This lady had a stage for Stage 4 ovarian CA who came last Feb 2016, seeking for 2nd opinion, her name is Mary (not real name). Apparently she rejected conventional therapy. But the alternative cancer therapy she switched to also gave her chemo but in a non-standard small dosage (carboplatin 5X, radiotherapy 27X) for palliative purpose.
She came seeking for a cure, I told her herbs don’t cure cancers, they only help to heal the body. This concept sounded so foreign to her that she lost confidence and went to the other alternative medical doctor. I told myself “that is fine”, that patient will not do well also if she had started herbs because her mindset is not right.
Julie with Breast Cancer
Fast forward one year later, she came and brought her friend (Julie) who has Stage 4 Ca breast with metastasis to bone and liver. By this action I knew Mary agreed with what I said last year and she still trusts me. She wanted me to help her friend.
But I felt vulnerable. Julie has been having chemo from China and locally — now in a bad shape, short of having herself killed.
If I were to start the herbs and she dies, her family members will think that the herbs kill her. I was reluctant to start her on herbs because her expectations were wrong and she still has not given up with the chemo-alternative therapy.
She is one person with one foot here and another foot there. She could not make up her mind. She is confused, scared and suffering.
My observations
Personally both patients wanted to get out of their current treatment but has invested too much in it (to the tune of RM 400k), but too scared.
They are still not grasping the reality that cancer cannot be cured.
And the doctor (not oncologist), when failed in her alternative therapy such as GCMAF and thymus therapy, encouraged patient to go for chemo.
And the oncologist in the hospital then told her that chemotherapy is also divided to conventional chemo — the high dose — and the alternative low dose chemo, but off label used mainly for palliation.
Naturally the patient opted for ‘alternative-chemo’.
In hindsight, comparing my patients with these two patients treated by another ‘alternative doctor’:
1) My CA patients eventually becomes calm, happy, and have a positive outlook of life and prepared to go, cherishing each day as if it was their last.
In contrast, Mary and Julie are still seeking for ‘better’ treatment as long as their finances allows them. They are worried, seeking second opinion for reassurance that what they are doing is right.
2) My CA patients are free to switch or stop their current treatment with herbs and do anything that they think is better or is able to help them. And even when they decide to change, they somehow are still in good terms with me and would sometimes refer their friends who needed help to me.
Whereas, Mary and Julie were initially promised (guaranteed) many things — their confidence boosted. Then later they discovered that such promises were not fulfilled and the guarantee was false.
When they confronted the doctor, the guilt and fear trap was laid by the doctor. Blaming patient for what they did wrong and they would die if they continue to do the ‘wrong’ thing (like stopping their treatment).
Out of fear, they continued with more treatment with the same doctor which they have begun to distrust.
Later on, they will speak negatively about this doctor and tell their friends to avoid this doctor.
That is how I found out about what this doctor is doing.
I am seeing her wither and die in front of me and I cannot and dare not do anything. Very sad.
Best regards,
Dr. Julian
Note: GcMAF is a protein produced by modification of vitamin D-binding protein. Proponents of GcMAF claim that it is an immunomodulatory protein that has antitumor properties and strengthens the immune system by macrophage activation.
Lan is a 55-year-old Indonesian lady. About two months ago, August 2016, her stomach felt bloated and she passed out “oily” urine. She consulted one doctor after another (five in all) and was told she had gastric problems. One doctor in Jakarta examined her and said there was nothing wrong with her! She was given medications by these doctors, but her problem persisted.
She eventually consulted a doctor in a private hospital in Jakarta. A blood test, done on 22 September 2016, showed her CA 125 was at 4,563.8 (normal = 35.0) and her GGT was elevated at 92.0 (normal 9.0 – 36.0). The rest of the blood parameters were within normal range.
A CT scan, done the next day, showed a cystic lesion in the right ovary, measuring 3.5 x 2.85 x 2.0 cm. There was a bit of fluid in the lower lobes of her lungs.
Lan underwent a total hysterectomy on 28 September 2016. The operation was done in Jakarta and cost IDR 49 million. Before the surgery, 3 liters of fluid was tapped out of her abdomen.
Histopathology report confirmed a malignant well differentiated adenocarcinoma, probably originating from the ovary.
As a “standard operating procedure” the surgeon suggested that Lan undergo 4 to 6 cycles of chemotherapy since there is no knowing if the cancer had already spread to other organs.
Lan asked the surgeon if chemo was going to cure her. The surgeon replied: From my experience (practising in Germany for 30 plus years) ten patients had chemo, ten patients did.
Lan returned to her hometown and consulted a gynae-oncologist. Lan was told that the doctor in Jakarta who operated on her did not remove the cancer completely. From the USG, he told Lan that the cancer had spread all over. Lan sensed that this gynae-oncologist was not happy with her because she did go to him for the operation but instead went to Jakarta for the operation. Lan had consulted this gynae-oncologist before her operation.
Anyway, according to the gynae-oncologist, Lan had to undergo 6 to 12 cycles of chemo. Each cycle of chemo would cost IDR 20 million.
Chris: That means with 12 cycles it is going to cost you IDR 240 million? Is that big money?
Daughter: That is roughly what a house would cost — IDR 240 million.
C: So, if you spend IDR 240 and is cured, it is okay. If you die, 240 million gone and a house also fly away. Did you ask this gynae-oncologist if the chemo he is giving you is going to cure you?
D: The doctor said: Mungkin sembuh (probably can cure) tergantung kepada semangat hidup Anda (it all depends on your will to live).
C: Did you ask if he has any medicine to make “your will to live” stronger?
My advice to Lan and his family members that morning:
You now know that chemo cannot cure you for sure. And according to the Jakarta surgeon, ten patients underwent chemo, ten of them died. What does that tell you?
You know that chemo will make your life miserable — all those side effects. That is, if chemo does not kill you and if you continue to live.
Chemo is going to cost you a house — IDR 240 million.
I cannot tell you to go for chemo or not to go. It is up to you to make your own decision.
Even you take my herbs, there will be no cure. But at least, by taking the herbs and taking care of the diet, it is not going to cost you a house!
I don’t know of any way to get out of this. You go for chemo, you will die one day. Take my herbs, you will also die. So what path do you want to take?
I also warned Lan that our therapy is not easy to follow. The herbs taste awful. And she has to take care of her diet.
My advice to all patients: We don’t have any magic bullet for your problem. Our therapy is not easy to follow. If you cannot cope with that, then please do not come and see us.
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:
Truth from different perspectives
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)
Let me make my own decision: No chemo for me! (ovarian cancer)
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!
This 52-year-old Indonesian lady was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in June 2011. She underwent surgery to remove both her ovaries. It was a papillary adenocarcioma, Stage 1C. The operation was a success but the patient went into coma for 3 days due to electrolyte imbalance. After she regained consciousness there was still bleeding. She had to undergo a second operation to “mop up” the complications.
Patient was asked to undergo chemotherapy but she refused.
Why did you not want to go for chemo? Did you know anything about chemo? My mother had cancer and underwent chemotherapy. She suffered badly. I am not afraid to die but I don’t want to suffer.
Were you not under pressure from others around you for not wanting to go for chemo? Yes, Everyone said, if you have cancer you must go for chemo!
And you did not waver and was firm with your decision? Yes, because I have God with me.
Oh, you prayed to God and asked for His guidance? What did God say to you? You are here (at CA Care) NOT by accident.
Patient came to CA Care in August 2011 and it has been 5 years now and she is doing fine. During these 5 years she did not encounter any problem! In the initial stage she was under pressure to undergo chemotherapy but since she has been doing so well, no one ever reminded her again to go for chemo!
A few days before the Chinese New Year, 2015; SLK, her husband and daughter visited our centre. It was indeed a pleasant surprise for us. SLK walked in and cheerfully greeted us but we could not recall who she was. However, we could faintly remember her husband.
The last time we saw SLK was about three and half years ago, November 2011. Now, here in front of us was SLK again – smiling and saying that she was doing great all these years. Listen to our conversation that day.
Chris: When did you come to Penang.
SLK: Two days ago.
C: How long are you staying in Penang.
S: Till 23 February and going home on 24 February.
C: Why did you come to Penang this time?
S: I miss Penang. In Penang I want to come and see Dr. Chris.
C: You first came to see us in October 2011. It has been …
S: Three and a half years ago.
C: I am indeed very surprised … I don’t believe this!
S: Why don’t you believe?
C: Well, when you first came you had a swollen leg after being discharged from the hospital and you could not walk. The doctor gave you Warfarin and then asked you to go for chemo. You refused. What did the doctor say when you refused chemo?
S: I never went back to see the doctor again.
C: Did he tell you, if you don’t do chemo you might die?
Husband: No, he did not say that.
C: For your swollen leg and pain, the doctor gave you medication.
S: The doctor’s medication did not help. I took your herbs instead.
C: After that you did the e-Therapy. A few days later, you could walk, no pain. You then went home (to Indonesia) Now, you are back here after three and a half years.
S: I took your herbs for nine months.
C: Did the herbs help you?
S: Yes, I got better. The swelling of my leg subsided.
C: Did you take any other medications besides our herbs?
S: No, only your herbs.
C: Did you take care of your diet?
S: Yes, I followed your dietary guideline.
C: Did the doctor say you must go for chemotherapy?
S: Yes, must do chemotherapy. But I refused.
C: Did he not get angry?
S: I never went back to see him again!
C: Did you consult with any doctor in Indonesia?
S: No, no doctor.
Praise God
C: You can eat, can move around, no pain — what else can you ask for? Praise God for this. God helped you. But remember, if you ask God to help but you do not want to help yourself first, then it is useless. Help yourself first and then ask God to help you. It is indeed amazing.
S: Thank you very much doctor for helping me.
C: Yes, we need to thank God for this.
S: When we arrived in Penang, I told myself “I want to go and see Dr. Chris”.
C: Praise God. I am real happy to be able to help you. Take care.
Her Earlier Story
SLK was 49 years old then. She had a 19 x 16 x 7 cm right ovarian cyst with nodules within it. She underwent a hysterectomy at a private hospital in Penang. Histopathology report confirmed a clear cell adenocarcinoma and endometriosis.
She was in the hospital for 8 days and things did not turn out right for SLK.
After being discharged from the hospital, SLK suffered cramps and muscle pull in her left thigh. She had to be hospitalized again. This time it was for 6 days.
Unfortunately the pains and discomforts in her leg did not go away. The doctor told her that he had done his best and could not offer any more help.
The next day, on 20 October 2011, a desperate SLK and her family came to CA Care. They wanted us to help SLK with the pain in her leg. Unfortunately there were no medical reports and we did not know what had happened. We told the family to go back to the doctor and ask for all the medical records.
SLK came back to Penang again and saw her doctors (the surgeon and blood specialist-oncologist) on 18 November 2011. The oncologist asked her to continue taking the Warfarin for another six months and this time with an increased dosage. The doctor said she would be cured after six months. In the meantime, SLK was asked to undergo chemotherapy for her ovarian cancer.
SLK refused chemotherapy. She also did not want to take the Warfarin anymore.
On 23 November 2011, SLK and her husband came to see us again with all her medical reports.
SLK was prescribed herbs and at the same time underwent the e-Therapy.
After three times of e-Therapy, SLK could walk. The swelling of her leg subsided. SLK said, “Previously if I walked, my left leg became swollen. I could now walk to the market and also travel by bus. I felt lighter when I walked. Before coming to CA Care I could not walk like I do now.”
Husband, “Now she can walk so far – from Gurney Park to Pulau Tikus market – with no problem. Before your treatment, we had to take a taxi to come and see you. Now we just take the bus and walked wherever we want to go.”
We did not get to see SLK again after that … until February 2015!
Lucy, after recurrence of her ovarian cancer, still insisted on forgoing chemotherapy. She had her reasons for refusing the invasive treatment. She had seen her friend suffering a relapse even after undergoing the treatment . Her father died after two cycles of chemo. It is difficult to convince a person with such experiences to go for chemotherapy! So Lucy came to seek our help and took herbs. She promised to change her lifestyle and diet.
Over a period of a year, I got to see Lucy thrice. Below is our conversation on 2 August 2012 – almost a year after her first visit.
To know her progress, Lucy on her own initiative, went to do an ultrasound. The tumor had shrunk by more than 20 percent. From the original 5.8 cm it decreased to 4.5 cm.
