Friends,
It has been over 4 years since we lost our very special family member, Natasha. Natasha's spirit will always be with us, we know. Shortly after her passing we were somehow directed to a retired AKC Show breeder in Fort Worth, Texas and by March 1, 2002 "Sasha Natasha's Hope" had been added to our family. We have placed Sasha & Nikolai - a Love Story here on our site. Please visit this new web page and see how the joys of life have continued for us. As long as we are able to we will maintain the information here at Natasha's Cancer Fight Newsletter for all to see and use. Thank you all for your support over the years. If you are in need or simply want to talk please email us at ronconley@yahoo.com.
Thank you all,
Ron & Family
This site is dedicate to the memory of "Natasha"
April 19, 1988 -
Dear Friends,
It is with great sadness that we must inform you that Natasha lost her battle with cancer around 5:30 p.m. Saturday, January 26, 2002. Our brave little girl fought the fight with courage and dignity for 3 long years. That is 3 years more than anyone else expected her to live. Had we not tried the alternative treatments listed below we would have lost her in February of 1999. We have been blessed and now dedicate this site to her memory and in hope that others out there, like Natasha, will find some benefit to the information presented here. It is too painful for us to repeat the story of her last hours with us, over and over, via email. However in the interest of informing everyone who has followed her story these past 3 years and cared for her and our family we have chosen to leave the web site in tact by chronological order - at the bottom of the page you will find excerpts of an email sent to one of our friends today. Thank you for caring and being there for Natasha and for us. God bless you all.
Please visit our other sponsored web sites:
Premiering
February 21, 2007:
Natasha is our family's 10 3/4 year-old female
black/white Siberian Husky. Around the first of February 1999 we noticed a mass
about the size of a small tomato under her breasts and at first thought nothing
of it since it had a fat like feel to it. By mid February Natasha had developed
a kiwi-fruit sized tumor under her left breasts. A similar sized but elongated
growth under her right breasts was also present and there was a small skin
growth on her inside left thigh about the size of a dime which appeared to be
somewhat fluidic in nature (cyst like). Overall she was in good spirits and got
around fine. Her energy level appeared to be down and by the end of February
she had lost weight (3 lbs. from a starting weight of 50 lbs.). Later we
assumed that this was the onset of the 'Cachexia' or wasting phase of the
disease.
How we started: From all the information that we could garner from cancer sites on the
web and from pet owners experienced with the disease, we became convinced that
Natasha had metastasized breast cancer and melanoma. At the end of February we
took Natasha to our local vet. Our vet uses standard veterinary practices as
well as alternative medical treatments where warranted or requested. After
briefly examining Natasha he agreed that Natasha's tumors did, on a cursory
exam, appear to be breast cancer and if the skin eruption was melanoma then
that might indicate that the cancer had metastasized. Since Natasha had not
been spayed it was possible that her female organs might also be involved. In
our opinion (not our vet's) standard treatments like chemotherapy and surgery
would greatly harm Natasha's quality of life while offering little or no hope
of recovery if these are indeed malignant tumors. Being over 10 3/4 years old
(Siberian Huskies seldom live past 12 years we've been told) there is also a
greater risk of renal failure during surgery (we went through all this with
Micha, Natasha's mate, 2 years before with a different vet). Natasha was still
quite active and in good spirits with no indication of any bleeding (a symptom
we were told to look for). This appeared to be a very aggressive stage-three or
stage-four breast cancer and Natasha's life expectancy might be as short as 30
to 60 days. All her tumors apparently developed in just the last 3 months
(since her annual doctor's visit in November 1998). At this point we had strong
feedback, from those experienced with this disease in canines, that virtually
no treatment would stop the disease, if it had metastasized, and 'quality of
life - pain management' programs were best suited. We did consult with our vet
briefly regarding diet / supplements / and Flax Oil. Several vets on the web strongly
believe in cancer diet modification and in supplements, but none had any
knowledge of Flax Oil treatment for cancer. Our vet said that he would like to
continue to stay abreast of Natasha's condition to see how she responds to this
treatment.
After the first week of February
1999 (after our first suspicions) we put Natasha on a 'Cancer Diet' and vitamin
- herb supplements for cancer. The diet and supplements are listed below for
those of you who are interested in this. Through this time period the tumors
appeared to be growing.
The Start of Natasha's Flax Oil Treatments -
Week 1
Treatment
Day 1: March 1, 1999 started Natasha on Flax Oil (see
<http://home.usit.net/~spinner/Flax1.html>).
The following is a recipe for the
Flax Oil mixture that we are giving her. The mixture fills one 24 oz.
cottage cheese container and is equivalent to ten 1 tbs. doses of Flax Oil:
Cream
together in a blender: 2 cups of cottage cheese with 1/2 cup of sweet
buttermilk. Add 10 tablespoons of Flax Oil (preferably with Lignins - or High
Lignan formula).
When
blended on high for several minutes this makes a very creamy mixture and after
refrigeration it has the same consistency as yogurt and the Flax Oil does not
separate from the mixture even after several days.
One 1/4-cup
of the mixture equals one dose. Dosage schedule = 8 doses per 100 lbs of
body weight.
We currently give Natasha a 1/4-cup
dose of the Flax Oil mixture 3 times daily. Natasha thinks that the mixture is
some type of fabulous dessert and eagerly awaits each and every dose - always
licking the bowl completely clean. The vitamin - herb supplements are likewise
divided into 3 daily doses. Natasha is only permitted her Flax Oil mixture
after swallowing all her supplement pills (which is a handful, believe me).
Some people have asked about a dog swallowing so many pills. We have seldom had
a problem with this. We drop the pills into the back of her throat while
holding a treat in one hand, then hold her muzzle closed until she swallows.
She is immediately rewarded with a jerky treat and then her Flax Oil mixture
dose. I will not say that she enjoys the pills - but the treat and Flax Oil
mixture make it all worth while to her.
Treatment
Day 2: Twenty-four hours after administering the first dose Natasha was
visibly more energetic and played with the family and our 4 1/2 month old
Siberian Husky puppy 'Niki' just like her old self. She had not been playful
like this in over 2 months.
Treatment
Day 4: Natasha's energy level continues to improve. I let her out in the
backyard this morning with the puppy. After one hour I let her back in the
house and let me tell you she was so excited to be back inside that she ran 4
laps around the house before her batteries finally started to run down! This
type of energy level hasn't been seen in a year - since 'Micha', Natasha's
mate, passed away in June 1998. There has been no noticeable change in the size
of her breast tumors or skin cancer tumor. That is to say that the tumors are
not getting larger or smaller. Up until this time (before administering the
Flax Oil mixture) the tumors had been growing at a fairly noticeable rate,
therefore no further growth may be an indication that some type of change has
occurred. Even if the treatment does not stop Natasha's cancer - do you realize
how expensive treatments are just to improve a pet's energy level and quality
of life? At present we are starting to believe that the Flax Oil treatments
have paid for themselves regardless of the effect on the cancer to date.
We will keep you all informed about
once a week regarding Natasha's condition. Thank you for you interest, concerns
advice and prayers.
The Lord bless and keep you all,
Ron Conley (Camille, Chris, Renee, Natasha
and Niki)
*** END Natasha's Cancer Fight Newsletter - Week 1 ***
1 whole RAW chicken leg quarter
(thigh and leg) pureed in a food processor bones and all. Season with 'Low'
Salt (half sodium / half potassium), Italian Herbs, Sage and Turmeric
plus Red Clover (good cancer fighters). Add 1/2 cup of diced
broccoli-stems, cabbage hearts, celery hearts (whatever leftover raw veggie
parts you usually throw out). [We have found another way to soften bones: cook
them 24 hours in a crock-pot (slow cooker) submerged in half black-eyed peas /
half kidney beans covered with water. Remove the bones and add to the meat
mixture - the leftover chicken flavored bean soup you can eat yourself.
