Coping with Chemo

Because of Samuel's fight with cancer and the things we learned along the way, I am a strong advocate of saying NO to chemo and searching out alternative cancer treatments as well as getting to the root cause of the cancer.  We were able to use diet, herbs and alternative cancer treatments to get our son into remission three times.  Unfortunately, due to the initial damage from chemo which destroyed his gut, he was unable to survive.  What we found was that cancer was the easy part.

If you are an adult reading this, know that you have choices and remission is possible without harsh drugs, surgery or radiation.  If you are a parent with a child fighting cancer, you don't have as many choices until conventional medicine fails.  You also have choices if conventional medicine causes way too many horrible side effects or if prognosis is very grim.  Standing up for your child, saying no to standard treatments, is not easy, but it has been done.  We did it.

With that said, I have comprised a list of tips for surviving and coping with chemo below as well as suggestions as to what to do when the protocol is over, or treatment is delayed.   These are things we did, wish we had done sooner, and learned from experience.  If you are reading this and cancer has not struck your family, it is never too early to work on your family's health.  Prevention is MUCH better than cure.

In Everything, Remember God's Word and Will

God's will is for divine health.  God does not make us sick.  Isaiah 53:5

But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.  That is it!  Get hold of that and know that Jesus died so that we may be healed.  Meditate and speak this over your child. John 10:10

The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

Hospital life is NOT abundant life.  Sick kids being poisoned is NOT abundant life.  The lifestyle of a family affected by cancer is NOT abundant life.  Families losing everything, children dying, lives shattered forever is NOT abundant life.   For months while Samuel was in the hospital in 2004, I reminded God of these scriptures.  We listened to healing scripture tapes and videos and allowed Samuel to hear the Word spoken over him.   We believe that even though he was only two at the time, the spirit man KNOWS the Word of God and responds.    We anointed him with the healing oils and claimed his healing in Jesus's name.  We never gave up.  Do NOT give up, We received bad report after bad report and at times had faith the size of a mustard seed.  But God says that he will honor THAT very faith and He did.  In everything remember God, His Word and His promises.  Speak life over your child in the face of tragedy.  Check with God about choices you are making for your child and if your gut feeling says it is not right, it probably isn't.   God speaks to us all, we just have to listen.  Sometimes it is in dreams, words from strangers, words from friends and family, or in scripture.  But He is always there waiting on you.  God WANTS us to be healed.  He does NOT want us to be afflicted by the sicknesses and diseases of the world.  He wants us to be living examples of who He is and what He is capable of.  Samuel is a living miracle.  No science can explain why he is alive today.  Only God can explain.....a miracle.  If you do not believe in God or miracles, I challenge you to read Samuel's story, all of it and see if your mind does not change.  Our hope is strong in God.  Our hope has been shattered in earthly man.

SUPPORT!!!!!

Build your support system early.  Ask people to pray for guidance for you and God's protection over your child's body.  I do not believe chemo is God's Medicine and you will need His divine intervention to get through and protect your family.  Unite with your spouse in all decisions regarding your child's care.  Find common ground.  If you cannot agree, compromise.  Take one day at a time.  Certainly Mark and I did not always agree on Samuel's care or continuing a protocol. It took time, heartache and faith to get to the point where we are now.  Note that this site is a starting place.  There is tons of info out there in alternative cancer cures, herbs, etc, seek and ye shall find.  Never forget that God is in charge here and His will is healing!  Remember to pray, always.  Choosing alternative diet and treatments for your child is not easy.  In fact it is a lot of work.  Older children can help in many ways preparing foods, etc.   By allowing them to help, you are teaching them how to better nourish themselves.  If everyone in your household changes their diet, that helps immensely in getting your child to co-operate.

Exercise, Sunlight, Laughter and Fun

Make a point of it.  Figure out how you can do these things daily or you will go crazy.  Sunlight helps the body manufacture Vitamin D which is now proven essential as a cancer fighting vitamin.  Try to get one hour of sun per day.  If you cannot, Mercola.com sells sun light bulbs.   Exercise relieves stress and helps the body detox through the largest organ of the body.......skin and sweat.   Laugh and have fun.  Find a way, even if it as at each other.  A sense of humor shines in the darkest of moments.

Keep YOURSELF healthy.

This should go without saying, but often due to stress, parents get overcome with illness.  Support YOUR immune system with good food and herbs.   More on that below.   If you are not on any medications, you may use herbs which are generally considered safe freely.  Education is out there everywhere.  See my links page for some good sites to start with.   Stay away from sick people.  Ask before going to anyone's house if they are sick.   Use antibacterial wipes when you are out and about in crowded places.  Shopping carts and ATM's are major bacteria areas.  Wash your hands often.   Wellness Formula is an invaluable supplement to have on hand for parents.  I usually have tinctures around but these are great if you are on the go. We made it a priority to stay well while Samuel was on chemo.  His body had enough to do without adding additional sickness to the mix.  I wanted his immune system to be free to fight cancer, not a cold or flu.

While your child is on chemo, you can help their body and mind cope by implementing good nutrition and ensuring detox.

