My Husband, My Life, My Love, My Family, My Cancer
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the mRNA backbone has been worked on for decades. The leasing researcher on that, Dr. Kariko, has been working on it for 40 yrs, with publication of major advances in 2005. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/science-...
One of the co-developers of the covid vax, Dr Sahin is an oncologist. His previous company and research was in solid tumor drugs (monoclonal antibodies) https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2020/11/10/europe/biontech...
but some vaccines were essentially ready in March 2020. Because we do know how to make good vaccines. What was left was growing enough virus for raw materials and safety+efficacy testing https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-factcheck-vacci...
So part of the answer is that there were decades of work that led to some jigsaw pieces being already available. The other part is that we know how to make vaccines. Each year we manufacture a new influenza vaccine. It's not new technology. And SARS-1 taught us how to make a decent coronavirus vaccine so this was something that we had a good way to approach already.
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Karen,
Well, yes, you have hit the nail on the head. And with the system that we seem to have now (at least in the US) a treatment is tested in an individual type of cancer and then in another -- but each one has to go through the very tedious, time consuming testing.
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You would think cancer should receive as much attention as it is the cause of 600000 deaths per year in the US and thus far covid has killed 300000. I know cancer is not infectious like covid but still, there should be some faster development of treatment and more trials than there are for all the cancers.
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This is why I think experience with the processes underlying these vaccines to get them from testing to market could be a game changer beyond just the drug. There has been no need to really shake up the regulatory process component to the point where new approaches could be tried, until Covid. I don't work in pharma regulation but a lot of regulators think on long range time horizons and don't really have a sense of urgency about anything. That is starting to change as the markets regulated are changing more quickly with the impact of technology. Additionally, I do wonder about pharma becoming the next arms race for national prestige and political point scoring. Yes, we all hate that aspect and it shouldn't be involved, but having the govt realizing the value/public brownie points they can get through medical developments (the UK govt wanted a little Union Jack put on all the vaccine vials, for instance), if it means more interest, more money, more awareness to do something more than soundbites then that is a decent result.
Finally, I feel that there could be a real shift in interest towards STEM in the next generation, Z or behind. We've been so wrapped up in the social bs for the last 10-15 years now its time to produce real stuff. Look at what real technical skills produced. Look at what could be capable with faster computing power applied to questions in all sorts of fields, but if you could predict where, based on a few tests, a drug was likely to apply to multiple cancers, rather than testing each one individually, you could move it along a lot faster. In economics we talk about 'creative destruction', but there is a similar view in other areas like philosophy or religion or natural sciences where you cannot create the new without the destruction of the old clearing the path for necessary innovation. Covid was that destructive force and will push along many changes in many areas. This will have impact for a long time, but I hope more positives come out of it for us specifically.
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Morning all.
First snowfall here. 1 inch or less. Can still see the grass underneath. But more than we had all of last winter. Kind of exciting.
I go get blood drawn this morning. Local lab, so 10 minutes from house. Roads are just wet.
Not much else going on.
Just wanted to say HI.
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Karen, Moth, BevJen, Sondra, Mara,
Good discussion. I have never in my lifetime seen billions of dollars from all over the world thrown at anything before COVID. That is a first for me. In the pharma world, each division has a yearly budget, and there is incentive to stay within your budget for managers of the people they manage. So money, on a grand scale, is a big reason why a cure for COVID was fast tracked.
I also agree that regulatory has been pushed like never before to approve COVID drugs. You want to talk about slow? It’s ridiculous how long the approval process is. Way longer than it should be. Just my two cents.
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Booboo,
Not really having studied the regulatory process for drug approval, but only anecdotally hearing about it for the first time within the context of Covid vaccines, I'm sure there is some sense in all of the regulatory hoops that Pharma has to jump through. But it does seem terribly antiquated and somewhat replicative from one step to the next. I mean, I get it. Safety is the motivator. But maybe the COVID Vaccine process will show regulators the way to a more streamlined process.
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I'm off in a couple hours for an appt with the cancer agency pharmacist to get my letrozole. Then rads #5 - I'll be 1/3 of the way through rads by lunchtime today. Cough is already getting worse, boo - they warned me about this.
