My Next Hope — A Novel Stage 4 Breast Cancer Treatment: Targeted Osmotic Lysis

4 min readDec 30, 2023

As a stage 4 TNBC patient, I have been given 3–6 months to live. I refuse to accept another flawed prognosis, and so I have been approved for a novel treatment called Targeted Osmotic Lysis, starting in January 2024 in Honduras.

My integrative doctor, Dr. Christine Houser, is the principal investigator. Given its promise, I have a responsibility to you all to share this treatment option.

Targeted Osmotic Lysis (TOL) is an innovative therapy targeting advanced carcinomas by exploiting the upregulation of voltage-gated sodium channels (VGSCs) and Na+/K+-ATPase (sodium pumps). This treatment has shown promising results in several types of carcinoma, indicating its potential to extend life without compromising quality. TOL’s broad applicability in treating advanced-stage carcinomas is noteworthy.

Introduction

TOL operates by simultaneously activating VGSCs and inhibiting Na+/K+-ATPase with a cardiac glycoside, causing rapid, selective lysis of highly malignant cancer cells. This approach selectively targets the most malignant cells, sparing normal cells. TOL has effectively reduced tumor size, slowed growth, and increased survival in various animal models without adverse effects on normal tissues.

Here are some studies for your consideration:

Case Report: Application in a 46-Year-Old Female with Stage IIB Cervical Carcinoma

The patient featured in this study gives me hope: Emergency Use of Targeted Osmotic Lysis for the Treatment of a Patient with Aggressive Late-Stage Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Cervix
After exhausting conventional treatment options, including chemotherapy and clinical trials, she exhibited severe distress, fatigue, and intractable pain. Her deteriorating condition led to a request for emergency use of TOL. According to doctors, she had days to live and was granted emergency authorization from the Food and Drug Administration, a remarkably bureaucratic arm of the federal government.

Treatment Process

Clinical History: The patient’s cancer initially responded to traditional treatments but later recurred and progressed despite multiple therapies.
Preparation and Emergency Treatment: After acquiring the necessary approvals, digoxin was administered to the patient to achieve therapeutic levels. She underwent PEF stimulation within a custom-built coaxial ring device over two days.
Response: Post-treatment, the patient experienced temporary increased pain and fever, typical post-TOL inflammatory responses. Then, her quality of life improved with increased appetite, energy, and social interaction.

Imaging and Results

CT Scans: Post-treatment scans showed an increase in tumor size but a significant decrease in tumor density, indicating potential tumor necrosis and edema.
Survival and Quality of Life: The patient survived nine weeks post-treatment, exceeding the initial prognosis, with an improved quality of life and no adverse effects from TOL. Unfortunately, she was unable to get an oncologist to support her continued emergency treatments, and the FDA approved her second therapy weeks after she died.

Additional Research

After that patient’s death, the research team partnered with veterinarians to help companion animals suffering from cancer. At the same time, they engaged in the FDA’s bureaucratic process to launch testing in the US (and abroad). Here are some of the results:

A 6-year-old male cat with nasopharyngeal adenocarcinoma showed no tumor size reduction but improved social interaction and appetite.
An 11-year-old male Maltese mix with facial adenocarcinoma had stabilized tumor growth and improved quality of life despite the lack of significant tumor size reduction.
A 15-year-old male English Shepherd with bronchoalveolar adenocarcinoma experienced tumor growth halt or slowdown with TOL treatment.
A 6-year-old female Savannah-F2 cat with oral squamous cell carcinoma responded positively with tumor size reduction and resolved symptoms.

The companion animal study suggests TOL is a viable option for managing advanced carcinomas in animals, often extending life and improving quality of life without significant adverse effects. TOL’s efficacy seems consistent across species and cancer types due to the conserved nature of VGSC/Na+, K+-ATPase mechanisms.

Discussion and Conclusion

TOL represents a fundamentally different cancer treatment approach. By targeting VGSCs and Na+/K+-ATPase, TOL effectively induces lysis in malignant cells while sparing normal tissues. The treatment’s success in companion animals and the presented case demonstrates its potential as a standalone or adjunct therapy in managing advanced carcinomas.

Quality of Life: TOL has been shown to maintain or improve the quality of life in treated animals, a crucial consideration in cancer treatment.
Survival Extension: Despite significant tumor reduction, TOL consistently extended survival beyond expectations in animal models.
Safety Profile: The absence of major adverse effects and the ability to tolerate treatment suggest a favorable safety profile for TOL.

Given my mixed response status to conventional treatments, TOL offers a novel approach with a potentially different mechanism of action. TNBC, known for its aggressive nature and lack of targeted therapies, might benefit from TOL due to its mechanism of targeting VGSC/Na+, K+-ATPase. While not directly translatable, the evidence from animal models provides a basis for cautious optimism.

Future Implications

Further research is needed to define TOL’s role in the therapeutic landscape, especially as an adjunct to existing treatments. Understanding the potential synergistic or antagonistic effects when combined with other therapies will be crucial in optimizing its clinical application. For this reason, I have temporarily stopped all medications, supplements, and use of THC/CBD for pain control.

These treatments are $12,000 a piece, and I will need several. If you are called to support my fundraising efforts, you can donate to my 501(c)(3) here: https://givebutter.com/tiffanymadisonfogg