Blog Against Cancer

Immunotherapy: could it be the cure for cancer?

The body’s own defences could be the key to defeating the disease, reports Roger Highfield

It sounds like a hippy approach to medicine: everyone has the power within them to heal cancer and all we have to do is to find a way to unlock our inner potential.

Oncologist Dr. Steven Rosenberg holding up bag of lymphocytes in medium to check for growth of cancer killing T cells at the National Cancer Institute.
Oncologist Dr Steven Rosenberg holding up bag of lymphocytes to check for growth of cancer killing T cells

But an increasing number of studies are reaching exactly that conclusion when it comes to treating cancer with immunotherapy, in which the body’s protective cells are turned on a tumour. Or, put another way, patient, heal thyself.

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Curcumin Temporarily Slows Pancreatic Cancer

Curcumin, a compound in the spice turmeric, temporarily stopped advanced pancreatic cancer growth in two patients and substantially reduced the size of a tumor in another patient, according to a small study published July 15 in the journal Clinical Cancer Research.

Significance of results

In the Phase II M. D. Anderson study of 25 patients, curcumin was given on its own without chemotherapy.

Razelle Kurzrock, M.D.“The effects of curcumin were encouraging,” says the study’s principal investigator, Razelle Kurzrock, M.D., chair of M. D. Anderson’s Department of Investigational Cancer Therapeutics (Phase I clinical trial program). “It showed activity in patients, and there were no side effects.”

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Stop Smoking - 2 The Easy Method

The object of this book is to get you into the frame of mind in which, instead of the normal method of stopping whereby you start off with the feeling that you are climbing Mount Everest and spend the next few weeks craving a cigarette and envying other smokers, you start right away with a feeling of elation, as if you had been cured of a terrible disease. From then on, the further you go through life the more you will look at cigarettes and wonder how you ever smoked them in the first place. You will look at smokers with pity as opposed to envy.

Provided that you are not a non-smoker or an ex-smoker, it is essential to keep smoking until you have finished the book completely. This may appear to be a contradiction. Later I shall be explaining that cigarettes do absolutely nothing for you at all. In fact, one of the many conundrums about smoking is that when we are actually smoking a cigarette, we look at it and wonder why we are doing it. It is only when we have been deprived that the cigarette becomes precious. However, let us accept that, whether you like it or not, you believe you are hooked. When you believe you are hooked, you can never be completely relaxed or concentrate properly unless you are smoking. So do not attempt to stop smoking before you have finished the whole book. As you read further your desire to smoke will gradually be reduced. Do not go off half-cocked; this could be fatal. Remember, all you have to do is to follow the instructions.

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Stop Smoking - 1 The Worst Nicotine Addict I Have Yet to Meet

Perhaps I should begin by describing my competence for writing this book. No, I am not a doctor or a psychiatrist; my qualifications are far more appropriate. I spent thirty-three years of my life as a confirmed smoker. In the later years I smoked a hundred a day on a bad day, and never less than sixty.

During my life I had made dozens of attempts to stop. I once stopped for six months, and I was still climbing up the wall, still standing near smokers trying to get a whiff of the tobacco, still traveling in the smokers’ compartments on trains. With most smokers, on the health side, it’s a question of ‘I’ll stop before it happens to me.’ I had reached the stage where I knew it was killing me. I had a permanent headache with the pressure of the constant coughing.

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Stop Smoking - Introduction

I was talking to my wife. She thought that I had flipped. Understand able if you consider that she had watched me fail on numerous attempts to quit. The most recent had been two years previously. I’d actually survived six months of sheer purgatory before I finally succumbed and lit a cigarette. I’m not ashamed to admit that I cried like a baby. I was crying because I knew that I was condemned to he a smoker for life. I’d put so much effort into that attempt and suffered so much misery that I knew I would never have the strength to go through that ordeal again. I’m not a violent man, but if some patronizing non-smoker had been stupid enough at that moment to suggest to me that all smokers can find it easy to quit, immediately and permanently, I would not have been responsible for my actions.

However, I’m convinced that any jury in the world, comprised of smokers only, would have pardoned me on the grounds of justifiable homicide.
Perhaps you too find it impossible to believe that any smoker can find it easy to quit. If so, I beg you not to cast this book into the rubbish bin. Please trus t me. I assure you that even you can find it easy to quit.
Anyway, there I was two years later, having just extinguished what I knew would be my final cigarette, not only telling my wife that I was already a non-smoker, but that I was going to cure the rest of the world. I must admit that at the time I found her skepticism somewhat irritating. However, in no way did it diminish my feeling of exaltation, 1 suppose that my exhilaration in knowing that I was already a happy non-smoker distorted my perspective somewhat. With the benefit of hindsight, I can sympathize with her attitude, I now understand why Joyce and my close friends and relatives thought I was a candidate for the funny farm.

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Stop Smoking - Warning

Perhaps you are somewhat apprehensive about reading this book. Perhaps, like the majority of smokers, the mere thought of stopping fills you with panic and although you have every intention of stopping one day, it is not today.

