"The Emperor of All Maladies" - A Biography of Cancer

[needabreakfromcancer]

I am currently reading "The Emperor of All Maladies," and am finding it fascinating. Has anyone else read it, or are you reading it?

[Red71]

I’ve not heard of it. I’ll look it up. I’m assuming it is nonfiction? I’m listening to The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks and finding it fascinating as well. She was the source of the first cells that were grown for research. The author does a lot of research into her family(they didn’t know or understand about her cells) and how scientists used the cells(without explaining anything to her family).

[needabreakfromcancer in reply to Red71]

It is non-fiction. I have a lot of it left to read, but it is interesting. It shows the true empathy of the doctors that first used chemo in the early 60's for children with leukemia. They used what they call the VAMP protocol. VAMP - "high-dose, life-threatening, four drug combination. It was their only hope at that time to save these children. It saved many, but also because these poisons also killed all of their healthy cells, it came with a high price. Many of these children came back with excruciating side-effects, suffering greatly, while some didn't suffer these side-effects. I truly applaud Frei and Freireich for their efforts to save these children and these children that they truly cared about, as if they were their own children, which in a way they were. I am only on page 166 so have a long way to go. My frustration is that I would hope that sixty years later that there could be an improvement in chemo. I also hope that researchers can kill cancer "with kindness," by incorporating more natural ingredients that kill cancer like cinnamon, greens, carrots, etc. I think that this could be a stronger possibility of helping more people that are not strong enough to endure the regime of lethal poisons. I especially think they need to get rid of a lot of the horrible side-effects such as killing our taste buds. If everything tastes like cardboard, how can we get the proper nourishment that we need? I also learned that the brain and the spinal cord cannot be treated with chemo because "the brain and spinal cord are insulated by a tight cellular seal called the blood-brain barrier that prevents foreign chemicals from easily getting into the brain. It is an ancient biological system that has evolved to keep poisons from easily getting into the brain." Because I had polio, it caught my attention when I read that Johns Hopkins watered down the polio virus to fight brain cancer. Now I understand why.

[kearnan in reply to needabreakfromcancer]

I think if they were able to make a med that worked without the side effects, they would. New diseases are popping up all the time. Plus of all the diseases and illnesses out there, Cancer gets more money for research than any other. So we have to deal with some side effects. It's better than the alternative. Years ago, stage iv was terminal bc they had no meds. So now they have several new meds that are extending quality and longevity of life. So we deal with the side effects. We can't have it all. That is just life. I am grateful I got it now when they have treatment plans in place as opposed to years ago when a person would just die because they had no treatment. I try to concentrate on the positive aspects as opposed to just worrying about the negative ones bc that doesn't help me. Sounds like an intense book. I am reading Mitch Albom book. I love his books.

[kearnan]

I deal with cancer enough as it is. I do not read any cancer books at all. I read books that I enjoy and have nothing to do with Cancer. It takes enough of my time already so I won't give it any more. Glad you are enjoying it though.

[needabreakfromcancer in reply to kearnan]

I have had this book for several years and it didn't demand my attention like it does now. I don't like to get lost in "Cancerland," either, but after picking it up again, I am touched by the compassion of the doctors and the info truly is fascinating.

[kearnan in reply to needabreakfromcancer]

I did watch a documentary on The Mayo Clinic. It was fascinating. It was a doctor (Dr. Mayo, duh) and he had two sons who both became doctors. It was amazing to watch and how some people can make the biggest difference in this world. He was the first doctor to realize that when a person is diagnosed with any kind of illness, he really cannot be treated by one doctor. That they would need specialists of different kinds to give opinions and share information on that same patient so that an effective treatment could be planned. It showed how it started in a small building, how the father passed and his sons continued his legacy and it is became known as the best hospital in the nation and how doctors from all over the world come to the Mayo Clinic to learn so that they can bring back to their own countries and medical centers. He was the first to realize that other doctors needed to be involved to treat a patient. Started with an idea and is now recognized across the world.

[diamags]

I read it and have to agree with you. He did an excellent job describing the history and types of cancer. It was never clear to me that many cancers have nothing in common which is why they're treated differently. Lastly, the author's empathy and respect for we, the patients, was inspiring.

[needabreakfromcancer in reply to diamags]

I am only on page 166 but so far, it is fascinating. Frei and Freireich truly cared about and loved their young patients and fought hard to save them.

