BHT as a Possible Chemical for Combating Ovarian Cancer Robert S. Fritzius B.S. Electrical Engineering Installed 07 Apr 2007. Latest update 13 Feb 2008. New or changed material is in bold. Myra Fritzius (2005) In March 2006 my wife, Myra DaVault Fritzius (age 62), underwent surgery for what was thought to be colon cancer. Two masses on her colon (including two segments of her colon), and several involved lymph nodes were removed. During surgery it was discovered that her left ovary, which was in contact with one of the colon tumors, was also cancerous. The ovary was removed as well. Note: For three months prior to the above mentioned surgery, Myra and her family physician had been trying, through a series of tests, to ascertain the cause of her recently acquired gastro-intestinal problems. Finally she was scheduled for an upper GI tract endoscopy on one day, with a CAT scan and colonoscopy on the following day. When she checked in for the colonoscopy, her doctor told her that when the procedure was over she wasn't to go home, because the CAT scan had revealed a grapefruit sized tumor located on the right side of the upper transverse part of her colon, and a tennis ball sized tumor, near her left ovary. ... She was instructed to check into the hospital for surgery, which had already been scheduled for the following morning. [Added 26 Apr 2007. Edited on 03 May 2007] I had already been pumped up on reports about the track record of the antioxidant BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene) in combating lipid enveloped (fatty coated) viruses such as Influenza, Herpes Simplex, and the Epstein Barr Virus (which is said to cause stomach cancer). I asked Myra's oncologist(*), if, based on the chance that a fatty coated virus (name unknown) was a causal factor in her cancer, would it be OK for us, in addition to whatever they were going to do chemotherapy-wise, to put her on a daily oral intake of BHT. (I had just given him a soapbox session about BHT versus fatty coated viruses.) (*) Dr. John P. Whitecar, Jr., Columbus Hematology & Oncology Clinic, Columbus, MS The doctor didn't give us his blessing on the matter, or urge us not to do it. Rather, what he told us was, "It won't hurt her." So, what follows is not meant to imply that BHT was a factor in Myra's recovery, but I think that her remarkable progress (with BHT as a possible factor) merits a few remarks. The day after Myra checked out of the hospital, with us still not knowing what kind of cancer she had (tissue samples had been forwarded to the Mayo Clinic for analysis), we started her on a regimen of 125 milligrams of BHT per day, which she took orally with meals containing animal fat. (Later on we reduced her daily intakes as noted on the graph below.) Based on the tissue analysis, Myra's cancer turned out to be ovarian which had metasticized to the colon, and not the other way around. The final diagnosis was Stage IV ovarian cancer, so Taxol and Carboplatin were selected for her chemotherapy. Speculative section on HPV removed 3 Jan 2008. Three weeks after surgery Myra got her first of six chemotherapy infusions. These were given every three weeks. Myra's CA-125 Decrease Curve The tumor marker CA-125 is not a good indicator of cancer activity for all women, but in Myra's case it was. Her initial reading, immediately prior to her first chemo infusion, was 1512. Her second CA-125 reading, three weeks later, was 357. When compared to the initial level, the second reading indicated that her tumor marker had decreased by a ratio of 4.24:1. Between the second and third infusions, her CA-125 level dropped from 357 to 52. That corresponds to a 6.87:1 decrease ratio. Expessed on a percentage basis, these decreases were 76 and 85 percent respectively. The following graph shows Myra's CA-125 levels and her average daily intakes of BHT. The graph now shows one CA-125 reading done a week prior to the start of her chemo. [Added 22 Dec 2007.] Dr. Whitecar has told at least two of his cancer treatment/research colleagues that, for Stage IV ovarian cancer, her CA-125 curve has decreased the fastest he's ever seen. Myra finished her chemo series and checked back into the hospital in September 2006 to have her remaining ovary, uterus, and other ovarian-cancer prone tissues, removed. (These would have been removed during her original surgery if it had been known that her cancer was ovarian.) The surgeon who performed this second operation also looked for visual evidence of any further cancer. He