 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| Alternative Therapies Used By Readers |
| Information and Inspiration when you need it most |
| Read about Essiac Tea and why you should consider using it in your fight against cancer |
 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
| This page is devoted to publishing alternative therapies our readers have tried and are willing to share with our community. Please check back soon as we will be adding new information weekly. |
| BUDDY'S Protocol -- Canine T-Cell Lymphoma I have been asked to share what I've been doing with my 5 year old Bordie Collie-Giant Schnauzer Cross - Buddy. (Turns 6 November 16 -- in 4 weeks!) Buddy was diagnosed with Mediastinal T-cell Lymphoma on July 28, 2007. The kind that doesn't present with surface lumps -- the tumour develops between the lungs and heart then spreads throughout the lymph system. He was given 3 - 6 weeks to live... 8 - 12 weeks best case without treatment. I couldn't afford chemo -- although if the vet would have said it would cure him I'd have taken out a loan. I you couldn't afford the chemo or radiation either -- then understanding what your pet needs to heal himself and beat the cancer is crucial. And if you were able to offer your pet chemo or radiation, he is going to need support to heal his immune system, detoxify, and withstand the effects of treatment. |
So -- No chemo. And no radiation for Buddy. As I write this, he is in between 11 and 12 weeks, and showing no signs of slowing down, or getting worse. I dare to hope he might actually be in some kind of natural remission -- or even -- be curing his cancer himself because he has been given the right nutritional and supplemental tools to do that. Time will tell. But at the moment -- he has outlived and out performed anything my regular vet predicted. That is a victory in itself. He is happy, not in pain, and goes for regular long walks every day -- sometimes twice a day. I encourage you to Google the supplements I will list to see if you think they are a good add for your dog. Various websites will tell you far more than I can in this posting. For the first 6 weeks I was on my own -- my regular vet knew nothing about natural medicine -- although he told me to go ahead as "there was no proof it worked, and no proof it didn't". So I opted for the so-called SHOTGUN approach -- try everything and anything I could reasonably afford as long as it came recommended on more than one canine lymphoma site. Actually most human lymphoma treatments are first tested on animals so it wasn't difficult trying to find references to canine lymphoma research and treatment options. I also tried to cross reference between natural and regular medicine sites where possible. I tried to use my own common sense, and my open my mind to new concepts as long as there was enough research to back it up. ( I work in News, enough said). With that -- I encourage prayer. There has been research suggesting prayer, positive thought -- call it what you want -- it helps him. It helps you too. You need to stay positive or your dog will pick up on it, and reflect it with his own depression. They are VERY intuitive creatures. What is working for Buddy, whatever his "definiciency" was -- might not be the same for yours. But it appears there are 4 basics to keep in kind when it comes to treating cancer -- hit them all, don't just pick one. You need to correct all of these to increase your pet's chance at survival. Think of it as needing 4 keys to open 4 doors leading to the same place -- restored health (A really helpful site that echoes this is www.cancerfightingstrategies.com): 1) CANCER THRIVES ON SUGARS AND CARBOHYDRATES: Get your dog off dry dog food, and snacks. They are full of sugars and carbs he doesn't need, but the cancer does. I homecook for Buddy now, and managed to get him eating some raw now and again. (If your dog won't touch raw like Buddy wouldn't -- try giving him soup bone from the butcher shop. Freeze it, then microwave it for 1 minute -- that's the only time I would saw microwave anything... it kills enzymes your dog needs. Oh yes, and DON'T give it to him right away -- it will be steaming hot on the bottom. Other snacks/rewards that are okay are organic dried meat products found at your better pet food places (Not jerky or anything flavoured or smoked -- actual natural dried meats.) They are pricier than what you've been buying -- but it's not like he's going to live off them, just have something to look forward to once in a while. I also found a crunchy snack at the health food store called "ORGANIX". Read the label -- if there is corn, rice, wheat -- or other fillers -- don't give it to him. The ORGANIX is high in meat, and fish -- not much else. Buddy's homemade food recipe will be listed later. 