I'm a civil engineer with a master's degree in materials engineering
(only of any interest here because I understand the characteristics of
the asbestos fibre). For the past 17 years I've been lecturing in
ecologically sustainable design and development. How ironic (actually
bizarre is probably the best word) that this should strike me, given my
commitment to the built environment.
I thought it might be important to relate to you, the reader, what happened
to me in the diagnosis/ prognosis process. The reasons will become clear
a little later in this text, particularly for those of you who are looking
for solutions. So, here goes. Do try and stay with the next few paragraphs.
I have included them not for reasons of ego but for other reasons, which
(again) I trust will become clear a little later on.
On Saturday 17 December 2000 I was walking with my gorgeous, irresistible,
stunning partner Jane (Jane is looking over my shoulder as I type this
'tome') and her friend, Jenny, around the headlands of Cronulla
Beach in Sydney, when both girls told me they thought I seemed to be short
of breath. Jenny is the wife of Martin, a general medical practitioner
in Sydney and Jane is a nurse and Martin's Practice Manager. Jane
insisted I have a chest X-ray (which happened on Wednesday 21 December
2000), which was followed by a CAT scan on Thursday 22 December 2000 and
fluid was tapped off my chest on that Thursday afternoon.
I met with Martin and Jane the next morning (Friday) and Martin told me
the pathology results overnight, suggested malignant pleural mesothelioma.
This was very serious and as a result, an appointment had been made for
me to see a thoracic physician a few hours later, who agreed to see me
due to the seriousness of the problem (an incredible feat because of the
approaching Christmas weekend and the lack of any notice). Martin had
called in a favour.
So, it all happened so quickly for me as I approached the Christmas weekend.
Consequently, Jane and I visited arguably one of Sydney's most respected
thoracic physicians on that Friday afternoon (his last appointment of
the day -- at 1:00 PM). This physician put my scans up on the light box,
looked at them for about 60 seconds, took them down and said he would
refer me to a thoracic surgeon for a pleurodesis (where they glue the
lung to the chest wall with talcum powder) after Christmas. Done. The
rest of the conversation (as I remember it) went something like this:
I said: " Doctor, the general practitioner who reviewed the X-rays
and CAT scans couldn't see anything remarkable. Can you show me on
the CAT scans where the problems are?"
He said: (clearly annoyed that I had the temerity to ask for it to be explained
to me) "Yes. These points here, here and here are of interest. A
pleurodesis will stop the fluid building up and crushing the lung."
(pointing at areas I could not even focus on given the speed of his arm movement)
I said: " I'm sorry, could you show me that again, I couldn't
focus on what you were pointing at? "
He said: (clearly equally annoyed at having to repeat himself) "Here,
here and here. The pleural effusion collecting at the base of your lungs
will be stopped if you have this procedure."
I said: " They are such small anomalies you're showing me. I know
mesothelioma is serious because of my own background in engineering. Does
this mean that my life will be considerably shortened? Have I got another
10 years left? "
He said: " Oh no. Perhaps 6 to 18 months. "
I was diagnosed on Friday 23 December 2000 (the last working day before
the Christmas weekend) but I had severe shortness of breath for 12 months
and on reflection, I recognise now that I had minor symptoms for about
three years before that.
I had a pleurodesis performed on my left lung on 15 January 2001 and during
that operation they assessed whether they could remove my left lung. This
was done far too quickly in hindsight, without allowing me time to really
think about alternatives. I would have wished for a little more time to
come to grips with the doom and gloom of this disease before allowing
them to take that first step, but I was trusting of the medical establishment
at that time, who encouraged me to act immediately after diagnosis. However,
the tumours had spread to the lining of the chest wall as well, so they
told me there was no point. They also told me that 1 in 5 die from that
operation (of removing the lung).
BUT!! When I asked what happens when the tumours appear in the lining of
the other lung, they told me that the cancer only ever appears in one
lung. Think about that for a moment. How does your body selectively direct
air-borne asbestos fibres to just one lung?? I am aware that air is probably
more likely to be first diverted to the left lung, given the shape of
the inlet 'plumbing' where the air enters the lungs, but, surely
some of those fibres make their way into the right lung, too ! ?
What I think they were really saying was that I would die within a few
years anyway, even if they took out the left lung, before the tumours
had a chance to establish in the other lung.
So, if you take out one lung, what are you going to do when the same condition
appears in the other lung one day, which it surely and inevitably must?
And if you survive the operation, would not the effect on the immune system
due to the physical stress of surgically removing the lung be significant?
That of itself would probably make the mesothelioma worse, in my view,
by reducing the body's ability to resist the tumour growth.
Before you let them take the lung, answer the question: "What do I
do when the mesothelioma appears in the remaining lung (which it surely
must do one day given that the lungs cannot too selectively exclude tiny
asbestos fibres from the remaining lung)?"
I think (along with others here in Australia) that the answer lies elsewhere.
My advice would be not to panic about taking out the lung just yet. Research
and then research some more until you become as expert as the doctors.
Then make an informed decision.
The greatest disappointment I found in this process was that surgeons were
only expert in cutting out tissue. Oncologists were expert in treating
cancer within the conventional medical establishment. Thoracic physicians
were expert in whom to refer you to within the conventional medical establishment.
But I found no one who could take over my case and manage me in an wholistic
way, dealing with all of the possible therapies -- I was simply bounced
from one professional to another and I was always able to ask questions
that they could not answer.
The only person I respected finally (because she could answer everything
I asked) was my naturopath. At 79 years of age and having practised for
50 years, her knowledge of cell chemistry and vitamins and other potions
was inspiring. Sure, perhaps I've adopted her because she told me
what I wanted to hear. But everything I heard was rational and logical
(important for a dry boring engineer). Her advice was that she couldn't
cure this.
Our strategy was therefore to simply sustain the body to fight on another
day and to hold the condition and stop it from spreading, while leading
a relatively normal existence with the benefit of both lungs.
I decided the only real approach was to first try to allow my body to fight
the condition, by supplying it with the necessary resources and by giving
it a break from the chemicals in our food and our environment.
My objective is to hold the advance of the disease until a better chemotherapy
or gene therapy approach has been discovered. So far so good, apart from
a lot of stress brought about by me trying to continue with my engineering/architecture
practice, which has set me back a little in the first 6 months of 2001.
My advice to you is to explore/research first. My own research led me to
the survivors I interviewed recently. There is hope!
Think carefully before you let them take the lung. At one time I thought
it would be my only salvation. Now I am comfortable that there are other
approaches and certainly approaches, which will give me a better quality
of life. I understand how difficult this is. Be prudent but
DO NOT PANIC.
When (and if) you have surgery, make sure you know it to be the best option
by cross-checking with alternative therapists in order to 'test'
the approach of your conventional medical advisers. I've learnt so
much since I started my journey and I am a little jaded with conventional
medicine. This is all the more surprising since I started out on this
journey as an engineer (which means I had a philosophy somewhere to the
right of Genghis Khan as my daughters would tell you). Therefore, for
me to suggest there might be something else on offer out there, which
the doctors won't tell you about, is quite something.
I don't know whether there are solutions but I can confirm the outstanding
results above, which have been achieved by others here in Australia.
Put simply, my research suggests that having the lung removed may cause
more problems than it solves.
God bless you all. I hope you all make the right choices.
Bye for now,
James In Sydney
Sydney, Australia.
*** POSTED MARCH 21, 2002 ***
Success Stories from Australia
Hi everyone and anyone!
This email is always a 'work-in-progress', which I try to update
from time to time. I've tried to provide a little information and
a little hope to anyone who is in the terrible position of having been
diagnosed with mesothelioma or to a care-giver to such a 'patient'.
What I have summarised here is information gleaned from reading and talking
to mesothelioma sufferers, which is presented along with my own opinions.
Whatever you read here is not intended to be taken as a set of cancer
cures. Like you, I'm reaching out for help. So, please don't sue
me if you are unhappy with the outcome [isn't it a shame that I have
to publish that at all in this litigious society of ours?].
Last update: 2 May,2002
Last revision: 26 July, 2001.
*************************************************************
1.0 My Story
I'm a civil engineer with a master's degree in materials engineering
(only of any interest here because I understand the characteristics of
the asbestos fibre). I was exposed to asbestos fibres in trenches, tunnels
and in offices where two refits were undertaken during my time. For the
past 17 years I've been lecturing in ecologically sustainable design
and development. How ironic (actually bizarre is probably the best word)
that this should strike me, given my commitment to the built environment.
I thought it might be important to relate to you, the reader, what happened
to me in the diagnosis/ prognosis process. The reasons will become clear
a little later in this text, particularly for those of you who are looking
for solutions. So, here goes. Do try and stay with the next few paragraphs.
I have included them not for reasons of ego but for other reasons, which
(again) I trust will become clear a little later on.
On Saturday 17 December 2000 I was walking with my gorgeous, irresistible,
stunning partner Jane (Jane is looking over my shoulder as I type this
'tome') and her friend, Jenny, around the headlands of Cronulla
Beach in Sydney, when both girls told me they thought I seemed to be short
of breath. Jenny is the wife of Martin, a general medical practitioner
in Sydney and Jane is a nurse and Martin's Practice Manager. Jane
insisted I have a chest X-ray (which happened on Wednesday 21 December
2000), which was followed by a CAT scan on Thursday 22 December 2000 and
fluid was tapped off my chest on that Thursday afternoon.
I met with Martin and Jane the next morning (Friday) and Martin told me
the pathology results overnight, suggested malignant pleural mesothelioma.
This was very serious and as a result, an appointment had been made for
me to see a thoracic physician a few hours later, who agreed to see me
due to the seriousness of the problem (an incredible feat because of the
approaching Christmas weekend and the lack of any notice). Martin had
called in a favour.
So, it all happened so quickly for me as I approached the Christmas weekend.
Consequently, Jane and I visited arguably one of Sydney's most respected
thoracic physicians on that Friday afternoon (his last appointment of
the day -- at 1:00 PM). This physician put my scans up on the light box,
looked at them for about 60 seconds, took them down and said he would
refer me to a thoracic surgeon for a pleurodesis (where they glue the
lung to the chest wall with talcum powder) after Christmas. Done. The
rest of the conversation (as I remember it) went something like this:
I said: " Doctor, the general practitioner who reviewed the X-rays
and CAT scans couldn't see anything remarkable. Can you show me on
the CAT scans where the problems are? "
He said: (clearly annoyed that I had the temerity to ask for it to be explained to me)
" Yes. These points here, here and here are of interest. A pleurodesis
will stop the fluid building up and crushing the lung. "
(pointing at areas I could not even focus on given the speed of his arm movement)
I said: " I'm sorry, could you show me that again, I couldn't
focus on what you were pointing at? "
He said: (clearly equally annoyed at having to repeat himself)
" Here, here and here. The pleural effusion collecting at the base
of your lungs will be stopped if you have this procedure. "
I said: " They are such small anomalies you're showing me. I know
mesothelioma is serious because of my own background in engineering. Does
this mean that my life will be considerably shortened? Have I got another
10 years left? "
He said: " Oh no. Perhaps 6 to 18 months. "
Then the telephone rang. It was his receptionist putting a call through
to him. The next telephone call went something like this:
Dr: "
Oh John. Thanks for ringing me. I had a new piano delivered to me for Christmas
and it will not hold tune. They have been out to try to fix it but no
good. They want to take it away back to the shop but I'll be without
a piano for Christmas. I thought they should bring me another piano while
they have mine away because I don't know how long they will keep it
for. Is that a reasonable thing lawfully for me to insist upon? "
A brief pause ensued during which I assumed the good doctor was listening
to his lawyer.
Dr: "
Oh thanks John. I'm glad that's OK then. I'll insist they do that. "
The good doctor then turned back to Jane and me.
I felt physically ill -- firstly at the news that I had perhaps only 18
months to live and secondly because of the arrogance and insensitivity
of this doctor.
[Now, remember he was aware I was a mesothelioma patient (the pathology
report, which had been explained to him over the telephone when the urgent
appointment had been made confirmed that). Remember, too, that there were
no other patients in the waiting room, so his receptionist could have
screened his telephone calls.]
The good doctor then looked at me and the blank expression on his face
clearly showed he had no idea where we had left off.
The telephone then rang again. This second telephone call went something
like this:
Dr: "
Oh Bob. Yes I've got your cheque here for $120 for the lawnmowing.
You can either call around here to the office this afternoon and pick
it up or you can pick it up at home early this evening. "
Another brief pause ensued during which I assumed the good doctor was listening
to his lawnmowing contractor.
