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A mother's hope

KerryMD — Thur, 15 May 2008 03:26:55 GMT

If you are looking under pediatric cancer on this site, my heart goes out to you. But mine is a message of hope with a (so far) happy ending.

My son Andrew was diagnosed with Ewing's Sarcoma just before his sixth birthday. When we met Dr. Chang, my son was twelve and had just finished chemo for his second recurrence. He has had over 40 rounds of chemo, 12 surgeries, including removal of the lower lobe of his lung, and several rounds of radiation. He has the bone of a 40 year-old woman in his arm.
   I am a pediatrician.  I went to Dr. Chang with minimal expectations.  I thought he would give my son a vitamin or an herb. Grape seed extract or garlic.  Dr. Chang knew what I had in mind, but he gave us so much more.  He realized that Andrew is at great risk for a recurrence.  Yet, as a currently cancer-free child, and an active, happy one at that, he said that he must "first do no harm." He explained the theories behind cancer therapies and recommended an off-label use of an apoptotic agent, one that is used for children with rare metabolic disorders, but is being researched for cancer use.
      My son has been taking the medicine for about 15 months now. He has no side effects. We are so happy to be doing something proactive to keep him healthy. He turned 13 this year and had his Bar Mitzvah. We never thought we would see that day. He just had a good scan. It is a mother's hope that 5 years from now I will send my son to college wondering if Dr. Chang's medicine really made the difference.
     I have recommended Dr. Chang to a family of a young woman with a recurrence. As a doctor, I refer to other doctors every day. I feel confident that the patients I send to Dr. Chang will receive a thorough, educated and innovative opinion.
     Good Luck!

Forum: Pediatric

A mother's hope - updated

KerryMD — Thur, 15 May 2008 03:15:02 GMT

I last wrote in April 2007 and now in May 2008, I think an update is warranted. Andrew is strong and happy. Since I last wrote he had his first date and his first girlfriend. He had his Bar Mitzvah in December and did great. His chest CT, yesterday, was clean of any cancer. He is still on his apoptotic agent every day. He is captain of a Relay for Life team and we are planning a family cruise. Life is good.

Forum: Dr. Raymond Chang

Trip to Duderstadt

Marcia — Wed, 26 Dec 2007 18:14:32 GMT

I have recently returned from Dr. Nesselhut's clinic in Duderstadt, Germany where I received Dendritic Cell Vaccine for stage IV melanoma. If you are considering this form of therapy you might find an account of my experience helpful.

First and foremost, the entire experience was very positive. Dr. Nesselhut and his son (who is also a doctor at the clinic) are extremely bright, well trained physicians who are very caring and good at communicating. The clinic provides very detailed and accurate travel information to prospective patients which makes the trip to Duderstadt relatively stress free.

I stayed at the Zum Lowen Hotel which is a five minute walk from the clinic. The hotel is very nice, has good food and a helpful english-speaking staff. It is quite likely that you will meet other clinic patients staying at the hotel as Dr. Nesselhut has a large international clientele.

The clinic staff is also english speaking and very friendly. The leukapherese procedure involves inserting two IV lines but other than that is totally painless. In fact I watched a hilarious DVD and laughed during the entire procedure.

Duderstadt is an extremely picturesque little town. It would probably become boring to stay there for a whole week while the vaccine is being made so if you feel well enough to travel...I would reccommend it. You can either train to other cities or fly as I did (to Rome!) on a low cost airline from Hanover.

The thing I was most uncertain about was how many days to allow for this trip. The following itinerary proved to be just right.
Day 1...Overnight flight to Frankfurt.
Day 2...Travel to Duderstadt and meeting with Dr. Nesselhut at Clinic.
Day 3...Leukapheresis
Day 4...Flight to Rome from Hanover
Days 5-8...Rome
Day 9...Return to Duderstadt and appointment with Dr. Nesselhut
Day 10...Vaccination (with flu like symptoms for about 16 hours)
Day 11...Travel to Frankfurt Airport Hotel
Day 12...Return morning flight to US

One thing I should mention is that each person's treatment will be tailored to his or her needs. I met one patient who was just staying briefly for the leukapheresis and then returning to NYC for the first vaccination and another patient who was spending several weeks in Duderstadt and receiving other treatments from Dr. Nesselhut.

