He underwent a cholecystectomy on 31 December 2011 in Indonesia due to gallstones. During the open surgery the surgeon also did a liver biopsy for suspicious liver lesions.
AS went to Singapore for a second opinion. A review of his biopsy tissues showed poorly differentiated liver tumour.
PET/CT scan revealed a mass in the left lobe of his liver, measuring 3.2 x 2.6 cm
AS subsequently underwent a liver surgery in Singapore.
CT scan on 16 August 2012 showed no evidence of recurrent HCC.
However, PET/SC scan on 11 March 2013 revealed recurrent HCC with mass measuring 0 x 4.8 cm.
Trans-arterial chemoembolization (TACE) of the liver tumour was attempted but failed.
With no other option left, the doctor suggested chemotherapy or Nexavar.
AS promptly rejected chemo and came to seek our help on 14 April 2013.
His alpha feto-protein on 15 April 2013 was at 1,064.
Video 1: Liver tumour: Surgery and TACE failed.
The question we all wish to ask is, What happened to AS after taking the herbs? The answer is, He is well and very much alive. CT in December 2013 (8 months after taking herbs) indicated the tumour had shrunk to 5.2 x 2.2 x 3.9 cm in size.
About 2 years later, 18 January 2015, AS and his wife came to visit us. AS’s wife was very agitated and upset. Since the past few weeks AS had been taking “bad food” – food that we tell patients not to eat. On top of that AS sometimes was not taking the herbs as he used to do.
Listen to this video.
Video 2: To live or to die is your choice!
Briefly my message to AS (and also all cancer patients) that night was very clear, crude and blunt.
When patients are “half dead,” they would follow our advice without protest. But when they get well, most of them will “misbehave.” That is normal.
To live or to die is your choice.
There is no need to be upset about the patient’s choice. If he wants to die, let him die.
My experiences have shown that if a patient eats anything he/she likes, this “good time” would probably last about 2 months. After that the cancer would recur and he/she cannot “enjoy” food anymore.
I also told AS, Perhaps it is time you stop taking the herbs. Go home and eat a lot of what you want to eat and “go” faster.
AS had lived for almost 2 years. He should be grateful that he is still alive – healthy and without pain. What more do you want? Be grateful for what you are now!
I wish to state too that telling AS the above was not done with anger! I have learned a lesson from one of our patients earlier on. His argument for wanting to eat anything he likes is because he does not want to go hungry. After all he is going to die anyway, so why go hungry and die with an empty stomach? He would probably become a hungry ghost! (Click this: Liver Cancer: Better to become a full-stomach ghost than a hungry ghost).
I am equally glad that AS took the message sportingly. He was not upset and only smiled. So let us respect his choice!
Comments
Study the data below critically and then try to reflect on the questions posed.
PET/CT scan
2 February 2012
Post-cholecystectomy. Left hepatic lobe tumour, 3.2 x 2.6 cm.
3 May 2012 – liver surgery – hemihepatectoomy
16 August 2012
THREE MONTHS: CT abdomen/pelvis showed no evidence of recurrent HCC or focal liver lesions.
11 March 2013
TEN MONTHS: Interval development of an intensively hypermetabolic measuring 8.0 x 4.8 cm at the hepatic resection site consistent with recurrent disease.
22 March 2013 – TACE, blockage, procedure aborted
Declined chemotherapy or Nexavar
14 April 2013 – Came to CA Care, Penang. Started on liver herbs
26 December 2013
EIGHT MONTHS ON HERBS: CT done in Jakarta: Hepar: Tampak lesi dengan enhance minimal ukuran 5.2 x 2.2. 3.9 cm disekitar klip lobektomi. Dibandingkan dengan CT scan Mei 2013 tampak menencil secara signifikan.Liver lesion is 5.2×2.2×3.9 cm. Compared to CT scan of May 2013, significant decrease in tumour size.
18 January 2015
Almost TWO YEARS ON HERBS: Patient still well and healthy.
Can surgery cure liver cancer? In this case, the answer is plain and simple. Surgery cannot cure liver cancer. For the initial 3 months, there was reason to be happy because CT showed no recurrence. The operation was a great success! But this success lasted only a few more months. The cancer came back. Is this not expected — a norm?
Before surgery the tumour was only 3.2 cm. After surgery it grew to 8.0 cm. TACE was attempted and failed. The doctor suggested chemotherapy or taking of Nexavar. AS rejected further medical treatment. He and his family came to CA Care instead. He was started on herbs. What can you expect if you do nothing (medically) after that? At best within 3 or 6 months AS would be dead. That is what the medical literature would tell you.
11 March 2013. The liver tumour recurred and grew to 8 cm in size (initial size was 3 cm)
AS did not go for any more medical treatment. He said he had lost confidence in the doctors who failed him twice. He only took herbs and changed his diet according to our advice. It has been almost 2 years now. He is still alive and well – leading a normal, pain-free life. Herbs are said to be “unproven and unscientific.” What say you now? Or is this recovery merely due to “pure luck” (another favourite medical argument)? Or is this recovery merely due to luck – yet another favourite medical explanation!
Tia is a 56-year-old lady from Indonesia. Sometime in October 2013, she felt a lump in her right groin. Tia underwent an operation to remove the mass. The doctor said it was a tumour (did not mention the word cancer!). Nevertheless, Tia was asked to undergo chemotherapy and was referred to a cancer hospital in Jakarta. However, the family decided that Tia come to Penang insted, for further treatment.
CT scan 5 March 2014
Irregular soft tissue lesion at right inguinal region which could represent sarcoma.
Well-defined soft tissue at right lower lobe adjacent to the right heart border.
Ill-defined hypodense lesions seen at segment 6, 7 and 8 of liver.
Multiple small mesentary lymph nodes at right iliac fossa.
Small uterine fibroid.
In a private hospital in Penang, Tia underwent a second operation since the doctor said the first surgery did not remove all the mass. After surgery, Tia had 30 sessions of radiotherapy and 6 cycles of chemotherapy, given as 12 injections.
Unfortunately the CT scan revealed that chemotherapy was not effective. Tia received another 3 more cycles of chemotherapy. Again, the treatment was not effective.
Date
Chemo drugs
22 April 2014
Intaxel + Gemita
29 April 2014
13 May 2014
20 May 2014
11 June 2014
11 June 2014
16 June 2014
30 June 2014
21 July 2014
Andriamycin + Ifosfamide
Mesna
11 August 2014
18 August 2014
10 Sep. 2014
11 Sept. 2014
7 October 2014
8 October 2014
The cancer had spread to her lung and liver.
CT scan 8 July 2014
Multiple nodes at both lungs fields which could represent metastatic lung disease.
