Dr. O’Day short talk on immune checkpoint inhibition / Advanced melanoma

Boy Chris. That is the 64,000 dollar question (or should I say 64,000 euro question). I have made some significant changes to my life style since my stage III diagnosis in 2011. Having said that I really can't claim that I've found the key to it all since I obviously progressed to stage IV and have had some recent setbacks but I guess I'm still here so maybe I"m not doing everything wrong.

I read a book early on that had a pretty big influence on me. It's a book call "Anti-Cancer, A New way of Life" by David Servan Schreiber. I thought it was a great book, especially for anyone just starting this battle. I also watched a documentary called Forks Over Knifes which also had a big influence on my eating habits. I haven't gone totally vegetarian but only have chicken or fish a few times a week and most everything else is fruits, vegetables, and nuts. Dairy intake has been reduced (mostly by not drinking milk anymore). I've tried to cut out as much sugar as possible. That was tough in the beginning because I did have a pretty big sweet tooth but I hardly miss the sugar anymore. I do a smoothie of fruits, vegetables, and greek yogurt just about every day. I also have 2 cups of green tea just about everyday. I exercise about 5 – 6 times a week. My goal is to get my heart rate up to around the 140 bpm range for at least 45 minutes. I had a eye opening experience last year on how exercise can impact your WBC production so I really put a big value on exercise.

The supplement plan is where I've had the most difficulty coming up with a plan I am confident in. Over the course of the last couple years for the majority of the time of taken curcumin, D3, COQ10, and resvertrol. Those are all pretty standard cancer fighting supplements. For some time I was taking some supplements by a brand named "Enriching Gifts". This product line was recommended to me by a naturopath and I was taking some of their multi-purpose vitamins, plant enzymes, and sterol max (another plant derivative). The founder of that line is real big on enzymes which I think Europe is a lot further along than we are in that field. Just recently I had a phone consult with a Dr. from San Francisco. I have a lot of respect for this particular Dr. and he gave me three recommendations for supplements: Melatonin, NAC, and resvertrol. I'll probably be starting the melatonin and NAC very soon. I havn't heard of vitamin K before. I'll have to look that one up.

You probably weren't expecting that long of an answer. I'm doing pretty good on my trial right now. I recently posted here about some encouraging results as of late: 

http://www.melanoma.org/find-support/patient-community/mpip-melanoma-patients-information-page/tumors-no-fdg-uptake-pet

Brian

Boy Chris. That is the 64,000 dollar question (or should I say 64,000 euro question). I have made some significant changes to my life style since my stage III diagnosis in 2011. Having said that I really can't claim that I've found the key to it all since I obviously progressed to stage IV and have had some recent setbacks but I guess I'm still here so maybe I"m not doing everything wrong.

I read a book early on that had a pretty big influence on me. It's a book call "Anti-Cancer, A New way of Life" by David Servan Schreiber. I thought it was a great book, especially for anyone just starting this battle. I also watched a documentary called Forks Over Knifes which also had a big influence on my eating habits. I haven't gone totally vegetarian but only have chicken or fish a few times a week and most everything else is fruits, vegetables, and nuts. Dairy intake has been reduced (mostly by not drinking milk anymore). I've tried to cut out as much sugar as possible. That was tough in the beginning because I did have a pretty big sweet tooth but I hardly miss the sugar anymore. I do a smoothie of fruits, vegetables, and greek yogurt just about every day. I also have 2 cups of green tea just about everyday. I exercise about 5 – 6 times a week. My goal is to get my heart rate up to around the 140 bpm range for at least 45 minutes. I had a eye opening experience last year on how exercise can impact your WBC production so I really put a big value on exercise.

The supplement plan is where I've had the most difficulty coming up with a plan I am confident in. Over the course of the last couple years for the majority of the time of taken curcumin, D3, COQ10, and resvertrol. Those are all pretty standard cancer fighting supplements. For some time I was taking some supplements by a brand named "Enriching Gifts". This product line was recommended to me by a naturopath and I was taking some of their multi-purpose vitamins, plant enzymes, and sterol max (another plant derivative). The founder of that line is real big on enzymes which I think Europe is a lot further along than we are in that field. Just recently I had a phone consult with a Dr. from San Francisco. I have a lot of respect for this particular Dr. and he gave me three recommendations for supplements: Melatonin, NAC, and resvertrol. I'll probably be starting the melatonin and NAC very soon. I havn't heard of vitamin K before. I'll have to look that one up.

