I'm going to Tennessee to see Dr. Cantrell 1st wk of Dec

lisa42
lisa42 Member Posts: 3,625 Member
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
Hi Everyone,

Well, I went ahead and called Neoplas Innovations, which is Dr. Stephen Cantrell's clinic in Nashville, TN. I asked more questions and ended up actually setting up an initial consultation with him. I set it up for Dec. 4-5 since I am getting my next scan that prior week and so I'll have all the latest updates on myself with me at that time.

Many of Dr. Cantrell's patients are people who have been told there's nothing else that can be done, but some of his patients are also just on their last approved chemo with it not making tumors go away. That's the situation I'm in- my "innumerable subcentimeter lung nodules" just won't go away no matter what & the best my current regimen is doing for them is keeping them stable. Stable is good of course, but I want to see if I have a chance of making them completely go away! I'm not a candidate for radiation, cyberknife, or surgery for what I have in my lungs since there's too many of the nodules in all parts of my lungs.

Now for the financial aspect of going to Neoplas Innovations... the initial consultation is the only thing they ask you to pay for up front. It's a two day deal, two hours each day & I was told the cost will be about $960. I'm not sure how that works if insurance will reimburse you. You will have to plan on making that payment at the time of your consultation. Visits after that they can put you on a delayed payment plan. You go back in for a follow up appt. about 11 weeks after starting their treatment. The actual medications you get can likely be covered by most insurance companies- who knows, maybe insurance will reimburse for it. Maybe that depends upon how "on board" your regular oncologist is with this and if he/she will advocate it for your to your insurance. the say each person is responsible for working things out with insurance companies- they do not work with insurance companies because they do not have the time or resources to do so. You do not have to stay in Nashville for treatments- the lovastatin is in pill form and the interferon is in needle form that they show you how to self inject yourself. Lovastatin is actually a statin- a drug to help with cholesterol, but it has been found to have anticancer qualities as well. It combined with the interferon seems to have a remarkable reaction against cancer cells. Of course, there are no guarantees it will work for everyone, but they do seem to have good outcomes with most of their patients. You can do follow up bloodwork and scans at home and then just have results sent to them.
I asked about how willing Dr. Cantrell is to work with your regular oncologist. I was told that he definitely will communicate with your primary oncologist. The only time that doesn't happen is if your oncologist is unwilling to communicate with him, which he said does happen with some doctors.

My husband and I are thinking "why wait" first to see if I totally fail on Folfiri- if this is something that could possibly make my tumors go away, as Folfiri hasn't done, then I should go check it out now. It's possible I'll be told I'm not a candidate, but from what I read, I think that I probably will be.

If you haven't checked out his website yet for yourself, do so- it's always good to be knowledgeable about other options out there.
Here it is again: www.neoplas.org
The Youtube video of Dr. Cantrell's interview on "Fox and Friends" 2 wks ago
It's titled "Dr. Stephen Cantrell"

Have a good day everyone-
Lisa
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Comments

  • Shayenne
    Shayenne Member Posts: 2,342
    I will
    check this out as well, please Lisa, keep me updated on this, if it helps you, maybe it will help me, I'm in the same situation as you.

    Does it tell you what kind of side effects these drugs have? I have to jump in the shower soon, and don't have time to read yet, but I will pay the almost thousand bucks for this, I thought it be alot more!

    Thanks for this research, it' a good things to know, that there may be hope out there!

    Hugsss!
    ~Donna
  • luv3jay
    luv3jay Member Posts: 533 Member
    Wow Lisa! Good for you!
    Wow Lisa! Good for you! I'm in the same situation with the numerous lung nodules. I've done several rounds of Folfiri and I'm actually sitting in the waiting room now waiting for my PET/CT. I made an appt at Johns Hopkins to see if they have something different for me because this endless chemo is really starting to get to me. Anyway, keep us posted on your progress. Thanks!
  • just4Brooks
    just4Brooks Member Posts: 980 Member
    Sounds like you got a plan
    One thing about this cancer trip is that many of us do this without a plan. We just do what the doctors say to do. It's good to see that you have a plan and you're going to make it happen. I cant wait for you to tell us how it went. Remember I'm only in Murrieta (20 mins) from you. Maybe we can do luch sometime and talk?