Bilateral nodular goiters.
Ill-defined hypodense masses seen at the liver, which would represent metastatic disease.
Subcutaneos nodule seen at the right lumbar region and adjacent to right iliac crest, which could represent metastatic nodules.
Impression: Metastatic lung nodules demonstrate progressive increase in size. The metabolic liver lesion is significantly large in size.
The oncologist told Tia to “Go home and wait. Come back again in February 2015 for routine checkup.” Unfortunately by December 2014, Tia developed severe pains in her abdomen.
A CT scan on 6 December 2014 in Indonesia indicated: “Progresive mass metastase pada hepar dan nodul pada paru kiri.” (Progression of liver metastasis in both liver and lung). The largest nodule in the liver was 16. x 9.7 cm.
In January 2015, Tia and her husband came to seek our help. They have decided to give up further medical treatment.
Listen to her story.
Video 1: Surgery, radiation and chemo did not cure.
Video 2: She came to CA Care after all medical treatments failed.
Here is the gist of our conversation that day.
Chris: You did two surgeries – before the surgery, did you ever ask if this is going to cure you?
Patient: My hope was to get a cure.
C: Everyone who comes to us also want to a cure. That is normal – expected. But my question is, did you ever ask the doctor if surgery can cure your cancer? Did you ask that question?
P: No, I did not ask. From my understanding if I undergo the surgery, I would be cured!
C: This assumption is not correct!
P: Yes, now it seems it is not correct!
C: You also had chemo – spent a lot of money on that – did you ever ask if chemotherapy was going to cure your cancer?
P: No, I did not ask.
C: See, these are two important questions I often tell patients to ask their doctors before undergoing such treatments. Now, if you were told that these treatments would not cure you, would you go through all these?
P: We have to “berusaha” (meaning, try our best).
C: Okay, “berusaha” or trying your best. Did you ever ask if by trying your best, what is the chance of you getting good result? If the chance is zero (like now) would you have gone through all these?
P: No. But doctor would not want to say such a thing. They say, let’s try and see.
C: Who ask you to come and see us?
P: Sari told me about CA Care four months ago.
C: You knew about us four months ago but did not come and see us. Why wait until now?
P: I had not completed my medical treatment yet.
C: So I now understand. You have done all the medical treatments and failed. They gave up and you come here. Yes, I understand. There are some patients who come after they have spent all their money – no more money to pay their medical bills – then they come to us!
You cancer has spread all over and went to the liver and lung. What do you expect me to do for you? Cure you? That’s impossible.
P: No, just to reduce my difficulties and hopefully also prolong my life a bit. But more important now is to lessen my burden – pain – that I am experiencing now.
C: I understand, but please don’t expect me to cure you! My experience – no human being on earth can cure your cancer. But if you ask me to help you a bit, may be that is possible. And to prolong life? That is only possible with God, I cannot promise you that.
Health is your responsibility. They don’t teach you how to become well. Go home and eat anything you like – that’s wrong. You have to take care of your diet. Please read these books, Food and Cancer and Healthy Cooking. These can help you. Remember, cancer patients just cannot eat anything they like.
The herbs I am prescribing you are not nice to take – they are bitter and have awful smell. You need to boil them and then drink.
Also after taking the herbs, you may experience “healing crisis” – you may have more pain, diarrhea, etc. Meaning you may feel worse off. Don’t worry, continue taking the herbs and hopefully these will go away after a week or two.
Take the herbs for a month or two. If you don’t get better then you stop taking the herbs. Go and find someone to help you.
Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is a cancerous tumor of the muscles that are attached to the bones. It can occur in almost any part the body. Although these tumors can arise almost anywhere, the most common locations for these tumors to develop are in the structures of the head and neck (nearly 40% of all cases), the male or female genitourinary tract (about 25% of all cases), and the extremities — arms or legs and trunk (chest and abdomen), (about 20% of all cases).
RMS is the most common soft tissue tumor in children, especially those under 15 years of age. It is also the most common soft tissue sarcomas of adolescents and young adults. It is rare in persons older than 45 years.
Not very much is known about why normal skeletal muscle cells become cancerous. RMS is a very rare cancer. There are only about 350 cases of RMS diagnosed each year in the United States in children under the age of 21 years.
Rhabdomyosarcoma is very uncommon in adults. Adults are more likely to have faster-growing types of RMS and to have them in parts of the body that are harder to treat. Because of this, RMS in adults is often harder to treat effectively.
Symptoms
Symptoms of adult soft tissue sarcoma may not be noticeable until the cancer has gone past its early stages. The first sign is usually a mass or a swollen lump. The mass may or may not be painful. If the tumor affects muscles or nerves, it may be painful, but this usually is not the case. Other symptoms may vary depending on where the tumor develops. It may cause bloody stool or abdominal pain if it develops in the abdomen area.
Tumors that arise in the legs or arms are usually amongst the most aggressive types of RMS. These tumors may grow from the size of a mosquito bite or a small marble to the size of a baseball or grapefruit in the course of only a few weeks. The tumors are usually hard, but only rarely are they painful unless they start pressing on nearby nerves.
Treatment
Often in young people and children chemotherapy is given first to try and shrink the tumour, before surgery. If all of the tumour is destroyed by chemo, then there may be follow-up radiotherapy.
Surgery: The aim of surgery is to remove the tumour. Sometimes, because of the type of tumour it can often be difficult to remove. It depends on where the rhabdomyosarcoma is as to the details of the operation. If the sarcoma is on the legs or arms, sometimes some of the bone will have to be removed. Either a prosthesis (a metal replacement bone), or a bone graft (bone taken from another part of the body) will be inserted to replace what is missing. This is known as limb-sparing surgery.
Unfortunately because of the location of the tumour, sometimes limb-sparing surgery doesn’t work and a limb might have to be amputated.
Surgical resection with negative margins remains the standard primary treatment. But adequate margins are often difficult to obtain. Consequently, recurrent disease and systemic relapse remain a significant problem.
The role of surgery in the management of patients with RMS is clearly site-specific. Superior outcome has been suggested when initial complete, gross total, or even debulking surgery is performed for patients with unfavorable site tumors.
It is important to remember that surgery by itself is never curative. It is also important to remember that the role of surgery is very dependent on the site of the tumor. Initial complete surgical removal of tumors arising in an extremity or in the pelvis may help improve the chance of cure.
Radiotherapy: This is often given to people with larger rhabdomyosarcomas. It can be given after surgery to ensure that any remaining cancer cells are destroyed. Sometimes it is given before surgery, to try and shrink the tumour and make the surgery easier. Whether you have radiotherapy before or after surgery depends on your individual case.
Radiotherapy is done to maximize the chance for cure.
Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy is often given to people with rhabdomyosarcoma to shrink the tumour prior to surgery. This is called neo-adjuvant treatment (chemo before surgery) and usually means that the surgery will be less invasive because the tumour is smaller.
Alternatively, chemo might be given after surgery to kill any remaining cancer cells and stop them from spreading. This is called adjuvant chemotherapy (chemo after surgery).
All patients with RMS require chemotherapy to maximize the chance for cure. Example of drugs are: Vincristine, Dactinomycin, Cyclophosphamide, Topotecan, Irinotecan, Etoposide, Ifosfamide, Doxorubicin, Carboplatin.
Late Effects of Treatment
Individual chemotherapy agents may have unique toxicities that may not become manifest until many years after the end of therapy, or that may steadily worsen with increased length of follow-up.
Damage from radiation therapy, and late complications from surgery, may not become apparent for many years. The long-term side effects of treatment are:
Infertility(associated especially with the use of alkylating agents such as cyclophosphamide and ifosfamide).
Bladder dysfunction: Although “non-mutilating” conservative surgery and full-dose irradiation has become the treatment of choice for bladder preservation in children with bladder/prostate RMS, approximately half of children with “intact” bladders will have one or more symptoms of bladder dysfunction including dribbling, incontinence, and enuresis.
Radiation damage of head and neck structures: Well described complications of radiation include cataract formation, asymmetric facial growth as a result of permanently arrested bone development and fibrosis (“scarring”) of surrounding tissues; chronic sinus infections; growth failure due to pituitary damage; and complex and multiple dental abnormalities.
Secondary cancer: Perhaps the most devastating late complication of treatment for any type of cancer, not just RMS, is the development of a second form of cancer. The use of chemotherapy and radiation can cause second cancers to develop. Chemotherapy-associated secondary cancers are most commonly leukemias (typically Acute Myeloid Leukemia [AML]), and may be associated with the use of alkylating agents (cyclophosphamide and ifosfamide), and topoisomerase II inhibitors (etoposide and doxorubicin).
Radiation is also associated with the development of second cancers, most commonly other sarcomas (either in bone or soft tissue). At the doses of radiation that are currently used to treat children with RMS, the risk of secondary sarcomas is approximately 5% at 20 years. Unlike the situation with secondary leukemias, which typically develop within four years of treatment, most cases of secondary sarcomas do not develop until 5+ years after the end of treatment.
Recurrence & Metastasis
Post-relapse survival for the majority of patients with recurrent RMS remains dismal. 95% of recurrences occur within three years of diagnosis.
Metastases develop during the course of the disease or, in about 20% of cases, are present at diagnosis.
Major metastatic sites are the lung, lymph nodes and bone marrow followed by the heart, brain, meninges, pancreas, liver and kidney.
The lungs are involved in at least two-thirds of patients with metastasis.
Soft Tissue – Chapter 22: Rhabdomyosarcoma by Sharon Weiss & John Goldblum
When I made a google search on “Can rhabdomyosarcoma be cured?” or “Effectiveness of treatment of rhadomyosarcoma” these are the pathetic answers I got.
Unfortunately, there is no guaranteed cure for rhabdomyosarcoma. However, treatment can be very effective, especially if the cancer is caught early. The most effective treatment usually includes surgical removal of the tumor and some surrounding tissue, followed by another treatment — usually chemotherapy or radiation therapy — to kill any cancer cells that may be left after surgery. http://www.sharecare.com/health/soft-tissue-sarcoma-adult/what-symptoms-adult-soft-tissue
When discussing cancer survival statistics, doctors often use a number called the5-year survival rate. The 5-year survival rate refers to the percentage of patients who live at least 5 years after their cancer is diagnosed. If the cancer has spread widely, the 5-year survival rate is generally around 20% to 40%. http://www.cancer.org/cancer/rhabdomyosarcoma/detailedguide/rhabdomyosarcoma-staging-survival-rates
In patients with localised disease, overall 5-year survival rates have improved to more than 80% with the combined use of surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. However, there has been little progress in managing metastatic disease with a 5-year event-free survival rate less than 30%. http://www.patient.co.uk/doctor/Rhabdomyosarcoma
Related posting: Metastatic Rhabdomyosarcoma: Surgery, radiation and chemotherapy did not cure her.
Advanced Breast Cancer Part 1: You need not have to die!
Paula Black had breast cancer and had undergone a double mastectomy. She told her doctor:
But I did not want any of my lymph nodes removed. They are essential part of my immune system, so I need them. And I’m rejecting all radiation and chemotherapy treatments… I believe God is healing me this way.
Paula’s surgeon replied: Paula, I must tell you, I do not agree with your decision.
Without chemo and radiation, the doctor said Paula would have only 3 to 6 months (the maximum) to live. Would you believe that? You should not. Doctors are not God. In this case, Paula’s doctor was wrong. Paula went on to live up to this day and had shared her healing story for the world to know.
ALL patients want to be successful like Paula — cancer gone (and I can go back to my old lifestyle again). But let me be blunt. Not many patients can do what Paula did, that’s the real problem! Over the past 20 years we have spent time helping cancer patients. We know what it is like dealing with “sick” human beings. Seventy percent of patients who came to seek our help were searching for the non-existent magic bullet or expecting us to provide healing on a silver platter. Only a rare few understood that health is their responsibility and they have to work hard to achieve their healing.
All these years, we in CA Care have been saying the same things from the viewpoint of a healer. In Paula’s book, Life, Cancer and God, Paula related her story in great detail. Let me share with you why I said Paula had written a great book that you must read. What Paula did while on her healing journey made her a winner in her battle with cancer. Let Paula be your role model!
Cancer strikes – do you blame God?
It is understandable, many would ask, “Why?, Why me? What bad things have I done to deserve this “punishment”?. It is even harder if one is a God-fearing child of God. Why does God allow this? Has God forsaken me? I have done so many good things, I don’t deserve this.
Paula wrote:
My face fell in crushing disappointment … How could God allow this to happen? … I feel frustrated … We’ve given up so much in this world to obey God … and now this? Just think about it. We love God and want to serve Him always … we’ve given away houses, jet airplanes, cars, retirement, and travel benefits … a whole lot of money … We did this willingly in order to follow what we believed God had for us … and then BAM … to get hit with cancer? What is going on? Why would God let that happen?
When I read the above passage, I felt right in my heart what many patients felt, the same way that Paula had felt. Often times, cancer patients told me this – Dr. Chris, don’t worry you already have a reserve seat in Heaven for what you have done for us! I smiled in response but kept silent. I understand, for many believe that they need to do good deeds to gain good credits in order to get to Heaven. It does not make sense why good people get cancer. But being a Christian, I understand we are saved by Grace not good works. If I get cancer, I understand too that I have “violated” God’s Law of Nature – intentionally or unintentionally. Getting cancer is not a punishment from a loving and compassionate God!
