Head Doctors
Dr. Antonio Escobedo
Dr Luis Menes
Dr. Pablo Fok
General Information
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AddressDe Las Nubes 670, Playas, Jardines del Sol, Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico
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Phone
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Price Range$$
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Spoken LanguageEnglish, Spanish
About
The medical practice at CHIPSA Hospital has been treating patients through integrative medical protocols since 1979. The CHIPSA protocol involves the integration of Gerson Therapy along with immune-enhancing protocols.
CHIPSA is one of the largest among the alternative cancer clinics in Tijuana.
It is a six-story building which includes full hospital services; Hyperbaric chamber room, nurses stations, patient rooms, community dining room, a lecture /family room, and a large patio deck.
The hospital offers alternative cancer treatments along with low dose chemotherapy when needed.
The hospital treats most types of cancer, as well as late stage cancer patients.
Cost and Additional Expenses
$30,000-$40,000, for 3-4 weeks
The price includes:
There is an option for inpatient or outpatient.
The hospital rooms are equipped with a hospital bed, cable TV, telephone and call light.
The hospital has companion beds and amenities that can be rented for an overnight stay by members of a patient’s family.
Conditions Treated
Cancer
Leukemia and Glioblastoma are NOT treated at the clinic
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Dr. Escobedo, CHIPSA Hospital’s medical director, explains some of the cancer treatment protocols used at the hospital.
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Reviews
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Lori
April 3, 2019 at 2:43 amAfter 3 weeks of going through 7 therapies I was cancer free. I was so sick the whole time I was there but having my sister there to help me was huge and everyone was so very nice and encouraging. After 6 months I’m still cancer free and found a doctor that will continue some maintenance treatments actually covered by insurance. I now eat organic – take all my supplements supplies by Chispa – do coffee enemas daily andantes getting stronger every day.
Allene, K
April 3, 2019 at 2:37 amLab tests were good. Too early to know outcome of the treatments. Will return in three months for follow-up which will give me a better idea.
PeterN
March 5, 2019 at 1:09 pmMy brother Peter has shown improvement since coming back from Chipsa. He is still very ill but amazingly his blood work looks good, his cough is gone, his oxygen levels are back to normal. We know it’s going to be a long journey but he already has exceeded the timeline his previous doctors had given him. We have no doubt that taking him to chipsa was a great decision.
Amanda McNabb
December 14, 2018 at 2:57 pmAllie was 9 at the time she was given the fatal diagnosis. We had put a plan together to spend 3 weeks at CHIPSA and get the Issels vials (which are injected weekly for three months) and then be treated in the States using a combination of hyperbaric, cannabis, infrared, and a number of other treatments. Cannabis dehydrates you, so IV with Meyer cocktail was on the menu as well. CHIPSA follows the Gerson plan which is a vegan diet with lots of juicing and coffee enemas. While this is typically helpful for body cancers, brain cancers are a little different. We did the Gerson diet while we were in the clinic, but then switched to a more brain supporting diet when we got home.
Our plans were changed and put on hold due to custody issues stemming from the fact that she was a minor and that we were straying from the conventional course of treatment; which was hospice. We had legal issues with various state agencies which we had to resolve, which delayed her care. The doctors at CHIPSA worked with the case worker investigating the medical neglect charge to resolve the issue. She had a repeat MRI about five months after the first one, and although they saw tumor progression, it was not as far as they thought she would be, she was still asymptomatic, and she was still alive.
She lived almost ten months (she was expected to live 3) from the surgery which started the journey, and much of that credit goes to the Issels we got at CHIPSA. We had so many things go wrong throughout the course of her 5 year battle, CHIPSA was one of the few things that went right.
Can you share any important tips for anyone considering this clinic?
Choose Alternative, Conventional, or to let the disease run it’s course, but choose. You don’t have as much time as you think you have. For every person who fights the battle and wins, there are a hundred who started the journey too late, or refused to get off the fence. If you go, you are making the decision to fight, and win. You will be putting yourself in the company of others who have done the same, and you will make friends with fighters. It’s not just about the location, the staff, or the therapies, it’s about the type of people you will spend your time with while in treatment. They will become a second family if you let them.
Nora
November 30, 2018 at 2:53 amWe contacted chipsa hospital because my mom was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer.
Actually, our stay there was good. The doctors and all the people who worked there were amazing and always tried their best to make us feel at home.
The treatments were working (at least for my mom… most of the people who were there at the same time with us, didn’t get the results they were expecting).
Our main issues were:
1- We found out their take home medications are WAY overpriced compared to the local pharmacies. We were being charged more than $20K and the local pharmacies were charging $13K (for the exact same medications)…so we asked questions and they didn’t like that. From that moment we were treated very poorly by the owners (to say it nicely).
2- Also, their aftercare was awful. It was hard to talk to them or get any information after we were gone.
These things were experiences that other people that were there at the same time as us had as well.
