Before coming back home, we spent 2 days in San Diego. We had fun at the San Diego Zoo and at Sea World. Spending time with God’s beautiful creatures gives me such joy, and seeing my son interact with animals is priceless. Once I was home, the adjustment was challenging. I felt dizzy and had nausea the whole week, plus the cold weather was a shock to my system. I am prone to vertigo; therfore, the doctors believe it’s a side effect from the treatments, and can take some time to go away. During the week, I gave myself Coley’s injections under the skin. I had slight chills, and a fever, and then a headache. Just a recap: the Coley’s Therapy is dead sterile bacteria that is injected into the body; produces an immune response, and activates cancer fighting immune cells. When the body shows a response like mine, that means the Coley’s Therapy was effective in producing an immune response.

On Tuesday, I had a virtual consult with an integrative doctor from Paulina Clinic in Chicago. I wanted to get started on Mistletoe injections; and with his guidance, I was able to order myself these injections. European mistletoe is a medicinal plant that has been used as a treatment for cancer for more than a century. It’s an evergreen semiparasitic plant that grows on certain trees and draws out water and nutrients. It’s native to Europe and Asia. Extracts from mistletoe are used to treat a variety of conditions, including cancer.

Mistletoe contains several compounds that may have therapeutic potential, including lectins, viscotoxins, flavonoids, oligo- and polysaccharides, membrane lipids, alkaloids, and more. The lectins concentrated in mistletoe may modulate the immune system, improving immune defenses and decreasing negative effects of cancer treatments. Lectins are molecules that contain both carbohydrate and protein parts. These compounds can bind to and modulate cells. Viscotoxins are another type of active compound found in mistletoe. They are believed to have anticancer effects However, research suggests that complete mistletoe extract has more powerful anticancer effects than the isolated compounds found in mistletoe, implying that all compounds found in mistletoe, not just lectins and viscotoxins, contribute to these effects. Studies show that mistletoe affects the immune system in a variety of ways that may be beneficial in treating cancer and reducing side effects of cancer treatment. For example, in human studies, mistletoe extract administration has been shown to increase numbers of natural killer cells (NK cells), which are immune cells that fight cancer. Mistletoe has also been shown to have anti-inflammatory effects, and some research suggests it may act as an antiangiogenesis agent. This means it may prevent the spread of cancer by stopping the growth of new blood vessels, cutting off fuel supply to tumors. There is a form of mistletoe available in the US, listed with FDA, which can be purchased from Uriel Pharmacy. It is called by the generic name Viscum, and comes in 8 different host tree types (Mali, Quercus, Pini, Crataegi, Abietis, Tilia, Salicis and Populi) in the strengths associated with Iscucin (A-G) and Potency Series 1 and 2. While it is labeled for oral use and for the homeopathic indication of headache, it is a sterile isotonic solution that can be used at the physician’s discretion for off-label uses. I ordered the Viscum Mali 1mg ampoules, and will be starting my Mistletoe treatments this week.

I had Cryoablation (freezing of a tumor) done at Chipsa 3 weeks ago, and I will have to wait until the beginning of Feb for a CT scan to determine the success of the Cryoablation. The good news is that my tumor is smaller! It was 10 cm prior to Cryoablation, and it feels a lot smaller than that. This is based on my own palpation skills, as I cannot get accurate measurements without an ultrasound… but it is definitely smaller!

I will keep up with my blogs 1 to 2x a week, and give updates on my progress. I will share additional information on supplements and diet as well. I am feeling very hopeful and positive, as I am going through this journey. “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” Romans 12:12