I am glad that Paula did not blame God for her cancer! She did not give up on God too. I am equally glad that Paula did not consider cancer is a punishment from God.
Many cancer patients wrote that getting cancer is a blessing – the best thing that can ever happen in their lives, a timely wake up call. We tell patients to look at it as a blessing.
Strong Support from Spouse and Family Members
Without doubt, when you are sinking, you need all the help that you can get or offered to you. Strong support from our loved ones is an essential ingredient to success. Her dear husband, Dale was the rock for Paula. He did all the literature research and was ever a fountain of encouraging words.
If you focus on a three-pronged approach — you body, your soul and your spirit — then I firmly believe you will succeed.
The most difficult times of life can become the best times of life if we let God direct them. That’s what I’ve experienced. And that can happen for you too, sweetheart.
I don’t believe for a second that God caused cancer in your body. That is not like God. Something else has caused this cancer, yet God has allowed it. Soon we’re going to learn why. Then we’re going to find out what we can do about it. That’s just one of the wonderful things about God. He will turn something terrible into something wonderful if we let Him.
Find Strength in Spirituality
My wife and I are Christians. When we set up CA Care in 1995, we set our bearing right. We are open to all God’s children, irrespective of religion, race or bank account. We accept you as you are and encourage you to seek help from your God – whoever you believe in.
Paula found strength is her Christian God. Dale told Paula, Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. From personal experience, I can promise that if you keep pursuing God … you won’t be disappointed. You’ll find what you’re looking for.
Paula wrote:
Believing God want me well is the cornerstone of whatever plan I choose to follow. I know I don’t have the power to fix this. But God does.
Friends Be Considerate!
Paula and Dale headed for the hills — just to be away and get things sorted out. In short, they have to run away from all the well-meaning but destructive distractions. Their phone never stop ringing. Many concerned people wanted to know: How are you doing, What are you going to do? … There is no shortage of recommendations.
Good grief, Dale, I don’t think I can handle one more call. I mean, I know their intentions are all good, I know they’re trying to show they care. But the constant bombardment is more than I can handle.
What can I do … I am confused and frustrated and afraid. And I have no idea what I’m going to do!
We understand this scenario very well. I used to warn patients, You family members, your friends … As of yesterday they know nothing about cancer but today because you have cancer, they all have become professors or experts on cancer, telling you to do this and do that! Beware.
We are fully aware that loved ones and friends want to show their concern and care. But please take note that your action can be over-bearing. We often received emails saying my friend has cancer, my auntie has cancer, etc. can you please help. Hang on a minute, you are not the patient! How do you know that that patient needs my help? At best, if that makes you happy, you can just tell the patient that there is such a thing as CA Care — there is no need to go further than that. Let the patient decide what he/she wants to do.
My People Are Destroyed for Lack of Knowledge, Hosea 4:6
I have no time to think, no time to process. I need quiet. I need time alone with God to figure out how He is leading me. I have to find the path God has for me.
Dale smiled and said I’ve already made the arrangements. We’re all set. Let’s take the dog and whatever essentials we need and get out of town!
This is the perfect time to get more books for the research we’re doing on cancer and treatment options. Let’s pick some up and take them with us to the mountains. That’s the perfect place to focus.
Our first stop was the library … when we finally checked out, we were both carrying two armloads of books and journals.
At the bookstore … after skimming through the mountains of books, we narrowed it down to eight that we just had to have.
We were ready …..(to) uncover the mysteries of cancer. There must be more than forty books here. How are we supposed to get through all them in a few days?
Dear God, Paula and I ask for Your help as we search for her way of escape … Guide us through this mountain of information. Help us learn what You want us to learn.
Right on spot Paula. We tell our patients. No need to rush to get things done. Take time to reflect and think. Take time to read and gather information. Unfortunately, patients do not want to read. They do not want to find out for themselves. They prefer to mortgage their fate to others (the experts). Experts know best, trust them. Pathetic indeed.
Facts are one thing – truth is another. With truth, there are no more mixed signals. Usually truth is so hard to swallow that most people aren’t open to it … And if they do hear the truth, they often go into denial or get angry – even hostile.
Both Paula and her husband started to read and research. And they found many unexpected discoveries.
Dale said, Based on what I’ve been learning, I believe God is answering our prayers. We are finding glimpses of the truth …. There’s nothing that gets me more riled up than knowing I’ve been lied to.
The Truths Discovered
Away from distraction, Paula and Dale started to read more and learned more. I am glad to know that they had a rare privilege to meet a medical doctor who also had breast cancer. Since this book is specially dedicated to Dr. Lorraine Day — “was instrumental in saving my life” — I guess the doctor who Paula and Dale met must have been Dr. Day. Indeed, if you have breast cancer, I fully recommend that you visit Dr. Day’s website, http://www.drday.com/
Let me give you some examples of the “unbelievable and shocking” truths that Paula and Dale “discovered.”
The doctor (who Paula said had saved her life) told both Paula and Dale the following:
I was diagnosed with advanced terminal breast cancer. But as a medical doctor, I knew that standard treatment would not save my life. I knew if I went to the hospital and followed the normal medical protocol for cancer, it would kill me. Instead I diligently searched every alternative method available until I found my way through the maze. Eventually, I reversed my cancer … I got well without radiation or chemotherapy.
Do you really think chemotherapy can cure cancer? … Drugs can’t cure disease. Chemotherapy is a drug — it cannot cure cancer. At best, drugs suppress symptoms …. And all drugs have side effects.
Radiation can’t cure cancer either… And radiation does immense damage to healthy cells too.
The medical system is broken. It’s completely upside down.
When it comes to cancer, doctors are taught only to cut, poison or burn tumours – with surgery, chemotherapy or radiation.
We doctors are trained only to treat symptoms. Doctors don’t deal with root causes. That’s how the medical system works.
Tumors are not the cancer. Tumors are the symptoms of cancer.
The patient sometimes shows temporary sign of improvement from chemotherapy and radiation. However, the treatments actually make the cancer worse, not better.
What is cancer?
Cancer is the result of a repressed immune system. Cancer results from a broken-down immune system – suppressed immune system – plain and simple. It usually takes years for a tumour to grow to large enough size to detect, which means your immune system has been weakened for a long time. When cancer is discovered, it’s not just your breast or prostate or lung that has a problem … if you have cancer anywhere, it means your entire system is compromised.
Cancer is a systemic disease.
You cause you own cancer!
