“Is the Immune System Really the Answer to Fighting Cancer?”

124

Comments

  • gophergenius
    gophergenius Member Posts: 33
    Hey, Craig.
    Do you have an E-mail address? There is something I would like to send you.
  • plh4gail
    plh4gail Member Posts: 1,238 Member
    Wow...I am just now reading
    Wow...I am just now reading this! Thank you for all the thought pushing info Craig. You always bring so much out there. It makes me think about and question the things I do, what I think and why, what if's.....just so many things.

    What I know is this. I got my diagnosis. I got my burn,cut,and poison as was my chosen route. I actually new nothing at that time about alternatives or much about "cancer fighting foods", the reasons behind the excersise, diets, and so forth.

    After my year of treatment I was at a loss and felt a sort of abandonment and not knowing what to do now so I made a post and asked that very question. Emily responded and got my wheels turning. Then Lisa and Lisa and many others.

    I don't know if my cancer will return. Next month will be my 1 year :). All I know is I will do what my mind and body tell me is the best that I can do with what I have been given. Right now I feel like I have the opportunity to give the healthful diet, exercise, some supplements a try. Will that keep me cancer free? Honestly, I don't know. BUT I HOPE!

    Thank you for being you Craig!

    love and hugs, Gail
  • Nana b
    Nana b Member Posts: 3,030 Member
    plh4gail said:

    Wow...I am just now reading
    Wow...I am just now reading this! Thank you for all the thought pushing info Craig. You always bring so much out there. It makes me think about and question the things I do, what I think and why, what if's.....just so many things.

    What I know is this. I got my diagnosis. I got my burn,cut,and poison as was my chosen route. I actually new nothing at that time about alternatives or much about "cancer fighting foods", the reasons behind the excersise, diets, and so forth.

    After my year of treatment I was at a loss and felt a sort of abandonment and not knowing what to do now so I made a post and asked that very question. Emily responded and got my wheels turning. Then Lisa and Lisa and many others.

    I don't know if my cancer will return. Next month will be my 1 year :). All I know is I will do what my mind and body tell me is the best that I can do with what I have been given. Right now I feel like I have the opportunity to give the healthful diet, exercise, some supplements a try. Will that keep me cancer free? Honestly, I don't know. BUT I HOPE!

    Thank you for being you Craig!

    love and hugs, Gail

    Keep on pressing forward
    Keep on pressing forward Gail! Fertilize the body with all the good nutrients...... We don't' have anything to lose by trying.
  • traci43
    traci43 Member Posts: 773 Member
    Wonderful post!
    Craig - Your post and all the ensuing discussions has been wonderful and just what I needed right now.

    I've got stage IV colon cancer and am closing in on the 5-year mark (June 2012). I've dealt with two recurrances after surgeries and am facing what is likely a third recurrance after no surgery just lots of chemo. I've done FOLFOX and FOLFIRI, not a candidate for eributux. I've had surgery, HIPEC and tried to kill the tumors with chemo, none of that seems to work. I'm taking lots of supplements, meditating and trying to eat better (seems to be the hardest for me). Yet after all this, I'm still facing a likely recurrance.

    It's been hard to deal with, especially the emotions. "What can I do?" "Have I done enough?" "If I could just find the right treatment, I'll be fine." These are the thoughts running through my head. I'm no where close to accepting that I might survive this. I'm still fighting that. It really helps to hear that others are struggling with the same feelings.

    Thanks so much to everyone who posted on this thread for the conversation. It's been great!
  • plh4gail
    plh4gail Member Posts: 1,238 Member
    Nana b said:

    Keep on pressing forward
    Keep on pressing forward Gail! Fertilize the body with all the good nutrients...... We don't' have anything to lose by trying.

    Thank you Rachel! Your
    Thank you Rachel! Your friendship and support has been a blessing to me! You've always got an answer or help me find one.

    Love ya girly!
  • son of hal
    son of hal Member Posts: 117
    thingy45 said:

    fantastic read
    Thanks Craig for this enormous good topic. I have stayed up to read to the end of the discussions and found trues in all the posts. Nothing is proven, we all are genetically different and some methods might work for one but not for another.
    Normal medicine works for awhile, but it is mainly poisinous, as far as I understand. Read the side effects alone. The cure often couses other problems.
    So what to believe?

