Stop Cancer Naturally

 There's a new documentary out... Stop Cancer Naturally!

I've signed up for it and am looking forward to hearing what the experts have uncovered...

Because, to be honest, the statistics aren't in our favor.  Cancer rates have been rising for more than 50 years. In fact, if you have a friend there is a good chance that one of you will be diagnosed with some form of cancer.  

Truly, with a 1 in 2 chance of being diagnosed with cancer in our lifetime, this documentary could open up options for treatment that our doctors aren't talking about.  It's a side of healing that not everyone will embrace, but when your back is up against the wall and conventional therapies aren't working, it's time to explore another side to healing.

Check out the information here at Stop Cancer Naturally and join me August 13th to watch the interviews that could change the way you approach a cancer diagnosis.

I believe that our bodies were created with an amazing capacity to heal.  Armed with the right knowledge we can choose to stop harming our bodies and provide the conditions needed to begin repairing the cells and organs naturally.

Excited to hear these experts share what they've learned, but as always, this documentary and the information shared is not a substitute for the advice or care from your medical team.

Never stopping the fight... seeking answers, praying for wisdom and waiting for the day that a cancer diagnosis will be a thing of the past.

My Love,
Jane

FlaxSeedOil2 Forum

The FlaxSeedOil2 Forum could really be called the "Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About the Budwig Diet Protocol."  It is an amazing resource!  Last month David shared about his journey with pancreatic cancer  and one of the treatment decisions he has made is to follow the Budwig Diet protocol.  He mentioned the FlaxSeedOil2 forum on yahoo and here is how to access the wealth of information on this dedicated forum...

Click here at FlaxseedOil2 to check them out.  It is free to join the group, just click on the + Join Group and enter your information.  The members are amazingly generous with encouragement, information and support.

FlaxSeedOil2 is owned and moderated by Sandra Olson.  From their group description she shares:

   "The purpose of this group is to stop cancer and other health problems through the discussion of Dr. Johanna Budwig's Diet and Protocol and compatible treatments. Members give personal experiences and information for educational purposes. This should not be taken as medical advice. If medical advice is needed, it should be sought from those who are qualified. Everyone is responsible for their own choices.

FlaxSeedOil2 is one of the best sources of reliable information on the Budwig Protocol..."

I have joined the group and found much to inspire.  In particular, the moderator clearly lays out the 15 Key Points of Dr. Budwig's Plan... it is easy to understand and is so very do-able.

The 15 Key Points are based on Dr. Budwig's books:

The Oil-Protein Cookbook

and

Cancer-the Problem and the Solution

In addition, Sandra offers a wealth of information at her website:

Budwig - Videos, Healing Recipes for Healthy Living

I encourage you to spend time exploring these resources.  In the name of transparency, there is a small fee to watch the videos, but if this is a protocol that speaks to you, I would be the first to say it is well worth it for the abundance of information and recipes the site provides.

As we navigate the minefield of pancreatic cancer, we find Hope in journeying together... sharing the good, praying through the bad, and above all offering Grace for the struggling.

David has found success in combining the Budwig Diet Protocol with his cancer treatment and urges all fellow cancer warriors to "inform yourself as much as possible - don't let your treatment happen to you - be in control - that's very calming."

There is power in knowledge... may these links offer more avenues of research and help guide your own treatment plan.  And as always, talk with your medical team before adding/changing anything in your therapy protocol!

So humbled to be walking out this journey with you,

In Grace, Always,
Jane

Rigvir... A Virus meant for Good?

It sounds like something out of a sci-fi novel.  A Star Trek-like medical miracle.  Inject a small amount of virus-rich serum into the patient and wait as it scouts out and attacks the cancer cells, leaving the host basically none the worse for wear... this cancer treatment sounds like a piece of cake!  

Is it even possible?

The Cancer Virotherapy Center says Yes!

It would seem that Virotherapy is ushering in a New Era in Cancer Treatment...

Starting to get just a little excited??

On the Cancer Virotherapy website this virus-attack method is described as "an effective cancer treatment that uses oncotropic and oncolytic (seek and destroy) virus with the ability of a virus to find and destroy malignant cells in the body. Virotherapy is gentle and safe treatment, it improves survival and quality of life of patients."

It is an exciting advance in the options for cancer patients and is definitely worth mentioning here on our 31 Day Challenge!

The developer of Rigvir, Aina Muceniece, shares his thoughts about the Rigvir treatment:

"To treat cancer with a virus is a fantastic idea which occurred in the beginning of the last century. Before the World War I, cancer was already treated with the rabies virus vaccine and other viruses. I managed to find a virus which is not dangerous for a man. Unlike the chemotherapy and the radiation therapy, this medicine does not leave such serious consequences in patient's organs."

And for a bit more in-depth explanation of the Rigvir treatment, here is an excerpt from Lee Euler at CancerDefeated:

"One of the world’s leading holistic cancer doctors, Tony Jimenez, M.D., was a featured speaker at the (Truth About Cancer) 2014 conference. He revealed a breakthrough in virotherapy, telling the audience: “You are the first people in the United States who are hearing this! This will blow your mind. I’ve never seen anything that produces results like this!”

The breakthrough is a “virotherapy” called Rigvir. It’s was developed in Latvia, where it has passed all phases of clinical trials on almost 2,000 patients. The results of the clinical trials are convincing and impressive. For example, stomach cancer patients in the control group had a 24 percent survival rate. The patients treated with Rigvir survived at double that rate –48 percent.

Rigvir was registered in Latvia in 2004 as an anti-cancer drug. A prominent Latvian oncologist disparaged Rigvir until he got cancer. After he used it to get rid of his cancer, he became one of Rigvir’s biggest cheerleaders.

Rigvir works on a wide variety of cancers including melanoma, colorectal, pancreatic, bladder, kidney, prostate, lung, uterine, lymphosarcoma, etc. It triggers an immune response and seeks and destroys cancer cells.

A virus that heals?

Viruses are harmful, right? Not always! Surprisingly, the Rigvir virus is found in the gut of healthy children. Rigvir is short for “Riga virus” — Riga being the capital of Latvia. Rigvir is a microscopic living organism with unique properties that kill tumors without hurting healthy cells.

After Rigvir invades the tumor cell, the virus replicates, causing the tumor cell to rupture and die. Rigvir breaks down cancer cells, stimulates the immune system to reject the tumor, and promotes apoptosis (programmed cell death, i.e., cancer cell suicide).

This is the polar opposite of chemotherapy drugs. Chemo impairs or destroys the immune system, while Rigvir boosts it.

Dr. Jimenez remarked, “I’ve been to 70 countries, and I’ve never seen a medicine that’s not a chemo drug that has so much research behind it. You can tell I’m pretty excited about Rigvir.”

Rigvir has none of the side effects of chemo. The only side effect that some people feel is a temperature of 99 degrees Fahrenheit that might last for three days. Concerning that side effect, Dr. Jimenez said, “Big deal.”

