Category Archives: Bone Cancer

Breast Cancer with Extensive Metastasis: Herbs and e-Therapy Helped Her. Declined Everolimus and Tamoxifen.

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SG is a 69-year-old female. In June 2015, she had persistent fevers. A family member discovered that she had a wound on her right breast which she kept it to herself.

SG was brought to a hospital. A scan showed:

  • A 5.6 x 2.5 cm mass in her right breast.
  • Multiple right axillary and right subpectoral adenopathies.
  • Multiple scattered pulmonary metastases.
  • Nodules in her liver.
  • Extensive bony metastases.

A biopsy of the breast mass was done. Immunochemistry confirmed invasive carcinoma, ER +, Pr + and c-erb-B2 -ve. The ulcerative lesion was fixed to the chest wall.

A CT scan of the brain showed:

  • Patchy sclerosis of the entire skull suspicious for diffuse bony metastases, with more focal lesions inthe right frontal and left temporal bones.

There was nothing much the doctors could do. Surgery was not indicated because the cancer was stuck to the chest wall. SG was given Femara (letrazole) to take every day. In addition she received Denosumab (Prolia, Xgeva) injection for her bone. Initially the medication shrunk the tumour but with time Femara was not effective anymore. Femara was changed to Tamoxifen.

SG’s daughter wrote:

  • Tamoxifen caused her to lose some weight and appetite. Recently the doctor wanted her to try Everolimus (Afinitor) + Exemestane (Aromasin).
  • We have read that these have side effects, some serious ones and so far have not tried.
  • Mum has even stopped Tamoxifen and just go on your herbs. She said feels better and can eat better.
  • If she relied on just herbs, is there a need to review the types that she is taking?
  • So far, other than right breast and bones, other parts of the body are still ok.
  • Her cancer markers did go up somewhat at the last blood test.
  • She’s diligently taking the herbs and is more comfortable with them than the western medicine.

SG decided not to take any more doctor’s medication, due to the possible side effects.

Everolimus was first used for kidney cancer. Now, its usage has been extended to breast cancer. To know the side effects of Everolimus, click this link: http://www.us1.afinitor.com/side-effects/

  1. You may develop lung or breathing problems.In some people lung or breathing problems may be severe, and can even lead to death.
  2. You may be more likely to develop an infection,such as pneumonia, or a bacterial, fungal or viral infection. Symptoms of infection may include the following: fever, chills, skin rash, joint pain and inflammation, tiredness, loss of appetite, nausea, pale stools, dark urine, yellowing of the skin, pain in the upper right side of the stomach.
  3. Possible increased risk for a type of allergic reaction called angioedema.
  4. You may develop kidney failure.In some people this may be severe and can even lead to death.
  5. Delayed wound healing. AFINITOR can cause incisions to heal slowly or not heal well.
  6. Mouth sores (also called ulcers), occurring in 67% of patients taking AFINITOR. These can sometimes be severe and can appear as early as within the first 2 weeks of treatment or can occur at any time.

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All these side effects come with a cost of SGD 800 per week (RM2,400/week or almost RM10K per month).

As if the Afinitor side effects are not enough, here are more side effects if you take exemestane or Aromisin.

  • new or unusual bone pain;
  • vision problems;
  • swelling in your hands or feet;
  • feeling short of breath, even with mild exertion; or
  • chest pain, sudden numbness or weakness, sudden headache, confusion, problems with vision, speech, or balance.
  • hot flashes;
  • headache, tired feeling;
  • anxiety;
  • joint pain;
  • upset stomach;
  • depressed mood;
  • sleep problems (insomnia); or
  • increased sweating.

SG and her family came to our centre. She brought along a medical report which said, “Right thigh soft tissue tumour.”

She was okay but her daily life was not comfortable — it could be better! She complained of pains in her legs, backache, lack of strength and sometimes lack of appetite. She had stopped taking the doctor’s medication.

Since we have given all the herbs that we have for all her cancer(s) —- she had cancer in her breast, lymph nodes, lung, liver, bone and soft tissue of her thigh — I have no other choice but to ask SG to try the e-therapy. May be this may help her!

After day one on the detox program, SG said she felt lighter and her movements loosened up — did not feel tight any more.

The next morning, when she came for the second detox program, her daughter said she could lift up her foot. She was better.

After the second detox program SG said she had no more pain! All problems gone! In fact she could bend down. This morning she climbed up the stairs of her apartment. These are things she could not do before.

Every member of her family was happy and said SG’s facial appearance was much better!

Listen to what she said.

One question I posed to the family. Why don’t you want to continue with the medical treatments. After all you have access to the best medical treatment in your country.

The answer is simple — the drastic side effects.

And what is more, one death in the family circle is enough. SG’s sister-in-law had primary breast cancer and also a primary lung cancer. She took Iressa. Of course she suffered some side effects like rashes and painful, distorted nail growth.

Initially Iressa shrunk the tumour in the lung but it grew back again (like Femara did for SG). The doctor gave her chemotherapy with Cisplatin and Alimta. She had radiation to her brain. Her condition deteriorated and she died.

Chris: Is this why you don’t want give more drugs to your mother?

Daughter: Because of the possible side effects.

C: Did your Aunt’s treatments until she died also made you more careful?

D: Possibly.

C: My experience — some people just don’t learn!

Comment

If you have come to an end stage where taking medicine is just a matter of try-and-see-if-it-works, would you want to take that “fishing trip’? Some people would like to fight until death — don’t give up! But some people understand that flogging a dead horse is to buy more misery. Your choice!

We are indeed glad that SG came to us this morning. It was a blessed morning indeed. Her quality of life was restored. She did not look sick anymore.

I always tell patients this: If you can eat, can sleep and can move around without any ache or pain, what else do you want? Continue to live a good life and don’t think too much of your disease. The more you take those toxic drugs the more miserable you would become.

If you don’t read SG’s medical records, you would never think that (as of this morning) she has cancer at all. Praise God for this wonderful blessing.

 

 

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Breast Cancer Went Wild After Surgery, Chemo-Radiotherapy. E-Therapy Helped Relieve Her Pains

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Eva (not real name) was 33 years old when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. She underwent surgery at a hospital in Hong Kong in June 2009.

