Category: Liver Cancer – Metastatic

My Adopted Brother Died of Cancer

It was a good death

In  late April 2022, I received a message from my “adopted brother”. He was admitted to the government hospital and was down with cancer.

He was a smoker but had stopped smoking some two years ago!

I had a chance to talk to his doctor who told me my brother had anaplastic thyroid cancer. In addition, there were extensive metastases in his lungs and liver.  Without doubt – by just looking at the CT scan images (below) – I knew that his days were numbered. No treatment would be able to save him.

The following are records of our conversation during the last few days before he died. I hope you can learn some lessons from this.

Chris: The doctors said they want to do biopsy for the lung and liver to confirm if it is cancer or not. NO, I would not do that if possible. That is why I say I need to see the CT pictures.

Brother: 3:39 pm, 22/04/2022]: Ok. I will try  my best.

B:  4:20 pm, 23/04/2022]: Hi Ko Dam. Tomorrow  they are going to extract some samples from the swelling near the base of my throat.

C: Your lung is bad — yes– I expect that because of the long smoking. I have all the herbs for lung, lymph, liver and thyroid.

B: 11:50 am, 24/04/2022: Sorry reply a bit late.  They are taking blood samples from me. Thank you so much Ko Dam.

C:  Now,  the question is what treatment the doctors are going to give you? Generally it is chemotherapy – 6 x and then radiotherapy. For the thyroid it is radio-iodine to drink. This is okay… you don’t dink every day. For chemotherapy,,ask the doctor can cure or not?  For radiotherapy — ask, can cure or not? Also with chemo and radiotherapy — you suffer from the effects of treatment or not? I would not do chemo or radiotherapy (radioiodine for the thyroid — ok). BUT I cannot say you must follow me.You have to decide what you want to do. Of course I have herbs for your lung and liver …no problem .. I shall help you with that.

B: They did not say anything yet. Just now they took samples from my throat.  I will follow your advice completely.

C: Can you breathe okay now — without oxygen?

B: When I go to the toilet I feel ok.

C: Listen to what the doctor want you to do. Ask questions and then don’t commit to anything yet. Say you need time to discuss with your family first and to prepare. No need to rush. My main concern is your breathing now.

B: 24/04/2022: Ok.

C: When are they going to let you out of the hospital?

B: 24/04/2022: Don’t know yet.

C:  How are you now? Breathing still need oxygen?

B: 7:27 pm, 24/04/2022: They still insist that  I use the oxygen.

C: Okay, but without oxygen — are you ok?

B: 7:34 pm, 24/04/2022: If I walk around more I do feel a bit tired.

C: I am going to send you many herbs …bitter, not good taste …can take or not. Then must take care of diet – no meat, fried food, hawker food, etc.

B: 8:06 pm, 24/04/2022: Have to take. No problem.

C: let me know as soon as you know what doctors want you to do.

B: 8:07 pm, 24/04/2022: Ok. Will do.

B: 10:16 am, 28/04/2022: This is the report for the samples they obtained from the thyroid the other day. They will send the surgical team to talk to me later.

C:  Okay, just listen but tell them you need to seek second opinion or advice from family members before doing anything.

B: 10:48 am, 28/04/2022: Ok.

C:  I sent out the herbs already and I hope by Saturday it should get to you. Attached is the instruction on how to use the herbs. I sent the herbs for one month first,  see how you react to the herbs. Then I shall send again if everything is okay.

(Note:  the herbs here delayed due to the Raya holidays and arrived a day after he died)

B: 0:05 pm, 28/04/2022: Ok. Tqvm Ko Dam.

 B:0:19 pm, 29/04/2022: Hi Ko Dam. Going to be discharged today. In the process of doing the paperwork.

C: 0:21 pm, 29/04/2022: What did the doctor say?

B: 0:23 pm, 29/04/2022: He gives a discharge cause I have no money.

C: What do you mean? Why, staying in GH also have to pay?

B: 0:39 pm, 29/04/2022: They asked me if I have any savings to the tune of RM10,000. I said  I don’t  have the money. Maybe this is for the operation and chemo. I can breathe ok.

C: Now what is important is your breathing –  can you breathe okay?  Your lung is not good. Make sure you can breathe … if cannot you need to use oxygen.

B: 6:52 pm, 29/04/2022: Ko Dam arrived home safely now.

B: 3:13 pm, 03/05/2022: Less coughing. But still weaķ due to low oxygen.

C: My concern is your breathing … low oxygen … can you get oxygen from somewhere?

B: 3:17 pm, 03/05/2022: Now I use portable oxygen. Tomorrow rent the permanent one. We rent from the pharmacy.

C: How are you today? Is your breathing okay?

B: 0:04 pm, 05/05/2022: Okay thank you. I’m on the oxygen machine.

C:  Do you need to use the machine all the time of the day?

B: 0:28 pm, 05/05/2022: Yes.

C: Who is going to cook the herbs for you?

B: 0:29 pm, 05/05/2022: Wife.

C: She is working from 10 am to 10 pm?

B: 0:32 pm, 05/05/2022: Stop working until I get better.

C:  Without oxygen — you cannot breathe?

B: 7:23 pm, 05/05/2022: Yes.

C: So 24 hours must use oxygen?

B: 7:24 pm, 05/05/202: Yes

Daughter: 1:31 am, 06/05/2022  Hi Ku Dam . I’m Alicia. My father just passed away.

A Good Death – The Ultimate Healing  

My attempt to try and “save” my adopted brother failed. He did not have the chance to even “receive” the full range of herbs that I sent him.

To be honest, deep down in my heart,  I knew well in advance that this would be the ultimate result – death. And this is case it was a good death. And I am grateful for this.

Death is one thing in life which is beyond our control. It has always been my wish that when the time for me to die, let me go Lord in peace, without suffering. That is also what I ask for.

The doctor sent my brother home because he could not cough out RM10,000. I am glad that my brother declined further medical intervention. If he had RM10K, he might just ended up dead on the operation table – who knows? Or even if the operation is a success, can he be cured? NO way. He might end up suffering.

This suffering is not confined to the sick. It affects his wife and daughter as well. It ends up everyone having to suffer. Is it worth it?

You might say I am very pessimistic. You do not provide hope. I understand. But I am also realistic. In my brother’s case he had anaplastic thyroid cancer. In my 27 years of caring for cancer patients I have seen NO more than half a dozen of such cases. This is what the internet says:

Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma, also known as undifferentiated thyroid carcinoma, is a rare, highly aggressive malignant tumor accounting for 2 to 3 percent of all thyroid gland neoplasms. Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma continues to be one of the most deadly diseases worldwide and carries a very poor prognosis.

On top of this aggressive, rare cancer he also had metastases in his lung and liver. His metastasis was very serious indeed. There is no way anyone can pretend to be a “hero” trying to save him. Added to that was the metastasis to the liver. I was not able to know how extensive it was because I was not able to see the CT scan of his liver.

So again, I am being realistic. But that does not mean that I give up on him and leave him to die. Don’t get me wrong – what we can do is to make his life better. I know that our herbs may be able to do that. So,  I sent him a boxful of herbs but the transit was delayed due to the festive season. My brother died.

No, life is not cheap. It is precious but what is the use of living if you are just a “vegetable”? 

No question about it,  my brother’s sudden death is very “hurtful” for those around him. It was a great loss for his wife and only daughter. Let us grieve for the loss of our loved one. But, I believe, we need to be realistic and accept the fact that it is better for him to go rather than drag on with his suffering.

About a week ago I received an email from someone in Penang. The writer wanted to bring her 65-year-old mother for surgery or/and chemo, in spite of extensive cancer in her live. There was also cancer in her bones.

This was my reply:

I have seen thousands of cases –  where chemo had failed them miserably. Then they come to see me for help!  Your mom’s case is way too advanced — nothing can cure her. So learn to live with it and not fight it. If you fight you die faster ending up miserable besides finding a big hole in your bank account.

But it is up to you. Some people don’t believe in herbs but some do. Some people believe that the doctors know best. Well, it is all yours to decide. 

My final comment – No one on earth can cure such serious cancer. So if you have to die, better die in peace without any suffering. If you fight it will be like Iraq or Ukraine …. bomb, bomb, bomb. Who win?

The writer replied:

I understand that my mother’s sickness could not be cured. But we are hoping the best that at least she can have a better quality life then just waiting to die with it. Is it possible to remove the tumour and eat herbs to maintain/control the cancer? I’m not a doctor. This is just my guessing. 