[diamags in reply to needabreakfromcancer]

Many did, and still do. I also found it interesting to read about the politics of cancer from the 70s. It explains a lot of what has been going on.

[diamags]

Remember that it was published pre-Ibrance, so there's even more to hope for than he describes.

[needabreakfromcancer in reply to diamags]

I actually did not have a good response from Fluvestrant or Ibrance. I ended up getting liver mets while on the Ibrance. As I have previously mentioned in other posts, the one thing that seems to help me so far is the Metformin, which my primary ordered for me.

[Mets1 in reply to needabreakfromcancer]

Hi Needabreakfromcancer,

I also had progression (liver mets) while on Letrozole and Ibrance and was told prediagnosis that I was prediabetic. I had started intermittent fasting and noticed I felt better. Once I was diagnosed I saw Metformin was a drug on the COC protocol and asked my onc what he thought about it. He said you know for you that might be a good drug and could work with my pcp to prescribe it for me. He said next time we do your blood work I will check your A1C and then it will be a no brainer to put you on it. My A1C was in the normal range. We never talked about it again as my progression and changing treatment became the focus. I am curious about your journey with Metformin how you came to take it and how it helps with your breast cancer. Kind Regards, Tami

[needabreakfromcancer in reply to Mets1]

Hi Tami, please be aware that the current fasting for blood glucose with the 3-hour testing is not able to pick up pre-diabetes. I was diagnosed in 1975 with a diabetic specialist with the 8-hour testing, which found it. It was right before they ended the 8-hour. He told me that it was a shame that they were ending the 8-hour because with the 3-hour, hundreds of thousands of pre-diabetics, or borderline, would be missed. My primary ordered the Metformin for me even though current blood work does not pick up the borderline diabetes. So far, it appears to be the only thing that is fighting and killing the cancer cells. In March I developed a skin cancer on my stomach. The Fluvestrant and Ibrance did nothing. I had an appointment for July 16th to have it removed and biopsed. I started taking the Metformin on June 28th. 7-8 days later, the skin cancer was totally gone. I obviously cancelled the July 16th appointment. I had my scans on July 30th. While going over the liver mets, it surprised my oncologist that one of the mets appeared to be dying. he was very surprised! That was after being on the Metformin for a month. I will have scans again in 3-4 weeks and am curious to see if any of the other liver mets are dying. I am only on Metformin for now as I have declined taking any more chemo drugs because so far they haven't helped me, they have harmed me. Oh, and on the Metformin, my bone mets did not progress, on the other drugs they did. Of course, my oncologist wants me on Xeloda. Because the poisons they treat us with seem to do more harm than good, I am holding off. I also am tiny and cannot eat food when all of my taste buds have been killed off. My oncologist still insist that Metformin does not work. I know that, for me, it does! I told him that I think that every patient that does not respond to chemo should definitely be on Metformin, along with other patients as well, because so many people are pre-diabetic and don't know it. I am not a doctor but I wonder what the Metformin would do for you. The New York Times/London on June 23 ran a headline that said that Metformin is the latest drug to be used to fight breast cancer. Other sources say that it cures MBC and lung metastatic cancers. They think there is a direct connection between diabetes and cancer. People that were diagnosed with cancer and then Type II diabetes and were then put on Metformin were then cured of the cancer. It went away. People on Metformin don't get cancer after being diagnosed as being diabetic. I have a friend whose husband was diabetic and on Metformin for years. He was a heavy smoker and never got lung cancer. She attributes it to the Metformin. He did die six months ago due to his heart.

[Mets1 in reply to needabreakfromcancer]

Thank you so much for taking the time to respond to my questions. I’ve been very curious about Metformin, but don’t know anyone who is taking it by itself to fight MBC. I guess it being a metabolic disease makes sense to me. I will discuss with my onc further when I see him next week. If I am remembering correctly I was in the normal range on my A1C, but on the high side. I was doing intermittent fasting and eating an organic very healthy diet on Ibrance and lost 30 pounds. My BMI is about where it should be now. My first two weeks on Xeloda I eat whatever doesn’t make me gag!! I sure hope this improves!!! I just completed my first two week cycle so too early to tell if it will work for me or not. I would greatly appreciate it if you would be willing to share how your upcoming scans go. I pray that it continues to work miracles for you!! Tami

[needabreakfromcancer in reply to Mets1]

