Doesn't this just make you wanna cue the orchestra and belt out that song from "Les Mis?"
Tomorrow is the last day of this epic 3-week "crash course in cancer cures."
I will be receiving my last personal cancer vaccine; or... that is.... the last one via an IV bag (for details on this therapy, see older post about using dendritic cells to produce personal cancer vaccine, 9/9/15). I found out today, much to my great joy and surprise, that I will be returning home with MORE of my very own signature vaccine to be administered via injection once a week for several weeks (nurse Nick will have to help me with this one -- yikes!).
I was also very happy to learn that I will be going home with Laetrile, in an oral-dose form rather than the IV I have been receiving daily. When I found this out, I was ecstatic!
Today was my last go-'round with hyperthermia (see older post entitled "It's Cool in the Furnace" for details). We just can't seem to get my body temp to increase as it should; suspicions were aroused that it could be that I have hypothyroid issues. So a blood test will be done tomorrow to look into that. Details will follow about this as they reveal themselves.
Even though I am very homesick for my animals (dog, cat, son -- sorry, Nick, NOT in that order!), my house, my own bed, yard, etc., I am already viewing everything about Tijuana with great nostalgia. Why people are fearful of coming here I will never understand. It is a wonderful city filled with beautiful, friendly, happy people. When I leave, I will miss it as much as I have missed home.
Adios muchachos...
Betsy's Road Less Traveled
Thursday, September 24, 2015
Wednesday, September 23, 2015
Coffee Break
Many have wondered why there have been no posts for a while. Well, Brother Bill is here and we have been exploring museums, shopping malls, and restaurants over the weekend. He has kept me hoppin'! Meanwhile, I started Week 3 of treatment, which was essentially the same as weeks 1 and 2, so THAT would have been boring to repeat. But I know many are wondering where I have been, so I will add a brief little side-note about COFFEE.
First of all, I love the stuff and until 2 months ago, I enjoyed a cup or two every day. However, with the advent of my latest cancer "glitch," I decided to go cold turkey and eliminate it from my diet. It's pretty well-known that drinking coffee/caffeine contributes to cyst-y breast issues. Plus, it makes the body very acidic -- not healthy at all. So until I get this latest crisis under control, I have cut out the consumption of my daily java. So sad.
However -- since being here in Tijuana, I have experienced coffee a whole new way: via daily ENEMAS. (yup, that's what I said, enemas)
You may stop here if you find the whole idea behind coffee enemas disgusting and gross. I wouldn't blame you, because -- well -- it IS disgusting and gross. But OH so beneficial. Anyone familiar with the Gerson Therapy will know that the daily coffee enema is an important part of their therapy. Here is a link that gives the gory, but very important, details:
http://www.treating-cancer-alternatively.com/Coffee-enemas.html
So there. How's that for news? Betsy is now "into" coffee enemas. I intend to continue this as a home therapy. You will NOT see me demonstrating this on Youtube -- although you would perhaps be surprised at how many people actually do a "mock" demo on the internet.
First of all, I love the stuff and until 2 months ago, I enjoyed a cup or two every day. However, with the advent of my latest cancer "glitch," I decided to go cold turkey and eliminate it from my diet. It's pretty well-known that drinking coffee/caffeine contributes to cyst-y breast issues. Plus, it makes the body very acidic -- not healthy at all. So until I get this latest crisis under control, I have cut out the consumption of my daily java. So sad.
However -- since being here in Tijuana, I have experienced coffee a whole new way: via daily ENEMAS. (yup, that's what I said, enemas)
You may stop here if you find the whole idea behind coffee enemas disgusting and gross. I wouldn't blame you, because -- well -- it IS disgusting and gross. But OH so beneficial. Anyone familiar with the Gerson Therapy will know that the daily coffee enema is an important part of their therapy. Here is a link that gives the gory, but very important, details:
http://www.treating-cancer-alternatively.com/Coffee-enemas.html
So there. How's that for news? Betsy is now "into" coffee enemas. I intend to continue this as a home therapy. You will NOT see me demonstrating this on Youtube -- although you would perhaps be surprised at how many people actually do a "mock" demo on the internet.
Friday, September 18, 2015
Happy Anniversary, Bill and Sharon!
My dear sis-in-law Sharon has committed the ultimate sacrifice: she allowed her husband to come and be by my side today of all days -- the anniversary of Bill and Sharon's 22nd year of marriage.
