Jim.
Diagnosis Stage.
01/11/2023 Had a CT calcium score as part of work up for cardiac risk factors; Calcium score about normal for age but non-cardiac findings of pulmonary nodules were evident (but overlooked).
01/02/2024 CT chest, abdomen and pelvis showed multiple lung nodules, many of which were pleural-based, minorly-progressed since November.
23/02/2024 CT PET revealed multifocal, very mildly avid lesions in the right lung.
No evidence of disease elsewhere.
26/02/2024 Reviewed in Respiratory Clinic and with Radiology – masses most easy to biopsy felt to be pleural in nature.
11/03/2024 Discussed at Lung MDM and agreed for VATS pleural biopsy.
05/04/2024 Underwent VATS pleural biopsy revealing an adenocarcinoma, TTF-1 positive, consistent with lung adenocarcinoma PD-L1 45%. ALK, EGFR, KRAS, BRAF wild type.
10/06/2024 Next Generation Sequencing (Foundation one) performed.
Oncologist letter 15/05/2024
“Unfortunately, this does mean that the cancer is incurable, average prognosis with treatment for adenocarcinoma of the lung is 18 months. In reality, however, his case does not fit the usual mould. It is unusual to have adenocarcinoma in essentially a never smoker and in never smokers most often we find a mutation, but we have not done in Jim’s case. He also has very minimally avid disease and that has already shown that it is not growing quickly”
My Reaction
Somewhat surreal because I had no symptoms.
I guessed I had accidentally detected the NSCLC earlier than many presenting at oncology and that I perhaps had more time.
Gentle discussion/persuasion by oncologists at Auckland Hospital to undertake treatment. “This would take the form of a combination of chemotherapy with carboplatin and pemetrexed combined with immunotherapy called pembrolizumab.”
I decided to postpone treatments proposed:
1) I was asymptomatic
2) the percentage chance of a cure were modest given my PDL-1 level at 45%.
I was also concerned about chemo effects as the side-effects can be severe.
Steps Taken.
I had, since November 2023, been on a fairly strict ketogenic diet – initially as weight loss (successful).
Research assisted by Perplexity AI came across work by Prof Seyfried and Jane McLelland.
These involved the theory that Glucose and Glutamine are necessary for tumor growth.
I suggested to hospital oncologists that this may be the reason my lesions showed “low avidity”. Oncologists thought this unlikely.
Nevertheless, sought advice from integrative therapy community.
Tried to apply the Seyfried press/pulse approach – probably never achieved the so-called therapeutic levels of ketones/glucose (the GKI < 2). This was commenced May 2024.
Some contact with Prof Angus Dalgleish recommended boosting vit D3 levels as well as LDN. Integrative care doctor recommended following press/pulse prescription.
| Starve/Press 5 days | Kill/Pulse 2days |
| Keto Diet | Fasting |
| Metformin | Atorvastatin |
| Aspirin | Doxycycline |
| Loratadine | IVC High Dose 100g Wed Fri |
| Vermox/Mebendazole 100mg | Celecoxib |
| Ivermectin 6 x 12mg | Mebendazole |
| Quercetin + Bromelain | Metformin |
| Lipo VitC | |
| EGGC | |
| Resveratrol | |
| Curcumin | |
| Bromelain | |
| Probiotic (ProMega) | |
| LDN 0.5mg | |
| Niacin 100mg | |
| Zinc 25mg | |
| Mushroom Relshi | |
| MilkThistle | |
| D3/K2 |
Progress.
Scan 31 May showed some growth. This is the most detailed CT scan.
Began 100g IVC infusions x 2 per week July 2024.
Combined with press/pulse approach .
Consulted another oncologist specializing in integrative/adjunctive care.
Another scan 11 Sep 2024
Effusion appears. No new lesions. Began to consider alternate approaches.
Met with Prof Dalgleish and Dr Paul Marik at NZDSOS conference late September 2024.
Prof Angus had earlier recommended increasing Vit D3 levels and taking LDN daily.
Paul Marik gave me pdf of 2nd edition of his Cancer Care” – a million-copy seller.
Much valuable information.
The Effusion Nov 2024.
Still pretty well symptom free although the appearance of the pleural effusion indicated things were deteriorating.
Regular meetings at Oncology outpatients received gentle recommendations to commence treatment. Did not wish to start such – still asymptomatic although leading oncologist indicated the effusion should be dealt with or “knocked back” by commencing treatment.
However, latter half October noticed shortness of breath when performing previously do-able exercise. Became serious when unable to walk up gentle slopes. Organised referral from Oncology Auckland to Ascot 13 Nov 2024 for a private scan. Radiologist called emergency department.
Discharge note: 4.1 litres drains from right lung over 3 days. More internal after drain became dislocated. Washed around mid-riff area. Probably 4.5 litres in total.
During stay in ward 64, met oncologists doing rounds.
Was clear my current protocols were not working.
Gave up on 2 per week IVC infusions.
December 2024
Commenced Chemo/Immunotherapy even though PDL-1 at 45% was not promising.
Carboplatin 630mg
Pemetrexed 100mg
Pembrolizumab 200mg
Each 21 days
After 3 rounds of Carboplatin went to Pembrolizumab only.
At same time included other protocols.
Prof Dalgleish suggestions to potentiate standard oncology
Get vit D3 levels to max – 8000 units per day.
Vit D3 levels about 150.
LDN 4.5 each night
Mycobactin (Mico Vaccae) aka IMM101 T-cell booster
Makis/Marik protocols
Maintain Keto diet monitoring glucose/ketones
Ivermectin 96 mg (ie 1g per kg)
Mebendazole 500mg
Doxycycline 100mg + Lipo-spheric Vit C
Curcumin / Turmeric
Resveratrol
Anther 1.7 litres drained from lung – refused permanent drain.