PLEASE READ ALL OUR HERBAL PAGES ON DIET AS THERE IS A LOT OF INFO SCATTERED AROUND HERE

Our Family's Health

Samuel's Diet

Our Holistic Herbal Apothecary

Our Outlook on Cancer

Everyone has their idea of what good nutrition is.  This is a good place to start reading. Note that a "cancer" diet is equally as important as cancer treatment.   Initially, we made radical changes to Samuel's Diet and we have stuck with them, loosely lightening up as time elapses and he actually eats more foods himself.    I took the route somewhere in between the cancer diet stated above, melded it with The Maker's Diet by Jordan Rubin, and Sally Fallon's Nourishing Traditions guidelines.   The Cancer Tutor site advises against whole grains unless there is severe weight issues and this site is mainly targeted at adults.  I think children need whole grains in their diet as they are growing.   We chose to use mainly alternative whole grains which are gluten free.   We also soak all our grains before use which helps break down their enzymes and makes them more easily digestible.   In seeking out a diet strategy for your child, you must weight the pros and cons of each food and follow your heart, your got and God's instructions.  Observe your child's behavior, demeanor, and energy level and that will tell you if you are on the right track.

  Originally, I did a lot of juicing for Samuel, both fruit and veggies, with kefir soaked whole grain milk which I made myself.  You can read more about his diet here.   It made life easier with a feeding tube.   But as he chooses to eat more foods, we choose to give him healthy choices as much as possible.  I was also able to give Samuel my own breastmilk which not only nourished him, it gave him a white count and he never got sick again.   While on chemo, your child's body has enough to do trying to metabolize poison, so anything you can get into them that is whole food will help nourish them and aid their body while it is under assault.    Hospitals do not offer great food choices so we brought our own.  I don't believe hospital food is safe or nourishment especially in the way it is delivered to your child's room.  It might be up to an hour from the cafeteria to your child's bedside.  I have often watched trays just sit in hallways while RN's rushed around doing other things.  Samuel got a foodborn bacteria, pseudomonas after a week in the hospital in May 2004.  Makes me wonder......  Bring your own food whenever possible.  There were countless occasions where I had Mark bring in the blender and jars of soaked grains so I could make Samuel's food in his hospital room.  When we go in-patient, I usually bring a cooler with our food in it and ice packs that can be rotated in and out of a hospital freezer.  People do steal food so I choose to keep ours in our room.

We used a raw food diet for all the time Samuel was on chemo following 7/2004 except when his WBC was under 2000 and ANC was under 1500.  At that point we switched to cooked foods and meat stocks, as well as breastmilk to be assured that no bacteria which is usually taken care of the body fine when counts are up, did not enter in when counts were low.  With a low WBC, your child can get sick from his own germs.  You have to be very very careful. 

Switching to a raw food diet can cause digestive upset and detox can cause a "cleansing crisis" wherein the person actually gets sicker before getting better.  With children, you have to start slow especially if this is a foreign concept.  An all raw diet can weaken digestive fire over time so be sure to incorporate some cooked soaked grains, bone stocks, Miso soups with seaweed as comfort foods.  Raw foods are harder to digest than cooked foods and digestive enzymes are helpful.  I usually use the Papaya Enzyme Plus which I can find at local markets here and also a formula from my ND.  Enzymes should be taken at the end of a meal.  The Papaya Plus tastes like mint which is an agreeable taste to Samuel.  Raw foods make more stool than cooked foods so bear that in mind as well.

Wash all fruits and veggies well before consuming.  Soaking for ten minutes in a water based rinse with a few Tbs of Apple Cider Vinegar will remove bacteria and potential parasites.  Wash your child's hands often.   Juicing fruits and veggies is a way of concentrating these nutrients without actually having to eat every one of them separately.  Even a few ounces a day is beneficial.   We use an Omega Juicer

and it was worth every penny because it multi-tasks as a food crusher, nut butter maker, pasta extruder, etc.   An alternative though not a substitute  to juicing is Living Fuel RX.  I have used both the greens and berry formula for the past 2.5 years with great success.  It tastes great, the berry makes wonderful smoothies if mixed with yogurt, and you can live on it if you are stuck in the hospital without access to food.  Juice your items and use them within 24 hours to ensure freshness and enzymes are not lost.

Probiotics are a great source of health and are beneficial bacteria your body needs both to promote a healthy GI tract but also to keep invading BAD bacteria away.  They will help heal a GI which is wrought by chemo.  Your GI tract is the #1 line of defense against bacteria invasion.   Most germs are taken in to the body by hands that touch contaminated surfaces and then rub eyes, nose or stick fingers into mouths.    Mouths eat food which is full of bacteria, etc.   Probiotics help kill bad bacteria both living in the gut already and new strains trying to infiltrate.  They also promote digestion, proper assimilation of foods, overall GI health and promote healthy stool,   Bodies NEED these bacteria to stay disease free and you are supporting your child's immune system by using probiotics.   We chose to use probiotics instead of two day a week antibiotics as a prophylactic.   Antibiotics often cause diarrhea because they kill good and bad bacteria in the gut.  We did not need any extra help with diarrhea, or stripping the membranes of the gut.  Good probiotics are not cheap and I was not about to waste my hard earned money by killing the good bacteria with antibiotics.   Our ND advised against using probiotics with a WBC under 2000 as most probiotics are not regulated or screened for harmful micro-organisms.   Natren probiotics are the only ones I know of that are tested for quality, bacteria count, and potency.  They are the world leader in probiotics.    Probiotics and Antibiotics.