You may not agree with my take. That’s okay. If you wish to fight a war, go ahead.

To me, there is no better death than to be able to smile, fold my arms together and go in peace! There is no need for anyone to display any “heroic” act in trying to save me. Let’s be realistic.

Extensive spread to liver after seven shots of chemo

PR is a 33-year-old Indonesia. This is an email (translated and edited from Bahasa Indonesia) I received from him on 10 October 2017.

Part A: Medical history

A year ago, I often had stomach pains on the left side. I consulted doctors in Indonesia and Malaysia and did USG, CT Scan and colonoscopy. There was a tumor inside the colon. After a biopsy, I had surgery.

After operation the result was malignant tumor and I was required to undergo chemo for 8 times (infusion) and take medication (Xeloda) for 2 weeks and rest of 1 week.

After 4 cycles of chemo I did a CT scan again. The cancer had spread to the liver. I have to chemotherapy until 7 times. Then I did a CT scan again. The result was still the same, I decided to stop chemo and I chose my own herbal consumption (garlic mixed with honey).

Part B: Are you currently taking herbs?

No. I consumed herbs 1 month ago, some kind of  root, but it was not effective. I now feel pain and uncomfortable in the upper right abdomen and waist and shoulder.  For more than 2 weeks I stopped taking the herbs again. I am now taking painkillers from the doctors (Ultraset and Acorxia).

Part C: Current health condition

The more detailed information you provide, the better we can understand your problems.

  1. Do you feel pain? Where, how often and how serious? I often experience pain at the bottom of the right rib, pain when exhaling and also often uncomfortable at the waist, shoulders, and abdomen.
  1. Can you sleep? I have trouble sleeping. While sleeping only briefly and often woke up again.
  1. Do you feel tired? Sometimes.
  1. How often have you had a bowel movement? Is it difficult, with blood? Defecate sometimes 1 to 2 times a day, no bleeding and no pain.
  1. How is your appetite? Normal appetite, but I eat less because of stomach feeling full.
  1. Any bleeding? Where? No bleeding.
  1. Do you have a problem: digestion? diabetes? high blood pressure? No diabetes or high blood. Only when defecate feeling less satisfied (stools only a little bit sometimes).
  1. How often do you urinate? With blood? Normal, and no blood.
  1. Do you cough? With phlegm, what color (white / yellow)? Throat itchy? No cough, just throat often feel thirsty. 
  1. Breathing difficulties? Yes, sometimes with pain in the upper abdomen right under the ribs.
  1. Any other complaints: The stomach, shoulders and waist feel uncomfortable. The portion of the pit of the stomach is rather hard. Body often feels hot but cannot stand the cold weather.

PR came seek our help after this email.

Listen to our conversation that morning.

Gist of our conversation.

His problem started about 2 years ago when he lost his appetite and had difficulty moving his bowels. After a medical checkup he was told there was a mass in his colon. He went to a private hospital in Melaka for a colonoscopy. It was colon cancer and he underwent an operation in July 2016. The operation cost RM 30,000.

Chris: Did you ask the doctor if the operation can cure you?

PR: Bisa sembuh (yes, can cure!). But after the operation the doctor said the cancer was aggressive. I have to undergo chemotherapy.

C: So you have chemo?

P: Yes, after the fourth chemo, CT scan showed the cancer had spread to the liver. Then, I have more chemo and stopped after the 7th chemo.

C: Did the cancer go away?

P: No, the liver got worse. 

CT scan: 6 October 2017 

  • Liver metastasis in both lobes, predominantly right lobe. The conglomerate of nodules in right lobe measures 11.4 x 15.1 x 18.1 cm. Mild ascites seen.
  • Multiple para-aortic adenopathies, largest 1.8 x 2.2 cm.

Chest X-ray: Left lower zone nodules seen. Lung metastasis.

Blood test: 6 Oct. 2017

ESR 42 H
Platelet count 245
ALT (SGPT) 63 H
AST (SGOT) 150 H
ALP 256 H
GGT 211 H

C: How much did you spend in all for the treatments?

P: The operation cost about RM 30,000 and the 7 cycles of chemo (including Xeloda) cost RM5,000 / cycle.

C: Let me ask you this — before the operation did the scan show any cancer in your liver?

P: No, there was no liver metastasis.

C: Before the chemo — was there any cancer in your liver?

P: No cancer in the liver.

C: But after 4 shots of chemo, CT scan showed the cancer had gone to the liver?

P: Yes.

C: So, what did the doctor say?

P: Continue with the chemo!

C: What is the whole idea of doing more chemo when you got worse? What do you think made the cancer spread to the liver?

Comments

To answer the last question, perhaps you may want to reflect to the following reports.

Shock study: Chemotherapy can backfire, make cancer worse by triggering tumor growth

The extremely aggressive therapy, which kills both cancerous and healthy cells indiscriminately, can cause healthy cells to secrete a protein that sustains tumor growth and resistance to further treatment.

The scientists found that healthy cells damaged by chemotherapy secreted more of a protein called WNT16B which

“WNT16B, when secreted, would interact with nearby tumor cells and cause them to grow, invade, and importantly, resist subsequent therapy,” said Nelson.

In cancer treatment, tumors often respond well initially, followed by rapid re-growth and then resistance to further chemotherapy.

Source: http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/health/shock-study-chemotherapy-backfire-cancer-worse-triggering-tumor-growth-article-1.1129897

Chemotherapy could spread cancer cells and lead to more advanced tumours, says study

Chemotherapy is used to kill cancer cells and stop tumours from growing – but a new study suggests it could in fact help the disease spread, leading to more aggressive forms of cancer.

While the treatment was found to shrink tumours in the short term, chemotherapy drugs increase the chance that cancer cells will migrate to elsewhere in the body and may trigger a ‘repair’ system which allows them to grow back stronger, according to a team of US researchers.

Source: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/chemotherapy-cancer-spread-cells-tumours-more-advanced-treatment-study-breast-metastatic-albert-a7826461.html

Treatment Can Make Cancer Stronger

Doctors use radiation and chemotherapy to destroy cancer cells. About half of patients are cured — that is, all of their tumor cells die.

The other half of the time, some tumor cells survive treatment. These cancer cells are more aggressive than they were before treatment, says Mark W. Dewhirst, DVM, PhD, professor of radiation oncology at Duke University.

“When you give a tumor treatment, whatever cells survive are going to be more resistant to that treatment,” Dewhirst tells WebMD. “Those not killed are healthier cancer cells.”

Source: https://www.webmd.com/cancer/news/20080610/treatment-can-make-cancer-stronger#1

Why do chemotherapy drugs cause liver damage?

Chemotherapy drugs may cause liver damage because they are toxins and they place added stress on the liver’s filtering function. The liver removes toxins and chemicals from the blood stream and changes them into products that can be readily removed through the bile or urine. If toxins accumulate in the body faster than the liver can process them, then liver damage will result.

Source: http://cancer.unm.edu/cancer/cancer-info/cancer-treatment/side-effects-of-cancer-treatment/less-common-side-effects/organ-problems/liver-damage-hepatotoxicity/

Read our two articles:

Chemotherapy SPREADS and MAKES cancer more AGGRESSIVE

Chemotherapy Spreads Cancer and Makes It More Aggressive: Articles From the Internet

 

Cancer of Rectum-Liver: Stage 4 – Part 1: Surgery followed by 8 times of chemo can cure you!

Jas is a 54-year-old Indonesian lady. Her daughter came to seek our help. Jas’s problem started in mid-2016 when she had bleeding. She could not tell where it came from — through the vagina or rectum. Anyway, she consulted a gynaecologist who told her that her uterus was “dirty” and needed “cleaning up” (whatever that means!).

One day in October 2016, while a home, Jas was unable to stand up. She still had bleeding then. The doctor said she suffered from vertigo.

Fast forward to March 2017, Jas consulted another gynaecologist in Medan and was told that besides the “dirty” uterus there was a mass in her anus.

Jas came to a private hospital. in Penang. A blood test on 4 April 2017 indicated CEA = 247.03, CA19.9= 72.2, ESR = 57.

Jas underwent an operation. Histopathology confirmed the following:

  • Moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma of rectum with metastases in pericolic lymph nodes (11/11) and segment 4a of liver.
  • T3N2Mx, Stage 4.
  • Non-neoplastic liver shows features of chronic hepatitis.

The cost of the operation was RM 60,000.