Remember do not feed your dog extra carbos. We don't know how this works but
the bones turn a dark color and crumble easily, this probably destroys a lot of
the nutritional value though.]
NOTE: DO NOT GIVE A DOG ONIONS -
THESE ARE TOXIC TO CANINES IF GIVEN IN A LARGE ENOUGH QUANTITY! DO NOT GIVE A
DOG WITH CANCER FRUIT OR CARBOS LIKE RICE, WHOLE GRAINS, BREADS, POTATOES, ETC.
Cook meat mixture over med./high
heat until meat is done then add 1/2-cup water and simmer 2 minutes more.
(Makes about 2 1/2 cups)
Add meat mixture to 2 cups raw
shredded cabbage and broccoli tops. Add to this 1 or 2 crushed egg shells
(which we save after rinsing out) or add 1 tsp. Calcium Carbonate (available from
most shops that sell bakery supplies). Blend thoroughly.
Wait until mixture has cooled to serve.
We serve 2 cups of this at dinnertime and reserve 2 cups for breakfast. If your
pet has stomach problems serve mixture cold and/or reduce seasonings.
(Some local breeders informed us
that chicken bones are soft when raw and can be included as a good calcium
source in the diet if they are thoroughly pulverized (bone meal) and
added to meat before cooking).
Please note it is not good to over feed pets with
cancer. Over feeding will impair immune system functioning. It is better to
feed your pet slightly less food than you believe that they need on a daily
basis to boost the immune system. Split meals into smaller servings and feed
several times daily instead of once a day - but be certain that the total cups
of food per day are still slightly less than the pet's normal feedings. The
above 4 cups of Chicken/Cabbage diet is more than enough for a 50-lb. female
dog with cancer. If your pet gains weight on this diet you should reduce the
serving sizes. What you want to do is maintain your pet's optimum weight
level.
Natasha's Cancer Supplements: (all available
at your local Wal-Mart or iHerb.com for a lot
less $$)
|
Blood purifiers: |
Echinacea/Golden Seal (900 mg) , Red Clover - fresh ground (1 tsp. Added to food) |
|
Renal boosters: |
Cranberry Fruit Extract (950 mg), |
|
Energy builders: |
Kava Kava (200 mg), Ginseng Complex (850 mg; includes B12 (300 mcg); Ginkgo Biloba; Ginger Root; Gotu Kola), Vitamin B Complex (50 mg), |
|
Cancer Fighters: |
Vitamin C (3,000 mg), Vitamin E (400 IU), Fish Oil Concentrate (1,000 mg), Folic Acid (1,600 mcg), Garlic (750 mg), Dulse Iodine (.2 g), Melatonin (3 mg), Pau D'Arco (510 mg), Pycnogenol (100 mg), Alpha Lipoic Acid (100 mg), Turmeric (1 tsp. Added to food) |
|
Tumor Absorption: |
Super Enzyme Caps (Amylase 50,000 USP; Protease 50,000 USP; Lipase 8,500 USP; Betaine HCL 324 mg; Pepsin NF 1:10,000 130 mg; Ox Bile 130 mg; Bromelain <pineapple> 250 mg; Papain <papaya> 250 mg). |
|
Attitude Adjuster: |
LOVE, ATTENTION, BACK RUBS AND LOTS OF IT! |
The supplements are divided up into
3 daily dosages. It's better and more economical to purchase large dose pills
and then break them up into pieces to serve several times daily for better absorption
instead of giving one large dose. Capsules and pills may be crushed and added
to the meal, but remember that some of these supplements have a very noticeable
taste. We found that Natasha wouldn't eat any food with these supplements added
to it - or she would attempt to eat around them. The old 'hold the muzzle and
swallow' method works best for us. If your pet has stomach upset when given
supplements reduce supplements to a minimum. Gradually add select supplements
back one at a time until you determine which supplement is causing the problem.
Eliminate or reduce dosage of any supplement causing stomach upset.
Please keep in mind that we did a
lot of research on the Internet regarding diet and supplements for Natasha and
her specific needs with cancer. The things that appear to work for us may not
work for you and should not be considered medical advice - please consult with
your vet first. You're best
weapon against cancer is KNOWLEDGE. If you truly love and care for
anyone (pet or human) with cancer it is to your / their advantage to arm
yourself with all the knowledge that you can get. Doctors and nurses can be
essential in the treatment of serious diseases like cancer - and should not be
ignored, but when all else fails it is up to each of us to help ourselves as
best we can if we really want to beat this or any other disease. After all,
each of us is only human and we all make mistakes, but the individual or family
suffering through this terrible disease has the best motivation to seek a cure and
solutions if they want to keep their families and themselves intact.
Guidelines for Basic Diet - see: http://www.altvetmed.com/Cancer.html
The
supposed 'Cancer Fighting Diet' and its various incarnations have been
popularized recently. The principles behind this diet are simple: lower
carbohydrates, raise fats, and use good quality protein. Researchers theorize
that tumor cells utilize carbohydrates (found in sugar, grains, starchy
vegetables and the like) more readily than energy from other sources such as
fat. This diet is not yet available commercially, but it is easy to cook one
for your pet. The diet described below is purposefully vague and designed only
to get you thinking. The diet is not balanced for long term health
maintenance and should be constructed only under the supervision of your
veterinarian.
In
general, a good quality protein source such as poultry, fish, or cottage cheese
should comprise anywhere from 30-70% of the total diet volume. Another
excellent protein source is soybean, so tofu may be substituted for meat on
occasion. The remainder should be a mixture of vegetables, which should be
provided in variety. Animals tend to like the sweet taste of carrots, corn and
green beans, but an effort should be made to provide vegetables with fewer
sweet carbohydrates and more of the suspected cancer fighting
indole-3-carbinols and other phytochemicals (such as broccoli, cabbage, brussel
sprouts, cauliflower, bok choy, kale, radishes, tomatoes, red peppers, carrots,
etc.). Many owners like to feed pets fruits, but you should remember that the
sweet taste comes from simple carbohydrates, so fruits should be somewhat
limited.
Most pet
owners find that their animals do well with no starches added to the diet, but
if your pet seems to lose energy, consult a veterinarian and find a low
percentage to add to the diet. Carbohydrates come from grains like wheat, oats,
barley, rice and corn. These can be added in the form of cooked oatmeal,
barley, pasta, brown rice, potatoes, quinoa, etc.
The easiest way
to ensure that the pet is getting the balance required is to blend all of the above
ingredients in a food processor, so that a picky dog or cat doesn't throw out a
vegetable that he or she dislikes! Many people make a large batch of food, and
then freeze meal size portions so that it is fresh when thawed and fed to the
pet. Animals eating home-prepared diets should always receive a multivitamin
mineral supplement, as well as bone meal - be sure to consult your veterinarian
for help with these additives.
Treatment
Day 10: Natasha's breast tumors have lost the definition and shape that they
had 10 days ago. The tumors are approximately 30% smaller now and feel much
softer (like fat tissue). The 'Kiwi' shaped/sized growth has completely
collapsed into the underlying fatting tumor growth now. Where there were 2
large elongated fatty growths under the left and right breast lines now there
are 4 smaller elongated fatty deposits. In our (lay person's) opinion it
appears as if this change may be due to the erosion or absorption of tumor
mass. If anyone out there has more information on this phenomena please reply
to the newsletter. We are obviously new at treating breast cancer and would
appreciate any and all help and guidance. Unfortunately Natasha's melanoma tumor
has increased in size 3-fold over the same period and now extends approximately
3/4 of an inch under the skin. This tumor does not appear to be attached to the
thigh muscle underneath (Thank the Lord for that miracle). Every article we
were able to find on metastic melanoma (if that is the kind of skin cancer
Natasha has) indicates that attachment to muscle tissue would be a serious
progression of the disease and indicate a further spread of disease was
underway. I credit the Flax Oil
treatments with at least preventing the spread of the melanoma. We have clipped
and gently shaved the area to make it more accessible for application of
oils and/or ointments. We have been applying Flax Oil and Aloe Vera Gel 5-6 times
daily, unfortunately Natasha and Niki are constantly licking it off despite our
best attempts to add unsavory herbs - etc. to try to discourage this habit. I
am thinking of going to the store to purchase Alum to add a bitter taste to the
mixture and thus minimize licking.
