PS-Birthday Stuff

PS - I added a picture today. When I walked in about 11 am, I said hello to everyone and they said hello. I found a chair that mysteriousl​y was empty, even though the room was packed. I sat down and they hooked me up to the IV and everyone started blowing whistles, really loudly! Then about 30-40 of them started to sing Happy Birthday and brought out a big cake with icing balloons on it. We, of the Sugar Resistance Movement, only took tiny slivers, but the family and staff ate the cake up. It was a great birthday surprise from some really good friends. Special thanks to Ron and Elssy for getting the cake and setting up the clever ruse.
B.

Big Day Today!

While I never thought that my 40th Birthday would be celebrated by IV’s and injections, I don’t think it is a bad thing. Not only investing in what we hope is a very lengthy remission, but also if I can’t celebrate with family and other friends, the people that I have met here and in Reno are the closest thing to it. Their positive attitude and spirit help me to see light at the end of this tunnel. The focus that these people have in being able to now set aside the trivial and lock in on their treatment and what is important in their lives has taught me as much as I have learned medically about Prostate Cancer. There is a right way to live your life and they understand it. I have told some that I am not emotionally mature enough to be able to call this cancer a blessing, but I can easily recognize the blessings that have come from it. Most of the blessings r​ead this blog.

Last year I wondered what it would feel like to turn 40. I thought at the time that it was just turning another page, albeit a thicker one. I did think on some level that it was a milestone and I felt that some part of my life had passed, never to return. So while I wasn’t necessarily feeling my mortality, I felt that I was progressing into an older, not necessarily wiser, stage of life. It made me feel how quickly my life moved and amazed me that I have an 11 and 9 year old, and have been married over 13 years. As I look at what this 40th Birthday means to me today, it is very different. I thank God that I have been able to do the things I have, watch my children progress from infants to very distinct personaliti​es, and to get to know all of you. I don’t worry today about my age or growing older. I pray to walk Sarah down the aisle. I pray to see John take a wife. I pray to see grandchildr​en. I pray to grow old with my wife and kick kids off of my lawn. I love my life today and getting older isn’t a curse. In short, I pray for the opportunity to grow much older. Every positive test result gives me hope that I will do just that. I believe in this treatment and this doctor and see positive results daily in many of my friends receiving treatment.



On the medical front, I found out that my sialic acid is very high (190), as to be expected. This would indicate that there is a large amount of cancer in my body. But I knew that. The PSA and AlkPhos seem to show that it is not very active right now due to the Hormone Blocker. This was drawn before treatment started, but takes about a week to culture the sample and get the results. I will be receiving the Neo-Springe​r Vaccine (See Link under San Diego Clinic, Treaments) on Monday.
​Explanation of Sialic Acid –
Carcinoma cell (cancer cells) are covered with Sialic acid (which also serves as a carcinoma marker for diagnostic purposes) and this helps hide the cancer from the immune system. Sialic acid is not particularl​y immunogenic.​
T/Tn antigens (Neo-Spring​er Vaccine) covertly attach to immunogenes in order to induce an immune response. The body then goes after the cancer with a vengeance.
​

I will be meeting with Dr. Munoz on Saturday and hope to get the rest of where he thinks we are headed with treatment, now that he has seen all of the baseline bloodwork.

​

Thanks for reading and humoring this newly 40 year old!

Brian.

Let the Games Begin!!!

Today I will begin a new phase of my treatment. I will start the Dendritic Cell Vaccine/Immunology. To say that I am excited about this would be a huge understatement.

Here is the description of the Dendritic Cell Treatment:

Dendritic cell vaccine - this autogolous vaccine (vaccine from patient’s own blood) isolates the dendritic cells which are then cultured in a lab and trained to identify cancer cells. This process stimulates the immune system and NK cells to destroy cancer cells.

You can Google this treatment, also. It has undergone clinical trials in the US and has been awaiting its final approval from the FDA for over a year. (Snide comment)

Up to this point, we have been strengthening the bones and building up the immune system, but this is where the work and the fun begin. My treatment will not include chemo, so overall; I should feel pretty decent through this. I will continue Hyperthermia each day this week and then go to 3 times per week starting next week. Next week we will add some of the other treatments to the regimen, in addition to continuing immune system strengthening.

