Alternative Therapies

Alternative Therapies:

Nichole was diagnosed in August of 2003 with a GBM spinal cord tumor. We proceeded with all of the standard cancer therapies. Surgery, Radiation, Chemo, as well as many other cancer medicines and off label cancer medicines. Even before she was out of the hospital after removal of her tumor, I surfed the web looking to see what alternative medicines would be a good choice for Nichole and her tumor. There are so many alternative methods, my head was spinning. Which ones do I use, which ones are safe, which ones wont interfere with her medicines and radiation her doctors were giving her? So many questions.

I contacted Jeanne Wallace PhD. Cnc., of Nutritional Solutions. She came highly recommended, and is known for treating spinal and brain tumors, with alternative medicines. I had a consultation with Jeanne and my mind was put as ease. She recommends herbs and vitamins that are studied, and safe. She put together a cocktail of herbs and vitamins for Nichole. She would adjust or delete them according to Nichole’s standard medicines she was taking, her radiation treatments, her blood work and her MRI’s. Jeanne recommends only certain manufactures to assure the purest ingredients. Some I ordered from her, but most I was able buy or order through my local health food store. She also provided a dietary program for Nichole. Adding these things to her diet was easy to do.

The one thing I added on myself, was Essiac tea. I found a high quality organically grown herbs, packaged together, from a health food store not to very far from where I live. I learned how to special cook and brew the tea myself and stored it in dark brown bottles in the refrigerator. I made a 3 week supply at one time. I feel this really helped Nichole along during her radiation and chemo treatments…she never got any virus or colds thru her illness, even living in her college dorm! I felt it kept her strong. Not one of Nicholes favorite things, but she drank it without a word. It’s such a small amount daily 2-4oz two times a day.

Here are some of the things Nichole took:
Shark Liver Oil (during radiation only)
Larix
Echinacea
Melatonin
Thymus
Glandular BCQ…
Boswella
Bromelain
Curcuma
Querctin
Vitamins without copper
Lemon Balm
Flax seed oil mixed in cottage cheese
Essiac Tea

We tried to keep her diet low in sugar, added Blueberries, Almonds, Green tea, Limited red meat, white flour, and kept her foods as much to natural as possible. She also had a 2hr weekly massage at home,(except the week she did the chemo) from the most wonderful and knowledgeable massage therapist, (Herta) which Nichole grew to love. This was the one thing Nichole always looked forward to. Most important were her Friends, the best therapy there was for her…without that, nothing else would have mattered. I believe all of these things, kept Nichole strong during her Illness.