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Girl2
Girl2 Member Posts: 27

Has anyone been treated by a professor vogl in Germany ? We are thinking of seeing him for my dad who has liver mets and peritoneal mets and chemo not really working .

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  • Trubrit
    Trubrit Member Posts: 5,796 Member
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    Yes

    we have had members go to Germany for treatment and we have one German caregiver. I don't remember is any of them saw Dr. Vogl. Sadly, the ones I remember have passed away, and one no longer posts, though I think he is still doing treatments. 

    Good luck with your dad. Its a hard decision to make, travelling so far for treatment (unless you are already there, of course). 

    Sue - Trubrit

  • herdizziness
    herdizziness Member Posts: 3,624 Member
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    Dr. Vogl

    I don't know your age or your father's, so not sure if you know who the actress Farrah Fawcett was, but she chose to go to Germany to undergo treatment by Dr. vogl, the treatment actually is still CHEMO (which you state isn't working) but injected into the site or tumor by Vogl.  I still remember watching her documentary and how painful it looked when she was undergoing the treatment.  They told her she was cured, but instead her tumor where they injected her had grown and gotten much larger and she passed away.

    Ive read about others that went there and many (I would say odds are about 99% die and 1% is lucky) died in Germany a painful death and without family around, or if you were one of lucky ones who got to make it home just in time to say their goodbyes before they passed away.  It is a very painful procedure and I've wondered in sorrow how come they endured such a painful ending instead of a comfortable one of being home surrounded by loved ones and familiar things, like their own bed, their own yard, listening to the birds sing etc.

    I'm on my last working chemo, and when this one quits working other then trials (which I think if one can get into them is a brave and wonderful thing to do, who knows you might get the trial that saves your life or in this case your father's and many other lives in doing do, but whether the trial works or not, you have helped others), there really isn't anything left to try. My husband had a friend with cancer that went to the Philippines to be cured, the cure consisted of a charlatan pressing hard on his liver, supposedly reaching into his body, holding up some animal's organ and telling him that this was his cancerous tumor and that he was cured.  He came back to the states and passed away from his liver tumor.  I'm neither going to Germany or the Philippines to get "cured", by unproven methods by people who want to take your money.

    What I guess I'm saying is be very careful, research, research, research, talk to Oncologists (more then just your present one) and talk to people or their families who have had the procedures that you are looking at for your father, find out as much as possible, be careful seeing how wonderful the cure is on the internet which is often done by some magazine (which the clinic pays for) that is hokey, or from just the clinics or doctors themselves, call the cancer society and get  information on these things as well, just do not rush or believe everything someone says (yes, even me, look up what I've said and check things carefully, don't just go on my word, I could be wrong)instead doubt everything then research from there.

    Many of us know what it feels like having death stare at you in the face and the desperation one gets, and fear and assorted other feelings that drops in on us, and sometimes the willingness to go after a procedure that won't work but still gives us the tiniest glimmer of hope, that's what you have to be wary of, letting the emotions get in the way of the reality.

    Hoe many chemo's has your father tried, how long has he had this cancer? It's been over 5 years for me, with different combinations of chemo, some that worked beautifully, others that barely worked and many that have stopped working.  Just because one combination quits working doesn't mean that all chemos won't work, it's just finding the right combination, but it's hard to know unless you tell us, has he had any operations (I've had a few in the past years), when was he diagnosed, etc.

    My heart goes out to you and I wish you and your father the best in finding what may work for him.  Please keep us informed and ask away any questions, most replies hopefully will not be as long winded as this one.

    Winter Marie

  • Girl2
    Girl2 Member Posts: 27
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    Dr. Vogl

    I don't know your age or your father's, so not sure if you know who the actress Farrah Fawcett was, but she chose to go to Germany to undergo treatment by Dr. vogl, the treatment actually is still CHEMO (which you state isn't working) but injected into the site or tumor by Vogl.  I still remember watching her documentary and how painful it looked when she was undergoing the treatment.  They told her she was cured, but instead her tumor where they injected her had grown and gotten much larger and she passed away.