Samuel was between the ages of 2-3.5 when he received his chemo.  For children up to the age of 4, the colon is the main line of defense against bacteria invasion.  Considering everything that happened to Samuel's GI tract, it is no wonder our Oncologists have been amazed that he has remained free of bacterial infections.  He did not even have his colon at this time.   There is a lot to be said for Probiotics and a healthy immune system.  There is a lot to be said for DIET and a healthy immune system.  While on chemo from the time of 7/2004 to 2/2006,  Samuel never got the flu or any virus, in short, he never got sick.

Omega 3, as Cod Liver Oil, Fish Oil, Coconut Oil or Flaxseed Oil is another big thing for us.  All provide healthy fats growing bodies need as well as immune support.  This oil is vital to growing children's bodies as well as their brain.   We wanted to nourish Samuel's brain after everything that happened to him. These oils also support the heart and GI tract.  A good dose of Coconut Oil during a bout with constipation works wonders for the gut and immune system.    Our ND advised against the use of these oils if PLT were lower than 75K because they aggregate them.

Flaxseed is a hot topic in the cancer fighting world.  There is some debate over the use of the flaxseed oil.  It can be hard to digest.  It may already be rancid even though the label says it is not.  It does not have lignans, they are added after the oil is pressed.  It is rich in Omega 3, which is known to protect against cancer.  Lignans, however are supposed to inhibit tumor growth.  My ND recommended against the oil.  I have used it off and on.  It is expensive, and it's use is and safety are conflicting.  To be assured of it's cancer fighting properties, buy the whole seed.  Whole flax seeds can be stored a very long time in a sealed container in a dark place.  Grind seeds before use into a meal.  You can use a coffee grinder if nothing else.  Ground seeds still have the oil, omega 3 and lignans.  They are a very good source of soluble fiber which aids the GI tract.  They are mucilaginous, which means when moist, they become mucus, which lubricates and soothes inflamed GI tracts.   They taste great mixed in yogurt, on PB and J, in baked goods of ANY kind and in smoothies.   Ground seeds do go rancid quickly so grind small amounts and freeze whatever is not used immediately.    Flax seeds are very reasonably priced, read cheap.  Flax oil is expensive.  Use Coconut Oil for fat calories, immune support, an omega 3 source and cooking.  Use flax seeds for their cancer fighting immune support and fiber.  For an extremely irritated GI tract, you can make a cold infusion of flax seeds.  Put 1/4 cup flax seeds into a pint of lukewarm water.  Cover and let sit at room temp overnight.  The water becomes an oily mucus consistency which soothes inflamed GI membranes.  As a cancer fighter, flax seems to be super charged in lacto-fermented foods such as yogurt, kefir, cottage cheese, etc.

When Samuel's counts were low, I was able to take both the Omega 3 and Probiotics and deliver these nutrients in lower safer doses to Samuel through my own breastmilk. 

When I mention water, I mean PURIFIED water.  Buy a water filter if you don't have one.  Toxins, bacteria and chlorine are just a few of the things lingering in your water supply.  These are just more things your child's body has to detox daily.  Take bottled water to the hospital or ask that your child's tray come with it.  Encourage drinking lots of water.  Water seems to hydrate better by adding electrolytes.  I don't mean pedialyte.  I mean, lemon juice, or making teas.  If you notice your child with dark circles under their eyes, try a warm tea.  More on tea below.

Herbal teas are a wonderful way to add vitamins, minerals, amino acids and antioxidants to your child's diet while ensuring they get enough fluids.  Green Tea is a very popular tea for it's antioxidant and cancer killing properties.  It does contain caffeine so steep for only a few minutes and do not use boiling water or you will kill the good stuff.  Peppermint tea is also great, as well as Ginger and Chamomile and any will ease GI issues.  Nettle tea is known and esteemed for it's vitamin packed goodness and often referred to as a superfood.  Oat Straw Tea works wonders on the nerves easing stress.  Parents should drink this to cope in high stress situations.  All of these are considered safe to use during chemo.  Adding milk, lemon or honey make these more palatable to children.

Remember the liver and take care of it.  Drinking lots of water with lemon, teas with honey, apple cider vinegar, carrot juice, olive oil and grapefruit juice just to name a few.   Milk Thistle and Licorice herbs help to support the liver and I like to use tinctures as they are easy for children to take.  Tinctures are concentrated herbal extracts and dosing is generally anywhere from a few tiny drops to 1-2ml.  This can be mixed with juice or water to cover the taste.  Both Licorice and Milk Thistle are considered safe to use while on chemo.  Interesting that all of the above named foods/herbs also aid in killing bacteria, thus aiding the immune system.

Support the lungs by eating fruits and veggies and cutting out dairy unless it is cultured or fermented.  This will cut down on the mucus formed here and help cut down bronchial infections.   One herb I like really well with multiple uses is Myrrh.  Myrrh supports the lungs by cutting down the mucus secretions, is a known anti-viral,  improves the white count and is said to have a component in it that deactivates a protein in cancer cells that become resistant to chemo.  We used Myrrh tincture throughout treatment and Samuel never got bronchial infections again.