2) CANCER THRIVES WHEN IMMUNE SYSTEMS BREAK DOWN. There are many reasons for that -- like being on too many antibiotics which shut down your immune system to do their work. Exposure to toxins (do you use herbicides on your grass -- and does your dog like to nibble on the grass?) Apparently too many vaccinations may be at fault (Don't vaccinate your dog for anything when he is fighting cancer). But one of the biggest links appears to be poor nutrition. It's only been this century we humans began feeding dogs dry cereal-based food exclusively. It was convenient -- and we thought it was good! It says so on the label! But it's not good for your dog. Can you imagine living on dry cereal your whole life? Dogs need meat, fats, and some vegetables. They don't need corn, starches and pieces of beef or chicken not considered worthy of human consumption -- so they end up in pet food as "meat by-products". When I looked at what I was feeding my dog (Beneful) they first ingredient was CORN -- a filler! Meat wasn't even the second thing on the list. There ought to be better laws. But there aren't. So start cooking for your dog. And get him on good supplements. (Buddy's list to follow) Tjhat's what will help him start to repair his immune system, and damaged DNA. All of his supplements were added because they turned up in lymphoma sites, and many had added benefits of fighting tumours, blocking metastisis, causing cancer cell death (apoptosis). Vit E for instance in high enough doses -- but the dry form, called succinate, is best. 3) CANCER THRIVES IN ACIDIC SYSTEMS. Do everything you can to turn his system to an alkaline PH. Taking him off the high carb and suagr stuff will help. Putting him on the cruciferous veggies makes a big difference. You can guy urine test strips to check alkalinity if you want -- you have to hold it under him during his first trip outdoors in the am. If giving Vitamin C, and you should -- make it ESTER C instead. Large doses of Vitamin C are acidic. Ester C is less so, and more easily absorbed. 4) CANCER CANNOT THRIVE IN OXYGENATED SYSTEMS. I've heard of people using a pharmaceutical grade Hydrogen Peroxide --from the health food store, not the kind you disinfect cuts with -- to help get oxygen into cells. There are also expensive formulations that do it. I just used what I already had around from some marathon training I did -- Aerobic Oxygen drops (by Good For You Canada.) I put 30 - 40 drops in his water bowl each time I fill it. Another great oxygenator is exercise. If your dog is really old or overweight or sick he may not want to go for long walks. He doesn't need to -- just get him outside for a bit in the sunshine. Move his legs, get his blood circulating. Buddy, thankfully, no matter how sick he got -- ALWAYS perked up at the mention of W.A.L.K.S. Of course, if it's 15 below outside -- you'll need to find a way to play indoors -- just do SOMETHING to get his blood pumping. So -- Based on those 4 basics, I came up with Buddy's treatment. They had to feed his body, feed his immune system, alkalinize, and oxygenate. The list of supplements these days is very long -- only because I have added things over 11 weeks. He started with far less. I have also added things as I cut back on his Prednisone -- something from the regular vet. He started at 50 mg a day for the first 4 weeks. It;s one of those necessary evils early on. It temporarily shrinks the tumour and increases appetite -- important. But it also suppresses his immune system. And he needs that desperately right now. So after 4 weeks I began slowly cutting his dose back. There is no information on how to do this -- I just had to do it SLOWLY, and watch how he reacted. I began by trying to cut his 50mgs pills ( impossible -- they just shatter), but when that proved too inaccurate I asked the vet for a bottle of 5 mg tablets -- that way I could scale back accurately. ( I then crushed them and put them in his yougurt mix). He is now down to 15 mgs every 2 days -- I am waiting for word from my holistic vet on when to take hiom off it completely. As I said, for the first 6 weeks I was on my own. My vet knew nothing of natural medicine, and there were no holistic vets in my city. So I did make some mistakes. I found out when I fuinally loctaed a holistic vet (2 Hours from here -- and she consults on line). She told me to get Buddy off 3 things: I had him on mushroom based immune boosters (ie. Cordeceps senisis, and a multi -mushroom variety) because while they may benifit most cancer patients, they also trigger t-cells which may not be the best thing for t-cell lymphoma. The jury is still out on that -- so we took him off those. Also, she took