Lucy clarified that last year (2012) before our therapy, she had gone to three doctors and all of them confrimed that the tumour was 5.8 cm in size. All the doctors she consulted with had urged her to undergo chemotherapy, warning that without chemo her condition would deteriorate. Lucy refused chemo and told the doctors that she would go for herbs.
After about a year, in August 2013, Lucy went back to one of the doctors who had treated her and had kept her previous records. He did the USG and the tumour was 4.5 cm in size. Lucy reminded the doctor that originally it was 5.8 cm and that the tunour has shrunk and she was taking herbs not chemo. After hearing that, the doctor warned Lucy that the result of the USG that he had just done was not accurate! He insisted that Lucy go for chemotherapy! Why do you believe in herbs? Lucy replied that it was doing her good, that is why she believe in it.
Unfortunately Lucy was not easily “cowed.” She was brave enough to challenge her doctor. If the result was not accurate why do you charge me RM 70 for doing it? Lucy asked for a print out of the result. The doctor replied, I had deleted it. Is this not shifting the goal post?
Lucy was not ready to give up easily. She has a mind of her own. Lucy immediately went to another doctor and did another USG. The result was the same, 4.5 cm. And she was given the print out of the result without any fuss.
Without doubting the result of her present condition, Lucy told her doctor that all the more she felt she was on the right tract by refusing chemotherapy. Her logic was simple: Why do I have to undergo all the sufferings? This past one year, Lucy was living a problem-free life. She was able to travel everywhere she wanted. She spent time in Shanghai, China. In addition she was able to continue with her teaching job. The only problem she faced is having to wear a sanitary pad everyday due to her discharge.
Lucy asked her doctor if chemo can cure her. The doctor dared not answer that question. This was exactly what happened to professor Michael Gearin-Tosh.
Misinformation
To justify their advice, Lucy was told by her doctors that chemotherapy would kill all the cancer cells in her.
Of course if you are living in your own world oblivious to the progress around you, such advice appears attractive. You would swallow that wholesale! But that idea is now outdated. Read below my short review of the medical literature understand what I mean — chemo DOES NOT and CANNOT kill all the cancer cells.
Lucy was also told that in the event that chemo did not cure her, at least it kept cancer at bay and not spread. This again is not true. This is a recycled argument fed to naive cancer patients. The truth is chemotherapy SPREADS cancer and can even make the cancer more AGGRESSIVE. Read more below.
To be fair to Lucy, we have warned her on the day when she first came to seek our herbs that we could not promise her a cure. After a year, her conditions did not turn any worse. In fact it seems to be encouraging. The turmour shrunk. She started to discharge smelly, rotten “minced-meat” everyday. There must be a reason why this happened after she was on this therapy.
Lucy told her doctor, Don’t worry, I shall you see in six months!
Let’s see if Lucy can repeat the feat of Ella of Melbourne. Ella too had surgery of endometrium cancer and was asked to undergo chemotherapy. She was told by her surgeon, Based on my experience, If you don’t do chemo, you have only three months. If you do chemo you have two and a half years. Ella as of today (almost FIVE years) is still living a healthy and adventurous live. Yesterday, we received a card from her, sent from Pearl Beach in northern Australia. She and her husband took off for some months driving around the country enjoying the wilderness and outback of her beautiful country. (More on this story, https://cancercaremalaysia.com/2012/01/28/cancer-of-the-endometrium-no-chemo-you-live-only-three-months-with-chemo-two-and-a-half-years-with-herbs-she-is-still-having-fun-after-more-than-three-years/)
What You Need to Know About Cancer and Chemotherapy
Is our present-day outdated cancer treatment effective?
Robert Weinberg of MIT and world’s leading authority in cancer biology wrote (in The Biology of Cancer):
Most of the anti-cancer treatment in widespread use today were developed prior to 1975, at the time when the development of therapeutics was not yet informed by the genetic and biochemical mechanisms of cancer pathogenesis.
Heiko Enderling of Center of Cancer System Bioogy, Tufts University School of Medicine, 736 Cambridge St., Boston, MA, wrote:
Standard treatment options share the philosophy of delivering the maximum tolerable dose to inflict maximum gross tumor reduction. When the tumor shrinks below clinical detection complete response or complete remission is declared.
Often the tumor has been eradicated and treatment indeed was successful; in other cases the tumor will grow back more aggressively than the primary tumor, thus worsening patient prognosis.
Chemotherapy and other traditional cancer therapies do a great job of shrinking most tumors. But some cancer cells manage to escape and seed new tumor growth — a problem that has vexed scientists for years.
Many tumors are composed of mixtures of distinct subclones rather than being monoclonal.
Tumors originate from a single cell. Yet, at the time of clinical diagnosis, the majority of human tumors display startling heterogeneity in many morphological and physiological features, such as expression of cell surface receptors, proliferative and angiogenic potential.
Cancers are not static entities: they start from a genetically normal cell and conclude with billions of malignant cells that have accumulated large numbers of mutations in “driver” and “passenger” genes.
Cancer scientists led by Dr. John Dick at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre have found a way to follow single tumour cells and observe their growth over time.
By tracking individual tumour cells, they found that not all cancer cells are equal: only some cancer cells are responsible for keeping the cancer growing.
Within this small subset of propagating cancer cells, some kept the cancer growing for long time periods (up to 500 days of repeated tumour transplantation), while others were transient and stopped within 100 days.
They also discovered a class of propagating cancer cells that could lie dormant before being activated. The dormant cells were not killed by drug treatment and became activated, causing the tumour to grow again.
They found that genetic mutations, regarded by many as the chief suspect driving cancer growth, are only one piece of the puzzle. Biological factors and cell behaviour – not only genes – drive tumour growth, contributing to therapy failure and relapse.
For over a century, scientists have known that circulating tumor cells, or CTCs, are shed from tumors and move through the bloodstreams of cancer patients.
Researchers at Stanford University School of Medicine led by Stefanie Jeffrey, MD, professor of surgery and chief of surgical oncology research, took a look at so-called circulating tumor cells one by one, rather than taking the average of many of the cells. These are what they have found:
The cells that slough off from a cancerous tumor into the bloodstream are a genetically diverse bunch. Even within one patient, the tumor cells that make it into circulating blood vary drastically.
Some have genes turned on that give them the potential to lodge themselves in new places, helping a cancer spread between organs.
Others have completely different patterns of gene expression and might be more benign, or less likely to survive in a new tissue.
Some cells may even express genes that could predict their response to a specific therapy.
The diversity means that tumors may contain multiple types of cancer cells that may get into the bloodstream, and a single biopsy from a patient’s tumor doesn’t necessarily reflect all the molecular changes that are driving a cancer forward and helping it spread.
Moreover, different cells may require different therapies.
Many researchers believe that tumor growth is driven by cancerous stem cells that, for reasons not understood, are highly resistant to standard treatment.
Chemotherapy agents may kill off 99 percent of cells in a tumor, but the stem cells that remain can make the cancer recur or spread to other tissues to cause new cancers.
Stem cells, unlike mature cells, can constantly renew themselves and are thought to be the source of cancers.
Increasing evidence suggests that tumor dormancy represents an important mechanism underlying the observed failure of existing therapeutic modalities to fully eradicate cancers.
In addition to its more established role in maintaining minimal residual disease after treatment, dormancy might also critically contribute to early stages of tumor development and the formation of clinically undetectable micrometastatic foci.
There are striking parallels between the concept of tumor dormancy and the cancer stem cell (CSC) theory of tumor propagation.
Joseph Hall reported in the Star:
Researchers at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre have shown that some of the cells that drive tumour growth hide from common chemotherapy drugs by going “dormant” — reigniting the disease when they awaken after treatments end.
This finding add more depth (and) complexity to why cancers come back, why they recur.
Naumoy et al of the Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Western Ontario, Canada, wrote:
Breast cancer is noted for long periods of tumor dormancy and metastases can occur many years after treatment. Adjuvant chemotherapy is used to prevent metastatic recurrence but is not always successful.
Apparently effective chemotherapy may spare non-dividing cancer cells, and these cells may give rise to metastases at a later date. This study has important clinical implications for patients being treated with cytotoxic chemotherapy.
Doctors who treat patients with breast cancer have known that tumors that develop resistance to chemotherapy are also more likely to grow larger and to spread, or metastasize, to other parts of the body.
Chemotherapy drugs kill by first order kinetics (half life)
First-order kinetics, when applied to the concept of cytotoxicity, means that … a specific dose kills a specific fraction of tumor cells regardless of the population. For example, we could put a person on a course of 3 chemotherapy drugs and kill 99.9% of the cancer cells. This sounds awfully good, doesn’t it? So why isn’t there curing going on all the time? A person that has a disseminated metastatic disease has somewhere in the vicinity of 1 trillion cancer cells (10^12). If one good course of chemotherapy kills off 99.9% of the 1 trillion tumor cells, what’s left? One billion cancer cells left (10^9). Here’s the math:
100% – 99.9% = 0.1%.
0.1% = 0.001
0.001 x 1,000,000,000,000 (1 trillion) = 1,000,000,000 (1 billion)
Historically our problem had been that we had to wait several weeks before the next course of chemotherapy because we were also affecting the normal cells and the person was susceptible to infection and we had to wait for them to recover. In that course of time, since cancer cells grow fast, the tumor would be back up to 10^12 ( 1 trillion) cells before the next course of therapy, which would again, kill 99.9% and they would go back down again. If we keep doing this and can get it down to 10^6 (1 million cells) and hopefully stimulate the person’s immune system to try to fight off the remaining cancer cells, we could get them into remission. That’s the goal. If we could get them down to zero, then we are finally in remission. After 5 years of remission, they would be deemed to be cured. But in reality, that’s not actually true because there have been lots of horror stories of it coming back beyond 5 years later. Why are we only 0.1% away from killing off all the cancer cells? The reason we couldn’t kill all 100%, was because some of the cells were in that dormant G0 phase.
Conventional Chemotherapy Can Do More Harm than Good
From the website of Envita Medical Centers. Scottsdale, Arizona (http://www.envita.com/) Let me repeat, it is from a Medical Centre. It has the following message:
Chemotherapy agents will destroy cancer cells temporarily, but it is known that there is a rebound “metastasis effect” that nearly always takes place at the same time. A patient may see an explosive growth of the cancer, months later, which was not visible by imaging before. Those new cancer cells would exist in a micro-dormant phase.
In addition, chemotherapy crushes the patient’s immune system, and can create chemo resistant cancer cells! Typically, a strong immune system would take care of the metastasis, but after conventional chemotherapy a patient’s immune system is so debilitated, it cannot hold them back from growing and spreading.
If you notice in the clinical studies of new chemotherapy drugs, they may extend life in late-stage cancer for up to two or three months at the most. These drugs will create hundreds of millions in sales. However, for most individuals, the cancer will return more resistant and more difficult to treat. So the question is: Did the new blockbuster drug solve the problem? NO.
Lucy was asked to undergo chemotherapy after the cancer had recurred. She again declined and came to seek our help on 7 September 2012. We cautioned Lucy to seriously consider undergoing chemotherapy. After all the cancer had spread and she should not expect much from us. Also, please don’t blame us if things don’t work out the way she wanted!
She was not receptive to chemo. Listen to our conversation that day.
The doctor in the government hospital asked Lucy to undergo chemotherapy immediately. She hesitated and asked for some time to think over it. The doctor also queried why she did not do chemotherapy the previous year after she had the surgery.
Lucy asked the doctor what would happen if she do not want to do the chemo. The doctor said he would not see her again if she declined chemo this time. Next time when it becomes serious, sorry! Don’t come and see me.
In spite of this stern warning, Lucy was adamant and refused chemotherapy. She came to seek our help on 7 September 2012.
Chris: Okay, let me ask you. You have been taking the Sabah Snake Grass – did it help you?
Lucy: If it helped me, I don’t have to come and see you anymore. See, the good of this plant has been published widely in the papers!
C: The problem is just because it is published in the newspapers, you beiieve it all. I never read the newspapers these days.
Surgery did not cure,
Sabah Snake Grass did not cure,
Chemo would not cure,
My herbs would not cure!
Why don’t try chemo then?
Please don’t blame me if things don’t work out the way you want!
This is what I told Lucy:
From my reading, surgery does not cure ovarian cancer. It can recur if you don’t take care properly.
If you take herbs, it is not going to cure you either!
So why not try chemotherapy! Perhaps it may help you temporarily.
If you take my herbs, and if the results did not meet your expectations, you will blame me. And if you face any problem you will blame the herbs.