Adults/children often relapse ON treatment.  When chemo has blood counts down and the immune system cannot function because it is so crippled by poison, this is the perfect opportunity for drug resistant cancer cells to get the upper hand.  This is when you need to help your child's body most by feeding known cancer fighting foods as well as known anti-bacterial, anti-viral foods.   At this point, we switched to a more cooked food diet, but we used raw garlic every day, as well as apple cider vinegar, mushrooms, and most importantly my breastmilk.  Grain milks were cooked vs. raw and I used a lot of bone stock with herbs, etc. cooked in it to ensure safety.  Freshly juiced fruits/veggies may also be lightly boiled to ensure safety during this time.    Our ND helped formulate a Vitamin/Mineral,etc supplement which is free of microbial's and deemed safe to use while neutropenic.  There is also a Omega 3, digestive enzymes and GI formula in this line which is called Safe and Sound.  We used these particular supplements when counts were lover than WBC 2k and ANC 1000.  Fortunately, with all these strategies, Samuel's counts were never low very long and we always breathed a sign of relief and praise to God for His protection and help during this time.

Things to avoid when counts are down.  Yeasted items like bread.  Any food which is not fresh or washed well.  Eating in restaurants, fast food, etc.......bad idea.  Any food which has not been handled properly according to the food safety standards.  That said, I cannot imagine my child getting a hospital tray of food when he was neutropenic.  Be aware, plan ahead and BYOF.  Bring your own food, wherever you go.  A lot of bacterial infections stem from food born bacteria and fungi.  Fungal infections are you sworn enemy!  These are extremely difficult to overcome with a crippled immune system.  See our Holistic Herbal Apothecary Page for herbs/foods which help with fungus.  These should be part of your child's daily regimen, period.

Garlic is an herb considered safe during chemo except when platelets are lower than 75k.   Garlic supports the lungs, blood, immune system, GI tract, give energy and stamina to a child wore down from chemo.  These are just a few of it's wonderful attributes.  I use fresh cloves juiced or tincture.  We used this EVERY DAY!

Bone stocks are another BIG thing you can do for your child when counts are low.  Making stock from scratch taking time to crush up the bones allowing the marrow to seep into your stock gives your child's marrow first aid.  You will see counts improve when you feed bone stocks.   Use ONLY organic meat or poultry of course.   I let my stock simmer for days often using right out of the pot as necessary.  Important ingredients for any stock are salt, apple cider vinegar and ginger.  All of these help draw nutrients out of the ingredients.  All make them more easily digestible.   Stocks can be incorporated into recipes anywhere broth is called for as well as used to cook pasta or rice.  Samuel lived on this for many months after his anus closed down and he was unable to pass large stool.  His electrolytes were always in balance as were the rest of his labs.  In short, you CAN survive on this if you are unable to eat anything else and your body can easily assimilate all the nutrients and stay healthy.  More on stock here.

Remember culinary herbs which are known cancer fighters.  Cayenne peppers, cumin, turmeric, and garlic are some examples. I cannot stress garlic enough. Especially raw cloves.  This is energy, antibiotics and known cancer cell killer all in a small clove.  Samuel thrives on this.  It is so obvious when he gets garlic.  We started calling it "The Garlic Treatment."   He runs around like his head has been cut off, bounces all over the place, and stays up LATE.    Examples of culinary herbs that are antibacterial are cinnamon, thyme, and oregano.  Cilantro is superb for detoxing the blood.  Make a fabulous cilantro dip or pesto by taking one bunch of cilantro, add a cup of walnuts, a dash of lemon juice, a few cloves of garlic, and olive oil slowly to desired consistency.   Put all ingredients except olive oil in a blender or food processor and process slowly adding 1 TB of olive oil until desired consistency.  this is FANTASTIC and my kids love it.  Add salsa and sour cream on the side and you have a chip dip to die for.  There seems to be a relationship between the more sharp, pungent or aromatic the herb, the better it is in aiding the immune system.

Diarrhea Remedies.

Constipation Remedies

Diarrhea and vomiting are the body's immune response to toxins.  Often these are worse initially after a chemo is given and subside in a day to a few days time.   Similarly, most of the chemo is eliminated from this body in the same time frame.  By subduing this response, the body is forced to absorb more toxins.  I know from experience that neither of these are pleasant for children to deal with and highly recommend probiotics as treatment for both.  They help kill toxins and eliminate them.  In either case, probiotics are best given on an empty stomach with water.

Our ND's proven method of fixing either of the above issues.  Bentonite Powder, Digestive Enzyme, Fruit Juice or whole fruit and water.  Bentonite Powder is volcanic clay.  It soothes the GI and grabs toxins on it's way out.  It cleans residue of medication, bacteria, and old stool.   This is something you definitely want to happen after chemo is given.    It is basically odorless and tasteless and can be mixed with water.  Eating a fruit such as a pear was recommended to offset the clay's ability to bulk up.  I tsp. in 4oz water goes a long way!   This is considered safe to use while on treatment and an excellent way to detox.  Helps control both conditions caused by chemo.

For Nausea, I found that RX medicines like Zofran in the dissolvable tablet were the best thing for emergency relief.  Most hospitals premedicate with this before chemo.  This can also help with children who are unable to keep food down due to prolonged anorexia and decreased stomach size.  It is a handy thing to have on hand period.  Unfortunately, the downfall of anti-emetics is that they speed up the GI tract, so if your child is getting meds that cause nausea and diarrhea, you will want to use a constipating diet which includes applesauce, bananas, while grain pasta, rice, cooked potatoes WITH skin and nut butters.   Other remedies which we use with good outcomes are Peppermint Tea and Ginger Tincture or Tea.  You can even make Peppermint tea and add Ginger Tincture to it.

