Cancer after Covid?: Ok everyone... - SHARE Metastatic ...

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Cancer after Covid?

Staysha profile image
42 Replies

Ok everyone.... This may be my craziest post yet. So my best friend’s daughter’s father in law has stage 4 lung cancer. Not sure of the exact type. He contracted Covid and ended up on a ventilator for several weeks. They actually didn’t think he was going to survive. He got Covid way back in April and is just now getting out of rehab. Of course he has not been treated aggressively for his cancer since April. He recently had a scan to see how things were and it’s GONE. What?! The doctors seem to think the Covid attacked his tumors. Anyway he is NED!!

I had Covid back at the end of July. My last scan was in September and it was the best scan I’ve ever had. My next scan is Jan 25.

I’m curious if anyone else recovered from Covid and then had a really good scan afterwards.

Let me know what y’all think about this. Coincidence, craziness, or cure??!!! I don’t know but it’s definitely interesting to me.

Stacy

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Staysha profile image
Staysha
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42 Replies

Wow! Wouldn't that be some discovery!

in reply to

Found this!hospimedica.com/covid-19/ar...

13plus profile image
13plus in reply to

Now this is something to be hopeful about!

Hazelgreen profile image
Hazelgreen in reply to

Thanks, SpiffyCJ! I thought the following worth highlighting for others' information:

"The immune system helps protect against viruses, bacteria and anything harmful, but does not protect against cancer because it fails to recognize cancer as a threat. Dr. Shashi Gujar, a scientist with the Department of Pathology at Dalhousie University (Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada), along with partners in France, Demark, Germany, the US and India, believes that this is where viruses like COVID-19-causing coronavirus can play a key role.

When a person becomes infected with SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, their immune system recognizes the virus and activates a particular type of immune cells called “T cells.” These T cells act in a highly precise manner and kill only virus-harbouring cells. Multiple vaccines being tested internationally have shown a similar capacity to activate these coronavirus-specific T-cells. These T cells can establish a memory response that maintains active protection against possible re-infection with the virus, which means that coronavirus-specific T cells can hunt for the virus inside the body, eliminate the areas where the virus replicates, and aid in the recovery from COVID-19.

Dr. Gujar and his team are trying to get these same T cells to go after tumors by getting the cancer cells to express the same identifying tags as the coronavirus-infected cells, and become the targets of the anti-coronavirus T cells."

Staysha profile image
Staysha

Thank you Sandra. I figure the same but of course I sure would like for it to be true. :)

Goodness me. What a result and pleasing to say the least. Not sure how other Cancer Specialists would react to this but it’s certainly something to be researched. Such good news for you both x

SusieIM profile image
SusieIM

Glad to see that you are doing better and yes it is interesting about how some have done better after recovering from Covid.

viennagirl profile image
viennagirl

All I can say is WOW. That is so very interesting. Hugs Marlene

Hazelgreen profile image
Hazelgreen

Just curious, Sandra, if high dose steroids are known to shrink tumors, even temporarily, why haven't more of us been prescribed....surely any shrinkage is better than no shrinkage...

8576 profile image
8576 in reply to Hazelgreen

I think, and Sandra can probably confirm this, that steroids are hard on the body. Therefore they are only administered when absolutely needed and in the smallest dose possible. Otherwise we would all be on them.

Cheers, June S.

Hazelgreen profile image
Hazelgreen in reply to 8576

According to Webmd, "doctors follow these guidelines:

Use steroids only when necessary.

Monitor closely to look for serious side effects.

If possible, use steroid injections for problems in a specific area.

Use the minimal dose required to gain control of the disease.

Lower the dose gradually if the disease remains under control.

Monitor blood pressure often and treat, if necessary.

Recommend calcium supplements, vitamin D, and bone-building prescription medications to help maintain bone strength -- especially if steroids will be taken for a long period of time.

Have your bone density checked every 1 to 2 years"

We should be so lucky if the same precautions were taken with the cancer drugs. In my experience, one prescription to fit all is the rule, and the telephone contact every three months is minimal, other than a check on tumor growth with a CT scan.

8576 profile image
8576 in reply to Hazelgreen

Thanks for this info. That is what I thought.

Cheers June S.

Beryl71 profile image
Beryl71

Interesting maybe we should be less worried about catching it. Maybe the vaccine will help us too. Carolyn x

8576 profile image
8576 in reply to Beryl71

OMG! Don't say that. The risks far out weigh the benefits.

Cheers, June S.

Hazelgreen profile image
Hazelgreen in reply to 8576

I agree with you. However, there are side effects to everything. If the steroids are the effective ingredient, rather than the virus itself (it is not clear to me why the virus would teach the body to recognize cancer), then steroid use needs to be monitored.

According to the Mayo Clinic, "Corticosteroids carry a risk of side effects, some of which can cause serious health problems. When you know what side effects are possible, you can take steps to control their impact.