The histopathology reports indicated the following:

1.  Left breast mass at 1 o’clock – excision

Diagnosis: Fibroadenosis, Fibroadenoma.

Right breast mass at 1 o’clock, lumpectomy.

Diagnosis: Infiltrative ductal carcinoma, grade 2. No sentinel lymph node metastasis (0/14).

Tumour size: 1.1 + 0.6 cm.

Resection margins clear.

Positive for estrogen and progesterone receptors, highly proliferative activity. Negative for c-erbB-2 oncoprotein.

2.   Right breast lump at 3 o’clock, lumpectomy

 Diagnosis: Fibroadenoma.

After surgery, Eva received 6 cycles of chemotherapy – 3 cycles using FEC (5FU + epirubicin + cyclophosphamide) and 3 cycles of Taxol. This was done in Hong Kong. She received 30 radiation treatments in Macau. There was no further medication after this.

A follow-up mammogram in 2011 showed everything was clear.

In 2012 (i.e. some 3 years later) Eva started to have back pain. MRI in December 2012 showed some spots in her lumbar.

In January 2013, a PET / CT scan showed extensive bony metastasis. She was prescribed Tamoxifen and Xeloda and pain killers.

Medication

After taking Xeloda she was not able to sit down or walk. She had to be hospitalized for a week and given painkiller injection. She was discharged and had to use the wheelchair.

At the end of February 2013, Eva decided to return to her home in Indonesia.

In late March 2013, she consulted an oncologist in Penang. She was told to undergo chemotherapy again using Carboplatin. She has to take an oral drug, Navelbine.  She has to undergo six cycles of this treatment and each cycle would cost RM 7,000. In addition she needs a monthly injection of bisphosphonate for her bone. This would cost an addition RM 1,700 per month.

Can the treatment cure her? The oncologist said: Not sure!

Eva refused further medical treatment. Eva and her mother (who also has cancer) came to seek our help on 21 March 2013. She presented severe pain and was unable to sleep at night. Her movements were very restricted.

Her CA 15.3 results over the years showed an increase from 12.7 to 246.1

Date

CA 15.3
21 October 2011

12.7
29 August 2012

36.8
5 November 2012

80.1
23 January 2013

246.1

The following are the results of her PET/CT dated 16 January 2013.

  1. There is no hypermetabolic lesion noted in the residual right breast.
  2. There are multiple hypermetabolic lymph nodes seen over the right internal mammary region, right superior mediastinum, right supraclavicular fossa and lever V of right neck.
  3. No hypermetabolic node found in bilateral axillary regions, left supraclavicular fossa or left neck.
  4. The left breast shows normal FDG uptake.
  5. Hypermetabolic nodule noted in the right pectoralis major at the level of 1st anterior rib.
  6. There is physiologic uptake of brown fat in bilateral lower necks.
  7. Physiological FDG uptake seen in the brain parenchyma.

Extensive bony metastasis

  1. Multiple hypermetabolic deposits are present in:
    1.  bilateral pariental bones and left occipital bone,
    2. Right sphenoid body
    3. Clivus,
    4. Left submandibular ramus,
    5. Sternum,
    6. Left scapula,
    7. Right upper humerus,
    8. Right 4th and 5th ribs,
    9. Left 3rd and 10 ribs,
    10. Bilateral iliac bone,
    11. Left ischium,
    12. Bilateral pubis,
    13. Lesser trochanter of right femur,
    14. Left femoral neck,
    15. Extensive involvement of spinal column from cervical spines to sacrum.

The CT images show:

  1. Lytic destruction at the corresponding area,
  2. And soft tissue mass in some of the lisions.
  3. Focal hypermetabolic mass protruding into the spinal canal and compressing the dura sac, including right lateral aspects of C3 level, anterior aspect of T9 and T10 levels, anterior and right lateral aspect of T11 level as well as left anterior aspects of T12 level.

PET / CT scan showed the cancer had spread to some 29 locations in her body as below

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E-Therapy at CA Care

We really felt sorry for Eva seeing her in such severe pain. We decided that Eva should try the e-therapy right away and requested her to postpone her return home. She needed to stay in Penang for an additional 5 days. And here is her story.

In summary after 2 days on the e-therapy, Eva had less pain and was able to sit up and watch the television for 2 hours. This is something she could not do before. She had to lie down in bed most of the time. With the e-therapy she could sit, walk and move around without much difficulty.  We told Eva to come back to Penang for the e-therapy again if her problems recurred.

Someone wrote: The Oncologist Had Prostate-Bone-Liver Cancer. And He Died

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After posting the article, Malaysia’s Well Known Oncologist Died of Cancer, some readers wrote to ask what cancer he had and what he did that he died. Unfortunately, I was unable to answer these two important questions. Then out of the blue, someone wrote to fill in the gap. So here it is – the e-mail (reproduced with the kind permission of the writer).

Another question left unanswered. What medical treatments did he receive and he died because of his cancer or his treatment?  We can never know, one day we may get an e-mail from another angel ?

1st April 2013:  Dear Dr Chris Teo,

I am writing this in response to your post (16 March 2013).

It was indeed a shock for me to read in The Star news that Dr Albert Lim Kok Hooi passed away from cancer at age sixty.

Many questions ran through my mind.

  • What cancer did he die from?
  • When did he find out that he had cancer?
  • How did he treat his own cancer?
  • Why did he discover his cancer at such a late stage? 

I surfed the Internet to try to find more details. When I could not find any information, I contacted friends who knew him and his family.

I was informed that Dr Albert Lim had prostate cancer which spread to the bone and liver. Apparently his cancer was diagnosed a year ago. However he kept it from the public. No one in the hospital was allowed talk about it.

If The Star did not publish the cause of his death, we would not have known that Dr Albert Lim passed away from cancer.

Recently, I came across an online article and confirmed that Dr Albert Lim learnt he had cancer a year ago. http://thestar.com.my/health/story.asp?file=/2013/3/17/health/12844733&sec=health

To quote from the article

He also kept his cancer a secret from acquaintances and friends.

He was a private person in many ways. His cancer was something to be dealt with within the family

Now this brings up some interesting issues.

Why did Dr Albert Lim choose to keep his disease a secret?

As a prolific writer in the papers, he shared his knowledge, medical training and experience to raise the level of public awareness on how to prevent cancer, treat cancer and how to cope with cancer.

