Today is special because:
- Jim’s son is in remission for his secondary liver cancer
- father would have celebrated his 78th birthday
Jim has been updating us about his son’s spread cancers for months now. Things keep on looking better thanks to:
- having professional help from his aunt: an experienced oncology nurse with medical certification who survived breast cancer
- eating health food
- doing relaxation
- having hopeful spirits
- having a very helpful family (thanks Jim as always!)
- having a good sense of humor
Although his cancer is under control, Jim’s son is still having a stoma. In other words: victory over cancer doesn’t mean that everything is 100% ok. But father would have loved a stoma and being able to drive a car again much more than being buried for 2 years now…
The best cancer treatment is your healthy body
In the sidebar we summarized what we learned from all our metastatic liver cancer survivors under the title "The best cancer treatment is your healthy body".
Jim gives an update about his son’s cancer treatment with positive results.
Update on Jim’s son
Yesterday we got the results of his PET scan and they showed that there was no further cancer growths in his liver, lung and bowel or anywhere else.
The bowel cancer is dead and the lung and liver are now very small: so lets say he is remission!
He has started another round of Xeloda and will probably have another two of Oxalyplatin after this. His cancers have reduced by probably 95%.
Bowel cancer treatment
We have decided not to operate on the bowel tumour for the moment as he needs to gain more strength and put on more weight. The surgeons agreed with this as they said the bowel cancer is not now a problem.
We want him to get stronger so he can have the operation and hopefully reverse the stoma.
He has gained one half stone in weight over the last three weeks and has today driven himself and his mother to his aunt for his relaxation therapy.
Given that last September he was given no hope and only six weeks to three months all is good at the moment.
He looks good too, back to his normal self with a good sense of humour.
He still takes the alternative therapy remedies and these seem to be helping in a great way.
His aunt is treating another patient with similar conditions to his and her cancers have reduced a phenomenal amount, so much so the oncologist asked if she was taking anything else with the chemo, and she just said health food!
He takes so many type of remedies that I can’t keep up with them all as they are taken at different times of the chemotherapy cycles.
I will say if you are looking for alternative treatment stay away form the ’shonks’ and look for someone who has an oncology background with medical certification as they are the only ones who understand the complete picture of both treatments.
Good luck to all of you; I will keep you posted on his progress.
Best wishes,
Jim
Which alternative treatments to use?
We would love that one day Jim could write down all the alternative treatments his son has taken.
We agree with Jim: stay away from the ‘shonks’. It’s utterly disgusting how many emails we got trying to sell us colon cleansing to cure father from his metastatic liver cancer.
There is no miracle cure for cancer and whoever says he has, he should give you the guarantee of your money back.
Listening to all our metastatic liver cancer survivors, all they have in common is that they have a mixture of treatments and lifestyles in order to keep one step ahead of the cancer.
Like Jim says: eat health food. If you have no clue where to begin, go to a bigger supermarket and look for the organic vegetables section and organic meat section.
Yes you will pay more for health food. But if you have ever seen cancer up close, you know that the extra money for organic food pays back well it keeps the cancer away.
If you buy books about cancer treatments, then only buy cancer books with a money back guarantee. These are the only kind of books we offer on this homepage.
In one of these books ‘My Victory Over Cancer’ a primary liver cancer survivor shares her story: it’s not only about food but like we advocate it talks about an holistic approach towards health and cancer using prayer, stress elimination, detoxification, building the immune system, proper nutrition and easy cooking methods. It is written by a primary (not a secondary liver!) liver cancer survivor Magalie Hall. My Victory Over Cancer is Magalie Hall’s story of going from having 6 to 18 months to live, to total victory over liver cancer 10 years ago through nutritional and faith-based methods.
She believes in:
- prayer,
- stress elimination,
- detoxification,
- building the immune system,
- proper nutrition and
- easy cooking methods.
Her method is based on her own experience and can be used alongside conventional cancer treatments.
Like we always say at metastaticlivercancer.org "I don’t know exactly what works, but something is working" is far more better than a chemotherapy that doesn’t work for you.
Some parts of her book you could argue is not needed. Always listen to your gut feeling and if you have better alternative ideas than the ones listed by Magalie: by all means use them! We all carry a piece of the puzzle to treat cancer.
The bonus gifts are two email newsletters:
- Victory Recipes and
- Victory Tools covering Magalie’s new tips, methods, products and resources.
This book has very detailed detoxification and nutritional information, written by a woman who has survived liver cancer.
We wish you well
We ask Jim’s father and any of you who survived cancer, to write down everything you think helped you in your victory above cancer.
