Postby jsbsf » Mon Oct 14, 2019 4:54 pm
I did a little research on artemisinin, but haven’t brought myself to purchasing any. I did read your thread about the COC protocol, and the side effects of Metformin. I bought a copy of Jane McCleland’s book, but for the most part found it overwhelming. I don’t know where to start. I did, however purchase Berberine, Milk Thistle, and Fenbendazole. I’m a little nervous about adding these to the FOLFOX regimen which we have just begun. I haven’t discussed any of it with my oncologist. I feel a little strange about ingesting dog dewormer, but hey, if I know it will help...
We still need to give the FOLFOX a fair chance at this point.
It seemed like Berberine might be an alternative to Metformin, without as many nasty side effects. But all the science was very hard for me to follow. Milk Thistle supposedly prepares some organs (liver?) for the upcoming onslaught of chemo. So I’m wondering if it might be prudent to take maybe the couple days before the next infusion.
I did mention in another thread about PSK and cimetidine (Tagamet). I don’t recall that they are part of COC, but I did bring this up to an oncologist who gave us our 2nd opinion, and she somewhat indirectly recommended PSK. I was pretty happy about how open minded she was, and she is from a very highly respected cancer treatment center. As far as Cimetidine, she didn’t seem opposed to it, but not as encouraged. She felt that neither has high enough levels of toxicity to give her any real amount of concern.
I didn’t bring up Modified Citrus Pectin to her, but another user here, ehut, originally turned me on to PSK, cimetidine, and MCP. I’ve read pretty extensively about these, and we were taking all three while waiting about a month for chemo. Supposedly they have an impact on metastasis. It’s all scientific, but they described it in terms of forming blood vessels to supply tumors, cancer cells clumping together and the ability for the cells to adhere and form a tumor. The Cimetidine is something recommended around the time of surgery and for a time thereafter. Some research showed some promising results. I know we are all different and what works for Joe may not work for Jane, so I’m not recommending any of this, but just want to increase awareness of something that might work as a backup, maybe alongside chemo.
I’m nervous about taking supplements along with chemo, but we are dealing with a very serious illness, and so it seems that if the least a supplement can do is very little to help, it’s worth the risk.
DH 61
2019 4A t3 n2 m1a
8/23 C-scopy, 5+cm mass. CEA:4.1
9/16 MSS. MRI: 2 lvr mets: 2.7 & 7mm
9/30 Start FOLFOX 1-6
10/4 Lg lvr met ~3.7cm, pri tmr stable.
CEA: 10/13,12.5;10/27-12/8 btw 4.7 & 3.1
11/5 both lvr mets ~ 2/3 smaller.
12/17 PET: significant improv.
2020
MWA 2/5, Lap resection 2/11
CEA: 3/1-5/31 btw 2.1&2.9
3/2 start FOLFOX 7-12
7/23-29 EBRT
10/2/2020 NED/W&W
4/2022 EUS-FNA,MRI: recur.;
5/2022:CT scan no mets. APR.
7-12/2023 Xeloda
4/2023 CT/MRI NED