The reason why I say this is simple. The cancer has already spread rather extensively.
From my experience, nobody in this world can cure cancer! (Cure means cancer is totally gone and will not come back ever again).
I suggested that Lucy go back and think about it.
Lucy was again adamant. She said, Today I come here, of course, I am not going to go for chemo. And of course, I am not going to blame you if something went wrong.
Lucy admitted that before this she had been taking all kind of food. After meeting us, she decided to take care of her diet and change her lifestyle. Yes, this we hope she would do!
Why Do You Not Want to Undergo Chemotherapy?
I did not ask Lucy specifically this question. It was not one year later that I got to meet up with Lucy and learnt the answer to this question.
Lucy had a friend who underwent surgery and then chemotherapy. After the treatment – and after much suffering from the side effects – the cancer came back again. So according to Lucy, why go for chemo if it would not cure? Why go through all these and suffer?
Then probably more relevant was her father’s experience. Lucy’s 60-yer-old father had nose cancer. He underwent radiotherapy and then chemotherapy. After two cycles of chemo, he was not able to withstand the treatment anymore. The family stopped the treatment. One month later, he died.
To this I told Lucy, I understand you.
Comments
Those who do not know anything about chemotherapy could not understand Lucy. If you have a family member or close friend undergoing this treatment, there is no need for anyone to say much. You know the difficulties and agony. I too have not gone through such experience but from my readings, I learnt from other people’s experience to be able to know what it is like. Some told me it was HELL.
The following are information and data obtained from the internet and oncology text books regarding ovarian cancer.
Around the world, more than 200,000 women are estimated to develop ovarian cancer every year and about 100,000 die from the disease.
According to the National Cancer Registry, ovarian cancer is the fourth most common cancer among women in Peninsular Malaysia, making up five per cent of all female cancer cases.
Epithelial tumors represent the most common histology (90%) of ovarian tumors. This type of cancer often spreads on the peritoneal surfaces – e.g., undersurface of the diaphragms, paracolic gutters, bladder, surface of the liver, mesentery and serosa of the large and small bowel, omentum, uterus, and para-aortic and pelvic lymph nodes.
Most ovarian cases are diagnosed in an advanced stage and their prognosis is closely related to the stage at diagnosis. Overall, prognosis for advanced-stage patients remains poor. Overall 5-year survival of ovarian cancer is 45 percent.
As I have always told patients – we don’t have to believe this statistics but we also don’t want to bury our heads in the sand and pretend that everything will be okay. We need to know the reality and then try hard to beat the odds.
Treatment:
Currently, the standard treatment for stage 3 ovarian cancer consists of both surgery (surgical debulking) and chemotherapy.
Unfortunately, less than 40% of patients experience long-term survival following standard treatment.
Approximately 60-80% of patients with stage 3 cancer will experience a recurrence of their cancer, even after complete surgical removal of cancer.
Nearly all patients with stage 3 disease have small amounts of undetectable cancer that have spread outside the ovary and were not removed by surgery. These cancer cells cannot be detected with any of the currently available tests and are referred to as micrometastases. The presence of micrometastases causes cancer recurrence.
Chemotherapy for Stage 3 Ovarian Cancer
The chemotherapy drugs used to treat ovarian cancer are fairly standard. Typically doctors combine a platinum-based drug such as carboplatin or cisplatin with a taxane such as paclitaxel (Taxol) or docetaxel (Taxotere).
Perez, C.P. et. al, (in Clinical Oncology, 8th Edition, Health Science Asia, pg. 489) wrote: The combination of paclitaxel plus a platinum compound is considered by most to be the first-line adjuvant chemotherapeutic regimen in patients with advanced ovarian cancer. The pathologic complete response is only 20 to 26 percent (Table below).
Ovarian cancers are very sensitive to chemotherapy and often respond well initially. Unfortunately, in most cases, ovarian cancer recurs.
Fewer than 20% of patients treated with a platinum compound and paclitaxel survive without evidence of cancer recurrence 5 years following treatment.
Unfortunately, even in patients who respond, the disease eventually becomes resistant to the first-line drugs, and the cancer returns. Some ovarian tumors are resistant to platinum drugs. Once cancer recurs or continues to progress, the patient may be treated with more chemotherapy.
Despite the development of several new chemotherapy drugs over the past few years, there is no substantial evidence that any of the treatments have increased the number of women cured of ovarian cancer.
Gemcitabine (Gemzar) is also used in combination with carboplatin for women with advanced ovarian cancer that has relapsed. Other drugs include doxorubicin (Adriamycin, Doxil), etoposide (Vepesid), and vinorelbine (Navelbine).
Side Effects of Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy can cause side effects during and after treatment. The type and severity of these side effects depends upon which chemotherapy drugs are used and how they are administered.
The most common side effects are nausea, vomiting, mouth soreness, temporary lowering of the blood counts, and hair loss.
Surveillance After Treatment
At the end of treatment (both surgery and chemotherapy), a patient is considered to have a “complete response” if her physical examination is normal; there is no evidence of cancer on imaging studies (such as a CT scan); and the blood level of the tumor marker like CA-125 is normal.
However, even when all of these criteria are met, microscopic amounts of residual cancer (i.e., not visible on imaging studies) can still be present. Growth of these microscopic tumor cells is probably responsible for tumor recurrence at a later date.
To monitor for the possibility of recurrence, blood tests, physical examinations, and imaging tests are to be done.
Signs of Recurrence
The likelihood of a tumor recurrence is highest in women with more advanced-stage disease at diagnosis, particularly if the initial debulking surgery was unable to remove all visible tumor.
The earliest evidence of recurrent ovarian cancer can be indicated by a rising blood level of one of the tumor markers (CA-125) and symptoms such as abdominal pain or bloating with or without back pain, or presence of pelvic mass.
What Can I Expect After Chemotherapy Treatment?
Surgery plus chemotherapy drugs can get rid of ovarian cancer, but often they can’t keep it away forever.
Surgery and chemotherapy are usually effective in treating the cancer so it will go away for a while, but in most cases the cancer ends up coming back.
Often, the cancer will return within one to two years after treatment is finished. If the cancer does return, another round of chemotherapy is necessary.
Lucy (not real name – H974) is a 52-year-old female. She was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in March 2011 and had undergone a TAH-BSO (Total Abdominal Hysterectomy Bilateral Salpingo Oophorectomy) at a private hospital. The medical report indicated the following:
A huge single right ovarian cyst 15 to 18 cm
Intact capsule
No ascitis, no peritoneal / omentum / liver deposit
Lateral pelvic wall clear
No adhesioin
Left ovary normal
Both fallopian tubes normal
Clear cell carcinoma of right ovary, Stage 1
Lucy was asked to undergo follow up chemotherapy. She declined. She said, I did it my way and went for traditional method. She embarked on taking Sabah Snake Grass (SSG) since much has been said about its goodness in the local mass media. Lucy started with 300 leaves but when she began to have joint pains, she reduced the consumption to 30 leaves each time. Lucy had been taking this fresh herbs for more than a year – from May 2011 until September 2012 (when she came to seek our help).
Recurrence: Extensive spread
In May 2012, Lucy had lower abdominal discomforts and did an USG. The result indicated a possible presence of a mass in the Pouch of Douglas. The echodensity measures 3.3 x 3.6 x 5.2 cm. She went to consult three doctors.
Doctor 1 said there was nothing wrong! No mass.
Doctor 2 said there was something in there but unsure of what it was!
Doctor 3 also said the same – something in there!
Knowing that her cancer had recurred, Lucy started to take the SSG again and this time more seriously at 300 leaves each time.
Eventually Lucy ended up in the government hospital performing a CT and PET scan. The results of the CT scan indicated:
a heterogenous mass – 5.3 x 4.0 x 4.4 cm – at the pelvis suggestive of tumour recurrence.
possible infiltration into the adjacent sigmoid colon and right pelvic nodal metastasis.
enlarge lymph node along the right pelvic – largest 1.9 x 1.1 cm.
the peritoneal soft tissue nodule – 1.4 x 1.2 cm – may represent peritoneal metastasis.
Comment
Sabah Snake Grass (SSG) is not new to me. I know this plant since 1995 when I started CA Care and has been using it as one of the 350 herbs used in our centre. However what is new to me is the idea that only ONE herb is used as if it is a magic bullet. This unfortunately is against the basic principle of herbal therapy. Nevertheless this is what happened when one has a “magic bullet” mentality.
Over the years, I receive emails from people asking for my opinion about this “hot” topic of SSG. See below:
Hi Dr. Chris, recently I read from newspaper regarding Sabah Snake Grass (Clinacanthus) herb which can help in cancer treatment. Do you have any comment on this … for cancer?
Good News!!! Recently, I met a man who had Lymphatic Cancer – Stage 4 with lymph nodes affected. His cancer started in March 2008.
Affected parts: 1st: Right lung, 2nd: Left lung, 3rd: Groin, 4th: Eye and 5th Mouth. After 9 chemo therapies he stopped the treatment on 10/11/2008 because 5 specialists said he can only survive for 3 months. Today, after more than 2 years, he has recovered and is still living.
Thanks to the Sabah Snake Grass (Clinacanthus) which he planted outside his house. He blended the leaves with green apple (minus skin and seeds) and drank them after breakfast every day.
After 3 days, 6 tumours disappeared. After 13 days, he went for a blood test. The oncologist said that he was 96% cured. So far more than 200 people who had taken the herbs showed improvement.
Case 1) Man – age 54, LungCancer: 3rd stage. Chemotherapy 6 times. Tumour before taking Sabah Snake Grass 29mm, 44mm, 76mm. Tumour two weeks after taking Sabah Snake Grass reduced to 20mm, 27mm, 67mm respectively
Case 2) Woman with Uteruscancer – tumour size 6cm Scheduled for surgery. After taking SSG, reduced to 3.5cm. Doctor said no need to operate. Continue taking the SSG, the tumour disappeared.
Case 3) Man with ProstateCancer.
After taking SSG for 11 days, the tumour disappeared.
Case 4) Woman from KL, Breast and LungCancer
Both breasts removed – 4 stage. Very weak, cannot eat, on drip and lying in hospital. Family member poured SSG juice into her mouth through tube. After a few days, could eat and was discharged. 28 days later was all tumours disappeared.
Case 5) Woman from Taiping with Breast Cancer After taking SSG for 3 days, the wound dried up.
Case 6) Leukemia Patients So far 4 cases have been cured after drinking SSG juice. They also drank juice from 3 leaves of Guo Sai Por (Ti Tham Tou) once per week.
This was my reply to the person who wrote me:
Scientists in Thailand have been studying this plant. There is also a company making cream from this plant. I also grow this plant in my garden for many years already. I also use this plant for cancer but not in the way it is being publicised much less getting “instant, magic” results as claimed.
Does the plant really cure cancer like written above? I HOPE IT IS TRUE … but I am not sure and it is very, very difficult for me to believe such stories without clear, hard evidence. Let me say it clearly: I want to believe these stories but I cannot. My training as a scientist just tell me it does not make sense – they are too good to be true. As a scientist, I also find such claims more of a “joke.” Nobody with a scientific mind would be able to swallow such success stories as the way these are written! Let me say it here — I am not saying they are not true but what is questionable is the way the stories were written and presented. I am sorry to say this but I still have to say it. But unfortunately many of us only want to hear what we want to hear, throwing away logic and common sense out the window.
In this video, a lady related her experience with SSG. She had been taking it for over a year and she suffered a recurrence. SSG could not even prevent a recurrence let alone make tumours disappear.
The above patient is not the only one who experienced such failure. I have many others who came with similar failed stories. I have also personally given SSG to a lady with small lumps in her breast. The leaves were harvested from the plants that I grew at home. I asked her to take the juices every day. It did not work. She had to go for chemotherapy.
Let me be clear about this. I am not against anyone taking SSG. By all means take it if that makes you happy or feel good. Take it if you benefit from it. You could be the lucky one. After all you don’t have to sell your house to pay for the herb. So there is nothing much to lose. But if you have problems after taking it, you may want to stop taking it. Some patients told me that they experienced joint pains or muscle cramps and could not walk after taking SGG. Again, this can happen to some people, while others have no problem.
To those of you out there. Let me know if you have any good healing stories about SSG. As a reminder, whenever we want to make any claim of efficacy, we must present our case with a certain degree of credibility. Our story must be substantiated by medical reports, CT scan, blood tests, etc. Let us document such success stories properly so that others would not laugh at us. Shoddy work makes us look cheap! We give others all the reasons to say we are quacks. Let us do our work correctly!
