Gohan receiving Whole Brain Radiation Treatment

Have you ever wondered what WBRT is like?  Watch this video to see how Gwohann was treated with WBRT.  We can't help but marvel at the amazing medical technology, and above all Gwohann's inner strength and faith for lying still while the gigantic machine humming and turning around his head.  Our hats are off to Gwohann!

Jacqueline

Documentary - the truth about cancer

A new documentary series that is getting a lot of public attention.  The documentary promotes healing cancer using natural therapies.  The producer lost his father to cancer and since then has been on a mission to find the cure for cancer.

https://go2.thetruthaboutcancer.com/global-quest/episode-9/?a_aid=54fd974f499c5&chan=p3

Trailer

Ketogenic diets

We are seriously considering the ketogenic diet.  The diet is extreme and will require significant planning and efforts, and need to be monitored carefully to prevent adverse health risk.  We need God's guidance, wisdom, strength and stamina.

A good scientific paper about Ketogenic diets as an adjuvant cancer therapy, history and potential mechanism 

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213231714000925

The only Ketogenic for NSCLC (KETOLUNG) clinical trial that I can find was initiated by Univ. of Iowa in 2011 - however, it is suspended at this time.  Maybe we can contact the unit to get more info
https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01419587?term=ketogenic&cond=%22Carcinoma%2C+Non-Small-Cell+Lung%22&rank=1

The KETOLUNG trial planned to use a product KetoCal(R) 4:1 by Nutricia North America.  
http://www.nutricia-na.com/
http://www.myketocal.com/product.html?webSyncID=bad28196-d35a-c031-9d56-5c6414db36c6&sessionGUID=9351ad14-8803-3486-9a1b-a002857519bc

Wiki
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ketogenic_diet

Ketogenic diet menu
http://www.ketogenic-diet-resource.com/ketogenic-diet-menu.html

Trusted websites for ketogenic diet
http://www.charliefoundation.org/ketogenic-therapy/therapies-2/brain-tumor-cancer
http://www.ketogenic-diet-resource.com/cancer-treatments.html

Related diet: 

The Wahl protocal 
https://www.msconnection.org/Blog/January-2015/The-Wahls-Protocol-An-Interview-with-Dr-Terry-Wahl

The Paleio Diet
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paleolithic_diet

NCI - MATCH Clinical Trial

We are now exploring options for Gwohann's future treatment, in hope to prevent brain mets from re-surfacing.  

My high school friend, Dr. Liwen Lai is a research medicine professor specializing in clinical genetics in U of Arizona.  She suggested that we look into the new Molecular Analysis for Therapy Choice trial initiated by NCI (NCI-MATCH) last month.  This trial will help determine which therapy will be more effective based on the molecular profile of the tumor.

http://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/clinical-trials/nci-supported/nci-match

We have done Molecular Intelligence Testing through Caris in Feb. 2014, which found out that Gwohann is EGFR mutation positive and also suggested a list of chemo drugs that maybe effective.  As a result, we have been using most of the recommended chemo drugs.  The NCI-MATCH assay will be more comprehensive than the Caris test because it includes T790 mutation test (gene mutation after taking Tarceva), which Gwohann was not tested before.  I have checked with Dr. Dormady about this NCI-MATCH,  he thinks the trial looks interesting and suggested to explore further. However I found out today from PAMF that if Gwohann is eligible for the trial, we will have to establish care with the clinical testing sites for the trial, such as PAMF and Mills Hospital in our area.  El Camino Hospital, Stanford and UCSF are not the clinical sites for this trial.  This will mean Dr. Dormady (El Camino Hospital) can not oversee the treatment for us, and we will need to change to an oncologist in PAMF.  This will be a tough decision because we trust Dr. Dormady and have been pleased with the services provide by his team.

Fresh biopsy sample will be needed to enter the trial, meaning Gwohann needs to have his chest punctured again to take a specimen.  Furthermore, patient can not have any chemo or targeted therapy for one month ("wash out" period) before the biopsy can be taken.  Coincidentally Gwohann has stopped chemo therapy while undergoing the WBRT, therefore he will meet the wash out period.  While this may look promising, we need to keep in mind that almost every clinical trial requires fresh biopsy sample, hence we need to find out which of the hundreds of clinical trials will be our best option because we can't afford to take repeated biopsy and the wash out period without treatment can be dangerous.  To make the matter complicated, every trial is administered by different hospitals, so we will need to contact each hospital one by one, and go through the qualification process.  I would like to count on Dr. Dormady to find the right trial for us, but he has indicated that he would like to reserve clinical trials as the last resolve.  As a clinical oncologist, he prefers to use the standard treatment (chemo) before taking risk of the clinical trials.  

