Nicole writes...
I am 27 and currently have two tumors in my lungs. I had three and one has
disappeared and the others have shrank by 50%. I am currently on cisplatin and
etopiside and have completed 6 rounds. I was diagnosed in October of 97, so I've
been fighting this for a while and it has not spread anywhere else at this time.
I take essiac tea three times a day at 2 oz. I started taking the essiac tea
around my third treatment. I do not have many side effects and my hair
is growing back. I am only sick the days I do the chemo and have no fatigue,
which I contribute to the tea.
Thank you for your story. It's nice to know that there is hope and that I too
can beat this. How long did it take to notice change in your tumors?
And please explain what CoQ-10 is.
Bob replies...
I am very pleased to hear that your tumors are shrinking. It sounds like you are
on the path to a cure. In my case they only took x-rays every 6 weeks, so it was 6
weeks after the 4th chemo that a 50% shrinking of the primary tumor was noted.
Another 6 weeks later(after the 8th chemo) the tumor continued to shrink. At that
point the doctor suggested "consolidating radiation therapy", but after hearing
the side effects, I declined the radiation to see if the alternatives would
continue to work. Of course, they did, and I am still fine today.
CoQ-10 is a vitamin-like substance related to the B vitamins, it is found in all
cells of the body and is especially
important to the heart. It is also called ubiquinone, and
is a naturally occurring substance made by every cell in the body. It
can be depleted with age or disease and is a potent antioxidant which
helps to eliminate free radicals. CoQ-10 can be found at any vitamin store.
I recommend http://wwwcsi.unian.it/coenzymeQ/
for more information.
Bob Merrick writes...
Getting lots of good info off your site. You mentioned that after your
chemo # 8 that your MD suggested radiation consolidation, but you opted
against it because of possible side effects. Yet at the beginning of
your treatment you say that chemo was begun
simulltaneously with your radiation. What am I missing? Isn't
consolidation mixing chemo with radiation?
Bob replies...
No. The initial radiation was to about a 3 inch square on my spine to
cover the tumorous vertabrae and parts of the vertabrae on either side. The
consolidating radiation is to finish off and consolidate any remaining tumor cells
after the primary had shrunk. The doctors didn't expect the tumor to
dissappear completely with the chemo alone. It would have involved
radiation to the entire middle and right side of my chest to cover all
the lymph nodes that had been cancerous. It would have caused scarring of my
esophagus with difficulty swallowing, possible skin burns, and
irreparable damage to my lymph system which would show up as swelling in
my neck and arm due to inadequate lymph drainage, not to mention the
immediate nausea and weakness from the radiation, and permanent damage
to the healthy lung tissue.
Once I understood the side effects of
"consolidating radiation therapy" it was a no brainer to wait a couple
of months to see if the alternatives continued to work. If they hadn't
worked I would have had a difficult decision, and probably would have
done the radiation to at least buy some time.
Jim writes...
I am preparing to make some essiac tea
for my wife who is diagnosed with adenocarcinoma of the lung with
metastic deposits (Stage IV).
I have found a lot of information on how to make it, etc. but I was
wondering if one can add honey or sugar and cream when actually
drinking it. As you are using it sucessfully, I was hoping if you
could elaborate on your experience for my wife's benefit.
Bob replies...
Jim, I have always taken my essiac after shaking at full strength straight
out of the refrigerator. I have seen some instructions that say you may
dilute it 50% with hot or cold spring water.
I suspect that taking small
amounts of food or flavorings with the essiac would not diminish its effect.
Maybe larger quantities of food
would dilute it and slow down the rate of absorbtion into the
bloodstream, resulting in lower blood concentrations of ingredients, but
lasting over a longer period of time. This may even make it more
effective, but it is almost impossible to know for sure.
I suspect Rene
Caisse started using it on empty stomachs, and just continued with that
recommendation. It would take a large study to prove that it works
better on an empty stomach, and I doubt that Rene ever checked out that
variable. It boils down to "if it ain't broke, don't fix it", so I will
continue taking it on an empty stomach, just in case it makes a
difference.
You might consider using some of the other alternatives I did, because there is
no way of knowing which combination may be the most effective. Good
luck, and keep me informed.
Anne asks...
How much is a year's subscription to Whitaker's "Health & Healing" newsletter?
Bob replies...
It is $39.95 for one year. At that time, the offer included
1 free report, "New Cures for Chronic Diseases".
I signed up for two years (24 issues) for $79.90 and received these six
reports free:
"New Cures for Chronic Diseases"
Whitaker certainly covers all the angles! He advertises a risk-free
trial and states that if you cancel in the last month of your
subscription (or anytime), you get all your money back and may keep
the reports and newsletters you have received.
Rick C. wrote...
Just a quick question. Just been dianosed stomach cancer stage 4. Start
chemo tomorrow but going to try and use some of the alternatives you
mentioned. I am only 54 and have
been in great health (seemingly) until just recently. Non smoker,
have been pretty careful of my diet and weight.
Why do you say no vitamins, grapeseed extract or CoQ-10 on chemo day
or the evening before?
Bob replies...
Great question! The vitamins, grapeseed extract and CoQ-10 are strong antioxidants and I was
concerned that they might neutralize the chemotherapy agents. My doctor was
not knowledgeable about the effects of antioxidants on the chemo, but I
heard other patients say they stopped them for 2 days before and after chemo. I
just compromised with my timing, figuring that after 24 hours, even if I was
neutralizing the chemo, it should already have had most of its effect. This
was all guesswork on my part, and I strongly urge you to let your oncologist
know what you are taking, and follow his recommendations. This may be more
important with different chemo agents than I was given. I did continue the essiac and
cat's claw bark during the chemo days.
Chuck (Des Moines, IA) asked...
What quantity of essiac tea did you take on a daily basis?
Bob replies...
For a few weeks in the end of May and beginning of June, 1998 I took 3 ounces once
a day. Since the middle of June, 1998 I have been taking 3 ounces in the
morning and 3 ounces in the evening each day. I shake the bottle and
drink the tea at full strength (including the fine sediment).
I brewed my essiac using one half cup of the dried herb mixture per
gallon of distilled water. After boiling for 10 minutes, I turned off
the heat and allowed it to steep overnight. I then reheated to a boil
and poured it through a kitchen strainer into sterile bottles.
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