    TCM is herbs so all natural something like organic. But if it grows in contaminated soil , re airpolution and poluted water?
    Before normal medicine we only had herbs.

    I don't feel that immune systems have anything to do with our cancers. I very seldom had flues or colds etc, but I nearly died of misdiagnosed colon cancer.

    Our food has a lot to do with it and whatever road we choose, we DO have to eat and the cncer causing particals are in the food. It really does not make any difference.
    The cancer causing particals are in the air and our water.
    Cancer is deffinately in genes, often cancers run in families.
    The one thing we all have incommon is our FOOD.
    this is my opinion ofcourse.

    Read the toothpaste label and the shampoo, soap labels cleaning materials etc etc.
    I try to keep my colon as clean as possible and try not to irritade so inflammation might occour.
    So I do not have to choose again for any form of treatment.Be it TCM or chemo/radiation. Both are available and it would be MY choice.

    Very interesting read and topic. Thanks Craig.
    Marjan

    Possible proof of immune system involement?
    Hi Marjan, you mentioned something I thought I would comment on. You said "I don't feel that immune systems have anything to do with our cancers. I very seldom had flues or colds etc, but I nearly died of misdiagnosed colon cancer". Do you know, THAT is a common thread with cancer patients? Many cancer patients, including me, (breast cancer patients too)have said that exact same thing, that they seldom had colds or flu. In fact, THAT may be an indicator that you had an ineffective immune system, not a strong one. Here is a excerpt from an article describing why we get colds.

    "< Cold viruses (rhinovirus) infect only a relatively small proportion of the cells lining the nose (see figure). (10, 14, 15) Membrane damage is mild.

    Cold symptoms are due mainly to the body's response to the infection. When a nasal cell is infected by a cold virus, the body responds by activating parts of the immune system and some nervous system reflexes. (5)

    The immune system contains a variety of natural substances called inflammatory mediators. Inflammatory mediators help protect the body from infection and other harmful events. Some inflammatory mediators are released when nasal cells are infected by a cold virus. The names of some inflammatory mediators involved in colds include histamine, kinins, interleukins, and the prostaglandins. (5, 16-19)

    When activated by a cold virus infection, inflammatory mediators cause dilatation and leakage of blood vessels and mucus gland secretion. (5) Inflammatory mediators also activate sneeze and cough reflexes and stimulate pain nerve fibers. These events are what lead to the symptoms of a cold.

    The activity of the inflammatory mediators is not necessary for recovery from cold virus infection. Twenty-five percent of people who acquire cold virus infection do not develop symptoms. (4) People without cold symptoms recover from the infection as well as those who have symptoms.

    The individual symptoms of a cold are caused by the action of particular inflammatory mediators, although there is some overlapping. (5) This has important implications for developing and selecting effective cold treatments."> END QUOTE

    So you see, just because you didn't have symptoms does not mean you didn't have the cold. It just means your body did not address the threat in the proper or expected manner. Possibly, the more severe the symptoms means the STRONGER the immune response, not a weak immune system. So following that thought, if cancer IS connected to a virus, and we have a disfunctioning immune system, then we might not have an immune system response to it and it could take hold and develope unchecked leading to tumors.
    Just more food for thought. Things are not always how they seem....
    Take care, CJ
  • John23
    John23 Member Posts: 2,122 Member

    Possible proof of immune system involement?
    Hi Marjan, you mentioned something I thought I would comment on. You said "I don't feel that immune systems have anything to do with our cancers. I very seldom had flues or colds etc, but I nearly died of misdiagnosed colon cancer". Do you know, THAT is a common thread with cancer patients? Many cancer patients, including me, (breast cancer patients too)have said that exact same thing, that they seldom had colds or flu. In fact, THAT may be an indicator that you had an ineffective immune system, not a strong one. Here is a excerpt from an article describing why we get colds.

    "< Cold viruses (rhinovirus) infect only a relatively small proportion of the cells lining the nose (see figure). (10, 14, 15) Membrane damage is mild.

