Sorry
for the delay! It seems like a LOT has happened in the very short week
that we’ve been back from Mexico! Of course, there’s the expected
unpacking & catching up, but one of our sweet dogs had a medical
emergency & passed away right after we returned home! It was truly a
bolt out of the blue shock! Then, I had to have some dental surgery
done before my immune system was fully cranked up to combat my cancer
(more on my immune system below). That removed a few days of
productivity, also! Regardless, I know a lot of folks want to know the
details of the trip to Oasis of Hope, the hospital in Mexico; so I’ll
try to explain the experience.
I
had already received a detailed treatment plan from Oasis of Hope
before we left, so we had an idea of what to expect upon arrival. In a
nutshell, the treatments included detox sessions followed by mineral
replenishments; massive IV doses of specific vitamins & blood
oxygenation; ozone & UV light blood treatments; & a specific
vaccine based on my cancer cells - a kind of personalized immunotherapy.
All of this would be wrapped around high doses of cancer specific oral
supplements & nutrients - like 12 pills with each meal. The three
week trip included transportation for two from the San Diego airport
& back; a hospital room with not only a hospital bed for me but also
a double bed for Christian; healthy buffet-style meals for us both;
classes on my follow-up care, expectations of treatment, & the
dietary restrictions of being a cancer patient; off-site lunch &
exercise outings; plus even emotional & spiritual support for both
the patients & their companions.
We
arrived on a Sunday & got a feel for the place. At lunch &
dinner that day, we met other patients who shared an overview of the
procedures with us. We quickly learned a few things: (1) It’s sometimes a
challenge to distinguish the patients from the companions; (2) people
have come here from all over the world; (3) it’s okay to ask “What type
of cancer do you have?”; & (4) there are other people who are here
for their initial 3 week treatment - just like me, & there are
others who are here for “booster” visits of varying durations of 5 - 10
days. In the Dining Room, the round tables all seat six people. This
community seating is intentional & ensures the availability of
interaction with & support by other patients & caregivers. The
fellowship of shared stories & journeys with those who are at your
same level of treatment creates
a bond of both information & inspiration, but the knowledge &
insight which can be gained from the returning patients is truly
eye-opening! These interactions were absolutely invaluable! Yes, you
could also send your companion downstairs & have them bring food up
to your room, you could even phone the kitchen & have someone on the
kitchen staff bring meals up to your room. But the interaction amongst
the patients is a backbone of support & a wealth of knowledge! Plus,
the friendships which were made in that short amount of time are
extremely close! We’re all in this together; patients, companions,
family. If you haven’t seen my Facebook photo album entitled “Faces of
Oasis”, please do so! Try to remember that it’s a hospital.
On
Day 1, as I was moving the table & chairs by the window &
getting things unpacked & organized, a nurse came in to check the
vital signs of the new patient. Christian was sitting on the side of the
double bed. Naturally, she approached him with the blood pressure cuff!
Oops! Wrong person! It’s the
one on the other side of the room, throwing luggage around! SHE’S the
sick one! With few exceptions, it became a guessing game to select “the
patient” when a new group or couple entered a common area. There were
some who were obvious by their lesions, gait, or even wheelchairs; but
most folks were just like us & had NOT endured any “conventional”
cancer treatment prior to arrival at Oasis of Hope. Just like me, most
folks’ cancers were found accidentally, & they did a tremendous
amount of independent research before deciding that this was the place
which best resonated with their way of thinking. We all compared stories
of how we reached this decision & came to this place. Some stories
were inspiring, others were heartbreaking! The common denominator
throughout was that the chances of survival were so much greater if a
patient had not received any “conventional” cancer abuse... ah,
“treatment”. Those who had endured radiation &/or systemic chemo had
a MUCH more difficult recovery since they had to recover from both the
previous treatment & from their cancer. We learned within the first
week that some people couldn’t overcome & climb that hill. A dear
friend died on our first full weekend there. We were devastated. This is
a place of healing, of recovery! Our brains & our hearts hadn’t
even allowed ROOM for such a tragedy. However, we soon realized that the
patient had come to Oasis of Hope as a last resort, not as a first
choice. They had done the MD Anderson gauntlet... the damage caused by
those “conventional” treatments was just too much to overcome. We
witnessed another patient going down the same path as we were nearing
out departure date. It’s very hard to reconcile, but the difference was
that peripheral damage had been done during their prior treatments. That
was a common denominator. I soon visualized that those folks who had
experienced “conventional” cancer treatment had to first climb a
mountain of recovery before they could reach a summit to even begin
addressing their cancer issues. I’m SO fortunate that I discovered my
cancer before it became symptomatic & we had the curiosity to
research alternative treatments to “conventional” methodology. Upon
discovery of my cancer, we had no choices. We were immediately directed
to submit to massive amounts of total chemo with assurances that it was
my ONLY chance of surviving beyond my six month prognosis (which was
spoken back in April). There was no mention at all of alternative
treatments. Due to MD Anderson’s red tape & procrastination, we were
given the gift of some time & we had the initiative to do the
research - completely on our own - to compare programs, modalities,
& geography in an attempt to hitch our trust to the correct source.