Dr: "
OK. You can pick it up at home early this evening. "
The good doctor then turned back to Jane and me again.
I frankly do not remember what occurred or what was said next. I know I
got up and walked out of his office, past his receptionist, down the corridor
to the men's toilet. I went in and leaned against the wall. I was
too physically and emotionally drained to do anything. I felt like sitting
on the floor but knew if I did, I probably wouldn't get up. Later
I met Jane who had been looking for me in the corridor.
Jane confirmed she was absolutely appalled at the way we had been treated.
Yes it was Christmas Eve and yes the good doctor had squeezed us in at
the last minute BUT surely a person's life is worth more than a poorly-tuned
piano and/or payment of a simple account for $120. Either matter could
have been handled by a highly trained and highly paid nurse/receptionist
sitting in the waiting room with no other patients to worry about.
Why is this experience of mine of any relevance to you, the reader? Because
it demonstrated two things to me:
my frame of mind when I went in to see this specialist and
the fact that (to this man at least) his work was just a job, which earned
him a great deal of money (my 30 minute consultation earned him $150).
Like you (probably) I went in to see a specialist for answers and solutions.
He was dressed in a white coat (as expected). I automatically respected
him (because of my upbringing/training/social conditioning over the years.
I would have respected anything he told me, if his 'bedside manner'
had been good.
By this I mean that if he had been a 'nice man' then I would have
automatically followed anything he had recommended. He could have told
me to take chemotherapy and radiation therapy and any other therapy and
I probably would have followed his advice. BUT this doctor did me an enormous
service. His appalling behaviour caused me to begin to research for myself
what the issues really were. If not for the good doctor, I would not have
taken on responsibility for my own wellbeing. I simply would have followed
him wherever he directed me -- and isn't that what we have all been
conditioned to do?
We seek a good doctor. A nice person. An apparently caring person, who
is interested in us, don't we? Once we find someone we like (and therefore
someone we trust), we would normally go along with their recommendations,
wouldn't we?
Well. Given my experience with the good doctor, I have 'travelled'
all around the world on the internet and across a number of Australian
States to communicate and talk personally with other sufferers. What an
amazing experience it has been and what an amazing array of information
is out there for us, if only we can afford the time to seek it all out.
I sincerely thank the good doctor for the way he dealt with me. He may
well have saved my life! I believe he truly led me to the right solution,
which was to research for myself and to take responsibility for my wellbeing
and try to understand what was happening within my body. His name? Why,
his surname is Moses. Of course! And inadvertently, he led me to the promised
land! Need I say more?
By the way, this type of arrogant insensitive behaviour by the medical
profession has been repeated three more times in various ways over the
past 7 months by two other medical practitioners. When I find a little
more time, I'll document those experiences too, in a later edition
of this document.
So, I say to you: Do not panic. Take responsibility and research. Don't
look for someone else to hold your life in the same regard as you do yourself.
Money and commercial constraints on doctors and the rest of the medical
profession I believe conspire to work against the patient's overall
best interests.
And if you are afraid of offending your doctor by talking about alternatives,
then you are no longer in control. Offending your doctor? How could any
fair thinking, intelligent and sensitive human being (I've just described
your doctor, haven't I?), be offended because you ask questions? You
can be inquiring without being aggressive. It's reprehensible that
any doctor could expect you to make life-changing decisions with just
(perhaps) an hour of effective discussion. Just think about that for a
moment. How much time have you sat face-to-face with your doctor discussing
the case? Add up the minutes. It will not have run into many hours.
In my architecture practice, I would spend typically 40 hours just to get
to a polished sketch of a concept for a new home !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! --
without even getting to working drawings or specifications for the builder
! That's not life threatening stuff, either. How can anyone expect
you to make life-determining decisions based on perhaps a few hours of
consultation with a doctor looking at CAT scans that you don't understand?
For the medical profession, it's a production line.
The grim reality is that doctors have to inure themselves against the personal
psychological fallout of a patient's death. They do not have the answers.
They know they will fail. So they can't become involved. If they did
have the answers, we would all survive and we would be treated as if we
had the common cold. This is not just serious stuff, here. It is life
determining stuff.
To be fair to your doctor, he believes we are going to die. And soon. All
he can do is follow the accepted line of everyone else in the profession.
You arrive at his office with this condition; he can't cure you; he
tries to prolong life but in doing that may cause more problems than he
solves. From a professional indemnity point of view, he does not want
to be sued. So he follows accepted practice. I know. I speak from experience.
Show me a doctor with pleural malignant mesothelioma. I'd like to
talk to him/her and find out what therapies he/she is pursuing!
Ask your questions. Expect him to demonstrate patience and a preparedness
to explain the options. If he will not, then he really doesn't care,
does he? If he doesn't know the options, then he really doesn't
deserve your faith and trust, does he? And he really isn't such a
'nice man' then is he?
WE must take responsibility for our own well being. Many of us come from
another age or generation, where high education was not available for
all. Inculcated with the notion from birth that people who are university-trained
(and particularly doctors who were the 'cream' of the bright high
school students who went on to study medicine) are at a higher level in
society and are by definition, cleverer than us. Add to that the feeling
of despair and terror generated by this condition and, of course, it's
understandable that when she seeks help from the only person she believes
can help, she doesn't want to offend the good doctor.
Ask your questions. Then go away and research some more. Then decide. Please
read the references I have suggested. If they are of no use, then at least
you will be closer to accepting the good doctor's advice.
An Alternative Approach?
But you just might find another way. For example, here is a brief excerpt
of some of the communication I have had with another mesothelioma warrior
over the Internet, who I'll call Al, who is part of a mesothelioma
chat group on the Internet:
The basis of what Al wrote to the public forum and to me is as follows:
"
I've been going to a traditional Chinese Doctor and taking Chinese
herbal medicines.
I was diagnosed in April 2001. During March and April I had a great deal
of difficulty breathing, was developing pleural infusions such that I
had 6 'taps' and was starting to need them every two weeks. Around
the end of April I started taking the first of my herbal medicines. I
got more of them in May and another set in late June. The pleural infusions
stopped! With the stopping of the infusions, my breathing improved.
I should point out that my Chinese Doctor also put me on a meatless, alcohol-free,
caffeine free and dairy free diet in April.
Two weeks ago I started Essiac using the original "tea".
Last week I started taking "Juice+" (more on this in a minute).
Where am I now? I just returned from a visit with my Oncologist, who confirmed
what I had suspected: my breathing is definitely improving. (In April,
I was grey in colour and visibly handicapped in my breathing.) Originally
I had been told that by January 2002 I could expect to be bed-ridden and
dead by July 2002. Now, my Oncologist is telling me that I have "several"
months to continue my research and my Eastern/holistic approach to therapy.
If it doesn't stop the tumour from growing, I will have to switch
to "western medicine". meaning chemo and maybe surgery. Right
now I am still researching all the available alternatives, including at
least one stage 1 clinical trial. I want to be ready when and if I have
to go "western". I don't know you feel, but I interpret
all of this as progress.
I can also tell you that in the two weeks of Essiac, I have already felt
a difference. I used to feel a constriction in my right lung whenever
I took a deep breath. Toward the end of last week I noticed I wasn't
feeling that "rubber band" any more. In fact, on Saturday, I
worked in my yard and garden for a couple of hours, something I haven't
been able to do all year!
Now, I promised to tell you about "Juice+". I don't sell
the stuff and have no financial interests in it at all, but I can put
you in touch with a person who does sell it if you want. We have all heard
about James's vegetable/fruit juice diet. Personally, I don't
know if I could drink that much juice a day. Juice+ is the equivalent
of 3 lbs of fruit and 3 lbs of vegetables per day in 4 capsules. There
is nothing artificial about this. The company juices the fruits and vegetables
and extracts the water and sugar through a special means.
Lab tests confirm that all of the "natural" nutrition, including
ALL of the vitamins and enzymes are still present in the power that remains
after the water is extracted. They put the powder into capsules and you
take two fruit caps in the morning and two vegetable caps in the evening,
getting the nutritional equivalent of 6 lbs of fruits and vegetables.
If you think you can't put 6 lbs of fruit and vegetables into 4 capsules,
think about how small a package there is when a human is cremated.
Since I just started taking those a couple of days ago, I can't say
whether they are living up to their billing or not. But the brochures
about these capsules and the nutrition they contain convinced me they
were worth the try.
Al "
I then wrote to the chat group and congratulated Al on his encouraging
results and told of my experience with my oncologist, when I broke the
news to him of Al's apparent success:
"
Al ! I feel very confident you are pursuing something that may prove to
have great significance.
I referred your result (in apparently stopping the pleural effusions) to
my oncologist when I saw him earlier this week. I would have thought he
would have been very interested in your outcome. I know I would have been
if I had been in a role where I was responsible for trying to prolong
the lives of other people. I certainly would have been interested in any
new product or process, which had dramatic potential in my architectural/engineering practice.
I only wish someone had said to me in December 2000:
'James. Don't panic.
Yes we believe you should have a pleurodesis in order to try to stop the
pleural effusions. However, you might be able to reduce or even eliminate
the effusions by changing your diet/lifestyle/ work habits.
If you wish to try the latter then you will need to read these references
or undertake this diet or take those supplements and you will also need
to be prepared to have the effusions drained every few days or weeks if
you are unsuccessful. However, it is better for your immune system to
focus its efforts on the tumours rather than trying to deal with an alien
invasion of talc and certainly better for your long term ability to breathe
if your lung can move freely in the chest cavity.
BUT if all that sounds too hard, then we've got a bed for you next
week and we'll open you up and fix you up and let you get back to
your beer and fried food.'
Al, no one gave me that option !
James "
Al replied:
"
That is no different than what has happened to me. In fact, my family practice
physician AND my oncologist essentially told me I was going to die within
15-18 months unless I had an EPP with chemo and radiology and that even
then, there was little chance I would live much longer. That's western
medicine, no matter what country you are in. "
I wrote:
"
I've had the pleurodesis. Hang out as long as you can before you have
it. UNLESS by doing so (for whatever reason I cannot imagine), you somehow
cause the tumours to grow. "
Al responded:
"
I have no intention of having the pleurodesis. My eastern medicine has
cost me an arm and a leg so far, but it is working to improve the quality
of my life if not the length. If, after I finish the capsules I have the
infusions return, I will promptly get new medications from my Chinese
Doctor and pay the price. It is more likely that if the tumour does not
reduce (or at least stop growing), that I will try western chemotherapy.
I'm investigating a clinical trial of a new drug that was created
specific to mesothelioma. I don't have a lot of details to share nor
do I know whether I actually will participate or not. I live today, but
I plan for tomorrow and checking into things like this is part of how
I plan to extend my life.
Al "
I wrote:
"
My understanding of the purpose of the pleurodesis is to stop the lung
from being crushed by the fluid. Is that your wife's understanding
too? If you stop the fluid, haven't you stopped the need for the pleurodesis?
Anyway, more power to you. Good luck. I hope your results continue.
James. "
Al responded:
"
I have no need of the pleurodesis, you are correct. One can actually almost
drown from the infusion. I returned from a trip in April in great distress,
almost unable to walk more than 100 meters (with baggage) without stopping
to catch my breath. When I got to the urgent care clinic, they removed
3.2 litres of fluid. The only good thing was that the ER doctor agreed
with me that if I could handle the trip I had just finished with that
much fluid on my lung, my heart must be in excellent condition. Two taps
later I was on my eastern medications and within 5 days I was able to
walk a kilometre.
Al "
For now, back to my story.
I was diagnosed on Friday 23 December 2000 (the last working day before
the Christmas weekend) but I had severe shortness of breath for 12 months
and on reflection, I recognise now that I had minor symptoms for about
three years before that.
I had a pleurodesis performed on my left lung on 15 January 2001 and during
that operation they assessed whether they could remove my left lung. This
was done far too quickly in hindsight, without allowing me time to really
think about alternatives. I would have wished for a little more time to
come to grips with the doom and gloom of this disease before allowing
them to take that first step, but I was trusting of the medical establishment
at that time, who encouraged me to act immediately after diagnosis. However,
the tumours had spread to the lining of the chest wall as well, so they
told me there was no point. They also told me that 1 in 5 die from that
operation (of removing the lung).
BUT!! When I asked what happens when the tumours appear in the lining of
the other lung, they told me that the cancer only ever appears in one
lung. Think about that for a moment. How does your body selectively direct
air-borne asbestos fibres to just one lung?? I am aware that air is probably
more likely to be first diverted to the left lung, given the shape of
the inlet 'plumbing' where the air enters the lungs, but, surely
some of those fibres make there way into the right lung, too ! ?
