Hunting Hope: Cancer Care for Brandon Dean Wolfe

To track his progress, get more photos, treatment progress, join the Wolfepack and check out the blog, visit www.radiationpunchcard.com

We're also having a community fundraiser near Seattle coming up on December 1-3. Save the date and there will be lots of items to buy online or onsite including some great trips to Mexico and Idaho on auction. For information and to view the assortment and eventually buy or bid on something, visit www.yuletideyardsale.com

Update 11/3: The remarkable aspect of receiving treatment here is the personalized nature of the plan. They explain everything clearly, outlining the reasons behind each step, the expected response, and they don't withhold information. This week, I had the privilege of spending an hour with the figurehead and main doctor, going through every result line by line. He explained his approach to addressing each issue, detailing the specific supplements, medications, and actions required. It's this dedicated time with me and the entire staff that has me so assured that I'm on the right path. My headaches are gone. I'm sleeping better and my mom came to visit! It was so great to see her and have her come by and see the treatment center, talk to the doctors and show her around Phoenix. Her advice is always helpful she even made Keto cheesecake and cookies that were so good.

I also made the decision not to do chemotherapy, opting for a plan that aims to be as effective as Immunotherapy (IBT) without its side effects. I'm now on a regimen of supplements, compounded medications, and the first month of targeted blockers for a mutation that returned a 90% positive result. While I don't exactly know the specs between a stain and a genetic marker mutation, my doctor was very encouraged by this number.

I'm dedicated to getting to ketosis this week while, fasting, meditation, and exercise. I've eliminated dairy, pork, carbs, and sugar from my diet. So, I'm tired all the time, but Josh has been incredibly supportive in planning, cooking, and shopping. We also relocated to an Airbnb closer to the treatment center for the month.

Regarding funding, are paid up through next week and we still have more to go. I would hate to lose the momentum and progress I feel like I'm making, so please, if you haven't donated already, please help me out with a donation of at least 25$ today.

I want to send a big THANK YOU to everyone who has donated so far. I feel blessed, and I am truly thankful. A special thank you as well, as my birthday is coming up on Sunday. Stay tuned for a birthday update!

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Update 10/25: We are back in treatment! If you are reading this and donated, thank you from the deepest part of my soul. I can't tell you about the level of care we've been receiving from these brilliant and compassionate people. However, last Friday I started to feel like I was sick, tired, no appetite, sleeping all day and night, binge-watching YouTube on cancer therapies. Then it got worse - a fever, then a throbbing headache, then any light was blinding to the point that a dark room with the smallest sliver had me wearing sunglasses. Naturally, my doctors were concerned... 1-3% of patients with colorectal cancer metastasize to the brain. So I went to the hospital emergency room for a CT scan. To my relief, everything was clear except for a very low sodium level, which could cause "neurological bouts like light sensitivity." That was it? Not enough salt? I didn't buy it, and neither did my doc, so he gave me a blanket antibiotic, and within 24 hours, I was out of bed. I'm still only about 30% energy, but #blessed that it hadn't moved to my brain.

Something else that gives me hope is that one of the MDs I see on the daily had colorectal cancer himself, stage II. He designed a custom targeted treatment for himself and wiithin two month his cancer was gone 100%! Granted, my cancer is farther along than his, and it's likely that some of my tumors mutated and the targeted treatment won't work on them, but this connection confirms this is the journey I am meant to be on w treatment center, with these doctors and these nurses and sharing it with you.

Update 10/18: We are still taking a break to raise funds to pay the next installment in Arizona. Of course, I'm bummed as I was feeling good, ramping up my treatment levels, getting into a groove here in Arizona, and feeling like I was on a great path to recovery. If you are reading this and can give, every amount, large or small, helps.