You cause you own cancer … you gave yourself cancer … whether knowingly or unknowingly. You didn’t just randomly get invaded by this disease. Instead you bring this on yourself.
Since you caused it, you can reverse it … by rebuilding and strengthening one’s immune system. If the immune system is working properly, it is not possible for cancer to develop.
Your immune system is healthy when you feed it the vitamins, minerals, enzymes and water it needs to heal itself. Start by giving your body what it needs to have a strong immune system.
You — and only you — must take responsibility … you are the only one who can reverse you cancer. None of us can do it for you.
You will reverse it one day at a time.
Make necessary lifestyle changes starting now. Learn how to live in a way that you will never, ever develop cancer.
You can prevent this disease. You don’t have to get cancer.
Cancer is not hereditary
Cancer is passed down through families all right, but not through the genes.
With only minor exceptions, cancer is passed down by training the child how to eat, drink, think, and how to cope with stress …. passed down by habit patterns, behavioral models in the home.
Why don’t my doctors tell me all these?
There is a protocol for cancer in place that doctors cannot violate with huge liability and personal cost. So they stay with the herd. They place protection of their careers over protection of their patients.
Any medical doctor who turns to alternative medicine will be crucified by their peers and by the medical industry. There are big dollars to protect the status quo.
Cancer is a big business and bring in hundreds of billions of dollars every year. The doctors are just the middlemen, the salespeople for the drug companies.
The big pharmaceutical and medical companies that make billions on the cancer business also spend millions on undermining the claims of alternative medicine. They work aggressively and spend many dollars labelling it “quackery”.
There is a massive campaign to keep people moving through the conventional medical system.
Total belief in medical expert?
Why do you have to do what they say just because they say it? Instead pay attention to your body. Learn about healthcare for yourself … become an expert on how your body is designed to function. It is not diffiuclt. It just takes some time and attention …. time to read and learn and grow.
Don’t ever let a doctor rush you into a decision. It’s a game they play. Don’t play it with them.
Three to six months to live?
Doctors do not know how long you’re going to live. It is insanely irresponsible to tell a patient how long they have to live. That is cruel and immoral. Many patients — thousands of patients — die each year because they believe the “threat” their doctors give them.
There is a better way
Now you know … you can stick your head back in the sand and stay in denial if you want to — to your own detriment.
Or you question what is happening and look at the information and statistics that are available and accept the truth. The medical system is broken. Standard cancer treatment doesn’t work.
There is a better way.
Let me ask you to once again reflect on these quotations:
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Hosea 4:6.
You shall know the truth, and the truth will set you free. John 8:32
After his intensive research Dale and Paula did learn many more “unbelievable and shocking” things about cancer. Dale said:
Finding the “Correct” Truth
Most people don’t really want the truth. They want only what they want. Seldom do they seek the complete truth.
I am aware that your life depends on you getting all information – correctly and accurately.
I am having a hard time finding solid data when it comes to cancer cure rates … it’s what everyone with cancer wants to know.
A person is considered “cured of cancer” if they don’t die within 5 years of diagnosis. That ain’t no cure, baby.
Chemotherapy
A person who takes enough chemo to kill all the cancer cells in their body will die from the toxicity of the chemo well before the cancer cells are destroyed.
Chemo doesn’t stop cancer from spreading. Chemo can only slow down and shrink the cancer tumour. Meanwhile it devastates the patient’s immune system, making the cancer problem worse …. A weak immune system is what allows the cancer to grow out.
Profit is More Important than Your Life
I’ve learned that there’s an unholy alliance between the pharmaceutical industry and the FDA. The FDA approves drugs not necessarily because they’re helpful to the patients but because they bring money and profits to the huge pharmaceutical industry.
True, some of the drugs extend life of cancer patients, but none of them cure cancer.
The medical industry doesn’t want to cure cancer.
The reality … extending the life of people with cancer makes more money than curing them … keep cancer as a chronic disease … provides a long-term profit.
If they find the cure for cancer, our medical system would lose literally billions of dollars every year. Hundreds and thousands of jobs would disappear – not just in the medical field but in all cancer related fields.
Patient’s Misguided Priority
Ninety-five percent of cancer patients who use some form of alternative cancer treatment have already had conventional (medical) treatment. That’s almost everyone. Many of them had everything orthodox medicine could offer and were sent home to die.
This means the alternative medicine was chosen as a last resort when they were already in dire critical condition and medical science had given up on them.
I’ve learned that it’s critical to START with an alternative treatment instead of end with one. Make alternative medicine your first option!
Finally, having known all of the above, Paula made her move. Remember, it is useless to know — to spend time reading — if you do not want to act upon what you know!! She wrote:
Cancer is about life and death. Cancer is also about choices.
No one else could face this enemy for me. This was a battle I had to fight, a war I had to win.
I am aware that for me to get well and stay well, I must eliminate things like worry, resentment and unforgiveness from my life. These things affect both my spirit and my soul. If I don’t deal with them, they can manifest in my physical body in negative ways.
The conerstone of my new diet was juice — fresh organic vegetable juice. Every day, I also drank … glasses of pure clean water — free of fluoride, chloride and other harmful contaminants.
I eliminated … sugar, caffeine, coffee and soda.
Meat and dairy products were banned entirely.
Nothing cooked, fried or frozen were allowed.
No fast foods or processed foods.
I had drawn a line in the sand … I learned that God would use anything for my good and His glory — if I did things His way. God will not tempt you beyond that which you are able to endure … without making a way of escape. God was true to His promise. I had found my way of escape.
The final word from Paula: If you find the truth, will you believe it?
Advanced Breast Cancer Part 2: To die or to heal is your choice.
Paula Black is a wife and mother, businesswoman and co-pastor of a church. She and her husband Dale, helped build churches in several countries and established an orphanage in Guatamala.
One day, Paula was diagnosed with breast cancer. The doctor gave her 3 to 6 months to live. Paula shared her healing story in this book, Life, Cancer and God.
What did Paula do after being given this “death sentence” by her doctor?
With my husband Dale’s help, I began researching everything I could about my fatal disease.
Eventually, I …found a combination of methods that treated the root causes of my disease, not just the symptoms.
Against my doctor’s advice, I followed my own newly discovered path, which I call the Body-Soul-Spirit approach.
I got well. What I learned and acted on saved my life.
Only surgery, no to chemo or radiation
Paula underwent a double mastectomy – removal of both breasts. After the surgery, Paula said:
I made a promise … I am now done with the medical system in my battle with cancer. I will not be back (to the hospital again). There is nothing more they can offer me that I want. Even if I get sicker and look like I’m getting real close to losing this battle, I’m not coming back. Through thick and thin, I’m committed to following the plan God had given me – my Body-Soul-Spirit approach.
