Letter 63: Childhood Leukemia: Blood Test Results Normalised After Four Months On Herbs

Transcription

1 Letter 63: Childhood Leukemia: Blood Test Results Normalised After Four Months On Herbs Kontribusi Dari Dr. Chris Teo Wednesday, 03 September 2008 Cancer Care August / September 2008 Danny (M355/not real name) is a 3 year-old-plus boy with Down s syndrome from Indonesia. His mother is a medical doctor. Some time in March 2008, he had fevers, coughs and was anemic. There were pinpoint red dots under the surface of his skin, a condition referred to as petechiae (due to low plantlet count). The blood test results (Table 1, column 2) showed high levels of white blood cells and lymphocytes and low levels of haemoglobin, red blood cells and platelets. Danny received a blood transfusion. After further investigation at a local hospital by a paediatric haematology professor, it was suggested that Danny had acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Table 1. Comparison of blood test results (done in Indonesian laboratory) BEFORE and AFTER taking herbs. 31 Mar. 08 After herbs 4 Aug.08 Reference range White Blood cell 33.6 H Red Blood Cell 2.66 L

2 Haemoglobin 6.2 L Haematocrit 19.1 L MCV 72 L MCH 23.3 L MCHC

3 33-40 Platelet 26 L Lymphocyte 82.2 H Monocyte Neutrophils Eosinophils 0.1

4 Basophils 4.4 H Danny and his mother came to Penang to consult with a haemato-oncologist in a private hospital here. Danny s blood was again tested and a bone marrow procedure and biopsy were done. The results were as follows. 14 Apr. 08 Reference range White Blood Cell 1.33 L Red Blood Cell 3.62 L

5 Haemoglobin 8.5 L Haematocrit 26.3 L MCV 72.9 L MCH 23.4 L MCHC Platelet 38 L

6 Lymphocyte 70.3 H Monocyte <0.8 Neutrophils 14.5 H <9 Eosinophils 0.39 <8 Basophils <3

7 The bone marrow aspirates report indicated the following: Blasts = 41 Promyelocytes = 1 Myelocytes = 7 Metamyelocytes = 1 Neutrophils = 10 Eosinophils = 0 Basophils = 0 Monocytes = 4 Lymphocytes = 19 Erythroids = 17 The above results were consistent with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia and the haemato-oncologist proposed a chemotherapy regimen that would last three years. Danny s mother, although a medical doctor, was in a dilemma. She brought Danny to see us. These were what Danny s mother told us: The first year of chemotherapy is called the induction phase. The total cost of this treatment could come to about RM 150,000. Danny would be going in and out of the hospital, meaning the family would have to temporarily relocate to Penang. The second year of treatment consisted of oral drugs. The third year of treatment is the consolidation phase. The costs of phase 2 and 3 treatments have not been worked out yet. The chances of success are 80% (60% during the induction phase and 20% during phase 2). However, down the road perhaps twenty years later, Danny would suffer another type of cancer most likely a lymphoma. We discussed the pros and cons of medical treatments. However, we impressed on Danny s mother that the final decision of what to do must entirely be hers. In mid-august 2008, that is four months after Danny s first visit, someone came and handed us the results of Danny s blood test, done on 4 August 2008 (Table 1, column 3). Danny s white blood cells, red blood cells, haemoglobin, haemotocrit, platelets, lymphocytes, etc. were all within normal limits. It was indeed a surprise to us. Danny had been on our herbs for the past four months. He has NOT received any chemotherapy. The mother had opted for our herbs: Capsule A, Acute Leuk 1 and Acute Leuk 2. Unfortunately Danny s mother did not come to tell us this development. So we do not know exactly what had happened after Danny took the herbs. She only sent a person to collect more herbs for Danny. From this person we were told that Danny is now alright. He has gone to kindergarten and is as healthy as his friends. Our comments: Not apparent to many people about this story is the opportunity cost a concept economists use when weighing out options. Picture this situation. If Danny were to undergo a three-year chemotreatment as suggested by the haemoto-oncologist what do you think would be the outcome? He may or may not go into remission (not necessarily cure) or he may even die from the treatment. No one can predict. But one thing is sure it is going to cost the family a lot of money. Besides that, the family will go through much anxiety while Danny himself will have to endure the severe side effects of the treatment. We don t know how these would affect a child with Down s syndrome. These are the real cost of medical treatment. What about taking the alternative path no chemotherapy and try the herbs? Some say it is foolish for a medical doctor, like Danny s mother, to go for the so-called unscientific and unproven therapy. But ask this question: would taking this step cause any or more harm? What is there to loose trying some herbs? And if it does not work after 2 to 3 weeks then switch to medical treatment! Some people would say that would cost Danny his life

