Treatment

Since August 2001, Charlie started chemotherapy on the Kushner protocol.This meant every 3 weeks taking a cocktail of very powerful drugs which made her extremely ill. After 21 weeks of treatment her primary tumour on the addrenal gland had shrunk to such a size that it was able to be removed by surgery.
7 weeks after surgery Charlie went to Alder Hey Hospital in Liverpool to further high dosage chemotherapy using 2 drugs, Melpholan & Busulphan. It was during this time that Charlie contracted Veno Inclusive Disease (blockage of the liver), and spent 8 weeks in the intensive care unit being kept alive by life support respirators. We were told on 3 separate occasions that Charlie would not pull through, but she did.
107 days after having her own stem cells infused back into her bone marrow, an mibg scan (nuclear medical scan) showed that Charlie's cancer had already relapsed in various parts of her body.
Oncologists in Oxford sent Charlie home saying there is nothing more they can do for her, saying she had only months left.
Further to hours of research on the internet, a clinic was found in Houston Texas USA, which is pioneering new cancer treatment.
The Burzynski Clinic, run by a Dr. Burzynski claims he can help treat cancer patients using a therapy called Antineoplaston.
Charlie flew out to Houston on 21 July 2002 and has started on the Oral type of Antineoplaston.
She is currently doing well, her walking and joint movement seams to be improving.

Charlie's current therapy is extremely expensive, the drugs alone cost $6,000 a month.
If you can help Charlie in any way, please send donations to the address on contact page, or to make donations by Credit or debit card here.

Every Donation is important now matter how big or how small.

Thanks for your Support.

Update7th July 2003

" Many people have been sceptical about the treatment that Sam & I have chosen for our Daughter Charlie, but the truth of the matter is , it is not a miracle cure, just a selection of medical drugs which are on clinical trials, alternative herbal remedies which have proven to reduce or eliminate the amount of cancer cells in a multitude of patients, and the holistic approach to diet by eliminating products which help cancer cells multiply and use products which help the immune system fight cancer.
All or some of these things have complimented each other to give the result that our Daughter, Charlie Jarvis is still alive today.
We have compiled the following list stating the three main areas which constitutes the treatment of Charlie, which we hope will help other parents or individuals who find themselves in the same situation as we found ourselves in.

1./ Clinical Trial Drugs
After High Dosage chemotherapy with stem cell transplant, Charlie's condition had deteriorate rather than the expected improvement we had been assured. Before the high dose chemotherapy Charlie had one hot spot of activity in one of her knees. Post high dose chemotherapy there were hot spots of activity in her head, abdomen and both of her legs.
We continued with the recommended drug which was Retonoic Acid (Ro-Accutane).
The dosage was 125mg a day for 2 weeks, 2 weeks off, then 2 weeks back on.
From the Burzynski clinic in Houston, Texas, USA, we were informed that treatment using a treatment called Antineoplaston Therapy, was giving good results, and had been accepted on phase 2 clinical trials by the Food and Drug Association (FDA) in America.
There are 2 forms of treatment 1./ Intravenous 2./ Oral.
We were recommended the Oral route because as Charlie was still taking Ro-Accutane, the FDA would not approve this as they classify Ro-Accutane as oral chemotherapy.
The Antineoplaston Oral Treatment consists of taking Sodium Phenylbutyrate, which uses the enzymes in the patient own liver to help destroy cancer cells.
Charlie's dose based on height and weight related to 6g of Sodium Phenylbutyrate a day, which consists of taking 3 x 500mg tablets four times a day.
The third and final recognised drug that Charlie takes is Clomipramine (Anafranil). This is a recognised anti depressant, which is currently on clinical trials in Kings College London. Early indications is that it may have possible anti-tumour effects on brain tumours.Charlie takes the maximum dose of this which is 1x 50mg tablet a day.

2./ Herbal & Alternative Remedies
The best result result we feel has come from giving Charlie a drink called Essiac tea. We use the original Renne Caisse formula
which is Burdock root, Sheep's Sorrel, Slippery Elm, and Turkey Rhubarb. We purchase this from The Organic Herb Trading Co.,
Court Farm, Milverton, Somerset.TA4 1NF. Tel: 01823 401205. All the information on Essiac tea can be found on the internet.
We also give Charlie Echinacea to build up her immune system, 200 micro grams of Selenium a day, 50mg of Zinc a day, 1 tablet of Grape Seed a day, and lycopine in the form of 1 tablet of Lycomato a day.All these supplements can be bought from any good Health Food Store i.e. GNC, Holland & Barrett.

3./ Foods which help Cancer and Dietary Supplements.
After many months of research and conversations with various groups, we felt that diet is a big factor in fighting cancer.
We only allow Charlie to drink water that has been filtered through a Reverse Osmosis Filter.This removes all the heavy metals and contaminates which are in our everyday drinking water, allowing Charlie to drink pure water.
15 minutes before Breakfast every day we give Charlie a multi vitamin solution which includes all her daily recommended dose of trace elements. After Breakfast we also give her an anti oxidant which we are told helps to ward off cancer also.
All Red Meat, Dairy Products and Refined Sugar has been eliminated from Charlie's Diet. There are many papers and reports that state that the three items above are detrimental to cancer patients and do increase cancer cell growth. Carbonated drinks, even Diet ones have been eliminated from Charlie's diet.(ie Coke, Lemonade, Pepsi, Fanta etc.).
We have replaced cows milk with Soya milk and Butter has been replaced with Soya Spread.
White bread has also been eliminated and replaced with Brown Linseed and Soya bread trade name "Burgen".
Although extremely difficult with a 5 year old, we try and feed Charlie as many fruits and vegetables in her daily diet as possible.
Vitamin C has been recommended as a cancer fighter also, so we try to include oranges or pure juice wherever we can.
Two items recommended by Kings College London are Orange Peel Biscuits which Charlie takes Daily & 1/8th teaspoon of pure ground Turmeric. Charlie drinks the Turmeric diluted in hot Soya milk every night before bed.
Charlie drinks 5ml of Aloe Vera juice everyday in the evening.

And last but not least, Do not rule out the power of

Prayer

We trust some of the above is of interest to you, and if you need any further information, please feel free to contact Paul or Samantha Jarvis on (01793) 331344."