What made Paula so sure and so strong? Strong faith in her God.
God will not tempt you beyond that which you are able to endure without making a way of escape ~ 1 Cor. 10:13
If God has allowed cancer in your life, He’ll use it for your good and His glory … if you do things His ways.
Faith doesn’t come by praying for it. Instead, faith comes by knowing and trusting in God’s word.
Did Paula get well immediately? NO. Her healing took time.
My self-discipline had never been stronger but my symptoms continued to get worse, NOT better. The lump on my arm grew larger. The pain in my abdomen got more severe – some days I couldn’t walk at all.
Day after day my faith was put to the test by circumstances and symptoms of deterioration.
Every twinge of pain invited FEAR — relentless fear that hounded me like a hunting dog following a scent.
Did Paula made a mistake to follow a “wrong and unproven” path? Most people would surely say YES ! She was getting worse, not better. Most people would have “chickened” out. But Paula eventually won her battle!
It took about 8 months of rigorously following my lifestyle regimen for my body to respond … Eventually I could tell that my immune system was getting stronger – little by little. Step by step.
My energy began to increase … the lump on my arm began to melt away.
It took longer for the pain in my abdomen to subside, but after a few months, it too … gradually diminished until it was gone.
It took about 15 months to really feel good again. I looked good too — healthy and vibrant.
I was not the same person I had been when my journey started.
What did Paula’s doctor said about her healing?
Dr. Anderson (surgeon) gave this standard answer which some of our CA Care patients often hear from their “kind, open-minded-enough” doctors.
I’m happy to report that you are completely clear of cancer. There is no sign of any abnormality. Congratulations … you are cancer free.
I am not sure what to actually make of all this. I’m not sure what you did. I know you refused chemotherapy and radiation treatments. You may have found another doctor. But whatever you did, you obviously did the right thing.
CL was told that she was a hepatitis C carrier. That was 10 years ago, when she was 50 years old. She did nothing about it – perhaps nothing meaningful could be done anyway? On 31 March 2009, CL did a blood test. Her liver function deteriorated badly.
Alkaline phosphatase
355 H
Total bilirubin
22 H
GGT
139 H
AST
118 H
ALT
90 H
Alpha-fetoprotein
39 H
CT abdomen on 15 April 2009 indicated: Liver cirrhosis with portal hypertension. Small haemangioma, right lobe of liver.
The doctor asked CL to have interferon injections – a total of about 50 injections, costing about RM40,000 plus. According to the doctor, CL had a 50:50 chance (what does that mean?). CL promptly declined further medical treatment.
CL then went to seek the help of Dr. Ishak (deceased, medical doctor practising alternative medicine). CL received ozone treatment, coffee edema, etc. After 3 days, CL was told to come and see us for further management.
CL came to CA Care on 8 May 2009 and was prescribed Capsule A + B, Liver 1 & 2 teas and LL-Tea.
September 2009: Four months on the herbs, CL was more comfortable, more energetic, slept better.
November 2009: Blood test showed improved liver function (see table below).
December 2014: Five years and 7 months later: CL’s son came to seek our help. This time not for CL but for his father (CL’s husband) who had colon-liver cancer. The first thing we did was to enquire about CL’s health.
Chris: More than 5 years now. Is your mother okay?
Son: Yes, she is okay. Doing very well.
C: Did she go and see the doctor for her liver problems?
Daughter-in-law: No, no, no.
Listern to this video …
Compare the blood test results over the years
Alkaline phosphatase
Total bilirubin
GGT
AST
ALT
Alpha-fetoprotein
31 Mar 2009
355
22
139
118
90
39
Started on herbs on 8 May 2009
10 Nov 2009
144
20
105
101
84
30
18 May 2010
140
17
76
99
71
24
21 Feb 2011
159
26
60
124
69
28.8
26 Mar 2012
142
22
43
64
28
n/a
Comments
Some people want others to believe that taking herbs is not “scientifically proven” stuff that can lead to liver or kidney damage. When CL came to seek our help her liver was already “real bad.” And if taking herbs would cause liver damage, then CL would not have survived 5 years. Her liver would have gone “kaputt” by now – considering that herbs would further add to the damage! But instead CL’s liver was getting better.
The doctor suggested 50 injections that would cost her some RM40,000.
Let’s look at the “opportunity cost.” What can happen if CL were to take the injection? Can her liver condition deteriorate like the Indonesian lady mentioned above? Money lost and liver kaputt?
The question to ask – would the RM 40,000-treatment cure CL? The doctor said, she had a 50:50 chance! Honestly, I don’t understand what the means! Chance of curing or chance of getting worse?
If CL was to ask me then, what her chances would be if she were to follow our therapy, I would have said: “I don’t know! We shall try our best to help you.” I would rather be sincerely honest with her. At CA Care we don’t want to mislead patients by using unsubstantiated, glowing statistics. In other words, we are NOT here trying to push our herbs!
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:
Continue with more chemotherapy using new drug regimen.
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:
a) Poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma with extensive infiltration into perirectal fat, pT3 tumour.
There is an FDG avid left paraaortic nodal metastasis.
There are multiple FDG avid liver metastasis.
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
Recurrent ca. colon.
Worsening liver metastasis.
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.
PY is a 57-yer old male. He passed out blood in his stools. Unfortunately the doctor told PY there was nothing to worry about. “You look healthier than I am” the doctor assured PY. But it was not to be. A colonoscopy on 19 May 2014, indicated cancer of the rectum.
PY underwent a laparoscopic surgery. The histopathology report of 28 August 2014 confirmed a “moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma, T3No, Duke B” of rectal and sigmoid colon.
Initially the surgeon told PY that since it was a Stage 2 cancer follow up chemotherapy was optional. It was up to PY if he wanted to undergo the treatment or not. However, later the surgeon came to another conclusion – PY needed chemotherapy after all.
KL is a 60-year old female. She felt tired and was told that she was anemic. However, a colonoscopy done on 25 March 2014 indicated tumours in her ascending colon.
KL immediately underwent an operation. The operation cost RM 20,000. Unfortunately on the third day after the operation, KL suffered severe bleeding. The doctor told the family it was a Stage 4 cancer since it had spread to the liver.
About a month after the surgery, KL was started on chemotherapy. Each cycle of chemo cost about RM4,000. After receiving a total of 6 cycles (oxaliplatin + oral Xeloda) the oncologist stopped the treatment because it was not effective.
The oncologist offered KL two options:
Continue with more chemotherapy but using a combination of more expensive drugs – Avastin + Erbitux. This cost more than RM10,000 per cycle.
Go home. There is no more medicine!
Details Of KL’s Medical Records.