Was he doing a social service or was he merely writing to boost his image after his six months suspension from the Malaysian Medical Council?

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/2/23/nation/16951173&sec=nation

What had he hoped to achieve by keeping his cancer a secret?

Normally it is the patient’s prerogative whether to keep the disease secret or make it public. However Dr Albert Lim is no ordinary patient. He is a leading oncologist and a respectable authority on cancer locally and internationally. He was actively running a thriving oncology practice. He had cancer patients who made decisions based on trust and confidence in his prescriptions. Had he disclosed his condition, would some of the patients choose different courses of treatment?

It would seem that there is some implied moral duty or fiduciary duty to disclose his cancer as he is an involved party. Steve Jobs was chided for trying to conceal his pancreatic cancer from the Apple Board and investors. Under stock exchange rules, it was material disclosure as the information would have caused some investors to make their decisions differently.

Here, how do you think his patients would feel? Having faith in a doctor and having spent thousands of ringgit on chemo and other treatments, he read in the newspapers that his oncologist passed away from cancer! And the patient had no inkling that his oncologist had cancer!

It would not be unreasonable to conclude that Dr Albert Lim kept his cancer a secret as it is sheer bad publicity for the medical industry. If the Physician Heal Thyself  maxim, does not work, what faith can the patient have in the doctor? Was Dr Albert Lim worried that his business would be affected?

I am not saying that doctors are not human and that they are immune from diseases. Of course an oncologist can also be afflicted by cancer like anyone else. However, when an oncologist dispenses How To advice, we would expect that the probability of him diagnosing himself at an early treatable stage is higher than anyone else. And if he did get cancer, share the journey with others so as to benefit all.

I read a New Straits Time article dated 26 November 2012 that Dr Albert Lim gave media statements endorsing a new chemo drug which offered hope for late stage prostate cancer patients.

http://www.nst.com.my/latest/hope-for-prostate-cancer-patients-1.176963

It would now seem ironical that four months later, Dr Albert Lim died from prostate cancer. At the launch of the new drug, he knew that he was suffering from late stage prostate cancer. Unless he had tested it himself and it worked, it would seem so inappropriate to endorse a highly toxic drug. Chemo drugs are very expensive. It is unfair to sell hope to poor patients, while not proving its efficacy on oneself. Would the drug company have asked him to endorse the launch of the drug had they known the facts?

I got to know Dr Albert Lim nineteen years ago. He was Head Oncologist at KLGH. He treated my father for terminal lung cancer for six months. During that time I got to know him fairly well on a social basis.

Well, when one meets with an oncologist in a social setting and he is not wearing his professional mask, one gets some interesting insight into the medical industry.

Perhaps in those days, chemo drugs were not as advanced as today.

In the course of conversations, I found that oncologists viewed cancer patients, especially late staged ones as quite hopeless cases. The majority of cancer patients who came to seek treatment would die anyway. Whatever the oncologists do will not make much of a difference. It is a matter of time but the cancer will spread. However since patients came with hope and expect the oncologist to do something, he has to administer the prescribed industry treatment protocols whether he believed in them or not, whether he would practice the same treatment on himself or not!

Maybe the chemo drugs today are more powerful in combating cancer and Dr Albert Lim has changed his views after starting private practice. I do not know. After my father passed away I did not keep in touch. I hear of him on and off from some patients and through reading his articles.

Over the years, I had two close friends and my step mother who succumbed to cancer. They had their share of stories when dealing with oncologists.

Dr Albert Lim and most other oncologists are averse to alternative therapies, labeling anything that is not from Western medicine as quackery. I am not denying that there are some cases where cancer patients have benefitted from oncology treatment. My aunt now in her eighties survived breast cancer for forty years. She could only afford minimal cancer treatments from the hospital and nothing else. Another friend now in his fifties has against all odds battled cancer over twenty years with chemotherapy, stem cell replacement, consuming birds nest daily and mainly a strong willed mind.

However in many other cancer cases, the treatments prescribed by the oncologists did more harm than good. Unfortunately many specialists in private practice run their clinics like running a business. They have high overheads and of course, there is always the thrill of making money like any other business. In private practice, everything revolves around money.

I strongly believe in the mind-body model, the intelligence of the body to heal itself and that diet and herbs are Nature’s gifts to mankind. I do not know you but I have been following your work on and off since the publication of your first book.

At that time, my old classmate and dear friend, suffered from Stage 3 NPC. She went to a famous oncologist and was prescribed a course of radiotherapy. At the end of the sessions, he asked her to say AHHH… looked at her tongue and throat and declared her free from cancer. No other tests were done. I asked her to go to your clinic as additional treatment but she refused.

She was jubilant and went round testifying in the churches that God healed her. Six months later, the cancer came back with a vengeance. She sought treatment from a UH oncologist who gave her chemotherapy but it was too late. I saw her two weeks before she died. She held my hand and said the saddest words I ever heard “I was a fool to believe Dr T ” (the first oncologist who declared her cured). Faith is invaluable but we must be realistic.

Last year, my close friend who is a well known corporate figure, died from Stage 4 stomach cancer which spread to bones, pancreas and abdomen. Initially he was given six months to live. He was treated by the best oncologists in Singapore and locally as his company paid the medical bills. After the first six months of chemo treatment and breathing meditation which we encouraged him to learn, the PET scan showed that the cancer had disappeared. The Singapore oncologist said to him, ‘Whatever you are doing, continue with it’!

At that time, I asked him to go to your clinic to get additionally therapy. However he refused saying that he would follow the doctor’s advice. He too was jubilant and immersed himself fully in his hectic work and had no time for his breathing and meditation. Six months later, the cancer came back. He spent the next twelve months with massive chemo treatments, switching from one drug to another when the cocktail did not work. It was sad to see his health and body getting worse with each treatment. He passed away 2 ½ years after he was diagnosed. The company spent nearly RM2 million for the treatments. How many patients can afford to pay such massive sums for cancer treatment?

When friends tell me so-and-so is diagnosed with cancer, I always recommend that they explore your alternative therapy with an open mind. It is up to each to follow his inner guide as to what treatment they should sought. Living and dying are not in our hands. We do what we can to help by telling patients that there are alternatives besides chemotherapy.

