Guatemala Update

snommintj
snommintj Member Posts: 601
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
Guatemala City is crazy. I'll write more about this later.

I've had two of six treatments thus far. They adjusted my treatment today to encompass an area closer to my stomach. The Dr said I may feel a bit nauseous. I did. I spent 7 hours hurling. It was awful. No treatment until tuesday. I think I'll see about altering the current treatment. I didn't feel anything other than a slight sunburn from the first treatment, So I was expecting this one to be as easy. No such luck, but I think things are calming down. The Drs here have unlimited range to experiment and customize treatment. Dr. Linares is very smart and very knowledgable concerning cancer. He is doing things with his machine that should be done in the US but would take years to get approved. Please, if you have been told you aren't eligible for surgery or treatment you need to at least inquire about treatment.
I had a team of Drs meet with me before coming down here and they all were against it. Yet, they're only solution was more chemo and then death. I do agree that the new and unproven is a scary proposition. Not having empirical evidence to lean on is shaky. But if the only evidence you have is that you should do nothing and then die, well I'll take new and unproven. It eases my mind to hear a Dr say he has successfully treated people like me and worse. "No problem" is a good thing to hear. I have many tumors, but all my Drs agreed none of them were of immediate concern. They were concerned with any new ones that may occur. Now I have a Dr that says lets get rid of these things and you might not get any new ones. That is all I need. Just somebody to work with me.

Comments

  • Sundanceh
    Sundanceh Member Posts: 4,392 Member
    #2
    Great News!
    Sounds promising, John

    You are out there on the forefront as it were - "shaky" as you say beats trying nothing, and you have the means necessary to do the treatments.

    I'm glad you feel comfortable with this approach and I'm following you to see what you tell us. I hope it's everything you want it to be.

    Look forward to the city post later:)

    -Craig
  • WhatsA_Mom2Do
    WhatsA_Mom2Do Member Posts: 46
    #3
    I'm praying for your healing
    John,

    You are doing the right thing....fighting for your life. If you don't fight for you...who else will??? As you said...more chemo then death. Well, that's not the best prospect for you....the patient who has such a great will to live and FIGHT!

    And for all the "empirical evidence".....sometimes the outcomes are great and sometimes not so great. We see examples of this everyday on the support boards, in the media, and in our daily lives. As my son says, "cancer is a beast but I plan to fight, fight, fight"!
    I do hope they come up with solutions to lessen the treatment side effects.

    Hang in there my friend...and be encouraged.

    Dee
  • Kathleen808
    Kathleen808 Member Posts: 2,342 Member
    #4
    John
    John,
    Once again I am amazed at your strength and determination. Thank you for sharing your experience. You are awesome!

    Aloha,
    Kathleen
  • pepebcn
    pepebcn Member Posts: 6,331 Member
    #5
    Kathleen808 said:

    John
    John,
    Once again I am amazed at your strength and determination. Thank you for sharing your experience. You are awesome!

    Aloha,
    Kathleen

    John it sounds great!
    as per you say I'm sure you are going to have a big success there in Guatemala!
    Hang in there sir!
  • idlehunters
    idlehunters Member Posts: 1,787 Member
    #6
    pepebcn said:

    John it sounds great!
    as per you say I'm sure you are going to have a big success there in Guatemala!
    Hang in there sir!

    Hey John!!
    You are awesome! I love how you get out and try stuff. The strength and courage that takes you into unchartered waters is such an asset to this board. Thank you for sharing your experience with us. Take care.

    Jennie
  • AnneCan
    AnneCan Member Posts: 3,673 Member
    #7
    Leading
    John it sounds like you are on the leading edge here, + you are lighting a path that others may choose to follow. I want to wish you complete success with these treatments.
  • John23
    John23 Member Posts: 2,122 Member
    #8
    John -


    My heart is with you! I hope you prove this to be a new treatment
    that works!

    I do have one question, though..... and it's something that puzzles me
    to no end......

    Why, when western medicine says that there is nothing else to offer,
    that so, so many are so willing to try a procedure like you are
    undergoing, rather than a science that has been used for thousands
    of years on billions of people?

    I've been "clean" since taking the herbs I'd taken four years ago.
    It was "uncharted waters" for me, but I didn't get the applause
    that most individuals get when they try something other than a
    four thousand year old science.

    Please don't get me wrong, I think you have great courage to
    test uncharted waters in the quest to live, but why do people avoid
    something that so many have already proven that works?

    I'd really like to help people live, but it's extremely frustrating to
    see so many cancer victims take gigantic detours around a science
    that's already proven itself to billions upon billions of people.

    I wonder if anyone can provide a reasonable explanation...........


    My best wishes to you John, for a -very- successful treatment!


    John
  • PGLGreg
    PGLGreg Member Posts: 731
    #9
    John23 said:

    John -


    My heart is with you! I hope you prove this to be a new treatment
    that works!

