About Me

My journey with breast cancer began in August 2007. After a roller coaster ride from hell, I thought it was over after 6 months. But 5 years later, it reared it’s ugly head with a frightening terminal diagnosis of Stage IV metastatic cancer. By 2012, tumors had crushed several vertebrae in my neck and spine and split my sacro-iliac joint apart. I lost the use of my legs and one arm. I had lesions on my liver, lungs, and lymph nodes. I was told I would likely not walk again and that I wouldn’t be alive in two months. My son was overseas.

With nothing to lose, I threw everything I could at healing. I employed a strict naturopathic regimen, received chemotherapy and radiation, and meditated on spiritual healing. I worked hard to rebuild joints and muscles and survive the cancer and toxic medicine. 13 months after diagnosis, most of my tumors were gone and I had regained 99% mobility. Although still considered terminal, I felt like I was going to live forever.

Then, Halloween of 2013, they found a rare and dangerous type of brain metastases with an average survival of 2.8 months after diagnosis (leptomeningeal carcinomatosis). The tumors were inoperable, not eligible for targeted radiation, and most chemotherapies couldn’t penetrate the blood-brain barrier (which also kept targeted immunotherapy out). I had to get creative.

I’m still alive… for now… and I am NEAD (No Evidence of Active Disease)!

By sharing my journey, I wish to encourage and empower you to take charge of your life and to defeat the obstacles that may face you. Perhaps my path will spark you to take note of your own experiences in a new way. One that allows you to incorporate the lessons you are learning into a formula for positive change.

Cliff Notes version of Diagnoses, Western Medicine Treatments, and alternative remedies of note:

• October, 2007 – Diagnosis of DCIS (ductal carcinoma in situ – stage 0)
• March, 2008 – Preventive unilateral (right) mastectomy, MD Anderson. 6 sentinel lymph nodes unremarkable except for slight trace of cytokeratin
• October, 2012 – Diagnosis of Stage IV metastatic breast cancer, HER2+, ER/PR-. Mets to lungs, liver, lymph, throughout spine and pelvis. Prognosis less than 2 months survival. Lost full use of legs and one arm from tumors crushing 5-7 vertebrae and splitting sacro-iliac joint in hip. Began strict changes to diet and ingestion of naturopathic remedies (see “What I did and do and why” blog.)
• October, 2012 – January, 2013 – Carboplatin (5x), Taxol (13x), Herceptin (4x), Zometa (4x). Radiation treatments to pelvis (21x), to neck (15x), to T11 mid-spine area (10x). Against doctors’ orders, joined fitness club, and began to work out carefully doing aqua-robics, circuit training, and yoga.
• January, 2013 – present – Herceptin & Perjeta every 3 wks, Zometa every 6 wks (now every 6 mos).
• November, 2013 – 9 metastases/tumors identified in parietal lobe and cerebellum. Leptomeningeal involvement implies just weeks to live. 1 dose of intrathecal Methotrexate administered. Not expected to do anything but perhaps buy time. Tried Tykerb (crosses blood-brain barrier, Herceptin and Perjeta don’t), but liver, pancreas, and heart couldn’t tolerate it so no full dose admnistered. Quadrupled daily ingestion of Cannabis Oil, removed infected root canal tooth, and focused on intensive daily meditation.
• December, 2013 – Largest tumor (parietal) and 3 mets gone without a trace. 1 IT Methotrexate dose administered. Adverse reaction.
• March, 2014 – Of remaining 5 mets, 3 stable, 2 show significant progression. 1 IT dose Methotrexate. Adverse reaction.
• May, 2014 – 5 stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) treatments to cerebellum.
• September, 2014 – PET, brain MRI NEAD (no evidence of active disease)

• Present – While periodic brain MRIs occasionally show new suspicious masses, they have thus far turned out to be scar tissue from the radiation or previously existing ‘spots’. I continue to insist on watching and waiting and have avoided unnecessary radiation treatments. Most recent NEAD scans December  2018.

Here is a link to my story in Radical Remissions

Here is a link to an Interview in Breast Cancer Wellness

All original content contained on this web site, kaiulanifacciani.com, is copyrighted, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 Kaiulani Facciani.