Got Bladder Cancer?: Maybe Someday

Maybe someday is when I will get around to my next substantive blog posting. I already know the topic - diet and urine alkalinity. I have collected a lot of data and so far it's suggestive, but not conclusive. Apparently other factors affect the acidity of urine in the bladder. Trying to separate the signal from the noise. Not succeeding. At least we have had consistently good news from our "fraternity members" with no cancer detected for Brian S. in Atlanta on January 16, Steven S. in Tennessee on December 13 and Roy B. in Alabama on December 13. Next up is Ben F. (aka Mobile Biohazard Man) in Louisiana on January 31.

One thing I can report right now is the original premise from John M. and Julie T. is fully validated. A teaspoon of baking soda in 4-8oz of water will turn your urine alkaline (regardless of diet) for up to 18 hours. While this works, it's a bit hard to swallow (literally), and I am unsure of the long-term effects of so much sodium intake. Better than bladder cancer, maybe!

In other news, I no longer resemble the fat dude in the Ferrari in the blog header photo above. I have lost 40+ pounds and kept it off. I'd like to lose 30-40 more, but not happening so far. Less hair now, too. Anybody want to lend me their Ferrari for a new photo? (Undying thanks to the original car provider and photographer, New Age Guy!)

Current Status - June 16, 2022

First time here?

READ THIS POST FIRST.

CLICK HERE for the beginning of the story.

Need to contact me? Use the photo-link near the bottom of this column.

Had an interesting annual checkup - no cysto, but ultrasound and blood/urine tests. Bottom line ALL CLEAR now 14 years and counting! God is good!

My parents were from a generation that feared seat belts. In May of 2013 they were both ejected from their vehicle (my father would have said "thrown clear") and did not survive. Automobile safety technology has dramatically improved since the 1950s and 1960s.

People, if you are traveling over 35mph, WEAR YOUR SEAT BELTS!

BLADDER CANCER ROLL CALL

Recent Results

2022

ME! - Steve K. in Bodrum, Türkiye ALL CLEAR on June 10. - 14 yrs

Wil S. in Chicago ALL CLEAR on March 22. - 15 months
HK in Toronto ALL CLEAR on Feb 5. - 13+ years

2021

Steven S. in Tennessee ALL CLEAR on Oct 27. - 10 years
Roy B. in Alabama ALL CLEAR on May 4. - 9 yrs
Scott in South Carolina ALL CLEAR on April 20. - 6.5 yrs

2020

David F. in England ALL CLEAR on October 2 - 14.25 yrs and finished with cystos now!

2019

Julie M. in Illinois ALL CLEAR on June 15. - 8+ yrs

Roy B. in Alabama ALL CLEAR on June 24. - 8 yrs

2018

Ed B. in Washington ALL CLEAR January (but battling lung cancer now). - 9 yrs Bladder Cancer Free
Patrick P. in LA area ALL Clear on November 28. - 9 years
Sebastián in Argentina ALL CLEAR on October 9. - 5 yrs
John B. in Minnesota ALL CLEAR on May 24. - 5 yrs
Doug B. in Tennessee ALL CLEAR on April 7. - 3 yrs
Ben F. In Louisiana ALL CLEAR on Feb 22. - 6 yrs

First time here? READ THIS POST FIRST.

CLICK HERE for the beginning of the story.

Need to contact me? Use the photo-link near the bottom of this column.

Short Summary of My Situation

On March 31, 2008 I was diagnosed with bladder cancer. As a non-smoker, at my age, with no family history of cancer on either side, I was quite surprised. The cancer was T1-G3 and Non-Invasive. It's not immediately life threatening, but my bladder is still at risk. I have been CANCER FREE via surgery for 14 years now, an important number - having exceeded both the two year ultra-high-risk and 10 year medium-risk recurrence periods. Less than 2% chance of the cancer returning now, not zero, so lifetime annual cystoscopies are in order. In addition I have completed 6 weekly treatments of initial BCG immunotherapy and nine 3-week maintenance rounds with moderately unpleasant side-effects. I have implemented radical dietary changes (limited pork, shellfish, sugar, ZERO artificial sweeteners (except stevia), processed flours, or chlorinated water), take several vitamins and supplements including the Budwig Flax Oil Cottage Cheese (FOCC) mix, resumed PectaSol-C MCP,and added regular light exercise.