If supplements must be taken in pill or capsule form and your child is not able to swallow them whole, a pill or contents of a capsule may be disguised in a peanut butter ball about a half inch or so.  Chew it a little, swallow it, gone.  Cherry syrup helps disguise taste of certain things as well.  Chlorella is one of the supplements that came powdered and was not a big part of any of Samuel's other foods so this would be one I would mix with something else to be sure it was part of the diet.   As a rule, I try not to take herbs or give them to my children in capsule form.  Herbs are best broken down either steeped in tea or tinctured in alcohol, glycerine or vinegar.  Dry herbs in capsule form may be dead herbs.   Herbs work slowly over time because the nourish and restore the body so don't expect to see a miracle overnight.  3-4 weeks is generally a good time for re-evaluation. 

Other herbs to mention.  Echinacea is one I have been warned about from my ND in cases of leukemia.  It might be contradicted.  It works to increase the WBC overall and he thinks it might also stimulate leukemia cells.   Personally, I don't see this as being much different than GCSF which does the very same thing and more.  Samuel ended up having a WBC of 60K on GCSF and I have never seen it above 10K when using Echinacea.  For other cancers, it is not contradicted so be advised.  I use this with caution with Samuel and never while on chemo.  Another herb to mention is Goldenseal.  It is commonly used with Echinacea but acts differently and I consider this safe.  Goldenseal actually heals mucus membranes and is not technically considered an antibiotic in the herbal realm.  It is a healer.  Whenever any mucus membranes are involved in illness, such as a cold where sinus, lungs, throat are effected, goldenseal will be useful.  It is extremely useful when the GI tract is inflamed which is a common side effect of chemo.  Goldenseal is considered the KING of mucus membrane issues.  It is hard to break down in the body in powder form and does not dissolve in tea.  Don't waste your money on capsules here.  Buy tincture, and get a recognized brand.  Goldenseal is endangered and many skimp in the process of making it.  You can find Goldenseal leaf and Goldenseal root.  You want root.  We make our own tinctures and grow it ourselves.

Nourishing your child well will not compromise chemotherapy.  It will help your child.  Doctors get a little concerned when you add supplements however and so many advise against it.  One of the first things our ND did was make sure we had proper supplements.  But there is a trick.  When your child is given chemo, their liver goes into overdrive.  You don't want to add supplements to this burden.  Also, certain supplements may interfere with your child's chemo and must be avoided on those days as well.  Usually, they cannot be given on the day of chemo and then up to 3-5 days after.  At that time, your child's body has to rely on it's own nutrition and the foods that you feed.   If you are looking into supplements such as extra vitamins/minerals/antioxidants, you need to check with an ND who does cancer care and co-ordinate.  

I chose to use a "superfood" as a supplement.    This is a supplement derived mainly from foods and is usually a powder which is dissolved in liquid.  Supplements in liquid form are the most bio available forms for a body to assimilate.   Pills fall severely short by comparison.    The trick is to use what is most easily absorbed or take things with digestive enzymes so they do some of the "helping" and cause less stress on the gut.  Most good quality food based liquid supplements already have digestive enzymes in them.   This is important if your child's GI tract is upset by chemo.  Chemo strips the mucus membrane of the GI tract making it less functional overall.     Loading up on tons of supplements during chemo is also hard on the liver.  The liver has enough to do already with detoxing the chemo so start slow with adding new supplements. 

"Green food", such as seaweed, spirulina, Chlorella, veggies, etc are full of chlorophyll which helps oxygenate your child's blood and provides iron.  This is important as certain chemo's attack the red blood cells causing anemia and low oxygenation overall.  Cancer thrives in a situation where oxygenation in the blood is low so we loaded up on the "Green Food" especially when I knew counts were going to drop.  Samuel never needed a red cell transfusion once we implemented this strategy.  The only exception was when his stoma closed down and we could not feed him properly.  He ended up having a major GI surgery at that time and due to being on TPN, his marrow never caught back up.  His HCT was 24, so not at the level of transfusion, but I requested one anyway and it was granted.  Turned out to be a great thing at the time.   So I know from that experience, that his diet was key in keeping his red blood up enough to avoid transfusion and the strain on the body that anemia causes.    He also never needed a platelet transfusion.

Essential Oils used topically are wonderful tools for wellness.  One that immediately comes to mind is Thieves.   This particular blend is a super virus killer and they even make a formula to clean with.    Essential oils can be safely used on children by gently rubbing them into the soles of their feet.  Test for sensitivity first.  Use a carrier oil to dilute pure essential oils if necessary like sweet almond, apricot kernel, rapeseed, avocado, peanut, olive, pecan, macadamia nut, sesame, evening primrose, walnut and wheat germ.  Essential oils oxygenate the body as well as have anti-bacterial, anti-viral, and anti-fungal properties.

