Cholera Vaccine/Dukoral for APC

[Schwah]

nature.com/articles/s41467-...

I was very intrigued by the results of this Swedish study posted by Sammamish yesterday. I know this a retrospective study with all the associated limitations. But the results seems pretty definitive. I am sure a lot of the members here would be interested in the thoughts of some of our more esteemed and knowledgeable members on the risks and potential benefits for APC patients of taking the Cholera vaccine/Dukoral. Thanks you all in advance for your thoughts.

Steve S

[jimreilly]

so I see that Dukoral is available w/o a prescription in Canada, but is not available in the US; evidently a fair umber of Canadians take it, and I would hope a parallel study could be done ASAP in Canada

[Jdbnord]

sammamish

[CalBear74]

A cholera shot can be received, as I understand it, here in the U.S. if you intend to travel internationally to a country listed as having cholera risk. There are clinics specializing in preparing travelers with medical services. There are also lists online for all countries having cholera risk. It is quite extensive.

[sammamish in reply to CalBear74]

Yes, a Cholera vaccine was recently approved in the U.S., however it is entirely different than the Dukoral vaccine. The Dukoral vaccine is oral. the recently approved U.S. vaccine is a shot. The retrospective study done in Sweden was based on the oral vaccine, so my hunch is the smart money is replicate the vaccine used in the study. It could very well be the mode of introduction is as important as the antigen cocktail used.

[PhilipSZacarias]

Hello Schwah, I have reviewed the paper and based on the mechanisms cited and the improved outcomes it would appear that taking the vaccine every year or other year may be a good way to boost the immune system. The vaccine loses about half of its efficacy in one year, therefore repeat dosages are required if traveling to parts of the world where cholera is a risk or endemic. It is unknown how often the vaccine should be taken to obtain a benefit with respect to slowing PCa progression. It would be interesting to obtain the opinions of the experts in this forum on this issue. A prescription is not required for Dukoral in Canada, where it costs $92 for the initial immunization and $52 for the booster (repeat). Cheers, Phil

[dmt1121]

All of this sounds intriguing but I am hesitant to jump in the deep end on this. It seems like more study is needed before charging ahead.

[Schwah in reply to dmt1121]

Ahhhh. That is the question. We are all dying of PC, some faster than others. Many of us do not have the time to to wait for those studies. We must make educated choices based upon the info at hand. As for me, I choose to do things that appear to increase my odds if they are relatively safe and low risk. I am willing to live with the results of those choices. Remember not to do certain things is a choice too.

Schwah

[GeorgeGlass in reply to Schwah]

Did you take it? Any good results from taking it?

[Schwah in reply to GeorgeGlass]

Not yet. I M in the process of working with Walgreens to get my vaccine. Hopefully this week.

Schwah

[jdm3 in reply to Schwah]

Can you get the Dukoral through Walgreens or just the Vaxchora?

[Schwah in reply to jdm3]

Only Vaxchora and that’s a pain. I was planning on flying to Vancouver to get Dukoraol but Covid squashed those plans.

Schwah

[GeorgeGlass]

where is your pharmacist, is it a chain drug store? Did you need a prescription?

[Schwah]

I plan to fly into Vancouver for a day to get my Dukoral. Do you think I need to do any advance work or just walk into any pharmacy and pay. Will being a non citizen of Canada create issues getting it you think ?

[GeorgeGlass in reply to Schwah]

Isn't it in two doses? Do you take one right after you buy it and out the other one on ice and drive back to America with it in your cooler? How many days later so you take the second dose?

[dmt1121]

Well said. All things are relative to our specific circumstances and what you say makes total sense.

I hope all goes well for you!

[GeorgeGlass]

Ok thanks. I didn't realize you lived in Canada.

[GeorgeGlass]

I got mine but something everyone should know is that the Quebec province is the only province in the country where you need a prescription. It was a big headache for me. I had to drive all the way up to Montreal and go to some pharmacy where a doctor there approved a prescription ( I think) and then they sold it to me. I didn't have a prescription. It took an hour in line coming back into the U.S. because only one lane was open.