Tropic of Cancer

Based on what I have been told by the doctors and on my own research it looks like I have what could be generically called “throat cancer”. More specifically it is called Human Papilloma Virus – Positive Oropharyngeal Cancer (HPV+OPC).

After the initial biopsy, it was noted that I had signs of squamous cell carcinoma that was malignant. This was discovered after a biopsy was done on an abnormal lymph node on the left side of my neck. Since then I have had a PET scan and MRI. All that showed on the PET was the cancerous cells in the lymph node and apparently, nothing showed up on the MRI. This could be a positive sign but not necessarily. It looks like it is quite common for tumours to be small and undetectable with this sort of cancer.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HPV-positive_oropharyngeal_cancer

It also appears that tobacco and alcohol use can exacerbate the potential for HPV+OPC to occur.

It seems that it is important to locate the primary tumour so that radiation can be directed specifically to the tumour otherwise the radiation is “fire bombed” into the neck area greatly reducing the quality of life. Saliva production is compromised as well as great difficulty with swallowing.

After my last meeting with the representative of the Head and Neck team at the Monash Cancer Centre it also appears that there is a general consensus among the doctors that I do have a HPV+OPC and they want to do another operation on the membrane at the back of my tongue to remove the tissue and look for the potential primary.

I have searched far and wide for information on this cancer, where it comes from and the outcome and unfortunately, it makes sense to me that this is quite probably what it is.

On a positive note “standard of care” treatment has improved and survival rates are quite good even though there are negative consequences to the treatment in the mouth and throat. Also, there has been a huge amount of research done by research scientists into the therapeutic use of the ketogenic diet and hyperbaric oxygen therapy as an adjunct to “standard of care” treatment.

So where am I at the moment? …December 29, 2020 … 

1. “shitting myself” could be classified as the underlying emotion while showing a brave face to the world.
2. Determined to do what I can with diet, oxygen, advanced testing and ANY other natural treatment that will slow down the proliferation of the cancer cells and to prepare myself for the harmful effects of whatever radiation treatment and potential chemotherapy that I might need to have and 
3. to accept that alternative research is not yet far advanced enough to rely on as the only treatment of this cancer so I will have to accept mainstream ”standard of care” treatment like radiation and potentially chemotherapy.
4. I am also ready to dive deep into whatever research is available, both mainstream and alternative.

My overall plan at this stage is to 

1. tweek my ketogenic diet so I get my “Glucose Ketone Index” (GKI) stably between 1-3. This means that I have to lower my blood glucose and insulin levels and increase the level of ketones in my body. The theory here is that cancer thrives on glucose and ketones are known to starve the cancer cells. I will need to cut my carbs even lower and get the macros (fat, protein and carbs ratio) just right to get into a higher state of nutritional ketosis. After my operation 2 weeks ago my glucose levels are mid-normal (average 5.6) but my ketone levels have mysteriously dropped, this has given me a higher GKI which isn’t necessarily a good thing.
2. Dr Eng gave me a prescription for Metformin which is a common drug used to combat glucose levels in Type 2 Diabetes. Research has now also shown that metformin can help control mTOR and IGH which both contribute to inflammation. I am currently taking 2 x 500mg tablets os Metformin a day. So far (after about 1 week) it hasn’t seemed to do anything significant with my blood glucose levels.
3. I have been doing sessions of hyperbaric oxygen therapy at 1.35 atmospheres for a while now but based on research it appears that the pressure needs to be higher to oxygenate the cells enough to actually do some “harm” to the cancer cells. Cancer thrives in a low oxygen environment with a good supply of glucose and glutamine as the fuel to create fermentation as opposed to the respiration that normal cells use. It seems that the mitochondria (energy producing batteries in our cells) become damaged and the cells use fermentation to survive and then somehow hook up with oncogenes and start splitting and proliferating. The trick is to pump in the oxygen to kill the bastards. So it looks like I’ll be spending a shitload of money and time sitting in hyperbaric oxygen chambers.
4. I have found an integrative doctor who specialises in cancer. His name is Dr Peter Eng, he is 83 years old and has seemingly cured himself of prostrate cancer which he got when he was 70. I have only had one appointment so far, which cost a bloody fortune but I desperately need a medical doctor on my team who understand  keto, oxygen and Intravenous Vic C plus any other metabolic therapies that can help curb the spread of cancer. I don’t know whether Peter will  fill this need but so far I haven’t found anyone else.
5. Mainstream “standard of care”, unfortunately I am experiencing cancer at a time when research into metabolic treatments of cancer are just beginning and are not being used in the mainstream of oncology so I fear that I will have to subject myself to more operations and also radiation and maybe chemo. The best I can do is to prepare my body for this onslaught by fasting before and after radiation which according to research can put the healthy cells into protective mode and make the cancer cells more sensitive to the treatment hopefully allowing the radiation to be given at lower doses and not burning up all the healthy cells as well as the cancer cells. From my research it also appears that oxygen can help recovery from radiation and chemo.
6. Last but not least, I am walking as much as I can between 5-10 kms every day, I am sleeping 8 hours a night, I am doing almost daily infra red saunas to increase my core temperature which apparently is helpful to knock the cancer cells around, I am doing cold showers and jumping in my not so cold pool … I need to set up an ice bath outside to get the hot/cold thing going, I am doing Pranic Healing which seems to be helping but I’m not 100% certain. It is a form of treatment that the person doing it repairs the energy field around your body and unblocks the chakras … who knows? It might help so that’s a positive thing. I’m also trying hard not to get stressed about anything in life, including having cancer. It appears that stress just makes things worse so why bother.

That’s about it. My intention is to survive. And not only survive. I want to be around for another 30 years in good physical and mental condition to enjoy this wonderful experience known as life.