To date I have had one follow-up vaccination with Dr. Chang is NYC. To my delight, Dr. Nesselhut who transports the vaccine on a monthly basis was present for that office visit. I continue to feel well and am very hopeful about this treatment. I am unbelieveably grateful to both Dr. Chang and Dr. Nesselhut for their valiant collaboration in making this therapy available.

Forum: Dendritic Vaccine

More on Dr Chen

Alexandra — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 01:19:49 GMT

I had a terrific experience with Dr Chen. After 2 unsuccessful IVF cycles I decided to do acupuncture with IVF for the next round. I knew it certainly couldn't hurt. I was referred by a friend who was treated at Meridian while doing IVF and for her it was successful the first time. In preparation for IVF, I started seeing Dr Chen twice a week one month before starting. Dr Chen is very thorough, efficient and has an easy manner. I found the treatments very relaxing and calming. I would leave feeling centered and at peace. And in the end I didn't have to go back for IVF. That month I got pregnant spontaneously. I was overjoyed and relieved. Did acupuncture get me pregnant? I know that acupuncture prepared my body and calmed my mind. And that certainly can only do wonders when trying to conceive. Thank you, Dr Chen.

Forum: Dr. Yu Chen - Acupuncture

Forever grateful

PSZ — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 15:05:02 GMT

We are thrilled and cannot thank Dr. Yee enough for all she's done. I am in my first trimester after having infertility issues due to a luteal phase defect and best of all we did it naturally! I thank Dr. Yee for getting me on a healthy plan. I am really grateful to her for I now feel my body is in really good and clean shape having addressed a lot of my symptoms and nutritional issues and taking the right things to support my immune system, my gut, and all the expert advice on supplementation. I also really appreciate all the time, patience and thinking outside of the box she provided. I also respect the way she took my point of view into consideration the whole time. We are so appreciative and are forever grateful!!

Forum: Dr. Pamela Yee

Child Surviving Brain & Spine Cancer & Doing Well!

angelalam — Mon, 23 Jul 2007 21:59:53 GMT

My current 4 year old daughter was dx with an Anaplastic Ependymoma when she was 21 months. Surgery followed by 6 months of high dose chemo w/ Stem Cell rescue resulted with a complete response to treatment, however, 6 months later the cancer returned. Next treatment, radiation to entire brain and spine. The end result was unclear since the followup MRI appeared as if it grew through radiation. That's when we enlisted the help of Dr. Chang. His knowledge and experience made the difference in my daughter's quality of life and since working with Dr. Chang, her cancer has been stable...over a year and half of good scans! Also, his efficient and caring staff always brings on a smile to whomever walks in...especially my daughter.

Forum: Pediatric

Dr. Yee and fertility

gracemabel — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 15:35:05 GMT

I came to Meridian after trying for nearly 2 years to get pregnant. As I had just turned 40 and my husband is 56, it was obvious we needed to seek aggressive treatment. My hope was to go the holistic route and get pregnant naturally.

Meridian, Dr. Yee, Dr. Chen, Aixa, Nadia and Raquel are terrific. From my first appointment, they gave me the best possible attention, respect and professional care. There wasn't a moment that I did not feel their kindness and consideration for my condition and our goal. And treatment was a success within 3 weeks!

Today I am 3 months into a very healthy pregnancy. I know in my heart and it is with true gratitude that I say Meridian is a huge part of the reason my husband and I have realized our dream of having a baby. Once my pregnancy was confirmed, I was in great need of an OB/GYN doctor. Meridian was also helpful in finding one for me, as I would only trust their referral.

Thanks again to the wonderful doctors and staff at Meridian!!