Treatment
Day 11: After much Internet searching and a lot of networking (emailing) with
various melanoma cancer survivors we have come across a fairly new and highly
effective natural treatment for metastic melanoma. It involves
the use of White
Birch Bark, Birch
Bark Extract, Slippery Elm and DMSO. There is an
active ingredient called Betulinic
Acid in White Birch Bark that has consistently killed melanoma cells in preliminary
trials at several prestigious medical schools over the last two years (see
<http://www.uic.edu/depts/ovcr/ipo/cn43.htm>).
After a great deal of fruitless searching locally at health food stores we
finally located a local shop Deep Woods Apothecary in Arlington
that can supply the necessary raw materials to make a poultice
to apply to the skin tumor (see <http://www.mpip.org/bb/messages/8256.html>).
There is a supplier on the Internet, Viable Herbal Solutions, which does sell a
'Black Salve' with Betulinic Acid in it which they name HerbVeil 8 - Escharotic Salve
(see <http://www.viable-herbal.com/prod04a.htm>).
The supplier wants $49 for a 1/2-oz glass vial of the product - which is too
rich for our blood. Instead we have elected to make a poultice ourselves for
approximately $25 and should have several more applications per $'s spent than
the refined product sold by Viable Herbal Solutions. I have added several
articles below, which outline the treatments and usage of Betulinic Acid in
treating melanoma for those of you who are interested. We have added 1 oz of
Wheatgrass juice, 2 tsp. of Essiac Tea powder, 1 tsp. of
GreenZone powder (spirulina / amaranth flour / soy lecithin
powder / Wheatgrass / barley grass / alfalfa / lemon juice powder / and many
herbs), and 1 tsp. of ground Red Clover to
Natasha's daily diet. We are also using a 'Black Ointment' with Chaparral,
Lobelia, Comfrey, Plantain Root, Red Clover, Mullein, Chickweed, and Myrrh as a
topical on the skin cancer tumor. We want to thank everyone that has been
responding to the newsletter with new information on treatments, herbal
remedies and supplements to assist us in our fight to save Natasha from these
terrible diseases. Natasha
continues to maintain her overall good health and better energy levels. If we
could just get our 4 1/2 month old puppy 'Niki' to quit bugging the poor old
girl to play 100 times daily we would have it made in the shade. We are
continuing with the Cancer diet, daily supplements (except as revised above),
and 3 doses daily of Flax
Oil mixture per our last newsletter.
Special Thanks to Cliff Beckwith, Martha Hoff, Sue Norris,
Judy Merin, Dr. Juergen Buche, N.D., and Mindy at Deep Woods Apothecary for
their contributions, suggestions and support, without which we wouldn't have
made it through all these trials and tribulations. We still have a long way to
go, but with the Lord's blessings and family and friends helping and praying I
have faith that we can succeed and endure through it all.
Our hearts and prayers go out to
the friend of Teresa Weicht, and her family who recently learned of her diagnosis
with stage IV breast cancer. We forwarded all the information we had to Teresa
for her friend hoping that this information would help her friend and her
family through this difficult time. Teresa has informed us that her friend has
decided against chemotherapy or surgery and will only use natural treatments to
fight the disease.
Our hearts and prayers also go
out to the family and friends of 'Jeff' in San Antonio Texas (a close friend of
my parents) who lost his battle with bone cancer yesterday. Jeff was an
outstanding man and a fine Christian Brother and will be greatly missed. We had
also forwarded all our information on hand regarding natural treatments for
cancer to Jeff, but he decided to leave his treatment up to his doctors only.
The Lord bless and keep you all,
Ron Conley (Camille, Chris, Renee, Natasha
and Niki)
*** END Natasha's Cancer Fight Newsletter - Week 2 ***
This poultice is made
with DMSO, Slippery Elm, White Birch Bark and White Birch Bark Oil that
contains the active anti-cancer compound Betulinic Acid. White Birch Bark
contains 20% Betulin.
Puree the following dry ingredients in a blender: 2
parts Birch Bark, 2 parts Whole Wheat Flour, 1 part Slippery Elm.
To this mixture add enough water to moisten.
Mix over medium heat on the stove until creamy.
Add 1 drop (at most) of Birch Bark Oil (which should
NEVER be taken internally).
Add 2 teaspoons DMSO.
Mix thoroughly and remove from heat to cool.
Clean the affected areas of skin gently but
completely.
Apply the poultice and wrap with clean gauze then tape
in place and leave overnight.
DMSO is a solvent that takes anything it touches down to
the bone so DO NOT PUT THIS MIXTURE ON DELICATE SKIN AREAS OR AROUND EYES,
MUCOUS MEMBRANES OR ANY BODY CAVITIES!
For a daily herbal
tea take 1 oz. of birch bark, add three cups water to boil, let sit overnight
then drink.
Special Notes regarding Natural
Treatments for Melanoma:
This article
addresses treatment of melanoma with natural betulinic acid (see <http://www.uic.edu/depts/ovcr/ipo/cn43.htm>).
The present invention is directed to a method and composition for inhibiting
tumor growth. Preparing an extract from the stem bark of Ziziphus mauritiana
(African tree - Rhamnaceae) or white birch tree bark to mediate a selective
cytotoxic profile isolates the active compound (betulinic acid) against human
melanoma. An important aspect of the present invention is to provide a method
and composition for inhibiting tumor growth and, particularly, for inhibiting
the growth of melanoma using a natural product-derived compound. An aspect of
the present invention is to provide a treatment method using betulinic acid to
prevent the growth or spread of cancerous cells. The betulinic acid is applied
in a topical preparation. Another aspect of the present invention is to
overcome the problem of high mammalian toxicity associated with synthetic
anticancer agents by using a natural product-derived compound and to overcome
the problem of insufficient availability associated with synthetic anticancer
agents by utilizing the readily available natural betulinic acid. Related links
for this compound can be found at the Betulinic Acid Link Pages (see <http://www.gis.net/~dwalzer/relinks.html>).
Viable Herbal
Solutions - HerbVeil 8 Escharotic Topical Salve often referred to as
"black salve" (see <http://www.viable-herbal.com/prod04a.htm>).
HerbVeil 8 - Escharotic Salve - is an alternative medicine botanical formulation
having remarkable anti-tumor properties when used as directed. The topical
ointment, when applied externally to dermal or epidermal lesions, necroses
(kills) the aberrant tissue and creates an "eschar" on the skin
shortly after application. The body's natural rejuvenation system expels the
resultant "scab", leaving a cavitated "pit" area where the
lesion had existed. And over a period of several weeks (perhaps months for
severe cases), the body continues to heal the cavitated area, usually leaving a
slight depigmentation of the skin. No residual cells from the original neoplasm
will remain, and there will be no "recurrence" of the ailment in the
area of treatment. HerbVeil 8 has been used in the successful removal of
carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, and melanoma.
PURPOSE OF
FORMULATION: Topical lotion belonging to a class of compounds known as
"escharotics" for effective treatment of all varieties of skin
conditions.
OTHER
APPLICATIONS: All external skin conditions.
