This post is a rarity here at PlanetPOV…but then so is the video we are presenting in it. Our posts always present original content but this remarkable episode of Vice reveals such a major breakthrough on the prospects of not treating but curing cancer, it deserves to be seen by as many people as possible.
PlanetPOV lost two invaluable members of our team to cancer, KQuark and Bitohistory, this post and the hope that this episode inspires in curing other wonderful people of cancer, is presented on behalf of these two remarkable and irreplaceable friends.
This is really astounding, that re-engineering dangerous viruses into “smart” cancer killers and curing people of cancer is happening right now in selected cases and could be just years away from being available to everyone.
Some very good news for a change.
This is so encouraging, AdLib. I’d heard bits and pieces of info about this technique of using viruses as something like “magic bullets” to kill cancer cells, but this is the clearest explanation I’ve seen to date.
I like that timeline — 2 years — for this to be available to the public. My brother in law is dealing with melanoma at this point. It’s been stabilized, but not cured. This seems to offer some real hope.
VICE News is doing some amazing reporting, no? It’s so great to see some genuine investigative reporting going on — to counterbalance all the news about the Kardashians, and mother dogs who’ve adopted orphaned baby rabbits. As important as all that is, stories like this somehow seem to hold my attention better. 😉
He is going to ask for “compassionate” care if it’s possible. They say it won’t be available until 2016.
This is my husband’s blog: Blog: http://newdenvermensclub.wordpress.com/ “Men Fighting Cancer To Win”
He has been such a strong advocate for Prostate Cancer. He has gone to a Congressional Advisory Panel as a patient to review new treatments and drugs for possible future use. He has led the University of Colorado’s Prostate support group. He is called the “guinea pig” in the group as he is willing to take a chance with every new drug. We have traveled the US to get him in trials. I’m hoping Karma and the Higher Power will make it happen! Thank you for the good thoughts on POV!
We all owe such a debt to people who are willing to take trial meds and treatments. Our Bito did that too. How else can we learn what works in human subject without these brave patients?
And when something works — well, talk about a double benefit!
Thank you for appreciating his efforts. I agree without volunteers, who hope for success, there would be no new drugs.
My husband has been fighting cancer for years. He is stage four and recently told two months and to call Hospice which we have done but we just watched this and he is going to contact them. It’s a last ditch effort but he’s tough as nails and I have his back.
I hope that he will be eligible to try this.
Think positive for us! We’ll let you know what we find.
Positive thoughts, vibes and prayers winging their way to both of you.
Having fought this disease twice now, I’m right there with ya GOW! Sending out positive vibes and energy to you and especially the hubby now!!!
I’m happy that you’re on the good side of the fight! The more good energy in the Universe with Craig’s name is a huge help in my opinion. Good thoughts bring good results.
Thank you SO much and stay well!
Thoughts and prayers are with you both, GirlOutWest, as you fight this battle. I hope your husband is one of the people who benefit from this groundbreaking research.
Outstanding Ad. Thank you for posting this amazing video. What a joy to see people who were surely facing certain death, recover and be able to live normal lives for many more years to come.
What would the anti-science morons think of this? Would they possibly be more sympathetic to the field of scientific research? Would they take advantage of such incredible new treatments when it is one of them or one of their loved ones who has to stare death in the face? I’m betting that many of them would.
There is a very likely possibility that one day, in the next decade, that I will develop liver cancer. I have already accepted this possibility and am OK with it, but if there is a successful treatment that may very well be available in the next few years, I certainly would want to have it.
Sometimes science just blows me away. There are some amazingly smart and dedicated people in this world. It’s not all doom and gloom and hatred.
Thanks again for posting this.
Ad, I too have lost family and close friends to cancer. Hope sprongs eternal for a cure for all cancers and other dreaded deseases.
Thanks for the good news. I bet Bito and KQ are looking down and smiling because we are remembering them. They were so good to all of us as we came to the Planet and welcoming. I have a loved one now who suffers from “C”.
Although I’m only an occasional visitor, I’m very sorry to hear about KQuark. At my age, I understand that we are mortal, but cancer (with it’s debilitating treatment before the end) is not a nice way to go. I’d prefer a massive stroke.
As I approached my MS degree in Physics, decades ago, I was hired by the University Medical School Biochemistry Department even before the degree was finalized. Odd, how many openings an MS in Physics offers. I took the job (presumably to oversee a ‘molecular physics’ lab in the near future), however, not being a ‘Doctor’, I was put ‘under’ an older, tenured professor.
My ‘boss’ was a wonderful man. He was a protein chemist. Within a week or two, I attended a ‘journal club’ and asked such penetrating questions of a graduate student of the Department Chair, pointing (without actually ‘pointing’) to the logical flaws in the thesis she was proposing, that my boss called me into his office. He let me know that I was absolutely correct, however none of the Department members had the guts to point out those flaws. Apparently, we were ruled by a ‘little Hitler.
My boss and I struck a harmonious chord. He valued basic research and encouraged and gently guided his graduate students and post-docs. I became very much interested in protein chemistry, and my boss entrusted me with the job of making sure the work of several of his graduate students was ‘up to snuff’. I worked with the students, made sure their experimental design was rigorous, and helped them reduce and present the data.
Eventually, I developed a love for teaching, and left my nest (after becoming certified, with most courses at the graduate level) to teach in High School. However, during my stint at the Med School, I learned a bit about funding.
