New and interesting study

This topic has 9 replies, 7 voices, and was last updated 5 years, 6 months ago by BrianP.

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- August 17, 2019 at 3:32 pm
- Quote
lmhl
Participant
Hello

I noticed this and thought I would share for discussion and interest. It is a study happening in London, Ontario about the use of fecal transplants to boost the immune systems for patients with melanoma undergoing immunotherapy. The idea is that with a boosted immune system that immunotherapy may work better.

https://lfpress.com/news/local-news/researchers-seeking-poop-donors-for-skin-cancer-treatment-study

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- - August 17, 2019 at 6:41 pm
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  ed williams
  Participant
  Hi Anon, interesting article on the topic that has been talked about a lot over the last 2 or 3 years. There is a lot of research going on around the world and with new approaches come some issues, a few months ago the FDA in the USA put this warning out and I will let you read the article for yourself. s://www.fda.gov/news-events/fda-brief/fda-brief-fda-warns-about-potential-risk-serious-infections-caused-multi-drug-resistant-organisms
- - August 18, 2019 at 2:15 am
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  MelanomaMike
  Participant
  Wow! Sounds craaaazy! But hay!, Thumbs up to the folks who are lookin & lookin for a better drug and or cure!
- - August 19, 2019 at 3:42 am
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  MelMel
  Participant
  Latest research indicates that the intestinal bacteria is crucial for not only optimal health but the spread of disease especially cancer as well as now may be implicated in increasing the response rates to therapy. I have known a pathologist in Toronto Mount Sinai Hospital who told me five years ago of the possibility that diseases will be treated in future with the “poo pills” containing the correct bacteria which a patient is missing. I am glad this is happening in my former city and my University of Western Ontario! Way to go Western!
  Melanie
- - August 19, 2019 at 2:12 pm
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  Bubbles
  Participant
  Just happened to put up a report today that addresses the gut biome in several ways and includes links to articles on the topic back to 2015 for those of you who are interested: https://chaoticallypreciselifeloveandmelanoma.blogspot.com/2019/08/antibiotics-gut-microbiome-and-heavier.html
  
  Interesting stuff, anon! I always wonder when I think about the fecal transplants if it would be beneficial for folks who are not responding to their melanoma therapy to receive poop pills donated by those who did. Melanoma is so complex, that while I think the gut microbiome is incredibly important to our health in so many ways we are beginning to understand and likely ever so many that we have no comprehension of (I mean I’ve been writing about it for YEARS!!!), I’m not sure that such a tact would be “THE” answer for treatment failure…but I do think about it! Food for thought, shall we say? !!
  
  Wishing a great day to each of you! c
  - August 19, 2019 at 7:20 pm
    
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    BrianP
    Participant
    
    I have to tell you the whole theory is a hard pill to swallow for me! ;).
    
    I do think the discussion is fascinating. I also think the discussion should take us back to what should we be eating in the first place for a diverse microbiome gut. I would like to see immunotherapy trials that incorporated arms with plant based diets and other advantageous foods that might help patients make more informed food choices.
  - August 20, 2019 at 4:16 pm
    
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    RichInLife2
    Participant
    
    I would also like to see that. Unfortunately, I think research, both at pharmaceutical companies and research institutions, is mostly driven what is patent-able. In the meantime, I recommend the book “Anticancer: A New Way of Life” by David Servan-Schreiber.
  - August 20, 2019 at 8:02 pm
    
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    ed williams
    Participant
    
    I haven’t read the book, but a quick Google search find that he died of brain cancer in 2011 after following his own advice. Not saying that he didn’t have something to add to dealing with cancer in general but he didn’t have melanoma and as we know each cancer is so specific with different characteristics. Interesting video with him from back in 2008 if you are interested. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6YntkxKePFg
  - August 21, 2019 at 12:35 am
    
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    BrianP
    Participant
    
    Ed,
    That is one of the first books I read when I started this journey. Have recommended it to many and even bought it for friends starting the journey. It does touch on nutrition but it’s really a total approach. IMHO it’s a great book for getting in the right mind set.
- - August 19, 2019 at 9:42 pm
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  STL Mike
  Participant
  I also read an article on that. Gave me pause for thought.
  
  I recall my Onc telling me that the response I had to the Opdivo was better than he expected.
  
  Having read that and remembering what the Onc told me I have to wonder if my crappy ( pun intended ) might have something to do with it. I spent 16+ years in the military and ate a lot of different things in a lot of different places. For example street taco vendors in Tijuana and street vendors in other places in the world . My rule about stuff dropped on the floor/ground was that if I got before some critter did it was mine. Drop a half eaten donut or cookie in the trash?…MINE!!
  
  I am thinking that I gave my immune system a pretty good work out thru the years and I probably have several different microbes residing in my gut.
  
  Don’t know if my gastronomic variety had any impact on my response or not. Just something that came to mind. Next scan is 20 Aug with labs and Once visit 21st. Be damn near 2 years NED.