Leukemia: A Battle Lost

28 September 2006

I write this email to you in order to seek your suggestion regarding my wife’s illness.

My wife had been diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) type M5 in late December 2005. I brought her to Singapore General Hospital (SGH) on 1 January 2006 for further management and chemotherapy. She had 3 cycles of chemotherapies in the first 3 months. Later she underwent a Bone Marrow Transplant procedure (BMT) in late April 2006 until mid May 2006. But unfortunately, on the 75th day after BMT, the leukemia cell relapsed. After that my wife had another cycle of chemotherapy and also received donor lymphocytes.

Due to financial consideration, I moved my wife for further treatment to Malaysia in mid August 2006. She was admitted into the Subang Jaya Medical Center until today. At SJMC she got another cycle of chemotherapy and received another donor stem cell on 12 August 2006.

But a week ago the leukemia cells were shown to be active again and they developed quickly before donor stem cells even could work. Five days ago my wife had another cycle of chemotherapy in order to reduce the white blood cell count.

I would like to find possible therapy and treatments that will be suitable for my wife. My wife and I are Indonesians. Within the next few days, I must make a decision whether to bring back my wife home to Jakarta or stay in Malaysia. I really need your help.

Response from Cancer Answers: The above is a 33-year-old lady. Before her diagnosis she presented with the following symptoms: fevers for 1 to 2 weeks, gum pain and bleeding, headaches and diarrhea.

Over the years we have encountered many cases of bone marrow transplant (BMT). And all cases that we know, resulted in death at the end of it all. There was this young lady of 18. She underwent BMT in Singapore. After spending so much money, her parents had to bring her home in a coffin. At her wake service, her mother said to us: If we knew it is like this, we would have stuck to your advice! We know of a person who had to spend well over 1.5 million ringgit to save his wife from leukemia. She too died. There was another young lady who just started to work after graduating from her studies in Australia. She too underwent BMT. We were told (rightly or wrongly) that she died while on the “operation” table.

Tham is our patient with kidney lymphoma. After undergoing some initial chemotherapy he decided to give up due to severe side effects. He opted for herbs. Within 9 months, the cancer went into remission. His doctor suggested that he undergo BMT. According to the doctor with BMT he would live 10 years longer. Tham declined. It has been 11 years since he was diagnosed with cancer. Tham is very much alive and well today.

Your life is in your hands. Decide wisely!!

Young Daughter with Hodgkin's disease

This correspondence is obtained from CA Care website.

Good afternoon,

My name is JK. I am from Melbourne, Australia. My twelve-and-half-year-old daughter has been diagnosed with Hodgkin’s disease. We have suspected of this for some eleven months ago. We have been on organic juicing, diet and also Chinese herbs /acupuncture for sometime. I bought the Gerson’s Therapy book and a juicer last December. We have also been taking the apricot kernels but have stopped those since 2 or 3 weeks ago.

Two and a half weeks ago her neck swelled. We had to go to the conventional doctors to get a biopsy done. Today they called to say that my daughter has Hodgkin’s disease. They also said that there is a lump in her chest. They are pushing for chemotherapy but I am suspicious of this treatment as my wife passed away from liver cancer last year and I believed the chemotherapy that she underwent made her worse?! This made my daughter very scared.

My daughter is not in any pain. She just has a slight fever on and off.

Can you please advise me? A friend of mine a health researcher, Ella Hayes told me about you. So I looked you up on Googgle. If I have to, I'll bring my daughter to your clinic. Can you please advise me of costs, etc.

We are currently having a clean diet, vitamins, juicing and also trying selenium, etc. One other thing, we have stopped pancreatic enzymes and apricot kernels and are trying liquid selenium. We cut back on juicing and switched to raw vegetables. We are having Q10 and Vitamin C though. It is confusing because you read so many treatments in the net.

I am concerned because the doctors will be putting pressure on me for treatment very soon.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Thank you.

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Response from Cancer Answers:

Dear G,

We may have problems sending the herbs to you. The quarantine people may withhold them. Do you have any friend(s) in Malaysia?

Chris

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Hi Chris,

Thanks for writing, even if I knew someone there, wouldn’t they pose problems when the herbs get to Australia? Would it easier for us to come over to see you? I can arrange for our passports, etc. How long is the treatment for and how effective is it?