Lola D
October 26, 2018 at 4:24 pmOn April 8, 2018 my father was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung adenocarcinoma – primary tumor 12.5cm by 10cm in right lung with metastases to left lung, hip bone, neck and lymph nodes. On April 24th he chose to receive treatment in Sloan Kettering in NYC. He received one dose of Keytruda, Alimta and Carboplatin. The next 3 weeks were miserable for him. He could not walk, had constant vertigo, bone pain, low grade fever, neuropathy, insomnia, no appetite. When we returned on May 15th for our follow up appointment at MSK the oncologist said my dad did way worse than she expected and attributed all the symptoms to Keytruda the immunotherapy and said our options were palliative chemo to extend life approximately 12 months or to stop treatment altogether. My father chose not to do the palliative chemo and instead we decided to go to CHIPSA. We knew about it from my friends and heard good stories of people currently treated there.
Before getting to CHIPSA we had a call with the intake coordinator who explained all the logistics, room booking, schedules and prices. She arranged a phone consult with one of the doctors in the hospital. We had a long conversation to determine a tentative treatment plan. Getting to the hospital in Tijuana was a seamless experience. Our intake coordinator was with us every step of the way. Once at the hospital, we were shown to our room, given a tour of the hospital, had an orientation, met with nurses and physicians, had preliminary lab work, x rays and learned about the Gerson therapy that my dad would be following as part of his treatment.
After xrays showed the mass unchanged from the month and half prior in NY and blood work results examined, a treatment plan was drafted and followed for the next 3 weeks. Aside from Gerson Therapy with juices and coffee enemas, my Dad received IV ozone, Apatone, B17, chelation, an immuno-oncology vaccine ValloVax and many other treatments. 2 weeks into the treatment we went to an imaging facility to get a CT scan. To everyone’s surprise my Dad’s tumor was 35% smaller. We were amazed with the results. My Dad was feeling and looking better. We went back to NY and continued the protocols he was given to follow at home with the Gerson therapy and custom tailored supplement plan. We returned for a 2nd 3 week stay at CHIPSA and after that stay my Dad’s tumor was down to 4cmx4cm and all metastases down to tiny nodules.
My dad was feeling so good he went back to work full time for the few months at home after our 2nd stay at CHIPSA. We are now 6+ months post the diagnosis day when the oncologist told my Dad he had no options. We have a lot of hope and see the improvements every day. His tumor markers are in normal range and we are excited to see future scans.
Can you share any important tips for anyone considering this clinic?
Everyone at CHIPSA has been exceptional and we could not recommend them enough. There are options out there and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. They offer the option to tour the hospital before enrolling. For us, every day of inaction with that rapidly growing tumor was a day setting us back a lot so we jumped into action fast and did not waste time on tours etc. BUT if you can afford the time I think touring gives people some peace of mind knowing where they’re going beforehand.
R.W.
September 22, 2018 at 1:38 amhe experience was great! On a scale of 1-5 I would rate Chipsa hospital as 4.5. I responded really well to their treatments while at the clinic. The skin metastasis was reduced to around to 5 percent when I left Chipsa. I continued the protocols as prescribed by the doctors at Chipsa at home, which i believe is where healing happens . My US oncologist gave me 6 months to live if I didn’t go into extremely high dose chemotherapy with stem cell rescue and now i’m Almost 8 months out with a clean PET scan, by the grace of God. Chipsa hospital played a big part in that. The Alt cancer clinics give you a big jump start and the tools you need to help you heal at home.
The doctors and staff were great and available for you mostly all day.
The treatments offered are based around causing immunogenic cell death/danger signals in cancer cells which will alert the immune system to the area to actually see the cancer and attack and to keep boosting and amplifying the size of the immune system and the keep stimulating the immune cells that can see the cancer until the cancer cell is cleared. This methodology work for me as there is evidence via some of my skin lesions that went necrotic then the melanin got destroyed by the immune system in the areas of the skin lesion. Very similar to vitiligo, which autoimmune. The vitiligo is only where the lesions where.
The dietary protocol that is used there is the gerson diet. Some people find it tough and in a lot of ways it is but it may be one of the most effective standalone immune-dietary cancer therapy. I’m convinced the Gerson Therapy and coley’s toxins immunotherapy (mixed bacterial vaccine) helped me and was a big part of my healing.
Treatments offered there are IPT with vitC k3 or vitC k3 by itself for patients that don’t want Low dose chemo with insulin. IV Laetrile, IV ozone with blood irradiation. Hyper baric oxygen treatments on site. Cryogenic/freeze treatment of tumors. Meyer’s cocktails, iV chelation with EDTA, PEMF therapy, coley’s toxins, massage therapist, music therapy with Hope Song country singers/song writers from Nashville, Tn who perform during no lunch. There’s a valid trial cancer vaccine offered for free when I was at Chipsa in Feb of 2018. I wa not a candidate due to me having a blood cancer. There are people that I know who responded very well to the vallovax vaccine, one guy was terminal checked off by us doctors and now has a complete remission. They also offer other trials of immunotherapy treatments.
