Hi, My name is Sheila. I am 30 and I am battling stage 4 breast cancer. This is a recurrence of a stage 1 breast cancer I thought I had beat 5 years ago. Last September the doc confirmed that the cancer had spread to my brain, bones and fluids around my heart which had to be drained immediately. So my rediagnosis was followed by pericardio window surgery (to drain the fluids around my heart) and a 5 day hospital stay at the Moffitt Cancer Center where they stuck tubes in my heart, ran me through every imaginable scanning device known to man and performed god knows how many x-rays on me. They even brought a special x-ray machine to my bed. They managed to turn both of my arms completely black and blue in their attempts to draw blood from or start an IV in me. Also, I was kept awake as they biopsied one of my rib bones with a giant drill/needle thingy. I found out recently that I also had cancer in my lungs and liver. My first doc didn’t inform me of this.
Unfortunately, the cancer began to reaccumulate in the fluids around my heart almost immediately after being sent home and I had to have the same surgery repeated one month later, shortly after my wedding. This time at my hospital stay they discovered that a tumor on my pituitary gland (in the brain) was causing diabetes insipidus. This explained (finally) why I had been so ridiculously thirsty. My body couldn’t hold on to fluids. They stuck me in the ICU and put me on all sorts of crazy drugs, leaving me totally disoriented and terrified. It was hell. Also, my arms and feet were reabused in their attempts to get blood from me. One night it took 5 different medical professionals to get one blood draw. I felt like a human pin cushion. After this second surgery, my main doc at Moffitt didn’t hold out much hope. The staff there kept trying to push full brain radiation and chemo on me. I knew my body couldn’t handle either of those options. During that time I came up with my plan- no chemo, no radiation, just hormonal therapy (zoladex, it shuts off my ovaries so they can’t feed the cancer estrogen) raw foods and juices, no more alcohol, no more meth (a joke, people) no more stress!! Back to the basics. I was and continue to be determined to beat this. At first I just told people I was going to beat it, I didn’t truly believe it. Now I know I am beating it. And it feels awesome! It’s a lot of work and requires a heaping dose of will power. But it is worth it. Below I’ve briefly described every way in which I am spitting in death’s face.
Gerson Therapy this involves preparing 10 fresh organic juices a day, daily coffee enemas, lots of supplements, fresh organic food and some cooked foods. follow link for details
Myers Cocktail weekly intravenous infusion of 75 grams of vitamin C, 5 milligrams vitamin B12, B complex, chloride, calcium gluconate, trace minerals, freomine, broad spectrum multi vitamin, zinc, lycene, glutothyone. There is a lot of research backing the cancer-killing ability of IV administered vitamin C. I’ve also read that 40% of cancer patients die from malnutrition. Cancer robs the body of nutrients, muscle, fat, all the essentials.
Zoladex this is the only conventional med I am doing. It is a painful monthly injection that requires a giant needle to insert what appears to be a pink bullet into my stomach. It dissolves slowly over the course of a month. Somehow the zoladex travels from my belly fat to my brain where it tells my brain to stop producing estrogen. Freaky, I know. How the hell does this stuff work?
Acupuncture
Graditude, attitude, lust for life, wonder, passion, love, creativity, humor and a renewed relationship with the divine source. The best medicine is a strong desire to live.
If you or someone you know is facing cancer and wants help going the natural route, please contact me. I’ve accumulated tons of valuable information in my quest to eradicate my cancer and I am more than happy to reveal my sources for supplies and information.
I like the skin brushing thing. It sounds pretty relaxing. Except for all the YELLING in the PAGE that you LINK TO.
This is very good. It is informative and very spirited…just like you! Thanks for the information and for sending me the link.
Sheila,
Thanks for sending me the invite to your blog. I’ve been keeping tabs on your progress through Mindy but it’s great to be able to read directly about how you’re doing and the fabulous milestones you’ve achieved thus far. I immediately got the blog’s title… Brilliant reference to one of the best movies of all time!
I keep you and your family in my thoughts… Wishing you well and looking forward to your next update.
