Dr. Isakoff,
My husband and I look forward to meeting with you tomorrow for our apt. We are prepared to wait in case your flight is delayed from the speaking event you will be returning from in the morning. There are a still some questions and concerns I have about the next course of treatment. I did read the book "Bad Science" as promised, and I agree there are some quacks out there in the natural medicine field, just like there are some bad MD's on the other side of the coin as well. I look forward to hearing what you thought about the docu-series I sent you as well, "The Truth About Cancer : Quest For The Cure". I was impressed by the MD testimonials more than the other ND health professionals and particularly the Dr. Nick Gonzalez, MD from Sloan-Kettering who spoke about the patient with stage 4 pancreatic cancer who lived 32 years after he treated her with specific nutrition and enzymes because I know this type of cancer to usually kill a patient in a few months. He also had great success with breast cancer patients who were late stage with several metastases. He conducted studies in the acceptable framework and yet Dr. Good, the President of Sloan-Kettering said the results were so amazing that the editors refused to publish the results in 1986. Finally the study was published in 2010, and Dr. Good said he still did not know how the case of pancreatic cancer particularly was cured by Gonzales, under the additional direction of Dr. Kelly. It was beyond their paradigm of conventional medicine. I'm not sure how many you had a chance to view.
As I had mentioned, I am not an alternative medicine proponent as a sole solution. I know the answers are usually a combination which is why I look at an integrative approach using proven methods as well. This is why I wanted surgery and agreed to your first prescribed stage of chemotherapy. My main consideration going forward is the same thing I review at every stage in my treatment and that is the risk vs. benefit. Since we have no way to effectively measure if chemo is effective on my particular cancer that I once had (no tumors to shrink down) I need to consider toxicity and effects on my immune system. Yes, you say we will know if it was effective if I have no recurrence in 5-15 years, but it is tricky because I am not a person with any visible cancer or tumors anymore and I question why I would have the same protocol as someone with tumor filled breasts. But my cancer was aggressive in nature, so my main focus is what happens at the cellular level to prevent reoccurrence. This is why I agreed to blast the fast growing cells with toxic therapies after the biopsies and surgery.
I will look forward to our apt. and wanted to include in the attachments I had mentioned from a few sources that explain the studies done on cancer stem cell growth as a reaction to exposure to chemotherapy. This is also in conventional medical journals from what I understand. I have extensively looked into the effects of Taxol and Herceptin, and I have concerns...especially since I just completed the harsh therapies of A & C. It's not just the side effects that concern me on the short run, but the long term effects for secondary cancers and continued tearing down of my immune system. I am a tough cookie, and I can assure you my decision would not be based on fear but on logic and careful analysis. I would also have to consider my personal guidance from above for what my best chances are for future prevention and overall survival. As I had mentioned before, I never entered into chemo treatments believing them to be a long term cure, but an effective tool in the short run. It can be very effective for many, perhaps those who enter into it just listening to their doctors and not doing much research on their own:) We all have abnormal cancer cells in our body and I believe cancer that develops into a tumor to actually be a symptom of an immune system that is not functioning properly. The cause has to be addressed for future prevention and that in my mind is a cure. Even if I would continue with the next course of chemo, I would not stop there and would try my best to detoxify my body and get my immune system in balance...if at all possible after all these toxins further impede its ability to function properly.
Thanks again for your continued involvement and support of me as your patient....I know my case has probably taken more time than most, and I certainly appreciate your time and our conversations as we "partner" together for my best possible outcome. I am very fortunate to have you as my oncologist and to have your expertise from the viewpoint of what you know best and see every day. I wish medical schools taught more about nutrition but I understand why they don't based on the funding sources of drug companies who would rather teach about prescriptions for obvious reasons.