Jas was told to take a rest for 3 weeks after the surgery and then come back for chemotherapy. The drug to be used was Oxaliplatin + Xeloda (oral) or Oxaliplatin + TS-One (oral). Each cycle would cost RM 7,000.

Jas needed to receive 8 cycles of chemo plus radiation after that.

Chris: Before the operation, did you ask the doctor if he can cure you?

Daughter: The doctor said you have to operate and then followed by 8 cycles of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. You will be cured.

Son-in-law: The doctor said it depends on chemotherapy. 

Jas eventually underwent one cycle of chemotherapy. She had the treatment in another hospital. Why?

The chemo treatment in another hospital using the same drugs: Oxaliplatin + TS-One cost only RM 3,500 (half the price of the other hospital where she had her surgery!).

Chris: Did you ask the oncologist if chemotherapy would cure you?

Daughter: The doctor was not sure. 

C: Did you not tell him that the doctor in another hospital said it can be cured after surgery and chemotherapy?

D: I told him. He did not respond and kept quiet. 

C: Did your mother suffer any side effects of the chemo?

D: She had difficulty sleeping, had sores in her mouth, felt nauseous and vomited. She did not vomit if she did not take TS-One. She felt very tired and very uncomfortable. No, my mother is not going for the second chemo. She does not want anymore chemo.

 

Comments

Can we all learn something from this sad story?

  1. Right from the start something did not seem to be right — being told about “dirty uterus”. What was that? After further consultations, Jas was told there was a big tumour near her anus. How could that be?

2.. Jas came to Penang and underwent an operation. She did the right thing! After surgery, she was told to take a rest for about 3 weeks and then proceed with chemotherapy. Chemotherapy — there is no need to rush to do that. Now, let us ask two important basic questions.

  1. Before undergoing any treatment, I always tell patients to ask their doctors — Can the surgery (chemo or radiation) cure me? This is a legitimate question to ask and don’t be afraid to ask!
  1. Yes, Jas asked that question. Can surgery cure me? Jas got this answer. After surgery, you need to go for 8 cycles of chemo (plus radiation) and you will be cured. 
  1. Is that an honest, truthful answer? It sound like undergoing surgery by itself is not enough to cure you. You need chemo and radiation as well to be cured.
  1. Or, by giving such vague answer, was the surgeon trying to pass the buck to the oncologist?
  1. What if chemo / radiation do not cure?

Let me relate what happened to one patient who did surgery in that same hospital A. His surgeon said he needed to cut off a part of his liver immediately, otherwise he would die soon. A few months after the surgery, the cancer came back again. The patient and his wife confronted the surgeon and was given this answer, I have already done my job. I have removed the tumour in your liver. He walked away refusing to see the couple again.

  1. Jas went to Hospital B. She asked the oncologist if chemotherapy would cure her. The oncologist said, NOT SURE ! When told that the doctor in Hospital A said after 8 chemo Jas will be cured, this oncologist kept quiet! Take note, people of the same tribe takes care of each other, right?
  1. Take note also that this is a stage 4 cancer — from the rectum the cancer has spread to her liver. Can surgery and chemo cure such cancer?
  1. Lesson two: Before undergoing any treatment ask how much it cost – that is if money is important to you! Using the same drugs, each cycle of chemotherapy in Hospital A cost RM 7,000 but in Hospital B it was only RM3,500 (half the price!).Treatment for cancer is extremely lucrative!

 

 

Pain gone, Slept well, Went shopping

Part 3: Four days on CA Care Therapy

22 July 2017: Dear Mr. Chris kh Teo,

Hi there, My name is M and I have pancreatic cancer with metastasis to the liver and lung. I found your web site while I’m searching for alternative medication for my cancer. I’m a Filipino but residing here in Australia. I am interested to try your herbal medicine. I want to know how could I get it.

Do I need to come there in Malaysia or can you ship your herbal medicine here in Australia. Or can I see you personally so that you could discuss to me all the information that I need to know. If I need to come there in Malaysia can you book me an appointment as soon as possible. Is there any fees do we need to pay and how much does it cost to buy your herbal medicine

Hope you can give me more information about your herbal medicine and hope to see you soon.

Reply: There is NO cure for such cancer —- I am not sure if you even travel  with such condition … the best is for you to send someone to come and see me …. that someone must know your health condition ….then I can give the herbs …. Chris

Dear Dr. Chris Teo,

I am able to travel to see you. I’m still in good condition as of now. I will travel with my husband. Is there any specific day and time that I can visit you?  Please I really want to see you.

Reply: Are you from Sydney / Melb / Perth? My concern is the air travel — too taxing. But if you want to come — I am okay. Monday to Friday at about 11 am ….. go to my website www.CancerCareMalaysia.com and click what to do next . You get all the details.

I need to see all medical reports and scans …. and then please read this.

 Some important points for you to know before you see me

  1. NO CURE FOR CANCER  

a) Most patient who come here, have already undergone medical treatments – surgery, radiation or chemo. Do these cure you?

b) If you come here expecting me to cure you, know that I too cannot cure your cancer. From my experience, NO one on earth can cure any cancer. After some years cancer comes back again!

c) But if you want me to help you – to give you another option, to have a better quality of life   — may be it is possible. But it all depends on you. Because your health is your responsibility. Are you willing to help yourself? Are you willing to change your lifestyle, your diet, etc.? 

2. OUR HERBS ARE BAD-TASTING, AND HAVE AWFUL SMELL

a) Besides the bad taste and smell.

b) You need to boil the herbs a few times a day — that’s a lot of work!

c) You need to take two, three or four types of teas each day.

3. YOU MUST TAKE CARE OF YOUR DIET – YOU CANNOT EAT ANYTHING YOU LIKE

a) You cannot eat anything that walks – meaning, no meat, no egg, no milk, etc.

b) Don’t take sugar (sugar is food for cancer).

c) Don’t eat oily or fried food, table salt. 

4. TRY OUR THERAPY FOR TWO TO FOUR WEEKS

a) May be the first 2 weeks on our therapy, you may suffer more pain, more tired, etc. That’s healing crisis. Don’t stop. Hopefully after 3 to 4 weeks you may feel better.

b) If after a month on our therapy you still don’t feel better — the herbs are not helping you in anyway — then stop following our therapy. Please ask someone else to help you.

c) If you feel better, continue with our therapy.

If you are still on chemo or radiotherapy (or are planning to do chemo or radiotherapy), or are taking other treatments elsewhere, go ahead and continue with these treatments first, do not take our herbs yet.

Good morning Dr. Teo. I am from Perth.  Me and my husband would love to travel to see you. We will try to get flight the soonest as possible maybe this week or early next week. I just have one question do we need to stay there while I’m taking your medication or can we go back to Australia and bring the medication here.

Thank you very much may God Bless You always.

Reply: Just see me for an hour or two … you can take the herbs home and start taking them at home ….. so one or two days in Penang is good enough.

Pain gone, Slept well, Went shopping

 

Our advice

Update

 Mei’s pain was gone and she became a “normal” person — can eat, can sleep, etc. just after a day in Penang! Is this a placebo effect?

After returning home to Australia, Mei wrote: Thank God… I’ve been drinking the tea for 5 days now so far I don’t have any problem I don’t have any pain. I’m still in good condition. Thank you very for your concern.

 

 

Cancer of the pancreas-liver-lung: Surgery and chemo failed. She came to CA Care

Mei (not real name) is 53-year-old lady who flew to Penang with her husband from Australia. They were desperately in need of help. According to her doctors, Mei would not live long — it is a month to month case and Mei would probably not survive to celebrate Christmas 2017 (5 more months!).

Mei’s problem started in March 2016, when she had problem swallowing food or even water. Both her hands and legs itch. Her GP did a blood test and found her liver function enzymes were elevated. This could be due to obstructive jaundice. She was then referred to a specialist.

CT and MRI showed tumour in the head of the pancreas. In early April 2016, Mei underwent a Whipples resection in which part of the pancreas, intestine, bile duct, gallbladder, omentum and 8 lymph nodes were removed.

After the surgery, Mei received 6 cycles of chemotherapy. 

Chris: Did you ask if the chemo was going to cure you? There  is no clear cut answer to this question. According to Mei, she was given the impression that everything would be okay after completing the chemo.

Did you suffer from the chemo? Yes. Listen to our conversation. It was 5 months of hell.

 

 

Unfortunately too, after the fifth chemo, Mei was told that the cancer had spread to her liver. There were “innumerable foci throughout all segments of the liver.” Mei was also told that there was a spot in her lung.