Yes, I firmly believe that this is correct source. I cannot state that
loudly enough! Meeting a patient from Scotland who has been aligned with
Oasis of Hope for 14 years; another from the U.K. who arrived at Oasis
in a wheelchair last April with breast cancer that had metastasized
& spread into crippling spinal cancer & is now fit enough to not
only walk but also dance; someone from Australia who’s been returning
for a couple of years for immunotherapy boosters; & countless others
who gave us the assurance that, although it’s not an easy program to
follow at home, it’s absolutely life-saving. They all appear to be
perfectly healthy! Unlike radiation - which burns up the tumor & the
surrounding areas, or systemic chemotherapy - which annihilates one’s
entire immune system, changing the environment of your body into a
non-cancer friendly host has the capacity to stop cancer in it’s
tracks... hold it at bay. One of the doctors used this analogy: You can
bomb a facility, you can completely disable it if your desire is to stop
it’s production... or you can
simply stop the employees from going to work. This work stoppage is just
as effective as bombing the plant, but nobody dies. That’s the
difference in a systemic chemo blitz verses changing the environment of
the cancer. Now, since I’m already at Stage IV, I WILL be receiving
chemo in pills in a few weeks. I hated to see it on my meds list, &
they assured me that I don’t have to take it if I’d rather not. But this
dose is very low-grade & it’s a short term course. I’ll keep my
hair, & nausea shouldn’t be a debilitating issue. At Oasis, they don’t
reject all conventional treatments, they just temper them down to a
tolerable level. If they can now attack some of my cancer cells while
they’re vulnerable, they’d like to try it. This integrative approach
brings as many elements of cancer fighting into play as is possible. The
immune system is being stimulated into overdrive. Not surprisingly,
it’s expected that I’ll feel worse before I feel better. My cancer cells
will fight back as my immune system kicks it all up a notch. I can’t
question or halfway trust the program. I’m fully on board.
I
have friends praying for my “remission”. I love them for it, but it’s
simply not realistic. Success, 100% success, for me would be to co-exist
with my cancer - to stop it as it sits, for it to remain dormant within
my body... to no longer provide a friendly “host” environment in which
cancer can flourish - all the while providing absolutely no residual
damage to my body. Tricky, eh? It wont be easy, but it’s possible. My
life is now completely centered round living with cancer, period. I’ll
be taking truckloads of pills daily for the rest of my life in order to
stay alive. My dietary restrictions are incredibly strict, with very
little wiggle room. The hospital primary physician said that, when we
get discouraged, just remember these words: “If this is what I have to
eat, I’d rather die.” Take those words to heart, then go ahead &
make your menu choices! My primary goal from now on is to maintain a
healthy body in order to remain functional, but a body that’s not
comfortable for my cancer cells to flourish. It’s a very fine line. But,
we heard it over & over again: “Work the program! It’ll keep you
alive & vital! It works!”. Cancer cells are parasites that can kill
the host. Therefore, I need to change the environment so the cancer
cells no longer thrive & act as parasites, continuing to grow. To
dismiss the need for changes would be allowing the cancer cells to
thrive & grow. I’m hoping that, in time, this strict dietary
regiment & the abundance of oral supplements will become second
nature. Right now, it’s still pretty overwhelming!
Daily IV infusions of Vitamin
B17 (laetrile), Vitamin C (extremely high doses have been proven to
kill cancer cells - just like chemo), Vitamin K3, & oxygenating
agents work to make my body “inhospitable” to cancer. Again, cancer
won’t leave, but it won’t progress - THAT’S success! This brings me to,
“Okay, but why Mexico?”. Incredibly, the massive doses of vitamin
therapies are actually illegal in the U.S.! WHAT??? That’s right. The
FDA won’t condone it as a bona fide cancer treatment in this country.
How’s THAT for a paradox! Plus, remember that these alternative
treatments, & there are quite a few, aren’t even mentioned as
potential options to cancer patients when they’re diagnosed. Think about
THAT! Are you getting angry yet? I’m SO fortunate that my Pulmonologist
didn’t try & dissuade me when we mentioned that we were considering
Mexico! I don’t know that she could have stopped me, but she could have
made it difficult. She didn’t. She was supportive with this choice!
When she phoned with the results of my PET Scan on August 1st, she said,
“Pack your bags - the cancer’s growing! Get to Mexico now!”. Her
support was invaluable! We heard from many Oasis patients that they had
to fight their primary physicians, family, & friends in order to get
to Oasis for treatment! What a horrible shame! I wonder how many people
died while trying to get there or even while arguing with their
“personal support systems”! Again, I’m just SO fortunate that NO ONE
tried to discourage me! Okay, let’s get the train back on the track...
For
three times weekly during the first 2 weeks, I had a pint of blood
removed, treated with an Ozone treatment, run through an irradiating UV
light to remove bacteria & to make that removed blood inhospitable
to cancer cells, then immediately replaced. Additionally, I took
oxygenating oral supplements, along with a truckload of other natural
supplements, which accomplished the same purpose. Once a week, during
those first two weeks, I was placed into a “hyperthermia” chamber.
