Mexico or Bust!
Last week Kim and I finally made it down to the Bio Medical Center in Mexico. I just wanted to share my experience with that trip.
Before jumping right into the trip, I want to provide some context. I also want to share my belief concerning the Lord's hand in how we ended up in Mexico. You see, when I was initially diagnosed with cancer, I was resigned to doing chemotherapy and radiation. Not fully understanding the reality of my diagnosis, that's where my mind went. My grandpa has beat metastasized cancer on two different occasions via chemotherapy and that's all I'd known. After researching it further, I discovered that chemotherapy and radiation had little to no success in combating metastatic melanoma. In fact, there was a period of time not too long ago when research into fighting metastatic melanoma had essentially stopped because it appeared nothing would cure it. Recent developments have lead to immunotherapy as the main treatment for metastatic melanoma. Essentially, this procedure seeks to boost your immune system and have your own body fight the cancer. That being said, once this type of cancer hits stage 4, immunotherapy doesn't help much. My official prognosis from my doctor was a 60% chance to live 3 years. Not the best odds...
After we came to terms with the situation, Kim and I immediately jumped into research mode. We wanted to know what was out there. You see, ever since I met Kim, nutrition and a healthier way of life has been at the forefront of our minds. While there have been ebbs and flows throughout the process, it's just been what we've researched and studied. In April of 2017, Kim was diagnosed with Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS). One of the main side effects of this is insulin resistance. Essentially this can cause issues with your bodies ability to utilize carbohydrates as a source of fuel. You feel sluggish, tired, and your body just doesn't function well. In January 2018, Kim was researching diets that helped with PCOS and stumbled upon the ketogenic diet. After countless hours of research over the last several months, we have come to understand and accept many of the health benefits associated with a non-sugar driven diet. We have essentially adopted the ketogenic diet as the diet we'd like to spend the rest of our lives on. That being said...we do have splurges every once in a while. You all know I can't make it through life without pizza!
When the realization set in that I may have cancer and we were doing research, I came across several sources that showed the keto diet decreased the negative impact of chemo on the body and can actually help to starve cancer cells. Cancer cells have ten times as many insulin receptors as a normal cell and glucose is what cancer thrives on. In fact, when they do a PET scan they have you eat a very low-sugar diet the day before and then inject you with glucose laced with radioactive tracers. Because cancer cells feed on glucose, they tend to show up as areas of increased radioactivity. Cancer cells have a fatal flaw in their mitochondria...they can't burn fat as fuel. They can only burn sugar. Healthy cells, however, can be trained to burn fat in the form of ketone bodies as fuel.
After my biopsy results, we met with an oncologist. Toward the end of the meeting, Kim asked if there was anything diet-wise I could do to help. The oncologist basically said that anything you read on the internet about diets helping is just crap and there's nothing we can do. Well, that was a huge red flag. There are many people out there conducting studies and research that show differently. As you can imagine, I decided to never return to see him for medical advice. To further support my decision, I have come across many resources that indicate any oncologist licensed by the AMA are required to endorse only chemo, radiation, immunotherapy, and clinical trials. Their license can be revoked if they endorse any other form of treatment. How about that?
Moving along in the story... Kim and I had come across several alternative methods of treatment, many of which were having much greater success treating metastatic melanoma. We had settled on two different clinics: The Gerson Institute and the Bio Medical Center (aka the Hoxsey Clinic). After some pondering, prayer, and fasting, we attended the temple with the Hoxsey Clinic in mind. After our visit to the temple, we felt good about that choice. You know, it's interesting how this all worked out as we were deciding on what to do. Just about every time we mentioned to someone we were considering alternative treatment options, they would rave about it. Only the medical professionals in my life told me it was complete nonsense. However, I consider anecdotal evidence to be just that...evidence. But God was reassuring us with every positive comment about natural treatments that we were making the right choice.
