Tag Archives: rectum cancer

Colon Cancer: Surgery and chemo did not cure them – ended up in a more dire situation.

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One morning in November 2019.

Two Indonesians came to seek our help. One of them is from Medan and  the other from Jakarta. Both of them had colon cancer. They had surgery followed by chemotherapy. The treatments did not cure them. Let us examine each case in detail. And let us hope we can learn something from their experiences.

Case 1: SPW is 53 years old. He is from Jakarta. About eight months ago, SPW passed out blood-stained stools.

A colonoscopy indicated tumour in his colon.

A CT scan done on 20 March 2019 showed gallstones, in addition to a tumour in the colon.  SPW underwent surgery to remove the mass in his colon and the gallbladder stones.

Pathology report confirmed cancer,  adenocarcinoma, pT3NxMx.

After the surgery, SPW was sent home without further treatment.

About two months later (Jun 2019), a PET scan was done. The result showed the cancer had recurred at the previous operation site. There was NO spread to the liver, lung, lymph nodes or bone.

PW underwent 6 cycles of chemotherapy, at a private hospital in Jakarta. The chemo was given every two weeks. The regimen used was FOLFOX-4, consisting of  Eloxatin (or oxaliplatin) + 5-FU + Leucovorin (folinic acid).

About five months later, in November 2019, another PET was done. The results were disappointing.

  1. The doctor suspected the cancer had spread to the liver.
  2. Metabolic activity of the recurrent mass in the colon was less intense but the cancer did not go away.
  3. PET scan showed reactive lymph node.

The oncologist asked SPW to undergo more chemotherapy but he refused further treatment. Why?

SPW said he suffered severe side effects during the chemo.

  • He lost 15 kg of body weight within that few months of treatment.
  • He was depressed.
  • He suffered severe fatigue.
  • He lost his appetite.
  • He could not sleep at night, and had to take sleeping pills.
  • His fingers were numb.
  • He had difficulty walking.

Current condition: He has to urinate four times during the night.

Case 2: Wongso is a 67 year-old from Medan. In March 2018 he passed out stools with blood. A colonoscopy was done in a hospital in Medan. There was a mass in his colon.

Wongson underwent an operation to remove the tumour in his colon in April 2018. The pathology report confirmed cancer – adenocarcinoma, pT4N1Mx. One of the two lymph nodes was affected. A CT scan on 9 May 2018, showed the cancer had spread to his liver.

Wongso underwent chemotherapy at the government cancer hospital in Jakarta. He received 6 cycles of chemotherapy. The regimen used was FOLFOX-4,  consisting of oxaliplatin, folinic acid and 5-FU.

A CT scan on 5 September 2018 showed that the tumour in his liver had shrunk from 2.49 cm to 2.06 cm. But it did not go away.

Wongso was prescribed an oral drug – Xeloda. He took the pill for two weeks followed by a week of rest. This constitutes a cycle. Wongso took a total of 12 cycles of Xeloda. His CEA was initially at 2.6 but this increased to 79.8 in November 2019.

CT scan on 29 October 2019 showed:

  • Mild ascites around the liver.
  • Multiple cyst in both lobes of liver.
  • Fractured compression at L4 vertebrae.

In spite of this failure, the oncologist still insisted that Wongso continues to take the Xeloda. Wongso was still on Xeloda when he came to seek our help. His complaints were: stomach pain, probably due to “wind”. He moved his bowels 3 to 4 times a day. He had to urinate 3 to 4 times each night.

Comments

The standard treatment recipe for colon cancer is: surgery, chemotherapy and oral drug such as Xeloda. Sometimes patient is also asked to go for radiotherapy before surgery. This is the cases where the tumour is too large.

If you have cancer, you have to go through these treatments no matter where you are – in the most famous  and expensive hospital or in just any ordinary cancer hospital. Yes, you need to undergo this so called proven method of treatment. But, the question you need to ask is: does this proven and scientific method of treatment works for you? I cannot answer that question! But if you come to see after being diagnosed with colon cancer, my only advice is to go for surgery to remove the tumour, that is if the cancer has not spread extensively elsewhere. If there is a widespread metastasis, the value of surgery is questionable. So, that is as far as I would go. In fact, after I met with the two patients above, the next day, there was another Indonesian who also had colon cancer. He has not undergone any treatment yet. My advice to him was: Go and have the tumour removed. Go to this surgeon X in Hospital Y in Kuala Lumpur. He is a good doctor. I think he would be able to help you.

