Went to my Oncologist a few days ago and discussed
new revelations in the CML science.
He suggested that the TKI’s are the last hurrah. Cancer research has moved
on. The medical community has an answer for CML. It is TKI’s.
Don’t expect any cure as a cure or therapy is already prescribed.
Unless happenstance occurs.
He said T-Cell immune work is where all the money is going.
The people with CML need to work to lower the price of our drugs.
There will be no research on a cure.
Romo
Very depressing if true. As we all know, TKI's are not a cure but rather a long term suppressive therapy that causes serious life threatening side effects for some and lowers the quality of life for many others.
Yes and no ... indeed research in CML "cure" has moved on largely because there are so many other cancers where there are no "TKI's". In fairness to them, it is best resources are directed in that direction.
However,
CML and other cancers are very similiar in terms of how they work. Breakthroughs in T-cell research and immune oncology in general, will reveal how CML stem cells evade destruction (or conversion). I believe strongly Leukemia's can be beaten.
In the mean time - I have a working hypothesis why TKI's don't seem to kill Leukemic CML stem cells. It's because they tend not to divide but lay dormant when TKI's are circulating. TKI only kills dividing cells (due to huge ATP demand at division). Very few divide to replenish our blood supply.
Unless ....
There is a drastic reduction in blood. Then blood stem cells are 'triggered' to divide in large quantity. We already know this from experiments and from recent work on fasting (Dr. Longo, USC). If LSC's can be coaxed into dividing while a TKI is circulating - they can be killed. Kill enough of them and a functional cure is achieved.
There are two major ways to trigger stem cell division:
1. Lose a lot of blood suddenly (as in slit your wrist) (since donating is not permitted).
2. Fast for 3-5 days which self-consumes a lot of white and old blood cells forcing the body to replenish them from stem cells upon re-feeding.
I am testing number two above. I am fasting 3 -5 days over 12 months (two or three times) and then I will stop my Sprcyel next July (2019) and test that I am cured.
So, I have hope. I have already fasted like this once. I also take extra vitamin D3 to make sure I am above 60 ng/ml along with Curcumin to boost my immune system and drive my CML into oblviion.
Cancer stem cells are as individual as people.
You are not going to know all people by knowing one.
CML stem cells can just as easily be breast cancer stem cells.
Stem cells are their own tribe. They can change allegiances.
Science can cure a cancer in this body but not in that body.
Stem cells decide and they get instruction from ancestors.
People call it genetics.
These are my personal thoughts.
Romo