What I think they were really saying was that I would die within a few
years anyway, even if they took out the left lung, before the tumours
had a chance to establish in the other lung.
So, if you take out one lung, what are you going to do when the same condition
appears in the other lung one day, which it surely and inevitably must?
And if you survive the operation, would not the effect on the immune system
due to the physical stress of surgically removing the lung be significant?
That of itself would probably make the mesothelioma worse, in my view,
by reducing the body's ability to resist the tumour growth.
Before you let them take the lung, answer the question: "What do I
do when the mesothelioma appears in the remaining lung (which it surely
must do one day given that the lungs cannot too selectively exclude tiny
asbestos fibres from the remaining lung)?"
I think (along with others here in Australia) that the answer lies elsewhere.
My advice would be not to panic about taking out the lung just yet. Research
and then research some more until you become as expert as the doctors.
Then make an informed decision.
The greatest disappointment I found in this process was that surgeons were
only expert in cutting out tissue. Oncologists were expert in treating
cancer within the conventional medical establishment. Thoracic physicians
were expert in whom to refer you to within the conventional medical establishment.
But I found noone who could take over my case and manage me in an wholistic
way, dealing with all of the possible therapies -- I was simply bounced
from one professional to another and I was always able to ask questions
that they could not answer.
The only person I respected finally (because she could answer everything
I asked) was my naturopath. At 79 years of age and having practised for
50 years, her knowledge of cell chemistry and vitamins and other potions
was inspiring. Sure, perhaps I've adopted her because she told me
what I wanted to hear. But everything I heard was rational and logical
(important for a dry boring engineer). Her advice was that she couldn't
cure this.
Our strategy was therefore to simply sustain the body to fight on another
day and to hold the condition and stop it from spreading, while leading
a relatively normal existence with the benefit of both lungs.
I compared this advice with conventional chemo advice. I found here in
Sydney that one hospital wanted me to participate in an international
trial of drugs of one type, while denigrating the value of a competing
trial at another hospital. Their approach was to take 500 sufferers worldwide;
to give 250 a drug that they knew had not worked over the past 20 years
and 250 a new drug, which had been hugely successful in dramatically reducing
tumour size in 50% of the original small trial group of 10 people. No,
I would not be told which one I would be given. That choice was the privilege
of the oncologist.
Now, I understand statistics (I studied maths at university level) so I
understand the reason for the 'blind' survey. BUT, we are dealing
with human beings here, not grains of sand blowing in the wind. When I
said I would waive any liability over anyone's actions but just,
please please, give me the new drug, they said, "NO."
In other words, they would knowingly allow 250 people to die, in order
to statistically prove the value of the new drug in the hope of getting
government funding.
I found this immoral and reprehensible. I know of one man in Sydney who
has already died and just before his death, he was told he had been given
the older (unsuccessful) drug. He was devastated and the news hastened
his death.
Enquiries at the other hospital resulted in them wanting me to try thalidomide
with similar comments about the first hospital's approach.
Both hospitals are fighting for government funding for their staff and
facilities, so I might be forgiven for being a little cynical about their
respective motives.
I decided the only real approach was to first try to allow my body to fight
the condition, by supplying it with the necessary resources and by giving
it a break from the chemicals in our food and our environment.
My objective is to hold the advance of the disease until a better chemotherapy
or gene therapy approach has been discovered. So far so good, apart from
a lot of stress brought about by me trying to continue with my engineering/architecture
practice, which has set me back a little in the first 6 months of 2001.
My ideal (so far as current research suggests) regime, which I can't
always seem to stick to, is as follows:
Resolve as many outstanding heartaches as possible (i.e. old hatreds, unhappiness,
failed relationships etc).
Giving up work (which for me, like most men, means giving up stress).
Try to begin to have a little 'fun' again (which has been missing
in my life for years).
On rising each morning, at least 200ml of freshly crushed
carrot/cabbage/celery juice mixture(crushed with a low-EMF juicer, which cost me $AUST1,000.00).
30 minutes (minimum) later:
cobra venom homoeopathic remedy under the tongue (scary huh?).
15 minutes (minimum) later: b'fast of
rolled oats with organic rice milk (no dairy).
15 minutes (minimum) later: 20ml of dark brown murky liquid supplied by
my naturopath (sourced from South Africa) of unknown content but which
inspires you to get well because it tastes so bad you could not live the
rest of your life taking something so awful, so you must get well ! !
[I choose to refer to this as "
Panther Piss" and I do hope this does not offend you but it's a household
joke here -- I have nothing upon which to base the name because I can
assure you I have never shared anything so intimate with a panther in
all my life).
15 minutes (minimum) later: 60mg
CoQ10 antioxidant; sheep sorrel ('
Essiac') and
two multi vitamin tablets.
15 minutes (minimum) later: Mid-morning
selenium homoeopathic remedy under the tongue.
15 minutes (minimum) later: at least 200ml of freshly crushed
apple/pear juice (crushed with a low-EMF) juicer.
Morning exercise (power walking).
30 minutes (minimum) later: Lunch of
fresh organic vegetables. 15 minutes (minimum) later: 20ml of "
Panther Piss".
15 minutes (minimum) later: sheep sorrel ('
Essiac') and two multi vitamin tablets.
Afternoon exercise (light weights or swimming although I haven't been
able to organise this yet).
Mid-afternoon at least 200ml of freshly crushed
organic green vegetables juice (say a mix of broccoli/spinach/beetroot), crushed with a low-EMF) juicer.
Evening meal of
organic vegetables with (perhaps) occasionally some deep sea fish or lamb or 'organic' chicken.
15 minutes (minimum) later: 20ml of "
Panther Piss".
15 minutes (minimum) later: sheep sorrel ('
Essiac') and
two multi vitamin tablets.
After 3 months people remarked on how clear my eyes were and how well I
looked. Apparently I looked much better than before! (I wondered how bad
I must have looked before !!)
But this is not easy. I did "fall off the perch" at one point.
It is hard to stay focussed. I gave up the PP after 3 months, thinking
I was feeling great and I didn't need it anymore. It is hard to apply
willpower and resist the entreaties of friends at social functions too
(eg. "
Oh, come on James, have just one drink. You could do with one to help you
relax and God knows, you need to relax. One won't hurt you."). I did succumb, but I paid for it later. After months with no
alcohol, one glass of wine produced a headache, which lasted two days,
and I felt unwell for two weeks. Just goes to show you how we have conditioned
our bodies to accept the chemicals and the poisons we would regularly
feed ourselves.
At my next appointment with my naturopath, she was most unimpressed. [I
think she had taken a real and genuine interest in me and was disappointed
I had let both of us down by not being disciplined].
My advice to you is to explore/research first. My own research led me to
the survivors I interviewed recently. There is hope !
Think carefully before you let them take the lung. At one time I thought
it would be my only salvation. Now I am comfortable that there are other
approaches and certainly approaches, which will give me a better quality of life.
Good luck to you and to your family. I understand how difficult this is.
*************************************************************
2.0 Mesothelioma: How does it develop?
mesothelioma appears to begin at a point of inflammation (such as where
the asbestos fibre continuously aggravates tissue as the body moves over time).
Where you have hundreds or thousands of asbestos fibres, each aggravating
a separate piece of tissue, you end up with hundreds or thousands of small tumours.
If those tumours are centrally located and form a 'clump', then
debulking by surgery might be appropriate. However, where the tumours
are spread over a large surface area, they tend to create a spiderweb
or network of interlinked tumours of narrow thickness (particularly so
in the thin pleural lining around the lungs and chest).
The concern about operating on any cancer is the fear of 'exciting'
it and causing it to dramatically accelerate its growth, if it can't
all be taken out during the surgical procedure (since any surgery must
adversely affect the body's immune system thereby reducing the ability
of the body to fight the cancer after the operation).
Since mesothelioma cells can be so widespread and not often able to be
identified with the human eye, it is not surprising that a surgeon cannot
'get it all'. Hence possibly the reluctance to operate.
Oh, by the way, do you think any of my doctors told me any of this (any
of my 4 thoracic physicians or my oncologist or my thoracic surgeon) ??????
Not on your life ! I had to research and work this out for myself and
when I put the results of my research to these people, they readily agreed.
But the medical profession is not about taking the time to discuss any
of this with you. You are, after all, only the patient and there is not
the time available to disrupt the medical process. So, please, just sit
quietly in the corner and try not to get in the way, won't you ?
If you are dealing with recalcitrant doctors, then give 'em hell. Make
them discuss the principles, issues, problems and alternatives. Then come
and ask the mesothelioma Group !
My very best wishes to you. Truly. Don't panic and jump into any particular
therapy. Research and ask questions. When you think you've got a handle
on it and have all the answers, ask some more questions and get a 2nd
and a 3rd opinion. As I said before, then come and ask the mesothelioma Group.
Take heart, we care about your options.
3.0 Mesothelioma 'Success' Stories
Case #1:
A builder who had used asbestos board for house cladding. Pleural mesothelioma
in both lungs. Initial diagnosis December 1998. Initial prognosis: 2 years
max. After 2 years his tumours have "significantly reduced in size".
His approach? He gave up work and sold his business in order to take
all stress out of his life. Now a full time man of leisure. Still drinks his
favourite red wines each night and eats lots of fresh fruit and vegetables
(did not give up meat however). Takes vitamin tablets and sheep sorrel
mixture in tablet form (a version of "Essiac" -- refer later
in this email for description) and cycles or jogs every day, without fail
- rain or shine.
No chemo therapy because his doctor pointed out that the pleura is so thin
(a couple of mm thick) that it is difficult to get the chemo to the sites
of the small tumours. So, you have to be dosed up to such a degree in
order to get any result that the effect overall on other parts of the
body is not worth it (the chemo can damage the kidneys, liver, brain etc).
He's had a small amount of radiation therapy on his back (where they
cut him to gain access to the chest for the pleurodesis), to kill off
any cancer cells which might have leaked down to the entry point. He's
still going strong.
His May 2001 CAT scan showed the
tumours had significantly decreased . Each winter he and his wife pack up the 4WD and aluminium boat and head
to north to the sun for 4 months living in caravan parks and fishing.
Case #2:
A worker in a factory where asbestos was used in a heat exchanger. Pleural
mesothelioma in left lung. Initial prognosis: 2 years max. After 1 year
his tumours stabilised.
His approach? He gave up work in order to take stress out of his life.
Gave up alcohol and ate lots of organically-grown fresh fruit and vegetables
(grown in his own garden). Takes vitamin tablets, "Essiac",
kilograms of juiced organic vegetables daily and probably 20 other herbs
and potions and uses coffee enemas.
Feeling well again, he resumed work as an earthmoving contractor on a remote
site away from his home for 2 months. With the stress of heavy work, running
the new business and an accident with a horse, a tumour in his left breast
grew out of control out of his breast (clearly visible through his shirt)
and down through the left side of his abdomen to his hip. He's now
back on his old routine of organic food, no work, no stress and is leaving
for a 4 month caravan holiday across the top end of Australia to relax.
He's now 4 years on. No chemo or radiation therapy. Still going strong.
Case #3:
A worker in an office where asbestos was used to cover hot water pipes
which ran through her office. She used to heat the office lunches on the
pipes!! Pleural mesothelioma in left lung. Initially diagnosed in about
1993. Initial prognosis: 1.5 years max.
Her approach? Gave up work in order to remove stress. Eats lots of organically-grown
fresh fruit and vegetables and consumes juiced organic vegetables daily.
Suffered severe emotional trauma when her daughter was killed in a car
accident a few years ago but she is still doing OK. Plays competition
tennis couple of times each week. Takes vitamin tablets, "Essiac"
and other supplements and meditates daily. No chemo and no radiation therapy.
Still going strong.
Case #4:
A schoolteacher who worked when a student for his father in an office where
asbestos cement building board was used to refit his father's offices.
Peritoneal mesothelioma spread throughout his stomach/abdomen, which was
discovered after he booked in to hospital for a hernia operation.
His condition was so bad, they didn't bother to treat the hernia -
they just sewed him back up and told him to "go home and get your
affairs in order". Initial diagnosis 1997. Initial prognosis: perhaps
1 month max. After 4 years tumours have stabilised.
His approach? Gave up work in order to remove stress. Eats lots of organically-grown
fresh fruit and vegetables. Takes vitamin tablets, "Essiac",
CoQ10 enzyme and probably 10 other supplements. Has regular blood treatment
with oxygen at a public hospital. Not sure about chemo or radiation therapy.