Looking back over the past twenty plus years helping colon cancer patients, I could recollect many sad experiences. In the early years, I have a few patients who underwent chemotherapy with 5-FU after surgery. At that time the only drug deemed effective was 5-FU. One patient went all the way to Sydney for his 5-FU treatment.  He died while undergoing the treatment. Then there was this building contractor. He too had colon cancer and underwent chemotherapy after his surgery. He did not make it. Before he died he told his daughter to not forget CA Care and she should try to help us whenever we need to do any renovation work. Over the years, I lost many good friends.

Now, the chemo regimen for colon cancer has been “updated.” In the case of SPW and Wongso, the oncologists treated their colon cancer using FOLFOX-4 regimen, which consists of a combination of  fluorouracil, leucovorin, and oxaliplatin.

In fact, besides FOLFOX, there are other variations such as:

  • FOLFIRI – consisting of folinic, 5-FU and irinotecan.
  • CAPOX – consisting of capecitabine or Xeloda and oxaliplatin.
  • XELOX – consisting of Xeloda (trade name) and oxaliplatin.

If you study the above carefully, these are merely different combinations of the same five drugs below:

  • 5-FU.
  • Folinic acid or
  • Oxaliplatin
  • Irinotecan
  • Capecitabine or Xeloda.

One important question which most patients want to ask is: Can chemotherapy cure colon cancer? Or What is the success rate of chemotherapy for colon cancer. I tried to search the answers from the internet and these are what I got.

  • Chemotherapy is used after surgery in many colon cancers which are stage 2, 3, and 4. It has been shown that it increases the survival rates. This is not the case in stage I cancers, and therefore chemotherapy is rarely used in this setting. The vast majority of stage I cancers are cured with surgery alone.
  • Although clinical trials have demonstrated that adjuvant chemotherapy improves survival for stage-III colon cancer, the benefits remain controversial for stage-2 lesions. Stage-2 colon cancer patients receive adjuvant chemotherapy despite its uncertain benefits.
  •  Surgery is the primary curative modality in 70–80% of colon cancer patients who present with a non-metastatic disease. However, recurrence is common and is seen in nearly 30% of stage 3 cases after 5 years.
  • Nearly a quarter of all colon cancer cases are stage 3 at diagnosis.
  • Chemotherapy does not cure metastatic colorectal cancer, but it can improve symptoms and prolong life. 
  •  Upon diagnosis, 20% of newly diagnosed colorectal cancer patients present with metastatic disease (Stage 4) with no curative treatment options currently available. 
  • The overall five-year relative survival of colorectal cancer patients in the US is 64% and in England it is 50.7%.
  • Below is the survival rate in England, based on the stage of disease at diagnosis.
Stage at diagnosis Number of cases 5-year relative survival (%)
Dukes A / Stage 1 26,727 93.2
Dukes B / Stage 2 74,784 77.0
Dukes C / Stage 3 72,806 47.7
Dukes D / Stage 4 28,377 6.6

 

  • The above data are obtained with patients in the US and England. We need to take note that survival rate does NOT mean cure. Unfortunately many patients are told that if they can live five years and more you are considered “CURED”. Unfortunately this is a wrong advice.
  • Take note also that the above result need not apply to you. You may respond differently from these people. The above result should be treated as just an indicator of what can happen to you.
  • In summary, if you are diagnosed with advanced or Stage 4 cancer, you chance of survival is probably 10 to 15%, no matter what you do. On the other hand, if you have a Stage 1 cancer, you don’t need chemotherapy at all after surgery. Even for Stage 2 cancer, chemotherapy is of doubtful benefit.
  • Overall, that data tells that for colon cancer, you have a 50:50 chance with chemotherapy if your cancer is at Stage 3.

Most patients believe that surgery and chemotherapy can cure their cancer. Unfortunately this is often not the case. In the case of SPW and Wongso, were they ever told the truth about their chances? Unfortunately, they had to learn the hard way.

 

 

 

 

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Extensive spread to liver after seven shots of chemo

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

Part A: Medical history

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

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

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

Part B: Are you currently taking herbs?

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

Part C: Current health condition

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

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

PR came seek our help after this email.

Listen to our conversation that morning.

Gist of our conversation.

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

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

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

C: So you have chemo?

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

C: Did the cancer go away?

P: No, the liver got worse. 

CT scan: 6 October 2017 

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

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

Blood test: 6 Oct. 2017

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

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

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

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

P: No, there was no liver metastasis.

