgery, were you able to walk straight?

P: Okay, no such problem.

C: When you walk you do not feel any pain? Only limping towards one side?

P: No pain.

C: What about your hands?

P (raising both hands): No problem.

Tightness of Muscles at the Hip and Trembling of Legs

3-Leg-trembles

C: Can you sit down for long?

P: If forced to do so – yes, can sit. But I feel tightness of my muscles at the hip.

Wife: If the muscles become tight, he has to lie down in bed.

C: And you said your legs also tremble?

W: His legs trembled involuntarily. This happen mostly at night.

C: You said when you sleep your legs also tremble?

W: Yes, when he turns to one side.

P: When I turn to one side the muscles start to pull. Then my legs tremble and shake uncontrollably.

C: Shake for how long?

P: For a while only and then it stops. There is no pain.

Side Effects of Tarceva

C: What happened after you first started to take Tarceva?

P: I developed rashes on my face and then it spread to the upper parts of my body. No rashes in my legs.

C: How long did you take Tarceva to develop such rashes?

P: Five days after I started taking the drug.

C: What about your skin?

P: There are now no more markings on my fingers and thumbs.

2-Loss-of-markings-on-thrmb

C: What happened when you renewed your passport?

P: All the markings on my thumbs and fingers were gone! At the passport office I tried to make my thumb print. There was no marking! All the fingers have no markings!

C: Any pain?

P: No pain and my hands are strong!

Weak and Collapsed Legs

C: I thought you would not be able to walk anymore.

W: He bent his knees, and the legs just collapsed.

P: When I bent my knees, my legs just collapsed – no strength. I had no strength to get up or walk. I became very weak.

D: After the (bone) surgery the surgeon did not ask us to come back for any follow up. By that I knew that this was a hopeless case.

Attitude of Doctors

In Hope or Hype – Drs. Richard Deyo & Donald Patrick wrote:

10-Instill-fears-in-patient

You get that? Instill fear and you have compliant patients! Dr. Morton Walker, D.P.M., wrote in his book, Cancer’s cause, cancer’s cure:

The underlying psychology coming from purveyors of conventional cancer treatment is: Do what I tell you to do or you will die. At that moment, the emphasis shifts from science to business. The patient is no longer facing a scientific decision … Instead the patient becomes a customer of the medical (or cancer) industry which makes profit from the patient’s illness.

Let’s get back to Sujo’s case.

Daughter: Before undergoing the (bone) surgery, I told the surgeon: We want to consult Dr. Chris first. The surgeon replied: If you go away now, I would not have time for you anymore.

Wife: He said, If you wait until tomorrow, I don’t have time for you anymore.

P: When he saw me, he immediately wanted to operate on me.

D: I said: I wanted to see Dr. Chris first for advice. But the surgeon said, No. If you leave I would not be able to operate on you anymore.

P: Earlier, after my (lung) surgery I said I did not want to go for chemo. The surgeon was not happy with that and insisted that I go and see the oncologist. He immediately asked his staff to bring me to the oncologist’s office.

W: After the (lung) surgery, the doctor said, You must do chemo. But we refused.

P: I insisted that I did not want chemotherapy.

2a SUMO 2

Part 2: Experience with Iressa & Tarceva While on CA Care Therapy

Lung Cancer: An Outstanding Survivor

This case study consists of four parts:

Part 1: Tragedy struck again and again.

Part 2: Experience with Iressa & Tarceva while on CA Care Therapy.

Part 3: Side effects of medical treatment and attitude of doctors.

Part 4: Can the e-Therapy help him?

After encountering disaster after disaster, Sujo had no choice but to turn to the “cancer doctor” in his hometown for help. Initially he was prescribed Iressa, which he took for 10 days and gave up due to the side effects. He then moved on to Tarceva.

Chris: You stopped taking all those herbs and supplements after all the problems. What did you do after that?

Daughter: We went to see a “cancer doctor” (in Medan).

Patient: Iressa was not good for me. I bought 10 tablets.

D: The doctor recommended Iressa. We tried it but it was not suitable for him.

C: You took 10 tablets – for only 10 days?

P: After I took Iressa, I developed itchy blisters on my back.

C: Then you stopped the Iressa and switched to Tarceva – the doctor gave them to you?

D: He only gave the prescription.

C: Ten tablets and you paid 7 million plus rupiahs?

P: More than 7 million rupiahs.

C: After you switched to Tarceva, were you better off?

Wife: He had less bad effects.