I hope this fills up the gap in your blog as to how Dr Albert Lim died.

When I read Dr Albert Lim’s obituary, I wondered how he felt the instant he was diagnosed. It would have been truly useful if Dr Lim had documented his own journey. That would have been ultimate service to humanity.

Did Dr Albert Lim administer the same toxic treatments he recommended to others for himself? Do chemotherapy and other oncology therapies work? Well, it would seem not but we shall never know.  It is very easy to preach but not easy to walk in the patient’s shoes. Anyway, may the good he has done live on.

In closing, since we did not get to hear Dr Albert Lim’s experience, it may be interesting to read how other oncologists wrote about their own cancer journey.

http://www.npr.org/2010/12/14/131760656/a-breast-oncologist-diagnosed-with-the-disease

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/24/health/policy/24docs.html?pagewanted=all&_r=2&

http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2012/02/diagnosis-stomach-cancer-profoundly-oncologist.html

The following article had gone viral but it is a very touching account from Dr Richard Teo (not an oncologist but a plastic surgeon) from Singapore who documented his cancer experience before he passed on. Irrespective of one’s religious beliefs it will be worthwhile to read with an open mind.

http://www.heavenaddress.com/Dr-Richard-Teo-Keng-Siang/424153/379719/content

Wishing you all the best always.

Yim,

Petaling Jaya

My Comment:

Thanks dear writer for giving us your precious time to share your thoughts. You have done your part! Let me conclude with these quotations:

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Comment added: 23 May 2013

“Another question left unanswered. What medical treatments did he receive and he died because of his cancer or his treatment? ”

I have some further information.

Last week, I met a family friend of Dr Albert Lim. She informed me that she only got to know Dr Lim had cancer two months before he passed away.

I asked if Dr Lim administered any treatment on himself. She said that when he was diagnosed with Stage 4 prostate cancer, he started chemotherapy. However after a few treatments, the cancer got worse and he opted to end the chemo treatment. He preferred to let the cancer advance faster. He knew there was nothing more he could do.

I asked why Dr Lim could not diagnose his own cancer earlier. Apparently, he did not have any symptoms and the cancer markers did not pick up the prostrate cancer. His oncologist friend from Europe who visited him while he was ill, commented that he too, has come across a few cases in Europe where the prostate cancer did not show up in cancer markers.

I heard from one of Dr Lim’s patients that Dr Lim was administering chemotherapy to the patient up to a week before he died. She noticed that he looked very tired and old, but he was very very nice to the patient. Of course it came as a shock to the patient to read that her oncologist died of cancer as no one knew that he was suffering from the disease.

The purpose of my writing is not to run down the Doctor or the treatments. What I learnt from this whole episode is.

1) Cancer is not always detectable at an early stage.

2) When diagnosed with cancer, a patient should educate himself on all options of treatment available and make an informed decision himself.

It is not prudent to rely on medical opinion alone.

All doctors are trained and sponsored in some way by Big Pharma. At the end of the day, they will push drugs which may not yield the desired results but because it is standard protocol, they have to recommend the regime to the patient.

The patient end up spending  and suffering unnecessarily.

Over the last four years when I accompanied my step mum for her cancer treatments at UH, I came across patients who spent all their money at private hospitals. With no money left, they came to UH to seek subsidised  treatments. It was so pitiful to talk to them, some mortgaged or sold their homes, some borrowed money and others took loans to find the elusive care.

I hope the day will come when there will be oncologists with conscience, oncologists who will honestly tell patients when all hope is gone, to stop wasting their money and find some other means of natural treatment and palliative care.

Kind regards.

Yim, Petaling Jaya

 

Kidney-Bone Cancer: Herbs and e-Therapy Helped Reduce His Pain

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RZ (S-143) is a 48 year-old Indonesian.  He came to seek our help on 18 March 2012, immediately after being discharged from a private hospital. And he was in severe pain. How could this be? This is RZ’s story.

About one and a half months ago, RZ was told by the doctor in Aceh, Indonesia that he had kidney problem. In early March 2012, he came to a private hospital in Penang for further management. A CT scan was done and showed a 10 x 9 cm enhancing lesion in the left kidney with renal vein thrombosis. The right kidney was normal. There were multiple nodules noted in the left upper paraaortic area.  Histopathology report confirmed a poorly differentiated renal cell carcinoma, sarcomatous type, Stage 3 – 4 (T2N2Mx). Four of 8 paraaortic lymph nodes had metastatic disease.

X-ray of his left shoulder showed a large lytic area with pathological fracture of the left scapula. Actually RZ came to Penang because of the severe pains in his swollen  left shoulder (picture below).

RZ was admitted on 5 March 2012 and underwent surgical removal of his left kidney.  Nothing was done for his swollen left shoulder which according to the surgeon was due to the cancer that had spread from his kidney. RZ told us that the pains became more intense after his kidney surgery. He was unable to sleep at night and had to endure pains throughout the day and night.

The kidney operation cost him RM 14,000. RZ was told that with this surgery he will be cured. If he did not undergo the surgery, but only take medication, he would be 30 percent cured.  After being discharged from the hospital, the surgeon scribbled these words on his medical report: Targeted therapy + DXT to (L) shoulder. RZ confirmed that he was asked to see a radiologist for radiotherapy. However, he was not able to do this because he had run out of money and could not afford anymore treatment in Penang.

RZ was prescribed Tramadol for his pains. This medication helped relief pains for about two hours only and the pains  recurred.

Comments

This is the second of such case – after surgery patients were in pains and they came to seek our help instead of asking the doctors for help. And they came immediately after being discharged from the hospital. This is the story of an earlier case:  http://painandwellness.org/2011/12/10/ovarian-cancer-after-surgery-left-leg-swollen-painful-and-uncomfortable-herbs-and-e-therapy-helped-her/

When we looked at RZ we really felt sorry for him. The reason he and his wife came to Penang was to find relief for his shoulder pain – but after spending RM 14,000 the pains became worse.  And they had no more money for more treatment. He could not afford the radiation treatment in Penang. And to tell him to take the Target Therapy medication as suggested by the surgeon is unrealistic. If I could guess rightly, that would involve taking Sutent and this is going to cost about RM 18,000 to RM 20,000 per month. This medication does not cure cancer! How can RZ ever afford to pay for such a treatment?  If you wish to know what Sutent can do click these links:

http://painandwellness.org/2011/12/10/ovarian-cancer-after-surgery-left-leg-swollen-painful-and-uncomfortable-herbs-and-e-therapy-helped-her/

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

RZ and his wife said that they were about ready to go home to Aceh in the next three days. The question in my mind then was: What can I do to help this unfortunate man the next days while he is here in Penang ? I suggested that RZ come to our centre every morning and try the e-Therapy and at the same time take the herbs: Capsule A, C-tea + WF tea, Kidney Tea, Bone Tea and Pain Tea (six times per day). This is what happened:

18 March 2012: e-Therapy – detox program. The night after this treatment, he felt better. He could sleep about half of the night.  The pains were less and he did not take the Tramadol prescribed by the doctor.