him off alfalfa , and kelp -- can't remember why now. Something to do with thyroid I think. Although there is a seaweed-based supplement I have Buddy on she allowed him to continue with (Fucoidan) and also Marine Phytoplankton. So -- Finally -- Here is what I've been doing for Buddy. I pray some of this or all of this information is helpful to you and your dog. FOOD: He wouldn't eat ANYTHING at first -- so the health food store suggested I get a concentrated yogurt into him to get his good bacteria going. It was in the refrigerated section at the health food store and was called BIO-K. mIt comes in min-tunbs and you get about 8 days worth as I recall. Once he was eating again I began cooking for him. Mix it up so he doesn't get bored. Make about 3 days worth to make it easier for you. Or bigger batches you can freeze ( just don't defrost or cook in the microwave!). 80-90% Meat 5% Brown Rice Tums Garlic Cloves (or you can use garlic oil caps broken open and added AFTER food is heated) and 10 -15% Veggies (added just before your serve -- keep out of the stock batch and add just before serving ... the fresher the better) also : if you can find it at the health food store add dried milk thistle (liver support) and mullien ( lymph drainage) about 1 TBSP of each for every serving. Heat desired amount in a pan with broth for added flavour (DO NOT MICROWAVE - it kills enzymes he needs right now) . And do not overheat -- just to room temperature or slightly warmer. That's it. |
| MEAT: either ground beef with liver (organic is best --,but do what you can afford) -- not too much liver though. Some cancers utilize iron to grow. But your dog still needs iron himself -- just don't go overboard. Chicken and turkey is great -- Buddy loves both. He can tear through a bowl of canned salmon in seconds -- and if your dog likes sardines, or herring -- buy it canned in oil for the best benefit. Fish oil is crucial for a dog's health. I give this to Buddy as a treat, or when he appears to be going off his food ( Your dog will go through many periods when he looks like he's on his way down , refusing food, lethargic -- Buddy did -- he always snaps out of it after a day or two) I don't give Buddy Ham or anything Smoked. Natural bacon is okay once in a while. CARBS/RICE: 5% of the mix. Yes, I know -- carbs are bad. But your dog still needs some carbs, just make sure they are the good, low glycemic kind. The kind that doesn't spike his blood sugar and give the cancer what it wants. I use about cooked BROWN RICE (not white, that elevates blood sugar). Or you can use other low glycemic carbs like oatmeal, or millet -- I like Brown rice. CARBS/VEGGIES: The other 15% for Buddy is veggies: I always add these on the day I am serving ti to him, and only as I am heating the meat/rice mix in a pan. Cruciferous types ( ones that make you gassy!) are best . I use broccoli, brussels sprouts, turnips, spinach, green cabbage, some mushrooms for fibre. My vet has suggested 2 TBSP canned pumpkin -- haven't tried that yet. Squash is good. Stuff like that. Stay away from potatoes and onions (onions are high glycemic). You can use carrots -- but sparingly -- they are a higher sugar veggie, and you now know about that. But they also have beta carotene, which is good in the cancer fight. TUMS: Because I make big batches of food for my 80 pound dog I do about 2 pounds of meat and 1 cup of cooked brown rice. Before adding the rice to the meat I add crushed tums (about 5 or 6) along with and 5 garlic cloves sliced and diced in a blender. Or just crushed -- it's up to you. If you prefer, buy the garlic caps and break them open and add to the food just before you serve it. DR. JOHANNA BUDWIG FLAX OIL AND COTTAGE CHEESE PROTOCOL: . Check this woman out on line. She was a 7 time Nobel Prize nominee, she was one of the world's foremost experts on fats and their importance to the immune system. She studied the link between humans drifting away from using so-called "bad fats" and developing more cancer. Her therapy was aimed at re-oxygenating cells and introducing Omega 3 fatty acids back into the blood uaing a good fat. The best she found was Flax Oil -- not the kind that sits on a store shelf. The kind that is kept in a refrigerator at a health food store. Cold Pressed, organic Flax Seed Oil. To enhance the delivery system to the cells, the oil needs a suplhur based food -- Low fat Cottage Cheese (yogurt doesn't work as well -- you need 3 times the amount to accomplish the same thing). Her work with cancer patients is something you should read about -- Google her. Oh yes - SHAKE the bottle every time before using it. I didn't learn that until later. So Buddy gets 3 TBSPs in 1/2 cup of cottage cheese, twice a day. (Don't start your