WARNING: This document contains descriptions that may
not be suitable to children or those with weak stomachs
I consider myself the victim of disinformation. Liars abound who
tell the public aspartame is "safe", and that humans NEED cow's milk and
dairy. Both are tragic lies. The REAL terrorists, who kill MILLIONS
every year, are GOVERNMENT and Industry.
For much more on prostate cancer visit:
http://www.dorway.com/prostate.html
This file is a recap of my history... and perhaps the nitty gritty of
my premature "end game".
Overview:
I provide this very personal account of my cancer and its progress in
the hope that MAYBE someone might listen who would otherwise NOT listen
to the truths presented (for free) on DORway.com, (aspartame) covering
15 years of Equal in my coffee which I credit as the PRIMARY cause of
surprise case of prostate cancer, and NOTMILK.com, on cow's milk and
dairy, for which I HAVE proven beyond a doubt makes cancers grow and
spread more rapidly.
The flip side is that for those already WITH a cancer that has spread
I provide a running account of experiences encountered with a powerful
chemotherapy drug called Taxotere (http://www.aventis.com
).
-------------
Background:
During 1992 I was diagnosed with prostate cancer and it was soon
determined that it had already spread (stage 4). Through some basic
math (doubling times for the cancer) I believe the cancer had already
spread at least two years earlier... which means I have been living with
a terminal cancer for over 12 years.
Thanks to gunfire off of Viet Nam and additional problems caused by
aspartame (www.dorway.com) I have a nasty (maddening) case of tinnitus
(ringing in the ears). This often affects one's balance and on the 18th
of October I fell and shattered my right wrist. Two weeks later I began
urinating cranberry colored urine and tests showed I had 1cm stones in
my kidneys. They blasted the stones on the 12th of November and 31st of
December. That should have taken care of the problem... but two weeks
later, on a Saturday, I began urinating blood as well as blood clots.
After three days of passing bloody urine and around 60 blood clots
ranging in size from a kidney bean to as much as two inches long and a
half inch wide (yeah, hard to believe a man could pass something like
that) I went in for emergency surgery.
The doctor found what he called a "poorly defined cancerous growth" at
the seam between the bladder and prostate gland, which he removed and
sent off for analysis.
Yesterday I found out from the doctor that the growth was more
prostate cancer now growing outside the gland. He had removed a 2.5cm
strip of cancer (yeah, almost an inch) and the recovery problem for that
has been being able to urinate at all... and of course more blood and
infection.
For the record... I am living on borrowed time. My rich uncle (not a
blood relation) had prostate cancer a few years before me. By his 8th
year he became increasingly crippled and pain riddled... and by his
tenth year he was very dead. I am going into my 13th year and as yet I
have no symptoms it has spread to the bones (the end game). The prime
reason for this extra longevity has been Mr. Cohen's information on IGF-
1... which I now call "plug and play cancer fuel". Abandoning all milk
and dairy, and therefore all IGF-1, has allowed my cancer to grow
significantly slower... thereby extending my life perhaps long enough
for someone to find a cure.
His important information is the reason I insisted on creating and
maintaining notmilk.com ... and all his other web sites... for expenses
only.
************************************************
Running Log of events: (Commencing October, 2002)
18 October fell (tinnitus) and shattered my wrist. (very hard to type!)
25 October began to bleed continual in urine
CT and other scans showed 1cm stones in right kidney and slightly smaller
in the left. 11 November they blasted the right kidney and 31 December
they blasted the left.
25 January began bleeding very heavily in the urine, along with LOTS of nasty
blood clots (ranging in size of a kidney bean to as big as half an inch wide
and two inches long.
28 January in for emergency surgery. Urologist scraped off 2.5cm of prostate
cancer cells from inside my urinary tract... at the neck where it meets the
bladder. Spent three days in the hospital and learned all about catheters
and urine collection bags. Wore one of those bags until the next Tuesday.
Doc mentioned a "stint" being placed inside that would have to come out
later. Had NO idea what he was talking about.
21 February saw the cancer specialist. Lots of good news:... no sign that
the cancer had spread to my bones (CT and bone scan) so will see yet
another specialist to determine what else can be done to my still cancerous
prostate gland. Best news of all: from previous PSA scores I had expected
my PSA to be around eight. However, the removal of one inch of cancer cells
from my urinary tract allowed a significant drop to only 2.4, despite the
operation and other problems. Best 43rd wedding anniversary gift either Isa
or I could have received!