    Cold symptoms are due mainly to the body's response to the infection. When a nasal cell is infected by a cold virus, the body responds by activating parts of the immune system and some nervous system reflexes. (5)

    The immune system contains a variety of natural substances called inflammatory mediators. Inflammatory mediators help protect the body from infection and other harmful events. Some inflammatory mediators are released when nasal cells are infected by a cold virus. The names of some inflammatory mediators involved in colds include histamine, kinins, interleukins, and the prostaglandins. (5, 16-19)

    When activated by a cold virus infection, inflammatory mediators cause dilatation and leakage of blood vessels and mucus gland secretion. (5) Inflammatory mediators also activate sneeze and cough reflexes and stimulate pain nerve fibers. These events are what lead to the symptoms of a cold.

    The activity of the inflammatory mediators is not necessary for recovery from cold virus infection. Twenty-five percent of people who acquire cold virus infection do not develop symptoms. (4) People without cold symptoms recover from the infection as well as those who have symptoms.

    The individual symptoms of a cold are caused by the action of particular inflammatory mediators, although there is some overlapping. (5) This has important implications for developing and selecting effective cold treatments."> END QUOTE

    So you see, just because you didn't have symptoms does not mean you didn't have the cold. It just means your body did not address the threat in the proper or expected manner. Possibly, the more severe the symptoms means the STRONGER the immune response, not a weak immune system. So following that thought, if cancer IS connected to a virus, and we have a disfunctioning immune system, then we might not have an immune system response to it and it could take hold and develope unchecked leading to tumors.
    Just more food for thought. Things are not always how they seem....
    Take care, CJ

    C J-
    C J-

    You probably can't hear me applauding since I'm typing
    with my other hand, but I am applauding.

    The immune system is more complex than most people realize.

    Most physicians haven't a clue regarding nutrition -or- the
    immune system's actions to what we eat, drink, etc. It's all
    important to our overall makeup and health.

    There had been some research in Norway some time ago,
    with a study of arthritis. They were noting that there may
    be an actual virus that is causing arthritis, and stifling the
    immune system to prevent local damage may be allowing the
    virus to spread throughout the entire body.

    Sometimes, the "cure" is worse than the problem.

    Thanks, and best wishes for great health!

    John
  • RobinKaye
    RobinKaye Member Posts: 93

    Possible proof of immune system involement?
    Hi Marjan, you mentioned something I thought I would comment on. You said "I don't feel that immune systems have anything to do with our cancers. I very seldom had flues or colds etc, but I nearly died of misdiagnosed colon cancer". Do you know, THAT is a common thread with cancer patients? Many cancer patients, including me, (breast cancer patients too)have said that exact same thing, that they seldom had colds or flu. In fact, THAT may be an indicator that you had an ineffective immune system, not a strong one. Here is a excerpt from an article describing why we get colds.

    "< Cold viruses (rhinovirus) infect only a relatively small proportion of the cells lining the nose (see figure). (10, 14, 15) Membrane damage is mild.

    Cold symptoms are due mainly to the body's response to the infection. When a nasal cell is infected by a cold virus, the body responds by activating parts of the immune system and some nervous system reflexes. (5)

    The immune system contains a variety of natural substances called inflammatory mediators. Inflammatory mediators help protect the body from infection and other harmful events. Some inflammatory mediators are released when nasal cells are infected by a cold virus. The names of some inflammatory mediators involved in colds include histamine, kinins, interleukins, and the prostaglandins. (5, 16-19)

    When activated by a cold virus infection, inflammatory mediators cause dilatation and leakage of blood vessels and mucus gland secretion. (5) Inflammatory mediators also activate sneeze and cough reflexes and stimulate pain nerve fibers. These events are what lead to the symptoms of a cold.

    The activity of the inflammatory mediators is not necessary for recovery from cold virus infection. Twenty-five percent of people who acquire cold virus infection do not develop symptoms. (4) People without cold symptoms recover from the infection as well as those who have symptoms.

