Designing My Treatment Plan

Over the past four months, while I have been undergoing chemotherapy and radiation treatment, Pete and I have done lots of research into metastatic breast cancer, how it grows and how it might be slowed down or even stopped in it's tracks God willing. We researched until our eyes were crossed and our brains were fried and then we researched some more. We continue to research even now.

We've reached the point where we have a reasonable understanding of the way this disease will most likely progress and what that means for my quality of life and survival. My oncology team at the hospital are hoping to slow the progression of my disease enough using mainstream treatment options to give me perhaps 2 or 3 more years. I'm 51 now so, assuming they are close in their estimate, I'll be dead by the time my 54th birthday rolls around.

Obviously Pete and I don't find that outcome acceptable and so we are using our research to find protocols, supplements and drugs that may be used in conjunction with traditional cancer treatments to increase my survival and improve my quality of life. Our goal is to keep me well enough for long enough until a real cure is developed and made accessible.

The problem we are finding with some of these complimentary therapies, apart from the cost, is that you need to have a GP on side who is prepared to prescribe off-label drugs (drugs used for a purpose other than their original function). One example is the diabetes drug Metformin which is used in the UK and USA in some alternative oncology clinics to help starve cancer cells. Unfortunately there are no such clinics in Australia so we need a sympathetic GP who is willing to support us in taking a metabolic approach to killing cancer. We also need a GP who is willing to regularly monitor my liver and kidney function etc because the massive amount of drugs and supplements I need to take will absolutely put a strain on my body.   

Having failed to get my medical oncologist, my family GP and my integrative GP on board I was feeling depressed and desperate earlier this week. With such a short prognosis I don't feel that I can afford to tread water waiting for something to happen. So yesterday, when I somehow stumbled across an integrative oncologist in Hobart who has hyperthermia facilities AND mentions Metformin and other complimentary cancer treatments on his website, I got a teensy bit excited. I immediately sent through a new patient request form and am waiting for a call back. I'm not sure what I will do if this avenue doesn't pan out but I'm not thinking about that for now. 

 Pete and I are convinced that adding a metabolic approach to starving my cancer is critical to increase my life expectancy. We are looking at all the ways cancer can feed in the body and trying to block each identified pathway with a drug or supplement. I made the decision to go vegan way back in February before I was aware of the metabolic approach, but it turns out that methione restriction (the reason I went vegan) addresses one of the pathways. I also cut out refined sugar, wheat (gluten) and all alcohol. 

We are also including in my protocol supplements to support my immune system, repair my gut biome and to help mitigate the side effects of chemotherapy and radiation. I am using home hyperthermia to raise my core body temperature from an unhealthy 35.3 to short periods when it exceeds 37 degrees. I even reached 37.5 on one occasion! My goal is to reach 38 degrees on a regular basis.

Mental health is a huge challenge for everyone during Covid, but for me it has meant not being able to access core support services provided by organisations such as The Cancer Council and Breast Cancer Network Australia. Covid has also meant losing the ability to look after our beautiful 17 month old grand daughter, no close contact with family and friends in Tassie (missing hugs so much) and it also means that my mum and sister cannot fly over to see me. None of this is good for my mental health and when you throw a terminal cancer diagnosis in ... well it's really tough. I'm wait listed for counselling by a psychologist who specialises in breast cancer.

The last piece of the puzzle is achieving better quality sleep.  Having been a severe insomniac for more than 10 years, improving my sleep is especially critical. I'm using mindfulness, meditation and various fancy pillows and supports (and super duper earplugs) to try to achieve 8 hours of quality sleep each night.  Last week we purchased a medical pillow designed for neck support of back sleepers and teamed with my knee wedge pillow I have actually managed 8 hours of good sleep on several occasions now. Progress.

These are all small steps individually but added together we are hoping and praying that they will be life changing (life saving).

So for those of you who have been asking how we're coping with my new diagnosis, here's your answer. We have thrown ourselves into this fight 150% and we won't be backing down. I refuse to die so young and Pete refuses to let me. Bring it on!!