11 March the urologist removed the "stint" ... which was around eight inches
of plastic or rubber tubing. Given three days of antibiotics and by
Saturday the urine was fairly clear. Doc commented that after only 45 days
there were "bumps" evident where the cancer had been removed. Not good!
16 Bleeding back with a vengeance. After three days I told the urologist. On
Friday, after seeing the cancer doc got a script for amoxicillan.
24 March... urine starting to clear up again.
31 March... Even after taking the new drug Diflucon I am still
bleeding with occasional blood clots.
03 April - I saw a new oncologist on the 3rd of April. At first she
downplayed any role in chemotherapy, and offered little hope with
respect to MORE radiation. With 6500 rads in 1993 it would not be
possible to provide an effective amount of additional radiation
without significant damage and almost guaranteed additional health
problems. They drew blood for another PSA. The doctor called
later that evening and gave me the bad news, that in only 13 days
my PSA had rocketed to 7.5 (three points in only thirteen days).
Rather than have a PSA (cancer) doubling time of 4 months it now
seemed to be only twenty days. Very bad news.
07 April... Cancer specialist talked about various options. Seems
his choice is a newer chemotherapy drug called Taxotere.
08 April... Urologist indicated that removal of the bladder and
prostate gland would be a very poor choice.
09 April... Told Mr. Cohen about the drug Taxotere
He did research on http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
and found some
very encouraging information. (over 80 articles)
23 April... PSA still rising. Still bleeding because the cancer is
still growing inside my urinary tract. Commence chemotherapy on
1 May.
30 April... Bleeding more than ever. Have to wear Depends because of
the constant oozing of pure blood between urinations. Passing
increasingly large blood clots. Largest clot so far around
2 inches long and around 3/16 inches across.
01 May... First chemotherapy session. Drug used Taxotere. No
untoward reactions. No nausea afterwards (ate crackers and
original Frito chips during session, and a good meal within
the hour afterwards. If anything... it seems to have increased
my appetite.)
02 May... The first chemotherapy session began around 2PM yesterday
and only 12 hours later yesterday's heavy blood laden urine with
increasingly large blood clots... is already clearing!
02 May... First chemotherapy plus FIFTEEN hours... urinary bleeding
has already stopped. Amazing! This Taxotere must be slaughtering
those prostate cancer cells in large numbers.
05 May... seeking more information on Taxotere used with HRPCa. There
is a huge paucity of information. Started a Yahoo forum on this
subject: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/taxotere/ I am hoping to
attract a variety of stories/comments/results...
06 May... over the past four days the prior amazing results has been
reduced. However, still no real side effects, light spotting, only
very small blood clots... but much more difficult to urinate.
06 May... Had a "port" installed to ease the task of chemotherapy
injections. No problem. About a 3 inch scar on my chest with a
small lump underneath. Minimal pain and discomfort. Ugly bruise
and it is a bit sore.
08 May... Second Taxotere session using the new "port" went without
a hitch.
09 May... Interesting difference between the first and second doses.
This time more spotting, no decrease in blood in urine, and little
improvement in urine flow (after 15 hours). Constipation still a
significant problem but may be caused by the pre-drug given to
reduce side effects. Have a bit of lightheadedness ... perhaps
dizziness from the drug.
11 May... Spotting almost zero. Considerable relief on elimination.
Urine now more yellow than red. Signs of significant progress.
12 May... Backsliding a bit. Elimination relief was only temporary.
Again, more blood in the urine. Seems that the effective "life" of
these chemo drugs is rather short... doing maximum damage within
first two days then losing effectiveness rapidly until the next
infusion. Combined effect seems to be reduce the cancer by five
within the first two days... while it regains around three until
the next treatment. With this two steps forward and one step back
it may well take a LONG time overcome this cancer.
14 May... over the past couple of days I have experienced unusual
pains in my feet and lower legs. Makes walking difficult. My
left foot seems quite tricky making walking even dangerous.
15 May... Last successful (but difficult) urination was at 4am. By
9am I knew I was in trouble... contacted the urologist and made
a visit to have a catheter inserted. Promptly dumped around 500cc.
Seems the cancer cells have grown sufficiently to cut off the normal
flow so will have to keep this in place for a week or two... or more.
15 May... Third chemo received without incidence. Urine still quite
bloody again but no clots to speak of.