A big hug for all of you, we know that cancer is a killer but be inspired by Jim son’s story and our other metastatic liver cancer survivor stories.
Come to think of it: when father passed away a blackbird kept visiting mom for a few weeks in her garden, coming much closer than they normally do 🙂
Hugs and love,
Kim
Dearest Jim,
Thanks for sharing, feel free to send a picture if you want to add it to your description.
Meanwhile keep an eye on yourself and your loved ones involved and take care.
Hugs,
Kim
22nd November 2011
I would just like to add one other thing to my last post. Christian is buried in a beautiful cemetery which has rustic charm; it is council owned. There is an abundance of wildlife and trees, there are birds so tame they will come and sit on your arm or on the back of the seat we have provided. There are Lorrikeets and even Kangaroos that we see occasionally. This makes it easier for us; we even bought the plot next to his so we have it for ourselves when needed.
All this really does help with the healing.
Jim
22nd November 2011.
Today marks the first anniversary of the passing of my son Christian. The year has been long and hard, but we are now at the ‘physchological
milestone’ of the journey.
Today we released 12 doves at his grave in his memory; it was very touching. On his birthday in February we released Monarch butterflies in the hope that they would breed.
Thank you all for your support over the years. I hope all goes well for everyone. Life some times takes you in directions you hadn’t intended but stay strong, WHATEVER HAPPENS.
We as a family have managed to stay strong, but some days aren’t as good as others but you have to do your best and I think we have done that.
Jim
Dear Onnesta,
Thanks for sharing: your husband sounds like my father in the sense that he doesn’t feel like communicating what’s going on in his mind after hearing the news.
If a doctor say he can’t do anything, it’s only his opinion. Try to find another doctor who is more specialized in this matter.
From a medical point of view, I notice you don’t describe the exact diagnose of the cancer: is the cancer in his liver a prostate cancer or a colon cancer (I assume no liver biopsy has been done to find out?). I am not a doctor, but I assume one fights a colon cancer differently than a prostate cancer, hence the importance of knowing which cancer has spread to the liver.
As for a diet, you need to change to a lifestyle that boosts the immune system, as that’s a person’s ‘line of defense’. A vairiation of organic food but also lots of love, little or only positive stress (hard to do when you hear bad news, yet do find things to relax or any other stress outlet) and move the body (it is not meant to sit down the whole day).
Try to get a second opinion from a hospital that’s experienced in these kind of matters, talk to your GP and ask him to make some calls (“normal people” have difficulties to get in touch with specialists, GP’s are one step closer on the ladder).
Lots of hugs and do ask more questions or just drop by: all of us have walked or are walking a similar path as the one you are on now.
Hugs,
Kim
My husband was told yesterday that his liver has developed more spots with the 4 spots developed from his colon cancer.
My husband was diagnosed with Prostate cancer 3 years ago. He had the seed implants and radiation. Just this year 2010 he had severe abdominal pains and had a colonoscopy. Found out he has colon cancer in his ascending colon which was removed. His has gone through 12 rounds of chemo and was off of Chemo last month (November). As of yesterday, the doctor tells him theres nothing more he can do but more chemo because 3 of the 4 spots shrunk and one still remained the same. They also found more spots in his liver.
My husband is only 49 years old. I am so afraid! I do not know what to do. I feel so vulnerable and cant imagine what he’s thinking since he found out.
I am trying to understand mets more. I would like to change my husband’s diet to be more healthier to prolong any more cells for growing on his liver. I am really at words of loss because i feel so helpless.
Hi B,
Please make an appointment with your doctor and let him explain what kind of chemo he is giving and more importantly why:
-to get rid of the cancer completely or
-to reduce the cancer spreading faster.
Chemo kills cancer cells as well as good cells, so yes, the stronger the chemo, the more sick you will feel.
If you boost your immune system, you need less chemotherapy than when you have a weak immune system.
If your mum’s doctor hasn’t time for you, then go to your GP, let him contact the doctor and explain you what they are doing.
Hugs and prayers for you, your mum and your dad,
Kim
My mum has been advised today to start chemo. she has metastic cancer thats spread to the liver.
My dad and i dont know what to do. Apparently the doctor said they dont know how well chemo will work, and i heard chemo makes u tired and more sick.
My mum feels fine now. im scared that chemo will make her worse.
Thank you Kim,
What I’m thinking is that it might have started in his head since he’s been suffering from extremely bad headaches for years but the doctors never looked into it, just told him to take some tylenol. And thinking back, the headaches always originated around his right eye area. After I posted my question yesterday I found a site that confirmed that it could possibly be metastatic since he has the one in his liver as well, so I sasked his doctor about it and he said it is one of many possibility’s. So now I’m waiting for a phone call to schedule an MRI.
