Hi Patti, We are so sorry to hear that your recent test results are not happy ones and we really hope the radiation therapy works. Deb had radiation therapy on her brain late last year and it reduced the tumours/lesions there and stabilised her until now so it DOES work. Her latest 'head' CT Scan two weeks ago showed some small tumours were present but we are hoping these are just shadows of the ones zapped last time. Time will tell. If the tumours are new then we will have to try the baking soda or something similar as they cannot re-radiate Deb's brain. Hopefully things will improve or at least stabilise for you Patti. I don't know how you can cope without pain killers; I couldn't and I know Deb can't so you are very brave. We also decided to go through a second round of chemotherapy, this time using Caelyx, so I guess the diet is of little use right now but we will persist with it and I'm sorry I raised any queries about doing it because every bone and common-sense brain cell tells us that the diet works. It just that we really don't know what to do at times and feel so helpless in the sea of possible cures, snake oil and other treatments out there. Deb's results have been getting worse of late so ... you know... Anyway, please know that you are in our thoughts Patti and we really hope you (and the rest of us) push out the 'expected outcome' timeframes. Deb was originally given three months and it has already been 13 months and while she is a lot frailer, there is still a lot of quiet determination and fight in her, and now that she is back in chemo and has had her first dose of Caelyx today (along with two units of blood because her haemoglobin had dropped to 78), we are going forward with a positive frame of mind. Please give Dick our kindest wishes and know that you and the rest of the Gawlerites are in our thoughts. Love and very best wishes, Deb and Bruce _____ From: gawlerites-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:gawlerites-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Richard M Sent: Sunday, 19 July 2009 4:12 PM To: gawlerites@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [gawlerites] Re: The Gawler diet and our new oncologist Hi Everybody, Firstlty as this is the first time that I have e-mailed (I leave all computer stuff to Dick as I am computer illiterate and take so long!) I would like to thank-you very much Bruce for setting this up and keeping us all connected really great of you. Also we have been extremely sad to read of those whom have passed away and have said prayers for them and their families. I have written many e-mails in my mind but just never have the time to sit and write them! I empathise with your dilemma Bruce however I just think how much worse off I would be if I wasn't on the regime. Also Ian lost a huge amount of weight and felt good even when the cancer was active. I hold onto some very wise words from Maia. She said," Pattie because you are doing everything you are not the expected outcome". What a revelation that seemed like and still does! So where am I at? MRI and CAT scans about 3 weeks ago showed new growth in the spine to add to the multiple already there!! New lesions in the liver, new in right pelvis and substantial growth in left pelvis. Lung and uterus stayed the same. The left pelvis didn't surprise cos have had discomfort. My GP, who has been wonderful to me, when I saw her told me that "the medics" didn't expect me to live more than months!! So of course now I have been advised to come home and get writing things down before I am unable to BUGGER!! I am of course doing 7 juices a day, remain on the healing diet have upped meditation to 3 hours most days., I am also spending more time on visualizing I find it hard work but am perservering. I very rarely socialize ( I don't have time or energy) I am having my energy healing every fortnite, have found a lovely lady with real healing hands and is reasonable for massage AND for the last 2 weeks have been taking MAPLE SYRUP AND BAKING SODA. We read an article in the Uncensored magazine. Baking soda on its own won't get to the brain or bone but with the syrup they say it gets absorbed in. Cancer cells absorb sugar 15 xs more than ordinary cells so they gobble up that sugar and because you have to boil the 2 together before you take the soda blats the cells. I think its best taken when no food in the stomach so that's real trickey with the juices have been taking through the night if I wake. We changed Oncologist the previous 1 who did a great job with the chemo last year said he could never agree with what I was doing so like you Bruce after much soul searching we changed to someone a bit more user friendly! I had decided I wouldn't have more chemo he agreed it won't cure the Ca and will blat my immune system. However I am going to have some hot spots radiated there is 1 a bit close to the spinal chord and my hips. I would prefer not to have to have the radiation but will think positive and visualize it only zapping the ca. I try to walk most days and do yoga. My body is stiffening up but I'm not taking any pain relief so far. Controlling the mind is a major but the meditation def helps. I feel confident that although I appear to be getting more ca I AM NOT GOING TO BE THE EXPECTED OUTCOME! I am looking at attending the follow up course at the foundation in September. Dick and our girls family and friends are all wonderful to me and very supportive I feel truly blessed and very grateful. Lots of love and the very best to you all Pattie Meldrumxxxxxxx _____ From: gawlerites-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:gawlerites-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of bja Sent: Saturday, 18 July 2009 9:10 p.m. To: gawlerites@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [gawlerites] The Gawler diet and our new oncologist Hi Guys, This is just a general query to see if anyone has had any success with the diets and meditation so far. Debbie meditates daily and has been sticking to the diet reasonably well (at least 98% - she misses the occasional juice), but all her markers have been going up and her recent PET and CT scans show she has numerous instances of new growth along with additional growth in her previous tumours. As a result, she will be starting her second batch of chemo soon (this time using Caelyx). As such, the diet and meditation do not appear to be working for Deb so I guess I am asking, is it worth continuing? Deb wants to but she is now down to 49kg so I am worried. Also, we have been dissatisfied with our oncologist for some time (Geraldine Goss) so we sought a second opinion from Patti's oncologist and he referred us to a Prof. Michael Leyden at Maroondah hospital. We have now seen him twice and he seems OK, but I am worried about 'changing ships during a storm' particularly since we actually had a small ray of sunshine last Wednesday when Goss was away for our clinic and the head of oncology at Monash, Peter Briggs, saw us instead. He seemed far more competent that Goss and it was actually he that recommended the CT scan and Caelyx so maybe things are turning at Monash. This, however, leaves us with a very difficult, and potentially life changing decision as to whether to change oncologists or not. We can't keep having a foot in both camps now that Deb is about to start chemo again. As such, I would appreciate any advice if you know of these oncologists, or the chemo day ward at Maroondah hospital etc. TIA. Cheers, Bruce __________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus signature database 4244 (20090715) __________ The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus. http://www.eset.com __________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus signature database 4257 (20090718) __________ The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus. http://www.eset.com No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.392 / Virus Database: 270.13.19/2244 - Release Date: 07/17/09 18:00:00