If you look up Gonzalez on the PubMed scientific literature database, you find a grand total of two published papers, one dealing with the use of pancreatic enzyme extract in nude mice. The other, regarding his "pilot study", involved a grand total of 10 patients (too small a number to make any judgments, even if you disregard the fact that this wasn't a proper double-blind, placebo-controlled trial). After 8 years and at least $1.7 million in government funding, where's the evidence that his coffee enemas and zillions of supplements have done anything to improve survival for pancreatic cancer patients? I can understand patients with this disease, who have a dismal outlook, grasping at any possibility of help. But it's depressing that our tax dollars are funding enema advocates when there are valid alternative and mainstream medicine projects out there needing support. Note again that in critiquing "detoxification" regimens, I am referring to the fallacy that mysterious environmental "toxins" and normal bodily waste need to be purged from our internal organs with the aid of supplements and enemas, supposedly because those organs can't handle things otherwise. This is nonsensical. Speaking of "dirty" bodily functions, the fascination with enemas seems to stem from the idea that our colons contain (gasp!) waste. This is normal, but a lot of people have trouble believing it.

Well...I just told my neuro I want out of the study. He is all but begging me to stay with it, but I dislike the side effects and I have not had any relief from my migraines. a)the first two weeks were completely pain-free and I was in heaven. But then the migraines returned with a vengeance AND my Imitrex no longer worked very well on them!!! Net result= more medicine than ever needed and headaches never seemed to go away completely. b)the frozen forehead is now only partially frozen and my Imitrex has begun to work again. This is 9 weeks post Botox. c)my eyelids look a lot better. I guess the melting polar ice caps in my forehead are responsible. I have to think that if you are one who derives headache relief from the Botox, that might also be waning. d)my neck, which was soooooo sore for nearly 2 months, is now almost back to normal. It was very hard to read and ride my bike because my neck felt like it needed a brace and it hurt a lot. Neuro said next time he would spread around the injections instead of concentrating them in one area (the ones in my neck). e)I told the neuro I wanted to move on and try to find something that worked without compromising the one medication I've got in my arsenal that is effective (Imitrex). What I'd really like to do is not GET migraines. To that end, I have begun a new therapy that is designed to bring my body back into balance and will hopefully give me the bonus of reducing my migraines, which have increased dramatically in the last year. I mean, it doesn't take a brain surgeon (ha ha) to figure out this is likely hormonal, right? I'm 50 and am getting a big increase in migraines? And yet I couldn't get a doctor to do more than prescribe bc pills for me (big no-no with my migraines) or recommend estrogen patches, which I was fairly sure would not be a good treatment for me. I saw two gynos who told me, without any testing, that I needed estrogen, even though I did not fit the symptom profile. The second when said, when I questioned him as to how he knew this, "You're 50!" I finally found a doctor who specializes in women's health (it's all she does) and takes a more naturopathic approach. She ran a bunch of hormone tests for me, including a comprehensive saliva test, and determined that I am very high in estrogen (thank goodness I didn't use the patches!) but extremely low in progesterone. I'm very high in testosterone (ah, THAT'S where the rages are coming from!) and DHEAs (don't know what that is). Low thyroid, too, though it initially appears normal in testing. I have practically no cortisol and my adrenals are wiped out. So, I'm on adrenal rebuilder, a Rx natural progesterone cream that is compounded with pregnenelone (a cortisol precursor or something like that), thyroid stuff and some other supplements that are supposed to help me build back up and feel better. I've only been doing this routine for a week and a half so it's too soon to know how well it will work, but I can tell you that I normally get really bad lower pelvic pain for a week midcycle and I had only a slight twinge this week (doc told me it was the low progesterone at fault). I guess the (sex) hormone balance is easier to address quickly than the adrenal part. I'm told that will take 1-2 years since mine are really shell-shocked. I'm feeling more energy and drive but am still dealing with bursts of anger and periods of foggy thinking. Don't you just love perimenopause?! Apparently, I'm still a ways from menopause, but I have the adrenal/thyroid/hormone imbalance problems that are often part of the whole perimenopause picture. Here's hoping that my migraines back off with this new treatment, but no indication of that so far. However, the hormone problems I have are known to cause migraines so I have high hopes that achieving a balance will bring them under control. Here is a good article that explains much of what I've tried to relay. Here is a link that might be useful: don't assume you are low in estrogen because the dr said so

