This is some of what I have done or am doing now to help fight my cancer. Remember I AM NOT A DOCTOR
Extreme Health Radio Interview with Ann Fonfa– Opens to a new page
Interview with Ann Fonfa June 2011– Opens to a new page Interview with Joni Aldrich– Opens to a new page Natural Cancer Therapies with Ann Fonfa – Battling Bertha (Podcast Episode 26) Ann E. Fonfa’s Curriculum Vitae |
9/2015 I am continuing to travel to many conferences and events most of the year. Annie Appleseed Project will host our 10th annual Evidence-based Complementary & Alternative Therapies conference in West Palm Beach, FL February 25-27, 2016. We are working with many Advocacy groups around the US and some abroad to bring the up-to-date information on natural cancer strategies. We are an All-Volunteer nonprofit.
4/2011 I have no signs of cancer and have remained cancer-free since I started using Chinese herbs prescribed for me by Dr. George Wong, PhD. I travel a lot to represent The Annie Appleseed Project at meetings and events. I am now 63 and was diagnosed at 44. I serve on a variety of panels and committees. I review grants for various organizations.
11/2010 Ann began to have some back pain in June 2010 prior to her trip to Japan. At the same time a friend developed bone mets and Ann began to worry. Not something she often does (or admits to).
4/2011 I have no signs of cancer and have remained cancer-free since I started using Chinese herbs prescribed for me by Dr. George Wong, PhD. I travel a lot to represent The Annie Appleseed Project at meetings and events. I am now 63 and was diagnosed at 44. I serve on a variety of panels and committees. I review grants for various organizations. As soon as our NEW WEBSITE (yes we really will have one someday) goes online, I’ll post my CV.
11/2010 Ann began to have some back pain in June 2010 prior to her trip to Japan. At the same time a friend developed bone mets and Ann began to worry. Not something she often does (of admits to). So in August she had a bone scan. The only other bone scan was done on July 1995. Being an active patient she asked for the CD, took it home and looked it over. It seemed like everything was lit up. So it was with great interest that she reviewed the report the next day which stated they found ABSOLUTELY NO EVIDENCE of DISEASE! So Ann is still going fine (although her back continues to bother her somewhat even now). Free of cancer with a diagnosis of NDD – No Discernible Disease since September 2011. Ann uses her energy to help others and believes that this helps her to be well.
UPDATE 6/10 Back to much shorter hair but planning to let it grow for two months. No cancer signs in years!
9/07 Ann’s first full paper is published: Patient perspectives: barriers to complementary and alternative medicine therapies create problems for patients and survivors. Integr Cancer Thera. 2007 Sep;6(3):297-300.
12/03 To hear and see Ann speaking on the Lance Armstrong Foundation ‘Live Strong’ site, go here. Ann was interviewed along with other cancer survivors at the Center for Disease Control (CDC) meeting on Cancer in 9/03.
8/17/03 At a recent conference, Cancer on the Internet, sponsored by the European School of Oncology, we heard that visitors like to see a photo of the creator of a website. So here is Ann Fonfa’s picture from September 2003. She has finally (after nine years of very short hair) grown it in. Now it is wavy and wild, she calls herself ‘Fluffy’.
Ann was diagnosed with invasive lobular carcinoma of the left breast after she found a lump in January 1993, using Breast Self Exam (BSE*).
She had a lumpectomy and was given an axillary node dissection without her “INFORMED” consent. She was Stage 1 at that time.
She refused radiation due to reading papers that indicated NO survival advantage. See Richard A. Evans, MD’s website (www.texascancercenter.com).
She was (and is) chemically sensitive and was afraid to do chemotherapy. Her readings indicated that as a Stage 1 with slow growing (S phase of 3.5%) cancer it was unlikely she would benefit from this treatment.
She joined a support group in NYC at SHARE (2/93). (212)719-0364 www.sharecancersupport.org Women in the newly diagnosed group asked what she planned to do and when she mentioned alternative therapies a study group began.
This study group has met monthly since early 1994. Speakers are invited and topics of interest to the community of people with cancer are discussed. Many of the early reports of The Annie Appleseed Project grew out of this.
In 1995, Ann had the first of a series of local recurrences. The small tumor .6 cm, she felt had a second beneath that showed up during the surgical biopsy (lumpectomy). She began intensive use of metabolic therapy. A few short months later more tumors developed – 6 – all around the nipple of the left breast.