Every year my doctor will visually inspect for new cancer growth via cystoscope, or a combination of ultrasound with blood and urine tests. While the probability of recurrence is not zero, the risk of disease progression is dramatically decreased now. The downside picture is merely a nuisance. Annual checkups for life. And any new cancer leads to another TURBT surgery to remove and analyze what's there. Probably nothing more beyond increased surveillance after that.

I have pursued an analytical approach to Complementary Therapies - those that can be done IN ADDITION TO what the doctors are doing. There are over 200 "unproven" approaches out there, and some work sometimes. I have conducted an objective, systems-based analysis many of them to determine which ones work under which conditions, looking for common, science-based threads. My current set of things I am doing is described in detail in this post.

All diagnosis, prognosis, and medical treatment recommendations have been validated with second opinions from a urologist in Indiana and Dr. Lamm in Arizona.

My Medical History

On March 31, 2008, I received the very unwelcome news, "You've got bladder cancer!"

I was born in 1959, and I am a white, male, American. I married at age 24, and in October of 2008 we celebrated our 25th anniversary. We have no children, and that's OK with us. I had a vasectomy in 1999, so no changing minds on that decision - and the docs dismissed that early as any type of contributor to the situation.

I am six feet, zero inches, and was 255 pounds when all this started, but weight decreasing now thanks to surgeries and this wake-up call. I am NOT saying cancer comes from being overweight, but weight exacerbates all other problems. (Down to 240 pounds as of 9/1/08, down to 230 pounds as of 12/31/08, down to 220 as of 5/15/09, but back up to 230 and holding since...)

My blood pressure (checked and tracked weekly) runs a hair high - 130/90. Been steady at that level for many years. Been higher lately - stress will do that.

I don't smoke, and never have smoked anything, including marijuana. The docs had some problem believing me, as smoking is a strong indicator for bladder cancer. I tried asking if I should take it up now to break even, and they finally let it go. I find the whole idea of smoking distasteful, having suffered in a home where both parents favored unfiltered Pall Malls. The docs claim that secondhand smoke at home from birth through my high school years would not be a factor.

They also suggest that exposure to radiation and chemicals can cause this. I worked in a chem lab at college and there was stuff around; but my exposure was not that much and I never rubbed my groin on any of it!

I do enjoy an occasional alcoholic drink - usually a couple of glasses of wine with dinner or maybe a beer or two with pizza or during a televised sporting event. My use is less than daily and almost never more than two in any day.

I was diagnosed with gout in 2004. Gout is a crystallization of uric acid in the joints - primarily in the left big toe. These crystals cause irritation and inflammation - then BIG TIME PAIN. Gout supposedly comes from eating rich foods and poor circulation. I may also have a recessive gene for gluten sensitivity which may have contributed; but I have not as yet investigated this. I controlled the gout successfully for a while by super-hydrating (one gallon plus of fluids per day) but 4 international trips proved that I could not maintain or control this outside of home and an air-conditioned office. So in 2006 I began taking 75mg of allopurinol daily. This is also NOT a factor for bladder cancer. Subsequently I changed my diet and lifestyle and lost a lot of weight. Now I am not taking any medication for gout, nor have I had an episode in many years.

