Description

On July 2011, my wife Diana age 32 at that time, started feeling one side of her right nose passage blocked, and initially it was thought it could be some type of allergy and  meds were prescribed without any success. After a few weeks some nose bleeding was noted and immediately we went to the specialist who noted a mass blocking the way. MRI's were taken and the mass was clearly seen extending up the nose towards the cribiform plate at the base of the skull. This was thought to be a polyp and a surgery was programmed to remove it. 

The surgery was performed soon after in October 2011. They removed partially the tumor and took samples which came back as: "squamous cell carcinoma cells". Diana was then referred to the University of Miami Hospital, to Dr. Casiano specialist on this type of cancers. He further investigated and noted that the tumor had invaded partially the cribiform plate trying to extend to the brain cavity, so a skull base resection was programmed to remove all seen cancer cells. This surgery was performed at the end of 2011 with good results and clear negative margins were achieved. Thereafter, extensive radiotherapy to the nasal section, neck and face was given during six weeks, everyday 2 Gy for a total of 60 Gy, and this treatment finished in Feb 2012.

4 months after finishing this treatment and feeling well recovered, we got pregnant. Diana continued going to her follow-up appointments, with only an MRI on the first trimester of pregnancy. Diana started feeling a small lump on the right lacrimal, and slowly growing. Doctors performed a biopsy and an "Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma" (ACC) type of tumor was diagnosed at the lacrimal region extending near the nose and maxillary bone underneath.  This was another type of carcinoma, or probably the same initial one but its type hadn't been detected exactly. Diana underwent a third surgery in Nov. 2012, the tumor and a part of facial bone was removed  with it, again, clear negative margins were achieved.

Some weeks ago, in Feb 2013 and at that time 36 weeks pregnant, during another follow-up check, a very small lump was detected and a biopsy was taken on the same internal nasal cavity, near the eye. This came once again positive for ACC. Diana delivered a healthy girl 37 and a half weeks old by c-section and is currently breastfeeding a perfectly healthy girl.

Doctors referred her to the Bascom Palmer Hospital in Miami, where an eye surgeon and another specialist suggested an open sky surgery (cut face open) to look inside and try to remove all tumor growths. Another biopsy more details of different locations was performed, and all four came back positive for ACC. They also sent Diana for another MRI with contrast, and this exam showed that the cancer had spread to various locations in her nasal cavity and to part of the brain, meaning that her cancer had spread to other locations (metastases). The conclusions from the tumor board (medical panel of experts) was that it was not possible to do more surgeries nor more radiotherapy. Basically western medicine did not know what else to do.  

Diana is currently studying Oriental Medicine, and Herbology on her last trimester. A lot of good information and advises were received. Since 2011 Diana changed her diet completely, no milk products, no red meat nor chicken, and just a few fish. Her sugar intake has been completely removed and only being sweetened by fruits. A lot of natural juices and vegetable juices are part of her diet, trying to alkalinize her body as suggested for this type of disorders.  I mean, her lifestyle has changed and mine too, and we are extremely happy to keep it that way.

We feel that there is more to learn, and other ways of healing this issue. That is how we reached Dr. Marcelo Lam, suggested by one of Diana's good friends from school; The Dr. specializes in cancer treatments through traditional Chinese medicine. The main part of the treatment will be done out of the country,and the follow up treatments will be done in the US.

We have been blessed with our first child, a baby girl who is 1 month old and Diana and I have the will and we are totally sure we will overcome this challenge successfully.

We are reaching for help, to gather all the resources Diana needs for this specialized treatment and the follow ups that will be coming since costs are not covered by any health insurance.