CML - Pregnancy-EGCG in GREEN TEA

[Guest guest]

Hi,

I've got probably most important news for any woman who has CML and is pregnant

or planning a pregnancy. and I can't keep it just to myself anymore, especially

after reading the post on CML-Pregnancy. Start drinking GREEN TEA, it keeps CML

in check without any dreadful side effects (or even gets rid of it, but that

remains to be seen/proven).

My story: I was diagnosed with CML during my pregnancy at 22 weeks on 13th of

Oct 2009 (WBC was almost 200). First thing I've heard from the doctor was 'It

would be better if you weren't pregnant'. That was the first thing I was told,

even before I was informed what was wrong with me. Not a nice thing to hear for

an expectant mother, actually the last thing you ever want to hear when

expecting your own baby.

In fact it worked out for the best that I was pregnant while diagnosed with CML.

That gave me time to find out more about the disease and possible alternative

treatments. What I've learned about gleevec and alpha interferon did not impress

me at all, especially the side effects those drugs can cause. Being pregnant I

couldn't be put on gleevec and I started leukapheresis treatment (read more

about it here http://onephotographaday.wordpress.com/2009/10/21/leukapheresis/)

at hospital in Birmingham three times a week. I was told it was the only option

in my situation but it was not the best case scenario either. It left me

severely anemic after 5 weeks. Thankfully by that time I was already drinking

green tea on regular basis and my WBC was going down rapidly (since I started it

came down from over 100 to 82, them next count was 65, then 35, then 20 then 10

and now it's 12.3, slightly raised but within a healthy count for 3rd trimester

of pregnancy, and it will naturally raise up to 25 after the baby is born to

provide the baby with antibodies via breastmilk)

But that's not what's important here. I was told in Birmingham that my baby will

have to be delivered by caesarian section at around 30 weeks and I will have to

go on interferon to control white blood count cells as leukapheresis will not

deal with them sufficiently. After delivery I would have to start gleevec

immediately and forget about breastfeeding. All that was a nightmare scenario

and I couldn't believe it was happening to me.

I though there must be another way. My husband started looking for some answers

on the internet and found information about EGCG (epigallo-catechin-3-gallet) a

natural powerful anti carcinogenic substance found in GREEN TEA. I was straight

onto 3 to 4 strong mugs of green tea a day brewed from the leaves (not tea bags)

and it worked. It still really works. I'm 36+ weeks pregnant, baby is doing fine

(I've had scans every 2 weeks for the past 3 months) and my blood count has been

stable for almost 3 months now . Last White Blood Cells count taken on Friday 15

Jan 2010 was 12.3 (slightly elevated count but perfectly normal for my stage of

pregnancy) and hemoglobin was 10.8. I don't know how exactly that happened but

it's not a miracle or a mystery, it's a Power of Nature and I was lucky to get

CML now when it was possible to find this information so easily on the internet

and I was lucky to be pregnant at the moment of diagnosis (otherwise I would be

straight onto gleevec, now dealing with all the side effects and hoping for

remission).

The whole CML thing is like a bad dream for me now. I feel like it's something

next to me not in me, like a flu gone within a week. I only brushed passed what

other women are experiencing in desperation to have a family despite CML.

Funnily enough doctors disregard what happend to me and still want to put me on

gleevec after my baby is born but how can they justify that if my blood count is

within normal counts? Professor Craddock himself (

http://www.cancerstudies.bham.ac.uk/cancer/staff/CharlieCraddock.shtml ) cannot

believe my case. He said to me 'If green tea was working everybody would drink

it'. What alternative did I have? Nightmare scenario given by the hospital staff

or start drinking green tea I used to hate and see what happens. I feel like

Guinea Pig and I certainly like the results of this experiment ( I don't think

I'm the first ever to have done that but I'm certainly not keeping quiet about

what has been achieved with just few cups of green tea a day in face of a

cancer). Being on Green Tea for the rest of my life is a better option than any

drugs offered by doctors. That's all they CAN do. They will not risk their

carriers and say to a newly diagnosed patient 'Drink green tea, that might help'

because they don't know how much to prescribe. I didn't know and I still don't

know myself how many cups a day is enough and what is the best strength. It may

be different for each one of us. I'm quite slim and small, usually not more that

55 kg (when I'm not pregnant) so 3 to 4 cups or mugs of fairly strong green tea

may even be too much for me. I know this: the amount of green tea I drink is

enough to keep my CML well in control.

