My Cancer Tale  by Brad Hutchins 

I think the first time I noticed any problem was early October 1994 just before our trip to California. I was going to the bathroom many times a day and very little stool would come, but it felt like I had to go. A few times I also noticed some blood, but I felt that was probably my hemorrhoids acting up. Nevertheless, I didn’t want to consult a doctor and screw up our California trip. I could always look into the problem after our trip.

Things didn’t change much over the next few months. My same bowel habits continued. I felt the need to go at least 8 times a day, but still I didn’t consult a doctor. Then I went on another trip to Vale, Colorado with my brother-in-law and a friend late in January. My constant acid indigestion was worse than normal and it was so bad at night it would kick off my asthma. My bowel stool also seemed to have more blood than before.

On returning from the trip, my wife and I went out one night for a quiet dinner. I finally had the nerve to tell her about my change in bowel habits and my increased indigestion. She was upset I waited so long to tell her. The next day she contacted our doctor and discussed my symptoms with him. He referred us to the head of gastroenterology at the Newton-Wellesley Hospital (NWH). My wife called and made an appointment with him ASAP. Diary of times for doctor consultations, medical tests, treatments, and comments.

2-15-95 Dr. R. Curtis, Gastroenterologist, NWH, first consultation. He did a quick exam and asked me many questions about my health and current condition. I told him about my frequent indigestion problems I’ve had for years, about my mild asthma, and my recent bowel habit changes. The doctor prescribed Zantac for my indigestion and he suggested a Colonoscopy be done. This test would find any problems in the colon or intestinal tract.

3-10-95 Dr. R. Curtis, Colonoscopy/Biopsies done at Newton-Wellesley Hospital.

3-15-95 Dr. R. Curtis, Meeting to discuss results of Colonoscopy/Biopsies. He informed my wife and me I had rectal/colon cancer, plus mild colitis, and possible Crohn’s disease. He indicated I needed to do something real quick. He felt since the tumor was so close to the rectum I would need to have a colostomy done. Good news was that if the tumor was removed I would have a good chance for a cure. Forget about the colitis or Crohn’s disease for now the cancer needed immediate attention. He set up a CT Scan and made an appointment with Dr. M. Kahan.

3-15-95 Dr. M. Kahan, Surgeon, NWH, saw me right away and did an exam of my colon right in his office, using his finger plus a proctosigmoidoscopy. Also recommended the only way for a cure was to remove the rectum and have a full colostomy. No question in his mind. I asked for some guidance and he suggested I also see an Oncologist. He had his secretary make an appointment with Dr. T. O’Connor, Oncologist.

3-15-95 Dr. W. Holgerson, NWH, my family doctor, saw me right away. I needed to talk to him about my condition. He seemed in agreement with what the other doctors said. He also reassured me  I was in very capable hands.

Not a good day for me and my family. I’ll remember that day forever. Why me, why now, what did I do to deserve cancer???

3-17-95 Dr. T. O’Connor, Oncologist, NWH, did an exam on me in his office, only using his finger in my rectum. He stated that I should start radiation therapy and chemotherapy immediately. Surgery should wait until the tumor could shrink to a smaller size. Only sure way to cure this cancer would be through the use of radiation, chemotherapy, and surgery. The surgery would require an irreversible colostomy, "but don’t worry they are very easy to get adjusted to." He was very sure of himself and how to handle my cancer. Again I was told that a colostomy would be necessary to insure a cure. Radiation and chemo wouldn’t do it all. He suggested we schedule some other tests and that I meet with the radiology people in Framingham, MA. I said OK, but was still confused and stressed out about all that was told to me in the last few days. It seemed like I was in the middle of a race. A very important race.

I wasn’t hearing what I wanted to hear!!! I was disappointed, confused, afraid, and apprehensive. Was I seeing the right doctors; going to a good hospital; were there any other alternatives for my treatment or cure??? All of the doctors said no, definitely not. This is 1995 and this is the way we treat rectal cancer.... . Our way is the only proven way. The only option was the order of treatment; surgery first or chemotherapy/radiation first. With surgery first I may be able to avoid the others but probably not.