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BevJen,
I’m hoping this is the start of something very, very good, i.e., knowledge-sharing, collaboration, new testing protocols, etc. Wouldn’t it be great to see major changes in drug delivery from this whole COVID mess? Awesome thought.
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Results are in and it's another mixed bag. Not so good news first. My echocardiogram showed a EF drop (blood flow to/from the heart), so all treatment is postponed until I'm cleared by my cardiologist. Herceptin causes this in some HER2 folks but the Tukysa to address my brain mets is also responsible. I think this drop is an anomaly and will rebound, so I'm going to enjoy a hopefully short break. My bone scan was great, the trial doc says the radiated spot is healing phenomenally. And..... drumroll.... CT is NEAD in the body. Boom 💥 🎉
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Mae great NEAD boom for the day!!!! Rest up while you have a chance.
I sent my grandkids sleds last year so they should be having fun tomorrow. Candy said she was excited to see the first snowfall. They're over the moon waiting for it.
Moth I'm with you for your RADs today.
Take care all
Tanya
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Tanya- News on your MRI yet?
Mae- Woohoo on the good scans !!!! Hope you heart rests and recovers so you can get back to the treatment that is giving you the NEAD scans.
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Yeah Mae!
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Candy no MRI results yet. I called them today and it sounds like they're overwhelmed bc the doctor is off for vacay in a few days. Thanks for asking.
We got rain here for the entire day I think.
DH had follow up appt today. His numbers have been OK this week.
Tanya
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Mae, WOW on the NEAD body and phenomenal healing on the bone met. Hopefully, this short break will give you a little rest and the cardiologist will clear you to carry on.
Candy and Tanya- first snowfalls are so much fun (unless you have to get out and drive on yucky roads). I got fun pictures of my grandson with his snowman and throwing snowballs after Monday's snow in OK. The schools all closed for a snow day.
I've read there is progress on a non-specific cancer vaccine and that recent advances in cancer immunotherapy helped speed the development of the COVID vaccine. I'm hopeful that the strides made over the last few years are just building blocks for even more big advances.
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2020-07-breakthrough-cancer-vaccine.html
https://www.cancerresearch.org/blog/november-2020/covid-19-vaccine-cancer-immunotherapy-antigens
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Mae! Great scan news. Rest up that big heart and show them what nead is all about......
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Mae, what happy news!
Tanya, so glad your hubby's BP is staying normal.I'm home and going to relax now
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Mae,
So very glad about your good news. I have a pacemaker, so the heart is always something I worry about with treatment. Hoping yours is a short-lived issue. Congrats on the NEAD.
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booboo, did you have the pacemaker before cancer? I’d be concerned too but I assume you see cardio regularly for monitoring.
Thanks everyone, I am pleased with the overall results and ok with the break, at least for a couple weeks but I’d like to have a restart plan by the first week of January.
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Mae,
On balance, great report. Now just get that heart checked out. A short break may be just the ticket.
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Mae, great news on the nead, not so great on the heart but the break from Herceptin should definitely improve things for you in the future.
Tanya, glad your husband's BP came down for him.
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Aaawww Mae great news on the NEAD, love your attitude on the heart thing too even though that’s scary stuff. Long term treatment just seems to come with added extras, your heart and my DVT / pleural effusion amongst them. We just seem to pick ourselves up and carry on.
I understand all the points made on the COVID vaccine v cancer research discussion. It would be great to think Pharma would altruisticly learn, but I think there’s too much at stake financially for them. The pressure needs to come from governments, the regulatory bodies and ultimately the profession ( who after all are the ones who decide which drugs they will use on us). Pharma’s commercial interests need to be balanced in order for them to use their expertise and technology to support faster and safe progress in cancer treatments. We are a very small, but potentially loud voice in that landscape. Take the example of the stage 4 bowel cancer young guy trying to get terminal patients vaccinated earlier here in the UK. Already the politicians are backing his case, so we’ll see what effect he has!