FORM: Salve (1/2 oz. glass vials)
HERBAL
INGREDIENTS: Standardized extracts of Chaparral (Larrea
tridentata), Zinc
Chloride, Cayenne
(Capsicum frutescens), Bloodroot
(Sanguinaria canadensis), Red Clover (Trifolium
pratence), Birch Bark
(Betula alba), DMSO
(dimethyl suloxide), Burdock
Root (Arctium lappa), and Irish Moss (Chondrus
crispus).
RECOMMENDED
USAGE: Intended
for a single, self-application by using a standard household cotton swab. The
salve should be applied directly to the lesion, or neoplastic tissue, in a thin
coating, almost lightly 'caked', with a slight overlap onto the surrounding
healthy tissue. Be sure to wash hands thoroughly both before, and after,
applying HerbVeil 8. Properly discard the cotton swab after use.
CONTRAINDICATIONS:
None. In some cases, there may be a 'burning sensation' associated with initial
use of the product, and this is acceptable. Normal over-the-counter (OTC)
products such as Viable Herbal Solutions' Herbagessic - A Formula for Pain,
or other non-prescription pain killers, can be used to minimize this affect.
This product is not intended for oral consumption. Apply to the lips, if
necessary, but not directly into the mouth. Never apply the product near mucous
membranes. HerbVeil 8 is not intended for use on skin-burned tissue, nor open
wounds that are caused by puncture or penetration by an intruding object - that
is, a cause other than the invasiveness of the neoplasm itself.
Studies on Aloe
Vera Gel and the amino acid S allyl cysteine, or SAC, from garlic (see <http://www.commonwealhealth.org/herbs.html>)
also shows promise in treating malignant melanoma. So we have continued
Natasha's Garlic Extract supplements and added topical applications of Aloe
Vera Gel and Flax Oil (which we were already doing, but with little success
against the tumors growth rate).
Viable Herbal
Solutions, P.O. Box 969, Morrisville, PA. 19067-0969, Phone (800) 505-9475, Phone
(215) 337-8182
Viable Herbal
Solutions understands today's issues regarding better health and well-being,
and we offer you the benefit of our personal, technical & professional
experience through the various products we provide. This brief overview is
designed as an introduction to the well-known benefits of common herbs and
plants that are used to produce our HerbVeil 8 Escharotic Salve.
CHAPARRAL is undoubtedly beneficial
for some people with certain types of cancer in certain stages of development,
but it is not clear who may benefit, which cancers are most susceptible, or at
which stage of cancer development the herb is most effective. It has been
repeatedly shown that NDGA (nordihydroguaiaretic acid); the active principle in
Chaparral is poisonous to some kinds of cancer cells while not affecting normal
cells. The herb's effectiveness against other forms of skin diseases may be
attributed to its anti-microbial properties, its ability to increase ascorbic
acid levels in the adrenals, or its tonic quality.
ZINC CHLORIDE, also called "Butter
of Zinc", is a compound occasionally used in escharotic skin creams &
salves for the treatment of skin cancer and other dermal / epidermal
conditions. Zinc chloride assists in the absorption of the herbal nutrients
& active ingredients of this formulation through the dermal layer and into
the bloodstream.
CAYENNE is primarily a kind of
catalyst in the blood purification process. Cayenne has positive effects on
circulation, the heart, the stomach, and all other systems of the body. But it
is not usually thought of as a tonic. It is generally considered a carminative
(expelling gas from the stomach & intestines) and a stimulant. The
stimulant property, however, is so prevalent that increased tonus of nerves
& glands is a major end result of its action. It stimulates the vital
organs to greater activity levels, and promotes cardiovascular efficiency,
while lowering overall blood pressure. Additionally, Cayenne acts directly as a
diaphoretic, stimulating excretion of wastes in the sweat. By increasing the
circulation of blood to peripheral tissues, Cayenne helps ensure that nutrients
(including those obtained from this and other herbal preparations) are
effectively delivered to inflamed and infected areas. Cayenne also helps
regulate cholesterol and lipid levels.
BLOODROOT is a small perennial plant,
about 6 inches high, found in shaded, rich soils in the northeastern states of
the U.S. The finger-thick rootstock contains red juice when fresh; when dried
it is yellow inside and brown outside. Bloodroot has been used as a diuretic,
emetic, emmenagogue, expectorant, febrifuge, stimulant, and tonic. Bloodroot
has been used historically in numerous topical preparations for the treatment
of various skin cancers, and also for sores, warts, eczema, and other dermal
& epidermal problems. It has also been used internally in herbal
preparations for congestive lung conditions such as emphysema and chronic
bronchitis.
RED CLOVER has been used in America
for over 100 years to treat and prevent cancer, and also as a sedative for
whopping cough. In Europe, Red Clover has been used as a diuretic to treat
gout, and also as an expectorant. Because of its high content of several
important nutrients, including vitamins and minerals, Red Clover has become a
dependable nutritive supplement in all forms of degenerative disease.
Antibiotic tests on Red Clover have shown it to possess activity against
several bacteria; the most significant of which is the pathogen that causes
tuberculosis.
BIRCH BARK is considered both a bitter
and an astringent. A leaf tea made by infusion is said to eliminate gravel and
dissolve kidney stones when taken daily for a time. This herb has also been
used successfully as a cream, salve, wash or bath additive for the treatment of
skin problems, including Melanoma, resulting from the action of the betulinic
acid occurring naturally in the bark of the tree. Also, the inner bark contains
oil, which is sometimes substituted for wintergreen in various over-the-counter
(OTC) skin liniments.
DMSO (Dimethyl suloxide) is a
by-product of wood. DMSO has been reported to relieve pain, diminish swelling,
reduce inflammation, encourage healing, and restore normal function. DMSO is
typically used for a variety of disorders, including cancer, arthritis, stroke,
mental retardation, and various sports injuries.
BURDOCK ROOT is your all around blood
purifier, its action being simple, yet profound. It produces gradual beneficial
changes within the body by improving general nutrition and by gradually
altering the health of the blood. It is both a diuretic (increases the
secretion and flow of urine) and a diaphoretic (induces perspiration). Burdock
has also been shown to enhance liver and bile functions. Bacteriostatic
principles have been isolated from Burdock root, and it has been found to
inhibit tumor growth. Documented effects include treatment of scurvy, venereal
eruptions, leprosy, and other cankerous skin conditions.
IRISH MOSS is used as a stabilizer in
such dairy products as ice creams, sherbets, chocolate milk, yogurt and whipped
cream. In its raw form, Irish Moss is used as a bulk laxative, which also coats
and soothes the entire gastrointestinal tract. In various forms, it alleviates
peptic and duodenal ulcers in humans while having no adverse effects on the
colon.
Treatment
Day 12: March 12, 1999. I took Natasha back to our vet's office to weigh
her and allow him a chance to see how Natasha is doing. Natasha weighs 50
lbs., which means that she has regained all the weight that she had lost at the
onset of the tumor growths. Dr. Dittrich made several comments that I
would like to pass along to everyone. Regarding a cancer diet - Hill's does make
"Canine n/d"
formula food which is their recommended prescription cancer diet food for dogs
which should be available through most vets. I stand corrected after
stating that "no one I was aware of produced a cancer diet
formula". I prefer not to use this formula food since it contains
carbohydrates from rice (Soluble carbohydrates comprise less than 22% of the
food on a dry matter basis). I would rather leave these carbos out of Natasha's
diet, using cabbage and broccoli instead, after all the information that
I have read regarding natural cancer treatment in pets. Dr. Dittrich did
agree that Natasha's tumors do indeed appear to be shrinking, but on this point
he wanted it noted that since no biopsy was performed on any of the tumors we
cannot state that her tumors are malignant regardless of appearance, growth
pattern, location, etc. Everything that we have come across
regarding breast cancer and skin cancer in dogs still reinforces my belief that
these tumors are malignant cancer and not simple benign growths. Whether
the tumors are malignant or benign they do appear to be responding to the Flax Oil / diet /
supplement treatments. Micha, Natasha's former mate, was subject to 'fat
tumors' as I myself also have been, but their growth patterns and general
appearance is different than the tumors present in Natasha. The skin
tumor also had a very mottled appearance on the surface of the skin before
spreading deeper below the skin - which follows the examples of melanoma that I
had found at the National Cancer Institutes and educational web
sites. At this time Natasha's tumors have lost (by my calculations)
about 35 % of their previous mass - with the exception of the skin tumor which
appears to have stabilized its growth at about 1 1/2 - 2 inches in diameter.
