Member Blogs

Jeff,
I have taken selenium for several years as part of my vitamin protocol which consists of several vitamins and antioxidants. When I had my TURB the pathology report had a remark on it that said there was a brisk immune response noted in the tissue so my body was trying to fight the cancer. I attribute this to my vitamins and antioxidants. After I was diagnosed I took Astragalas, Cats Claw and drank red clover tea until 2 weeks before surgery. When I went to my 3 week checkup the other day my surgeon said I could start all my vitamins again.
We have an excellent health food store run by a former oncology nurse who became a nutritionist and is just a wealth of information. I was totally black and blue from knuckles to elbows on both arms from the IV's because I have such terrible veins. She sent Arnica gel to the hospital with my granddaughter, they allowed me to use it and in a few days the black and blue was completely gone so I really believe all of this goes hand in hand with traditional medecine.
Jean

We have an excellent health food store run by a former oncology nurse who became a nutritionist and is just a wealth of information  Jean

Jean what a wonderful source for you! I would certainly trust his or her opinion.  There are so many natural supplements and herbs that can be of help to each individual.  I find it best to take the ones that come to my attention most often as it is that little voice within calling it to my attention. I get a gut feeling that this one being suggested for. Kelp is particularly recommended for my system.  

Thanks, Rosie...I googled and this is the answer that I found that was pertinent to myself.
What I needed to know was about the 2 week delay and this seems to answer it.
I made a call into the Dr.and I left a comprehensive description of my symptoms on his answering machine.
I've had a return message to call into the office tomorrow between 8 and 8:30.

BTW, it ain't getting better.  I also told him about the rash I developed during 1st instillation of this last round of BCG"s.  I never thought it might be a side effect, so I 'm covering it all with this phone call.

Clavel G, Grados F, Cayrolle G, Bellony R, Leduc I, Lafont B, Ducroix JP, Fardellone P.
Rheumatology Department, North Teaching Hospital, Amiens, France.

OBJECTIVE: To delineate the characteristics of aseptic arthritis induced by intravesical BCG immunotherapy. METHODS: Review of a personal case and 26 cases from the literature. RESULTS: Mean number of intravesical BCG instillations at arthritis onset was five. Arthritis onset was within two weeks of the last instillation in 90% of cases. Half the patients had fever and half had conjunctivitis or uveitis. Symmetric polyarthritis was the most common pattern (n = 19), followed by oligoarthritis (n = 7). One patient had monoarthritis. The main targets were the knees (81%), ankles (48%), and wrists (40%). Twenty-six percent of patients reported back pain and 11% had sacroiliitis manifesting as pain or radiological changes. Mean erythrocyte sedimentation rate was 89 mm/h and mean C-reactive protein was greater than 70 mg/l. HLA B27 was positive in 56% of cases. Joint fluid usually exhibited inflammatory properties with polymorphonuclear neutrophils as the predominant cell type. Synovial membrane biopsy showed nonspecific synovitis in the six patients who had this investigation. Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory therapy was effective in 75% of cases. Three of the six patients given isoniazid and/or rifampin responded to this treatment. CONCLUSION: Although arthritis induced by intravesical BCG immunotherapy is more often polyarticular than oligoarticular, it shares many features with reactive arthritis.

PMID: 10084173 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]