Help Tamara Beat Cancer
Donation protected
Dear Friends & Family,
After being diagnosed with breast cancer two years ago, Tamara Kok, wife and mother of five, continues to persevere on her journey to the fullness of health. Through much prayer and discernment, she opted for alternative therapies that would strengthen her immune system to help her body fight the cancer, foregoing the scattershot and destructive approach of conventional chemo and radiation. This has taken great courage and faith! Many of us have walked this journey with Tamara and have watched her body and health transform. She has remarked on occasion that she “has more energy now than before her first pregnancy!” In short, the treatment approach has been effective, the tumors are shrinking, and some have disappeared completely! However, the cancer is not completely gone, and further treatment is needed. The Koks have incurred massive debt as insurance will not pay for “alternative” therapies (even though it costs less than conventional treatment!). Please consider helping them by donating to this campaign. Your support will help the Koks pay for Phase 2 of her current treatment and help her cross the finish line!
Please read on to learn more about Tamara's story in her own words...
Tamara's Journey
"I was first diagnosed with breast cancer in November 2016. At first, it was only found in my right breast and was just pre-cancer. However, an MRI revealed there was cancer in my left breast and lymph nodes, putting me between stage 2 and 3. At that time, the plan was for me to do 20 weeks of chemo, followed by a double mastectomy, breast reconstruction, and then radiation (which is very bad to do after breast reconstruction, but still they were going to have me do it.)
I did one round of chemo and lost all of my hair. However, I did not really get that sick or anything. It was just that during that time, my mother began challenging me about the chemo, and I promised her I would pray about it. Long story short, I felt the Lord was leading me to do alternative treatments. I contacted a friend who had taken her husband to Mexico, and she put me in contact with a very devout Catholic doctor in Tijuana. I did 3 weeks of treatments with her in early 2017.
When I got home, I set about getting my health back. I began exercising and watching my diet. I ate a raw food only diet for many weeks and then slowly added in egg and chicken. Eventually, I moved into a paleo diet and then a ketogenic diet. All in all, I lost over 70 pounds in a one year period.
In September of 2017, a follow up MRI showed that 2 tumors were totally gone, but a new spot had showed up, so I went back to Mexico for 3 more weeks of treatments. Throughout 2018, I have felt great. Although the tumors in my breast were not gone, we thought we were doing a good job of containing them. So, when we got a little extra money this spring, we bought an RV. God’s hand was in it though.
Thermographies showed that my right breast had increased vascularity, meaning the tumor could be growing. So, I contacted the Cancer Center for Healing in Irvine, CA, after Caprice Hardy sent me a podcast with the doctor there. I had heard of her already and had thought about going to see her back when I was first deciding about Mexico. I decided to contact the center. The doctor sent me for PET/CT scan, and it was found that it had metastasized to my bone. Nothing in my right breast though!
I first came to the center on 9-11, an ironic date to say the least. What drew me to the center is that they do a blood test called RGCC which tests the cancer cells in your blood against various chemo drugs and supplements to see what will be effective for your cancer. This test is only offered in Greece, and so my blood had to be overnighted to Greece! The doctor at the center then had me come back for some pre-treatments in late September, and we geared up for me to come back to the center in October for what was supposed to have been 3 weeks of treatments.
Since I was much worse off than what anyone expected, my 3 weeks of treatments has stretched into as much as 27 weeks. The first 15 weeks is phase 1 and consists of daily IVs of mistletoe and salicinium. Mistletoe helps combat the negative side effects of chemo, and salicinium blocks the cancer tumor’s production of nagalase, an enzyme it produces so it can hide from your immune system. Insulin Potentiated Therapy combined with low dose chemo is also part of this phase and should be administered once a week during this time. (I got so sick and have not been able to do it these last 2 weeks). Cancer cells love glucose and have about 9 times more insulin receptors on them so they can suck up glucose. The Insulin Potentiated Therapy drops your blood sugar very low. The cancer cells open up for the insulin, thinking they are going to get glucose, but instead they get the low dose chemo. This is why only a low dose is needed. The insulin makes it just as effective as full chemo.
So far, this has been quite effective for me. I am blessed in that my breast tumors are all palpable, so I can feel them shrinking! The terrible, almost excruciating, pain I was having in my left hip totally went away after the 3rd treatment!
Phase 2 is dendritic cell therapy. This is a immunotherapy to be done only after your tumors are gone or nearly gone. Dendritic cells are what stimulate your lymph nodes to make super T lymphocytes. These are cancer-killing cells. This phase is meant to prevent any recurrence of cancer. Once again, my blood will be shipped off, this time to Germany, to culture my own dendritic cells and literally make about a trillion of them to be put back into my body through IV.
None of this is covered by insurance. The insurance company only sees “alternative” and refuses to pay, even though much of it, like the chemo drugs, are conventional. The irony is that although expensive, it is still cheaper for the insurance company than conventional treatments. Right now, phase one is costing us about $11,000/week. Phase 2 should not be so expensive, but it all depends on how well my body responds. We are humbly asking you to help us pay for phase 2. Right now, we are just accruing massive debt. We also have to pay for me to have a place to stay. Remember that RV? I am living in it, and we found a very nice RV park on a cove of the bay at Newport Beach. I am very blessed to have a place I can call “home” during this time. Vincent still works in San Diego during the week, so he now stays with me and drives down to San Diego while he is here. It really helps to get to see him each week.
Providentially, our daughter, Tian, graduated from college in September. She is home running the place. I could not have come here for these treatments if she were not home to help. I am so blessed to have such a capable daughter!
Any help you could give us would be most appreciated. I will certainly offer up my sufferings as a prayer for each of you who help us. From the bottom of hearts, thank you!!!!"
