[quote=njtosd] . . . Regarding cancer generally, “checkpoint inhibitors” may really turn around survival rates. They are getting a lot of attention in bio-techie circles: http://blog.dana-farber.org/insight/2015/09/what-is-a-checkpoint-inhibitor/%5B/quote%5DInteresting link and website, nj. These “checkpoint inhibitors” (unlike the newer “targeted” therapy, which doesn’t exactly hit JUST the bullseye) supposedly don’t damage healthy tissue. Chemo and various “targeted therapy” or “biologic agents” DO often damage healthy tissue permanently can very easily be deadly to stage 3.5 and up gastrointestinal cancer patients, imho. Of course, every patient is a little different, but, for example, some of these newer agents seem to make the cancer cells go horribly astray very fast in a gastrointestinal cancer patient. Within 3 days to a week of the first infusion, they have managed to cause tumor blockage in the route from the kidneys to the urethra (causing a 2-3 month prognosis with a catheter) and/or at the duodenum (usually causing a painful 10-25 day prognosis with a stent) due to the patient almost always being inoperable. In other words, these strong deadly agents have been known to severely curtail the quality of life for a terminal patient and also shorten their lives by 2-4+ months.
In my mind, it’s not worth it for a patient with advanced cancer to undergo chemo in the absence of surgery. I’ve seen too much with too many advanced (inoperable) cancer patients over the years (relatives and friends) who were grasping at straws for hope and “fell” into a chemo regime as a last ditch effort to buy more time . . . and it never did, Instead, it complicated their disease exponentially.
I’m glad to see that what appears to be truly “targeted therapies” are now being investigated, even if it is at present on just two types of cancer in clinical trials. At least it is something. Cancer research is a very slow process and I can understand all the reasons why this is so.
After having attended over two dozen funerals since 1992 (vast majority cancer deaths), I have been feeling a profound sense of loss in recent years. The death of my good friend of over 40 years last fall (103 days after diagnosis with pancreatic cancer) hit me very hard. I have been endeavoring more than ever now to do whatever I can to limit my cancer risk and be grateful to wake up each day and tackle my to-do list. I do agree that we should all do in life whatever makes us happy (especially if we no longer have daily responsibilities to other family members) and am working my way towards that end.
svelte, I hope your friend is able to get surgery which is the only (albeit often temporary) “cure.” (In my experience, Stage 3 and up cancer patients can often get another 3-8 years with a relatively good quality of life if they are able to get surgery.) If not, I hope their last months/weeks/days are as painless and comfortable as possible.
I’ve bookmarked the Dana Farber Institute and will follow it on this development. Thanks for the link, njtosd.
Sorry for the somewhat “morbid” post but in my experience, doctors often talk in circles to their newly-diagnosed terminal cancer patients because they are not yet ready to hear the truth. Unfortunately, a diagnosis of cancer (Stage 3.5 and up) almost always means the cancer will win … and probably sooner than later (which, in most cases, is a blessing).
