Finally, here's my testimonial. This is probably much longer than you wanted, but I had to write the unabridged version of "my story" to get it all down on paper for myself. If you want me to shorten it, I will be happy to do so, as long as we don't lose the big picture of my story. Also, I could not remember what the last IV treatment (cocktail) I received was called so I did not include it in the story. Since I am not certain our Word applications are compatible, I have also pasted my testimonial below.

In closing it bears repeating, I cannot tell you both how much your help has meant to me personally. I am convinced your treatments and my life style changes are the reason I am cured. I am eternally grateful.

Love,
Kathy

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Subject: GIST Cancer ? One Survivor's Story

I don't think you ever completely get over the "this can't be happening to me" reaction to any serious impact on your life. You get use to the idea. Then you have to decide if you are going to take a passive or an active role in influencing what you can with the situation and leave the rest in God's hands. When diagnosed with a Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor (GIST) this past year, I started researching everything I could get my hands on ? and was soon overwhelmed with information overload.

What follows is a summary of what I learned along the way to recovery; it focuses on the mechanics of what science made available to me. A month after my last surgery, my oncologist stated he was 95%+ confident I was cured. However, I want to acknowledge my faith in God's plan, the support of my family/friends/physicians, and a positive attitude also played key roles in my recovery beyond the wonders of science.

GIST cancer is a connective tissue cancer (sarcoma). It does not show up on the standard blood cancer screening tests. Typically, GIST is discovered when a tumor becomes so large it becomes painful and/or the tumor bursts and dumps fluid into the abdomen causing peritonitis. A few "lucky" GIST patients are diagnosed by having a sonogram or CAT Scan for another medical reason. Patients who have small to medium tumors removed intact are usually considered cured. Large tumors often cannot be removed for a variety of reasons. If the tumor has ruptured, the patient is at high risk of the spilled cancer cells attacking major organs.

My discovery path was a ruptured tumor. When first diagnosed, my oncologist would not talk to me about "percentages/odds of survival". There were just too many conflicting variables to guess at a survival possibility. While my tumor had been removed and was considered low grade, it was a large tumor (10 cm/5"), and only God knows how many cancer cells were dumped into my chest and abdomen when it ruptured.

Per my oncologist, the American Cancer Society, and my internet research, the only traditional medicine cure for GIST is surgery. Gleevec (an oral chemo-therapy) in many cases will slow the progress of inoperable tumors, but is not a cure. It may buy 1-5 years for individuals with inoperable GIST. I was prescribed Gleevec to slow the growth of any tumors that may have started as a result of my rupture and told to come back in three months to see what the CAT Scan showed. I was also advised, by two oncologists, I would likely have to have more surgeries to remove future tumors.

I consulted with many other folks in the healthcare field. A few people in the traditional field reminded me not forget the non-traditional avenues. I talked to nieces who are nurses, my Chiropractor, several other Naturopaths/Chiropractors, and massage therapists, who had dealt first hand with cancer. I read all the literature they pointed my way.

I was blessed to find two non-traditional doctors who were willing to work with me in spite of the fact I was taking Gleevec. Our approach was to build up my immune system, reduce my stress, and use low level laser light to kill cancer cells in my body. Though there were many facets to the non-traditional medicine approach we used, The following highlights the key aspects of our approach.

Daily use of low-level laser light therapy based on the principle of Royal Rife's work in the 1920/30s. It uses light frequency waves to destroy bacteria, virus and cancer cells. Basically all organism (including cancer) can be destroyed by a defined frequency.

Ultraviolet Blood Irradiation therapy, which builds your immune system a multitude of ways. Initially treatment was a minimum of weekly, then cut back to bi-weekly, and now monthly.

Intravenous Ascorbic Acid Therapy ? same frequency as UBI above.

Occasional high power light therapy on pituitary and spine to boost immunity.

Lifestyle changes

Began eating organic food whenever possible and consuming meat not raised on antibiotics, steroids or growth hormones. This means you have to cook it yourself, shop at several stores, and eat out only rarely.

Also gave up refined sugar, artificial sweeteners, coffee, soda, wheat, and milk products. (I have now begun to eat a little wheat and milk, but still try to keep consumption at a minimum.)

Started walking almost every day for 30 minutes.

Quit working 12 hours average days and the too often 16 hour days.

While the lifestyle changes were hard, I knew they were critical to restoring and maintaining my immune system so my body could fight any remaining cancer cells. This made it easier to accept I couldn't eat fast food anymore or pick up dinner to take home on a regular basis. Even though the Gleevec was impacting me with quite a few negative side effects, it wasn't long before I began to feel the benefit of the treatments and lifestyle changes. It was still stressful dealing with all the unknowns and changes in my life. My mantra was to be positive, but not to berate myself when all the challenges got me down. I was positive about 90% of the time, but those 10% times were very emotionally devastating.

Good News/Bad News:

4 months post rupture of the tumor, I was told "the good news is your cancer did not spread beyond the original site and you are likely curable. The bad news is you need surgery to remove a tumor that has reoccurred near the site of the original tumor". (Oh by the way, you need the surgery ASAP before this tumor ruptures or you will be back to an "unknown if curable" status.)

Fantastic News:

Two weeks later when I woke from my second surgery, I was told there was no tumor (and the microscopic pathology report later confirmed no cancer cells). Seems that since the initial surgery 4 months earlier, a small uterine fibroid tumor had grown, as had endometriosis, which was not present 4 months earlier, and adhesions from the original surgery were all bound together and appeared in the Cat Scan as a single tumor mass.

In a follow up with my traditional medicine oncologist, he said he was 95%+ confident that I am cured. I no longer have to take Gleevec, since it only helps slow the growth of existing inoperable tumors. However, I continue with daily low-level laser light therapy, monthly UBI/ Intravenous Ascorbic Acid therapy and am maintaining the life style changes I made in diet/exercise. Eleven weeks have passed since my second surgery. I am feeling great and enjoy looking forward to a normal life span.

It's obviously easier to accept great news; however, I am forever changed by this life altering experience. I am eternally grateful to the many people who supported me with technology, emotionally, and/or spiritually.