So while the wheels of the AMA machine slowly cranked out tests, biopsies, and doc appointments, I took a side trip to Baltimore to see a new Doc, Ina Grundmann. She is a colleague of Dr. Hinderberger, the Swiss doc who treated Ivelisse Page (see the link to Ivelisse's interview in my previous post, "The DETOUR.") To my amazement, I injected myself with my first dose of mistletoe on my first visit. I was off and running.
To those who may be curious about mistletoe therapy, here is a very well done video (only about 20 minutes in length) made by a German man and his father.
Also, there is a clinic in Denmark that has conducted some studies on the therapy.
As of the writing of this blog, I have taken 8 doses (injections sub-cutaneously), every other day. The dosage is building up to a level where I will receive a skin reaction. That will determine the dosage that my body needs to work on attacking the cancer. There are side effects. After the first dose, I immediately felt a lethargy, a drowsiness. A bit hard to shake, but am getting used to it. Took some amazing deep-sleep afternoon naps, very rare for me. On dose #8, two days ago, I experienced a slight fever. Evidently, this is expected and normal and a good sign that "now we're cookin'!"
Because I was running a fever yesterday (Oct. 30), the day I saw my surgeon, I was not "on my game." He pretty much ran over me verbally. And because I didn't feel very well, I didn't cope well. Left his office in tears.
But by the time piano students were rolling in the door, I was better. Music always helps!
And so, the mistletoe extract, like many cancer therapies, also makes one sick. I don't see any advantage here, using mistletoe instead of a very reliable chemo regimen for BC. ox
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