Mei had to undergo more chemo. Mei received 4 more cycles of chemo. On two occasions she had to be hospitalized due to breathing difficulties. She decided to give up chemotherapy.

The oncologist and Mei’s husband came to a compromise — Mei would go on a “drug holiday” for 2 months and then resume chemo again. When the 2 months were up, Mei told the oncologist she would not want to continue with her chemotherapy any more. The oncologist said he hoped Mei could make it to December.

Comments

Many people have written about chemotherapy and its devastating effects on patients. Reflect on these quotations.

 

For more go to Part 2.

 

Rectum-Liver Cancer: Part 3: Eat anything you like, you die faster!

 

Kanker-Usus Hati 3: Makan apapun yang kamu suka, mati lebih cepat!

In our discussion with Jasmine’s daughter and son-in-law, I related the story of one of our patients. He was a 79-year-old Datuk — an educated man of high standing. Let’s call him Peter. He came with his brother who was a minister in the government.  He had cancer in his colon that had spread extensively to his liver.

Peter refused further medical treatment in spite of the seriousness of his illness. According to him: I would not be able to endure all these treatments. Presented with such a situation, what could I do?

There were two realities we must face in this case.

  • One, there was a tumour in the rectum and this had not been removed. It was almost blocking the passage way. I pointed out to Peter, if the tumour grew bigger and block the passage of stools then he would be done. Peter understood the message. But he was told by his doctor that even if he was to go for an operation, his life could be prolonged by another three to four months only. Peter categorically told me he would not want to go through the hassle. Okay, this was my bargain with him. Take the herbs and change your diet and lifestyle and if the stools become smaller and smaller (meaning the passage way is blocked) then he has no choice but to go for surgery.  There is nothing much I can do to help if this happened.
  • Problem number two is obviously more serious. The cancer had spread to his liver. I make it clear to Peter that no one on earth can cure liver cancer (for that matter any cancer!).

We prescribed herbs to Peter. Surprisingly he got better. I often called me over the phone. One time he asked if he could continue to enjoy his cigar after dinner. He said he had “sacrificed” enough forgoing all his favourite food when he was invited out for dinners. Then he wanted to know if he could still drink his wine since he had a good collection of wine at home. To that I remember saying, No – why don’t you have just give those wine to your friends. He answered, But you know each bottle cost a few thousand ringgit. 

Once Peter called me to say that according to his niece who is a medical specialist,  it was dangerous not to remove the tumour in his colon. The tumour would grow bigger and bigger and eventually  block the passage way. According to theory or textbook knowledge the tumour will grow if not removed but my experience shows that with herbs and change of diet, this does not necessarily happen!

I asked, But can you pass your stools? Are the stools getting smaller and smaller? He answered, No. Then I said, In that case the tumour has not grown in size yet. We can still wait – but of course you can go for surgery if you like. So we waited. Six months passed and Peter was still alright – no problem of blockage.

About nine months later, I got a phone call from his brother.  I was told that Peter was not doing well. His stomach was bloated and he felt uneasy and had no strength, etc. Without hesitation, I asked: What did your brother eat the past few days? The brother replied: I was told he ate pulut laced with sugar and salted fish. Not long after this, Peter died.

There are two lessons that we can learn from this story.

One, if the cancer has already spread, from the rectum to the liver, what good is surgery unless the tumour has blocked the passageway. In this case, Jasmine was able to move her bowels without any problem. You may wish to ask if what Jasmine underwent was the best option?

Two, learn that: What you eat is important. If you want to get well, you need to refrain from “bad food.” You cannot eat anything you like!

After hearing this, Jasmine’s son-in-law was eager to tell me his story too.

From the internet, the family learned that the chances of Jasmine surviving her cancer is extremely low. So all the family members had come to term with this and adopt this attitude: Let her eat what she wants to eat. Although the son-in-law did not agree with this he could not do anything. So there was tension in the family about Jasmine’s diet.

The daughter said, Even the doctor said my mother can eat anything — no pantang.

Last week they were all in a shopping mall in Medan. The son-in-law said, She does not like shopping.But she likes eating. So she ate laksa, koay teow and rojak. My mother-in-law became so ill that she had to be rushed to the hospital after that.

So it goes again. The same old story being played over and over again!

So I told Jasmine’s daughter and son-in-law. If she is not going to take care of her diet, then there is no point taking our herbs. It would just a wasted effort. If you don’t want to take care of your diet, you die faster. It is as simple as that. And if I know that my patients go back to their old eating habits after being well, I would not want to see them again. I am just fed up. I can help with the cancer, but I know I cannot change human being.

Comments

Over the years dealing with cancer patients, I have come to accept that we cannot help everyone. We can only help those who want to help themselves. I often tell patients:  If you can eat, can sleep, can move around and have no pain – what else do you want? Each day, learn to be grateful for what you are. 

Unfortunately not all patients have that virtue. Once they feel well, they will demand to eat what they like! Unfortunately most patients have to pay a heavy penalty after that. Click this link: https://cancercaremalaysia.com/category/diet-nutrition/, and pick your story!

To me, the secret of happiness in life is to cultivate a sense of gratitude.

  • Be grateful for what we are.
  • Be thankful for what we have and what we are blessed with.

This virtue on its own breeds a sense of contentment and satisfaction in life. That is healing. We learn to live with the cancer but at the same time we live in peace with ourselves.

 

Rectum-Liver Cancer: Part 1: Undergo surgery, chemo and radiation and you will be cured. Do you believe that?

Kanker Usus-Hati 1: Operasi diikuti kemo dan radioterapi bisa sembuh. Apakah ini benar? 

Jasmine (not real name) is a 54-year-old Indonesian lady. Her problem started with bleeding. The doctor was not sure if it was from the anus or the female reproductive organ. Jasmine consulted a gynaecologist who told her that her uterus was “dirty” and may need cleaning up (whatever that means!). Jasmine did nothing after that.

Some months later, while at home, Jasmine could not stand up. She was also bleeding. The doctor diagnosed the problem as vertigo (dizzy spell and feeling off balance).

A few months later, Jasmine went to see a doctor in Medan who performed a digital rectal examination. He felt  a mass in there! Jasmine was asked to undergo an operation.

Jasmine and her family came to Penang for further consultation. Her blood test results showed CEA = 247.03 and CA 19.9 = 72.2. Jasmine was also told that her cancer had already spread to her liver. She immediately underwent an operation in Hospital A. The procedure cost her RM 60,000 plus.

The pathology report indicated:

  • A moderately differentiated adeocarcinoma with metastases in pericolic lymph nodes (11/11) and segment 4a of liver. This was a T3N2Mx, Stage 4 cancer.
  • The non-neoplastic liver shows features of chronic hepatitis with grade 2 activity, Stage 3.

Jasmine was asked to start chemotherapy three weeks after the surgery but she was unable to do so because of infection. She was told she needed 8 cycles of chemo to be cured.

Later, Jasmine switched to Hospital B and had her first cycle of chemo there.

After her first shot of chemo, Jasmine suffered severe side effects and decided not to stop the treatment. No more chemo for her! Her daughter and son-in-law came to seek our help.

I asked her daughter: You had surgery in Hospital A but you went for chemo in Hospital B. Why did you switch hospital?

Daughter: The cost of chemotherapy in Hospital A is very expensive — RM7,000 per cycle. In Hospital B it was only RM3,500 per cycle.

How could there be such a great difference, I wondered.

In Hospital A the oncologist suggested using Oxaliplatin + oral drug, Xeloda or TS-One. In Hospital B, the drugs used were Oxaliplatin + oral drug TS-One. They are basically the same!

This is one lesson I learned this morning. Though the drugs used are the same, patients who don’t know enough, may be asked to pay twice the price for getting the same treatment. So beware!

Before I proceeded further with our consultation this morning, I asked this important question (which I hope all patients should learn to ask their doctors).

Before you undergo the operation, did you ask the doctor if the operation can cure your mother?

This was what the surgeon told Jasmine. You operate first and then go for 8 cycles of chemotherapy. In addition you also need radiotherapy. If you do all these you will be cured!

Did you specifically ask the doctor if he can cure your mother by the operation?

Daughter: I did ask exactly that and the doctor said it depends on chemotherapy — must do 8 times chemo first, otherwise the cancer may recur.

When you started the first chemo in Hospital B, did you ask the oncologist if the treatment was going to cure your mother?.

