Intensive Self Care With Cancer - 038
Intensive self-care is paramount as an adjunct to cancer therapy. I say “adjunct” because cancer requires a combination of traditional medical care and supportive care. I am using this regimen after having undergone a radical prostatectomy and two rounds of radiation therapy. And I’m unique in that I’m intolerant of testosterone suppression, also known as androgen deprivation therapy.
I hesitated to share my regimen because some will inevitably disagree with it. They might say something is dangerous or that I'm leaving something out. Remember that I'm sharing my regimen and NOT recommending it. Keep in mind that my regimen may change over time, and I may or may not make changes to this article based on those changes.
Disclaimer: Any information in this article is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace the advice of your physician or other healthcare professional. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not evaluated the information and statements regarding dietary supplements discussed herein. The off-label use of medications is not FDA-approved. The information and supplements mentioned are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Information in this newsletter and resources does not establish a doctor-patient relationship between you and me.
What “works” for each individual varies depending on the therapies they resonate with, their unique genetic make-up, co-morbid health conditions, quality of life preferences, their physician’s recommendations, and each person’s personality, resources, wants, and needs.
I’ve had a suppressed immune system caused by a combination of COVID-19 just prior to proton therapy followed by Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) reactivation and probably small intestinal bacterial and fungal overgrowth with mycotoxins. Therefore, some of this regimen pertains to those issues.
This is my current regimen, but it fluctuates as I tend to alternate and pulse different therapies. I've experimented with other supplements and therapies in the past, some of which are controversial. And I may turn to them again if it feels right to me.
I tried to provide a scientific link for each therapy. Some may say I'm cherry-picking scientific articles, and I am, but I like to provide resources for more information.
I go into more details about modalities in the “stress reduction” section in my book and course, Power of the Mind in Health and Healing.
Take from it what may be helpful to you and leave the rest alone.
Nutrition and anti-cancer support:
I follow a predominantly organic plant-based diet.
Intermittent fasting - a 12-hour fast twice a week once or twice a month now that I’ve regained weight after resolution of the bout of gastritis.
Juicing - cold-pressed three times a week. All organic - typically kale, cucumber, ginger, celery, green apple, and spirulina. I rotate ingredients to avoid developing food sensitivities.
Exercise: weight training three times a week plus walking. I feel my best in the gym - super healthy, vibrant, energized, and strong.
Stress reduction:
In June 2023, I resigned from my full-time position with the Army and started working part-time for the Army as a contracted physician three times a week. This job change is one of my best decisions, and I am thankful I have the financial resources to do this.
I aim for eight hours of sleep per night, varying from seven to ten hours. I typically sleep seven hours the night before I go to work since I start work at 7 AM. I sleep longer the nights after I work out in the gym and the nights before days I don't work.
I pursue outdoor photography once a month during the winter and more often in spring and summer. I usually go to our local arboretum and garden, forest bathing, to immerse myself in nature.
I meditate daily, alternating prayer, contemplation, and guided meditations with binaural beats (alpha and theta frequencies) embedded in music tracks.
I get a manual massage twice monthly at a Chinese spa where I don't need to disrobe. I usually choose a 90-minute massage, which includes hand and foot reflexology. I typically sleep “like a rock” the night after a massage.
I have a massage chair called a Kahuna LM 6800S - one of my best investments. I use it almost daily, and it has a squeezing function for the arms and legs, which supports lymphatic flow. If I wake up in the middle of the night and can't fall back asleep, I get into the chair for fifteen minutes and usually fall back asleep immediately.
Pulsed electromagnetic field therapy using the Parmeds (Curatron) Premium Flash with a six-foot butterfly applicator incrementally applied from the base of my skull to the bottom of my pelvis one hour daily.
I apply a far-infrared heating pad to my lower back and pelvis overnight, keeping it as warm as possible but not so high that it interferes with my sleep. This far-infrared heat has helped tremendously with lower back pain. I am not saying this is equivalent to therapeutic hyperthermia for cancer, which requires a core body temperature of at least 104 degrees Fahrenheit for at least 60 minutes.
Acupuncture one to two times a month. I love my acupuncture physician, who is extremely compassionate, super smart, and very intuitive.
Chiropractic adjustment when needed. This usually amounts to once every two to three months.
Neuro-Emotional Technique (NET) once or twice a month. It has a scientific basis, and my acupuncture physician performs NET whenever needed.
Gastrointestinal support:
George's Aloe Vera Juice - one cup with a freshly squeezed organic lemon in the morning on an empty stomach.
Pure Encapsulations Digestive Enzymes Ultra four with each meal.
I take this because my fecal pancreatic elastase each time tested is undetectable. Pancreatic elastase is a digestive enzyme produced by the pancreas and plays an important role in digestion. Fecal elastase-1 (FE-1) test measures the amount of pancreatic elastase in stool samples, and is used to diagnose pancreatic exocrine insufficiency. Despite the fact, I don’t have any signs of severe pancreatic exocrine insufficiency such as protein loss or steatorrhea, this biomarker is always undetectable. Yet another enigma about me.
