Lung Cancer

In July 2005, I took my routine physical. I was given a clean bill of health and was told that I was in great shape. Not bad for a 68 year old. I requested an X-ray, because I had been experiencing a pain in the shoulder and some occasional indigestion. The results of the X-ray showed that there was pleura effusion of the right lung. This fluid was between the chest wall and the lung. A CT scan revealed a 2.4 cm tumor in the right lung. They drained about a cup of fluid and it contained malignant cells. A PET scan revealed that the tumor was malignant and there were many malignant nodules. The doctor said it looked like some one took a paint brush and flicked it in the lung. Little specks around the lung. I was told that this was inoperative and that radiation could not be used. My first thought was that I was going to die, and soon.

After getting over the initial shock the three of us, including my wife Carol, daughter Kerri who had been with me when the doctor gave the diagnosis, decided that our God could heal me if it was his will and we believed that it was.

We traveled to New York for a second opinion. They agreed with the treatment which had been laid out for me, which were chemo, carboplatin and taxol. The only thing they would do different was to drain the fluid. I asked might the fluid might go away by itself. I was told that there was not a chance of that happening. I was told that there was no cure and that the most we could hope for was to slow its progress and maybe reduce it in size.

After returning to Naples, Florida, I started my chemo. The FDA had just approved a drug, Tarceva to be used with initial chemo cycles, up until then you had to have failed at least one cycle of chemo. This was added to my treatment. I was told that I would be very sick and that I would loose my hair. I decided to make my weekly chemo the most enjoyable as possible. I packed a lunch took my DVD player. I enjoyed the movie and had a picnic. I looked forward to every visit. I never got sick or lost my hair and continued to work out six times a week. I attributed this partially to my diet and supplements which I took along with the chemo.

I received e-mails from people all over Florida who told me that they were praying for me. I paid no attention to the survival percentages for my type of cancer. The only percentage I believe is that God can heal 100% of those he wants to heal, and I believe that he wanted to heal me.

After two cycles of chemo the tumor had shrunk 30%, the fluid was down 70% and the nodules were 90% gone. I believe God was working through the doctors to heal me.

After four cycles of chemo, a CT scan showed that the tumor had shrunk another 30%, and everything else was gone. My oncologist now believed that they may be able to treat the tumor with radiation, so I was given a PET scan. I will always remember the doctor words as he said, “I have never seen anything quite like this, the cancer is gone and there is only scar tissue”

In February I will go for my first check up as a survivor. I can’t emphasize enough that you must believe that you will be healed. You have to believe in the doctors or yourself or something. If you believe that you will be healed your chances of becoming a survivor increase. I feel I had an edge because I believed that Jesus Christ heals and he still does miracles. I believe that God does the healing whether you believe in him or not.

My life has changed for the better. Each day has become a special gift. Encouraging others to make these days even more valuable

I would be glad to share any of my experiences, diet, supplement program or exercise program with anyone. My e-mail is: --- Message edited by CancerCompass staff: for personal protection, email address removed. Please review CancerCompass Member Guidelines at http://www.cancercompass.com/common/guidelines.html ----

did you have an open lung biopsy to determine it was cancer?

No I did not have an open lung biopsy, They did a biospy on the fluid they removed from the chest wall.

Below is a complete list of what I did to fight my cancer. Some of the supplements I take for other reasons such as Cholesterol and regularity. The one that were target toward cancer were, AHCC, Melatonin, CoQ10, Green Tea, Gape Seed Extract, Garlic, and B-6. Lots of water helps me a lot. I try to drink an 8oz glass for every hour I am awake. Sloan Kettering has a web site that list herb and other things: http://www.mskcc.org/mskcc/html/11571.cfm?tab=HC#A
It gives you a good idea of what they are believed to do or not do. It is important that your oncologist knows what you are taking. I check every time I added something. The diet kept me from loosing weight; I actually gained 15 pounds, which I am now trying to loose. I will add your name to my prayer list. Our Lord is the best healer. If there is any other info I can give you let me know. I have many web sites that I think are good.

My chemo was Carboplatin, Taxol, once a week, 3 weeks on 1 week off along with 100mg of Tarceva once a day. Supplements taken during cycle 1 and cycle 2 of chemo: 2 grams AHCC 3 times a day between meals, 10mg melatonin before bed, 100mg CoQ10 breakfast and dinner, 1 tab Centrum Silver breakfast, 500mg Calcium breakfast and dinner, 4 tab Citrucel breakfast and dinner, 2 cap Cardio-Edge breakfast and dinner, 1 cap Policosanol breakfast and dinner. Added after first 2 cycles taken with cycle 3 and 4 and still do, but not within 24 hours of chemo. 500mg Green Tea, 100mg Grape seed extract, 320mg Garlic, 30mg zinc, 100mg B-6, all taken with breakfast. Foods I consumed every day, 3-4 egg white omelet, 1 cup Blueberries, 1 cup Raspberries, ¼ cup Dry Steal Cut Oatmeal, 4-6 oz Pomegranate Juice, 1-2 oz Noni Juice, 1 cup Soy Milk, 2Tbl Flax seed milled, 1Tbl Wheat Germ. 1 Whole Tomato, 3-4 Tbl Organic Almond Butter, 1 Whole Grain English Muffin, 1 tsp Cinnamon, 1 cup Yogurt, 12-15 8oz glasses of Mountain Valley Water( High Alkaline), Stevia instead of sugar. Other foods but not every day, Fish, heavy on Salmon, Lots of green veg, Chicken, Whole Wheat breads and pasta, sweet potatoes, Nuts, heavy on the Almonds, Soy meat substitutes. Foods excluded, Sweets- sugar, Alcohol, beef, White bread-potatoes-pasta. This got me through the chemo without losing any weight. I actually gained 10 pounds, so I have cut back on the quantity and increase the exercise to try and loose it. Other things that contributed most to managing my cancer. The knowledge that I have a God that has the power to heal me. Strong family support. Support from my Pastor and church. Support from prayer groups all over Florida. The doctors that God led me to. The ability to look forward to each Chemo treatment, I enjoyed every one of them. Being able to maintain my weight. No adverse side effects from chemo. Exercise Program. Exercise 6 Times a week, Weights 3 times a week upper body 40 mins, Aerobic 3 times a week. Tread Mill 47 min including 40 min 12 degree incline at 4 MPH and 1 min 1.5 degree incline @ 8MPH I have now started to run again. At 69 I am happy with each improvement.

Keep in touch

Hi, I am replying to an old posting but I hope to get a response. I understand you were diagnosed using cytologic review of the fluid. What was the primary site of your cancer ? I am assuming it was metastatses.

Do you know if it's possible that primary site can not be established using CT scans or Tumor markers even after the metastases cancer cells are found in the fluid taken from lungs (between lung and chest walls)?

 Best wishes.

hib.