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

P: No cancer in the liver.

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

P: Yes.

C: So, what did the doctor say?

P: Continue with the chemo!

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

Comments

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Treatment Can Make Cancer Stronger

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

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

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

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

Why do chemotherapy drugs cause liver damage?

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

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

Read our two articles:

Chemotherapy SPREADS and MAKES cancer more AGGRESSIVE

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

Jas underwent an operation. Histopathology confirmed the following:

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

The cost of the operation was RM 60,000.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Daughter: The doctor was not sure. 

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

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

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

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

 

Comments

Can we all learn something from this sad story?

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

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

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

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

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

 

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

The pathology report indicated:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

Colon Cancer: Go, have it removed!

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RS is a 51-year-old Indonesia lady.  About two years ago, she passed out blood-stained stools. The doctor in her hometown said she had a tumour in her rectum.  RS was told to have it removed. She refused to undergo an operation. She said, I was afraid! She then opted for herbal therapy.

  • RS was given three types of herbal capsules. The herbalist told her that within three months she would be cured.
  • Three months came, nothing much happened. RS was told to take other capsules for another three months. Again nothing happened.
  • RS continued taking the capsules for another three months.
  • After a total of nine months on the herbal capsules, something happened. Her condition deteriorated!

RS  then switched to taking daun binahong tea and also used a type of spray for the mouth. You can read how great these products are in the internet. The spray that she used cost IDR 1.8 million per bottle.

RS never found any relief (let alone cure) from what she did. She and her daughter came to consult a doctor in a private hospital in Penang.

A colonoscopy confirmed an ulcerative tumour at the distal rectum involving the anal canal. CT scan showed an irregular lesion in the lower rectum measuring 1.5 to 2.0 cm in thickness. No evidence of distant metastasis.

RS’s daughter wrote me an email (unedited):

dear Dr Chris,

advise doktor that my mom has to operation, cut her rektum. is it only the way dok,? but we hope with another way. now my mom at XX hospital dok, do colonoscopy and ct scan. may i sent you the result of medical check up before we come. thank you.

Reply: No need to send the reports. Just come and see me and I’ll tell you what to do.

RS and her daughter came to CA Care. Listen to our conversation that morning.

 

 

The gist of our conversation

Part 1: Go for surgery

Chris: Tell me what happened from the very beginning.

Daughter: She passed out blood in her stools.

C: When was that?

RS: About two years ago.

C: What did you do?

R: I went to see a doctor and did a colonoscopy. There was a tumour in the rectum.

C: The doctor asked to operate but you did not want? Why?

R: I was afraid!

Herbal Capsule — Herbalist said can cure!

C: So did you go to the bomoh (sharman) and do jampi-jampi (chanting)?

R: No. I went to a herbalist and he gave me three types of herbal capsules.

C: How long were you on this capsules?

R: About 9 months. After that I stopped.

C: Before you took the herbal capsules, did you ask if these can cure you?

R: I did ask and he said, yes — can cure!

Daughter: The herbalist said can cure.

C: Can cure? After how  long?

R: The herbalist said take the herbs for 3 months, and I would be cured.

C: And did it cure you after 3 months?

R: No. So the herbalist said take for another 3 months?

C: Was it the same herbs? And are they more expensive?

R: He gave me different herbs. Yes, it cost more now.

C: So, you took the herbs for another 3 months.

R: I took a total of 9 months and I gave up. It did not cure me and I had more pain.

C: Did you ask him why the herbs did not cure you?

R: He asked me to continue taking the herbs!

Switched to binahong tea and spray

R: I stated to take herbal tea — binahong. The leaves of a creeping plant.

D: Boil the leaves as tea.

R: And I took it every morning.

D: Mom also use a spray (for the mouth). It is actually a nutritional supplement. It cost IDR 1.8 million per bottle.

C: Are you on all these now?

R: No more.

Doctor in Penang

C: Then you came to Penang and did a colonoscopy. What did the doctor ask you to do after that?

D: Operate, but mom did not want it.

C: Did you ask the doctor is surgery is going to cure you?

R: Never ask.

C: Did he say you need chemo after the operation?

D: The doctor said after the operation, mom can live a normal life.

C: Did he said, mama need to use a colostomy bag?

D: Ya. The doctor also said, if the cancer has spread, then mom has to go for chemotherapy.

C: How much is the operation going to cost you?

D & R: About RM25,000.