At that point, when the biopsy proved to be malignant, she had a mastectomy. Less than a year later, the right breast developed Paget’s Disease of the Nipple. This usually indicates a malignant tumor but none was found. Thus the diagnosis was Stage 0, but Ann had already undergone a mastectomy.
She went to Mexico to a clinic that offered the Gerson Therapy (see Cancer Clinics for the complete story).
Finally Ann began developing a series of tiny tumors on the chest wall left side. These continued to develop despite many efforts. The Chinese herb protocol was what finally stopped this. See the story in this section.
Ann is NOT a doctor and has NO MEDICAL TRAINING. She is a patient like you. She chose to become an advocate and an activist. You can do it too. Make your life count. Stand up and be counted. Ask for studies immediately to explore the entire world of possibilities known as complementary and alternative medicine.
Ann attends many scientific and medical meetings around the U.S. and sometimes in other countries. She speaks out/up from the patient perspective. This is a voice that needs to be heard. There are some very powerful advocates in the patient community. Some of them have contributed reports to The Project.
Sometimes she is asked to be a speaker and will tell the audience how much patients need access to options. She speaks for and to patients, health care providers and government officials. Ann also speaks about her personal choices, as well as how and why she came to make them. See pages on protocols. She submits abstracts on issues designed to raise awareness in the medical, scientific/research communities.
Ann was a member of the National Action Plan on Breast Cancer, Etiology Working Group, which was a public/private (government/advocate) group formed by President Clinton to work on issues. She was chosen as one of MAMM Magazine’s “50 Who Make A Difference. In February 1999, she was honored by the National Organization for Women with the Susan B. Anthony Award.
Ann’s story has been told in “Women Confront Cancer” edited by Margaret J. Wooddell and David J. Hess. A front-page article in “Natural Healing & Alternative Medicine”, a newsletter also discussed her experiences. (Edited and published by Mike McGrath of Rodale Press), and most recently her story appeared (p.76) in “I Beat Cancer, 50 People Tell You How They Did It” (Awareness Publishing). Two newer articles are on this site – see the front page for more information.
Ann was invited to sit on an Education Advisory Board for the National Foundation for Alternative Medicine (2002) www.nfam.org and is a recent (2004) member of the US Cochrane Consumer Coalition (CUE), serving on the newly formed Behavioral Advisory Board (2007) and Adverse Events Group (2006). She is now the advocate representative for Fox Chase Cancer Center on the Breast Cancer and Environmental Research (NIEHS-sponsored) program. Ann serves as the Legislative Chair for the Florida Breast Cancer Coalition Research Foundation (2006). In 2007 she was invited to be part of the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Lesbian, Gay,Bisexual,and Transgender National Advisory Council. And in 2007 Ann became the Florida Field Coordinator for the National Breast Cancer Coalition. In September 2007, Ann had a paper published in the Journal of Integrative Cancer Therapies (Sage Publishing).
* Breast Self Exam: perfomed monthly in the week after your menses or at a chosen date if you are postmenopausal. Men get breast cancer too. Between 1400-1800 are diagnosed annually.
Please Find Latest Results Below this Summary
Thank you to all the groups, organizations and individuals who saw the value of my and Annie Appleseed Project’s work to provide information, education and Advocacy around natural cancer strategies
4/2011 I have no signs of cancer and have remained cancer-free since I started using Chinese herbs prescribed for me by Dr. George Wong, PhD. I travel a lot to represent The Annie Appleseed Project at meetings and events. I am now 63 and was diagnosed at 44. I serve on a variety of panels and committees. I review grants for various organizations.
11/2010 Ann began to have some back pain in June 2010 prior to her trip to Japan. At the same time a friend developed bone mets and Ann began to worry. Not something she often does (or admits to).
4/2011 I have no signs of cancer and have remained cancer-free since I started using Chinese herbs prescribed for me by Dr. George Wong, PhD. I travel a lot to represent The Annie Appleseed Project at meetings and events. I am now 63 and was diagnosed at 44. I serve on a variety of panels and committees. I review grants for various organizations. As soon as our NEW WEBSITE (yes we really will have one someday) goes online, I’ll post my CV.
