Kidney Cancer, treatment options and the return of Hope!!!

ejneary

Folks:

I posted this post on the ACOR.org site and wanted to post it here as an update and to talk a little about a new tool in my arsenal against this disease.


Having posted a few times and reading the posts from others, I wanted to share a message of hope with those either still here or just getting here and reading through the site.

I am sitting here writing this message feeling like I have been through some crazy nightmare but realizing that this is no nightmare, it is now my life. Never before could I have comprehended that humans could go through such horror or endure such mental and physical torture. It is hard to believe that the information that I wrote about my own journey at the bottom of this post has actually happened to me, but it has. I know that there are many here who have been through hell and all I have to say is that I celebrate each and every one of you and your spirit to survive. There is not a thing about cancer that is easy and though we all have believed that this is an awful disease that happens to someone else, the true horror of the disease didn't become apparent to us until the day we were diagnosed. Every one of us remembers that moment in time when the world collapsed on us.

Initially, I relied on my surgeon and doctor to make the decisions. It was like being in the carwash where you throw it in neutral, put your left tire in the guide way and the roller comes along and drags you through the process. Crazy brushes start flailing, sprayers start waving back and forth and you are dragged through a machine, unable to see what is really happening until you are thrust through the high speed air dryers at the end of the ride, hopefully with your antenna and hood ornament still in place!!! The only difference is that it isn't your car, it is your body, the brushes are CT scans, the spray nozzles are needles and the dryers are surgery.

They announce that you are "Clear" and then sometime later, the dreaded beast returns in the form of recurrence and all of a sudden, that period of euphoria turns back to thoughts of death and research of the next thing that will cure. I entered into the world of HD-IL2 treatment.

It was about this time that I started searching here for people in the same position in treatment that I was in. Lost, depressed and focusing on how my family would live without me, I found people who were dealing with this disease but no one who was on, or had gone through, my path exactly. For instance, it seemed that everyone who had gone through HD-IL2 was a complete responder and had none of the oddities of my experience. Again, I was lost. I was spending my life focused on the disease and not on living my life.

I think we all start to think about what else is out there that could do what the medical doctors can't seem to. It is in this state of mind that we consider treatments that sound like miracles but to a reasonable person are scams that requires us to give large sums of money or go to other countries but that there is some miracle treatment there that can make us whole again. Inevitably, someone does the research and it turns out to be a scam and we're back in the position of trying to figure out what to do next.

Having my disease progress while I was taking sorafenib was a hard blow. It made me realize that this cancer is aggressive. Having it give mixed results after something as difficult as HD-IL2 was an even tougher thing to deal with as I endured scan after scan of mixed results. I knew that I had to do whatever I could to boost and support my immune system. It was obvious that if poison doesn't work, the immune system is the only really feasible remaining answer. Why else would IL-2 exist?

In my search for things that would boost my immune system, I found diets, meditation and other things that kinda helped but I found a program which has given me so much more, Hope. In addition to restoring my hope, this program has restored my sense of control over the disease which has allowed me to make some critical decisions regarding my treatment and has given me permission to live my life again. I have taken control over my body again...

The program that I am referring to is Gerald White's MAARS Guided Imagery program. It consists of his book "Three Months to Life" and his CD "Guided Imagery for Cancer Patients. I was very skeptical at first as I had tried guided imagery from the cancer support center and the hospital which were not very good. After reading through Jerry's website, I decided to order his book and disk as it was inexpensive and if it could at least offer the relaxation that it promised, my immune system would benefit and that is the first step to help.

What I experienced through his program was something that I hadn't expected. Not only was there science behind the program of guided imagery to help fight cancer but Gerald cites several other texts on which his program is based that offer the scientific background to the cellular level activity as well as relaxation exercises. Since I am an engineer by trade, this really appealed to me. Here was a very inexpensive program that didn't require me to fly somewhere. I could do this at my own will on my schedule and it wasn't going to make me sick!!!

That was back in September just before my "worsening" CT scan. Since then, I have read his book along with several texts on his site on the science, meditation and relaxation. I listen to Gerald White's CD at least twice a day and things have turned around for me. I have restored hope, thoughts are returning to the future and I am living my life again everyday. I have been able to question my doctors about their decisions, look at treatment options objectively and am now enjoying an extended period of time while not on treatment. Best of all, my last CT scan came back with "all lesions shrinking" in both my lungs and on my liver.

With the Holiday's here, being able to eat is a big thing to me after having spent over a year sick as a dog, coping with diarrhea and losing weight. Having my condition turn around after beginning this guided imagery program is a huge gift to me. Having hope that I will survive this disease is the best gift anyone could have given and this is exactly what this program has done for me. Regardless of what happens, I have been given back my life here and now and I appreciate every moment of every day.

I encourage everyone with cancer to get this program and use it. Use it every day. Use it when you are on treatment. Use it when you are not on treatment. Convert the CD to MP3 and listen to it on your Ipad, Iphone, MP3 player, whatever. Listen to it at lunch. Listen to it on public transit and most definitely listen to it as you go to bed at night.

For more information and to order the program, go to:
http://cancerwarsmaarsjourney.com/

Thanks for reading through this long message but I honestly feel very strongly that there are many things in this program that are beneficial in fighting cancer whether you are currently on treatment or getting a break from it. Doing everything that you can to fight this disease simply must include getting back the feeling that you can conquer this beast.

Happy Holidays to everyone and I pray that you will all find healing and most of all, hope in the new year!!!