    The individual symptoms of a cold are caused by the action of particular inflammatory mediators, although there is some overlapping. (5) This has important implications for developing and selecting effective cold treatments."> END QUOTE

    So you see, just because you didn't have symptoms does not mean you didn't have the cold. It just means your body did not address the threat in the proper or expected manner. Possibly, the more severe the symptoms means the STRONGER the immune response, not a weak immune system. So following that thought, if cancer IS connected to a virus, and we have a disfunctioning immune system, then we might not have an immune system response to it and it could take hold and develope unchecked leading to tumors.
    Just more food for thought. Things are not always how they seem....
    Take care, CJ

    Interesting
    This makes a lot of sense. Do you have a link for the whole article, would love to read it all. Thanks, Robin
  • son of hal
    son of hal Member Posts: 117
    RobinKaye said:

    Interesting
    This makes a lot of sense. Do you have a link for the whole article, would love to read it all. Thanks, Robin

    Do I believe the immune system is linked to cancer? Absolutely!!
    Hi Robin- So, the website was < commoncold.org > It is a really simple and interesting site that dispells many myths about the rhinovirus, which is responsible for the common cold. It goes on to say (what I have found to be true)that people with STRONG immune systems are more likely to get colds more often then people with weak systems. A little background, since my diagnosis in Nov. 2009, every blood work has shown low counts in all important categories. My white and red counts are well below normal as well as hemaglobin and hematocrit and occassionaly platelets. One would think that would make me more susceptible to colds or flu but I have not been sick in years (at least no symptoms). I get sniffles once in a while but nothing more than a day or so and nothing worth noting. Here's another thing, I have never had an ear infection, I've only had a sinus infection maybe once in my life, never had strep throat, never had poison ivy or oak (even though I know I came in contact with it), I don't get hives or get reactions from mosquito/insect bites (barely get a red bump)and have no common allergies. I am allergic to only one thing, Penicillin, go figure. Coincidently, penicillin is used to treat bacterial infections in all the categories that my body does not show reaction to (skin,ear,sinus). Furthermore, autoimmune disorders run in my family. Father had rheumatoid arthritis (in his thirties), sister with lupus, sister with cancer, mother with cancer, grandfather with cancer. Funny, my grandmother suffered from asthma and frequent colds and lived to be 92 while her husband, who was extremely healthy and health conscious, died at 72 from stomach cancer. There is some research that sugests preexisting asthma may actually protect against other autoimmune disorders. Anyway, the immune system is so influential to our overall health it seems only logical that it's function is crucial to cancer patients. BUT, whether it should be strengthened or suppressed is where the questions AND answers lie.
    Take care, CJ
  • son of hal
    son of hal Member Posts: 117
    John23 said:

    C J-
    C J-

    You probably can't hear me applauding since I'm typing
    with my other hand, but I am applauding.

    The immune system is more complex than most people realize.

    Most physicians haven't a clue regarding nutrition -or- the
    immune system's actions to what we eat, drink, etc. It's all
    important to our overall makeup and health.

    There had been some research in Norway some time ago,
    with a study of arthritis. They were noting that there may
    be an actual virus that is causing arthritis, and stifling the
    immune system to prevent local damage may be allowing the
    virus to spread throughout the entire body.

    Sometimes, the "cure" is worse than the problem.

    Thanks, and best wishes for great health!

    John

    :)

    :)
  • janderson1964
    janderson1964 Member Posts: 2,215 Member
    traci43 said:

    Wonderful post!
    Craig - Your post and all the ensuing discussions has been wonderful and just what I needed right now.

    I've got stage IV colon cancer and am closing in on the 5-year mark (June 2012). I've dealt with two recurrances after surgeries and am facing what is likely a third recurrance after no surgery just lots of chemo. I've done FOLFOX and FOLFIRI, not a candidate for eributux. I've had surgery, HIPEC and tried to kill the tumors with chemo, none of that seems to work. I'm taking lots of supplements, meditating and trying to eat better (seems to be the hardest for me). Yet after all this, I'm still facing a likely recurrance.

    It's been hard to deal with, especially the emotions. "What can I do?" "Have I done enough?" "If I could just find the right treatment, I'll be fine." These are the thoughts running through my head. I'm no where close to accepting that I might survive this. I'm still fighting that. It really helps to hear that others are struggling with the same feelings.

    Thanks so much to everyone who posted on this thread for the conversation. It's been great!

