Rec'd a lovely email from a CSN member...so here's an upate on my now 21yo son advanced colon cancer

Hello all, it's been some time since I posted here...almost 2 years actually. I was doing a google search on a natural supplement and was lead hear due to a post on the supplement (which was heated...it pains me when people knock others down who choose a NATURAL approach to cancer...at the end of the day, it's that person's CHOICE!)

Kalief was diagnosed with Stage IIIC colon cancer in August 2009, at the ripe old age of 18, and 1 week shy of attending college in San Francisco to study architecture (his dream since he was 8). After the first round of chemo...he was metastatic as the cancer spread to his lymph nodes, the oxaliplatin debilitated him, and his hopes of beating this was shot according to him. After the 2nd round of chemo...surprise...same outcome...cancer spread, poor quality of life and he was in a deep depression. Third round of chemo...Kalief almost DIED after the 3rd (of 12) chemo treatments...it was then he said NO MORE!!!

We had already incorporated natural supplements and Emily, Scouty, and John23 (and some others I may have forgotten...charge it to my mind, not to my heart) posts and/or private contacts were SO very helpful to me as a fearful mom and long time Oncology RN who has seen it all!!! I am a believer that the supplements helped with his quality of life and we saw some miracles happen while on them. However, he wasn't consistent.

Kalief, by the Grace of God, is still here...still fighting this relentless disease. Almost 3 years in (they gave him 1 to 1 1/2 years life expectancy) he has not given up, although sometimes he gets weary. He still deals with the side effects that chemo and radiation created. In October 2011, someone recommended a supplement to him that changed his life. (I now distribute the product so I will not name it here as I am not here to sell anything to anyone). Kalief had a groin node that was the size of a fifty cent piece and in less than a week it shrank to the size of a dime. At that point, he agreed to 10 radiation treatments (although he let them eventually talk him into 15 which was NOT the original plan)...oh, the radiation oncologist initially wanted to give him 35 to 40 treatments when the node was huge... Well, he is now dealing with the side effects of radiation to the node...horrible lymphedema of his leg/thigh. However, his 7month PET scan was CLEAR!!!!! That was the FIRST time he had ever had a clear scan!!! He is now experiencing some back pain (which he says he knows is the cancer) as a result of the lymphatic massage and compression (which can happen unfortunately), but we have ramped up the supplements and added a few more. I also juice for him, and he incorporated raw foods and ALL organic foods into his diet unless he is eating out. Unfortunately, i can't seem to get him to lay off the sugar but it's his journey so I pull back when needed.

We are praising God and I'm SO very thankful to those on this board who have shared their journey...BOTH conventional and non-conventional treatments! My specialty is Bone Marrow Transplantation so even though I was knowledgable about cancer, I still needed and sought advice, help, and input from those of who actually in the trenches fighting this disease!

Kalief teaches me lessons in resiliency and perserverance on a daily basis. He NEVER gave up his dream of attending college..and finished his first semester at Community College of Philadelphia with a 4.0, he works, he leads an active life, he plays sports, hangs out with friends, dates, and even has his own place. I'm SO very proud of him.

I will try to post more often, it just got difficult while we were dealing with life and at one point I became overwhelmed at some of the sad news on both this board and Colon Club. However, I do know how much many of your posts helped me when I was new, afraid, and faced with this journey as a parent (which is so very different than dealing with it as a nurse). I can't thank you all enough!!! I lost my mom to advanced lung cancer in December of 2010...just 2 short months after diagnosis...but through it all, by and by, we are still standing!!!

God speed to all of you in your journeys...be it cancer warrior, survivor, caretaker, or friend. EVERYONE has something important to contribute...just because it doesn't fit YOUR paradigm, it may be a Blessing to someone else. Please, be kind to one another, whether you agree with a person's choice or not....remember, we all have free will and we exercise what is best for us. Be Blessed and may good health be yours!!!

Dee