My daughter is worried because of the lump on her neck. I picked up the X-rays today and the doctors are giving me a hard time. I said I am getting a 2nd opinion elsewhere but they are telling me to hurry up, etc.

Thank you.

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Response from: Cancer Answers

Dear G,

We do not have a "hospital" kind of facilities here. I see patients on Fridays and Sundays. Patients come and talk with me and they go home after that. The patient needs to take herbs which have to be boiled. The treatment will not just last 2 or 3 weeks. It goes on for years.

I have just come back from my centre. Just now a young man came to collect some herbs. He had Non- Hodgkin's lymphoma many years ago. He had chemotherapy but it did not work. There were 3 lumps in his neck after the chemo. Then he came to see me. He has been taking the herbs for more than 3 or 4 years now. Of course he is alright now but unfortunately the herbal treatment will have to go on and on. Even if the lumps in the neck were gone long time ago, he is still on the herbs. In short, there is no magic bullet for cancer.

This is your problem here. Even if you come, you may get the herbs for one or two months. That would not be good enough. You need a constant supply to go on and on if your daughter feels better after taking our herbs. And let me tell you this – your Quarantine people may not be helpful, sometimes even to the point of being nasty. Of course they are doing their job. That is the way it is in Australia, except that in this case, the procedure does not help cancer patients.

Please give me a bit of time. I shall surf the net and find if there is anyone near your place who can help. I shall write you again soon. In the meantime, as much as I understand what the doctors are trying to do, you may want to think a little more – at least giving you a breathing time before you commit to that invasive treatment.

Regards.

Father Did Not Wish to Give Up

JK did his "homework" following our suggestion. According to the Quarantine Authority the regulation of bring in herbs for personal us is rather "fair". It is not as "inhumane" as it was make out to be. JK set us the Australian regulations as found in their official website.

Import Requirements for Australia

Commodity: Human therapeutics and medicines

Date printed: Oct 2 2006

The information here covers AQIS quarantine requirements only and is current on the date of transmission but may change without notice. It is the importer’s responsibility to identify and to ensure it has complied with, all requirements of any other regulatory and advisory bodies prior to and after importation including the Australian Customs Service, Therapeutic Goods Administration, Department of Health and Ageing, Department of the Environment and Heritage, Australian Pesticides & Veterinary Medicines Authority and any State agencies such as Departments of Agriculture and Health and Environmental Protection authorities.Importers should note that this list is not exhaustive. Importers should also note that all foods imported into Australia must comply with the provisions of the Imported Food Control Act 1992 , an Act which isadministered by AQIS.Notification of the import must be provided to AQIS for all imported goods other than goods imported as accompanied baggage or goods imported via the mail and not prescribed under the Customs Act 1901. Notification must be consistent with

Quarantine Regulations 2000 (examples include a QuarantineEntry or a Quarantine declaration).

Condition C 5419

Non-Commercial

1. A Quarantine Entry is not required.

2. An Import Permit is not required, provided that:

a) The article is for human therapeutic use (this may be supported by product labelling , an accompanying brochure or internet printout, or a letter from a doctor); and

b) The product is imported into Australia (whether personally or by post) by a person who intends to use it for their own personal use; and

c) The product is imported in a quantity of no more than three months supply. Three months supply can be determined by:- The label dosage advice; or- A letter in English from a medical practitioner, naturopath oralternative health provider; or- A statutory declaration by the importer stating that the product is forpersonal use only and is less than 3 months supply; and

d) The product is commercially prepared and packaged (e.g. capsules, tablets, vials for injection, liquid, powder, ointment, etc).

Father's Perseverance and Determination Well Rewarded

We are glad to say that because of his strong determination and perseverance, we were able to send the herbs to Australia without any problem.

War on Breast Cancer: A Lost Battle

May is a 55-year-old lady. Her husband died of heart attack three years ago at the age of 62 years old. Sometime in 2000, May was diagnosed with right breast cancer. She underwent a mastectomy followed by six cycles of chemotherapy. After that she was put on tamoxifen.