    Please see attached link.
    Please see attached link. Very interesting and promising article on drugs to boost the immune system to fight cancer.

    http://www.foxnews.com/health/2012/05/07/training-immune-system-to-fight-cancer-comes-age/
  • mbadgle
    mbadgle Member Posts: 18
    Thanks for the Post Craig
    I havent posted much over the last 4 years since I joined the group. I do read posts regularly. I am stage 4 colon cancer survivor. I had the right side my colon removed, a liver resection and 6 months of chemo. When I was first diagnosised, my 3 daughters asked me to join them at a seminar about alternatives as in juicing, watching what I eat, drink and taking supplements. After listening to the doctor, I knew I could not do what the program was asking. I told my kids I couldnt. I felt bad at the time because I thought what if the cancer came back, would my kids feel like I hadnt done all I could. But knew I didnt have the will power or drive. As of today I am 3 years NED's and I havent really changed that much of my diet.
    Craig thanks for this post. I have always enjoyed reading your post. The last post you responded to me on was I was pondering to retire or not from a really stressful job. I did retire two years ago and even though I live on 70 percent less of my income, I am so much more happier. I have found so much more is important to wake up to.
    As far as reoccurrence, I'm 4 years living with cancer and know nothing is guaranteed.
    Thanks so much for all your posts

    Mike
  • manwithnoname
    manwithnoname Member Posts: 402
    mbadgle said:

    Thanks for the Post Craig
    I havent posted much over the last 4 years since I joined the group. I do read posts regularly. I am stage 4 colon cancer survivor. I had the right side my colon removed, a liver resection and 6 months of chemo. When I was first diagnosised, my 3 daughters asked me to join them at a seminar about alternatives as in juicing, watching what I eat, drink and taking supplements. After listening to the doctor, I knew I could not do what the program was asking. I told my kids I couldnt. I felt bad at the time because I thought what if the cancer came back, would my kids feel like I hadnt done all I could. But knew I didnt have the will power or drive. As of today I am 3 years NED's and I havent really changed that much of my diet.
    Craig thanks for this post. I have always enjoyed reading your post. The last post you responded to me on was I was pondering to retire or not from a really stressful job. I did retire two years ago and even though I live on 70 percent less of my income, I am so much more happier. I have found so much more is important to wake up to.
    As far as reoccurrence, I'm 4 years living with cancer and know nothing is guaranteed.
    Thanks so much for all your posts

    Mike

    I found this

    thread on a search for Iscador, sorry to resurect it but I need to give my 2 cents on the immune conundrum.

    First, you can't 'boost' the immune system it the way many people believe is possible.

    The immune system though most definatley has a role and I believe a HUGE role, here's why. Tumors use our immune system to avoid the immune system, sounds suspect but that's how it is.

    T regulatory cells, Dendritic cells and MDSC have been proven to have dual functions and can hide a tumor from the immune system.

    Immunotherapy using tumor vaccines or oncolytic viruses is the only treatment that I have found that can activate 'memory' that means that once the tumor has been eradicated it wont grow if re-injected into the host, the immune system has it's scent and will kill it.

    Radiation and chemo do not do this.

    The trick to your immune system 'seeing' the cancer then killing it is complicated, cancer is 'self' it is not a threat, we have to trick it into action. Various techniques are evolving to do this, immunotherapy when it works gives cures and that's why it is being pursued.

    So to sum it up, supplements to 'boost' the immune system are only worthwhile to me in a protocol involving immunotherapy and given at crucial time points to affect certain cell functions, BUT certain ammino acids and vitamins/herbal extracts will effect to the extent of stabilisation or may slow the growth of tumors, some act in synergy with chemo/radiation and some don't.

    I'm no expert on this, that's my take on it and it's subject to revision as new facts present themselves.

    BTW most of this info comes from converations with a Professor of immuniology and too much reading.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SsBF509OCY8

     

  • pete43lost_at_sea
    pete43lost_at_sea Member Posts: 3,900 Member

    I found this

    thread on a search for Iscador, sorry to resurect it but I need to give my 2 cents on the immune conundrum.

    First, you can't 'boost' the immune system it the way many people believe is possible.

