ErSo - Trials on Mice have eradicated Metastatic Breast Cancer Cells - we need HUMAN trials now ...
Beating breast cancer Estrogen receptor–positive breast cancer is the most common type of breast cancer and, in its metastatic form, is currently incurable. In a new study, Boudreau et al. describe a compound, ErSO, that can activate the unfolded protein response, resulting in necrosis of human breast cancer cell lines in vitro. In vivo, this treatment induced complete regression of cell line and patient-derived orthotopic and metastatic breast cancer xenografts in mice. The authors showed that this treatment was well tolerated in mice, rats, and dogs and could provide a new avenue of intervention for this deadly disease. Abstract Metastatic estrogen receptor α (ERα)–positive breast cancer is presently incurable. Seeking to target these drug-resistant cancers, we report the discovery of a compound, called ErSO, that activates the anticipatory unfolded protein response (a-UPR) and induces rapid and selective necrosis of ERα-positive breast cancer cell lines in vitro. We then tested ErSO in vivo in several preclinical orthotopic and metastasis mouse models carrying different xenografts of human breast cancer lines or patient-derived breast tumors. In multiple orthotopic models, ErSO treatment given either orally or intraperitoneally for 14 to 21 days induced tumor regression without recurrence. In a cell line tail vein metastasis model, ErSO was also effective at inducing regression of most lung, bone, and liver metastases. ErSO treatment induced almost complete regression of brain metastases in mice carrying intracranial human breast cancer cell line xenografts. Tumors that did not undergo complete regression and regrew remained sensitive to retreatment with ErSO. ErSO was well tolerated in mice, rats, and dogs at doses above those needed for therapeutic responses and had little or no effect on normal ERα-expressing murine tissues. ErSO mediated its anticancer effects through activation of the a-UPR, suggesting that activation of a tumor protective pathway could induce tumor regression. https://news.illinois.edu/view/6367/339688859?fbclid=IwAR0h1IknctZG6-YwnsbeAm-4Q_Yi9piOYfUPc7z1ymYl-NIeZXH5W16zjUE#image-2 One lady actually wrote to one of the reseachers and he said to contact Bayer directly, as they bought the "rights" and as yet, they haven't scheduled clinical trials. I am sure that if controlling oestrogen was a major part of controlling Prostate or Testicular Cancer, they'd be RACING to get this to market ..... WE ALL NEED TO WRITE TO BAYER! Copy & Send this post to your Onc too!! Here is a Bayer contact the researcher gave: rose.talarico@bayer.com Hopefully, if LOTS OF PEOPLE from all around the world WRITE to Bayer - they may 'run with it' .... but the facts are, if something like this isn't profitable enough to them - it might get shelved! :(
Subsidy for Verzenio (abemaciclib) expanded on the PBS
Hi everyone, I thought some of you may be interested to read about the recent expansion of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) listing of Verzenio (abemaciclib) to include its use in combination with Faslodex (fulvestrant). You can read the full details on the BCNA website link below: https://www.bcna.org.au/news/2021/10/subsidy-for-verzenio-abemaciclib-expanded-on-the-pbs/ We recommend talking to your treatment team if you have any questions about abemaciclib or fulvestrant. (This has also been posted in private group 'Living with metastatic breast cancer')Clinical Trials Update
Hello members, Our BCNA Senior Policy Officer has provided the below information regarding clinical trials that may be of interest to our members. These are also being shared in our Health Professionals Network News and the Metastatic Advisory Group (I shall post in the mets private group re EMBRACE Phase II trial). Nivolumab neoadjuvant/adjuvant clinical trial The CA209-7FL neoadjuvant/adjuvant breast cancer trial continues to be open to recruitment, running in South Australia, New South Wales and Victoria for patients with estrogen receptor-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative early-stage breast cancer. Bristol Myers Squibb will be implementing a digital advertising campaign expected to launch in October/November 2021. This will target both health professionals and patients. More information on the trial can be found here. EMBRACE Phase II Olaparib clinical trial EMBRACE is a Phase II clinical trial of the PARP inhibitor, Olaparib, in HR-deficient metastatic breast and relapsed ovarian cancer in patients without germline mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2. Patients with metastatic triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) or relapsed platinum-sensitive high grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) after first line/adjuvant therapy who have an eligible tumour molecular analysis result are suitable for the trial. There are 11 sites open in Australia in NSW, QLD, VIC, SA and WA. More information on the trial can be found here or by emailing embrace.study@sydney.edu.au We encourage members to talk with their treatment team in the first instance about any clinical trials.
