Simply as no two cancers are the identical, remedy isn’t one-size-fits-all — and for one Arizona mom and instructor, personalised chemotherapy turned the trail to survival.
Tammy Morrow, 55, had been wholesome for many years when, after seeing a health care provider for what she thought was a abdomen bug in December 2023, she was blindsided by a analysis of stage 4 metastatic breast most cancers.
The most cancers had unfold to her bones, lymph nodes, liver and different areas, she instructed Fox Information Digital. It turned evident pretty rapidly that her illness was past the scope of conventional remedies.
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“I obtained one spherical of conventional chemo within the hospital,” stated Morrow, who lives in Phoenix, Arizona. “After just the one treatment, all of my hair fell out within just eight days.”
“The rapid hair loss demonstrates the systemic nature and toxicity of traditional chemo,” she added.
Morrow’s oncologist instructed her that she seemingly solely had months to reside, however she was decided to seek out one other different.
By way of her analysis, she discovered Envita Medical Middle in Scottsdale, which gives a novel most cancers remedy referred to as Genetically Focused Fractionated Chemotherapy (GTFC).
“When I arrived at Envita, I was not taking in food orally, and for almost three months, I had to receive all of my nutrition from a catheter delivered directly into my veins,” Morrow stated.
She started receiving GTFC remedies, which she credit as “essential to survival.”
“In just 21 weeks, my diagnosis changed from terminal to normal.”
“I am persuaded that I would not be alive today if I had not received care at Envita,” Morrow instructed Fox Information Digital.
“Now, I am thriving.”
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Morrow’s final a number of blood exams have proven no proof of illness, and her most up-to-date PET scan in Might confirmed that she is cancer-free.
“In just 21 weeks, my diagnosis changed from terminal to normal,” she stated.
Making it private
Genetically focused fractionated chemotherapy (GTFC) is a focused strategy to most cancers remedy that personalizes chemotherapy based mostly on a affected person’s genetic make-up and particular tumor biology, in accordance with Dr. John Oertle, chief medical director at Envita Medical Facilities.
“This method also enhances the tumor’s ability to absorb the chemotherapy, allowing us to use reduced dosages while maintaining effectiveness,” Oertle, who makes a speciality of “individualized, outcome-based care models for chronic disease and integrative oncology,” instructed Fox Information Digital.
GTFC is designed to ship drugs with extra precision whereas having fewer unwanted effects, he famous.
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“Conventional chemotherapy targets all rapidly dividing cells, both cancerous and healthy, using high doses, which often leads to widespread side effects,” Oertle stated.
“Additionally, we have found that 90% of patients on conventional chemotherapy are dealing with cancer that has already become resistant to it.”
GTFC is designed to particularly goal most cancers cells with genetic mutations, he stated, in order that extra chemo will get into the tumor.
“While only 5% to 7% of conventional chemotherapy administered through an IV typically reaches the tumor, GTFC significantly improves this uptake,” Oertle stated.
“As a result, we can reduce the overall dosage and administer treatment more frequently.”
“Not only are these specific treatments resulting in better outcomes, they are less harmful as well.”
Fox Information medical contributor Dr. Nicole Saphier, who will not be related to Envita, referred to GTFC as “the future of cancer treatment.”
“Historically, we depended on traditional chemotherapy to kill cancer cells,” she instructed Fox Information Digital.
“Unfortunately, traditional chemotherapy isn’t very specific, so while it killed cancer cells, it also killed healthy cells.”
Due to this limitation, conventional chemo can have “severe” short-term and long-term unwanted effects, Saphier confirmed.
“GTFC is a targeted therapy, which is a type of cancer treatment that’s designed to attack cancer cells while leaving healthy cells alone,” she went on.
“Not only are these specific treatments resulting in better outcomes, they are less harmful as well.”
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Whereas there are some potential unwanted effects with GTFC, they’re “significantly fewer” than with conventional chemo, Oertle stated.
“Many patients are even able to maintain their hair,” he added.
In Morrow’s case, she stated her unwanted effects have been “minimal,” even after receiving GTFC chemo remedies a few times each week for 21 weeks.
Her predominant unwanted effects have been weak point and digestive points for a day or two after the remedy.
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“I was even able to work full-time during my treatment,” she said. “On a couple of occasions, I virtually attended work meetings while receiving the chemo treatments.”
Who can get GTFC?
In addition to breast cancer, GTFC can be an option for any type of cancer that needs systemic therapy, according to Oertle.
“For early-stage cancers, we utilize advanced blood tests to ensure that the disease has not spread,” he said.
“If the cancer remains localized, we offer other precision-based, less invasive treatments that may eliminate the need for GTFC. However, for cancers that have spread beyond the initial tumor, GTFC may be an effective treatment option.”
“Most people simply cannot afford to pay for this type of medical care.”
There are some barriers to receiving this type of chemo, however.
“It is very difficult to receive this care because no insurance company in America will cover the advanced and targeted integrated care Envita offers,” Morrow told Fox News Digital.
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“Even though the chemotherapy drugs I received at Envita are a part of the normal medical protocol, because the method of delivering these chemotherapy drugs is not normal, my insurance company refused to cover any of it.”
Morrow paid nearly $250,000 out of pocket for her chemo treatments.
“Most people simply cannot afford to pay for this type of medical care — and I could not have afforded it, either,” she said.
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To cover the cost, Morrow’s two sons began a GoFundMe and raised nearly $120,000, and Morrow and her husband took out a second mortgage to cowl the remaining.
“I would encourage people to not let the cost prevent them from seeking out this innovative and life-saving approach to cancer care,” Morrow urged.
“I pray that one day, I will have the money to help others receive care at Envita. In the meantime, my husband and I have two guest bedrooms waiting to be filled by out-of-town patients.”
Envita contains the beneath disclaimer on its web site.
For extra Well being articles, go to www.foxnews.com/well being
“Disclaimer: Individual results will vary. Envita makes no guarantees for outcomes. Each patient’s case is unique. Please consult your doctor before making any changes to your medical treatment. Not every patient is a candidate for care or achieves these results. Treatments used in this case may not all be FDA-approved for the treatment of this condition.”
Fox Information Digital reached out to the FDA requesting remark.