    The immune system though most definatley has a role and I believe a HUGE role, here's why. Tumors use our immune system to avoid the immune system, sounds suspect but that's how it is.

    T regulatory cells, Dendritic cells and MDSC have been proven to have dual functions and can hide a tumor from the immune system.

    Immunotherapy using tumor vaccines or oncolytic viruses is the only treatment that I have found that can activate 'memory' that means that once the tumor has been eradicated it wont grow if re-injected into the host, the immune system has it's scent and will kill it.

    Radiation and chemo do not do this.

    The trick to your immune system 'seeing' the cancer then killing it is complicated, cancer is 'self' it is not a threat, we have to trick it into action. Various techniques are evolving to do this, immunotherapy when it works gives cures and that's why it is being pursued.

    So to sum it up, supplements to 'boost' the immune system are only worthwhile to me in a protocol involving immunotherapy and given at crucial time points to affect certain cell functions, BUT certain ammino acids and vitamins/herbal extracts will effect to the extent of stabilisation or may slow the growth of tumors, some act in synergy with chemo/radiation and some don't.

    I'm no expert on this, that's my take on it and it's subject to revision as new facts present themselves.

    BTW most of this info comes from converations with a Professor of immuniology and too much reading.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SsBF509OCY8

     

    thank craig and tony and everyone

    just like in boxing you can deliver a 1 to 2 punch to knockout your opponent, my success while only a few weeks old shows the potential of the immune system to eat our tumours very very fast and I have had no systemic chemo. I  can say this a 1000 times. I am back to germany in 4 days for more of the same, I made my point above in this thread what seems years ago.

    tony thanks for explaining the current thinking on the immune system and cancer so simply for our non technical friends.

    think about this, if the answer is the immune system.

    well we have been sitting on our own cure and we never even realised it, maybe big medicine missed a vital point and is to arrogant to back track.

    maybe me and all the people I met in the german clinics doing better than they were at home ( doing conventional ) are illisions.

    I hope not, I am real, they are real, I still have real hope my remission can continue and I am not some unexplained freak to upset all my oncologists and surgeons.

    they are pisssed not happy about what my treatment success means, conventional medicine needs to swallow the bitter pill and own up, the sooner the better. so many lives can be improved, we deserve the best quality and quantity of life available. what truly tragic is the difference between the german holistic/experimental system and the rest. And of course the fact that money buys better health. this sux.

    that enough of a rant. this post craig is like a time capsule, its worth its weight in gold my brother as it shows where we were, where we are, and points to where we are going.

    we are going there together as a community, like it or not, our stories day by day educate us all. then we can make the best decisions we can based on our own situations.

    i did my cea today and sent my blood to greece for another rgcc stem cell profile analysis. one day soon this test maybe used more widely. 

    time will tell for us all, what story that is told is truly interesting.

    hugs,

    Pete

     

     

  • hippiechicks
    hippiechicks Member Posts: 509 Member

    Great post Craig. Thank you
    Great post Craig. Thank you so much again for your time and thoughts. I do not take supplements but eat a mostly organic vegetable based diet. Most of what I eat and juice is based on foods that are believed to fight cancer such as tumeric. Many of these foods are being researched by the big cancer centers. It also gives me piece of mind that I am doing all that I can. I am not saying that my way is right or wrong but it gives me a positive attitude and helps me sleep a little better at night.

    Also I agree with you about surgery. I think without surgery non of us have a fighting chance no matter what we or the oncologist do. I would rather go through 10 surgeries than one round of chemo but somehow it seems to be just the opposite.

    Chemo just seems so barbaric but yet I keep agreeing to do it although last time (4 years ago) I got to my 10th treatment and told the oncologist I had enough. I might do the same this time once my scan comes back clean.

    Dealing with this damn disease seams like a big guessing game not just for us survivors but for the whole medical industry.

    This certainly has been an

    This certainly has been an interesting read! I seem to fall here...

    I think our hospitals are made up of teams because the years of research have shown there is no one clear answer.  This is why we have surgeons, oncologists, radiologists, nutritionalists, mental health, exercise groups and access to alternative medicines.  I know I am very lucky to have all of them offered at my hospital, and utilize each and every one of them.  (well, exercise needs improvement...and I do like cannoli's)

    I also agree that DNA is a factor as we have 3 positive at exactly the same age and 2 of those the same cancer and stagen in my family. I also agree that environmental or even how we as individuals respond both physically and mentally to that environment plays a role in our fate of diagnosis and also survival.