16 May... Consumed a couple of glasses of prune juice after chemo and
that seems to have offset the constipating effect of the pre-drug.
Still lots of blood in the urine despite the catheter that now
bypasses the urinary tract from the bladder... which suggests cancer
is also present IN the bladder. Not good.
22 May... Catheter remains... perhaps for a week or more, maybe longer.
Still lots of blood in the urine. This Thursday was my "lull" week
without chemo. The 29th will be a telling day with blood tests,
PSA test, and the beginning of my second round of chemotherapy. Last
blood count had higher than normal platelets... but everything else
was within limits.
28 May... Much heavier spotting and much more blood in the urine. Had
one 1/8 inch blood clot around 2.5 inches long. Hard to understand
the mechanics of what is happening. Next round of chemo begins
tomorrow... during which I will get more blood work and a current
PSA. Hopefully the PSA is less. If not... not good.
30 May... Still bleeding quite heavily. Results of PSA test are NOT
encouraging... with another rise in only one month from the previous
7.5 to 10.87. This translates to a doubling time of perhaps less
than two months (vice four months six months ago). Looks like this
catheter will remain in place for quite awhile... because until the
number of cancer cells diminish dramatically I will not be able to
use my normal voidance system unaided (as in totally blocked). :-(
01 June... Problem with constipation seems to have become a problem of
the past. Still lots of blood in the urine. Very tired, too.
Received a wonderful early Father's day give from my daughter Sonya,
a $380.00 Sharper Image Quadra Ionic Air cleaner... that helps to
eliminate the sickly "hospital" smell from my bedroom and bathroom.
The negative ions not only clean up the air... but they impart a
happier outlook on one's id. Thank you, Sonya!
03 June... New twist. My face seems swollen and a bit puffy so
I weighed myself this morning and in only a few days I have gained
12 pounds. Water retention IS one of the listed side effects.
Much less blood in the urine... almost normal looking.
04 June... Seems I should not have stopped taking the Maxide (blood
pressure medicine). It is also a diuretic... and after taking only
two pills (yesterday and today) I have LOST the 12 pounds of water
(that's almost a gallon and a half!). Puffiness is gone, too.
Odd, too, because for the several days I did not take Maxide my
blood pressure was excellent: 128/60.
07 June... Yet new side effects. Nasty headache (Tylenol can't touch it
and while on chemo I cannot use anything else). Touch of constipation.
Urine much more clear (very little traces of blood). Have been
taking a second round of antibiotics for urinary tract infection...
and I think this is the primary reason for improvement.
I learned yesterday that the catheter should be replaced every month.
It's a painful (and invasive) procedure ... but the alternative is
uremic poisoning and death.
10 June... Completed another ten days of antibiotics to cure my urinary
tract infection. Time will tell if it will return.
12 June... Nausea makes an excellent diet aid. Over the past seven
days I lost eight pounds. Perhaps the formaldehyde getting dumped
back into my system is part of my problem(s)? (Headaches that
don't respond to the only thing they allow me take... Tylenol,
occasions of racing/pounding heart and erratic blood pressure,
stuff like that. Seems my 15 years of Equal in my coffee... and
all the ensuing formaldehyde poisoning, will haunt me to my last
day).
Today was my fifth chemotherapy treatment. Next time around they
will check my blood to see why I am so tired... and other things.
Urine still ranges from quite bloody to almost normal... and as
yet I have made no correlation as to cause and effect. There seems
to be no pattern... just random "this is what you have right now".
16 June... Not quite so tired this time around. Still very variable
results (bloody urine-almost clear, etc.). Hair is beginning to thin
noticeably. Much less nausea this time around... but despite eating
better I have lost a couple more pounds.
19 June... Sixth chemo behind me. Appetite seems to be excellent after
chemo... but rapidly turns to nausea the next and following days. Still
on-again/off-again bleeding (mostly on). Before I began my blood work
was normal. Three weeks ago only one parameter was out of bounds (platelets)
but today there were three more... and just about everything listed on the
test report shows significant change either higher or lower readings
(towards out of limits).
23 June... fatigue has descended with a crush... very tired. Been having
a constant bothersome "lump" feeling in my gut area. Don't feel like
standing, sitting, sleeping... nada. Upon reflection I have settled
upon "Superman" (Christopher Reeves) as my source of inspiration and
courage. If he can be positive with all his problems... I can be as
well with my many fewer problems.