There is a man here with Colo-Rectal cancer that was told that there was nothing else that could be done for him by his oncologist. He has been here for 8 weeks. Yesterday, Dr. Munoz informed him that his tumors have shrunk by 30%-40% on the CT Scan and continue to show improvement. He will get to go home to continue treatment and come back in 2 months for a follow up. His main discomfort is the scar tissue that built up from his radiation treatments, which were ineffective. (Snide Comment #2)

Please understand, I do not disapprove of conventional treatment. Chemo, surgery, and radiation have its very important place in the treatment of cancer. I believe that these are radical treatments that must be exercised with the utmost care. Cancer is almost universally regarded as a breakdown of your immune system at some point in your life. It can be caused by many things, including genetics. The way to improve your odds and quality of life is to sustain your immune system and use these harsh treatments sparingly. Some well-meaning doctors follow the cookbook, and forget the simple fact that we can’t cure cancer, yet. But the human body, in optimal condition, defeats it every single day, in every human body. Enough ranting, sorry…

----Last thing. I want everyone that reads this blog to know that I appreciate your concern for me and my family. This experience has shown me what a blessing my life truly has been. Even some that I do not know as well have taken the time from their lives to make sure that everything that is needed has been taken care of. Friends that I had fallen out of touch with have reached out to me with the care and concern of close friends that I thought that I had lost. I have learned valuable lessons from this trial. Lessons that have forever changed my life and perspective. I only have you to thank for this. I hope you get the feelings of a good deed performed, because all of you have truly inspired and bolstered my family in a very difficult time.

My love for each and every one of you!
Brian.

Blood work on Friday

I met with Dr. Munoz on Friday to review my blood work. PSA has dropped to 2.14 and my AlkPhos has dropped solidly into the normal range at 110. This is all very good news. He believes that I will only need to be treated at his clinic for 4 weeks and then he will send me home with treatments that I can administer myself. I will have to keep the IV Port in my chest for awhile, but I don't notice it that much anymore. All in all, good news. I went for a drive today and ended up in LA. Why does LA have traffic all the time? Don't these people ever go home?

All for now. Will post again soon!
B.

Treatment options

I have been emailing a man with a similar diagnosis, Ivan, in Australia recently. Even though I am relatively new to this stuff, it has given me an opportunity to learn and share experiences that have proven to offer support to others. For that, I am profoundly grateful. It doesn't matter where you are in this process. The thoughts, emotions, and hope are of value to anyone who chooses to look at why we are similar, instead of why you are unique. The "Point of the Post" today comes from my conversation with Ivan. While I am doing conventional treatments, I have placed my hope in predominately alternative. Conversely, David Emerson (Big C Blog-See Links) is doing some alternative (nutrition, etc), but is predominately conventional. David is over 5 years from advanced prostate cancer diagnosis and is doing well. I have met many that took the alternative route and they are doing very well, also. That is why I believe that this is such an important, individual decision to take ownership of your treatment plan. Whether it is Cancer or any other ailment. Knowledge is Power. Research helps you to ask the tough questions. Talking to others that you find to have similar circumstances give you real world information and can help you determine your path with confidence. Sometimes the prognosis is a little disheartening, but even if they tell you that there is a 30% survival rate for 5 years with advanced prostate cancer, 30% is not just a number assigned at random. It represents people like us. People with lives and families. A .300 Batting Average could land you in the Hall of Fame! Look for the similarity, but don't be afraid to blaze your own trail if your heart guides you.
My best to all!
Brian.

Tuesday - Day 2

A little more on the Hyperthermia Treatment-

The Hyperthermi​a treatment consists of a bed like a tanning bed, but instead of a lid that pulls down, it looks like a range hood over your stove. Reflective pads are velcro'd to the sides and the front down to the middle of your chest. So your upper chest and head are not in the "box". You only wear a hospital gown and they put 2 sheets over your whole body in the box so your don't actually start to cook. The temperature inside the box gets to about 110-112 degrees. Your body temperature at your core raises to about 103. You stay in for about an hour. It wasn't too bad, but you feel a little tired for a couple hours after. I kinda liked it. Sort of like a spa, only with cancer. :)

PS- Don't know if it is unbridled enthusiasm and optimism or the treatment, but I feel really good today. Lots of energy, kinda like myself again. WOOHOO!

