> From: Steven A. Durham <sdurham@bevillst.cc.al.us>
> To: kent@via-media.com
> Subject: 1st checkup and update
> Date: Sunday, October 05, 1997 11:15 PM
>
>
> Dear Kent:
>
> I see all my E-mail posts to you since my run-in with Leiomyosarcoma are
> displayed on your Web Page. (#34, 35, 38, 46) I thought I'd better send you a
> follow-up to share some good news: I passed my first quarterly checkup!
> Three months post-surgery, the incision site on my back is healing nicely
> and I expect to soon be paddling whitewater again!
>
> A Further Update:
> A couple of months ago I knew virtually nothing about cancer. After
> weeks of studying cancer literature in books and off the Web, and
> speaking in person and corresponding through lengthy E-mail chats with a
> number of cancer survivors, I firmly decided against the radiation
> treatments. My reasons were many but here are two brief view points into
> the subject that will give folks an idea of why I made this decision.
> Steven A. Rosenberg, M.D., Ph.D. in his book, The 'Transformed Cell:
> Unlocking the Mysteries of Cancer' states:
> "...radiation almost always shrinks a tumor temporarily. But radiation
> also suppresses the immune system; since blood circulates through the
> body every fourteen seconds, virtually every lymphocyte in the body
> passes through the radiation field and is weakened."
> It seemed to me that I needed to be boosting my immune system not
> suppressing it with poison. Finally, in Leandra Smith's (see CancerGuide:
> Patient Stories) words, "if you have random cells left from the first
> surgery, they are in your bloodstream and the radiation won't do a single
> thing..... it would be a localized treatment on a systemic problem."
>
> On the average, and my case is far from average, 50% of surgically
> resected sarcomas recur. Furthermore, there is an 80% chance that an
> occurrence will take place within two years of the initial surgery. My
> numbers are better than that due to several factors of which the following
> are probably the most significant: 1. catching and removing my cancer at
> a relatively early stage and small size. 2. The tumor was not located near
> any vital organs or blood vessels allowing the excision of a wide margin
> around the tumor. My surgeon gave me "better than an 85% chance of a
> recurrence free recovery." Those are good odds, but all these numbers are
> nothing but vibrating vocal chords! I suppose I'll be forever looking over
> my shoulder and wondering if every little ache and pain might be an
> unlucky encounter with the other 15%. I will be undergoing a routine of
> checkups every three months for the next two years and regular exams
> beyond then. These will most likely involve a lung x-ray (for metastases)
> each checkup and an MRI of the incision site biannually. No big deal.
>
> While living here in the mountains of Western North Carolina these past few
> months, I have encountered a number of users and advocates for Apitherapy,
> Bee Venom Therapy, for stimulating the body's immune system. One user with
> Multiple Sclerosis claims to have stopped the progression of his illness
> through his dozen or so bee stings every other day. Before Apitherapy, he
> had tried numerous conventional drug therapies without any sign of benefit.
> Though I've not yet heard of anyone using Bee Venom as adjuvant therapy for
> cancer, I've decided to experiment with it for another reason as well. My
> June 30th surgery damaged the nerves at the incision site and resulted in a
> numbness of my upper
> thigh. One friend, an old time bee keeper and advocate of the healing
> powers of Bee Venom believes through a regular schedule of stings I will be
> able to regain the feeling in my leg. As bizarre and masochistic as this
> therapy may seem, there have been some interesting anti-cancer properties
> linked to Bee Venom. Furthermore, the idea of introducing a toxin to
> stimulate the immune system to attack cancer cells is not new. In the
> 1890's, Dr.William Coley experimented with injecting toxins and bacteria
> into cancer patients after observing that the immune response of some cancer
> patients with infections resulted in remissions of their cancer. For more
> information on Bee Venom contact BeeOnline - The American Apitherapy Society
> <http://www.beesting.com/disclaim.html>
>
> Hey, more good news: I'm sending a contribution check off to you!
>
> Thanks and best wishes,
>
> Steven
>