At this point we had questions about other possibilities. My wife put me on a better diet; low fat, no red meats, and no more drinking. We went to Bread & Circus Markets to buy better foods. She remembered a story told to us by a fellow two summers ago while we had a summer rental unit at his home in Gloucester. One day while we were having cocktails on the deck he joined us. Somehow the discussion turned to health and eating. He told us about himself having an inoperable cancerous tumor on the brain, back in 1986. He went to the best doctors he could find and the best hospital which he felt was the Mass General Hospital (MGH). They treated him but could not help. He was sent home to get his affairs in order. The doctors said he had very little time to live. They couldn’t operate and chemo and radiation didn’t help. Someone mentioned macrobiotics and the Kushi Institute to him. Like he said he had no hope so he was more than willing to try the macrobiotic approach. Six months later he went back to the MGH for a checkup. The brain tumor was gone. No further sign of cancer in his body. Wow!!! Could this macrobiotic diet help me???

We went to the local health food store and purchased a book on macrobiotics and asked if they had any other suggestions. They recommended Essiac Tea, which we bought plus the book about its history and cures. We also purchased another book about natural healing by using diet, vitamins, and herbs. My wife also tried to contact the fellow that told us about the diet but we had no luck. My wife also wanted me to go to another doctor who specialized in colon surgery and wanted me at the MGH. My sister had been a nurse for 25 years and the doctor she worked for said he’d find me the best doctor he could at the Mass General Hospital. He recommended Dr. P. Shellito who specialized in colon and rectal surgery and post operative care.

I started taking Essiac Tea and other Vitamins, A, C & E, and also started reading other alternative cancer cure books. I was determined not to lose my rectum!!!

3-20-95 CT Scan at the Newton-Wellesley Hospital. I took the test and drank all that awful liquid, but at least the test indicated no spread of the cancer to other areas of my body. Yeah!

3-23-95 Dr. P. Shellito, Surgeon, MGH first consultation with him. He did a complete exam on me at his office. He used a proctosigmoidoscopy for checking my intestinal tract. He viewed the tumor and took many biopsies and later had me get blood tests done. He had a MGH radiologist look over the CT Scan that I brought with me. He discussed what he felt at the first look without the test results. Saying it looked like I would definitely need a colostomy since the tumor was so close to the rectum and the sphincter muscle. We discussed the options for surgery and the next step. He said we’d talk again when the lab finished the biopsies. The doctor called back a few days later to confirm that the biopsies of the tumor showed cancer. We discussed what the Oncologist said about having chemo & radiation before the surgery. He suggested I have an Ultra Sound Test done to determine if the tumor had invaded the rectal wall. After the test results returned we could make a better decision on how to proceed.

While talking to my daughter I mentioned I might try the macrobiotic diet. I explained to her what I knew about it. She remembered something about a fellow worker’s husband who had cancer and went on this diet. She got me their phone number and I called right away. This gentlemen was happy to tell me his tale and help me out in any way he could. He was diagnosed with prostate cancer two years ago. He and his wife looked at all his alternatives and decided to try the macrobiotic diet. Four months later his blood test showed that he was cancer free!! Since then I’ve met him for dinner and we’ve spoken many times on the phone. He has been a real inspiration. The macrobiotic book I was reading had all kinds of miraculous testimonies of recoveries and cures but actually meeting people who have been cured is really impressive. He started at the Kushi Institute and did not go through any western medical treatment for his cancer, just diet, exercise, and faith.

3-31-95 Ultra Sound Test done at MGH. Very painful and uncomfortable. The doctor giving the test screwed up the first time so I had to go through it again. I almost got off the table and left the hospital.

4-3-95 Kushi Institute Becket, MA, consultation regarding the use of the macrobiotic diet. As usual my wife and I went together; she was always there for me. I first filled out all kinds of paper work regarding my health history, my families health history, my dietary habits, and any other physical or emotional problems. I signed a release that my visit was for educational purposes and not for medical advice. Then we had lunch at the institute dining room. This gave us a chance to try many of the different foods that we would be eating. We were not impressed. After we met with an institute counselor; C. Millman and his scribe Jeremy, we discussed my reasons for being there. I did not want a colostomy and I wanted my cancer to be gone. He asked what I knew about the diet. I told him of the two people I’d met that cured themselves of cancer by using the diet and also of the one book I just finished reading by Michio Kushi. He then started his examination of me. Unlike the usual checking of blood pressure, listening to the heart beat and feeling my abdominal region, Mr. Millman looked into my eyes, looked long and hard at my hands and feet, felt up and down my back and studied the different coloration on the insides of my arms, hands and feet. He had a way about him that made us feel relaxed and comfortable. As he read my body he explained what he saw. Wow, what a difference between this eastern approach and our western medicine.

