Dear reader,
I’m a stage 4 (oligomets) cancer survivor. My diagnosis in 2020 was:
Grade 2, HER2 positive/ER positive breast cancer (Oligometastatic: 1 small area on my sacrum)
I’ve had first and second line targeted immunotherapy, breast surgery and radiation since 2020 – 2022 and am currently receiving no conventional forms of treatment – however, I am still using the metabolic approach to cancer alongside the below mentioned core supplements. I will publish a full list in the future as it changes.
1) LDN (low dose naltrexone)
2) High-dose medicinal mushroom extract: Turkey tail. ( 3 x morning/3 x at night)
3) all four protocols mentioned in this blog categorized as ”a metabolic approach to cancer”
Each stage of conventional treatment I insisted on adapting, and refining so that my long-term survival chances could be improved. In plain English, I was a rather difficult patient who asked a lot of questions, and demanded things to be done differently where I considered this necessary.
The reason my doctors listened, is likely because everything I did was clearly improving my ”disease” – this was visible in every PET scan and MRI result. In short: the cancer retreated, then disappeared on my second PET/CT scan (No evidence of disease or NED). Had this not been the case, I doubt I’d have been heard quite as easily.
From diagnosis in 2020 (July/August: PET/CT scan showing active breast cancer with singular metastasis to bone) through to September 2022 from the implementation of my own protocols + conventional treatment, I achieved a consistent series of 4 clear PET scans showing no evidence of disease (NED)
Statistically cases like mine are few and far between. Once every 10 years or so (in the words of my oncologist), a case like mine occurs. Its that rare. Oligometastatic breast cancer (OMBC) is an umbrella term for the stage 4 cases like mine, which basically just means; few metastasis. Clinically this refers to 1-5 metastase, or ‘low disease burden’. It is even more rare to have just one small spot – as in my case.
Oligomets to be clear, is the only stage 4 cancer type in breast cancer science increasingly considered to be curative, and thus, gives patients like myself the chance to benefit from multi-disciplinary conventional treatment.
Its also still unclear regarding the long-term survivors of stage 4 how many had oligomets and to what extent this contributes to their long-term (overall) survival. There are also very few studies on Oligomets cases generally, even fewer follow-ups on long-term survivors; mostly due to their scarcity.
I have put this blog here to be of service to others in my position, even if you’re here just out of curiosity.
Please be aware, I am not a scientist, but have done my best to tell my story in an approachable way as possible, also with regards to the developing science in this field.
links:
1) LDN (low dose naltrexone):
Angus Dalgleish, MD – The Role of LDN in the Management of Cancer (2017 Conference) (LDN, low dose naltrexone) https://ldnresearchtrust.org/angus-dalgleish-md-role-ldn-management-cancer-2018-conference-ldn-low-dose-naltrexone
[article] ‘LDN calling: low-dose naltrexone could be just the ticket’ https://longevity.technology/news/ldn-calling-low-dose-naltrexone-could-be-just-the-ticket/
2) Turkey tail mushroom extract:
Article from Healthline.com
‘Can Turkey Tail Mushrooms Help Fight Cancer?’ https://www.healthline.com/health/cancer/turkey-tail-mushroom-cancer