Dr. Jimenez decided to take Rigvir therapy for himself because it’s not harmful and because he thought it could benefit his health. He was already the picture of health and vitality before taking Rigvir. He said, “Within three days, tests showed a significant improvement in my immune system, which I thought was pretty good [in the first place]. This shows that we all have room for improvement in our immune system.” He didn’t get the mild, temporary fever side-effect.

Dr. Jimenez said, “Rigvir is a cancer medicine — a medication approved for cancer. It’s bionanotechnology — not an alternative, complementary medicine. It’s the most potent immune modulator I’ve ever seen.”

Maybe just a little excited??  Yes? {Me too!}

Grace and Hope mingle this night.  Praying for wisdom, discernment as we journey this cancer road... And Hope, Abundant Hope, to make light of the burdens we carry and lift our hearts to face the Son.

In Grace, Always,
                         Jane

One Tiny Apricot Kernel

Several days ago we had a chance to meet Felicity Corbin Wheeler and learn about her pancreatic cancer fight.  She shares in detail about her treatments and one in particular is the use of B-17, also known to many as laetrile, or perhaps you would know it as the tiny but powerful Apricot Kernel.

Dr. Veronique Desaulniers has also walked the pancreatic cancer road with her father.  She too has much to say about the tiny Apricot Kernel.  Here's just a part of her story:

Apricot Kernels and Bitter Almonds Display Promising Effects

Written By: Dr. Veronique Desaulniers

"In September of 1983 my father was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He was dead in 6 weeks. I remember the anguish and the frustration as the medical doctors offered no hope. I had been in practice for only 3 years and the Internet was nonexistent back then. But I recall going to the library to do research about healing cancer without toxic drugs or radiation. I also called "cancer clinics" all over North America and Mexico, trying to find a solution to my father's illness.

Thus began my quest to understand how to heal and prevent cancer

One treatment that stood out at the time was Amygdalin, the product that is produced from crushed apricot pits.

Amygdalin is not to be confused with Laetrile, also known as B17, which is a semi-synthetic patented version of Amygdalin.
Laetrile and Amygdalin have been used successfully around the world for the reversal of many types of cancer. The Hunza tribes in the Himalayans are virtually cancer free, which some have attributed to their daily consumption of apricot pits and millet, both of which contain amygdalin.
The apricot pits contain a compound called glycosides which are a combination of sugar and cyanide. What takes place here is what we call selective toxicity. A specific enzyme that is produced in large quantities by cancer cells, triggers the sugar break down that releases the cyanide. The cyanide is what kills the cancer cells.
But why are healthy cells not affected by the cyanide? Healthy cells have a specific enzyme called rhodanese, which renders the cyanide harmless. How's that for another amazing healing miracle?
Another way that amygdalin affects cancer cells is that it inhibits angiogenesis. Angiogenesis is the formation of new blood flow as the cancer cells are growing and forming a tumor. If the blood flow to the tumor is blocked, the cancer cells die.
Amygdalin also suppresses inflammatory responses which lead to multiple diseases, including cancer.
Specific studies have shown how amygdalin induces apoptosis or cell death in prostate cancer cells, human colon cancer cells and in leukemia cells.
Amygdalin even inhibits the growth of the Epstein-Barr virus, which often induces tumor growth. The anti-tumor promoting activity of amygdalin and other compounds was studied in both in vitro and in vivo assays.
While administered specifically for cancer treatment, a wonderful side effect is that amygdalin actually helps relieve the pain that is often associated with aggressive cancers.
Laetrile can be administered orally in pill form or it can be injected into a vein. Typically the administration of Laetrile is spread out over a period of time. Unfortunately, because of manipulation of laboratory studies conducted in the 70's, Amygdalin and Laetrile are not readily available in the United States.  After all, healing cancer patients with a low cost nutrient would spell disaster for the multi-billion dollar cancer industry.
There are literally hundreds of known plant based cancer cures that have saved countless of lives. Unfortunately the masses are not informed of the many non-toxic ways to heal the body. However, as web sites like GreenMedInfo.com continue to inform and educate, hopefully the tide will slowly turn in order to make these modalities part of a harmless cancer protocol.

("© [Article Date] GreenMedInfo LLC. This work is reproduced and distributed with the permission of GreenMedInfo LLC. Want to learn more from GreenMedInfo? Sign up for the newsletter here http://www.greenmedinfo.com/greenmed/newsletter.)


And here is an excerpt from The Truth About Cancer that also details the possible option of including Apricot Kernels in the cancer fight:

"Dr. Ernest Krebs was a biochemist in the early 1950s whose desire to understand what makes cancer cells work led him to discover a possible key to overcoming the disease. Working on a hunch that cancer is ultimately a metabolic reaction to a poor diet, Krebs began studying the lifestyle habits of the Hunzas whose remote country is hidden near Northern Pakistan.

The Hunzas and Apricot Kernels

Major Sir Robert McCarrison wrote about the Hunzas back in the 1930s when he had a post with the Indian Medical Service. According to McCarrison, the Hunzas enjoyed near-perfect physical and mental health and some of them lived to be over 135 years old. There seemed to be no evidence of diabetes, obesity, or heart attacks among them as well. There was also no evidence of cancer.
What made the Hunzas so resilient? Their vitality had a lot to do with what they ate and their overall lifestyle. Their diet was simple. According to McCarrison, it consisted of raw milk, the occasional meat and bone broth, fresh grains and veggies. They ate very little sugar and their lifestyles as nomads and herders meant they got plenty of vigorous exercise. The other characteristic was that the group ate large quantities of apricot seed kernels. Intrigued by this peculiarity, Krebs researched until he found what he thought was the secret weapon for tumor eradication – amygdalin.

What is Amygdalin?

Amygdalin is a compound that is found in over 1200 edible plants in nature (and, not surprisingly, is also missing in large part from the Standard American Diet). It is found in the highest concentrations and with the most effective accompanying enzymes in apricot seed kernels.
The substance laetrile was created by Dr. Krebs as a concentrated form of amygdalin that is obtained by extracting it from apricot kernels. Amygdalin is a nitriloside and its structure most resembles that of a B complex vitamin, so Krebs named it B17.

What Makes Apricot Kernels a Cancer Killer?

Amygdalin found in apricot kernels and laetrile contains four potent substances: two of which are benzaldehyde and cyanide. You heard that right! Cyanide is one of the substances that makes apricot kernels a force to be reckoned with when it comes to beating cancer, including breast cancer.
Many healthy foods, such as bitter almonds, millet, sprouts, lima beans, spinach and bamboo shoots, actually have quantities of cyanide in them, yet they are still safe to eat. This is because the cyanide remains “locked” within the substance and is therefore harmless when bound within other molecular formations. In addition, rhodanese is an enzyme in the body whose job is to “catch” any free cyanide molecules that may have escaped and render them harmless.
Cancer cells are not normal cells, however; they contain beta-glucosidase, which healthy cells do not. Beta-glucosidase is also the “unlocking enzyme” for the cyanide and benzaldehyde in amygdalin molecules. When the beta-glucosidase in a cancer cell unlocks an amygdalin molecule, a toxic synergy is created that specifically targets cancer cells. With the help of rhodanese and other protective enzymes, healthy cells are not jeopardized by this process.