Treatment
Day 15: The Birch
Bark we ordered came in at Deep Woods Apothecary so we have
discontinued the use of the prepared 'black salve' on the skin tumor in favor
of Birch Bark / DMSO
poultices. Natasha's breast tumors appear to have lost approximately
40 - 45 % of their original mass and continue to break up. This is very
exciting! Natasha's energy level continues to improve and she takes every
opportunity to show up Niki. We have run out of Pycnogenol and Melatonin
and at this time we cannot afford to continue with these supplements. I
plan to discuss this further with the family. Hopefully there is something we
can do to restore these supplements to Natasha's regimen. I truly believe
that the Pycnogenol, at least, is very important to Natasha's treatment and
would really like to continue this supplement if we can find the funds somehow.
Treatment
Day 17: After just 48 hours the Birch Bark / DMSO
poultices have apparently caused a 25 % reduction in the diameter of
Natasha's skin tumor (below the skin). The surface of the tumor has lost
much of the mottled appearance that it had and is much more 'pink' like normal
skin tissue. This gives us hope now that there is some type of treatment
that appears to be having an affect on the skin tumor growth.
Treatment Day 21:We took Natasha and Niki to the farm south of
town for a day out in the country. Natasha was much more vocal and active
than the 5-month-old puppy was which astounded everyone that was along.
Her love of life and family is very strong and on days like today that is very
evident to all concerned. She is the light of our lives and we are so
very grateful to everyone that helped to make this day possible - THANK YOU.
Most of Natasha's breast tumors appear to have lost at least 50 % of their
original mass and now are broken into at least 6 - 7 small groups of fatty
appearing growths along both lines of nipples. Chris and I thoroughly
examined Natasha for any spread of growths to other areas of her body but have
found no evidence of any other growths outside of her breast areas or left
thigh as previously noted in the other newsletters. There is one growth
in the lower breast area that has started to concern me - it is located under
her left breast line approximately 2 inches above her genitals. This
growth is fairly oval in appearance and about 1 1/2 inches in length and
somewhat detached from the other fatty growths. I have not really noticed
this growth outside of the other tumors but cannot believe that it has always
been present with the other tumors. We continue to give Natasha 3
doses of the Flax Oil / Cottage Cheese mixture per day. I am considering
increasing this to four doses per day - does anyone have any feedback regarding
giving too much Flax Oil to a cancer patient?
Treatment
Day 22: The skin tumor continues to loose the mottled appearance in favor of
more normal 'pinkish' skin coloring. The skin tumor has not lost any more
mass. The new breast tumor above Natasha's groin indeed appears to be
growing and now I am getting worried if this is an indication of a turn for the
worst in her disease - no other tumors are growing. I really would like
feedback on Flax Oil dosage adjustment vs. tumor growth patterns if anyone has
any information. I may be worrying about nothing. We will continue
to keep everyone posted. It does appear that Natasha's treatment is
settling in for the long haul.
A couple has recently written to
me regarding natural treatments for their 6 year old Rottweiler named 'Levi'
who has been diagnosed as having advanced lymphoma. She has several very
large tumors in her neck and chest. I have not researched lymphatic
cancer. We would appreciate any feedback that anyone has on treatments for this
form of cancer as opposed to the treatments for breast cancer and skin
cancer. If any human lymphoma survivors are out there please respond as
well since treatments for our canine family members usually is very similar to
treatments for humans - especially in natural treatments.
I'm sorry this week's Newsletter was
so short in new Internet Links and Treatment Information but after many more
hours of Internet searches I have not come across anything new. If anyone
has some new treatment information please pass it along to us and we will make
every attempt to relay it to the interested parties.
The Lord bless and keep you all
until next time,
Ron Conley (Camille, Chris, Renee, Natasha
and Niki)
*** END Natasha's Cancer Fight Newsletter - Weeks 3 & 4 ***
Treatment
Day 25: Natasha has had no problem accepting the additional dose of Flax Oil
mixture. Several individuals have voiced opinions that most animals will not
eat more of a supplement than they need. I found no scientific information to
back this up but it appears to hold some truth in Natasha's case. Natasha
craved the Flax Oil in the beginning - licking excess oil off spoons and bottle
caps that were at hand during mixing but no more. Natasha also frequently ate
grass from the backyard but stopped this practice after we added the Wheatgrass Juice (Dr. Ann Wigmore) and Essiac Tea to her diet. By the way
a good web site for unconventional herbal therapies is http://aorta.library.mun.ca/bc/uct/herbal.htm.
Received a new email from Cliff
Beckwith at the Flax Oil web site today with information that I would like
to pass along to everyone. Cliff wrote, "Bruce Barlean has done a lot of
research and recent writings related to pets. I have just read it for the first
time. I would suggest that you go to their web site and click on their pet
studies. The web address is http://www.barleans.com/guide.html".
Another great web site, non-commercial, with a great deal of information
(including Flax Oil), is "Gateway to Health" from Lillian and Dusan
Stojkovic at http://www.geocities.com/~dusan_s/index.html.
Treatment
Day 26: All of Natasha's tumors have again seen some fairly significant loss
of mass! I am starting to wonder if this yo-yo affect is normal? From peak size
the growths have lost 60% - 70% of their mass. Of the breast tumors we can now
only locate four, 2 on each breast line. Of these tumors the 2 nearest the top
of the abdomen are approximately 4" long x 3/4" wide and the two
closest to the genitalia are now both approximately 2" long x 1" wide
(oval shaped). The skin tumor is 1" long x 3/4" wide x 1/2" deep
on the inside left thigh. The surface of the skin tumor is now much pinker than
purple/white mottled. The Birch Bark Poultice
has become quite a chore, which the patient would prefer we curtail. Natasha
smells of DMSO on her
breath now and we are becoming concerned that there may be a buildup of the
chemical in her system from the poultices. We will stop applying the poultices
for the next several days until this problem goes away or can be solved. Energy
level is still very high and appetite if extremely good. The need to have
constant attention and petting is at an all time high! For our old
reliable girl the need for constant attention used to be very typical.
Treatment
Day 27: After concerns regarding a buildup of toxins, we took Natasha to the
farm in Mansfield and with a lot of help managed to administer 2 coffee enemas
to her. The patient was extremely dissatisfied with the whole family
(since those not participating in the procedure likewise did not render aid to
a pup in distress). As only the Siberian Husky owners on the mailing list will
know, Huskies can sing
or in this case howl their heads off. If a stranger heard this racket
without knowing what was going on they would assume you were killing your dog.
In the past people have assumed we were beating our Huskies to death when all
we were doing was refusing to give them a treat or take them on a trip. Niki
stood watch - from a safe distance, with no desire to come anywhere close for
fear of a similar fate. After the treatments we washed Natasha off, cleaned her
up and made certain she drank extra water. There were no ill effects that we could
tell from the enemas and after it all Natasha was certainly one frisky Husky. This
is NOT something I would care to do on a regular basis! Amazingly within 3
hours of administering the enemas Natasha no longer had DMSO breath. As always
the farm was invigorating for all and by the time we came home there were 2
pooped out pups sound asleep in the back of the truck cab.
Treatment
Day 29: The tumor masses continue to shrink though at a slower rate.
