Breast Cancers

Breast cancer is a disease that affects both men and women and is among the most common cancers. According to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, 1 in 8 women will develop invasive breast cancer in her lifetime. Breast cancer is a life-threatening illness, but it can also be treatable with early detection and other preventative measures.

Breast cancer is one of the commonest conditions seen at the Healing Zone and they have presented at various stages of disease as well as having failed conventional treatment. Fortunately, it is also one of the cancers where healing therapies have been very successful.

CASE 1 – Mrs. M, 54 years (Triple Negative Breast Cancer)

Mrs. M was a mother of 3 children and was diagnosed with breast cancer. She had a 4 cm growth on the right breast with axillary lymph node (LN) involvement. She underwent a lumpectomy and axillary lymph node clearance. Histopathology was triple negative breast cancer. She was advised adjuvant radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

She was extremely averse to the dangers of radiotherapy and chemotherapy, and she declined these treatments. She was given 18 months to live by the Oncologist. Almost 3 months after surgery, she turned up at the Healing Zone (ICCM) looking for other options. She was well educated and a university lecturer and was aware of her undertaking. She went through 3 months of the DRV protocol and a PET -CT and tumor marker analysis confirmed a remission.

She remained well for more than 4 years. Unfortunately, during the early months of the covid pandemic she went through a period of severe stress and the cancer recurred. Fortunately, the recurrence was confined to the breast. She was persuaded by her oncologist to give chemotherapy a trial. However, after one dose she terminated the treatment as she could not tolerate the side effects.

She agreed to a mastectomy and followed it up with adjuvant DRV protocol. She recovered well.

AS she was planning to perform the ‘Umrah’ she decided to take the covid vaccine. Unfortunately, she developed some headaches, dizziness, and extreme lethargy. 2 months after the second dose, her cancer recurred – chest wall, axilla, bone metastasis.

She is currently undergoing radiotherapy with IVC support. She is, however, in good physical condition with normal performance status.

CASE 2 – MDM LHS (STAGE IV BREAST CANCER)

Mdm. LHS was a 41-year-old mother of 2 children, who had breast cancer first diagnosed in 2015. At the time of diagnosis, it was stage 2 cancer and the advice from the oncologist was for a mastectomy to be followed by chemotherapy and radiotherapy. She could not accept this and therefore defaulted on treatment. Not only that, but she also did not seek any alternative options or therapies.

About 6 months later, the cancer rapidly progressive, and she developed metastases – lung, liver and bones. Her cervical vertebra (C7) collapsed (fractured) and she suffered a great deal of pain.

The orthopedic surgeon strongly recommended a spinal fixation procedure as there was a serious concern of an unstable spine collapsing “spinal cord compression” and paralysis. However, she was adamant and could not be persuaded to undergo the surgery.

A friend then recommended the Healing Zone as she was too scared to meet her oncologist.

In March 2016, when she was first seen at the Healing Zone, she had obviously a very advanced disease and had given up hope of a cure.

It took considerable effort and counselling to make her belief again in herself and the powers of healing from within. Her 2 young children (aged 11 and 13) became a driving force.

With the initiation of the DRV protocol, her symptoms gradually subsided and she grew in confidence and followed her lifestyle and dietary changes diligently.

By the end of 6 weeks, she was completely asymptomatic and was able to undertake all her normal household chores.

Her tumor markers had also normalized. For additional confirmation around 3 months from initiation of treatment a PET CT scan was done, and this showed no evidence of metabolically active disease.

Discussion
Breast cancer is the commonest cancer in women.  Mdm. LHS was very unfortunate to be afflicted with the disease at a very young age.  Given no other options than surgery/ chemotherapy/ radiotherapy, she delayed treatment this has resulted in her cancer to reach a life-threatening stage including the risk of paralysis. Even in that advanced state, healing based therapies were able to help her overcome her cancer.   One important message to all cancer patients is ‘DO NOT GIVE UP HOPE’.

CASE 3 – MDM CLK (STAGE IV BREAST CANCER)

Mdm. CLK was a 41-year-old married lady with no children. In 2017 her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 69. Her mother underwent the full gamut of conventional therapies (mastectomy, chemotherapy and hormone therapy). However, after the 5th cycle of chemotherapy she unfortunately succumbed to complications (neutropenic sepsis) and died a miserable death.  The last few weeks of her mother’s suffering etched a deep scar in Mdm. CLK’s psyche.

