A Break

It's amazing how much time worrying can consume. It's also amazing how much strength is zapped with that self-same worrying. Today I took a break and had lunch with a dear friend. Just talking about other things lifts the burden that the word "cancer" places into one's heart. The two hours we spent at lunch brought me refreshment I had not envisioned.

Today I am reading a newsletter from the main stream medical authorities. Earlier I looked up alternative medicine treatments for PC. One very interesting article talked about Immuneo-Augmentive Therapy (IAT.) This is a process that stimulates one's own immune system to better recognize cancer cells and destroy them. It costs about $8500 for the initial treatment, and lesser amounts for follow-up. It takes 2-3 weeks and is performed in the Bahamas.

Today also I recieved the homeopathic tea from the organization founded by Rene Caisse, a Canadian nurse who has helped hundreds of cancer patients.

It is called Essiac, given its name by ("caisse" spelt backwards), consists of four main herbs that grow in the wilderness of Ontario, Canada. The original formula is believed to have its roots from the native Canadian Ojibway Indians.

The four main herbs that make up Essiac are Burdock Root, Slippery Elm Inner Bark, Sheep Sorrel and Indian Rhubarb Root. The tea is made in small batches and consumed hot in quantities of no more than 4 oz per day. This tea is said also to stimulate immune function. We will begin the dosage tonite. Poor Mr. Miller, has no idea what is in store for him, but he obediently trys anything I give him.

Suggestions from the Caisse website:

To help rebuild the human immune system's strength and resistance, consider the following suggestions:

In addition to the tea one should
-Avoid exhaustion, stress and fatigue.
-Practice relaxation techniques such as meditation, yoga, or tai chi.
-Add to your daily nutrition plenty of fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds and a variety of grains. These will add essential nutrients to your body, which are important for growth, repair and daily well being.
-Have your essential trace minerals tested by your healthcare professional. These are vital to maintaining a balanced and healthy immune system.
-Drink 6 glasses of bottled, spring or filtered water daily to help purge toxins and waste from the body.
-Sleep a minimum of 6 hours daily.
-Eliminate hydrogenated fats, processed foods, food additives, preservatives, artificial color and flavor.
-Walk, swim or cycle a minimum of 15 minutes each day.
-Take a multi-vitamin and multi-mineral supplement daily.



So far he is drinking green tea, consuming fish oil and eating lots of red grapes and strawberries while cutting down fat to as great an extent as possible. He seems to like it and does not complain about the quart of green tea I brew for him every day. Hopefully the Essaic will not be foul tasting and turn him off.

In 2 weeks he will have his PSA checked, and we will know at that time whether his cancer is hormone refractory or hormone dependent. We pray that it is the latter.