Hyperthermia... that’s right. It’s an enclosure that cranks up
ridiculous amounts of heat in an effort to force your immune system to
react as if your body has a fever in order to get it moving &
attacking foreigners - the cancer cells. Let me tell you, THIS was some
miserable shit! The temperatures were cranked up to around 114(f) for a
few hours; I was being cooked! But a dear friend had sent me some Bob
Marley & Sanskrit music to help me get through the tough times.
These, in addition to my own James Taylor archives, allowed me to take a
trip away from the misery & get into my head instead of just
concentrating on my body. Obviously, those first two weeks were really
intensive, but things changed completely during the last week.
On
our second Thursday in residence, which was Day 11, I submitted a blood
sample to an independent but co-functioning lab. The sample was for the
purpose of defining my specific cancer cells & formulating (what
I’ll refer to as) immunotherapy. Remember my previous months of Notes? I
failed EVERY conventional test for immunotherapy & targeting
matches on the books. But this is different. This creates a personal
vaccine. The name is Dendritic Cell Vaccine - Google it! This Dendritic
vaccine is like a personalized immune augmentation. The Dendritic Cells
proliferate within the body, which takes about 3 months. A few days
after the blood draw on Thursday, that blood was IV’d back into me. It
was enhanced in some ways, but missing some plasma. That missing plasma
was held back in order to create the distinct vaccine
which was specific to MY cancer cells. During that last week in
residence, on the following Monday, Wednesday, & Friday, I was given
these vaccines in my own plasma. The first vaccine, on Monday, was
debilitating! My stomach was absolutely torn to pieces!!! Still, on one
hand we have a life-saving immunotherapy vaccine verses an afternoon of
gastric purging. Yeah, no problem - I can tolerate an afternoon of
cramping & diarrhea in order to save my life! Bring it on!
Thankfully, the vaccines were smooth as could be on Wednesday &
Friday - no more purging! My FB friends said that this was probably the
last of my detoxing! They were right! Once it was over on Monday, it was
over! I was okay.
Now
that we’re back home, the program is on hold for a few weeks - at least
for all outward appearances. But this three week dormancy allows the
Dendritic Cells to accomplish that proliferation that I mentioned
earlier. This also allows my system to “normalize” while this immune
system army is being reinforced by the new super cells. Shortly,
I’ll begin the lifelong regiment of supplements & nutraceuticals
which will keep me alive. Honestly, it’s an absolutely RIDICULOUS amount
of pills, but I have no choice - this is a component of the plan that
will keep me alive. We’re slowly learning what we can & can’t
consume as food, but it may
take a while for it to be second nature! To follow this program at home
is a challenge, but to do so while on the road, like at the AKA
convention in October, will be a struggle! We’ll do the best that we
can! In the middle of November, I’ll get a full blood count & a new
PET Scan for comparison to the ones done in August. We’ll return to
Oasis of Hope for a week at the end of November for my reassessment
& my booster treatments, IV’s, & vaccines. At that time, we’ll
be comparing the August 1st PET Scan & blood work to the November
results. At THAT time, I’ll have had the full force in-house treatments,
this “normalizing” hiatus & build up of the Dendritic Cells, &
the reapplication of the oral supplements which will begin in a few
weeks. One of the Oasis doctors refer to this as “Evidence of Benefit”.
THIS will be the telling point. To try & evaluate results too early
would be premature & would most likely just be disappointing &
even discouraging. We have to be patient & allow the process to
work. I like that phrase - “Evidence of Benefit”!
So,
there you have it. I have, WE have, absolutely NO DOUBT that Oasis of
Hope is the program which will allow me to coexist with this cancer
thing. NO DOUBT. To try to express my relief at not being funnelled into
the “conventional” & FDA approved treatments for cancer would only
come up short! To have gone down that path would have only hastened my
death... I have NO DOUBTS about THAT fact, either! I’m
truly the most fortunate person imaginable! The discovery of my cancer
was purely by accident. Once it was discovered, I was given just six
months to live... that was six months ago. I’m now surrounded by people
who can manipulate their cancer cells into remaining dormant. That’s
incredible! I can do that, too! No, I won’t be “going into remission”.
This will be my life until I die. Here’s my new outlook: “I’m living
with, & am coexisting with cancer. We’re reaching an agreement. I
won’t try & kill it, & it won’t try & kill me.” If I kill my
cancer, I’ll likely die in the process. Well, THAT defeats the purpose!
Remember, I’m at Stage IV - there IS no Stage V. I have to respect the
cancer, it’s a part of me. But I don’t have to feed it & watch it
grow! Yes, I’m EXTREMELY fortunate! I still have absolutely no symptoms.
If it had continued to hide inside of me, I would never have known.
That’s chilling!
Thanks
for tagging along with me, my friends! Your continued love &
support means more than you’ll EVER know! I’m SO grateful!
- Gayle -