    Brooks
  • lisa42
    lisa42 Member Posts: 3,625 Member
    luv3jay said:

    Wow Lisa! Good for you!
    Wow Lisa! Good for you! I'm in the same situation with the numerous lung nodules. I've done several rounds of Folfiri and I'm actually sitting in the waiting room now waiting for my PET/CT. I made an appt at Johns Hopkins to see if they have something different for me because this endless chemo is really starting to get to me. Anyway, keep us posted on your progress. Thanks!

    definitely
    I will definitely keep you posted on how it goes. It's still a ways off, but I will definitely post an update right before I go and of course after returning home from the consultation. I happen to have a nephew and his wife who live right near there & I will be staying with them.

    Lisa
  • lisa42
    lisa42 Member Posts: 3,625 Member

    Sounds like you got a plan
    One thing about this cancer trip is that many of us do this without a plan. We just do what the doctors say to do. It's good to see that you have a plan and you're going to make it happen. I cant wait for you to tell us how it went. Remember I'm only in Murrieta (20 mins) from you. Maybe we can do luch sometime and talk?

    Brooks

    Brooks
    Hi Brooks,

    That would be good sometime. I'll pm you with my phone #. Maybe we could also include Serrana and/or Krista, who both live in San Diego county too. I'm pretty busy right now, so it might just have to be the phone call at first.

    Lisa
  • angelsbaby
    angelsbaby Member Posts: 1,165 Member
    lisa42 said:

    Brooks
    Hi Brooks,

    That would be good sometime. I'll pm you with my phone #. Maybe we could also include Serrana and/or Krista, who both live in San Diego county too. I'm pretty busy right now, so it might just have to be the phone call at first.

    Lisa

    Lisa
    It does sound like an option worth looking into.I hope it will work out for you

    michelle
  • dianetavegia
    dianetavegia Member Posts: 1,942 Member
    I think this is a smart move....
    Why wait? I think it's very smart to check this out and get started! I can't wait to hear how it goes. I pray for you several times a day (along with many others).

    Diane
  • Paula G.
    Paula G. Member Posts: 596
    Sounds like a plan
    Hi Lisa,
    I think it sounds like a good idea. At least a consult to see what he thinks. My thoughts are with you. Can't wait to hear what he says. Paula
  • Fight for my love
    Fight for my love Member Posts: 1,522 Member
    Dear Lisa,I just want to let
    Dear Lisa,I just want to let you know you are in my prayers and I hope everything goes fine with you.Take care.Best luck to you with your appointment.
  • lizbiz
    lizbiz Member Posts: 120

    Dear Lisa,I just want to let
    Dear Lisa,I just want to let you know you are in my prayers and I hope everything goes fine with you.Take care.Best luck to you with your appointment.

    Hi Lisa
    I just wanted to thank you for the information. I'm currently facing a situation where I'm out of options. No chemo has worked and the clinical trial I was on failed. I'm going to give this place a call and make an appointment.

    Hope all goes well!

    Thanks again,
    Elizabeth
  • mom_2_3
    mom_2_3 Member Posts: 953 Member
    Thanksgiving Prayer
    Lisa,

    On Thanksgiving we always have a full house as we have my family and my husband's family for dinner. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday as I have always felt I was very thankful for what I had in my life. One of our traditions is to have our family prayer and everyone say what they are thankful for. This year on Thanksgiving I will make sure that we all say an extra special prayer for success from this new program for you. You know I always keep you in my prayers everyday but on the coming holiday I will put everyone else in our families on it as well.

    Sending you love and hugs,
    Amy
  • snommintj
    snommintj Member Posts: 601
    lizbiz said:

    Hi Lisa
    I just wanted to thank you for the information. I'm currently facing a situation where I'm out of options. No chemo has worked and the clinical trial I was on failed. I'm going to give this place a call and make an appointment.

    Hope all goes well!