Forum: Dr. Pamela Yee

Dr. Chang provides HOPE

weiji — Fri, 25 May 2007 02:30:22 GMT

I was diagnosed with advanced gastric cancer a little over a month ago. At the time of diagnosis, I was advised someone with my condition would have 6-9 months to live and the standard form of treatment would be chemotherapy since my condition is non-operable. I was referred to Dr. Chang by three different individuals who all highly spoke of him. In the month in which Dr. Chang has followed my case, he has provided treatment options well beyond the standard chemotherapy protocol. He also has provided insightful answers to the questions addressed to him. Additionally, we find him to be an extremely experienced oncologist, possessing extensive knowledge of alternatives for treatment extending beyond US borders, compassionate in empathizing with the patient and most importantly, providing us reasonable HOPE by offering treatments which cannot be obtained otherwise.

We feel very fortunate to have been referred to Dr. Chang and strongly recommend him to prospective patients.

Sincerely,

Weiji

Forum: Dr. Raymond Chang

From PCOS to new mom

blessedmom — Sat, 12 May 2007 03:08:06 GMT

Meeting Dr. Yee was a true blessing. In the summer of 2005, I got off the pill in the hope that I would get pregnant soon after. Come November 2005 I was still not pregnant. Multiple blood tests and ultrasound revealed that I had PCOS and the fertility specialist at the time said that only Metformin will help. However, I was looking for a holistic approach and was determined to see if I could use alternative medicine to help my situation.

I met with Dr. Yee on January 19, 2006. Blood tests were ordered. the treatment plan was to first regulate my menstrual flow through accupuncture and to take vitamins, supplements etc to replenish all the vital vitamins I was lacking. I found out I was pregnant April 2006, just three months after treatment!!! I am not saying that this will be the same for everyoone, we are all very different; different systems, different lifestyles etc but it is sooooo worth it to give alternative medicine especially from Dr. Yee and her team a chance!!

My daughter is now 4 months old and EVERYDAY I thank God for leading me to Meridian Medical and ESPECIALLY to DR. YEE.

Thanks Dr. Yee!!!!

Forum: Dr. Pamela Yee

From Hopeless to Hope - Thank You

Juliana1743 — Thur, 19 Apr 2007 14:10:32 GMT

My mother, who first had breast cancer in 1989, a recurrence in 2004 and a second recurrence in 2006, was given two months to live by her oncologist on February 22, 2007. He suggested we send her to a hospital to live out her last few months especially because she was never hungry and lost about 30 pounds in a few months and only weighed 84 pounds. A friend of mine had suggested the Meridian Group practice because his girlfriend's immune system had been boosted with the help of Dr. Chang. My parents and I met with Dr. Yee on March 5, 2007. She listened to our concerns and made us an integral part in the decision-making. She put her on several supplements -- such as mushrooms, Indinol Carbinol. Within less than a week, we began to see an improvement. Dr. Yee also is very knowledgeable about different types of hormone therapy and supplements to combat breast cancer not only in the United States but abroad. My mother followed the supplement regiment solely for about three weeks and then added a hormone pill (a hormone pill helped my mother recover in 2004) on April 1st. On April 16th, at Dr. Yee's suggestion my mother returned to the oncologist who gave her 2 months to live and he was pleasantly surprised and asked her to come back in 2 months. He also tested her blood for tumor markers and found that her tumor markers had gone way down. We were pleased beyond words. She began eating shortly after starting on the supplements and to this day, she is constantly hungry and eating. My mother gained 11 pounds in 5 weeks. My mother is continuing taking the hormone pill as well as these life-saving supplements. I count my blessing everyday that I came to Dr. Yee. I would love to help other people and would recommend Dr. Yee highly. As I told Dr. Yee, I am singing her praises throughout the land.

Forum: Dr. Pamela Yee

Pancreatic cancer survivor

lauravural — Mon, 16 Apr 2007 00:50:17 GMT

In September 1998 I was diagnosed with stage three pancreatic cancer and was told I had six months to live and to get my affairs in order. I was 44 and this made absolutely no sense to me and as scared and weak as I was there was no way I was going to believe that to be my fate. I sought out a surgeon to perform the whipple operation I had heard about from John Hopkins survivors. I found a surgeon at Mt. Sinai, Dr. Brower who had performed 50 whipples with survivors and we decided I had a chance to survive the operation and continue the fight. Then I was introduced to Dr. Gattani who told me that even with the surgery it would be a difficult fight and she put me through a very intense 6 month chemo cocktail and radiation regiment. But she also introduced me to Dr. Raymond Chang and he worked with me with those very "delicious" teas and vitamine supplements. After the first round of treatments I had another 6 months of Gemzar chemo. I kept working throught this second round and slowly I got my strength back and now almost 9 years later I am cancer free!!!!