Laetrile: A Potentially Powerful Cancer Therapy

Laetrile was readily obtainable prior to 1971 when the FDA banned it in the US. Although it is not impossible to obtain laetrile, these days apricot kernels are the easiest way to ingest amygdalin. They are easy to obtain at health food stores or online and are also fairly inexpensive.
Clinics exist outside of the US where B17 or laetrile therapy is still administered. Laetrile is often used in addition to other therapies such as sodium bicarbonate.
If you feel that B17 therapy is the way to go for you, be sure to get the facts about dosage and possible side effects. Talk to your integrated medical practitioner about your particular situation.
While the mystery may remain as to the main cause for the Hunza’s amazing vitality, one thing is for certain: their simple and stress-free way of eating, working, interacting and moving their bodies have made them examples of the health that YOU are capable of having when you take proactive steps to heal your body naturally."

I can't echo the following sentiment strongly enough...

If you feel that B17 therapy is the way to go for you, be sure to get the facts about dosage and possible side effects. Talk to your integrated medical practitioner about your particular situation.

This 31 Day Challenge set out to explore all the options in the cancer fight.  It is not medical advice or even our personal medical experience.  Mom never made it out of her chemo/radiation treatment long enough to try any of the options listed here.  It will forever haunt us... but also drive us to fight for the cure.

Graced this night to be fighting hard with you.
                                         Always,
                                                   Jane

Dying to Have Known...The Gerson Therapy

The Gerson Therapy is not new to the readers of this blog... we've discussed it before as a potential alternative cancer treatment.

From what I can tell through researching, it has long been used to treat cancers and is considered a metabolic therapy... a therapy using diet, supplements and enemas to detox the body.  The Gerson Therapy works to treat the underlying causes of disease: toxicity and nutritional deficiency.

The following is taken directly from the Gerson Institute website:

"The Gerson® Therapy is a natural treatment that activates the body’s extraordinary ability to heal itself through an organic, plant-based diet, raw juices, coffee enemas and natural supplements."

The therapy was developed by Max Gerson, a German-born American physician.  In 1977 his daughter, Charlotte Gerson, founded the non-profit Gerson Institute in San Diego, CA, dedicated to providing education and training in the Gerson Therapy.

One important caveat to mention for pancreatic cancer warriors.  On their website they are careful to caution that their treatment is not effective in all cases.  On their Contraindications page they particularly focus on pancreatic cancer and say that they have found it does not respond well to the Gerson Therapy once chemotherapy has been done... So, the thought, then would be that a pancreatic cancer patient should seek out their therapy first before chemotherapy is considered.  And I have to say, that after all the emails, letters and conversations I have had with pancreatic cancer patients over the past 5 years, it is perhaps an option I would visit after a pc diagnosis.  If giving the Gerson Therapy a try for 30-45 days is an option, and if it does not seem to be reversing the cancer, chemotherapy could then be the next plan of attack.  At the very least, it is an option to be considered.
 
If you have time, here's a great documentary by Stephen Kroschel on the Gerson Therapy...

It is a lengthy watch, but perhaps a good investment of your time if you are considering the Gerson Therapy as an alternative treatment.

I was impressed that he included both the skeptics and the believers in the documentary.  A good cross-section of (hopefully) unbiased testimonies.

Charlotte Gerson has also written a book:

Healing the Gerson Way: Defeating Cancer and Other Chronic Diseases.  It details the program well and gives an overview of the traditional methods of treating cancer and the alternative protocols that work to fix the underlying cause of cancer.

There is also a Facebook group not connected with the Gerson Institute that may interest some:  It is the Gerson Therapy Support Group and currently has over 15,000 members.  Their aim is to support those who choose to use the Gerson Therapy. 

And finally, for a more thorough understanding of the Gerson Therapy, you can check out their website at the Gerson Institute here.

Tomorrow we'll meet another pancreatic cancer survivor and hear how the Gerson Therapy is working for them.  There is hope out there...  You don't want to miss it!

Grace, Always,

                 Jane

Interrupting your Regularly Scheduled Program...

... for this very IMPORTANT announcement!

The Truth About Cancer's Live Symposium is this weekend, October 14-16th and you can watch it live! For Free! 

And that is like a HUGE thing, because the tickets to the Live event were expensive and they sold out completely (which is so sad since it's right here in my backyard, so to speak, and I was beyond excited but when I tried to get tickets they were already gone! So SAD I say!)

However, now I am Happy to share the link to this inspiring event... you can watch it live streaming in the comfort of your own abode.  How Huge is that???

Click here to register... (I did say it was FREE right?)

Over the course of the 3 days, you will hear nearly 50 of today's most renowned and respected health experts.  They will be sharing their extensive insights on how to protect your health and avoid and beat cancer and other diseases, with the power to change your life for the better almost immediately.

It is truly an amazing opportunity to hear for yourself what is happening in the world of natural, holistic therapies.

Here are just a few of the topics being covered:

Unlock the Power to Heal

Cancer is Merely a Symptom

Cancer Killers - Getting to the Cause is the only "Cure"

The Present and Future of Non-Toxic Cancer Reversing Therapies

The Ideal Diet for Cancer

Diffusing the Cancer Bomb with The 7 Essentials System

Overcoming Advanced Cancer

Strike the Root:  Attacking Cancer Stem Cells with Seed Nutrition

... and the list goes on and on.  You can see the Live event schedule right here!

Some of the speakers include:

Dr. Stanislaw Burzynski

Chris Wark

Ocean Robbins

Dr. Joe Mercola

Mike Adams

Dr. Josh Axe

... and so many other amazing Doctors and Whole Health Advocates. 

If you do nothing else this weekend, sign up to watch and allow yourself to feel the Hope that is rising.  Cancer can be beat and the survivors are standing up to share their inspiring stories...

The Truth About Cancer Live Symposium was created and designed to give each and every one of us the options, education and encouragement we need to find health and healing and live our very best lives...

Watch and be INSPIRED!

In Grace, Always,

                       Jane

P.S.  I just have to say that God is good.  When I was working on the posts for our 31 Day Challenge to share The Truth About Cancer documentary (that I had seen last April), I had no idea that there was even such a thing as the Live Symposium, much less that it would take place right smack-dab in the middle of our 31 day series... God's perfect timing!  Amen and Amen

Let's Be Honest...

I am a pretty big skeptic...

And I don't buy into a lot of conspiracy theories.  Well, I have been known to watch the X-Files on occasion, but strictly for entertainment...honestly.

So, when people start throwing around words like Curing Cancer and Unconventional, Alternative Treatments, I'm the biggest cynic around.

Scroll back the clock to a little over 5 years ago... Our small, safe world was rocked when mom's growing stomach ailments were finally diagnosed as cancer in the fall of 2010.  Cancer of the worst kind...

Pancreatic. Cancer.

I will be honest.  Within days of that diagnosis, everything was on the table.  Our focused goal, as a family, as one, became finding a cure for this beast of a disease.

