In October of 1999, during a routine checkup with my previous gynecologist, he discovered a suspicious looking mole on my upper left thigh. He immediately scheduled me to have it removed on November 12, 1999, at Kent hospital in Warwick, RI. The pathology report came back positive for malignant melanoma.
He then sent me to a cancer surgeon, who performed further surgery on the area on November 29, 1999, at Rhode Island Hospital in Providence to remove lymph nodes for biopsy. Three lymph nodes were removed. One was positive and two were negative.
At this point the surgeon suggested that I have major exploratory surgery to check for cancer in other areas. I declined, and proceeded to Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, MA for a second opinion. Dana Farber concurred with the diagnosis, but with less invasive surgery, ie a larger incision (radical groin dissection) in the same area to remove more lymph nodes for biopsy.
I agreed to this surgery, and it was performed on January 14, 2000, at Brigham & Women's Hospital in Boston. Fourteen lymph nodes were removed. Once again, only one came back positive, and the remaining thirteen were negative.
Dana Farber then felt that further treatment was necessary. I told them that I would not go on chemotherapy. My belief is that chemo destroys the immune system. Therefore, it makes no sense to me how it helps. Actually, I think it makes matters worse. At any rate, they said the drug of choice was actually interferon. I did not like the odds that drug offered (15% success rate with nasty side affects), so I refused.
I informed them that I would continue with them for follow up exams & tests, but would seek alternative medicine for treatment.
My chiropractor referred me to Homeopath Tricia Feijo at Daniel Chapter One... After a consultation appointment, I started taking the maximum dosage of 7 Herb Formula. I remained on this dosage until I got several clean tests results (x-rays & blood work) from Dana Farber. I then proceeded to reduce my 7 Herb Formula to a maintenance dosage. Tricia & Jim Feijo did not agree with my decision. They felt I should stay on the maximum dosage to be safe, but I was having financial problems, and could not afford the cost. In hindsight, I now believe they were right. I might have been able to avoid more surgery.
In September of 2001, Dana Farber received Cat Scan & Pet Scan results that indicated the cancer had come back, so I agreed to more surgery. This time the surgery was much more invasive. On 06–November–2001, at Brigham & Women's Hospital, a sizable area above my left thigh was opened up (deep groin dissection), and seven more lymph nodes removed. Again, one came back positive, two were trace, and four were negative.
After this surgery, Dana Farber became much more aggressive in their approach. They said that the fact that the cancer had re–occurred in under two years, put me at a higher risk for the cancer to spread to other parts of my body. They had me going for checkups & testing once a month, and urged me to reconsider treatment. They got me scared, that I finally decided to stop going to them, and let my primary care physician monitor me.
Please understand that Dana Farber is an excellent treatment center, and they were only doing their job. My health was their first priority at all times. I just could not cope with that level of anxiety.
So, I went back on the maximum dosage of the 7 Herb Formula, and left the checkups & testing to my primary care physician. She orders blood work and a chest x–ray on me every six months, and a mamogram once a year. I also go to my dermatologist every six months for a complete skin check.
Since I ceased going to Dana Farber in the spring of 2002, I have had no signs of any re–occurrence. My health has been exceptionally good, and I attribute this to the 7 Herb Formula, which I believe keeps my immune system running smoothly.
Sincerely,
Charlotte L. Rice
No comments:
Post a Comment