Go to Dr. X to your surgery

C: Removing the tumour would not kill you! It is okay. But remember that NOT all doctors are the same. Some do a good job, some don’t. If I were you, I would NOT think too much. Believe me, go for the operation. But let’s find a good surgeon for you! Yes, this is important — who can do a good job for you.

I know of one colorectal surgeon who is good. I have sent a few patients to him. He is a good person and did a good job. But I also want you to know that I do not get any financial incentive (professional they call it referral fee!) by asking you to go and see him. NO, I don’t do such thing — making money that way. What knowledge God gives me, I would share that with my patients without any fee.

So, I suggest that you go to Dr. X for the surgery. If you don’t want to go to Dr. X, of course, you can go to Singapore. But that is going to cost you three times more!

After the surgery, the doctor may want you to do chemo. If you want to do chemo, go ahead. But if you don’t want to go for chemo, you can come back to see me again after that, about 2 weeks after the surgery. Bring along all the medical reports.

If you don’t want to go ahead with the chemo, let the doctor know that you want to take herbs. As I have said, a few of my patients just did that. They had the operation but no chemo.

 

 

Part 2: My advice — why you need surgery

D: Actually we were supposed to go for surgery yesterday. But I consulted my friends in Surabaya. They suggested that I try to find out another option. One of them send me your name card. Mom does not want surgery if possible.

C: You were supposed to go for surgery and you deferred it. The doctor was angry with you?

D: No, he said it’s okay. I told him that we need to discuss with our family members first. .

  1. The cancer has not spread yet

C: Okay, Ibu. If you come with a tumour in your brain, liver, pancreas or lung, I would not encourage to go for an operation. But your case is different. There is a tumour is your rectum.

According to the report, the cancer has not spread to other organs yet. So you are lucky. If the cancer has spread to the liver, then it could meaningless for go for the operation.

In your case, the cancer has not spread yet. So it is best that you have it removed.

  1. No reason for you to suffer

C:  Ibu, you have made a mistake earlier for not going for an operation. The tumour is growing bigger and bigger. And now it is causing you so much pain and discomforts.

If you want to live a bit longer without sufferings, my advice is to have it removed. The tumour is growing in there. It will get bigger. You will have bleeding, pain and find it difficult to move your bowels. Why do you need to suffer like that? I hope you understand.

D: Yes.

  1. You are still young

Think properly, Ibu. You are still young. There is no reason why you need to die of this cancer. If you are at my age, perhaps there is no need to think of going for an operation.

There was a 80 plus-year-old lady who had colon cancer. Her children came to seek our help. The doctor was angry because the family declined surgery. The reason being, at that age, she might just die on the operating table. I gave her the herbs. She had pain after taking the herbs. After two weeks she was okay. She survived a few years and died of old age. No, her cancer was okay.

So Ibu, if you are as old as that lady — 80 plus,, then I would NOT push you to go for an operation.

  1. Herbs do not cure cancer

So please listen — don’t take the wrong path again! Taking herbs for 3 months and hoping the cancer would go away is absurd, not intelligent, not honest and not right. Outright stupidity.

If that herbalist said his capsules can cure your cancer, then we might as well close all the hospitals in this world. Everybody goes to him for a cure. It is not true, Ibu.

I have come across such case like yours before. A herbalist ask patients to take herbs and promised the cancer would be cured. Yes, he made money. The cancer does not go away. The patients go back to him again. This time, he will say, I have a better herbs for your problem. You pay more for this herbs. He makes more money the second round.

Now, do you want to go and see the herbalist who says he can cure you? You want to go to him? He would guarantee you a cure? You want?

R: No, don’t want.

C: Ibu, I have Jesus in my heart. I believe that God is with me in my work here at CA Care. I want to be honest to my patients. I will give my advice truthfully. I don’t want to bluff anybody. I also do not want to sugar-coat what I say. I know that sometimes what I say is something you don’t want to hear. Yes, truth hurts. Some patients come here wanting to hear only what they want to hear.

Even if you take my herbs, I cannot say that the tumour will disappear. My guess is, it will not disappear.

From my experience no one on earth can cure any cancer. Please know that. It is not that I don’t want to cure you. The truth is I cannot do that. This is my honest assessment of your situation. If my herbs can cure you, then we can tell all the hospitals to close shop!

  1. No need to rush — think carefully

C:  You have been living with this cancer for the past two years. So there is no need to rush to make your decision. Take your time — one week or one month — think carefully what you want to do. Remember what I have told you. But as I have said earlier, I do not think what you did earlier was right — wrong path.

