Doug Prouty's Battle for Health

Friday, April 28th

Greetings from Mexico Clinic

I am three days into my 21 day stay. It is a smaller, humble looking hospital with the typical uncomfortable single bed. However, the doctors and nurses are not only friendly, but professional and competent. The kichen makes wonderful meals that use fresh, organic and mostly vegetarian goods.

Currently, my treatment consists of IV bags full of megavitamins and minerals. For example, I am on 50 grams of vitamic C a day. Your stomach could never process that much. They are also giving me IV Laetrile. Google this word. I have been interested in its use since I read about it. I also get a daily shot in the largest muscle. Jeanette usually doesn't hesitate to tell the story of a Hepatitus vaccination I got in Austria on our way to Thailand... Let's just say I hate shots there.

Yesterday, I walked ito an office, the doctor pricked my finger, put my blood on a slide, placed it under a microscope and turned his computer screen towards me. At 15,000 magnification, he went over what my blood looked like and what it should look like. Friday morning, I undergo a Hyperthermia treatment. They will cycle my blood through a heating device raising its temperature to 107 and bring it back into my body. The whole process will last about 4 hours. I will be sedated much of the time so I can handle it. This should start to weaken the cancer cells. You can read more about it at the Hospital's web site- www.biocarehospital.com

There are wonderful stories here from everyone. So many people have been given new lives and second chances. I have met a few folks back for a yearly booster. Seven years ago, they were given 2 months to live. I am hearing lots of these types of stories from the shuttle driver, the nurses, the nutritionist and the doctors. Please know that I grow more hopeful and convinced each day. Healing using plants has been the standard for thousands of years. When did it become alternative?
Doug on 04.28.06 @ 08:36 AM PST [link]

Friday, April 21st

Letters to Nick

I just finished writing a series of eight letters to my son. When I was pronounced terminal, a nurse suggested that I write a letter for each of his birthdays until he turns 18. I thought about this for a while and talked it over with a few friends. Could there be anything harder? What do you say to your son that will help after you are gone?

Instead of the birthday letters, I thought it would be stronger to write a letter for different things/events in his life. One for tough times, one for high times, one on how proud I am of him, one on dealing with his loss, one on helping his mom and sister, one about the special things and times we had together, etc. I cried hard through every letter. Just the thought of him reading these after he has lost me was almost too much to bear. Still, I know they were an important thing to leave him, and I am glad they are done and sealed. Now I can get on to thoughts of living.

I debated writing these letters as it felt like, by doing so, I was giving in to an early death. I have rarely let those thoughts cross my mind and have worked hard to remove them if they have. As if I can beat this disease by sheer will.

The letters did teach me that I don’t tell Nick nearly enough that I love him, I am proud of him and he is so very special to me.

Doug on 04.21.06 @ 11:30 AM PST [link]

Thursday, April 20th

Aren't Friends Great?!

I used to envy people that had a strong circle of friends. I know some people that still get together with High School or College buddies. Vacations with 8 couples that have all known each other for years. I only have one true friend from those days. I don’t see any college buddies or high school people.

I attended Chaka Impraim’s funeral several months ago. Besides being moved by his incredible life, I was also taken aback by the sheer number of people that attended. At that time, I knew I was dealing with advanced cancer and wondered if I even know this many people. I figured I could count my true friend without using my toes.

Fighting this battle and dealing with mortality has taught me many lessons. Arguably one of the most important is the beauty of friendship and how so many friends we actually do have. I am constantly overwhelmed by the generosity and effort that so many people have made towards me. Most know that I have had to take a leave from work to deal with this ordeal. I would think that work colleagues would be resentful, not my coworkers. In order for me to be off, I have to utilize our agency’s Catastrophic Leave Bank. It was running a little low so our Human Resources Director put out a call. Though it is not intended for one person particularly, I know many folks thought of me and donated their sick leave to the bank. I was told the other day that we now have more built up than ever before!