    Best to all who are posting and reading ... supporting each other and respecting decisions is the most important thing we can do for each other. Keep on educating!!

  • Sundanceh
    Sundanceh Member Posts: 4,392 Member

    thank craig and tony and everyone

    just like in boxing you can deliver a 1 to 2 punch to knockout your opponent, my success while only a few weeks old shows the potential of the immune system to eat our tumours very very fast and I have had no systemic chemo. I  can say this a 1000 times. I am back to germany in 4 days for more of the same, I made my point above in this thread what seems years ago.

    tony thanks for explaining the current thinking on the immune system and cancer so simply for our non technical friends.

    think about this, if the answer is the immune system.

    well we have been sitting on our own cure and we never even realised it, maybe big medicine missed a vital point and is to arrogant to back track.

    maybe me and all the people I met in the german clinics doing better than they were at home ( doing conventional ) are illisions.

    I hope not, I am real, they are real, I still have real hope my remission can continue and I am not some unexplained freak to upset all my oncologists and surgeons.

    they are pisssed not happy about what my treatment success means, conventional medicine needs to swallow the bitter pill and own up, the sooner the better. so many lives can be improved, we deserve the best quality and quantity of life available. what truly tragic is the difference between the german holistic/experimental system and the rest. And of course the fact that money buys better health. this sux.

    that enough of a rant. this post craig is like a time capsule, its worth its weight in gold my brother as it shows where we were, where we are, and points to where we are going.

    we are going there together as a community, like it or not, our stories day by day educate us all. then we can make the best decisions we can based on our own situations.

    i did my cea today and sent my blood to greece for another rgcc stem cell profile analysis. one day soon this test maybe used more widely. 

    time will tell for us all, what story that is told is truly interesting.

    hugs,

    Pete

     

     

    Thanks, Tony

    For salvaging this old post from the treasure chest....even if it did come from you researching another topic.  That's how I found this site years ago...quite by accident while I was researching lung tumors.  

    I enjoyed reading it again and all the responses.  Thanks for your contribution on this post...it was nice to see that the "boosting" of the immune system was correlated differently than the way folks view it now.  The premise of more of this will do that.

    I believe that the immune system plays a role...I wanted to make that clear...but it is one piece of the puzzle...if our immune systems were all that, we'd just never be sick.  Your immune system can still be strong and you get sick.

    Cancer just overwhelms the immune system and therefore needs help...which can come in many forms.

    His cell replication theory is sound to me...it makes much sense.

    Years ago, I apprenticed at a printing shop...the old school offset printers.  They turned me loose one day to do a job for a client.  I thought I had it all lined up right....but the copy was off...and I hit the go button...in seconds 100 or so copies came spitting out...I thought they were good....my boss showed me where they weren't.

    That's how I see the cell replication...the key is WHAT mis-aligns our cell printing machine to start producing bad cells, known as cancer?

    Anyway, I appreciate your input on this post.  I found this one to be one of all time favorites.

    And Pete...it's a time capsule alright...."where we were?....where we are?...where we're going?"

    Hey, you using my lines, LOL!

    It is very interesting....cause I saw the period in you where you went vegan:) 

    I saw Hippiechicks posting on the first page....glad you enjoyed the read!

    -Craig

  • manwithnoname
    manwithnoname Member Posts: 402
    Sundanceh said:

    Thanks, Tony

    For salvaging this old post from the treasure chest....even if it did come from you researching another topic.  That's how I found this site years ago...quite by accident while I was researching lung tumors.  

    I enjoyed reading it again and all the responses.  Thanks for your contribution on this post...it was nice to see that the "boosting" of the immune system was correlated differently than the way folks view it now.  The premise of more of this will do that.

    I believe that the immune system plays a role...I wanted to make that clear...but it is one piece of the puzzle...if our immune systems were all that, we'd just never be sick.  Your immune system can still be strong and you get sick.