My best,
Britt Pearson
Sheila,
Although you didn’t know where all the cancer was and now you do, nothing has really changed. The amount of cancer, whether you knew or not, was the same…….SOOOOOOO, don’t let this blow your mind. It has to be so shocking, but don’t spend your energy on it. Keep up your amazing spirit and positive forward healing. Remember how you told me you just had to focus on getting better and not worry about things? I believe you will beat this! Your progress already is totally a w e s o m e —just like y o u!
Sheila,
I recently got in touch with Sarah Graddy who told me about your cancer. I am so sorry to hear all that you ahve been struggling with in recent few years- I had no idea! It sounds absolutely awful- however if anyone can beat cancer, it would be you. Your attitude toward the whole thing is awe-inspiring. Reading your blogs reminds me of hanging out in your room and talking as teenagers – I’ve always been impressed by your facility with words and your ability to express things in such a meanignful way. And your theory about identifying the goner-character in the movies is right on- funny but then again not.
I wish you the best!
Dana
Hi,
It does my heart good everytime I run across another warrior! I had breast cancer in ’06 and had lumpectomy/node dissection, then later radiation…but refused chemotherapy. I am also taking lots of supplements, i.e. Indolegard (similar to DIM), flax hull lignans, COQ10, alpha lipoic acid, vit c (from Acerola Cherries). I cut out soft drinks, chips, fries ( in fact, almost all fast foods), most processed foods, sugar (not an easy one!). People just don’t understand what it takes to regain your health. I have a friend in Knoxville, TN with liver cancer, and she still drinks Diet Coke like there’s no tomorrow. She begins another round of chemo, after a 3-year lull. She eats whatever she wants and it makes me so angry!
I was taking Tamoxifen, but I gained 20 lbs very quickly and it seemed to be doing something to my stomach…plus absolutely no energy.
I would be interested in more info/details on exactly what you are doing.
Peace,
Ellie
Hi Ellie!
Thanks so much for your comment. Just out of curiosity, how did you find my blog? As a Gerson therapy patient I only eat things made with organic fruits and vegetables. Occasionally I will have some organic brown rice or organic wheat free yeast free rye bread and organic hormone-free yogurt. No microwave, I use a ionic water filter that turns the water alkaline, the only makeup I use is natural mascara and brow pencil. All products are made with very natural (and, if possible, organic) ingredients. By natural I mean free of parabens, chemicals, etc. Of course I abstain from all processed foods, sugar and alcohol. I refused the tamoxifin. I did try arimadex for a few days but it made me feel really ill and depressed so I stopped it. If you follow the links on this page (green words) the websites they lead to give good descriptions of each healing method. If you are interested in gerson therapy a good book to get is “healing the gerson way” by charlotte gerson. It’s a lot of work and it ain’t cheap! but it’s so worth it. Thanks for reading!
Hi Sheila,
Its me again: what do you think about distilled and reverse osmosis water? I have not heard until now about the water filter you have on this site.
Also, what type of skin care/hair care do you use?
I have been using organic skin care for years now and am surprised (to say the least) that some of my friends, who have “c” but use regular make up and cosmetics, with all those horrible toxic ingredients in them. I have been using Aubrey Organics and Terrressentials for years now. What do you think about green tea? Do you drink it or recommend it? How about regular, black organic tea – I love this one but am not sure if its good or bad. Does Gerson permit it? I have not found info on that.
Thanks for listening again,
Mary
Hi Mary
Reverse osmosis water is really good, I think it is what Gerson recommends. The one we have here is not RO but it does filter chlorine, fluoride and other contaminants and allows us to control the pH of the water, we tend to make it very alkaline since cancer can not live in an alkaline environment.
hair care, Cosmetics, etc- I use Pure Life Organics for my hair, skin and body care. http://www.purelifesoap.com. And I use good olā Dr. Bronnerās magic pure castile soap (but not the lavender one! Lavender is bad news for estrogen-related cancers) not just on my body but also around the house. When I wear makeup (which is seldom these days) I curl my lashes and put on some Suncoat Natural Mascara http://www.suncoatproducts.com/index-mascara.htm and occasionally some Alba Botanica TerraGloss http://www.albabotanica.com/?id=411 and Iāll just go ahead and admit to you that I still use a Cover Girl eyebrow pencil. Iāve used the same kind for about 8 years now and I just havenāt found a natural alternative in the right color that works as well.
