Pancreatic Cancer - Has anyone had experience with Metabolic Oncology?

Hi Betts 77. Thank you so much for that info. I spoke w my husband’s endocrinologist. She approved use of Metformin instead of insulin. My husband was diagnosed w diabetes in Jan. ‘23, same time as pan can. Stage IV. When I read about insulin vs Metformin, it seemed Metformin is better choice. My husband lost much weight after changing diet and no alcohol ( and he needed and wanted to lose it). I believe his blood sugar is well under control now. He wears a glucose meter which is great for tracking. I questioned early on why we got insulin vs Metformin. And, after doing some research, I read excess insulin feeds more glucose to the cancer cells, so that seemed counterproductive! Metformin works differently. It does not INCREASE your insulin. When I read about the positive effects of Metformin, along with few, if any, side effects, I spoke to the endo dr. again. She agreed with me, and prescribed Metformin. I also read the article below posted by the administrator. Although the article doesn’t outwardly say “ metformin can cure cancer” , it does outline many positive effects of Metformin, and says further studies are needed. So I’ll try it. There is no downside that I see.
Betts77- I am interested in the vitamin c infusions. Where do you get those done? Did you go to a naturopath dr? My oncologist at Dana Farber has scoffed at my suggestions for other things. ( glad to hear your dr was more receptive).he did approve use of daily baby aspirin. My husband did not have much success w the 7 rounds of fulfironix and was switched to gemcitabine abraxim last week. He was really really tired afterwards. Slept for almost two days straight. Taste buds affected. Food not desirable now.
I am going to try and find an integrative dr who will be more open to discussion of things other than/in addition to chemo and radiation. The Dana drs didn’t want to discuss diet much, and said there is no evidence that a good diet helps survive cancer! No evidence? My husband got his blood sugar down from 430 to normal levels in a few weeks and got rid of most belly fat. Won’t that help him survive and deal better with treatments?? It’s discouraging when the drs don’t discuss the “ full picture”. Out first oncologist dr ( not Dana) who ordered the prescription for insulin did not even know he was prescribing insulin! He had consulted with another dr., and called in the prescription hurriedly on a Fri night after seeing my husband’s high glucose level. We had to call him and tell him we had no experience with injecting insulin. He admitted he didn’t know that was what had been prescribed!! Incredible.
We are going to SLoan Kettering next week for second opinion. We are now at Dana , and the dr there suggested we go to Sloan in order to possibly make it easier to get into a clinical trial at Sloan, if one is appropriate and available. I did get a list of clinical trials from cancer commons, and there is actually one going on for vitamin c infusion as well as another one for hydroxychloroquine at MD Anderson. The Dana Dr dismissed all the trials i mentioned and told me the info was a waste, and “ he hoped I didn’t pay a lot for it.” ( it was free). It seems he only wants my husband in a trial being run at his hospital…. The last few weeks have been trying. Navigating this medical world is difficult, and it is very hard to know what info to believe and what everyone’s motivations are. Big pharma controls most of the trials, and therefore controls the research, and withholds certain information relied upon by doctors. Read the book called “ Sickening” by Dr John Abramson.
Sorry to be a downer…. I am willing to explore every avenue. Anyone using Berberine? Thank you again Betts 77.

Hi Bett,

I completely understand your frustration with your doctor po-pooing anything to do with non-pharmaceutical remedies - especially nutrition!!! The pancreas is the key organ in our body responsible for processing sugar and producing insulin! How in the world can cells that mutated from the pancreas NOT be impacted by sugar. Also there is a lot of research documenting how pancreatic cancer uses sugar as it's preferred food supply.

I completely believe that our diet is core to helping kill this cancer. It may not be a cure - but it must certainly help. I am pretty confident that it was my husband's nutritional habits that got him here in the first place. He consumed tons of sugar through tons of pop each day.
Doctors are NOT trained in nutrition.

Yes - we are now going to a Naturapath and it is there that we are receiving High Dose Vitamin C infusions. They will also be helping with my husband's nutrition. We will be getting the infusions two days before he goes into Chemo each cycle for starts. Vitamin C only remains in the body for 24 hours or less. Our oncologist has agreed with this after multiple conversations. She initially resisted and wanted a medical professional to oversee this treatment, which we now have with our Naturapath.

We are also going to begin the off-label patented protocal overseen by Care Oncology. They have a Metabolic doctor there that specializes in Pancreatic Cancer. We are hopeful.