The whole point in diet here is keeping your child as healthy as possible and away from bacterial infections that, with no white count, can be deadly.  We were able to keep Samuel well and free of infections once we took control of his diet.  Before allowing your child to eat a food, ask yourself;  is this food nourishing my child and supporting his/her immune system?  Or, is this food feeding the cancer.  It is either one or the other.   If you know your child's counts are going to be dropping, start hibernating.  Keep your family members away from crowded areas and wipe anything your child might touch in public areas with antibacterial wipes.   You don't need your child to be exposed to germs right at the time their counts take a dive.  Keeping your child well and free of infection means you stay out of hospitals which only add insult to injury.  It is very hard to do alternative diet and herb treatment for your child when you are inpatient.  That is not to say it cannot be done.....we have had to do this a lot.  But it is an incredible undertaking and many staff thought I was nuts with my big cooler of food, blender, vinegar and kefir ferments at the bedside.  

A word about TPN and Feeding Tubes

I do not consider TPN adequate nutrition.  Cancer patients waste and die on TPN because it is not adequate nutrition.  Over 50% of cancer deaths nationwide are from poor nutrition.  TPN should be considered a last resort or used only for a very short term if there is a GI issue.  Samuel was on TPN for three months and in that time developed Hepatitis because his liver was working overtime.   I talked to many teens who spent time on TPN who said they just felt horrible when they were on it and it is no wonder when you read the bag of ingredients.  I am not interesting in my child getting Soybean Oil.  And the very first thing that happens when you put someone on this is their blood chemistries go haywire and their blood sugar skyrockets.  This is a formula for disaster and IMO feeds cancer, not the patient.

Feeding tubes can be lifesavers.  Samuel had an NG tube for 9 months before we got a G-tube which make life much easier for everyone.  If your child has a feeding tube, this is your opportunity to feed them every good for them thing they would never eat.   Use it!   Pediasure should not be considered nutrition because it isn't.  Does your child throw up Pediasure?  I don't wonder why.  Take a look at the ingredients.  Water, sugar corn sugar, safflower oil, soybean oil?    The top four-five ingredients all contribute to cancer by raising blood sugar and pouring unhealthy fats into the diet.   The rest of the "nutrients" are synthetic which means that they have to add ingredients which trick your body into absorbing them.   This is an outrage, and yet it is the #1 formula for children who are tube fed.  Mainstream MD's and dieticians think this is good stuff!   READ LABELS.   Your child's body is used to eating REAL food so feed them REAL food.  You can do it, here's an example.

If you are doing a blenderized formula that you make yourself, save yourself time, hassle and problems with hospital staff by typing it out with ingredients, etc, including your alternative providers name and phone number.  I cannot tell you how often some well meaning dietician has showed up at our door because some MD did not know what kefir was and thus determined that Samuel was somehow malnourished.  Nothing is more irritating.  Handing them a well written itemized list including preparation methods and a contact number solves this issue in seconds flat.  And it will save you from explaining everything you do.  I tend to forget the minor details of everything we do because it is just second nature.  Having it on a list has been a very useful tool.

A word about feeding intervals as well.  Hospitals often send a patient home with a nighttime drip feeding schedule for their tube feeds.  It supposedly make life easier for the patient.  Our bodies are not meant to eat all night long.  They are meant to eat meals and snacks throughout the day and FAST at night.  Breakfast is so named because you break the fast.   Eating erratically means the GI tract never gets to rest and it needs to, just as the rest of the body does.  Large bolus feeds over 30 minutes if you can make this work during the day are most like a normal "meal/"  I have been on the end where Samuel was unable to keep meals down, or take large boluses over short periods of time, however.   Short term use of anti-emetics can be useful.  Also digestive enzymes and herbs like fennel and ginger can help give the tummy the jump start it needs to keep things going the right direction.    Bolus feeds during the day will also help your child eat on their own again as they will be hungry at mealtimes and you can choose to see if they will eat with you.  If they eat enough to be considered a meal, skip the feeding.  If they don't, no loss.   Your child can gain and maintain weight with a feeding tube.  The same cannot be said of TPN.

If you are planning to use CAM with your child currently ON chemotherapy, Hire a professional to advise and be your back up if you are questioned.

CAM=Complimentary and Alternative Medicine

Having a Holistic Provider is worth it's weight in gold.  If you are planning to use nutritional supplements and/or herbs, you NEED someone to watch over your and your child's best interests.   I chose an ND over every other type of alternative provider because they are considered "doctors" by MD's.  They are well educated in anatomy, physiology, diagnosis of diseases and standardized medicine.  In short, they talk to MD's in MD language and this works especially well and is an asset to the patient.  Many ND's send reports to your MD which is very helpful since your MD may not have a clue what you are talking about.  Also, due to drug interactions, having a ND oversee chemo/herb/supplement issues is a bonus for everyone involved.  ND's usually want to check in with you everytime a chemo protocol changes to check interactions and give you a treatment plan as well as to see how the previous plan went.   Some people are lucky enough to have insurance plans which cover ND's and if you are one of them, Praise the Lord!  Go!  Go often.   We were not as lucky.  So I always made the best of my time by having Samuel's diet and supplements lined out on paper, his latest labs on paper, and any current complaints or concerns...on paper.  Don't get there and think you will remember.  Your ND will be impressed with your organizational skills and tenaciousness in being thorough.  Your ND can add or detract from your current diet/supplements.  If they tell you not to use something you feel strongly about, ask why.  If they just aren't familiar with the product, ask for them to research it.  Send them a web link if applicable.    They should be willing to do that.  If they are proximal to your hospital and you go inpatient, they should also be able to come to see you there.  Ask about this because it just might save your child's life.   You should leave an appointment with all your questions answered.  Make sure you GIVE them a copy of your write ups for charting.  Then if your MD needs to know something, your ND has exactly what you are doing lined out.    They should also be available to you for short phone questions free of charge.  My ND calls me to check in from time to time and charges me the minimum office call fee when I need more detailed information.