    Thanks again,
    Elizabeth

    I want some credit here
    I brought this up two months ago, where's my cred? What? Dr.Cantrell and I have e-mailed a few times. I'm still wildly skeptical. When you see him, check and see if he's all scarred up from surgeries all over his neck and head. If he is, then I might believe him. I was planning on going up in a few weeks to consult. I don't have an appointment. I've tried to contact some patients but I haven't heard back from any. It's $1000 dollars up front. That's pretty steep, so I know; if it's a scam I'll probably bust him in his chops. I really do want to hear from some one who's being treated. Maybe you can be the guinea pig and let me know. This is my week off of Xeloda and I have a Drs appt next week. I don't need for the Dr to tell me it's working, I know it is. I haven't had any pain in my lungs at all which it's been a while since I can say that. I'll wait a few more treatments before I go. I wish you the best of luck.
  • tootsie1
    tootsie1 Member Posts: 5,044 Member
    Hope it works
    Lisa,

    Good luck with this. Let us know what you find out!

    *hugs*
    Gail
  • sfmarie
    sfmarie Member Posts: 602
    Prayers
    Are coming your way Lisa! I do hope this is legitimate. It almost seems too good to be true, but hey, you just never know.
    Hugs, Marie
  • sfmarie
    sfmarie Member Posts: 602
    Prayers
    Are coming your way Lisa! I do hope this is legitimate. It almost seems too good to be true, but hey, you just never know.
    Hugs, Marie
  • sfmarie
    sfmarie Member Posts: 602
    Prayers
    Are coming your way Lisa! I do hope this is legitimate. It almost seems too good to be true, but hey, you just never know.
    Hugs, Marie
  • Nana b
    Nana b Member Posts: 3,030 Member
    sfmarie said:

    Prayers
    Are coming your way Lisa! I do hope this is legitimate. It almost seems too good to be true, but hey, you just never know.
    Hugs, Marie

    Gods speed....
    I wish you well!

    Raquel
  • robinvan
    robinvan Member Posts: 1,012
    Good for you Lisa
    I hope this works for you. We could all use the boost and the hope that comes from a promising new treatment.

    Be well... Rob; in Vancouver
  • ittapp
    ittapp Member Posts: 383 Member
    Lisa, I am still on my first
    Lisa, I am still on my first line of treatment and am getting response from Folfox. If at any time it stops working I will be looking into this treatment. Thanks for paving the road for us, I look forward to hearing the details. I will pray for you everynight that you get the treatment that will be successful. God Bless you, Patti
  • lisa42
    lisa42 Member Posts: 3,625 Member
    snommintj said:

    I want some credit here
    I brought this up two months ago, where's my cred? What? Dr.Cantrell and I have e-mailed a few times. I'm still wildly skeptical. When you see him, check and see if he's all scarred up from surgeries all over his neck and head. If he is, then I might believe him. I was planning on going up in a few weeks to consult. I don't have an appointment. I've tried to contact some patients but I haven't heard back from any. It's $1000 dollars up front. That's pretty steep, so I know; if it's a scam I'll probably bust him in his chops. I really do want to hear from some one who's being treated. Maybe you can be the guinea pig and let me know. This is my week off of Xeloda and I have a Drs appt next week. I don't need for the Dr to tell me it's working, I know it is. I haven't had any pain in my lungs at all which it's been a while since I can say that. I'll wait a few more treatments before I go. I wish you the best of luck.

    John
    John! That's where I first heard about this! I knew someone brought it up a while ago, but I couldn't remember who it was (darn chemobrain!) So, now I know! :)
    I'm usually the skeptical type, but am wanting to find another option, so I'm going to explore this avenue. I know having to pay the $960 (that was what I was told) up front is steep. I guess if it doesn't work out and I don't go this avenue after all, that's what I'll be out (a bit more actually, since I'm flying in and out, getting a rental car, etc.)
    Interestingly, I read an article in our newspaper today about how statins (which one of the drugs Cantrell uses- lovastatin) are helping people who get the flu to survive and fare better. The article went on to say statins are now being researched for their antiviral qualities and how they seem to help people with infectious diseases recover better. The article didn't mention cancer, but I did read about lovastatin online (not on Cantrell's website, but elsewhere) how lovastatin is naturally occuring in oyster mushrooms and has been found to have anticancer qualities.

    I'm glad the Xeloda is working for you, John. I will certainly let everyone know how my visit goes. It's not until Dec. 3-4, though, so it will be a little while before I know anything more, myself.
    Have a good day-
    Lisa