Hi Daniel,

Hope you are well. Firstly many thanks for your wonderful inputs on my first post to your forum. It was amazing that you respond with such promptness and in a comprehensive manner to queries of your members. Needless to say, how immensely valuable this blog is. 

For my Mother who is has been diagnosed with Metastatic TNBC (see Ref for details).

I am posting a new thread given the broader nature of my query and also as I am adding some references in-line which might be relevant for some of your readers. I apologize if my list of queries is too long. Please take your time. 

1. Interventions to inhibit brain lesions:

(i) We have recently started Tetrathiomolybdate (TM) for my Mother. Would you know or have come across anyone or case study whether TM crosses Blood Brain Barrier and if it inhibits brain lesions. 

(ii) LOX inhibitor: My Mother is also taking a daily dose of 6 capsules of Boswellia Serrata (by HealthyHey).  She currently takes 2 capsules three times preferably with olive oil, (given Boswellia is poorly absorbed, just like curcumin). The driver for this intervention is this 2007 case study by Dr. Dana Flavin: Boswellia as LOX inhibitor.  FYI, my Mother was occasionally taking a lower dose (1-2 same capsule 4-5 days a week) preventatively, even prior to brain lesions showing up on last scan (as I read the above paper several months back). Now, since brain lesions still showed up, we don't know if Boswellia only works above a certain dose, or if it was not helpful in TNBC from stopping brain metastatic activity or some other reason. 

Assuming, if LOX is the driver for brain metastatic activity (as the above paper suggests), would a stronger LOX inhibitor like Aflapin (a proprietary and more potent LOX inhibitor), often used for relief from Rheumatoid Arthritis be also helpful. Do you know anyone using a similar intervention? I am planning to add it for my Mother hoping that it should not harm. If you have any thoughts to share, would be very helpful. 

(iii). Any other interventions say used for primary brain cancer, like Perillyl Alcohol (POH), or any other natural compound be worthwhile exploring? Do you know anyone with brain mets who might have benefited with POH? Given, POH's almost no toxicity profile, we are exploring to add it as well.  

POH Intra-nasal Protocol related question: Since POH is not water soluble, per your POH post, your second experimental formulation, excludes Kolliphor and only used POH with Ethanol. Is this one something that could be given in a nebulizer? Since, you mentioned that even Ethanol and POH didn't mix well, what would be the best route of giving POH intra-nasally? 

Per your and Jcancom's comments on the same POH post, is POH-3BP a better solution for brain mets? Has it been clinically tested in humans on any type of cancer? 

(iv) There has been some work on Chemo agents like Temozolomide used for primary brain cancer to target brain mets from other solid cancers, but the results have been mixed with <10% response rate (see Ref). Do variations like TMZ-POH combination tested clinically anywhere? I see some pre-clinical studies in NSCLC but not sure if any work has been done in breast cancer. 

2. Other metabolic approach driven/off-label drugs:

What are your thoughts on other off-label drugs (mostly from Jane McLelland's book) for TNBC. Some like Metformin, Berberine, Niclosamide, Statin (simvastatin or atorvastatin), Doxycycline, Itraconazole, Dipyridamole etc etc. Given my Mother is already taking a whole range of supplements, we are struggling on identifying which off-label drugs to must add and their right protocols (to avoid interactions and enhance absorption). FYI, she is already taking Metformin (in addition to her Type2 Diabetes dose), Fenbendazole and TM. 

Would you know anyone from your blog or elsewhere who could give some suggestions regarding which drugs are a must. 

3. Any list of chemosensitizers by cancer type and chemotherapy agents:

I tried to look up natural agents or off-label drugs that could boost effects of chemotherapy agents. My Mother is currently on Xeloda and I couldn't find any specific chemosensitizer for it. I believe 5-FU is the closest drug to Xeloda for which Astragalus and Curcumin helps which she is already taking. Any thoughts?

Separately, prior to Xeloda my Mother has taken Paclitaxel and Carboplatin, for which I compiled a list of chemosensitizers from online sources and inputs from Dr. Keith Block's book, "Life Over Cancer". If you wish, I will be happy to share with you/your group an excel sheet which covers some key ones. Excel sheet just needs some clean up a bit to make it understandable. If you wish to have it, I will do the needful. 

4. Other natural agents that can target TNBC:

Could you guide, per your experience or by your blog's readers if agents like Artemisinin, Artesunate etc or other items like MSM (Methyl Sulfonyl Methane), Sulphoraphane, Graviola extract, B-17 (oral or IV) might help in case of TNBC treatment? Other IV items like IV Vitamin C, IV Curcumin or other IV items might be worthwhile? Does CBD or THC or a combination product have benefits for TNBC. 

5. Experiences with 2-DG:

In your response to my post, you mentioned about 2-DG and a friend of yours who is giving 2-DG with Salinomycin to her father and has got some success. Could you please connect me with her. Any other experiences with Salinomycin use. FYI, I am a bit concerned given Sal is highly experimental.  

6. Challenges in lowering blood sugar:

My Mother is a Type2 diabetic from past 4-5 years. Prior to her TNBC diagnosis in Sep 2018, she has been taking Metformin 1000mg daily which we have now increased to 1500mg daily (given Metformin's anti-cancer activity). She also started Berberine daily since two months back, for it's glucose lowering and some other benefits. Still her HbA1C has been hovering around 5.7-6.0 range. Now, acknowledging your comment on stopping metformin and berberine 2-3 days before chemo, how to best implement this for a Type2 diabetic. Also, is that comment specific to IV chemo agent or also applicable for Xeloda, taken orally? Any alternative drugs or natural products that could better control the glucose levels? My Mother is also following a very strict diet and has been a lifelong vegetarian but still lowering of HbA1C has been a challenge.

I also read your post on Phlorizin and Phloretin. Would it be worthwhile for my Mother?

7. International Alternative Clinics: 

What are your thoughts based on feedback heard from others or your blog members on Alternative Clinics in Mexico, Germany or elsewhere and if they are worth considering. Any thoughts on when should one consider them in their treatment process? 

I am well aware that this is a laundry list of questions. So, please accept my apologies if the list is too long. Even some rough directions or inputs will be very helpful. 

Best regards,

Kapil