    Ive read about others that went there and many (I would say odds are about 99% die and 1% is lucky) died in Germany a painful death and without family around, or if you were one of lucky ones who got to make it home just in time to say their goodbyes before they passed away.  It is a very painful procedure and I've wondered in sorrow how come they endured such a painful ending instead of a comfortable one of being home surrounded by loved ones and familiar things, like their own bed, their own yard, listening to the birds sing etc.

    I'm on my last working chemo, and when this one quits working other then trials (which I think if one can get into them is a brave and wonderful thing to do, who knows you might get the trial that saves your life or in this case your father's and many other lives in doing do, but whether the trial works or not, you have helped others), there really isn't anything left to try. My husband had a friend with cancer that went to the Philippines to be cured, the cure consisted of a charlatan pressing hard on his liver, supposedly reaching into his body, holding up some animal's organ and telling him that this was his cancerous tumor and that he was cured.  He came back to the states and passed away from his liver tumor.  I'm neither going to Germany or the Philippines to get "cured", by unproven methods by people who want to take your money.

    What I guess I'm saying is be very careful, research, research, research, talk to Oncologists (more then just your present one) and talk to people or their families who have had the procedures that you are looking at for your father, find out as much as possible, be careful seeing how wonderful the cure is on the internet which is often done by some magazine (which the clinic pays for) that is hokey, or from just the clinics or doctors themselves, call the cancer society and get  information on these things as well, just do not rush or believe everything someone says (yes, even me, look up what I've said and check things carefully, don't just go on my word, I could be wrong)instead doubt everything then research from there.

    Many of us know what it feels like having death stare at you in the face and the desperation one gets, and fear and assorted other feelings that drops in on us, and sometimes the willingness to go after a procedure that won't work but still gives us the tiniest glimmer of hope, that's what you have to be wary of, letting the emotions get in the way of the reality.

    Hoe many chemo's has your father tried, how long has he had this cancer? It's been over 5 years for me, with different combinations of chemo, some that worked beautifully, others that barely worked and many that have stopped working.  Just because one combination quits working doesn't mean that all chemos won't work, it's just finding the right combination, but it's hard to know unless you tell us, has he had any operations (I've had a few in the past years), when was he diagnosed, etc.

    My heart goes out to you and I wish you and your father the best in finding what may work for him.  Please keep us informed and ask away any questions, most replies hopefully will not be as long winded as this one.

    Winter Marie

    Thanks alot for your reply .

    Thanks alot for your reply . If really helped . Well initially he was a stage 3 and has his op to remove bowel tumor etc and all was fine . This was 2014 march . But within 5 months he had 1 liver met and a node . They starated folfiri but after 1 round 5 fu was taken off as he has chest spasms . So

    he was on irinotecan alone and it did nothing . Infact both mets grew . Thy then decided to stop treatments without giving any other chemo a go. We got a second opinion and the new dr suggested he has oxyplatin and raltitrexed . So he's had 3 rounds so far .

     

    but I don't think it's working as this is the cea pattern :

    before chemo cea - 65

    after 1 round -80

    after 2 round - 55

    so we are worried what to do . He now haa peritoneal

    and liver mets

  • Trubrit
    Trubrit Member Posts: 5,796 Member
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    Girl2 said:

    Thanks alot for your reply .

    Thanks alot for your reply . If really helped . Well initially he was a stage 3 and has his op to remove bowel tumor etc and all was fine . This was 2014 march . But within 5 months he had 1 liver met and a node . They starated folfiri but after 1 round 5 fu was taken off as he has chest spasms . So

    he was on irinotecan alone and it did nothing . Infact both mets grew . Thy then decided to stop treatments without giving any other chemo a go. We got a second opinion and the new dr suggested he has oxyplatin and raltitrexed . So he's had 3 rounds so far .

     

    but I don't think it's working as this is the cea pattern :

    before chemo cea - 65

    after 1 round -80

    after 2 round - 55

    so we are worried what to do . He now haa peritoneal

    and liver mets

    Oxaliplatin is the nasty good stuff

    It works for allot of people; it has worked for me, so far. 