C: In addition you also took medication for the bone?

P: I took the pill for the bone for about a month.

D: Then the next month, we switched to injection for the bone. The injection was done once a month. So far he had received a total of 7 injections. After the Tarceva he was able to get up again.

C: How long were you on Tarceva to be able to do that?

P: I bought 3 boxes of Tarceva – that is a supply for 3 months – each box for a month.

D: A box cost 16.5 million rupiahs.

P: The first month, I used up one box – taking one tablet a day. The second month, I only took 15 tablets for the month. The third month, I only took 10 tablets per month.

D: In addition to Tarceva, we still continued to take your herbs.

C: Oh, you still continue to take my herbs while on Tarceva.

D: Yes.

W: The fourth month, he took 10 tablets per month.

C: You bought 3 boxes – have you finished taking all the tablets?

P: No, I still have 5 more tablets to go!

C: Who asked you to reduce the dosage like that?

D: We do this by ourselves. I told my father about the possible bad effects.

C: While taking Tarceva like this, you said you still continued taking my hebs?

D & W: Yes, yes.

C: After taking Tarceva, you were able to get up and also walk? What about the CEA?

P: It decreased.

W: The CEA dropped to 90 plus.

P: The CEA dropped to 97 from the previous 800 plus.

C: While you were doing this – did you encounter any problem?

P: No.

C: While you were taking Tarceva, did you feel you were getting better?

P: Yes.

W (nodding): Better.

D: While he was on Tarceva, he still took care of his diet.

C: When exactly did you feel you get back your life? You could walk, you could climb the stairs – when exactly did this happen?

D: About a month after taking Tarceva. He was able to walk up the stairs again.

C: Only a month on Tarceva and he was well again?

D: Yes.

C: One month on Tarceva – that was when he was still on full dosage – one tablet per day. The next month you halved the dosage, that is taking only 15 tablets per month. What happened to you – okay?

P: I was okay.

C: When you took 10 tablets per month – what happened?

P: I was also okay. When I was on 5 tablets per month, I was also okay. Now, I am only on 5 tablets per month. I am still okay.

C: I am really amazed. What happen if you don’t take any tablet at all?

D (shaking head): We don’t know.

C: When you were on such low dosage, how did you feel?

P: Nothing – no problem. My health was as usual – stable.

C: Your condition while on full dosage (30 tablets per month) until 5 tablets per month – you felt the same all the time?

P: Yes, all the same. No difference.

D: While my father was taking Tarceva, he still continued to take Dr. Chris’ herbs as usual.

C: I am really amazed. By right you would have problems with your lungs. But over the past two years plus you have no problems with your lungs! How could this be?

Comments

Again, I say, this is an amazing story of an amazing survivor. Sujo had met disaster after disaster in trying to find his healing. He and his family did not give up – indeed they showed their determination of steel. They are not the kiasus and kiasi (afraid to loose and afraid to die) type. Granted, life is learning through experience. We do make mistakes – the kiasus and kiasi want to be in control of everything all the time, wanting to ensure that things would work according to what they want. Unfortunately life does not work that way – particularly so when dealing with cancer. Nothing follows the way you want it to be. Each person takes on the cancer journey on his / her own accord and comes out with an experience unique to his / her own.

3 No-right-or-wrong-journey

10 Decide-what-is-right-for-yo

I am indeed humbled from Sujo’s experience and I have learnt some important lessons from him. Let me elaborate.

1. Gurdjieff was perhaps truly right when he said, The wise man is not educated, and the educated man is not wise. Sujo and his wife had probably not gone beyond high school in life yet they are wise in their ways. They have a lot of common sense that is much to be admired. They stretched things to the limit and if it was a mistake retreated! Many people are dumb – they keep on repeating the same mistake and expected different results!

2. They say desperate people do desperate things. Indeed Sujo was desperate after facing disaster after disaster. In the end he turned to a “cancer doctor” for help. That is a wise move. He tried Iressa and found it did not work well for him. He switched to Tarceva. That is to be expected because that is about all that any cancer doctor could offer. But remember, Sujo did not forget to take our herbs even when he was doing something else. In our conversation, Sujo’s daughter kept reminding me that her father continued to take our herbs and took care of his diet. He had been on our therapy for the past two years (since October 2010) and still had faith in what we do! I wonder why they believe in us so much? Perhaps from their own experience, they felt our therapy did help them in some ways.