Apart from that I did change my diet quite a lot. I'm not claiming a bad diet

gave me leukemia but it might have contributed to it. Maybe not eating burgers,

but NOT eating other healthy stuff. Now I'm more careful what ends up on our

plates. Priority is given to anything that has been either proven to have anti

carcinogenic qualities or is believed to have them. This list includes: soya

products, rooibush tea, kale and other dark green leafy vegetables like broccoli

or brussel sprouts, french beans, tomatoes, peppers (especially the white stuff

inside where the seeds are attached), beetroot, apples, pomegranate fruit and

juices, red onions, red grapes, berries, nuts, brown wheat rice, red wine. We

keep on looking, it's work in progress to expand the diet and include as much of

good healthy food as possible and cutting out any processed or fast food. In the

end it's all up to you people what you do with your life and you can either take

things in your hands, do your own research on the internet in your local library

or elsewhere, look for answers or do what the doctor says. I know one thing: if

I listened to what doctors where firmly saying I would have my baby delivered by

c-section at around 30 weeks putting her life seriously at risk, most probably

have her in Intensive Care Unit in Birmingham Hospital (3-4 hours away in travel

time from where I live) for weeks. My whole family including my 3 children would

be affected by this sudden change and who knows if my Baby would not suffer

disabilities and/or illnesses caused by being pulled out of me way too early.

Instead of all that I'm still expecting my Number 4, I'm still there for my

other 3 kids, I run my life the way I want it AND I WILL have a HOMEBIRTH as

planned, AND I WILL BREASTFEED. How about that?

p.s. I'm going to request a PCR test and who knows I may join the Zero Club very

soon.

From: Sue

Sent: Saturday, January 16, 2010 2:27 AM

Subject: [ ] : CML - Pregnancy

Hi

A number of women have had successful pregnancy - but this is not for the faint

hearted.

Many have had tricky pregnancies. Most pregnancies the CML patient is the woman

herself.

Many of the gals have waited until they are PCRU and have had interferon thru

the pregnancy - which is

also not for the faint hearted and have had side effects as do all drugs. For

the guys many of their partners

have had successful pregnancies and a number have continued to add to their

families. CML women though

is a big call.

LLS (July 2009) were publishing 2 x CML Booklets for Pregnancy - you may like to

contact LLS and discuss

to get a copy for your research - Listed below

One of my dear friends (who has CML) was diagnosed with CML while 8 weeks

pregnant. She was advised

to abort but decided to continue with the pregnancy. She was also on interferon

during the pregnancy and

had a ceaser for the birth which was bought on early and then after delivery -

within 24 hours was onto glivec.

She has not got down to PCRU as yet and that will be coming up to CML of 2 years

this June 2010. She is

had her medication increased twice - and mutation testing etc. Within the next 3

month period if her % does

not go down then onto the next drug perhaps. So you may wonder - did she

sacrifice her long term health for

a successful pregnancy. She has now 4 children - a great life - and a wonderful

family but at a cost.

I would suggest that you have quite a few discussions with your CML specialist,

and a number of the same

discussions with the very best obsterician / gyno that you can find. Then you

have to ask the question of both

professionals - will they care share your treatment. To have a pregnancy with

CML you need the best medicos

to look after you.

At least then - you have all the base information and examples from others, to

forward with a decision of pregnancy.

Cheers

Sue (Aussie)

__________________________________________________________

Information from the LLS e-newsletter (July 2009)

Small article on CML and pregnancy

Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML) .

There is increasing interest in pregnancy among younger women with CML who are

in stable remission and in ongoing treatment with Gleevec.

In July 2009, LLS will publish two updated CML booklets that include information

about CML and pregnancy.

Early reports of stopping treatment in order to get pregnant were discouraging,

with relapse nearly certain, but further study has given new hope that women

with CML who want to become pregnant can be better managed with lower risk to

both mother and child.

__________________________________________________________

For those with CML who are discussing pregnancy,

The below link is anothers' perspective and experience with CML and pregnancy

http://edition.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/10/29/pregnant.cancer/index.html

__________________________________________________________

Hope these help - Sue (Aussie)

__________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus signature

database 4776 (20100115) __________

The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus.

http://www.eset.com

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

Thank you for this amazing story. I hope that Dr. Craddock will write a

paper describing your journey with CML.

I can understand your WBC getting into the normal range with leukapheresis

and the natural suppliments but you haven`t said anything about the CML.Are

you doing PCR and BMB testing on a regular basis. What was your cytogenics

at diagnosis and where is it now?

It will be an honor to assign you a number in the Zero Club.

Don`t discount and ignore the doctors. Find one that will go along with your

thinking and your plans and listen to him-her. And always remember the adage

about a doctor who treats himself.

Zavie

Zavie (age 71)

67 Shoreham Avenue

Ottawa, Canada, K2G 3X3

dxd AUG/99

INF OCT/99 to FEB/00, CHF

No meds FEB/00 to JAN/01

Gleevec since MAR/27/01 (400 mg)

CCR SEP/01. #102 in Zero Club

2.8 log reduction Sep/05

3.0 log reduction Jan/06

2.9 log reduction Feb/07

3.6 log reduction Apr/08

3.6 log reduction Sep/08

3.7 log reduction Jan/09

3.8 log reduction May/09

3.8 log reduction Aug/09

4.0 log reduction Dec/09

e-mail: zmiller@...