Daughter:  Yes, I asked. The oncologist in Hospital B replied: Cannot guarantee!

Did you tell the oncologist that the surgeon in Hospital A said that by undergoing 8 cycles of chemo it would cure your mother?

Daughter: Yes, I told the oncologist what the doctor in Hospital A said. He said just kept quiet. He said nothing!

Lesson number two I learned this morning — Someone is not telling the whole truth! Two doctors did not give the same answer for doing the same treatment! That much about the so called “scientific medicine.”

So patients, know that you are responsible for yourself. You have to find truth yourself. You can’t depend on others to tell you what you need to know!

So what is the truth in this story? You will know later. But in the meantime, please ponder carefully the following quotations said by doctors themselves:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shopping for an illusive cancer cure!

A young Indonesian man and his sister came to our centre, trying to “shop” for a cure for their father’s cancer. They came with a long, rolled piece of fax-paper.

The following were written on that paper.

  1. August 2013. Father was diagnosed with cancer of the rectum which had spread to the liver.
  2. Went to a private hospital in Singapore for a biopsy.
  3. Underwent chemotherapy in a private hospital. Drugs used: Oxaloplatin + Leucovorin + 5-FU + Erbitux.
  4. After 4 cycles of chemo, underwent robotic surgery of the rectum in October 2013.
  5. One month after surgery, underwent 8 cycles of chemotherapy again. In total he had 12 chemos. His CEA reduced to less than 5.0. Metastases in liver disappeared!
  6. Took oral drugs: Xeloda and TS One.
  7. CEA shot up again.
  8. More chemo — 8 cycles. Drugs used: Compto + Leucovorin + 5-FU + Erbitux (note: same as before except for Compto instead of Oxaloplatin).
  9. CEA was 10.
  10. Through recommendation of his doctor in Indonesia, went to a doctor at NUH Singapore for surgery to remove the tumour in segment 5 of liver. This was in October 2014.
  11. Underwent radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in June 2015, in Mount Elizabeth, Singapore.
  12. Back in Indonesia, underwent TACE in Gatot Subroto Hospital, Jakarta in July 2015.
  13. CEA shot up to 40.
  14. Went back to the same private hospital in Singapore to undergo more chemo. Received 2 shots of chemo using the same previous drugs: Compto + Leucovorin + 5-FU + Erbitux.
  15. CEA reduced to 15.
  16. Continued with 6 more cycles of chemo with a private hospital in hometown, Semarang.
  17. CEA increased to 50.
  18. Continued with 4 cycles of chemotherapy in Semarang. Drugs used: Avastin + FOLFOX.
  19. Not effective.
  20. Chemo drugs changed to: Compto + Leucovorin + 5-FU + Erbitux (previous drugs as in Singapore).
  21. CEA reduced to 4.
  22. In February 2017, took Stivarga — oral drug (regorafenib).
  23. CEA shot up to 300 and in March 2017 it was at 800.
  24. Suffered severe side effects besides being not effective.
  25. Came to Penang cancer hospital and had one shot of chemo. Drugs used: Paritumumab (or Vectibix) + 5-FU + Irenotecan. One shot of this chemo cost RM 10,000.

After two weeks in Penang, this young man came to our centre. He came to know about CA Care from the internet and wanted to know more about our therapy.

While waiting to talk with me, this young man and his sister was given this notification to read.

Some important points for you to know before you see me

NO CURE FOR CANCER

  1. Most patient who come here, have already undergone medical treatments – surgery, radiation or chemo. Do these cure you?
  2. If you come here expecting me to cure you, know that I too cannot cure your cancer. From my experience, NO one on earth can cure any cancer. After some years cancer comes back again!
  3. But if you want me to help you – to give you another option, to have a better quality of life — may be it is possible. But it all depends on you. Because your health is your responsibility. Are you willing to help yourself? Are you willing to change your lifestyle, your diet, etc.?

OUR HERBS ARE BAD-TASTING, AND HAVE AWFUL SMELL

  1. Besides the bad taste and smell.
  2. You need to boil the herbs a few times a day — that’s a lot of work!
  3. You need to take two, three or four types of teas each day.

YOU MUST TAKE CARE OF YOUR DIET – YOU CANNOT EAT ANYTHING YOU LIKE

  1. You cannot each anything that walks – meaning, no meat, no egg, no milk, etc.
  2. Don’t take sugar (sugar is food for cancer).
  3. Don’t eat oily or fried food, table salt.

TRY OUR THERAPY FOR TWO TO FOUR WEEKS

  1.  May be the first 2 weeks on our therapy, you may suffer more pain, more tired, etc. That’s healing crisis. Don’t stop. Hopefully after 3 to 4 weeks you may feel better.
  2. If after a month on our therapy you still don’t feel better — the herbs are not helping you in anyway — then stop following our therapy. Please ask someone else to help you.
  3. If you feel better, continue with our therapy.

If you are still on chemo or radiotherapy (or are planning to do chemo or radiotherapy), or are taking other treatments elsewhere,

Go ahead and continue with these treatments first,  do not take our herbs yet.

 Comments

While waiting for me to talk to them and after reading the statements above, the daughter said: I don’t think my father can keep up with your therapy!

During the meeting I asked both of them the following questions:

  1. Why did you come to see me after everything else has failed?

Answer: Oh, we never knew that it is another option. We only thought medical treatment is the only way out.

  1. How much did the family spend for all these treatments?

Answer: Oh, could not count! So much.

  1. You were in Penang for 2 weeks already, what makes you take that long to come and see us?

Answer: I could not find CA Care!

  1. But, if you go into the websites: http://www.CancerCareMalaysia.com or CancerCareIndonesia.com, we have a google map in there that shows you exactly where we are.

Answer: Oh, I did not go into the website! I called your number but could not get through.

  1. We only answer phone from 10 am to 1 p.m. We close at 1 p.m. That is also stated in the website.

Response: I used my Indonesian hand phone and could not get through.

  1. Did you use the correct country code?

Answer: I just dialed without the country code!

  1. This a quotation:

Response: I agree.

  1. This is another quotation:

Response: I also agree with that.

After spending about 30 minutes with them, I sent them home to think carefully about the above.

I never get to see them again!

Let me close with another quote from an oncologist:

 

 

 

 

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

lotus-1

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.

affinator-side-effects

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.

 

 

CanSurvive Workshop 17 September 2016: Sharing Our Experiences

sharing-2

The second part of the workshop was about sharing experiences. We were glad to have six panelists to come on stage to share their experiences. Here are what they said:

  1. Truth from different perspectives

 

  1. My first patient (prostate spread to bone) did well on herbs

 3. I am glad that I am still alive (NPC spread to bone)

4. I outlived my two doctors (cancer of the tonsil)

 

5. Twelve years – I am still healthy and full of energy (colon-liver cancer)

 

  1. Let me make my own decision: No chemo for me! (ovarian cancer)

 

  1. I want to be beautiful when I die. But with herbs and good diet I am still alive and healthy (breast cancer)

 

Thank you for sharing and praise God for this blessing!

 

 

 

Metastatic Colon-Liver-Lung Cancer: Surgery, Chemo, etc., But Where is the cure?

LK is a 52-year-old male. His problem started in January 2014 when he had problems moving his bowels. Later, LK was told that he had cancerous tumour in his colon which blocked the passage of his stools.

LK underwent surgery. This cost him RM 19,000. After surgery he had six cycles of chemotherapy. Each treatment cost him RM 3,000 plus. LK and his family members, did not know what chemo-drugs were used. However, LK know that he was also on oral Xeloda.

Although LK was scheduled for eight cycles of chemotherapy, the oncologist stopped the treatment after the sixth cycle because the treatment was not effective. Then the oncologist offered LK two options:

  1. Continue with more chemotherapy using new drug regimen.
  2. Or no more chemotherapy and go home!

The following are details of his medical records.

Histopathology report dated 18 June 2014

Cancer of rectum, lower 1/3, left lobe liver nodule, biopsy taken.

Interpretation:

  1. a) Poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma with extensive infiltration into perirectal fat, pT3 tumour.
  2. b) Lymphatic and vascular channel invasion found.
  3. c) Six of 14 nodes involved by tumour.
  4. d) Liver nodule – metastatic adenocarcinoma confirmed.

PET scan dated 10 July 2014

  1. There is an FDG avid left paraaortic nodal metastasis.
  2. There are multiple FDG avid liver metastasis.
  3. There are multiple non-FDG avid lung nodules seen in both lungs which may represent garnulomata or early lung metastases.

