Editor’s note: The following post is by Barbara Gannon, who was featured as one of our Cancer Survivor stories in October 2017. You can find out more about Barb’s healing from a diagnosis of terminal Stage 4 mesothelioma and Stage 2 breast cancer here.
Hello & G’Day fellow Truth About Cancer Readers or “TTACers” for short!
My name is Barbara Gannon, and I’m from Australia! Yes, The Truth About Cancer has long arms spread out to the “Land Down Under.”
I’m looking forward to talking to you all via this blog over the coming months. Why? Because we all want to know how people are doing on their ongoing journey to winning the war against this disease in their body. Me included!
TTAC’s Live Event in Florida… and Then it Hit Me!
I attended TTAC’s Live Event in Orlando, Florida, in October 2017. It was an amazing experience to say the least; helping me truly understand how many people are suffering from this insidious disease in so many forms. The speakers were inspirational, informative, and expanded my understanding of all the many options we have in front of us to heal.
Whilst at the conference my survivor story was released by TTAC. As a result I had a few people come up to me start asking me questions. When I got back home to OZ (Australia), the questions continued.
I received all different types of inquiries ranging from the simple (the day-to-day of dealing with cancer), to the more heart-wrenching emotional questions that were all encompassing. What struck me though was that one central theme kept coming up… “longevity.”
In other words, people were amazed that I had this type of cancer and yet I am still here! (According to conventional medicine, mesothelioma has no known cure and a very poor prognosis.)
Oddly, it seemed I was a source of inspiration to these people because I am still alive. Wow, I was so humbled.
Then it hit me! While it’s so valuable getting educated on the natural healing options available, what people also need is long term PROOF that cancer is NOT a death sentence. It can be beaten, it is being beaten, and you can win! These precious people just wanted to know that we cancer conquerors are surviving and surviving well. Or, if not, what are the ongoing challenges of living a life with and post-cancer?
So, I got an idea…
What if I could share my journey on a semi-regular basis with you all. The point being so we can all see a longer-term picture of how a cancer survivor is proceeding in their journey, dealing with differing cancers, and implementing the various strategies provided by the speakers and experts. To give an ongoing perspective of someone on the cancer survivor journey such as it is… “warts” and all.
Are You a Fel
low Cancer Sufferer?
low Cancer Sufferer?As a fellow cancer sufferer (what an awful term), I have kept and continue to keep vigilant against attacks from this disease in my body. Like you, I strive for my health to “win” each day, and there are days, weeks, months that are just brilliant. But then you get a setback, and again, you have to reach deep within and pull out that “something else” to keep you going. To keep fighting the beast in every effort to win.
These periodic blogs from me will provide some insight into my personal cancer journey. As a person surviving this disease, it’s always great to be able to encourage another person that HOPE is there, that HOPE is what you hold on to, that HOPE will give you the fighting spirit to “just keep swimming” – no matter how strong the tide seems.
My Cancer Diagnosis… Times 2
I was diagnosed in August 2015 with two very separate cancers (yep, at the same time and NOT mets). I was initially diagnosed with mesothelioma (aka asbestos cancer) and then also received a diagnosis of stage 2 aggressive breast cancer in my right breast. Lucky me, hey!?
Well, I did the most unnatural thing (according to doctors, that is), and I turned around to the specialists (respiratory, surgeon, and oncologist) and said a big fat “NO” to their offer of chemo for “palliative care”!
“But why,” I hear you asking. Well, I wasn’t sickly, I wasn’t in any pain, and I wasn’t of the belief that what they were offering me was going to do anything but put me “in the ground” earlier.
They said, “You have 6 months, maybe 12 months to live,” and that my cancer was terminal. They said, “Go and get your affairs in order and say your farewells to family & friends!” My response was that they DO NOT know the number of my days, only God does, and that I am out of there, and don’t contact me again! Effectively, I FIRED them all!
Mind you, they didn’t know what I had up my sleeve. They didn’t know that cancer picked on the wrong woman. They didn’t know that this woman was NOT about to give in, and that with the strength of my faith in God, I was going to give healing naturally my every effort!
