Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma, stem cell transplant, Gerson Therapy

I was diagnosed with Stage III Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma in July 2008. After I became aware of it, I could feel the tumors in my stomach. It was pushing against my aorta. I was very fortunate to have had a kind of Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma that was curable. This is my third year cancer free. Right now I am working on improving the ratio of red and white blood cells and platelets in my blood as these are not yet normal in numbers

Initially when I was diagnosed, I worked with my naturopathic doctor and tried some alternative cancer therapies. I did Vitamin C IV therapy as well as a very expensive treatment from El Salvador called, Bryomixol. My naturopathic doctor was very against chemotherapy and he made me extremely afraid of it. My oncologist on the other hand was very kind about the fact that I wanted to try alternative therapies and she gave me a window of time for trying alternatives. It was the unknown for me. I didn’t know anyone who was sick or who have had cancer. I was terribly conflicted over whether I should do chemotherapy or just stay with the alternative treatments.

In the end eventually I did start some chemotherapy and then while on a family trip in between treatments to Hawaii, I heard about Dr. Baylac and started communicating with her. I decided to stay in Hawaii and did not go back home to finish my chemotherapy. I stayed at the retreat with Dr. Baylac for ten days, because that was all I could afford and followed the Gerson Therapy program. After the ten days, they helped me to find an apartment and I moved to an apartment and continued to do the Gerson Therapy as good as I could by myself. I chose to stay in Hawaii to continue the Gerson Therapy by myself because I was afraid of the chemo that was waiting for me back home.

Dr. Baylac was someone who had taught me not to be afraid. I think that is the key thing I learned from her and I am very grateful to her for it.

I enjoyed the Gerson Therapy. I was satisfied with it. I didn’t feel like I needed any additional food outside of what the diet required. I did breathwork a couple of times and I really enjoyed that. And there were group sessions that were part of staying at the retreat and it made it a positive and friendly environment and I think that the people who were there really genuinely cared to help each other. It wasn’t a bunch of strangers, it became personal.
When I followed the Gerson Therapy on my own I worked really hard on the juices and soups and I think after I came back from Hawaii, I did that all the way through until I had my stem cell transplant. So, yes I did return home and continued with chemotherapy and eventual stem cell transplant. When I returned home I had another CT scan and the lymphoma had turned up in another area. If I had known then what I know now, I would have returned home immediately continued the conventional treatment and then afterwards had gone for the Gerson Therapy. I don’t know if I had taken my whole course of chemo before, if I would have remained in remission or not.

I followed the Gerson Therapy for at least for six months before I went for my stem cell transplant. I went into it very healthy. I feel that it is very possible that the Gerson diet had given me a good base for what was to come. The doctor was very upfront and he said that 6/10 people die from stem cell transplants. He was very excited about how I reacted to the chemo and how well the chemo responded to me, I guess, and that he is pretty sure that I am cured and we just had to find that out over time.
I am still following the Gerson diet in my own way. I don’t do the juices now, it is too expensive but I did it all the way until I had my stem cell transplant. I think learning how to keep the ph of the body neutral and learning which foods are too acidic is important. I also eliminated stress and stopped working. If I remember correctly I think Dr. Baylac had shared with me that in her experience most of the cancer patients she had treated were grieving or very unhappy, and I was and I just didn’t know how much.

Jane Whitmore
8 May 2012

Jane stayed at the retreat and followed the Gerson program in December 2008.