Blood Test Results

Date Platelets CA 19.9 GGT AST ALT
8 August 2014 199 2,101 43 14 17
30 Aug 2014 151 740 47 18 18
20 Sept. 2014 117 775 47 26 25
9 Oct 2014 78 660 51 38 35
7 Nov 2014 86 n/a 64 42 35
6 Dec 2014 93 10,922 99 45 41

Note: With more chemo – the platelets diminished, CA 19.9 initially decreased but eventually increased 10 times the initial value. Liver function parameters (GGT,AST, ALT) increased.

CT scan on 11 December 2014

Liver nodules are larger and more in number compared with previously. Three largest nodules are 2.7×2.5 cm and 2.7×2.4cm in the right lobe and 2.7×2.2cm in the left lobe.

Lung nodules are seen in both lung fields and the largest is 1×1 cm. The rest all tiny nodules.

Rectum and colon wall at the anastomotic site appear thickened.

Impression

  1. Recurrent ca. colon.
  2. Worsening liver metastasis.
  3. Lung metastasis.

Comments

Based on the results above, the cancer had spread to the liver, lymph nodes and also the lung. This is a Stage 4 cancer that cannot be cured. But was the patient told about this?

The chemo treatment initially caused the CA 19.9 to decrease from 2101 to 740 and eventually to 660. As I have pointed out earlier this drop of the tumour marker is MEANINGLESS. In October, the CA 19.9 was 660 but with more chemotherapy the CA19.9 increased to 10,922 in December.

The blood test results also confirmed that with more chemotherapy the platelets dropped from 199 to 93. The liver function parameters – GGT, AST, ATL, deteriorated.

Eventually a CT scan in December 2014 confirmed that LK suffered recurrence of colon cancer. His liver metastasis worsened.

The game was up! The oncologist suggested “new bullets” probably more expensive as well. The patient declined and lost confidence in his doctor and came to seek our help.

I told the patient and his family, “I am not god and I cannot cure your cancer.” And I am telling this to all patients as well. There is no cure for cancer — you just move from treatment to treatment. And after spending you life’s saving you die.

 

Reflect on these quotations

17 One-thrid-dont-respond-to-c

10 Chemo-not-responsive-useles

8 Chemo-no-benefit-response-n

7 Chemo-good-moneyPatient-hop

 

 

 

Rectum-Liver Cancer: No Cure, Six Months to Live. My Experience in the Cancer Ward

I received the following emails from a patient.

14 August 2012: Thanks, Dr. Chris for your info.

I’ve rectal cancer at stage 4. Have done my surgery (in Jan, 2012), 11 cycles of chemotherapy (2011) and 25 times of radiotherapy (2011). But the tumors recur and spread to both of my lungs and liver. Now the oncologist suggested to go for another 9 to 12 cycles of Avastin and 5-FU chemo. I’ve refused. Once again, thanks a lot for your unique info for cancer. I’ve learned a lot by reading from your website. Hope to see you soon. God Bless you.

This is his story. Let’s call him Leo.

Sometime in 2010 Leo had problems moving his bowels. He took laxative but this did not work. On 11 December 2010 he went for a colonoscopy in a private hospital in his hometown. The doctor found a stenosing growth in his lower rectum.  It was an adenocarcinoma.  Since Leo did not have health insurance coverage, he was asked to seek treatment in the government hospital.

A CT scan was performed on 7 January 2011 and the results showed:

  • An irregular constricting mass measuring 4.1 x 3.3 x 4.4 cm in the distal rectum.
  • A heterogenous enhancing lesion in segment 5 of liver measuring 2.2 x 2.1 cm. Complementary USG showed ill defined heterogenous solid lesion in the segment 4 and segment 7 measuring 2.4 x 1.6 cm and 0.8 x 0.8 cm respectively. Lesion in segment 5 of liver may represent liver metastasis.
  • Multiple cortical renal cysts bilaterally.

In view of the above, Leo was told by his doctor that it was a Stage 4 cancer and he has only six months to live! He was given two options:

  1. Do nothing (and wait to die).
  2. Undergo chemotherapy and radiotherapy but these may not be effective.

Leo’s life was turned upside down upon hearing this prognosis. He was in a mad rush wanting to do something but did not know exactly what to do. A week later, on 15 January 2011, he went to Kuala Lumpur for a second opinion. A CT scan was again performed.  This procedure cost him RM 1,000. The results of this repeat CT indicated:

  • A 4 cm mass in the lower rectum.
  • A 5 mm cyst is seen in the right lobe of the liver. The liver is otherwise normal.

Three days later, 18 January 2011, Leo did a PET/CT scan at another medical centre. This procedure cost him RM3,000.  The results indicated the following:

  • A FDG-avid lymph node seen in the right neck, submandibular region.
  • The lower rectum has a 4.5 cm FDG-avid focus.
  • The liver appears normal. No FDG-avid focal liver nodule.
  • No FDG-avid metastases seen.

Composite-1

The adventure in Kuala Lumpur left Leo more confused. The earlier examination said he had metastatic liver cancer. But according to the PET scan there was not cancer in his liver!

Leo  was referred back to the government hospital in his hometown again.  Chemotherapy and radiotherapy were recommended but this local hospital do not provide such treatments. Leo was referred to a government hospital in Johor Baru.

Leo received a total of 6 cycles of chemotherapy – Mayo’s Regime, and 25 radiation treatments over a period of 8 months.

In early January 2012, Leo underwent a surgery to remove the tumour in his rectum. He was then fitted with a colostomy bag.

In June 2012, Leo was asked to undergo more chemotherapy, this time using FOLFOX + Avastin (see report below). He was  asked to undergo 9 to 12 cycles and each cycle would cost him RM 5,200.

Folfox-Avastin

Leo could not afford to pay for this expensive treatment.  The doctor offered him  the oral drug, Xeloda. He took Xeloda for three cycles and decided to stop it due to the following side effects:

  • High fevers.
  • Diarrhea.
  • Vomiting.
  • Pain around the colostomy bag.

Leo said he did not suffer all these side effects before taking Xeloda.

Leo decided to seek our help and was started on the CA Care Therapy in August 2012.

On 8 November 2012 Leo and his wife came to Penang for further consultation. He related his experience in the hospital’s cancer ward.

Some excerpts of our conversation.

Leo: I made a lot of friends in the hospital.

Chris: Did they ever get cured? Did they suffer?

L: (Shake head). No and most of them suffer.

C: This is the way it is. But human beings are such. They always think only  other people suffer, other people die but they never think that this can happen to them … they never die! “I am the exceptional, I want to try.” You try you suffer.

L: I stayed in the hospital for about 2 months.

C: What did you see?

L: So many people. Young and old. The youngest I saw was 6 years old.

C: Did they get better?

L: (shake head) No, all die. I stayed in a room with 4 beds, A, B, C, D. Within one night, 2 patients, C and D,  passed away. I was left with B. We both looked at each other. I also saw a patient committed suicide. He could not stand it anymore. No, cure, no money – all money spent. He went to Singapore for treatment. One million plus gone.

C: I got people who came and told me they spent about RM 600,000. So you have people who spent more than a million and still could not get the cure and eventually committed suicide.

L: I was in the hospital. He jumped down from the 6th floor. His son was sleeping by his bed in the ward. I heard him telling his son that night. “We don’t have money already. Don’t go around and borrow any more money from people. I cannot be cure already.”

Comments 

This is indeed a very sad experience. Treatment means spending money. A lot of money!  But do patients ever get cured? Do we want to leave this world with piles of debts for our children to settle? That is the way it is today with “scientifically proven” cancer treatment.

I am not going to play god with patients who come and see me. I am not going to tell them when they will die or how long they can live because this is not my job. To live or die is God’s prerogative.  Giving prognosis like “You  have 6 months to live”  is most counter-productive and damaging.

17 Play-God-six-month-to-live

J.D. Frank wrote, The insensitivity of scientific medicine to the bad effects of wrong emotions is probably responsible for many failures.

17How-long-to-live-Disappontm

I also tell everyone who come to me that I cannot guarantee that you can be cured. I don’t want to give you false hope. But if you still believe in what we do here at CA Care, then together  —  I emphasize together, we shall do our best.  Remember you are not the only one going through this “battle”. There are many others before you who have travelled the same road. They too had colorectal cancer that had spread to the liver. I am happy to say that some are doing extremely well, but some had failed miserably.  But to say to cancer patients that “You only has six months to live” is mere text book knowledge!  My experience in CA Care showed otherwise. If medical science cannot provide hope to patients, let me say that herbs and change of diet and lifestyle can! And this done at minimal cost!