Three years later, the cancer spread to the right side of her breast in spite of the fact that she was on tamoxifen all this while (three years!). She had to undergo another six cycles of chemotherapy. Then she had 20 sessions of radiotherapy at the neck and the breast area.

Unfortunately, the cancer spread to her neck. She underwent another four cycles of chemotherapy. From July 2005 too March 2006, she was put on the oral drug, Femara. And from April 2006 to July 2006, she was on Xeloda.

Her daughter told us that she suffered unbearable pains. When she could not stand the pains she just took off her clothes and ran around the house. At one time she tried to jump out of the window to commit suicide. The arms and areas of her breasts and shoulders were turgid and hard. She felt hot inside. She decided to give up further medical treatment and sought our help at the end of July 2006.

Response from Cancer Answers: Her condition had improved tremendously since she first came. The herbs had helped her. The photos in this write-up were taken on 19 September 2006 – almost two months after taking our herbs. The arms were not red as when we first saw her, and she was not in severe pain any more, although she still needed painkillers to go through each day.

War on Breast Cancer: Understanding a medical report

This is a medical report of a lady with breast cancer written by her Consultant in Radiology & Oncology of a private hospital, dated 10 September 2006.

To Whom It May Concern

The above named underwent an excision for a T2 N0 M0, Er / Pg R and C-erbB2 positive left breast cancer in 1999. This was followed by adjuvant radiotherapy (40 Gy in 15 fractions and boost 10 Gy in 5 factions), chemotherapy (5-Fluorouracil, Doxorubicin and Cyclophosphamide x 6 cycles) and Tamoxifen 20 mg daily.

She developed an unresectable extensive local recurrence in 2005. We put her on Vinorelbine and Capecitabine for 4 cycles followed by mastectomy in July 2006.

Comment by Cancer Answers: The date July 2006 in this report must be a mistake. It should read 2005).

Postoperatively, we continued chemotherapy (Vinorelbine and Capecitabine) for 2 additional cycles until August 2005. This was followed by radiotherapy to the left chest wall (40 Gy in 15 fractions over 3 weeks) in September 2005. We also put her on Megace 160 mg daily from September 2005 until May 2006.

We stopped Megace in May 2006 when she developed excessive weight gain. We restarted Tamoxifen 20 mg daily.

In July 2006, she developed nodules on left chest wall consistent with local recurrence. We added ovarian ablation using s/c Zoladex.

On 4 September 2006, she was found to have bilateral pleural effusion and more extensive erythematous lesion on left chest well. The pleural effusion was drained followed by pleurodesis using Bleomycin 45 units.

I have explained the bleak prognosis to the patient and her husband. I advised palliative chemotherapy. However, the patient was not keen.

Thank you.

Yours sincerely,

XX

Response from Cancer Answers: This is a well written medical report giving a detailed summary of what Betty (not real name) had undergone for her breast cancer. However, many people find it difficult to fully understand this report. Let us rewrite this report in layman’s term and provide more information for your understanding.

a) Betty had left breast cancer in 1999.

b) The lump in her breast was removed by surgery. The size of the lump was T2 – this label is given to a lump from 2 to 5 cm in diameter. N0 and M0 mean there were no spread to metastasis to the node (N0) or other organs elsewhere (M0).

c) The tumour however, was tested positive for Estrogen, Progesterone and C-erbB2 receptors.

d) Based on the above, Betty underwent the “full standard recipe” for breast cancer treatment 1) radiotherapy 2) chemotherapy and 3) taking the drug tamoxifen. The oral drug tamoxifen was given to prevent recurrence.

e) In 2005 – i.e. barely five years later, Betty suffered a recurrence – meaning the cancer came back. The previous standard treatment for breast cancer did not cure her. Tamoxifen did not help prevent recurrence either.

f) Betty underwent chemotherapy again, this time with a combination of stronger drugs. The reason for this chemotherapy was perhaps to shrink the recurrent tumour before a surgery was done. This is also a standard procedure.

g) In July 2005, the entire left breast was removed – mastectomy.

h) After the mastectomy, Betty had two additional cycles of chemotherapy.

i) Betty was again given radiotherapy to the chest well. Since her breast had been removed what was left was the bare chest. So this region was radiated.

