Dr. Al Danenberg ● Nutritional Periodontist
August 1, 2021
I’m 74-years old and vulnerable.
As most of my readers know, I am challenged with an incurable bone marrow cancer. After my diagnosis in 2018, my oncologist gave me only 3-6 months to live. I rejected chemotherapy but accepted isolated radiation therapy to help me breathe without pain. Immediately, I investigated and created my own Unconventional Cancer Protocols.
Today, I am thriving. But I have never gone into remission.
Although I feel great, this malignancy may have begun to rear its ugly head again. Some of my dysfunctional antibody blood tests have increased their numbers over the past two months. However, these levels are still better than the same blood test levels at the time of my PET Scan in May 2020, which showed no active cancer cells in my body. Obviously, I will be monitoring these dysfunctional antibodies carefully.
Fortunately, my 90% animal-based diet along with my other Protocols have helped me recreate a robust immune system. Up until now, I’ve been successful in warding off viral infections. Yet I’m vulnerable and concerned about the SARS-CoV-2 virus (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2) and its variants. But a recent study suggests that the COVID vaccines have prevented up to 279,000 deaths.
My Vulnerability
Let me be clear at the outset. I am not an antivaxxer.
As a matter of fact, in 2016 (which was about two years before I was diagnosed with cancer), I received the seasonal flu vaccine for those 65-years-old and older (Fluzone High-Dose Quadrivalent). Surprisingly, I developed a severe neurological reaction one week later. However, I can’t prove that it was caused by the vaccine.
Here’s what happened:
It was about 5 years ago. I was eating dinner with my wife, and then my mind began to blur. I knew what foods were on my dinner plate, but I could not remember the names of these foods! This had never happened to me before.
I turned to my wife and said, “I can’t remember what this food is called.” I was pointing to some broccoli. My wife (who is an RN) was immediately concerned. She thought I was having a stroke.
I tried to calm down, took my blood pressure (which was within a normal range), and waited about 10 minutes.
My head began to clear. I was fine.
The next day, I called my physician and described what happened.
Since I was OK when I spoke with him, he said that there was nothing else he could do at the time. He reminded me that there is no way he could determine that the vaccine caused the brain fog. But he recommended that I never take the flu shot again. Also, he suggested that I report my experience to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS website).
After I logged into the website, I found the process was cumbersome and user-unfriendly. And I couldn’t report my adverse reaction. I let my MD know that I had trouble working with the VAERS website, but he offered no solutions.
VAERS is the primary government-funded system for reporting adverse vaccine reactions in the U.S. It began collecting data in 1990. The website and data collection are jointly run by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Every Friday, VAERS makes public all vaccine injury reports received as of a specified date, usually about a week prior to the release date. Reports submitted to VAERS require further investigation before a causal relationship can be confirmed. However, one problem with VAERS is that some experts describe the process as poorly coordinated with fewer than the real number of total adverse reactions and deaths reported.[1]
Regarding the current data on the COVID vaccines, the VAERS website revealed that between Dec. 14, 2020 and July 23, 2021, a total of 518,770 total adverse events were reported, including 11,940 deaths.
I must reemphasize that these correlations do not mean causations. But if there were a significant number of specific outcomes reported from all over the country, then this might be a reason to consider that causation could be a possibility. From a medical perspective, more investigation would be warranted.
Because of my alleged neurological reaction to the flu vaccine five years ago and the current COVID vaccine data reported on VEARS, I have been reluctant to take the COVID vaccine. In addition, my oncologist explained that a research paper published in April 2021 showed that the mRNA COVID vaccine given to patients like me who have a malignancy of bone marrow plasma cells responded with reduced immunity.[2],[3]
Plasma cells are created in the bone marrow and are responsible for creating antibodies, which the vaccines are supposed to activate. In my compromised medical condition, my oncologist told me that the COVID vaccines might have negative effects on my body and might not provide the expected protection from the virus.
So, because of my cognitive reaction presumed to be from the flu vaccine 5 years ago, my current compromised plasma cells, and the number of adverse effects reported on VAERS, I have not taken the COVID vaccines.
I’m Encouraged
My potential vulnerability is not keeping me down or isolated. All along my cancer journey, I have been a survivor – not a victim. My goal is to maintain an exquisite quality of life. I’ve been an innovator of self-healing and protective modalities. But I am practical and aware of my environment.
So, I take obvious precautions to …
- Help my body not get infected by the virus
- Help my body fight an invading virus as naturally as possible if I should become exposed
Generally, I am not attending large gatherings with strangers. If I need to go to indoor facilities, I wear a KN95 mask – which is actually very comfortable for me. Even though I am aware of the controversy regarding the benefits of masks, wearing a mask is a simple method I have no problem with.
Most importantly, I actively work with my body and listen to its cues.
