Jamie Brown
Jamie was diagnosed with an AVM (arterial venous malformation) in 1993. At that time, it was decided to leave the AVM alone and keep a close eye on it with MRIs performed periodically. Unfortunately, over time (1996) the AVM grew larger and had to be addressed. We decided to do the least invasive procedure that was deemed to be safe at the time, gamma x-knife radiation surgery.
All went well for several years and it was assumed that the AVM had diminished as described by doctors (MRI’s showed that it was indeed shrinking over that period of time).
However, on September 13, 2001, Jamie suffered a seizure (he had never had one before) and it was assumed after much testing, etc. that the AVM had returned.
Because the gamma knife radiation hadn’t taken care of the problem the last time, it was decided that we would go ahead with brain surgery to remove it on November 28, 2001. During surgery, however, they discovered that the AVM was truly gone, yet Jamie now had Glioblastoma Multiforme Brain Cancer, and we were told he had about 6 months to live.
It was determined by our oncologist, neurosurgeon, and radiation oncologist that the gamma knife radiation surgery performed in 1996 had caused the Glioblastoma Multiforme Brain cancer in the exact location they had radiated. With this information we were not thrilled at the idea of doing any other kind of radiation that could possibly (and that’s a HUGE stretch with Glioblastoma) bring about remission, but then in 5 more years you might have cancer all over again from the latest batch of radiation. That just did not sound like the plan for us!
Jamie's Glioblastoma Multiforme Brain tumor was removed completely in that surgery on 11/28/01. Despite this fact, the tumor started to re-occur as seen on MRIs by January 7, 2002.
After much praying, (nationwide we had churches, family and friends) all praying for God to intervene and show us the way to go. Locally, friends put together a “think-tank” to search out new protocols and new treatment options and the Burzynksi Clinic kept showing up over and over again as the best option for brain cancer patients. Additionally, my sister and brother-in-law had taken two family members to the clinic for other types of cancer and clearly remembered that Burzynski curing brain cancer was the biggest thing they remembered about the clinic.
With all that God inspired information, we flew out to the Burzynski Clinic on January 14, 2002 and Jamie started on the antineoplastin treatment on January 16th, 2002. What you will find hard to believe, is that Jamie’s tumor disappeared completely by Feburary 13, 2002 (less than one month on the Burzynski treatment). CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT?! I have never before experienced such an unbelievable miracle.
We have had follow-up MRIs and PET scans every three months for the first year and then after one year in remission, every 6 months accordingly since that time, with no reoccurrence showing up. The PET scans have shown NO cancer cells that can be detected anywhere.
Jamie’s treatment at the Burzynski Clinic lasted a period of almost two years. He was on intravenous antineoplastin treatment for 13 months and then switched to the pill form (maintenance program) of the same treatment for 8 months.
The side effects Jamie suffered from the treatment were acceptable and very small compared with traditional radiation and chemotherapy. Typically the antineoplastin treatment caused some body swelling (due to the high sodium in the treatment), a few bouts with some gout like symptoms in his feet for a short period of time and then in his shoulder from time to time. Also, with the treatment running 24 hours a day, and consuming the required large quantities of water, there was the never ending bathroom breaks and with that a lot of interrupted sleep—so fatigue was also a factor. He also at one point had a reoccurring rash, from time to time. All in all, a very small price to pay to be cured of an incurable disease!!!
Jamie has been deemed in "complete remission" by the Burzynski Clinic and so far that seems to be the case. Every time we see our nearby neurosurgeon (who has graciously remained a partner in our success from the beginning), he just shakes his head and says, “You just aren’t supposed to be here”. To which Jamie replies, “Actually, God has a plan and has provided the greatest miracle…I am supposed to be here”.
What helped our decision to go to the Burzynski Clinic was talking to other "survivors" from the clinic. The Clinic gave us names and phone numbers of people who are willing to speak about their experience with the clinic! We spoke with 4 different people and their families and decided that with some of them in "complete remission" and others considered "cured" that we had to go for it. Additionally, when you know that you can do all the normal chemo and radiation treatments available and still have no chance of surviving, it opens your eyes to other possibilities you might not have considered otherwise.
Keep in mind, our local Drs. were clear there is NO cure for Glioblastoma Multiforme no matter how much chemo and radiation you take. They also stated that “If Burzynski had a cure, they’d know about it”. Well, we are certainly glad we did NOT listen to them. As far as we know, there are no long-term survivors here where we live. Yet, there are many survivors at the Burzynski Clinic. It is our greatest wish that people could just know about the incredible opportunity the Burzynski Clinic presents and choose to pursue that treatment before trying everything else that is so damaging to their health.
Would we do this again? Emphatically YES! The treatments take time to learn and for Jamie it was a non-stop 24 hours-a-day on the treatment bags...which does get old.....and then there were a lot of pills to take, however, it is now September 2004, exactly 3 years since this all began with that seizure on Sept. 13, 2001. Jamie has been off treatment completely for one year. He is back working at his chosen career, suffering no side effects from the treatment whatsoever.
We give all our thanks to Dr. Burzynski for the incredible effort, time, trials and tribulations he has endured to continue the fight for the cure of cancer. God, the ultimate healer, had His hand in every step along the way and to Him goes our greatest praise! He has certainly gifted Dr. Burzynski with the wisdom and tenacity to find a cancer cure as well as orchestrating every part of our finding Dr. Burzynski,, and being able to participate and thereby gain remission and we believe cure of Jamie’s Glioblastoma Multiforme Brain Cancer.
All Glory, Praise and Honor to God!
Jamie and Kelly Brown