This is only one example; I am continuously blown away by the love and support I get from my many friends. I believe Jesus gathered disciples around him to teach us of the importance of friends. Thank you to all my friends for the continuous support, dinners brought to the house, babysitting, letters, emails and cards sent, words of encouragement and prayers, and most of all, your love.

gang (37k image)
Sandy Oliver (37k image)
Tim & Thor (37k image)
Doug on 04.20.06 @ 09:56 AM PST [link]

Monday, April 17th

Heading South

Today, I met with my doctor to break the news. We discussed the results of this recent PET scan and he was encouraged. He wants to go full speed forward with chemo and get while the cancer is wavering. I have decided to take a couple months off chemo and try some alternative treatments. Naturally, this did not sit well with a US trained Oncologist. I was expecting that he would try hard to talk me out of it. In the end, he is very supportive and even ordered a new scan for when I return to see if any progress was made.

In order to immerse myself in alternative treatments, I have decided to check myself into the International BioCare Hospital (www.biocarehospital.com) in Tijuana, Mexico. Their web site will give you details of their philosophy and treatment options. It is a big commitment, as I must remain as an inpatient for three weeks. I will leave on Monday, April 24th and return May 15th.

I am a little nervous as this is a Mexican clinic after all and there are a few risky procedures. It also seems strange to be leaving the US to get well in Mexico. Haven’t I always gotten sick there? I think it was either the water or the tequila. I will be avoiding both - for the record.

Well, send your positive thoughts and prayers. They say there is an Internet terminal that I can get on so I will make an effort to Blog so you know what I am going through.

Doug on 04.17.06 @ 10:25 PM PST [link]

Saturday, April 15th

PET Scan Results

Well, I received the analysis of my PET scan and it looks like good news and bad. I’ll share the good news first as that is what I like to focus on.

There are no new signs of metastases or spread of the cancer. “Countless pulmonary nodules are again identified, right up to 9-10mm” These are the tumors in my lungs. Being a Mathematics major, I am not fond of the word “countless”, but I am encouraged by what the doctor says next. “There are no nodules that have changed in size appreciably although some nodules show central lucency that is now more evident and might be a treatment response.” It looks like these tumors are starting to become more transparent. This is a good sign and means we may be beating them back!

“Interval resolution of previous hypermetabolic retroperitoneal small lymph nodes since the prior exam with no new hypermetabolic abnormalities in the abdomen/pelvis to suggest progressive disease in these regions. No enlarged lymph nodes” I guess if you have that much schooling, you get to use these words. In layman’s terms, he is saying that I had cancerous lymph nodes in my abdomen and these have disappeared, have not grown or turned into a tumor as might be expected.

As far as the big tumor on my 7th vertebrate, “slight decreased level of metabolic activity but increased lysis on CT”. Lysis usually refers to the death of a cell by bursting. He is using it here to refer to the size of the tumor. On the last scan in January it measured 12x16mm and now shows to be 17x19mm. This is my main concern. On the positive side, I had more pain in my neck back in January than I do now.

On Monday morning I will meet with my Oncologist to go over these results. He will credit the chemo for the successes and have little explanation for why the chemo has not decreased the size of the tumor in my neck. I have to give some credit to my diet and lifestyle change. I also have to remember to be patient with this recovery business. It took about 6 to 8 years for the cancer to progressive as far as it did. Healing metabolically will take time. Hopefully these results mean I just bought some.

Doug on 04.15.06 @ 07:45 AM PST [link]

Thursday, April 13th

Drink Your Antioxidants

When I mention “free radicals”, I am sure my friend Ellen Elster has a thought or two that has nothing to do with cell metabolism. We have all heard them mentioned. A free radical is a molecule with an incomplete electron shell, which makes it more chemically reactive than those with complete electron shells. Regular cell processes as well as exposure to chemicals and toxins create these incomplete molecules. These free radicals then try to steal electrons from other molecules, which cause damage to the DNA among other things. So antioxidants neutralize free radicals so they cannot cause damage (or cancer if you will).

