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Message
The drug that helped Jimmy Carter get 'cancer-free' is a breakthrough
Posted on 12/8/15 at 1:45 pm
Posted on 12/8/15 at 1:45 pm
LINK
quote:
Carter was being treated with a cancer drug called Keytruda that uses the immune system to fight off cancerous cells.
Keytruda, made by pharmaceutical company Merck, was originally approved by the FDA in September 2014 to treat melanoma, a deadly form of skin cancer that can also show up in other organs of the body, as it did in Carter's case.
In someone with melanoma, certain proteins called PD-1 stop the immune system from doing its job and fighting the cancerous cells. Keytruda works by getting in the way of those proteins, allowing the immune system to access the cancer cells. Then, with the help of radiation therapy, which works to shrink tumors by killing cancer cells, it can knock the cancer out.
The drug is delivered intravenously every three weeks, costing about $12,500 a month.
And the drug isn't just being used in cases like Carter's. Keytruda, which got approved to treat a form of lung cancer in October, is also being explored to treat a number of other cancers, including head and neck, breast, and bladder cancers and Hodgkin lymphoma.
It's also not the first cancer immunotherapy drug. Scientists have been seriously exploring using the immune system to battle cancerous cells for decades as an alternative to chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgery. But it's taken a long time for the treatments to be effective in humans.
On Monday, Merck also announced that it has initiated two final phase trials using Keytruda in patients with multiple myeloma, a type of blood cancer that affects a type of white blood cell called plasma cells.
Posted on 12/8/15 at 1:46 pm to RedRifle
quote:
costing about $12,500 a month.
Racist. They'll have to lower it.
Posted on 12/8/15 at 1:47 pm to RedRifle
If you matter or have money you can survive anything.
Posted on 12/8/15 at 1:47 pm to RedRifle
I hate to tell you this, but I've known several people that were deemed "cancer free" after a course of drugs/chemo/radiation. In every single one, they remained cancer free for a while, then it returned with a vengeance and they were dead within months.
Cancer free doesn't mean much, and it pains me to say that.
Cancer free doesn't mean much, and it pains me to say that.
Posted on 12/8/15 at 1:48 pm to RedRifle
Basically, if you're rich, you're ok.
I'd imagine that Joe Smith, OTOH, with Obamacare insurance, would have died last week if he was in Jimmy's shoes.
I'd imagine that Joe Smith, OTOH, with Obamacare insurance, would have died last week if he was in Jimmy's shoes.
Posted on 12/8/15 at 1:52 pm to RedRifle
No racist, but that drug has the name of a black chick.
I would say it sounded like a white dude if the name was Tommy or Philbert, so again, no racist.
I would say it sounded like a white dude if the name was Tommy or Philbert, so again, no racist.
Posted on 12/8/15 at 1:53 pm to Festus
quote:
I hate to tell you this, but I've known several people that were deemed "cancer free" after a course of drugs/chemo/radiation. In every single one, they remained cancer free for a while, then it returned with a vengeance and they were dead within months.
2 grandparents, this year
cancer fricking sucks
Posted on 12/8/15 at 1:53 pm to RedRifle
I wonder if obamacare paid for it through my higher insurance costs
Posted on 12/8/15 at 1:55 pm to baybeefeetz
quote:
No racist, but that drug has the name of a black chick.
On the plus side all the Keytrudas out there should get a deep discount should they ever need the drug.
Posted on 12/8/15 at 1:55 pm to MrPappagiorgio
Sorry to hear that Pappa.
I almost wish they would never tell a family the person is cancer free.
I almost wish they would never tell a family the person is cancer free.
Posted on 12/8/15 at 1:59 pm to The Boat
quote:
If you matter or have money you can survive anything.
Posted on 12/8/15 at 2:02 pm to Festus
quote:
I hate to tell you this, but I've known several people that were deemed "cancer free" after a course of drugs/chemo/radiation. In every single one, they remained cancer free for a while, then it returned with a vengeance and they were dead within months.
Yep...happend to my Dad, had esophageal cancer, was told it was gone and cancer free. 7 months later he was gone 6 years ago this Dec 20th.
Have friend that had the same thing happen to her father. So anytime I hear someone say they are cancer free after treatments, I'm happy for them, but know that it isn't always true.
This post was edited on 12/8/15 at 2:04 pm
Posted on 12/8/15 at 2:04 pm to Kingwood Tiger
Steve Jobs died because he was a dumb arse, not because of lack of resources. His variant of pancreatic cancer was treatable yet he decided to shun modern medicine in favor of holistic treatments.
Posted on 12/8/15 at 2:06 pm to Festus
quote:
I hate to tell you this, but I've known several people that were deemed "cancer free" after a course of drugs/chemo/radiation. In every single one, they remained cancer free for a while, then it returned with a vengeance and they were dead within months.
This is true from my experience. My grandmas came back after 6 years and she passed within 1 month. My grandpa currently has cancer and is in hospice care back at home.
Posted on 12/8/15 at 2:07 pm to Festus
quote:
I hate to tell you this, but I've known several people that were deemed "cancer free" after a course of drugs/chemo/radiation. In every single one, they remained cancer free for a while, then it returned with a vengeance and they were dead within months.
Cancer free doesn't mean much, and it pains me to say that.
My grandmother was diagnosed with a brain tumor in 1996. They did surgery, but the neurosurgeon came out afterward and said once he got in there he wished he hadn't done it. It was straight downhill from there. She died almost exactly three months later. Fortunately for her, it wasn't painful, but that's the only good thing I could say about it. She lost her ability to speak, take care of herself, and all the other things that allow a person to function as a human being. I would have loved a few more cancer free months with her, even if it was only temporary.
Posted on 12/8/15 at 2:10 pm to RedRifle
thanks for info. m n law has MM.
Posted on 12/8/15 at 2:18 pm to RedRifle
All goes to prove my theory that cancer (most cancers) has been cured but the masses won't get that kind of treatment until they figure out how to solve the big money business of cancer treatment etc etc.
This post was edited on 12/8/15 at 2:19 pm
Posted on 12/8/15 at 2:25 pm to Kingwood Tiger
Haha Steve Jobs is the exact opposite. He had all the money and resources in the world and he decide to go all Ricky Williams on his cancer.
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