Dear Sharon, to help celebrate the fact that you have been my sister-in-law for 22 years, your husband and I went out and had a lovely dinner. In tribute to you, I made Bill tell the story of your meeting, your many exciting dates, and how all that "magic" happened so many years ago. So dear sis, I say to you "Thank you for marrying my brother and thank you for letting him be with me this weekend in Tijuana. You are just the best!"
When I was at the clinic this a.m., Bill scouted the area and found some things for us to do this weekend. So stay tuned.... will report on those as they transpire.
Dear Sharon, to help celebrate the fact that you have been my sister-in-law for 22 years, your husband and I went out and had a lovely dinner. In tribute to you, I made Bill tell the story of your meeting, your many exciting dates, and how all that "magic" happened so many years ago. So dear sis, I say to you "Thank you for marrying my brother and thank you for letting him be with me this weekend in Tijuana. You are just the best!"
When I was at the clinic this a.m., Bill scouted the area and found some things for us to do this weekend. So stay tuned.... will report on those as they transpire.
Thursday, September 17, 2015
A Sign of Progress
It is hard to determine, after only eight days of treatment, whether any progress is being made. The most definitive way to measure how things are going would be with blood tests and/or C-T scans or MRI's. However, in my particular case, there happen to be very physical, visual and palpable signs.
When I first arrived in Tijuana, I was experiencing some very troublesome symptoms: little bee-stinging sensations in and around the breast, extending to my back; redness, heat, and swelling of the breast, detectable both visually and palpably. (I know this may be more info than a lot of you may need to know.... but alas, it is significant to report)
After two days of treatment, I was surprised that the bee-stinging sensations had dissipated completely. I found this absolutely amazing, but didn't say anything to the doctor. After the first week of treatment, I could tell that the redness and swelling had also diminished -- not altogether, but enough to be noticeable. Today Dr. Alvarez confirmed this as well upon physical examination. There is still some inflammation of the breast but it is quite significantly reduced from when I first arrived.
I am finding this sign of progress almost too incredible to be believed. Having Dr. Alvarez's confirmation of this reduction in inflammation has been a significant sign of hope that we are on the right track. There's still a long way to go, but just knowing that progress is being made, however little, has bolstered my spirits and given me confirmation that I have come to the right place.
When I first arrived in Tijuana, I was experiencing some very troublesome symptoms: little bee-stinging sensations in and around the breast, extending to my back; redness, heat, and swelling of the breast, detectable both visually and palpably. (I know this may be more info than a lot of you may need to know.... but alas, it is significant to report)
After two days of treatment, I was surprised that the bee-stinging sensations had dissipated completely. I found this absolutely amazing, but didn't say anything to the doctor. After the first week of treatment, I could tell that the redness and swelling had also diminished -- not altogether, but enough to be noticeable. Today Dr. Alvarez confirmed this as well upon physical examination. There is still some inflammation of the breast but it is quite significantly reduced from when I first arrived.
I am finding this sign of progress almost too incredible to be believed. Having Dr. Alvarez's confirmation of this reduction in inflammation has been a significant sign of hope that we are on the right track. There's still a long way to go, but just knowing that progress is being made, however little, has bolstered my spirits and given me confirmation that I have come to the right place.
Wednesday, September 16, 2015
Mi Hermano Guillermo
This day was a special one as my dear brother Bill arrived from Dallas to bolster my spirits and keep me company. We walked to the local shopping mall, a trip I had been a bit reticent about making on my own. The mall was lovely -- lots of very nice shops and a Sears as the main department store draw. It was much classier than any Sears I have seen in the states!
On our way back to the hotel, we stopped at a cute little roadside taco stand; Bill had beef, and I had chicken. Yum!
Bill will be here until I leave on the 26th. We have booked a flight on the same plane to Phoenix, where he will connect to Dallas and I will connect to BWI. Even reserved seats next to each other; how lucky is that?!
There is some progress to report on the treatment. I will save it for tomorrow.
This day is in honor of "Da Bro!"
On our way back to the hotel, we stopped at a cute little roadside taco stand; Bill had beef, and I had chicken. Yum!
Bill will be here until I leave on the 26th. We have booked a flight on the same plane to Phoenix, where he will connect to Dallas and I will connect to BWI. Even reserved seats next to each other; how lucky is that?!