Update 10/11: After two weeks, we have needed to take a break from our treatment until we can pay the remainder in full. So we've spent most of the week making calls and talking to people about putting together some fundraising events. Y'all have been so amazing with your generosity and I know it's only been two weeks, but there is a light in Brandon that has been ignited again in the sun of Phoenix, the hope of a treatment that feels right and the amazing doctors and nurses that are there cheering him on everyday. Thank you to everyone that has donated to get us this far!

Update 10/2: Just finished our first week of treatment in Arizona, which has been great. Brandon started with treatment to get him healthy enough to do the deeper treatments. Started with cognitive work, initial 'light" treatments , and a strictly Keto lifestyle mixed with intermittent fasting. New tests were ordered on his original biopsies, which we should have in about three weeks. Once he gets the sign off with his labs, he can start on the more advanced treatments. Aside from some weight loss due to dietary adjustments, he's feeling remarkably well. He is so fortunate to have a dedicated team of six doctors and a group of incredibly professional nurses who provide unwavering support. They have crafted a highly personalized treatment plan, entirely customized with the sole purpose of saving his life. This is the standard of care that should be available to everyone. Also, we added a blog and treatment tracker to the website www.radiationpunchcard.com

Update 9/14: We did it! We put our lives on hold and relocating to Phoenix for a two-month treatment journey. We leave for Phoenix this weekend and start treatment on Monday. Thank you to everyone that has donated to help make this happen to give Brandon the critical care he needs.

If you’ve met my partner, Brandon Dean Wolfe, you probably see him as a goofball; a fitness-focused, clever, witty, wannabe stand-up comedian. If you dig deeper you’d realize he is one of the most empathic, strong and loyal guys you'll ever know.

Brandon is also in the fight for his life with stage IV Colorectal Cancer.

The initial stage III diagnosis said that he needed six months of chemotherapy and six weeks of radiation before doing the surgery to remove the tumor. He started that course of treatment only to have one thing after another go wrong. Within a year the cancer had progressed to stage IV and metastasized into his liver and lungs. It was at this point his oncologist could only recommend more chemo and informed us that surgery would actually never happen.

The standard of cancer care had failed and only exacerbated his disease. We were unwilling to accept this, but at a crossroads--tapped out financially and fighting healthcare system’s status quo. We knew we needed to reverse the damage the toxins had done to his body and get him a different doctor.

So we started researching alternative treatments, consulting with experts and looking for those using cutting-edge technology and an integrative approach to care. We came up with a treatment plan that has us relocating to Arizona for eight weeks to a clinic that is actually doing what we thought our doctors were doing--saving lives and giving people a fair shot at beating the disease.

After visiting with them this week, talking to doctors, current and past patients (some walking out of there with their tumors shrunk by 50 percent!), we are convinced that this is where he needs to be. But it's not cheap; roughly $80,000 plus lodging/transportation/meals. With insurance unwilling to cover any of it, I refuse to accept that money would be the only thing preventing him from survival. Knowing we couldn't do this alone, I decided to reach out for help.

So, this is the most heartfelt ask we can ever make. Can you pitch in whatever you can—$10, $20, $100+ —to get Brandon the treatment he needs? I'm sending this to every person I know and every person Brandon knows. We are also asking you to share this request with your friends, family, and post it to social media—anywhere and everywhere. And to do it quickly—time is not on our side. Here is the link to the website, if you want to share it or you can share this page as well.

https://www.radiationpunchcard.com

I realize that even though Brandon and I have been together for the last six years, many of you have not met me or know our full story, but I’ve spent a couple of the last six years fighting my own late-stage cancer diagnosis. Brandon was by my side advocating for me, protecting me and doing everything he could to keep me alive and it's no different now that the tables have turned. I’d love to talk to you and answer any questions you might have or hear any suggestions or advice as well. Please don’t hesitate to reach out for any reason. 

Brandon is only 45 years old. A tumor reduction size of 50% would give him give him a chance at beating this and give us many more years to spend with friends and family; making great memories and enjoying every second of life. 

With great love and thanks,

Josh