Kentucky Woman Takes Charge of Her Care

In September of 2006, Judy Wallace went to the doctor with a self-diagnosis of food poisoning and came home with a professional diagnosis of stage 4 colon cancer. When her doctor gave her six months to live, Judy researched her options and settled on a combination of conventional medicine and an alternative treatment called CAAT Therapy.

Traveling the Conventional Route

According to the Appalachian News-Express, Judy had a colon resection and then gave chemo a try because her doctor said it would probably extend her life for a few months. But after a bad experience (she didn't elaborate on), Judy consulted with doctors at the University of Cincinnati, who suggested a treatment she had never considered. The News-Express says she received "radiation therapy directly to the six tumors in her liver." I assume they're referring to radiofrequency ablation - a relatively new treatment that cooks each tumor individually.

Exploring Alternative Routes

Judy continued exploring her options while receiving conventional treatment. One day, she read about CAAT Therapy, an alternative treatment that controls patients' amino acid intake in an effort to starve the cancer. She did the smart thing and consulted her doctor before trying the therapy, to ensure it wouldn't interfere with her current treatment. She got the green light and has been following the diet ever since. Basically, it encourages really healthy eating that limits the consumption of processed foods. You can learn more about CAAT Therapy at the A.P. John Institute for Cancer Research web site.

• New York Man Opts for Gerson Therapy
• Grandma Fights Rectal Cancer with Taekwondo
• Using Herpes to Fight Metastatic Colon Cancer

_Sources:

1. "Colorectal Cancer: What is Colorectal Cancer?" A.P. John Institute for Cancer Research. Accessed 20 May 2007 [http://www.apjohncancerinstitute.org/cancer/colorectal.htm].
2. Leigh Ann Wells. "Pike Woman 'Relays' Hope with Cancer Survival Story." Appalachian News-Express. 20 May 2007. Accessed 20 May 2007 [http://www.news-expressky.com/articles/2007/05/16/top_story/01relay.txt].

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