Tel: 613-726-1117

Fax: 613-482-4801

Cell: 613-282-0204

ID: zaviem

Tel in FL: 561-429-5507

_____

From: [mailto: ] On Behalf Of

d'Araille

Sent: January-17-10 6:23 PM

Subject: [ ] CML - Pregnancy-EGCG in GREEN TEA

Hi,

I've got probably most important news for any woman who has CML and is

pregnant or planning a pregnancy. and I can't keep it just to myself

anymore, especially after reading the post on CML-Pregnancy. Start drinking

GREEN TEA, it keeps CML in check without any dreadful side effects (or even

gets rid of it, but that remains to be seen/proven).

My story: I was diagnosed with CML during my pregnancy at 22 weeks on 13th

of Oct 2009 (WBC was almost 200). First thing I've heard from the doctor was

'It would be better if you weren't pregnant'. That was the first thing I was

told, even before I was informed what was wrong with me. Not a nice thing to

hear for an expectant mother, actually the last thing you ever want to hear

when expecting your own baby.

In fact it worked out for the best that I was pregnant while diagnosed with

CML. That gave me time to find out more about the disease and possible

alternative treatments. What I've learned about gleevec and alpha interferon

did not impress me at all, especially the side effects those drugs can

cause. Being pregnant I couldn't be put on gleevec and I started

leukapheresis treatment (read more about it here http://onephotograp

<http://onephotographaday.wordpress.com/2009/10/21/leukapheresis/>

haday.wordpress.com/2009/10/21/leukapheresis/) at hospital in Birmingham

three times a week. I was told it was the only option in my situation but it

was not the best case scenario either. It left me severely anemic after 5

weeks. Thankfully by that time I was already drinking green tea on regular

basis and my WBC was going down rapidly (since I started it came down from

over 100 to 82, them next count was 65, then 35, then 20 then 10 and now

it's 12.3, slightly raised but within a healthy count for 3rd trimester of

pregnancy, and it will naturally raise up to 25 after the baby is born to

provide the baby with antibodies via breastmilk)

But that's not what's important here. I was told in Birmingham that my baby

will have to be delivered by caesarian section at around 30 weeks and I will

have to go on interferon to control white blood count cells as leukapheresis

will not deal with them sufficiently. After delivery I would have to start

gleevec immediately and forget about breastfeeding. All that was a nightmare

scenario and I couldn't believe it was happening to me.

I though there must be another way. My husband started looking for some

answers on the internet and found information about EGCG

(epigallo-catechin-3-gallet) a natural powerful anti carcinogenic substance

found in GREEN TEA. I was straight onto 3 to 4 strong mugs of green tea a

day brewed from the leaves (not tea bags) and it worked. It still really

works. I'm 36+ weeks pregnant, baby is doing fine (I've had scans every 2

weeks for the past 3 months) and my blood count has been stable for almost 3

months now . Last White Blood Cells count taken on Friday 15 Jan 2010 was

12.3 (slightly elevated count but perfectly normal for my stage of

pregnancy) and hemoglobin was 10.8. I don't know how exactly that happened

but it's not a miracle or a mystery, it's a Power of Nature and I was lucky

to get CML now when it was possible to find this information so easily on

the internet and I was lucky to be pregnant at the moment of diagnosis

(otherwise I would be straight onto gleevec, now dealing with all the side

effects and hoping for remission).

The whole CML thing is like a bad dream for me now. I feel like it's

something next to me not in me, like a flu gone within a week. I only

brushed passed what other women are experiencing in desperation to have a

family despite CML. Funnily enough doctors disregard what happend to me and

still want to put me on gleevec after my baby is born but how can they

justify that if my blood count is within normal counts? Professor

Craddock himself ( http://www.cancerst

<http://www.cancerstudies.bham.ac.uk/cancer/staff/CharlieCraddock.shtml>

udies.bham.ac.uk/cancer/staff/CharlieCraddock.shtml ) cannot believe my

case. He said to me 'If green tea was working everybody would drink it'.

What alternative did I have? Nightmare scenario given by the hospital staff

or start drinking green tea I used to hate and see what happens. I feel like

Guinea Pig and I certainly like the results of this experiment ( I don't

think I'm the first ever to have done that but I'm certainly not keeping

quiet about what has been achieved with just few cups of green tea a day in

face of a cancer). Being on Green Tea for the rest of my life is a better

option than any drugs offered by doctors. That's all they CAN do. They will

not risk their carriers and say to a newly diagnosed patient 'Drink green

tea, that might help' because they don't know how much to prescribe. I

didn't know and I still don't know myself how many cups a day is enough and

what is the best strength. It may be different for each one of us. I'm quite

slim and small, usually not more that 55 kg (when I'm not pregnant) so 3 to

4 cups or mugs of fairly strong green tea may even be too much for me. I

know this: the amount of green tea I drink is enough to keep my CML well in

control.

