I Said I Was A Wuss

Dr. Al Danenberg ● Nutritional Periodontist
March 25, 2019 [printfriendly]

I Said I Was A Wuss

x

Most readers know I was diagnosed with an aggressive form of bone marrow cancer on 9/19/18. By that point, the disease had progressed throughout my skeletal system without my knowledge. The radiologist, who read my initial CT Scan at the time of my diagnosis, stated that my bones exhibited “innumerable lytic lesions”. This degree of bone destruction would have occurred only in the latter stages of my malignancy.

x

After I began my unconventional treatment for IgA Kappa Light Chain Multiple Myeloma, I had great results. I felt better and continued to live my life with dignity and quality. My specific bloodwork had stabilized and even showed some improvement. I’ve written about my unusual and successful journey on my website starting on 9/17/18.

x

x

Recent Setback

However, on Thursday, 3/7/19, I had a setback, which sent me to the ER. I described this bump in the road in this blog.

x

I knew that during the course of this disease, bone pain would become increasingly more severe and frequent because of pathological bone fractures pressing on nerves. This is exactly what happened with vertebra L3 that caused my setback.

x

The kyphoplasty, which was performed in the ER to repair L3 on 3/7, did not reduce the pain. I returned to the ER on Tuesday, 3/12, with additional sharp pain down my left leg. I needed a rollator-walker to stand and get around.

x

Another CT scan showed a cancerous tumor pressing on the nerve causing my intense leg pain. My radiation oncologist recommended targeted radiation treatment lasting 10 consecutive days to destroy the lesion. This procedure might reduce the severe and stabbing pain.

x

x

Pain Control

I said I was a wuss. I’m all about pain control. So, I started the process to take necessary measurements to aim the radiation beam precisely in order to destroy the lesion without harming any other surrounding tissues. Following the “set-up process”, I began the 10-day radiation treatment targeting my L3 area. My hope is that this procedure will reduce the pain to a manageable level.

x

To help you understand how the beam works, here is a YouTube video of the TrueBeam Linear Acceleration Radiation machine. I am having this procedure done at Roper St. Francis Cancer Center in Charleston, SC. Here is interesting tidbit: The total cost of the machine and its software was $7 million.

x

For my current daily pain control, I take ibuprofen (Advil) and oxycodone 7.5mg (Percocet). As you may know, narcotics cause constipation. Believe me, constipation could be as painful as pain from the cancer.

x

To stay ahead of, and avoid, the uncomfortable side effect of constipation, I take one tablet of Senecot-S along with the narcotic to maintain regular and soft stools. This has worked quite well for me. When I have completed all the radiation treatments, I hope to eliminate the need for the narcotics and Senecot-S and return to only herbal pain supplements when necessary.

x

x

My Choice

Along this journey, my goal was to continue to lead my life with dignity and as much quality as I could. I also have rejected all chemotherapy. My intent going forward is to continue with my alternative protocols I have described in many of my previous blogs.

x

My healing protocols support my immune system, improve bone metabolism, establish a healthy gut microbiome and gut lining, repair damaged mitochondria, and specifically kill cancer cells.

x

My diet protocol has not changed: Vegetables; Fruits; Seeds; Wild-caught and pastured animals from nose-to-tail (who have been eating their natural foods with no chemicals whatsoever); and All the healthy fats contained in these foods. My diet also excludes all commercially processed foods and foods that are not organically grown.

x

You can rely on me to continue to write about whatever moves me. Certainly, I will be reporting on my journey’s progress as well as my leading-edge research relating gut health to oral and overall health.

x

You also can depend on me to share any of my PDFs of my articles with you at no cost. This is part of my way of “giving back” and “paying it forward”. Just send your request to my email: Dr.Danenberg@iCloud.com.

x

x

If you don’t want to miss out on new posts, sign up for my email alert list here.

Buy My Book

Crazy-Good Living

I Have
Aggressive Multiple Myeloma

Dr. Al Danenberg ● Nutritional Periodontist
September 24, 2018 [printfriendly]

 

 

 

Aggressive Multiple Myeloma

 

Up until several months ago, I had no symptoms other than some muscle soreness around my shoulders and chest area from what I thought was a result of over-exercising. Since the muscle soreness continued, I went to my medical doctor whom I’ve seen for over 25 years to check me out on 8/23/18. He ordered some blood tests, which were basically normal except for my CRP. The CRP was elevated, revealing systemic inflammation.