The Importance of Being Proactive and Creating Your “War Chest”
I sought out an integrative oncologist (Manuela Boyle, who was a speaker at the TTAC Live event, and a featured expert in TTAC’s A Global Quest docu-series). I sought out an integrative GP for infusions, and I learned to make my research skills better than they ever were.
I put my armour on, and I went into battle – head on!
I put together a “war chest.” What’s a war chest? Briefly, the first part is having people who you trust to have your best interest at heart. People who will step into the fight for you when you need it the most. People who will pray with direction and “stand in the gap” for you when you can’t. People who let you know you’re not alone in this fight! That’s part 1 of your war chest.
Part 2 of your war chest is research, so that you learn to take control of YOU. You must be aggressive in YOUR care. Research is a key component to this, and as it’s your body in distress, you need to step up to the line, and take control of you. I will expand on this over time, but I’m setting the stage for you, as this blog is not just about me… it’s about you!
How Do We Cope With the “Mind Games”?
What about those of you who have had the blessing of a “No Evidence of Disease” (NED) report, and then the absolute torture when you go for your first 6-month bloods workup and scans, etc.
How nerve racking it actually is, because you hope that you are still in that position, but the agonising question that keeps lurking in the back of your mind… “what if?” How the mind can play awful games on you, and what do you do to get over them?
So, that’s a whole topic of “self speaking,” and learning to do it the right way, and also how to use your war chest to get you through when you’re biting your nails down to the quick.
How to get up again if you’ve gone backwards? I know a number of survivors who have gone through this, and each time they have become smarter, more clever in their attack on the disease, and developed a tighter resolve to NOT SLIP BACKWARDS.
So, I hope you will join me on this journey, and that together we can impart to others strength, HOPE, peace, love, and FAITH! Faith and hope being the most important here, because without either your journey will be difficult. These blog posts are to be meaningful, inspiring, and encouraging; that survivors can perhaps help you along the way.
Where Do We Go From Here?
To start off, post your question or topic you’d like covered in the Comments section down below. Try to make it one that is beneficial to many people (i.e. patients, caregivers, family), and not directly aimed at the type of cancer you’re suffering through. Think about the one burning question that you would ask a cancer survivor if they were sitting in front of you.
If you are a fellow cancer survivor I also want to hear from you. Share some of your journey. What advice do others ask you for? What piece of wisdom would you share with a loved one who has been recently diagnosed? Please share and I look forward to sharing more soon.
Article Summary
Cancer is NOT a death sentence.
It’s important to surround yourself with people who will step into the fight for you when you need it the most.
Practice self-speaking to overcome the mental turmoil that can accompany a diagnosis.
I love it because you can be healed thru God’s word and all the foods He created to do it
It also proves God right in that He created your body to heal
So physician heal thyself
The greatest thing is your faith in God
There’s nothing impossible for you
Love that I am the storm
So encouraging to stand and above stand you win
Good Afternoon Barbara,
I am a cancer Survivor.. Diagnosed in 2004 with earmy stage breast cancer DCIS stage 1c..No chemo or radiation bht had a left breast masectomy when they unable to get clean margins: then tamoxifen for 5 years. It metastasized to the bone in 2012. Did start chemo in 2013, and have been going through that and homone therapy ever since. I am grateful to the Lord and I am still here. Just came off of erbulin becuse of the neuropathy in my hands and feet. If it had not been for the Lord who is on my side, don’t know where I would be today. I’m suppose to be waiting on a call from NIH on a research study right now.
Your story is so encouraging to me. In a sense I would have liked to say No to the chemo, it did not at the time. We have a God who can meet us at the point of our need, so I ask the Lord for Wisdom and to meet me at the point of my need.. I have been following Ty Bollinger for several years. I have changed my diet…low carb, no sugar…more plant based…juicing and green smoothies …..
I’ve realized though my journey that this is not just physical, but spiritual and mental. I try to spend time with the Lord and with healing s riothres every day; for it is Gods will for us to be well. I also do acupuncture a couple times a month and practice breathing exercises. As it has gotten warmer on the east cost I try to spend time outdoors for more oxygen and for Vitamin D. And yes, drinking more water.