According to the above stories, you need to take SSG for only 3 days, 14 days, 11 days or 28 days and the cancer all disappeared. Wow, Malaysians have “beaten” all American scientists at curing cancer with a magic bullet!
MM came with her sister’s medical reports and scans below:
Facing Up to Reality
Having seen the scans and medical reports, the first thing I told MM was for her to be ready to accept the reality of the situation. Based on the medical reports, I do not see any chance to cure her at all. Even the oncologist had told MM that at best further chemotherapy would only prolong her life by a few months. So facing death is a reality and we have to accept that. I then posed another question to MM. In this case, do we really want to prolong MS’s (patient’s) life at all cost?
At this juncture I remember what I have read.
Dr. James Gordon, clinical professor of Georgetown University School of Medicine, (in Manifesto For A New Medicine) said, Death … needs to be addressed differently. If we do not fear it quite irrationally or regard it as our own enemy, we would be unlikely to reflexively mobilize extraordinary and extraordinarily dehumanizing and debilitating technological measures to prolong lives of patients who are clearly dying. Instead of acting out of blind instinct to preserve life … at all costs, we ought … to devote our time, energies and resources to spending time with dying people and their families.
Richard Reoch (in Dying Well) wrote, We often make the mistake of trying to keep a dying person alive as long as possible, no matter what the cost. There are many occasions when the kindest thing to do is not to hunt for “better medicine” or a “better doctor” but to be close to and supporting the person who is dying. Let them know that you are glad for all the time, the joy and sorrow you have shared … In the last hours, love and acceptance will do far more good than medicine.
Dr. Bernie Siegel (in Peace, Love & Healing) said: It is important that we realize that we can never cure everything. We will never find … cure for all the diseases. Dying can be a healing, ending a full, rich life for someone who is tired and sore and in need of rest.
Three Options
I offered MM three options and requested her to go back and discuss with her sister or her family members in Indonesia.
Continue with medical treatment in Penang – do whatever the oncologist wanted her to do.
Take her home to Indonesia without anymore treatment.
Stay in the hospital but stop further medication from the hospital. Take herbs, i.e., follow the CA Care therapy.
However, I made it clear to MM that the decision as to what to do next must be hers. She had to take the risks and assume all the consequences, especially if she wanted to take option 3. I made it clear that I cannot be held responsible for whatever happens after taking the herbs. Her sister might just die – I don’t know!
MM decided not to continue with any more chemotherapy. And it is also not possible to bring her sister home right now because of her weak condition – she would not be able to stand the journey home. So Option 3 seemed to be the only way out. Let her sister stay in the hospital but take our herbs. When her condition improves, prepare to take her home quickly. The time frame – give CA Care Therapy a try for one or two weeks.
It was indeed a brave decision for each of us to make! Within the next three weeks (from 15 October to 8 November) we wrote 175 emails to each other. Let me reproduce just a few emails to give you an idea of what eventually happened.
18 October 2012: Yes doctor we have already been informed that her this first or second week will be very hard for her. Hope she can cope with all the problems that would arise. Her main issues now:
1. Tummy hardened.
2. Hard to breathe.
3. Area on upper abdominal and gastric pain.
4. Swelling on legs.
5. Some redness – allergy that I observed maybe due to the vitamin and milk infusion. It had already been stopped since yesterday. But still the redness persists but lesser than yesterday.
6. Hard to relax and cannot sleep well.
7. Tense.
19 October 2012: After taking your herbs since yesterday 3 p.m. – started with Pain Tea, I observe that she had already passed motion three times, which is in my view is good. Not watery but soft. She passed out urine many times. Pain became lesser a bit but still hard to breathe. The liquid come out from the pig tail is lesser. Yesterday it came out around 850 ml. This morning it is only 150 ml. I have already discussed with the doctor in hospital that we cut off all infusions given to her previously including albumin, vitamin and the other drips. Any other issues I shall inform you later. Hope she responds well with the herbs. Thank you for your kind attention.
19 October 2012: She can sleep quite well now. She felt and looked very tired. Her first bowel motion started at 12.30 a.m. Back to sleep again and suddenly around 3.30 am she woke up and wanted to vomit. Nothing out only saliva, nausea. Is the process of taking the herbs like this? As I know that having diarrhea is one of taking the herbs. How about the nausea? So far, I observe her overall condition is ok. She is still very weak, her legs swelling, tummy bloated, tiredness of the back (often asking for massage). One more thing – she can turn left and right and without complaining. Before turning her body makes her tummy pain. No complaining of pain now. The redness due to allergy still on her legs, lesser though. She took all your herbs yesterday according to your prescription without any single medicine from the hospital.
19 October 2012: Since last night she still passed out stools. She cannot sleep well yet. She just told me now that her heart beats so fast since yesterday noon. Her hands and feet are cold. She cannot eat and drink much at this moment, even though she has no nausea anymore. She always feels very full. Does the inability to eat and drink much at this time affect her heart beating faster than usual, the tummy full (not hungry), and at the same time she should take too many herbs in a day? Her tummy looks smaller than before. Her feet are still swollen. The liquid came out was getting lesser to 600 ml yesterday. I took a picture of her while she was lying down. Kindly ask your advice based on her update condition.
Reply: 21 October 2012: The big question that you need to answer is only this: After stopping the doctor’s medication and going on herbs — IS she better or not? I expect life is going to be difficult for the first one or two weeks. Is it worth it? Or do you prefer to go back to the old ways and put in all the 13 to 16 drugs that the doctor gave. You have to decide. I don’t know if her situation is better or not, so I cannot say anything on that. Look at her condition – before and after the herbs – which one do you prefer? If you see a glass with water but it is not full with water …you can say it is a glass half full of water or you can say it is a glass half empty … this represents two different basic attitudes and perspectives… I don’t know which she belongs to.
22 October 2012: I can assure you that she is much better after stopping the doctor’s medication and going on herbs. Day by day there is improvement. Though she still feels the body heavy, legs swelling, hard to close her eyes to sleep because she feels there is much energy, though walking exercises makes her tired easily. Her passing of stools is lesser day by day. Since yesterday she passed out only 2 times passing stools. Today she has not had one yet. Passing urine is quite ok. Her liquid comes out around 600 ml per day. Her tummy is smaller than before but still swollen. Her pain is lesser day by day. No nausea. Her tummy still makes sound of water flowing. She has stopped all doctor’s medication since the first time taking on your herbs until now, including all infusion of albumin, vitamin and no more asking for morphine Injection. Has she passed through the healing crisis? We plan to go back end of this month or early of November and continue with your herbs. Kindly need your advice.
22 October 2012: She told me she feels she is getting better and better even though she can hardly move freely. She feels heavy. She just moved her bowels. The doctor just came in and checked on her. He surprised to see her very fresh, and no more complain of pain and nausea. So he cut off the medication for nausea (which I have already done so without his knowledge).
23 October 2012: I notice in this few days, there are some red spots on her arms. What are those red dots?
Since this morning, she started to feel no energy and power, lazy and is slow to respond if we ask something. She does not know what to do. Confuse. No energy and power to turn her body to left and right. Her face looks tired and sleepy. I think she lose her weight again…only bone and skin. If I ask her, Are you ok? Her answer is, I don’t know “. She sweat quite a lot.
23 October 2012 at 9:45 PM: Ok. Let see what surprises she will show us in the next few days. Right now, her body frozen, cannot move, do not know what is going on, do not know what to do.
(Note: At this point on receiving this email, I thought the patient’s time is up. There is no more hope. Tonight night, I did not want to check my mail again after reading this. I just wanted to have a good night sleep, expecting to be told the next morning that she is gone. But the next morning it was a great relief to receive this email).
24 October 2012: She has no cold, no fever. Her blood pressure and temperature are ok. Breathing is still ok. She feels her body heavy and stiff, uneasy to move and turn left and turn right compared the day before which she felt a lot energy.
25 October 2012: Her pains is lesser compared to yesterday. She still cannot tell if her stiffness has improved or not compared to yesterday. I tried the e therapy, Detox 2 for her at 10.30 am today. She still has nausea. It comes and goes. Is it also one of the side effects of the 50 mg Durogesic patch? She can eat half bowl of vegetable soup afterwards and rest for a while but after half an hour she feels the nausea again. Most of the time she is stayed lying down. How about the therapy for her tonight? Is it ok for her to eat a bite or two kuih pasar (contained of coconut covered with flour)?
Today is the third day. She still feels lazy, no energy to talk, and weak.
26 October 2012: This morning woke up at 5.30 am and I gave her a little bit Naturex to drink, and help her to sit up in her chair closet to pass urine. After that I try to make her calm and relax by explaining that she is still in healing crisis and hope the condition will get better afterwards today or tomorrow because she is afraid of her condition had weaken and she has no energy this week. One thing that her nausea is getting lesser after the Durogesic patch is reduced to 25 mg. But, she feels a little bit pain on her abdomen. Seems she can bear the pain. If she cannot bear it, I plan to give her only Pain Tea whenever the pain comes. What do you think of this situation? Do you think the sodium level dropped? Or anything on your mind? Anyway, let see again later after she wake up. I will keep you informed.
26 October 2012: If it is found that she lacks of electrolytes and need infusion, can I still give her the herbs during infusion? Yes, she is still easily tired, lazy and no energy till now, she cannot sit too long and she feels uncomfortable for the whole body. Terrible she said. She still feels hard to swallow. Every time she eats and drinks make her nauseous so that is why she does not drink water. The liquid (from her abdomen) comes out yesterday. It was only 450 ml. Lesser. A lot of blood clots came out. Thanks a lot for your advices all this time, guiding me what to do.
27 October 2012: Around 9 a.m. this morning, I gave her the therapy for Anxiety and before the program finished she was already wanting to sleep. Succeeded to make her sleep even for only half an hour.
Her current condition is:
1. Still weak, lazy, no energy, tired easily.
2. Worried and fear of her condition right now that she feels terrible and getting worse
3. Hard to swallow
4. Uncomfortable body.
5. Legs swollen
6. Red spots still on her arms
7. Tummy still bloated even lesser day by day.
8. No passing stools yet only passing gases.
9. Passing urine only one or two times. The colour is also yellow dark.
Yes, I believe her condition will get better in these few days.
27 October 2012: Doctor is curious because her stomach is getting smaller, the fluid also did not come out too much. No complain about pain anymore and no nausea after the Durogesic patch was decreased to 25 mg. So, the doctor plans to take the blood test on Monday to check her cancer marker and will do ultrasound to see the tumour inside. Do you think this Monday is the appropriate time to check as her condition is still weak and the red spots are still there along her arms? What do you suggest?
28 October 2012: The results of ultrasound showed not much liquid inside. The size of the tumour is still the same. Some tumours spread to spread out but still in the tummy. Sounds bad? Doctor will give her 1 pack of blood transfusion tomorrow morning, and keep giving her sodium infusion until Friday. On Wednesday, she will take the blood test again to make sure the platelets, sodium, Hb , etc., are ok before we go back. She is still weak with no energy, but she can swallow better than yesterday. She is very moody today and ask to go home already. She continues taking the herbs.
29 October 2012: Good morning. Last night when I get back to the hospital, she has just passed motion a lot and smelly after 1 week of constipation. After 4 packs of platelets infusion yesterday night, and 1 bottle of sodium chloride she looks more energized but she still feels weak. Her main issues since last night until now:
1. Her chest pain – the feeling of something pressing the chest.
2. Her difficulty to swallow. Doctor found out that her throat has a lot of white fungus.
3. Her cocyx pinched so even after we cover it with duoderm, she still feel the pain and uncomfortable. No wound found actually.
30 October 2012: Her condition suddenly changed. She told me at around 5.30 a.m. she passed out stools and urine on the bed. After everything cleaned up, she cannot open her eyes, she is in coma state. It happened for almost one hour and suddenly she woke up by herself and asking to change position for her buttocks. Doctor is going to take the blood test again to make sure that she has the electrolytes she needs at the moment. While in coma, her oxygen level, glucose, blood pressure and temperature were good. The doctor explained to me that the cancer may have spread of to the brain. The cancer had attacked the brain so we should be prepared that she will be in this state on and off. Or it may be also because of low sodium. That is why he arranged to take another blood test just now.
He cannot dare to give blood transfusion at this moment as the risky of allergy is high. So, he planned to give her Eprex instead of blood transfusion. Her chest is now bruised because this morning a nurse tried to rub her chest very hard and of course this happen because the platelets are too low.