Still going strong.
Case #5:
I have another man diagnosed in about 1988 with peritoneal mesothelioma.
Initial prognosis: 2 years. Although, he did have chemotherapy. He was
very ill, especially after his chemotherapy. Apparently, they regularly
tapped off in excess of 10 litres (yes:
10 litres ) of fluid within hours of each chemotherapy 'hit'. So much fluid,
that his liver was displaced in his body cavity ! He also took up smoking
when he started his chemotherapy in order to calm his nerves! ! ! I wonder
whether the nicotine had anything to do with killing the weaker cancer cells??
Apparently now deemed to be cured in 2001 and is back at work running the
family business !
*************************************************************
4.0 Other Cancer Success Stories
Case #6:
A Sydney-based naturopath has a son who was diagnosed with bone cancer
at the age of 12. After surgery to remove whatever carcinoma they could
find in the leg, the prognosis was for a few months of remaining life,
since secondaries had appeared elsewhere in the body (brain, chest etc).
This naturopath is well-connected politically (his sister is an Australian
Minister) and he was given preferential treatment in one of our best hospitals
for his son. Doctors told him chemotherapy would be useless but nevertheless,
that was all they could offer and had already made arrangements for that
to commence. The naturopath was appalled and relocated his family out
of Sydney onto a farm and began growing his own produce.
After four years, his son has been declared free of any tumours.
I do not have permission to publish the full details of the therapies followed
by this man's son. However, the regime followed by his son included:
Morning:
1 x Multivitamin Mineral + 1 x Bio ACE Plus Selenium
2 x Echinacea Plus Garlix + 1 x 1000mg Vitamin C
2.5ml Cod Liver Oil (vitamin A, D and n-3 fatty acids)
2ml of Fish Oil 1000 (n-3 fatty acids)
1 cup of Green Tea & Soy Milk [containing the Polyphenols, (+)-gallocatechin,
(-)-epicatechin, (-)-epigallocatechin, (-)-epicatechin gallate]
1 x garlic oil (equivalent to 3,000mg fresh garlic)
1 x tablet of Milk Thistle + 1 x tablet of PhytoLife
Shark Cartilage: 6 capsules daily with food (may reduce blood supply to
solid tumors)
Lunch:
2 x Echinacea Plus Garlix
2 cups Green Tea
1x Milk Thistle
Dinner:
1000mg Fish Oil Plus 1000mg Evening Primrose Oil (n-3 and n-6 fatty acids)
2 x Echinacea plus Garlix + 2 x cups of Green Tea
1 x garlic oil (equivalent to 3,000mg fresh garlic)
1 x Bio ACE plus selenium + 1 x Milk Thistle
Use tomato sauce with meals and include vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage
and cauliflower every day. Eat more rice, tofu and lentils. Don't
eat red meat, pickles, or processed foods
Rationale:
A literature search of Medline, cancer net and other general scientific
and medical reference databases found the above supplements have been
reported in numerous clinical and epidemiological studies to have immune
stimulant activity and anti-cancer and anti-tumor effects. These effects
also have been shown to be both prophylactic and curative in some instances.
Toxicology studies have found no adverse effects from any of the above
at the dosage given.
All of the above at the doses given have been found to promote good heath.
Notes provided by the Naturopath:
1. Green Tea
The main physiologically active polyphenol in green tea extract is (-)-epigallocatechin
gallate (EGCG). Green tea extracts has an advantage over EGCG as a cancer
chemopreventive agent for humans, as is apparent from the Japanese custom
of ingesting green tea on a daily basis.
Green tea extract similarly inhibited protein kinase C activation by teleocidin,
a tumour promoter, as did EGCG. In addition, EGCG and green tea extract
showed inhibitory effects on the growth of lung and mammary cancer cell
lines with similar potencies. An experiment using the oestrogen-dependent
MCF-7 cell line showed the mechanisms of action of these compounds to
be inhibiting the interaction of oestrogen with its receptors.
EGCG and compounds in green tea extracts block the interaction of tumour
promoters, hormones and growth factors with their receptors: a kind of
sealing effect. The sealing effect would account for reversible growth
arrest, and may be induced by various kinds of compounds.
(
Komori A, et al. Anticarcinogenic activity of green tea polyphenols.
Jpn J Clin Oncol, 23(3):186-90 1993
)
Also See:
Yu R, et al. Activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases by green tea
polyphenols: potential-signaling pathways in the regulation of antioxidant-responsive
element-mediated phase 11 enzyme gene expression
. Carcinogenesis, 18(2):451-6 1997 Feb
Ji BT, et al. Green tea consumption and the risk of pancreatic and colorectal
cancers, Int J
Cancer, 70(3):255-8 1997 Jan 27
Valcie S, et al. Inhibitory effect of six green tea catechins and caffeines
on the growth of four selected human tumor cell lines,
Anticancer Drugs, 7(4):461-8 1996 Jun
Yamane T, et al, Inhibitory effects and toxicity of green tea polyphenols
for gastrointestinal carcinogenesis,
Cancer, 77(8 Suppl):1662-7 1996 Apr 15
Shi ST, et al. Effects of green tea and black tea on 4-(methylnitrosamine)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone
bioactivation DNA methylation, and lung tumorigenesis in A/J mice,
Cancer Res, 54(17):4641-7 1994 Sep 1
2. Fish Oil
MaxEPA, a fish oil concentrate which contains 18% eicosapentaenoic acid.
Indomethacin, a chemical cyclooxgenase inhibitor, has been shown to inhibit
carcenogenesis in animal models (
McCormick DL, et al
. Cancer Res. 45:1803-8, 1985
) Since EPA is also a cyclooxygenase inhibitor, it may have similar effect.
Also See:
Jenski et al. Omega-3 fatty acid-containing liposomes in cancer therapy,
Proc Soc Exp Bio Med, 210(3):227-33 1995 Dec
Kenler AS, et al. Early enteral feeding in postsurgical cancer patients.
Fish oil structured lipid-based polymeric formula versus a standard polymeric formula.
Ann Surg, 223(3):316-33 1996 Mar
Caygil CP, et al. Fat, Fish Oil and Cancer
, Br J Cancer, 74(1):159-64 1996 Jul
Florence TM, Setright RT.
The Handbook of Preventive Medicine, Kingsclear Books, 1994
3. Antioxidant Vitamins
Malvy DJ, et al. Antioxidant micronutrients and childhood malignancy during
oncological treatment,
Med Pediatr Oncol, 29(3):213-7 1997 Sep
Lupulescu A, The role of vitamins A, beta-carotene, E and C in cancer cell biology,
Int J Vitam Nutr Res, 64(1):3-14 1994
Florence TM, Setright RT.
The Handbook of Preventive Medicine, Kingsclear Books, 1994
4. Garlic
Garlic may be a potent anticarcinogen when consumed regularly prior to
cancer onset or when cancer cell numbers are small. It appears to exert
its effects by:
direct action on tumour cell metabolism
inhabitation of the initiation and promotion phase of cancer, and
modulation of the host immune response.
(
Lau B, et al. Allium sativum (garlic) and cancer prevention.
Nutr Res 10:937-48, 1990
)
Also See:
Riggs DR, et al. Allium sativum (garlic) treatment for murine transitional
cell carcinoma.
Cancer, 79(10):1987-94 1997 May 15
Ip C, et al. Selenium enriched garlic inhibits the early stage but not
the late stage of mammary carcinogenesis,
Carcinogenesis, 17(9):1979-82 1996 Sep
Dorant E, et al. Garlic and its significance for the prevention of cancer
in humans: a critical review.
Br J Cancer, 67:424-9, 1993
5. Echinacea
In-vivo immunostimulant activity in mice has been documented for echinacea, indicated
by phagocytosis enhancement and by an increase in the serum elimination
of carbon particles (carbon clearance test).
Documented
in-vitro immunostimulant activity, indicated by phagocytosis enhancement and TNF
(tumour necrosis factor)-secretion stimulation in human macrophages and
lymphocytes, is stated to be indicative of non-specific T-cell activation. (
Wagner H, et al. Immunostimulating polysaccharides (hetroglycans) of higher plants.
Arzneim-Forsch 35:1069-75, 1985
)
A long -chain alkene from E. angustifolia is stated to possess significant
antitumour in-vivo, inhibiting the growth of Walker tumours in rats and
lymphocytic leukaemia (P388) in mice.(
Voaden DJ, et al. Tumour inhibitors. 3. Identification and synthesis oa
an oncolytic hydrocarbon from echinacea roots. J Med Chem 15:619-23, 1972)
Also See:
See dm, ET AL. In vitro effects of echinacea and ginseng on natural killer
and antibody-dependent cell cytotoxicity in health subjects and chronic
fatigue syndrome and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome patients.
Immunopharmacology, 35(3):229-35 1997 Jan
Facino RM, et al. Echinacoside and caffeoyl protects collagen from free
radical-induced degradation: a potential use of echinacea extracts in
the prevention of skin photodamage,
Plat Med, 61(6):510-4 1995 Dec
Florence TM, Setright RT.
The Handbook of Preventive Medicine, Kingsclear Books, 1994
6. Selenium
To determine whether a nutritional supplement of selenium will decrease
the incidence of cancer, a trial was established in seven dermatology
clinics in the eastern United States.
Trial Design: A multicentre, double blind, and randomised, placebo-controlled
cancer prevention.
Patients: A total of 1312 patients (mean age, 63 years; range, 18-80 years)
with a history of basal cell or squamous cell carcinomas of the skin were
randomised from 1983 through 1991. Patients were treated for a mean (SD)
of 4.5 (2.8) years and had a total follow-up of 6.4 (2.0) years.
Interventions: Oral administration of 200 microg of selenium per day or placebo.
Main Outcome Measures: The primary end points for the trial were the incidences
of basal and squamous cell carcinomas of the skin. The secondary end points,
established in 1990, were all-cause mortality and total cancer mortality,
total cancer incidence, and the incidences of lung, prostate, and colorectal cancers.
Results: After a total follow-up of 8271 person-years, selenium treatment
did not significantly affect the incidence of basal cell or squamous cell
skin cancer. There were 377 new cases of basal cell skin cancer among
patients in the selenium group and 350 cases among the control group (relative
risk ÕRRÕ, 1.10; 95% confidence interval ÕCIÕ,
0.95-1.28). 218 new squamous cell skin cancers in the selenium group and
190 cases among the controls (RR, 1.14; 95% CI, 0.93-1.39).
Analysis of secondary end points revealed that, compared with controls,
patients treated with sel
enium had a nonsignificant reduction in all-cause mortality (108 deaths
in the selenium group and 129 deaths in the control group ÕRR;
0.83; 95% CI, 0.63-1.08Õ).
However, there were significant reductions in total cancer mortality (29
deaths in the selenium treatment group and 57 deaths in controls (ÕRR,
0.50; 95% CI, 0.31-0.80Õ).
Total cancer incidence: 77 cancers in the selenium group and 119 in controls
(ÕRR, 0.63; 95% CI, 0.47-0.85Õ), and incidences of lung,
colorectal, and prostate cancers.
Primarily because of the apparent reductions in total cancer mortality
and total cancer incidence in the selenium group, the blinded phase of
the trial was stopped early because it was deemed unfair on those not
receiving selenium! No cases of selenium toxicity occurred.
Conclusions: Selenium treatment did not protect against development of
basal or squamous cell carcinomas of the skin. However, results from secondary
end-point analyses support the hypothesis that supplemental selenium may
reduce the incidence of, and mortality from, carcinomas of several sites.
These effects of selenium require confirmation in an independent trial
of appropriate design before new public health recommendations regarding
selenium supplementation can be made (
Clark LC, et al. Effects of selenium supplementation for cancer prevention
in patients with carcinoma or the skin. A randomized controlled trial.
Nutritional Prevention of Cancer Study Group Isee commentsI,
JAMA. 276(24):1957-63 1996 Dec.)
1. Sinha R, et al. Organic and inorganic selenium compounds inhibit mouse
mammary cell growth in vitro by different cellular pathways,
Cancer Lett, 107(2):277-84 1996 Oct 22.
2. Florence TM, Setright RT.
The Handbook of Preventive Medicine, Kingsclear Books, 1994.
7. Tomatoes and cancer
Tomatoes or tomato-based products may be associated with a lower cancer
risk. Almost 50% of studies reviewed by a team of researchers found an
association, between consumption of cooked tomato products and a reduction
in cancer risk of around 40%.