19 March 2012: e-Therapy – detox program + program for shoulder pain. He felt much better. The pains were less and he could sleep throughout the night. He woke up at about 5 a.m. due to coughs.

20 March 2012: repeat of the e-Therapy as yesterday and he was ready to return to Aceh.

The following is the gist of our conversation.

Part 1: Remove your kidney – 100 percent cure. But doc., the cancer had already spread to the bone!

Wife: His kidney problem surfaced about one and a half months ago.

RZ : There was no pain in the kidney.

Chris: You have removed your kidney?

RZ: Yes.

W: After the surgery, the doctor asked him to go for radiotherapy. We did not want to do that yet. We want to go back to Aceh first. We can do the radiation in Aceh.

C:  What did the doctor say about the pain in your shoulder?

W:  It is a cancer. But the doctor did not do anything about it. The whole night he was not able to sleep.

C: How much does it cost you to operate the kidney?

W: RM 14,000.

C:  And now you are in pain?

RZ:  Yes. It is a dull kind of pain – not pulling type. If I massage my shoulder, the pain goes away for a while and then comes back again. The pain becomes more intense when I move. At night, I am not able to sleep because of the pain.

C: Did you have this swelling on your shoulder even before your surgery?

RZ: Yes. But it was not as painful like now. The pain just came on and off. Even when I was in the hospital, the pain was not serious. I felt more pain after being discharged from the hospital.

C: So, even before the surgery, the doctor already knew about your shoulder – and he did not say anything?

RZ: No. I did ask him about this swelling in my shoulder. The doctor said: “Just wait first, we need to remove the diseased kidney first.”

C: Did you ask the doctor why there is this lump in your shoulder?

W: Yes, the doctor said this is due to the kidney cancer that has spread to the bone in his shoulder.

C: How long were you in the hospital? Did you derive any benefit gong into the hospital?

W: He was in the hospital for two weeks.

RZ: Before the operation, I was very weak. I became better after the operation. But the pain in my should became worse after coming out of the hospital.

C: Before you agreed to the surgery, did you ask the doctor if the surgery is going to cure you?

W: The doctor said the cancerous kidney has to be removed – it was an aggressive type.  If he (the patient) only takes medication, there is only a 30 percent chance of cure. But if he goes for surgery, it will cure him a 100 percent.

C: Is this why you agreed to the surgery – to get a 100 percent cure? Do you really understand “cure” really means when the doctor said the operation can “cure” you? Do you really understand him?

RZ: If the kidney is not removed, the cancer will spread. If the kidney is removed, the cancer will all be gone. No more cancer.

C: Did he tell you how he can cure the bone cancer in your shoulder?

 

Part 2: After one session of e-Therapy: Pain was less and he slept through half of the night

C: Last night you took the herbs and did the e-Therapy. How do you feel now?

RZ: There is improvement. I could sleep on and off.

C: After the e-Therapy, did you have any difficulty?

RZ: No, no problem. And I felt better. The pain was much less.

C: Before you came and see me, how was your pain?

W: He was in pain throughout the night but now the pain is much less.

RZ: The pain came on and off only. I woke up three times last night and went back to sleep again. Before I came to see you, I was not able to sleep the whole night.

C: This pain now, is it the same type of pain? Is the intensity of the pain the same when you feel that pain?

RZ: Same type of pain and the intensity is also the same. But the pain did not last long. It came on and then went off.

 

Part 3: After two sessions of e-Therapy: Pain gone and he slept through the night.

C: Yesterday  you did the e-Therapy one more time.  How are you now? Do you have more or less pain?

W: Less pain. There was no pain the whole night. Early morning, at about 5 a.m. he had coughs and he felt “heaty”.

C: Okay, did he drink a lot of water? He should drink more water. And you said there was no pain throughout the night.

W: Yes, no pain. Only at about 5 a.m. when he woke up he felt the pain.  Before we came to see you, he had pain throughout the night. We have done the e-Therapy twice. After the first therapy, the pain came on and off. It helped him nad he could sleep at least half of the night. After the second therapy, he did not feel any pain for the whole night. Only when we work up at about 5 a.m. that he felt the pain again.

C: Let me ask you again. Before you took the herbs and did the e-Therapy, did you need to take the pain killer (Tramadol) that the doctor gave you?

W: Yes. He had to take the painkiller. It was effective only for about two hours, then the pain came back.

C: Now, after the herbs and the e-Therapy, do you still need to take the painkiller?

W: No need to take any painkiller.

C: So, you did not take the painkiller for the past two nights?

W: No need for painkiller and he only took your herbs.

RZ: Now, I feel better. The pain is very much less. Before this I was not able to sleep because of the pain.

C: Did the treatment of the past two days, helped you?

W:  Yes, it helped him very much.

C: That’s about all that I can to help you. It seemed that he able to walk with more strength?

W: Yes, more strength and his movements had also improved.

Reflection

This is indeed a sad story. Reflect on this case again and ask some questions:

  1. If you were RZ, what would you have done differently?
  2. The surgeon said surgery could cure his cancer 100 percent – what you think?
  3. Do you think, surgery is really necessary given that the cancer had already spread to his bone?
  4. The doctor suggested radiotherapy and then possibly the Targeted Therapy – what do you say to that? Is this a genuine attempt to “cure” the cancer, or it is just an effort to feel that he is doing the right thing? A hero with no realistic chance of success?