On Friday, September 14th, I received my official diagnosis and prognosis. I had four tumors in my body and a 60% chance to live 3 years. Fortunately, my vital organs were clean. We had already gone to the temple and determined to go to Mexico. On Sunday the 16th, my grandma asked me if I needed a passport. As far as I could remember, you didn't need one to go to Mexico. We didn't look into it any further. Sunday night, however, Kim received a text from a lady in our ward about the passport issue again. We obviously became concerned. After looking into things Monday morning, we realized we did in fact need a passport to get in to Mexico. Neither one of us had one. This is where things get good and God stepped in...
Kim's friend from the ward had never texted Kim before. Ever. She just messaged out of the blue about a place in LA that allows you to get a passport really quickly. I called Monday morning. The lady said the earliest I'd have it was Wednesday. That wasn't good enough. The only day available at the clinic that week was Wednesday and we had scheduled the appointment. The lady referred me to the federal governments site. After researching a bit, I found that they offer same-day emergency life or death passports. I got on the phone and spoke with a deputy and explained the situation. We were planning on staying in San Diego and, fortunately, there was a passport office in San Diego. Not only that, but every appointment slot was open for the next day (Tuesday). I took the 8 am appointment. I was going to need documentation and, fortunately, my uncle is the surgeon that operated on me and was able to provide me with a letter that would ensure my passport. Kim and I packed our bags, jumped in the car, and headed out.
First, we had to get passport photos. The local clerks office struggled, but we eventually got them after half an hour. Then we needed to print stuff off. Our printer ran out of ink (go figure) and so we went to the library and printed things off. Then we hit the road. Another tender mercy? My grandparents were staying at a condo in San Diego. They had an extra bedroom. So we were able to stay with them while we were there and didn't have to get a hotel room. Of all the place for them to be, they were right where we needed them to be.
We had our passport appointment the following morning at 8 am. Everyone at the office was incredibly nice. We were in and out in 10 minutes. Seriously. No issues whatsoever. We had our passports in hand at 2:30 pm that same day.
Up until now, everything had just fallen into place (I put it that way, but we all know God was helping us along the way...). Now came the moment of truth. Kim and I had studied and studied and studied and finally settled on this clinic. We had scrambled like no other to get to SD in time for our appointment and had managed to get a passport in 6 hours. You sort of get that anxious feeling about what's to come the next morning. Is the clinic going to be a joke? Are you going to be taken advantage of? Is this all a scam? I kept coming back to the fact that we'd done our homework and felt good about this place. I'm far from perfect, but I had the faith that God wouldn't desert me in my greatest time of need.
Exhausted, we got out of bed well before 6 am on Wednesday. We drove to San Diego and caught a shuttle from there across the border and to the clinic. I'm sure glad we took the shuttle and didn't try to drive or catch a taxi. Our driver knew what he was doing and knew right where to go.
As soon as we sat in the shuttle, the anxiety melted away. We were surrounded by people in the same boat as us. One lady had stage 3 breast cancer and had been doing the treatment for a year (she found out at the clinic her cancer marker had dropped from 79 to 12, essentially declaring her cancer free. How cool is that?). Everyone other than me had done years of chemo and resorted to this because they'd been written off or were sick of chemo. We wanted to skip all the chemo crap and jump straight to this. We got to the clinic and the answers to my prayers were confirmed. The spirit was just so strong and it was a clinic built on love. I truly felt that way. There were around 14 other patients there, all fighting cancer. All of them basically stage 3 or worse. There was breast, colon, bladder, skin, and lung cancer (that I'm aware of) represented there.
The staff was absolutely incredible. A lady that had been helping run the place for the last five years was there. She lives in Oregon with her family, but she spends a couple weeks a month at the clinic. She's a licensed NP by the way, devoted to this clinic having never worked a day as a nurse in the states because of what she'd seen chemo do to people. She wandered around talking to people, answering questions, and addressing concerns. Her testimony of the ability of the clinic to truly heal people and change lives was powerful. She had been cured of lupus by the clinic and, because of all she'd seen, couldn't walk away from the clinic and had decided to continue helping.
