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Abraham hopeful after cancer treatment in Mississippi
Va. teen hopeful after cancer treatment in Mississippi
http://www.dailypress.com/news/local...lines-virginia By SONJA BARISIC Associated Press Writer October 9, 2006 NORFOLK, Va. -- Abraham Cherrix is coming home to Virginia this week, feeling energetic and hopeful that five weeks of treatment at a Mississippi clinic will help him defeat cancer. In August, the 16-year-old Eastern Shore teen won a court fight to forgo chemotherapy and seek alternative treatments. The family chose to work with Dr. Arnold Smith, medical director and radiation oncologist at the North Central Mississippi Regional Cancer Center in Greenwood, Miss., who uses radiation plus immunotherapy to strengthen the immune system through supplements and food. Low doses of radiation have shrunk the tennis-ball-sized tumor in his neck to the circumference of a half dollar, and the tumor in his chest similarly has decreased, Abraham said Monday by phone after completing his course of treatment. "I'm feeling wonderful," said Abraham, who has Hodgkin's disease, a cancer of the lymphatic system. "There's a pretty good chance that I am cancer-free." Abraham said he'll have a CT scan in Virginia in two months to monitor his condition, and he'll return to Mississippi for a checkup with Smith a month after that. His tumors shrank after chemotherapy at a Norfolk hospital last year but later returned. "You keep your fingers crossed. He seems to be doing well," said Abraham's father, Jay Cherrix, of Chincoteague. He added, "It's not like having a cold and you take antibiotics for it. This is a formidable enemy that is relentless in its mission to harm you." Cherrix said the family has confidence in Smith and that Abraham looks good, feels good and has a good appetite; the tall, skinny teen said he's gained several pounds. "This little boy has been through an awful lot and he's remarkably resilient," Cherrix said. "I think he's going to have a nice long life, and that makes me very happy." Clinic officials did not immediately return a telephone call seeking comment Monday. Abraham was happy that his treatment under Smith did not include chemotherapy. He had been so sickened by three months of chemotherapy that he declined a second, more intensive round that doctors recommended early this year. His then-oncologist alerted social services officials when Abraham chose to go on a sugar-free, organic diet and use the Hoxsey tonic, an alternative liquid herbal treatment that is banned from sale in the United States. The American Cancer Society says there is no scientific evidence that Hoxsey is effective in treating cancer. At an August court hearing in Accomack County Circuit Court in Accomac, Abraham's attorneys and social services officials reached a resolution to allow the teenager to forgo chemotherapy and let him be treated by an oncologist of his choice who is board-certified in radiation therapy and interested in alternative treatments. The family must provide the court updates on Abraham's treatment and condition every three months until he's cured, or turns 18, and notify the court immediately if treatment is discontinued. Abraham said the low doses of radiation prescribed by Smith made him queasy but that was bearable. He's also been received intravenous medications and supplements, such as Vitamin C, to improve his immune system; he did not give details. He said he's still taking the Hoxsey tonic "here and there" and continues to try to avoid eating sugar. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Abraham Cherrix: http://www.abrahamsjourney.com Dr. Arnold Smith: http://www.cancernet.com/ |
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