And 1 month turned to 2 then 3, then 6... and no cure was to be found.  The doctors offered platitudes and statistics .  Encouraging the chemotherapy and radiation that they assured was the Gold Standard in pancreatic cancer treatment.

It failed miserably. 

The cancer was insidious and aggressive.  We perhaps bought a little time with the Gold Standard of treatment, and I will forever be grateful for the added moments and love we shared...

However, the time we bought also carried horrendous moments of pain, distress and misery for mom as the cancer decimated her body.  I am being honest.  Too often I gloss over the agony of this disease in favor of offering hope and encouragement.

And I'm afraid that the hope and encouragement I offer is meager at best.  Pancreatic Cancer takes no prisoners.  It doesn't play fair.  And often I am just too polite to be honest and real.  This cancer is taking too many lives, destroying too many families.

The Gold Standard in pancreatic cancer is simply not working.

Perhaps that is the reason that The Truth About Cancer documentary struck such a chord within me.

The very first episode shared the remarkable story of Pamela Kelsey, a pancreatic cancer survivor...

Perhaps it is time to really be honest.  And look outside the box to discover treatments that ARE working for pancreatic cancer patients.

Our 31 Day Challenge aims to do just that.  As honestly as we can.

And maybe, just maybe, we can bring a little HOPE to the table...

In Grace, Always,
                 Jane

The Truth About Cancer

I don't know that I've ever done this...

Suggest you do something I have never done...

I've waffled for several days...

And because I want so badly to eradicate pancreatic cancer from the face of this earth, I am taking a chance on sharing with you a documentary, that I have never seen...

A documentary that is perhaps fantasy, perhaps true... definitely controversial...

Maybe we could do it together? Watch this documentary?  And decide if there is merit?  If there is truth?

It starts tomorrow.  It's called The Truth About Cancer: A Global Quest.

It is free.  It is online.  It is a 9 part series.  You can register here for the link.

From reading reviews, I can honestly say that it peaks my curiousity, as well as feelings of caution.  In this cancer journey I know there are no magic pills, no secret formulas.  I've shared before the struggle many face in choosing between conventional treatments and alternative therapies.

This documentary takes an in-depth look at much of what our conventional/traditional medicine would call alternative.  Perhaps there is truth... perhaps there are more treatment options available to us than the 3 mainstays of chemotherapy, radiation and surgery... Perhaps??

And so, I will be watching the documentary with an open mind... and a cautious heart...

Here is a short you-tube video intro of the series:

Join in the documentary watching with me tomorrow, perhaps?  Or choose to disregard, perhaps?

I am so understanding of either choice.  I would never want to mislead, or give false hope.  The pancreatic cancer journey is difficult enough... I believe that it is crucial to be very present and passionate about our own cancer treatment and research is an integral part of this process.  We each must find the path to trust that works for us as we journey on.

The Truth About Cancer??  Perhaps in 9 days I will be able to give an honest review?

Yes... that I can do!

My Love,
            Jane

Barley Life

In the whole scheme of pancreatic cancer treatment, the Barley Life Supplement is pretty far down the list.

It doesn't claim to be a miracle cure.  As a matter of fact, the Barley Life developers are careful not to advise their supplement for cancer treatment.

Here is a link to their page on the Barley Life products.

As you can see it is simply a whole food concentrate made from the young Barley grass.  You can read about the process and benefits of the Barley grass here on this datasheet.

So, you're wondering, why do I mention it here?  On our journey to discover the best pancreatic cancer treatments?

Well, Barley Life can be considered a cancer treatment aid.  Not a cure.  But a tool to use to help your body maintain optimal health and immune safety while undergoing the rigors of many cancer treatments.

Mom actually did try the Barley Life supplement at the urging of a dear friend.  We have tracked her progress on the website with Barley Life here.

As you can see, Mom did think the Barley Life capsules helped her in small ways on her journey.  The Gemzar chemotherapy protocol is not an easy treatment.  Mom dealt with many side-effects.  The biggest was the never-ending low blood counts.

When she began taking the Barley Life, we believe that the blood counts stabilized somewhat.  Did they completely reverse the effects of chemo?  NO.  However, her general malaise, fevers and flu-like symptoms were much less pronounced and she was able to stay on the Gemzar treatment for many months longer than her doctors anticipated.

Did the Barley Life perhaps contribute to her ability to maintain traditional treatment?  Possibly.

We make no claims here.  Just sharing mom's story.

It's another piece to the puzzle.  For the one thing we have found on this cancer journey, there is no such thing as a simple fix.  Whether you try traditional or alternative treatments, there will be questions and side effects and difficulties.

The Barley Green supplement may offer some badly needed support in the fight....

One battle at a time. 

In Grace tonight,
                        Jane

Tea Anyone?

One can't research Pancreatic Cancer Treatments very long before running into Essiac Tea.

It has long been touted as an effective method of curing cancer...even pancreatic cancer.  I definitely feel it has a place here in our pancreatic cancer alternative treatments discussion.

I have never made Essiac Tea or tried it.  But the research was indeed interesting...

Essiac tea is composed of 4 herbs. 

Two are Sheep Sorrel and Burdock Root, both known for their cancer-killing effect.  And the other two are Slippery Elm Bark and Turkey Rhubarb Root, known for their immune-boosting powers.

Essiac Tea has its share of critics... but what I couldn't find were any ancedotal experiences of harm from the tea, so as our motto is "first do no harm," I am inclined to include Essiac Tea here for consideration.

To get a really good understanding of the History and Story behind Essiac Tea, take some time to read through the articles at The Truth about Essiac on the Health Freedom website.  They present an abundance of information about the tea and all the hows and whys behind its apparent success.

They also have a link to several videos about Essiac Tea.  One in particular is very informative on how to Brew the Tea at home...

Many local health food stores will also share copious amounts of information... But, here one needs to be careful.  In my research I have come across many vendors that have jumped on the Essiac Tea bandwagon.  Some sell products that may or may not have the correct herbs, or potency. 

So... Two Big Cautions for this alternative treatment:

1)  As always, please, please talk with your healthcare team if you are considering adding Essiac Tea in to your treatment plan.

2)  Whenever possible, grow the herbs yourself and make your own tea to insure purity, and if that's not possible, purchase the herbs and/or tea from a reputable herbal dealer.


Do I think that drinking Essiac Tea will cure pancreatic cancer?  I honestly do not know... I wish, so often, that mom was still here.  Perhaps she would have given it a try.  Then we might have had a more personal experience with this alternative remedy.

Do I think that drinking Essiac Tea will harm you?  I do not believe so... but always caution you to talk with your doctor... each case is so different, each body has unique strengths and weaknesses, each treatment plan is dependent on so many factors, and each herb has much potential for good...

And bad.  Remember... Hemlock is a Herb... A Very Poisonous Herb.  Do Not Underestimate the Power of Plants!

I don't believe that drinking this tea would cause problems, but when working with natural herbs one must always be aware of their extreme potency...

If you have experience with Essiac Tea, would you share?  All on this journey need to hear your story...