Treatment
Day 31: The patient is still doing great. It has been one month since we
started the Flax Oil treatments and I must say that when this all began we had
no idea the progress that could be made in such a short time. Natasha continues
to thrive on a daily basis. The only real problem is with her gait. Occasionally
falling down or tripping when attempting tight maneuvers - I believe this is
most likely stiffness due to some arthritis in the joints. Appetite is still
good, attitude is great, and eyes are clear and bright. Who could ask for more.
Treatment
Day 33: Natasha's tumors appear to have stopped
shrinking again. The tumors have lost 75% of their original mass. We had quite
a scare today; Natasha refused to eat the Flax Oil
mixture for the first time. In desperation we decided to simply mix 1/4 cup of low-fat cottage cheese with the 1 tbs.
Flax Oil instead of blending this all together along with the added
buttermilk. Natasha ate the simple mixture. We don't know if she now dislikes
buttermilk or simply dislikes the texture of the concoction when it has been
blended. For now we will stick with the simple mixture.
Jeffrey & Ann Williams <
JCW8422@aol.com> are still having little success treating their 6
year old Rottweiler, 'Levi', with advanced lymphatic cancer. The Flax Oil
treatments have greatly increased Levi's energy levels and assisted her in
day-to-day activities. Levi is taking 5 doses of Flax Oil mixture daily.
Unfortunately Levi's tumors are still growing and Jeffrey and Ann are concerned
that the largest of these tumors in Levi's neck may soon press on her throat
& interfere with her ability to eat, drink and breath normally. Jeffrey and
Ann would appreciate any feedback that anyone has on treatments for this form of
cancer. If someone out there has information regarding treatment for
human or canine lymphoma (or knows someone who does) please contact the
Williams by clicking on the link above. For those of who that did respond to
this request in the last Newsletter we send our gratitude - Thank you for all
your help.
The Lord bless and keep you all
until next time,
Ron Conley (Camille, Chris, Renee, Natasha
and Niki)
*** END Natasha's Cancer Fight Newsletter - Weeks 4 & 5 ***
Treatment
Day 41: The low-fat milk appears to have taken care of the dehydration
problem. Natasha certainly had no further problems with lethargy today. We did
as is our want on a Saturday and spent the day out at the farm taking down and
then putting up a new pole barn for livestock and storage. The puppy dogs had a
swell time playing with the kids and just generally taking in the smells and
sites. The dogs have started shedding their thick winter coats now so shortly
we will have to curry out all the loose fur and bathe them - but not today.
Kodiac (Chris' Siberian Husky) got out of the fenced yard in town early this
evening so we are heading back in to round up this 100-lb. varmint.
Treatment
Day 42: All the wayward animals are corralled again. Natasha has shown no
significant changes in tumor size so we are adjusting her Flax dosages back
down to just 3 per day. We were back out at the farm today with the pups. We
had lots of mesquite trees to fell and burn. Natasha and Niki took this all in
stride as long as they could roam around Micha's Grove (where we buried our
beloved pet under a stand of trees at the farm). This place seems very special
to all our dogs that were close to Micha. We don't know how they remember where
this spot is, but needless to say all our Siberians love to come to this stand
of trees and splash their paws in Micha's old water bowl that we keep out here
for the dogs. Micha would always splash his paws in the water bowl when he was
mad or feeling neglected - but he was the only dog to pick up this bad trait.
After Micha passed away, on their first trip to the gravesite, Natasha and
Kodiac both did the splash the paw routine they're first day in Micha's Grove -
even though they had never exhibited the trait before. To say that we were
stunned would have been an understatement. Most of our Siberians have at one
time or another manifested behavioral traits that were unique to Micha when
they are in the Grove, and just as quickly forget them when we leave. To those
people who believe that animals have no spirits I'd like to say "explain
this one". They may have no souls but their spirits soar. We had a narrow
escape today. Chris had just cut down a mesquite tree with the chain saw and I
was about to haul it off to the pile we were stacking to burn. Suddenly Chris
was very excited, yelling at me to keep my distance. I was stopped just 2 1/2
feet from the felled tree branches and was staring straight into the eyes of a
copper head snake that was hissing at me while wrapped around one of the
branches. This snake was 5 feet long! Normally we would leave snakes alone out
in the country - they eat mice and rats, etc. With children and dogs present we
decided to take no chances and quickly dispatched the problem. The huskies just
sat through all this like it was a common place occurrence. At the end of a
long day the pups and kiddies were loaded up and we all had a quiet ride home.
Treatment
Day 47: Measured Natasha's tumors this evening and imagine our surprise -
there are now only 3 noticeable breast tumors and the ever present skin tumor
on the inside left thigh. The skin cancer now is 1" (long) x 3/4"
(wide) x 1/4" (deep) - a significant decrease in size! The purple color in
the skin is almost completely gone. Natasha had so hated the Birch Bark Poultice that we stopped applying them
more than a week ago. Apparently either the poultices had already done their
job or the Flax Oil
treatments are finally working on it. The left breast line now has only one
remaining growth - approximately 3" (long) x 3/4" (thick). The right
breast line still has 2 growths - a twin to the one on the left side, which
likewise is approximately 3" (long) x 3/4" (thick). These two tumors
were 4" long three weeks ago! The remaining growth on the right breast
line is the one closest to the genitalia and now is approximately 3/4"
(long) x 1/2" (wide) x 1/4" (deep) and no longer oval in shape. This
growth is less than 1/2 the size it was on Treatment
Day 26! The companion tumor on the left breast line has all but
disappeared! This is fantastic news and warrants a celebration. We were all but
resigned to the idea that the tumors, while in check, would never go away. We
will be out at the farm again this weekend and I think we will plan a special
campfire dinner for everyone to celebrate. Several of you are aware that I
(Ron) have been searching for a new job contract in my computer field for the
last few weeks. This has made family planning difficult especially with the
constant care needed for our sick puppy dog. After a lot of prayer and long
hours emailing, and posting resumes the Lord answered our prayers. I have a new
contract with a great firm in Fort Worth Texas. We are truly blessed since this
position will again allow us to be able to maximize Natasha's treatment without
fear of cutting into any essential family budget plans.
Once again we have to gives thanks
to all our good friends out there, without whom we would not have been able to
reach this point, a well deserved resting point in our Natasha's life. Thank
you all for your constant support, advice, emails, and prayers!
At this time I'd like to pass
along some wonderful news regarding Kirk Heckel and his dog
"Shilo". On May 18, 1999 Shilo was diagnosed with Myelogenous
Leukemia with suppression of red blood cells and platelet production. The
University of Minnesota in St. Paul (according to Kirk, one of the best
veterinary medicine hospitals in the country) did a bone marrow on Shilo who is
only 3 1/2 years old and a CBC and found a high volume of cancer cells in
Shilo's blood. Kirk said that all the staff could offer was to place Shilo on
Predizone to buy him a little time. While extremely depressed and sad, Kirk
began searching the Internet and with the Lord's help he found Cliff Beckwith's Flax Oil web
site and read the testimonials. The next day Kirk started Shilo on the Flax
Oil mixture at 3 doses per day and almost immediately began seeing results.
Four days later Kirk took Shilo back to the doctors and they did a CBC blood
work up and were amazed because Shilo's white count was now normal (after
having almost no white blood cells at all showing on the first tests). Shilo's
platelets were clotting normally and he was producing red blood cells at a good
rate. All this baffled the veterinarians. Tuesday, April 13, Shilo had another
blood test at the vet's office and they could not find any cancer cells at all!
This is fantastic news and I'm sure everyone will be happy for Kirk and Shilo.
Also, once more I'd like to
remind everyone of Jeffrey & Ann Williams and their pet
Rottweiler 'Levi', with advanced lymphatic cancer. Jeffrey and Ann still
need all the feedback and encouragement that they can get in treating Levi for
this deadly form of cancer. Anyone out there with information regarding
treatment for human or canine lymphoma please contact the Williams by clicking
on the link above. Kirk you might want to talk with Jeff and Ann about
"Genistein". And Kathy & Bekka you might also want to share your
experiences with Nicodemus (your kitten) and your treatments using
"SeaSilver" that led to the clearing of Nicodemus' throat tumors.