He explained the diet and the facts about eating whole organic foods as opposed to eating the processed foods that we Americans are accustomed too. He talked about balancing yin and yan foods. He then said how important it was to be in balance and harmony with nature. His case for using the macrobiotic approach made a lot of sense.

We had a long consultation in which he also read Virginia’s body signs’. At that point it was getting late so we decided to stay for supper. Another strange meal! Afterward we shopped in their store and bought all the basics to get started on the diet. We were excited and anxious as we faced the long ride home from Becket that night. We had plenty to think about. How to learn to cook all this stuff? Could grains, beans, vegetables and seaweed really cure cancer? Well, we decided to give it a try. Starting this day we would now be eating a strict macrobiotic diet designed by Charles Millman, our new counselor and coach. We couldn’t believe what we had just done and committed to. We had a book as a guide plus the names of a few local macrobiotics cooks that may be willing to give Virginia some cooking lessons at our home. Finally at 10:30PM we arrived home. What a long day.

4-3-95 Dr. Shellito left a message on our phone machine that the Ultra Sound Test results were in.

4-4-95 I called the doctor back to discuss the results. Indications were that the tumor had invaded the rectal wall and that it would probably be more prudent to have radiation & chemo before the surgery. Didn’t sound like good news but I was rather pleased since this would give my diet and other alternatives time to work before they cut me up. I did not want a colostomy. He asked me to call Dr. Willet, Radiologist ASAP for an appointment. He had already consulted with Dr. Willet about my case.

4-5-95 Dr. C Willet, Radiologist, MGH. He had all the information from both Dr. Curtis and Dr. Shellito, plus I also brought my CT Scan X-Ray. The doctor did an exam. He felt the tumor with his finger. He told me how serious my condition was, but at least this was a treatable form of cancer. Unfortunately he also stated that a colostomy looked unavoidable. He indicated how important it was to proceed immediately. I talked with him about my macrobiotic diet plus the Essiac Tea, and vitamins I was taking. He wasn’t interested. He said what hasn’t been a proven treatment doesn’t work. He also said that in no way could my body repair itself. I needed to be realistic and get started with medical treatment immediately. It was my only chance for a cure. He spoke of the horrors of cancer. ...Tough, straight forward man, whom I later nicknamed Rolf, after my thoughts of a German SS Officer. The doctor than setup an appointment for me with Dr. D. Kaufman, Oncologist. Dr. Willet ask me to call him back after seeing doctor Dr. Kaufman in order to get the treatments going ASAP. He indicated that a delay would only make matters worse. I told him I needed a couple of days.

4-7-95 Dr. D. Kaufman, Oncologist, MGH. He had talked to Willet about my case. Again another exam and finger up my rectum. Yup, tumor too close to rectum to save rectum. We discussed the chemotherapy treatments he recommended and how they would help the radiation treatments work more effectively. I told him about the horror stories I’ve heard about chemo and it’s side effects. I told him I wasn’t sure I wanted it. Then he asked me if I wanted to live. What do you say to that??

Later that day after discussion with Virginia we decide to proceed with the radiation and chemotherapy treatments. At least this gave me time to see if the alternative stuff we were trying could help. The macrobiotic counselor also said a few times that I need to go along with what the doctors recommend. I called back Dr. Willet and told him I was ready to start. He said he would set up my schedule for the initial X-Rays and markings of my posterior. He would also coordinate the chemotherapy treatments with Dr. Kaufman.

My radiation treatments would be for 5 and a half weeks. Five days a week with weekends off. I would receive chemotherapy shots for the first five days of radiation and the last five days of radiation. The doctor wanted me to have a chemotherapy pump attached for the full time of treatment. At the last moment I backed down from that and decided to have the chemo shots instead.