If you are expecting me to inform you of the terrible health risks that smokers run, that smokers spend a small fo rtune during their smoking lives, that it is a filthy, disgusting habit and that you are a stupid, spineless, weak-willed jellyfish, then I must disappoint you. Those tactics never helped me to quit and if they were going to help you, you would already have quit.

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Stop Smoking - ABOUT THE AUTHOR

The common thread running through Allen Carr’s work is the removal of fear. Indeed, his genius lies in eliminating the phobias and anxieties which prevent people from being able to enjoy life to the full, as his bestselling books Allen Carr’s Easy Way to Stop Smoking, The Only Way to Stop Smoking Permanently, Allen Carr’s Easyweigh to Lose Weight, How to Stop Your Child Smoking, and now The Easy Way to Enjoy Flying, vividly demonstrate.

A successful accountant, Allen Carr’s hundred-cigarettes-a-day addiction was driving him to despair until, in 1983, after countless failed attempts to quit, he finally discovered what the world had been waiting for —the Easy Way to Stop Smoking. He has now built a network of clinics that span the globe and has a phenomenal reputation for success in helping smokers to quit.

His books have been published in over twenty different languages and video, audio and CDROM
versions of his method are also available. Tens of thousands of people have attended Allen Carr’s clinics where, with a success rate of over 95%. he guarantees that you will find it easy to quit smoking or your money back. A full list of clinics appears in the back of this book. Should you require any assistance do not hesitate to contact your nearest therapist. Weight-control sessions are now offered at a selection of these
clinics. A full corporate service is also available enabling comp anies to implement no-smoking
policies simply and effectively.

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Austin Howell Story

Justin was diagnosed with AML Leukemia on 5-5-08

He has always been a typical boy, full of energy and life. We started to notice he did not have the usual energy when he started to take naps everyday. He would have to be picked up from school atleast once maybe twice a week because he was sick at his tummy and throwing up. the pain in his legs was so bad it was hard for him to get upstairs to his room. After the third doctor visit I was told to take him down to Scottish Rite for some tests. The doctor said he may have pneumonia. His blood was at life threatning levels, he was white and his lips had no color. About three hours later a blood specialist came in and told us he had Leukemia. She said Leukemia is a cancer. I dont remember anything else she told us. So we were taken to the cancer center and put in a room where we would be for the next 4 weeks. They put a line in his chest so he could recieve his Chemotherapy and many medicines thru it without getting stuck with needles all the time. His spinal fliud had no cancer in it so that was a good thing. The Chemo made him very sick, it was so hard for him just to get to the bathroom. After the 10 days of Chemo thay told us he could go home when his blood counts got high enough to fight infection. Then he got Typhlitis (inflammation of the organs) and was put on more medicine and was unable to eat for 5 days. After they felt comfortable enough for him to go home we were out of there as soon as they said we could go.

We did get a 5 day break before starting the second round of Chemo. This time around was relatively easy compared to the first. He did not get as sick at his stomach and was up and around a lot more. The doctors did find that he had something in his lungs when it got close to time for him to go home. His medicines were changed around and he did get to go home for almost three weeks because chemo couldnt be started with his lungs not doing good. I did not complain though, we were glad to get a break. But Jesus healed his lungs and we ended up back in for round three before we knew it. He did get to go to a Braves game, Stone Mountain, and have some friends over. It was fun while it lasted. I wont lie, we were excited to see everybody back at the hospital too. Round three has just finished up and he felt great for about a week and the fevers came on again, he had Alpha Strep, so now he is fighting it like a champion to get rid of it! Round 3 was so hard on him, he was so sick for what seemed like forever.

9/1/08 About that infection, it cleared up and he got to go home for ten days before the start of round 4. Tomorrow is the last day of chemo this round. He is still feeling pretty good so far. There are blisters forming on his head. He is getting to have more nausea as usual. No fever so far. I brought his X-Box yesterday to keep him busy, I am hoping it will pass the time and keep his mind off what is going on. Lungs are clear, counts are dropping. It is like getting on a roller coaster and I can’t see what is around the corner but there is nothing I can do to stop it. We just have to hold on and ride it out.

9/25/08 Round four almost complete, we are still here in the hospital, he developed an absessed sore and it caused all kinds of issues for him. Surgery was done to drain the fliud from it on the19th. There has been pain pain and discomfort but overall this round was no too bad on him. He got one fever which tylenol handled and he has been hanging with his buddies playing video games. Hopefully home is in the near future!!!!

More about Austin Howell Story Here

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Paul

I was born in a small village in southern Ontario, Canada in 1934 to bilingual French parents (both now deceased) and had 6 sisters and 3 brothers.

I met my dear wife at the office where we were both employed, we were married in 1963, our cherished son Gregory was born in 1964. To complete our life journey, we were also blessed with two fantastic daughters and now two grandsons that we just adore.