No, Geron does not allow tea but I drink it anyway. I drink green tea a couple of times a day. I am trying to quit but itās hard. I didnāt drink it for the first few months of my Gerson therapy. Green is better than black. Black is acid-forming in the body.
I know, I know rules, Rules RULES! But in the end itās worth it and once you get used to it, itās not so bad. Occasionally I cheat and have something forbidden but I just try to avoid making a habit of it (but I screwed up on the green teaā¦) I hope this helps you!!
Hi Sheila,
Thanks very much for your reply. I will definitely try the Pure Life Organics but I am very surprised about using lavender ! Wow, I had no idea about this at all!!! I have been using all organic products BUT with lavender, like body lotions, creams, etc for it’s calming effects but had no idea whatsoever that it can be harmful for estrogen related cancers! I took all that stuff and tossed it the other day – thank you!!
You are soooo right about juicing: my pain was gone after doing Gerson dilligently for the past several weeks; these four days I have been very busy and stopped juicing and today – yeah! – the pain has returned. So today it’s back to juicing and staying there for a very long time to come.
I have a question: I know that Gerson does not include any flax in their program but I have been using sprouted flax for many years now. Just recently though I have found out that flax is not that good after all!! Flax contains Vitamin B antagonists and it contains Linamarin which breaks down into cyanide upon eating it! It also slows down thyroid – had no idea until now! So, now I stopped flax completely.
Have you ever used flax or very popular now chia seeds?
Some people use Vitamineral Green in their smoothies from Health Force Nutritionals – have you ever used it and what do you think about those powdered green supplements??
Thanks for your time and THANKS FOR YOUR TWO GREAT SITES: THEY ARE TRULY LIFE-SAVERS!!!!
Mary
Hi Mary!
OK, about the flax- Actually, Gerson is all about the flax oil. It is the only fat allowed in the diet. I am supposed to take 4 tablespoons a day! But I read all that scary stuff about flax too, I also read all sorts of good things about fish oil. For a couple of months I was taking fish oil instead of the flax oil. Well, I stopped doing that. Now I still don’t eat the 4 tablespoons of flax oil straight up like Gerson recommends, instead I make a salad dressing with lots of flaxseed oil and have it at least 2x a day, on a salad or on a baked potato. I know, it’s confusing. I still occasionally take the fish oil (every couple of weeks.) I think the thyroid problems associated with flax are taken care of by the thyroid supplements and the iodine drops in the program. Also, Gerson does not believe in sprouts or sprouted grain! That was a tough one for me since I had been eating sprouted grain bread and broccoli sprouts for years. Supposedly sprouts are no good for the immune system.
As far as powdered green stuff is concerned- When I have to go somewhere (like a couple of appointments in a row) I pack a cooler with 8oz jars of juice, carrot and apple in separate containers. You have to keep them separated because of the different enzymes in each will keep better if they are not together. Make sure there is no air when you seal the jar, it takes a little practice to get it just right. Then I take the straight carrot in place of carrot apple and instead of green I have apple juice and then put a teaspoon of Kyo Green powder in it. You are really not supposed to jar at all with Gerson but sometimes that’s just not realistic, especially with all the appointments cancer patients often have. I just try not to do it too much. Kyo Green is packed with the good stuff, young barley greens, young wheatgrass, chlorella, kelp, FOS, brown rice. You can get it at any healthfood store.
Thanks so much for reading!I hope this helps!!!
Hi Sheila,
Thanks very much for the info: it’s very useful and cleared up a lot of confusion for me.
Can you please let me know if you go to a holistic dentist or a regular one? Gerson advises to take out all the teeth with root canals – I agree with it totally but in practice it is not that simple. For folks who have several root canals more upfront in the mouth, extracting all of those teeth would be a disaster from the cosmetic/visual point of view. Also, it’s not always practical to replace them with either bridges or implants: because of the cost and location of those teeth. What do you recommend then??? I agree that having root canals must seriously compromise one’s immune system but taking all of them out is also quite complicated. How about silver fillings: do you recommend all of it out??