Breast-Bone Cancer: e-Therapy Relieved Pains of Her Backbone

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Ati (S-71) is a 44-year-old lady from Aceh, Indonesia.  Sometime in early 2011, the nipple in her right breast retracted. There was no discharge but she felt pulling pains. Although Ati is a staff in a hospital, she refused medical treatment. She went to seek the help of a sinseh in Medan and was on his herbs. Since this did not help her, she came to a private hospital in Penang in February 2011.

Ati underwent a mastectomy. The histopathology report indicated an infiltrating ductal carcinoma, Stage 2 (T2bN1Mx). One of the five axillary lymph nodes was positive for metastatic cancer. The tumour was positive for ER, PR and c-erbB2 receptors.

After this Ati returned to Aceh. She started to take the tea made from sour sop leaves for about one and half months. She came back to see her surgeon again for a follow up. MRI done on 8 April 2011 indicated multiple ill define mixed lytic and sclerotic lesions involving the spine – predominantly at the lower thoracic and lumbar spine as well as in the pelvis. These are likely bony metastases.

At was asked to undergo chemotherapy. She refused.

In December 2011, Ati came back to Penang again. MRI done on 5 December 2011 revealed extensive vertebral metastasis involving the thoracic and lumbar spine. There was a fracture at L4 vertebra and bilateral neuroforaminal narrowing at L4/5 and L3/4.

Blood test done on 7 December 2011 indicated elevation of the liver function enzymes.

Alkaline phsophatase 109.88
GGT  142.45  High
ALT    74.1    High
AST   66.44   High

Unfortunately her doctor said there was nothing wrong with her liver. Instead Ati was asked to undergo a colonoscopy. She refused.

Ati and her husband came to seek our help on 8 December 2011. She presented with severe pains in her backbone and wind in her abdomen. We prescribed herbs and told her to come back and see us if the pains still persisted.

On 1 January 2012, Ati came back again. We put her on the e-Therapy to help with her pains and restricted mobility. After four days on the e-Therapy her pains had almost disappeared and her movements improved by more than 50 percent.   Watch the videos below and see for yourself the wonderous healing that took place.

 

Permission to use these videos without having to mask their faces was granted by the patient and her husband. 

Gist of our conversation

Video 1:  Life is hard with cancer in her backbone, but life was good after the e-Therapy

  1. Her mobility was torturous because of the extensive bony metastases. There was also a fracture at L4 vertebra.
  2. She had pains along the backbone and raising her arms was painful.
  3. Ati underwent the e-Therapy from 1 January to 5 January 2012. After just one session of the e-Therapy, she experienced some improvements. She felt better. She could turn her body to left or right when sleeping. The winds in her stomach had improved. However, she still felt tightness along her backbone. With more sessions of the e-Therapy her conditions improved further. She could stand up by herself without any more help.
  4. She did not suffer any side effects of the e-Therapy.
  5. After 5 days, she and her husband decided she was well enough to go home to Aceh.

Video 2: An interview with her husband

  1. After 4 days here, her condition had improved a lot. Before the therapy she had to be supported when walking, but after the first day of the e-Therapy, her condition had improved by about 30 percent.
  2. Then the next day, her conditions improved further. She had less pains and her body felt lighter. By the fifth day, she felt real good. Over all, her conditions had improved by at least 50 percent.
  3. Before she came here, she urinated standing up. Now she can squat down. At home, her mobility was restricted. She moved by sitting on the floor and pushed herself forward bit by bit. Then she had to push herself up slowly. She slowly took a step at a time to walk.
  4. At home she slept most of the time because she had to lie down. I had to carry her to the toilet. Now after the therapy she can sit up and watch the TV – but not for too long.
  5. Actually my wife is a staff in the hospital.
  6. The oncologist asked her to go for chemotherapy but we refused. Even my friends in Indonesia who are doctors advised us not to go for chemo. They asked us to go for alternative treatment. They told us, “Find someone whom you can trust and feel comfortable with.”
  7. When we came to Penang, we have already made up our mind not to go for chemo even if the oncologist in the hospital here told us to do so.
  8. After much thinking during the night and after talking to many friends we decided to seek the help of Dr. Chris. We have confidence in Dr. Chris.
  9. We would like to express our gratitude to Dr. Chris for whatever help he had given us for the past few days. We remain grateful and do not know how to repay you for this kindness.
  10. Chris: We are here to help you. There is no need to repay for what we have done for you. Don’t worry we do this not expecting to get anything in return. It is God who helped you! (Note: e-Therapy for this patient is done without any charge. But we decide who needs the e-Therapy. It is not patient’s right to demand this therapy).  My main concern is to know if what we are doing here really helped you or not.
  11. Certainly Doctor, the therapy worked and it helped my wife.  Since we came here last Sunday and it is now Thursday – 5 days, my wife’s condition had improved by a least 50 percent. Her pains are very much less and she can walk by herself. She can now turn her body and swing her legs. Before I had to hold and support her and she felt pain. Now when I hold her there is no more pain.
  12. As a Muslim, I pray that God bless you and let you live longer to help others like us.
  13. Chris: God bless you and I am really happy to see you getting well.

AcuGraph Study

As in the videos, the AcuGraph readings taken on 1st , 3rd and 5th January 2012 showed improvements.  Her total qi was higher and the energy of the various meridians was more balanced on 5th January compared to her first day, 1st January 2012 (below).

Comments

Indeed we started 2012 with a great story! But let me confess – it was a near miss.

I remember reading what a Red Indian chief said, “Two dogs live in us – one Good Dog and one Bad Dog. And they always fight with each other.” After reflecting on what we saw of Ati when she first came on 1 January, the Bad Dog said to me in the middle of the night, “Just send her home. She might just die here and that would create a lot of problems for all of us.“ Unfortunately the two dogs did not “fight”. The Good Dog remained silent. When I woke up the next morning, I conveyed this feeling to Im – we might just have to do that.

But when we saw Ati’s face and also the way she walked the next morning, we knew that the Bad Dog was wrong!

I have written an article earlier about my experience with back pains – something that I have to live with for many years now (see, http://painandwellness.org/2011/11/08/lower-back-pain-resolved-after-e-therapy/). This video clearly documented the suffering anyone with back pain has to go through. Every moment and every step represent a struggle.  I know from experience that it is hard. I can understand the suffering that Ati had to endure.