OK, so the BUN went up but not the creatinine? Usually that is a sign of either a kidney problem or GI bleeding. Any NSAID such as Previcoxx can cause GI bleeding or kidney problems. There is still a lot of controversy regarding when to recommend a low protein diet for animals with renal disease. Some say to do it as soon as renal disease is discovered, others say to wait until uremic (feeling absolutely crappy due to high nitrogen in the blood). I personally would not do a renal diet in your dog's case because only the BUN went up and the creatinine stayed the same, which to me says more GI bleed than kidney problem. Dogs need their protein unless they can't metabolize it for some reason (liver or kidney failure), so I personally don't believe in restricting protein unless absolutely indicated. Others are quicker to recommend protein restriction. Tramadol is safer for patients with liver and/or kidney issues than any NSAID, and is much less likely to cause GI bleeding than any NSAID. There can be some CNS effects such as agitation, depression, ataxia and must be used with caution in patients with known seizures. But liver and kidneys are safer with tramadol than with NSAIDs. I don't know where chickadeedeedee is getting the information regarding not using tramadol in patients with liver or kidney disease. Tramadol is safe to use with NSAIDs when they are not providing enough pain relief. I've used Tramadol with Rimadyl in my own K'Ehleyr for a long time, until I switched her Tramadol for Gabapentin. There are some types of medications that would be dangerous to combine with Tramadol, such as SSRIs and MOAs which are behavior modification/anxiolytic drugs. But Tramadol, being a synthetic opioid, is safe with an NSAID. And Tramadol has a wide margin of safety with animals, so anywhere from 25 to 75 mg (and probably more) would be OK for a dog of mazer's size. The most common side effects are sedation, ataxia, and GI distress which can be severe in some cases. But most animals tolerate it well. K'Ehleyr is also on Duralactin for chronic inflammation. This is a concentrated milk protein that does not act on the COX pathway as all NSAIDs do, so is safe with NSAIDs. She was on rimadyl, duralactin, and tramadol for 2 years before we switched her tramadol for gabapentin in July, which seemed to address her specific source of pain more directly (neuro) than tramadol. Also, I don't like Deramaxx for long-term pain management because it tends to be more ulcergenic than carprofen (rimadyl) and other NSAIDs. Any animal on chronic NSAID use needs monitoring of liver and kidney values and any NSAID may cause liver or kidney damage. However, every patient is different and if the Deramaxx is working for your dog, than stick with it. The most important aspect of a pet's well-being is NOT vaccines but examinations. Any schmoe can stick a needle into an animal, but only a vet can perform a physical exam, get a thorough history, and make a diagnostic/therapeutic plan for each patient. THAT is the most important part of veterinary medicine, not giving shots, although I HATE it when people apply the same vaccine protocol for every animal regardless of lifestyle and risk. Any vet who just shoots every pet every year with every vaccine is not worth using, IMHO. Those vets are 1) exposing your pet to potentially serious health risks (IMHA, IMTP, anaphylaxis, cancer) 2) wasting your money since the vaccines last longer than 1 year and not all pets are at risk for all diseases and 3) being really lazy and not addressing the health needs of YOUR specific pet. If a vet recommended yearly vaccines, I'd switch immediately, no questions asked. So that was a bit of a tangent and I never even went to food issues, and BTW I'd appreciate it if RUNSWALKIN didn't lump ALL vets into a certain category of recommending crap foods and over-vaccination because some of us do a really good job of assessing EACH patient individually and making specific recommendations accordingly. Stepping off soapbox now. As promised, once again, a reasonable guide to vaccines by the really really great Dr. Richard Ford, who happened to be my professor in school (absolutely NO bias LOL!). Here is a link that might be useful: Vaccine protocols and comments