I will share them with you but I don't think I'll have them until the week of Oct. 21st. I hope that it continues going after the cancer. The reason Metformin works is because it starves cancer cells. It makes sense, especially if we are pre-diabetic. If its true that cancer cells feed off of glucose in our blood, then what would happen if that glucose is no longer available? The cancer cells starve. When my skin cancer on my stomach went away, I remembered what the diabetic doctor told me that diagnosed me. At that time, I also broke out in diabetic sores, though I wasn't diagnosed prior to that after the 8-hour testing. He told me that since I had the sores on my skin, the biggest organ, that doctors knew that what was happening on my skin, on the outside of my body, they knew this was also going on with my other organs inside my body, it's just that we couldn't see them. When my oncologist was surprised that one of my liver mets looked like it was dying, I wasn't as surprised as he was, remembering what my doctor had said years ago. I hope it works because the chemo drugs and hormone drugs have hurt me, not helped me. I may not be able to contact you until November, depending on how long I stay in Denver for my medical care there. As I said, my oncologist there wants me to go on Xeloda, telling me that I can also take the Metformin. I know if I agree to that, that the Xeloda would get the credit for killing the cancer cells. I want and need to prove it is the Metformin, as doctors are strongly denying that it works. I also have extremely sensitive skin, there is a medical name for it, and I don't want more permanent damage from a cancer drug. Your primary physician should just give the Metformin prescription to you. It is actually considered a "miracle drug," by many. It produces a molecule that extends our lives. It's the same molecule that is produced by exercising. Since I had polio and can't exercise, it is a godsend for me. I hope you tell your doctor you want it, even if your glucose testing appears normal. Mine did too, but wasn't. We need to keep in touch. Take care and please get the Metformin. Again, I am not a doctor, but so far, it is the only thing that has worked for me. I hope it continues to work.

[Mets1 in reply to needabreakfromcancer]

Thank you! I am interested in your journey! Praying all your cells heal!

[needabreakfromcancer in reply to Mets1]

Thank you! I will hope and pray that all of your cells heal too! It would be so interesting if you got on Metformin and it killed more of your cancer cells too. If it does, it would affirm what the article in "Life Extension" Magazine claims, that they know that it cures both metastatic breast cancer and metastatic lung cancer. Also, Metformin does not kill or hurt healthy cells, like chemo does. If more of my cancer cells are dying, then I want western medicine to take notice and admit it! Think of the lives it could save and it would avoid the unnecessary suffering presented by chemo drugs.

[Mets1 in reply to needabreakfromcancer]

Thank you! I will let you know what my onc says!!

[illini9]

That one is on my list. Glad to read the good review.

[needabreakfromcancer in reply to illini9]

Hope you get it soon and let us know what you think of it. Enjoy.

[diamags in reply to illini9]

Hi Illini, I'm an Illini too! Osk-ee-wa-wa!

[illini9 in reply to diamags]

HI!!!! I am headed to Champaign Friday for the Illinois-Michigan game. It will be my husband's first visit to campus. I'm excited. Nice to meet you.

Anne

[diamags in reply to illini9]

Nice to meet you too! I hope you enjoy the game, I'm not too confident of an Illini victory, but it was never really about that, was it??? Enjoy!

Margaret

[Have-faith]

Hi. There is a documentary on Amazon under the same name. I watched it. You may enjoy it.

[needabreakfromcancer in reply to Have-faith]

Thank you. I don't have Amazon, I wonder if Netflicks has it.

[needabreakfromcancer]

It so far is showing more than promise for me. I am definitely not on the fence. I have gotten real results from it, while the chemo drugs have harmed me by continuing to let the cancer spread. So far, the Metformin seems to be halting it and starving it. I have an orthopedic doctor because I have bone mets and he was happy after looking at my bone scans for a long time and said, "Your bone mets aren't spreading and that's good." On the Fluvestrant and Ibrance they spread. I don' t always trust the new testing either. Sometimes things are missed because of short-cuts taken in developing the drugs. I lost a brother to Type I diabetes two years ago, and I have another brother who is a Type II. Two of my other brothers and my sister haven't been diagnosed with it, but have some of the symptoms. I have cousins with it too. It is definitely in my family. As of now, the regular testing for diabetes, since my 8-hour testing, does not indicate that I am pre-diabetic. My primary had the 3-hour done on me and it didn't show anything. He is going to have the A1C run too, but I am willing to bet that it won't show anything. If it does, then I will trust it.

[lynnhbtb]

Yes, I read it and I watched the PBS show of the same name. Interesting material, but it's even dated now as far as some treatments are concerned.