I would be very glad to talk to anyone dealing with fighting this disease. I believe with all my heart I am alive today because I was supported by smart people like Dr. Chang who believed the disease was beatable. It was both the traditional and supplementary care that was instrumental and I believe that it was also important to continue my work with young people so my life was still about who I was as a person alive in the world, not letting the disease be what defined me.

It was certainly scary and every day I count my blessings and I honor each moment and am so grateful to the doctors and friends and family that worked with me.

I am glad to share more with anyone who might find it helpful. Strength and Courage to all.. Peace.

Forum: Pancreas

A mother's hope

KerryMD — Thur, 12 Apr 2007 02:48:47 GMT

     My son Andrew was diagnosed with Ewing's Sarcoma just before his sixth birthday. He is now twelve and just finished chemo for his second recurrence. He has had over 40 rounds of chemo, 12 surgeries, including removal of the lower lobe of his lung, and several rounds of radiation. He has the bone of a 40 year-old woman in his arm. He plays baseball and has a girlfriend. He is happy and hopeful and clearly at risk for another recurrence.
     I am a pediatrician. Mostly I see sore throats and ear infections. Yet, two of my beautiful patients have died of cancer in the last year. I believe strongly in conventional medicine. I give vaccines and antibiotics. I love my son's oncologist. He has gotten us through some very tough times. Yet when I asked about prevention of recurrence he had nothing to offer. Conventional medicine has nothing to offer. My son and I needed more. But I needed it to be based in modern medicine and real science and research.
     Finding the right practitioner of Complimentary and Alternative Medicine was not easy. Most people have no experience with children. Many of the credentials are sketchy. Dr. Chang fulfilled all my requirements. He is exceptionally well-trained in modern traditional medicine. One doesn't need to be a doctor to recognize the names of the institutions with which he has been affiliated. He is also well-trained in alternative medicine and was intimately involved in Sloan Kettering's Alternative Medicine Division.
     I went to Dr. Chang with minimal expectations.  I thought he would give my son a vitamin or an herb. Grape seed extract or garlic.  Dr. Chang knew what I had in mind, but he gave us so much more.  He too realizes that Andrew is at great risk for a recurrence.  Yet, as a currently cancer-free child, and an active, happy one at that, he said that he must "first do no harm." He explained the theories behind cancer therapies and recommended an off-label use of an apoptotic agent, one that is used for children with rare metabolic disorders, but is being researched for cancer use. He used the analogy of a school and a truant student to explain how the medicine would bring any abnormal cells back into the fold. He then went on-line with PubMED and showed me research article after research article by every major name in the cancer industry on the same or similar drug as the one he was recommending. He was patient and understanding.
     Using Dr. Chang's recommendation I went back to my oncologist and several others. No one knew of this medicine. But when my oncologist did some research of his own, he said that there was a scientific basis for this recommendation - more so than with most of the alternative medicine ideas his patients bring to him.
     And so we went ahead with it. Dr. Chang's lovely staff expedited the paper work and provided us with a pharmacy that actually got the medicine approved with our insurance carrier.
     My son has been taking the medicine for over a month now. He tolerates it well. I am so happy to be doing something proactive to keep my son healthy, as he is happy to take a medicine to keep himself well. It is a mother's hope that 5 years from now I will send my son to college wondering if the medicine really made the difference. For now, I wait for the next scan and plan his Bar Mitzvah.
     I have already recommended Dr. Chang to a family of a young woman with a recurrence. As a doctor, I refer to other doctors every day. I feel confident that the patients I send to Dr. Chang will receive a thorough, educated and innovative opinion.

