Hi All-

Sorry I haven't posted since I asked for help in finding temporary housing in Los Angeles. Don, my husband, was going to begin radiation to his lungs after they discovered mets from his tonsil cancer.

These past 6 months have been horrible. In November we found out that the tonsil cancer that they "assured" us was completely gone had mets to Don's lungs...and in addition to that he also has AML (acute leukemia). He was eventually transferred to Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles where they were able to put his AML into remission. They were testing for bone marrow transplant when they discovered a mets to his brain and he had to have brain surgery & radiosurgery (radiation). After that they discovered that the mets to the lungs needed to be treated before any bone marrow transplant could occur. The week before radiation was to begin they found another tumor that made radiation no longer an option. He began chemo for the chest/lungs at the end of February and ended last week.

This past Monday they did a CT scan to ascertain if the chemo had reduced the tumors in the chest/lungs and discovered it did absolutely nothing. In addition they found that the tonsil cancer has now moved to Don's bones and liver. They will be starting pallpative radiation therapy to reduce the bone pain and prevent fracture this coming up Monday for 2 weeks. During that time they will be looking for another chemo that might prolong his life...but they are saying they can no longer say "cure". They are giving Don "months". When Don asked "Do I have a year?" they said "no".

As you all can imagine our lives are completely unside down. We went from celebrating 2 years cancer free on Oct. 21, 2005 to his only having months to live. I don't want to give up! I am hoping that any of you that have had or know of someone that has had mets this extensive can refer us to somewhere that might help. The hardest thing is that not only does he have SCC he also has leukemia. I am reading a book on natural cure for advanced cancers, has anyone read it? Does anyone know if it has been successful? In the book they recommend removing all teeth with metal or plastic in or on them...Don has so much that he'd have to have all his teeth removed. I don't think that is an option because of the risk of infection...with the AML his white blood cells don't work like normal.

I'm at my ropes end...help.

Lorie

Lorie,

As a dental professional, I can assure you that your husband's dental work is not contibuting to his cancer and to put him through getting teeth extracted when he has so much going on would be foolish. I wish that the answer to your prayers was as easy as extracting teeth, but I am afraid it is not.

I am so sorry for what you and your husband are going through. This disease is cunning and cruel.
I will keep you both in my prayers.

Barb

Barb-

Thank you so much for responding. We were thinking the same thing about it being foolish to remove his teeth...not to mention life threatening with his AML. Just wanted to put it out there because if someone has actually heard of this working then we might weigh the odds.

Thanks for your prayers.

Lorie

Lorie - I am so sorry for what your husband and you are having to endure. I wish I had something to offer in the way of alternative options. Please know that my thoughts are with you and I will pray for you and your husband that you find treatment available that will help.

Michele

Lorie,

I was so sorry to read what you and your husband are going through. You will both be in my prayers.

It is a shame that people publish books like the one that you are reading. Without knowing anything else beyond that they recommneded extractions, I can tell you to throw the book out. Speaking as a dentist and a colleague of Barb's, you can be assured that unfortunately extractions won't help. Barb, as always, has given excellent advice.

Jerry

Would you please post or mail me the name of the book. OCF would like to ward people off of a book that has such poor information that may even be harmful.

I am thinking of you guys & hope you can find a way of having peace in your lives in all of your crazy turmoil.

Lorie, You and Don must be feeling overwhelmed. That is way too much scary news for anyone to have to deal with. It must be a mighty temptation to want to believe in questionable advice - like the book you refer to. It would be great if you posted the name of that book here. My thoughts and prayers are with you two, and I hope you find some answers. Stay in touch with us if you can. Be strong. Tom

Thank you all for your words of love and support.

Life continues to throw us hard balls...they neglected to tell us that the pallative radiation Don is receiving for his bones would possibly cause more pain before it helped take the pain away. Don is in complete misery. I just pray daily that it kicks in soon.

Anyone have suggestions on helping him deal with the anger and fear? It is causing not only torture in his mind but it spills out and causes problems between us. I don't want to spend what time he has left argueing.

The title of the book that I referred to is "The Cure for all Advanced Cancers" by Hulda Regehr Clark, Ph.d., N.D. it is the follow up book to "The Cure for All Cancers". Thanks to all of you, especially those dental professionals, that kept us from going down the wrong path.

Lorie

It's very prominent in the Quackwatch listings

http://www.quackwatch.org/search/webglimpse.cgi?ID=1&query=Hulda

I hope that there is a special place in hell for people who try to take advantage of our situations.

I am very sorry to hear what Don and you are going through. Counseling and meds are the best advice I can give. It sounds to me like they could do a better job of pain management and also something for anxiety as well - that may help some of the anger issues.

You're right about one thing - we only have today and if we spend it it anger it's lost forever.