My stomach area has been getting stronger and stronger. I'm still eating like a pig. I did have a few sips of single malt the other day. But, I don't want to weaken myself and get another dose of the angry disease. I still get back pains twice a day, so I am taking Advil and sometimes switching to the doctors pain killers. I don't want to burn a hole in my stomach. And, I am still taking TS-1 or that Chinese tea, Saru-no-koshikake. (Yun zhi) You know, I sometimes forget that I have cancer. But, the abdominal and back pains remind me on a daily basis. I found on the internet that a lot of famous people have died of one cancer or another, even recently. Then, I notice all of the people in their eighties, nineties, and over. And, they seem to be enjoying themselves. It's the pain I fear.

December 27, 2008

Hello Everyone,

I had the "whipple" done here in Japan, where many parts of my stomach area were removed last November, 2007 because of cancer in a tube leading from my pancreas.

I was supposed to leave the hospital in early February, but I contracted the worst kind of spinal meningitis. My wife was told that I would be crazy or die.

Anyway, I slowly got stronger until on November 17, 2008 a CT revealed duodenal cancer and a couple of other growths in the upper small intestinal area. Because there are a lot of vessels in the area, Chemo is out of the question and so is another operation. (Not that I would want to go through that again.)

I started taking TS-1 or (5-FU) or (PSK), a new drug here in Japan. I will let you all know if it is working after three months of use, next February, 2008.

On December 22, 2008 my blood test revealed a CA19-9 of 273.3, up from 30.1 a month earlier. Just to note, my CEA reading was 4.7. I think that's pretty high since I read somewhere that 2.5 is about normal. I don't know what this all really means, but I was told that they are indicators of cancer.

So, at this point in my life, I am going to try: to boost my natural immune system with Exercise, Drink Plenty of Fluids, Sleep, Vitamins C and E, Selenium, Calcium, Garlic, Green Tea, Carrots, and Broccoli.

In addition, I'd like to balance my sodium intake by eating, low-fat yogurt, mackerel, cantaloupe and baked potatoes. If anyone runs across "Essiac Tea" could you give me a ring? I read that it might help me feel better. I would also like to try drinking at least three vegetable juices on a daily basis.

Sincerely,
Howard Ahner
http://gokase.tripod.com/

ahner1@hotmail.com

My Cancer: http://matsuyama-nobeoka.tripod.com/id3.html

I entered the hospital October 1, 2007 with yellowness and itching everywhere.

In early November, 2007 I had the "whipple" procedure performed.

In early February, 2008 I came down with spinal meningitis, the serious type.

On November 16, 2008, I was diagnosed to have: Duodenal Cancer (Jyuuinshichou): A tumor and growths in 2 Lymph Nodes seen in a CT scan image.

I began taking TS-1 or (5-FU) or (PSK), an Anti Cancer Drug: If doesn't work, I have 6 months to a year, because an operation would be too dangerous and chemo isn't safe for me.

Symptoms: abdominal pain, back pain that does not go away, irregular bowel movements, the cancer grows and presses against other organs and nerves causing pain. I am taking Advil twice a day for these pains. I was given a couple of other pain killers.

Case Examples of TS-1 - is an oral anticancer drug approved in Japan consisting of tegafur (a pro-drug of fluorouracil, 5-FU), gimeracil and oteracil potassium. TS-1 contains tegaful (FT), 5-chloro-2,4-dihydroxypyridine (CDHP; an inhibitor of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) degradation) and potassium oxonate (Oxo; an inhibitor of 5-FU assimilation mainly in the digestive tract) in a molar ratio of 1:0.4:1.

Case 1: Four-week administration of 120 mg TS-1 daily followed by two drug-free weeks. The patient was confirmed to be cancer-free by abdominal CT. This patient could return to his work (physical labor) in the sixth month after the operation. TS-1 revealed a high effectiveness without deteriorating the patient's quality of life. - 3 cases of complete response (CR), 6 cases of partial response (PR), 3 cases of stable disease (SD)

8% of patients have a genetic inability to metabolize them.

Saru-no-kake, (5-FU or PSK) My New Silver Bullet, a Traditional Chinese Medicine since the Ming Dynasty of China. It is the best selling anticancer drug in Japan.

Its antitumor effect was first noted in a 1965 Japanese report of a patient with stomach cancer. In conflicting reports, the patient either drank the tea, Saru-no-koshikake, or he took a local folk recipe of a fungus drug. He was reportedly cured after using PSK for several months.

Synonyms for Saru-no-koshikake: A beta-1,4-glucan, basidiomycetes, basidiomycotinae, Boletus versicolor, BRM (biological response modifier), cloud mushroom, Coriolus versicolor, Kawaratake, Kayken CapsxAE, KrestinxAE, Polyporaceae, Polyporus versicolor, polysaccharide K, polysaccharide Kureha, Polystictus versicolor, protein-bound B-glucan, proteoglycans, PSP, strain CM-101, turkey tail mushroom, Trametes versicolor, Yun zhi.

Numerous animal and human studies have demonstrated PSK improves survival time in patients with lung cancer, gastric cancer, stomach cancer, colon cancer, or leukemia when used in conjunction with chemotherapy, including FT-207, 5-FU, mitomycin-C, cisplatin, tegafur, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and OK-432.

Saru-no-kake or Yun Zhi inhances the immune system, can induce tumor shrinkage. Commercial name, Krestin, a potent tumor inhibitory potential. Has ability to distinguish between normal and cancer cells. Could improve the survival rate at five years and beyond. One trial, after five years, 27% still alive, not given PSK, 7% still alive.
December 28, 2008

Hi Tim,

I think your prayers are working.

I'm taking two drugs now, 5-FU and Saru-no-kake. Saru is Japanese for monkey and kake is mushroom. Don't laugh. Well, I laughed at first. It's an ancient Chinese medicine. You can read about it below.

How do I feel? Well, I feel normal except for a couple of times a day when I need to take Advil for abdominal and back pain. But, I can eat anything I want and I am very active. I feel a little tired at times. I was having pain when taking a dump, but now things are moving smoothly.

I am hopeful. I always feel much better after chanting Nam Myoho Renge Kyo and reciting the Lotus Sutra.

One Great Things is that I often cry when watching movies or reading books. I suppose my sensitivities have improved. I can't say that I have an urge to give all of my money to charity, but I have been commenting on the various cancer support blogs. The fact that I am proactive in this is working in my favor.

Take care,

Howard Clifford Ahner, 56 years old.