Nov. 29, 2012- The Next Phase

The Next Phase

We arrived home rather late last night after seeing the doctors at the clinic in Renton-Seattle, and doing some shopping on the way home in both Renton and Yakima. We saw snow falling on the passes, but nothing sticking to the roads. There was ice on the road near home, and we skidded a little at the intersection of Pine Forest and Knight Road, but got home safely.

The news was good, Leland no longer needs to continue any Chemo treatments. We are happy for that as he was beginning to have more pronounced side effects even though he has been taking the supplements designed to guard against or at least minimize the damage. The docs are pleased with his progress. PSA down to 7.7 two weeks ago and probably lower than that now. CT scan showing decreases in lymph node size, and bones stabilized. Tumors smaller, and weight still doing well with another 2 pound gain, bringing him to within about 5 pounds of where he was when he was diagnosed.

Dr. Chen reminded us that this  cancer  cannot be cured, only "managed". He recommended Hormone Blockade Therapy, and Leland agreed to a trial. So he received a shot yesterday that will last a month. If he does OK on that, and is able tolerate the side effects, then when we go back in a month, they will give him a shot that will last 3 months. His PSA will be monitored through all this, and once it has gone down to undetectable levels, and stayed there for several months, he can move to intermittent therapy, going back on if the PSA begins to rise. This may work for several years-or it may not. For now he stable, improving and his quality of life is fairly good if compared with BC-Before Cancer. But compared to the nightmare of last summer, the quality is very good! 

Dr Sweet, Naturopathic Oncologist, changed his supplements somewhat this time to emphasize prevention.  He is on a very high quality Fish Oil, Green tea Extract, vitamin D, Melatonin, Multi-vitamin, Iscador, a Probiotic, Calcium . DCA and Manose, plus Super Zeaxanthin for his Macular Degeneration  ( I think he got the  bad end of the VanTassel gene pool!)   He also needs to eat at least one ½ cup serving of cruciferous vegetables each day as well as a serving of root vegetables.  Fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, organic eggs, nuts.   Sweets need to be whole grain and sweetened with Stevia, Xylitol, Maple Syrup, or raw honey,  using no damaged oils.

Organic is important if it can be obtained, especially the items on the “Dirty Dozen” List plus the most genetically modified grains; corn, and wheat.  Soy is also heavily modified, so we only use organic or at least certified Non-GMO. 

Dr Sweet told us that the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center in Seattle did a study with Fish Oil and Cancer patients and concluded that Fish Oil with EPA and DHA reduces death from all causes not just cancer.  She also told us that it used to be 1 in 20 people would get cancer.  Now it is 1 in 3!!  She said clearly, our society is doing something different overall which has caused this epidemic. So we have eliminated the chemicals in our environment which we can control,  are eating the best we can (Dr. Sweet says we are doing better than 99% of the patients she talks to) and exercising.  Today is too icy and cold outside, so we are using the  treadmill.  Leland also started using free weights to regain the strength in his upper body. 

We are relieved not to have to continue the drive to Seattle every week, especially as winter is really setting in.  We are feeling especially blessed that he is doing as well as he is, and trusting that God will take care of tomorrow as He always has. We have “Just Enough Light For the Step We Are On” and know that whatever step must be taken tomorrow,  will be lighted s well.