Most of my silver fillings have been replaced but I still have two large ones in: one is really huge, old filling, practically covering the whole tooth – now it became almost black. Should I get it out asap??
Also, in addition to regular doctor’s visits, cat scan appt, Vit. C iv, what other treatments do you go to and recommend: maybe massage therapy (deep tissue, swedish, etc), yoga, meditation, how about chelation?? Many folks swear by chelation – what do you think about it?
Finally, what do you think about spirulina? The literature is mixed on the subject: some people say it’s the gretest thing, others object to taking in a living organism, which is what spirulina really is. I don’t know whether to take it or not: please advise!
One again – thanks very much for all your input: it helps us tremendously. My mother is using many of your suggestions and she is doing so much better; she says “thank you!!!”.
All the best,
Mary and mother
Hi Mary
I go to a holistic dentist BUT I pay more out of pocket since these type of dentists are not covered as well on my dental plan. I have one mercury amalgam but I haven’t had it out yet. The dentist said to wait until I am better. The process of taking them out can lead to some mercury getting back into your system so make sure the dentist you go to has a procedure that takes this into consideration. They should put some sort of guard in your mouth during the procedure. My cavities (7!!!) are still there. I need to have them fixed but it is too expensive for the time being. In the meantime I try just to take very good care of my teeth. I use a fluoride-free toothpaste. This is very important as fluoride is bad for your immune system. I would ask the dentist about the root canals. Maybe there is a way to address the problem without having to take out all those teeth.
My weekly myers cocktail infusion has some chelating agents in it. Also, I occasionally get detoxifying ionic foot baths at the center where they do the infusion. I occasionally do qigong and some meditation/visualization. Nothing on a regular scedule like I probably should. Some warn against massage insisting that it may promote the spread of cancer. I’m not sure what I believe but my husband gives me massages at least a few times a month. I think gentle massage is probably good for you if you avoid cancerous areas. Massage can help detox your tissue after all.
I don’t take spirulina. I did when I was younger and didn’t notice any extra energy. Instead I make fresh organic green juices. They are loaded with chlorophyll, enzymes, vitamins, nutrients and they help alkalinize your blood- they are a big part of Gerson therapy and they are great for you.
Thank you again for reading. I am so glad to know my blog has helped you and your mom. It really makes me extremely happy. I hope you and your mother are doing well and staying healthy!
Good Morning Sheila,
Thank you so very much for being there for us; and for helping all of us out here! It takes a special, caring heart to do so, and you certainly have a very special, caring, compassionate, and loving heart and soul!
My Mother says that YOU ARE A GIFT TO THIS WORLD!
… and at 83, I bet she knows what she is talking about!
God Bless you and have a serene, blessed, and joyful day!!!
Mary and Mother
Thank you Mary. You and your mother are too too kind!
Hi Sheila,
We have read your post today and it’s great to know you are doing well! We knew that you could jump right back into the program – yeah, it’s not easy, but YOU can do it, for sure!!
We have decided to do it 100% raw and to include fresh wheatgrass juice daily and soon, the implants, as well. Oh, yes, it will be extra work, but it will be all worth it. We feel that our bodies got “used to” all those green juices and salads and that they need “an extra step” in nutrition. I personally crave some more nutrition in terms of more “greenery” (thankfully, not the “forbidden” stuff!). Also, I want to incorporate raw or close to raw multivitamins – that may give us that extra edge in terms of vitamins/minerals: so, I am thinking to go with either a multivitamin from Hippocrates or the newly-released multi from Garden of Life, called “Vitamin Code”: it’s all raw and the ingredients sound really good. I think most of those multi’s found in health food stores are good for nothing – they probably don’t get absorbed well, if at all.
How did you find your ND (the one you’ve mentioned in today’s post)? Was it an easy search? We are thinking about finding one; it surely will be expensive since insurance won’t cover it. But we are sooooo tired of the same old approach from those allopathic md’s! Did your ND give you any new supplements?