30 October 2012: Doctor will continue to give platelets, 4 packs today. And sodium chloride. For blood transfusion it is a bit risky because my sister’s antibody is positive. So the doctor said it is a bit risky due to allergy.
30 October 2012 P.M: We change our plan to go back tomorrow night to Jakarta. Doctor suggested to go back as soon as possible. Doctor still gives sodium and we are still waiting for platelets donor. No blood transfusion as the risk of allergy is high. The chance is 50%.
Her stomach swelled because I stopped giving her Abdominal Distention tea, only Lower Edema. But this morning I give her Abdominal Distention. After infusion her stomach becomes bigger and the fluid comes out more. She passed out less urine. This morning she passed a lot of stools together with urine. Leg still swelling sometimes looks bigger and sometimes smaller. Doctor suggest to give the blood transfusion in hospital in Jakarta, because if giving now may be afraid of allergic reaction such as swelling on face, arms and redness. Afraid we cannot go back this Friday.
30 October 2012: Yes. Thank you doctor. I will keep the pigtail (tube from her abdomen) to Jakarta, as the internist doctor in Jakarta whom we have already contacted was also suggested that we keep the pigtail. Yes, I have got the tickets back to Jakarta tomorrow night. My brother and sister will come tonight to help me bring her home. She is now having the platelets transfusion, 4 packets. During the day, she has no complaints of pain or anything. She is just calm, alert and silent. I only give her Capsules A, C, and D. After we get back to Jakarta, we will continue giving her the herbal teas. Thanks a lot for all your kind attention, support and good cooperation. I will keep communicating with you and and updating her conditions.
3 November 2012 (in a hospital in Jakarta): Good morning. Since yesterday night 7 p.m., she had to struggle to drink water. Until this morning, she has not eaten anything. She is still continuing the sodium concentrate 3% (2nd bottle) and amino acids (2nd). She told me last night that she felt getting worse, she couldn’t even open her eyes, her body has no energy, and now it is really hard to swallow. What do you think of it? What we can do? Is there any solution for her esophagus? So we stop the herbs at this moment cause her difficulty to swallow. Need your advice.
4 November 2012: Dear Dr. Chris, with this email, I would like to inform you that she has already left this world today at 18.30. Since this morning, she is very calm and peaceful. Thank you very much for your kind attention and assistance during this period. Kind regards.
Reply:Thank you for telling me this sad news. Though sad, I also feel that this is the best medicine for her. You have done you best to help her and it seems there is no cure. It is no use to prolong her suffering so much. Though I feel it is sad thing to happen but I also think there is no other choice. Please take care of yourself now. Chris
8 November 2012: Good morning. This morning my beloved sister will be cremated at 10.00 a.m. May her rest in peace.
Once again, on behalf of my sister, I would like to thank you for all your kind attention and good cooperation. Thank you and regards,
Reply:Thanks so much MM for writing. Please take care of yourself. You have done your best for her. Chris
Would I Take On Such A Case Again?
Perhaps I was sticking out my neck out too far. But I agreed to take on this case because at that point in time, I felt inside me that this unfortunate lady desperately needed my help. And I had to do it. Would I do this again? Probably never again, unless I hear a loud thunder from heaven asking me to do so!
I just wonder what would happen if this story ended up differently, would I be made a scapegoat? Would they say that I kill the patient by giving her herbs and not the doctor’s medication? You can never guess the fallout from this case and what others may accuse me of. But I remember telling MM this, I may not be able to help your sister because her case is way beyond me, but I may be able to help you – the one who is still living and not sick. Perhaps the experience you go through with CA Care can help you in some ways in the future.
On reflection, did CA Care make a difference in this case? Make your own conclusion! Cast your first stone if you may.
Let me end by quoting Glenn Miller, M.D., (in the Introduction of Ancient Herbs, Modern Medicine):
Throughout my career in medicine, I have always had great respect for my patient’s opinions and have advocated using whatever it took to give patients the best results.
I come to understand that there is more than one way to effectively treat patients. If Western medicine did not have the right or best answer, I was free to search for a better answer. When we integrated Chinese and Western medicines, the battle against disease had a much greater chance of being won.
The efficacy of Chinese medicine can rival that of Western medicine – and for many chronic illnesses, Chinese medicine is actually more effective and a better choice. The strength of Chinese medicine comes from three thousand years of treating illnesses and promoting health.
On Mon, Oct 15, 2012 at 11:18 a.m., the patient’s sister, MM, wrote me this email.
Dear Mr. Chris,
I saw your website accidentally this morning. I tried to search about the other ways of giving treatment to cancer patient whom doctor has already given up after giving chemotherapy treatment for 7 times. The first and second chemotherapy were given every 2 weeks. The third was given weekly 3 times and fourth chemotherapy given 2 cycles. The last 2 cycles of 4th chemotherapy showed the CA 125 (CA 19.9) increase … Based on these lab tests, the doctor suggested to stop using the same chemotherapy drug and change to other drugs. This is to be done on 16 October, and stressing that the drug is not for curing but only for prolonging life.
After discussing with family, I plan to go for herbal and found your website. At the same time, we are now staying at XYZ Hospital, Penang. So, I already tried to make an appointment with you this Friday at 3 p.m. and shall bring all medical report of the patient. For your information the patient is my youngest sister.
Reply: If you are in Penang, come and see me tomorrow at 10.30 a.m. Go to www.cacare.org and you see map in there. No need to bring the patient, but bring all medical reports. I don’t think you need to do the chemo tomorrow yet. Wait until you come and see me first.
MM wrote, She is very weak, hard to walk and sleep, her tummy getting bigger of the tumor cancer and liquid inside. Actually I would like to ask your opinion about the need to continue the next chemotherapy which doctor said is not meant to cure only to prolong life. The next chemotherapy is tomorrow on Tuesday.
Reply: I don’t think you need to do the chemo tomorrow yet. Wait until you come and see me first. Chris.
Meaningless Decrease and Increase of Tumour Markers
The initial chemo treatment cause both CA 125 and CA 19.9 to drop drastically. But that did not mean much. After more chemo, these markers started to rise again. And it was at this stage that the oncologist told the patient’s sister that the treatment did not work. She needed to go for more chemo using other drugs. Or she could just go home – and go ahead and take herbs if she would like to do so!
Date
CA 125
CA 19.9
10 August 2012
6,794
90,055
22 August 2012
2,798
49,301
18 September 2012
1,260
14,694
25 September 2012
1,462
21,496
2 October 2012
1,739
25,110
Do You Need Tumour Markers to Tell You That Patient Was Getting Better or Worse?
Medications While In Hospital
Based on the medical bills, MM was given the following medications while in the hospital.
Table 1: Medical drugs given to patient during one and half months in hospital
Short of breath, rapid heart rate, trouble concentrating, easy bruising, unusual bleeding, purple or red pinpoint spots under your skin, fever, chills, body aches, flu symptoms, sores in your mouth and throat, stomach pain, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice, numbness or tingly feeling in hands or feet, hearing or vision problems, low magnesium (confusion, uneven heart rate, jerking muscle movements, muscle weakness or limp feeling, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, tired feeling.
Chlorpheniramine
Allergies, itchy, sneezing
Fast or uneven heart rate, mood changes, tremor, seizure (convulsions), easy bruising or bleeding, unusual weakness, short of breath, urinating less than usual or not at all, dizziness, drowsiness, dry mouth, nose, or throat, constipation, blurred vision, feeling nervous or restless.
Controloc
Acid reflux
Most serious: allergies – hives, swelling or closing of air passages and throat. Less serious: flatulence, stomach upsets, diarrhea , insomnia.
Dexamethasone
Anti-inflammatory, immunosuppressant steroid
Acne, dry skin, thinning skin, bruising or discoloration, slow wound healing, increased sweating, headache, dizziness, spinning sensation, nausea, stomach pain, bloating, muscle weakness,vision problems, swelling, rapid weight gain, severe depression, seizure (convulsions), bloody or tarry stools, coughing up blood, low potassium (confusion, uneven heart rate, extreme thirst, increased urination, leg discomfort, muscle weakness or limp feeling), dangerously high blood pressure (severe headache, blurred vision, buzzing in your ears, anxiety, confusion, chest pain, shortness of breath, uneven heartbeats), sleep problems (insomnia).
Diphenoxylate / atropine (Lomotil)
Diarrhea
Stomach pain or bloating, diarrhea (watery or bloody), numbness of hands or feet, depressed mood, confusion, fast heart rate, urinating less than usual or not at all, drowsiness, dizziness, headache, tired or restless feeling, nausea, vomiting, upset stomach, loss of appetite, skin rash, or itching.
Dormicum
Sedative
Gastrointestinal disturbances, changes in libido, skin reactions, anterograde amnesia (selective memory loss), depression, restlessness, agitation, irritability, aggressiveness, delusion, rages, nightmares, hallucinations, abrupt withdrawal of Dormicum may provoke seizures.
DURAGESIC patch
Pain
Slow heart rate, weak or shallow breathing, sighing, severe drowsiness, confusion, extreme fear, unusual thoughts or behavior; feeling like you might pass out, dry mouth, nausea, vomiting, constipation, headache, drowsiness, tired feeling, white patches or sores inside mouth or lips.
Eprex
Anemia, bone marrow to produce red blood cells
Hypertensive crisis, brain problems or seizures, nausea, deep vein thrombosis – this may be fatal, diarrhea, flu or flu-like symptoms including fever, jointpain, musclepain or tenderness, pulmonary embolism – this may be fatal, skin rash, vomiting, heart problems, oedema of the extremities.
Heparinised Saline injection
Anticoagulants, prevent blocking by blood clots
Unexplained nosebleeds, bleeding from gums when brushing teeth, red or dark brown urine, bloody or black stools, rash, itching, hives on the skin, swelling of the face, lips, tongue or other parts of the body, shortness of breath, wheezing or trouble breathing, fever, chills, runny nose, watering eyes, vomiting, nausea, itchy soles of the feet.
Decrease of blood cells, Numbness, tingling or burning of hands and feet, Increased blood pressure (severe headache, blurred vision, buzzing in your ears, anxiety, confusion, chest pain and shortness of breath, uneven heartbeats), Seizure, pale skin and unusual weakness, Fever, chills, body aches and flu symptoms, Joint and muscle pain, swelling, redness, skin color, mild nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or hair loss.
Kytril inj
Vomiting and nausea caused by chemotherapy.