The Bad Dog in me might be right but I am glad that it did not win.

Metastatic Breast Cancer: From Despair to Hope and from Hope to Healing

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Medical history

This patient was diagnosed with breast cancer that had spread to her bones. She went to China for treatment – using chemotherapy, cryoablation and radioactive seeding  In 2008, she went to China thrice, in 2009, twice and in 2010 once.  These treatments did not cure her. Since February 2011, she was unable to walk. The left leg was in pain and swollen. Two months later she had surgery for her leg. But her pains persisted.

In late September 2011, she had pains in her abdomen and was hospitalized. Her family refused further medical treatment. Then they learned about CA Care through another patient (see her case) https://cancercaremalaysia.com/2011/09/10/lung-brain-cancer-an-impossible-healing-1-hope-after-a-disaster-%E2%80%93-when-iressa-tarceva-forty-cycles-of-chemo-and-sutent-did-not-cure-her/

Without hesitation, the patient’s husband and daughter-in-law brought her to seek our help the next day,  9 October 2011.

From Despair to Hope 

She was wheel chair bound. She had to be carried up into the airplane. She was unable to stand up by herself. She was unable to sleep and had pains in her legs throughout the day and night. After five days on the e-Therapy and herbs, her conditions improved.  Her despair turned into hope!  On 26 October 2011, her daughter-in-law called to say that the patient (at home in Jakarta) was able to walk by herself with the help of a walking stick. On the day when she returned home, she was able to walk slowly into the airplane – no need to be carried into the plane like the day she came to Penang. Read her full story: https://cancercaremalaysia.com/2011/10/23/breast-cancer-from-despair-to-hope-in-five-days/

From Hope to Healing

About two months later, 7 December 2011, patient and her husband and daughter-in-law came back to see us again. Patient had improved tremendously. She was able to stand up and walk slowly by herself. She was able to talk and smile. Indeed a big contrast from the previous visit when everybody was serious, grim and full of anticipation. This second visit was full of smile and laughter – very relaxed.  The only concerns patient has now are the discomforts of her right leg and her lack of strength when walking.

An Acugraph reading showed that her qi level was only 19% (very low). We prescribed her the Energy Tea. After three days on this herbal tea, her qi increased to 31% (see figure below).

 

Patient also underwent the e-Therapy. The discomforts improved slightly after the treatment. Watch this video and see the unfolding of healing process.

 

Acknowledgment:  Permission to use these video clips without having to close the patient’s face is granted by the family.

This is a brief transcription of our video conversation.

7 December 2011

She stood up and slowly walked by herself. It was wonderful!

Chris:  After you went home, I did not know what had happened to you. I only hoped that your condition did not drop (deteriorate).

Daughter-in-law:  Her health improved further.

When going into the airplane, could she walk by herself?

DIL: Yes, she walked by her herself (Note: two months ago, she had to be carried into the plane).

Okay, what is her main problem now?

DIL:  Pain in the legs – everyday and throughout the day. At night the pains becomes more intense. It is a kind of sore pain.

The first time she came, she had abdominal pain?

DIL: That is gone now – no more pain.

After you went home – that is already two months now – is her condition getting better or worse?

DIL: Yes better – getting to be normal. Now it is only this leg pain that is troubling her – otherwise she is okay. No headache or dizziness, able to sleep well – if there is no pain.

She is still staying in Jakarta?

DIL: No, she went home to Kalimantan for the past five weeks.  She just came to Jakarta a few days ago to come to Penang.

Ibu, when you return to your hometown – you got to meet your friends – what did they say?

(Laugh!) Very good.

Happy to see your friends and relatives again?

(Nodding and smiling).

11 December 2011

Okay (after three days on the e-Therapy and herbs) what is the problem now?

DIL: Only her right leg. Now (9 pm) she has no pain but later into the night (after 10 pm) she starts to feel the pain – but the time is not fixed – depends. She also feels the pain in the day time but it is not as intense as at night.

On Wednesday (7 December) we did the e-Therapy.  After that you said there was less pain. We continue with the e-Therapy – she felt better.

DIL: Yes – a bit better – able to sleep until the next morning.

When she goes to sleep, does the pain come on again?

DIL: No.

We are talking now (9 pm) and you said she has no pain – when is she going to feel the pain?

DIL: When she has nothing to do at night she begins to feel the pain. If she goes around anywhere, she has no pain (Husband laughed!).

Where she is not doing anything she feels the pain – how long does the pain last?

DIL: Until she feels sleepy and falls asleep. For example the pain starts at 10 pm – it drags on until 12 mid-night or 1 am. Then she falls asleep. No more pain and she goes to sleep the whole night.

What did you do when she had pain?

Husband: Massaged her leg.

Ibu, did you have any problem drinking the herbal tea?

No problem.

Oh, other patients often complained – they felt nauseous or even vomited.

DIL: Mama wanted to k now how long has she got to be on the herbs?

Ha, ha, until you can run around! Why did you ask that question? Are you tired or fed-up of taking the herbs?

DIL: No, no, just wanting to know.

Okay, let me ask you this – before you came to see me and started to take the herbs – and now that you are on the herbs – has you conditions improved?

I felt great – more comfortable!

Now that you are better – do you want to stop taking the herbs? Let’s say I tell you now to stop taking the herbs – do you want to do that?

Oh, no,no, (waving her hand in disagreement). I would not do that.

So my advice is – relax and take it easy. Continue taking the herbs. It is only two months.

DIL: There is a vast improvements.

Let me ask you again. After coming back from China and after the surgery in Jakarta – you did not seek any more medical treatment because these did not cure you. Tell me how did you feel after that – what did your heart say? That is before you came to CA Care.

DIL: We were lost and helpless, not knowing what else to do or where else to go to. We went to see many doctors – bone doctor, cancer doctor, etc., etc., we felt we did not find the “real” doctor who could effectively help her.

At that time, did you feel you wanted to give up>

DIL: Yes, we did not know who else to go to for help. Then a friend of a friend told us about a patient who came to CA Care lately. She was “healed” by your therapy. We called her husband and went to meet him in his office. Two days later, we flew to Penang to see you.

When you heard of that healing story, did you believe what the man, Mr. Tukiman, had told you? You really believe his story?

DIL: Yes, we bought the plane tickets and flew to see you two days later!