The passing of our son’s lovely wife Maureen, our daughter-in-law, with that dreadful disease cancer was very traumatic to us, as you are quite aware, was devastating to our son Greg by the loss of his young wife.

Unfortunately, this was not the first time cancer had come into our lives.

This all started with my brother Jules (eldest) with prostate cancer..he had quite a battle with this disease, surgery of the Prostate Gland then Radiation then Chemo and is still dealling with wth the issues of the after effects from all the procedures.

My sister Margaret the 4th one to be born was diagnosed with Kidney Cancer in 1996 but was fortunate to have been detected at an early stage and has been in remission ever since.

My other sister Marie born just before me was also diagnosed with clavicle cancer and passed away in 1998. I was present at her bedside in the Hospital when she died and if anyone else have ever experienced this (as Greg did) it is not pleasant.

And, the story doesn’t end there, I was diagnosed with prostate cancer, was treated for the disease, and am a survivor.

We will be making a donation to the Canadian Cancer Society on behalf of all the above mentioned.

Regards Paul/Terry

Via: write2fight.com

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Becky

I was born in Canton, Ohio on March 1969. I was adopted into a wonderful Hungarian/Siren Family; whom I cherish dearly. I as well, have a wonderful 15 year old daughter. She is undoubtedly my guiding star.

My mother and daughter have endured alot over the course of the past two years. It has meant the world to me, that they have been lovingly by my side. Unconditionally showing me their support and Love. My family has been my guiding light throughout my journey with Cancer, and I would like to send my unconditional thoughts of Love and Praise.

It’s with great sadness that I bring the news of the passing of a Dear Friend who is coincidentally named Rebecca Ann. She was known by all who knew and loved her as Becca. She was only 36 years old and she fought Melanoma avidly, with gracious vigor.

We had actually met, after much confusion in the clinical lobby at the National Cancer Institute. There were four Rebecca’s in the lobby that day awaiting to see the Doctor’s. It’s an odd coincidence, but none-the-less, one that was meant to be. I had in all actuality, thought that it was her sister who had been diagnosed with Melanoma. Becca was so lively the entire wait, you would never have known that she was the patient.

We had corresponded for months and had asked the Doctor’s at the National Cancer Institute if we could do our IL-2 Cancer treatments at the same time. Our research nurse was more than happy to make this happen.

Our online community of family and friends, at www.mpip.org (Melanoma Patients Information Page; cheered us both on, during this difficult treatment. We became known, as “the IL-2 Queens”. We supported one another throughout this treatment and beyond.

I know, that I have been given a wonderful opportunity to share my story. I feel that it would be unfair and unjust to speak of myself, solely. My Life has forever been touched by Becca.

If you were to visit the Mpip bulletin board today, you would see, what a grave impact she had on the Melanoma community. Many other’s, have, as well; aided in my discovery of new treatment options. They have given support, when very little was given or asked of them.

I feel honored and privileged to tell you, not only my story and journey through a Cancer diagnosis, but many other’s who have lite the way. They are the true heroes and heroines of the day. It is in great Memory and Dedication, that I submit to you this:

The Power is in YOU! The power was in Becca to help guide me through a very difficult Cancer Treatment. She was sent here, to be by my side. To fight, alongside; myself, and countless other Melanoma Cancer Patients.

I believe in the greatness that surrounds our lives. I believe that everything happens for a reason. My Melanoma diagnosis is a blessing in disguise. I have learned to live stronger, hold on longer, and fight harder.

My be-loved friend, Becca, is a Melanoma Angel. She is watching me from Heaven above. I look forward to the day, that I may say: Thank-You. You touched my Life.

A Cancer patients journey in Life is one paved with great emotional awareness and zest. We learn to look at Life through a different perspective. I believe, that Cancer can be our cure. Our cure to Life’s ailments and strides. We have been given a gift. A gift; of LIFE. To learn to truly Live.

Thank all of your reader’s for helping raise an awareness. Early detection can and does save Lives. See your dermatologist. Get your yearly Doctor check-up’s. Let everyone know, “it’s NOT JUST” skin cancer. It’s Melanoma, a deadly form of Cancer.

May all those who have fought the good fight and all those who continue to fight the good fight LIVESTRONG and forever long; they with forever be in our hearts, mind, body, and soul.

As far as benefit fundraising… The Melanoma Research Foundation. Dr. Rosenberg at the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, MD. He is determined to find the Cure for Melanoma. On a more personal note: I want to help outreach to Melanoma Patients/Families in Financial need. It is TRULY very difficult to find resources and funds for your Living Expenses while trying to fight this battle. I’d like to help financial aide those in need ~ A program needs to be made… where the INDIVIDUAL ~ Cancer patient gets the funds needed to help them with their monthly expenses while off work and fighting this battle.

I wish Peace to all in your journey and path through Life. Discover yourself. Live your Life. Make your Dreams come true and hold on tight.

Kind Regards, Becky (stage IV Malignant Metastatic Melanoma patient and warrior)

Via: write2fight.com

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