Jas was diagnosed with rectal cancer that had spread to the liver. She underwent surgery and was told to undergo chemotherapy (and radiotherapy). After that she would be cured!

With full confidence she went for her first shot of chemo. She suffered badly. She had difficulty sleeping, had sores in her mouth, felt nauseous and vomited. She felt very tired and very uncomfortable.

Jas told the surgeon that she did want anymore chemo and would rather die than continuing with the remaining 7 cycles of chemo!

Desperate, the family looked for another direction. Incidentally, a relative who lives behind her home is a patient of ours. Jas’s daughter and son-in-law came to seek our help. Jas was prescribed herbs. Three months later, Jas, her husband and another daughter turned up at our centre.

 

Gist of our conversation that day.

Chris: You don’t want to do any more chemo?

Jas: No, I don’t want anymore. I can’t stand those side effects.

C: You spent RM3,500 and you suffered?

J: It is better that I die than going through those chemo again. I told the surgeon I don’t want to continue with the chemo.

C: Did the doctor get angry?

J: No. He asked if I went for the first cycle of chemo. I said yes, but I am not going for anymore chemo after that. Whatever it is I just don’t want to continue with the chemo. After the chemo, I could not sit, vomited, could not eat — from morning to night. Could not sleep. Mouth with sores.

C: Good that you did not die!

J: Ya.

C: Who ask you to come here.

J: A friend. Actually a relative who is living behind our house (also colon cancer and was on your therapy for the past 2 years and doing well).

C: Do you believe in what we do?

J: Ya. If I don’t believe I would not have come here.

C: (Knowing that this is a fussy and difficult patient). The herbs are difficult to take — bad taste, lousy smell and you need to take care of your diet — cannot eat anything you like. Can follow?

J: Yes, you have already told me that.

C: Know that your health and your healing is your responsibility. So Ibu (mama) you have to take care of yourself. We can teach you what to do but eventually it is all about your responsibility.

If you continue with another 3 cycles of chemo, would you “fly away”?

Husband and daughter (laughing): Yes, fly away. Gone. One shot already so bad.

C: You have been on the herbs for 3 months already and you did not have any problem. So let us hope that you keep it that way. Take care of yourself.

Daughter: Yesterday the doctor did a scan and said the mass in the liver had shrunk. Before it was big, now it has gone smaller.

C: Did the doctor know that you have given up chemotherapy?

J: Yes, we told him. After hearing that he just kept quiet.

C: I have given you herbs for your liver. Keep taking it. Don’t get angry if it does not taste good. Thank God for it and ask for His blessing. Be happy and I hope you will be okay.

Beside that (the liver mass being smaller) did you feel better after taking the herbs?

J: Yes, I felt better. I can sleep now (before difficult). I have appetite (before none).

Husband: Her diabetes had improved.

C; Your bowel movements were not good before. Now?

D: No problem now.

Comment

Jas was told that after surgery and 8 cycles of chemo she would be cured. A great promise indeed. But after one shot of chemo, Jas gave up — could not stand the side effects.

But after taking the herbs for 3 months, Jas is still doing fine. What could have happened if she were to continue with another 3 months of chemo? Your guess is as good as mine!