"The evidence for a benefit was strongest for cancers of the prostate,
lung and stomach," according to Dr. Edward Giovannucci, of the Brigham
and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School in Boston, Massachusetts.
"The studies also suggest a benefit for cancers of the pancreas,
colon and rectum, oesophagus, oral cavity, breast and cervix." Of
the 72 studies, 35 showed a link between increased tomato intake and lower
cancer risk.
An antioxidant found in tomatoes, lycopene, might be responsible for the
cancer risk reduction. "Numerous other potentially beneficial compounds
are present in tomatoes, and conceivably, complex interactions among multiple
components may contribute to the anticancer properties of tomatoes."
(
Journal of the National Cancer Institute 1999;91:317-331).
These findings suggest that intake of lycopene or other compounds in tomatoes
may reduce prostate cancer risk and support recommendations to increase
vegetable and fruit consumption to reduce cancer incidence but suggest
that tomato-based foods may be especially beneficial regarding prostate
cancer risk.
*************************************************************
5.0 Reading List
The first reference deals with a fasting therapy of vegetable juices and
herbal teas. As an engineer, it makes a lot of sense:
(a) the tumours need protein to grow;
(b) vegetable juices (not vegetable matter but
juices ) provide little or no protein;
(c) the juices and teas provide the essential minerals and vitamins to
sustain life;
(d) when fasting, the body scavenges itself for excess protein in 'unwanted'
or 'unnecessary' locations and having identified the cancer tumours
as an excess of protein in such an 'unwanted' or 'unnecessary'
location, consumes the tumours in order to 'feed' other tissue
which needs the protein.
The author alleges 40,000 people in Europe (and elsewhere) have been cured
of various cancers and pleads for people to take him seriously. The author
was about 86 years of age in 1996 and I don't know whether he is still
alive. He does not refer to mesothelioma but this may be because he had
no exposure to this illness during his professional life.
There are two diets referred to: a 21 day and a 42 day diet in which one
only consumes juices and teas. The reference is:
"The Breuss Cancer Cure"
by Rudolph Breuss
copyright by Rudolph Breuss Publishers
Walter Margreiter
Im Hag, 23
A-6714 Nuziders/Austria
The version I have is published by:
The Australian School of Herbal Medicine
5 Jennifer Avenue
Ridgehaven Sth Australia 5097
Tel: 618 8396 4358 Fax: 618 8263 2033
Postal address: PO Box 346, St Agnes SA 5097
email: hilde.hemmes@herbalsupplies.com.au
ISBN 0-646-34773-X
*** [If anyone has read the Breuss diet I would be grateful to receive
your opinion] ***
It is a fasting program where the person takes nothing but juice and herbal
teas. It is not in addition to any diet because it is a fast. I think
the philosophy seems to be that you either:
(a) fast for 42 days in order to hopefully totally remove the tumours and
then follow a specific diet of vegetables, herbs and supplements to eliminate
the likelihood of their re-appearance (I stress hopefully in our case)
OR
(b) fast for 21 days (if you can't handle the thought of sticking to
a 42 day fast) in order to rapidly diminish the tumours to a less harmful
size and then follow a specific diet of vegetables, herbs and supplements
in order to manage the tumours and hold them in check (again hopefully
in our case).
This is a summary of the Breuss fasting therapy:
Eat nothing for 42 days except for vegetable juice and the herbal teas listed:
1. Breuss vegetable juice
Up to 500 ml per day of Breuss vegetable juice can be consumed (the less
the better, however). Breuss vegetable juice contains the following organically
grown vegetables:
300 gm beetroot
100 gm carrot
100 gm celeriac (celery root)
70 gm potato
30 gm radish (Chinese)
Filter juice to remove fine sediment, which must not be consumed.
This juice is commercially available through the Biotta company of Switzerland
and contains a little lactic acid as a preservative.
Preferably only take 125 ml to 250 ml per day.
Sip juice slowly by spoonful.
Do not swallow immediately.
'Chew' to mix with saliva.
2. Sage Tea
Take daily.
3. Breuss Tea mix
Breuss Tea contains:
Horsetail 15 gm
Stinging nettle 10 gm
Knotgrass 8 gm
St John's wort 6 gm
Take cold first thing in the morning, then in the middle of the day and
also before bed, but for the first 21 days only.
4. Cranesbill Tea
Drink one cup cold each day.
5. Breuss BLT mix
Breuss BLT mix contains equal parts of:
Plantain
Iceland moss
Ground ivy
Cowslip
Camomile
6. The Treatment:
On wakening: sip half cup of cold Breuss tea mixture.
1/2 to 1 hour later: drink 1-2 cups of warm Sage tea.
1/2 to 1 hour later: drink 10-15 sips of juice.
'Lunchtime': drink a cup of Breuss tea.
Evening: drink a cup of Breuss tea.
Anytime: one cup of Cranesbill tea per day.
Anytime: one cup of Breuss BLT tea per day (for those with lung cancer).
Anytime: one cup of cold Wormwood tea per day (for those with stomach cancer).
Expect to lose 10 - 25 kg of weight.
Do read the book, though. The author claims to have helped 40,000 cancer
sufferers since the 1930's and the testimonials make interesting reading.
Given the ongoing presence of asbestos in our bodies, it may be that this
fast would need to be repeated every year or so, to keep in check the
mesothelioma cells.
The problem I have here at home, is that my new partner (who is a nurse)
and who manages a conventional medical practice, will not support me in
a fast and I think this is something you would need to undertake only
with close support.
But do buy the book. The testimonials and specific patient experiences
make uplifting reading and we can all do with a little of that.
Can I just record one thing, though:
In June 2000 I met an old primary school friend (for those of you unfamiliar
with Australian jargon that means we were both 10 years old when I saw
him last). My friend, Henry, and I are both 51 this year (in 2001). Henry
had a very serious cancer in 1988 in his sinus/ear/throat (I'm sorry
I have forgotten the name but I'll find out for anyone who is interested).
Henry has now fully recovered. Henry had radiation therapy, which inadvertently
burned his throat. The result was he could not eat solids until the burns
recovered. Henry effectively lived only on water and supplements for 6
weeks before he could eat. Henry lost 40kg of weight. He is now in full
remission and follows a naturopath's advice and believes totally in
alternative therapies.
Why is this of anything more than passing interest?
Well, if you read the Breuss Cancer diet, you will find Breuss recommends
a 42 day (i.e 6 week) fasting diet to starve the weak cancer cells of
protein. The therapy is too long-winded to type out here but that's
the essence: no animal protein, just juices/water and supplements. BUT
you need to be under medical supervision while you are trying it. Although
it does not take 42 days necessarily to have a significant impact on reducing
tumour size. Someone in Sydney (with pleural mesothelioma) tried it and
it apparently worked, although I have yet to track that person down to
find out for sure.
Needless to say, my own doctor thinks its quackery. Isn't it amazing
how closed their minds are to any hope? If only there was one of them
who was on our side of the fence suffering with this issue. I wonder whether
they might change their views then?
The real issue for each of us is how to summon the courage to try such
a step. It's kind of like learning to snow ski. Anyone remember what
you were told to do first? Lean down the hill (towards disaster!!!!!)
and shift your weight. Don't lean back up the hill (away from disaster
and towards safety) otherwise you will race down the hill out of control.
Well, I suspect this is something similar. How do you summon the courage
to deliberately waste your body (and therefore apparently render yourself
more vulnerable) in order to kill the tumour cells?
I have my own thoughts on: protein denial and protein re-routing (i.e.
fasting/dieting and light exercise):
1. Fasting (21 or 42 days) to try to cause the tumours to wither in order
to buy us some time.
2. Thereafter, dieting with vegetables, fruits and supplements.
3. Ongoing light exercise to divert the proteins in the blood to those
muscle groups demanding the protein. e.g. for someone with pleural mesothelioma:
Static bike riding perhaps (at home or in a gym) to work the leg muscles,
so as not to disturb the chest tumours. Leg muscles strengthen and in
the process, protein is diverted to where it is needed (the legs). At
the same time, the body consumes excess fat to meet the energy demand
and just might also consume the weaker parts of the tumours (perhaps the
newly-emerging tumour cells).
My successful pleural mesothelioma warrior in Canberra has used #2 and
#3 above (along with giving up work and retiring early in life) to "significantly
reduce" his tumours.
For the rest of us (including those who cannot economically give up work),
perhaps #1 offers us something.
The question arises: "What happens when you have stopped fasting?"
I'd say that the tumours would begin to grow again. But the strategy
here is to prolong life until such time as somebody discovers a genetic/chemical
cure. If that means going on a 21 day / 42 day fast every 6 months or
12 months then we probably all would be prepared to go through that, wouldn't we?
Does not the Jewish religion have a fasting period within their culture?
I wonder what the ancient imperative was behind that part of their culture?
Surely something to do with good health rather than just penitence ! ?
---------------------------------
The second reference deals with the life work of a physician based in the
USA, whose work is being carried on by his daughter:
"A Cancer Therapy: Results of 50 Cases & the Cure of Advanced
Cancer by Diet Therapy
A Summary of 30 Years of clinical experimentation"
by Max Gerson, M.D.
Gerson Institute
PO Box 430, Bonita CA 91908-0430
Tel: 619-585-7600 or 1-888-4-GERSON
email: info@gerson.org
web:
www.gerson.org
It was Steve McQueen (the then-famous Hollywood actor) who attended the
Gerson clinic in Mexico some 20 years ago with mesothelioma. Back then
they could not help him but much of what they publish seems to make sense.
When I last looked at their web page, they had no mesothelioma listing.
---------------------------------
The third reference deals with a North American indian remedy and makes
fascinating reading:
"The Essiac Report"
Canada's Remarkable Unknown Cancer Remedy
by Richard Thomas
published by
The Alternative Treatment Information Network
1244 Ozeta Terrace Los Angeles CA 90069
1 310 278 6611
copyright 1993 ISBN 0-9639818-0-3
I just found this book so fascinating - particularly with respect to the
investigative Canadian journalist, Elaine Alexander, who intially set
out to publicise the claims and ended up promoting the herbal drink and
also with respect to Dr Brusch (personal physician to JFK).
On page 57, the following transcript from a radio interview in November
1984 is quoted:
EA: "
Dr Brusch, have you studied Essiac ........? "
Dr B: "
Yes."
EA: "
Were the results significant ....... ? "
Dr B: "
Highly significant. "
EA: " ......
any side effects? "
Dr B: "
None. "
EA: "......
are you saying Essiac is a cure for cancer? "
Dr B: "
I'm saying its a cure. "
EA: "
Would you repeat that ...... ? "
Dr B: "
Yes ...... is a cure. ...... reverse and eliminate cancers at such a progressed
state that nothing medical science has could have accomplished similar
results. I wouldn't have believed it myself had I not seen it with
my own eyes. I feel very strongly ...... single most beneficial treatment
for cancer today. "
I don't wish to sensationalise or over-dramatise. The words quoted
are not mine. But you might like to read the book if you can get hold
of it. I thought it worthwhile to refer you all to it so you could read
and make up your own minds.
I take a pill form but it would make sense to actually brew the tea for
yourself, since you would then hopefully have a more potent therapy. The
pills I take are manufactured by MediHerb Pty Ltd of 124 McEvoy Street,
Warwick Queensland Australia (www.mediherb.com.au) but I'm sure you
will have a more local supplier. My naturopath sells me the pills because
she (quite rightly) believes I'm too lazy to brew my own tea and,
in any case, the four component herbs are difficult to purchase in Australia
(because they are native to North America).
For one part of the Essiac story, go to
http://comboweb.com/essiac/index.htm . There is only one Essiac: that is the "real stuff" and that
web page will explain everything.
As one mesothelioma sufferer stated to me in an email:
"
I got my Essiac within 5 days of ordering it even though it had to come
from Canada over the border to me. When you call, no one will be able
to answer any clinical or medical questions. It's against the law
for them to do so. But there is a lot of history surrounding Essiac and
I for one intend to keep the surgeons at bay as long as I can. That includes
using any herbals such as Essiac first. My wife is a Masters prepared
Nurse Practitioner who has educated me for years about herbal medicines.
Although they are not always the answer, SOMETIMES they can be a better
answer than traditional medicines. Before anyone takes a knife to me,
I intend to give everything else its opportunity. That includes Essiac. "
---------------------------------
The fourth reference is a book written by an Australian cancer survivor,
Ian Gawler who, while not suffering from mesothelioma, was diagnosed with
osteogenic carcinoma and given two to three weeks to live.
Ian Gawler's brief story is as follows:
Diagnosed circa 1974 with osteogenic carcinoma.