8 he is deprived of an effective cure right from the start and that a few weeks delay is not good for him at all. But, what is the reality in this case? Danny is not worse off, he is better! So such argument does not stand up. The fear painted in our imagination often play havoc. And that is what some people would want us to believe, so that we are always dependent on them and their science. Looking at the present situation, some people may say it is pure luck that Danny became well. To us, we don t see it as luck it is God s blessing, because at CA Care we witness such blessings all too often. There are more questions we can ask. Below are some examples: Question: Is Danny cured of his leukemia? Our Answer: Absolutely not. But his blood test results are most encouraging. For as long as Danny continues taking the herbs and abide by our dietary recommendation, we are hopeful that this progress will continue. What bothers us is that after he goes to kindergarten, we are skeptical if he would be able to maintain this. Q: Would you recommend taking herbs instead of going for chemotherapy for cases of ALL? A: It would be madness on our part to tell you not to go for chemotherapy for your cancer any cancer for that matter. This decision has to be your own decision. However, as the saying goes when in Rome, do as the Romans do. If you come to us for help, we can only offer you herbs and advise that you change your lifestyle and diet. At CA Care we provide you with honest information and ask you to think for yourself. We expect you to make your own decision after having taken into consideration the side effects, cost and chances of success of medical treatments. If you believe only in medical treatment, then please do not come and see us because we offer no such treatment. But if you wish to integrate both the medical and herbal medicine, then we are here to help you. Q: Do you think that the improvement of Danny s blood is due to the herbs or is it just a rare case of spontaneous healing or for that matter a placebo effect? A: Many people, who only always want to win and not loose the kiasu, would like you to believe so. Honestly, we do not know why or how this healing happened. But it did happen and this is all that matters to us. However, we feel the best person to ask is Danny s mother. She should know what happened to Danny after taking the herbs for two to three weeks. Danny s mother should be able to see and answer if the herbs help him in anyway. Below are some facts about childhood leukemia, obtained from the website. Overview: One third of all childhood cancers are leukemia, cancer of the white blood cells. In leukemia, the production of white blood cells is out of control and the cells continue to divide but they are immature. These immature cells fill up the bone marrow and interfere with the normal function of making healthy blood cells. Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) involves the production of immature lymphocytes, often referred to as lymphoblasts or blast cells. Susceptibility: ALL affects children at any age, but more common in children aged 1 to 4. The exact cause of ALL is unknown. Children with certain genetic disorders, such as Down s syndrome, are known to have a higher risk of developing leukaemia. Symptoms: Tiredness and lethargy due to anaemia, caused by a lack of red blood cells. Some may develop bruises or bleed easily due to low platelets in the blood. Some may suffer infections or fevers. How it is diagnosed: A blood test shows raised white blood cells and presence of blast cells. A lumbar puncture shows presence of leukemia cells in the spinal. Patients may be anemic (low red blood cells) and/or show low platelet counts. This happens because the leukemia cells both crowd-out and actively inhibit production of normal blood cells in the bone marrow. Numbers of neutrophil (a type of white blood cell and the most important component of the body s immune system) may be very low. Low neutrophils makes a person susceptible to infections. Treatment success: Childhood ALL is a very serious and fatal disease if not treated. If treated with chemotherapy, over 75% to 80% of children with ALL will achieve a remission. However, about 20 to 25% will relapse. This is to say their disease will return. Unfortunately, a relapsed ALL is difficult to treat. It tends to be more resistant to treatment than the

9 original disease. It is claimed that more than 95% of children with newly diagnosed ALL will achieve a complete remission within the first 4 weeks of treatment. Those who fail to achieve complete remission within the first 4 weeks, approximately half will experience a toxic death and the other half will have resistant disease.