Almost 9 months later, Mdm. CLK was herself afflicted with an aggressive form of breast cancer.  Having seen firsthand her mother’s painful death she avoided all forms of conventional treatment. She sought complementary and alternative (CAM) therapies using a range of modalities (herbs, extreme diet restrictions, meditations etc.). Unfortunately for her, the cancer ravaged her frail body and she became seriously debilitated.

In 2018 (9 months after her cancer diagnosis) she presented to the Healing Zone. She was in a wheelchair unable to walk due to spinal cord compression from a metastasis at C6 and she weighed 36 KG. She had large metastatic lesions in the liver (with severe liver impairment), lungs and most of her large bones and fungating breast lump. Her kidney function was also impaired.

She was adamant she would not take any conventional treatment. She was resuscitated physically, and her nutritional state improved with a modified Gerson’s diet with frequent soups and juices and detoxification using coffee enemas.

Subsequently with the addition of HDIVC and laetrile she made a stunning turnaround. She got out of her wheelchair after 2 weeks and started light exercises. Over the next 2 months her cancer markers were on a steady downtrend with improvement in liver and kidney functions.

Her hope and belief were restored, and she was more open to therapeutic suggestion.

As her cancer was not yet in remission by the 4th month of treatment, Mdm. CLK was agreeable to the limited use of chemotherapy.  Fitter and more confident of herself she underwent 3 rounds of chemotherapy (with adjuvant IVC support) with a complete remission, and at this juncture she decided to stop further chemotherapy.

Discussions   Many patients are terrified of chemotherapy and avoid it at all costs. The delay in instituting the correct treatment meant Mdm. CLK was nearly paralyzed and had put her life at risk. Oncologists need to be more open and inclusive, taking on board patient’s fears and looking beyond a cookie cutter approach. The healing-based therapies helped regain her health and confidence and with the approach, we were able to introduce chemotherapy at an opportune time to overcome the residual cancer. And with concurrent use of IVC and nutrient support we were able to protect her vital organs and reduce the side-effects of chemotherapy.

CASE 4 – MRS TB (STAGE 3 TRIPLE-VE INVASIVE BREAST CANCER)

Mrs. TB, who has 5 children, was 41 years when she was first diagnosed with breast cancer. Biopsy confirmed it to be a triple negative invasive ductal cancer with enlarged axillary lymph nodes. She had a lumpectomy and axillary lymph node excision. She was designated stage 3 (T₂N₂M_x).

She received a radiation implant intra-operatively. As this was a very aggressive cancer, she was advised to undergo adjuvant chemotherapy. Mrs. TB and her husband were completely against any chemotherapeutic intervention. For almost 6 months she defaulted on treatment.  When she eventually discovered the possibility of a healing-based approach, she visited the Healing Zone.

Mrs. TB had a poorly controlled diabetes, and this was her biggest challenge – dietary changes in line with the DRV protocol.

For the next two years she remained cancer free until a period of recklessness and stress that led to a local recurrence at the site of the previous surgery.

A wide local excision followed with HDIVC, and laetrile and local hyperthermia was sufficient to contain the problem and a repeat PET – CT 6 months later showed no evidence of metabolically active disease.

She remained well for another 3 years, leading a full and active life and expanding her business.  With the onset of the Covid 19 epidemic and the harsh business conditions she went through a period of extreme stress. At this time an axillary swelling (1.5cm) was noted and on PET – CT scan was metabolically active (denoting a cancer). There was no other FDG and disease in the rest of the body.  A surgical excision was considered an ideal option, but the breast surgeon deemed it risky as it was too close to the axillary blood vessels.  Targeted radiotherapy was considered. Unfortunately, Mrs. TB did not want that option.

18 months later from the appearance of the axillary recurrence she remains well and fully engaged with her responsibility as a mother and her business.

Discussion   Mrs. TB was unequivocally told at her first diagnosis that she had an aggressive cancer, and her only options were an aggressive course of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. And failure to do so would mean she had her life cut short to 12 – 18 months. Despite this devastating pronouncement (often becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy) Mrs. TB took it upon herself to take control of her life and her health. The healing-based approach, which was uniquely tailor made to her very exacting conditions, was able to keep the cancer at bay and most importantly, afford her 6 very useful years of fulfilling life with her young children. The story doesn’t end here, and she could very well have a more challenging clinical situation in the future. We still have many other treatment options including chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy in the arsenal and this can be employed when necessary. Conventional oncologists should take note of the viability of incorporating Healing based therapies into their treatment armamentarium.   At 41 Mrs. TB was at the prime of her life, it is vitally important that treatment considerations are made, which will protect and enhance her quality of life.