    I do have one question, though..... and it's something that puzzles me
    to no end......

    Why, when western medicine says that there is nothing else to offer,
    that so, so many are so willing to try a procedure like you are
    undergoing, rather than a science that has been used for thousands
    of years on billions of people?

    I've been "clean" since taking the herbs I'd taken four years ago.
    It was "uncharted waters" for me, but I didn't get the applause
    that most individuals get when they try something other than a
    four thousand year old science.

    Please don't get me wrong, I think you have great courage to
    test uncharted waters in the quest to live, but why do people avoid
    something that so many have already proven that works?

    I'd really like to help people live, but it's extremely frustrating to
    see so many cancer victims take gigantic detours around a science
    that's already proven itself to billions upon billions of people.

    I wonder if anyone can provide a reasonable explanation...........


    My best wishes to you John, for a -very- successful treatment!


    John

    applause
    "I didn't get the applause that most individuals get when they try something other than a four thousand year old science."

    Perhaps to most people the 4000 year age of this "science" does not sound like a recommendation. Don't you think we westerners may have learned a thing or two in the last few thousand years?

    --Greg
  • John23
    John23 Member Posts: 2,122 Member
    #10
    PGLGreg said:

    applause
    "I didn't get the applause that most individuals get when they try something other than a four thousand year old science."

    Perhaps to most people the 4000 year age of this "science" does not sound like a recommendation. Don't you think we westerners may have learned a thing or two in the last few thousand years?

    --Greg

    Greg -

    Re:
    "Perhaps to most people the 4000 year age of this "science" does
    not sound like a recommendation. Don't you think we westerners
    may have learned a thing or two in the last few thousand years?"

    The topic was: When western medicine is telling a patient that there
    is nothing left to offer.......

    And my question was: Why is a thousands of years old science
    being overlooked in this country, when it is being used in other
    countries successfully.


    I just have trouble understanding why people avoid trying it.


    John
  • idlehunters
    idlehunters Member Posts: 1,787 Member
    #11
    John23 said:

    Greg -

    Re:
    "Perhaps to most people the 4000 year age of this "science" does
    not sound like a recommendation. Don't you think we westerners
    may have learned a thing or two in the last few thousand years?"

    The topic was: When western medicine is telling a patient that there
    is nothing left to offer.......

    And my question was: Why is a thousands of years old science
    being overlooked in this country, when it is being used in other
    countries successfully.


    I just have trouble understanding why people avoid trying it.


    John

    John23
    What does "clean" mean? You are cancer free? Cured? Remission? I thought you were "stable" but still had nodules. Please clarify.

    Jennie
  • herdizziness
    herdizziness Member Posts: 3,624 Member
    #12
    idlehunters said:

    John23
    What does "clean" mean? You are cancer free? Cured? Remission? I thought you were "stable" but still had nodules. Please clarify.

    Jennie

    Sweet Chevy
    That is one sweet looking Chevy.
  • John23
    John23 Member Posts: 2,122 Member
    #13
    idlehunters said:

    John23
    What does "clean" mean? You are cancer free? Cured? Remission? I thought you were "stable" but still had nodules. Please clarify.

    Jennie

    Clean?


    (I hate hijacking a thread; I hope John can forgive me)

    Blood tests are fine, CEA is 0.5, white is fine. I'm slightly anemic due to
    the blockages I've been having (4 in 3 mo), due to adhesions and
    hernias from the operation 4 years ago... I may need an op to correct
    the hernias and adhesions.. And the ct scans show no signs of anything.
    One of the two "spots" on my right lung is gone, and the one that
    remains is granuloma, as is the one in the left lung.

    Rack it up to luck, I guess....

    Like I said I other posts, 26% make it regardless. I won't try to
    claim it was herbs that kept me alive, because I have absolutely
    no way to prove that.

    My WM docs say it's luck. If I did chemo, they'd say it was
    thanks to the chemo. If I was worse, they say I was foolish to
    not have done chemo, and if I did chemo and got worse, they'd
    say I gave it my best shot.

    I don't know about you, but the hypocrisy is almost deafening to me..


    There are other options..... there always will be;
    just try hard to find ones that won't kill you.


    John
  • tootsie1
    tootsie1 Member Posts: 5,044 Member
    #14
    Hope it works!
    John,

    I'm really hoping and praying this will turn out wonderfully for you.

    *hugs*
    Gail
  • tootsie1
    tootsie1 Member Posts: 5,044 Member
    #15
    Hope it works!
    John,

    I'm really hoping and praying this will turn out wonderfully for you.

    *hugs*
    Gail
  • snommintj
    snommintj Member Posts: 601
    #16
    tootsie1 said:

    Hope it works!
    John,

    I'm really hoping and praying this will turn out wonderfully for you.