There is some progress to report on the treatment. I will save it for tomorrow.
This day is in honor of "Da Bro!"
Tuesday, September 15, 2015
Repeat of Cooker and Chemo
Short update here. I will now be repeating the same therapies I started last week. Today spent another 2 hours in the hyperthermia "cooker." Also received second round of 20% chemo. So far, feeling pretty good.
New patient arrived at the clinic today: a woman from Indonesia. Javier, our favorite shuttle driver, spent the morning ride comparing Indonesian language with Spanish and English. I am looking forward to getting more acquainted with this new arrival. My other clinic buddy had surgery today at the hotel across the street. I am looking forward to having her up and around and joining us at the row of IV chairs receiving our Laetrile.
Tomorrow a big day: my very dear bro Bill will be arriving from Dallas to check up on his little sister. Won't THAT be fun? I wonder if he will get mad at me when I call him Guillermo? (heh heh)
New patient arrived at the clinic today: a woman from Indonesia. Javier, our favorite shuttle driver, spent the morning ride comparing Indonesian language with Spanish and English. I am looking forward to getting more acquainted with this new arrival. My other clinic buddy had surgery today at the hotel across the street. I am looking forward to having her up and around and joining us at the row of IV chairs receiving our Laetrile.
Tomorrow a big day: my very dear bro Bill will be arriving from Dallas to check up on his little sister. Won't THAT be fun? I wonder if he will get mad at me when I call him Guillermo? (heh heh)
Monday, September 14, 2015
The Greek Test
For those of you who know me well, you might at first think this will be a commentary on my previous marriage (which was, indeed, a "Greek test" of sorts).
But no... this is all about a state-of-the-art blood test, called by some the Greece Test. Why Greece/Greek? Because that is where the blood is sent -- to a special lab in Greece where analysis of a person's blood is done to determine the right type of chemo to use as well as other drugs / supplements to assist a doctor in setting up protocols for patients.
This link gives a brief and broad overview:
http://www.goodthingsforlife.com/cancer-test/http://www.goodthingsforlife.com/cancer-test/
I had blood drawn today for this Greece test to determine if we are using the correct type of chemo for my cancer. I have already received one dose of chemo because Dr. Alvarez did not want to wait to get results back from the lab to begin chemo. If the test comes back showing that I need a different brand of chemo than what he is administering, he can make adjustments. This test will also help my naturopath back home determine if my enzyme / mineral / vitamin supplementation is correct.
So here, once again, I am receiving an impressive protocol that I cannot get in the good ole USA. Sad for Americans, yes? But an exciting new diagnostic tool for those who can travel outside of the country for treatment. I consider myself very, very fortunate to be here.
More blood was drawn today to create another custom-made cancer vaccine for me. I asked the lab technician how many docs in Tijuana use this therapy; he was able to list at least four. There may be more, of course, but that is the number of physicians using this particular lab for dendritic cell therapy (cancer vaccine production). See my previous post (last week) on my giving a gift to myself.
But no... this is all about a state-of-the-art blood test, called by some the Greece Test. Why Greece/Greek? Because that is where the blood is sent -- to a special lab in Greece where analysis of a person's blood is done to determine the right type of chemo to use as well as other drugs / supplements to assist a doctor in setting up protocols for patients.
This link gives a brief and broad overview:
http://www.goodthingsforlife.com/cancer-test/http://www.goodthingsforlife.com/cancer-test/
I had blood drawn today for this Greece test to determine if we are using the correct type of chemo for my cancer. I have already received one dose of chemo because Dr. Alvarez did not want to wait to get results back from the lab to begin chemo. If the test comes back showing that I need a different brand of chemo than what he is administering, he can make adjustments. This test will also help my naturopath back home determine if my enzyme / mineral / vitamin supplementation is correct.
So here, once again, I am receiving an impressive protocol that I cannot get in the good ole USA. Sad for Americans, yes? But an exciting new diagnostic tool for those who can travel outside of the country for treatment. I consider myself very, very fortunate to be here.
More blood was drawn today to create another custom-made cancer vaccine for me. I asked the lab technician how many docs in Tijuana use this therapy; he was able to list at least four. There may be more, of course, but that is the number of physicians using this particular lab for dendritic cell therapy (cancer vaccine production). See my previous post (last week) on my giving a gift to myself.
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