dog on that much -- I did. It made him sick and gave him the runs. I had to back off for a few days and re-start SLOWLY. Apparently some dogs love the stuff. Not Buddy. He hated it. I had to run it through a blender ( you should anyway ... I use one of those handheld ones) and spoon feed it to him. Thankfully, now I can hide it in his food, and he seems okay with it. But several websites have suggested salmon oil is better for a carnivore like a dog -- so I give him Salmon Oil caps too ... just to cover our bases. THE SUPPLEMENTS: (note: if you can get something in liquid form, it's easier for you and apparently a bit easier for the dog to absorb. Try not to get anything in ethyl acohol -- it tuns to sugar in the system) But if you can't -- don't worry. Get what you can. Mix the liquids in a cup and feed by syringe -- a drug store will give you one if you tell them what it's for. Break open the pills and mix in ORGANIC pro-biotic yogurt, and again, syringe into his mouth (I find between the cheek and gums works -- or between the canines onto the tongue). Add a little water to get the consistency right for the syringe. Crush pills. Be prepared to make a mess. Put down a towel. Do your best, try to make it "fun" for your dog -- tell him what a good boy he is, and how strong and health he's getting... whatever it takes. DON'T GET MAD AT HIM. You are both figuring this out. It WILL get easier. The first 6 weeks (without what the H. vet eliminated were) Immune support: CELL FORTE IP6 + Inosital powder ( 4 tsp twice a day. Twice a day) ... this is pricey, but I think a key element in Buddy's protocol. I don't know why I think that -- I just do. The guy at the Health food store swears by it, helped him with his pancreatic cancer. Colostrum (2 X 500 mg twice a day) -- some people use something called "Transfer factor" -- a more concentrated form of this. But much more expensive. Essiac/or FlorEssence Herbal tea ( I have used both as they are similar, FlorEssence has a few more ingredients- 1 TBSP twice a day) Aloe Vera Juice - Lily of the Desert 5X strength if you can find it ( 1 TBSP twice a day) ..aloe enhances absorption of other supplements and is very healing (he had bloody stools, and they went away quickly) It also contains polysaccharides, considered anti-tumour. Anti-Oxidants: Vitamin E (succinate form -- dry form -- best for cancer) 2 X 400 IU - twice a day) Esther C (better and less acidic than reg C- 2 X 500 mg twice a day) Selenium ( 200 mcg, one - twice a day) Zinc (25 mg/ one pill twice a day) Liver Support ( Needed -- for detoxifying support!) - Milk Thistle (2 X 250 mg - twice day) I give this in additiion to the dried variety in his food. Milk thistle also helps the body produce it's own glutathione, a nautral anti-oxidant, immune bootser and detoxifyer. If you body doesn't produce enough you can't heal, and can't fight disease. A difficiency may even be a reason why cancer forms. Lymphatic Support - Mullein -- I used dried non-irdiated mullier from the heaklth food store . About a TBSP mixed in his food. and Lymphomysot (German form ) or the North American version is Lyphosot (20 drops twice a day) Spring Water! Buddy also refused city water . Apparently sick dogs are overly senstive to the chemicals used to clear the water, like chlorine . He "told" me he wanted bottled water by licking the taps on our water tower. I gave him that -- and added Aerobic Oxygen drops -- working uo to 30 - 40 drops per bowl. . (Oxygenating the system is a turn off for cancer). You don't need the most expensive kind. I used GOOD FOR YOU Canada Aerobic Oxygen -- half the price of the other ones. It all works the same. Added in week 2: Marine Phytoplankton (UMAC CORE Brand is what I used) 1/2 dropper twice a day (total nutrition, immune boosting, evidence of anti-tumour properties) Marine Pine Bark Extract (Pyccogenol) 20 drops twice a day (powerful anti-oxidant, part of natural lymphoma protocols) Graviola ( 20 drops twice a day) - Anti-Tumour properties (if you can't find that, try Cat's Claw -- check the dose though -- can be toxic) Blue Green Algae powder ( started at 1/4 tsp and worked up to 1/2 once a day only - high nutrition, detoxifying) Mega Acidophilus ( good bacteria for tummy -- added to yogurt .. they need more than is in the yogurt right now to digets food properly) Over the next weeks as I discovered things, and could afford them (usually every pay day) I added something new: Ellagic Acid + resveratrol ( 3, twice a day -- huge antioxidant, anti-tumour, and DNA repairing... you may find Ellgic acid sold on its own, or withgrape seed extract. It's all good. Resveratrol is the element that is considered the healthy element in red wine) ) Vitamin D3 ( 2,000 iu twice a