11/2010 Ann began to have some back pain in June 2010 prior to her trip to Japan. At the same time a friend developed bone mets and Ann began to worry. Not something she often does (of admits to). So in August she had a bone scan. The only other bone scan was done on July 1995. Being an active patient she asked for the CD, took it home and looked it over. It seemed like everything was lit up. So it was with great interest that she reviewed the report the next day which stated they found ABSOLUTELY NO EVIDENCE of DISEASE! So Ann is still going fine (although her back continues to bother her somewhat even now). Free of cancer with a diagnosis of NDD – No Discernible Disease since September 2011. Ann uses her energy to help others and believes that this helps her to be well.
UPDATE 6/10 Back to much shorter hair but planning to let it grow for two months. No cancer signs in years!
9/07 Ann’s first full paper is published: Patient perspectives: barriers to complementary and alternative medicine therapies create problems for patients and survivors. Integr Cancer Thera. 2007 Sep;6(3):297-300.
12/03 To hear and see Ann speaking on the Lance Armstrong Foundation ‘Live Strong’ site, go here. Ann was interviewed along with other cancer survivors at the Center for Disease Control (CDC) meeting on Cancer in 9/03.
8/17/03 At a recent conference, Cancer on the Internet, sponsored by the European School of Oncology, we heard that visitors like to see a photo of the creator of a website. So here is Ann Fonfa’s picture from September 2003. She has finally (after nine years of very short hair) grown it in. Now it is wavy and wild, she calls herself ‘Fluffy’.
Ann was diagnosed with invasive lobular carcinoma of the left breast after she found a lump in January 1993, using Breast Self Exam (BSE*).
She had a lumpectomy and was given an axillary node dissection without her “INFORMED” consent. She was Stage 1 at that time.
She refused radiation due to reading papers that indicated NO survival advantage. See Richard A. Evans, MD’s website (www.texascancercenter.com).
She was (and is) chemically sensitive and was afraid to do chemotherapy. Her readings indicated that as a Stage 1 with slow growing (S phase of 3.5%) cancer it was unlikely she would benefit from this treatment.
She joined a support group in NYC at SHARE (2/93). (212)719-0364 www.sharecancersupport.org Women in the newly diagnosed group asked what she planned to do and when she mentioned alternative therapies a study group began.
This study group has met monthly since early 1994. Speakers are invited and topics of interest to the community of people with cancer are discussed. Many of the early reports of The Annie Appleseed Project grew out of this.
In 1995, Ann had the first of a series of local recurrences. The small tumor .6 cm, she felt had a second beneath that showed up during the surgical biopsy (lumpectomy). She began intensive use of metabolic therapy. A few short months later more tumors developed – 6 – all around the nipple of the left breast.
At that point, when the biopsy proved to be malignant, she had a mastectomy. Less than a year later, the right breast developed Paget’s Disease of the Nipple. This usually indicates a malignant tumor but none was found. Thus the diagnosis was Stage 0, but Ann had already undergone a mastectomy.
She went to Mexico to a clinic that offered the Gerson Therapy (see Cancer Clinics for the complete story).
Finally Ann began developing a series of tiny tumors on the chest wall left side. These continued to develop despite many efforts. The Chinese herb protocol was what finally stopped this. See the story in this section.
Ann is NOT a doctor and has NO MEDICAL TRAINING. She is a patient like you. She chose to become an advocate and an activist. You can do it too. Make your life count. Stand up and be counted. Ask for studies immediately to explore the entire world of possibilities known as complementary and alternative medicine.
Ann attends many scientific and medical meetings around the U.S. and sometimes in other countries. She speaks out/up from the patient perspective. This is a voice that needs to be heard. There are some very powerful advocates in the patient community. Some of them have contributed reports to The Project.
Sometimes she is asked to be a speaker and will tell the audience how much patients need access to options. She speaks for and to patients, health care providers and government officials. Ann also speaks about her personal choices, as well as how and why she came to make them. See pages on protocols. She submits abstracts on issues designed to raise awareness in the medical, scientific/research communities.
Ann was a member of the National Action Plan on Breast Cancer, Etiology Working Group, which was a public/private (government/advocate) group formed by President Clinton to work on issues. She was chosen as one of MAMM Magazine’s “50 Who Make A Difference. In February 1999, she was honored by the National Organization for Women with the Susan B. Anthony Award.
Ann’s story has been told in “Women Confront Cancer” edited by Margaret J. Wooddell and David J. Hess. A front-page article in “Natural Healing & Alternative Medicine”, a newsletter also discussed her experiences. (Edited and published by Mike McGrath of Rodale Press), and most recently her story appeared (p.76) in “I Beat Cancer, 50 People Tell You How They Did It” (Awareness Publishing). Two newer articles are on this site – see the front page for more information.