If I am here only wanting to sell you my herbs, then I would surely tell you to take our herbs NOW. Take our herbs and don’t go for the operation. But I know right down in my heart, that is not the right thing to do.

  1. Follow your heart

C:  Mama, if you don’t want to follow my advice, I would not force you. It is up to  you. Yes, take my herbs and then some months or years down the road you may suffer. The cancer spreads to your liver. Of course you would not die yet — then you come to me again. What can I do?

Ibu, you are still young but if you want to “go home” faster or sooner, that’s okay. After all we learn that Up There Above is a better place than right down here! Right? So, can go home if you like.

  1. Pray and ask Jesus for guidance

C: Have peace in your heart and consider what you want to do next. For now there is no need for you to take my herbs yet. It would not make any difference and it is just a waste of money. Go home and pray first. Talk to Jesus what you have to do. But Ibu don’t tell Jesus what to do like saying I don’t want to operate. I don’t think that is right. Ask Jesus to guide you — open a way for you.

I know many people came to see us because they said god sent them here — some said Buddha asked to come, some said Kuan Yin (Goddess of Mercy) asked to come.

Okay, do you want to ask any more question? Mama, you are still young, you look healthy. There is no reason why you need to die because of this cancer. Please go home and discuss with your family first. And most important talk to God.


Comments

On 8 May 2017, I received this email from her daughter:

dear Dr Chris,

terima kasih Dokter, mama sudah operasi oleh Dr X, dokternya baik dan Helpful. saat ini mama tinggal pemulihan pasca operasi. terima kasih banyak Dokter. Tuhan Yesus menyertai dan memberkati pelayanan Dokter. amin.

(Thank you Doctor, mama already had surgery by Dr. X. This doctor is kind and helpful. Currently mama is in postoperative recovery. Thank you very much Doctor. May our Lord Jesus be with you and bless Doctor’s ministry. Amen.)

I spent talking to RS and her daughter for almost one and a half hours. I accept no professional fee. The greatest satisfaction I have is to be able to help people in need. I am glad that RS’s daughter wrote back to say that her mom had been operated on and was recovering in the hospital. When she left our centre, I thought I would not hear from anymore — because that is what usually happen!

To those of you who are reading this article, please also know that if you have a tumour in your colon or rectum, know that I would ask you to have it removed first before taking our herbs. This is if the cancer has not spread yet. If it has already spread to other organs, than it is a different story.

 

 

Rectal Cancer: What to do next? Oncologist said he has not come across any research report that links diet to cancer.

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tea

WL is  35 year old Malaysia male. On 25 September 2015, he sent us an e-mail as below:

Hi Dr Chris,
My name is WL. I have worked in Penang for the past 12 years. Recently I have took  up a job in China and I have been there for about a month. Last week I went back to Malaysia and I went to see doctor in Ipoh because I found blood in my stool. Also it’s not easy for me to pass motion.

Initially, I thought it could be my piles which I’m having for more than 10 years back. During that time the doc asked me to leave it since it was not serious. When I got back to see the same doctor last week, he felt something was not right. He asked me to do an endoscopy.

Unfortunately, the report said, “moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma”.

I am going back to Penang next Wednesday (9/28) to get more opinions from different doctors. I’m thinking if I can meet you, I can find more from you about the alternative way of using herbs. Can I know if you will be available next week or the following week? If yes, should i come to see you after or before the tumor surgery? Kindly advice. Thanks.

Reply: Go and get the cancer removed. Either do it in KL or Penang. There are many doctors who can cut you up but be careful where you go to.

Hi Dr Chris,
Thanks for the reply. Attached files of medical report. I understand your point. Do you have any recommendations for a doctor in Penang? It will be easier for me and my family because my wife is just 4 months pregnant.
CT scan, 19 September 2016: Slight irregular and eccentric wall thickening at lower rectum n keeping with lower rectal tumour/lesion as noted clinically.

Histopathology report: Rectal tumour biopsy – moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma.

WL came to seek our opinion. This was what I told WL.

  1. There is no other option. The tumour has to be removed.
  2. The main concern is whether WL has to use a colostomy bag after that, because this a rectal cancer. According to WL the doctor he consulted said that might be the case. It would indeed be a great disadvantage if WL, being a 35-year-old, has to deal with such a bag throughout his life. Stressful and messy indeed. The idea is try to avoid having to use a colostomy bag if possible.
  3. I suggested that WL take time to “shop” around for a better surgeon. One surgeon I had in mind was in Kuala Lumpur. It would be worth that extra effort for WL to consult him and let him do the operation if there is not necessary to use a colostomy bag after that.
  4. I also informed WL that there is a surgeon in Singapore (in private practice) who would be able to construct an “artificial rectum” should there is a need for one. In this way, WL would not have to use a colostomy bag. It would be worth spending some money to go to Singapore to consult him. But perhaps, before seeing someone in private practice, it would be a good idea to start seeing someone in Singapore General Hospital and take it from there.

