Hi Rene and Edward,
Thank you for sharing the amazing book with many valuable information. My mother has stage 4 lung cancer adenocarcinoma bony metastases with EGFR + . She was put on iressa for almost 5 months and has done 3 cycles of chemotherapy alimta + carbon + avastin. Her current doctor suggested to have 4 cycles of chemo and alimta maintenance.
Reading your book, we are considering follow some of your strategy at chapter 16, by applying cryotherapy combine with immunology ( Natural Killer Cell Therapy + Cytokin Inductive Killer Cell Therapy) and the chinese doctor consulted us to also use interventional therapy for the metastases at the bone. So far, it's really hard for me to communicate since they do not speak english well and other specialist doctors do not speak english. I did some researches based on patient's testimonial about their immunology therapy. They said the doctor will draw patients' blood and culture it and return back to patients' body. This is different to what Rene went through for the NK cell therapy. I want to seek your opinion about the hospital as you may have come across. The hospital website: http://www.moderncancerhospital.com/cancer-treatments/.
I also plan to apply Opdivo/ Keytruda to combat the cancer. However, it is disappointing with recent discussion of these immunologies are less effective on EGFR + patients. What do you think? should we pursuit with these therapy or should we research for other immunology therapy?
Kind Regard,
Nick Tran
Dear Nick,
We're so sorry your mother is fighting lung cancer with bone metastases. We are not familiar with that hospital in China, so we can't comment on it.
If your mother's bone tumors are in areas that can be cryoablated safely, we definitely recommend it because cryoablation can kill tumors within bone, can relieve pain from bone (from temporarily deadening the nerves, the nerves will regrow over time), and for it's immune effect in generating T cells against the cancer.
The success of cryoablation depends on the experience of the doctor. We have heard of cases of patients who had their tumors cryoablated by doctors who were not as experienced - the tumors were not completely killed, so they regrew and the patients had to repeat the procedure again. Cryoablation in the US with an experienced cryoablation doctor will require out-of-pocket payment (~$20,000) since it is most likely not covered by insurance.
Cryoablation can be immediately followed with PD1, to remove the tumor defenses, allowing for a complete immune response against the cancer.
As we explained in the book, treatment with PD1 alone may not have stellar results because not all the parts for a good immune response were in place. PD1 only removes the tumor defenses. If there are no T cells (soldier cells) against the tumor, then there will be no immune attack on the cancer.
Best wishes to your mother,
Rene and Eddy
Hello Nick,
Hope your mother is feeling better.
I completed my 4 rounds of Carboplatin Alimta in April 2017. I subsequently did PET/MRI with NED detected.
When I had my Circular Tumor Count (CTC) test done, it came back as 3.4 cells/mL.
I have been offered OPDIVO, but due to my low NK cells, I am reluctant to take it up as it may not work.
Would you please let me know if your mother has undergone NK cell therapy in China?. If so, how was it and may I know the name of the hospital/treatment facility?.
I am considering doing NK cell therapy.
Thank you
Best Wishes,
Raymond
Hi Ray,
We did go to china for cryotherapy and other therapies. We did not proceed with NK cell therapy as It was not recommended to us and other reasons were that I talked to several patients who went through this therapy and It turned out the hospital outsources this therapy to other hospital, which I think it is Fuda. The hospital has doctors who wrote academic researches about these therapies in China.
If you are interested in this therapy, I think you can contact the hospital doctors through their international website.
Regards,
Nick Tran
Hi Nick,
Are you happy with the treatment and follow up service this hospital provided and is this recommended?.
Thanking you
Regards,
Raymond
Hi Edward and Rene
I came across the name of a US doctor called Dr Jason Williams who is an interventional radiologist who combines cryoablation with immunotherapy, wondering if you've heard of him? Also im trying to establish if he operates from USA or Mexico.
It sounds like he's very experienced and its good to see that someone provides a full service with both cryo and immunotherapy however i don't know as yet of costs. Many thanks!
Hi Dadoona,
I am looking for interventional radiologist who combines cryoablation with immunotherapy in Australia. Have you contacted John Ioannis Vrazas MD below and if so, would you kindly let me know if you are pursuing this option?. The cryoablation is to treat my T2 bone lesion.
John Ioannis Vrazas, MD, Consultant Interventional Radiologist
Office Phone Number:
61(3)94117165
FAX: 98360294
Practice or Primary Hospital:
St Vincent's Private Hospital
Level 1
59 Victoria Parade
Fitzroy, 3065
Member Type:
Corresponding Member
Web Site: www.mivir.com.au
My e-mail is raymond.wan@optusnet.com.au
I would appreciate if you could let me know.
Thank you
We have not considered treatment with Dr. Williams, so we cannot comment on his experience or competency. I believe his practice is in Mexico.