By HIS stripes we are healed; waiting for manifestation in the flesh.
Please ignore 1st line. earmy
Diagnosed in 2004 with early stage breast cancer DCIS stage 1c.
I’m fighting an aggressive breast cancer now they took out the mass and lymp nodes were clean but are pushing chemo and radiation because of the type of cancer. I’ve been eating all organic 99% veggies and fruits and 1% organic chicken and turkey, I’m. Drinking essiac tea, doing the Budwig Diet , juicing, I feel I’m all over the map following everything out there but need to get on a straight forward regiment… please help with suggestions,
I’m doing the same thing plus Chinese medicine.
The Chinese herbs have kept my tumors away for 3 years now.
Chemo was killing me and then I found Dr Guo in Chicago. He’s an MD and worked as an oncologist for years at MD Anderson in Texas.
He has 3 offices in Chicago.
He can help you
Had highly invasive bladder cancer. This was found in February, 2017. Referred to surgical Oncologist, but I never went to see him. I went church (Experiencing God class) and asked for prayer. I got a passport as soon as possible and went to tJ mexico to get the Hoxsey cancer tonic. I had a urine test and no blood in urine after about 5 Months of treatment. My Family Doctor wants me to get cysto. to see what is going on with this inside my bladder. I will do this June 26, 2018. God heals in many ways and this is the way He HAS HEALED THE BLADDER CANCER in me.
NO CHEMO- NO SURGERY-NO RADIATION
Hi,
Thanks for this article, I read it all, but they did not say what did you do ti fight this disease ?
Please any info is sppreciated.
My dad just got the news today that he has mesothelioma. He is 84 years old and also has very low iron deficiency anemia. Is diet the first place to start and if not, what?
Natalie,
The best advice we can give you is to consult with one of the doctors/experts that we interviewed in our Global Quest Series. Here is a link to get their information: https://thetruthaboutcancer.com/experts-info-sheet/
Best wishes to you and your father!
As a survivor, what are some key lifestyle changes you have incorporated to keep the cancer at bay? What type of diet, exercise, etc.
I am currently undergoing conventional treatment for stage 3 breast cancer and what keeps me up at night is the the thought of recurrence. I know it’ll be up to me and it’a a battle I’ll have to fight hard and long for.
Thank you so much for sharing your story and helping so many others! Hearing you are doing so well brings me joy. What a blessing!
Barbara, LOVED your comments and story. 2 years ago I had stage 4 brain cancer. Research I said I might have as little as 3 months left. For many years we had been missionaries to Chinese government officials. Sitting in a waiting room awaiting an appointment re: stem cell transplants, I got and email from China: “Hey Jim, I heard you have cancer. I had it too. I watched this video series and it has saved my life.” While sitting in the waiting room awaiting stem cell transplant stuff we began watching The Truth About Cancer video series. After video 3, we turned to each other and simultaneously said, “We’re going home”. We did and since that time I have been doing 3 or 4 things from that series every day. My cancer (primary central nervous system lymphoma) normally returns within 2 years and often finishes the victim off. I am starting year three, feel fantastic and swim 2-3 miles a week. If I ever have cancer again, I will never do chemo, radiation or these other big pharma “remedies”. Thank you, and God bless you!
Bless the Lord for His help in guiding you through the healing . God is our strength , our refuge – He is a good God who loves His children . He is a father that never abandons His children !
I also had a cancer on my hip – osteosarcoma and I had to go through. Chemo regiments , ending up with a surgery in June 2018 for hip bone resection.
During this journey I was just an observant of God’s work and His blessings . Praise to the Lord!
Since my surgery , I was an explorer of healthy plant based diet with juicing , herbal teas, micronutrients, super foods , water , along with breathing , meditating , poetry,, music learning and trying to control my emotional state in general.
God be with you !
Hi Silviu – we’ll be sure to keep you in our prayers!
My granddaughter was diagnosed with leukemia at age 2. It wasn’t so much the diagnosis as the treatment plan (chemo etc) that scared me. She is cancer free and thriving now at age 5 but I am still terrified about what she is still facing as a result of 2 1/2 years of chemo.