Because each story helps us Map the Journey... With Hope.  And Grace.

Always,
          Jane

Immunotherapy, Vaccines...and Clinical Trials

Digging in Deep today, so hold on to your ride... we've got a lot to cover.

I think we can all agree that Pancreatic Cancer is one of the most deadly of all cancers.  We've talked pancreatic cancer statistics before... and they are just plan terrifying. 

It's imperative to find new therapies and treatments that will extend and save the lives of those impacted by this disease. 

It is the heartbeat of this daughter.  I would give anything to have my mom back, whole and healed.

The missing is a pain I live with everyday.  And I lay that hurt firmly at the door of pancreatic cancer. 

There is a cure.  We must find it.  My prayer is that those reading this blog will be on the healing end of that journey...  whether it's a traditional treatment or an alternative therapy, or a combination of both... healed and whole is the goal...

Which brings us to the finding of that cure.  I wish it was as easy as pulling a rabbit out of the hat.  But, unfortunately, the wheels of medicine and science turn much slower than that.

Enter the Clinical Trial.   It is the way new treatments run the gauntlet.  Either they make it thru or they fizzle in the trying. 

And this is the infuriating part.  The ones that show promise, a.k.a. the treatments that seem to be working in the fight, well, we still have to wait for the FDA to approve their use.  It's a waiting that sometimes takes months, if not years for promising therapies to get approved...

Pancreatic Cancer Patients do not have months to wait for promising treatments. Period.

They are needed now.

And so, it is a difficult thing for me to include these next treatments here.  For you to read about.  When they are not widely available for treatment.

Seems more than cruel.  But it is also the spring of Hope that Help is on the Way...

There are two treatments to discuss today.  They waffle between traditional and alternative.  In one sense they are traditional, dealing with medical and biological science.  On the other hand they don't fall easily into either the chemotherapy or radiation camp of conventional cancer treatment.  So, we'll discuss them based on merit alone, irregardless of what camp they fall into...

Back to the two treatments...two treatments that seem to go hand in hand.  Treatments that are right now in promising clinical trials, one that has even made the fast-track breakthrough designation thru FDA...

Stick with me when the definitions and medical jargon make your eyes glaze over.  There's a point where it all comes together... Promise.

So the two treatments... Immunotherapy and Vaccines

Immunotherapy is the treatment to stimulate or restore the ability of the immune (or defense) system in our bodies to fight disease.

Vaccines are products that stimulate a person's immune system to produce immunity to a specific disease and protect that person from said disease.

See where they're going here?  Immunity against Pancreatic Cancer.

To be immune to pancreatic cancer means that you can be exposed to it, in other words, your wayward pancreas can go all postal and try to grow cancer, but still you will not get pancreatic cancer.

Got your attention?  Yes?!  Sounds unbelievably good.  (Skepticism kicking in, but hang with me...)

One new treatment uses a "powerful new technology in genetic engineering that turns our own immune cells into 'specially trained assassins' capable of finding, attaching, and eliminating pancreatic cancer tumors."  Source:  Cancer Research Institute 

And then it goes and gets so very complicated in terms of medical lingo... So, my simple version is this...

The doctors have found a way to turn our T-cells on and give them orders to find and kill the pancreatic cancer cells.  I know, I know... sounds like a Sci-Fi thriller.  But it has shown promising results with leukemia patients and now the immunotherapy clinical trial is working on pancreatic cancer.

(p.s... T-Cells are types of white blood cells that are at the core of our immune responses. They're the good guys!)

Another new treatment in clinical trials right now is called The CRS-207 and GVAX trial.

Right?  It's all alphabet soup, but what does it mean... that's what I really want to know!

So, again, simple, simple...

The alphabet code names stand for two difference anti-cancer vaccines, CRS-207 and GVAX.  When given in sequence the combination essentially trains the body to recognize and attack pancreatic tumors.  The GVAX vaccine, developed by Dr. Elizabeth Jaffee, was designed to "reprogram" tumors to include immune system T-cells (the good guys) which are then able to fight the cancer from within.

Working in the same vein, researchers from the John Hopkins University School of Medicine have found that a combination of the GVAX vaccine and a low-dose chemotherapy may have made the pancreatic cancer more susceptible to the effects of immunotherapy.  This is a rather important finding because pancreatic cancer tumors are considered by many in the medical field to be nonimmunogenic...in other words not very receptive to the immunotherapy idea.  For a more in-depth study of this therapy, you can read the article in its entirety here.

Are you eyes glazing over yet?

Well, to make a long story even longer, the CRS-207/GVAX trial has actually received a breaththrough therapy designation from the FDA for its potential as a treatment for patients with advanced pancreatic cancer.  The FDA made this designation based on the very promising results from a phase II clinical study.  In this study patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer lived an average 46% longer than those not given the trial vaccine/immunotherapy...

Does that mean we've found the cure??? Stop the presses and all that?!

I'm not jumping on that bandwagon yet... This treatment is still in its infancy.   But, oh, the possibilities.

Can you feel the Hope?

And yet, much of what I have shared today can only be found in the Clinical Trials.

So...the question begs... When are Clinical Trials Recommended?  I mean, let's say you have been given the horrifying diagnosis of pancreatic cancer... when do you stay the line with traditional treatments?  When do you take the leap and commit to a clinical trial?

The Cancer Research  Institute addresses this very issue for pancreatic cancer patients:

"Because of the poor prognosis and the lack of effective treatment options, for pancreatic cancer a clinical trial is nearly always preferred over existing treatment options for everything except localized tumors that can be removed surgically.  Specifically, pancreatic cancer patients are encouraged to participate in clinical trials:

* As adjuvant treatment after surgery for local disease
* When pancreatic cancer returns after surgery
* For unresectable disease (inoperable), when patient is in good condition
* After first-line treatment for locally advanced cancer of metastatic, if the patient has good performance status"

The Cancer Research Institute offers a Clinical Trial Finder that helps patients find current clinical trials of immunotherapies for pancreatic cancer that are currently enrolling patients.

Praying that you are not overwhelmed by so much information on the newer immunotherapies and cancer vaccines.  It is a lot to swallow isn't it?!

This is where information overload can de-rail a person fast.

My enouragement to you right now?  Take a Grace Break or two... decisions are made best after Peace has descended to calm your heart and spirit...

Lifting you up in Grace this day, Always,
                                                         Jane

The Ketogenic Diet... and a Very Important Update

Are you sensing a theme here?

The Budwig Diet

The Gerson Therapy Diet

The Ketogenic Diet

It would seem that the predominant alternative pancreatic cancer treatments are diets.

But perhaps "diet" is too simplistic of a term to describe these protocols.  Each therapy or "diet" is devoted to destroying the cancer's ability to grow, hence reversing the pancreatic cancer in its tracks.

Each therapy ascribes to a specific goal.

The Budwig Diet believes that a deficiency of Essential Fatty Acids is the root of the cancer and aims to rectify that deficiency thru a strict diet including the daily addition of Flaxseed Oil and Cottage Cheese.