25 June... Replaced the old catheter today. Taking the old catheter out
was like yanking out a cord laced with sand and broken glass. However,
before they insert one they shoot a small syringe full of 2% lidocain
up into the urinary tract... so that insertion is not so painful. Bled
like a stuck pig but am good now for another month. I will not find out
my next PSA count until two weeks from now. Last one was still rising.
Until the damned PSA stops rising not much chance of urinary tract
bleeding tapering off and stopping which means no change of getting
rid of the catheter. Still have nausea and still quite tired.
28 June... Now spending most of the day in bed... mostly sleeping. Day
turns into night and visa versa. A couple of minutes on a very slow
tread mill leaves me short of breath. Only six chemo's (actually, two
full strength doses split up into six doses) and already I am beyond
tired with my blood parameters all heading out of bounds. Right
kidney began to be painful today... called the urologist and he asked
if I also had a fever (which I do... 99.9) and chills (which I don't).
If I do get that way to call and they will prescribe a stronger
antibiotic. Almost twenty days with two different antibiotics and
I still have not eliminated the urinary tract infection or reduced
the amount of blood in my urine. Depressing.
1 July... This is the first day I have felt worth a hoot in a long time.
Actually had around 4 ounces of real-looking urine... before it turned
read again. First time in many days (at least four) since I felt good
enough to get out of bed, get dressed, and even consider going out for
a short while (Walmart). Appetite still leaves a lot to be desired but
it's a bit better today. Unfortunately, Thursday is the beginning of the
third round of three chemo treatments. Of note... a lot less spotting.
2 July... I was asked if I would come in a day early to accommodate the up
coming holiday weekend. Saw the doctor, had blood tests (PSA should be
tomorrow... we have our fingers crossed it is finally going down!) and
it seems that after six chemo sessions my blood work is within general
safe limits. Will be taking a new drug... called estramustine... that
is supposed to work well with Taxotere to amplify the beneficial effects.
One significant drawback is it can cause blood clotting problems so I
will also be taking Cumadin. Doc did not like my 30 pounds weight loss
over the past two months... and requested I take the pills for nausea
and eat more. Lots of bright read urine... which the doctor says
he is not worried about (as long as the blood work is OK). He would
be concerned if it was dark red. Also have samples of Lexapro (four
weeks worth) to ease the depression (yeah... the catheter, pain, and
lack of progress to date has taken its toll... but only on occasion)
More tomorrow when the PSA comes in.
3 July... Seventh chemo behind me. Still have nausea despite taking
Prochlorper for the problem. The antidepressant Lexapro is being
tolerated well (far superior to the mind-numbing Prozac I took for
only three days during 1996). The estramustine and Coumadin/warfarin
side effects listings are scary. Was not able to get PSA reading
yesterday... guess I will have to wait until Monday :-(
4 July... Actually had almost a full day with almost normal looking
urine. Slept most of the day... including through the fireworks.
Both the Lexapro and Prochlorper have drowsiness as side effects
and the two together really zapped me. Bummer.
6 July... Back to very red urine. Spotting had almost disappeared but
now it's back with a vengeance.
7 July... both the spotting and blood in the urine has subsided a bit.
Terrible news... PSA is almost double in one month. From 10.87 on
the 29th of May to 19.7 on the 3rd of July. Guess I will be adding
the pills to my regimen.
12 July... Three days of estramustine and I am still here. Had a couple
of short barf sessions... nothing major. That, coupled with my normal
Taxotere session on Thursday seems to be effecting changes. Urine is
much more clear (still pink enough not to be able to do a UTI test)
but much better. Spotting less, too. Overall not as bad as the long
list of side effects suggested. Perhaps this is time for renewed
hope of beating this cancer. This new drug is so kickass that I can
receive only one cycle of 18 pills every 28 days.
14 July... Yesterday and the night before I seemed to be VERY restless.
Perhaps apprehensive, too. Impulses were to -move- legs, arms, walk
around, fidget... so I took another Lexapro for such things. Well,
next came insomnia ... which, as it turns out, is attributable ONLY
to this drug and none of the others I am taking! Go figure. Was
so "over active" I actually went outside (nice and cool) at dusk and
trimmed about six bushes. Amazed myself I had that much energy. :-)
15 July... After wrestling with this for a couple of days I decided it
was too important to omit from any discussion of my complete situation:
Wednesday, Thursday and Friday of last week I took a second chemo
drug called (short brand name) Emcyt (for estramustine which the
nurses don't seem to care for as an identifier). With a long list
of possible side effects I was apprehensive... and did have a couple
of short barf episodes... which I now blame on how I took the meds.