j) After the chemotherapy and radiotherapy, Betty was put on Megace (megesterol acetate), a synthetic progesterone (a female hormone). Megace stimulates appetite and causes weight gain. It is unclear how the drug can stop cancer from growing. However, this switch of drugs was done because tamoxifen was found to be not effective.

k) Betty took Megace from September 2005 to May 2006 and this drug was discontinued after she suffered an unwanted side effect – weight gain!

l) The oncologist switched the oral drug from Megace to tamoxifen. She was asked again to take the previous drug that was found to be not effective for her earlier on.

m) One month later, in July 2006, she developed nodules on the left chest wall which had been irradiated ten months earlier (September 2005).

n) Betty had her ovaries ablated by using Zoladex. What is meant by ablation? This is a process to shut down the production of estrogen by the ovaries. This can be accomplished by surgery, radiation or drug. In this case, the oncologist chose Zoladex (goserelin acetate) – a hormone which is also used to treat prostate cancer. The drug is injected under the skin.

o) On 4 September 2006, Betty had fluid in both her lungs. There were also lesions on the chest wall where it was radiated earlier.

p) The oncologist explained to Betty and her husband the bleak prognosis and advised palliative chemotherapy. This means that Betty could still continue to do chemotherapy to help her cope with her symptoms – perhaps to improve her quality of life. This statement also implies that as far as a medical science is concern, there is no more hope of a "cure". Everything that needed to be done had been done and they had failed.

q) Betty was not keen to continue with her medical treatment. Her sister came to CA Care and asked for our help. The oncologist had told her that she had only two months to live.

Cancer of Larynx - Voice Box Removed

Weng is a 79-year-old male. During his younger days he was a heavy smoker (80 cigarettes per day). In 1995 he was diagnosed with cancer of the larynx. A total larynectomy was perfomed (to remove his larynx). A permanent opening was created in his throat (see photoabove). He produced a lot of white, sticky phlegm which had to be sucked out through this opening.

After the operation Weng started to smoke again (10 cigarettes per day). A PET scan done in May 2006 indicated a 1.3 x 1 cm tumour in the upper left lobe of his lung. This was later confirmed as non-small-cell carcinoma, Stage 3. There was also a “hot spot” in the 7^th rib. The doctor indicated that he has only six to eight months to live. Surgery was not indicated because the cancer had already spread to the bone.

Weng was prescribed Iressa, which costs S$116 per tablet. He was asked to take one tablet per day for 20 days. As a result he suffered side effects. His fingers and skin were dry. He had diarrhea. He decided to forgo further medical treatment and came to us for help.

Response from Cancer Answers:

The larynx is commonly known to us as the “voice box” and is prominently displayed in the front of the neck as Adam’s apple. After Weng's surgery, he was not done with cancer yet. Ten years later he was diagnosed with lung and bone cancers. In spite of this, Weng did not have any pain or symtoms when he came to see us. His only concern was the problem of phlegm in his throat. According to the doctor this is to be expected after a larynectomy.

Side Effects of Radiotherapy . . . Eleven Years Later

After eleven years, adverse side effects of radiation became evident

Lai is a 60-year-old female. Eleven years ago (sometime in 1995) she was diagnosed with cancer of the uterus. She underwent a hysterectomy followed by 25 sessions of radiotherapy. No chemotherapy was indicated.

About five years later she was told that there was adhesion of her intestines and the doctors could not do anything about it. A medical check up in 2005 indicated a tumour although she did not show any symptoms. Surgery was not indicated and she was asked to undergo chemotherapy.

So, Lai went for six cycles of chemotherapy. The last cycle was completed in December 2005. However, after chemotherapy her health deteriorated. She had virus infection. In August 2006, she started to pass our watery stools about 10 to 12 times a day. Sometimes she also vomited. She was hospitalized for five days. The doctor diagnosed her problem as radiation proctocolitis in view of her previous pelvic radiation.

Response from Cancer Answers:

Proctocolitis is a medical term that describes symptoms associated with anorectal pain or rectal discharge plus diarrhea or abdominal cramps and inflammation of the colonic mucosa extending to 12 cm above the anus. Note: the word colitis means inflammation of the membrane of the colon.

