Ask Wednesday: Vernon DeWayne Voss on killing cancer naturally

Even if the doctors consider it whacko

Edited by Morris Dean

My cousin DeWayne Voss was a boyhood friend. We played chess together, we boxed (although hitting each other in the head quickly lost its appeal). We drew cartoons and made posters for church. He would invite a few children from the neighborhood and we would play tent revival – DeWayne taking the role of the preacher, of course. He was as gifted an orator as he was a cartoonist. (Some of his current cartoons are starting to appear in our "Fish for Friday" column.)
    I learned earlier this year that DeWayne, whom we now call Vern, has cancer, and several weeks ago he and I had a long telephone conversation from his home in Tucson, Arizona. What Vern told me was so remarkable, it seemed almost imperative that the story of his dealing with the situation be shared with others. We are grateful that he agreed to be interviewed. [Our questions are in italics.]

Cousin-brother, let's start by having you tell us how you learned you even had cancer, and when did you find out?
    While Carolyn [his wife] and I were in Arkansas in October 2013 I was experiencing some pain in my left side. After we returned home, the pain increased. I went to the doctor and had a blood test. Its results indicated an extremely elevated PSA (790), and an unusual liver count. The doctor immediately ordered a CT scan. It revealed enlarged lymph nodes and spots in the pelvic area and lower spine. He stated that when cancer migrates from the prostate this is usually the path it takes.
    He immediately referred me to a urologist. The urologist did a prostate biopsy and a full bone scan. Of the 12 biopsies, 10 were cancerous. The bone scan showed spots indicating cancer at the base of the skull and in my spine, ribs, sternum, pelvic area, and right femur. The urologist stated it was a stage-4 aggressive metastatic cancer.

Hadn't there been earlier signs or indications? How had they been missed?
    In 2007, I had a high PSA count (8). But a follow-up test showed that the count had dropped to 5.

So, they didn't think there was anything to worry about then?
    Because the PSA count had gone down and there were no other symptoms, the urologist thought I was okay.

Learning you had "the Big C" must have been quite a blow, Vern. How did you, and Carolyn, take the news?
    Carolyn and I were together when the doctor told us. To be quite truthful, we were concerned but not alarmed, because we firmly believe nothing is impossible with God. We told our family and friends everything we had learned.

I doubt that few could have taken it so calmly. Don't think I would have. How did you manage to do that?
    Because my hope is in Christ, not in man.

What treatment was recommended? What did your doctors think the options were?
    The pain in my left side cam from my kidney not being able to drain properly due to the enlarged lymph nodes that had displaced my left ureter. For that, the doctor recommended inserting a stent in the ureter.
    They also recommended that I begin taking shots of the hormone Firmagon in my stomach each month, to lower my testosterone level.
    To kill the cancer, they said I could opt for chemo, bone drugs, or radiation.

What did you decide based on their recommendations?
    I agreed to the stent and the shots, but NOT to any chemo, bone drugs, or radiation. The doctor inserted a stent and the pain in my left side ceased.
    I continue to get the monthly Firmagon shots.

As you told me on the phone, Vern, the key thing you did was to undertake what I believe you called an "alkaline diet." What is that, and how had you learned about it?
     Because God created us a three-part person, SPIRIT, SOUL, and BODY, all three are important to treat. I know that God is my Source. I read the Bible, which gives me strength, hope, and encouragement.
    Carolyn helps me with the physical part. In the beginning I was given the book How to Kill Cancer before It Kills You!, by Budd Kramer. Much of what he recommends in the book is what I do.
    Through research and prayer, I have been doing the following since my initial diagnosis:

1. Changing my body to be more alkaline and less acidic 
   
   
2. Staying away from processed and fast food as much as possible
3. Taking NO coffee that hasn't been decaffeinated, and NO refined sugar
4. Taking good supplements
5. Drinking good water
6. Following the Budwig Protocol: "Healing Products for Healtful Living"
7. Following the Baking Soda Protocol:
   
