Hi, everyone:
I'm starting a survey to determine, if possible, an adjunct regimen for shrinking an AN after radiosurgery (GammaKnife) or radiotherapy (CyberKnife or fractionated stereotactic radiation).
Background: Immediately after diagnosis, I had tried a very comprehensive self-directed natural-healing program to shrink my AN. It failed miserably, as my AN continued to grow at an accelerated rate. After receiving CyberKnife (CK) treatments in July of 2008, I continued my program, which consisted of taking various supplements and maintaining a strict diet and exercise program. After initially swelling 33% in volume in the first five months after treatment, my AN began to shrink dramatically. Now at the 40-month mark post-CK, it is 71% smaller in volume than it was at the time of treatment (and 79% smaller than it was at its peak size at five months). Coincidence? Luck? Or did my health regimen have something to do with it? My theory is that while my regimen could not stop an AN from growing on its own, it helped my body eliminate the degraded tumor after it was irradiated and died. If other people have witnessed significant shrinkage of their tumor following their own health regimen, perhaps a common thread can be determined in the group's approach -- a common thread that could lead to a protocol others might also benefit from.
I'll begin:
First, I should say that I only took most of the supplements listed below for the first 3 years following CK (a shorter period for some of the supplements; I also tapered some dosages as I began to feel better). Fading memory will almost surely cause me to leave out some details. But here is what I remember:
For the first couple months following treatment, I took 450 mg of rhodiola rosea extract once or twice per day for fatigue.
For three years, I took either Wobenzym or Flavenzym (three times per day for the first two years, then reduced to twice per day for year three).
Wobenzym and Flavenzym are commercial preparations comprised of the exact same proportional blend of systemic enzymes (pancreatin, papain, bromelain, trypsin, chymotrypsin and rutosid).
At about the start of year three post-CK, I began taking an additional 500 mg of bromelain (one of the key ingredients in Flavenzym and the one that is confirmed in some scientific studies to shrink some tumors).
I also took 665 mg of curcumin (turmeric extract), initially three times per day and tapering to once per day 40 months out.
Other supplements I took included:
1,000 mg vitamin C daily.
400 mg vitamin E twice daily
Calcium/magnesium combo (usually 1000 mg calcium and 500 mg magnesium).
I occasionally took glucosamine (for maintaining healthy cartilage and athletic performance); I mention it here only because it could possibly turn out that the most unlikely supplement is the silver bullet for shrinking an AN.
Diet: My diet consisted mostly of baked salmon, steamed dark leafy green vegetables, fruit, nuts, legumes and whole grains. Salmon contains anti-inflammatory omega-3 fatty acids and high levels of the nerve nutrient pantothenic acid (vitamin B5). I avoided eating foods that cause inflammation: refined sugar, polyunsaturated vegetable oils (corn, sunflower, safflower, etc.), alcohol, coffee, etc.
I did a lot of aerobic exercise (250 to 400 miles of hiking and backpacking per year). Beginning at about 18 months post-CK, I also started doing 15 minutes of yoga five nights per week.
I meditated every night for 20 minutes from about month 28 to month 34 post-CK.
I tried to get at least 8 hours of sleep every night for the past 40 months. Fairly often, but not every night, I took valerian root extract and/or melatonin as a sleep aid. (Some research also indicates melatonin may boost the immune system.)
If I can think of anything else I did, I'll post an update. But now the ball is in your court. Did your tumor shrink following radiation treatments? How much (cite changes in volume, if possible)? And if so, what lifestyle habits did you pursue (diet, exercise, sleep, meditation, herbal supplements, vitamins, minerals, etc.) during that time? Try not to guess what helped; don't leave anything out. It's possible that a common thread could emerge that nobody could anticipate in advance, so please keep an open mind and detail as much as you can.
Best wishes to all,
TW
