" The End Of Cancer?"
It's a disease that kills millions a year and a slew of hoped-for miracle treatments have gone nowhere. Now scientists say vaccines could hold the key—not just to a cure but to wiping out cancer forever.
You can read the whole article to large to post here at the following website:
http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2011/12/11/could-this-be-the-end-of-cancer.html
I read the article while waiting for my doctor. This paragraph caught my eye, especially about the two new drugs for metastatic bc out last week.
After four decades of largely unfulfilled hopes—Dec. 23 marks 40 years since President Nixon declared war on cancer—scientists have hit on a potential cure that few thought possible a few years ago: vaccines. If they succeed, cancer vaccines would revolutionize treatment. They could spell the end of chemotherapy and radiation, which can have horrific side effects, which tumor cells often become resistant to, and which often make so little difference it would be laughable were it not so tragic: last week, for instance, headlines touted two new drugs for metastatic breast cancer even though studies failed to show that they extend survival by a single day. Vaccines could make such “advances” a thing of the past. And they could make cancer as preventable, with a few jabs, as measles.
“Could” is the key word. Cancer vaccines are still being tested. Patients, doctors, and scientists know only too well that seemingly wondrous cancer therapies can flame out. But progress is accelerating. In 2010, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the first-ever tumor vaccine, called Provenge, to treat prostate cancer. Scores of other vaccines are in the pipeline. Over the summer, researchers at the University of Pennsylvania unveiled what they call a cancer “breakthrough 20 years in the making”: a vaccine against chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) that has brought about remissions of up to a year and counting—and which its inventors believe can be tweaked to attack lung cancer, ovarian cancer, myeloma, and melanoma. Vaccines against pancreatic and brain cancer are also being tested. “For the first time,” says Disis, who has a $7.9 million grant from the Pentagon to develop a preventive vaccine, “clinical trials [of cancer vaccines] are demonstrating anti-tumor efficacy in numbers of patients with cancer, not just one or two unique individuals.”
Keyword is "COULD" as in all these "hopes". This is no different than the post a few months ago by Skipper54 on treatment breakthrough". Wonderful to know but, reality will be when it is here.
Doris
Comments
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Reality: People were saying "could" and "hopes" in 1955 when Jonas Salk introduced the polio vaccine.0
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Hopeful, eh?missingtexas said:Reality: People were saying "could" and "hopes" in 1955 when Jonas Salk introduced the polio vaccine.
I am old enough to remember Salk and Sabin and the polio crisis of the fifties. I remember the iron lung that was in the news.
I hope you read the whole article Missing Texas as it shows real hope for all of us. The drugs last week are for those who are ER+ and Her2. The Afinitor shows 7 months free of progression, not years. This vaccine promises life. That is the big difference. There are a lot of vaccines in the works and have been reading about them for a long time.
I do hope this will happen and not fizzle like so many other promising drugs that were going to cure cancer in the past. It is a different concept so I find it very hopeful.
Best,
Doris0 -
I did read the article...ISIROD said:Hopeful, eh?
I am old enough to remember Salk and Sabin and the polio crisis of the fifties. I remember the iron lung that was in the news.
I hope you read the whole article Missing Texas as it shows real hope for all of us. The drugs last week are for those who are ER+ and Her2. The Afinitor shows 7 months free of progression, not years. This vaccine promises life. That is the big difference. There are a lot of vaccines in the works and have been reading about them for a long time.
I do hope this will happen and not fizzle like so many other promising drugs that were going to cure cancer in the past. It is a different concept so I find it very hopeful.
Best,
Doris
I did read the article...I think it's amazing and that it does show hope...your last line in the post seemed a little negative and it referenced an earlier post where you were VERY negative.0 -
I am nothing butSIROD said:Hopeful, eh?
I am old enough to remember Salk and Sabin and the polio crisis of the fifties. I remember the iron lung that was in the news.
I hope you read the whole article Missing Texas as it shows real hope for all of us. The drugs last week are for those who are ER+ and Her2. The Afinitor shows 7 months free of progression, not years. This vaccine promises life. That is the big difference. There are a lot of vaccines in the works and have been reading about them for a long time.
I do hope this will happen and not fizzle like so many other promising drugs that were going to cure cancer in the past. It is a different concept so I find it very hopeful.
Best,
Doris
I am nothing but positive...there may not be a time while I'm still alive that we will see major advances, but I sure hope there is!0 -
1994missingtexas said:I am nothing but
I am nothing but positive...there may not be a time while I'm still alive that we will see major advances, but I sure hope there is!