3. Take note that while taking Tarceva, Sujo was also taking our herbs. This is something most oncologists say, YOU MUST NOT do. Their command, No herbs while on chemotherapy, which according to Dr. Blaylock is based on ignorance and probably on arrogance too! Fortunately, Sujo lives in Indonesia and I know from patients that some doctors in that country are more “open and tolerant “ to and sometimes even supportive of alternative therapies. In this case, Sujo had shown that taking herbs while on Tarceva is okay! NOTHING went wrong and nothing to fear! So what is the fuss about? Some skeptics may say, One swallow does not make a summer. Let me tell you – there is also a similar case that happened in a hospital in Jakarta. He was also down with lung cancer and was in the hospital. He took herbs instead of doctor’s chemo. Then he took Iressa and came out very much alive like Sujo. That’s two swallows. And I have many more other swallows flying around!

5 Oncologsit-harm-patients

4. Over the years, I have come across many cases of patients taking Iressa and Tarceva and they failed miserably. Read these stories:

Metastatic Lung Cancer: Meaningless Fall and Rise of CEA With Iressa and Tarceva

Lung Cancer: After One-and-half Years of Iressa, He Moved to Tarceva

Lung Cancer and the Side Effects of Iressa

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

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

When I first started CA Care I encouraged patients to follow what their oncologists want them to do. Go for surgery, chemo or radiotherapy! But with time, my world view of cancer treatment begun to change based on what my patients tell me, what I saw happened and what were written by medical doctors themselves. I am not a fanatic and I don’t belong to any “Vested Interest” group. I shall call a spade a spade and my world views on cancer are “tuned” based on facts and observations that I have. Thus far, I must admit I am never an enthusiastic supporter of patients taking Iressa or Tarceva. After all according to the medical literature these drugs do not cure lung cancer at all. Iressa was shown not to do anything much for cancer patients. Tarceva did a bit better – prolonging survival of lung cancer patients by 2.8 months. But the benefit of taking Iressa or Tarceva comes with a heavy toll. You have to endure the toxic side effects. Besides, for the ordinary man, the cost of the drug can make a hole in your pocket or bank account. They are not cheap!

However, over the past one year, I have encountered two case of lung cancer. One man took Iressa while taking herbs at the same time. He did extremely well. And now I see Sujo doing well after taking Tarceva while on our herbs. Must I now change my world view about these two drugs? Yes – of course. Those of you who want to try your luck with Tarceva or Iressa , I say – Go ahead! But before you do that, please study this case carefully and learn from Sujo’s experience. Also I urge you to read another case which I presented in Chapter 11 Lung-Bone-Brain Cancer: When Doctor and Herbalist Collaborate Miracle Happens, of my book:

Cancer-Is-there-another-opt

(Available at http://bookoncancer.com/productDetail.php?P_Id=56)

5. Before I go to my next point, let me ask you to reflect on this quotation:

7-Never-ask-why-Mathing-num

Many people are not interested to know why or to ask why – it’s a waste of time! Also asking why threatens the status quo! If you find the answer you have to change your worldview – i.e., if you are man enough! Most people don’t want to change! To most people if I don’t learn “this stuff” in school then it cannot be true. Anything out of the norm is just hogwash or snake oil. But a scientist worth his salt would want to dig deeper to know why. Why did Sujo NOT continue to take the full dose of Tarceva after knowing that the drug was helping him? Anyone would say it’s crazy to stop doing what you are doing when what you are doing is helping you. Why stop? I asked Sujo – who asked you to reduce the Tarceva dosage? The daughter said they did it themselves without being told by anyone. That was taking a bold step indeed – or even taking a great risk!

I guess at the initial stage Sujo was desperate. He had no choice but to take Iressa and later Tarceva. But I believe he also knew from the very beginning that he was taking poison. So after a month, after the poison has done its job, Sujo thought there was no reason to continue taking the poison much more! More does NOT mean better. So Sujo reduced the dosage into half, and gradually ended up taking only 5 tablets per month. His 3-month supply of Tarceva was stretched to a year!

If you think Sujo is dumb or crazy, read what happened to these two patients.