We see a lot of products that advertise themselves as antioxidants. These include beta-carotene, lycopene, vitamins C, E, and A, and other substances. Since my concentration on these things, I have found two elixirs that claim to be the best. The first drink, “Xango”, Mike DeSa, the superintendent of the Walnut Creek School District, told me about. Xango (www.xango.net) is a mix of juices. The main one being Mongosteen, which is a berry found in South East Asia. This berry is a high source xanthones proved to be powerful antioxidants. This juice is mixed with Apple, Pear, Grape, Blueberry, Raspberry, Strawberry, Cranberry and Cherry juices. Distribution is kind of a pyramid scheme. I got a case on eBay.

The other drink I indulge in is “Mon Vie.” This is a drink made from Acai (Ah-Sigh-Ee) that you are seeing more of. Jamba Juice now has a mixture and I saw a box of juice bags at whole foods. I found out about Mona Vie (http://www.monavie.com/1/) from an older gentleman on the slopes in Colorado. I was sitting at a lunch table at 10,000 feet elevation and he had been skiing like crazy. He claimed his vigor was due to this miracle drink. Acai is a fruit grown in the Amazon rain forest. It is apparently, the best antioxidant out there. Besides the Acai berry, Mona Vie includes pomegranate, grapes, pears, passion fruit, banana, apricot, prunes, kiwi, bilberry, camu camu, wolfberry and lychee.

Just wanted to share a couple of pretty good tasting elixirs. They are as expensive as a bottle of wine, but then I gave that up so I figure this is an even trade. Here is to your health!
razz

Doug on 04.13.06 @ 04:39 PM PST [link]

Tuesday, April 11th

A New PET Scan Today

PET-Spine (10k image) Today was my latest PET scan since the one in January that showed my cancer had spread to my lungs and bone. For obvious reasons, this event scares me a little. Since I was given this terrible news on February 2nd, I have been diligent about my diet and supplements. I have read quite a bit on how dietary intake can slow down or halt cancer metastasis. So the results of today’s test will help to tell me if my efforts and everyone else’s prayers have paid off.

A PET (Positive Emission Tomography) Scan is a little like a CT scan in that you lay on a table that slides into a large tube. Prior to this, you are injected with a radioactive glucose isotope. Cancer cells quickly metabolize glucose or sugar way more than normal cells. The PET scan then measures the metabolic activity of the cells and cancer cells light up bright.

To the right is one of the images from my January scan. Notice my 7th vertebrate has a bright spot. This series of scans showed this spot and a few in my lungs. Lets hope for the best as I wait for the results of today’s scan.

Doug on 04.11.06 @ 06:15 PM PST [link]

Sunday, April 9th

Supplements for Fighting Cancer

Morning and night, I take a fist full of supplements that I have chosen based on my readings. These are designed to compliment my diet and put my body in the best condition for fighting off cancer. Here is a list of what I am taking and why.

Beta-Carotene is converted to vitamin A in the body. Gives food their colors. Study after study is showing the importance of beta-carotene in fighting cancer. Best source: Raw Carrots, sweet potatoes, yams, chard & broccoli

Folic Acid (Folate) is one of the B vitamins. This combined with vitamin B-12 helps provide correct duplication of DNA. Studies show low Folate and B-12 lead to cancer. Vitamin B12 is great for warding off allergies. You can buy B-12 lozenges in health food stores. Supplementing Folic Acid is best in a B Complex. You also get it in green leafy vegetables, brewer’s yeast and legumes.

Lycopene gives tomatoes their red color. Not only does it go after free radicals, it also has anticarcinogenic properties. The best source is cooked tomatoes. I try to eat lots of tomato sauces and use tomatoes as a base for my soups. I take a supplement as well.

Selenium works to prevent free radical damage to cell membranes. It also enhances your immune system. It has been highly studied to reduce cancer deaths and increase the body’s ability to kill tumor cells. If your body has high levels of heavy metal, it can cancel out the selenium. Look into heavy metal detoxification.

Vitamin C is huge for fighting cancer. Two-time Nobel Prize winner, Linus Pauling found that every cancer patient lived longer when given 10 grams of Vitamin C a day (this is a large amount that needs to be built up to). It helps support the liver, scavanges nitrates, rejuvenates vitamin E, and so much more. Foods high in vitamin C include peppers, kale, parsley, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, strawberries, papaya and spinach. All of these are higher in vitamin C than oranges and orange juice. Best to avoid oranges when battling cancer because of sugar content and acidity.

