From this article I learned:
1) We're closer to a cure for cancer than I had thought.
2) Brits *really* like new paragraphs.
May 30, 2016
Are we nearing a cure for cancer? Holy grail is 'closer than ever', oncologist claims
By Anna Hodgekiss for MailOnline
Dailymail.co.uk
A cure for cancer is nearer than it has ever been, a leading oncologist has claimed.
Dr Rebecca Kristeleit, of University College London Hospital, said advances in a revolutionary treatment called immunotherapy were now occurring at a rapid rate.
In turn, these were 'benefiting patients substantially and improving their lives substantially'.
Speaking at Hay on Wye Festival this weekend the weekend, Dr Kristeleit said: 'We are beginning to start thinking about using that word "cure",
'As an oncologist, it's not a word you would ever say.
'This is because we talk a lot about being "in remission" - but "cure" is the Holy Grail.
'With some of the immunotherapies, some patients appear to just go on and on with no resurgence of the disease.
'So that's obviously what we are chasing with all the work we're doing.
She added: 'From my perspective and from patients' perspective, it is an extremely exciting time. They're really making a difference, these immunotherapy drugs.'
One reason cancer cells thrive is because they are able to hide from the immune system.
Immunotherapy, however, ‘wakes up’ a patient’s own immune system so it can fight cancer.
Certain immunotherapies mark cancer cells, making it easier for the immune system to find and destroy them.
Other types boost the immune system to work better against cancer.
As well as lung and skin cancer, the treatment has been hugely effective against kidney, bladder, and head and neck cancers.
These are some of the most aggressive types which are extremely difficult to treat and, together, claim hundreds of thousands of lives each year
In one British trial, patients with advanced skin cancer who would have been declared terminally ill are now back at work and are predicted to live until old age.
Some may never need treatment again, others just require top-up sessions every few weeks or months.
Dr Kristeleit, who runs clinical trial programmes looking at early-stage drugs, said although not available on the NHS yet, certain immunotherapies were licensed and happening - increasing patients' cancer survival rates after cancer.
In melanoma and lung cancers they were licenced and working.
In her area of gynaecological cancers, scientists and doctors were seeing dramatic responses in the very first human trials, she said.
Her advice to cancer sufferers was 'If you're wanting to think about immunotherapy you should have a discussion about it with your oncologist.
'Ask where you can access the trials and where you can access the drugs. You don't have to take a plane to the US - you can probably get these down the road.
'It's just making sure you access the information by asking the right questions.
'Some immunotherapy drugs you can buy off the shelf but it's better to do it through a clinical trial in an area where the drugs are licenced.'
New drugs are provided free for clinical trials, she explained - and scientists and drug-developing clinicians were optimising the benefits of the new drugs.
'We want the really best drug hitting that target and we want to find the best patient for that drug.
'If you manage to do those two things, you are going to cut costs because you say to patients, actually your chance of benefit or cure is big.'
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-3616249/Are-nearing-cure-cancer-Holy-grail-closer-oncologist-claims.html
Gold is $1,581/oz today. When it hits $2,000, it will be up 26.5%. Let's see how long that takes. - De 3/11/2013 - ANSWER: 7 Years, 5 Months
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