1st Treatment - San Diego Clinic

Worked out the internet problems this morning. I arrived in San Diego on Sunday afternoon and spent the rest of the day trying to arrange longer term accomodations. On Monday morning, I went in to the Clinic in Tijuana, Mexico for blood work, consultation with Dr. Munoz, and possibly to start treatment. I parked at a Day Lot on the US side of the border. It takes more paperwork and assistance to get into a movie than it takes to walk into Mexico. Getting out is a lot longer (1hr) in line, but still a pretty simple process. I got to the Clinic, filled out the paperwork and Dr. Munoz was able to see me right away. He said that there were only 2 types of Chemo that had shown any ability to do anything with Advanced Prostate Cancer and that he did not think it would be of help to me right now, so it would not be in my protocol, unless something changed. Good news on that. He said he would be using Dendritic Cell Therapy. This has shown great promise at Duke University and other research hospitals.

Whole body Hyperthermia –this treatment enhances the benefits of chemotherapy and has a synergistic effect (killing cancer cells). It also enhances the immune system and assists in detoxification of the body. This therapy is given on a daily basis for the first two weeks of therapy and then adjusted accordingly.

Then for the Cancer in my bones:

Osteo therapy:
- Micalcic (salmon calcitonin) is a synthetic polypeptide of 32 amino acids in the same linear sequence that is found in calcitonin of salmon origin. This therapy is utilized to strengthen bone and assist with metastatic bone cancer. Micalcic is administered by injection while in treatment with SDC. Depending upon the evolution of therapy – the use of this medication may be changed to a nasal spray application (for home therapy program.)

Pamidronate – this is an effective treatment for bone cancer. It assists the bone to recalcify and strengthen. Pamidronate particularly kills cancer cells and has an oncolytic effect.


For Immune Therapy:

Metabolic therapy:


- Selenium IV therapy – enhances lymphatic drainage and immune system function. It also has an anti-cancer effect & stops metastasis.

-Zinc IV therapy – The lack of zinc in our bodies has been implicated not only in the initiation of certain cancers, but also in the transition, progression, and metastasis of the disease. When zinc is deficient, cellular functioning is compromised. Zinc IV therapy is an essential treatment for mineral & immune system balance.

- Artesunate IV therapy - this is a synthetic product from the Artemesia herb. It is known for its anti-cancer activity (it is an anti-cancer antibiotic).

- Polypeptides IV therapy – this is an essential treatment to protect liver, spleen, kidneys and bone marrow from the side effects of cancer treatments.

- Alban solution IV therapy – anti-inflammatory treatment. Alban is a combination of H2O2 and DMSO.

- Glyoxal IV therapy – helps to restore the normal pathway of cancer cells. Re-differentiation therapy.

-Vitamin C & K IV therapy – (apoptosis / antioxidant) produces apoptosis and eliminates free radicals; free radicals produce pain and inflammation.


Immune therapy:

- Mycoplasma vaccine – Autogolous vaccine, eighty percent of cancer cells have been linked directly to mycoplasma. This vaccine eliminates micoplasma and indirectly destroys cancer cells.

Allergostop vaccine – This autogolous vaccine re-programs (modulates) the immune system.

- Neo Springer vaccine – This specific synthetic vaccine targets Sialic Acid which is produced by cancer cells (up to 95%).

- Supplement program – An oral supplemental program is specifically designed to your needs while in treatment at SDC.

-Dendritic cell vaccine - this autogolous vaccine (vaccine from patient’s own blood) isolates the dendritic cells which are then cultured in a lab and trained to identify cancer cells. This process stimulates the immune system and NK cells to destroy cancer cells.

-I will also be receiving GcMaf, a very promising immunology program developed by a Japanese Doctor. I have read about this, and the results are amazing. Dr. Munoz said the results are similar to chemo, last much longer, with no toxicity.

These therapies are from the protocol I discussed with the Dr. at the initial meeting. After he has the results from my labs on Wed or Thurs, he said he may adjust the protocol as needed.

The surgeon came in and installed a port in my chest just under my left collarbone. It is an IV tube that will stay in while I am here. Many cancer patients get them because of the high number if IV's that they get. It saves you from all the needle sticks in the arm. Didn't hurt too bad getting it, but it got a little sore last night. Much better today.

He said that with this system that he strongly believes that I will be in full remission when I leave the clinic. If I follow the regimen, nutrition, and excercise, I can stay in remission for many years. He has several over 10, 15, and even 20 years with similar advanced cancer.

He has had this success with many types of cancer and I met several of his success stories yesterday. Some still being treated, others in for follow up.