Meantime I went and bought a 6ft Nordman Fir tree... currently netted in my garden. It’ll go up over the weekend with as many lights and decorations as I can muster this year plus I’m meeting a friend for a walk tomorrow, after months of not seeing her!
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Mae, glad to hear your mostly good report. I hope the heart issue resolves quickly. Enjoy being NEAD.
Mel (and any others in the eastern snowstorm path), how's it looking in your area?
Hello to all here 👋
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coming down. So far I have about 7 inches on the ground. But I think I’m hearing sleet. Supposed to continue through the night. Our first snow fall in years.
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Mae, congrats on the NED. I hope you can get the heart issue under control quickly. Hug
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Mel- seven inches! It must be beautiful
Karen - Enjoy your walk with your friend. What a great way to connect.
Moth - I missed you earlier. Congrats on reaching the 1/3 milestone on your rads.
Hi to everyone else!
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Mae a great big ‘tada!’ Very pleased for you. Keep on keeping on Miss.
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SeeQ~It is a winter wonderland. I’ll try for some pics tomorrow before it’s all touched and messed up it truly was like raining snow. Sideways coming down. It was beautiful to watch. I am not a snow person but watching the outside transform is amazing!
Molliefish~ welcome back. It’s always good to see you. Hope you’re doing well. Hugs to you!
Candy ~ you doin ok darling? Mara~ you ok too?
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Moth~Glad you're home From your long day. the phrase there's is no place like home rings so true.
Insomnia has bitten me again tonight. I don't know what heck the deal is with me but it stinks. It's definitely my water consumption, I'm up and down to the bathroom. you ladies are all amazing. I read along with you and it's like going through old friends pictures. You see their names and you're relieved to see them posting and always hope to see them thriving. Or a shout out to our departed “muddlingthrough" whatever it is that day. We are a special bunch here ladies. Don't ever change the bond we have here.
Tanya~ glad DH is holding his numbers down. Some more scary shit. How did those grandsons like their sleds? Such fun to be young again. I can't even jump. No less sled.
Karen~ glad you enjoyed your walk with your friend. Gabb is good for the soul.
Rosie ~ I'd say maybe 9 to 10 inches out there now. Maybe it teetered out. I'll see in the morning. The plows will be rolling through early. Blocking everyone in. Such joys of winter.
BooBoo~ thinking of you my friend. What timing you have to come back to the area. You maybe got more rain? Sleet? Hope you're warm and with those you love. I want coookies now that Tanya brought it up. I'm going to hound my DH for them.
Mae~ I'm really happy for you. You deserve the best. Sending cyber socially distant high five. More like air five. Together we move through the pits.
I'm concerned about pots. Haven't heard from her. Stillivin, please reach out to me to let me know you're both ok?
Runor~ so good to see your name pop up. I miss your posts that make me howl with laughter. Hope you're well! Sorry about your mammogram woes. You should just be able to have a damn appointment!!!Dodgersgirl~ checking in on you.
Sondra~ waving hello
Bev Jen ~ hello to you too!
Lee~ 🌻 ....KBL ~ hello darlin!
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Hi, Mel. So sorry you can't sleep. I've had decent sleep this week and am still tired. I do notice if I don't drink more towards bedtime, I can make it through the night without getting up. It's rare, but I think I made it three or four times this week.
My husband and I went to my daughter's house to bring my grandson a sensory board he had made. I don't remember those when my daughter was little. He was so enthralled with it. He absolutely loved everything on it. I bought everything for it and my husband attached it all. There are buzzers, a doorbell, those boingy things you use to stop a door from hitting the wall, a zipper, some latches, and locks. He loved the doorbell because when it rang, it has a light in the plug and it would light up. The chime is the one that goes ding dong,ding dong, ding ding ding dong. He would hit it, point to the plug lighting up and do his little dance he does. He loves dancing.
We had a tornado warning, and I wasn't even paying attention because I was having so much fun. It hit five miles up the road and did some serious damage to a bunch of industrial buildings. No one was hurt, thankfully.
Hi to everyone else. Hope everyone weathered the snow and didn't lose power.
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