The Critical Role of Gut Microbiome in Health and Disease

Thank you very much for that, Art. I will be buying those recommendations for sure.

Art, since I last messaged it seems the problem is infact with the liver. I would think obviously a chemo toxicity problem because the fluid build is from Ascites. I am really shocked as she was doing so well. Now she is not in a good place, she's not eating or drinking enough, quite frankly I want her to rethink the treatment and do everything naturally or with repurposed drugs such as febadazonel, ldn etc.

I really thought I would have a game plan or the correct words to make her see sense being it did not work originally for a bump on the breast. I myself have adhd and lately my once cognitive brain has since left me and I feel totally inadequate to the person I was. She says she's confused by it all and needs to talk it through with someone other than me. Would you know if there Is there a place or somebody with a similar story who has had a ‘Miraculous Remission' as they say that maybe able to advise her?

Steve,

That was at least two weeks ago when I sent that reply and based on your current reply, it sounds like you have not discussed any of it with her doctor and have not attempted to implement any of it and your wife sounds like she is declining. I don't know what to say to that.

I can only guess your wife's condition based on what you are writing here, but it sounds like her liver is compromised and likely has been for sometime. This is immediately dangerous and is likely causing ammonia accumulation in the blood and brain and this could be a reasonable explanation for her state of confusion and loss of appetite, which ammonia buildup in the blood and brain is known to cause. Her doctor needs to be informed of this at once. If the chemo is damaging her liver, her oncologist may have to stop it at least temporarily. You have to get the liver issue resolved first! For now, she is in a very precarious situation with her liver damage. The liver can regenerate over time, but not if it is under constant attack. Once that is resolved, then you can figure out a path forward.

In her current state, you can not give her anything that has even the slightest potential to further damage her liver!!! Fenbendazole has shown that potential. Here is an article discussing it:

https://www.karger.com/Article/FullText/516276

As far as someone to talk to about it, you apparently are in the UK and I wouldn't know anyone. There is a possibility that you could do a phone consult with Dr. Shallenberger here in the US, but I doubt that he would discuss anything with you until your wife's liver situation is treated and stabilized. He deals with natural and standard medical treatments in combination. As far as liver recovery, there are a few supplements that are useful, but stopping the damage to her liver is of paramount importance before you can consider those. They can not compete with a chemo agent that may be damaging her liver. It is time for her doctors to do their job to get her liver functioning properly again.

Here is a link to an article that explains how ammonia can buildup in the blood and brain via a damaged liver as the liver can not effectively filter toxins as it normally would.

https://www.healthgrades.com/right-care/kidneys-and-the-urinary-system/elevated-blood-ammonia-level

She needs to see her doctor immediately!!!

Art

Thanks very much for your help Art. Honestly I am so stressed with it all because her stupid oncologist does not listen. The chemo tablets she had been taking prior to this issue were too much because her hands and feet were cracking all over but they still continued treatment which has been going on for a year or more. Her was her liver was only mentioned in aug after a mri where dr said it had lines but because of fluid build up another scan (cat) was done a few weeks ago and Ascites were diagnosed, the dr said it was caused from the disease and she stopped her treatment and said they will give her another type which will cause hairloss and delivered through injection via a tube which she is waiting to have fitted this week. No meds were given for the liver or advice given on diet. Honestl its ridiculous Art if I can see whats happening why cant anyone else. I dont know what to do. Thanks again to all that help. Note: her condition as of a few weeks ago was contained in her bones, there was a cyst on liver but not mets. They also said there were cells in the fluid drained from the bloating.

Forgot to add, she was advised to take paracetamol for pain which is ridiculos.

Research niacin for cancer (liver health) and milk thistle among others.

For gut health research: Butyrate supplement (one in am two before bed), melatonin 1mg/kg split thru out the day, last dose taken with D3+K2 in pm as they synergize each other). Two TBSP coconut oil per day. These are a few top important ones my dr has me take for colon cancer gut health among other things also.

Fenben is a good one alot of people take. I take 3 different anti-parasite/fungals.

In reply to my last post I did a quick search for niacin and breast cancer. It might not be a good idea to use niacin.

All my research showed so many cancers is why I mentioned it. But might not include breast cancer.

Thanks for trying Betty.

Have you reached out to an ND for help?

I have found oncologists only know what they know per protocol (Treat symptoms).

I would fire her current onc and get a new one.

A good vetted ND might be a good idea for your wife at this point.

