CAM and COVID

TREATMENT TOGETHER WHILE THE WORLD SHUT DOWN

After Joel's diagnosis, we made appointments with more than 20 holistic practitioners in an effort to find a CAM (complementary and alternative medicine) doctor who could guide us. We visited more than 12 different doctors locally, and we met with others online through virtual conferences. We also went to MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas, for a second opinion, which prompted us to move forward quickly with conventional treatment. We incorporated as many CAM treatments as possible alongside Joel's chemotherapy and radiation, and explored even more after his treatment ended. We learned as we went along.

Then I was diagnosed, and life turned upside down for about five months while I underwent three major surgeries in a row.

IN SEARCH OF MISTLETOE

After my diagnosis and surgeries, we were both ready to explore more CAM treatments. We wanted to do everything we could not only to survive for our children, but also to strengthen our bodies and thrive. Mistletoe extract was a complementary therapy we learned about for people with cancer, including breast and colorectal cancer, so we began searching for a CAM doctor who could guide us in using it. We finally found a doctor through an organization called Believe Big, who was trained to administer mistletoe. At the time, there was only one doctor we could find in Florida offering mistletoe therapy. Her clinic was a three-hour drive from our home, so in February 2020, we began making the trip three times per week.

Then COVID-19 hit the U.S., and for nine months, life largely shut down—but it didn't stop our visits to the clinic. We would get up, leave our kids at home doing school online, and head to the clinic for five to seven hours of treatment at a time. It was a bizarre and scary time for everyone, but especially for our kids.

Just before starting at the clinic, we read Jane McLelland's book, How To Starve Cancer. It was a helpful introduction to the type of approach we would experience at the clinic. Jane had stage 4 cervical cancer that had spread to her lung. Her “starve cancer” plan included a combination of diet, exercise, supplements, IV (intravenous) therapies, and off-label drugs aimed at targeting cancer through multiple pathways. This was very similar to the type of protocol our doctor developed for Joel and me.

We experienced many different CAM treatments. We sometimes spent several hours receiving IV therapies, along with mistletoe, supplements, off-label drugs, and other treatments. After almost a year, we simply couldn't continue traveling back and forth, so we switched to a CAM doctor closer to home who could continue to work with us.

Before choosing a CAM doctor or clinic, explore your options carefully, get several opinions, and pray about your decision. Ask friends for referrals and interview potential providers. Visit the CAM Treatment page for more information.

ALL IN VEIN

After about a year, repeated IVs began taking a toll on our veins, making it increasingly difficult to place an IV. We were tired—tired of taking supplements, tired of always having appointments, and just physically tired. We decided to stop and redirect our time and spending toward diet and lifestyle. I hired a personal trainer, and we both focused more intentionally on diet, hydration, exercise, de-stressing, and sleep.

I found a local company that delivered fresh fruits, vegetables, and sprouts.

I purchased a concierge membership to Wellness Forum Health, and for more than a year, I took online courses about nutrition, cancer, and many other aspects of health.

I also completed a medically supervised, water-only fast with Dr. Frank Sabatino at Balance for Life Health and Wellness Retreat in Deerfield Beach, Florida.

Read “Water Fasting Experiences” for more details about my experience.

Joel giving me a shot of mistletoe while I’m overreacting.

We often left notes for the kids before leaving for the CAM clinic that was three hours from our home.

Looking back, Joel and I will never truly know what effect all of those IV therapies and CAM treatments had on our health or cancer outcomes. We sometimes question the amount of time and money we spent, but we are both grateful for everything we learned during that season.

For us, pursuing CAM also provided peace of mind—knowing that we were doing something to possibly kill cancer stem cells and improve the terrain of our bodies. And one of the best parts is that we can now share what we learned and experienced with others.