For those of who that did respond to this request in the previous Newsletters
we send our gratitude - Thank you for all your help.
The Lord bless and keep you all
until next time,
Ron Conley (Camille, Chris, Renee, Natasha
and Niki)
*** END Natasha's Cancer Fight Newsletter - Weeks 6 & 7 ***
Treatment
Day 50: Natasha's condition is unchanged since Treatment
Day 47. The tumors have once again stabilized and are no longer
shrinking. After some discussion we have decided to decrease Natasha's
dosage of the modified Flax Oil mixture back down to 3
doses per day. We will keep up this dosage level for the next week to see if
the tumor's growth rate is affected. If there is no decrease in tumor size
after one week we will restore the dosage level to 4 daily doses.
Treatment
Day 54: The tumors show no indication of either a further decrease in tumor
mass nor any increases. Natasha and Niki continue to stay in high
spirits especially now that their wadding pools in the backyard have been
refilled for the hot Texas summer. Natasha loves to swim and wade in her
pool and has eagerly returned to staying outdoors with Niki when no one is
home. In the past (before cancer) Natasha loved being outside so much
that you could only get her to come indoors for dinner or bedtime. After
the onset of cancer Natasha gradually became a home body, refusing to go outdoors
except to use the privy or for an occasional territorial survey. We are
excited to see the old girl returning to her old familiar routines and take
this as a sign that there are still other types of good changes taking place in
her body and mind even though the tumor masses are not disappearing completely
at this time.
Because of the web site we have
received several emails from people who are currently fighting their own
battles with cancer. Several people have had some concerns about possible
interactions between chemotherapy and flax oil
consumption. I have contacted Cliff Beckwith regarding
this and would like to include some exerts from the email response Cliff sent
in an attempt to clear up any questions some of you may have on this subject:
(Please note that '...' indicates paraphrasing to prevent passing along personal or
non-relative information.)
"Ron, ... I was very excited about not having to die right away, but a lot of
folks are very skeptical. We want to trust doctors to have our best interest at
heart and truly attempt to get us well as a first priority. So, when the
oncologist says "jump" we say "how high?" because he is an
angel in human form and our existence depends on his knowledge and experience.
Some people used the flax oil and got well. Others used it but stayed with
chemo also and they died. If a person were in the latter category, there
were those who could say, "Look at uncle Joe. He used flaxseed oil and he
died. Flaxseed oil really isn't much good." They didn't mention that uncle
Joe had been letting the oncologist poison his system under the illusion that
his life was being extended. [Maybe it was, but there is evidence that it
wasn't.] We hated to see people die of chemo and then have someone use that as
evidence that the Flax oil wasn't effective.
Being totally honest, we have
learned recently that the flax oil is effective even though the patient stays on
chemo. They may not get well, but they will do considerably better than would
have been the case without the oil. There is no conflict with anything else
that is being used. ... there is an account of a lady who was given
no hope except that there would be a slight chance with a stem cell transplant.
She used six tablespoons of flax oil a day along with the chemo and the Omega 3
eliminated the cancer in spite of the chemo. Of course, the oncologist
guaranteed the cancer would return. He is "fighting it with a drug that
will boost the immune system". That can't hurt her so she is going along
with that and staying with the flax. ... I have heard that there is a study nearing completion at the
Cleveland Clinic that will condemn chemo completely. ... friends should get Al Carter's book, "The Cancer
Answer" and read it and then make up their minds. It is not at most
bookstores. The AMA condemns it as controversial. It is. People follow it and
get well. It can be ordered at 1-888-464-5867 from his business in Orem,
Utah. They have a web site athttp://www.healthbounce.com.
They also have an excellent video on cancer entitled, "The Immune
System."
I hope this clears things up a
little. ...
Our best to you. Cliff & Mary Anna Beckwith"
From these statements I believe that
we can all safely conclude that there is no problem with taking flax oil during
chemotherapy. However there are certainly risks involved in chemotherapy
itself. Weigh your choices and then make the decision that you and your
family are most comfortable with and pray a lot about it as well. That is
the best that any of us can hope for. God give us strength and
guide our hands, thoughts and hearts.
Several of you have also asked where
we buy our Flax Oil. We do not want to endorse any particular
distributor's product over that of any other. However with that said our
last purchase was from Nature's Distributors whose web site is: http://www.naturesdistributors.com/price.htm.
If you call them at 800-624-7114, ask if they are running the special on 2 - 12
oz. bottles of Flaxseed Oil with Lignans for $13.36. That was the best
price around that we could find a few weeks ago. There are several other
good distributors, and you can get their information from Cliff Beckwith's Flax Oil web
site.
The Lord bless and keep you all,
Ron Conley (Camille, Chris, Renee, Natasha
and Niki)
*** END Natasha's Cancer Fight Newsletter - Week 8 ***
Since Natasha's disease has
stabilized we are converting the Cancer Fight Newsletter to a monthly format
with updates by week. As time permits we will post additional mail and
web pages from individuals who are also fighting their way through this
terrible ordeal with cancer. If you have a compelling story regarding
your pet and how you are fighting or have fought this deadly disease please
contact the web master Ron Conley to
have you story posted on Natasha's Cancer Fight Newsletter web site.
Week 10:May 3, 1999. Natasha's condition is
unchanged since last week. We've decided to drop her Flax Oil dosages
back down to 3 doses per day. After maintaining this dosage level for one
week we will evaluate her condition again to determine if there has been any
significant changes. Natasha continues to be alert and active (if not
more active).
Week 11: May 10, 1999. The tumor masses have
continued to lose their shape and have now completely flattened into two long
layers of far along the breast lines. We've decided to drop Natasha's
Flax Oil dosages down to 2 doses per day. Again after maintaining this
dosage level for one week we will evaluate her condition again to determine if
there has been any significant changes. We took another trip to the
farm and as usual Natasha and Niki were extremely active and playful
Week 12:May 17, 1999. No further changes in
weight, demeanor, or tumor mass have been noted. If it is possible
Natasha is even more active and energetic than she was last week. Natasha
appears more like she was 3 years ago than 3 months ago. We are very
excited about these results and feel that the Flax Oil and diet modifications
and the main contributor to Natasha's continued good health.
We'd like to welcome Michele and
David Tarlo and their 9-1/2 yr. old cocker spaniel, Jesse. Jesse was
recently diagnosed with Spindle-Cell Fibrosarcoma in one of his legs and has a
heart murmur. Surgery removed most though not all of the tumor mass
before it appears to have spread and Michele said that they are looking into at
home treatments (like Flax Oil) and diet modification for Jesse. Michele
herself is a Hodgkin's Disease / Lymphoma survivor which she was diagnosed with
7 years ago at the age of 22. Michele is in good health now.
Michele, David and Jesse, our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Let's take a moment to discuss the approach that we have taken regarding
cancer treatments and diet. We must stress that before starting any at
home therapy you should take your pet to a qualified veterinary doctor to have
a complete medical evaluation of your pet's condition. Listen to you
veterinarian and then talk with your family and decide on a course of
action. Frequently by the time cancer is noticed (especially in older
pets) the customary cancer treatments and/or surgery no longer offer hope of a
complete cure. Likewise is many cases the affect of cancer surgery or
treatment would be extremely hard on quality of life for your
pet. This does not mean you should rule out surgery or chemotherapy
- but rather weigh these choices carefully before making you decision.