4-12-95 Started radiation and chemo treatments. The drive into the hospital took about 50 minutes and the treatments only took about 25 minutes. Each day I started with radiation, which I would lie face down on a large machine, drop my trousers, then the radiation techs would align my rear with the markings they made the prior week. They would do this for each of the four daily radiation doses given. I had to stay perfectly still, while they left the room. The door would shut then I heard the low level buzz of the radiation. Each dose was about 15 seconds long. Then they would realign me and move the machine around my body. The wait in the waiting room was longer then the treatment time. After that I would go up to the second floor for my chemo treatments. Again another wait that took longer then the treatment itself. A nurse would take a large needle and inject chemo(5FU) into my arm. It wasn’t too hard to handle and would only take a few minutes to administer.

The radiation at first only felt like a slight sunburn on my rear. I was told it doesn’t usually bother people until after two week of treatments. My rear started to get sore after about six treatments. A continuous burning sensation. My body started to get tired easily. In the waiting room I noticed how tired everybody seemed. It was now becoming a real chore when I had a bowel movement. My rear-end started feeling like raw meat. After three days of chemo I started loosing my appetite. Nausea became a problem. I didn’t feel like eating. I dreaded the dinner call from my wife. The nurse started giving me anti nausea pills but they weren’t very effective. As I feared these treatments were awful. After two weeks of treatments I was only able to work two or three hours a day and a few days I couldn’t go in at all.

I was extremely happy with my partner Curt and the office staff, Jan, Laurie and Loretta. They didn’t let any of the daily problems ever reach me. They understood the effects of the treatments and wanted me to get well. They kept telling me to go home and don’t worry the office will be fine. With their extra effort it was. I can’t thank them enough for all they did in my absence.

I would meet with the Dr. Willet each week for a talk and I’d have my blood checked generally twice a week to see that the red and white cell count stayed above certain levels. Only near the end of my treatments did I need a few days off for my blood levels to rebound enough to continue the treatments. During this treatment period I kept up my macrobiotic diet the best I could. I also took my vitamins and Essiac Tea and the other stuff I mentioned in my alternative treatments.

5-24-95 My last radiation and chemotherapy treatment. Bravo, I made it through.

6-12-95 Appointment with Dr. Shellito for the first look at my tumor after treatments. He said it looked good. The tumor had a crater in the middle and had shrunk somewhat. He was pleased with results. He wanted to schedule the surgery, stating that the best time was 4 to 6 weeks after the radiation and chemotherapy treatments ended, since the treatments would keep working during this period. I asked a lot of questions about the timing of the operation. I was trying to buy more time for the macrobiotic diet to work. My macrobiotic diet counselor felt I needed at least 4 months to rid myself of the tumor. I asked the doctor for at least 6 more weeks before we scheduled surgery. He felt I was pushing the safe envelope but we arrived at a compromise. We decided to look at the tumor again on July 3 to check the progress and the final look on July 27. He scheduled the surgery for August 8.

July 3 was the time that the treatments should no longer be working. I felt that by having the tumor looked at I could then gauge the size and if it showed a significant change from this date until July 27 I would postpone the surgery. This would give my alternative treatments more time to work.

6-12-95 Met with Dr. Willet for his first evaluation after my treatments. He felt the tumor and was pleased with the results. He said I was doing very well but the tumor was still there and it might shrink somewhat over the next 4 weeks. I told him what was decided by me and Dr. Shellito earlier that day. He did not like my putting off the surgery so far from the end of the radiation and chemotherapy treatments. He felt I would be taking too big of a risk, that the efforts of shrinking the tumor and making the surgery easier could or would be negated. He called me a fool for waiting so long!! I was willing to take the chance. I did not want to lose my rear end for the rest of my life.

6-26-95 My wife and I went out to the Kushi Institute again and had a second session with my counselor Charles Millman. We updated him on all that I was going through and about my eating habits. He examined me and made many corrections to my diet and he told me I was doing well and to have faith. He felt I would be fine.

7-3-95 Appointment with Shellito for another look at the tumor. I was feeling much better at this time and had a felling that the tumor was gone or just about gone. I was getting my strength and energy level back. After the exam the doctor said I was doing well, he was pleased. He said the tumor had flattened somewhat and the crater in the middle was still evident. I asked him how much it decreased in size from the last time. He said it shrunk approximately 10-20 percent from the last time.