Forum: Dr. Raymond Chang

Excellent Meridian Staff

Slonaker — Tue, 27 Mar 2007 02:39:52 GMT

Raquel and Nadia have always been very helpful, professional, and supportive. As an eight-year patient of Dr. Chang, I also knew some of the excellent prior staff. As soon as Raquel and Nadia joined Meridian Medical, it was clear that they made an excellent team. I am pleased to work with them in making my complicated arrangements for shipments of food supplements as well as scheduling my appointments. Keep up the good work, as I know you both will. Helen Slonaker

Forum: Meridian Staff

Living with Metastatic Breast Cancer

Slonaker — Tue, 27 Mar 2007 02:29:56 GMT

I was diagnosed with primary bi-lateral breast cancer in November 1996.  I was node negative, and had a bi-lateral mastectomy followed by 8 cycles of CMF. I relapsed in the spring of 1999. Since then I have lived with metastatic breast cancer in my bones. A few scans have indicated minor irregularities in liver or lungs, but it appears those are not neoplastic.  I have lesions in multiple ribs and vertebrae, as well as sternum, clavicle, pelvis, etc. In spite of this, I have an excellent quality of life with no pain, no fractures, and no restrictions on activity. Shortly after I learned I was metastatic, I sank into a clinical depression, and was treated by Dr. Roger Granet, a psychiatrist who specializes in cancer patients. It was he who referred me to Dr. Chang when I told him I wanted to pursue every available treatment to control my cancer.   My philosophy has been to treat my cancer as a chronic condition, as I know it is incurable. Thanks to Dr. Lowenthal, my "regular" oncologist in New Jersey, to Dr. Chang, and to the dendritic vaccine from Germany, I have done very well.
I feel it essential for cancer patients to be pro-active and to avail themselves of all treatment modalities including radiation, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted biological therapies, "nutraceuticals", and off label use of drugs if relevant to their type of cancer. My current regimen of treatments is long so I will not list it, but I am on low-dose Xeloda, i.v. Zometa every 3 months, and several FDA approved drugs used off label for their possible efficacy in controlling my type of breast cancer.   I also take many vitamins and food supplements.
This cocktail approach has been successful. As Dr. Lowenthal says to me, "Helen, if you did not know you had cancer, you would not know you had cancer."   My eight years of clinically asymptomatic, yet incurable cancer is proof to my husband and myself that the multi-pronged treatment approach can work to maintain stability for long periods.
I am posting my history so that others who are just starting on this journey will know what is possible if one attacks cancer on many fronts.   I wish I could reach Elizabeth Edwards and tell her my story. It is quite possible Elizabeth will not only live long enough to see her young children graduate from college, but she may outlive her husband. None of us knows what will happen tomorrow, but all of us with metastatic cancer need to do everything we can today to control our disease.
I want to wish all who read this the best success in their personal war against cancer, and feel free to email me directly or to post any questions you have in this forum.       Helen Slonaker

Forum: Breast

Got Cancer? Consider This

marvelles — Mon, 26 Mar 2007 19:53:54 GMT

mcolby@mmm.edu

Word Count: 2012

Got Cancer? Consider This!

By Marvelle S. Colby

Am I unique? Or am I just lucky? Is it a miracle or the ability of a gifted doctor? Could it be a doctor who incorporates complementary and alternative (CAM) evidence-based medicine in his practice?

In November 2000, I was diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer, which, once it metastasizes, has a 1% five-year survival rate. After a total of 7 tumors--4 separate lung tumors, 2 separate neck tumors and a brain tumor--.treated by 4 conventional surgeries, 1 stereotactic radio surgery using a powerful, highly focused computer-directed radiation beam, and several courses of conventional radiation, I am now cancer free. The notes in my medical records refer to the unusual course of my cancer. I asked my oncologist what this meant and he told me the unusual aspect was that I was still alive.

I am cancer free. No one knows for how long my lung cancer will be held at bay. No one, including all nine members of the team of cancer specialists treating me at one of the worlds best known cancer diagnosis and treatment centers. Yes, when I bend over or climb hills I do become short of breath. Nevertheless, I enjoy my family and friends and regularly swim half a mile, work out at a fitness center, walk two miles, line dance weekly, sing in 2 choirs, all of which I believe, increase my lung capacity. I returned to work briefly and retired at age seventy. What I do believe is that by adding to my medical team an extraordinary medical practitioner who understands that conventional medicine does not yet have all the answers, I have extended my life and enhanced the quality of that life.

