Has anyone heard of anyone doing chemo for Lyme specifically?
I heard rumors recently of this, but this seems like a disastrous idea.
No, I am not considering it, just curious if anyone actually has any references.
Thanks
Derek
Posted by VB (Member # 16824) on :
no, but funny... I just had this conversation with a friend the other day. Would like to know this as well.
Posted by swedish lyme sufferer (Member # 14579) on :
I have heard about it - killing the cells that the lyme harbours it would kill it - or make it come out to be killed with ABX, I suppose. Actually I would do anything, inluding chemo to get rid of the XXXXXX.
Posted by viva (Member # 8183) on :
djf,
What kind of chemo drugs are you thinking of?
My husband, who has Lyme, had chemo for colon cancer. One of his drugs was platinum-based, and his metals load increased dramatically. Also, the drug had neurotoxic effects (peripheral neuropathy), which we managed to somewhat hold at bay with acetyl-l-carnitine.
All told, the chemo was easier than Lyme treatment, and his Lyme did not worsen during that time, but the chemo didn't take care of the Lyme, it just put more aggressive Lyme treatment on hold.
So...no references, but just that bit of experience.
Viva
Posted by Pinelady (Member # 18524) on :
I think there may be an option once you got the load way down. I liken our antibiotic treatment to
chemo by what it does to our cells already because it makes us so sick. And I have often wondered
about those cancer patients who do not make it past the 2nd. treatment.
Posted by djf2005 (Member # 11449) on :
Thanks for the opinions.
Seems like a very bad idea considering one would need body wide treatment and our immune systems are already so compromised.
We would have to be assuming that "active" infection is the #1 problem which there is no way to tell, and then even if it were all removed/killed via chemo, the immune system would have to rebuilt. We could as a result die from catching a common cold.
I guess I don't know enough about it and if I have trouble tolerating abx and the toxicity from them in general (I am HLADR4) I cant envision myself doing chemo and not literally dying from it.
Posted by joalo (Member # 12752) on :
My husband had five rounds of chemo last year for non-Hodgkins lymphoma (diffuse large B cell) and still has lyme and co.
He went through HELL with the chemo treatments. I'd take lyme treatment over having chemo...any day!! Anyone who thinks chemo is easy is totally clueless.
Posted by Pinelady (Member # 18524) on :
joalo thats awful to have Lyme and Lymphoma.
I bet it was horrible. He is very lucky. I know
many people who have died taking chemo, I believe
by no detoxing protocols.
Posted by djf2005 (Member # 11449) on :
Yeah Joala, this is what I thought.
I stayed on a floor of cancer patients before when I was so sick w/ lyme I could barely talk or walk, and they were not doing well.
Sorry for your husband's suffering.
Posted by map1131 (Member # 2022) on :
It's amazing when you see the medical establishment treating cancer with all those heavy duty toxic materials and nobody is talking to patients about detox and life style changes during this toxic periods??????
GGGGRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!
Pam
Posted by TerryK (Member # 8552) on :
My aunt had colon cancer last year. The cancer went into remission but she died from the toxicity of the treatment. I tried to get her to consider a FIR sauna or some other detox methods but she would only do what her doctor recommended and they don't recommend any detox for fear of interfering with the treatment.
She suffered horribly and it could have probably been avoided.
Terry
Posted by lymetwister (Member # 19590) on :
What about Liquid Draino ?
Just kidding, but if it worked and didn't kill ya, I'd be up for it.
:-)
Posted by Treelady (Member # 23506) on :
Chemotherapy used to refer to antibiotic treatment. Way back in the day when antibiotics were discovered doctors thought they had found the key to all disease-bacteria. Treatment with antibiotics (drugs being used to kill stuff) was called chemotherapy. As better sanitation and antibiotic treatment slowed the spread of many bacterial diseases the term started being used specifically for cancer treatment with drugs. Just an interesting FYI
Posted by Treelady (Member # 23506) on :
Chemotherapy, often shortened to chemo, is the use of strong chemical drugs to destroy fast-growing cells, bacteria, fungi and viruses. From Ehow.com So we are all on chemotherapy. Tell people that and see how much more concerned they are.
Posted by CD57 (Member # 11749) on :
Tygacil was called chemo by my LLMD.