When you have been around as long as I have with breast cancer one sometimes does become jaded. Unlike Cypress Cynthia who was diagnose and treated she had many years not visiting her oncologist. That didn't happen to me, I was always in the loop, due to recurrences and side effects. I have watched many good (real life friends) who began the journey with die from the disease. I have watched my online friends die as well. There was no internet when I was diagnose, information came from books and magazines as well as the news. I work in a perfect place for information, so after I got over my overwhelming fear when diagnose, I read, read, read and continue to do so. My online forum began in 1997-8, the women who first joined up were a small group and we became very close friends. Some met, I only talked on the phone with them, we wrote real letters, sent real cards too. So many are gone now and everyone had hope back then that most would overcome. Read my "Pink Bus History" post that tells the story.
http://csn.cancer.org/node/231611
I did see some great new drugs come to be, Herceptin for women with aggressive cancers and the oncogene Her2NEU. Tamoxifen was the only hormonal prescribed in 1994. When I had my first recurrence in 1999, Arimidex had just become available, then later Femara, Aromasin, Faslodex and etc. New chemo drugs came out too. There was a lot of hype with some of the new drugs and in the end they didn't pan out.
I am glad that you are very positive and hope you remain cancer free forever. I really do and keep your enthusiasm as well.
If you are ever in my shoes, 17 years later with mets to the lungs, lining and bone and you watch a lot of friends dies from breast cancer, you become a little wearied of what can turn out to be no more than media hype. I've read a lot about the vaccines and I am hoping that this time it's for real. For if not me, for those who come after. Perhaps in your lifetime it will happen Miss Texas. I really do hope so.
Best to you,
Doris0 -
I took the vaccines in the 1950'smissingtexas said:Reality: People were saying "could" and "hopes" in 1955 when Jonas Salk introduced the polio vaccine.
I was alive to receive what was a shot and later one was an oral vaccine given in little paper cups in the fifties. I much preferred the oral one.
I remember what fear polio was for parents in that era.
Polio and cancer are really a lot different in every way.
Best,
Doris0 -
I've watched family membersSIROD said:1994
When you have been around as long as I have with breast cancer one sometimes does become jaded. Unlike Cypress Cynthia who was diagnose and treated she had many years not visiting her oncologist. That didn't happen to me, I was always in the loop, due to recurrences and side effects. I have watched many good (real life friends) who began the journey with die from the disease. I have watched my online friends die as well. There was no internet when I was diagnose, information came from books and magazines as well as the news. I work in a perfect place for information, so after I got over my overwhelming fear when diagnose, I read, read, read and continue to do so. My online forum began in 1997-8, the women who first joined up were a small group and we became very close friends. Some met, I only talked on the phone with them, we wrote real letters, sent real cards too. So many are gone now and everyone had hope back then that most would overcome. Read my "Pink Bus History" post that tells the story.
http://csn.cancer.org/node/231611
I did see some great new drugs come to be, Herceptin for women with aggressive cancers and the oncogene Her2NEU. Tamoxifen was the only hormonal prescribed in 1994. When I had my first recurrence in 1999, Arimidex had just become available, then later Femara, Aromasin, Faslodex and etc. New chemo drugs came out too. There was a lot of hype with some of the new drugs and in the end they didn't pan out.
I am glad that you are very positive and hope you remain cancer free forever. I really do and keep your enthusiasm as well.
If you are ever in my shoes, 17 years later with mets to the lungs, lining and bone and you watch a lot of friends dies from breast cancer, you become a little wearied of what can turn out to be no more than media hype. I've read a lot about the vaccines and I am hoping that this time it's for real. For if not me, for those who come after. Perhaps in your lifetime it will happen Miss Texas. I really do hope so.
Best to you,
Doris
I've watched family members die from cancer...mets to brain, mets to bone, mets to liver. Family that I was very close to. My mother lost all 3 of her younger sisters to cancer...I am very well aware of the reality and am a little shocked that you would suggest otherwise.0 -
I also never said cancer andSIROD said:I took the vaccines in the 1950's
I was alive to receive what was a shot and later one was an oral vaccine given in little paper cups in the fifties. I much preferred the oral one.
I remember what fear polio was for parents in that era.
Polio and cancer are really a lot different in every way.
Best,
Doris
I also never said cancer and polio was the same thing, or even similar things. I was giving an example of people hoping for a cure or a prevention and low and behold it happened. There have been many diseases that at one point were deadly and hopeless that are now virtually eradicated. In my lifetime, all 5 people who were diagnosed with cancer in my family died. I did not allow (and won't allow) that to affect my attitude. I think it is unfortunate that you have.0 -
Virus versus cellsmissingtexas said:I also never said cancer and
I also never said cancer and polio was the same thing, or even similar things. I was giving an example of people hoping for a cure or a prevention and low and behold it happened. There have been many diseases that at one point were deadly and hopeless that are now virtually eradicated. In my lifetime, all 5 people who were diagnosed with cancer in my family died. I did not allow (and won't allow) that to affect my attitude. I think it is unfortunate that you have.
