The purpose of this essay is to inform others that it is possible to survive breast cancer with brain metastases. The second author is the subject patient and a long-term survivor of systemic metastatic breast cancer with numerous brain metastases (corresponding to 8% survivor group). We credit her survival to a combination of (1) medicine as practiced by an excellent oncologist with whom we developed a partnership to manage the patient’s health, (2) our informed exploration of the available scientific knowledge including a review of scientific research articles that go beyond conventional care, and (3) the patient’s supplementation with numerous repurposed drugs and other substances reported to have antitumor properties. Alongside her conventional treatment (the medical standard of care), it seems likely that this supplementation has been a key factor in the patient’s long-term survival. We also point out that the lack of follow-up magnetic resonance imaging brain scans for early detection of brain metastases poses substantial risks for patients with HER2+ metastatic breast cancer in non–central nervous system locations. Thus, we suggest that research be conducted on such early detection for possible inclusion in the recommendations for the medical standard of care. Finally, medical doctors and also patients with backgrounds in biological science may wish to consider potential options and advantages of repurposed drugs and other substances reported in scientific publications when the medical standard of care has limited options for advanced cancer and other severe chronic health conditions. However, any efforts along this line by patients should be in collaboration with their medical doctors.
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1534735419890017
D, it is gratifying that the ideas that we have generated on this forum are broadly consistent with the successful treatment experienced by the patient in this published report. Such reports can be accused of publication bias, though if such reports were to continue to accumulate they might be seen as less anecdotal. What is also of note is that our understanding of metabolic treatment is continuing to evolve. Sometimes patients will throw a great many treatments at cancer in hopes that something will be effective. Yet, as we learn more we can start to see powerful combinations that are based upon strong rational expectations. For example, I reviewed the mechanism of vitamin C and found that it stresses cancer in one way by depleting GSH etc.. However, the methylglyoxal protocol suggested only a small amount of vitamin C which might be more anti-oxidant than pro-oxidant. By having a better mechanistic understanding one begins to recognize powerful combinations such as possibly high dose vitamin C with methylglyoxal. Thank you for posting this encouraging article.