Fast or pounding heartbeats, fever, body aches, flu symptoms, easy bruising or bleeding; unusual weakness, headache, stomach pain or upset, loss of appetite, diarrhea or constipation, dizziness; or
sleep problems (insomnia).LexaproAntidepressantConstipation, Insomnia, Dizziness, dry mouth, headache, nausea, exhaustion, Hallucinations, irregular heartbeat, panic attack, allergic reactions, seizures, stomach pain, deteriorating depression, mood change, irritability, severe insomnia, breath shortening, fatigue.Lignocaine InjectionDisturbances in the heart’s rhythmNausea, drowsiness, mental/mood changes, ringing in the ears, dizziness, vision changes, tremors, numbness, headache, backache, fever, unusually fast or slow pulse, trouble breathing, seizures, chest pain, allergic reactions – rash, itching, swelling, dizziness, trouble breathing.MetoclopramideHeartburn, nauseaTremors or shaking in of arms or legs, uncontrolled muscle movements in face, slow or jerky muscle movements, problems with balance or walking, stiff (rigid) muscles, high fever, sweating, confusion, fast or uneven heartbeats, depressed mood, thoughts of suicide, hallucinations, anxiety, agitation, jittery feeling, trouble staying still, swelling, feeling short of breath, rapid weight gain, jaundice, seizure (convulsions), feeling restless, drowsy, tired, or dizzy, headache, sleep problems (insomnia), nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, urinating more than usual.Morphine Sulfate InjectionPainMost serious: respiratory depression. Dizziness, lightheadedness, drowsiness, upset stomach, vomiting, constipation, stomach pain, rash, difficulty urinating, fainting.NeurontinEpileptic and seizuresDizziness, drowsiness, weakness, tired feeling, nausea, diarrhea, constipation, blurred vision, headache, dry mouth, loss of balance or coordination, increased seizures, fever, swollen glands, body aches, flu symptoms, skin rash, easy bruising or bleeding, severe tingling, numbness, pain, muscle weakness, upper stomach pain, loss of appetite, dark urine, jaundice, chest pain, irregular heart rhythm, feeling short of breath, confusion, nausea and vomiting, swelling, rapid weight gain, urinating less than usual or not at all, new or worsening cough, fever, trouble breathing; or rapid back and forth movement of your eyes.OxycotinPain killerConstipation, nausea, drowsiness, dizziness, itching , vomiting, dry mouth, weakness, sweating, loss of appetite, insomnia or abnormal dreams, fever or chills, abdominal pain (stomach pain), diarrhea , indigestion, or heartburn, nervousness, anxiety , or an unusual pleasant feeling (euphoria), shortness of breath, twitching, hiccups, slow heart rate (bradycardia), difficulty passing urine, low blood pressure (hypotension), slow or irregular breathing, ringing of the ears (tinnitus).OxyNorm (oxycodone)Opioid painkillerItching, nausea, vomiting, dry mouth, headache, sleepiness and drowsiness along with dizziness and euphoria (extreme happiness and feelings of well-being), difficulty passing urine, constipation, upset stomach, loss of appetite, slow body movements or tiredness, insomnia, disorientation, low blood pressure, rapid heartbeat, vision problems, hiccups, shortness of breath, fast or deep breathing, confusion, nervousness and anxiety or hallucinations and hypothermia (a drop below the normal body temperature), facial flushing, rigid muscles and nervousness as well as difficulty swallowing, edema (swelling) of the legs, ankles and feet.PanadolPainAllergic reaction – hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat, nausea, upper stomach pain, itching, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice, liver and kidney damage.SpironolactoneFluid retention (edema), low potassium levels in the bloodMild nausea or vomiting, dizziness, headache, gas, stomach pain, numbness or tingly feeling,muscle pain or weakness, slow, fast, or uneven heart rate, feeling drowsy, restless, or light-headed, urinating less than usual or not at all, shallow breathing, tremors, confusion, nausea, upper stomach pain, itching, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice, severe skin reaction — fever, sore throat, swelling in your face or tongue, burning in your eyes, skin pain, followed by a red or purple skin rash that spreads (especially in the face or upper body) and causes blistering and peeling.StilnoxInsomnia and brain disordersHeadaches, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, anterograde amnesia, hallucinations, delusions, altered thought patterns, difficulty maintaining balance, euphoria and/or dysphoria, impaired judgment and reasoning, when stopped, rebound insomnia may occur.XanaxAnxiety, depressionBlurred vision, headache, memory problems, trouble concentrating, sleep problems (insomnia), swelling in your hands or feet, muscle weakness, lack of balance or coordination, slurred speech, upset stomach, nausea, vomiting, constipation, diarrhea, increased sweating, dry mouth, stuffy nose, depressed mood, thoughts of suicide or hurting self, unusual risk-taking behavior, decreased inhibitions, no fear of danger, confusion, hyperactivity, agitation, hostility, hallucinations, feeling like passing out, urinating less than usual or not at all, chest pain, pounding heartbeats or fluttering in chest, uncontrolled muscle movements, tremor, seizure (convulsions) drowsiness, dizziness, feeling tired or irritable.ZantacUlcers in stomach and intestinesDrowsiness, dizziness, sleep problems (insomnia), nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, diarrhea, constipation, chest pain, fever, feeling short of breath, coughing up green or yellow mucus, easy bruising or bleeding, unusual weakness, fast or slow heart rate, problems with vision, fever, sore throat, and headache with a severe blistering, peeling, and red skin rash.ZofranNausea and vomitingDiarrhea or constipation, weakness or tired feeling, fever, headache, dizziness, drowsiness, blurred vision or temporary vision, short of breath, fainting, fast or pounding heartbeats, slow heart rate, trouble breathing, anxiety, agitation, shivering, feeling like you might pass out, urinating less than usual or not at all.
Let me ask you to ponder critically what Dr. Andrew Weil, graduate of Harvard Medical School and currently Director of Integrative Medicine at University of Arizona, said In Health & Healing:
The average patient in a hospital today is placed on half a dozen drugs simultaneously. How some of these chemicals react with each other is anybody’s guess. Moreover, a significant percentage of drug doses in hospitals involve errors: wrong drug, the wrong patient, the wrong dose, the wrong time …. Adverse drug reactions are the leading variety of iatrogenic illness (iatrogenic illness is caused by the effects of medical treatment by the doctors).
Voltaire penned this magnificent snipe: Physicians pour drugs of which they know little, to cure diseases of which they know less, into humans of which they know nothing.
The excesses of drugging in allopathic medicine are one of its worse sins.
I find allopathic medicine glaringly deficient in theory and philosophy of any sort … they have no clear conception or theory of what disease is, nor any general concept of treatment.
We understand – the doctors in the hospital were trying their best to help the patient. They did what they knew based on what they were taught in medical school. But Dr. Weil – a Harvard trained medical doctor concluded that:I find allopathic medicine glaringly deficient in theory and philosophy of any sort … they have no clear conception or theory of what disease is, nor any general concept of treatment.
Why did he say such a thing against his own profession? Let me venture to explain. Take a critical look at the table of medications above again. MM was given 11 to 19 drugs (either orally or infusion) each day while in the hospital. What do these drugs do while in the body? It is anybody imagination! And what is the purpose of each drug – trying to “repair” the damage caused by another drug?
Table 2. Patient received 19 drugs on chemo-day – 18 September 2012
Table 3. Patient received 18 drugs three days after receiving chemotherapy – 21 September 2012
Table 4: Patient received 11 drugs on an ordinary day – 6 October 2012.
Even on an ordinary day (Table 4), her daily staple was 11 drugs consisted of the following:
Albumin injection.
Three types of pain medication – Durogesic patch, Oxycontin, and Oxynorm.
Two types of anti-depression and anxiety medication – Laxpro and Xanax.
Medication to acid reflex.
Medication to prevent blood clot.
Medication for nausea and vomiting.
Medication for low potassium in blood.
Medication for insomnia or sleeping pill.
Why did she need 11 drugs a day?
Why did she need albumin every day?
Where did the albumin go to after infusion each day?
Ask this question:If you give these medications (11 to 19 types of drugs) a day to any healthy person– what do you think would become of that person? Would he/she not go ko-ko?
Study the various side effects that can be caused by each drug received by the patient.
Let’s take albumin injection for example. She was given this injection almost every day for the past one and a half months. This injection may give rise to various side effects such as allergic reactions – fever and chills, rash, nausea, vomiting, hypotension.
So she has to take medication for nausea and acid reflex, for example, to take care of the side effects of albumin infusion.
But this is not all. There are 10 more drugs that she was taking and all of them have side effects.
For example, she took 3 types of pain killers – Durogesic patch, Oxycontin, and Oxynorm. The possible side effects of these drugs are: Slow heart rate, weak or shallow breathing, severe drowsiness, confusion, extreme fear, unusual thoughts or behavior; feeling like you might pass out, dry mouth, nausea, vomiting, constipation, headache, tired feeling, dizziness, itching , sweating, loss of appetite, insomnia or abnormal dreams, fever or chills, abdominal pain (stomach pain), diarrhea , indigestion, or heartburn, shortness of breath, twitching, difficulty passing urine, low blood pressure (hypotension), slow or irregular breathing, slow body movements or tiredness, disorientation, low blood pressure, rapid heartbeat, vision problems, shortness of, nervousness and anxiety or hallucinations and hypothermia (a drop below the normal body temperature), facial flushing, rigid muscles and nervousness, difficulty swallowing, swelling of the legs, ankles and feet.
Looking at the list, is there any wonder that the patient was asked to take two types of anti-depression and anxiety drugs and one type of sleeping pill? Again, these three drugs – anti-depression / anxiety and sleeping pills, would by themselves bring on more side effects. So the list of side effects grows and grows.
On 18 October 2012, patient’s sister wrote:
Her main issues now:
1. Tummy hardened.
2. Hard to breathe.
3. Area on upper abdominal and gastric pain.
4. Swelling of legs.
5. Some redness of allergic that I observed maybe from the vitamin and milk infusion.
6. Hard to relax and cannot sleep well.
7. Tense.
Is this what Dr. Weil was trying to tell us when he wrote: The excesses of drugging in allopathic medicine are one of is worse sins?To Professor Jane Plant, this sounds like a battle between the disease and the treatments – with the patient as the battle ground!
Dr. Weil also said this: Adverse drug reactions are the leading variety of iatrogenic illness (iatrogenic illness is caused by the effects of medical treatment by the doctors).
The question we would like to ask is: To what extent are the drugs given to patient causing the problem? In other words, are her problems caused by cancer or by the drugs that she was asked to take?
Some important questions to ask are:
What is the aim of all these medications? Just to keep the patient alive?
What are the medications that would improve her health and make her healthy?
Is there hope that she would be able to come out of this staple diet of medicines and become normal and healthy again?
What is the philosophy of the treatment? Often we hear, Your cancer can be treated! Yes, it is possible to treat the patient by giving her medications but where is the cure?
Dr. Weil said it out again loud and clear: I find allopathic medicine glaringly deficient in theory and philosophy of any sort … they have no clear conception or theory of what disease is, nor any general concept of treatment.
(Note: As I was writing this sentence, someone sent me an email with this message: Doctors destroy health.)
As a conclusion, let me be clear. I am not here blaming the doctors. They have done their best in wanting to help and save life but unfortunately they have to operate within their medical system, which unfortunately is still stuck in a quagmire.
SK came to see us on10 August 2012. This 64-old, Indonesian lady looked frail and timid and did not seem to know what was going on. Her abdomen was distended like a pregnant lady. She handed us her CT scan report (dated 9 August 2012).
There is left pelvic mass, measuring 5.3 x 3.6 x 3.6 cm, in keeping with dermoid cyst.
There are multilobulated soft tissue lesions in the pelvis – the largest measures 4 x 2.7 cm.
There are multiple peritoneal nodules.
Impression: Likely ovarian carcinoma with moderate ascities, associated with peritoneal, omental and mesenteric metastases.
The gynaecologist suggested surgery and this costs RM 16,000. SK came to seek our advice. We told SK to go ahead with the surgery. There is NO way the herbs can help her with such an advanced stage cancer. The tumours have to be removed first, then she can come and take the herbs.
On 24 August 2012, SK came back to see us again, accompanied by her daughter. SK had undergone a surgery – TAHBSO (Total Abdominal Hysterectomy and Bilateral Salpingo-Oophorectomy ) with omentectomy + appendectomy. She was hospitalised for five days. She had the surgery at another hospital where the cost of the operation was only RM 12,800.
SK felt better after the surgery. It was a Stage 3B cancer.
SK was asked to return to the hospital on 25 September 2012 for chemotherapy. She and her daughter consulted an oncologist and below is an account of what happened during their meeting.
Chris: What did the doctor want you to do after the operation?
Daughter: Must do chemo – six times. I asked the oncologist if this can kill all the cancer cells in the body. He replied very confidently – Definitely, 99 percent of the cancer cells will be gone.
C: He said 99 percent will be gone? You asked him that? And this is his answer? Did he really understand your questions?
D: Yes, he understood me. I asked him if chemotherapy is the only best option for my mother. He said: Chemo is the only option – there is no other way.
C: You asked him in Bahasa Indonesia or in English?
D: In English – the cancer cells will be gone? Will it be 100 percent gone? He said: 99 percent gone.
C: Meaning, 99 percent can cure?
D: Yes.
C: How many times did you ask him this question?
D: Two times. He was so sure about what he said. He said: Yes, you do six times of chemo, 99 percent of the cancer will be gone.
C: When you asked him this question – did he get angry?
D: No, not angry.
C: For six chemos, how much do you have to pay?
D: RM 3,000 each time. I also asked him if the treatment is going to be painful. He said: No, not painful at all.
C: Oh, chemo is not going to be painful? That is going to be good!
D: But he also said there will always be some side effects. There will be loss of hair and nausea. Then mama asked the doctor: Will I be strong enough to withstand the chemo treatment? The oncologist said: Sure, you are strong enough for the treatment.
C: How long did you talk to the oncologist?
D: About 15 to 20 minutes. And he said: Go back home and eat whatever you want – KFC, McDonald and anything.
C: Oh, you can eat KFC, McDonald and also anything?
D: Yes.
C: What else did he tell you?
D: Cannot take herbs while on chemo. You cannot mix – chemo and herbs. Only after completing six times chemo, then we can take herbs if we want to.
C: How much did you pay for talking to him?
D: RM 100.