    Cancer just overwhelms the immune system and therefore needs help...which can come in many forms.

    His cell replication theory is sound to me...it makes much sense.

    Years ago, I apprenticed at a printing shop...the old school offset printers.  They turned me loose one day to do a job for a client.  I thought I had it all lined up right....but the copy was off...and I hit the go button...in seconds 100 or so copies came spitting out...I thought they were good....my boss showed me where they weren't.

    That's how I see the cell replication...the key is WHAT mis-aligns our cell printing machine to start producing bad cells, known as cancer?

    Anyway, I appreciate your input on this post.  I found this one to be one of all time favorites.

    And Pete...it's a time capsule alright...."where we were?....where we are?...where we're going?"

    Hey, you using my lines, LOL!

    It is very interesting....cause I saw the period in you where you went vegan:) 

    I saw Hippiechicks posting on the first page....glad you enjoyed the read!

    -Craig

    Hi Craig

    "the key is WHAT"     exactly! the first words I said to our oncologist were  "what caused it"  her reply was no one know's and if you find the answer you will get a nobel prize.

    Year's ago I read a book by a Polish author called Stanislaw`Lem, the book was about a series of unlikley events all coming together to create a 'perfect storm' in the charachters life. (the book is actual a critique of a non-existant novel, think you would like it) Smile

    I believe that's what cancer is, no single cause, but many causal events, including viruses, bacteria, enviroment, emotions, genes, etc. all coming together.

    I believe immunotherapy has a very good chance at curing cancer, maybe not by itself,  but then cancer might just adapt...

     

  • pete43lost_at_sea
    pete43lost_at_sea Member Posts: 3,900 Member

    Hi Craig

    "the key is WHAT"     exactly! the first words I said to our oncologist were  "what caused it"  her reply was no one know's and if you find the answer you will get a nobel prize.

    Year's ago I read a book by a Polish author called Stanislaw`Lem, the book was about a series of unlikley events all coming together to create a 'perfect storm' in the charachters life. (the book is actual a critique of a non-existant novel, think you would like it) Smile

    I believe that's what cancer is, no single cause, but many causal events, including viruses, bacteria, enviroment, emotions, genes, etc. all coming together.

    I believe immunotherapy has a very good chance at curing cancer, maybe not by itself,  but then cancer might just adapt...

     

    cea 3.2 i am crying with joy

    my immune is still working.

    its magic.

    hugs,

    pete

     

  • pete43lost_at_sea
    pete43lost_at_sea Member Posts: 3,900 Member

    Hi Craig

    "the key is WHAT"     exactly! the first words I said to our oncologist were  "what caused it"  her reply was no one know's and if you find the answer you will get a nobel prize.

    Year's ago I read a book by a Polish author called Stanislaw`Lem, the book was about a series of unlikley events all coming together to create a 'perfect storm' in the charachters life. (the book is actual a critique of a non-existant novel, think you would like it) Smile

    I believe that's what cancer is, no single cause, but many causal events, including viruses, bacteria, enviroment, emotions, genes, etc. all coming together.

    I believe immunotherapy has a very good chance at curing cancer, maybe not by itself,  but then cancer might just adapt...

     

    cea 3.2 i am crying with joy

    my immune is still working.

    its magic.

     

    hugs,

    pete

     we share the pain we share the joy

  • barbebarb
    barbebarb Member Posts: 464

    cea 3.2 i am crying with joy

    my immune is still working.

    its magic.

     

    hugs,

    pete

     we share the pain we share the joy

    Good post
    We are all doing the best we can. These posts affirm this point.

    My daughter asked me how can you be Stage IV when you never get a cold or the flu - who knows!

    I am trying to eat as healthy as I can and enjoy exercising so that helps with my motivation and gives me some peace of mind.

    It is frustrating with each scan and treatment plan change, emotionally, as well as physically.
    Will I reach NED again? I recently had a brain tumo removed and one -time str. Death is on my mind constantly.
    I feel like all my efforts went to the wayside and cancer is beating me to the finish line.
    It is rare and so systemic. I start folfiri next week.

    Trying to live each day to the fullest and blend cancer life is challenging but that's how it is.

    Thank you for sharing your information.

    Barb.