Let me ask you to listen to those who have succeeded.

While ALL patients who come to see us want to be winners, unfortunately some failed miserably in their quest for recovery. I often tell patients – after talking to you for a few minutes or reading your emails, I could probably “sense” if you can make it or not.  Unfortunately some people are not “cut” or made to be winners. I always say, kiasus don’t win! Here are three examples.

  • Mr. Nut came to seek our help after surgery and chemotherapy could not cure him. His CEA due to colon-liver cancer was on the rise. Used to being a “king” in his “rubber-estate-kingdom” he proved to be too smart, too educated and too demanding for us to handle. He tried taking herbs for some weeks but these did not help him.

If there was one thing I ever remember clearly about this man was what he said when he first came to see me. He repeatedly said, I am a friend of your good friend. There is nothing wrong with this remark, except  to   remember that in CA Care, we play no politics! You don’t need to “pull strings” to get our best attention. Everyone who comes to us are treated equally.

https://cancercaremalaysia.com/2010/12/10/no-healing-for-those-who-acted-too-smart-too-educated-and-too-demanding/

  • There was an interesting man from Indonesia. He came to seek our help after doctors in Singapore and China gave up on him. He had liver cancer. He had no option left but to take our herbs but he would not keep to our recommended diet. His son said, “My father did take the herb from CA Care regularly, until he went in coma a few weeks before he passed away.” With the herbs he survived almost one year and half years. But he would eat anything he liked because he said after his death he did not want to end up being a hungry ghost. https://cancercaremalaysia.com/2011/12/24/liver-cancer-better-to-become-a-full-stomach-ghost-than-a-hungry-ghost/
  • VIP was a well known man in society. He had colon-liver cancer. He took herbs, refusing to undergo any medical treatment. He was well for more than 6 months. Since he enjoyed eating, it was hard for him to keep up to our recommended diet. In a party he attended, VIP took “the forbidden food” and his stomach was bloated soon afterwards. He was miserable for some weeks before he died.

My message to all cancer patients, You have a choice! It is up to you to decide.

10 Doctos-cant-appreciate-heal

Lung-Liver Cancer: When Everything Went Wrong for Her

KF (S-364) is a 40-year old Indonesian lady. In 2011, she had coughs for more than a year. There was no blood in her phlegm. She took cough syrup but was not effective. In January 2013, she became breathless and found it difficult to climb the stairs. Her problem became more serious and she went to a private hospital in Tangerang. There was fluid in her lungs. Pleural tapping was performed once. But this procedure did not help her much. She was still breathless. Another tapping was done but there was no fluid.

A CT scan was performed and the doctor said there was a tumour. She was referred to a lung surgeon who told her that surgery was not indicated because her lungs could be filled with fluid and there was “not enough preparation” for him to proceed with the surgery.

Not satisfied, KF went to another lung specialist in a Jakarta hospital. Another CT scan was done, specimens were collected, etc., but the specialist could not determine the cause of her problem. The lung specialist suggested that KF’s problem could be due to “jamur” or parasites! KF was prescribed antibiotics. KF was also asked to do a biopsy, which she declined.

KF came to a private hospital in Penang in April 2013. She consulted a lung specialist. A CT done on 5 April 2013 showed:

  • Extensive circumferential heterogeneously enhanced lobulated masse in the left hemithorax.
  • There is a central fluid / necrotic area seen
  • Compression of the left hilar vessels and bronchi
  • There is infiltration into mediastinum
  • Trachea, oesophagus and heart are displaced to the right side
  • Suspicious left pericardial invasion seen
  • A faint hypodense nodule seen in segment 8 of the liver measuring 15 mm in diameter.
  • Impression:  Large circumferential left hemithorax mass with liver metastasis and suspicious left pericardial invasion. Differential diagnosis: 1. Mesothelioma  2. Bronchogenic carcinoma. 

s364-a

s364-b

A biopsy of the left chest tumour indicated poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma infiltrating the chest wall.

Immunohistology report of 20 April 2013 indicated the cells are positive for CK7 only and negative for CK20 and TTF-1.

The lung specialist referred her to a surgeon who told her surgery was not indicated for her case. KF was then referred to an oncologist. KF was prescribed 5 type of medication and one of which was Iressa. KF was asked to go home and try the Iressa and see what happen. If Iressa was not effective, KF would have to undergo chemotherapy.

A week in the private hospital cost RM 21,000. In addition she paid RM 7,000 for the medication inclusive of a month’s supply of Iressa.

KF was told Iressa would cause side effects. And she was not willing to take it. Someone living in the same apartment as she, told her about CA Care. She came to seek our help on 25 April 2013. She presented with the following:

  • Difficulty sleeping
  • No appetite
  • Tiredness and lack of energy
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Cough throughout the night with white phlegm.

We prescribed KF Capsule A, B, C, D and E. In addition she has to take many teas: Lung 1 and 2, Lung Phlegm, Liver 1 and 2. She was given Cough 5 for her coughs (white phlegm).

What had gone wrong?

  1. She went to the hospital in Tangerang. Fluid was tapped out but she did not improve much. The doctor could not say if it was cancer or not. Not satisfied she went to another hospital in Jakarta. Here again there was not much help. One doctor even suggested that the problem could be due to “jamur” or parasites. I wonder how the lung expert could ever give such a suggestion! Anyway the anti-jamur medication did not work for her. 
  2. The patient came to a hospital in Penang. After a week stay she was discharged and was still not satisfied. She came to CA Care for help.
  3. A week’s stay in the hospital cost her RM 21,000. Did she get any better? The lung specialist could not help. She was referred to a surgeon who could not solve her problem either. The next obvious stop was the oncologist. The oncologist offered five medications one of which was Iressa. The total cost of the medication was RM 7,000. She was told to try out Iressa for a month and see if this could help her!  But she was not keen on Iressa because of the possible side effects. We felt sorry for KF – having made to pay for such an expensive medication which she was not willing to take.
  4. Was Iressa prescribed based on “scientific” fact or on a trial and error basis? Immunohistology showed that cells were only positive for CK7 and negative for CK20 and TTF-1. Is this the kind of cancer that would respond to Iressa?  I also do get patients who told me that she/he was asked to take Iressa in spite of the fact that test showed that the cells were negative for Iressa. But the justification given was that even for such “negative” cases Iressa seemed to work on some patients. Looks like we have to throw science out of the window!

Notes on The Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR)

According to Kakiuchi et all, Gefitinib (Iressa), has shown potent anti-tumor effects and improved symptoms and quality-of-life of a subset of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, a large portion of the patients showed no effect to this agent.  http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15496427

Lung adenocarcinomas with mutated epidermal growth factor receptor have significant responses to tyrosine kinase inhibitors, although for unselected patients it does not appear to have a survival benefit. Both EGFR mutation and gene amplification status may be important in determining which tumors will respond to tyrosine kinase inhibitors. http://www.jthoracdis.com/article/view/87/152

The tumors that responded to the EGFR TK inhibitors (TKIs) gefitinib and erlotinib contain somatic mutations in the EGFR TK domain. The two most common EGFR mutations are short in-frame deletions of exon 19 and a point mutation (CTG to CGG) in exon 21 at nucleotide 2573. Together, these two types of mutations account for ~90% of all EGFR mutations in NSCLC. Other recurrent but far less common EGFR mutations known to be associated with sensitivity to EGFR TKIs include mutations in exon 18 and in exon 21. Screening for common EGFR mutations in patients with lung adenocarcinomas can now be performed in clinical molecular diagnostic laboratories to predict which patients will respond to EGFR TKIs. It can be performed on archival material as well as on fine-needle biopsies. http://www.nature.com/modpathol/journal/v21/n2s/full/3801018a.html

Predicting Sensitivity to Iressa and Tarceva

Iressa (gefitinib) and Tarceva (erlotinib) were being tested in large numbers of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer.  Iressa did not improve overall survival compared to placebo treatment in previously treated NSCLC  patients.

However, about 10% of Western patients treated with either of these drugs had dramatic and sometimes long-lasting responses. Investigators at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Massachusetts General Hospital in  Boston, and also at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in NYC published results showing that most of these “dramatic responders” had recurring mutations in the tyrosine kinase (TK) domain of the EGFR gene.