    *hugs*
    Gail

    it's cool
    I don't mind you hijacking me. I've always said folks should seek treatment that feels right to them. I don't know if I have shared this on the board but my wife is half Thai and Chinese. Her mom is a very well respected and accomplished healer. I have never disregarded any of her methods or recommendations. Some of us simply have disease that is resistant to many types of treatment. I applaud anyone that attempts to treat their disease with TCM. But don't be fooled. If someones disease progresses while on any treatment, it's time to reevaluate treatment. I always revert back to my old argument. More Chinese die from cancer everyday than any other nationality. No treatment is absolute. I fully anticipate many more rounds of chemo, many more trips to guatemala, and who knows what else. There are fews paths to a cure for me, if any. I veered off the TCM path about three years ago, though I still use it to boost my immune system and liver functions. I do think you should keep up your enthusiasm and promote TCM whenever possible.
  • HollyID
    HollyID Member Posts: 946 Member
    #17
    John, your perseverance and
    John, your perseverance and courage is nothing less than awesome. I wish you all the luck in the world.

    Hugs,

    Holly
  • herdizziness
    herdizziness Member Posts: 3,624 Member
    #18
    John
    Dear John,
    (no not that kind of letter, LOL)I've put off writing because, I'm conflicted, and I didn't want to add to your shoulders, but I figure you're strong enough.
    I'm conflicted, because I'm worried and scared for you, for trying something different in another country. I feel fear about it.
    But I'm also glad that you believe you have found something that may work for you, and I have great HOPE that it will.
    As you can see, a bit of confliction there.
    I pray for you my friend, and hope nothing but goodness comes out of this.
    Winter Marie
  • John23
    John23 Member Posts: 2,122 Member
    #19
    snommintj said:

    it's cool
    I don't mind you hijacking me. I've always said folks should seek treatment that feels right to them. I don't know if I have shared this on the board but my wife is half Thai and Chinese. Her mom is a very well respected and accomplished healer. I have never disregarded any of her methods or recommendations. Some of us simply have disease that is resistant to many types of treatment. I applaud anyone that attempts to treat their disease with TCM. But don't be fooled. If someones disease progresses while on any treatment, it's time to reevaluate treatment. I always revert back to my old argument. More Chinese die from cancer everyday than any other nationality. No treatment is absolute. I fully anticipate many more rounds of chemo, many more trips to guatemala, and who knows what else. There are fews paths to a cure for me, if any. I veered off the TCM path about three years ago, though I still use it to boost my immune system and liver functions. I do think you should keep up your enthusiasm and promote TCM whenever possible.

    Thanks John!


    We seem to think along the same lines.

    My feelings have always been, to seek help wherever you can find it. Or,
    as my grandmother used to say: "Don't put all your chickens in one basket".

    It doesn't matter if it's Western Medicine, TCM or Snot Balls, if it
    works, stick with it - but if it's not working, try something else.

    I have trouble watching people suffer the consequences of not
    changing paths when the path they're on is obviously failing them.
    It's like seeing someone on the railroad tracks when a train is
    approaching..... you yell, but they ignore you.... it's painful to watch.

    And there are so many quack medicines and practitioners, all
    trying to capitalize on those that need real help; It's sickening.

    Apricot seeds, Oxygenated water, Colloidal Silver, Coral Calcium,
    the list is near endless. Time and money is spent on totally unproven
    schemes, while valid options are disregarded. I can't figure it out...
    What's happened to common sense?

    I'm hoping the treatments are going to do the job for you, John.
    It's an interesting technique, and difficult to understand why it
    can't be tried here in the states. The machine is manufactured in
    California... good grief... and they can't use it here? Senseless.

    Keep us posted. None of us knows if and when we'll need it;
    there are simply no guarantees with anything any of us have
    done so far. In a way, we're all lucky to be here.

    And we're all pulling for one another.

    Be well.

    John
  • PhillieG
    PhillieG Member Posts: 4,866 Member
    #20
    Glad to hear things are going well
    It takes a leap into the unknown to try something "new", I applaud you John. There is no one cure for cancer at all so we can all talk about how this cured us, or that cured us but what worked for me may not work for you and visa versa. If there was one thing that was 100% effective we'd all be on it but there ain't one.

    A big benefit of treatment down there I think is that there is less regulation than exists in the US. One reason I'm sure if that if something is done here and it's not successful, the lawyers are all over it with lawsuits and they would likely cry "how dare they use this untested/unproven method of treatment on my poor client" or some line of BS. I do not know how it is in Guatemala but my feeling is that there are fewer legal challenges if things do not work as planned. I really hope that they do work for you, I'm just using a hypothetical scenario.

    Someday what you are having done down there may be a standard treatment option here. Who knows? No one will unless there are people willing to take a leap into this arena to find out.

    Best of luck to you John, keep keeping us posted
    -phil

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