From my hospital bed, awaiting chemo treatment for Follicular Lymphoma, I asked one brother and two friends to search online for ways in which I could help myself through, and beyond, my chemotherapy. Each came back with vastly different sources and suggestions. But all three had in common the work of Robert Miller at LymphomaSurvival.com
As they summarised Miller’s work I must admit I was doubtful. There was no mention of juicing, Vitamin B17, alkalising diets or other dietary-based suggestions I’d heard about in my 15 years as a holistic therapist. Instead they outlined an approach which appeared so simple, obvious and manageable that I really doubted it would do much for me.
But as I adapted to the chemo-induced brain-fog… and rode massive waves of terror and horror induced by reading the bleak statistics about my long-term future… I began to read Miller’s work for myself and grew increasingly impressed as I did so.
Because here was the complete package. A perspective which:
- endorsed medical intervention when it was warranted (and gave brilliant analysis of the many options available as well some tips on how to maximise them)
- explained why medical intervention alone cannot ever hope to resolve this supposedly incurable cancer
- encouraged us, the diagnosed, to take action to remedy the faulty gene expression driving the cancer (epigenetics)
- informed us, citing published medical research, how to exactly we could go about swinging gene expression back in our favour!
25 years of living with Follicular Lymphoma, feedback from c 2000 site members and staying up to date with medical research have helped Miller evolved his “Targeted Natural Strategies”. These Gene Remediation Strategies are comprised of 4 Pillars which, if consistently applied every day, work synergistically together to promote healthier gene expression.
So, while very surprised to find diet ranked at number 4, with nothing to lose and all to gain, I began applying what I could of the Pillars during my chemo – Increasing the intensity and depth of their application as and when I could given my energy levels during treatment.
So, early January 2014, sleeping better than ever in my life (never before slept in a cave-dark room), and fit enough to walk 8-10km per day, I chose to postpone the suggested maintenance treatment. My hematology team showed genuine human concern for me and also professional interest in my choice. As a means of both informing and reassuring them – as well as helping keep my GP and other medical professionals abreast of my self-care efforts – I drafted a summary of the 4 Pillars.
You can download it here (1.1MB) *
Of course, only time will tell how effective these strategies will be for me. But as of Dec 6th 2016 (three years after chemo ended and I put off the suggested maintenance treatment) I seem to be doing well.
My blood inflammation markers have remained consistently low and the few remaining enlarged nodes either continue to remain small or are trending downwards in both hardness and size. Along with those positives not only have I grown well enough to dabble again in swim teaching and website hosting work, but I’m also enjoying making music with choirs and/or friends, and walk for at least 30-mins twice daily (assuming I’ve not also cycled a whopping 80-100k that day with local club the Innisfree Wheelers!)
So I am growing ever more hopeful of one day emulating Miller’s 2014 PET Scan ‘no active caner’ result!
* NOTE: as these strategies have an epigenetic impact, there is a possibility they may also benefit people with other forms of cancers. So feel free to share this document with them if they are open to exploring well-researched, natural ways of helping themselves.