As I am writing this article, there is a 42-year man from Kuala Lumpur who came to see me . He had lung cancer that had spread to the bone – just as bad a situation as Sujo. He took Iressa in November 2011. A month later, CT showed that the tumour and lymph nodes had reduced in size. He continued taking Iressa at full dosage. Three months later, March 2012, a CT scan showed the disease was stable. But in May 2012, CT scan showed disease progression – i.e., more tumours grew elsewhere and the lymph nodes grew bigger. More does not mean good or better!
Kathy is a 44-year-old Indonesian lady. She had a 4.39 x 4.67 x 4.54 cm tumour in her right lung. She took Iressa in December 2010. With Iressa the mass started to shrink until the size could not be measured. She continued taking Iressa at the same dosage for another seven months until August 2011 when her health deteriorated. The mass in the lung that had “apparently” disappeared grew back to twice its original size. Again, more poison did make the cancer would go away at all.

Perhaps Sujo was right! Brilliant idea indeed! I salute him!

No one in his wildest dream would ever do what Sujo did. But Sujo did it and he came out a winner and a survivor. Dare you say he is wrong? To me Sujo’s brilliant stroke of insight is like a spark that could light a fire to great discovery and rethinking for cancer treatment! Or is it? Given the world as it is today, this fire will be promptly extinguished. To the vested interests this suggestion is dumb. If lung cancer patients were to start doing what Sujo did, do you think the doctors, hospitals, pharmacists and drug companies like it?

Lung Cancer: An Outstanding Survivor

Part 1: Tragedy Struck Again and Again

This case study consists of four parts:

Part 1: Tragedy struck again and again.

Part 2: Experience with Iressa & Tarceva while on CA Care Therapy.

Part 3: Side effects of medical treatment and attitude of doctors.

Part 4: Can the e-Therapy help him?

The night of Sunday 18 November 2012 was one special night for me! Sujo, his wife and daughter suddenly appeared! I looked at him with amazement. Let me confess – I never ever thought that I would see this patient again. The last time I saw Sujo was in February 2011. Now it is November 2012. That is almost two years! The only thing I can say at this moment is– I am really happy to see him. Thank the Almighty God for this blessing.

I have written a story about Sujo earlier, Lung Cancer: Pain and Sleepless Night after Chinese New Year Dinner

https://cancercaremalaysia.com/2011/02/22/lung-cancer-pain-and-sleepless-night-after-chinese-new-year-dinner/

Let me briefly outline his earlier story..

Sujo (M858) was 58 years old when he first came to see us. He is from Indonesia. Sometime in August 2010, he complained of breathlessness when climbing the stairs. A CT scan in October 2010 indicated gross left pleural effusion associated with severe lung collapse. There was lesion at T4 vertebral body associated with erosion. This means the cancer had already spread to his bones.
While in a private hospital A in Penang, the doctor tapped out two liters of fluid from his lung. This treatment cost him RM 10,000. His blood test on 21 October 2010 showed CEA = 85.86 and CA19.9 = 78.6. Sujo was asked to undergo chemotherapy. He went to a cancer hospital, signed all the papers and was ready to do what was told. But the night before chemotherapy, he and his family decided not to go ahead with the treatment.
A friend in Medan told Sujo about CA Care. On 22 October 2010, Sujo came to seek our help and was prescribed Capsule A, Lung 1 and 2 teas, Bone Tea and C-tea. After taking these herbs, Suja came back to see us twice and reported that his health had improved. He was able to eat, sleep and walk quite a distance without any problem. His breathlessness had resolved. His bowels movements were good.
After a few months on our herbs, Sujo started to have fevers. He came back to Penang and was admitted to Hospital B. He saw a lung specialist who did a CT scan and told him nothing could be done except to go for chemotherapy. Not satisfied, Sujo saw another specialist in the same hospital. Another scan was done. This doctor agreed to operate on Sujo. After the surgery, Sujo was asked to undergo chemotherapy but he promptly refused. The doctor was upset and insisted that Sujo undergo chemotherapy. Again Sujo flatly refused chemotherapy.
On the eve of the Chinese New Year (CNY, 2011) Sujo took chicken curry (only the gravy not the chicken). Besides he also ate steam fish with salted beans (tau chiau). Two days later, on the morning of the second day of CNY, he suffered severe pains. Sujo said: “I am very tolerant to pain. But this pain was so severe that I cried. I have never cried before in my life.” He had to sit upright and the pain lasted from 8 to 9 p.m. until 3 a.m. Then he would fall asleep for about 2 hours. He had pains every day. Sujo took the painkiller, Tramadol. But the medication did not relieve his pains. Sujo confirmed that before this dinner, he did not have any pain at all. The pains only came after the misadventure during the CNY’s dinner.
Sujo came to see us on 13 February 2011. He presented with severe pains in the back and shoulder blade. He had partially lost his voice. For the past 8 days or so, he was not able to sleep. Seeing Sujo’s condition, we put him on the e-therapy right away. All his pains disappeared after 4 sessions of the e-therapy. Sujo was well after this. He was able to walk around, ride the motorcycle, etc. His life was back to normal again.