    It will always be 'so far', as there is no cure; but chemo can control the disease so that you can live and live well. 

    Winter Marie/Herdizziness is LIVING proof of how to fight the fight. Her words above are words of wisdom indeed. 

    CEA levels are unstable during chemo. That is what my Oncologist told me; and thus, did not order the test until I was finished with treatment. Don't get too hung up on the CEA unless you know for sure that it is a good indicator for your father. 

    How old is your dad?  Not that, that matters too much, as we have a wonderful survivor here called Danker, who is in his 80's. 

    Sue - Trubrit

  • lilacbrroller
    lilacbrroller Member Posts: 412 Member
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    Trubrit said:

    Oxaliplatin is the nasty good stuff

    It works for allot of people; it has worked for me, so far. 

    It will always be 'so far', as there is no cure; but chemo can control the disease so that you can live and live well. 

    Winter Marie/Herdizziness is LIVING proof of how to fight the fight. Her words above are words of wisdom indeed. 

    CEA levels are unstable during chemo. That is what my Oncologist told me; and thus, did not order the test until I was finished with treatment. Don't get too hung up on the CEA unless you know for sure that it is a good indicator for your father. 

    How old is your dad?  Not that, that matters too much, as we have a wonderful survivor here called Danker, who is in his 80's. 

    Sue - Trubrit

    Dr Vogl

    If you have the time, do read through this man's blog :  http://www.mcrc4.com/ as well as some of the comments. He died in 2013, but his blog remains available to readers. This person had 4-5 TACE treatments from Dr. Vogl. 

    worth a read before considering it.

    As other posters have said, there are certainly other options before the German clinics. Your story sounds similar to someone from Colon Club.

    Good luck. Hope your Father improves.

     

    Karin

  • tanstaafl
    tanstaafl Member Posts: 1,313 Member
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    Girl2 said:

    Thanks alot for your reply .

    Thanks alot for your reply . If really helped . Well initially he was a stage 3 and has his op to remove bowel tumor etc and all was fine . This was 2014 march . But within 5 months he had 1 liver met and a node . They starated folfiri but after 1 round 5 fu was taken off as he has chest spasms . So

    he was on irinotecan alone and it did nothing . Infact both mets grew . Thy then decided to stop treatments without giving any other chemo a go. We got a second opinion and the new dr suggested he has oxyplatin and raltitrexed . So he's had 3 rounds so far .

     

    but I don't think it's working as this is the cea pattern :

    before chemo cea - 65

    after 1 round -80

    after 2 round - 55

    so we are worried what to do . He now haa peritoneal

    and liver mets

    dup

     .

  • tanstaafl
    tanstaafl Member Posts: 1,313 Member
    Options
    Girl2 said:

    Thanks alot for your reply .

    Thanks alot for your reply . If really helped . Well initially he was a stage 3 and has his op to remove bowel tumor etc and all was fine . This was 2014 march . But within 5 months he had 1 liver met and a node . They starated folfiri but after 1 round 5 fu was taken off as he has chest spasms . So

    he was on irinotecan alone and it did nothing . Infact both mets grew . Thy then decided to stop treatments without giving any other chemo a go. We got a second opinion and the new dr suggested he has oxyplatin and raltitrexed . So he's had 3 rounds so far .

     

    but I don't think it's working as this is the cea pattern :

    before chemo cea - 65

    after 1 round -80

    after 2 round - 55

    so we are worried what to do . He now haa peritoneal

    and liver mets

    ups and downs

    Often the first 1-3 month's CEA readings during chemo can rise with kill off of cancer cells, perhaps also reflecting inflammation, the CEA peaks, and then the CEA declines.  The drop from the 80 CEA peak to 55 looks hopeful to me.     However, researching options, planning ahead and staying ahead is important.

    Successful stage IV patients often find several major, separate steps, often not yet broadly offered, are necessary to achieve stability and quality.