About three weeks later, WL came back to see us again.  He had his rectal tumour removed by the surgeon in Kuala Lumpur, as suggested. The total cost of the treatment was RM 40,000. WL was hospitalised for a week.  After the surgery, WL had to use a temporary colostomy bag for a few weeks. After that he needs another surgery to rejoin the rectum.

Before the surgery,  as suggested, WL went to Singapore General Hospital for consultation. The total cost of the surgery would be SGD 50,000 — almost four times more expensive than the cost in KL hospital.

Chemotherapy

An oncologist came to visit WL while he was still in the ward. According to the oncologist WL needs to undergo chemotherapy, using Xelox regimen (Xeloda + Oxaliplatin). WL needs 8 cycles and each cycle would cost about RM 4,000. Chemotherapy would start 2 to 6 weeks from the operation date.

The oncologist told WL the following:

  1. You are still young.
  2. Your situation is very critical.
  3. If you don’t do chemo, you will lose the battle.
  4. Within two years the cancer will spread all over.
  5. If you don’t do chemo, you have a 65 percent chance of recurrence, i.e. the cancer would come back.
  6. If you do chemo, you have a 65 chance that the cancer will not come back.
  7. You can eat anything you like. According to the oncologist he has not come across any research report that links diet to cancer.
  8. While warded in the hospital, WL had diarrhoea. The oncologist suggested that WL take fried food to stop the diarrhoae!

Chris: Do you believe what the oncologist told you about the diet — that your husband can eat anything he likes?

Wife: No, I never believe him.

There are three lessons we can learn from this case.

One, chose you surgeon wisely. If you go to the “wrong” surgeon, you may end up having to wear the colostomy bag the rest of your life!

Of course, it is logical to expect that it is more expensive to undergo medical treatment in Singapore than in Kuala Lumpur or Penang. No one to blame here — it is the exchange rate! It cost almost the same on a dollar-to-dollar basis.

Two,  when told to do chemo, always ask if this treatment is going to cure you? What is your chance of obtaining a hundred percent cure — after all this is what you want anyway.  When you get the answer from your oncologist, evaluate his answer critically.

WL was told: If you don’t do chemo, you have a 65 percent chance of recurrence, i.e. the cancer would come back. What does this mean? In  simple language, it means that even without chemo there is a 35 chance that you will survive! Not ALL those  who do not do chemo ended up dead. Right?

WL was told: If you do chemo, you have a 65 chance that the cancer does not come back. It means that even if you undergo chemo as suggested,  there is 35 percent chance that the cancer can come back — meaning chemo does not guarantee you a cure! Right?

Therefore, it is up to YOU — the patient — to decide which path to take! Make your own decision because no one can help you  in this dilemma.

Third,  even WL’s wife — an ordinary housewife, could see the fallacy of the oncologist’s advice about diet. But if you need to read to believe, there are hundreds and hundreds of books written about diet and cancer. In my library at home I have no less than a hundred books on food and cancer! For those who prefer not to buy books, then go to the internet for free information. Click this link: http://www.wcrf.org/,  http://www.aicr.org/cancer-research/.  In 1982, American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR) was founded to advance the simple but then-radical idea that cancer could be prevented. AICR focused on the link between diet and cancer, and immediately began supporting cutting-edge research in this area and educating the public about the results. It has published three global expert reports:

  1. Food, Nutrition and the Prevention of Cancer: a global perspective, published in 1997
  2. Food, Nutrition, Physical Activity, and the Prevention of Cancer: a Global Perspective, published in 2007; and
  3. Policy and Action for Cancer Prevention, published in 2009.

For those caregivers, be forewarned though, that teaching patients to become healthy makes no money! Asking them to change to good diet and lifestyle means you cannot prescribe any more drugs or herbs for their ailments. And when patients become healthy they don’t need to come back and see you again! So, from all angles, it appears that suppressing the truth and letting the status quo prevails is better?