So how did the day go? After some paperwork and visiting, we were all corralled into a back room. We all went through the same process... We peed in a cup, changed into a gown, had blood drawn, then had our vitals checked. I was sent, along with a few others, to get x-rays done. After x-rays, Kim and I waited for our turn with the doctor. We sat down with Dr. Giovana and she spent an hour and a half with us. She asked me questions about every aspect of my health, body, and cancer. She performed a full physical and then sent us on our way. We went to Rocio's cafe and had lunch. It was incredibly good. Like seriously good. We then went back and waited to meet with the doctor again.
While waiting, they had everyone attend a nutrition class. This tonic that they put the cancer patients on is very effective, but it's also neutralized if certain foods are ingested in any amount. I can't have pork, alcohol, vinegar, or tomatoes. At all. And they talked about a generally healthy diet. The amazing thing is...all of our research and all of the changes we'd been making prepared us for this diet. We're ready. I'm ready. I already know how to do this. What a relief! On top of that, I can continue doing my keto diet and stick to what they suggest. Another tender mercy!
After waiting for a little bit, we were called back. The doctor went through all of my lab work, line by line, and explained what it told them and what needed to be done about it. Again, she spent another hour with us going over my results and my course of treatment. She answered all questions and not once did we feel rushed. She saw a total of 4 patients that day. Remarkably different from American medicine.
My lab work results were incredible. My immune system is still functioning very well. In fact, it's doing what it needs to do. I needed some help in a couple of areas (iron mostly), but other than that, she told me to continue doing what I was doing. Another testament to the research we'd been doing. I certainly planned on staying on my keto diet at this point. I believe that has had a significant impact on my overall health. Also, there was no melanin in my urine, which means no cancer in my blood. That's excellent news!
After we met with the doctor the second time, we went to get our supplements and pay the bill (which was much lower than what you'd think for a full day at a clinic, tests, 3 hours with a doctor, and 6 months worth of supplements...). Because my system is functioning so well, they put me on the black tonic. It's basically the super concentrated tonic that's stronger. I was also put on three natural herbal pills. The journey home was interesting. We stopped at an herbal store and two pharmacies in order to get medications for everyone there. We made it back to the U.S. and couldn't have been happier with our experience. Our shuttle driver, Roberto, was quite the comedian. And his driving was, despite questionable, impeccable considering the mayhem down there!
After all the anxiety and anticipation, we really couldn't have been happier with our experience. We genuinely connected with the other patients and felt loved by the staff. We didn't feel like we were being rushed through and just prescribed something (like we were at the oncologist office). Time was taken to truly understand my overall health and set me up for success. God answered my prayers and reassured me of the path I was on.
I'm so grateful for my wife. She is my rock. She has walked side-by-side with me through this whole journey. She has encouraged me to follow my gut, my heart, and my promptings. She has never been difficult or opposed me. In fact, she has encouraged me to go this route. I'm grateful for her unwavering love. I'm also grateful for her testimony of this Gospel. It strengthens mine and helps to carry me through. I'm blessed to have her as my wife.
Oftentimes, we are told when it comes to cancer that it is this awful monster that the medical community just doesn't understand. We're limited in our options and at the mercy of the oncologist and drugs put in us. I promise that's not true. This clinic had 17 clinics in the United States back in the 50's. The clinic in Texas was one of the largest cancer treatment facilities in the world. Dr. Hoxsey treated over 8,000 patients while in the US and cured countless individuals of cancer. I plan on being one of those patients. The only reason they are in Mexico is because the FDA and AMA ran them out of the country. Their profits were jeopardized by his success at curing cancer (which is a multi-billion dollar industry in this country). In fact, any natural treatment route is antagonized by the AMA to an extent. There are stories all over the internet. But you have to look hard. There is hope when it comes to this battle. I know many people don't agree with my choice and think I'm crazy. That's fine. That's their opinion and right. I, however, am grateful to have had a choice and to feel like I'm the one in control of my treatment.