Tamara & Vincent Kok
After being diagnosed with breast cancer two years ago, Tamara Kok, wife and mother of five, continues to persevere on her journey to the fullness of health. Through much prayer and discernment, she opted for alternative therapies that would strengthen her immune system to help her body fight the cancer, foregoing the scattershot and destructive approach of conventional chemo and radiation. This has taken great courage and faith! Many of us have walked this journey with Tamara and have watched her body and health transform. She has remarked on occasion that she “has more energy now than before her first pregnancy!” In short, the treatment approach has been effective, the tumors are shrinking, and some have disappeared completely! However, the cancer is not completely gone, and further treatment is needed. The Koks have incurred massive debt as insurance will not pay for “alternative” therapies (even though it costs less than conventional treatment!). Please consider helping them by donating to this campaign. Your support will help the Koks pay for Phase 2 of her current treatment and help her cross the finish line!
Please read on to learn more about Tamara's story in her own words...
Tamara's Journey
"I was first diagnosed with breast cancer in November 2016. At first, it was only found in my right breast and was just pre-cancer. However, an MRI revealed there was cancer in my left breast and lymph nodes, putting me between stage 2 and 3. At that time, the plan was for me to do 20 weeks of chemo, followed by a double mastectomy, breast reconstruction, and then radiation (which is very bad to do after breast reconstruction, but still they were going to have me do it.)
I did one round of chemo and lost all of my hair. However, I did not really get that sick or anything. It was just that during that time, my mother began challenging me about the chemo, and I promised her I would pray about it. Long story short, I felt the Lord was leading me to do alternative treatments. I contacted a friend who had taken her husband to Mexico, and she put me in contact with a very devout Catholic doctor in Tijuana. I did 3 weeks of treatments with her in early 2017.
When I got home, I set about getting my health back. I began exercising and watching my diet. I ate a raw food only diet for many weeks and then slowly added in egg and chicken. Eventually, I moved into a paleo diet and then a ketogenic diet. All in all, I lost over 70 pounds in a one year period.
In September of 2017, a follow up MRI showed that 2 tumors were totally gone, but a new spot had showed up, so I went back to Mexico for 3 more weeks of treatments. Throughout 2018, I have felt great. Although the tumors in my breast were not gone, we thought we were doing a good job of containing them. So, when we got a little extra money this spring, we bought an RV. God’s hand was in it though.
Thermographies showed that my right breast had increased vascularity, meaning the tumor could be growing. So, I contacted the Cancer Center for Healing in Irvine, CA, after Caprice Hardy sent me a podcast with the doctor there. I had heard of her already and had thought about going to see her back when I was first deciding about Mexico. I decided to contact the center. The doctor sent me for PET/CT scan, and it was found that it had metastasized to my bone. Nothing in my right breast though!
I first came to the center on 9-11, an ironic date to say the least. What drew me to the center is that they do a blood test called RGCC which tests the cancer cells in your blood against various chemo drugs and supplements to see what will be effective for your cancer. This test is only offered in Greece, and so my blood had to be overnighted to Greece! The doctor at the center then had me come back for some pre-treatments in late September, and we geared up for me to come back to the center in October for what was supposed to have been 3 weeks of treatments.
Since I was much worse off than what anyone expected, my 3 weeks of treatments has stretched into as much as 27 weeks. The first 15 weeks is phase 1 and consists of daily IVs of mistletoe and salicinium. Mistletoe helps combat the negative side effects of chemo, and salicinium blocks the cancer tumor’s production of nagalase, an enzyme it produces so it can hide from your immune system. Insulin Potentiated Therapy combined with low dose chemo is also part of this phase and should be administered once a week during this time. (I got so sick and have not been able to do it these last 2 weeks). Cancer cells love glucose and have about 9 times more insulin receptors on them so they can suck up glucose. The Insulin Potentiated Therapy drops your blood sugar very low. The cancer cells open up for the insulin, thinking they are going to get glucose, but instead they get the low dose chemo. This is why only a low dose is needed. The insulin makes it just as effective as full chemo.
So far, this has been quite effective for me. I am blessed in that my breast tumors are all palpable, so I can feel them shrinking! The terrible, almost excruciating, pain I was having in my left hip totally went away after the 3rd treatment!
Phase 2 is dendritic cell therapy. This is a immunotherapy to be done only after your tumors are gone or nearly gone. Dendritic cells are what stimulate your lymph nodes to make super T lymphocytes. These are cancer-killing cells. This phase is meant to prevent any recurrence of cancer. Once again, my blood will be shipped off, this time to Germany, to culture my own dendritic cells and literally make about a trillion of them to be put back into my body through IV.
None of this is covered by insurance. The insurance company only sees “alternative” and refuses to pay, even though much of it, like the chemo drugs, are conventional. The irony is that although expensive, it is still cheaper for the insurance company than conventional treatments. Right now, phase one is costing us about $11,000/week. Phase 2 should not be so expensive, but it all depends on how well my body responds. We are humbly asking you to help us pay for phase 2. Right now, we are just accruing massive debt. We also have to pay for me to have a place to stay. Remember that RV? I am living in it, and we found a very nice RV park on a cove of the bay at Newport Beach. I am very blessed to have a place I can call “home” during this time. Vincent still works in San Diego during the week, so he now stays with me and drives down to San Diego while he is here. It really helps to get to see him each week.
Providentially, our daughter, Tian, graduated from college in September. She is home running the place. I could not have come here for these treatments if she were not home to help. I am so blessed to have such a capable daughter!
Any help you could give us would be most appreciated. I will certainly offer up my sufferings as a prayer for each of you who help us. From the bottom of hearts, thank you!!!!"
Tamara & Vincent Kok
Organizer and beneficiary
Caprice Hardy
Organizer
San Jose, CA
TAMARA KOK
Beneficiary