Once again – it’s great to know you are doing OK and that your fighting spirit is there intact! Good for you!!!!! : )
Hugs,
Maria and Mother
Hi Maria and Maria’s mom
It’s great to hear that you guys are going full force into the green! It’s especially wonderful that you are not craving the bad stuff. For me, especially at first, that was the hardest thing. That’s half the battle right there! In terms of vitamins, the pancreatin and potassium in the Gerson protocal are especially important, and vitamin C of course. I found my ND through a business contact of my moms. Her husband was treated there for his lung cancer and was doing great. I had actually been to a couple that were NO GOOD and really tried to rip me off. I really lucked out in finding Orthomolecular Nutrition (the name of the center) the people there are very kind, knowledgeable, caring, honest, patient and they spend a lot of time answering my questions. I suggest asking around but if nobody knows of a good place maybe google the terms “orthomolecular nutrition” with your city and see what comes up. It’s important to know where the vitamin C comes from. Beet and tapioka are good sources, corn on the other hand is awful and won’t do you any good. Don’t trust a ND who pretends not to know what the C is derived from. Another good idea is to call local chinese doctors/acupuncturists as they sometimes also do vitamin infusions. I hope this helps you out! Good luck on your search and keep up the good work!!!
xox she
Hey Sheila,
I’m 33 and doing the gerson for lymphoma, it would be great to chat up with you to compare notes etc, please let me know if you would also like that and send me your phone number to amarpreet_s@hotmail.com and I can call you. Its a really tough road, but have got my spirits up like you or you can call me 206.234.8510.
I will try to write if you dont want to talk, but i suck at writing!
Cheers, Amarpreet
Sheila,
First – CONGRATS!!! You’re an inspiration to many and scientific proof that chemicals can’t cure it all.
Is there a post where you describe what you did to eliminate the Stage I cancer, and how you discovered it was back years later? I’ve just wrapped up Stage I surgery and considering next steps and wondering what to watch for down the road.
Many thanks!
-k.
Thanks K!
Well, the first time around I just had the cancer removed via lumpectomy & mastectomy. Voila! Then the doctor recommended four rounds of chemo just to make sure it didn’t come back. Some good that nasty stuff did me!
What to watch for down the road- There are many things women can do things to reduce their breast cancer risk. Of course hind sight is always 20/20, if I could hijack a time machine I would have made these major dietary changes years ago- avoid alcohol and caffeine. Diets high in carbs are also linked to breast cancer. Opt instead for protein-packed organic vegetables. Unfortunately, as a junk-food vegetarian, carbs were major for me (as was the alcohol and caffeine.) If you must eat meat and dairy, try to consume only hormone-free, antibiotic-free animal products. Also, studies have shown that having adequate levels of vitamin D can cut a womans risk of recurrence and death. A good way to up your vitamin D levels is by going out in the good old fashioned sunshine sans sunscreen for short periods of time.
Avoid stress and negativity. Avoid chemicals- try to minimize use of cosmetics and only use those that have a lower toxic load. To find out what chemicals are in your products and how they may affect you, visit http://www.skindeep.com.
How did I know it was coming back? The first symptom was depression. Then I started getting really bad back pains and a dry cough that just wouldn’t go away.
If your cancer was estrogen-dependent, a good supplement is DIM. It is a derivative of cruciferous vegetables. It works like a natural aromatase inhibitor by helping the liver better metabolize estrogen.
Test your pH. Cancer can not grow in an alkaline environment so try to make your pH as high as possible by consuming fresh vegetables or vegetable juice.
Disclaimer: Of course this is all merely my humble opinion and should not be used as a substitute for medical advice.
K, thanks so much for reading. I hope this helps you out!
Hi She!