7 comments:

John M. said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; January 18, 2013 at 6:32 PM
John M. said...: Any form of stress creates acidosis in the body which lowers the PH and vegetables alone can't alkalize the body, therefore baking soda gets you there...
Hi Steve, I am doing phenomenal... It's a year of being cancer free and what I did and how I did it worked 100%... My blog tells how...
beatbladdercancer.blogspot.com
I am still doing baking soda to maintain my PH on an as need basis which depends on what I have eaten, stress level ect... which has been often lately because of my experiments with various foods such as meat, which every time I eat it causes me lower back pain and sharp shoulder pain when I wash my hair and when I stay away from all meat and dairy, I feel NO pain especially when I wake up in the morning, I am painless... I also noticed that I get dandruff and light psoriasis whenever I eat anything containing wheat... We really are everything we eat...
Can't wait for your next post...
John M.; January 18, 2013 at 6:36 PM
Unknown said...: Thank you very much for creating this blog, I am 49yrs old, 6ft, 230lbs and was dx with BC in april. Had first turbt on 13 may and bio showed 8130/3, pT1 high grade multi-focal. Had second resection on 25th june during which most of my prostate was scraped out. I will be starting my first BCG on 24th july and will be prepared with stress balls and breathing methods :).

I think one of my biggest problems with my scenario is that I cannot accept that I am supposed to end this way. As you said, skydiving at 100th birthday or in my case Snowboarding of a cliff at 95 ish makes a lot more sense......

I totally agree with everything you have said regarding changes of nutrition habits etc and will get to love the taste (eventually) of carrot juice, turmeric linseed oil etc.......

If this blog were in paperback form then my copy would be full of dog eared pages.

Thanks again and if you ever find yourself in the Austrian Alps, please feel free to look me up. I intend to still be here. regards

John; July 14, 2013 at 9:17 AM
Steve Kelley said...: The Austrian Alps are high on my list of places to visit, so I expect to find you there and in perfect health!; July 14, 2013 at 9:25 AM
Unknown said...: e again,
was due to have first BCG today but not able as I have an infection. Good news is I got the histo results from the second TURBT and there was no sign of cancerous cells in any of the material submitted. (the doc scraped out most of the prostate) Yeehaa.

Looks like the Doc got it all out in the first op on 13th May. The CIS however means that the BCG is still to be administered starting next monday.

Feeling very positive and starting to enjoy the taste of the F.O.C.C, although unsweetened cranberry juice is hard to swallow. I have a PSA reading of 0.41 and a ph of 7.0.
Is bicarbonate soda worth taking if the ph level is normal?

cheers again for the blog; July 24, 2013 at 2:24 PM
Steve Kelley said...: Good news Jo!

Stevia is a good sweetener for cranberry juice.

If urine pH is 7.0 or higher, no need for bicarbonate.; July 24, 2013 at 2:49 PM
Unknown said...: Wow What a ride

I have just had my third TURBT where my doctor took 7 deep samples from both bladder and prostate on the 26th and yesterday he told me that there were NO evidence of tumor material in any of the samples......

I did the first 6 weeks of BGC with almost no side effects and my doc is now looking to start the maintenence 3 x 3 monthly oin Jan.

I used the FOCC almost non stop during the last 4 months and also stopped consuming meat, sugar, white bread, carbs, alcohol, coffee and pretty much anything that was Acid forming. I took a daily dose of half a teaspoon of Natriumhudrogencarbonat to alkalize my body and supported it with carrot and wheatgrass juices.

Lots of fruit, nuts, veg, water and meditation. None of which would have been possible without my better half Angie, making me stick to it.

Am a bit in shock how it is possible to go from Aggressive multifocal bladder cancer in April to being clear in December.

I really do believe that PH control, Blood oxygenation (bought a chi machine) Diet, budwig and determination helped support the good work the Doctor did.

Bought my Snowboard season card yesterday and will be sliding all winter. Somehow I feel this season will feel that little bit more special than last year.

Thanks for this site Steve, it helped put me on the right track.

regards

John; December 4, 2013 at 3:22 PM

Maybe Someday - January 18, 2013

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Current Status - June 16, 2022

My parents were from a generation that feared seat belts. In May of 2013 they were both ejected from their vehicle (my father would have said "thrown clear") and did not survive. Automobile safety technology has dramatically improved since the 1950s and 1960s.

People, if you are traveling over 35mph, WEAR YOUR SEAT BELTS!

BLADDER CANCER ROLL CALL

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