For One of Our Own

by Kathleen O'Keefe-Kanavos

In January of 2011, one of Cape Cod's daughters who was born and raised in Yarmouth, was diagnosed with recurrent breast cancer that had metastasized into Stage 4 bone cancer.

Parris Bauer had no hope for healing from the medical community. However, she refused to believe her oncologist when he said, "Your condition is terminal. We have no drugs or therapy to help you. Go home to Cape Cod and be close to your family."

Parris began researching alternative therapy and decided to start Dr. Max Gerson's Therapy in March 2011 http://www.gerson.org/. It has been an amazing journey.

"It is the most effective and longest alternative therapy that has been defeating cancer and other chronic diseases for the last seventy years," Parris said during our phone interview and then explained the treatment's concepts.

"Their theory is that cancer is caused from toxicity and deficiency in the body. By flooding the body with 20 plus pounds of organic produce a day and de-toxing, over time, the body will be able to heal."

Parris is dedicated to her therapy. She begins her treatments at 7:00 am and finishes at 7:00 pm - every day, seven days a week. Gerson Therapy is her form of alternative chemotherapy.

Fortunately, Parris is beginning to feel better and has seen remarkable results. Her bone pain has diminished. Unfortunately, this therapy is very costly and isn't covered by insurance. The challenge is that she has to continue this alternative treatment for another 20 months at a huge cost to her.

"After being completely self-sufficient for my entire adult life, it is humbling to have to move home, depend on my family and friends for help and funds. It's not easy to not feel independent. However, on a positive note, it is now my time to learn how to receive after being a caregiver all my life as a wife, mother, daughter, sibling, and a woman in general. When conventional medicine doesn't offer any hope it is nice to know there still is hope. The Gerson Therapy has documented case studies showing terminal cancer cases with complete recovery! " Parris concluded with conviction. "I guess this proves that there is more than one way to skin a cancer."

Recent studies have shown that breast cancer incidence is 20% higher on Cape Cod than the rest of Massachusetts.

According to the World Health Organization, (WHO) one in three people will develop some sort of cancer in their lifetime. Each day 3,400 people in the United States are diagnosed with cancer, and another 1,500 die from the disease.

Losing several dear Cape Cod friends from cancer has led me to write this article to help "one of our own"… Cape resident Parris Bauer. Parris is also a well know pianist & composer. Her CDs are sprinkled throughout the Cape in many well-known gift shops and bookstores. You can learn more about her online at www.parrismusic.com