Unknown to most patients, radiotherapy genearally induce numerous damages (including the initiation of new cancers) to the body long after the treatment was completed. A search in www.scholar.google.com yielded 23,200 citations related to radiation-induced problems. Click this link to learn more about the adverse side effects of radiotherapy.

Nine Teeth Have To Be Extracted

Nine teeth have to go first . . . . . before going for chemotherapy and radiotherapy

CS / t459 is a 57-year-old male. About five months ago there was blood in his phlegm (from nose). Two months after that, he had headaches (not something normal). Another month later he experienced double vision. He saw double only when he turned right to look at something. Thinking that he has problem with his vision, CS went to see an optometrist, who suggested that he seek the help of an eye specialist (opthalmist) instead.

The MRI on 11 September 2006 indicated a 3.5 x 3.5 x 5 cm mass in the posterior nasal space with extension to the parapharyngeal spaces, sphenoid sinus, clivus and right cavernous sinus. There are enlarged lymph nodes in the parapharygeal and carotid spaces and at both sides of the neck (right – 1.7 x 3.5 cm, left 1.8 x 3.5 cm). A biopsy indicated undifferentiated carcinoma. CS was referred to an oncologist who suggested that he undergo both chemotherapy and radiotherapy. However, he was asked to see the dental surgeon first before going for these treatments. The dental surgeon proposed that he extract nine of his teeth. After extracting 2 teeth, CS came to seek our help.

Response from Cancer Answers:

CS was a bit unhappy when he came to see us. He would be "made toothless" before he even started his chemotherapy and radiotherapy. He was not confident what lies ahead. If you wonder why he was asked to extract his teeth, please click this link to understand the side effects of chemotherapy and radiotherapy!

Liver Metastasis After Chemotherapy

AY / t458 is a 56-year-old female. Sometime in 2004, she felt a hard, flat lump in her right breast. A mastectomy was done in October 2004. The pathology report indicated infiltrating ductal carcinoma, Grade 3.

AY underwent six cycles (6X) of chemotherapy with FEC (5-FU + Epirubicin + cyclophosphamide). In addition, she had twenty sessions (20X) of radiation treatment. All treatments were completed in June 2006.

Barely three months later, AY was told that the cancer had spread to her liver. On 4 September 2006, she underwent another cycle of chemotherapy. This time the treatment caused severe side effects. AY decided to forgo a further five cycles (5X) of chemotherapy.

The accompanying photo above shows what could happen if the chemo-drugs leak out at the point of injection.

Response from Cancer Answers : We see this problem very often. One cannot help but ask: What is going on??

Also, when AT presented her blood test results, we even wondered if the cancer had spread to her bone, as her alkaline phosphatase was elevated to 143.9 (normal 34 - 104)

Worse-off Than Before

Mass in the mouth: After chemotherapy and radiotherapy failed, he was asked to go for herbs!KT / t447 is a 66-year-old man. Sometime in March 2005 he noticed a small lump on the underside of his left tongue. The lump grew bigger with time.

He then started taking some Chinese herbs. After six to seven months, the lump appeared to have gone smaller in size but did not go away.

Not satisfied, he went to a private hospital. An MRI indicated a 2 x 2 x 3 cm mass in the left paracentral aspect of the floor of the mouth. A biopsy was done and the doctor told him that it was moderately differentiated squamous cell carcinoma.

According to the doctor, KT needs to undergo chemotherapy and radiotherapy first before surgery was to be attempted. Trusting his doctor, KT underwent seven cycles (7X) of chemotherapy and thirty sessions (30X) of radiotherapy.

Unfortunately the treatments were not effective. So KT was asked go for another four cycles of chemotherapy. Again, the treatment was not effective. However this time, his jaw swelled and turned red. Then the swelling ruptured. The doctor gave up and told KT: Go and try Chinese herbs.

TK came to seek our help. His condition is best illustrated by the accompanied photo. There are three lumps below the jaw. Notice also the “burnt marks” due to the radiation treatment. TK could not eat any solid food.


Response from Cancer Answers :

Take note that in March 2005, TK only had a small lump. He was on Chinese herbs for almost seven months and his condition did not deteriorate. In fact, the lump became smaller, although it did not disappear. He sought medical treatments in February 2006 and by September 2009 – about seven months later, he ended up worse-off than before. And after spending so much money, he was asked to go back to Chinese herbs again.