Many MD's who are not competent in CAM will automatically assume you need reprimand because you are doing these simple yet lifesaving things for your child.  They will assume that you are jeopardizing your child's chemotherapy and you don't want to go there with them on that.  The more confident you are in what you are doing, the more crazy they assume you are.   There have been countless times where I have thrown out the name and number of our ND and the harassment stops immediately.

Hire someone.  Make sure they are willing to speak with any of your caregivers at any time.  Make sure they have experience in CAM with cancer patients and especially children.  This can make you or break you.  Be sure you can be 95-100% honest with your alternative caregiver so you can be certain that the things you are doing are helping your child fight the disease rather than feeding them the empty promises that sometimes come in pill bottles.  There are many dead products on the market today and a ton of false info on the web.  Having an ND sort through things with you will save you time, money and heartache in the long term.   Generally speaking, the better your child's diet, the less supplements they will need.    It is easier for a body to assimilate food nutrients than fake, dry, or factory produced nutrients in pill form. 

If you interview an ND and they don't suit you or you don't click, look on.  Find someone to line up with your goals for your child.   And similarly, if you do not like your Oncologist with whom you did not get a choice in choosing, find another.  We are on Oncologist #3.  This is not about their peace of mind or comfort, it is about yours and your child's.   Find someone you can trust in BOTH fields and above all else, ask God and trust Him.

Know all your child's medications.  Know the correct dosages of chemo.  CHECK it with your RN every time.  Mistakes happen.

One hospital we were treated at always had you check the name and dose of chemo.  The other did not.  Be informed.  Don't leave it up to them.  If they don't show you, ask.  It is your right.  Have a copy of your protocol with dosages listed handy.  Beware of substitutions on your protocol.  A substitution was made in Samuel's first month of chemo.  We were told about it, but NOT told about the numerous complications it causes including sepsis and death.  Samuel had sepsis, and almost died.   Also, Samuel received a dose of Vincristine which was supposed to be HELD but the order wasn't changed before the RN came in with it.  Unfortunately, I was asleep and Mark did not ask.  It was too late.  This dose was the final nail in the coffin of demolition to Samuel's colon.   Chemo is POISON.  Never forget that.

If you don't know why a medicine is being given, ask.  If your child is prescribed a new medicine without your knowledge, ask.   I never give Samuel any medication in which I have not researched first and weighed the pros and cons of.  While on a chemo protocol, you may not have as many choices about which drugs are given, you do have the right to know what all medications are, the reason they are given and any side effects to watch out for.  Ask about interactions with other medications as well.   If you are not getting good answers from RN's ask for a pharmacist.  If you feel doubt about a medication, refuse it.  There is no better way to get a doctor to your room than by refusing medications until an explanation is given.  If it is indeed important, they will come running.

Don't leave your child unattended while inpatient if you can at all help it.  RN's and MD's round and examine and medicate your child whether you are there are not.  If you are not there, you don't know what went on.  I always let my RN know if I am leaving the room, put a note on the door and ask that anyone needing to examine or medicate my child wait until I return.    When Samuel was in ICU's which did not allow us to stay, I asked for a list of all medications and checked them the next day as well as called the RN on the night shift before they left for a report.

Know the side effects of all drugs given to your child.  Know how the drug is eliminated from the body and how long it takes.

This goes for ALL medications.  Pay attention to the little things.  Make notes.  Write things on a calendar so you might look back if you are not keeping a journal.  KEEP A JOURNAL.   This is an excellent site for side effects and elimination of chemo drugs.

Knowing how the drug is eliminated and making sure your child is having regular bowel movements and urinating enough is a key to minimizing toxicity.    Note that the above link if for medical practitioners, vs. patients.  Patients hand outs are watered down.   They do not give you the important info you need.    Make a list with this info, keep track of everything on the day of chemo administration and the days after.  In short, keep your own chart of your child's medicines, input, output as if you are in the hospital.  Trends will develop and it will be obvious if things are array.

If your child has not had a bowel movement in 24 hours and is on chemo, be concerned.   Similarly, if they are not urinating frequently, be concerned.   Back up of stool and/or kidneys means drugs and bacteria have more time to mix and become more toxic.   Allowing your child to continue to pile on the food only complicates the problem.  Warm teas, salty foods, and laxative food and drink should be given.  Prune Juice, grape juice, cherries, and high fiber foods such as oatmeal which also heals and lubricates the gut are good choices to help move things along.  I cannot stress the value of water which helps with not only the bowels but kidneys.  Herbal teas are a wonderful way to get water and nutrients.    Peppermint tea is invaluable for any digestive upset and adding a little honey will sweeten it up to the taste of small children meanwhile adding more lubrication to the gut.  Drinking water with freshly squeezed lemon will also be a great aid in detox as well as hydration.  Citrus fruits are believed to have everything in them to fight cancer.  This includes the peel so drop the whole thing in after squeezing it.  Remember to use only organic fruits if you are using the peel as well. 