Before this session I had been increasingly tired, so much so that
I slept most of 4 July including what was described as a wonderful
fireworks display. My days were long and boring with nothing really
to look forward to.
I think it was Saturday morning... I got up (bleary eyed) and went
to the bathroom. Upon returning to bed, as I have often had, I had
visual pictures... that changed. But these "twilight" dreams had a
huge difference! There were three of them back to back.
The first had me seemingly prone on the ground, close to what looked
like a tall, fat, ugly column stretching to sky... composed of ugly
black messy stuff rather like burned marsh mellow. On the surface of
this ugly structure was what appeared to be active "boils"... rather
like miniature volcanos.
Well... over the past several months, when I go to bed to sleep, I
mandate myself to relax by simply repeating the word over and over,
sometimes picking on a shoulder, jaw or something, only to discover
that the part had NOT been relaxed. Once in an open mind relaxed state
I then repeat "no cancer" over and over and over again.
This time my chant interacted with my dream... and as I changed that
short phrase first the boils shrank and disappeared, then the entire
column... leaving a clear blue sky behind it.
The second dreamscape was me once again seemingly prone... not too
far from what appeared to be the bottom half of a window set into
a stucco wall of a building. It was covered with ugly black
splotches... and as I continued to chant my chant those splotches
shriveled up and disappeared until the entire beige wall was clear
and new looking.
The last dreamscape I didn't recall for a couple of days. It was of
a huge tree-lined lawn, perhaps pasture, that was scarred by ugly
black "things". Again, as I continued to chant "no cancer" those
black things faded one by one (as in the other dreams) and finally
disappeared.
I didn't think all that much of the dreams... except perhaps wishful
thinking. However, beginning that day I seemed to acquire an abundance
of energy... having to move my legs and arms in particular. So I decided
to put that to good use by exercising... something I have not been up to
for quite a while. My urine cleared up considerably to the "bright red"
hoped for by the doctor. I seem to be much more alert, now.
Perhaps the power of prayer, coupled with the right "paths" to killing
this cancer are taking effect. Only my next PSA score will tell that one
for sure.
20 July... The last five days have been uneventful. I continue to be alert
with plenty of energy... and I am eating normal again (first time in
months) and I am maintaining my new weight (35 pounds less at 222). My
urine has ranged from strawberry to almost clear and back again. The
catheter is definitely a bother... but perhaps I can get rid of it if
my next PSA shows a decrease rather than rise, meaning that the cancer
cells in my urinary tract will most likely be shrinking. Today I will
be shedding everything, putting a cork (stopper) into the end of the
catheter... and for the first time since early January I will get into
my lonely Jacuzzi for a long warm soak. :-)
20 July... Ahhhhhhhh! A 15 minute soak in the 106 degree Jacuzzi was
*wonderful*! It loosened up lots of barnacles (dead skin) which
was then very easy to scrub off during an equally great 15 minute
shower. I feel like a new person :-)
20 July... This evening I did something I have not done for years... go
to a movie. Best of all... I went with three of my four children!
Yes... they range from 34 to 39... but so what. Our family values
are still prime... our tastes are still quite similar... and most
important... we are still a closely knit family. We saw "League of
Extraordinary Gentlemen" with Sean Connery... and all of us enjoyed it.
(The last movie we went to together was "Titanic"... 1997 or so). Best
of all the high-end theater seats were comfortable and I had no problems.
(check out the awesome site http://www.lxgmovie.com/)
What a difference a few months can make [eight])
Salutation:
Note: During 1992 I was given a prognosis of 8-10 years left to live.
My rich uncle in Arkansas, who preceded me with this cancer, was quite
hurting by his eighth year and very dead by HIS tenth. I surmise that
my cancer had spread around two years before it was discovered (first
PSA was 37). So, considering that I am going into my 13th year and it
is NOT yet into my bones tells me I have been doing something right. No
more milk and dairy with its "plug and play cancer fuel" has been the
major difference in my slower growing cancer.
With a bit of luck and perhaps some divine intervention... I may even
overcome this cancer.
Dave