Had a mid-thigh amputation.
Developed bony lumps in his chest about 2 cm (about 1 inch) in diameter
(see photos on page 227 in book) within 12 months.
Was coughing up blood and small pieces of bone.
Gross opacities in X-ray films. Given a few weeks to live.
Adopted alternative therapies. Followed the Gerson therapy (see earlier
reference). Meditated 1 to 3 hours per day.
Declared "free of active neoplastic disease" by 1984.
Started the Gawler Foundation in Victoria and runs workshops for cancer
sufferers.
Was awarded an OAM in Australia for his work for cancer sufferers (the
equivalent possibly of an English knighthood).
Ian Gawler wrote a book on his experiences:
"You Can Conquer Cancer"
Prevention & Management
by Ian Gawler
published by Hill of Content Publishing Company
86 Bourke Street, Melbourne 3000 Victoria Australia
copyright 1984 ISBN 0 85572 141 3
16
th Reprint 2000
Just goes to show you what the power of the mind can accomplish!
---------------------------------
The fifth reference is a book written by an Australian survivor of a particularly
aggressive form of leukaemia, Petrea King, who was given a few weeks to
live in the mid-1980's and who survived.
Petrea King has written a number of books, one of which is:
"Quest for Life"
by Petrea King
published by Random House Australia
20 Alfred Street, Milsons Point NSW 2061
copyright 1992 ISBN 0 09 182696 9
Petrea now runs the Quest for Life Centre in NSW and holds live-in workshops
for cancer sufferers, which I have attended and found to be of enormous
value. I found Petrea's meditation and visualisation techniques to
be of enormous benefit.
---------------------------------
The sixth reference is a book written by an Australian survivor of melanoma
(a particularly aggressive form of skin cancer), Ross Taylor, who was
given a few weeks to live in December 1993 and who survived. Ross relates
how he overcame his melanoma and his secondaries; relates how he was able
to 'will' away a tumour a birthmark he had been conscious of all
his life and describes his diet and techniques.
Ross Taylor's book:
"Living Simply with Cancer"
by Ross Taylor
published by Cancer Support Association (Inc)
80 Railway Street, Cottesloe Western Australia 6011
Tel: 618 9384 3544 Fax: 618 9384 6196 Email: csa@cancersupportwa.org.au
Ross Taylor now gives public lectures on his experience and on his visualisation
techniques.
---------------------------------
The seventh reference is a book written by an American cancer surgeon,
Bernie Siegel, demonstrates a very different attitude to cancer and his
patients. In his book, Bernie Siegel refers briefly to a patient with
mesothelioma, who apparently was cured (although there are no details).
Bernie Siegel's book:
"Love, Medicine & Miracles"
by Bernie S. Siegel M.D.
published by Arrow Books Limited Random House UK Limited
20 Vauxhall Bridge Road, London SW1V 2SA
copyright 1986 ISBN 0 09 963270 5
Just wonderful to find a surgeon who actually cares! Bernie Siegel formed
ECAP (the exceptional cancer patients' group), which practises meditation
and visualisation techniques. Do read this one for inspiration, too.
*************************************************************
6.0 Summary of Significant Alternative Therapies Discovered so far
Here's what I've learned along the way, much of which is very difficult
for me to 'digest' because I'm what my daughters describe as a
conservative engineer and a work-a-holic with no leisure time. From reading and speaking
to all of these people, I think the following points are valid:
I think it's important to exercise to try to divert the protein in
the blood to muscle groups, which use it, rather than to stay immobilised
and give up (which must leave the proteins free to travel to the tumour
sites). It's too easy, don't you think, to say: "Well I'm
sick so I get to sit here and watch TV and have others wait on me".
Removal of stress, reduction of protein intake (possibly even removal altogether
for a temporary period as in the Breuss diet) taken together with exercise,
I suspect are good therapies.
I firmly believe that the right food (no animal protein only vegetable
protein which is assimilated differently, organic food to minimise the
stress on the body of insecticides and other chemicals) and supplements,
combined with no stress (yes that means giving up work and resolving personal
conflicts and failed relationships), filling life with interesting experiences
and thoughts (helped by stimulating reading) and combining
daily exercise to degrade the weak tumour tissue and have it denied protein
by the body (which requires protein elsewhere to fortify the body arising
from exercising muscles), can all combine to minimise the hazard.
At least it may buy some time until some other 'medical' solution
can be proven.
For the management of pain: reiki. Works for me every time!
*************************************************************
7.0 Thalidomide
My new thoracic physician tells me that they believe thalidomide suppresses
the development of new blood vessels. Since the ever-growing tumours need
to develop new blood vessels in order to supply themselves with nutrients
through the blood, thalidomide might suppress tumour growth.
So, if you were to follow a chemo therapy regime, one strategy could be
to take thalidomide to stop the feeding of the tumours, along with something
else to destroy the weaker cancer cells.
My thoracic physician tells me that one 69 year old woman who has been
taking thalidomide along with other chemo, has dramatically reduced her
tumours (by about 85%) here in Sydney in the December 2000 - June 2001 period.
*************************************************************
8.0 Other Positive Chemo Results
Furthermore, another person here has just as dramatically reduced his/her
tumours by following a new chemo therapy, which is part of a world-wide
trial of a combination of drugs (involving 500 people). She started in
December 2000 and has been the subject of a formal presentation by my
oncologist to a group of medicos at a conference here in Sydney.
I should find out more by the end of August 2001 on this trial.
*************************************************************
9.0 Miscellaneous 'Stuff'
Solbec Pharmaceuticals
Have a look at Solbec Pharmaceuticals Limited for information on a possible
future 'cure'. Amazing results with mesothelioma cells in laboratory
experiments.
http://www.solbec.com.au/home.html
You'll need to carefully browse through every category to find the
information but look for the "projects" section and Solbec's
work on cancer. There are graphs and charts on the effectiveness of their
plant derivative on various cancer cells (including mesothelioma).
I've spoken to the managing Director on a couple of occasions and Solbec's
work looks promising.
Unique Water
20 years ago I read about cattle and sheep which were living to 24 years
of age (normal animals would live to 12 years of age) in an area of NSW
here in Australia called the Monaro (the highlands of NSW down in the
snow country), where I used to live as a small boy. Cattle were still
giving birth at 22 years of age and had an unusual incidence of twins
(8% likelihood when the average for cattle is 0.5%). The statistics are
accurate because the 7 privately-owned properties where these animals
were 'farmed' were in fact stud farms, which needed to keep strict
records of blood lines etc. This they had been doing for the past 100
years or so.
This phenomenon has been researched by the Australian Government through
its CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific & Industrial Research Organisation)
since 1955. Over the ensuing years, the CSIRO focussed on genetics as
the reason. But many of us always thought it was the water in the area,
which drained through granite and basalt rocks, because there were many
locals who lived to very ripe old ages (90 - 100 years), which was unusual
in the 1970's in Australia.
Fortunately, a biochemist took an interest in this phenomenon and after
nearly 20 years (I think this is correct) undertaking specific research
on the water in the area, during which he discovered the water had an
unusual mix of magnesium salts, he formulated an hypothesis about cell
chemistry, acidity/alkalinity, carbon dioxide, poor diet and ageing.
Anyway, the short version is that by taking in alkaline water with these
salts, the body transports the bicarbonates to the individual cells, where
the bicarbonates neutralise the carbon dioxide in the cells (which otherwise
leads to cell degradation and susceptibility to cancer amongst other things).
The other bonus is that this type of water has a relatively high pH (ie.
its alkaline) where water would normally be neutral. By ingesting alkaline
water and alkaline food groups (ie. vegetables not meats), the body can
change its makeup to a more alkaline organism, in which cancer has difficulty
in thriving (at least many other researchers believe this to be so --
researchers unrelated to this exercise).
Am I taking this water now? Of course. The factory is only 6km (4 miles)
away from home. The cost? $1.25 AUST per 600ml bottle. Less than the cost
of soft drink.
How much do I need to take? In my case, with a serious cancer illness,
about 3 litres per day (about 2/3 of a gallon) taken on an empty stomach
(I guess that would probably mean a half hour before meals). The problem?
Two national television news programmes have reported on the hypothesis
and the product and four other evening lifestyle news programmes have
aired the story. The outcome? The small factory is running extra shifts
of workers and cannot keep up with the demand from people who have turned
up at the factory gates to buy cases of the water. The product is not
sold retail. The current limit is 5 cases per head but they will have
run out by tomorrow. Fortunately, the patent holder and the factory owners
(a small family who sold out once before in the 1960's to Coca-Cola),
have vowed that this time they are not selling and it will stay as a family
enterprise and money is not the motive.
For those who are still awake, I'll keep you informed as life rolls
along. For those who are covered in cobwebs with boredom -- sorry. But
having read the earlier paragraphs, you're not really surprised, now are you?!
Plastic Wraps and Plastic Food Containers
"Carcinogens -- At 10,000,000 Times FDA Limits" Options May 2000.
Published by People Against Cancer, 515-972-4444; COPYRIGHT 2001 The Townsend
Letter Group COPYRIGHT 2001 Gale Group.
As a seventh grade student, Claire Nelson learned that di(ethylhexyl) adepate
(DEHA), considered a carcinogen, is found in plastic wrap. She also learned
that the FDA had never studied the effect of microwave cooking on plastic-wrapped
food. Claire began to wonder: "Can cancer-causing particles seep
into food covered with household plastic wrap while it is being microwaved?"
Three years later, with encouragement from her high school science teacher,
Claire set out to test what the FDA had not. Although she had an idea
for studying the effect of microwave radiation on plastic-wrapped food,
she did not have the equipment. Eventually, Jon Wilkes at the National
Center for Toxicological Research in Jefferson, Arkansas, agreed to help
her. The research center, which is affiliated with the FDA, let her use
its facilities to perform her experiments, which involved microwaving
plastic wrap in virgin olive oil.
Claire tested four different plastic wraps and "found not just the
carcinogens but also xenoestrogen was migrating [into the oil]....".
Xenoestrogens are linked to low sperm counts in men and to breast cancer in women.
Throughout her junior and senior years, Claire made a couple of trips each
week to the research center, which was 25 miles from her home, to work
on her experiment. An article in Options reported that [h]er analysis
found that DEHA was migrating into the oil at between 200 parts and 500
parts per million. The FDA standard is 0.05 parts per billion. "
Her summarized results have been published in science journals. Claire
Nelson received the American Chemical Society's top science prize
for students during her junior year and fourth place at the International
Science and Engineering Fair (Fort Worth, Texas) as a senior.
_____________
more...
Dr. Edward Fujimoto from Castle Hospital on the program is the manager
of the Wellness Program at the hospital. He was talking about dioxins
and how bad they are for us. He said that we should not be heating our
food in the microwave using plastic containers.
This applies to foods that contain fat. He said that the combination of
fat, high heat and plastics releases dioxins into the food and ultimately
into the cells of the body. Dioxins are carcinogens and highly toxic to
the cells of our bodies.
Instead, he recommends using glass, Corning Ware, or ceramic containers
for heating food. You get the same results without the dioxins. So such
things as TV dinners, instant saimin and soups, vegetables, etc. should
be removed from the container and heated in something else.
Paper isn't bad but you don't know what is in the paper. Just safer
to use tempered glass, Corning Ware, etc. He said we might remember when
some of the fast food restaurants moved away from the foam containers
to paper. The dioxin problem is one of the reasons.
"How to Heal Cancer"
What follows has some fascinating information. You may choose to ignore
the blatant 'plug' for the sale of products but don't let
that sway you from seriously considering the information.
Johanna Budwig Revisited
or
How To Heal Cancer
" This is probably the most important article on cancer you will ever
read.† Just recently I sat and interviewed a genius who has continued
and expanded on Johanna Budwig's work. I returned to my office to
do some homework (research, reading, etc.) and finally, I fully understand
what's going on, and I'm passing it on to you.
First there was Otto Warburg who was awarded the 1931 Nobel Prize for medicine
for his describing the metabolism of a cancer cell. He stated that the
cell suddenly became anaerobic (without oxygen) and required massive amounts
of glucose (sugar) to metabolize in a form that could only be described
as fermentation:
"
The prime cause of cancer is the replacement of the normal oxygen respiration
of body cells by an anaerobic cell respiration." -- Otto Warburg
That is only the beginning.
The cell takes in glucose (sugar;
cancer loves sugar) and gives off lactic acid which creates an acidic environment. Again,
this is something that has been known for years. Cancer needs an acidic
environment to flourish, and conversely, cannot survive in a balanced
alkaline environment.
