Hello all Writing from internet cafe in Germany. Have spent 2 weeks at Klinik St. Georg getting immunotherapy, blood transfusions for anemia, etc. Unfortunately my primary tumor has come back to life. Ive been having local hyperthermia, have had one galvanotherapy, and chemo injected directly into the tumor (no side effects). My spirits are very strong. I know I am in the best of hands, as regards my cancer, and must trust that I am also in the best of hands as regards life in general. I was shocked by the news and had a good cry on the phone with my husband, then I was fine. I have NO FEAR. Decided yesterday to have a dendredic vaccine made. I am very anti-surgery, so this required some discussion with Prof. Douwes, who also feels the surgeon's knife is something to be avoided. The most effective way to make the vaccine is from active tumor material, so we are talking about lumpectomy. They culture the vaccine from the tumor cells and keep billions of cells frozen (hydrogen) for later use. He explained that this would be the most effective specific medicine for me, that my dendredic cells (which fight cancer cells) are weak. He said that it takes 12 days to culture the vaccine, and if I continue the biological treatments during this time, surgery brings with it none of the normal risks of spreading cancer cells through the body. He also tells me his surgeon is Hungarian and has artist's fingers - does beautiful work. The hole left by removing the 3.5 cm lump would be filled with my own fat cells (he wishes I could take some of his :-)) and I should have only a small scar on the side of my breast. He is literally the only doctor on earth I would trust this much, and I'm going to go with his advice. So I'll be here 2 more weeks, online about once in 10 days, probably swamped with work when I finally get home... My friend did indeed shoot her documentary on the Klinik and treatments - filmed galvano, etc. - but it will take a year or so to finish the film and get it out. She made great progress against her tumors here and returns in Aug<-Sept. My friend from Holland with inoperable liver cancer is undergoing treatment involving burning the tumors with a needle which contains a hot filament _ he's a bit sore the next day! Prof. Douwes thinks he can kill 80% of the tumors this time, & Theo will continue to return for more treatments. He was written off by conventional doctors. I was very gratified to learn that a couple came from Hawaii after reading my first letter to Amazon-L about the Klinik, which seems to have been widely circulated. He was written off twice by doctors in Hawaii (lung cancer) and offered only palliative care. He was in bad shape, coughing blood, etc., and went home MUCH IMPROVED! They return in Sept. Been passing empty hours rewriting and editing the English side of the Klinik website. Prof. Douwes plans to add info about various treatments, but the papers must first be translated. The Klinik is woefully understaffed at the moment. Employees seem to burn out after about 3 years on the average, and it's also holiday time in Europe, so some are on vacation. The staff remains somehow patient, kind, and warm, despite being dreadfully overworked. There are some scheduling difficulties due to the fact that the Klinik secretary has left, but I have not found these to be a serious problem. However, I've been dismayed to overhear constant complaints from some of the American patients. We are the most spoiled and pampered consumers on earth, and I think some people come expecting to be waited on hand and foot. Care is very pro-active here and patients must see to many of their own needs and scheduling, which some find disconcerting. I also feel that some people bring so much negative energy wherever they go, that this somehow comes back to them in the form of constant difficulties! I do understand that people arrive frightened and panicky, but some are so vocal in their demands and complaints that I sometimes find it embarrassing to be an American. You cannot tell people they should be peaceful and positive, or understanding of some of the problems of an already overstressed staff, because their ears are closed. I do try to counterbalance specific complaints (why can't the physiotherapist come in a half hour early to give me a colonic if he's booked up? He's already coming in early, staying late, working through lunch, didn't have time for a sip of water in the first 5 hours yesterday...). I try to give the patients a boost when I can, and especially to make the staff smile, so I go around joking. They have enough problems without patients being so aggressive. It's only a few people who do this, but they seem to egg each other on, and it can be oppressive being stuck in the infusion room listening to them for an hour or so. I imagine that no matter how well they are treated and in spite of good progress against their tumors, they will go home complaining about the Klinik to anyone who will listen. On the other hand, it is a joy to talk with patients who have been here before and made such wonderful progress against their illness. One woman I met in March was at death's door - heart, lung, etc. - and now there is no trace of cancer. Another had breast cancer metastisized to heart, lungs, bones. All that's left at the end of her 2nd visit is a little cancer in the lungs. She'll return in 3 months for more treatment. Another with breast cancer mets to bones has had all her cancer reversed, can walk around town without pain. They do miraculous things here. One ironic piece of bad news. Our Dutch insurance said in January they'd pay all but my travel. We're borrowed to the hilt already. My husband received a letter from them on Tues. saying they won't pay ANYTHING! Even for my hospital testing in the USA they've paid only about 25% so far. However, my Dutch friend's insurance has decided to pay his treatments, but not room or travel. I think he can fight for the room - it's a hospital room, after all - and this precedent should aid us in our own insurance battle. I can't worry about it too much right now - I think it will work out, but wish we could avoid the stress of battling a conglomerate as well as cancer... Must run catch a train, will report back when I can. Much love and light to you all, Liz Meyer at Klinik St. Georg Bad Aibling, Germany Remember we are NOT Doctors and have NO medical training. This site is like an Encylopedia - there are many pages, many links on many topics. 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