Michael
Penny
and Heather
live in Virginia,
USA. Michael was 51 when he was diagnosed on August 1, 2005. His initial PSA was
6.5 ng/ml, his Gleason Score 6 and his staging was T1c. His initial choice of
treatment is wait, diet, homeopathy. Here is his story.
I
always felt very healthy. I have been a runner for 30 years. I practice yoga and
meditate regularly. My diet is pretty good, and I never expected that I would
have anything "wrong" with me.
When my PSA tests showed a high score at my annual physical, I was re-tested
and then given a biopsy. I am the last person one would expect to have cancer,
given how well I take care of myself. However, of the 12 cores that were taken
at the biopsy, 2 showed signs of cancer, albeit at an early stage.
It has been only 2 weeks since finding out about the cancer, and I have read a
lot about the prostate since then. I realize that cancer kills people, and watchful
waiting is not that useful without some life changes. What I have done so far
is to reduce my intake of fruit and sweets, and I have seen a big change in the
urgency around urination.
I am seeing a homeopathic physician, one who is well regarded around here--Dr.
George Guess, also an MD. I am also intending to follow the metabolic typing diet.
For my type it means eating more protein, less carbohydrate, and focusing on high
quality foods.
I can't report any success as I haven't done it yet, but I am optimistic.
Since
being diagnosed with cancer in August, 2005, here are my PSA scores:
Nov-04
- 5.0 ng/ml: Apr-05 - 6.5 ng/ml: Jun-05 - 6.7 ng/ml: Oct-05 - 4.8 ng/ml: Jan-06
- 5.6 ng/ml: May-06 - 7.7 ng/ml: Aug-06 - 7.3 ng/ml
I
had a follow up biopsy in August, 2006. In comparison to my biopsy 13 months earlier,
results were a little better, albeit negligibly better. In 2005 two cores were
positive. In 2006 only one core was positive, with 5% cancer, same percentage
as 2005. I have done a number of things since 2005.
Primarily
I have changed my diet. I had been eating a lot of fruit and other sweet things,
but not much processed stuff, and practically no processed sugar. No donuts or
junk food, just fruit and "health bars" for the most part.
Through
my reading and experience it was clear that too much sweet in any form created
an imbalance in my system and aggravated the urgency to urinate. I also felt like
it geared me a little toward candida. In my non-medical opinion candida aggravates
cancer. What I have been eating is more grain and more vegetables and far less
sweet, even less fruit. All these changes have helped to balance my system.
I have also taken homeopathic remedies prescribed by my doctor. At this time I
am alternating between two remedies.
I also came upon a natural substance called Zeolite. Apparently it has helped
"cure" cancer in a number of people. I just started with it a month ago. It is
supposed to release heavy metals from the body. I can't say that it is doing anything,
but I'm still experimenting.
Most
importantly I am practicing Chi Gong, a Chinese practice to help the flow of prana
or Chi. I started in June and I have been very consistent. For me it is a lot
better than yoga that I practiced for 30 years. It also has helped bring me more
into balance.
I
thank the universe that science has advanced to the point where they can diagnose
prostate cancer early and actually have several forms of treatment that we are
fortunate enough to choose from.
At
the same time, according to my belief system, subject to change, it is very important
to me that I experiment with how I can alter my life so that the cancer does not
spread. It is evident to me that it is not that cancer invaded me; it's more likely
that I led a cancerous lifestyle. Therefore, removing the symptom of cancer (a
tumor) is only removing the symptom. If I lead a cancerous lifestyle, then cancer
will re-emerge someplace else.
That's
not to say that I would not have a prostatectomy if my PSA continues to rise or
a biopsy shows a worse condition. I would definitely do a prostatectomy under
those conditions. However, I think it's better to alter the cancerous lifestyle,
and I think I am at least partially successful at that.
Finally,
one thing that my urologist and my college roommate (a nurse who had laproscopic
surgery) both told me is this: "You have cancer. You know that isn't going to
go away."
The
truth is that I have heard of dozens of people who have cured themselves of cancer
and other diseases, too many people to say it was just a few flaky people. I am
not claiming that I have cured cancer in myself or even that I will be cured.
As I said, I would have surgery if I felt that I wasn't making progress. However,
I do have a dream that cancer goes into remission enough in my body so that I
can request that my doctor and my good friend not say to other people that cancer
will not go away. Here and now I want to claim that it's possible for me to be
one of the people who is cured.
If
it doesn't turn out that way, I can accept that. If I never try to be one who
is cured, I would feel like I missed an opportunity...to be me.
Finally,
I did find one thing that helped recovery from the biopsy. Arnica is a homeopathic
remedy. In 2005 for some reason I didn't take it before or right after the biopsy.
I had a little blood in my semen for 5 weeks. In 2006 I knew what the biopsy was
like and what recovery was like. Blood in the semen lasted only about 3 weeks.
Arnica is natural and has no side effects.
Since
October 2006, I have continued to have my PSA monitored, and all my scores were
between 6.5 and 7.8.
The expense and bother and worry caused me to schedule
an appointment to have robotic surgery done in September, 2007. I was also inspired
by my college roommate, a nurse, who had surgery a year ago. He essentially told
me it was no big deal, and all his functioning was normal one month after surgery.
In
August, 2007, I had my pre-operative appointment, and I was ready to have the
surgery done.
I cannot say what changed my mind, but information (below)
came to me, which was critical. I spoke with my urologist, and the information
was confirmed. So I did not go ahead with the surgery and instead had a biopsy.
The biopsy in September, 2007 was the same result as two years before - two positive
cores, one 5% and one 1%.
The following is only my understanding of prostate
cancer volume. I am NOT a scientist or physician, and I am not promoting my own
way of thinking. Ask your doctor for a better explanation.
I think of
the prostate as a room that's about 12' x 12'. When they do a traditional prostate
biopsy, it's as if they are taking out 12 pencil size pieces. When I was told
that two samples were positive, one 5% and one 1%, that meant that 1/20 of one
pencil and 1/100 of one other pencil had some cancer cells. It does not mean that
5% and 1% of the sample were cancerous. It could be that only 5% of the 5% of
the sample was cancer, or it could mean that 50% of the 5% was cancerous. This
is an extremely small amount of material relative to the size of the prostate.
As
I thought it through, a few things became clear:
1.
If the only danger of cancer is when it goes outside the prostate, the volume
of cancer in my prostate is extremely low volume and not a risk right now.
2.
If it's true that most older men have some level of prostate cancer and die with
it, then I could be one of them.
3.
Because it's slow growing, and such incredibly small volume, once I visualized
it, it didn't make any sense to go in and scoop out an entire organ when there
is practically no danger if it is monitored.
4.
As a businessman, it occurred to me that perhaps doctors encourage the surgery
for their own benefit, or perhaps because not treating could bring on lecherous
lawyers looking to sue for negligence. Shameless statement about our culture,
but true
Michael's
e-mail address is michael@savvysleeper.com