For example, if I notice any upper respiratory symptoms, I follow My Personal Protocols for Upper Respiratory Infections to help my body fight the invaders.
I also stay metabolically flexible to support an efficient and effective immune system.
I’ve written about 5 Tools to monitor a robust immune system. Accepting and implementing lifestyle changes to make that happen are vital for overall wellness.
No matter what I do, I still am vulnerable because of my medical challenge. I’ll continue to be transparent about my cancer journey and update my progress along with my setbacks.
[1] https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/covid-vaccine-safety-system-has-gaps-may-miss-unexpected-side-n1265986
[2] https://www.healio.com/news/hematology-oncology/20210416/covid19-vaccination-appears-less-effective-among-patients-with-active-leukemia-myeloma
[3] https://www.ashclinicalnews.org/multiple-myeloma/older-patients-myeloma-may-suboptimal-response-covid-19-vaccination/
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14 Comments
Thank you Dr Al, Your sharings are so welcome to those of us on a natural and integrative health path. Most positive energies to you continuing❤️
I got vaccinated as soon as I could. I try not to be frustrated with people who don’t get the shot. You are one of the few that has a solid reason to not take it, but you can be helped if the rest of us who are able would just do it. I’m glad you wear a KN95 mask, which I think will provide substantial protection. I just bought some valveless N95 masks but it was hard to not get fakes. In addition to COVID, we are in fire season here and last year I had no decent smoke protection because of the PPE shortage.
I read all your posts and am inspired by your courage and drive. Your road is challenging, but it’s also rewarding. Best wishes for continued health.
You’re more than welcome to get your experiment shot. Since you got it, then you should be immune. So I don’t know why you get frustrated with people that don’t want it. I’ve had Covid and have the antibodies. So there’s no need for me to get the jab. My body, my choice.
This is the problem. Insanity and hyper emotion have hijacked the discussion so there’s no more intelligent discourse. There’s people that demand everyone get the shot and shame those who don’t.
And you’d have to be a fool to not see there’s a bigger agenda behind all this. Vaccine passports are a step toward a totalitarian society. There’s power hungry people using this for their agenda. The government does not have your best interest in mind.
Btw, are you aware the CDC director is on record saying that the vaccines don’t prevent transmission? Did you know many of the new cases are vaccinated people? I bet you didn’t. So there’s that.
Talk to your Oncologist about taking Ivermectin prophylactically.
I am also fighting cancer and this was recommended as a very safe option, which all data supports.
Otherwise here is good reliable resource:
https://covid19criticalcare.com/
I just got my prescription for Ivermectin filled and will begin taking it prophylactically. Here is a study published on 5/31/21 in Israel that is very encouraging about Ivermectin: “Favorable outcome on viral load and culture viability using Ivermectin in early treatment of non-hospitalized patients with mild COVID-19 – A double-blind, randomized placebo controlled trial”.
I think you are smart to take the Ivermectin. This is a drug that has been around for a while, with a proven safety record. It’s unfortunate that information about Ivermectin and it’s effectiveness against this virus has been suppressed by most of the health authorities, including CDC.
You are a true inspiration Dr. Danenberg! Many of us have different reasons why we refuse the Covid vaccine and sadly we are being pointed out as irresponsibles and causing variants. Censorship it’s to its max and we are not allowed to question them. It’s a sad world when many scientist have shown different but are being shut down. I wish you well and please keep inspiring us!
Good comment, and I agree with you. I had COVID back in March, 2020, and there are many published studies since then that confirm that I am very likely to have strong, durable immunity against reinfection (not just antibodies, but the T cells and B cells that reside in the bone marrow). Yet, the public health authorities and authors consider me just another “unvaccinated person” that is too stubborn or too stupid to realize that I need the vaccine. It’s insulting, and it’s also anti-science.
Good point. I had the virus too so I dont need the jab since I have the antibodies.
Keeping you in my thoughts and prayers Dr. Al!
Thank you for sharing your experience. God bless you! Your journey is a great hope for many out there.
Thank you for sharing your vulnerability along with the rationale and evidence that supports your decision. I’m alarmed (but not at all surprised) that the VAERS data is not shared with the public via mainstream media and that the reporting system is so cumbersome (leading to the logical assumption that the adverse events are probably much higher).
Wishing you continued health and healing, Dr. Al!
Hope the protocols continue to work and this is just a minor setback.
Thank you for your thoughts on the vaccine.
I so enjoyed this discussion.
My father almost died from Guillain Barre 25 years ago – one week after his flu shot which is still one of the top triggers of the disease today! Hearing a professional say at a medical gathering that the vaccine could trigger GB, my decision was made and I never wavered. Not sorry – because there are such good people on both sides of the fence, and the side warning us of the potential problems is just as large as the pro CV vaccine side. It just doesn’t get reported and so it loses consideration.
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