I testify that God lives. He has prepared us for this journey and has lead us to where we are right now. I know that with every fiber of my being. Because my Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ, walked the loneliest path every walked, I will never have to walk alone. I know He lives. I know He walks by me and provides me with the grace, strength, and peace that I need to overcome this trial. The Gospel is true. I encourage and invite all who have yet to find it to start looking now. It's never too late to turn to Him. He is waiting for you and He will help you. I promise and so testify in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
- Ryan
Before jumping right into the trip, I want to provide some context. I also want to share my belief concerning the Lord's hand in how we ended up in Mexico. You see, when I was initially diagnosed with cancer, I was resigned to doing chemotherapy and radiation. Not fully understanding the reality of my diagnosis, that's where my mind went. My grandpa has beat metastasized cancer on two different occasions via chemotherapy and that's all I'd known. After researching it further, I discovered that chemotherapy and radiation had little to no success in combating metastatic melanoma. In fact, there was a period of time not too long ago when research into fighting metastatic melanoma had essentially stopped because it appeared nothing would cure it. Recent developments have lead to immunotherapy as the main treatment for metastatic melanoma. Essentially, this procedure seeks to boost your immune system and have your own body fight the cancer. That being said, once this type of cancer hits stage 4, immunotherapy doesn't help much. My official prognosis from my doctor was a 60% chance to live 3 years. Not the best odds...
After we came to terms with the situation, Kim and I immediately jumped into research mode. We wanted to know what was out there. You see, ever since I met Kim, nutrition and a healthier way of life has been at the forefront of our minds. While there have been ebbs and flows throughout the process, it's just been what we've researched and studied. In April of 2017, Kim was diagnosed with Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS). One of the main side effects of this is insulin resistance. Essentially this can cause issues with your bodies ability to utilize carbohydrates as a source of fuel. You feel sluggish, tired, and your body just doesn't function well. In January 2018, Kim was researching diets that helped with PCOS and stumbled upon the ketogenic diet. After countless hours of research over the last several months, we have come to understand and accept many of the health benefits associated with a non-sugar driven diet. We have essentially adopted the ketogenic diet as the diet we'd like to spend the rest of our lives on. That being said...we do have splurges every once in a while. You all know I can't make it through life without pizza!
When the realization set in that I may have cancer and we were doing research, I came across several sources that showed the keto diet decreased the negative impact of chemo on the body and can actually help to starve cancer cells. Cancer cells have ten times as many insulin receptors as a normal cell and glucose is what cancer thrives on. In fact, when they do a PET scan they have you eat a very low-sugar diet the day before and then inject you with glucose laced with radioactive tracers. Because cancer cells feed on glucose, they tend to show up as areas of increased radioactivity. Cancer cells have a fatal flaw in their mitochondria...they can't burn fat as fuel. They can only burn sugar. Healthy cells, however, can be trained to burn fat in the form of ketone bodies as fuel.
After my biopsy results, we met with an oncologist. Toward the end of the meeting, Kim asked if there was anything diet-wise I could do to help. The oncologist basically said that anything you read on the internet about diets helping is just crap and there's nothing we can do. Well, that was a huge red flag. There are many people out there conducting studies and research that show differently. As you can imagine, I decided to never return to see him for medical advice. To further support my decision, I have come across many resources that indicate any oncologist licensed by the AMA are required to endorse only chemo, radiation, immunotherapy, and clinical trials. Their license can be revoked if they endorse any other form of treatment. How about that?
Moving along in the story... Kim and I had come across several alternative methods of treatment, many of which were having much greater success treating metastatic melanoma. We had settled on two different clinics: The Gerson Institute and the Bio Medical Center (aka the Hoxsey Clinic). After some pondering, prayer, and fasting, we attended the temple with the Hoxsey Clinic in mind. After our visit to the temple, we felt good about that choice. You know, it's interesting how this all worked out as we were deciding on what to do. Just about every time we mentioned to someone we were considering alternative treatment options, they would rave about it. Only the medical professionals in my life told me it was complete nonsense. However, I consider anecdotal evidence to be just that...evidence. But God was reassuring us with every positive comment about natural treatments that we were making the right choice.
On Friday, September 14th, I received my official diagnosis and prognosis. I had four tumors in my body and a 60% chance to live 3 years. Fortunately, my vital organs were clean. We had already gone to the temple and determined to go to Mexico. On Sunday the 16th, my grandma asked me if I needed a passport. As far as I could remember, you didn't need one to go to Mexico. We didn't look into it any further. Sunday night, however, Kim received a text from a lady in our ward about the passport issue again. We obviously became concerned. After looking into things Monday morning, we realized we did in fact need a passport to get in to Mexico. Neither one of us had one. This is where things get good and God stepped in...