For busy people out there, let me help you a bit on this connection between diet and cancer. Read what these outstanding doctors said:

1-devita

3-oncologist-dont-know-nutrit

8-diet-must-be-integral-par

 

6-pig-knows-better-nutrtion

Ho, ho, I believe we all want to be just as smart (or even smarter) than a pig, right?

 

 

 

 

.

When Treatments Failed: You Need Not Die Yet! Can Eat, Can Sleep and No Pain – What More Do You Want?

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Leo is a 51-year-old man. He was diagnosed with cancer of the rectum. He had  chemotherapy and radiotherapy. After the treatment his rectal tumour was resected. CT scan confirmed metastasis to his liver and Leo was asked to undergo more chemotherapy. He declined. He came to us for herbs. After being on our therapy for more than a month, Leo did another CT scan. He then wrote this email below.

1 November 2012: Dear Dr. Chris,

I’ve just taken my CT scan report. The latest report show that both my lungs cancer cells are under control, no further metastasis. But for liver, it had grown bigger from 0.7cm (CT Scan on 18 May 12) to 2.2 cm. Full report will be shown to you. Please advise should I continue to take the required herbs or need to change your prescription. I’ve started to take your herbs on 16 September 12. I want to continue taking your herbs as I am confident that your herbs do help me. By the way, the doctor is going to close my colostomy next month as they are arranging the surgery.  May God bless you.

Reply:  Thanks for your email. Let me suggest two things here:

a) You have done all the medical treatments and you have taken the herbs for a month.  Ask this question — does our therapy help you in any way. If it does NOT, there is no reason why you should hang on to what we ask you to do. Go and find someone else who can help you better. If it does, continue with what you are doing now. Don’t expect “magic” result.

b) If you wish to continue, I think it is wiser and more sensible to come and see me with all the reports and scans. Come and tell me what is actually happening and we shall see what else we can do to help you.

To me, writing emails and expecting the best, is not the way at all. Regards, Chris

Leo came to Penang on 8 November 2012. Below is what I told him that day.

 

The following are the gist of what I told Leo. Reflect on these points seriously if you want to be a winner.

1. Learn how to live with the cancer.

  • Cancer is not an easy disease to overcome. So far I don’t know of anybody who can assure you a cure. In this world nobody can cure cancer.
  • So we have to learn how to live with the cancer! Tell your cancer that you can stay with me but don’t disturb me. We both live together – and when I die, we die together. This is the kind of attitude I am trying to impart.
  • If you fight and fight like in a war, your body is going to suffer a lot more. The kiasu patients always want to fight and fight. If you fight may die sooner!  Tell me, where in the world – when there is a war going on, that the people don’t suffer and the country is not damaged?

2.       Yes, I am still alive and not dead yet!

  • Leo:  I was told by the doctor that I only have 6 months to live. Some months later, I met the same doctor again and she recognized me and said, “Uncle, you are still alive?” I replied, “Yes, I am still alive and not dead yet.
  • In your case, looking at the scan, you are not bad compared to others that I have seen. I have seen people with 15 cm tumour in the liver. Leo: Mine is only 2.2 cm.
  • Let me tell you of a lady with liver cancer. She went to see her doctor and was told that there would be no treatment for her. Just go home. She has only two months to live. Now she has survived more than two years without any problem. She is able to sleep well, her appetite is good and there is no pain. Life has been good all the while. What more can she ask for?  http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=29RVgT9CF1U#!

 3.       If you can eat, can sleep and have no pain – what else do you want?

  • Do not ask for more. This is the reality that I am telling you. Don’t be a kiasu wanting to get rid of the cancer because nobody can really do that.
  • You don’t have to die because of your cancer. Many people die because of other reasons. Walk by the roadside, a car comes along and bang you! You die. Take a bus, and the bus  plunge into a river and you die.

 4, Make a visit to the Chemo Treatment room in the hospital – what do you see there? Go, see and ask. Learn!

 5.       Don’t give up yet even if chemo had failed you.

  • The problem is you are being taught the wrong thing. Eat what you like, they say. And this makes the cancer come back again. Change your diet.
  • The herbs cannot cure you, but the herbs can help you and make you well.
  • In your case, don’t expect that after taking the herbs for about one and half months, the cancer is going to go away. No way – that’s absurd.
  • The herbs we give you are specific for your problems. You take Lung Tea for your lung, Liver Tea for your liver, etc. These herbs have helped many people but that does not mean that they will help you. It all depends on you – the individual. Healing takes more than just drinking herbs!

