Cancer stem cell theory

carolenk
carolenk Member Posts: 907 Member
edited September 2011 in Ovarian Cancer #1
Seems like no one talks about cancer stem cells on this board (not that I have seen)--maybe because the concept is only a theory or maybe because no one is offered the cancer stem cell treatment. Anyway, if you do some research on ovarian cancer and cancer stem cells (just Google it), it looks like there are two pathways by which one ends up with ovarian cancer. If your pathway does not involve cancer stem cells, then chemo is the answer for you. That's how you find some women "beating the odds" and staying in a long remission.

If the origin of your ovarian cancer IS from cancer stem cells, then chemo is NOT the answer--chemo is only palliative treatment that will keep you going until you can't take any more chemo.

Cancer stem cells are truly BRILLIANT and have the ability to create a wide variety of new cancer cells that resistant to chemo. This explains how chemo can kill off MOST of the cancer but when there are still a few remaining cancer stem cells lurking about, all it takes is a brief lapse in the immune surveillance system and BOOM! New cells are created--now resistant to the first-line chemo that appeared to put someone into a short or long remission. Or even fool someone into thinking they were cured.

As far as I can tell, no one has figured out HOW to test to see if you have a cancer stem cell problem or not. Therefore, I would just assume that if you can't get into remission or if you have had a recurrence or if you are dealing with chemoresistance, there is a very good possibilty that you are dealing with a cancer stem cell problem and chemo is only gonna buy you some time.

There are clinics that offer stem cell therapy for ovarian cancer. Can you get this treatment in the US? Not that I know of. I would be very interested in hearing ANYONE else's opinion on this.

Diet, exercise, meditation, herbs, detoxification and all the holistic support you can muster will help extend your life--of that I have not doubt. It's like putting up sandbags when the river is rising...sigh.

Comments

  • carolenk
    carolenk Member Posts: 907 Member
    #2
    Update on this posting
    OK, I have to correct myself to say that stem cell therapy IS available in the US. All I know is this web site: http://www.issels.com/FAQs.aspx#WhereIs I have no idea what the treatment costs and I am SURE that my insurance won't pay for it. But it's still good to know that there are more options for me out there (should I need them).
  • Radioactive34
    Radioactive34 Member Posts: 391 Member
    #3
    carolenk said:

    Update on this posting
    OK, I have to correct myself to say that stem cell therapy IS available in the US. All I know is this web site: http://www.issels.com/FAQs.aspx#WhereIs I have no idea what the treatment costs and I am SURE that my insurance won't pay for it. But it's still good to know that there are more options for me out there (should I need them).

    I had not heard about it
    I had not heard about it until you posted it. The reading made my eyes cross and made me feel like I was in a science fiction movie.

    Lol, it is amazing how much I really did understand. I feel like a lab rat...which way to go in the maze?? Which trial to try for...which country to try to run for....?!?!?

    Though every time I think that, I pray someone else won't have to feel that way because we/I already took care of that part for them.
  • Tethys41
    Tethys41 Member Posts: 1,382 Member
    #4
    carolenk said:

    Update on this posting
    OK, I have to correct myself to say that stem cell therapy IS available in the US. All I know is this web site: http://www.issels.com/FAQs.aspx#WhereIs I have no idea what the treatment costs and I am SURE that my insurance won't pay for it. But it's still good to know that there are more options for me out there (should I need them).

    Stem Cells and Issels
    I'm pretty sure Issel's is located in Mexico. As a matter of fact, I know it is, I just don't know whether they also have a clinic in the U.S. There are two products I know of that are "supposed to" kill cancer stem cells. One is called Haelan 951 and the other is called Avemar. Both are fermented beverages (Haelan 951 comes in an 8 oz. bottle and is a fermented soy beverage;Avemar comes in a powder, I believe, and is fermented wheat). I don't know what about them affects the stem cells, but supposedly they do. I do know that they taste horrible and are very expensive. I think, perhaps, it is the awful taste that runs the stem cells out. I take one oz. of the Haelan daily.
  • carolenk
    carolenk Member Posts: 907 Member
    #5
    Tethys41 said:

    Stem Cells and Issels
    I'm pretty sure Issel's is located in Mexico. As a matter of fact, I know it is, I just don't know whether they also have a clinic in the U.S. There are two products I know of that are "supposed to" kill cancer stem cells. One is called Haelan 951 and the other is called Avemar. Both are fermented beverages (Haelan 951 comes in an 8 oz. bottle and is a fermented soy beverage;Avemar comes in a powder, I believe, and is fermented wheat). I don't know what about them affects the stem cells, but supposedly they do. I do know that they taste horrible and are very expensive. I think, perhaps, it is the awful taste that runs the stem cells out. I take one oz. of the Haelan daily.

    I read too much for my own good
    I NEVER, NEVER wanted to be an expert on the treatment of cancer--NEVER!

    Now, I read way too much for my own good and all I know is that there is a LOT that I don't know and probably never will know. Oh, well. It is a pretty fascinating subject.
  • spiderdg
    spiderdg Member Posts: 1
    edited October 2016 #6
    Issel Treatment Results

    I'm just learning about the Santa Barbara/Tijuana option for Issel treatment but cannot seem to find reliable testamonials.  Don't quite want to rely on the Issels.com web site for independent opinions.  Any valid results/studies out there?

  • Tethys41
    Tethys41 Member Posts: 1,382 Member
    #7
    spiderdg said:

    Issel Treatment Results

    I'm just learning about the Santa Barbara/Tijuana option for Issel treatment but cannot seem to find reliable testamonials.  Don't quite want to rely on the Issels.com web site for independent opinions.  Any valid results/studies out there?

    Issels

    I went to the Oasis of Hope, which occupies the same building as Issels in Mexico.  I don't know a lot about the results at Issels.  The patients I saw, while I was there seemed like they were having a rough time with the treatments.  More difficult that the folks going to Oasis of Hope, like I was.  But that was 7 years ago and their approach may have changed.  I know the Oasis of Hope uses a lot of integrative treatments now that they didn't offer when I was there.  I don't know their success rate with killing stem cells.  It seems like changing the internal environment of you body is a more  solid approach to preventing the return of cancer.  Cancer can't grow in a healthy body because the conditions won't allow it.

  • tealnpink
    tealnpink Member Posts: 30 Member
    #8
    Stem cell

    Is this what you are talking about? They do stem cell transplants for ovarian cancer.

    https://www.mdanderson.org/research/departments-labs-institutes/departments-divisions/stem-cell-transplantation.html

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