Update
Just wanted to add in that Lorne unfortunately died from this terrible disease. We did our best to save him but colon cancer is a really aggressive cancer. Hind's sight Sean would say she wishes they never did chemo, as that really hindered the other therapies in doing what they needed to do. At the end of the day, there is no right or wrong when you are making choices for yourself or loved ones. The only right is knowing our days are numbered and it doesn't matter if its cancer or walking across the street - when it's our time to go it's our time to go.
Conventional vs. Alternative Treatments
Unfortunately, we have reached the limits of conventional medicines effectiveness. Last scan shows the cancer is progressing even amidst aggressive chemo. His latest chemo "cocktail" (Folfiri) was so toxic, he had to receive fluid and anti-nausea medication infusions for two consecutive days during his chemo cycle. They have since adjusted the dose down for the last cycle he did but it still made him extremely sick. As my best friend Kathy put it after staying with us during that last cycle, "you'd have to be here during his chemo treatment to have any idea how horrible it is". For me personally, that's a HUGE understatement. It's as hard to watch as anything I've ever seen. This man is my husband. We have walked together down some pretty murky passages and we have seen each other through some very dark days and nights. I would gladly lay down my own life for him, were it possible. Without any hesitation.
I'm no pushover, but I also realize that alternatives do exist. Many of them work, many of them don't. But even the one's that do work aren't going to be made readily available to the masses, at least not for some time. And time is the one thing Lorne doesn't have. All of that aside, lives are spared all the time by "alternative" therapies. I don't believe I should NOT seek out alternatives because they MIGHT not work... we are talking life and death here! Besides, his own oncologist is sending him on to clinical "trials". Already sounds iffy enough doesn't it?
I am also not a doctor, but believe me, when your oncologist starts talking to you about clinical trials because you've exhausted the effectiveness of conventional treatments, you become a researching fool. I have been looking into all sorts of alternatives, mostly of the immunotherapy variety. Immunotherapy is a booming science field with lots of successes. The science behind immunotherapy is simply amazing and they are learning more and more everyday about our immune systems and what makes them tick. I'm not one for sitting inside pyramids or "positive thinking" cancer away, although I have heard some persuasive stories. I think we are past the point of anything that wouldn't require some level of medical intervention. To that end, we haven't settled on a specific alternative treatment plan yet but the one thing we do know at this point is that insurance isn't going to cover it. They will cover chemo, radiation and surgery. That's it. And the conventional doctors aren't willing to do anything except chemo unless it's "palliative" (aka for comfort purposes only while Lorne dies). Well we already know chemo isn't working anymore, so here we are. Next stop... hospice.
I will be talking with an integrative oncologist this Tuesday, November 4. The hospital he works for has a huge integrative oncology program that incorporates many different bio-immune cell therapy treatments such as:
This will be a 3 week intensive treatment plan utilizing several different immuno-therapies that are arranged for maximum effectiveness. They are reviewing Lorne's medical files and putting together a treatment plan they believe will offer him the best chance for optimal survival. The cost for this 3 week program is between $30,000 and $35,000, which we don't have. Thankfully, this cost covers lodging and all meals plus all related therapies and 3 years of followup appointments. We are reaching out to our families, friends, colleagues and anyone who might feel compelled to help us raise as much as possible towards Lorne's treatments. Lorne has been a blessing for so many over the years and we hope and pray you will help keep him alive for years to come! We are so very grateful for any and all contributions.
I'm no pushover, but I also realize that alternatives do exist. Many of them work, many of them don't. But even the one's that do work aren't going to be made readily available to the masses, at least not for some time. And time is the one thing Lorne doesn't have. All of that aside, lives are spared all the time by "alternative" therapies. I don't believe I should NOT seek out alternatives because they MIGHT not work... we are talking life and death here! Besides, his own oncologist is sending him on to clinical "trials". Already sounds iffy enough doesn't it?
I am also not a doctor, but believe me, when your oncologist starts talking to you about clinical trials because you've exhausted the effectiveness of conventional treatments, you become a researching fool. I have been looking into all sorts of alternatives, mostly of the immunotherapy variety. Immunotherapy is a booming science field with lots of successes. The science behind immunotherapy is simply amazing and they are learning more and more everyday about our immune systems and what makes them tick. I'm not one for sitting inside pyramids or "positive thinking" cancer away, although I have heard some persuasive stories. I think we are past the point of anything that wouldn't require some level of medical intervention. To that end, we haven't settled on a specific alternative treatment plan yet but the one thing we do know at this point is that insurance isn't going to cover it. They will cover chemo, radiation and surgery. That's it. And the conventional doctors aren't willing to do anything except chemo unless it's "palliative" (aka for comfort purposes only while Lorne dies). Well we already know chemo isn't working anymore, so here we are. Next stop... hospice.
I will be talking with an integrative oncologist this Tuesday, November 4. The hospital he works for has a huge integrative oncology program that incorporates many different bio-immune cell therapy treatments such as:
- T-cell Therapy
- NK (Natural Killer) Cell Therapy
- Dendretic Cell Therapy*
- Stem Cell Therapy
- CD-34 Cell Therapy
- High-dose Vitamin Therapy
This will be a 3 week intensive treatment plan utilizing several different immuno-therapies that are arranged for maximum effectiveness. They are reviewing Lorne's medical files and putting together a treatment plan they believe will offer him the best chance for optimal survival. The cost for this 3 week program is between $30,000 and $35,000, which we don't have. Thankfully, this cost covers lodging and all meals plus all related therapies and 3 years of followup appointments. We are reaching out to our families, friends, colleagues and anyone who might feel compelled to help us raise as much as possible towards Lorne's treatments. Lorne has been a blessing for so many over the years and we hope and pray you will help keep him alive for years to come! We are so very grateful for any and all contributions.