Has anyone tried Iscador?

Hi Sandy,

First off, Thanks for your reply, I appreciate the time in which you spent on it and all your concerns😎

RE: an actual DX of an immune deficiency, you need to look a bit closer at my OP, as I stated my DX of "Common Variable Immune Deficiency" You are DX.ed via vaccination challenges and SERM levels of all antibodies. NO insurance company in the world would cover my weekly Hizentra infusions without the correct testing protocols. And who in their right mind would want to receive a plasma product made from the donated blood of their fellow human beings if not needed? I have never heard of " blood plasma seeking behavior" have you? Just trying to educate you here😎 If you read this posting any further, you will understand those sentiments....as many patients completely give up on trying to educate friends and family about their condition. PTSD and immune deficiencies rank right up there with PTSD and Cancer DX.

A couple of things I need to mention, and did not prior, because it is the sort of information that is on a need to know basis. I have read many of your postings, and you are quite knowledgable on the subject matter, so I will share my "story", as "boring" as it might be for some readers.( keeping in mind many cancer patients have articulated the same concerns on the relationship and family section of this forum, how their families and friends lose interest in their cancer fight, etc.) But you need to fully "understand" the information shared below before you discard my query RE: Iscador.

I am a "early"retired Pharmacologist( Ph.D with years of post- doc work) with 30yrs in the area of dermatological research, much of this time was spent abroad as an expat. I also lived in Germany and Japan as a child due to the auto industry, so I have had the benefit of experiencing many modalities of which are considered "alternative" by US standards, but not so in other first world countries.

I received what was in essence, Iscador whilst living in Germany as a child, abit under a different "brand name" This was due to my constant strep throats and other repeat infections. Whilst living in the US, they gave me a weekly Penicillin shots as a kid. This kept me well, but most likely set up a resistance to certain "L forms" of bacteria....not a good thing and I won't digress any farther. Immune Defiencies were "unknown" at the time....this was well before John Travolta starred in the movie about the Boy with SCID, commonly referred to as the "Boy in the Bubble".

Plain and simple, the Iscador worked better than the Penicillin shots. Flash forward to the early 2001, and I am finally DX.ed with an immune deficiency ( CVID, mentioned above🤔)and start receiving weekly gamma globulin infusions. While this replaces the IgG SERM levels to normal, it has never done a darn thing to raise my WBC count nor, NK cell count, both of which are needed to fight neoplastic cells. This is due to several things, but one of which is the fact that we still have "holes" in our immune systems, and henceforth are always fighting off routine infectious exposures that are part and parcel of living daily life! I also deal with a compliment deficiency, which contributes further in adding insult to injury.

Those of us with PIDD's( Primary Immune Deficiency Disease, CVID in yours truly🙄 ) are at increased risk for cancer, typically Lymphoma and Leukemia, but there is a large cohort of BC amoungst the female population, a much higher percentage than the healthy age adjusted female population....and we tend to develop more aggressive and rarer forms of cancer. Different types of sarcomas seem to like to rear their ugly head in the CVID population. Three gene loci, so far, have been found for PIDD, more are expected. Average age of the first cancer is mid- 50's, even with replacement IgG therapy.

As far as the Neurlasta query, yes, typically used for cancer, but there has been off label usage., usually the patient has to "cough up" the monies. At 15K a shot, probably not going to happen, unless I can get some financial aid from the pharmaceutical company. But, with my history and DX....you never know.

As a side note, two things held back the simple, simple lumpectomy surgery to remove my giant arze 9CMPhyllodes Tumor in 2009, WBC count was low, as was the RBC count at that time. I was able to obtain Procrit for the low RBC issue, and proceed with the surgery. The immunologist infused a large dose of IVIG the day prior to surgery, and the typical pre-surgical ABX was administered.

So, yes...I have a true germ-line immune compromised situation at hand. Not just in "word only" but in nasty bodily deeds.

As far as being "high risk" my maternal aunt had both BC and Ovarian cancer before age 40. Amazingly, she survived both and just recently passed on in her 90's. It should be noted that she was a Ph.D level researcher ( rare for females of her generation) who worked several times with Dr. James Watson on the genome. My mother passed from Ovarian cancer. Maternal grandmother had BC, survived, and passed away from the flu many years later. Maternal Grandfather passed from gastric cancer in his early 50's. Two male cousins on the maternal side lost their lives to gastric prior to the age of 50. Two female cousins, also on the maternal side,have had early BC, DCIS and LCIS in their twenties. There is a "Cancer in the maternal germ- line".