Kim's friend from the ward had never texted Kim before. Ever. She just messaged out of the blue about a place in LA that allows you to get a passport really quickly. I called Monday morning. The lady said the earliest I'd have it was Wednesday. That wasn't good enough. The only day available at the clinic that week was Wednesday and we had scheduled the appointment. The lady referred me to the federal governments site. After researching a bit, I found that they offer same-day emergency life or death passports. I got on the phone and spoke with a deputy and explained the situation. We were planning on staying in San Diego and, fortunately, there was a passport office in San Diego. Not only that, but every appointment slot was open for the next day (Tuesday). I took the 8 am appointment. I was going to need documentation and, fortunately, my uncle is the surgeon that operated on me and was able to provide me with a letter that would ensure my passport. Kim and I packed our bags, jumped in the car, and headed out.
First, we had to get passport photos. The local clerks office struggled, but we eventually got them after half an hour. Then we needed to print stuff off. Our printer ran out of ink (go figure) and so we went to the library and printed things off. Then we hit the road. Another tender mercy? My grandparents were staying at a condo in San Diego. They had an extra bedroom. So we were able to stay with them while we were there and didn't have to get a hotel room. Of all the place for them to be, they were right where we needed them to be.
We had our passport appointment the following morning at 8 am. Everyone at the office was incredibly nice. We were in and out in 10 minutes. Seriously. No issues whatsoever. We had our passports in hand at 2:30 pm that same day.
Up until now, everything had just fallen into place (I put it that way, but we all know God was helping us along the way...). Now came the moment of truth. Kim and I had studied and studied and studied and finally settled on this clinic. We had scrambled like no other to get to SD in time for our appointment and had managed to get a passport in 6 hours. You sort of get that anxious feeling about what's to come the next morning. Is the clinic going to be a joke? Are you going to be taken advantage of? Is this all a scam? I kept coming back to the fact that we'd done our homework and felt good about this place. I'm far from perfect, but I had the faith that God wouldn't desert me in my greatest time of need.
Exhausted, we got out of bed well before 6 am on Wednesday. We drove to San Diego and caught a shuttle from there across the border and to the clinic. I'm sure glad we took the shuttle and didn't try to drive or catch a taxi. Our driver knew what he was doing and knew right where to go.
As soon as we sat in the shuttle, the anxiety melted away. We were surrounded by people in the same boat as us. One lady had stage 3 breast cancer and had been doing the treatment for a year (she found out at the clinic her cancer marker had dropped from 79 to 12, essentially declaring her cancer free. How cool is that?). Everyone other than me had done years of chemo and resorted to this because they'd been written off or were sick of chemo. We wanted to skip all the chemo crap and jump straight to this. We got to the clinic and the answers to my prayers were confirmed. The spirit was just so strong and it was a clinic built on love. I truly felt that way. There were around 14 other patients there, all fighting cancer. All of them basically stage 3 or worse. There was breast, colon, bladder, skin, and lung cancer (that I'm aware of) represented there.
The staff was absolutely incredible. A lady that had been helping run the place for the last five years was there. She lives in Oregon with her family, but she spends a couple weeks a month at the clinic. She's a licensed NP by the way, devoted to this clinic having never worked a day as a nurse in the states because of what she'd seen chemo do to people. She wandered around talking to people, answering questions, and addressing concerns. Her testimony of the ability of the clinic to truly heal people and change lives was powerful. She had been cured of lupus by the clinic and, because of all she'd seen, couldn't walk away from the clinic and had decided to continue helping.
So how did the day go? After some paperwork and visiting, we were all corralled into a back room. We all went through the same process... We peed in a cup, changed into a gown, had blood drawn, then had our vitals checked. I was sent, along with a few others, to get x-rays done. After x-rays, Kim and I waited for our turn with the doctor. We sat down with Dr. Giovana and she spent an hour and a half with us. She asked me questions about every aspect of my health, body, and cancer. She performed a full physical and then sent us on our way. We went to Rocio's cafe and had lunch. It was incredibly good. Like seriously good. We then went back and waited to meet with the doctor again.