Did you really believe what Tukiman said?

DIL: sure, we believed all what he told us.

Husband: Nodding and nodding.

Bapak, you too went to meet Tikuman and you believed what he told you. You were not afraid he was just bluffing you?

(Ha, ha, everybody laughed!).

When you first arrived at our Centre – saw what we did to others. Did you really believe what we were doing?

Husband: Nodding. Yes, I believed.

Okay Ibu, you took the herbs and you got better. At home can you play with your grandchildren now?

Yes, can play with them now.

Before the herbs, could you play with your grandchildren?

DIL: She remained confined to her bedroom.

But now can you walk around.

DIL: Yes, she walked around in the house.

Now, is there hope?

(Everybody laughed!)

Wonderful, wonderful.  I feel very happy for you.

DIL: Look at her face. She had improved a lot.

Now you have found the  right path. You know how to take care of yourself. Go home and don’t get lost again.

 

Breast Cancer: From Despair to Hope in Five Days

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1: Healing In Five Days

2: Her Tragic Story

Acknowledgment:  Permission to use these video clips without having to close the patient’s face is granted by the family.

The gist of our conversation:

1.  Breast lump, ten years ago and she did nothing about it.

She discovered a lump in her breast more than   ten years ago but did nothing about it. The lump grew bigger. In 2008, she went to Kuching, Malaysia for a full-body check up. At that time she did not experience any serious discomfort. However, the check up revealed a stage 4 breast cancer since it had probably spread to her bones.

Did she suffer any pains before the check up? Yes, she had pains around the shoulder blade. After a massage the pains disappeared.

2.  Trips to China to find the cure.

The doctor in Kuching suggested chemotherapy. She refused. The family decided to bring her to China for medical treatment. She received treatments such as chemotherapy, cryoablation and radioactive seeding  in the Chinese hospital.

She stayed about one to two weeks in China during each trip there.  She returned home feeling “alright” only to go back to China again for more treatment each year.

Did they teach you to take care of her diet? No, she was told to eat anything she likes. They did not teach her anything about the diet.

3. A Minor Fall

In January 2011, she had a minor fall. This cause one of her legs to become swollen. But even before the fall, she always had pains in her legs. She consulted a doctor in Kuching about this problem and was told that nothing was wrong with her leg but she probably had cancer in her colon.

4.  Leg Operation

Since February 2011, she was not unable to walk and remained immobilized at home. One of her leg was in pain and the other was swollen. She was unable to place her feet on the ground and stand up because of pains.

She went to Jakarta for further consultation.  Subsequently she underwent a surgery intervention for both of her legs.

Two months after the surgery she was able to walk. There were no more pains in the foot when she stepped on the ground. But the pains in the lower parts of her legs persisted.

 5.  Did no return to China anymore

 Did she go back to China again after this? No. We made a total of six trips to China.  In 2008, she went to China thrice, in 2009, twice and in 2010 once. No use – at every visit they asked us to do PET scan, chemo, etc. She became tired, vomited, etc.

6.  Hospitalization – September 2011

In late September 2011, she had pains in her abdomen and was unable to walk again. She had to be hospitalized. The oncologist suggested a PET scan to find out what was wrong with her. The family declined.  By this time she was taking a variety of medications prescribed by the oncologist, bone specialist and neurologist.

3.  CA Care Penang – 9 October 2011

She was wheel chair bound. She had to be carried up into the airplane. She was unable to stand up by herself.

She was unable to sleep and had pains in her legs throughout the day and night.  After listening to her story that 9 October night, we could only say this to her family, I really don’t know what I can do to help you. But I shall try my best. It was indeed a hopeless and helpless case.

After five days on the e-Therapy and herbs, her conditions improved.  The pains in her legs were almost gone. She was able to sleep and above all she was able to stand up by herself with minimal help.

Update: On 26 October 2011, her daughter-in-law called to say that patient (now at home in Jakarta) is able to walk by herself with the help of a walking stick. On the day when she returned home, she was able to slowly walk into the airplane – no need to be carried into the plane like the week before. 

Six Months to Live – Yet Ten Years Have Passed

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Raju (not real name), a male of 66 years, suffered from cancer of an undetermined origin. The cancer had spread to his backbone. His spine, T8, was eroded. His case was referred to two specialists overseas but no one was able to determine where the origin was. Raju had undergone chemotherapy but he gave that up after one cycle. He had six radiation treatments after which he remained confined to the deck chair unable to move for about two months. Raju’s son said: “They told me that my father had Stage 4 cancer. They told me to get his will done and gave him about 6 months to live. We got that done – the will and the bank account.” It is now 2009 and Raju is till doing fine! Listen what Raju himself has got to say …

Raju’s son came to seek our help on 17 December 1999. He told us that his father had backaches and was on morphine, 30 mg twice daily. He was unable to lie down flat to sleep. So all day and night, he had to sit and sleep on a deck chair. He had a poor appetite and was tired. Both of his legs were swollen. Raju was constipated and had burning sensations in the chest. We prescribed Raju some herbs: Capsule A, Bone Tea and C-tea.

After one week on the herbs, Raju personally came with his son to our Centre. He told us that the herbs were helpful. However, Raju was not happy with the bitter taste of the herbs. Chris told him: Uncle Raju, healing needs inputs and sacrifices from you. It does not come easy. We have given you the best that we have! The rest is your responsibility.

It was a great surprise for us to see Raju again on 30 December 1999. This time, he walked confidently into our Centre all by himself, without any help. He looked great. He told us that there were less pains and the morphine intake was reduced to 15 mg twice daily and then to 15 mg once a day. His appetite was very good. He was able to lie down flat and sleep. There was no more swelling in both his legs. His bowel movements were back to normal and the burning sensations in his chest had disappeared.

Chris asked Raju if the bitterness of the herbs was worth the price to pay. Raju gave a broad and satisfying smile.

From that day on, Raju was on his healing path. After two months on the herbs, he was able to walk around the neighbourhood. One month later, he could follow his son to Ipoh (a town about 200 km away) to visit relatives. After eight months on the herbs, he could take a bus ride by himself to come out to town. Later he visited India with his family.

On 26 April 2001, one year and four months later, Raju shared his experiences with us. This video-taped interview was done a week before Raju was to go to India for a second visit.