Cancer protocols are so outdated by decades, still grouping patients in a one size fits all category when it should personalized by now.

I really hope and pray your wife finds answers soon and gets the ascites under control and rid of. I know it must be painful.

Hi Steve (UK) –

I'm so sorry for your situation. This is not only incredibly difficult for your wife, but it is for you too as her caregiver. You are trying to do what is best for her, not getting the support from doctors, feeling helpless and desperate.

Since she is agreeing to further chemo – this time through an IV port – you will need to support her decision and make her as comfortable as possible throughout the process.

Paracetamol is very hard on the liver (as are most pain relievers), so is there any possibility of getting medical marijuana to help her with the pain? It may even stimulate her appetite. It's in oil form and a few drops are very potent.

https://www.theextract.co.uk/cbd-oil-for-cancer/#Can_CBD_be_used_as_a_complementary_cancer_therapy

If she doesn't feel like eating, giving her nourishing bone broth (either bought or homemade) will help get some nutrients into her and will be easy on the digestion. It's very tasty and soothing.

Your wife may be feeling the cold which could make her pain feel worse. Using an infrared heating pad (greater penetration of heat) will help with that and even assist in relaxation and sleep. Just make sure you get a very good one from a reputable source.

Rubbing magnesium oil on her arms and legs may help get magnesium into her system (with all the goodness that goes along with that great mineral). Plus, a gentle massage will help her feel your love and lessen the pain. If the magnesium oil makes her skin itchy (quite common), just put a little lotion or aloe vera gel on afterwards.

As you know, Art had many great suggestions in his posts to you. Melatonin is definitely a great place to start – try the liquid form if you can and put the drops under her tongue.

I would add Vitamin D3/K2 in liquid form as well. I imagine she is very low in Vitamin D3. Her oncologist/family doctor may have tested her levels already (if not, they should).

By the way, keep a copy of all of her test results for yourself. It's good to know what is being done, by whom, when, what dosage, etc.

Just continue doing the best you can, Steve – that's all anyone can do.

My prayers are with you and your wife.

Take care,

Tessa

Steve,

That is a lot of pressure on both of you! It can easily be overwhelming and I understand that.

There are studies that clearly show that melatonin can reduce the side effects of chemotherapy and have synergy with chemotherapy. There are also studies that show that melatonin has multiple anti cancer effects on its own. More over, there are studies that show that melatonin is protective of the liver.

If you are living in the UK, melatonin requires a prescription from your doctor or oncologist. Here it is over the counter. Melatonin has an excellent safety profile, even at high dose in humans as the following study illustrates at 250 mg per day for 8 weeks:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/labs/pmc/articles/PMC7995760/

Melatonin has also shown benefit in breast cancer (BC) :

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/labs/pmc/articles/PMC8525668/

This next study shows that melatonin synergizes with Doxorubicin, a common drug used for BC :

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/labs/pmc/articles/PMC8492618/

The safety of melatonin is very well established and can not be used as a basis for not prescribing it :

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26692007/

The following review goes into great detail to show most of the currently known benefits of melatonin in BC and other cancers :

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/labs/pmc/articles/PMC5503661/

Steve, I could literally go on for a day linking you to studies that clearly state the myriad of benefits of melatonin for various cancers.

The question should not be, "why should we use melatonin as an adjuvant treatment for cancer?"

The question should be, "why have we not already started the patient on melatonin at pharmacological dosing prior to starting chemotherapy to obtain the best possible benefits from melatonin?"

This last review goes into great detail to explain how melatonin protects the liver in disease and injury :

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/labs/pmc/articles/PMC5412268/

Steve, I think this covers many questions that you or your wife's doctors may have about melatonin as adjuvant therapy for your wife at pharmacological dosing as illustrated in the 250 mg per day study I linked to up higher in this post. A pharmacological dose has an excellent safety profile and clearly shows effectiveness, while a dose of melatonin that is too low will have no effectiveness. To illustrate this point, compare this 10 mg study in diabetic patients to the 250 mg study in diabetic patients up higher in this post :

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/labs/pmc/articles/PMC7393042/

So clearly a 250 mg dosing regimen has clear and substantial benefit in diabetic patients while a 10 mg dosing regimen has no benefit and in fact it may have a slightly negative effect compared to placebo.

That's the information I have to offer you, Steve, specifically regarding her particular situation. It may be worth showing to your wife's oncologist and doctor if they are hesitant to consider melatonin as an adjunctive treatment for your wife. Best wishes to the both of you and please keep us updated!

Art