Gene (not real name) is the fifth child in a family of six girls and two boys. Her eldest sister, the first sibling in the family, was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of twenty-seven. Unfortunately, Gene was also diagnosed with breast cancer at twenty-seven years old.

Gene’s problem started in mid-December 2002, when she found a lump in her right breast. She went to see a surgeon in a private hospital and did a lumpectomy. Gene was given the good news that the lump was not malignant. The histopathology report dated 17 December 2002, stated: “Sclerosing adenosis of the breast with atypical ductal hyperplasia. Advised periodic follow up.” The immuno-histochemical stains were negative for ER, PR, c-erbB2.

About a year after the surgery, Gene noticed that the surgical wound became rather hard and with time started to grow in thickness. Gene consulted another surgeon in another private hospital. An ultrasound of her right breast done on 9 June 2005 showed two lesions, one of which was 9 mm x 7.5 mm x 10 mm in size. The radiologist concluded that these could be malignant and suggested a FNAC study. An ultrasound of the left breast showed a 7 x 2 mm simple cyst.

A tru-cut biopsy was done to the right breast lump on 18 June 2005 and it confirmed the clinical suspicion of malignancy. The lesion was an infiltrating, poorly differentiated mammary ductal carcinoma, probably Grade 3. An ultrasound of the abdomen and chest X-ray did not show any abnormality.

Gene went back to the first surgeon who did her lumpectomy and underwent a right mastectomy with axillary clearance. The subsequent histopathology report dated 24 June 2005, confirmed previous diagnosis of infiltrating ductal carcinoma – Schirrhous type with tubular pattern, Grade 2. The cancer was staged as T1bN1Mo. The adjacent breast tissue was found to be fibrocystic with sclerosing adenosis. The resected margins, areola and nipple were clear of any tumour tissues. One of the ten axillary lymph nodes was affected. The axillary fat was also found to be infiltrated by malignant tumour.

Gene underwent adjuvant chemotherapy in mid-July 2005. The first four cycles consisted of epirubicin and cyclophosphamide. This treatment, completed in mid-September 2005, was followed by four cycles of Formoxol (an international brand name of paclitaxel, marketed in Malaysia). Each cycle of chemotherapy was given every three weeks. Gene suffered severe side effects such as vomiting, breathlessness, lack of strength and pains throughout her body. When asked if she would want to go for more chemotherapy, Gene shook her head vigorously with disapproval. She had developed a phobia for injection.

After the completion of chemotherapy on 7 December 2005, Gene underwent twenty radiation treatments onto her chest well. This treatment started on 29 December 2005 and lasted until 27 January 2006. Gene felt “hot” inside her body during the radiotherapy. Fortunately she did suffer much side effects during chemotherapy.

With the completion of the above treatments, Gene was happy believing that the cancer has at last been “conquered.” She went back to her oncologist and surgeon for routine check up. Ultrasound reports of 9 May 2006 and 8 November 2006, confirmed absence of any abnormality in her abdomen. A bone scan report dated 28 August 2006, confirmed “no evidence of MDP avid skeletal metastasis.” Blood test results of 8 November 2006 and 13 February 2007 showed CEA, CA 125 and CA 15.3 to be within normal limits. Her liver function values done on 8 November 2006 showed normal values.

However, Gene started to sense problem by February 2007 – barely a year after her apparent “successful” treatment. Both her buttock and backbone were hurting. An ultrasound on 2 April 2007 showed a 5 mm x 6 mm nodule at 9 o’clock position of her left breast. The surgeon proceeded to remove this lump and found it not malignant.

CT scan done on 16 June 2007 showed disturbing and distressing features. There was a 0.5 cm nodule in the left thyroid. There were also hypodense lesions seen in the posterior aspect of the right 6th rib, vertebral body of L2, left iliac crest, left iliac bone and the neck of the right femur.

MRI of the pelvis on 18 June 2007 indicated lesion in the mid 3rd medial right ilium, left anterior superios iliac spine, right and left body of S2 vertebrae, head of right femur and intertrochanter region of left femur.

The general impression of the CT scan and MRI finding was that of multiple bony metastases. This was further collaborated by a bone scan report dated 19 June 2007 which reads: “Increased uptake of tracer in the L2 vertebrae is due to MDP avid skeletal metastasis. Increase uptake of tracer seen in L3, L4 and L5 vertebrae is metabolically active lesion, most likely due to DXT. Increased uptake of tracer seen in left anterior superior iliac spine is likely due to muscle attachment.”

Since Gene suffered pains, she underwent palliative radiotherapy. After seven treatments, there was less pain. She has five more radiation sessions to go. The oncologist wanted to give Gene more chemotherapy but she declined and came to seek our help. Gene came to our centre on a wheel chair since she had difficulty walking due to pains. She was prescribed Capsule A, Breast M, Bone tea and Pain Tea.

Herbs Made Her Well

It was indeed a big surprise for me to see Gene walking into our centre on her own without the need of a wheelchair just five days after her fist visit to us. Gene told us that after taking the herbs for three days, she felt better and had more energy. The pains had lessened significantly to enable her to walk by herself.

Three weeks after her first visit to us, I asked Gene if she was just “play-acting” when she came to see us on a wheelchair. I wanted to know if she was trying to gain “sympathy” from her sisters and husband who came along with her. Gene said that even after seven radiation treatments she had pains that made it difficult for her to move. The pains were real!

Gene came to see us again after three weeks on herbs. She looked radiant. She was getting better! Gene told us that she was able to sleep well. Previously, her sleep was difficult and she was not able to turn her body to the right or left. After the herbs, she was able to turn her body without any problem. Previously, Gene was not able to lean forward when sitting down, after the herbs that problem too went away. Gene said she is getting better with each day. She decided not to go for any more radiotherapy.