Finally, I want to clarify that my questions are of the protocols as directed to all oncologists "standard of care" and not to you personally. This is the system we live in, and yet I would still consider a balance in whatever course of action is best for my individual case. Only the future will tell in the result I suppose, so it is a tough decision. I will look forward to seeing you tomorrow:)
Warm regards,
Rachel
My husband and I look forward to meeting with you tomorrow for our apt. We are prepared to wait in case your flight is delayed from the speaking event you will be returning from in the morning. There are a still some questions and concerns I have about the next course of treatment. I did read the book "Bad Science" as promised, and I agree there are some quacks out there in the natural medicine field, just like there are some bad MD's on the other side of the coin as well. I look forward to hearing what you thought about the docu-series I sent you as well, "The Truth About Cancer : Quest For The Cure". I was impressed by the MD testimonials more than the other ND health professionals and particularly the Dr. Nick Gonzalez, MD from Sloan-Kettering who spoke about the patient with stage 4 pancreatic cancer who lived 32 years after he treated her with specific nutrition and enzymes because I know this type of cancer to usually kill a patient in a few months. He also had great success with breast cancer patients who were late stage with several metastases. He conducted studies in the acceptable framework and yet Dr. Good, the President of Sloan-Kettering said the results were so amazing that the editors refused to publish the results in 1986. Finally the study was published in 2010, and Dr. Good said he still did not know how the case of pancreatic cancer particularly was cured by Gonzales, under the additional direction of Dr. Kelly. It was beyond their paradigm of conventional medicine. I'm not sure how many you had a chance to view.
As I had mentioned, I am not an alternative medicine proponent as a sole solution. I know the answers are usually a combination which is why I look at an integrative approach using proven methods as well. This is why I wanted surgery and agreed to your first prescribed stage of chemotherapy. My main consideration going forward is the same thing I review at every stage in my treatment and that is the risk vs. benefit. Since we have no way to effectively measure if chemo is effective on my particular cancer that I once had (no tumors to shrink down) I need to consider toxicity and effects on my immune system. Yes, you say we will know if it was effective if I have no recurrence in 5-15 years, but it is tricky because I am not a person with any visible cancer or tumors anymore and I question why I would have the same protocol as someone with tumor filled breasts. But my cancer was aggressive in nature, so my main focus is what happens at the cellular level to prevent reoccurrence. This is why I agreed to blast the fast growing cells with toxic therapies after the biopsies and surgery.
I will look forward to our apt. and wanted to include in the attachments I had mentioned from a few sources that explain the studies done on cancer stem cell growth as a reaction to exposure to chemotherapy. This is also in conventional medical journals from what I understand. I have extensively looked into the effects of Taxol and Herceptin, and I have concerns...especially since I just completed the harsh therapies of A & C. It's not just the side effects that concern me on the short run, but the long term effects for secondary cancers and continued tearing down of my immune system. I am a tough cookie, and I can assure you my decision would not be based on fear but on logic and careful analysis. I would also have to consider my personal guidance from above for what my best chances are for future prevention and overall survival. As I had mentioned before, I never entered into chemo treatments believing them to be a long term cure, but an effective tool in the short run. It can be very effective for many, perhaps those who enter into it just listening to their doctors and not doing much research on their own:) We all have abnormal cancer cells in our body and I believe cancer that develops into a tumor to actually be a symptom of an immune system that is not functioning properly. The cause has to be addressed for future prevention and that in my mind is a cure. Even if I would continue with the next course of chemo, I would not stop there and would try my best to detoxify my body and get my immune system in balance...if at all possible after all these toxins further impede its ability to function properly.
Thanks again for your continued involvement and support of me as your patient....I know my case has probably taken more time than most, and I certainly appreciate your time and our conversations as we "partner" together for my best possible outcome. I am very fortunate to have you as my oncologist and to have your expertise from the viewpoint of what you know best and see every day. I wish medical schools taught more about nutrition but I understand why they don't based on the funding sources of drug companies who would rather teach about prescriptions for obvious reasons.
Finally, I want to clarify that my questions are of the protocols as directed to all oncologists "standard of care" and not to you personally. This is the system we live in, and yet I would still consider a balance in whatever course of action is best for my individual case. Only the future will tell in the result I suppose, so it is a tough decision. I will look forward to seeing you tomorrow:)
Warm regards,
Rachel