Why nine cancer specialists? In January, 2001, I underwent surgery to remove what appeared to be a small tumor confined to the lower left lobe of the lung. The surgeon noticed something in the upper left lobe, which he also removed. The something turned out to be a different form of lung cancer that was so small; it hadnt even shown up on any scans.

I spent almost two weeks in the hospital. When I went back for my six-week check-up, I reported a most bothersome cough. The surgeon then referred me to the pulmonologist for the cough, giving me a second cancer specialist. Lo and behold, a short time later I noticed what appeared to be a swollen gland beneath the jawbone on the right side of my face. I called the surgeons office and asked whether there could be any relationship to my recent surgery Then I went to my primary physician, who sent me for a CT scan, which revealed not a swollen gland, but a tumor. I was referred me to a neck surgeon back at the same hospital I had left just two months prior.

A biopsy determined that this new tumor had metastasized from that small, almost unseen tumor in the upper left lobe of my lung. Preparing for yet another operation required a PET scan, which found that not only did I have a metastasized neck tumor, I now also had a brain tumor. Doctors 3 and 4, a radiologist and a neurologist, removed the brain tumor using stereotactic radio surgery. Doctor 5, the neck surgeon, removed the neck tumor. Doctor 6, a dentist, next saw me to ensure that my teeth were in good enough condition to withstand radiation. Doctor 7, a second radiation oncologist, managed the follow-up radiation.

While recovering from all of that and at the five-month mark from the original surgery, I noticed yet another swelling, this time under my chin. I was concerned. It hurt and kept getting bigger and bigger and pretty soon it was the size of a grapefruit, entirely covering the lower jawbone on the left side of my face.

At my follow-up visit with doctor 8, the oncologist who had been assigned to my case, he asked, Whats that? I reported to him what the neck surgeon had said to me over and over in repeated phone calls and at a visit - that this was, by the neck surgeons diagnosis, merely a radiation wattle, and a reaction to the radiation I had received.

Doctor 8, the oncologist, ordered another CT scan, which revealed yet another tumor. Having been allowed to grow unchecked and untreated for six weeks, the latest tumor now the fifth one was inoperable. I requested a different neck surgeon, doctor 9. Doctor 9 was not sanguine. He was concerned that the tumor was inoperable and that if he could perform surgery to remove it, I might very well need skin grafts to my face and neck. It was his decision to utilize radiation to reduce the tumor to operable size. So it was back to Doctor 7, the radiation oncologist, whom I had come to trust, who would manage the radiation treatments.

It was at this juncture, facing five more weeks of radiation to hopefully reduce the size of the tumor to an operable size, that I was considering leaving this highly reputed hospital. Moreover, recognizing that if this was the best that conventional medicine had to offer in dealing with cancer it might be advisable to consider medical modalities and methodologies outside the realm of conventional medicine. I realize now that I was moving from a passive to an active participant in my battle with cancer.

I requested copies of all my records and began researching my options for something beyond surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy, with their considerable side effects. I learned that there was information showing that common practice is not always the best practice. Exploring CAM (complementary and alternative medicine), my search led me to a doctor who was a Board certified Internist in private practice, whose practice was based on evidence based medicine and whose medical armamentarium reached far beyond that of most conventional physicians.

His medical credentials were most impressive. I learned that the treatments that he frequently prescribed included a specific diet, off-label medicine, Chinese herbs that enhance the immune system, and various vitamins and supplements.

We should all be aware that clinical trials and medical research are being concurrently performed at universities and recognized research centers, where qualified scientists are researching outcome-based therapies and approaches. Many researchers are exploring and reporting on successes using new uses or dosages of existing drugs in treating cancers. Numbers of these modalities have proven beneficial in preventing and fighting illness, but have fallen outside the standard protocols of mainstream medical practice and are not widely utilized. The doctors who are willing to utilize the evidence of benefits revealed by this published research are said to be practicing evidence-based medicine. Further information can be found on the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews web site www. Cochrane.org.