No "MAGIC BULLET" for Cancer Cure

Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Swelling in armpits three months after completion of chemotherapy.

Date: 20 June 2006

From: W – Jakarta, Indonesia

In November 2005, I sent my first email to you. I had Non Hodgkin’s Lymphoma (aggressive type). After I wrote to you, I went for chemotherapy. I was given the standard drugs R-CHOP plus a monoclonal antibody (rituximab, mabthera). The doctor said that this was the best drugs he knew. The treatment was completed in March 2006, and soon I would have a "maintenance" period. The doctor will give me only mabthera every 2 months for 1 year.

I have had three times CT-scan and the scan showed “all clear” of lymphoma. But two weeks ago USG result indicated swelling of two lymph nodes near by my right armpit each about 5mm diameter. The doctor suggested that I have another USG scan down in the next 3 to 6 months.

I do really want to try your herbs/therapy, please kindly let me know any information regarding to be healed. Thank you.

Reply from Cancer Answers: It is not a good sign that there are two swellings in the armpit. It may be an early sign of recurrence. Well, it comes just barely three months after completion of the CHOP treatment which according to you doctor is the best treatment he knows. Unfortunately in cancer, the best may not always the best. In our holistic herbal therapy we not only ask you to take the herbs but also ask you to take care of your diet, lifestyle, exercise and find peace within. This therapy demands that your make radical CHANGES and requires your full commitment and belief. Are you willing to change? If you are committed, then you can take: Capsule A, Lympho1, Lympho2 and C-tea. For the swelling, apply our PS-pack compress. God willing, you may find benefits and comforts from the herbs.

Comments from Cancer Answers : Many people think that there is a "magic bullet" for every cancer. We have seen numerous cases of relapses like this one, that made us doubt if there is such a thing as a "cure" at all. After chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy, the patietns suffer recurrence.

No One Knows for Sure

Stage 4 Cancer that started from the bladder – given six months to live.

Date: 13 June 2006

From: AKL

I would like to know if there is still hope for my dad who is given a six months life after he was diagnosed with a Stage 4 cancer. The cancer started from the bladder. The bladder was removed (Stage 3) in September 2005. The doctor remove a bit of my dad's lymph nodes (about 10 nodes) for test to see if the cancer has spread further but to our amazement that the result came back as negative.

Now the cancer has spread to his pelvis and there is a tumour on his lower abdomen. He is now very weak, he has diarrhea on and off all the time and he has lost his appetite. The doctor suggested that my dad go for radiotherapy to shrink the tumour in his lower abdomen. The doctor said that chemotherapy will not prolong his life and it is not advisable.

Hope you be able to give us some opinion and advise. Thank you so much for reading this letter.

Comments from Cancer Answers: It is indeed very hard for us to do much about this case. Here, our main concern is to make the patient comfortable, if at all possible. At times radiation treatment can help palliate symptoms like pains. It does make sense to say that chemotherapy is not advisable. Can herbs help? No one knows for sure. If we are asked to help, we would try our best.

Is It Too Late?

Lung-brain-bone cancer: Patient has only a few weeks to live. Can you still help?

Date: 17 July 2006

From: Ms. W

My husband was diagnosed with lung cancer on 22 Sept. 2005. The cancer had spread to his brain, bone and neck. He had already undergone chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The doctor stopped all treatment in May 2006 because they were not effective. In June 2006, he was admitted to the hospital due to breathing difficulties. In the hospital, the doctor took out about 1.9 liter of fluid from his lungs and then asked us to take him home because they feel that my husband may have only a few weeks left. Now his breathlessness is becoming more serious and he had pains in his bone.

Can the herb from CA Care Centre still help him at this stage? What can I do to help him to extend his life?

Comments from Cancer Answers: It is indeed hard to say much in this case. The situation is far too advanced. Sometimes we could help, and sometimes we failed. We are not “magicians” but as long as a patient is still breathing we feel it is our responsibility to help in any way we can. However, we do no promise a recovery (let alone cure!). We would do our best to help, i.e., if the family members request us to do so.