DCA

Last time I wrote, we were soggy with rain.  Now we're into a heat wave...Calgary does not get  many of those, so we'll enjoy it while it lasts.  Air conditioning would be nice though.

I've still been struggling with fatigue.  My oncologist doesn't think the steroid, Decadron, is a good idea because of the many side effects with longer term use.  But he does want me to start a weekly low-dose chemo to combat the cancer cells while helping me tolerate the drugs.  I'm still really reluctant to go further down the chemo road, as the couple times I've agreed to it, I've felt too lousy to enjoy any aspect of life.  I also continue to think "curing with poison" doesn't sound possible, and the oncologist agrees that it would not be aimed at "curing" (short of a miracle). 

So, I'm still going down the road that could possibly lead to a cure...keeping a strong faith in God, strict diet (plant-based foods, mainly) and this DCA drug which I will start this week.  I'll copy and paste some info from the Medicor website, a clinic in Toronto who will be overseeing my care while on DCA.

"DCA (Dichloroacetate) is an old drug that has been studied extensively in humans for treatment of a rare disease called “congenital lactic acidosis.” It has some mild to moderate side effects which are much milder than conventional chemotherapy.  New research shows that DCA can induce the death of the following human cancer cells in the lab: brain, breast, endometrial, lung and prostate.  Our observational data strongly suggests that DCA works in patients with many types of cancer (including but not limited to the above cancers), even those who have failed multiple conventional treatments.  Medicor Cancer Centres was the first cancer clinic in North America to begin prescribing DCA "off label" to cancer patients under the full supervision of a medical team. We have consulted with the relevant regulatory bodies in Canada and are following their guidelines and policies. DCA works by turning on the natural cell suicide system which is suppressed in cancerous cells, thus allowing them to die on their own. It also alters the cancer cell's use of glucose, starving the cell of energy."

There are a few studies on the go, but since it is an old drug, it can not be re-patented.  That means there is no financial gain for pharmaceutical companies to study it thoroughly.  Based on the case studies, it does not seem to be a "miracle cure" but it has helped many people and the side effects of numbness and tingling in hands and feet seem tolerable (and reversible).  I'll start it this week.

I should also update on the high ferritin...I thought that meant I had toxically high iron.  But I have since learned that ferritin is simply the protein that binds iron, and it commonly goes up in response to cancer and inflammation.  It is more of a sign that an actual problem to treat on its own.  So I will have it monitored only for now.  Having said that, detoxification of heavy metals through chelation therapy is on my list of things to look into.  Enough with my health stuff...

Alexis is off at camp this week in Pine Lake, her first time away for so long.  Will is hopefully almost finished with his antibiotics; we'll know more tomorrow.  He and I plan to drive out to Banff tomorrow for a little getaway.  And Penny seems to be enjoying napping her days away in the shade.

If you're off on a summer holiday, we wish you travel mercies.  If you're home or at work, we hope you make the most of each and every day.

God bless,
Shawna for Will and Alexis too.