Saturday

"Your Pup has Cancer" is NOT the new "Happy Anniversary"

*CHEMO vs. ALTERNATIVE TREATMENT*
Simon was diagnosed with stage IV lymphoma that had already compromised his liver and gallbladder so we weren't going to take any chances with an alternative-treatment-only plan. After doing our research and consulting the oncologist, using chemo wasn't a question. That said, a holistic approach to treatment was a must. If we were going to put Simon through the purgatory that is chemo, invest countless hours and precious funds into treatment, and ride the emotions tied to this experience all to improve the quality of his life while extending his life, we were going to take no short cuts. Chemo is both a fierce weapon against cancer and a poison to the body you're trying to save. In order to give the body the strength it needs to survive the months-long battle between chemo and cancer, you need to make sure it has healthy amounts of stabilizing and cancer-fighting components and none of the cancer-feeding stuff. Don't discount chemo or complementary therapies. Use them both in your arsenal. Consult with holistic oncologists, those who can advise on a plan based on both types of treatments.




Cancer is like Attila the Hun, an efficient, merciless and undiscriminating warrior. It strikes when you least expect it, takes every advantage, and quickly ravages its environs. Cancer does not spare even the most innocent and selfless of creatures – our animal companions. These thoughts raged through my mind when our little fur-ball, Simon, was diagnosed with lymphoma, a systemic cancer that spreads fairly quickly via the lymphatic system. Because it affects the entire body, you cannot simply remove a tumor and restrict treatment (and its side effects) to one area. You need a systemic approach.

As the saying goes, “don't get mad, get even”, my husband and I decided to attack Simon's cancer in every way possible with a comprehensive plan that fused Eastern and Western approaches to health. Our goal was to give Simon the best chance at overcoming cancer and resume a happy, healthy life. To accomplish this, we needed to take advantage of all the tools at our disposal and to do this we needed to think out of the box. We used traditional medicine and alternative therapies, including supplements, exercise, massage and a non-toxic environment, to fight his cancer.

We decided to use chemotherapy, because it has a solid success rate (over 80% life expectancy of a year, depending on the stage) against lymphoma. Simon's chemo protocol involved 19 weeks of Vincristine, Cytoxan and intravenous Doxorubicin. This protocol had two major side effects – weight loss due to the killing of large quantities of cancer cells (a good thing) and weight loss due to stomach upset (a bad thing). In essence, chemo is a poison that not only kills cancer cells but also compromises regular cells. Considering cancer's alarming good-cell body-counts, you need to find a way to make the host environment unsuitable for cancer cells while giving good cells the support they need to fight the cancer cells and tolerate chemo. How do you pull this off? Feed the body substances the good cells need for battle and remove substances that feed or potentially activate the cancer cells. This is where the Eastern part of the plan takes the stage supporting the Western part.

Through the Eastern approach, you examine diet to ensure the body gets the nutrients it needs though diet and supplements to remain strong and fight cancer. Simon's diet gave him the right kinds and proportions of protein, omega fatty acids, fiber, antioxidants, minerals, fat, and vitamins. This was key because Simon's liver and spleen were compromised so we had to be cautious about his consumption of fat, vitamins and minerals which those organs ordinarily metabolize when healthy. There was no corn, wheat or non-fructose sugar in his diet, because cancer cells thrive on sugars and carbs. To keep pesticides and additives out of and full-strength nutrients into his food, we used only fresh, organic ingredients when making his food: yams, carrots, lentils, wild-caught salmon, spinach, and brown rice.

We believe the powerful herbs and supplements Simon received were essential to his victory over cancer. To make sure no substances interfered with each other or his chemo, we carefully administered his regimen of ten or so antioxidants, enzymes, and other detoxifiers on a strict schedule. Most of these supplements supported the immune system, heart, thyroid, bones, liver, and normal cell division and production, all of which are weakened by cancer and chemo. Some supplements, like ginger-peppermint-apple juice, supported the digestive system, which helped ease his stomach upset and, in turn, helped increase his appetite and weight. It makes sense – he felt less sick so he ate which gave him more energy and allowed him to consume the nutrients he needed to tolerate chemo and recover. Energy and recovery gave him the strength to play and a playful dog is a happy dog. Thanks to our comprehensive plan, Simon is happy, lymphoma-free, and has nearly doubled his life expectancy.

People often confuse “holistic” with “alternative”, misjudging it as a polarized approach. A holistic approach is just the opposite. It is a complete system, bringing together the best of traditional and alternative approaches. It is not West or East but both. You need both to out-wit the Hun. We have, so far, and the best spoil of this battle is having our happy dog back.

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