› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Dr. O’Day short talk on immune checkpoint inhibition / Advanced melanoma
- This topic has 27 replies, 4 voices, and was last updated 10 years ago by BrianP.
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- April 16, 2014 at 10:06 am
To me it seems he is kind of rounding up some of the figures I knew concerning response rates etc. but it generally sounds really positive to me. Thought I could share it with you.
Hope that the Merck EAP for Anti-PD1 in Europe will start soon!
- Replies
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- April 16, 2014 at 2:56 pm
Thanks Chris. I thought his figures sounded pretty close. Hope your treatment is going well.
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- April 16, 2014 at 8:00 pm
Hi Brian,
good to read from you. My therapy seems to be going ok. I saw a specialist on complementary medicine this week who had all kinds of ideas what we could try but we decided we were going to wait for the first scans in May. Started to take vitamin D and K.
What are you doing apart from your therapy like diet or alternative methods?
How is your trial going?
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- April 17, 2014 at 12:23 am
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:
Brian
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- April 17, 2014 at 5:56 pm
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.)
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- April 17, 2014 at 5:56 pm
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.)
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- April 17, 2014 at 5:56 pm
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.)
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- April 18, 2014 at 8:32 pm
Hi Brian,
First of all I am very happy for you that the treatment with those 2 promising meds seems to do a good job for you. Keeping fingers crossed for a long lasting reponse!
thanks for your long answer on nutrition. I have read that book and I agree that it is a very good source of information. So I guess we are pretty much on the same diet. The only thing that I could not get through to is to have a smoothie. I was recommended to do that but it just seems strange to me…a few months ago I had a cold beer, now I am having green cabbage??? BTW I am now also using barley grass powder which kind of does the same as green vegetables, worh the advantage that it is easier to cover your daily needs than eating a pound of cabbage:
http://www.purehealingfoods.com/barleyGrassInfo.php
you can either use the powder to mix a few teaspoons into your soup or smoothie or also get it in capsules.
Otherwise I am also using vitamin d3, and vitamin K.
and one glass of red wine per day, one piece of dark chocolate are probably the most fun parts of my healthy diet.
and then, sometimes there are those days where I just throw a steak on the BBQ and have a cold beer with it, just because I need to feel that I am alive having fun!
happy easter!
Take care,
C
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- April 18, 2014 at 8:32 pm
Hi Brian,
First of all I am very happy for you that the treatment with those 2 promising meds seems to do a good job for you. Keeping fingers crossed for a long lasting reponse!
thanks for your long answer on nutrition. I have read that book and I agree that it is a very good source of information. So I guess we are pretty much on the same diet. The only thing that I could not get through to is to have a smoothie. I was recommended to do that but it just seems strange to me…a few months ago I had a cold beer, now I am having green cabbage??? BTW I am now also using barley grass powder which kind of does the same as green vegetables, worh the advantage that it is easier to cover your daily needs than eating a pound of cabbage:
http://www.purehealingfoods.com/barleyGrassInfo.php
you can either use the powder to mix a few teaspoons into your soup or smoothie or also get it in capsules.
Otherwise I am also using vitamin d3, and vitamin K.
and one glass of red wine per day, one piece of dark chocolate are probably the most fun parts of my healthy diet.
and then, sometimes there are those days where I just throw a steak on the BBQ and have a cold beer with it, just because I need to feel that I am alive having fun!
happy easter!
Take care,
C
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- April 18, 2014 at 10:02 pm
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.
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- April 18, 2014 at 10:02 pm
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.
-
- April 18, 2014 at 10:02 pm
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.
-
- April 18, 2014 at 8:32 pm
Hi Brian,
First of all I am very happy for you that the treatment with those 2 promising meds seems to do a good job for you. Keeping fingers crossed for a long lasting reponse!
thanks for your long answer on nutrition. I have read that book and I agree that it is a very good source of information. So I guess we are pretty much on the same diet. The only thing that I could not get through to is to have a smoothie. I was recommended to do that but it just seems strange to me…a few months ago I had a cold beer, now I am having green cabbage??? BTW I am now also using barley grass powder which kind of does the same as green vegetables, worh the advantage that it is easier to cover your daily needs than eating a pound of cabbage:
http://www.purehealingfoods.com/barleyGrassInfo.php
you can either use the powder to mix a few teaspoons into your soup or smoothie or also get it in capsules.
Otherwise I am also using vitamin d3, and vitamin K.
and one glass of red wine per day, one piece of dark chocolate are probably the most fun parts of my healthy diet.
and then, sometimes there are those days where I just throw a steak on the BBQ and have a cold beer with it, just because I need to feel that I am alive having fun!
happy easter!
Take care,
C
-
- April 17, 2014 at 12:23 am
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:
Brian
-
- April 17, 2014 at 12:23 am
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:
Brian
-
- April 16, 2014 at 8:00 pm
Hi Brian,
good to read from you. My therapy seems to be going ok. I saw a specialist on complementary medicine this week who had all kinds of ideas what we could try but we decided we were going to wait for the first scans in May. Started to take vitamin D and K.
What are you doing apart from your therapy like diet or alternative methods?
How is your trial going?
-
- April 16, 2014 at 8:00 pm
Hi Brian,
good to read from you. My therapy seems to be going ok. I saw a specialist on complementary medicine this week who had all kinds of ideas what we could try but we decided we were going to wait for the first scans in May. Started to take vitamin D and K.
What are you doing apart from your therapy like diet or alternative methods?
How is your trial going?
-
- April 17, 2014 at 7:48 am
Hi,
I am currently on the GSK BRAF / MEK inhibitor for 10 weeks and doing fine so far. Latest bllod results came back ok.
Sorry fo the confusion but I am not in England but in Austria being treated at the Vienna University hospital by a specialized group.
Ho wis it going for you?
-
- April 17, 2014 at 7:48 am
Hi,
I am currently on the GSK BRAF / MEK inhibitor for 10 weeks and doing fine so far. Latest bllod results came back ok.
Sorry fo the confusion but I am not in England but in Austria being treated at the Vienna University hospital by a specialized group.
Ho wis it going for you?
-
- April 17, 2014 at 7:48 am
Hi,
I am currently on the GSK BRAF / MEK inhibitor for 10 weeks and doing fine so far. Latest bllod results came back ok.
Sorry fo the confusion but I am not in England but in Austria being treated at the Vienna University hospital by a specialized group.
Ho wis it going for you?
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