But again, this is still only the beginning. As Dr Garnett discovered in
his research for Poly-MVA, there is an electrical connection to cancer too.
Chinese medicine for centuries (some 4 to 6 thousand years ago) has described
the life force as energy. They mapped the meridian system that was re-mapped
in 1994 by conventional medicine (using high-tech instruments that measured
the tiniest amount of electricity). Along these meridians travels our
life force: Chi (Qi) according to the Chinese, though we can call it energy.
As an aside, in 1968 it was discovered that living cells produce light.
The amount of light determines the health of the cell. The brighter the
light, the healthier the cell. Interesting stuff, eh?
In the fifties, Johanna Budwig added her two cents to the cancer equation.
She said that in normal, healthy cells "
we find a dipolarity between the electrically positive nucleus and the
electrically negative cell membrane with its highly unsaturated fatty acid."
She goes on to state that, "
Electrons have a great affinity for oxygen-they love it. They attract oxygen
and stimulate our breathing…." By "breathing" she's referring to the breath
of life in each living cell.
Now we have the picture of the healthy cell, a cell that will grow, thrive,
and replicate in a normal manner. Budwig then goes on to describe the
formation of cancer by first describing the changes to the cell membrane.
The cell membrane consists of lipids, or fats. The highly unsaturated fatty
acid she refers to are called omega-3 fatty acids. These are related to
the "fish oils" that even conventional medicine has picked up
on. You won't find a drug store in America that doesn't have a
row of fish oils on sale. These oils are also found in other foods (as
we will show you below), but mostly in
flax.
Another lipid in a cell wall is cholesterol. And you thought it was a terrible
thing. The cholesterol in each one of your cells forms a "hydrophobic"
bond within the cell wall. Hydrophobic means "fear of water."
It's a cute way to describe this function of our cells, but in our
lives it simply describes the reason we don't melt in a rainstorm
or fall apart when we take a shower or bath. Our cells resist water. Without
this resistance, we would be water-soluble and we'd all dissolve in
a rainstorm.
Our diets in this country (and in Budwig's country at the time) lack
these highly unsaturated fatty acids and contain an excess of man made
oils known as trans fats (or partially hydrogenated oils). These oils
are very much like cholesterol and our bodies cannot tell the difference.
These oils get into our cell walls and destroy the electrical charge.
Without the charge, our cells start to suffocate. Without the oxygen,
the only way the cell can replicate is anaerobically. (They also are very
tough oils and have a 20-year shelf life. They impede the process of cellular
exchange, or letting nutrition in and letting wastes out. Trans fats are
also responsible for Type II diabetes, since insulin is a very large molecule
it has a difficult time passing through a cell wall created with man made
fats and not cholesterol.)
Do you see what's happening?
Let's take a minute to look at our diets. I once went to the store
with a naturopath who took along an instrument that measured very small
amounts of electricity. It was so sensitive that before we went he measured
the charges along my meridians and acupuncture points.
In the store, he measured the energy inside various foods. Yes, everything
has energy and the better the food, the more the energy. He showed me
that organic vegetables contained more energy than conventionally grown
foods. When we got outside, he opened a few cans of vegetables we'd
picked up. The beans and tomatoes (both canned) had more energy than the
asparagus and canned fruits (which were nearly dead). He said that tomatoes
and beans are the only vegetables to buy canned.
Life is electrical. To the Oriental physician, disease begins with a blockage
or disruption in energy flow. In this country, disease begins with symptoms.
The blockage or disruption in energy flow is about 7 or 8 steps before
symptoms. So, as you can guess, preventative medicine is practiced in
the Orient, and not here in our western, conventional medicine.
Back to our little cancer cell and Dr Budwig: she states there are many
reasons for a cell to lose its charge, but peanut butter is a very common
one. Can you believe it? Something as simple as peanut butter causing
your cancer? Most peanut butters are hydrogenated. Why? To keep from separating.
Go look at your natural peanut butters. Many are kept in the refrigerator
section because that is how they keep them from separating.
By the way, she also went on to describe some of the collateral damage
from chemotherapy: she said that chemotherapy causes this loss of energy
in healthy cells too; that chemotherapy and radiation destroyed the normal
energy flow in healthy cells making them ripe for cancer. She attacked
the cancer industry for killing the cancer when they should focus on healing
the healthier cells so they could over grow the cancer cells. In other
words, take care of the healthy cells and the cancer will take care of itself.
A little aside here: as a writer, I must be responsible for all I write.
If I make a claim that the National Cancer Institute buried hydrazine
sulfate by killing off the cancer patients in a study, then I'd better
be able to back this up. We have laws in this country. We are not free
to lie about a business and in doing so cause them monetary damage. If
you pass on a chain letter that libels a specific company, you are guilty
of libel and can be prosecuted (there's a case already on record).
So, anything I say at my web site or here in these newsletters had better
be backed up with facts or I can be sued.
This is what happened to Dr Budwig when she attacked the cancer industry. She attacked them thusly: "
It is not correct to regard the problem of tumors simply as a problem of
too much growth and thereby to instigate all manners and means of growth
inhibiting treatments…."
The Central Committee for Cancer Research that was studying and creating
these chemotoxic drugs didn't like this woman running around making
these statements that surely injured their industry and so they sued her
in court for libel: for telling lies and hurting the wonderful people
making these wonderful drugs.
In court, the judge, after having reviewed the evidence from both sides,
pulled the cancer research people aside and told them not to take on this
woman. The court records quote the presiding judge: "
Doctor Budwig's documents and papers are conclusive. There would be
a scandal in the scientific worlds, because the public would certainly
support Doctor Budwig."
Do you understand the import of this? This woman had a documented method
for healing cancer and the medical community did not. They could kill
cancer cells, but they couldn't cure it. Budwig could help heal cancer
by diet alone.
Now the real sad part is, science has known the cancer/fat connection for
years. Years prior to Budwig's research they knew there was something
in the fat. Years after her initial work we know that a high fat diet
can lead to cancer. We also know that the Mediterranean diet is 60% fat,
but they have a very low incidence of cancer. So we know that not all
fats are the same. The Mediterranean diet is high in olive oil.
And now, you know about highly unsaturated fatty acids, commonly referred
to as omega-3 fatty acids. They are also called Essential Fatty Acids
(EFAs). They are called essential not because they are optional. They
are not optional. They are essential to health because the body cannot
make them itself.
And though they have been essential to health since the beginning of time,
it is only recently that a group of international experts gathered at
The National Institute of Health in Washington, D.C. to discuss the importance
of Omega 3 fatty acids to human health. They came up with a recommendation
for AI (Adequate Intake) of 2.2 grams of LNA (Alpha Linolenic Acid, the
EFA found in flax, fish, olive, and other oils). AI is different from
the RDA (Required Daily Allowance) which is determined by our government.
Many nutritionists feel that the RDAs, as established, are just enough
to keep us all on the verge of illness.
How can we get this requirement into our diet?
Many people take flax oil pills or brave a spoonful of the oil itself.
Apparently, this is not the best or most effective way to take flax oil.
Taking flax oil creates an acidic environment. Next, flax oil alone is
missing all the co-factors to potentiate its benefits: magnesium, zinc,
B vitamins, etc. Co-factors are those things that help something to work.
Vitamin C is not ascorbic acid; vitamin C is ascorbic acid with the co-factors
bioflavanoids, copper, and calcium.
And finally, taking flax oil capsules is not the best way to take it because
the oils are not "body-compatible:" water-soluble and bio-available.
They will not be stored in the body as well as if they were water-soluble.
The health benefits that are potentially received via fatty acid metabolism
will be limited or absent without the conversion to water-solubility.
Johanna Budwig solved this problem with her simple recipe that made the
oils water-soluble: three tablespoons of flax oil to a third of a cup
of cottage cheese. It tastes terrible, but I've experimented with
this recipe and added all sorts of good stuff to make it even better.
In this form, mixed with the sulfured protein, the oil becomes water-soluble.
Now the oils will stay with your body. They will bring the charge back
into each cell. Healthy cells will flourish and unhealthy cells will starve.
The oxygenated healthy non-acidic environment will, as Budwig points out
in her lectures, knock out the cancer cells.
Can we get these oils from our foods? Yes, but to get 2.2 grams of LNA,
you would have to eat….
2.5 cups of Wheat Germ
40 cups of Alfalfa Sprouts
9 cups of Mixed Nuts and Peanuts
157 slices of Whole Wheat Bread
1/3 cup English Walnuts
56 Big Apples
3.5 cups Tuna Salad
51 Eggs (6 Free-Range Eggs!)
7.75 quarts Milk 2%
244 Tomatoes
56 Granola Bars
72 Canned Sardines
81 cups Frosted Mini Wheats
So, as you can see, it's going to be difficult to get your daily requirements
from your diet alone. And here I have a very special surprise for you.
I interviewed the man who has continued on Johanna Budwig's work, here
in Minnesota. Omega-3 fatty acids (EFAs) have a long history here in Minnesota.
They were first discovered at the University of Minnesota in the late
twenties, and some 20 years later were named "Omega"-3 fatty acids.
His name is Stan Mann, and he has not only discovered a process for stabilizing
milled flax seed (it normally goes rancid in just fifteen minutes), he's
created a product from this process that adds rice bran, many other nutritional
co-factors to aid in fatty acid metabolism such as magnesium B6, B12,
Vit C, Vit E, zinc, and others.
Even greater amounts of antioxidant spectrums are added to help control
the living fire that is created when your cells are suddenly hit with
this "super" oxidative nutrition (Additionally, when cells find
super nutrition, they dump their toxins immediately and without antioxidants
to help clean up, you could get sick and feel terribly rotten from this process).
Working with the University Scientists, Stan has also helped to create
a blood test that will measure how your body is storing these essential
fats in addition to or in place of unhealthy fats. They've even trademarked
one blood test whose results are called the Inflammation Index. It actually
measures the body's potential to produce inflammation.
Inflammation should interest all of you, since the medical news lately,
as well as television commercials, are hot with Cox2 inhibiting anti-inflammatory
drugs like Celebrex or Vioxx. Next time you see their ad on TV, pay attention
to the side effects. Science cannot inhibit the Cox2 without side effects.
Your NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like Aspirin or Motrin)
all have terrible side effects and if you use them over a period of time
you WILL feel the effects, because they are not just "side"
effects, they ARE the effects of these drugs.
You see, when you inhibit the Cox2 enzyme using NSAIDS this same process
inhibits Cox1 production and hence all prostaglandin production, even
those prostaglandins that are protecting the stomach lining and kidney
function. This produces the side effects.
This was supposed to be fixed with the new Cox2 inhibitors that do not
inhibit Cox1 production, but sadly, look at the side effects.
Let's go back a bit here to Johanna Budwig. There is a book available
by her called: Flax Oil As a True Aid Against Arthritis, Heart Infarction,
Cancer, and Other Diseases. I used this book to help write this article.
Now I want you to note that she aims at three disorders: heart disease,
cancer, and arthritis. Yes, there are the other diseases (like behavioral
disorders: ADD, ADHD, and a host of others), but note the arthritis. This
is just one more connection between her work and Stan Mann's work.
With continued intake of water-soluble omega-3 fatty acids, your Inflammation
Index drops and you do not need you need less and less NSAIDS or Cox2
inhibitors which both increase their effectiveness but reduces their damaging
side effects. This was proven by the good Dr Budwig, and Stan, with his
new product, Omegasentials ™, has taken it all one step further
creating a product that is easily taken daily(you can put it on your cereal,
in your yogurt, or in your morning breakfast juice). His company is also
about to print an educational book that provides recipe ideas for all
kinds of ways to incorporate the valuable supplement in your normal dietary
habits like cookies, breads, muffins, salads, etc.
Let me tell you right now, in all my years of researching cancer, Omegasentials™
is the single most exciting product I have found to date. Johanna Budwig,
in her life time, helped to heal more cancers than Sloan Kettering, the
Mayo Clinic, and MD Anderson all together. This new product, Omegasentials™,
takes her work a step further. Mix it with water and you'll see that
it is already water-soluble. The oils do not rise to the top. It contains
all the co-factors that potentiate (make work better) the action of omega-3
fatty acids, and they add the antioxidants needed to help control the
healing oxidative energy created by bringing healthy oils into the body
(not to mention cleaning up dead cancer cells).