The Gerson Diet rests on the premise that our bodies natural, immune-system is the perfect healing machine and the goal is to restore our bodies to their full healing potential thru a rigorous plant-based, juicing, coffee enema, and all natural supplement diet.

And today we have The Ketogenic Diet.

This "diet" in essence is built to starve out the cancer cells.  The belief is that cancer cells thrive in a high sugar environment... So, the Ketogenic diet calls for the patient to remove all sugars and reduce carbohydrates to a minimum, then replace them with healthy fats and proteins.  The patient's body then adapts from using the sugars (glucoses) to using ketone for energy.  Cancer cells lack this ability, so when you remove their sugar "fuel" they actively starve themselves to death.  A definite Win for the Pancreatic Cancer Patient!

But does it work?   That would be the million dollar question...

This diet came to my attention several years ago.  It was in the months following mom's passing.  I so wish she had been alive to discuss the possibilities surrounding this diet.

In August of 2012 I shared about the Ketogenic Diet here on the blog...

"Could something as simple as a change in diet really make a difference in the pancreatic cancer fight?

I'm not sure, but there's a growing tide of interest in the Ketogenic Diet.   As you can read in this link, the ketogenic diet is not for the faint of heart.  Removing all sugar, carbohydrates and fruit from your diet is severe in the extreme.

But...

If it worked?  Can you imagine?  If a diet could slow or even stop the progression of the disease?

Mom suffered thru the harsh realities of radiation and chemotherapy.  I think she could have handled the deprivation of sugar... that seems like a walk in the park compared to the brutal side-effects of the current traditional therapies. 

And yet, I'm always cautious.  Claims that seem to good to be true... And so, I invite you to visit with Martin.  He's an amazing gentleman, husband and father.  He also just happens to have pancreatic cancer.  He is documenting his journey on a blog called Fighting Pancreatic Cancer.   And fighting he is.  With all that is at his disposal.  One of his weapons is the Ketogenic Diet.  If you are at all interested in this diet, I encourage you to read through some of his experiences here and here.

As you can see, Martin is using the diet in conjunction with many traditional medical treatments.  This is the premise behind a new study at The Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Iowa.  This clinical trial is currently recruiting participants.  They are seeking to answer the question: 

"Can a ketogenic diet exploit a fundamental flaw in cancer cell metabolism and increase the effectiveness of treatment for non-small cell lung and pancreatic cancer? They are working off the premise that relative to normal cells, cancer cells require more glucose to overcome a defect in their mitochondrial metabolism. The high-fat, low-carbohydrate ketogenic diet deprives cancer cells of glucose and forces them to rely on their flawed mitochondrial metabolism. This causes oxidative stress in the cancer cells and appears to make them more susceptible to chemotherapy and radiation. This clinical trial has been funded to investigate whether this diet can improve outcomes for patients with these cancers."

 As always, I strongly encourage you to talk with your healthcare provider or oncologist before leaping into a new diet.  But if you are even a tiny bit interested...

Seriously, have we got anything to lose? 

Except possibly those loathsome cancer cells..."

In the ensuing 2 years since that post, I have continued to research and here is a Very Important Update...

Shortly after writing the above post, I was heartbroken to learn that Martin had lost his battle with pancreatic cancer.

He believed in the Ketogenic method and truly seemed to respond in the beginning, but to no avail.  Hopes were crushed that maybe, perhaps, surely, he was on to something... 

Since then, I have stumbled across other assessments of the Ketogenic Diet for the cancer fight.  One of those concerned about its use is Dr. Nicholas Gonzalez, who is a strong proponent of natural, holistic treatments for the cancer patient.

Here he is in a video discussing the Ketogenic Diet.  If you are considering the Ketogenic Diet, please listen to this interview carefully...

Dr. Gonzalez obviously does not believe that the Ketogenic Diet is a viable option for the cancer patient and his concern is grounded... As he says, There is no data to support the success of the ketogenic diet to defeat cancer long-term.

Discouraged?  Me too... the Ketogenic Diet sounds very plausible on a scientific level, but where are the long-term survivors?  I have searched and searched and can find no credible pancreatic cancer survivors that have used this diet...

In this case, "Survivors Trump Science"
                                                   ~ Chris Wark

So what's a pancreatic cancer so-journer to do?  Get back up, dust the dirt from our knees and keep on moving... Forward, always Foward...  Is the Ketogenic Diet a complete wash?  Maybe, maybe not.  I wait with you for a clear testimony to its long term effectiveness.  Then, perhaps, the Ketogenic Diet can make a claim towards the healing of pancreatic cancer.

Until then, we're moving forward in the Journey...

In Grace, Always,
                          Jane

The Gerson Therapy

As I have researched Alternative Pancreatic Cancer Treatments, one of the therapies I run across often is The Gerson Therapy.

It is not available in the United States and is also not well received by the physicians in the US.  During mom's pancreatic cancer journey we never even heard of the Gerson Therapy, so understandably, mom did not have any experience with this particular treatment.

However, having said that, I feel honor-bound to offer it as a viable option for those seeking alternative options to battle their pancreatic cancer.

The Gerson Therapy is a natural treatment, and does not rely on dangerous chemotherapy drugs for it's curative benefits.  The proponents of this therapy say it is designed to activate the body’s extraordinary ability to heal itself through an organic, plant-based diet, raw juices, coffee enemas and natural supplements.

Check out this informative page for a basic, easy-to-understand run-down on the Gerson Therapy. 

Could it really be possible to heal the body of pancreatic cancer?  Heal it through a return to a truly healthful, plant-based diet?

Almost sounds to good to be true, doesn't it?  (Hence, my skepticism...hmmmm)

It also is a viable option in my opinion because it does not appear to cause any harm (even if it doesn't cure the cancer).  When mom was considering alternative treatments, her one comment was "first do no harm."  I believe she was very cautious about alternative medicine because so many treatments actually can cause more harm than the disease.

The Gerson Therapy was developed by a German doctor, Max Gerson.  He used a special diet regimen to treat tuberculosis patients and had good success.  When he moved to the United States he gradually began to treat more and more cancer patients that came to him after all traditional treatments had failed.  Slowly he perfected the Gerson Therapy and if the stories are to be believed, he has had tremendous success curing patients of many cancers, including even pancreatic cancer.

He was challenged repeatedly by the traditional medical establishment in the United States and was ultimately shut down here in the States.  His work continues on thru his daughter, Charlotte Gerson and there are 2 inpatient clinics licensed to practice the full Gerson Therapy:  one in Mexico and one in Hungary.

These clinics are not cheap, nor are the treatments usually covered by standard insurance programs.

As I researched the Gerson Therapy, I understandably found the critics... reports that the Gerson Therapy was nothing more than good old-fashioned quackery.

I found one website devoted to analyzing the claims of alternative treatments and they had also researched the Gerson Therapy...  Their findings were somewhat disappointing and inconclusive. And in 2010, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) declared they could find no evidence of usefulness for the Gerson diet. You can read here to see their entire report.

Our website has received a lot of mail through the past 3 years.  Interestingly enough, we have only received 1 note about the Gerson Therapy...