Jane McClennan, in her book - How to Starve Cancer - recommends hitting cancer from every angle at the same time - which include chemo - although a reduced dosage of it.

I intend on doing just that: chemo + High Dose IV C + metformin + other off-label meds shown to inhibit cancer's growth (Care Oncology protocol) + diet + excercise + low dose Aspirin.

We have nothing to loose and everything to gain.

And yes - I have read about Berberine and am strongly considering adding it to his supplement list - along with anything else I can find.

Continuing to search out possible solutions.

Hoping for the best for you. Don't give up. Be tenacious.

Beth

Did he actually start the Care Oncology protocol? How was it to get started? Do they assign you to an MD/oncologist? Although they are based in the UK, can they prescribe the meds you mentioned for here in the U.S.?
I guess finally, what has his experience been?

He did start with Care Oncology and we have been adding a few other medications and supplements as well. They are both in London AND Virginia. We are working with the Virginia branch. I got in touch with them by going to their website at https://careoncology.com/ and scheduling a call. At first we interacted with a patient care coordinator, transfered our medical records and get a comprehensive blood test taken. Then we were assigned to the Pancreatic Oncology Specialist - Dr. Zhang. After our meeting with Dr. Zhang, they prescribed their standard protocol of medications, advised that he also should take high dosages of Vitamin D (he was severely deficient) and take Melatonin as well. They have a pharmacy in Arizona (I believe) that ships us out his medications every month. They don't take insurance, but the medications are only a couple hundred a month. They will continue to monitor his blood results and we will have a follow-up in a couple of month. The start up was slower than I liked because it took time to get them all of the needed medical records and blood tests. I was a bit tenacious in a very nice way and we got through the red tape. I believe it is completely worth it. Once his oncologist heard what we were doing and that we were working with a Pancreatic specialist, she was a lot more supportive and we could be open with her as to all the medications and supplements he is on. He is also taking Green Tea extract for the ECGC in it, Garcinia Cambogia, Trans-Resveratrol, high polyphenol Olive Oil, Ulsolic Acid and Berberine in addition to the Care Oncology patented protocol. AND High Dose IV Vitamin C (2nd week of each chemo cycle) . He is also on an all organic, low glycemic diet. It is too early to tell yet on how effective all of this is in addition to Folfironox. But I feel a lot better knowing that we are doing what we can control. And I spend a lot of time in Pubmed research and it appears that all of these substances have shown at least some impact on pancreatic cancer - without the presence of large scale big pharm funded studies - which will probably never come because these drugs and supplements have no patents. Hope this helps and I pray all goes well with you.

Beth

This may not be the most helpful "place" to post this question, so please move it if there's somewhere better.
My latest evaluation by my oncologist earlier today (following repeat scans yesterday to follow the progress of my pancreatic cancer) is that he is concerned that I will need placement of drains, as well as additional measures to keep me hydrated since I do have episodes of lightheadedness.
I've seen various recipes online for home-made oral rehydration solutions, some of which look as if my gut might tolerate them.
I do not have a good history with Gatorade, however, or with products that involve coconut water, or artificial sweeteners, particularly stevia.
Anyone else have positive experience with natural (preferably organic) ingredient oral rehydration solutions?

My son the body builder / EMT has expressed a preference for the Body Armor and Pedialyte brands of drinks over Gatorade and Powerade. I tried one reduced-sugar version of Body Armor last week, and found it disgusting, but there may be other recipes and flavors that are more palatable. Pedialyte has a good track record (and adult versions, not just pediatric), so there might be something tasty in their catalog.

As far as sweeteners go, I learned about "allulose" ("Swerve" was the brand name) a few months ago. My wife baked a few dishes with it that came out pretty well. Seemed more natural and less bitter than some other sweeteners, does not have the usual diarrhea-inducing sugar alcohols, and didn't set off my continuous glucose monitor alarm.

Water is not bad either, if you're supplementing it with the other vitamins and minerals / electrolytes you need.

One of the things that we have done is cut lot of slices of lemon, orange and / or lime and added them to a pitcher of water and steep the water in the fridge. It is just slightly sweet and very fresh and healthy. Of course we use organic fruit.

Making your own sounds good. You will have control over all the ingredients and adjust to your own taste.

Try Nectar from Amazon. It was recommended here by someone and I like it.

@beths77

How is your husband doing now?