Speculation on Chronic Disease

[Larryfanman]

Over the years a lot of men have died from prostate cancer. With new advances in treatment in the past five to six years, with more in the pipeline, how long do you think it will be before prostate cancer is treated as a chronic disease instead of a death sentence?

[Tall_Allen]

There are many different prostate cancers. In fact, each man has his own distinctive kind. Some kinds are very virulent, killing men in under 2 years. Some kinds are more indolent, so much so that some men die of something else before the prostate cancer can kill them. For most men these days with advanced PC, it is already managed as a chronic disease.

[Larryfanman in reply to Tall_Allen]

Tall Allen

Are you thinking – – that with some men diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer

(Mets to the bones $ lymph nodes)

They’ve almost got medicine and treatments where- some men can be treated as a chronic disease — with different medicines — and live to an old age ?

Thanks again for taking time to respond

[Tall_Allen in reply to Larryfanman]

No - I didn't say that. i really don't understand what you are asking.

[Larryfanman in reply to Tall_Allen]

I guess I’m asking how long or even if in your opinion there will come a day when the virulent cancer will be able to be controlled as a chronic disease instead of a death sentence? Hope I’ve made a little more sense. Thanks.

[Tall_Allen in reply to Larryfanman]

The discovery that Keytruda treats tumors with MSI-hi/MMR-deficiency, giving complete remission in some means that day has arrived. I know one man who has survived 12 years and still going strong with a PSA at diagnosis of 400. Life comes with a death sentence - it's a package deal - but with luck and the right treatments we can extend it for a long time.

[Larryfanman in reply to Tall_Allen]

Thank you —👍

[Mathes72 in reply to Tall_Allen]

Spoke with my mo monday,he told at this point keytruda only has a success rate of 10%,,I replyed soooo

[Tall_Allen in reply to Mathes72]

So far as we currently know, it only benefits prostate cancer patients with the MSI-hi/MMR-deficiency diagnosis. It is a rare diagnosis in prostate cancer, usually associated with rapid progression.

[Mathes72 in reply to Tall_Allen]

I guess my doctor was right

[Larryfanman in reply to Tall_Allen]

Tall Allen

Maybe KEYTRUD –(immunotherapy agent )

Will become more developed in the next few years — to help more prostate cancer patients —

Do you think immunotherapy will be the way of the future ??

Thanks again

[Tall_Allen in reply to Larryfanman]

I've been disappointed in immunotherapy results so far, but there's always hope for the next one or some combination of them. I'm hopeful about CAR-T and zinc fingers, which allow a tailored response. But if you are asking about the rare virulent subtypes, I think immunotherapies have already shown usefulness.

[Larryfanman in reply to Tall_Allen]

Thank you very much – – it is very nice of you to respond to questions like you do

How are you doing with your cancer?

I just hope eventually prostate cancer can be controlled as a chronic disease — for the guys with stage 4 metastatic – – out of the gate ——

[Tall_Allen in reply to Larryfanman]

As I said, stage IV PC is already being controlled as a chronic disease for many men.

[whatsinaname]

My best guess is approx 15-20 years. By that time 1) more effective drugs should hit the market place and 2) immunotherapy should have established itself as the "cure for metastatic prostate cancer".

The time frame could have been cut to 5-10 years, but big medicine has too much to lose by allowing it to happen earlier.

[cfrees1 in reply to whatsinaname]

Saying things like "big medicine has too much to lose" diminishes the efforts that thousands of researchers and doctors are making in trying to find treatments and cures. It suggests that theses efforts are false somehow. That doesn't sit well with me.

[whatsinaname in reply to cfrees1]

The efforts of the "thousands of researchers and doctors" in trying to find treatments and cures are in vain when BIG MEDICINE or BIG PHARMA thwarts their attempts. That this has been going on for decades now is well documented. In several branches of medicine, including prostate cancer, doctors have come out and spoken the truth about what goes on. Keep yourself up to date about what's really going on.