8-16-12
Have you ever heard of the Gerson Therapy? My father was diagnosed December 2011 with pancreatic cancer (4.2 cm X 2.7 cm in the head) which had also spread to the stomach (2.4 cm X 1.7 cm), wrapped around themain veins, 3 lesions in the lungs (0.6 cm each).  He was given 5-7 months and in 8 months the stomach and lung tumors were gone and themain tumor had reduced in size!  He is still doing the diet.  It is the only therapy that has cured pancreatic cancer with patients living cancer free 20+ years later.  Ashley

This testimony would be the only personal experience we have had with the Gerson Therapy.  It would be my earnest prayer that this treatment does indeed work as well as Ashley shares.

If you Google the Gerson Therapy you will come across many, many opinions.  Some positive, some negative...

There are two stories that I found had some merit worth mentioning.

One is an interview with a Pancreatic Cancer Survivor named Kay.  Her story is interesting for many reasons and I would encourage you to watch the whole video interview below.  Kay was diagnosed with metastatic pancreatic cancer and underwent months of traditional treatment including several types of chemotherapy.  Her introduction to the Gerson Therapy was through the insistence of a freind.

Here is her story:

The second is a journal kept by Jess Ainscough.  She shares honestly and very eloquently about her 2 year journey with the Gerson Therapy.

Jess doesn't suffer from pancreatic cancer...her cancer is a rare form of skin cancer called epithelioid sarcoma.  When doctors told her the only chance to survive was surgery and aggressive chemotherapy, she began her research and ended up at the Gerson Institute.  But even though her cancer is not pancreatic, her story is worth reading to get an idea of what the actual therapy is like at the Gerson Clinic and what the demanding routine will entail.

These are just a few of the positive reviews for the Gerson Therapy.  There are just as many negative reviews.

Do I know for certain that the Gerson Therapy will work for you?

Sadly, no... That is the hardest part about this journey.  It seems to work for some, if the above stories are to be believed.  But these cancer survivors are quick to remind us that it doesn't work for everyone...

If you are considering using The Gerson Therapy to treat your pancreatic cancer, there are a few things you should consider...

First of all, it does not mean a complete break from all traditional treatments.  The Gerson Therapy does allow radiation therapy in conjunction with treatment, if the radiation is used appropriately and judiciously.

However, the Gerson Institute has said that chemotherapy must NOT be used during the Gerson Therapy.  Nor do they feel the therapy is as effective on pancreatic cancers after being treated with chemotherapy (although Kay's story above seems to dispute this...so always know that one person's results are not necessarily the standard in treatment successes...)

Perhaps this is one of the most critical reasons I have felt the need to write this series on Mapping the Journey...it's so important to look at all your options before you make crucial decisions on a treatment plan for your pancreatic cancer.  Determining what type of treatment you will pursue affects each succeeding step you take.

The Gerson Therapy... Another option in the fight to find a cure for pancreatic cancer.  Because we need options in this very deadly fight.  Traditional treatments have a well-documented, but distressingly dismal track record in offering hope for the pancreatic cancer patient.  Is it any wonder that we are continually searching for a better way?!

Journeying forward in Hope and Battling through in Grace, Always,
                                                                                                   Jane

The Budwig Diet Protocol

The first on our list of Alternative Pancreatic Cancer treatments is the Budwig Diet Protocol.

We call it the Flaxseed Oil and Cottage Cheese Diet...

And I'm going to start this series off by saying that we don't have any personal testimonies to share with most of these treatments.  I so wish I did.  I would love to tell you that you MUST try this.  Your cancer will hate it!

But... all I have to go on is the testimony of people I have never met.  In my more cynical moments I have a tendency to doubt all the miracle promises.  Because, truly, if this was the miracle for curing pancreatic cancer wouldn't everyone be on the band wagon?  Like, why doesn't my doctor know about this?!!  Hello... I'm dying here... Is he holding out on me?! 

Well, you get the gist.  I get a little dramatic.

However, there is a part of me that does believe some of the explanations... most alternative treatments or therapies are natural... the Big Pharmaceutical companies can't make a dime on them.  (More cynical moments on my part.)  I'm thinking that if the Drug Companies can't make money on the alternative treatments then I'm assuming they won't be promoting them, hence the doctors won't be prescribing them...

So no miracle pancreatic cancer treatments...

But...

What if the cure for pancreatic cancer really did lie in a deficiency in our bodies? 

A scientist in Germany wondered the same thing.  Her name was Dr. Johanna Budwig and out of her research she developed a diet aimed at correcting the unhealthy balance in our bodies.

Her diet protocol has been in use for several decades and according to her followers it has been very successful in helping reverse many types of tumors, even pancreatic cancer tumors.

Dr. Budwig’s research centered on the important role of essential fatty acids in our body. They are called essential because they are critical to good health. We all need essential fatty acids, but our body doesn’t make them. We have to eat them or include them in our daily diet.

Did you get that?   We have to eat essential fatty acids in our daily diet because our body doesn't make them.

Essential fatty acids are found in vegetables, fish, seeds and nuts. There is one thing about these oils though. They will spoil quickly if left in the heat or sunlight for any length of time. So the food industry has developed ways to chemically alter the oils to give them a longer shelf life. These new chemically altered essential fatty acids are turned into harmful, processed oils that are now called hydrogentated or partially hydrogentated fats and oils.

Another news flash... The "new" processed oils or hydrogenated oils are not good for our body.


Dr. Budwig realized that because most people were now consuming the new processed oils (harmful), they were not eating the good essential fatty acids that the body needs.  She found that many people were becoming deficient in two particular essential fatty acids, omega-3 and omega-6. Both of these fatty acids play a big role in protecting our bodies from cancer.

Our bodies use these essential fatty acids, mostly the omega-3, to line and protect the cell membranes. Each and every cell membrane in our body. When we don’t have enough essential fatty acids, the cells are “unprotected.”

Dr. Budwig proposed that there is very likely a connection to the deficiency of essential fatty acids and cancer. She believed that cancer was a result of not “too much” cell growth, but of “faulty” cell growth. When the cells tried to grow and divide, there wouldn’t be enough of the essential fatty acids to completely cover the new cell, so it would remain in the mother cell, but with a full set of new chromosomes. Not normal. Cells gone awry. Cancer potential.

The omega-6 essential fatty acid is primarily used in the production of hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is essential for carrying oxygen to all the cells. Again, critically important to our good health.

Starting to see the significance of essential fatty acids yet? Our body doesn’t make them. We have to eat them. But many of us are deficient in these good essential fats.

Enter Dr. Budwig's Diet Protocol to increase the good essential fatty acids and remove the harmful hydrogenated oils...