First, in those days, most research was publicly funded (NSF, etc.) However, there were a few ‘New Turks’ who learned to tap drug companies for grants. They were valued by our ‘Hitler’ because they brought in extra revenue to the Department. However, the ‘research’ that generated these funds often involved ‘proving’ that the patented drugs of the grantor had some ‘activity’. By ‘activity’, I mean that the drug had some potential to ‘manage’ a disease, not cure it.
The primary objective of a drug company is to make money. They can do this by treating the symptoms of a disease, but not by curing it. To put drug companies in charge of ‘medical research’ simply guarantees a sick populace dependent upon their products.
Cancer cells lose control. They forget how to control their replication rate, and forget how to become cells like the tissue that spawned them. The ‘cure for cancer’ lies in understanding the chemical/molecular reasons for this loss of control, not in the search for ‘active’ drugs. With today’s medical research now in the hands of drug company grants, the necessary basic research will not happen in our country except by accident.
I hope the positive news given in this article is a boon to us and our neighbors. In our current society, I fear it will not benefit most of the people. I mourn for KQuark. He did what he could, and that makes him a great citizen. Please let his family know that his contributions were appreciated far beyond the circle of those who knew him in person.
Daedalus, what a fantastic comment! Thank you for your very kind thoughts about KQuark (a fellow scientist) and sharing your history and insights over medical research. A voice of experience is very appreciated and your having to deal with the wonderful and small minded really explains a lot about what really goes on.
No question that the intrusion of Big Pharma into the field of medical research has corrupted it but there are still scientists like you and KQuark who pursue the research and teaching of it with an inescapable enthusiasm.
The scientists who have been pursuing this modification of viruses unto “smartbombs” against cancer seem to have that genuine interest in finding and popularizing their cures. Hey, I’m excited just hearing about it, I can only imagine how they feel.
Here’s hoping that their progress continues and gains momentum. What a day that will be if cancer becomes just another treatable disease for most instead of a death sentence.
BTW, very nice to see you again, Daedalus!
Daedalus, thanks so much for raising the issue of who supports funding. When I read about the Koch brothers supplying funding for economics departments at various universities, it makes my blood run cold because they make sure that they control the information that goes into and out of those departments.
I’m sure it has to be the same with medical research. I know first hand — from dealing with my Dad’s eye situation (involving macular degeneration) — that there was manipulation of data regarding the Avastin vs. Lucentis controversy. Both meds were equally effective in dealing with the condition. But one cost $75/dose and the other costs $1200-$1500/dose.
Guess which one is the only med to have gotten approval so far?
Since Lucentis is covered by Medicare and most insurance plans, there’s a lack of urgency to get the cheaper drug approved. Since the cost isn’t coming directly out of the patient’s pocket. In fact, Genentech, the manufacturer of Lucentis, even sponsors its own “charity” for people who don’t have insurance. It covers the cost of the med. (And then Genentech can write that off as a tax deduction. Diabolically brilliant, no?) And then no patient ever gets angry enough at the ridiculous cost of the med to push for an investigation.
Meanwhile — the incredible profits of the drug manufacturers come at the price of higher insurance premiums and higher Medicare/Medicaid costs.
Shady — all the way around.
After losing 10 close family members and almost as many dear friends, two of whom were treasured here on The Planet, any good news concerning combating this dreadful disease, is very welcome. I will watch the whole video later, and thank you for posting it here, AdLib.
A loud shout out to dear friends who went through hell to beat it and survived. Banzai!! You know who you are. My endless love and admiration for those who fought it to the end. You are sorely missed.
EDIT:
Unfortunately when I came back to watch the video, there was a message telling me that it was not available in this country. 🙁
I did however find this which gave a general idea of the content of your video and was so amazing.
Vice Season 3 Special Report: Killing Cancer Debrief (HBO)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=k-z22u2003k
Kalima, I’ve lost several close friends and relatives to cancer too, including our two close friends here at The Planet. It’s kind of surreal to think that in the near future, there may be widely available cures for cancer. Just amazing!
That would be a huge step forward in human history. After so many years of Republicans trying to drag us backwards in history, to have something so profound move human society ahead, makes one have a glimmer of optimism for our future once again.
Sorry the video I posted won’t play for you but so glad you found that clip so you can have an idea of what a legitimate and profound development this is in curing cancer.
It’s pretty exciting just to type those words, “curing cancer”.
They say 2016 but I’m wondering if Ottawa Canada would open sooner?
First of all, my thoughts and prayers to you and your husband as I wish you all the luck in the world, GirlOutWest.
I’m not in Canada but everything is worth pursuing and I know for a fact that clinical trials in a university hospital in Tucson, AZ prolonged our friend Bito’s life for many years during his fight against lymphoma and finding a cure for others.
Years ago I read and posted a link to a story about a pioneering doctor in DC who took on and often suceeded in saving the lives of patients everyone else had given up on. So we know that these miracle workers are out there, we just have to find them.
Again, healing thoughts and prayers for strength in your search. Take care.
Thank you so much. Good thoughts bring good news.
Thank you Adlib for posting this, as you probably remember, Pepe and I are advocates in this field.
Haruko, yes I do remember and I’m sure you both heard about this already.
So exciting to see! Finally, our technology could come to the rescue of cancer patients and bring about something only referred to in the past as an impossibility, a cure for cancer.
Too late to help the wonderful people who’ve passed away far too young that I’ve known but to imagine the lives that can be saved in the future makes me very happy.