With this information in hand, I started my radiation treatment, but made an appointment to see this new special doctor. I told him I wanted to strengthen my immune system to withstand the additional radiation and surgery yet to come. He examined my medical records and ordered a blood test, which revealed an extraordinarily high level of copper in my system that he said had to be reduced, and quickly. It was the first time anyone had ordered a check of my copper level, despite the frequent blood tests I had undergone. I have since learned that in Germany it is standard practice to include copper level in the complete blood count (CBC).

He prescribed a drug designed to reduce the copper level. In addition to medications, he prescribed a diet, a regimen of Chinese herbs, which he himself had formulated. One of the drugs he originally suggested to treat cancer was looked upon with some skepticism by mainstream medicine, but its use against cancer has become more and more widely accepted.

He closely monitors me via monthly blood work. One of the medications was lowering my white blood count, so he changed the dosage. Other than that, none of these medications or supplements has had any negative side effects. What is clear, given my unanticipated recovery and sudden cessation of what had been rapidly occurring metastases, is that the regimen has had a most positive effect. All of this is not instead of, but as a complement to the usual and customary conventional treatment. While I was under active treatment, the conventional doctors were kept informed of this complementary treatment just as my internist was informed of their treatment.

The removal of that fifth tumor went remarkably well. The surgery was successful. The radiation had reduced the size of the tumor and Doctor 7 managed the implantation of radioactive seeds in my neck as part of the same operation. The surgeon projected a ten-day to two-week hospital stay. To the surprise of my physicians in the hospital, because I tolerated the procedure so well, I was sent home in two days, I am sure that this is due to the benefits of the complementary treatment. The rapid metastasis had ceased and there were no new tumors!

UntilUntil October, 2004, when the oncologist reported a change in my CT scan. Back in 2001, he had informed me that there were spots on my right lung. I knew that each time I had a follow-up CT scan, the possibility of a change was lurking, and now it had happened. But the oncologist said, Go to Florida for the winter as you planned. The scans make slices and it is possible this change is just the angle of the scan. I looked at him horrified. There was no way I could relax and enjoy the sunny South. My mind wouldnt let me.

I called the surgeon and asked her to review the latest scan. She did and said, Lets be sure. A needle biopsy was ordered and the news was Yes its cancer. Get it out, I said, and in November of 2004 she operated and removed 4 things. - 2 benign and 2 new primary lung tumors in the upper and middle lobes of my right lung. Yes, I did go to Florida, a little later than planned, and much relieved. Relieved because after the surgery, I saw my special doctor and his words were Youre lucky. Having had the oncologist tell me that there was a high possibility of reoccurrence requiring further surgery, I didnt feel especially lucky. Now having had 7 tumors and yet another hospital stay, even another successful surgery didnt make me feel lucky. But he meant lucky in another way. A new treatment, this one based on a different programmed cell death - was now available. He prescribed another investigational drug, again I signed all the legal releases, and again I was able to obtain this new medicine on a compassionate use basis. I was lucky. The molecular oncologist, who received the 2002 Nobel Prize for Medicine and whose research led to the new drugs development wasnt lucky. He died of lung cancer in 2004, at age 54.

Today, almost 6 years since that fateful diagnosis in November 2000, I continue to be a survivor of Stage IV metastatic non-small cell lung cancer, a disease where the odds are against me.

Most of the doctors know my special doctor, a former colleague at the hospital.

I do sense the beginnings of openness to CAM. The neurologist does ask about the special doctors treatment and at one follow-up visit, he asked me for his card. My experience has not only convinced me, but it demonstrates the absolute need for the patient to take an informed and active role in any treatment decisions. So I am unique and I am lucky and yes, to me it is a miracle to be under the care of this special physician. The combination of conventional cancer care I received and continue to receive at the hospital complemented by an out of the box practitioner has resulted in my case being labeled by the oncologist as UNUSUAL.

Forum: Dr. Raymond Chang