Scan 03/03/2024
Showed encouraging reduction in bulk and numbers of lesions. Largest lesion reduced from 33mm to 5mm. The other 12 lesions “unmeasurable” although some wraithlike remains showed on scan.
Proof of concept as adjunctive treatment started only in December 2024.
Patient Referred from: Auckland Oncology.
D a t e : 0 3 / 0 3 / 2 0 2 5
E x a m i n a t i o n ( s ) : CT Report s t a t u s : C h e s t Va l i d a t e d
AK MEDICAL ONCOLOGY
FINDINGS:
Thoracic nodes: I n v o l u t i o n of the m e d i a s t i n a l , h i l a r a n d
m o s t o f t h e r i g h t
s u b p e c t o r a l nodes. For example:
Right lower paratracheal node (4R), 5mm, previously 33 mm.
Left i n t e r l o b a r node (11), 7 mm, p r e v i o u s l y 11 mm.
Subcarinal node (7), not measurable, p r e v i o u s l y 24 mm.
There is a borderline enlarged right lower neck node
p r e v i o u s l y m e a s u r i n g 12mm, 7mm (key image).
Lungs: Regression of the right sided pulmonary nodules and
m a s s e s . For example
subpleural right lower lobe nodule, 10mm, previously 20 mn.
No new p u l m o n a r y l e s i o n s .
Medial r i g h t m i d d l e lobe a t e l e c t a s i s .
The l e f t lung is c l e a r .
COMMENT:
The right lung primary, p l e u r a l and thoracic nodal disease
h a v e r e g r e s s e d .
12 May 2025
Effusion appears to have stopped.
CT Scan 11 June 2025
FINDINGS:
Comparison is made to previous scans including 18/11/2024 and 03/03/2025.
The earliers scan of 18/11/2024 demonstrated multiple solid lesions within the right lung. These had largely resolved by 03/03/2025 and there is no recurrence of the solid lung lesion. The volume of pleural fluid had increased on the scan of 03/03/2025 but has now reduced slightly although remains at least moderate sized effusion on the right. Mediastinal lymphadenopathy has reduced in size,the largest node being in the precarinal region measuring 16mm.
Mediastinal lymphadenopathy has reduced in size,the largest node being in the precarinal region measuring 16mm.
The solid organs of the upper abdomen show no focal lesions. There is a new 11mm node in the bifurcation of the common iliac artery on the left.
No further retroperitoneal or mesenteric lymphadenopathy.
The right-sided lymph node and supraclavicular fossa has reduced in size, previously 12mm now 8mm. No further abnormality is seen in the neck.
No skeletal lesion.
COMMENT:
Convincing partial response to chemotherapy when comparison is made to 18/11/2024 by all of the lesions identified on this earlier scan.
Reduction in volume of right pleural effusion since 03/03/2025. New left pelvic retroperitoneal node is of uncertain nature however.
My summary after review with oncologists.
Further promising results.
- All 13 lung tumors have now disappeared from CT scan.
- Still some activity in the lymph nodes. Oncologists did not think these were serious.
- No metastasis found.
- Reduction in volume of effusion. The pleural cavity not so efficient at clearing fluid so this implies the cancer driven effusion has stopped. I have bronchial appointment 17 July when I will get residual fluid (effusion) drained. I was a bit surprised to see on the scan that my right lung still compressed somewhat – I don’t notice that at all – respiration seems normal.
The COMMENT above – “Convincing partial response to chemotherapy“. The word partial is always used – they never go so far as to say “cured”. I did enquire whether the missing tumors also meant the Cancer Stem Cells were also gone – got a blank look on that. Note I had only 3 chemotherapy infusions starting 10Dec24 and last 22Jan25. Each 3 weeks have had immunotherapy (Keytruda) since December.
The dramatic drop showed up on earlier scan 03/03/2025. But the further disappearance with no chemo indicates the adjunctive stuff may be having the major effect.
Although not explicitly stated, I think the oncologists believe their treatment is achieving the extension of life only – their best outcome. This may of course be what’s happening but I have higher hopes now.
CT Scan Date: 15/09/2025
Examination(s): CT Chest Abdomen & Pelvis C+
Report status: Validated
INDICATION:
Partial response to immunotherapy for stage 4 lung cancer. Interval scan.
PROCEDURE:
Post contrast imaging through chest, abdomen and pelvis.
Comparison is made to previous scans of 03/03/25 and 11/06/25.
Since prior imaging, there has been a further reduction in the volume of pleural effusion on the right. No new pulmonary nodules are identified.
There is no mediastinal or hilar lymphadenopathy which is enlarged. The pre-carinal node has reduced from 16 to 9mm in diameter. Reduction in size of the left internal mammary node is of similar extent.
The solid organs of the upper abdomen show no focal lesions. The lymph node sitting beneath the bifurcation of the left common iliac artery has reduced in size. An earlier external iliac node on the left has resolved. No progressive lymphadenopathy is seen. Stable skeletal appearances.
COMMENT:
Ongoing partial response to chemotherapy.
My summary after review with oncologists.
This is the second 3 monthly CT scan with no viewable lesions. Lymph nodes diminishing rather than growing. Interpretation is that these node are cancer free.
Very pleased!
New Year 2026.
My hospital and Pharmac protocol indicates CT scan each 3 months – now organised for mid January 2025.
With oncologist support, have suspended one 3 week session of immunotherapy pembrolizumab (keytruda) until results of Jan scan.
Some side-effects from pembro and these meds have a long half-life. All cancer meds have side effects and if can be avoided may take that approach.
Continuing with complementary cares.
Take Charge 