Dear Monty,
In 2007 we had a guest writer talking about her tumor in her brain at : http://www.metastaticlivercancer.org/tumor-in-the-brain/
Is your question: can the tumor from the liver move to the brain?
Unfortunately I am not a doctor, so I cannot answer that question. Normally a biopsy needs to be done (taking a tissue-sample from the tumor) to determine what kind of cancer/tumor the patient has.
In the experiences on this website: we talk about metastatic liver cancer: a cancer that originated somewhere and has spread to the liver.
A primary liver cancer is a cancer that has originated in the liver.
To detect the type of cancer in the liver: again a biopsy is needed. And in my father’s case: the biopsy still couldn’t determine the origin of the cancer, so it is called: secondary liver cancer with unknown primary.
Please update us with further questions, or try to call any doctor for a more professional explanation.
Hugs and prayers to you and your husband,
Kim
A year ago a doctor found a tumor in my husbands
liver, since then it has been untreated due to not having any medical insurance after layoffs.
A few months ago his eyelids started swelling up.
Yesterday they finally did a CTscan but only of his head and found a tumor in his right orbit.
I know I can’t get correct medical advice online,
but I can’t wait another week to ask the doctor
during my husbands next appointment, does anyone
here know if it could possibly be metastatic?
I can’t find anything online linking the two,
but can’t help but worry.
Thank you in advance for any comments.
Update on Jim’s son 1st July 2010.
He is doing ok and the oncologist has said he is stable. His CEA’s are at about 295 which is quite low. He is also still on Erbitux, and has been every week since January, he must have had about 22 infusions and I think it is this that is having such a profound effect on his survival considering how sick he was in December. He has gained weight and his blood picture is excellent. He eats well, whatever he likes and is never sick with the Erbitux and accompanying chemo that he is taking. If you can get onto Erbitux (you need to be a candidate); I know it is difficult for many people, but try because I know that is what is making the difference to his life. Also, I can only reiterate that you must try to get the immune system healthy before chemo with some alternative medicines; it definitely makes a difference to the overall health.
Best wishes to you all.
Regards,
Jim
Jim, Thanks for sharing your son’s story as it gives hope to many people. My father has survived colon cancer twice but it seems it has metastisized to his liver after 2 years. He can’t really talk about it yet as he just got the news and my parents are just taking it in and talking when they can. He is due to start chemo next week and I have been researching some alternatives such as cutting it out or transplant…any thoughts on these? I am planning on talking to him about his diet, life style, and doing some meditation. Any help you can provide would be greatly appreciated. My parents will be celebrating their 54th Anniversary this Wednesday in the midst of all the treatments beginning so we have planned a surprise party to help bring up their spirits and surround them by their friends and family who dearly love them. Thanks again…keep us updating and help when you can. Debra
Jim, Thanks for the hope…I have read your son’s story and feel there is hope for my dad. He has had colon cancer twice and has been free of it for about 2 years but his recent PET
Dear Roland,
Please read our answer at: How to beat metastatic liver cancer and feel free to ask more questions anytime or simply drop by and say hi.
Hugs!
Hello there, just read about the inspiring words that there are survivors from metastatic liver cancer, I myself was diagnosed last year (July 09), with colon cancer with mets at liver. Just gone through with radiotherapy for the colon and already had 10 cycle of chemotherapy (which ended last dec 09). Now, my body gained weight, back to normal complexion, still, the mets at my liver are still a problem (based to my doctor), also, latest PET scan, shows a metastatic cancer at C7 vertebrae. Now, I am back again with the same procedure (radiotherapy and Chemo), hopefully, the procedure would turn out positive. Could you give me some suggestions on how you were able to survive the sickness (food intakes, medicines if any) so that I may also do the same thing just to prolong and possibly cure the same disease. Any info would be greatly appreciated.
Dear Sheila,
We have been in a similar situation. When doctors say: consult hospice they say: “with normal efforts and with our limited experience we won’t be able to cure the disease”.
If you would have a doctor in front of you that has a cancer survivor patient with a similar cancer as your husband, he would say: “we can cure this disease although the statistics are against you.”
What our cancer survivors say is: you need to 100% believe you cn cure the cancer and then you need to do everything right. If you have that mindset and energy, then you need to step to an oncologist who believes as well and do everything right.
If you don’t believe there is a cure, what we happened to believe when our father was diagnosed with secondary liver cancer, you need to contact hospice asap and organise your life knowing that tomorrow will be more difficult than today.
Hugs and please ask more questions, which I will answer faster than I did now.