I was an outpatient, based on the cost difference and how much more you get for being an in patient. You get more bang for your buck as an in patient. One More treatment day each week on Saturday and 24/7 support in the hospital with the doctors.
Barbara Wiley
September 17, 2018 at 2:34 amThe Approach at this Clinic is a total body healing – body, soul, mind and spirit. I absolutely loved my doctor and the staff. We were served a veggie juice every hour on the hour for 11 hours of the day. The (all organic) food was incredible. I received hyperbaric chamber therapy, high doses of Vitamin C K, B-17, IV ozone therapy, supplements, coffee enemas and Coley’s toxins. I came home and applied the Therapies as best I could within my financial and physical abilities. My original tumor was 5 cm, and it swelled up to 7 cm while I was receiving treatment in Tijuana. They told me that it was very common for it to swell if it was responding. When I got back home I panicked a little with that increase, so I did get a little bit of radiation therapy. I declined the chemo. I only did two thirds of the number of radiation treatments they wanted me to have. My tumor has shrunk now completely, all I have is a little Scar Tissue left. Additionally, my lymph nodes that were involved of which one of them was 4 cm have all shrunk so small they can’t even see them on the scans.
Cindy Vanhoogenhuize
September 11, 2018 at 2:08 amMy experience was they seem to be more concerned with getting people into the hospital then when you get there.
I spent $40,000. Going there. 3 weeks is not long enough to beat cancer.
I picked up a parasite there. The food was never hot and no taste. There were issues with several patients while I was there.
Ports were put in wrong and patients were getting blood clots.
They lied about the chemotherapy, they said it was low dose but our hair was falling out like crazy when we got home.
The staff were all friendly and the nurses were kind.
I believe it is possible to make a hospital that can heal cancer naturally but this place is more focused on making money!
The Oncologist told everyone that they should stay and extra week. A friend I made while there stayed 2 extra weeks and it didn’t help at all! Her tumour markers didn’t go down at all and she passed away.
I made friends with 17 people and 11 of them have passed away in the first year after leaving Chipsa.
I wouldn’t recommend this place to anyone.
Bailey O'Brien
August 20, 2018 at 3:18 pmI went to CHIPSA hospital in February-March 2011 for 3 weeks and continued some of the treatments at home, including Coley’s toxins, the Gerson Therapy, an autologous vaccine and supplements.
About 3 years ago the hospital came under new management, so I would like to comment on the treatments I received in 2011 since they are still offered at CHIPSA, as well as the new staff since I am a patient advocate and work with the staff and patients who seek treatment at alternative treatment facilities, some of which get treatment at CHIPSA.
First, I had a very good experience at the hospital; I felt safe in the building and the area despite concerns from family and friends. I felt cared for by the doctors and staff, especially Gar and Christeene Hildenbrand, epidemiologists who met with me twice per week to discuss my treatments and answer my questions. Gar and Christeene continue to work part-time with CHIPSA as epidemiologists and advisors, but are no longer able to work directly with patients because there are now many more than they have the time to handle.
I responded extraordinarily well physically, with cancer shrinkage continuing during my time there (it started prior to my arrival) and clear scans 3 weeks after arriving back home and continuing my home regimen.
In the beginning when CHIPSA re-opened I was very analytical in my dealings with them because as far as I was aware, the new owners had no professional background in health or cancer. I was tough on them, and if you were to ask Ed, Scott or Deddrick today they would tell you so. 🙂
However, over time, in my opinion they’ve both publicly and privately proven that their motives for running this hospital are pure and they genuinely care about their patients and their families. They have taken the time to graciously answer my many questions, shared some of the obstacles they’ve had to overcome both personally and professionally, and given their perspective on complaints by former patients that I’ve come across, alleviating my apprehensions about them.
It’s evident that they work hard to understand both the old and new treatments better and find more effective ways to treat cancer by communicating with doctors and researchers, researching treatments daily, even receiving some treatments themselves. They look into every new treatment suggestion they get without bias and collaborate with scientists who attend conferences all around the world to find out what else is out there that could help their patients. They take it personally when a patient does not have a favorable outcome, and this motivates them to keep working hard.
Though the CHIPSA building itself is not typical of hospitals in the US (it’s a bit older and smaller), as of September 2018, 7 and a half years since my treatment there, it is much more colorful, more bright and more hopeful with paintings, handprints on the wall of former patients and inspirational quotes and notes of encouragement.
While you will find negative reviews here and elsewhere I believe that CHIPSA has a good heart and can be a great place for many to receive treatment (though I recommend a person do a lot of research and praying first for which treatments and facility will be best for him/her)! I believe the key to finding successful treatment is to get a variety of perspectives from both patients and doctors, and when researching to find people who have had long-term remission of your specific type of cancer, asking about ALL they have done to get well. There will likely be both obvious and less obvious patterns among these stories.
Best wishes and prayers for all reading this!!
Brenda Silver
August 8, 2018 at 2:23 pmEveryone there was so helpful and nice and knowledgeable. Didn’t want to leave!