 

My MD then ordered an MRI of my chest and pelvis area. Next, he ordered a CT scan. An oncologist was brought into the fray. He ordered more blood tests, a PET Scan, and a soft tissue biopsy near my spine. Over the course of these weeks after I saw my MD, my muscle soreness transformed into severe sternum and rib pain.

 

Following this battery of tests, it turned out that I had 2 cracked ribs, a compression fracture of one vertebra, a cracked pelvis, and innumerable lytic lesions throughout my spine. Along with the blood work and biopsy results, my oncologist confirmed a diagnosis on 9/19/18. I had moderate-to-advanced IgA Kappa Light Chain Multiple Myeloma. This is an aggressive form of bone marrow cancer.

 

I was stunned. I thought I was one of the healthiest 71-year-olds walking this earth.

 

 

My Frame of Mind

I’ve taken a hit I never saw coming. It has disrupted all my life’s future goals. But, I am moving forward. I want to heal myself.

 

However, I am at peace with my condition if I cannot heal myself. I accept my transition from my physical body to my spiritual being. I believe we come to this earth many times to learn many lessons as we all progress to the same place eventually. My priorities are to provide for my wife and to make my transition as beautiful for her as it will be for me.

 

 

What To Do

Conventional medicine does not offer a cure for this aggressive bone marrow cancer. Based on specific lab tests and my physical discomfort, my oncologist suggested that I had 3-6 months to live “if I did nothing”. “Doing nothing” is not part of my vocabulary.

 

The way forward for me, in my opinion, is to have a Plan. As it goes with most things in life, the answer to solve a problem is usually not a quick fix. Certainly, this is the case with health issues.

 

Many people suffering from a disease may want to take the most popular supplement, or detox with the newest shake, or purchase the quirkiest new-fangled gadget to make them healthy. These methods rarely will suffice. Other people may want only to take conventional medicines, which rarely provide results without exposing the body to significant and serious side effects. I believe there must be an integrative approach of modalities to produce the most successful and healthiest plan. Healthy people are healthy because they follow a comprehensive and personalized plan.

 

 

Healthy Plan

A healthy plan is based on unbiased evidence of efficacy. The plan must include what to put into your body, what to do physically and emotionally to your body, and what to avoid and remove from your body.

 

You may have read my article, My Mortality. I have been on a path that included a healthy plan since I was 66 years old. My original plan included nutrient-dense, anti-inflammatory foods; efficient exercise; stress reduction; and restorative sleep. Now, I am enhancing that plan to go further and deeper to heal my body more intensely.

 

 

My New Plan

While everyone’s personal situation is different, I am attacking my disease in a specific way that may not be appropriate for you. In fact, this is another one of my studies where N=1, in which I am the only subject.

 

My results will not represent a scientifically proven cure for anything. My personal plan will be a means to integrate my oncologist’s conventional intervention with my natural path to support my body’s innate healing potential. I believe that selecting the most advantageous methods from both paradigms will provide the best results for me.

 

Starting immediately, I will incorporate (1) immune-supporting supplements and treatments and (2) my oncologist’s targeted therapy. Certainly, I will continue with my original healthy eating program and my composition of a plate of food. Below is a summary of the additional components I will include in my new plan. They are not carved in stone. I will make adjustments and consider other options as necessary.

 

Immune-supporting supplements and treatments:

(in alphabetical order)

 

 

Conventional targeted therapy:

  • Advil 400mg as needed for pain
  • Site-specific radiation treatment as necessary for severe bone pain
  • Specific monthly blood tests to evaluate my progress

 

 

Follow-Up

The next few weeks and months will provide time for my plan to do its job. My oncologist has scheduled monthly appointments for new lab tests and re-evaluation of my status. I will continue to write about my results as I help my body return to its healthy state. Then, watch out!

 

I will become more vociferous and fanatical about the importance of creating the most powerful immune system you can create for yourself. The earliest changes from healthy cells to diseased cells could begin a decade or more before the actual disease manifests signs and symptoms. Don’t wait until you have a problem.

 

Be proactive and have a healthy plan for your nutrition and lifestyle. Get on it NOW!

 

 

If you don’t want to miss out on new posts, sign up for my email alert list here.

Buy My Book

Crazy-Good Living