My Aunt was diagnosed with stage four Breast Cancer three years ago and they said it’s going to be her last Christmas. She has been fighting and working very hard with doctors and God and is still alive. I have been completely impressed with her. She has been using natural methods for as long as she could hold out. She was very upset when even her homeopathic doctors told her she had to do chemo or she would die. Her numbers were amazing and she even flew up to Washington last year twice to visit people. She recently found out that the cancer has spread to her liver and everyone says that’s really bad. I’m worried about her but I believe in prayer and her perseverance and belief has been amazing. She recently sent me this e-mail,
Greeting friends, relatives and prayer warriors,
I have seen the research doctor (Dr. John Nemunaitis)and the surgeon (Dr. Joseph Kuhn). Surgery is scheduled for Monday, August 17 at noon at Baylor Hosp, Dallas. The plan is to remove the 2 cancerous spots in the liver and the suspicious gland on the pancreas. They will also remove the gallbladder. They will be using a cutting instrument that uses microwaves to sear the edges as it cuts to reduce bleeding. The research doctor and his team will be present to receive the tissue sample in order to make a vaccine from it. The vaccine will then be given back to me in a series of injections when it has been approved by the FDA. Until then I will continue on Xeloda and Tykerb. I should only be in the hospital 2 or 3 days as this procedure is much less invasive than the original plan. This procedure cannot be done laparoscopic so a small incision will be made to keep from having to cut up the tissue sample.
There are some risks involved but I am trusting in the Lord and will not be disappointed. For those of you who ask me what to pray specifically….these are the issues.
1. I still believe in miracles and surgery is never my choice. My God is the Healer and my faith is that His healing power is greater then anything man has to offer!!
2. If surgery is the path for healing then I trust the Lord to make the way unhindered and the tissue sample uncontaminated so the vaccine will be made easily and quickly.
3. Doctors anticipate FDA approval soon but it could be delayed especially if Obama’s Health Plan is passed. Pray for FDA approval as soon as possible. Delay could also keep me from being able to receive the vaccine injections for months or longer.
4. Past success rate for the vaccine has been around 30% for patients who have been in the study. I am believing that I will be in that 30% that respond. Some patients have been cancer free now for 2 plus years (since study started).
For those of you who are interested in how the vaccine works…it has a 3 fold effect. First the vaccine stimulates the patients immune system. Second the vaccine turns off the mechanism in the cancer cell that causes it to replicate and become resistant to the immune system and chemotherapy. Thirdly the research doctor attaches 2 genes to the vaccine that will draw the immune system to the cancer cells. The patients own immune system is what destroys the cancer cells……which is the way God intended.
Dr. Nemunaitis and Dr Kuhn are rapidly putting together surgery teams and laboratory techs to teach others their surgical technique and vaccine development when FDA approval is given. At this time this is the most promising, cutting edge cancer research done in America. If interested, you can look up the names of these 2 doctors on the internet and find links to publications that these doctors have done to find out more. By the way, my Oncologist, Dr. Olivares has been working with Dr. Nemunaitis one day a week for a year now and that is how I got involved in the study……….coincidence?…….I don’t think so!!
Thank you in advance for your love, prayers and support. The battle has been long but IT IS TOO SOON TO GIVE UP!! My God is STILL bigger than cancer!!
Love, Lynn
Author and nonprofit founder Carolyn Rubenstein, age 24, witnessed this kind of bravery in her work with childhood cancer survivors (www.cccscholarships.org). In her new book, “Perseverance: True Voices of Cancer Survivors
Rubenstein reveals valuable life lessons, such as: how to accentuate the positive, no matter how dire your situation might seem; why it’s crucial to educate yourself about what matters to you most; how to channel your sense of humor in helpful ways; strategies to stay in the best physical health possible; and the importance of asking others for help—no matter how much you might hate to do so.
Rubenstein is a featured blogger for The Huffington Post and Psychology Today, and is currently earning her Ph.D. in psychology from Harvard. “Perseverance” will be featured on NBC’s “The Today Show” on August 31st to kick off National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.
