Surviving a stage IIIB lung cancer diagnosis for eleven years is remarkable; surviving five recurrences of stage IV lung cancer is miraculous. Inquiring minds want to know: What factors contributed to the miracle? Good doctors, good fortune, good genes, strong faith? All that and more.
In Cancer Journey: A Caregiver’s View from the Passenger Seat, published in 2010, I outlined the steps we took, or more accurately, stumbled upon, during the first seven years of treatment, remission, prostate cancer, and the first lung cancer recurrence. We didn’t know what we were doing but whatever it was worked.
Since the publication of the book, Jim has suffered four more recurrences.
2013 was a rough year. In the spring, he developed an antibiotic resistant infection, muscle wasting (common in advanced lung cancer), and a twenty pound weight loss, followed in June by his fifth recurrence. He looked bad and felt worse.
The doctors’ primary concern at that point was restoring his strength and energy. Following their recommendations with a few additions based on my research, we embarked on a protocol designed to rebuild his ravaged body and restore his health. I have benefited with him from the program which I too adopted, excepting, of course, the pharmaceutical aspects.
Jim continued throughout this time period to take the maintenance medications prescribed by his oncologists. This is not a formula for curing cancer. Nor is it a magic bullet that will keep the cancer from coming back. But when and if the cancer rears its ugly head again, we will be ready to re-enter the battle.
A note of caution: No one should engage in hormone supplementation (4 and 5) unless it is supervised and recommended by a physician for medical purposes. The other parts of the plan can be safely adopted by patient or caregiver. I will elaborate on each component in later posts.
1. Daily whey protein shakes with fruit and greens (berries, banana, pineapple, kiwi, spinach or kelp, coconut or almond milk, occasionally yogurt or peanut butter, and whey protein powder) We started , as ordered, with two a day but eliminated the nighttime smoothie after a few weeks. (You can only consume so much food.) We tried several different whey protein powders before settling on Jay Robb recommended by Susan Sullivan in our f.a.i.t.H. group. Jim developed an aversion to whey protein drinks early in treatment (2003) when Dr. Rios required them as a supplement during chemo. He still isn’t fond of them but we found the Jay Robb to be the most palatable in texture and taste. We like the vanilla and chocolate.
2. Fresh organic vegetable/fruit juice once a day. Combinations: Beet root, carrot, lemon, apple. Beet root, ginger, orange, kale, apple. Spinach, cucumber, pear, parsley. Kale, celery, cucumber, pineapple. Various combinations of any of the above with any other vegetables you like. Contrary to what you might believe, Jim does not thank me when I present him with these libations. The day may come when he takes it over-the-head rather than down-the-hatch.
3. Rest. Jim has been really good about not overdoing. The first weeks after radiation he stayed at home and slept. Gradually he added limited activity. He continues to get eight hours of sleep nightly with frequent naps.
4. Depa Provera (Testosterone) Injections (ordered by the oncologist) I had to drag him kicking and screaming but he finally agreed to take the shots—one a week for six weeks. After all the other toxic treatments he has endured without complaint, I’m not sure why he objected to this one. Was he afraid of pimples? Or that doping would keep him from the next Olympic Games? Not sure but he finally conceded. At the end of six weeks the testosterone injections were followed by a “booster” of hCG. Jim has completed two rounds of hormone therapy.
5. Human chorionic gonadotropin (better known as hCG) is produced during pregnancy. It is made by cells that form the placenta, which nourishes the egg after it has been fertilized and becomes attached to the uterine wall. The hormone HCG is sometimes prescribed for men to increase natural testosterone production during the course of therapy as a result of the stimulation of the testes by the HCG. According to our oncologist, HCG therapy can result in a continuing higher level of natural testosterone production by the testes after hormone therapy is completed. (Happily he didn’t become a soprano or develop a desire to wear my clothes.)
6. Pulmonary Rehabilitation Beginning in mid-August, Jim went to rehab three times a week, building endurance and restoring muscle mass. He started with forty-five minutes of moderate exercise and worked up to two hours. An 11/12/13 visit to the pulmonologist indicated that his breathing functions were the best they’ve been since 2008. After three months of rehab, he continues to walk and lift weights.
7. Walking As soon as he felt well enough we walked for two miles—on days he didn’t have pulmonary rehab. We probably average two times a week.
8. Protandim An herbal supplement containing curcumin, milk thistle, bacopa, Ashwagandha , and green tea extract to inhibit inflammation.
Perhaps Jim would have seen the same results if we had only followed a few of these interventions. We have no way of knowing which effected the desired changes in his health. I only know he gained weight, developed muscle mass, improved endurance, and increased energy—with no deleterious side effects. Jim is feeling better than he has in years—and so is his caregiver.
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