6.       The Story of My Buddy.

  • Listen to this video. https://cancercaremalaysia.com/2010/12/10/the-story-of-my-buddy-colon-liver-cancer/. He was my classmate in college.  It has been nine years now (since 2004) and he is still doing well. The reason of his success is because he takes care of himself – abide by the good diet!
  • Many people come to me expecting to get the same success but they want healing on their own terms. That’s ridiculous!
  • You need to play your part too – take care of your diet!

 7.       You Need to Face Reality.

  • If you come here expecting me to cure you – then this is the wrong place. But if you come here to learn how to live with your cancer so that you can live a bit longer, then this is the right place to come to.
  • That is the reason why I told you to come and see me and we discuss your problem.
  • If you really value your life, coming to Penang is no big deal. But if you think travelling for an hour or two is already too far then forget about it.
  • I am generous with those who are really interested to help themselves and want to know how to go about it. But if you want an easy free ride, then there is no reason for me to waste my time.
  • My final words. Your life is your responsibility. So take care of yourself.

After his trip to Penang, Leo returned home and wrote this email on 12 November 2012.

Hi Dr. Chris,
I’m back here in Johor. It has been a pleasure to meet you and gain a lot of knowledge from you. I totally agree with what you’ve said and will continue to take the herbs to overcome my cancer problems.

I’ve just received a mail from my FB friend stating that finally the US Doctors do admit that surgery, chemo and radiotherapy do great harm to cancer patients instead of “curing” them. All the work done previously by the doctors only INCREASE the spread of cancer tumors to other parts of the body and also make them more aggressive than the initial tumors. This article is written in Mandarin. They also agree that certain “herbs'” do better job. These will increase our body immune system. I will keep in touch from time to time. Thanks and best regards.

Comments

I am well aware that some may agree while others may totally disagree with what I have said. You are welcome to disagree!  The privilege is yours. Over the years I have read numerous books written by experts and my worldview of cancer and its treatment are shaped by I what I have read, together with the experiences of my patients.

Cure: Cure means total elimination of the disease and it will not recur. In medical literature no one talks about cure for cancer. They only talk about remission. According to Dr. Theodore Karrison, patients need to survive for 20 to 25 years before we can say they are cured. In other word, only time will tell if you are cured – no human being can! Prolong survival is not a cure. Being alive for FIVE years does not mean cure. The five years used by most doctors as a measure of cure is an arbitrary figure. There is no scientific basis of choosing this number.

Magic bullet for cancer?

Magic-bullet

Wrong-battle

Root-cause-not-removed

Compromised-immune-system

11 Cannot-cure-everything-deat

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

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I received the following emails from a patient.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Composite-1

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

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

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

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

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

Folfox-Avastin

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

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

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

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

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

Some excerpts of our conversation.

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

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

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

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

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

C: What did you see?

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

C: Did they get better?

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

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

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

Comments 

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

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

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

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

17How-long-to-live-Disappontm

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

10 Doctos-cant-appreciate-heal

Cancer of the Rectum Stage 3: Almost Nine Years on Herbs – Surgery But No Chemo or Radiation

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ST (M-73) is a lady from Medan. She was 50 years old when diagnosed with rectal cancer in 2002. About a year before this diagnosis, she passed out blood in her stools. She took all kinds of herbs but the herbs did not help her.

In December 2002, she came to a private hospital in Penang and underwent an operation. The pathology indicated a moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma of the rectum, Duke’s Stage C (infiltrating into pararectal node). Pararectal nodes with metastatic adenocarcinoma (1/5).

ST was fitted with a colostomy bag for three months. In April 2003, the bag was removed and her colon rejoined. The doctor suggested that ST undergo radiotherapy. She refused. She told her doctor that she wanted to take our herbs.

ST came to seek our help on 18 April 2003 and was prescribed Capsule A, C-tea, GI 1 and GI 2 teas. Three months later, ST came back again and reported that she was getting better. An USG done on 4 July 2003 confirmed that everything was normal.

Since ST is from Medan, we do not get to see her often. She came once every few years. However, she continued to take the herbs over these years. On 30 December 2011, ST dropped by the centre. She was doing fine. She went to see her doctor and the doctor told her that everything is normal.

 

 

Questions to ponder

After the surgery she declined radiotherapy or chemotherapy.

  1. What could have happened if she was to undergo radiotherapy as suggested by her doctor?
  2. Would radiotherapy make any difference to her well-being today?
  3. How much better could she be with radiotherapy? Or would it result in some unforeseen, long-term side effects?