Flaxseed Oil and Cottage Cheese Recipe

1 cup cottage cheese
4 tablespoons flaxseed oil (actually started out with 2 tablespoons and worked up)

Mix with blender until oil disappears.  Then add:

Now once the FO and CC are well mixed grind 2 Tbps of whole flaxseeds and add to the mixture. Please note that freshly ground flax seeds must be used within 20 minutes after being ground or they will become rancid. Th - See more at: http://www.budwigcenter.com/the-budwig-diet/#sthash.ZCEyio5u.dpuf

2 tablespoons whole flaxseed, freshly ground
frozen strawberries to taste
1 teaspoon honey, we actually added a little more to sweeten mixture up

Mix all together in blender and refrigerate in covered container. Eat small portions throughout the day.


Here’s why Dr. Budwig combined these two very different products into one diet. She found that the body absorbs the natural essential fatty acids best when combined with a sulfur-based protein. Flaxseed oil is an extremely rich source of both the omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. Cottage cheese is a perfect sulfur-based protein. Put the two together and there you have the basics for the Flaxseed Oil and Cottage Cheese Diet.

If you are considering trying this diet, there are just a few more things to know:

- only use unrefined, cold-pressed flaxseed oil that is sold in a dark, light-blocking bottle and kept refrigerated at all times. I found the Barleans brand at our local health food store.

- always mix the oil and cottage cheese together in a blender or mixer to ensure the essential fatty acids are binding with the sulfur-based proteins.

- when on the flaxseed oil and cottage cheese diet, Dr. Budwig did have some dietary restrictions. She recommended cutting out all animal fats, salad oils, margarines and even butter from your diet, as well as any unrefined sugar, although she allowed unsweetened grape juice and honey. I’ll be honest, we didn’t get quite that restrictive, but in order to be fair and give the diet a chance these are the suggestions she makes.

- start slow at the beginning. Increase the amount of oil gradually. As you know, pancreatic cancer can drastically affect the normal digestive process. Adding in a sudden, huge dose of oils, even good ones, can cause stomach upset. So start slow.

Mom was able to sample the Flaxseed Oil and Cottage Cheese Diet, but we found this information too late in her pancreatic cancer journey to really tell if it made any difference.  We shared her experience on our website here.

If you are interested in learning more about the Budwig Diet Protocol, check out The Budwig Center Website.  You can read some of their actual testimonials here.

And as always, please check with your healthcare team before beginning any new treatment, diet or protocol...

Join us as we continue to pursue Alternative Pancreatic Cancer Treatments as we walk through our series  Mapping the Journey.


Graced to Journey Together,
                                        Jane

Back Roads and the Journey Less Traveled...

This past weekend found us traveling north for The Auction...

Hearts were tense, treading on tender ground.  We knew the emotions we would face as we headed for home...

And so rather than taking the direct route, miles and miles of interstate, Farmer Husband mapped our travel through the Back Roads of Missouri across the Grand Mississippi in the quaint town of Hannibal... It took our minds off the impending work of the coming weekend and provided an anchor of peace to our tattered souls...

The colors were marvelous... the old towns full of character... so much better than the monotous droning of the interstate.

It was an Alternative Route.  And it took us from Point A to Point B just as the Traditional Interstate Route, but oh the sights we saw on our Back Road trip...

 

 

 Perhaps we can begin to think of the Alternative Treatments for pancreatic cancer in the same light. 

Not everyone wants to journey the Back Roads.   Some are perfectly content traveling down the smooth interstate. 

For the next week, our journey takes us to the Alternative Treatments...

Alternative treatments are therapies that extend outside of the normal practices of conventional medicine. Some patients use these therapies in place of the traditional treatments.  And some patients are deciding to integrate these alternative treatments in with their traditional treatment plan for what they consider to be a more well-rounded approach.

I have divided the alternative treatments into two groups.  This is not scientific...it's simply Jane's way of sorting out all the confusing information out there.

I feel that there are alternative curative treatments and alternative supportive therapies.

For example... the Budwig Diet Protocol claims to be a real solution to curing disease... I would classify this as an alternative curative treatment.  But using Barley Life supplements to help maintain blood counts during chemotherapy would be considered an alternative supportive therapy.

We've been pretty honest on the website...mom didn't try very many of the alternative treatments.  The traditional route fit her medical background and she felt "comfortable" with that choice.  But she did try a few of the holistic suggestions, we'll explore those this week too.

And finally, as we explore these alternative therapies, please, please remember this... Before you attempt any new treatment on your own, we encourage you to talk it over with your doctor and cancer team. I strongly urge you to consider all alternative treatments very carefully.  It is true that food-derived antioxidants, minerals and even essential fatty acids play an important role in our health. Making the decision to eat a particular food or natural product for benefit should be done only after much research. The information we are discussing here is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for advice from a health care professional. It should not be used for diagnosis or treatment of any health problem or construed as a prescription of a medication or other treatment.

We're heading down some Back Roads on this Journey.  Join me?   You never know what we'll find around the next bend...

In Grace, Always,
                        Jane

Same Team! Same Team!

There's a story about a dedicated, but harried T-Ball coach...

If you've ever been to a T-ball game you know the score, especially for the first few games of the year.  The tiny players have no clue.  When a batter hits the ball, he might run to third instead of first.  Or a lucky player may catch a ball, but then in the excitement of the catch, forget to throw it to first.

In this particular play, the coach watched with disbelief as a ball was hit and rolled past every player out to the fence. Several players began running after it, and in the process reached the ball at the same time and began fighting over it.  At his wit's end, the coach hollered from the side line, "Same team! Same team!"   The players spun and looked at him.  Then one gave up the struggle while the other threw the ball into second base.

That one-liner speaks volumes.  Not just for T-ball players, but for everyone playing in the game of life.

Same team!  Same team!

If one cancer patient decides on traditional medical treatment and another decides on alternative care, the bottom line is that we're all on the Same Team.

Striving to find wholeness and healing.

Judgemental opinions, devisive posturing, and critical ranting do nothing but hurt the cause.  We are, after all, on the Same Team...

Mom chose to walk the traditional treatment road using Gemzar as her mainstay treatment, but there are other chemos being used in this fight as well as surgeries and radiation therapies.  And then there are others that may choose a more holistic approach, alternative and natural.  We will talk more about these therapies too in the coming days.

I believe we can all learn from each other's experiences...it is the heart of this website... to share, to listen, to be encouraged, to hope, to learn... some where out there lies the cure for this abominable cancer.  What if the cure is found in alternative therapies?  What if the answer is in a yet to be tried chemotherapy?  Hanging on to the Hope that someone reading these words will be part of that Victory.  It matters little to me whether it be a pharmaceutical chemo drug or an all natural herbal remedy.  I will be shouting it from the rooftops!

Several years ago Elizabeth Edwards struggled and lost her fight with breast cancer.  In an early interview, she wisely noted that, "The strength to fight the cancer is inside each of us... each one chooses the course that is best for them."

Each cancer journey is truly unique, the nightmare part withstanding.  To those struggling with what's right, what course of treatment, or which direction to turn, remember that we are all pulling for your healing.  Find the course, the path that is right for you.  And never, never, let the critical opinions of others sway you.

May you always find strength in the fact that you are part of a much larger team.  A team that is fighting hard for a cure.   We are all on the Same Team!   One day soon, it will be the Winning Team!

Journeying on in Grace, Always,
                                          Jane