Hi Julie,
We are so glad to hear that your granddaughter is doing well now! Thanks for sharing your story with us.
Curcumin – Quercetin and Vit D !!! NO sugar -anyone on Herceptin should be on Ubiquinol CoQ10-read Dr, Russell L Blaylock,s books !!
I’m a cancer survivor. Almost 3 yrs. ago I was told my lung cancer was 4th. stage &terminal & aI had a couple of months to live.. They offered chemo & radiation to give me about 6 mo.longer life. I refused chemo but accepted radiation for a chance at 6 mo. longer to live. The radiation shrunk the tumor about 40% giving me the extra time. Then I was told about TTAC, watched every video & absorbed it. I followed the diet, juicing, supplements And with every 6 mo. scan it shrunk even further until 18 mo. later when they couldn’t find any cancer. All was good for 2 scans over the next yr. But last scan showed a month ago, a new cancer in a lymph node. Doctor said its not unusual to have a reoccurrance. But I also believe either the radiation or repeated cat scans caused my new cancer. I think
I’m going to cure this cancer naturally & say goodbye to any more scans. Like you said you breathe a little better after a clear scan but before you know it, you start worrying if next scan in 6 mo. will be clear as well.For last 3 yrs. I live my life in increments of 6 months and afraid to make a decision like buying a new sofa in case my next scan is bad. This is no way to be living, so I may say goodbye to any & all conventional medicine.
Hi Phyllis –
We appreciate you reaching out to us about this.
I’m so sorry to hear about your diagnosis – I’ll be sure to pray for you.
Unfortunately, we are unable to give any kind of medical advice. The best advice we can give you is to consult with one of the doctors we interviewed in the Global series.
Please note that we are not able to select an expert for you.
We’ve created a page with the experts’ contact info as it was available to us.
Here’s the link to the actual webpage:
http://thetruthaboutcancer.com/experts-info-sheet/
We do have one more resource you may be interested in. During our Live Event 2017 series, Dr. Patrick Quillin suggested contacting The Institute of Functional Medicine to locate a practitioner in your area.
If you are interested, here is the link to search for a Functional Medicine Practitioner in your area: https://www.ifm.org/find-a-practitioner/
I’m also attaching the info about the Hope4Cancer clinic in Tijuana, MX if you’d like to reach out to them.
http://www.hope4cancer.com/
https://hope4cancer.com/schedule-a-call/
Please also see the resources below in case they will be helpful to you.
From our beginning, we have supported charities that really help these cancer patients.
HealingStrong:
http://healingstrong.com/
https://www.facebook.com/healingstrong
HealingStrong supports MANY cancer patients and are amazing. HealingStrong, a nonprofit organization, is supported 100% by volunteers, who are experienced in using natural strategies. The organization’s mission is to educate, encourage, equip, and empower those seeking comprehensive natural strategies to heal strong and stay strong.
HealingStrong Connect Groups meet monthly in various areas of the U.S. and South Australia to link others interested in natural strategies, holistic protocols, and local resources. Their groups focus on mind, body and emotional healing based on Biblical promises, as they believe the God of the Bible is our healer. For more information on how to start a group, or become involved in one, please go to: http://www.healingstrong.org/groups, and like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/healingstrong.
Cancer Crackdown is so awesome and helps patients without a lot of money get supplements and treatments and even helps them raise money:
http://cancercrackdown.org/
https://www.facebook.com/CancerCrackdown
Also, the Independent Cancer Research Foundation is another charity that we support, also known as Cancer Tutor. They have been a TREMENDOUS help for cancer patients and have a TON of life saving information they give out freely and they do real research into treatments for cancer that are outside of the toxic Big Pharma Big 3:
http://www.theicrf.com/
The best that we can suggest is to contact Healing Strong and Cancer Crackdown for any need in financial resources.
We also support Mary Beth’s “Nick Gonzalez Foundation” which is bringing Nick’s protocol to the people…which is one of the most powerful cancer killing protocols out there.
I hope this is helpful! Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us again if there’s anything else we can help with.
Wishing you endless blessings and love!