There is no doubt about it: in my own opinion, Gerson is a very good therapy that has helped many people out there!! It makes me really irritated when such powerful and proven therapies are labeled “alternative”, “quackery”, “dangerous”, not to mention other terminology they use out there! Such therapies treat the body as a whole entity. Look at Gerson: their therapy literally bathes one’s body with a multitude of vitamins, minerals, micro-elements, and such: a person consumes all those elements in the best possible form! All the fresh organic produce they use in the form of live juices, vegan meals, best supplements, etc – how could it possibly NOT help?? It does wonders for one’s body in terms of top nourishment, cellular support, healing, etc, yet, “they” call such programs “dangerous”! The SAD provides at best 1/100 of nutrition that the Gerson program does (or other similar programs)! Meanwhile, therapies on the other spectrum, that cause excruciating side effects, such as hair loss, nails to become black and fall out, infertility, inability to assimilate foods, secondary cancers, blindness, and a myriad of other problems, are called “mainstream” and “the proper way of treatment”. Really, what a double standard!! When an illness or ailment strikes, you need to treat your body in the best possible way by giving it top nutrition, proper supplements, and other supportive therapies. But under these circumstances, you don’t push your body to the ground with a punch that can be lethal or debilitating, at best!
I stronly believe that you are doing so well because of the program you are following: there are no “but”‘s about it, as far as I am concerned.
I AM BEHIND YOU 110%!!!
You are my role model and I don’t care what anybody out there says about Gerson or similar programs!
Love and hugs,
M
PS: OK, I will include a disclaimer, too:
This is only my opinion and it should not replace a medical treatment or advice.
First of all, I want to say what an inspiration you are to me. Your story shows that no matter how extreme the diagnosis it’s still possible to fight back to regain your health. I was wondering if you could give more details on the gerson therapy. What does a typical day involve? Do you use a norwalk juicer? I know you recommend going to a gerson clinic but as I am in Canada and not financially able to travel I would love any tips and sources you might have, only if you do have time to e-mail. I will read over your blog again though for any info I might if missed. Thank-you so much for sharing you incredible story of healing.
Hi Shawna!
Thanks so much for your comment. Actually, I didn’t go to a Gerson clinic. My mom contacted one here in the US (in Redlands CA) and the doctor there reviewed my medical records and said I was too sick to travel. My mom went and learned the therapy for me. Although that was very helpful, you can do the therapy without going to a center. A must read for anyone considering doing the therapy at home is “Healing the Gerson Way” by Charlotte Gerson. In it you will find charts that explain what supplements to take, what juice to make and when to do it. I am on a “chemo modified” version of the therapy since I had chemo 6 years ago. They reason that some of the chemo is still stored in my body so detox must be done more gradually to avoid having the toxins repoison you as they leave the body. Therefore, I do 10 juices a day and 3 enemas. A normal Gerson patient not pretreated with chemo or radiation does 13 juices and 5 enemas per day. (which I can’t even imagine. 10/3 is hard enough!!)
One of these days I am going to post about a typical day in the life of a Gerson patient. I do have a norwalk juicer and I have to say, there really is a difference. You can even taste the difference. the norwalk juice has way more flavor, you get more juice for less produce and supposedly the juice you get contains 40% more nutrients. We bought a refurbished model from the manufacturer in Arkansas. It was still about $2000. If you are interested in getting a used one this is the way to go. If you get it on ebay you don’t know what you’re getting. The refurbished model we got comes with a warranty. http://www.norwalkjuicers.com or call (outside US) 1-479-770-0130. It takes awhile to get one but If your situation is a medical emergency like mine was they will move your name up on the list.
Once you get the book and get started learning I will be more than happy to help you with anything specific you may need to know. I’ve written up instructions about how to do the coffee enemas and will send you that if you are interested. If you are in a crisis situation and can’t wait for the book to arrive to begin treatment, I will scan one of those charts in (I will need a little background info so I can send you the right one) and tell you where to go online to get your supplements. The important thing to know is that you really don’t have to go to a center to begin treatment. I will help you through it.
I hope this helps!!
Stay in touch and let me know how you’re doing with it.
Best of luck to you!!!
Sheila
Hi She!
I have just read your article on the radioactive sugar: that’s the paradox of modern medicine, ineeed! They help with one area while causing problem in another. Sometimes I feel that we can’t win in this matter!