In the NSCLC patients who have mutations in the TK domain of the EGFR. This makes the cancer cell exquisitely sensitive to dying when the switch is turned off by a drug like Iressa or Tarceva, and explains why some patients can do so well on these drugs. Although there can be mutations anywhere in the TK domain, only some of them confer sensitivity to the TKIs.

About 45% of sensitizing mutations are what are called in frame deletions in exon 19, making them the most common EGFR mutations. About 40-45% of the sensitizing mutations are point mutations in exon 21. Most of the remaining mutations don’t cause the EGFR to be sensitive to EGFR TKIs.

A point mutation in exon 20 resulting seems to allow the EGFR TK to work much better than normal. Mutations in exon 20 have also been associated with resistance.

Mutations can be detected using sequencing to identify every mutation in the tyrosine kinase domain, whether predictive of responsiveness to TKIs or not. Another method is something called allele-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) which can then be detected by a machine. This method only detects 28 of the most common EGFR mutations, but generally requires smaller amounts of tissue than sequencing and has a slightly faster turnaround time. There is also evidence that this method may be more sensitive than direct sequencing.

Quoted from: http://cancergrace.org/lung/2010/10/10/overview-of-molecular-markers-in-lung-cancer/

Read more:  Practical Management of Patients With Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer Treated With Gefitinib  http://jco.ascopubs.org/content/23/1/165.full

 

 

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

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

 

Colon-Liver Cancer You Cannot Find Healing On Your Own Terms

Sometime in April 2012, a 79-old-man came to Penang to seek our help. Let’s refer to him as Peter, a successful professional well known in our Malaysian society.  He had cancer of the transverse colon that had spread extensively to his liver. These are his CT scan images.

Composite-1-April-2012 Composite-2-April-2012 Composite-3-April-2012

CT-scan-report

Peter refused further medical treatment in spite of the seriousness of his illness. According to him: I would not be able to endure all these treatments. Presented with such a situation, what could I do?

There were two realities we must face in this case.

  • One, there was a tumour in the rectum and this had not been removed. And as the scan showed, it was almost blocking the passage way. I pointed out to Peter, if the tumour grew bigger and block the passage of stools then he would be done. Peter understood the message. But he was told by his doctor that even if he was to go for an operation, his life could be prolonged by another three to four months only. Peter categorically told me he would not want to go through the hassle. Okay, this was my bargain with him. Take the herbs and change your diet and lifestyle and if the stools become smaller and smaller (meaning the passage way is blocked) then he has no choice but to go for surgery.  There is nothing much I can do to help if this happened.
  • Problem number two is obviously more serious. The cancer had spread to his liver. I make it clear to Peter that no one on earth can cure liver cancer (for that matter any cancer!).

From my reading of medical literature, this is what you get:

  1. The median survival time for patients with synchronous liver metastases was 4.5 months.  http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/000296108190057X
  2. In a series of 156 patients operated on for colonic and rectal carcinoma, 38 were shown to have hepatic metastases. Twenty-four of them died within 6 months, 30 within 12 months, and all except one within 18 months. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/1097-0142(196901)23:1%3C198::AID-CNCR2820230126%3E3.0.CO;2-J/abstract
  3. Bower & Waxman (in Lecture Notes – Oncology, pg. 113) wrote: The median survival of patients who are not treated with curative intent is six to seven months. The median survival of patients in the Far East is much poorer, and the vast majority die within two to three months of diagnosis.

To all those reading this article, let me say this clearly:

  • It would be a great mistake if you come to me hoping to find a cure for your cancer. I cannot offer you any magic bullet because I don’t have any. My experience over the past sixteen years tells me that those who come to CA Care for help are those with late stage cancer or those who have undergone all medical treatments. Let me say again, If you are seeking for a cure, please consider going somewhere else or find someone else who can promise you that!
  • At CA Care we teach you how to cope and in the process heal yourself. In other words, we try to make your life more bearable and in the process many of our patients live much longer and free of problems – provided of course, they follow what we tell them to do.

Let me briefly outline what happened to Peter during the time that he was taking our herbs and following our therapy.

  • We often get his phone calls. One time he asked if he could continue to enjoy his cigar after dinner. He said he had “sacrificed” enough forgoing all his favourite food when he was invited out for dinners. Then he wanted to know if he could still drink his wine since he had a good collection of wine at home. To that I remember saying, No – why don’t you have just give those wine to your friends. He answered, But you know each bottle cost a few thousand ringgit.
  • Surprisingly,  Peter  was doing fine. Once he called me to say that according to his medical doctor-relative it was dangerous not to remove the tumour in his colon. The tumour would grow bigger and bigger and eventually  block the passage way. According to theory or textbook knowledge the tumour will grow if not removed but my experience shows that with herbs and change of diet, this does not necessarily happen! I have seen a similar case before.  I asked, But can you pass your stools? Are the stools getting smaller and smaller? He answered, No. Then I said, In that case the tumour has not grown in size yet. We can still wait – but of course you can go for surgery if you like. So we waited, from April to September. Six months had passed and Peter was alright – no problem of blockage.
  • In early September, Peter came to Penang with a friend, requesting that I also help his friend too. Then Peter decided to buy the e-Therapy machine which had just arrived from the US.
  • On 12 September I was down in Subang Jaya and Peter came to have lunch with us. Peter said: I am happy.  Actually I only need to spend less than a thousand ringgit a month for the herbs and all (note: much less than the cost of a bottle of his favourite wine!)  If I were to go for medical treatment it would have cost me a lot more.  Thus far Peter was doing just fine.
  • But not long after this happy lunch together, I got a phone call from his brother.  I was told that Peter was not doing well. His stomach was bloated and he felt uneasy, had no strength, etc. Problem like this cropped up very often with cancer patients. Without asking further, I related a story of a similar colon-liver case in which the doctor told the patient he had only 6 months to live. This patient was on our therapy for almost 3 years and was well. After that, the day before one Chinese New Year – succumbing to the suggestions of friends and relatives – he decided to “celebrate” the CNY occasion by eating fried chicken. A few hours after his fateful meal, he suffered severe stomach pain and had to be rushed to the hospital. His stomach was bloated and he died soon afterwards.
  • So without hesitation, I asked: What did your brother, ate the past few days?  I was told – pulut and salted fish. Well, was that all? I was not sure and I did ask further. After this my advice to Peter’s brother was:  There is nothing I can do now. We have to take it easy and see if the problem would go away. It is very difficult now.
  • Not long afterwards Peter himself called. In his frail voice told me that he was not going to take our herbs anymore. These  herbs are not helping me anymore. I went for the blood test and the results showed the liver function were all high. I am now tired and have no strength. My friends invited me for dinner but I can’t accept their invitation anymore. I want to return the-Therapy machine and you pay me back half its original price.  Without hesitation, I replied: Yes, Datuk,  no problem! (One week after buying back this machine, one patient from Indonesia decided to buy it at that half-price! I am glad that I can help another patient in need through the generosity of Peter for wanting to sell off his useless machine.)
  • I did not ask Peter what went wrong. He did not offer to explain what went wrong either. So I left it at that.
  • One early morning of November 2012, I received an email from another patient informing me that Peter had passed away. In the evening of the same day, Peter’s brother called to convey the same sad news. This was what his brother told me: Please tell all your patients. Do not eat pulut and pulut kacau (all that sweet stuff laced with brown sugar). After my brother took that food, his stomach became bloated immediately after he went home. Surprising there was no problem about his colon being blocked. My response: Yes Datuk, for the past 16 years I have been shouting from the top of the mountain telling patients to take care of their diet!

Comments

There is no need for me to make further comments on this case. I only hope that some patients do learn from this story.

Let me share with you what I learn about life.

Over the years dealing with cancer patients, I have come to accept that we cannot help everyone. We can only help those who want to help themselves.  So there is no need to be upset if we fail once in a while. This thing happened most of the time. I often tell patients:  If you can eat, can sleep, can move around and have no pain – what else do you want? Learn to be grateful for what you are each day. Unfortunately not all patients have that virtue. Once they feel well, they demand to eat what they like! Unfortunately most patients have to pay a heavy penalty of this violation.

To me, the secret of happiness in life is to cultivate a sense of gratitude. Be grateful for what we are. Be thankful for what we have and what we are blessed with.  This virtue on its own breeds a sense of contentment and satisfaction in life. That is healing. We learn to live with the cancer but at the same time we live in peace with ourselves.