Vitamin E protects cell membranes from heavy metals, drugs, radiation, toxins and free-radical damage. It has been found to be the premier antioxidant and anticarcinogen. If you supplement, choose d-alpha-tocopherol with mixed tocopherols. You can also get good vitamin E from sunflower seeds, almonds, spinach, oatmeal and brown rice.

Contrary to what some health care professionals tell us, taking antioxidants together like vitamins C & E, plus beta-carotene and selenium, actually supports cancer treatment by protecting healthy cells and reducing side effects like hair loss, nausea, diarrhea and fatique.

Whey Protein helps increase the level of glutathione, which aids in liver detox. Whey protein is easy to digest and better on your system than animal products. In powder form, it can provide all of the essential and nonessential amino acids. I add Whey To Go brand powder to my morning fruit smoothie. I was able to find it online at the Vitamin Shoppe.

Zinc is necessary for cell division, growth, wound healing and immune system function. It is important for vitamin E levels in the blood and aids in absorption of A and B-17 (or Amygdalin). There have been a lot of studies looking at vitamin B-17 as a cancer cure. This is a vitamin not found in the American diet but is prevalent in cultures that have little or no cancer. It is found in bitter almonds and the seed of apricots. Neither of these are easy to come by in the U.S.

Modified Citrus Pectin (MCP) is considered a natural anti-angiogenesis factor. These keep cancers from metastasizing. Researchers published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute found that MCP was a “potent inhibitor of spontaneous cancer matastases.” Metastasis is when a cancer cell travels through the lymph system, its galectins on the surface of the cell grab onto the galactose receptors on a blood vessel. Here it forms a new tumor successfully spreading to another organ. MCP is rich in galactose (sugar) that cancer cells love. It binds with the cancer cell’s galectins and ties them up so they can’t attach to a blood vessel. MCP can be found as a supplement in health food stores.

Wheatgrass juice is the king of all juices. This juice contains the highest beta-carotene and chlorophyll as well as selenium, vitamins A & E, and most known essential minerals. It directly assists the liver, lungs and colon and helps the body eliminate heavy metals. I take a about 8-10 Wheat Grass pills a day (5 grams total) but it is best as a juice. The next time you are in Jamba Juice, order an ounce of wheatgrass juice. It is nasty tasting and they usually give you a slice of orange to chase it with, but it is one of the best things you can do for your body.

Here is to your health!

Doug on 04.09.06 @ 12:51 PM PST [link]

Saturday, April 8th

A Beautiful Saturday

I really do like these weather teases. In the midst of record-breaking rain, we get a nice Saturday like today. The trees are filling in and the grass is tall. The rain has got the air fresh and clean and baseball has started. I realize the weather is fleeting since they predict rain all next week. Makes me glad to be around.

I haven’t posted in a few days because we had a visitor. Nina Hartwig was student and athlete of mine when I taught and coached at the American International School in Vienna Austria. Those years of European life and travel were a great experience and contain a million great memories. To spend time with Nina, allowed me to bring them back. Now, after coming to the US for college and staying here the past 14 years, she just got a job as a math teacher back at the same school in Vienna, where she spent K through 12th grade. This summer, she is going home and I am excited for her.

Next week, Jeanette’s aunt Karen and family are coming to offer their help. It is hard to get used to accepting help from friends and family. We need it, and I know it allows them to feel they are joining our battle. I am just not used to being in need and the generosity can be overwhelming. To graciously accept the generosity and support of others is just one of the countless lessons that God is teaching us through this battle.

I hope all of you had a beautiful weekend.