Apart from that I did change my diet quite a lot. I'm not claiming a bad

diet gave me leukemia but it might have contributed to it. Maybe not eating

burgers, but NOT eating other healthy stuff. Now I'm more careful what ends

up on our plates. Priority is given to anything that has been either proven

to have anti carcinogenic qualities or is believed to have them. This list

includes: soya products, rooibush tea, kale and other dark green leafy

vegetables like broccoli or brussel sprouts, french beans, tomatoes, peppers

(especially the white stuff inside where the seeds are attached), beetroot,

apples, pomegranate fruit and juices, red onions, red grapes, berries, nuts,

brown wheat rice, red wine. We keep on looking, it's work in progress to

expand the diet and include as much of good healthy food as possible and

cutting out any processed or fast food. In the end it's all up to you people

what you do with your life and you can either take things in your hands, do

your own research on the internet in your local library or elsewhere, look

for answers or do what the doctor says. I know one thing: if I listened to

what doctors where firmly saying I would have my baby delivered by c-section

at around 30 weeks putting her life seriously at risk, most probably have

her in Intensive Care Unit in Birmingham Hospital (3-4 hours away in travel

time from where I live) for weeks. My whole family including my 3 children

would be affected by this sudden change and who knows if my Baby would not

suffer disabilities and/or illnesses caused by being pulled out of me way

too early. Instead of all that I'm still expecting my Number 4, I'm still

there for my other 3 kids, I run my life the way I want it AND I WILL have a

HOMEBIRTH as planned, AND I WILL BREASTFEED. How about that?

p.s. I'm going to request a PCR test and who knows I may join the Zero Club

very soon.

From: Sue

Sent: Saturday, January 16, 2010 2:27 AM

groups (DOT) <mailto:%40> com

Subject: [ ] : CML - Pregnancy

Hi

A number of women have had successful pregnancy - but this is not for the

faint hearted.

Many have had tricky pregnancies. Most pregnancies the CML patient is the

woman herself.

Many of the gals have waited until they are PCRU and have had interferon

thru the pregnancy - which is

also not for the faint hearted and have had side effects as do all drugs.

For the guys many of their partners

have had successful pregnancies and a number have continued to add to their

families. CML women though

is a big call.

LLS (July 2009) were publishing 2 x CML Booklets for Pregnancy - you may

like to contact LLS and discuss

to get a copy for your research - Listed below

One of my dear friends (who has CML) was diagnosed with CML while 8 weeks

pregnant. She was advised

to abort but decided to continue with the pregnancy. She was also on

interferon during the pregnancy and

had a ceaser for the birth which was bought on early and then after delivery

- within 24 hours was onto glivec.

She has not got down to PCRU as yet and that will be coming up to CML of 2

years this June 2010. She is

had her medication increased twice - and mutation testing etc. Within the

next 3 month period if her % does

not go down then onto the next drug perhaps. So you may wonder - did she

sacrifice her long term health for

a successful pregnancy. She has now 4 children - a great life - and a

wonderful family but at a cost.

I would suggest that you have quite a few discussions with your CML

specialist, and a number of the same

discussions with the very best obsterician / gyno that you can find. Then

you have to ask the question of both

professionals - will they care share your treatment. To have a pregnancy

with CML you need the best medicos

to look after you.

At least then - you have all the base information and examples from others,

to forward with a decision of pregnancy.

Cheers

Sue (Aussie)

__________________________________________________________

Information from the LLS e-newsletter (July 2009)

Small article on CML and pregnancy

Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML) .

There is increasing interest in pregnancy among younger women with CML who

are in stable remission and in ongoing treatment with Gleevec.

In July 2009, LLS will publish two updated CML booklets that include

information about CML and pregnancy.

Early reports of stopping treatment in order to get pregnant were

discouraging, with relapse nearly certain, but further study has given new

hope that women with CML who want to become pregnant can be better managed

with lower risk to both mother and child.

__________________________________________________________

For those with CML who are discussing pregnancy,

The below link is anothers' perspective and experience with CML and

pregnancy

http://edition.

<http://edition.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/10/29/pregnant.cancer/index.html>

cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/10/29/pregnant.cancer/index.html

__________________________________________________________

Hope these help - Sue (Aussie)

__________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus signature

database 4776 (20100115) __________

The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus.

http://www.eset. <http://www.eset.com> com