I have a question: finally I have a great new primary care doc and I cannot believe how caring and involved she really is. But today she called me that my calcium levels are too high. I will have the test repeated tomorrow. So, I have checked the internet and calcium levels are elevated in people with certain kinds of cancer, among other conditions. Have you ever had an elevated calcium level? Does your doc regularly check the blood calcium level?? Right now they say the normal upper limit is 10.8 while others say its 10.3. Also, they say that the dietary calcium does not effect the blood calcium: I certainly don’t eat any dairy but drink all those juices and carrots have plenty of calcium; so, even though they say it should not effect the blood level, I think it may to some extend. What do you think about it?? Was this ever a concern for you?
They say that high calcium levels can be very dangerous!
Thanks for listening and have a great evening!
Mary
hi Sheila I just wanted to let you know that you are in my prayers, and everyone at catholic worker is also praying for
you.
love
uncle tom
Thanks uncle Tom!! It’s good to hear from you. I hope you are doing great.
Hi Shiela! Wow, it’s so rare to find a blog like yours. My Mom was diagnosed a little over two months ago with stage IIIb lung cancer. Her doctor told her he wanted her to do chemo and radiation. He said if she didn’t do it, she would have no quality of life within about two months of the diagnosis.
Well, we did all the research and found that chemo and radiation offer little hope for late stage lung cancer. So, like you, she opted for the all natural route. She also found a Naturaopathic Doctor in Tempe, AZ (Dr. Colleen Huber) and she’s been doing Vitamin C IVs (along with sodium bicarbonate and a lot of other things in her IV bag) for two months now.
Instead of declining (like her oncologist said), she has steadily been improving. Initially, we thought she had pneumonia and she was sleeping from 18-20 hours a day. She had no energy and started coughing up blood.
Now, she’s sleeping only 8 hours a night – with a short nap during the day. Her energy has returned and she’s not coughing up blood any longer.
She is doing a bunch of things (like you are). In addition to the Vitamin C IVs, she’s also taking Maitake Mushroom D-Fraction Extract (from Vitacost). She’s taking another mushroom blend that she gets from her ND. She’s taking Essiac Tea, Cod Liver Oil, and several other things from her ND.
She has changed her diet to all organic and has become a vegan. She’s cut out all sugar except the occasional bit of agave nectar for her tea. She’s also juicing (a modified Gerson therapy), but is not drinking as much juice as she was in the beginning. She bought a Green Star juicer and it’s wonderful. It’s not as good as the Norwalk, but it’s the best two-process juicer (non centrifigal) in the moderately priced range. I think she paid just under $400 for hers.
She is definitely improving. She has good days and bad days, but it seems like the good days are beginning to outnumber the bad ones now.
I put a blog together for my Mom. It currently has over 100 posts about various alternative treatments for cancer. You can check it out at: http://starfishproject.wordpress.com
I’ll definitely be back to your blog. I am so excited to have found it.
Tracey
Hi Sheila,
I want to share with you my fantastic discovery re. relieving my menopausal symproms. My symptoms were horrific, to say the least, despite my almost raw regimen and supplements. There were nights when I had a strong hot flash every hour during the night, among other mean symptoms! I cannot take even bio-identical hormones because of cysts on my ovaries and other matters. The estrogenic herbs were not helping much, either. I was a mess at times but I discovered a true miracle (at least for me) – MACA! It turns out that women in South America are taking it “en masse” for menopausal symptoms! After only about 4 days of taking Maca, my menopausal symptoms lessened so much that now I may have just one medium level hot flash a night, if that!! What a relief, what a joy!!! Plus, Maca helps me to feel better overall, as it balances the entire hormonal system! Also, I started to take Chlorella for DNA repair and support; recently I read some remarkable info about Chlorella on the Internet: quite impressive, indeed!
Love and hugs,
mary : )
Sheila,
I don’t know how, but we accidentally found your blog. I have been thinking about you for years now, wondering how you are and what you are up to but could not find any contact info for you.
Christina and Josh F. (Gainesville)
Sheila,
Thank u for sharing. U are a cancer Yogi.
