Is this the "cure for cancer" we've all been waiting for??

Contributor: spiced spiced
If I understand this article correctly, a new cancer treatment is showing great potential. In the treatment, some of a patient's T-cells (which are part of the immune system) are removed, genetically altered to specifically target cancer cells, and then put back in the patient's body.

So far, only small trials have been done, but the results are promising: all 5 leukemia patients in the most recent study, whose cancer had not responded to chemo, went into remission. Two of the patients later died, but they ALL would likely have died without the treatment. The researchers believe this treatment may work the same way with many different types of cancer.

They will have to repeat the study with a much larger group of patients before this can become widely available, but I think it's exciting. What do you think? Could this be the "cure for cancer" people are always talking about?
03/21/2013
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Contributor: spunkmonkey spunkmonkey
I think that the treatments have gotten better. I don't think they will ever cure it.
03/21/2013
Contributor: Gunsmoke Gunsmoke
There is no silver bullet - but this may be one of the arrows in the quiver of practitioners. All of us hope it works out.
03/22/2013
Contributor: jennifur77 jennifur77
Personally, I don't think there will ever be a cure because I don't think drug companies WANT there to be a cure. I think they can make more off of treatments than a cure, so why look for one?
03/22/2013
Contributor: js250 js250
I think it is a great step in the right direction. There is no guaranteed cure--but hope can be one of the biggest ingredients!!!
03/22/2013
Contributor: ViVix ViVix
Quote:
Originally posted by spiced
If I understand this article correctly, a new cancer treatment is showing great potential. In the treatment, some of a patient's T-cells (which are part of the immune system) are removed, genetically altered to specifically target cancer cells, ... more
I guess it's a plausible option when there aren't other options, but two people still died.
03/22/2013
Contributor: spiced spiced
Quote:
Originally posted by jennifur77
Personally, I don't think there will ever be a cure because I don't think drug companies WANT there to be a cure. I think they can make more off of treatments than a cure, so why look for one?
That was exactly my first cynical thought! But I'm going to try to be optimistic, or at least reserve judgement. After all, this is a treatment and it will likely be expensive.

I'd like to see the big picture of US healthcare focus shift from curing disease to preventing it, i.e., to promoting good health, especially through healthy eating and lifestyle habits, and reducing exposure to toxins.
03/22/2013
Contributor: spiced spiced
Quote:
Originally posted by ViVix
I guess it's a plausible option when there aren't other options, but two people still died.
Well, all five almost certainly would have died without the treatment and the two who died don't seem to have died because of the treatment; one's cancer came back and the other developed an unrelated blood clot.
03/22/2013
Contributor: DreezzyyBabyy DreezzyyBabyy
I guess it's a step further..
03/22/2013
Contributor: KinkyKatieJames KinkyKatieJames
Quote:
Originally posted by jennifur77
Personally, I don't think there will ever be a cure because I don't think drug companies WANT there to be a cure. I think they can make more off of treatments than a cure, so why look for one?
This is how I feel. I seriously hope I am wrong though.
03/22/2013
Contributor: Gunsmoke Gunsmoke
Quote:
Originally posted by KinkyKatieJames
This is how I feel. I seriously hope I am wrong though.
Cancer is an extraordinarily large number of different diseases. The state of man's knowledge and understanding of things this complex - is actually quite small.

Granted after spending billions since Nixon declared was on cancer in the 70s - we've learned a lot. But we've gone from knowing nothing to breaking the surface. Maybe in 50 more years we'll see substantial improvements across the board.

We/they are no where near smart enough to pull of such a widespread conspiracy.
03/23/2013
Contributor: Living Doll Living Doll
It definitely sounds like progress but I don't know if it's a "cure."
03/23/2013