Thank you so much for your blog. Have just been through a bad patch and coming out the other side. It is very reassuring. I was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer with numerous mets throughout my skeleton three years ago, but was doing quite well. Like you I also refused ‘palliative chemo’ aka ‘the death sentence’ as I had just lost my father to mesothelioma after several rounds of ‘palliative chemo’ that saw him quickly deteriorate from an apparently fairly well man to a very sick man and then die in very little time at all (apparently not unusual.
Two years ago just before Christmas the cancer apparently spread to my liver and I was told that I had days to live. I really wasn’t vey well at all and knew I was in danger, especially if they admitted me into hospital. They wanted to fit a stent to my bile duct as it had mets in it and said that they could do it quicker if I was admitted. Christmas in hospital: in one of the worst NHS winter crisis’s; no thank you! They wouldn’t have been able to do anything anyway, there was no bed for me and I was left in the waiting room in a chair for hours. Thank God my husband was with me. If anything had of happened to me (which they warned us was immanent) I was only being checked on every few hours as they were short staffed. I went home and I prayed and my husband never left my side over Christmas. Several weeks later I got the appointment for the op through and had the stent fitted on day surgery in out patients. They still told me that I had only three months to a year left.
Result – Liver function test virtually back to normal six months later and quite well again.
CT scans a year later showed that the two lytic lesions in my spine (mets) had disappeared (this would not have been possible if I had given in to the Bisphosphonates treatment they wanted to give me for the cancer in my bones, as this drug kills the bones ability to break down and renew itself.
I continue to be up and down, but slowly progressing in the right direction. I still have Breast Cancer, but the tumours are shrivelling up now.
Living with cancer and dealing with it naturally, is a war of attrition. It is also a spiritual journey, I would have said akin to the Red Indian teenager taking his test of manhood. It is a lonely journey, especially if you do not have the support of your family. Fortunately my husband has been 100% behind me. That was not true for the rest of family at first, but they can not deny that I made the right choice now and are grateful that I was strong enough to hold out against their protests.
The cancer will go, but it takes time. It is not a quick fix. Cancer didn’t arrive overnight, it was there a long time before it was ever diagnosed and will take time to go, but it will. If you or someone you love is suffering from cancer don’t give in. Don’t believe what the Doctors tell you. Check it out for yourself.
Thank God for the Truth about Cancer and Ty Bollinger. Keep up the good work.
I suffered an Aortic Dissection In 2014 and was later diagnosed with Triple Negative Breast Cancer In 2016. The Truth About. Cancer changed my life. I completed the first round of chemo and started radiation, but stopped after 8 treatments. There were physical issues with the treatment that compelledme to look for a more holistic treatment methods. I sought God first. Also The truth About Cancer and a visit to a Naturopath put me on the right course . Thou it’s been a little while the road to recovery continues and their are challenges every day. . The mind games are real. I have to remain positive and encourage myself daily. I am healthy and healed. Support opportunities like this are a great way to encourage one another through this life long process of good health spirit, mind, soul and body. Thank you to everyone compelled to share a portion of their journey. It helps to know how you’re overcoming.
It’s stories like this that fuel our journey, Jaculin! Thank you SO much for sharing.
You’re such a blessing to us.
Wishing you good health and love always!
Thanks for liking my post, but I’m afraid you’re spreading dangerous misinformation.
I’m glad you’re ok, but I did chemo, and I’d do it again.
Western medicine is the absolute best way to treat cancer.
Please listen to your oncologist.
Who exactly is “spreading”misinformation? The people commenting on this thread or telling real life stories of how they beat cancer without chemo
My 10-year old granddaughter was diagnosed with Pilocytic Astrocytoma a year ago, went through surgery and chemotherapy. Not all of the tumor was removed. After approximately 5 rounds of chemo, the treatments were stopped 2 months ago due to a horrible reaction. She is not receiving any treatment now and her next MRI is late July. She also has brain metastases which is being studied for the next treatment process. It’s much easier for adults to juice and eat proper healthy foods, but children have a hard time. Any advice as to what we should do for or with the next treatment phase would be appreciated. Radiation has been recommended, but we are so scared of the long-term side effects.
Hi Carolyn –
Thank you so much for sharing this with us.