Be aware of medicine combinations that either cause diarrhea, or constipation and change your child's diet to compensate.  Sometimes, just the addition of prune juice will offset constipating drugs extremely well.  Prune juice has one of the highest ORAC values and will help oxygenate your child's body as well as aiding detox and important vitamins and minerals.

During Induction, Samuel's body shut down. He stopped pooping, he stopped peeing.  the drugs could not get out of his system.  We were in the hospital with pneumonia by that time, helpless to stop the train wreck.  Elimination of drugs and toxins is critical to your child's well being.

IF your child is off treatment due to complications, or has completed the protocol realize that you can still treat their cancer through diet, herbs, etc.

Spend some quality time at

Alternative Cancer Treatments Home Page and Information Center

This site is updated ALL THE TIME and has the best references and recommended products.    I check this site often to re-evaluate what I do with Samuel.   Note that there are a lot of things you cannot do while on chemo, and the most important thing is diet and detox at that time.  There are a few cancer treatments that you CAN do while doing chemo because they are mainly diet related and it would behoove you to check them out and familiarize yourself with the options.  Find a practitioner who can help.  If you find yourself in a treatment delay, or if your child's treatment ends, you need to assume they still have cancer because they do.  Cells become resistant to chemo over time.  Doctors know this.  Chemo cripples the immune system.  Chemo is meant to kill off as many cancer cells as possible but all doctors know it does not get them all.  The hope is that it gets enough that the body can take care of the rest itself.  But if the immune system is so crippled from chemo that it cannot, you have relapse.  Devastation.  Now the cells are more resistant.    Even more devastating is a bone marrow transplant.  This completely obliterates the immune system......yet still may not obliterate cancer.  It doesn't make any sense in the grand scheme of things.  Especially knowing that your body takes on carcinogens every day.   I would avoid bone marrow transplant at all costs as we did when Samuel relapsed 6/21/07.   We were able to get him in remission in two months time with diet, ph therapy and God's guidance.  We know what caused the relapse and we knew what would turn it around.  Diet.  Plain and simple.

When your child is completely off treatment, the door is wide open to alternative treatments and you should seriously consider them because they still have cancer.  The other thing that absolutely needs to happen is immune support and rebuilding.  There are many herbs I like for this.  Garlic, Astragalus, Shitake Mushrooms, Reishi and Maitake, Myrrh, Green Tea, and St. John's Wort just to name a few.  These are generally considered safe to use while on treatment but consult your Holistic practitioner first.  Tinctures are my favorite method of use for these as they are immediately absorbed into the blood stream as opposed to relying on the condition of the GI tract.  We make our own. 

Continuing to use foods which support the immune system are a must.   It is a commonly known fact that cancer thrives on sugar, which is what comprises most children's diets these days.  By changing the foods you consume, you are taking a VERY BIG step in the fight against cancer every day.  

When Samuel was off treatment due to complications, we relied on our supplements, my breastmilk, mushrooms, raw foods with tons of garlic, colostrum, and Paw Paw.

Paw Paw is thought to kill MDR cells, or Multiple Drug Resistant Cells, which is what cancer cells soon become in the body.   So we used this in between phases of the protocol and off and on thereafter.  Paw Paw, Protocel and several other alternative cancer treatments can be used on some chemo protocols so research accordingly.

Cancer treatment will be a lifelong process, one which our whole family is a part of.   Taking the time to write this all out has made me realize how blessed and guided by God we have been even in the midst of chaos.  Glory to God for His miracles.

Sources and Recommended Books

You can find these at Amazon.com, your local bookstore and on ebay.

All of these are in my personal library and are highly recommended resources for anyone seeking to improve their health.

Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon.

When I found this book, I knew it was my new Bible for nutrition.

The Make's Diet by Jordan Rubin

Another masterpiece well worth your time.

Wild Fermentation by Sandor Ellis Katz

Phenomenal resource for info on fermenting foods to make them more digestible and nutritious.

Healing and Whole Foods by Paul Pitchford

Another staple here.

The New Whole Foods Encyclopedia by Rebecca Wood

There is probably a bigger and better one that this, but this will work in a pinch if you need to look up the properties of a food, etc.

The Foxfire Book Series

Philosophy of Simple Living and Self Sufficiency, back to the basics.

Encyclopedia of Country Living by Carla Emery

Another huge book of how things were done before technology and laziness took over.

Anything by Ralph Moss on Cancer

Cure Your Cancer by Bill Henderson

A complete listing of so many ideas on diet, supplements, and nutrition.  This is a great place to start if you don't have time to search the web.

Holistic Herbal by David Hoffman

A wonderful resource and textbook for herbalists and novices alike.

Foundations of Health by Christopher Hobbs

He has several books, get your hands on any of them.  These are well written, easy to understand and focuses on diet as well as herbs for better health.

Baseline of Health by Joe Barron

The body explained as well as a very comprehensive section on cancer.  HIGHLY recommended.  Visit his site.

Complete Guide To Natural Healing by Tom Monte

My Mom found this jewel in a thrift store.  I got mine in ebay.  Fabulous resource with every condition explained, and treatments for each which include mainstream, holistic, herbal, homeopathic and TCM.  Excellence!