day) -induces cells to differeniate into normal cells. More pronounced effects when given with Vitamin A. Evidence says we aren't getting enough D3 (the sunshine vitamin). Especially the further north your live. Or if your dog is an indoor dog. The latest wisdom is that the less sun (D-3) the higher the cancer rates. Vitamin A 10,000 iu (One morning/one night) - I would give more, but there are concerns about Vitamin A toxicity, and Buddy gets other forms -- like in the Salmon Oil CoQ10 (heart and immune support ) 100 mg 2 times a day. This is a gel cap -- you are going to have to toss it as far back in his throat as you can and hope he swallows. If you don't think a dog can spit, you're going to find out your were wrong. Salmon Oil (1000 mg/ One twice a day -- although more likely wouldn't hurt... again a BIG gel cap -- so I didn't want to push it) Fucoidan 70% (had to buy this on line - no stores here were carrying it. Pretty new research shows it causes cancer cell death, boosted immune system, prevented metastisis, etc. I figure why not try it? -- But shop around. I found it at betterrhealthinternational.com for less than half what other places were charging. ) Buddy's dose: Dose - 2 in morning another around mid to early afternoon if possible. If can't do this just give last one when you get home. Mixed Carotenoid (ie. Beta Carotene, Lycopene... good stuff) Another gel cap ... one, twice a day Turmeric + Ginger (Mine comes with ginger -- a stomach settler. But it was Turmeric I was after. Anti-tumour, anti-inflamatory. Also known as Curcumin. (Mix into food if he'll eat it. Otherwise -- toss down his gullet. Buddy gets 3 X 500 mg caps twice a day. (ie. 400 mg twice a day for a 25 pound dog is good.) * with turmeric give GREEN TEA EXTRACT. It increases the properties/effectiveness of turmeric. Try to get the highest polyphenols/ECG or Catechins count you can. 80% poly/50% ECG if you can, or better. L-Glutathione (50mg 3 twice a day). This is the body's natural Anti-oxidant, Immune booster, and detoxifuer. Research show people with cancer have very low levels of it -- yet it's difficult to give in supplement form because the body doesn't absorb it very well. If you are going to try a supplement anyway (I am because I found some on sale -- otherwise -- it can be pricey) use the reduced form only. The truth is it is better to get the body to produce it's own glutathione. Some anti-oxidants help to a point -- Vitamin C, E, Selenium, and certain amino acids. But there are products designed to trigger glutathione production. One is called IMMOCAL PLATINUM, and the one I've been using (found it on week 5) is called IMMUNOPRO RX. I got it on line ( best price at www.betterhealthinternatonal.com , and another site in Alaska www.gethealthyagain.com also has it reasonably.) Google "cancer glutathione" -- it's a fascinating read. MSM (methylsulfonylmethane). You can get it anywhere. It doesn't taste good -- so you can buy it in capsules and give it that way -- or, in loose powder form ( much more economical) -- you can mix it with the yougurt/supplement mix. (that's what I do) Buddy gets 1 tsp morning and night. But I started with lress to get him used to it. MSM is a sulphur supplement talked about on many cancer sites. Some researchers are pointing to MSM as one possiblility that some cancers go into spontaneous remission. Sulphur is critical for animals (remember Dr. Budwig's protocol -- sulphur as a delivery system to get good things into cells?) -- and we and our pets are animals. It is the 3rd most common chemical in our bodies and does a few things that makes it hard for cancer to spread. * It makes cells permeable so supplements and nutrition can move easily into cells, while wastes and toxins are flushed out. * It oxygenates the blood. * It strengthens collagen which is key to making it hard for the cancer to spread, and some research shows it may even have the ability to turn malignant tumours into benign ones. * It helps correct the body's ph to alkaline instead of acidic. And for anyone who has opted for chemo or radiation -- it helps protect the body from the effects of it. * And -- if that weren't enough reason to incoude it in your dog's protocol -- MSM is vital to the production of glutathione.. It's recommended that MSM be taken with Vitamin C and B 12. However -- if your dog is sensitive to sulphites, the food preservative -- he could have also a reaction to MSM. If that happens it may be because his system needs molybdenum, so find some and supplement with that. Super Digestive Enzymes ( make sure it has Bromelain .. anti-cancer properties.I like the multi form enzymes because he needs all the help he can digesting everything and getting the most out of his food and