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Joan M · 01-12-2011, 11:49 AM

Karen,

I often don't know what to make of these reports. Sometimes I think there's something to a natural cure, and some people accuse the pharmaceutical companies of hiding such a cure. Yet I think that if a cure like that existed big business would be right on top of it.

Natural products are used to make chemo, like sponge in Havalen and the yew tree in Taxol, but the drugs turn out to be very toxic. I know, I took Taxol.

Cancer research also includes looking at natural cures, and Memorial-Sloan Kettering is a leader in this, at least according to Dr. Larry Norton who is a breast oncologist there. At a lecture, he spoke somewhat about this.

I hope your mom is doing well today.

Joan

01-12-2011, 11:49 AM	#3
Joan M Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 1,851	Re: To Chemo Or Not? Karen, I often don't know what to make of these reports. Sometimes I think there's something to a natural cure, and some people accuse the pharmaceutical companies of hiding such a cure. Yet I think that if a cure like that existed big business would be right on top of it. Natural products are used to make chemo, like sponge in Havalen and the yew tree in Taxol, but the drugs turn out to be very toxic. I know, I took Taxol. Cancer research also includes looking at natural cures, and Memorial-Sloan Kettering is a leader in this, at least according to Dr. Larry Norton who is a breast oncologist there. At a lecture, he spoke somewhat about this. I hope your mom is doing well today. Joan __________________ Diagnosed stage 2b in July 2003 (2.3 cm, HER2+, ER-/PR-, 7+ nodes). Treated with mastectomy (with immediate DIEP flap reconstruction), AC + T/Herceptin (off label). Cancer advanced to lung in Jan. 2007 (1 cm nodule). Started Herceptin every 3 weeks. Lung wedge resection April 2007. Cancer recurred in lung April 2008. RFA of lung in August 2008. 2nd annual brain MRI in Oct. 2008 discovered 2.6 cm cystic tumor in left frontal lobe. Craniotomy Oct. 2008 (ER-/PR-/HER2-) followed by targeted radiation (IMRT). Coughing up blood Feb. 2009. Thoractomy July 2009 to cut out fungal ball of common soil fungus (aspergillus) that grew in the RFA cavity (most likely inhaled while gardening). No cancer, only fungus. Removal of tiny melanoma from upper left arm, plus sentinel lymph node biopsy in Feb. 2016. Guardant Health liquid biopsy in Feb. 2016 showed mutations in 4 subtypes of TP53. Repeat of Guardant Health biopsy in Jana. 2021 showed 3 TP53 mutations, BRCA1 mutation and CHEK2 mutation. Invitae genetic testing showed negative for all of these. Living with MBC since 2007. Stopped Herceptin Hylecta (injection) treatment in March 2020. Recent 2023 annual CT of chest, abdomen and pelvis and annual brain MRI showed NED. Praying for NED forever!!