My husband just recently diagnose with liver cancer that mets to the lungs according to a hepatologist and advice us to consult a hospice. We cannot take it so I consulted an Oncologist and we are waiting for biopsy to start his treatment but looking at my husband makes me feel like hopeless. So as I was reading this stories at your website, it gives me hope. So please guide me on what to do first. I need your answer right away please.
Thank you!
Sheila
16th September 2009
Update on Jim’s son.
Tomorrow will the the first anniversary of my son’s diagnosis of colorectal cancer with liver mets, and today he has just had his 15th round of chemo. His is still on Oxalyplatin and Xeloda; therefore he is still with us, and in good spirits even though he has his ‘down’ days about one week after the intravenous.
We found out the other day that he is still in stage IV but the cancer is not advancing and the oncologist said on Monday that he is surprised at his condition considering the severity of the illness. His blood pictures are good and he is retaining weight and his cancer counts are quite low; my wife forgot to ask what they were, but low, and not as low as the lowest they have been.
I would love to tell you what is keeping him alive and I think it is all the alternative remedies supplied by his aunt which compliments the chemo; she changes them on a regular basis so I can’t keep up. But the main one is Grifola and also liver support and immune system support drops (nothing on the bottle so I don’t know). I think you have to find an alternative practitioner who prescribes for you what you need and I don’t think there is a one for all solution. We are just very lucky his aunt is so well qualified in cancer nursing and alternative therapy and understands what is required.
One thing I think that helps is that we eat quality food (not organic) and a huge variation from steak to salad to roasts and lots of Asian style and heaps of veggies; his main love is hot curry with spicy papadoms (maybe good for cancer sufferers, who knows!).
I don’t know what else to tell you; but lots of love and care help. My son doesn’t have to do anything but try to get better.
Best wishes to you all. I hope success is with you too.
Jim.
I was diagnosed with Metastatic liver cancer in January 2009. I had 5 rounds of chemo – Carboplatin, Etoposide. I started eating only organic foods, very little meat (occasional organic chicken) – basically vegetarian. Took supplements (CoEnzyme Q10, selenium, Zeolite, apricot kernels). Went to the Gawler Foundation in Melbourne which encourages meditation, diet etc for cancer sufferers and is a wonderful, hope-filled place. I am now in remission (they never found the primary), and feel better than I have in 20 years. So metastatic liver cancer I think can be beaten – but it takes a change in lifestyle to do it!
19th July 2009
Update on Jim’s son.
It has been 10 months since my son was diagnosed with liver mets and colon cancer and he is still with us thank God.
He is on his 10th round of chemo and has had is oral chemo increased to 1500mg/day. He is doing ok and is in good spirits even though some days he is down.
His cancer counters have stabilised at about 300 from a low of 80 and a high of 2300 which is good. The oncologist has said he wants to make sure the colon cancer is ‘dead’ and then they can make some decisions as what to do and has said there are quite a few opitons open to them. His liver mets have calcified and as far as I know they are no longer a threat at this moment; which is good.
He is still taking all the alternative remedies prescibed by his aunt and is looking good. No hair loss no sickness. etc.
That’s about all at the moment. I will keep you informed. Good luck to you all, and if you can find a good alternative practitioner which I a sure in our case has helped immensely.
Jim
19th May 2009
Update on Jim’s’ son. He is doing ok and is now back on the Oxalyplatin and oral Xeloda. He is looking well and in good spirits and enjoys a joke most of the time. He has also gained 25 pounds in weight!
When he recently went for his PET scan we had time to spare before the appointment and we went to see his ‘old boss’. He nearly fell over when he saw him walk through the door and said afterwards “I never thought I would see him walk through that door again”.
Yesterday he took his car for a spin when he took his mother to get her car from being serviced.
All is good at the moment. His aunt is still treating him with all sorts of stuff; but has said he must always take the Grifola mushroom compound even if he has nothing else. One of her patients who had to make economies stopped the mushroom extract and her cancers started to come back. I know we are lucky and not paying the A$140/bottle for it but if you can afford it try it.
I don’t have much more information at the moment as things as I said earlier are as good as can be expected, we are hoping for a good outcome; we are going for the minimum of the 5 year target at this stage.
This is afar cry from the 6 weeks to 3 months last September. His cancer counts have also gone from 2300 to 100 a slight rise in the lowest of 35.
Remember cancer patients need relaxation and no stress and have no worries about anything else but getting well. I know it is stressful on the carers but it is worth it. My wife and I both have jobs to keep a hold of and we share the care between us. She works shifts and finishes early weekdays by 9 am and then works all day Sat and Sun when I look out for him.
Best wishes to you all, and I hope your outcomes are all good too.
Jim