said, "I saw places where cancer had been, but it's not there now." This second surgery was especially tough on Myra in that she was physically at a low point from her recent chemo series and further so because the surgeon, in removing some adhesions that had occurred following the first surgery, perforated her colon. That necessitated a new short resection of her colon. Her digestive track took a long time to re-establish a revised operating procedure. (Actually, it hadn't attained full functionality before this surgery took place.) Thank God that Zelnorm was still on the market. [Added 03 May 2007.] Based on her excellent response to the chemotherapy, Myra's oncologist recommended that she do one year of what's called consolidation, in which she gets just Taxol once a month. She elected to do that, and things appear to be coming along fine. With half of these sessions completed, her CA-125 is currently hovering in the 6 - 8 range on that original scale. All of her CT scans since the first surgery have shown no evidence of cancer. Back in the middle of the series of Taxol plus Carboplatin, one of Dr. Whitecar's nurse-practioners was trying to help me adjust my enthusiasm for the possible effects of BHT on cancer. He mentioned the necessity of conducting a double-blind study before anything definitive can be said about any new or modified kind of procedure. I totally agree. Let the tests begin! In 1988 a researcher in Czechoslovakia published the results of a study in which BHT, and it's kindred antioxidant, butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), had been added to human and animal food. He found evidence that these chemicals led to a lowered incidence of cancer(1). He also established what he considered an acceptable daily intake rate of BHT or BHA. That rate was 0.6 mg of either chemical for each Kilogram of body mass. That rate corresponds to 0.27 mg for each pound of body weight. During Myra's chemotherapy, she weighed about 200 pounds (90.7 Kg). So, for her, that acceptable daily rate (.27mg/lb x 200 lb) would have been 54 mg. Not knowing about the aforementioned study at the time, we gradually tapered Myra's daily intake of BHT to 80 mg. (A future entry will explain our reasons for the reduction.)[*] [These two paragraphs were added on 13 Apr 2007 and reworked on 15 Apr 2007.] [*] I had been orally injesting 250 mg of BHT per day since October 2005, but Myra wouldn't touch the stuff, at least not orally. She did find it was great for rapidly clearing up cold sores, (mix a tiny bit in some butter and dab it on) but none of it got past her lips! I was taking Plavix and baby asprin, per doctor's orders. (Best I can tell, both of these are also blood thinners.) About the time we started Myra on the BHT ("It won't hurt her.") I had become prone to bruising easily and in a number of cases, small dings on the back of my hands produced blood oozes. We figured that there was too much blood thinning going on, so we began reducing the amount of BHT that I was using. We'd share a 250 mg capsule. One day I'd get the big end and Myra would tale the small end. Next day we'd switch. That way we each got an average of 125 mg per day. My ooziness stopped. Later on we reduced both of our intakes to a third of a capsule per day (80 mg). Chemo typically causes a reduction in a person's blood platelets. For Myra the low point occurs about a week after her chemo. At these times she tends to get minor nose bleeds. We opted to curtail her BHT intake in the low point timeframe. [Added 15 May 2007.] Here is an expanded graph showing a time-line of Myra's CA-125 readings. [Added 22 Dec 2007.] Updated 13 Feb 2008. Myra - April 2007 *** Graphically Tracking Tumor Markers Filled-in Tumor Marker Series Graph Special Acknowledgements Myra and I thank God for the prayer, care and support which our family, friends, and our church family (Trinity Presbyterian Church of Starkville, MS) have given us. I especially thank Tony Hollick, of Bristol England, for telling me about BHT in 2005. Myra's oncology team has angels in it's midst. Thank you. [Added 15 May 2007.] References (1) Hocman, G., "Chemoprevention of cancer: phenolic antioxidants (BHT, BHA)," Int J Biochem, 20, 639-651 (1988) - PubMed Abstract Related Links Nutritional Supplements Safe And Beneficial For Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy And Radiation Therapy - CancerCompasssm news article, April 18, 2007. Butylated Hydroxytoluene (BHT) - Antioxidant Contact: Robert Fritzius Top