I yet again see my genetist at MDA in November, to pursue testing for the PALB1 and CHD1 genes( my memory of the correct gene loci' may be off here, but I imagine that you are aware of the two genes of which I speak🤓) as the PALB gene has presented in a Candian cousin. This gene is known to present in those of certain French- Canadian ancestry, especially those who originate from the Quebec region. That. Would. Be .The. Maternal. Side of the family!

Regarding ALH, and a PMX, as I stated in my OP, the risks regarding my other health issues and taking on chemo and rads is well known. In a recent issue of "Up-to Date" medical journal, July 2016, there was a posting regarding new guidelines in treatment of those with immune deficiencies, especially CVID. I was able to obtain this journal thru the NCI. Essentially advising to withhold radiation testing unless absolutely necessary, and use of radiation in cancer therapy judiciously.We are unable to repair the DNA damage done to our healthy cells via radiation....which leaves us open to more cancer......there is a much higher rate of Angiosarcomas in the BC/ CVID female population. Dosages and treatment modalities need to be recalibrated due to the condition.

So, between family history, and my poor odds with fighting cancer...it was suggested by the genetist and my immunologist to consider a PMX on my terms( meaning that I can prepare my health to the best of my ability) versus taking on cancer when it decides to "show up to the party" Ditto nixing the other lady bites "down below". BS stays "quiet" on the subject, as he stated that he is in "over his head"on this issue.

On a final note....we have not even touched upon neoplasms and infectious triggers of oncogenes, such as EBV, Mycoplasmas, CMV, HHV-6 and all those other ugly stealth pathogens. All of which I aquired, and was treated for prior to the CVID DX. No, I do not have AIDS or HIV!!!

A. Martin Lerner was my ID in Michigan and Dr. Ali Massimi was my cardiologist at Texas Heart Institute while living in Houston Texas...both, sadly, passed away last year. I mention this because I remember reading that your DH is a cardiologist? Well, if it wasn't for Lerner, I would be busy 6 ft under "pushing daisies up" right now, as he caught, and treated my myocarditis back in 1994. I don't even want to tell you what my pathogen "load" was at the time..... Dr. Massimi took over my case and worked w/Lerner if I had any further heart/infectious issues, thank the lord he "understood" my situation.

So,no, I am NOT looking for Iscador to "treat, or prevent cancer".,,, but to aid in boosting my innate immune response....it did in the past, and it could help now.

As Gilda Radner said "It's always something" and in my case....it ain't purdy 😏 So I'll take what help I can get.

As an aside, no, I am not someone who deals in "attention seeking behavioral" either......that's why I am posting on an Anonymous forum, as I am quite embarrassed by my health situation. Like most cancer patients, we quite often look just fine.

And this certainly is not my first Rodeo health wise, nor is it the first time that I have had someone "question" my health statistics and facts. Oh, ho hum....so much for the famous term, " Never complain, never explain"...even if you "were a member of the medical establishment ".

Hi Shetland Pony...nice avatar pic!

Thanks for the suggestion🙂😇 I did pursue the search option regarding Iscador, and only a few threads popped up.....I used the "search for Iscador, Misteltoe extract " in any and all sections and postings. I am "aware" that this is a forum that mainly pursues the standard, consensus based protocols in BC. Although the there is some "evidence based" research on Iscador in certain disease states. I AM one of those disease states, and had previous use of the product.......

Posted the query to see what others knew, or had experienced here in the US.....if I was currently in Switzerland, I would not need to go "fact finding".....I would just pursue a clinic and inquire. But DH job is in Texas currently, and I am not up to long haul travel "alone".

Thanks, rpoole...just saw your reply.

I start treatment next week....I reached out to the "Believe Big" support group....nice, helpful people

Thanks for mentioning the Aspire group....not much information here regarding the therapy. Although I found some threads regarding the therapy in the stage IV section of this forum...I did not feel comfortable bringingup those old threads and asking questions since I am not part of that group.

I am a member of a huge immune deficiency support group, and found out that many members use this as a complementary treatment to the gamma globulins that we regularly receive. My immunologist actually thought it was a great idea, as the standard of care for my situation did not correct my low WBC count or my Natural Killer cell count.