Doug on 04.08.06 @ 05:24 PM PST [link]

Tuesday, April 4th

A Veggie Diet - Mmmmm

If you read my post titled, The Sacred Cow, you know that I have given up meat of any kind. As per the same post, I also gave up dairy products. So that pretty much made me a Vegan. My reading also uncovered that cancer tumors love sugar. They steal any sugar or sugar substitute that enters the body. They can even trick the body into producing and reserving sugar just for themselves. As a matter of fact, that is how a PET scan works. They inject you with a sugar solution and you lay still for about 45 minutes. Then they place you in the scan and check your whole body for metabolic activity. The cancers cells are jamming away on the sugar so they light up.

So, that means I wasn’t eating any animal fats, dairy fats, or sugars of any kind. (Can you say “No fun!”?) Also cancer takes energy and mass from body fat and muscles. Consequently what used to be my 160lb. body just weighed in at 146lbs. I have been eating multiple meals and seeking calories wherever I can. Unfortunately large amounts of calories are tough to find in fruits, vegetables and beans. So yesterday I decided to start eating dairy. I will start with cheese, yogurt and cottage cheese. Allowing cheese in also opens up a lot more recipes and restaurants. I have also decided to eat more fish (hoping to avoid heavy metals).

Every book and article I have read on diet and cancer strongly recommends going vegetarian. They also recommend eating as much raw vegetables as possible. Since my system is sensitive to toxins, I am also making sure they are organic. You are thinking, “Sure a little broccoli floret dipped in some Ranch dressing now and then is pretty good.” Ever ate a whole raw bunch in one sitting? Mmmm good!

One great way to get raw vegetables into your system is Juicing. I bought a juicer and have been drinking about a glass or two a day of raw juice. The best one for you is made of beets, carrots, kale, celery and some parsley. There are books that recommend a complete detox cleanse by going on a juice fast for 10 days. I have read several cases where people have cured themselves of various ailment using juice fasts.

Got to go juice. (I never have liked beets.)

Doug on 04.04.06 @ 05:20 PM PST [link]

Sunday, April 2nd

Cancer's New "Miracle" Drug

A few weeks ago, the Today show ran a segment on a new “miracle” cancer drug. And last week, the Contra Costa Times ran a big article on it. History has shown that the media plays up any new drug that “claims” to be successful in the war on cancer. I have had a few calls and emails asking if I am on the “new cure.”

This drug is called Avastin, patented by Genentech. Avastin is what is known as a monoclonal antibody, an angiogenesis inhibitor, or targeted drug. These are designed to go after specific molecular targets, leaving normal cells untouched. They are the “smart bombs” of oncology. This drug is designed to cut off the growth of new blood capillaries, thus denying tumors the nutrients and oxygen that they need for growth. In the beginning of 2004 the FDA gave Genentech approval to market Avastin as a first-line treatment to patients with advanced, metastatic carcinoma of the colon. (That would be me.) Thus began my research.

In highly controlled trials (choosing only select patients), Avastin when combined with the standard chemotherapy was able to extend the average patient’s life from 14.6 months to 17.9 months. The trial during the previous year showed no improvement in life-span. The side effects are even more discouraging. From Genentech’s web site, “Administration [of Avastin] can result in the development of gastrointestinal perforation as well as wound dehiscence, in some instances resulting in fatality.” (Dehiscence is the spontaneous splitting open of an organ or wound.) Their web site also states, “Four months after discontinuation of [Avastin] therapy, persistent hypertension was present in 18 of 26 patients.” Oh yes, and up to 14% of some patients in one trial experienced Congestive Heart Failure. All this and it cost a lot too! Avastin costs my insurance company about $5,000 each month for my treatment.

Avastin is supposed to be a “kindler and gentler” chemo drug as it is targeting the cancer cells. All other chemotherapy drugs work by killing all fast growing cells. Since cancer cells fall in this category, the hope is that we kill the cancer before chemo kills the patient. So why are we so excited about this new drug? I think we are so desperate for a treatment that shows promise; we sing its praises easily. That, or the drug companies have great PR departments. So for my own health, please don’t be surprised when I decide to take a break from chemo for a while and seek out alternative treatments.

Doug on 04.02.06 @ 09:46 PM PST [link]

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Doug's Battle for Health

Life's too good to leave it unfinished!