Ultimately you and your family must live with the choices you make for your
pet. Be well informed before making up your mind. Several
individuals have emailed us regarding cancer treatment web sites that promote
or directly sell products for at home cancer treatments or diets. With
few exceptions we try to avoid posting any information that might promote one
particular company or person who is selling a product or treatment on a
for-profit basis. Yes, we have remarked on some Flax Oil distributors and
suppliers of some hard to find treatments from time to time. In each of
these cases Flax Oil or the treatment ingredients outlined were available from
other local sources (health food stores, or supply houses). If you are
interested in a specific product you should certainly price shop first before
buying. Please keep this in mind if you email us regarding
treatments. We must stay open minded regarding any possible new
treatments for this disease but would prefer not to be involved in profit
making endeavors or corporations.
The Lord bless and keep you all,
Ron Conley (Camille, Chris, Renee, Natasha
and Niki)
*** END Natasha's Cancer Fight Newsletter - Month 3 ***
Ron, I'm sorry to say that we had to put Levi down about two weeks ago. She responded pretty well when I put her on the cancer diet you recommended and kept up all the flaxseed oil and vitamins, and we think we probably bought her a couple of extra weeks of life with pretty good quality, but our girl just couldn't fight the cancer that had taken over her body. The last two days of her life she wouldn't eat or even drink water, she had to struggle just to stand, and the look in her eye was one that said please help me put an end to this and go out with a little dignity. She was always a proud and dignified dog and we couldn't bear to see her just withering away like this. We had some friends help us dig a grave on our land in the country that we are building a house on, and she will be under a beautiful old 100 year old oak tree in our backyard. It is a very peaceful and quiet place. We all miss her terribly, but we know we did the right thing. We want to thank you for all the help and concern that you and your family have shown, it gave us strength during our fight with this terrible disease. We will always remember Levi though and she will have a place in our hearts.
Keep us posted on Natasha's health, we will pray for her continued well being and if we can do anything for you please let us know. Jeffrey, Ann, Nicki, & Cortney Williams.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Williams family. It is always
difficult to lose a cherished pet, most of us have been through it all
before. Jeffrey and Ann did what most of us would do - everything we can,
and they are to be commended.
For better or worse I feel that we
need to report honestly what is reported to us regarding all the home
treatments outlined in the Newsletter and the results they bring for our
friends struggling with this tragic disease. Since starting the
Newsletter we have had quite a few remarkable recoveries - this loss emphasizes
the true nature of the struggle with cancer.
Week 13: May 24, 1999. This has been just miraculous,
there are no longer any breast growths that are easily discernable. A
point of note however is that there is now a layer of what appears to be
ordinary fat under the skin over most of Natasha's tummy. I hate to think
that our old girl has lost her washboard stomach, but all things considered we
are very happy with the results. Energy levels are through the roof
and Niki has been repeatedly informed who the new-old boss is. We
replaced the old central air conditioning system (a necessity in North Texas)
and believe me our Huskies were just as excited about this as we
were. Natasha spent much of the weekend on the kitchen tile floor
(the coolest spot in the house with the A/C working).
Week 14:May 31, 1999. Got a spur under our
saddle this week. Niki has tried several times to assert his role as the
lone male Siberian Husky of the house, but the Grand Dame left little doubt who
was in charge in the romance department. This doesn't mean that the
personal attention was totally discouraged - at times Natasha was almost
inviting the looking, nosing and play. Is it possible that
Flax Oil treatments are an aphrodisiac to older dogs? Only time
will tell. Everything else continues as it has.
Week 15: June 7, 1999. Natasha continues to
gain some weight so we are reducing her Flax Oil dosage to 2 doses per
day. In light of her current great condition I hope this will
suffice. Next week we may consider offering Natasha some regular dog food
again instead of the cancer diet meals (chicken/cabbage). This weekend
some of the old mood swings were back. The old girl appeared a little
dejected and down - Niki is getting some special puppy attention and this isn't
going over well at all. She hasn't been eating her meals as she usually
does. More attention and some trips out may resolve these issues.
Week 16:June 14, 1999. Natasha obviously misses
her 3 doses of Flax Oil mixture per day - now we only give her a dose in the
morning and one around dinner time. At bedtime she looks at you and then
paces back to the kitchen waiting for her bedtime dose. We just keep
reminding her that there are no more late night treats. Twice this week
she was fed some of Niki's "Nature's Recipe Puppy Food" instead of
her cancer diet food. The puppy food was apparently quite a treat and she
ate every bit in her bowl. The dogs are outside during the day when no
one is home and play in the 2 wading pools to keep cool or rest under the back
porch for shade. This summer the temperatures have ranged as high as 99
degrees, and the dogs are tolerating the heat very well. Niki chewed up
one of his steel cable run leads in the backyard! We will have to find a
solution to this problem. Siberian Husky puppies can be very destructive
if they are bored and up until they turn 2 1/2 years old. We put an old
sofa out in the backyard under the eaves of the house where no one can see
it. Niki has almost completely, single handed, destroyed the whole
thing. Natasha watches it all with keen indifference, this kind of puppy
activity is just too juvenile for her.
Week 17:June 21, 1999. Changed back to cancer
diet this week. Natasha quickly tired of dry puppy food and wanted the
fresh cooked chicken and cabbage back. There's no fooling this old girl
when it comes to realizing people food vs. dog food. The only tumor like
mass remaining is where the melanoma was - that growth is about the size of a
dime and very fatty in texture and overall appearance. The mottled skin
coloration disappeared weeks ago and all the fur has grown back. Natasha
was on eye drops for some cataract like slight glazing on her eyes, we stopped
using the medication a month or so ago and just noticed that her eyes are as
clear as ever. We don't know what to attribute this secondary benefit to,
Flax Oil, supplements, diet?
Week 18:June 28, 1999. Hung mini blinds this
weekend. The pups were lots of help (or at least they thought they
were). Natasha held down the blind containers so they wouldn't run
off (can't image how that was comfortable). Niki repeatedly took off with
screwdrivers, blind parts, and was even found chewing on a 3 foot steel
square?! Offered to let the dogs play outside at least a dozen times over the
weekend but they decided it was better to celebrate the Fourth of July indoors
where it is a cool 74 degrees. No one will argue with that.
We'd like to welcome many new
friends to Natasha's Cancer Fight Newsletter. Most everyone is struggling with
cancer in a beloved pet. Our hopes and prayers are with you and
yours. I want to specifically welcome Mary and her Rottweiler,
Bear. Bear has Degenerative Meylopathy (basically like MS in
humans) and was recently diagnosed with malignant melanoma. Welcome
to Pam in Chicago and her pet Casey. Casey is 14 and
has a cancer growth on his hip which has been removed once and has grown back
after 14 months. A warm welcome for Mary Syslo and her pet
which has a growth on the muzzle - obviously difficult to treat. Welcome
also to Bernadette and her Lhaso Apso, Scruffy.
Scruffy has malignant melanoma and cancer growths in the throat (sounds like
Levi all over again). Scruffy had some pretty severe oral bleeding, but
this apparently has improved after putting him on supplements, cancer diet and
Flax Oil. Finally lets all give a big Texas Howdy Y'all to Shirley
Lipschutz-Robinson, Hollywood, California - SHIRLEY'S WELLNESS
CAFE. If I have forgotten anyone please drop me a
line. Posting people's names with their pet's diagnosis is a way to
network. If anyone is interested in any of these cases please let me know and I
will pass along the email addresses after getting permission from the
individuals involved. If anyone mentioned (or not) would like their email
addresses added to Natasha's Cancer Fight Newsletter just reply to Ron Conley
and your address will be posted. I want to apologize for anyone whose
name I left out since the last Newsletter. Please drop me a line if you
were not mentioned.
To keep the fight real for everyone we've decided to publish the stories of other people struggling with pet cancer. For better of worse the individuals who have consented to publish their stories through the Newsletter will keep us all up to date on their progress fighting against the monster we call cancer. The first of these