Thoughts On Immunologist?

First, I would like to thank all who have replied to my post about my brother, Mark.  Mark has been battling colon cancer for nearly four years.  He has had surgeries and chemo treatments, yet the cancer is now in his abdomen, liver, lymph nodes, and we believe a tumor in his rectum is pressing on his kidney.  He was on the third week of a Stage I clinical trial, which is as I understand it is just after animal studies,  through USC and became terribly sick.  He was vomitting continously, slurring speech, falling down.  He went back to USC and they had him rehydrated.  The docotr told him that he had gone longer than any other person on this treatment.  He wanted Mark to have an MRI of his brain and ultra sound of his kidney, and then to finish the fourth week of the treatment.  Feeling that the USC doctor would continue him on it for the sake of the study and not for Mark's good, Mark returned to his original oncologist.  She talked with him about all he'd been through and where he is now and it was decided that now was the time for him to step back, stop the chemo, stop the tests, and take time for disability from work. He didn't have to do anything he did not want to do.  

Mark has an appointment with an immunologist named Frereshteh Akbarpour MD in Huntington Beach,CA.  A few months ago, I had emailed Patrick Quillen, author of the book "Beating Cancer with Nutrition". He replied with a recommendation of going to her for another opinion. Part of her approach is the alternative of Vitamin C and supplements to detoxify and build up the immune system. We hope that even if Mark can not beat the cancer, at least he could regain some of what he lost from the chemo , and feel better. Any thoughts?

On 7/5/2008 ChrisHB wrote:

First, I would like to thank all who have replied to my post about my brother, Mark.  Mark has been battling colon cancer for nearly four years.  He has had surgeries and chemo treatments, yet the cancer is now in his abdomen, liver, lymph nodes, and we believe a tumor in his rectum is pressing on his kidney.  He was on the third week of a Stage I clinical trial, which is as I understand it is just after animal studies,  through USC and became terribly sick.  He was vomitting continously, slurring speech, falling down.  He went back to USC and they had him rehydrated.  The docotr told him that he had gone longer than any other person on this treatment.  He wanted Mark to have an MRI of his brain and ultra sound of his kidney, and then to finish the fourth week of the treatment.  Feeling that the USC doctor would continue him on it for the sake of the study and not for Mark's good, Mark returned to his original oncologist.  She talked with him about all he'd been through and where he is now and it was decided that now was the time for him to step back, stop the chemo, stop the tests, and take time for disability from work. He didn't have to do anything he did not want to do.  

Mark has an appointment with an immunologist named Frereshteh Akbarpour MD in Huntington Beach,CA.  A few months ago, I had emailed Patrick Quillen, author of the book "Beating Cancer with Nutrition". He replied with a recommendation of going to her for another opinion. Part of her approach is the alternative of Vitamin C and supplements to detoxify and build up the immune system. We hope that even if Mark can not beat the cancer, at least he could regain some of what he lost from the chemo , and feel better. Any thoughts?

Hello Chris... I am so sorry to hear about all that your brother Mark has been through to no avail. His original oncologist sounds like a very kind and caring doctor and her suggestion to step back from the traditional treatments that have not been helpful for him seems like good advice to me. I just did a quick Google on Frereshteh Akbarpour MD in Huntington Beach,CA. and her credentials seem immpecable. I have taken some of the treatments that are listed on her site at the clinic I go to and I can tell you from my own personal experience that they were painless and gentle with no negative side effects and are in many many cases very effective for a variety of cancers. I can also tell you that through following the diet, supplements and alternative treatment protocol I have never felt stronger nor healthier in my life. Sometimes when cancer is not cured by alternative means, it can be kept stable and treated like a chronic disease. There are some that I know who have lived on for many years with no symptoms of their disease even though it may be present but stable in their systems. For instance in some cases it has only been necessary to take maintenance doses of Intravenous Vitamin C every month or so to maintain their good health. I wish the very best for your brother and hope you will keep this board up to date on his progress. I think it could be a very valuable contribution to the many here who are searching, wanting to know which modality is best for their own particular circumstance. Please tell Mark to BELIEVE he can conquer this.... A positive mind set is of the upmost importance. Blessings to both of you. Sheila