22
Mar

East + West: My Treatment Protocol

Having really focused on my nutrition and gut issues over the past few and learning more about functional medicine and integrative health I wanted to really attack this cancer from all angles: traditional medicine and functional medicine.

The problem is, these two camps don’t always agree, leaving me, the patient, to try to navigate how to leverage the best of both worlds.

Thankfully there is a lot of research out there on newer cancer treatment protocols that leverage nutrition and supplements to help shrink tumors and also help dilute the effects of chemotherapy. I found the book, The Metabolic Approach to Cancer by Dr. Nasha Winters ND FABNO L.Ac Dipl.OM. Nasha was able to “cured” her stage IV ovarian cancer that she was diagnosed with more than 22 years ago though nutrition and the “terrain.” The main focus is on reducing sugar and carbs and focusing on organic vegetables and meats. Her patients and others who follow functional medicine has show success with intermittent fasting and the Ketogenic diet and thankfully those were already protocols I was familiar with and living.

I also received support by my functional medicine provider Dr. Maxine Barish Wreden who echoed the the approach by Nasha Winters and also a focus on spirituality and meditation. And lucky me, my brother Justin and his girlfriend Sachi are into holistic living and have provided me lots of information and supplements!

First day of chemotherapy! All smiles, lets get this!! Got my port installed the night before and my eyebrows micro bladed 2 days before!

General Care

  • Daily morning sunlight exposure
  • Exercise (less than 60 minutes / less than 30 HIIT)
  • Sauna 3-4 times/week
  • Daily stress practice – meditation, walks, 4-7-8 breath
  • Remove toxins in house

Nutrition | Eating

  • Keto cycles (month on/off)
  • Intermittent fasting 16:8 or 18:6 most days
  • No sugar or processed foods
  • Eat Organic
  • Chemo: Fast 24 hours before and day of. Drink organic broth, tea and decaf coffee
  • Slow cooking, low heats, no bbq
  • Alkaline water
  • Food Fighters (organic): Watercress, leafy greens, onions, garlic, tumuric, cruciferous vegetables

 Medications | Treatments | Chemotherapy:

My chemotherapy regime is once every 3 weeks for four months. So six treatments total, around 4-6 hours each time. And then for the following remainder of a year I have to go in to get my targeted therapies on the same schedule. My “chemo cocktail” includes:

  • Taxotere (Chemotherapy)
  • Paraplatin (Chemotherapy)
  • Ibrance (Targeted therapy)
  • Herceptin (Targeted therapy)

After chemotherapy (if all stays on track my last date is scheduled for July 4 – cheers to independence), I will need surgery and have to weigh the pros and cons of a lumpectomy vs mastectomy. And then radiation. And then reconstruction if needed. It’s going to be a journey for sure but each step will hopefully get me closer to being cancer-free.

MedicationDoseNoteSource
Dexamethasone1 by mouth 2xper day for 3 days. Start day before chemo.Pharmacy
Levofloxicin1/day for 7 days. Start day 6 after chemoprophylaxis to prevent bacterial infection in chemotherapyPharmacy
Prochlorperazine1 every 6 hours as needed for nauseaPharmacy
Ondansetron1 by mouth every 8 hours as needed for nauseaPharmacy
LidocaineApply to port 1 hour prior to usePharmacy
Strengthening my immunity and gut. Hopefully counteracting effects of chemotherapy to my good cells.
SupplementDoseNote Source
Vitamin D2,000-5,000 IU per dayJustin/Sachi
Fish Oil2000-3000 MGNot on chemo day
Curcumin500-10002x/day or use turmeric with black pepperJustin/Sachi
Turkey Tail Mushroom1500 – 4000 mg2x/dayIn OM mix
Coenzyme Q10100 mgCheck for contraindications with chemoHave
Nori Seaweed2 sheets/day
Green Tea or Green Tea Extract3-5 Cups/day
Ashwagandha500 mg2x/dayGaia Herbs; thrive market; $14
EVOO2-3 tablespoons/dayHave
Flaxseed Meal1-2 tbs2x/dayHave
Melatonin1-20 mg1 hour before bed. 1-3 mgSource Naturals; thrive; $9
Essiac Tea
EnzymeRaw enzyme for women; thrive market; $36
Paul de Arco TeaAll day, drink as much as you can.Justin/Sachi
Pea Powder2 times a dayJustin/Sachi
OM Mushroom2 tsp/dayJustin/Sachi
AHCCThat’s 1,000 mg in the morning, 1,000 mg in the afternoon, and 1,000 mg at nightIMMUNITY$64.95 Amazon (Justin ordered)
GI Rescue2 tablespoons a dayIMMUNITYJustin/Sachi (Ordered)
Immunity Matrix1-2 teaspoons a dayIMMUNITYJustin/Sachi(Ordered)
Bag of Tricks2 tablespoons a dayIMMUNITYJustin Sachi (Ordered)
Reduced Glutathione, Supports Liver HealthIMMUNITYJustin/Sachi (Ordered)
Methyl Folate (B12)1 Pill a dayJustin/Sachi (Ordered)

 Medications | Treatments | Chemotherapy:

  • Keto cycles (month on/off)
  • Intermittent fasting 16:8 or 18:6 most days
  • No sugar or processed foods
  • Eat Organic
  • Chemo: Fast 24 hours before and day of. Drink organic broth, tea and decaf coffee
  • Slow cooking, low heats, no bbq
  • Alkaline water
  • Food Fighters (organic): Watercress, leafy greens, onions, garlic, tumuric, cruciferous vegetables
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