C: After he said chemo will give you a 99 percent cure and then you can eat anything you like when you go home, do you believe him or not?
D: I really want to believe him!
C: Go home and think carefully what you want to do now. Did you mother understand what you and your doctor were saying?
(Daughter broke down and cried)
C: Don’t worry. I understand. It is a difficult situation. Everyone who come here are really lost. Don’t worry. It is okay to cry. What is important is that after the surgery your mother feels better now. The doctor asked you to do chemotherapy – do you want to do that? It is difficult for me to say what you should do – to go for chemo or not to go for chemo.
But what the doctor told you – to eat what you like when you go home – that is not right. My advice is – Don’t eat anything that walks or has legs! Also avoid oil and sugar. Please listen to my advice. Again, other than that, whether you want to do chemo or not, I cannot say anything.
The doctor said you can’t take herbs while on chemo – that is also not true. Many of my patients take herbs while they are on chemotherapy. They came out better – they felt better. But I am not going to ask you to believe me. If you believe your doctor, go ahead and believe him.
Have you read or really understand what chemotherapy is?
D: I have heard about it from other people. I saw people going for six times of chemo and they never come back (die).
C: Honestly, tell me – when the oncologist said there is a 99 percent cure after the chemo – do you really believe him?
D: (shaking her head) No.
CA Care Therapy
C: Ibu (mom), when you go home please take care of your diet. Take time and go for exercise. Don’t just stay home and think too much about your problem. That will not be good for you. Try to be happy always. You are a Christian? Pray to God for help and guidance. God knows that you are sick. Pray that you have the strength to overcome this.
Let me ask you this question: Should patient be told the truth? Some people would say yes, some people would say no. So, you decide for yourself the acceptable level of truth that you want. Then, let me ask another question: How much truth can you expect from your doctor? Let me ask you to reflect on the following quotations:
In the case of SK above, her daughter wanted very much to believe what the oncologist them – after six cycles of chemo 99 percent of the cancer will be gone! But will it come back again soon? That is not told! Anyway, the patient and her daughter did not have the peace of mind to believe what they heard. Otherwise they would not have come and sought our help. At this point let me quote what Dr. Walker wrote about his own experience:
Side effects of Treatment
Some patients suffer seriously from the side effects, others don’t. I wonder if it is all about luck (and not science)? Retired US Air Force Colonel, Thompson wrote:
Read what Rose Kushner said:
Cancer Patients – Eat anything you like! At CA Care we say this is not right! We are not alone in this. Read what some outstanding doctors in the US said about the importance of diet and cancer.
What You Need to Know About Ovarian Cancer
The information and data below are obtained from the internet and oncology text books:
Around the world, more than 200,000 women are estimated to develop ovarian cancer every year and about 100,000 die from the disease.
According to the National Cancer Registry, ovarian cancer is the fourth most common cancer among women in Peninsular Malaysia, making up five per cent of all female cancer cases.
Epithelial tumors represent the most common histology (90%) of ovarian tumors. This type of cancer often spreads on the peritoneal surfaces – e.g., undersurface of the diaphragms, paracolic gutters, bladder, surface of the liver, mesentery and serosa of the large and small bowel, omentum, uterus, and para-aortic and pelvic lymph nodes.
Most ovarian cases are diagnosed in an advanced stage and their prognosis is closely related to the stage at diagnosis. Overall, prognosis for advanced-stage patients remains poor. Overall 5-year survival of ovarian cancer is 45 percent. In the case of SK, who has Stage 3B, the 5-year survival is about 29 percent (Table below).
As I have always told patients – we don’t have to believe this statistics but we also don’t want to bury our heads in the sand and pretend that everything will be okay. We need to know the reality and then try hard to beat the odds.
Currently, the standard treatment for stage 3 ovarian cancer consists of both surgery (surgical debulking) and chemotherapy.
Unfortunately, less than 40% of patients experience long-term survival following standard treatment.
Approximately 60-80% of patients with stage 3 cancer will experience a recurrence of their cancer, even after complete surgical removal of cancer.
Nearly all patients with stage 3 disease have small amounts of undetectable cancer that have spread outside the ovary and were not removed by surgery. These cancer cells cannot be detected with any of the currently available tests and are referred to as micrometastases. The presence of micrometastases causes cancer recurrence.
Chemotherapy for Stage 3 Ovarian Cancer
The chemotherapy drugs used to treat ovarian cancer are fairly standard. Typically doctors combine a platinum-based drug such as carboplatin or cisplatin with a taxane such as paclitaxel (Taxol) or docetaxel (Taxotere).
Perez, C.P. et. al, (in Clinical Oncology, 8th Edition, Health Science Asia, pg. 489) wrote: The combination of paclitaxel plus a platinum compound is considered by most to be the first-line adjuvant chemotherapeutic regimen in patients with advanced ovarian cancer. The pathologic complete response is only 20 to 26 percent (Table below).
Ovarian cancers are very sensitive to chemotherapy and often respond well initially. Unfortunately, in most cases, ovarian cancer recurs.
Fewer than 20% of patients treated with a platinum compound and paclitaxel survive without evidence of cancer recurrence 5 years following treatment.
Unfortunately, even in patients who respond, the disease eventually becomes resistant to the first-line drugs, and the cancer returns. Some ovarian tumors are resistant to platinum drugs. Once cancer recurs or continues to progress, the patient may be treated with more chemotherapy.
Despite the development of several new chemotherapy drugs over the past few years, there is no substantial evidence that any of the treatments have increased the number of women cured of ovarian cancer.
Gemcitabine (Gemzar) is also used in combination with carboplatin for women with advanced ovarian cancer that has relapsed. Other drugs include doxorubicin (Adriamycin, Doxil), etoposide (Vepesid), and vinorelbine (Navelbine).
Side Effects of Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy can cause side effects during and after treatment. The type and severity of these side effects depends upon which chemotherapy drugs are used and how they are administered.
The most common side effects are nausea, vomiting, mouth soreness, temporary lowering of the blood counts, and hair loss.
Surveillance After Treatment
At the end of treatment (both surgery and chemotherapy), a patient is considered to have a “complete response” if her physical examination is normal; there is no evidence of cancer on imaging studies (such as a CT scan); and the blood level of the tumor marker like CA-125 is normal.
However, even when all of these criteria are met, microscopic amounts of residual cancer (i.e., not visible on imaging studies) can still be present. Growth of these microscopic tumor cells is probably responsible for tumor recurrence at a later date.
To monitor for the possibility of recurrence, blood tests, physical examinations, and imaging tests are to be done.
Signs of Recurrence
The likelihood of a tumor recurrence is highest in women with more advanced-stage disease at diagnosis, particularly if the initial debulking surgery was unable to remove all visible tumor.
The earliest evidence of recurrent ovarian cancer can be indicated by a rising blood level of one of the tumor markers (CA-125) and symptoms such as abdominal pain or bloating with or without back pain, or presence of pelvic mass.
What Can I Expect After Chemotherapy Treatment?
Surgery plus chemotherapy drugs can get rid of ovarian cancer, but often they can’t keep it away forever.
Surgery and chemotherapy are usually effective in treating the cancer so it will go away for a while, but in most cases the cancer ends up coming back.
Often, the cancer will return within one to two years after treatment is finished. If the cancer does return, another round of chemotherapy is necessary.
Some Cases of Ovarian Cancer at CA Care
Over the past two years, some patients came to CA Care for help after medical treatments have failed them. Unfortunately, we did not get to see most of these patients after one or two visits. We are not sure what had happened to them. The cases below will portray the reality of ovarian cancer. Compare the facts of these cases with the readily available information found in the internet above.
Case 1: H297 was a 66-year-old female. She was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, Stage 1C. She underwent an operation followed by six cycles of chemotherapy. Three months later, the cancer spread to her liver. She was asked to undergo more chemo. She refused.
Case 2: H256, 34-year-old lady, had pains associated with lower abdominal mass in December 2008. She had bilateral ovarian tumours. Her left ovarian tumour invaded the sigmoid colon. There were extensive small nodules all over the peritoneal cavity. The undersurface of diaphragm was also extensively involved by the tumour nodules. She underwent TAHBSO, omentectomy, appendictomy and resection of the sigmoid colon. All significant sized tumour nodules were debulked.
She received six cycles of chemo – carboplatin + paclitaxel. And this completed in June 2009. A repeat CT scan did not show any evidence of recurrent or residual tumour. Her CA 125 which was in the range of 11,000 pre-op normalised after three cycles of chemo and remained below 10 after that.
However, six months later, December 2009, she had severe pains and was hospitalised. There were tumour nodules in her pelvis and she had extensive recurrence of her cancer. Overall her prognosis appears poor. Her surgeon wrote: Nevertheless, I believe we should make one final attempt at chemotherapy.
Case 3: H394, 40-year-old lady, underwent an operation to remove a malignant ovarian cyst in 2007. This was followed by a hysterectomy. It was a Stage 3 cancer. Not satisfied, she went to Singapore for consultation. She was told her cancer was a Stage 4. H294 underwent six cycles of chemotherapy with carboplatin + taxotere. In addition she received 25 radiation treatment and 2 brachytherapy (internal radiation treatment). All treatments were completed in October 2007. She was well for a while.
But two years later, October 2009, her CA 125 started to increase. A CT scan showed the cancer had recurred and spread. She received another three cycles of chemotherapy with cisplatin. The treatment was not effective. Her CA 125 increased further and the tumour grow bigger by 1 cm. She went to China for further treatment. This too was not effective.
Case 5: H284, 50-year-old lady, had ovarian cancer and underwent a surgery – TAHBSO in February 2006. In addition she received 3 times brachytherapy (internal radiation) and six cycles of chemotherapy. Two years later, in September 2008, CT scan showed lesions in her liver and soft tissue mass in her pelvis. Her CA 125 was in a rising trend.
In April 2009, she felt pains in her abdomen. A PET scan confirmed cancer recurrence. The soft tissue nodule in her pelvis was 2.9 x 2.6 cm in size. Nodule in Segment 6/7 of her liver was 2.2 c x 2.5 cm in size. She underwent 6 cycles of chemotherapy. The pains were gone but three months later, the pains came back. The doctor said more chemotherapy!
Case 6: H813, 54-year-old lady, went for a general checkup. The doctor found something in her uterus. Subsequently she underwent an operation, TAHBSO. It was a Stage 3 ovarian cancer. She underwent 12 cycles of chemotherapy with Gemzar + Carboplatin. All treatments were completed in August 2009. Everything was okay.
About two years later, September 2011, the doctor found lesion in her pelvis. In January 2012, CT scan showed the lesion was still there. A biopsy was done and was found to be malignant. She was asked to undergo another 18 cycles of chemotherapy with Taxol + carboplatin.
Case 7. Dying In the ICU After Surgery for Ovarian Cancer and Chemo for Lymphoma.Wan went to see a doctor in a private hospital. She was told that she had ovarian cancer and needed an operation. Wan then moved on to another private hospital believing that another doctor was better able to handle her case. On 16 February 2009, Wan underwent an operation to remove her so-called cancer in the ovary. It was a total hysterectomy. But Wan’s condition did not improve in spite of the surgery. Read more of her story here: https://cancercaremalaysia.com/2010/12/11/dying-in-the-icu-after-surgery-for-ovarian-cancer-and-chemo-for-lymphoma/
Success Stories of Ovarian Cancer with CA Care Therapy
Case 1: Siti was 48 years old when she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer Stage 4. She underwent a total hysterectomy in 2005 followed by three cycles of chemotherapy. She gave up chemo. At first Siti and her husband did not believe in what we at CA Care are doing. Many times, they were “pushed” by a friend to come and see us. Eventually Siti and her husband relented and came to Penang. From then on it was no turning back. Siti’s health improved. It has been seven years now and she is going well.
Case 2: June (not real name) was 42-years old when she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in December 2006. A TAHBSO surgery was performed. The histopathology report confirmed a bilateral ovarian adenocarcinoma with metastasis to the omentum. June underwent chemotherapy and took herbs. Unfortunately the cancer recurred. The doctors wanted her to undergo more chemo. She refused and continued with the herbs. This time June’s spleen became swollen and caused severe pains. She had no choice but to undergo more chem. She was well up to this day.
Case 3: GS (T791) is a 54 year-old lady. A cervical biopsy and endometrial curetting indicated a moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma of the endometirum. Subsequently, GS underwent a surgery – TAHBSO at a private hospital. The pathology report confirmed a well differentiated adenocarcinoma of the endometrium, classical endometrioid type, Stage 3B (T2bNxMx), tumour invades into cervical stroma.