Please know that we’ll be sure to keep your precious granddaughter in our prayers.
Unfortunately, we are unable to give any kind of medical advice. The best advice we can give you is to get a second opinion with one of the doctors we interviewed in the Global Quest series so they can give you the most appropriate advice based on her exact condition.
Please note that we are not able to select an expert for you.
We’ve created a page with the experts’ contact info as it was available to us.
Here’s the link to the actual webpage:
http://thetruthaboutcancer.com/experts-info-sheet/
We do have one more resource you may be interested in. During our Live Event 2017 series, Dr. Patrick Quillin suggested contacting The Institute of Functional Medicine to locate a practitioner in your area.
If you are interested, here is the link to search for a Functional Medicine Practitioner in your area: https://www.ifm.org/find-a-practitioner/
I’m also attaching the info about the Hope4Cancer clinic in Tijuana, MX if you’d like to reach out to them.
http://www.hope4cancer.com/
https://hope4cancer.com/schedule-a-call/
Please also see the resources below in case they will be helpful to you.
From our beginning, we have supported charities that really help these cancer patients.
HealingStrong:
http://healingstrong.com/
https://www.facebook.com/healingstrong
HealingStrong supports MANY cancer patients and are amazing. HealingStrong, a nonprofit organization, is supported 100% by volunteers, who are experienced in using natural strategies. The organization’s mission is to educate, encourage, equip, and empower those seeking comprehensive natural strategies to heal strong and stay strong.
HealingStrong Connect Groups meet monthly in various areas of the U.S. and South Australia to link others interested in natural strategies, holistic protocols, and local resources. Their groups focus on mind, body and emotional healing based on Biblical promises, as they believe the God of the Bible is our healer. For more information on how to start a group, or become involved in one, please go to http://www.healingstrong.org/groups, and like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/healingstrong.
Cancer Crackdown is so awesome and helps patients without a lot of money get supplements and treatments and even helps them raise money:
http://cancercrackdown.org/
https://www.facebook.com/CancerCrackdown
Also, the Independent Cancer Research Foundation is another charity that we support, also known as Cancer Tutor. They have been a TREMENDOUS help for cancer patients and have a TON of life-saving information they give out freely and they do real research into treatments for cancer that are outside of the toxic Big Pharma Big 3:
https://thetruthaboutcancer.com/independent-cancer-research-foundation/
The best that we can suggest is to contact Healing Strong and Cancer Crackdown for any need in financial resources.
We also support Mary Beth’s “Nick Gonzalez Foundation” which is bringing Nick’s protocol to the people…which is one of the most powerful cancer-killing protocols out there.
I hope this is helpful! Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us again if there’s anything else we can help with.
Wishing you endless blessings and love!
I’m a breast cancer survivor. I refused chemo, cut my radiation short and stopped the tamoxifen. I used thc and cbd oils throughout. No sugar, no cookies, cakes, ice cream. Candy I eat I look at the label and have to make sure there is no bad things like tbhq or bht. Definitely nothing with high fructose corn syrup. I keep my weight down, walking between 7 thousand to 10 thousand steps a day. Hemp seeds oil also. RESEARCH your cancer ! DONT listen to everything your doctor says. Cancer is an assembly line and that’s how people die. In going on 5 years. And yes mine was “very aggressive”. I can still see my doctors face when she told me. People need to stop being so scared when they are diagnosed. They need to step up, educate yourself and make your own decisions.
God bless you, Cheryl! Praying for your continued good health. ❤️
Hi there I stay/live in South Africa I don’t get organic foods here no supplements tat will actually help the doctors advice u to do chemo surgery nd radiation. Can you pls link me up wit doctors tat maybe knws of doctors here in South Africa who does helps naturally thanks in advance
Hi Golda –
Thanks for your comment.
Unfortunately, we don’t have any info or references of health experts within South Africa just yet. However, we would suggest contacting The Institute of Functional Medicine to locate a practitioner in your area.
If you are interested, here is the link to search for a Functional Medicine Practitioner in your area: https://www.ifm.org/find-a-practitioner/
Hope this helps. Wishing you endless blessings and love! ❤️