8. Following the Essiac Tea Protocol: "Quality Organic Essiac Tea at Discount Prices"
9. Following the Asparagus Protocol: "Cancer and Asparagus Puree"
10. Exercising regularly – walking, playing golf, and lifting hand-weights 

I understand from what you told me on the phone that a person doesn't "just go on" the diet, but follows a prescribed procedure of steps to build up to a daily program. How does that work? What's the purpose of each step?
     The references given above describe the procedures. The whole undertaking is a journey, and although the basics may stay the same, we tweak things as we learn. For the first step mentioned, to make my body Ph more alkaline, I take one teaspoon of baking soda with one teaspoon of blackstrap molasses in an 8-oz. glass of water on an empty stomach each day. I periodically check the acidity/alkalinity on a piece of Ph test strip. Supposedly, cancer can't survive at a reading of 8 to 8-1/2 (according to the Youtube video).

Tell us about avoiding meat as a part of the program. What's the idea behind that?
    In researching the alkaline diet we learned that meat is acidic, so that is why I don’t eat much of it.

Have you formed any opinions about eating meat in general? What do you recommend to your friends, whether they have cancer or not?
    Meat should not be the focus of each meal, but an occasional small portion. If my friends ask, I recommend eating less meat. And what meat you do eat should be organic or free from hormone injections.

How has the presence of cancer in your body changed since its discovery and the initial findings of the CT scans? Increased and spread? Regressed, gone away?
    Initially the PSA went down, but in March it begin to climb back up. In April it was higher, which signaled to the doctor that the cancer was spreading.
    In May (last month), he ordered another CT scan and a full-body bone scan.
    The results showed the lymph nodes to be normal, and showed no cancer spots in the base of the skull, sternum, ribs, or femur. Just a few spots remained in the lower spine and pelvic area.
    The doctor was shocked and amazed. All he could do for me was remove the stent from my ureter.

How have you felt during all this time, both physically and emotionally? You had that bad pain in your left side that sent you to the doctor in the first place. What other pain have you experienced?
    The only pain I had stopped when the stent was put in, and I’m still pain free (stent removed). I’ve never had any stress or depression about any of this because as I said, my trust is in Jesus.

What have your doctors said about your refusal to go on a chemo program? Do they take the diet seriously?
    I don’t talk to the doctors much about any of the natural things I’m doing. They only know three ways to treat cancer – poison it, burn it, cut it out. Anything else they pretty much consider whacko and, NO, they wouldn’t take the diet seriously.

The doctors just said okay to your refusal to let them intervene? They didn't try to persuade you to follow their recommendation?
    The doctors recommended taking bone drugs. I said no due to their side-effects.

Do you intend to ever let your doctors know about your diet and so on?
    Not sure whether, at some point, I will or not....

Why wouldn't you tell them?
    They don't understand doing anything natural.

You also mentioned that people were praying for you, and you felt that some divine intervention was going on also. [Another person we interviewed who had cancer was also praying and enlisting his friends to pray – our friend Jack Cover ("Living with kidney cancer"), who succumbed at the end of May.]
    I do believe that praying is vital. The Bible teaches it, and Jesus, our example, did it. Also I’ve witnessed the results of prayer in my lifetime (especially in Vietnam – 15 different combat engagements with the Vietcong while serving as a Marine Corps sergeant).

    [Click to enlarge either photo.]

Do you believe that prayer alone could have achieved the same result? Did you consider relying on prayer alone, without any special dieting? What's your understanding of the role of divine intervention relative to your change of diet?
    Yes, I do believe that praying to the one and only God can achieve healing, but God created our bodies to respond positively to the right things being put into them. Example: I take good care of my car. I do what the creator of my car says to do, to give it longevity. Likewise, I want to follow what my Creator God says is best for my spirit, soul, and body.

What haven't we asked that you wish we had? What else would you like to say about your experience with cancer, with the diet, with prayer?
    The one positive thing is – I’m eating a healthier diet then I ever have and I know I will greatly benefit from it. Prayer is my lifeline.
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Copyright © 2014 by Vernon DeWayne Voss & Morris Dean

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