Everyone is different, so while I am not sure how the treatment will be received for me, I am optimistic. And I choose to have hope that I was guided to this clinic through your prayers and thoughts. I believe that through this treatment, every possible avenue will be pursued and every treatment investigated and tried. I know in my heart that the good people I have been fortunate enough to be surrounded by for my entire life will be sufficient to pull me through this. I thank all of you for your support and prayers and will keep you up to date on this remarkable treatment.

If any of you have any questions, or know some one that may be interested in this treatment for themselves or a loved one, please do not hesitate to contact me at:
brianpca4@gmail.com. I want to share what I have learned in the hopes that it circulates to all who need help.

All of my love,
B.

Little angry today.

I kind of blew up today. Not in a classic Brian Melt Down kind of way. Those only happen every 4 or 5 years, but still enough to make a pro wrestler jealous. The ignition source was a decision on treatment that my wife and I made. It is to see a Doctor who specializes in Cancer Treatment in Tijuana, Mexico. After a whole lot of research, we feel that this is a move that is the right one. That doesn't mean we are right. In fact, we fully understand that we are looking at options that aren't supported by conventional medicine. The reason we chose this clinic, The San Diego Clinic, is because they are using methods that are basically conventional and have had clinical trials in the US, but have not been approved by the FDA, yet. They also integrate many methods used as conventional in Europe, such as Hyperthermia and Low Dose Chemo. The reason for the decision is that several doctors, at Huntsman Cancer, EuroMed in Phoenix, and a doctor in New York are fairly convinced that the cancer is still spreading aggressively in my bones and maybe soft tissue organs. We don't know this for sure yet, but the bone pain is not letting up much. In any case, even if it isn't, it is time to hit it while it is down. Time to go on the offensive. I wish I knew if this was the right decision, but I will have to settle for it being the best decision. As in, the best one I can make with the information that I have, at this point in time. Modern medicine does move quickly, but not quickly enough if you already have cancer. All of this brings me to my "Point of the Post". I might have to trademark that one. When you have cancer, it affects everyone around you. Friends, family, even casual acquaintances. I can't even begin to tell you the number of people who told me that after they found out that I had Prostate Cancer, they went to the doctor for a physical and told the doctor that they wanted their prostate checked. (Insert San Francisco joke here). I am very glad that it awakened men to make sure that they kept their health as a priority. It shows you the ripple effect that news like this brings. Imagine being a close friend or family member that has just received the phone call, " Mom, Dad, I have cancer." My family had never dealt with anything like this before and there is a learning curve for all of us. The worst kind of "On the Job Training". I don't consider myself a very self-centered person, but when I think about it, it happens. Some of it from necessity, some from tunnel vision while you try to analyze just what this means for you and your upcoming future. So while you try to accept all input from family and friends, it overwhelms you and causes temporary paralysis of the part of your brain that lets you make short and long term plans. You start to question every decision that you make for yourself and your family. You wonder if the plans and decisions are sound due to the mental stress that you are under and maybe even let others make decisions that you should make and you go along with it because you lack the confidence to make decisions on your own. These things happened to me to one degree or another. Not all the time, but some. Your family and friends only want the best for you so they want to help, but you are unable to tell them how. I love my family dearly and I have some of the best friends anyone is blessed enough to have. I think I have set expectations for some of these dear people that they could not have lived up to. They are trying to understand my decisions, but don't agree with some of them. I understand that. We are trying to look into a crystal ball that doesn't exist. I can't depend solely on what modern medicine has to offer, because for me, it isn't much. It damn sure isn't enough. What sounds simple has been a difficult concept for me, and I think some of my family, to grasp. What I, and maybe others in my postion need, is the love and support from those closest to us. During the deliberations, input is asked for and always considered. I don't know everything. I make bad decisions sometimes. But, when the polls close, and the votes are counted, and the decision is made, I need the love and unconditional support of my family and friends. I can't handle the real and imagined voices of "I think that was a bad decision" or "Why would he do that?" or "What are they thinking?". This isn't buying a car, this is life or death. My advice to those that are reading this and have cancer, please have this conversation with your family and close friends. They will understand and be happy that the path is clear for them. If you are family or friend to someone with cancer, please just ask to understand what they are considering, ask what you can do to help them gather information to make that decision, let them make their decision, and then love them and go to war for them to support their decision. This is the hardest thing I have ever had to make decisions on. Many bad decisions can be undone, or if not undone, repaired sufficiently. These types of situations are true crossroads in life. One that it is very difficult to turn back from, whether spiritually, emotionally, physically, or financially. These are decisions that need to be made when the situation forces it, not at the leisure of convenience. Sometimes, you have to make these choices in a matter of days with dire consequence. I have taken longer to pick out a shirt. When the decision is made, that is when the family and friends can answer the question, "How can I help you?" or "What do you need?". The answer is, anything you can do to let them know how much you love them, support their decision, and want to do what they need to bring this choice to fruition. Sounds simple, but in the heat of battle, when love combines with fear, the blinders go on and survival instinct kicks in. Sometimes, just a word of encouragement is all that is needed to turn confusion into confidence. I had this conversation with some that I love dearly and they understood it perfectly. I could not wish for better support from them. Their love for me strengthens me when I need it most. They inspire me to battle this crappy soul sucking disease. They give me hope that I can use their strength to win my battle. They would sacrifice all that they have and would ever have to see me well. I know this because I feel the same way about them. To think, all I needed to do was open my mouth and tell them... Don't wait to have these conversations with the ones you love, cancer isn't even required :) .