As an added bonus, they include Tuna Oil to the formula. Stan Mann happens
to be a vegan. Vegans do not eat fish products. However, he felt so strongly
about how our bodies need the DHA (docosahexaenoic acid; important for
maintaining the fluidity and function of cell membranes, particularly
in the retina and the brain) from fish oils, that he felt he had to include
it in this product. Why? Because the average American either drinks too
much caffeine, alcohol, or smokes too much and uses up their stores of
DHA. Even those of us who don't smoke take in enough second hand smoke
that depletes our DHA.
DHA, when stored in your body, fights depression. It is theorized that
Postpartum Depression is caused by the developing fetus, who needs DHA
for brain development, during the last stages of pregnancy, pulls all
the DHA from the mother (there usually isn't all that much to begin
with since our diets are so poor) leaving her bereft of DHA, hence the
massive depression after giving birth. Increase the stores of DHA and
you help prevent that depression and possibly get off your Prozac or whatever
other drug that's helping you with one hand and killing you with the other.
Anti-angiogenesis Drugs?
With all the brouhaha (because they're non toxic) about anti-angiogenesis
drugs (the drugs that stop the growth of new blood vessels to a tumor)
lately, perhaps you should know this: You already know that I prefer natural
anti-angiogenesis substances to the drugs (because they are cheaper and
safer) but did you know that your polyunsaturated oils (corn oils sold
in supermarkets everywhere) promote the growth of small blood vessels
(by promoting the production of "bad" prostaglandins)?
Just Say No To Drugs
Omega-3 oils, the oils found in Budwig's recipe and in Omegasentials™
inhibit angiogenesis by inhibiting the prostaglandins that promote it.
So, there you have it. Omegasentials is the best product I've yet to
find to prevent and fight existing cancers, reverse heart disease, prevent
and treat arthritis, prevent and treat depression and a variety of mental
disorders, and it has one more added benefit to you athletes out there.
Remember back where Johanna Budwig talked about how electrons loves oxygen?
Well, the company making Omegasentials™, Integrity Direct, Inc.,
is receiving letters from their users. And these letters are confirming
what Stan Mann theorized all along.
If you've ever worked out, you've probably felt that "burn"
you get from a good work out whether you're lifting weights, playing
tennis, or running long distances. It's caused by using up your oxygen
stores. The muscles then produce lactic acid by burning glycogen without
oxygen, and this lactic acid is what causes the burn.
The letters from users tell a different story. No matter how much they
work out, lift, or run, they feel less and less of the burn; not during,
or even after their workout. Recovery is much, much quicker too:
From Mike and Kati who successfully participated in the World Duathelon
Championships held in October 2000 in France: "
I was third overall and Mike was first in his age group too, and the amazing
thing is we weren't hurting afterward!" Mike said, '
My gosh, my legs just don't hurt,' and we both were expecting them to the next day, and they didn't!
So, it's going exactly the way you said it was, and we can't thank
you enough…."
Quick note: Microhydrin™ is one other product that helps athletes
avoid this lactate production. You can read about Dr Flanagan and his
discoveries at:
www.mnwelldir.org/docs/flanagan.htm or go to this site:
www.hearttoheartassociates.com click on Microhydrin and have fun.
So we come back to the basics: "Let your food be your medicine."
When your body gets the nutrition it needs you stay healthy. If you are
sick, you get better. This is the best food product I've yet to discover
and you will not ever find my home without it.
Something Special For My Readers
The suggested retail price for Omegasentials is $25 per bottle. Go to
www.integritydirectinc.com and you can order it for $20 per bottle, but if you call them at 952-891-1430
and tell them that the Wellness Directory of Minnesota sent you, you can
order a case of Omegasentials (or some Omegavores Energy Bars) and get
a special 30% case discount off the suggested retail prices.
Wellness Directory of Minnesota Home Page
Copyright © 2001 Wellness Directory of Minnesota 763-689-WELL (9355)
You may copy, print, reprint, and/or transfer this entire article, if and
only if it is unmodified and in its complete state with this copyright
notice attached and all the links work properly.
Antideppressants
The following is a response I sent on the ACOR Mesothelioma List in response
to an enquiry from another participant about his father and his father's
depression:
From: James In Sydney <jfirbank@OPTUSHOME.COM.AU>
Date: Fri Apr 19, 2002 06:09:13 AM Australia/Sydney
To: MESOTHELIOMA@LISTSERV.ACOR.ORG
Subject: Re: [MESOTH] R: [MESOTH] from Italy
Reply-To: "MESOTHELIOMA (Cancer) Support & Information"
<MESOTHELIOMA@LISTSERV.ACOR.ORG>
Cosimo,
I took anti-depressants for about 6 weeks when Jane observed me to be in
a state of depression.
I now know after experiencing life with them, how much better I felt and
how much more relaxed I felt and how much more I enjoyed life.
I also now know how a drug addict must feel and how dependent you could
become on them too !
So, Dad might like to try that approach for awhile.
However, I no longer take them and am coping again, now (I think).
Rather than continue to take anti-depressants orally, I decided to immerse
myself in them by buying a new car. Of course, since my cancerous body
cannot tolerate the chemicals out-gassing from the upholstery of a new
car, it had to be a convertible (sorry kids but Dad's health must
come first !!!) and no, this had nothing to do with the girls drinking
lattes in the piazza, who the salesman assured me would throw themselves
into the car if I just slowly meandered past their tables.
So, I just ordered my own Ferrari this week. Well, not quite a Ferrari,
more like a Mazda MX5 Turbo (a two-seater rear wheel drive roadster).
I'm having it fitted with a flying foxtail (Oh and I'd like to
take this opportunity to thank a most generous and most accommodating
fox), fluffy dice hanging from the rear view mirror and a poodle puppy
strapped in just behind the two seats. Guaranteed chick puller.
It arrives in about two weeks.
What do you think girls?
Now all I need is a piazza to meander through.
Have to go Cosimo -- here comes Jane.
James from Oz
Pleurodesis
The following is a response I sent on the ACOR Mesothelioma List in response
to an enquiry from another participant about her mother and her mother's
forthcoming surgery:
From: James In Sydney <jfirbank@optushome.com.au>
Date: Sat Apr 20, 2002 10:10:30 AM Australia/Sydney
To: Elaine Masten <nanae52@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: MOM IN MICHIGAN--USA
Hello Elaine.
A "pleurodesis" (which I have had), involves 'glueing'
the outer lining of the lung (the pleura) to the inner lining of the chest
wall (the pleura), using talc and antibiotics.
The idea is to encapsulate the tumours and prevent them from generating
fluid, which would otherwise drain down to the floor of the chest cavity
and crush the lung as the fluid builds up over time. Such a phenomenon
is common with mesothelioma and one of the reasons why we become short
of breath (due to the reduced capacity of the lung to expand since it
has been crushed by fluid).
However, there is strong evidence to suggest that you can stop the fluid
by diet and supplements (and other protocols), thereby preventing the
need for the pleurodesis in the first place.
In my case (and I believe with most cases), they entered from the back
not from the front by taking out a rib.
However, it is commonplace that the pleurodesis is not 100% effective anyway.
You can imagine how difficult it must be to efficiently and/or comprehensively
achieve an outcome whereby the entire chest wall is glued to the entire
lung. The surgeon only needs to miss a certain area which might still
generate fluid.
This is my understanding from the point of view of a patient with no professional training.
I hope this helps.
Love from James in Oz.
*************************************************************
10.0 Summary
Here's what I've learned along the way, much of which is very very
difficult for me to 'digest' because I'm what my daughters
describe as a
conservative engineer and was a work-a-holic with no leisure time:
Of the thousands of people exposed to asbestos, only a small percentage
develops grave symptoms. In my case and in the cases of those people whom
I have interviewed and in 7 other cases known to my naturopath (a wonderful
woman of 79 years who looks and talks as if she were 60), onset of the
disease appears to be able to be tracked back to one or more extremely
emotionally distressing events, which may have occurred 2 - 5 years earlier.
Such events, it would seem, have lowered the patients' immune systems,
enabling the tumours to develop and take hold. [I know this is in no way
a statistically significant sample but I am just telling it the way it is].
A positive attitude is essential but of itself is not enough. A positive
attitude is not something you can wear like a cloak. I have lost count
of the number of people (without cancer) who glibly told me "You
can beat this James - just develop a positive attitude". The positive
attitude is something that must be
derivative - ie. A state of mind which arises from a series of related prior decisions about:
- life
- self
- relationships with others
- nourishment of the body and mind.
A sense of joy must be introduced into life along with variety, stimulus
and exciting events to look forward to. A variety of reading and other
stimuli (theatre, movies etc). Avoid stressful experiences (such as violent
or distressing movies).
Giving up work to remove stress appears to be essential. To this end, after
6 months I am now only working 2 days each week, which will reduce even
further to nil shortly. Don't say silly things like "I won't
let it beat me". Stop work and survive on unemployment benefits (which
are OK in Australia) and change the lifestyle if necessary and do without
the luxuries but survive!
Eating organic food appears to be significant. Also, no bacon (nitrates
and sulphates???). No fried food (most oils become carcinogenic if either
heated above a certain temperature or if they are re-heated having been
used once for cooking -- of course, all fast food outlets use oils that
have been continuously reheated).
No alcohol - a poison and an unnecessary load on the liver.
No meat. In Australia every cow is injected for the Brucellus virus; chickens
are injected with hormones and fed food laced with chemicals and hormones.
This ban also extends to seafood, other than deep sea fish
occasionally. Small deep sea fish of any species are acceptable, so long as they are
at the bottom of the food chain to minimise the likelihood of ingesting
chemical runoff from the mainland or from boat harbours/moorings (marine
antifoulants in the water). In any event, the idea appears to be to restrict
protein intake so there is no surplus left over for superfluous tissue
such as cancer tumours to grow. The thinking is that the body will naturally
distribute ingested protein to those essential parts of the body which
are in the original 'blueprint' and will only allow protein to
be distributed to cancer tissue if there is a surplus to normal requirements.
No grains - other than perhaps oats.
If you are not going to try fasting, then you need to hit the problem with
the natural enzymes and anti-oxidants that only fresh fruit and vegetables
can supply. At least 3 fresh juices daily prepared from organic fruit
and vegetables - particularly green vegetables. As a guide, perhaps 600ml
to 1 litre daily as an average.
Light daily exercise (no debilitating heavy weights or marathons) for at
least 30 minutes with the pulse rate at a safe but elevated level. That
is, not just a leisurely stroll occasionally but energetic exercise which
generates a sweat. [Some may need to build up to this level over time].
Meditation daily.
'Essiac' or sheep sorrel mixture daily. CoQ10 and vitamins.
Attention to the home: no new wall paint (other than biologically inert
paint - very hard to find); no new carpets (chemicals outgassing from
carpets which have been treated to prevent staining, carpet beetle infestation,
mildew resistance etc); reduction of EMF's around bedheads etc (i.e.
make sure there are no unshielded wires behind the bedhead); if you use
an electric blanket to heat the bed, turn it off and remove it from the
wall outlet before going to bed.
No use of mobile phones next to the cranium; no new cars (that new car
smell is toxic).
So, there is hope. Be prudent but DO NOT PANIC.
When (and if) you have surgery, make sure you know it to be the best option
by cross-checking with alternative therapists in order to 'test'
the approach of your conventional medical advisers. I've learnt so
much since I started my journey and I am a little jaded with conventional
medicine. This is all the more surprising since I started out on this
journey as an engineer (which means I had a philosophy somewhere to the
right of Genghis Khan as my daughters would tell you). Therefore, for
me to suggest there might be something else on offer out there, which
the doctors won't tell you about, is quite something.
I don't know whether there are solutions but I can confirm the outstanding
results above, which have been achieved by others here in Australia.
Put simply, my research suggests that having the lung removed may cause
more problems than it solves.
God bless you all. I hope you all make the right choices.
Update May 2003
I started chemotherapy (Alimta + Carboplatin) in December 2002 because
my disease had progressed to the point where I was advised by more than
one doctor that I only had a few weeks of life left. Due to a range of
personal issues (divorce, property settlement, business losses etc), I
' fell off my perch ', stopped my diet, supplements and meditation
protocols. The disease progressed rapidly. My CAT scans tell the story
of what happened next:
Herewith the images:
Image #1: Chest scan of 4.12.02
Note the mediastinum (windpipe, bronchial tubes and heart etc) has been
displaced across the chest (to the left as you view the image but which
is actually towards the right side of the chest). The mediastinum appears
as the darker 'pipe' leading from the bottom of the chin (at the
top of the image). The first image on the left is a ".jpeg"
file, whereas the second image on the right is a ".tiff" file:

*** RE-POSTED OCTOBER 28, 2003 ***