Gut Rx containing Saccharomyces boulardii and Akkermansia muciniphila one at bedtime.
VSL #3 one capsule at bedtime.
Detoxification support:
I aim for two liters of filtered water daily, sometimes containing powder with electrolytes and minerals.
PEKANA Itires to support lymphatic detoxification and drainage: 20-40 drops in filtered water throughout the day.
PEKANA LivCalm to support liver detoxification and drainage: 20-40 drops in filtered water throughout the day.
Quicksilver Scientific Liver Sauce one tsp daily for liver support.
Quicksilver UltraBinder Sensitive Formula one-quarter tsp daily on an empty stomach and away from medications and other supplements to bind various toxins excreted in the bile into the intestine.
Researched Nutritionals Tri-Fortiy Liposomal Glutathione one-half tsp daily.
Immune support:
Host Defense Mushrooms Turkey Tail Extract - one dropper full once or twice daily.
Quality of Life Kinoko Gold AHCC with acylated alpha-glucans two capsules daily.
ECONUGENICS PectaSol six capsules three times a day on an empty stomach.
PROBOOST Thymic Protein A one sachet dissolved under the tongue daily.
Vitamins:
Pure Encapsulations O.N.E Multivitamin one daily.
LiveWise Vitamin D3 1000 IU +K2 10 drops daily. Another Vitamin D study. This is the dose I take during the winter, and I regularly check my vitamin D blood levels, aiming for a range of 50 - 70 ng/mL.
Anticancer:
Green tea - I drink one-half to one liter of unsweetened green tea daily.
CuraMed 750mg (curcumin) two capsules three times a day with meals. This supplies me with 3 grams of pure curcuminoids, if I’m absorbing it all.
Purely Beneficial RESVERATROL 1450 two capsules twice daily.
Pure Encapsulations Melatonin 20mg seven capsules at bedtime.
Medications:
Itraconazole 100 mg, two capsules twice daily two weeks on and one week off.
Valacyclovir 1000 mg once daily for EBV suppression.
There is great controversy regarding the use of repurposed drugs like itraconazole for cancer in that doctors have disparate views on repurposed drugs. In Dr. Paul Marik’s latest book, Cancer Care The Role of Repurposed Drugs and Metabolic Interventions In Treating Cancer (link offers a free download), he writes,
“Repurposing drugs is nothing new. Around 30 percent of all prescriptions in the United States are written for off-label uses. Bringing new drugs to market can take decades and cost billions of dollars while existing licensed drugs can be repositioned to offer safe, affordable, and effective treatments in a short period of time.”
Dr. Marik also writes,
“In putting this document together, I have invested thousands of hours, read more than 900 peer-reviewed papers, and consulted with dozens of doctors and experts. I want to be clear that I am not suggesting I have found a cure for cancer, nor am I the first to propose using repurposed drugs for cancer. What I hope to provide is a well-researched clearinghouse of information that picks up where traditional cancer therapies leave off.”
Dr. Vinay Prassad, a hematologist-oncologist who isn’t afraid of a little controversy, published a paper in Lancet Oncology titled, Drug repurposing for cancer treatments: a well-intentioned, but misguided strategy. Dr. Prasad writes,
“Drug repurposing is well intentioned and appealing. However, available evidence suggests caution should be taken. Enthusiasm for these drugs has been driven by findings from retrospective observational studies that are subject to bias. After the application of rigorous methods (causal observational design and randomised trials), no benefits were observed. Many frequently discussed repurposed drugs lack activity—the ability to shrink tumours—a well-established prerequisite for selecting drugs to advance to randomised trials.”
My choice to take itraconazole is two-fold. When my urine tests showed evidence of mycotoxins, and my gut seemed the apparent source, my physician prescribed it, and I had a dramatic improvement in my gut symptoms. When symptoms suggestive of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) with fungal overgrowth returned after two months off itraconazole, we restarted it, and again, I had a resolution of my gut symptoms.
After starting itraconazole, I did a little research and found it has evidence for possible efficacy as an anticancer agent. So, for now, I’ll continue the itraconazole while we dig deeper for the reason for the suspected recurring fungal dysbiosis.
Some physicians might say I’m neurotic and am pursuing routes that have little to no scientific evidence. And that I’m advocating for unproven treatment that gives cancer patients false hope. I respond with,
“Put yourself in my shoes, and let’s see what you’d do to stay alive.”
I also am NOT recommending this regimen. I’m simply stating, with full transparency, what I am including in my regimen. And I often provide contrasting viewpoints, such as including what Dr. Prasad says about using repurposed drugs in “treating” cancer.
I’ve found immune-suppressing toxins in my system, which we are targeting. And me taking itraconazole repeatedly results in the resolution of SIBO-like symptoms. Aren’t reproducible results what scientists strive for?
Placebo, you say? I am under physician’s care, have extensive medical training, and weigh the risks versus the benefits of my regimen. If my quality of life significantly improves and my PET CT scans remain negative despite a high PSA, I’ll take it!
Until the next one, I hope you stay healthy.
Much love,
Keith