Hi Sheila,
Thank you for sharing your experience and I wish you the best of luck. I’m on my third or fourth day of Gerson — loosing track of time, I count time in juices now :). Actually, I’m waiting for my oatmeal gruel to be done cooking as I write. I’m doing it to heal some thyroid craziness that I have going on. Anyway, I’m wondering what you think about the preparation of the coffee enema….
With all the other stuff you have to do with this method, it seems like the prep of the enema is inefficient? Do you think it would be just as good to brew a really, really strong pot of organic coffee and let it cool? The boiling in a pan and straining through a cloth is making me crazy. Any ideas?
Again, best of luck to you as you heal.
Amy
Hi Amy
Thanks for reading š
And good question!! I use a stainless steel mesh strainer. Much much easier than cheese cloth. I have a whole write-up on the process that I prepared to help people with their “upsidedown coffee.” I will email it to you. Be on the lookout for an email titled “coffee enemas” in case it lands in your trash.
Best of luck to you!!
Hi Sheila,
You are definitely in my prayers!! I came across your website as I was searching for information on salpingo-oopherectomy and hysterectomy. I’m having it done in a few weeks and I’m not sure what route to go. I’m 38 and was diagnosed with stage 3a invasive ductal carcinoma. I really believe in nutrition and other natural sources to combat this beast but I never know what info to believe. I would love to get into contact with you and to get any help that you are able to give me. I have had a bil. mast. , 6 months of AC, 12 weeks of Taxol, and I’m currently getting Herceptin. I have 2 weeks left of a 6 weeks course of radiation. I’m scheduled to have surgery to remove my ovaries and well..all of it. I’m also BRCA2 pos. Yuck, yuck and more yuck! I can beat this though =) We can beat this =) Hope to hear from you!
sincerely,
Patty
Hi Patty!!
Sorry it took me so long to respond. Normally I would just send you and email (wordpress automatically gives me the email of anyone who leaves a comment) but for some reason i can’t find yours. Could you please leave me another comment with your email address and I will contact you ASAP!! Hope all is going well. Sounds like you’ve been through a lot.
Hi Sheila,
Just wondering how things are going with the Gerson Diet. I downloaded 14 hours of Gerson tapes on line yesterday … i want to pass on this info to a friend of mine who is doing lots of chemo for her stage 4 cervical cancer. The chemo doesnt seem to be working right now and i want to let her know that there are other options out there. Why did you choose the Gerson? And what improvements have you seen so far? It seems you are doing so well …:)
Let me know!
Isabelle (we talked on Planet Cancer a couple of times!)
Hi Isabelle
Actually, I need to update this page. I’ve been having a rough time lately. I am about to try some new things like hydrazine sulfate and I have recently started on B17. Gerson is great overall. I chose to go that route because I came across more success stories from people on gerson vs any other therapy. My main monster now is excess estrogen and gerson alone doesn’t seem to be enough to address that issue. That said, I am still doing the juices and most of the diet and I believe it has really prolonged my life. It may not be the only answer for me but it is a big part of why I am still here. Best of luck to you and your friend!
Dearest Sheila,
My name is Sophia and I am Mary’s mother; I am 84 years old and you were my greatest heroine! Thanks to you I started the Gerson program; you were always there for me and Mary. You were our heroine and our friend: we will forever love you and you will live forever in our hearts! In my 84 years on this Earth I have not met a more courageous and more caring and loving person than you, my dear Sheila! It was a true blessing knowing you – rest in peace my dear Friend!
We miss Sheila so very much!
This world will never be the same without Sheila in it!
What a courageous person she was; so bright, so intelligent, so knowledgeable; just a fantastic person in every way!
Just feeling sooooo sad today……
Mary and Mother
We will forever miss Sheila; it’s been one month since her departure and it’s still very hard!!!!!
Thank you Mary and Mother for keeping Sheila’s memory alive. I am broken-hearted and miss her terribly, but it helps to know how many people she helped. I studied the Gerson Therapy to help Sheila, so please contact me if I can help you in any way. My email is sheri@drsheriwallace.com God bless!