I've heard of something like this happening recently in Philadelphia. It sounds very interesting and promising. My big concern is that Big Pharma now has its mitts on it, and we know what their first priority is.

A very interesting development. My doctor told me some time ago that immunotherapy was generally recognized by most oncologists as the future of cancer treatment.

It's my feeling that my immune system was a little weak to begin with. Our bodies fight off disease constantly. One day my system just couldn't take it any more. I didn't "get" cancer - it was always there but I couldn't fight it off any longer.

So that's why I'm questioning whether harnessing a weak immune system will do the trick long term. I look at a stem cell transplant as replacing a bad immune system with a better one. But if you don't have a good immune system to begin with won't the cancer just come back?

Sounds like I got it all figured out, huh?

All,

That was an interesting article. Harnessing the immune system is likely to be part of the cancer-treating armamentarium in the future, as well as targeted chemotherapy where we can perhaps induce abnormal cells to self-destruct. I look forward to those happenings. Even if we look at how far we have come to have FLT3 inhibitors to offer today makes me proud of the power of innovation. Some day, we should be able to turn genes on and off, like a light switch, even genes that are faulty and cause cancer. In the meantime, we have to take the best care of ourselves that we can.

Cliff

Yes, Philadelphia and at the University of Pennsylvania. A great article as well as moving!

http://www.phillymag.com/articles/carl-june-key-fighting-cancer

Barry

I am posting to this to move it up on this list and to respond to another post. Thanks -- dave