CT scan of 27 August 2014: Known case of CA ascending colon, post operation and post chemotherapy.
Impression
CA ascending colon with multiple lever metastases. The metastatic lesion in the left lobe of the liver is larger in size associated with progressive dilatation of the left intrahepatic bile duct.
A small stable nodule in the lower lobe of right lung.
Blood Test Results
Date
CEA
Alk. phosphotase
ALT
GGT
AST
27 Aug 2014
980.2
194
49
437
71
31 Oct 2014
1,914.0
141
21
214
39
Comments
KL and her family came to seek our help. She presented with loss of appetite and swelling of the abdomen and both legs. She lacked strength to walk or to stand up. The video below showed her condition that day.
This is what KL’s husband said: “What the doctor said caused us to panic. We followed what the doctor wanted us to do. Money spent but she (the patient) became weak.”
This is a tragic case. Many questions need to be asked:
Why was KL only told that the cancer had spread to her liver after her colon operation? Why not before the operation?
Would it not be prudent or even the norm of medical practice, to check if the cancer has spread to other parts of the body before any surgery is done?
If the cancer has spread extensively, it is sensible to go ahead with the surgery? Chemo?
Why was there severe bleeding 3 days after the surgery?
After 6 cycles of chemo, KL was told that the treatment did not work. With all the experiences (giving chemo to patients over the years), does the oncologist not realize that chemo rarely (if at all) works for patients?
Judy (not real name) came with her husband , PY, to seek our help. Her 57-year-old husband was diagnosed with cancer of the rectum and had undergone surgery. It was a Stage 2B cancer and he was asked to undergo chemotherapy. Judy did not want her husband to go for chemo. PY also hesitated and needed help.
Our conversation that night, however, took an interesting turn when Judy told us that she and her husband had just embraced a new religion – Christianity. I asked Judy why this sudden change?
Listen to what Judy and her husband said.
The gists of our conversation:
Judy was going “nuts” after being told of her husband’s cancer. She was alone in the waiting room while her husband was in the CT scan room.
In this moment of hopelessness and despair, Judy started to pray to “anything” – to any gods she knew. Since she did not get any answer, in desperation she prayed to Jesus.
Jesus appeared before Judy and gently touched her head. Jesus told Judy that her husband would be alright. After Jesus’ assurance, Judy regained her sanity and was calm and happy. Her fear vanished.
Judy and her husband were non-Christians. The only exposure they had about Jesus was during their school days.
Some questions:
a. How does Jesus look like?
b. Is he white or black?
c. Did he speak to you in English?
5. Judy did not tell anybody about her encounter with Jesus – – not even her husband, but she merely encouraged him husband to look for a church to go to. But they did not know where and what church to go to.
6. Some days later, Judy and her husband went to buys things at a night market. One young man invited them to a healing service. It was at this stage that Judy told her husband about her experience with Jesus. They found a church. The pastor was kind and warm! The couple became Christians.
Comments
In my experience dealing with cancer patients, I sometimes hear of Divine interventions. I take these stories at face value and with faith. Of course, some skeptics may say it is just hallucination or a figment of imagination. All made up!
Of course, some may even want to suggest that since I am a Christian, this story is written with a view of trying to convert others into my religion! Far from it, I have written about a patient who told me that her father appeared in the form of Buddha to tell her about the rodent tuber and CA Care! I have patients who said they came to CA Care because Kuan Yin had asked them to come. I have patients who told me that they came to us because the medium in the temple directed them to us. Take comfort, even if I am a Christian, I respect the sacredness of all religion. I believe God loves all of us and I want to believe that in Heaven there is no such thing as religion!
Judy shared with me an amazing experience. I envied her! She just needed to pray once and Jesus appeared in front of her and comforted her. I have been praying for years and years, yet I do not have a chance to meet Jesus! No, I am not complaining. I know why I do not have that privilege! Jesus had always been in my heart all these years — guiding me through this worldly path.
I was curious about Jesus. I wondered if Judy was truly telling me the truth. That was why I asked Judy: How does Jesus look like? Does Jesus appear with a long beard? Is he white or black? Did he speak to her in English?
In the Bible is a story of a man called Saul. He was a great enemy of Christians. One day while on the journey to go around “catching and killing” more Christians, Jesus appeared before Saul and asked, “Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me?” Saul was transformed by this encounter and became Paul, the greatest apostle of Jesus Christ.
Likewise, Judy was changed by her experience. She was not afraid anymore. She was blessed.
To my Christian friends: We wish you all a meaningful and blessed Christmas!
KC is a 58-year-old Christian worker from Thailand. She had problems with her thyroid since high school days. She was on medication for some 10 years. Then she had surgery followed by medication again. The problem persisted. At one time, while in the United States, she was scheduled for radiotherapy. After reflection and prayer, KC declined the treatment and told the doctor that she would wait until she returns to Thailand to make that decision. Eventually she did not go for any radiation.
KC’s problems remained unresolved:
She had difficulty sleeping.
She became emotional and would cry easily.
She felt uneasy and lethargic.
In April 2012, blood oozed out from her right breast. She consulted her Thai doctor who sent her for a mammogram and USG.
Mammography indicated: “Multiple punctate microcalcification scattering at both breasts and two tiny round calcifications at the left breast.”
USG indicated: “A lobulated hypoechoic at R3-4 position, about 7.4 x 6.7 x 8.2 mm in size and a 0.5 cm cyst at the left -6 position.”
Initially the doctor suggested a “wait and see” strategy. The mass in KC’s breast did not grow in size. Some months later, KC was scheduled for breast surgery. Something amazing happened.
She was wheeled into the operation theatre and was about to be administered the anesthesia when the surgeon walked in and said the he would not proceed with the surgery. KC was sent back to the ward and discharged! Nobody knew why the surgeon made this U-turn.
Later KC met Mary, a lady from Penang who is also involved in mission work. Mary brought KC to CA Care. KC was prescribed herbs. Her health improved. Two years and 3 months after KC’s first visit to seek our help we had this conversation:
Video 1: Let Your Will Be Done Part 1: Thyroid Problem
Video 2: Let Your Will Be Done Part 2: Breast Problem
Comments
Some say miracles do not happen in this modern scientific age. Some say, stories like this are just mere coincidence. To me, I say it is God’s miracles. God performs miracles for a reason that we cannot understand.
Let me confess to you first: I am a Christian and I view life as God-guided and God-blessed.
At CA Care, over the past 19 years, I have seen big and small miracles happening very often – much beyond what modern science can explain. But of course if one is “blind” to miracles then one cannot “see” God’s grace.