Posted by djf2005 (Member # 11449) on :
I doubt I will convince the general ignorant public that I am already currently on chemo(abx), but it's a thought.
LOL.
Posted by f13girl (Member # 23844) on :
My aunt went through chemo /radiation.Her naturopath recommended she take a bath in "draw" once/week during treatment to draw out the toxins so as not to damage her organs. Not sure what "draw" is-i'm told they use for animal soaks as well.. not sure.
Posted by springshowers (Member # 19863) on :
I am at a clinic right now that treats near all cancer patients with Low Dose Chemo using IPT and concentrates hugely on Detox and immune stregthening.
People look pretty good overall and I heard a few great success stories already.
My mother is on IPT too and doing better than ever.
After a trial of normal Chemo that was HORRIBLE and she did not even last long on a trial of normal chemo. It is very strong and terrible ..
So there are clinics out there trying to help cancer patients by doing other things besides just killing that cancer and your immune system and hoping you will live.
And Yeah I heard the word chemo means what was posted above. WHen I go into my clinic they use that word for me but I am sure it is out of habit. There are other lyme patients that come through but it is a smaller percentage than the cancer patients there. IT is a pretty small clinic but has a good group of doctors and so far I am doing quite well.
FOr me I think this is the closest to chemo I will get ( i pray I never have to do the real chemo drugs )
I get in my treatment the same things the cancer people do but they use combos of abx instead of combos of chemo drugs..
So well I am excited about this therapy even though I am only on week two. You get one IPT treatment per week.
Some cancer patients get two if your a more serious case.
Posted by djf2005 (Member # 11449) on :
So what are you doing there exactly spring?
A form of chemo & detoxing or just detoxing?
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Just don't do something that will suppress your immune system. I was put on methotrexate and steroids by a rheumie before I found out I had Lyme.
NOT GOOD.
Methotrexate is considered a chemo drug.
Posted by springshowers (Member # 19863) on :
I am doing lyme treatment but it uses a Treatment Delivery system called IPT. I have another thread on this subject and there is a past where they did this using IPT but in a different way.
IPT is where they take your blood sugar levels down and then give you the "treatments at that time" They use this for cancer patients to be able to better target the bad cells and leave the good cells alone. They found that it works so well that they can reduce the amount of meds dramatically and still get full benefit. or more.
For the cancer patients they have a full protocol that has not only chemo drugs but supportive homeopathic and supplements that they determined are also best given at that time.
I am doing the protocol but they give me abx instead of chemo drugs. They rotate a couple different abx through an 8 week protocol.
At the same time they have a lot of detox modalities at the clinic.
The IPT treatment takes a good few hours. THey prep your blood by doing IV Blood OZone and UVB treatment. Then they do a nutritional small potent bag and then they give you short acting insulin t get your blood sugar down to theraputic range. THen they adminsiter all the drugs and therapies they choose for the protocol at that time really fast one after the other into the IV.
Then they give you glucose to bring your sugars back up and they have you eat a bunch of food and drink juice etc. IT takes about 30 minutes to an hour to get back to normal.
I can not post the whole protocol as it is against the rules here and it is also proprietary. During that time I also get shots IM and take elixers and supplements. SO there is ALOT going on in that one 5 minute opening where the administer everything.
Posted by springshowers (Member # 19863) on :
Even though this treatment IPT Is controversial I read back in history and they used to put you into a insulin induced coma. They do not do that anymore and have found the safe place to do the treatment.
I can feel that during the treatment the durgs go where they need to be and I do not get the side affects or herxes and all of that.
The next day I just really tired and the rest of the day on that day they did it.
Then I just start feeling better and better.
This is just my second week so I can not give a real or full opinion but if this is how it goes and is incremental over the weeks I can see that this will be amazing for me.
We will see and only time will tell. Nothing is guaranteed. THe doctors there are the types to work with Dr K. and Dr M and Dr J and are allopathic integrative types.
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- Love your liver. Chemo can damage the liver. You need your liver to live. And ditto for kidneys. -
Posted by jessielee (Member # 15806) on :
Springshower, I just read your post about IPT therapy . I have been diagnosed with cancer and am very interested in this treatment. The problem is where to find a reputable place or Dr. that does this. Do you think you could send me a private e=-mail? Thanks so much, jessielee