I have asked the oncology NP Katie at El Camino to send the lastest scan reports to PAMF Tanya (408) 730-6122
fax number: (408) 746-9095.   Will follow up next week to determine the next step. 
PAMF trial coordinator Tanya commented that PAMF has no radiology department but Mills does, so for comprehensive care, Mills maybe a better choice for us.  Need to make decision about that as well.

10/26/25
Mills Hospital replied today (650)696-4814
9 out of the 10 arms are oral treatment.  Fresh biopsy sample is required. Mills Hospital hires California Cancer Care oncologist Dr. Kent Adler to oversees trial care.  Mills also has a radiologist for brain care.  As of today, Gwohann after praying, decides not to pursue the trial.
Nevertheless, we will discuss with Dr. Dormady about this trial when we meet him on Nov. 5

Regain hope

Last week we experienced emotional and spiritual turmoil, but thank God for leading us through the valley of the shadow of death.  We sought a second opinion from the Stanford Thoracic oncologist Dr. Wakelee on Monday, who also advised us to go with whole brain radiation therapy (WBRT). With her confirmation, Gwohann started radiation this Tuesday. After four days of radiation, Gwohann's headache has gone away.  In addition, Dr. Dormady also gave us a good CT scan report, showing that the eight chemo treatments that he has received have been effective!  Gwohann will undergo 18 more WBRT sessions, and will resume chemo treatments in mid Nov. Gwohann is not allowed to drive until one month after radiation treatment, hence, I will be his Uber driver until mid Dec. I am expecting a fat tip (in kisses) from him :-)

In times like this we are reminded once again how fortunate we are to have a wonderful community and a great medical team.  Our kids came home to help, and our friends are supporting us by prayers and kind deeds.  Most important, we are blessed to have a loving God who is there all the time!

Thank God and thank you all!

Gwohann & Jacqueline

Alternative therapy through diet

If conventional medicine can't stop the cancer spread, what else can we do?  How do we choose among the myriad of options each claiming success without the scientific evidence such as a double blind trial?  A lot of prayers.

Ketogenic diet
http://www.charliefoundation.org/ketogenic-therapy/therapies-2/brain-tumor-cancer
http://www.ketogenic-diet-resource.com/cancer-treatments.html

Cannabis oil
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hT8ryvvdSto
http://www.sfweekly.com/sanfrancisco/miracle-cannabis-oil-may-treat-cancer-but-money-and-the-law-stand-in-the-way-of-finding-out/Content?oid=2825695
http://www.alternet.org/personal-health/cannabis-helped-heal-my-cancer
http://www.unitedpatientsgroup.com/blog/tag/stan-rutner/

Gerson Therapy
http://gerson.org/gerpress/the-gerson-therapy/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vG9QUFUQmPw&feature=youtu.be

Budwig diet
http://healthwyze.org/index.php/component/content/article/190-the-true-budwig-protocol.html
http://www.budwigcenter.com/testimonials/#.VWLgOU9VhBc

Essential oil

http://quantumhealthconsulting.com/frankincense-and-cancer/

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2664784/

Frankincense oil effect on breast, skin and bladder cancer.  One patient used it to keep her brain cancer in remission.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22171782
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19296830

Whole brain radiation starts next week

I was too optimistic about Gwohann's brain MRI result.  It turns out what our oncologist said a 'minor' problem is in fact a huge problem. Unfortunately, Gwohann's lung cancer has metastasized to his brain.  Cyber knife is not an option for his case, hence, starting next Monday, he has to do whole brain radiation to control his cancer.  He will receive treatment Monday to Friday for four weeks, a total of 22 times. His chemotherapy is temporarily put on hold and will resume after radiation pending on the next CT scan result.

It is a setback that is difficult to deal with. However, with God nothing is impossible! We will march forward with courage and strength.  Please pray for the effectiveness of the radiation treatment and minimal side effects, that Gwohann will be totally recovered.

Brain MRI shows a minor problem

Bad news.  Gwohann's brain MRI scan shows something.  Here is the email from the NP Katie this morning.  

"Dr. Dormady has reviewed the results of Gwohann’s brain MRI from yesterday and unfortunately, there does appear to be a small problem. He would like to discuss these results with you in the office morning at 8:45 am. Will that work for you?

I want to assure you that this was a minor problem and Dr. Dormady wants to discuss further with the radiologist before meeting with you. I told Dr. Dormady about your upcoming trip and he didn’t feel that the scan results would interfere with your plans in any way."

Please pray that the problem can be easily treated.