Treatment I have been trying...

I have been using MMS, which combines with citric acid to create a dynamic that pulls electrons away from molecules in the cancer cells causing the bond holding them together to be broken. It has shown great success in malaria and other viruses. The possibility is being considered that cancer is caused, and may be, a type of virus. You can read about the science here http://www.jimhumble.biz/ . It is fairly inexpensive and is being tried for many ailments, including the common cold. I have had a couple doctors look at it and they say the science appears sound, but there is not enough data to be sure if it is effective. You can order it here http://www.projectgreenlife.com/cart/pc/home.asp?idaffiliate=5226 . As always, it has not been tested by the FDA and claims not to cure or treat a disease. But, unfortunately, sometimes we have to try things ahead of the curve. I will keep you posted of any results. All for now. Thanks for listening.
B.

This was a mixed week for me. On Monday, I got some labs back that continue to look good. The PSA dropped to a 2.7 and the Alk Phos finally came back down from 242 to 140 (25-140 normal). So while it is still on the high end of normal, it is officially normal. I was very happy with this news until I found out the same day that a very good friend of our family, Kenny, passed away early Monday morning in Florida. My Dad and Kenny were best friends and he had been "family" since before I was born. Kenny was a good man with a great heart. He called me a few times during my treatment in Reno and after to check on me and let me know he was there for anything I needed. I was hoping to see him over the summer or next fall. He will be greatly missed and I hope wherever he is, they serve Imo's pizza and Steak -n-Shake. Love ya Kenny. I also found out that someone I used to work with is suffering from Cancer right now, too. I have spent most of the day worried about him, which takes me out of myself. It's funny how you get wrapped up in the semantics of your own decisions, but if you are able to help someone else by showing them options, it crystalizes your thinking about them and you. It caused some reflecton on my situation. Seems like I do a lot of that right now. I am in a good place with this lately, but it obviously monopolizes a lot of my active thought. As I thought about Kenny, I kept thinking about my own mortality. Not that I feel like I am dying, because I don't. That's the point I kept coming back to. I realized that I won't ever be dying. As long as you can breathe and your heart is beating, you are living, not dying. You still have experiences to relate, laughs to share, and as my friend Annette Koob says, show tunes to sing. I choose to look at life this way now. Each day is a blessing. I will die someday, but I will never be dying, only living. A note to friends and family, don't let me forget this when the chips seem down. I hope I don't need reminding.

Introducing ... David E.!

I have been emailing David E back and forth for the last couple of days. His blog is "The Big C" and can be found under links on this page. He lives in Kansas City, but is originally from St. Louis. His story is very similar to mine, but started 5 years ago. In fact, he just celebrated his 5 year Blog-versary. Not a real word, but you get the point. He has a lot of great info on his site, as well as a link to a non-profit foundation that he started to raise money for Prostate Cancer Research. Definitely worth several looks.

Feeling pretty good today. Took the kids to see Alvin and the Chipmunks Squeaquel (sp?). It was better than I thought it would be, but mostly exactly what you thought it would be. My buddy Joe recommends "Avatar" on the big screen, but that one is not for the kiddies. Thanks to all of you and if I haven't said it enough, I am in the best of care. My wife is the very best in the world for me and keeps me focused on taking good care of myself. Tomorrow we start Tai Chi. Slow motion martial arts for the expected slow motion attack. "Hit me right here. Ouch. No, slower" :)