Over the years, I have come to understand that every single thing in our life happens for a reason. And it happens for our own good – there is a message behind each of this episode. It is up to us to find out what lesson we can learn from it and improve ourselves. Again, if we are not prepared to learn, we learn nothing.
I have come to understand and believe that God cares for all of us – you and me. You don’t have to carry the label of a religion to experience God’s grace and blessing. God loves everyone. I have seen great miracles happen to non-Christians! I want to believe that in Heaven there is NO religion anymore!
As I reflect on KC’s story above, I feel God’s grace and guidance. Let me invite you to reflect on these:
When KC was in the US, she was scheduled for radiotherapy. She prayed about this and decided to return home to Thailand first. Up to this day, she did not receive any radiation but her health became normal!
KC was on the operation table ready to have her breast removed. The surgeon came it and decided to abort the surgery! I have asked KC if she knew why the surgeon aborted the surgery. She said, “NO.” But KC did tell God, “If this is what you want me to go through, so be it. Let Your will be done.” So God has shown His love to KC, His servant, in an amazing way!
Did God not open the heart of Mary who heard of KC’s need for help? What if Mary was “blind” or “insensitive” to the needs of KC?
What if KC has a mind of her own and would not want the help offered to her?
As a healer, I did not only see miracle in KC’s life. I also see God’s miracles in my life. I am being blessed for being able to help others. Let Your will be done, Lord.
The world of Western conventional medicine is oriented to the ‘magic bullet’ paradigm, where the search for drugs relies on the concept of compounds that bind specifically to a single target and demonstrate a high degree of potency.
Traditional herbal medicine recognized centuries ago that combining many plants delivers far better results than relying on a single plant. This is true both for supporting health and vitality and for treating imbalances and diseases. The multi-component nature inherent in medicinal herbs makes them particularly suitable for managing the multitude of issues that present in complex diseases such as cancer, and offers great potential for synergistic actions, including interactions between botanicals and the relationship of botanicals to conventional cytotoxic drugs such as chemotherapy and targeted agents.
Because botanicals contain a variety of organic chemical complexes, they usually act on multiple targets. A potential advantage of phytochemicals is that they may act through multiple pathways, thus reducing the development of resistance by cancer cells.7 Botanical medicine does not have single effects, nor does it have a high degree of potency, but rather is pleotrophic, having relatively weak (compared to that of drugs) or gentle effects, assisting rather then controlling, and often acting in an amphoteric, symphonic way—able to not only do different things in different situations, but even to have the opposite effect, depending on the circumstances.
Botanical, as well as natural dietary compounds, have drawn a great deal of attention as potential cancer preventive agents because of their wide margin of safety. However, single agent intervention has failed to bring the expected outcome in clinical trials; therefore, combinations of botanicals and natural dietary compounds are gaining increasing popularity.
Just wanted to let you all know I submitted my dissertation this morning d hehe. Very tired , going shopping with Jie Jie tomorrow then thanksgiving. Will call . Love. Albert. 26 November 2014.
On Dec 10, 2014, Irene Teo wrote:
Yeah!!! Dr. Albert Teo defended successfully today after 6 years of grad school. Yay!!!
His advisor said she’s found Albert to be independent and that he has a lot of work and she thinks he is ready to graduate. Ehhhhem, I wish I had recorded it!
It went great, Pa. He had so many people turn up to support him. I want to say about 8-10 friends working around the med center, many lab people, and his committee. Everyone keeps saying they’re impressed by all the data he has.
Wonderful… wonderful …God had answered our prayer …. !!! Bert had been in papa’s prayer for so long d …Praise Him… wonderful……..time to relax and enjoy …. it is now time to feel good and be grateful to God. love, papa.
The youngest in our family got his PhD (in Cancer Biology) at last!!!
Praise God for His great blessing.
Hehe … that makes 3 persons in the family with Permanent Head Damage (P.H.D!)
Recently, someone approached me and reminded me that October is “breast cancer awareness” month. They asked me to support their efforts to launch a campaign in the fight against breast cancer, and when I politely declined, they were surprised. They had assumed that as a cancer survivor myself, I would be fervently supportive of their efforts to fight the war against cancer.
Mother Teresa once said, “I was asked why I don’t participate in anti-war demonstrations. I said that I will never do that, but as soon as you have a pro-peace rally, I’ll be there.”
She offered important insight, and in a similar vein, I support any effort to promote and advocate health-awareness programs!
Consider this. Think about all the money we spend on waging war: wars against drugs, wars against poverty, wars against terrorism, wars against heart disease, wars against cancer and so on. We are constantly being bombarded by advertisements and campaigns encouraging us to go for earlier and earlier detection tests of all kinds, which again only encourage us to focus on looking for illness! We are also continually being asked to donate to all these “wars against illness” and to the research associated with them. Now imagine if we were to put the same amount of money, energy and focus into “waging health awareness programs” instead. Think about what a different outcome we would have.
The problem is that our health care system, as it stands now, is much more focused on our illnesses than on our health, perhaps partly because there is much more money to be made from illness than wellness.
Most people don’t really know what true wellness is. Most people have no idea what it means to take care of their health, and have no idea that our physical well being has a LOT to do with our mental, emotional, and spiritual well being! It’s all tied together! Physical illness does not happen in a vacuum. There are reasons why your immune system becomes depleted, making you more susceptible to illness.
If it were up to me, I would want people to know that diseases and many other life-threatening ailments are not just medical issues. Their cause can be rooted in our emotional or mental wellbeing, or our environment. We are putting all our energy and research dollars into looking for medical cures. We are spending billions of dollars on making everyone aware of cancer, heart or kidney disease, diabetes, etc., by focusing our time, money and energy on finding such cures — which in and of itself has become an industry — yet the numbers of people getting these diseases do not seem to decrease. And I’m not just talking about age-related illnesses; I’m talking about illness in the young, as well. Until health caregivers start to focus on health, instead of illness, and until researchers look deeper into the connection between disease and our emotions and our lifestyle, we will not find a cure in medical research alone.
When someone is diagnosed with cancer or other life-threatening illness, the focus needs to be not just on his or her physical state, but on his or her emotional state as well. Perhaps even more so! Ideally, they need to be asked questions by their health care provider along the lines of:
Do you love and value yourself?
• Are you happy?
• Are there people in your life who matter to you and to whom you matter?
• Do you feel your life has purpose?
• What are you passionate about?
• What brings you joy?
Until we start to really take seriously the connection between our emotional and mental well-being with physical illnesses, we will still be poking around in the dark, looking for a cures. And until the medical industry changes its focus from one of purely searching for illness to one of promoting wellness instead, we will not see a significant decrease in the numbers of people being diagnosed with disease. Let’s wage health, not war!
CANCER STORY 
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