While waiting, they had everyone attend a nutrition class. This tonic that they put the cancer patients on is very effective, but it's also neutralized if certain foods are ingested in any amount. I can't have pork, alcohol, vinegar, or tomatoes. At all. And they talked about a generally healthy diet. The amazing thing is...all of our research and all of the changes we'd been making prepared us for this diet. We're ready. I'm ready. I already know how to do this. What a relief! On top of that, I can continue doing my keto diet and stick to what they suggest. Another tender mercy!
After waiting for a little bit, we were called back. The doctor went through all of my lab work, line by line, and explained what it told them and what needed to be done about it. Again, she spent another hour with us going over my results and my course of treatment. She answered all questions and not once did we feel rushed. She saw a total of 4 patients that day. Remarkably different from American medicine.
My lab work results were incredible. My immune system is still functioning very well. In fact, it's doing what it needs to do. I needed some help in a couple of areas (iron mostly), but other than that, she told me to continue doing what I was doing. Another testament to the research we'd been doing. I certainly planned on staying on my keto diet at this point. I believe that has had a significant impact on my overall health. Also, there was no melanin in my urine, which means no cancer in my blood. That's excellent news!
After we met with the doctor the second time, we went to get our supplements and pay the bill (which was much lower than what you'd think for a full day at a clinic, tests, 3 hours with a doctor, and 6 months worth of supplements...). Because my system is functioning so well, they put me on the black tonic. It's basically the super concentrated tonic that's stronger. I was also put on three natural herbal pills. The journey home was interesting. We stopped at an herbal store and two pharmacies in order to get medications for everyone there. We made it back to the U.S. and couldn't have been happier with our experience. Our shuttle driver, Roberto, was quite the comedian. And his driving was, despite questionable, impeccable considering the mayhem down there!
After all the anxiety and anticipation, we really couldn't have been happier with our experience. We genuinely connected with the other patients and felt loved by the staff. We didn't feel like we were being rushed through and just prescribed something (like we were at the oncologist office). Time was taken to truly understand my overall health and set me up for success. God answered my prayers and reassured me of the path I was on.
I'm so grateful for my wife. She is my rock. She has walked side-by-side with me through this whole journey. She has encouraged me to follow my gut, my heart, and my promptings. She has never been difficult or opposed me. In fact, she has encouraged me to go this route. I'm grateful for her unwavering love. I'm also grateful for her testimony of this Gospel. It strengthens mine and helps to carry me through. I'm blessed to have her as my wife.
Oftentimes, we are told when it comes to cancer that it is this awful monster that the medical community just doesn't understand. We're limited in our options and at the mercy of the oncologist and drugs put in us. I promise that's not true. This clinic had 17 clinics in the United States back in the 50's. The clinic in Texas was one of the largest cancer treatment facilities in the world. Dr. Hoxsey treated over 8,000 patients while in the US and cured countless individuals of cancer. I plan on being one of those patients. The only reason they are in Mexico is because the FDA and AMA ran them out of the country. Their profits were jeopardized by his success at curing cancer (which is a multi-billion dollar industry in this country). In fact, any natural treatment route is antagonized by the AMA to an extent. There are stories all over the internet. But you have to look hard. There is hope when it comes to this battle. I know many people don't agree with my choice and think I'm crazy. That's fine. That's their opinion and right. I, however, am grateful to have had a choice and to feel like I'm the one in control of my treatment.
I testify that God lives. He has prepared us for this journey and has lead us to where we are right now. I know that with every fiber of my being. Because my Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ, walked the loneliest path every walked, I will never have to walk alone. I know He lives. I know He walks by me and provides me with the grace, strength, and peace that I need to overcome this trial. The Gospel is true. I encourage and invite all who have yet to find it to start looking now. It's never too late to turn to Him. He is waiting for you and He will help you. I promise and so testify in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
- Ryan
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