John Neary

rae_rae

John,
So good to hear from
John,

So good to hear from you, I have often wondered how you were doing. I have also heard good things about Gerald white's guided imagery program through a group associated with the Kidney cancer association. It is amazing to hear how well it is working for you.
Please keep us posted. We all need hope.
Wishing you all the best,
Rae

garym

rae_rae said:

John,
So good to hear from
John,

So good to hear from you, I have often wondered how you were doing. I have also heard good things about Gerald white's guided imagery program through a group associated with the Kidney cancer association. It is amazing to hear how well it is working for you.
Please keep us posted. We all need hope.
Wishing you all the best,
Rae

Very good to hear from you again...
Hi John,

Like a moth to the flame I am drawn to the stories of our members that continue to fight for life by what ever means necessary. The continued desire to help those of us waiting and hoping that it won't return is second only to the courage displayed in battle. I am humbled, inspired, and amazed, but thankful is what I most feel and I am sure there are many more here that feel the same way. May our collective thoughts and prayers fortify your efforts and help give you strength in your continuing fight. I strongly agree that a healthy immune system is our best defense and I will definitely be following your recommendation.

God bless you,

Gary

Sm4pack

Thanks John
Thanks so much for the post John. Being recently diagnosed, I am hungry for any piece of information I can read. I pray that things continue to go well for you and know that all of us on the board are united in the fight. Have a great 2012.

Scott

ejneary

Sm4pack said:

Thanks John
Thanks so much for the post John. Being recently diagnosed, I am hungry for any piece of information I can read. I pray that things continue to go well for you and know that all of us on the board are united in the fight. Have a great 2012.

Scott

I understand your position
Scott:

I too was in your shoes (am?) and this is how I found Gerald White's program. I was searching for people in my shoes who have either gone through or were going through what I was (am?)... What I can tell you about this program is that it works wonders on me. After reading through several texts that support the program, it just makes sense that we have so much power over our own bodies. The problem with cancer is that it just robs you of hope. This combined with panic and fear are most certainly accelerators to worsening health. It wasn't until I was able to get back hope that I was able to start living my life again and put cancer on the "back burner" where it belongs. I am not saying that this has caused me to ignore my cancer but it has allowed me to actually let go of the fear and anxiety and live life again.

I really do suggest that everyone here get a copy and start taking several moments out of their day to follow the program, pray and meditate to kill the beast. I am not sure what is in there but there is something that has been life changing for me and with the science behind it, it makes sense that it is helping.

I hope you have a wonderful new year!!!

John

ejneary

garym said:

Very good to hear from you again...
Hi John,

Like a moth to the flame I am drawn to the stories of our members that continue to fight for life by what ever means necessary. The continued desire to help those of us waiting and hoping that it won't return is second only to the courage displayed in battle. I am humbled, inspired, and amazed, but thankful is what I most feel and I am sure there are many more here that feel the same way. May our collective thoughts and prayers fortify your efforts and help give you strength in your continuing fight. I strongly agree that a healthy immune system is our best defense and I will definitely be following your recommendation.

God bless you,

Gary

Thanks Gary!!!
I appreciate your thoughts!

Here is to a healthy immune system in the new year and the elimination of cancer!!!

John

jhsu

ejneary said:

I understand your position
Scott:

I too was in your shoes (am?) and this is how I found Gerald White's program. I was searching for people in my shoes who have either gone through or were going through what I was (am?)... What I can tell you about this program is that it works wonders on me. After reading through several texts that support the program, it just makes sense that we have so much power over our own bodies. The problem with cancer is that it just robs you of hope. This combined with panic and fear are most certainly accelerators to worsening health. It wasn't until I was able to get back hope that I was able to start living my life again and put cancer on the "back burner" where it belongs. I am not saying that this has caused me to ignore my cancer but it has allowed me to actually let go of the fear and anxiety and live life again.

I really do suggest that everyone here get a copy and start taking several moments out of their day to follow the program, pray and meditate to kill the beast. I am not sure what is in there but there is something that has been life changing for me and with the science behind it, it makes sense that it is helping.

I hope you have a wonderful new year!!!

John

You've got that right
John,

I'm so glad to see you've taken your life back into your own hands. You have cancer, but cancer does NOT have you.

Jon

myboys2

Sm4pack said:

Thanks John
Thanks so much for the post John. Being recently diagnosed, I am hungry for any piece of information I can read. I pray that things continue to go well for you and know that all of us on the board are united in the fight. Have a great 2012.

Scott

Insightful reading
Although this is about RCC, I found this to be one of the best reads in my almost 6 month journey. I approach this from a strategic standpoint.

http://www.ikcc.org/kidney-cancer/basics/35,

Gail

ejneary

myboys2 said:

Insightful reading
Although this is about RCC, I found this to be one of the best reads in my almost 6 month journey. I approach this from a strategic standpoint.

http://www.ikcc.org/kidney-cancer/basics/35,

Gail

That is good!
That is a great article and is very accurate in that it indicates that RCC is fickle! It can come and go and then re-appear when you least expect it. The best part of Gerald White's program is that it is something that you can do on your own while you are either going through treatment or in between. Like I have said before, whatever I can do to boost my immune system is what I need to do to combat this disease and spending an hour before bed and during the day helps to relax me and even that alone is good. I have noticed a marked difference in the way I approach stress in my life. The connection between mind and body is powerful and if I can convince my own body to fight this disease and not have to go back on Chemo or worse, I am all for that. Seems to be working so far.

Have a great New Year!!!

John