Wow you guys are great. This thread has more responses than any I have had on GW. I thank all for your responses, and will keep all the info. It means more to hear personal experiences and what has worked &/or others tips. He is starting on supplements, but as most of us know they get old real quick. He has lost 70 lbs over the last couple of months. I am not going to save him my desire is to support him as long as possible so he hopefully dies at home with dignity rather than go into an institution. Anyway, I have been around so much cancer the last 6 years I thought I would share my thoughts also. Maybe another poor soul will someday be in the same boat & these posts can benefit them. Lindac: your shake idea is great. He has been eating mainly ice cream for the last couple of months, so adding the extra calories would be great. He has refused chemo, but I agree on the acidic stuff. I have helped another friend with meals and cancer, and the tomato stuff always causes indigestion. Fresh tomatoes seem to be less of a problem. Orange juice is a definite no sometimes apple juice helps. The Mexican food sounds good. I tried making cheese taquitoes (sp) yesterday with fresh tortillas from a tortilleria, but they flopped. I think I need to use the rolled ones. ginger_st_thomas: Great site. It will keep me busy for some time. The Individual Cheese Pies, Macaroni and Cheese, & Creamy Potato Salad will be at the top of the list. I cook by feel, & the recipes give me tips on how to add extra calories. He eats peanut butter, so the snack spread might work. woodie2: I really like your overnight breakfast casserole. I was making a meal for two people with cancer last night. Sometimes helping people with cancer gets tiring, & an easy meal helps the helper. The bacon bread is also a nice finger food, & the rice bake looks nice and different. Potpie: I find your post especially interesting, as my friend also has lung cancer. As I am sure you know, it is a particularly bad cancer, & your fil is lucky to be around. I will try the caramel apple idea. You also make an important point. When cooking for cancer, be prepared to have your dishes tossed out or not eaten as these individuals can be picky &/or too sick to eat certain things. The helper should not get upset about this, & not be offended. It is just part of the role of a helper. Daisyduckworth, I am so sorry to hear about your friend. What you describe your friend experiencing lies further down my friends path. He can eat a little now, but he has been warned his eating will be eventually affected. It is or can be part of living with cancer. Sometimes you work yourself to the bone hoping to see that unique recovery only to see death. You are so very right about letting him decide. Success in helping a person with cancer, in my opinion, is being there for that person in whatever manner possible so they write that last chapter. Your cutting up fruit is a very good tip. Sometimes people with cancer will not eat whole fruit, but having something cut up appeals to them. Lisbet, I think the brand you spoke of is down the street from me. I am going to check it out. It would be a break from the supplements if he likes it. I like the idea that he could take it with decreased renal function, as my friend has that problem. I will check this one with his dietitian, however. Potpie, medicinal marijuana is legal in California, although the state and federal government are always arguing as to whether it is legal. I agree, when living with cancer it is time to break the rules. Lindac again. Daisyduckworth makes a very important point. Sometimes the path is as the doctor predicts sometimes you never know the time the outcome etc. Sometimes the suffering is a long path, sometimes people that should completely go into remission suddenly die; sometimes those that are expected to die beat the odds. I have seen people recover, but I personally do not like the word "cured." It can come back, & I do not want to jinx any good fortune, nor add any more to the wounds of those who have lost loved ones to cancer. Having said all that, here is my very bland egg roll recipe: 2 carrots diced ½ head napa cabbage ½ onion 10 or so mushrooms Vegetarian oyster sauce I used a tad of msg on one batch, but its use is up to the user. I sauté all ingredients in order of cooking time & add them to the dish. I then stuff the egg roll, seal it with cornstarch liquid & fry it. It takes about 45 minutes for a small batch. It is not a sophisticated recipe but it worked. Here are some of the other things I have found to be helpful if that person can eat it. Hard boiled eggs. Easy to prepare, grab & eat. Cabbage dishes are another good idea, as well as sauerkraut. Good for digestion. Cooked popcorn can be less upsetting than microwave popcorn. Broccoli, broccoli, broccoli. Fresh fruits and snacks always available. High fiber cereals and a variety of liquids available for constipation. Oatmeal, if tolerated for a bland meal. Supplemental vitamins and digestive enzymes if possible. These people need all the help they can get. Consider decreasing the meat. If they are losing weight, one may need to break the rules & add more meat. Last tip break the rules now & then. Remember stubbornness can be annoying, but sometimes it provides the fight that can result in more time. Please keep adding your comments and tips if you think of more. Baci