Tragedy Struck Again and Again

Listen to our conversation during his visit in November 2012.

Chris: Wah, you can walk now! For how long have been walking?

Patient: For 3 months now.

C: Wah, you have also put on weight. Actually, you are really fortunate and blessed!

Curse of the Seven-Needle-Leaf

C: The last time I saw you was when you came after Chinese New Year, 2011 in pain because you ate something “wrong.” You used the e-Therapy machine and the pains went away. You went home and everything was all right. You could ride the motor-bike, etc. Then what happened? You ate something wrong again?

P: I took Seven-Needle Leaf.

C: Who asked you to take that? How long were you taking that?

P: I took it for 5 days. My friend said this would help cancer patient. I took seven leaves, munched them and swallowed them.

C: What happened after 5 dyas?

Daughter: He could not walk after that!

C: Before taking the leaves, were you okay? Can walk?

P: I was okay, no problem.

Wife: Yes, he was able to walk up the stairs.

C: After 5 days taking the seven-needle, what happened?

P: My legs “went soft” – no strength.

D: He landed in bed – could not walk.

C: Before taking the seven-needle, were you able to walk?

P: Yes, I could walk. I could ride the motor-bike even.

Bone Surgery and Radiotherapy in Penang

D: He had to be hospitalized in Medan. The doctor said the cancer had spread to his bone.

C: Then you came to Penang and had surgery. Before the surgery, did the doctor say he could cure you?

P: He said, “50:50 chance”.

W: Even after the operation, his legs just collapse when he bent his knees. No strength. He could not stand up all. Actually even before the surgery, he already could not stand up.

C: How much do you have spent for the surgery?

W: About 70 to 80 million rupiahs.

D: He also underwent radiotherapy after the surgery.

W: Radiation for 5 times.

C: After the surgery, any more problems – any pain?

P: No pain, but my legs were numb. Later, my legs started to shake vigorously by themselves.

C: And your legs still shake now?

P: Yes, even to this day.

W: When he turned to the left or right, the legs would just tremble.

C: After the surgery, you still could not stand up?

D: No and the legs became thinner and thinner.

C: At home you just stay in bed and could not walk?

W: He could not walk – always sleeping on the bed. I have to lift him up whenever he wanted to move his bowels.

C: How long were you in such a situation?

P: For more than a year.

C: More than a year? – Wah! immobolised for more than a year. It must be very difficult for you all.

W & P: Yes, very difficult.

C: Were you able to eat? Any pain?

P: Can eat, no pain.

D: Only could not walk and his legs were numb.

W: His legs trembled and trembled.

Acupuncture Did Not Help

C: So for a year plus lying on the bed – what else did you do?

D: Continued to take your herbs and then went for Acupuncture – 2 to 3 times a week.

C: How long were you on Acupuncture treatment?

P: About two months.

C: Did the Acupuncture help you?

P: No.

C: During the whole year in such a condition, did you continue taking our herbs?

W: Yes! He continued taking your herbs.

C: Did you go and see any doctor at all during this time?

P: No, no.

C: Let me ask you – all this while you have problems with your legs, but what about your lungs? Any problem – was your breathing okay?

P: I had no problems with my lungs.

W: No breathlessness, no phlegm – nothing!

Alternative Treatment from a Batak Herbalist

C: Now, lying on the bed unable to move for a year plus – then what made you well again?

D: We went for alternative medicine.

C: Before going for alternative treatment, you were still not able to walk?

D: Couldn’t walk and he was getting thinner and thinner.

C: What was this alternative medicine?

D: Herbs from a Batak herbalist. He lives in the northern part of Medan. The herbalist said the blood flow was blocked. So he gave herbs that he formulated himself. This comes in the shape of small round pellets.

W: A day we need to take 9 pellets – 3 each time. Then there was also a liquid for external application.

D: This is also herbs and we need to mix with water and apply to the body and legs.

C: Are these herbs expensive?

P: No! One packet can last for one year! And it cost 5.8 million rupiahs.

C: Wah, that is cheap! And it is for a year’s supply. But why do need a year’s supply?

P: He told me to take the herbs for a year to get the best results.

C: But you took the herbs for only 5 months – initially what happened?