"When taking oral corticosteroids longer term, you may experience: Elevated pressure in the eyes (glaucoma), Clouding of the lens in one or both eyes (cataracts), A round face (moon face), High blood sugar, which can trigger or worsen diabetes, Increased risk of infections, especially with common bacterial, viral and fungal microorganisms,Thinning bones (osteoporosis) and fractures,

Suppressed adrenal gland hormone production that may result in a variety of signs and symptoms, including severe fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea and muscle weakness, Thin skin, bruising and slower wound healing "

None of the above side effects sound that different than the side effects of cancer drugs.

oilyyogi profile image
oilyyogi in reply to Hazelgreen

Agreed!!!!

8576 profile image
8576

Am I right in assuming that we cannot tolerate high doses of steroids over long periods of time, without damage to the body?

Cheers, June S.

Damn! This post is really thought provoking. Thanks for sharing. I'll be looking out for research along these lines.

What an amazing post. We might have more results soon as 1 in 50 people have covid in the uk now.Clare x

Rhwright12 profile image
Rhwright12

In The Truth About Cancer Book....They do use viruses to treat cancer...and for the reasons listed above. ...But obviously not standard of care here in US...

mariootsi profile image
mariootsi in reply to Rhwright12

Really?

Rhwright12 profile image
Rhwright12 in reply to mariootsi

I’m going with Lithuania and the Riga virus...I’ll look it up tomorrow...I’m watching DC have a meltdown right now...🙈

Hazelgreen profile image
Hazelgreen in reply to Rhwright12

Would you tell us where they use viruses to treat cancer outside of a laboratory?

Paigeparker profile image
Paigeparker in reply to Hazelgreen

City of Hope is currently researching that. youtu.be/hRdl5I_H_xA

Hazelgreen profile image
Hazelgreen in reply to Paigeparker

Many thanks for this video! Now, we all need to pressure organizations like the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, Canadian Cancer Society, etc. to get behind this type of research (rather than underwriting expensive new drugs which enrich pharmaceutical companies).

Paigeparker profile image
Paigeparker in reply to Hazelgreen

Completely agree. I think this type of treatment is what will better treat or even cure certain types of cancer - rather than just using pills, chemo, etc. Bodies make cancer so it makes sense to use the body to then fight off the cancer. Since everyone's cancer is "their own," it makes sense to have a highly specific and personalized therapy ie: using ones own T-Cells. But that's just my opinion based off what I've researched. I'm not expert by any means. Just a really hopeful daughter.

love2golfwell profile image
love2golfwell in reply to Paigeparker

Great video! This would be so awesome if this treatment worked for everyone with cancer. Our bodies are meant to heal themselves. If our own cells could be used to fight off cancer, that would be great. I am hopeful that one day there will be cure for all of us.

Paigeparker profile image
Paigeparker in reply to love2golfwell

I completely agree!! Just gotta boost up the immune system! (If it was only that easy though.)

love2golfwell profile image
love2golfwell in reply to Paigeparker

Yes, wouldn't that be wonderful.

Dancer1000 profile image
Dancer1000

JUST WOW!

SeattleMom profile image
SeattleMom

WOW! I hope this is not just brushed off but someone does some research? Definitely makes you wonder whether the vaccine will have same effect? So interesting!

mariootsi profile image
mariootsi in reply to SeattleMom

Didn't think about that?

Hazelgreen profile image
Hazelgreen in reply to SeattleMom

Please see the reference given by SpiffyCJ above. Below the reference, I provided a couple of the paragraphs from the reference.

SeattleMom profile image
SeattleMom in reply to Hazelgreen

Yes, I read that yesterday!! SO INTERESTING!!

Hazelgreen profile image
Hazelgreen in reply to SeattleMom

I fully agree with you! Now, if we can just pressure our big cancer organizations which fund research to get moving on this front, maybe we can have results as quickly as we have had Covid vaccines!

SeattleMom profile image
SeattleMom in reply to Hazelgreen

And great to know that research has started!!

Hi Stacy,

This sounds so interesting! Of course, I don't understand the science behind this as I'm not in the medical field, but wouldn't it be wonderful if we could benefit from this kind of response to our cancer? The chance to achieve complete remission, even with metastatic disease, would be amazing. I'd be interested to find out if anything comes of this.

Sophie

Topood profile image
Topood

That is fascinating....it almost makes me want to take my mask off!! But not quite.... :)

mariootsi profile image
mariootsi

Omg! Wouldn't that be something!

Anitafazz profile image
Anitafazz

I am very happy to read this story . I just got over having covid over Christmas . Had to stop taking my Ibrance now since 12/10 since my husband tested positive a week prior to me ( so im glad i was not on Ibrance when i tested positive) . Im a little worried not able to get my injections and being off the Ibrance now for 4 weeks . Of course my mind is having all kind of crazy thoughts about things growing in there without my meds. My doctor insured me not to worry and that people go off Ibrance for many reasons but i still worry . I am back to normal from getting over covid and ready to get back to my routine .Probably wont stop to worry till i get my next scans .

lynzer profile image
lynzer

Wow that is amazing!!!!

oilyyogi profile image
oilyyogi

Sounds just like chemotherapy

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