There Is Hope

I was just reading our local Newsapaper her in England and I saw some positive news about the fight against advanced and inoperable prostate cancer .

You probably all know this but i thought I would note it just in case someone is looking for hope . 

It reads, two men with advanced staged prostate cancer  have staged  dramatic recoveries after being treated with an experimental antibody drug.

Both are now cancer-free and have returned to normal life.

The patients were taking part in the trial of drug ipilimumab which boosts the immune system.

Before treatment at the Mayo Clinic in Minesota, US, each had agressive tumours that had grown well beyond the prostate gland into abdominal areas.

First, the patients received traditional hormone therapy to remove testosterone which fuels prostate cancer and boosts.

Researchers then introduced a single dose of ipilimumab, an antibody which builds on the hormone therapy and boosts the immune sytem;s response to the cancer.

The pair improved sufficiently to become eligible for surgery.

When the surgeons made their incisions, they had a surprise-the tumours had shrunk dramatically.

Further research is planned to understand more about the effects of the drug. 

Hope this is of some hope to some of you.

Gail (ENGLAND)

Hi GailEnglandI thanks for the report on the  local Newsapaper artical but I cant under stand if they were doing well on the  ipilimumab why did they have an RP would not  the Rp spread the cancer around there body they may be free of cancer now what about later what do you think all the best Ray

Thanks Gail, I am checking into this through the Mayo Clinic.  Encouragement is always needed.

My Dad recently diagnosed....he has PSA of a 1000, and we are all so worried about what is going to happen....I've contacted Mayo today, and whilst he is having treatment (hormone, Zoladex), I think we want to see our options.....I know this is not at trial stage yet, but can you simply buy this drug at your own risk? surely worth a go? Anyone else think similar?

I have read the article about this drug.  It is sad that we can't get the drug and try it for ourself.  Currently my husband is in a clinical trial for the bone metastis and we don't even know if he is getting the medicine or a placebo.  On top of that, we have to pay to have it administered.  Our insurance only covers a small portion of it.  It is costing us $319 a month and he has been on it for a year.  The clinical trial covers only the cost of the medicine.

 

Hi Gail from England,

This is Glenda from Oregon and I am wondering if you know if this drug is available in the UK or somewhere else.  I can't seem to find a clinical study in the US.  Thank you.

Hi Gail,

I did find the clincial trials in the US.  It is with Bristol Myers Squibb and they are in the third study with sites all over the US. Thank you for your sharing your information.

 

On 7/7/2009 PaulG76 wrote:

My Dad recently diagnosed....he has PSA of a 1000, and we are all so worried about what is going to happen....I've contacted Mayo today, and whilst he is having treatment (hormone, Zoladex), I think we want to see our options.....I know this is not at trial stage yet, but can you simply buy this drug at your own risk? surely worth a go? Anyone else think similar?

Hi:

How are you doing?  My husband's PSA was 1264 and is down to 9 at this time.  We did a trial drug-ABR502121 and due to non cancer problems he had to withdraw from the clinical trail. This drug brought his PSA down to 50 and the chemo has brought it the rest of the way. We are on his 3rd chemo(taxotere) and he is doing great.

How are your father's spitirts?  What do you do to keep them up?  Gary is 61 and has some downs but handles them pretty well on his own.  Our daughters are in their 30s and all help him stay positive. 

As a daughter of a cancer patient, how are you doing?  I know it is tremendously hard on you too.  Hang in there.