supplements)) 2 twice a day ZEOLITE (again bought on line -- but now found a local store carrying this exciting new product. Basically a volcanic mineral that purports to detoxify the system. Check out on line. Dosage is starting at 5 drops building to 20 a day. Other sites day up to 60 drops is dafe after working up to that. I have Buddy at 20, and will work up to 30 Many skeptics on line say don't believe the claims. But antedotal testimonials convinced me to give it shot. Wormwood (artemesin) 270 mg (1 twice a day ... anti-tumour, anti parasite) Products with GENISTEIN ( google it as canine lymphoma genistein and see what comes up). Genistein is an isoflavone extracted from soybeans. I found a Soy protein powder containing a decent percentage of it, (Prairie Naturals) but you may find it in something at your health food store. Ask. If you google it you'll find page anftetr page of promising research -- especially on lymphoma and t-cell lymphoma. Among other things it caused the death of cancer cells without harming healthy ones. (Something chemo or radiation DON"T do) Buddy gets 2 TBSP of the soy powder in his yogurt twice a day. Red Clover - Contains Genistein, and is part of most holsitic cancer protocols. Can be purhcased as a tincture or capsules. Guive the adults dose for a large dog. Ask at health food store for doses for a small to medium dog. Amino Acids: L-Glutamine (1 X 500 mg twice a day) L-Arginine ( 2 X 500 mg twice a day) - together L-Glutamine and L-Arginine increased survival times for lymphoma patients L-Lysine (1 X 500 mg twice a day ... attacks herpes virus, and there's one that is linked ot cetrtain lymphomas. Don't know what caused Buddy's -- but again... what the heck) My holistic vet added Canine Immune Support (Standard Process Brand -- 1/2 tsp twice a day) - a powdered nutritional supplement for dogs CONIUM -- had to be mixed by a holistic vet though for your dog (a lymph drainage) And a mixture similar to HOXEY's formula (check into it on line) containing Red Clover/Globe Artichoke/Burdock Root I also had Buddy on Melatonin--- Good for many cancers. NOT for lymphoma -- or at least, evidence for leukemia and lymphoma patients is not complete, but early evidence suggests it may be better for those cancers than the patient. Therefore -- I took him off it. Stuff I've recently learned about -- but haven't tried: Licorice root given with pantothenic acid . Anti-inflamatory, catalyzes "cortisol to its inactive metabolites. Excess cortisol inhibits growth of lymphoma and leukemia cells by effecting glucocortoid receptors on the tumour cell membrances and stimulates natural killer cell acitivity." Whatever that means. It sounds good. But as I said -- need to run it by my holistic vet to see if it's okay to add - Buddy may be already maxed out on his supplements. I still surf the net, checking and re-checking information. And picking up new information. I've learned alot. You will too. You will probably start taking better care of yourself and your own family as a result. I have my teenaged son off Fruit Loops and eating real cooked oatmeal! If you can only afford some of the things you see in Buddy's protocol, I would say go with the IP6 + Inosital, Colostrum, Essiac or FlorEssence, Aloe, the key Antioxidants (E, C, Selenium, Zinc -- okay that's a mineral.. but it's healing and important). Flax Oil and Cottage Cheese, a good Fish oil (Salmon), Milk Thistle, a lymphatic drainage, Red Clover), Turmeric and Green Tea, and Glutatione product. . Oxygenate the water. Make him good human-quality food, heated in a pan -- not a microwave, and exercise him every day. (many butcher shops are now selling meat for pets cheaper then the human-grade stuff...but it's still good meat) And be positive around your pet -- if you are depressed, they'll pick up on it and be down themselves. I think those are the basics. Also, so far I think the Zeolite has been a good add for Buddy. His energy is way up. I've also tried a healing CD just for dogs ... Buddy is a tester for the healer who made it. I have to say, he does seem to respond to that thing even though I can't hear anything but a little "space noise".. if you are interested, google Jayme Hunt. Or go to furheads.com. She has other cd's she's made up with testimonials. It's a new thing, but like I said -- for Buddy it seems to work -- and has pulled him out of a few slumps when played on "repeat" all day long while I'm at work. Interesting stuff. I don't know how to explain it. Try it, or not. All I can say is, it seems to do the trick for Buddy -- picking up his spirits, and maybe relaxing him enough to heal. Hopefully this helps. It now takes me about 40 minutes in the morning and 40 minutes at night to do all this for Buddy -- but he is worth it. I pre-mix his powders in a bowl at night to speed things along in the morning -- except for any powders than require refrigerating... they go in the morning. (blue green algae, acidophilus). And as long as he responds and seems to be enjoying life, I will continue. It's no longer a big deal. We've just worked it into our routine. I have no idea if Buddy can be cured this way -- but I am starting to dare to hope. IN any case, he's already been with us alot longer than was predicted. So we've already won. Bless you all, and good luck. November 16th Update: Buddy's 6th Birthday!! Well, Buddy turns 6 tomorrow (Nov 16). Incredible. He wasn't supposed to be here. He is now 4 weeks passed the "best case scenario" diagnosis with his lymphoma. He has done so well. He is in no pain, and still loves his long walks. Even though it's getting much colder up here in the interior of British Columbia! (I bought him a new fleece coat -- he hates it. But he looks GOOD!) I should report that about 3 weeks ago Buddy started vomiting up his supplement/yogurt mix. And started going off his food. Frightened what might be happening I got him to his holistic vet in another city. I was expecting the worst news. Instead she told me Buddy has NO NEW TUMOURS! None that she could feel, anyway. And you would expect that by now. She felt Buddy was telling us he didn't want all those supplements anymore. So we stopped them for 5 days, then started reintroducing a few here and there, plus some new ones -- starting with the liquid mixtures. Then a little Bio K + (basically a sour milk, or runny yogurt high in good tummy bacteria) instead of the yogurt. He won't eat Flax seed oil and Cottage cheese anymore -- so he doesn't get it. I stepped up the fish oil though in its place. He's now getting only: Ip6 + Inositol, Collostrum, Vit E succinate, Ellagic Acid + Reservatrol, MSM, Vit C, Graviola, Salmon Oil (4 X 1000 mg a day), Evening Prirmose Oil, milk thistle, and COQ10. Plus Standard Process Immune Supplement for dogs, and the special tonic my Holistic vet made for him (Red Clover, Burdock, Globe Artichoke and she has now added turmeric to the mix). She took him off Blue Green Algae because that MAY be upsetting his tummy. But we left him on the Marine UMAC CORE Marine Phytoplankton. (By the way -- I've been using the drops on a sore that won't heal on his elbow. It's really helping!) I also added powdered Zeolite (it's really gritty -- but not bad if mixed in yogurt and a bit of buttermilk) along with his Liquid Cellular Zeolite because I found a few websites recommending you cover your bases by using both. And I've started using Cell Food ( an excellent cell oxygenator) because he started refusing his water if it had aerobic oxygen in it. He still isn't back to eating a lot -- but he does eat. I basically offer him whatever I can -- lettuce and meat ( if I'm making my son's sandwiches) I'll share what's on my plate (chicken, beef, tuna -- although sometimes he just wants the tuna juice), and he doesn't seem to mind cooked squash. It's like he's suddenly become super picky. Anyway -- Buddy is hanging in there -- and is still a happy, tailwagging, smiley-faced goof ball. Thought you'd want to know. And thank you to everyone out there rooting for Buddy. I can't tell you how much it means to hear from you. And especially all of you who have lost your pups to cancer, and are still rooting for the rest of us. Bless you all. And Happy Birthday Budster! UPDATE: January 2008 Buddy's protocol has been changed AGAIN. I find what's worked for us so far is to keep changing the protocol as Buddy "tells" us to. Whatever he will accept, and whatever will address his newest symptoms/behaviours. My holistic vet has been invaluable in this. Sometimes she prescribes something that sounds like it's right out of Harry Potter! But, I also use my own instinct. If other things don't seem to be working (i.e., improving his condition) I will subtract or add something. Just to update -- Buddy has now made it to 24 week -- double the "best case scenario" predicted by my regular vet. In that time that vet thought Buddy was looking so well, and doing so well, he must have misdiagnosed him! But of course, he hadn't. And from what I can find on line, Buddy's lymphoma (mediastinal T-cell lymphoma) is among the worst kinds of lymphoma to have. ("B-cell is bad, T-cell is terrible") It's just that this natural and alternative medicine really does help extend survival -- and I dare to hope, may even cure Buddy. Why Not? There are ample stories on line of people who have survived incurable cancers. It sounds like the key is to trigger the immune system to fight, add on tumour fighting supplements, oxygenate, and alkalize. Whenever