Polio is a virus and cancer are cells gone out of control. That is the big difference in why Polio was cured and we are still looking for one in the 21st century. The only disease that has been completely eradicated is Small Pox if I am recollecting correctly.
I am sorry that five people in your family died of cancer. I have had many people in my own family die from cancer as well as good friends too. I believe that would be the case in most families.
I am not certain why you are angry with me. If I am a little jaded towards the media hype, I believe after 17 years of reading articles of this sort, I earned the right to be. I hope this time the vaccine will prove to be a great one and work for all.
You don't know what you will allow until enough time has passed to affect your attitude towards the disease. Right now, it has been one brush with the disease. I do hope you always can remain positive towards the media as you are now.
Best,
Doris0 -
"One brush with theSIROD said:I took the vaccines in the 1950's
I was alive to receive what was a shot and later one was an oral vaccine given in little paper cups in the fifties. I much preferred the oral one.
I remember what fear polio was for parents in that era.
Polio and cancer are really a lot different in every way.
Best,
Doris
"One brush with the disease"...the audacity you have to even make that statement disgusts me. You know ABSOLUTELY NOTHING about what I may or may not have gone through regarding my health.0 -
I think that a point MissingSIROD said:Virus versus cells
Polio is a virus and cancer are cells gone out of control. That is the big difference in why Polio was cured and we are still looking for one in the 21st century. The only disease that has been completely eradicated is Small Pox if I am recollecting correctly.
I am sorry that five people in your family died of cancer. I have had many people in my own family die from cancer as well as good friends too. I believe that would be the case in most families.
I am not certain why you are angry with me. If I am a little jaded towards the media hype, I believe after 17 years of reading articles of this sort, I earned the right to be. I hope this time the vaccine will prove to be a great one and work for all.
You don't know what you will allow until enough time has passed to affect your attitude towards the disease. Right now, it has been one brush with the disease. I do hope you always can remain positive towards the media as you are now.
Best,
Doris
I think that a point Missing Texas is trying to get across is that, as young women with breast cancer, we also have circumstances that are very hard to deal with, one of those being even TRYING to remain positive and optimistic when there are so many percentages and "numbers" stacked against us to begin with. We are juggling raising children during treatment and surgeries, i personally am BRCA1 + which is a huge thing to deal with because I have two daughtes who are at a huge risk, and that thought scares me more than my own diagnosis. So one brush with the disease is bad enough. We are "new" in the game, and are faced with this looming over the rest of our lives, and our kids' lives, and trying to hold on to any and all hope that we can.0 -
I was flagged for?missingtexas said:"One brush with the
"One brush with the disease"...the audacity you have to even make that statement disgusts me. You know ABSOLUTELY NOTHING about what I may or may not have gone through regarding my health.
I was flagged for? Audacity? Disgusts? Interesting.0 -
You go girl Missing Texas! You rock!missingtexas said:I was flagged for?
I was flagged for? Audacity? Disgusts? Interesting.
I can't believe she and we know who "she is" flagged your post! !!! Now that IS disgusting
Hugs to you, Sweetie !
Nancy
ps...I sent you a private message....0 -
Let's Agree to Discontinue with Posting to Each othermissingtexas said:"One brush with the
"One brush with the disease"...the audacity you have to even make that statement disgusts me. You know ABSOLUTELY NOTHING about what I may or may not have gone through regarding my health.
Dear Missing Texas,
I am very sorry that you have taken a defensive position regarding how I feel about Media hype. I am not certain really why you did. I do know from my long experience being on breast cancer forums online that women are often upset and take it out on a posters.
While I do not know much in regards to your health issues, you are not aware of mine either.
Let's agree not to continue this line of posting.
Wishing you the best,
Doris
PS: I did not flag you.0 -
To Heatherbelle in regards to "Not Missing the Point"Heatherbelle said:I think that a point Missing
I think that a point Missing Texas is trying to get across is that, as young women with breast cancer, we also have circumstances that are very hard to deal with, one of those being even TRYING to remain positive and optimistic when there are so many percentages and "numbers" stacked against us to begin with. We are juggling raising children during treatment and surgeries, i personally am BRCA1 + which is a huge thing to deal with because I have two daughtes who are at a huge risk, and that thought scares me more than my own diagnosis. So one brush with the disease is bad enough. We are "new" in the game, and are faced with this looming over the rest of our lives, and our kids' lives, and trying to hold on to any and all hope that we can.
Dear Heatherbelle,
When I began my breast cancer journey, I had a child at home and one that just began college. I needed to work (divorced) to support my children. So I do understand being pre menopausal and scared. I had just finish going through a staph infection that nearly cost me my life (organs were failing) it took 2 more surgeries to finally arrive at the point of healing. Then I was diagnose with breast cancer. I finally stop using the bandage for the infection during my 2nd month of chemotherapy. It was a horrible year and the whole experience ended one year later.
