About Me

My journey with breast cancer began in August 2007. After a roller coaster ride from hell, I thought it was over after 6 months. But 5 years later, it reared it’s ugly head with a frightening terminal diagnosis of Stage IV metastatic cancer. By 2012, tumors had crushed several vertebrae in my neck and spine and split my sacro-iliac joint apart. I lost the use of my legs and one arm. I had lesions on my liver, lungs, and lymph nodes. I was told I would likely not walk again and that I wouldn’t be alive in two months. My son was overseas.

With nothing to lose, I threw everything I could at healing. I employed a strict naturopathic regimen, received chemotherapy and radiation, and meditated on spiritual healing. I worked hard to rebuild joints and muscles and survive the cancer and toxic medicine. 13 months after diagnosis, most of my tumors were gone and I had regained 99% mobility. Although still considered terminal, I felt like I was going to live forever.

Then, Halloween of 2013, they found a rare and dangerous type of brain metastases with an average survival of 2.8 months after diagnosis (leptomeningeal carcinomatosis). The tumors were inoperable, not eligible for targeted radiation, and most chemotherapies couldn’t penetrate the blood-brain barrier (which also kept targeted immunotherapy out). I had to get creative.

I’m still alive… for now… and I am NEAD (No Evidence of Active Disease)!

By sharing my journey, I wish to encourage and empower you to take charge of your life and to defeat the obstacles that may face you. Perhaps my path will spark you to take note of your own experiences in a new way. One that allows you to incorporate the lessons you are learning into a formula for positive change.

Cliff Notes version of Diagnoses, Western Medicine Treatments, and alternative remedies of note:

    • October, 2007 – Diagnosis of DCIS (ductal carcinoma in situ – stage 0)
    • March, 2008 – Preventive unilateral (right) mastectomy, MD Anderson. 6 sentinel lymph nodes unremarkable except for slight trace of cytokeratin
    • October, 2012 – Diagnosis of Stage IV metastatic breast cancer, HER2+, ER/PR-. Mets to lungs, liver, lymph, throughout spine and pelvis. Prognosis less than 2 months survival. Lost full use of legs and one arm from tumors crushing 5-7 vertebrae and splitting sacro-iliac joint in hip. Began strict changes to diet and ingestion of naturopathic remedies (see “What I did and do and why” blog.)
    • October, 2012 – January, 2013 – Carboplatin (5x), Taxol (13x), Herceptin (4x), Zometa (4x). Radiation treatments to pelvis (21x), to neck (15x), to T11 mid-spine area (10x). Against doctors’ orders, joined fitness club, and began to work out carefully doing aqua-robics, circuit training, and yoga.
    • January, 2013 – present – Herceptin & Perjeta every 3 wks, Zometa every 6 wks (now every 6 mos).
    • November, 2013 – 9 metastases/tumors identified in parietal lobe and cerebellum. Leptomeningeal involvement implies just weeks to live. 1 dose of intrathecal Methotrexate administered. Not expected to do anything but perhaps buy time. Tried Tykerb (crosses blood-brain barrier, Herceptin and Perjeta don’t), but liver, pancreas, and heart couldn’t tolerate it so no full dose admnistered. Quadrupled daily ingestion of Cannabis Oil, removed infected root canal tooth, and focused on intensive daily meditation.
    • December, 2013 – Largest tumor (parietal) and 3 mets gone without a trace. 1 IT Methotrexate dose administered. Adverse reaction.
    • March, 2014 – Of remaining 5 mets, 3 stable, 2 show significant progression. 1 IT dose Methotrexate. Adverse reaction.
    • May, 2014 – 5 stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) treatments to cerebellum.
    • September, 2014 – PET, brain MRI NEAD (no evidence of active disease)
    • Present – While periodic brain MRIs occasionally show new suspicious masses, they have thus far turned out to be scar tissue from the radiation or previously existing ‘spots’. I continue to insist on watching and waiting and have avoided unnecessary radiation treatments. Most recent NEAD scans January 2020.
    • Update: I was diagnosed with a large and worrisome brain tumor in the center of my brain (so… difficult to treat) in October, 2019. I had moved to Puerto Rico and the doctors there did not feel comfortable treating it so they sent me back to the states. While selling and packing everything and moving and procuring new insurance for the states, I meditated and tripled my cannabis oil intake and a few other things. When I landed in the states, I had a brain MRI (1/3/20), and the tumor was completely gone without a trace! This happened after I had finished the book, but my experience and protocol will be covered in an upcoming post.


Here is a link to my story in Radical Remissions


Here is a link to an Interview in Breast Cancer Wellness

• Telluride Inside Magazine – June 15, 2020 – On Cancer, Miracles, & Inspiration

Book Reviews

I am so very pleased to announce that both of  my first two books have received 4 (out of 4) star reviews from independent reviewers at the Online Book Club.

Book 1, Whatever Doesn’t Kill You Makes You Strong, on surviving life and denying death, which is the first book in my Thrive Tribe series, is a memoir of my cancer journey intended to inspire people to take charge of their healing and to provide hope when others don’t. Receiving a 4-star review makes me very happy because it was reviewed by a non-cancer patient who found it inspiring for any crisis. “Any person facing a difficulty in their life would benefit from her positive message of “turning everything around by simply changing the way you look at things.”” Click here to read review of Book 1

If you download it from this web site, its is only $7 for the e-book or audio book.  Click here to order Book 1

Book 2, What I Did and Do and Why, a naturopathic protocol that helps me to survive and thrive, is my protocol book and received a 4-star review, as well. I am most pleased that someone without cancer found it useful and got a peek into our lives. She doesn’t mention it in particular but I’m hopeful that the chapter on Cannabis and Cancer may increase awareness of the role Cannabis can play in our healing. “I wholeheartedly recommend this book to everyone because although this book was written for the benefit of cancer patients, there is something in it for everyone.” Click here to read review of Book 2

If you download it from this web site, its is only $7 for the e-book. I actually recommend the ebook version for this book as it has 700 scientific references that are live links in the ebook.  Click here to order Book 2

Status Updates

Miracles, magic, metastases, marijuana, meditation, meningitis, manifestation, and mulishness.

All original content contained on this web site, kaiulanifacciani.com, is copyrighted, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 Kaiulani Facciani and Snarling Wolf, Inc.