“The doctor delivered her recommendations – dexamethasone, a tissue biopsy and radiation therapy (drugs, surgery, radiation) – ‘standard of care‘ for DIPG. Clearly, she had no schooling in gut health and nutrition.“
DIPG, diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma, is a clinical name that describes a symptom. The name means “cancerous cells are infiltrating healthy brain tissue (glial) cells inside the brain stem (pons).” The diagnosis and a confirming biopsy allow a hospital oncologist to match these results with a standard protocol (standard of care) that is covered by insurance, in this case radiation. The biopsy may or may not match the situation with a clinical trial, which is covered by funding from pharmaceutical corporations, government grants and independent research foundations. Following “standard of care” insures that the doctors and the hospital will get paid for their services. This is how oncology practices, surgeons and hospitals survive. Following “standard of care” protocol is how these people make a living.
Unfortunately, biopsies, radiation, chemotherapy and clinical trials, can prove more toxic or risky to a cancer patient than the cancer. I have read far too many stories about pediatric cancer patients that bear witness to this. Our teenage son wanted to find alternative therapies that might be less invasive, less toxic and more effective. We discovered such a choice that extended his prognosis significantly, although I wish we’d known about metabolic, functional and bioregulatory medicine back then. We might have been able to get even better results.
The Metabolic Approach to Cancer is an informative book which outlines the Terrain Ten, ten elements that focus on what going on inside the body of a cancer patient. Another book, A Parent’s Guide to Childhood Cancer by Dr. Dagmara Beine, applies the metabolic approach to childhood cancer. Non-invasive biologic methods for assessing root causes and healing of cancer center around metabolic or functional testing – DNA cheek swab, comprehensive blood panel, stool and urine analysis and allergen tests.
Metabolic, functional and bioregulatory approaches to medicine seek to identify what is going on inside the entire body, as well as what’s happening in the outside environment. This highly specific information leads to better care and improved outcomes through personalized nutrition, detoxification, supplementation, naturopathic remedies and lifestyle recommendations. It also promises gentler cancer therapy for children.
Other causal factors leading to cancer are the ingredients used in formulating injections of experimental manufactured substances, also termed investigational new drugs (acronym IND). More doctors are speaking out about this. Once extensive research has proven an IND safe and effective, it should only be offered with a full and honest disclosure of all ingredients, side effects and risks, because everyone has different epigenetic sensitivities, allergies, immune responses and levels of tolerance.
I propose that all INDs should be tested with the integration of comprehensive functional testing (before and after) and with periodic assessments using forms designed to help patients track symptom changes and levels of comfort and discomfort. The causes of cancer and the expressions of cancer are unique for each individual patient, and each requires a personalized biological approach for healing, as opposed to a one-size-fits-all “standard of care” protocol that could fail. Artificial Intelligence would be able to analyze this kind of detailed information to assist in developing personalized integrative care.
Through extensive reading, watching documentaries and having many conversations with functional and wholistic practitioners, I’ve come to understand that everyone has cancer stem cells inside their body and varying genetic susceptibilities. When we maintain a healthy terrain both outside and inside our bodies, we can better prevent those cancer cells from triggering the susceptibilities, causing inflammation and taking advantage of weaknesses to grow out of control and spread throughout the body. Metabolic, functional, bioregulatory and naturopathic medicine are all growing fields, posing tremendous opportunity for young people considering medical careers. I see this as the future of disease management.
Our new book, DIPG: Eternal Hope Versus Terminal Corruption, leads readers through our son’s experiences and discoveries, as well as our own. We asked many tough questions along the way and searched diligently for logical answers. We share what we learned through a compelling, page-turning narrative, in order to impart our acquired knowledge and wisdom to others. Functional medicine was a missing piece, which has since become more well-known and more widely available.
Wendy Nadherny Fachon 