Case 4: Ella was diagnosed with endometrial cancer. She underwent a TAHBSO and resection of the omentum and left and right pelvic nodes. After the surgery, her surgeon told her: No chemo, you have three months. With chemo, it would be two-and-a-half years. She asked: What? Ella was started on herbs right away – and NO chemo of course. As of this writing, it is about four years now and Ella is well and healthy.
Let me conclude by quoting a wise man who I have much respect for – Jewish Rabbi Harold Kushner. His words have always been my moral compass whenever I deal with patients who come to us for help.
When you underwent chemotherapy, you were told that you had Stage 4 cancer. Did the oncologist tell you whether the chemo was going to cure you?
H: This was what the doctor told us after the surgery, “Remember you must go for chemo. You need to go for six cycles.” I still remember this was what he told us. Then he added, “You have Stage 4 cancer – you must go for chemo. Remember that.”
Did you ask him if the chemo can cure her?
H: At that time my impression was chemo would be able to cure her.
Did you suffer while undergoing chemotherapy?
Yes. I couldn’t sleep. Vomited and had pains until the bones.
H: On top of it, she was bald.
Becoming bald, that is a normal thing! Every three weeks you have one cycle of chemo. How long did your suffering last after each chemo.
One week of suffering. After I regained my strength I went in for another shot. I couldn’t eat and my body felt very tired. During that time I felt like dying. I could not carry anything and I was drained off my energy. After I recovered I have to go for another bang.
You had three cycles of chemo. Which is the more difficult – the first one or the second one?
The second was worse than the first one. But for the third cycle I was alright – that was after I started to take your herbs.
Oh, you started taking the herbs after your second chemo and just before your went for the third one?
Yes, before the third chemo. I took your Chemo Tea and also the Upper Pain Tea.
H: I still remember what you told me, “I am not pushing you to go for chemo. But I also do not tell you to stop the chemo. I don’t want the blame. But if you want to go for chemo then take the Chemo Tea. “ So she took your teas and went for her third chemo.
Did you suffer any side effects after that?
Very little.
H: I observed her. There was difference this time. Before the herbs she had to sleep and was in pain. After taking your herbs there was no more problem. That was what I observed – there was this difference.
Siti: One more thing doctor. During the first chemo and the second chemo, the doctor said my blood was not good. After taking the herbs for about a month or so, the doctor said my blood was good. That was what the doctor in the government hospital told me. But he did not know that I was already on your herbs. I have another problem when I was on chemo. I tend to forget things. I boiled water for hours and I did not remember that. When I boiled the herbs and then went upstairs, I had to pray and pray that I did not forget what I did.
That was what they called, “chemo-brain”. Now, it has been five years since you have chemo – do you still have this chemo brain?
Yes, once a while. I still tend to forget things.
H: But this problem was not as bad as previously. Before it was severe.
Who said you had Stage 4 cancer?
The surgeon who operated on me said so. I just met her last month (after five years). This is what she told me, “Patient who had cancer like you, ought to be sleeping on the bed and not able to walk around.” She was implying that I ought to be dead by now.
That was what she told you?
Yes, the specialist who operated on me. One day, my son was also admitted into the same hospital for his appendix problem. I was in the hospital and happened to meet the surgeon. She said, “ Siti, you are well?” Her tone and reaction showed me that she was really surprised that I am still alive. She then phoned another doctor and said (I hear her conversation): “You still remember Siti – a patient some four to five years back. She is still around!” Imagine what she said, I am still around and alive! Then she told me, “Siti, come back and let’s have a CT scan.” She persuaded me to come back to the hospital and do the scan. After thinking about it, I thought I should do the scan.
I went to do the CT scan. I was trembling at that time – very concerned if they would find something inside me. After the scan, the surgeon stared at me and said, “Congratulations – I could not find anything in there – not even a scar.”
Did the doctor ever ask you what you have been doing?
She did not ask much. She looked at me. I guessed she wanted to ask me something but was reluctant. I was not sure if she was shy or was ashamed or what.
But did she know that you are taking herbs?
Yes, I told her about that but she did not ask me for more details. After I was told of the CT scan result I said to her, “I want to go and tell Dr. Chris about this.” She asked me, “Who is Dr. Chris.” I replied, “The herbalist from Penang.”
You are indeed blessed. If you asked me then what I could do for you, I must admit I would not know what to answer. But let me remind you that even after surviving five years you are not cured yet. To the doctors surviving five years is considered “cure”. That is not true at all. Even if you survive ten years, it is still not a cure.
I want to thank you so much for helping me. I pray that your will continue to do this good work forever and ever to help our society.
Let us all praise God and be grateful to Him for his blessing. He gave me the knowledge to help others.
Our interview with Siti was done in 2005. She had been taking our herbs for the past five years.
All these are God’s blessing.
Husband: We are indeed grateful to Razuddin who “pushed” us so many times to come and see you. At first we were hesitant.
Because you did not believe in what we do?
H: Yes indeed – I don’t believe in your herbal therapy. But then Razuddin kept insisting and one day we fixed an appointment in my office. Then I relented and he drove us to Penang to see you.
Siti: When we came I was till undergoing my chemo.
H: She already had two cycles and was going on to the third. I still remember you tell me, “If you want to go for chemo, you can then take the Chemo Tea.” My wife took the Chemo Tea and she felt the difference! Before the herbs, she had pains, fevers and was unable to sleep due to the chemo. Before she started on the third cycle of chemo she took the Chemo Tea – three days before and three days after the chemo. She was alright – no problem. This result started to make us believe in what you are doing.
Well, as I have said, you are blessed. Whatever it is you received this blessing. There are people who missed on this. At CA Care we are not “hunting” for people to come and see us. Those who need our help can come – those who want us to help them, we will help. Those who don’t need our help – that’s fine.
H: I am indeed grateful to Razuddin for his insistence to bring us here to see you. If not for this repeated insistence we would not know you. It’s indeed God’s blessing. So the truth is, we started off being very skeptical about what you are doing – and we did not believe your therapy.
(Note: Razuddin is our colon cancer patient. He underwent surgery but refused chemo absolutely. He immediately started on our therapy and has been doing fine for many years now).
Siti, when you came to Penang that day, did you believe us at all?
I was doubtful – not sure at all. But after I started taking the herbs, I felt better and my health improved. I started to believe you.
After you started on the herbs, you gave up after the third cycle of chemo. Why did you give up chemo?
(Laugh)
H: She was getting better. There is no reason why we should go for anymore chemo.
The doctor was not angry with you for not continuing? Did he not call you to come back for the fourth shot?
Yes, the doctor kept calling me but I just did not turn up.
After taking the herbs, did you really feel better?
Yes, I felt my body was healthier. I have no more pains. I had more strength.
H: My wife had Stage 4 cancer. Most of my friends knew this. But after taking your herbs, these friends were really surprised to see her so well and healthy. Some of them were asking where to find your herbs. Some of these people have relatives who had undergone chemo – only one died recently.
Siti: My friend told me that I don’t look like a cancer patient. I don’t look like I am having cancer because I looked so well and healthy.
H: She did not show any symptoms that she had cancer.
How long were you on the herbs before you could feel that you were doing well?
After taking the herbs for about a year.
Apart from our herbs, did you take any other herbs or medication?
Only vitamin supplements. No other medication. Even when I was undergoing the third cycle of chemo, I did not take the doctor’s medication. I threw them away. I just took Dr. Chris’ herbs.
H: One more positive point. After taking the herbs we also went for the blood tests. The results were good. We repeated the test a few months later. The results were also good. So that increased our confidence in what you are doing. Now we are confident.
Siti was 48 years old when she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer Stage 4. She underwent a total hysterectomy in 2005 followed by three cycles of chemotherapy. She gave up chemo. At first Siti and her husband did not believe in what we at CA Care are doing. Many times, they were “pushed” by a friend to come and see us. Eventually Siti and her husband relented and came to Penang. From then on it was no turning back. Siti’s health improved. It has been seven years now and she is going well.
This video recording was done in 2010 – five years after she was started on the herbs.
Chris: How are you doing?
Siti: Thank God I am going fine – very well and healthy.
Any problem at all? Any pain?
No pain. But if I don’t take the herbs, I can feel some pains. But the pain is not serious. Just a little only. And after I take the herbs, the pains go away.
Have you gone back to see your doctor lately?
Yes, I saw the surgeon who operated on me. She said, “Thank God” I am clean – no recurrence.
Husband: The surgeon was very surprised.
Did the surgeon know that you did not complete your chemo? (Done only three out of six cycles).
I told the surgeon that I was taking Dr. Chris’ herbs from Penang. But the way she reacted, I felt she was reluctant to ask me for more details. I saw a few doctors were gathered together and they were talking about me and some were looking at me. The surgeon told me, “By right you should be lying in bed – Stage 4 cancer – should be lying in bed.” She looked at me in disbelief.
Since taking the herbs, did you also take care of your diet?
Yes.
And you took the herbs “religiously”?
Yes.
Exercise regularly?
No, I have problems with my knees. I only walked a little.
You have been on the herbs for five years now – since 2005 – tell me do you get “fed-up” taking this stuff?
What can I do? I have no choice. I have to take them. I am not going to stop. God has led me to find these herbs and they are good for my health. I am grateful and I should not feel “fed-up”.
FLASHBACK – 11 November 2005
Siti and her husband visited CA Care in Penang. They were accompanied by a friend, Razuddin,
About fifteen years ago, Siti underwent an operation to remove her fibroids. In 2005, her stomach bloated and she was later diagnosed with bilateral papillary serous cystadenocarcinoma of the ovaries with metastasis to the omentum.
At the time of this visit, Siti had received two cycles of chemotherapy and was to receive another cycle in six days’ time. Since Siti was not sure if she would like to take our herbs, I left it to her to decide if she wanted to continue with her third cycle of chemo. I prescribed her the Chemo-Tea in the event that she decided to continue with her chemo.
Siti presented with prickling pains in her abdomen. She was unable to sleep. She had pains in the middle of the top of her head. For her cancer I prescribed her Capsule A, Utero-ovary Tea, and T & E. For her headache she was given Upper Pain tea.
It was a great surprise indeed that on the morning of 20 December 2011, the patient, accompanied by her doctor friend and family members, came to CA Care. Patient was discharged from the hospital the day before and this morning they flew to Penang.
Hear this miraculous story yourself.
Acknowledgment: Permission to use videos and pictures without having to mask the patient’s face is granted by the family.
Chris: Oo, you are the one who came to see me last week – you said your mother was in Methodist Hospital in Medan?
Daughter: Yes, yes. Mother was hospitalized for about 12 days. Immediately after being discharged we all flew here.
Wah, there are so many people?
D: All our family members. Mom has many children. And that one is mom’s brother. And this one is our good friend and she is a medical doctor.
You came to see me on 14 December 2011. And I gave you some herbs. Did your mom take them?
D: Yes. I gave her the herbs starting on 15 December until now. She has taken the herbs for five days already.
(Turning to patient) After taking the herbs for 5 days, how did you feel?
Patient: I feel good – more comfortable. I did not have to use the oxygen anymore.
Brother: Before the herbs, she was breathless and needed oxygen to breathe. After taking the herbs for 3 days she was not breathless anymore.
D: I did not tell the doctor that mom was taking herbs. I did not give mom all those pills that the doctor prescribed. I just gave mom your herbs. But those medication given by injections, they were continued as usual because that was beyond my control.
B: The doctor was surprised. He said it was a miracle (that she could recover).
D: Yes, after taking the herbs, mom did not have to use oxygen anymore. Her lungs had less fluid. Before that she was gasping for breath (showing like a fish gasping for air). Initially after taking the herbs, mom moved her bowels three to four times.
Yes, very good. That is what we want.
D: We were worried if something had gone wrong. But she still continued to take the herbs.
(Turning to patient) Ibu, do you have any problem taking those herbs?
D: Bitter!
P: But I have no difficulty drinking them.
After taking the herbs for a few days, did you not experience some “difficulties” (healing crisis)?
P: No, I felt better, No difficulty at all
So when you were in the hospital, you only took the herbs?
D: Yes, I cooked the herbs at home and brought them to the hospital.
Ibu, now how do you feel?
P: Blank … empty. I cannot urinate. This is my main problem now. I feel my bladder full.
D: Her legs have no strength.
But after taking the herbs, do you still have breathing difficulties?
CANCER STORY 
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