I was not pleased with what the doctor told me. I felt the tumor would have shrunk even more than he indicated. I left his office very disappointed. I was running out of time.

I called the Kushi institute again and talked with Charles Millman. He gave me support and a couple more suggestions to help shrunk the tumor. He told me to be patient and give the diet time to work. His support was very important to me.

Now I was down to my last 3 and 1/2 week period for the final assessment of my tumor and the pending operation. My wife kept on cooking properly for me and I continued with the diet, exercise, visualization tapes, vitamins, and Essiac tea. Virginia was always giving me the support and hope I needed I was trying my best but was feeling that all my efforts might be in vain. What kept me going was the fact that I was starting to feel better and better. I knew the diet was helping my body and my immune system fight the cancer.

I was able to spend more time at work and now I was back on the golf course a few times a week. My golf game definitely still had cancer!!

7-27-95 My final appointment with Dr. Shellito before the scheduled surgery. Believe me I was not looking forward to this day. I was extremely anxious. My time had finally run out. As all the other important appointments, Virginia came along for support and comfort. The doctor asked me how I was doing, and in particular about my bowel habits. I told him that I hadn’t felt this good in years. Then he started the final exam of my colon. I asked him during the exam what the tumor looked like and he said he’d discuss it when the exam was over. After my final scoping before the operation we sat down with the doctor for a discussion.

The doctor quietly said I was doing well. He then said that the tumor was no longer visible to the naked eye. He said new tissue had grown over the area. Then he added this does not mean that I was cancer free or cured of cancer. Virginia and I looked at each other and asked him to repeat what he had just stated. We were not sure we heard him correctly. We couldn’t believe our ears. What an emotional moment!!! We needed to catch our breath.

We asked what next. He said that the safest thing was to have the colostomy done since there was a good chance cancer could still be in the colon wall and surrounding nodes. Then he added that since the tumor had subsided he could recommend a different operation whereas he would go in through the rectum and remove a small section of the wall where the tumor was previously. I asked why not just do some biopsies of the area to check for cancer. He felt that the biopsies wouldn’t be a good test since you just pick a few spots on the outer tissue and can easily miss some cancerous cells that might lie under the new tissue or the colon wall. If cancerous cells still remained they could come back and spread to other areas of the body such as the liver. If the cancer returned to the same area they could not fight it again with radiation. Even though the tumor was not visible the doctor felt that cancerous cells might still remain in the colon wall. We discussed the situation that if cancer was still found in the colon wall. He said at a later date we could go through with the colostomy if necessary. I opted for the operation to remove only a small section of the colon wall. I was not going to have the dreaded colostomy done. The date was already set for August 8, 1995.

What a relief. We were so happy. All our efforts to do battle with this cancer were paying off. Of course the doctors felt it was all their doing not the alternative stuff we had been working with for 4 months. I asked Dr. Shellito how many times had he seen similar tumors like mine disappear with the amount of radiation and chemotherapy I was administered. Remember I had been given preoperative doses. He thought a few moments and said maybe 5% of the time. Why or how the tumor disappeared didn’t really matter at this point we were just overcome with joy. Praise the Lord, he helped me, gave me strength, and guided my path.

8-3-95 Preoperative physical and checkup at MGH.

8-8-95 The operation at MGH. To remove an area of the colon wall were the tumor was attached. They did this through the rectum. Remember, the operation that was originally scheduled was to remove my rectum and give me a permanent colostomy.

8-15-95 News of the Biopsies.- no sign of any cancer. Thank the Lord.

11-08-95 Checkup with Dr Shellitto, Everything looks good. Rectum still not healed from operation.

02-08-96 Checkup with Dr Shellitto, Everything looks good. Colon looks to be healed. Although I still have some trouble with control. I definitely have my health back. No sign or indication of any cancer!!!

Some day soon I’ll finish this and give my conclusions but for now I apologize for not completing this document. I only hope that whoever reads this realizes that their are other alternative ways other than our western medical practices. Have faith, have hope, and ask the Lord for guidance. Take actions that make sense to you in order for your body to heal itself.

My one regret was that I didn’t have enough faith to forgo the operation. I knew in my heart that I was well. I should have trusted my own judgment.