You probably weren't expecting that long of an answer. I'm doing pretty good on my trial right now. I recently posted here about some encouraging results as of late: 

http://www.melanoma.org/find-support/patient-community/mpip-melanoma-patients-information-page/tumors-no-fdg-uptake-pet

Brian

Boy Chris. That is the 64,000 dollar question (or should I say 64,000 euro question). I have made some significant changes to my life style since my stage III diagnosis in 2011. Having said that I really can't claim that I've found the key to it all since I obviously progressed to stage IV and have had some recent setbacks but I guess I'm still here so maybe I"m not doing everything wrong.

I read a book early on that had a pretty big influence on me. It's a book call "Anti-Cancer, A New way of Life" by David Servan Schreiber. I thought it was a great book, especially for anyone just starting this battle. I also watched a documentary called Forks Over Knifes which also had a big influence on my eating habits. I haven't gone totally vegetarian but only have chicken or fish a few times a week and most everything else is fruits, vegetables, and nuts. Dairy intake has been reduced (mostly by not drinking milk anymore). I've tried to cut out as much sugar as possible. That was tough in the beginning because I did have a pretty big sweet tooth but I hardly miss the sugar anymore. I do a smoothie of fruits, vegetables, and greek yogurt just about every day. I also have 2 cups of green tea just about everyday. I exercise about 5 – 6 times a week. My goal is to get my heart rate up to around the 140 bpm range for at least 45 minutes. I had a eye opening experience last year on how exercise can impact your WBC production so I really put a big value on exercise.

The supplement plan is where I've had the most difficulty coming up with a plan I am confident in. Over the course of the last couple years for the majority of the time of taken curcumin, D3, COQ10, and resvertrol. Those are all pretty standard cancer fighting supplements. For some time I was taking some supplements by a brand named "Enriching Gifts". This product line was recommended to me by a naturopath and I was taking some of their multi-purpose vitamins, plant enzymes, and sterol max (another plant derivative). The founder of that line is real big on enzymes which I think Europe is a lot further along than we are in that field. Just recently I had a phone consult with a Dr. from San Francisco. I have a lot of respect for this particular Dr. and he gave me three recommendations for supplements: Melatonin, NAC, and resvertrol. I'll probably be starting the melatonin and NAC very soon. I havn't heard of vitamin K before. I'll have to look that one up.

You probably weren't expecting that long of an answer. I'm doing pretty good on my trial right now. I recently posted here about some encouraging results as of late: 

http://www.melanoma.org/find-support/patient-community/mpip-melanoma-patients-information-page/tumors-no-fdg-uptake-pet

Brian

Just echoing Brian's recommendation of Anti-Cancer, which covers much more ground than diet.  I'd also recommend "Not the Last Goodbye" by the same author.  To the extent that folks are looking for assistance with their mindset, these are great books.  (Disclosure: Unfortunately, the author did not survive his (brain) cancer, but he enjoyed a lengthy (10 year) remission.) 

Just echoing Brian's recommendation of Anti-Cancer, which covers much more ground than diet.  I'd also recommend "Not the Last Goodbye" by the same author.  To the extent that folks are looking for assistance with their mindset, these are great books.  (Disclosure: Unfortunately, the author did not survive his (brain) cancer, but he enjoyed a lengthy (10 year) remission.) 

Just echoing Brian's recommendation of Anti-Cancer, which covers much more ground than diet.  I'd also recommend "Not the Last Goodbye" by the same author.  To the extent that folks are looking for assistance with their mindset, these are great books.  (Disclosure: Unfortunately, the author did not survive his (brain) cancer, but he enjoyed a lengthy (10 year) remission.) 

Awesome Chris.  For a while I was juicing wheatgrass.  My Dad was actually growing it and I was juicing and drinking it. Eventually had to cry uncle.  It just tasted so bad I couldn't keep up the routine.  I have taken wheatgrass powder pills which are much easier to swallow.  Probably similar to your barley grass powder.

Awesome Chris.  For a while I was juicing wheatgrass.  My Dad was actually growing it and I was juicing and drinking it. Eventually had to cry uncle.  It just tasted so bad I couldn't keep up the routine.  I have taken wheatgrass powder pills which are much easier to swallow.  Probably similar to your barley grass powder.

Awesome Chris.  For a while I was juicing wheatgrass.  My Dad was actually growing it and I was juicing and drinking it. Eventually had to cry uncle.  It just tasted so bad I couldn't keep up the routine.  I have taken wheatgrass powder pills which are much easier to swallow.  Probably similar to your barley grass powder.