Ann was invited to sit on an Education Advisory Board for the National Foundation for Alternative Medicine (2002) www.nfam.org and is a recent (2004) member of the US Cochrane Consumer Coalition (CUE), serving on the newly formed Behavioral Advisory Board (2007) and Adverse Events Group (2006). She is now the advocate representative for Fox Chase Cancer Center on the Breast Cancer and Environmental Research (NIEHS-sponsored) program. Ann serves as the Legislative Chair for the Florida Breast Cancer Coalition Research Foundation (2006). In 2007 she was invited to be part of the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Lesbian, Gay,Bisexual,and Transgender National Advisory Council. And in 2007 Ann became the Florida Field Coordinator for the National Breast Cancer Coalition. In September 2007, Ann had a paper published in the Journal of Integrative Cancer Therapies (Sage Publishing).
* Breast Self Exam: perfomed monthly in the week after your menses or at a chosen date if you are postmenopausal. Men get breast cancer too. Between 1400-1800 are diagnosed annually.
Please Find Latest Results Below this Summary
Thank you to all the groups, organizations and individuals who saw the value of my and Annie Appleseed Project’s work to provide information, education and Advocacy around natural cancer strategies
- Protocol 1999 – 2001 - Latest update May 2001 (first written 8/99)
- Article on Personal Success - April 1999
- Current Protocol – Last Posting 10/06 - Cancer-FREE since September, 2001 with MRI confirmation
- I’m a Breast Cancer Activist, by Ann Fonfa - Written in 1999 just after setting up this website
- Interview with Ann Fonfa, founder Annie Appleseed Project - Whole Life Times, July 2005
- Ann Fonfa responds to “When Doctors are Patients…” - Letter to Medscape, July 2008
- New Unexpectedly Good Results - Reduction of tiny chest wall tumors and an end to constipation 10/00/UPDATE 3/01
- CONFIRMED – Cancer Free - 9/04/01 MRI shows the absence of cancer
- New Cancer Drug Approved, But Does It Prolong Life? - Comment to Gooznews.com by Ann Fonfa December 2005
- Add to Your Knowledge by Ann Fonfa MedPageToday - MedPageToday.com, June 2008
- New Unexpectedly Good Results - Reduction of tiny chest wall tumors and an end to constipation 10/00/UPDATE 3/01
- Louise O’Connor Cancer Special Report - February 2011 – NaturalHealth (Australia) article – Opens as a separate PDF
- Ann Fonfa, founder, interviewed in American Assoc for Retired Persons April 1 Bulletin - April 1, 2010 AARP Bulletin – opens as a separate PDF
- NEW ARTICLE about us: Life Extension Magazine - February 2010 Will Open as a Separate PDF
- Our Health Messaged Postcards - This opens as a separate page. If you would like to distribute our cards in your community, simply email us and we can send them to you.
- forhealthfreedom.org (1998)
- NY Times: After Cancer A New Self (1998) – Ann Fonfa did NOT take chemotherapy, apparently the author of this NY Times story just could not conceive of that when she wrote up the story from her notes. Ann went to her office to complain, but of course, nothing could change this story.
- Interview by Chris Wark
- faim.org
- An Interview With Ann Fonfa on NutraceuticalsWorld
- breasthealthproject.com
- greenmedinfo.com Blog article on Lymph node surgery
- encore.org
- cisncancer.org Articles Ann wrote for this site
- cisncancer.org Articles Ann wrote for this site
- ourhealthcoop.com
- Boosting This Could Help You Ward Off Cancer
- Alternative Medicine Options For Mesothelioma Patients
- livestrong.org
- Appleseed Method Fight Cancer
- Kicking Cancer To The Curb Naturally (This one has an audio component)
- lifeextension.com
- huffingtonpost.com
- Breast Cancer Treatments
- empoweradio.com AUDIO
- Radical Cancer Remission
- Dr. Ann Curtis Interviews Ann Fonfa
- medscape.com
- Ann Fonfa Talks About Mind Body Connections At SHARE
- momgeek.com AUDIO
- Interview with Reclaiming Intimacy
- UK Health Radio Interview
- Interview by Andrea Davis
- Interview by Indian site on Integrative Oncology