One brush is bad enough but going on and on with the disease is extremely horrible too. I do believe Missing Texas, miss the point when I said "if you were in my shoes you would understand why after reading for 17 years about a promising new drug one could be jaded". I was talking about myself.
I was hoping when I posted this wonderful article that it would make people hopeful. Instead it is digressing into something posters feel about me. Yes, the article was about a lab whereas this one is actually in trial.
One only has to go to NCI clinical trials to see how many are in the works. Lots of them and everyone of them offers a promise. Media is in the business of hyping a little in order to sell the magazine or newspaper it is printed in. I have read so many over the years to know the difference.
Please don't belittle my experience as I have more than paid my dues with this disease.
Best to you, Heatherbelle,
Doris0 -
Unlike you, I never claimedSIROD said:Let's Agree to Discontinue with Posting to Each other
Dear Missing Texas,
I am very sorry that you have taken a defensive position regarding how I feel about Media hype. I am not certain really why you did. I do know from my long experience being on breast cancer forums online that women are often upset and take it out on a posters.
While I do not know much in regards to your health issues, you are not aware of mine either.
Let's agree not to continue this line of posting.
Wishing you the best,
Doris
PS: I did not flag you.
Unlike you, I never claimed to know anything about your health. 17 years has not earned you the right to be rude and condescending although you seem to think it has. You also seem to know everything. I'm shocked you haven't discovered a cure on your own. You are negative about everything. I would certainly think that 17 years would make you a little more grateful. None of my family members got that much time. I will remain positive...even though you think I'm upset. Psychiatrist AND oncologist are two degrees you should be proud to have. It is unfortunate your "brush with cancer" was the worst in history.0 -
I'd say...SIROD said:Let's Agree to Discontinue with Posting to Each other
Dear Missing Texas,
I am very sorry that you have taken a defensive position regarding how I feel about Media hype. I am not certain really why you did. I do know from my long experience being on breast cancer forums online that women are often upset and take it out on a posters.
While I do not know much in regards to your health issues, you are not aware of mine either.
Let's agree not to continue this line of posting.
Wishing you the best,
Doris
PS: I did not flag you.
That someone who has had bc, for oh let's say, 17 years or so would have been the recipient of some drugs that were mere "media hype" at one time... would she not? And perhaps show a little empathy and compassion towards others... Instead of ALWAYS trying to dash hope and be the end all be all with their " knowledge"And to say "one brush with death" is the height of arrogance! And unless one is pre historic, age wise, many of us have been around the block more than once, this isn't our first rodeo, either, and also read, read, read and research....we're not stupid but we don't pretend to " know it all" or to know what others endure on a daily basis.... And playing the victim when called on such arrogance is rather unbecoming...feel free to flag this!0 -
I know i dont respond toSIROD said:Article?
Is there anyone who enjoyed learning about what this article had to offer?
Doris
I know i dont respond to much, however seeing the way the responses have been to this post is sad, I see what you both have had to say and I do understand both post. I wish both of you good luck with your life path.
As far as the Article goes, I am so happy theres new drugs out there, however almost do not dare to hope. If giving the opportunity I would take the vaccine.
Merry Christmas everyone
Amie0 -
I think we all struggle withmzl0ve said:I know i dont respond to
I know i dont respond to much, however seeing the way the responses have been to this post is sad, I see what you both have had to say and I do understand both post. I wish both of you good luck with your life path.
As far as the Article goes, I am so happy theres new drugs out there, however almost do not dare to hope. If giving the opportunity I would take the vaccine.
Merry Christmas everyone
Amie
I think we all struggle with our dark thoughts and worries. and although we dont want to be all pollyanna,sometimes the negative thoughts need to be kept in that place we keep them-to ourselves or shared with a close friend/relative or counselor. although we are here for support we are also here to support others. We need to be mindful of what we say and the affect on others that read our posts. WhenI was diagnosed the first time at 34 it was tough, I didnt have an online community or a computer for that matter and this forum has been helpful. But one problem is in this type of forum is we dont know each other, and the details of their lives, and what we say can be far reaching.
I know progress has been slow, but we have made some progress, with estrogen blockers, and her 2. people are living longer with stage 4. and diagnosed earlier. More needs to be done. But I feel hopeful with every new advance. Breaking the human genome has been helpful and we are starting to understand why cancer is so hard to eradicate. it is my opinion that cancer will become a chronic illness. One great treatment for leukemia Gleevac has saved so many. anyway... I have to have hope in my life for my family and all my sweet sisters.
A good book is "The emperor of all maladies" basically a history of cancer.0
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