I change Buddy's protocol, I make sure all those bases are still covered -- even if I change a product. (i.e., went from Good For You Canada Aerobic Oxygen drops when Buddy went off them... to Cell Food, to Hydrogen Peroxide therapy, to Cell Food again. The HP therapy made him gag once at the children's dose). As you know he was on A LOT of supplements at first, which got him to November, when he went off all supplements by refusing his food. So MY holistic vet and I changed his regimen by severely editing his supplements to what we both felt were helping him the most. I also tried to find more supplements in liquid form if possible -- way easier to administer, and for him to ingest and absorb. Sadly -- so many of them come in an alcohol base. But someone gave me a tip to put the drops in a little water from the kettle that has been brought to a rolling boil -- then let it cool before adding to the rest of his liquid mix. That, apparently evaporates much of the alcohol. Maybe others will have better luck finding herb tonics that don't have alcohol. He also stopped eating AND drinking water in November, and I had to feed and water him by syringe. However I didn't get enough water into him and he became dehydrated, so had to get an IV at the vet. I now know a dog (and people) need half their body weight in ounces of water a day (ie. 50 pound dog divided by 2 = ounces water needed.) I was able to feed him by making Hills Science Diet a/d into a slurry (with chicken broth) and using a syringe. Hills Science Diet is high calorie, and a good texture for doing that. There may be others, but that's what I found worked for me. (I go through a lot of syringes! They start to stick after awhile!) After getting him off Prednisone , I had to put him back on. IT was the answer. He began eating like a pig again. Everything was fine until just after Christmas when he again started refusing food and drink. Back to the syringe. Medications the vet gave me to try didn't work. So I learned about Hydrazine Sulphate and got Buddy on that. IT isn't helping with his appetite -- but has the effect of starving cancer of what it needs, so I left him on it. However, there's all sorts of sites with varying info on what your dog can and cannot eat when on this. They all seem to be a little different. I am trying to obey all of the lists. Taking no chances. With one exception Buddy does get a little chicken liver since it's one of the ingredients in Hills Science Diet a/d. I am monitoring this. I don't know how much liver is in the food -- but am counting on it not being much as it's all I can get into him right now. My holistic vet supported that -- but wasn't excited about my idea to try the Cesium/Potassium/DMSO protocol on Buddy (she had reservations about the DMSO). However -- sometimes you just have to trust your gut. And mine was telling me Buddy needed a bigger gun in his arsenal. So he began that on January 8th. He'll be on it for 1 month. This is something that really needs a reputable supplier, someone who can give you advice over the phone or internet when you need it. He has developed some of the side effects (e. vomited twice and had bad diarrhea once day). But I figured out if I gave it to him at the same time I fed him he tolerated it much better. I don't know how it will go -- but I watch him carefully. This protocol, if it works the way many report, could result in the release of an overload of toxins as the cancer dies off (!!!! Let's hope !!!). So his organ support supplements are still in his daily diet (milk thistle, parsley, mullein, dandelion root, COQ10 -- all liquid). And I give him massages at least twice a day (not rough, just a firm rub to get his lymph flowing). If you are interested in Cesium/Potassium/DMSO there's a wealth of info at www.cancertutor.com I am still looking for something to stimulate his appetite -- and have ordered something from the cancer "underground". I'll let you know how that goes. While Buddy has been anorexic and not drinking on his own -- this time I've managed to keep him hydrated, and his weight hasn't fallen too much. He is also starting to show interest in food again -- starting to hang around the dinner table again, and ate an apple with me the other day. IT may sound like Buddy isn't happy. Far from it. He sleeps A LOT, but say the word W-A-L-K and he's up. The other day we actually went for almost a mile -- I let him dictate how far he wanted to go. And he even RAN a little trying to catch up with ther dogs. There's no doubt he's sick. But he's still enjoying life whenever he can. He's our miracle dog. That's for sure. Anyway -- that's Buddy's update. 24 weeks, and hoping to lose count. Good luck to all of you and your pups. Buddy's Mom |