P: I passed out a lot of wind.

C: Did you get any better?

P: Yes, I could bend my knees and my legs did not collapse anymore.

W: He could also stand up.

C: Before taking the herbs, you were not able to stand up or walk?

P & W: No, no. After taking the herbs my legs were stronger and did not collapse anymore!

W: He could lift up his legs high.

P: I could stand up and started to walk slowly using a walking stick.

C: Okay, before taking the herbs, you could not walk at all?

W: No, no, cannot.

C: You took this Batak herbs for 5 months, did you still continue taking my herbs?

W: Yes, yes.

C: During those 5 months, did you have any problem with your lungs? Did you feel breathless?

P: No, no.

C: That means my herbs and this man’s (Batak) herbs can be taken at the same time. Then, why did you stop taking the Batak herbs after 5 months. Why did you not continue?

P: After a blood test, the CEA shot up to more than 800! When I came to Penang earlier on, the CEA was only 80 plus.

C: With CEA at 800 plus, did you feel anything bad?

P: No, I felt nothing.

D: His stomach felt bloated.

W: The stomach felt a bit harder. Looked like there was wind.

Another Disaster – the Cell Food

D: After the increase in CEA, he started to take supplement – Cell Food. He took one bottle a day.

W: A bottle cost 400,000 rupiahs. He took 3 bottles.

D: He started to have blisters.

W: Then he could not get up from bed.

P: I have no strength like before again.

C: Before you took that Cell Food, you could wake up? After the Cell Food you “collapse” once again?

P: Yes.

W: He was not able to wake up or turn around – left or right. Very difficult.

C: Did you ask the Cell Food people why?

D: They said it was the “healing crisis.”

C: Oh, very good answer! Why did you not continue taking it?

P: No, no. I am afraid!

Comments

I have great admiration, respect, and empathy for Sujo, his wife and family members. In their own simple ways, they showed a determination of steel to find healing. Over the period he laid immobolised in bed in Medan, I did get news about his well being. His wife, brother or sister came to our center and collected herbs for him and kept us informed about his well being. Then on 18 November – Sujo, his wife and daughter came to Penang. It was a wonderful meeting. I was sorry that I could not offer him much help when he was bed-ridden but I am glad that all ends well. Now, our attention is to try and help him regain this muscular mobility using the e-Therapy.

I must admit that I did not expect Sujo to make it at all. If we were to study the images of his lungs (below), how could we expect him to live without problem? But the truth is – he did survive and it is beyond expectation.

Lung-compo-1

Lung-compo-2

There are a few lessons we can learn from this case.

Many patients wrote me emails asking my opinion about this product and that product – mostly those direct-selling stuff. I am sorry I cannot tell you whether you should take them or not. This is because it is not my job to go around commenting on other people’s products. I only work and research on my herbs and there is enough job on hand for me to do for the next hundred years! So, please don’t write to ask me about my opinion on things like This Factor or That Factor, or This Grass or That Grass. Sujo tried some supplements and he got burnt. So if you believe what others say or recommend, then try it and find out for yourself. No need to be a kiasu!
Let me also clarify that I am not against you taking any supplements or going for any other alternative therapies. Go ahead and try them if you like. Then I hope you can share your experience with us by writing in your blog or email. This is what Sujo did and we should be grateful for that – at least he is honest enough to share his story. From my heart, I wish that ALL that Sujo took or did – like Seven-Needle Leaf, Cell Food, Acupuncture, etc., would have helped him. Unfortunately, in his case, they did not. You may have better luck.
Though the herbs from the Batak herbalist was abandoned, I believe it did help Sujo in some ways.
Without that herb to start with, Sujo could still be bed-ridden. It is unfortunate that his CEA was elevated. There must be a reason for that – I love to study why! But in the meantime, I want to say that I have full admiration for this herbalist. He is not a “crude money sucker!” For a year’s supply, his herbs only cost 5.8 million rupiahs. There are a lot of “medications” out there in the market that cost a hundred times more than this herb and yet are worthless! A least this Batak herbalist is not after your money. He is honorable!
And for those who think their ways are “more scientific or more proven ” perhaps you may wish to take a pause and ask , How could a few pellets of herbal concoction make a bed-ridden patient get up and walk, even when surgery and radiotherapy could not even help a bit? Let us not underestimate or take for granted the wisdom of the “bomohs and bushmen” – they could do more than what we thought our science and technology can ever solve.

9-Modern-med-not-the-only-w