2016 -2021 The Journey continues
Hi, It has been 4 years and 8 months since this journey of Breast Cancer started. I have been reading back over this chat and wow how that time changed my life and everything around cancer. So on July 28th, I went to Auburn Hospital for my operation under Dr ***. 4 hours into the operation she was notified that I had 44% cancer cells in my Sentinal Node so other nodes were advised to be removed. 23 nodes later,,, gone. This then brought my operation up to 6 hours. Recovery went fairly well. I was able to go back to work 2 weeks post op and did light duties and haven't stopped. Unfortunately, at pre-op there was no indication that I had an aggressive form of cancer so I had to undergo chemo, which was not discussed previously, only Radiotherapy treatment for 6 weeks. So fast forward to September 16 and I am going in for a Port a Cath insertion at Prince of Wales as there was nowhere doing them at the time I needed to start chemo. I had the first 3 lots of aggressive chemo and said no more. I was still working and no quite sure how I go through all of that but obliviously I did. I then went onto 3 more doses of chemo and again said no more. I never wanted chemo in the first place and should of stood my ground but I listened to the Dr's as it was routine, well routine is not always right for everyone. Radiotherapy was also dropped to 16 days with 10 shots per visit, so 160 doses.. and yeah the boob is now fried and wont move..although it is getting softer to touch. So from Jan 2017 - Oct 2019 I got on with living. I ended up with Lymphoedema in the left arm,, not good but I have a great network with the Lympho Therapist and sleeves. I was going really well, working, riding my motorbike and just getting on with things. In July 2019 I got a very sore left knee, thinking it was just arthritis I let it go for about 10 weeks. When the pain became so bad I went to a new GP who sent me for ultrasounds.... nothing other than OA. Ok, so lets do a bone scan just to have a look and see. Scan was done on a Monday, results were to be picked up on a Wednesday. We didn't find the answer to the pain in the knee, although there was OA but they did find 5 lesions in my bones. 1 in the skull, L1, L2, L3,L5. no symptoms at all. Ok, so where to from here. A new Oncologist (the last one and I did not Gel). New medications, Immunotherapy meds. Palbociclib 125mg and Arimidex 1mg. Three months later I had another bone scan to see how it was all going. Damn again, another 7 lesions. T11, S1, L4, Hip and Socket joints, and hip area. So all up 12 lesions. They did a biopsy on the S1 and I would not wish that on my worst enemy, it bloody well nearly killed me. The results came back as the same Breast ca as before so this was treatable. During this time in Oct 2019, I became a Nanny to my little man Archie.. I am so in LOVE. Fast forward again to 2021. A few more bone scans every 6 months, blood tests every month for ca markers, 21 days of Palbociclib, and daily for Arimidex. I am now 18 months into this next journey with Stage 4 Metastatic Breast Cancer. I still work as a Clinical Facilitator for Universities looking after RN Students, although I feel tired all the time. I still ride my motorbike, hubby and I brought a Motorhome to start going away,. In 2018 I did a Cert IV in Celebrancy and became a Marriage Celebrant in March 2019 and I am about to go down the pathway of learning how to be a Funeral Planner/Director. I am currently a Funeral Celebrant. This is my business and I love what I do. I am also a Justice of the Peace now. So yes life is somewhat busy.... hahahaha... well totally busy but I love it and it will keep going as long as I can keep going. I am in the process (slowly) of planning my own funeral. It is not morbid, it is reality and I want to go out the way I want. My family will just follow my lead and plans. All going well, I hope to have a pre Funeral party and have all my friends and family there to see me before I kick the bucket, but I am also very much aware of living while I can. www.lovelisallaroundus.com.au This is my website and it means I get to share my love, friendship and hope with everyone.
Effect of High-dose Vitamin C Combined With Anti-cancer Treatment on Breast Cancer Cells.
Please see medical research link below regarding this topic. I haven't been on this site for a while and surprised I couldn't find topics on this subject except a comment from a BCNA staffer. As well as the usual Specialists, I see an integrative GP. She administers high dose Vit C infusions to breast cancer patients, including me. I've been clear now for 8 years. The medical evidence for this being beneficial in the fight against breast cancer cells is becoming clear and more widely accepted now, even among the old guard. So, I am wondering, why don't more women know about this? Are there any other women having it? If so, how is it going? https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/30711954/
Gemcitabine and Carboplatin
Hi all, i was was wondering if anyone has had any experience with these drugs and how they handled the side effects. I have metastatic breast cancer which has stopped responding to the present treatment, and this is an option. However, the doctor feels it has only a 10 to 20 percent chance of being effective, so I need to decide whether to do this. I’d appreciate any information. Cheers, Boobless2
Are you using Kisqali?
Hi, I have an opportunity to talk to the manufacturers of the medication Kisqali. If you are using it, I’m wondering if there is anything about this drug that you would like me to pass on them? For example - was the information you received from your oncologist and in writing informative and easy to understand? Have you had any concerns you might have about taking this medication answered? Would it help to have a phone number or an email address in order to talk to a representative from the drug company? What about the side effects? I’d like the tablets to be smaller - a small thing but perhaps useful for others as well? What do you think? Is there anything else I can pass on to them? I’m very happy to hear all your suggestions, ideas and thoughts. Here is a wonderful opportunity for us, as users, to be proactive in getting the company to understand how this drug is effecting us and how they can further support us. I’m looking forward to your comments and suggestions so that I can have a bigger impact on the way the company works with its consumers. Debbie Packham
Operate or Radiation, That's The Question
Hi all, I saw the Surgeon during the week and my 2nd brain tumour has grown 2mm in 8 weeks. Now they have to do something, it could be an operation to remove it with possible permanent weakness in my right leg. I'm still on crutches after the removal of a tumour in October. Then there's radiation which possibly means going into the city an hour away & have radiation, I don't know how many or how often but it will burn around the tumour but leaves it there. After just going into the city to see the Surgeon I had no energy from Tuesday evening till Thursday morning so I couldn't possibly go in too often to have radiation. When I got home from the city the Surgeon and Oncologist had spoken and the Oncologist thought radiation was the best way so they'll go with that. I have an appointment on Friday to ask why it's the best way & explain I don't have that sort of energy with every other test I still haven't organised. Just wondering if anyone else has come across this scenario and knows what is best, as much as I don't want more brain surgery & rehab possibly afterwards I don't want to know it's still there & will worry about it when it comes to my next MRI. Can radiation stop a tumour growing & be monitored along with any other nasties that might pop up now that it's secondary Stage 4 and comes from the breast cancer.
Cannabis therapy : have you tried it? how do you access it? how effective is the treatment for you?
I would like to get an idea of how widespread cannabis therapy use is amongst people living with breast cancer. If there is enough interest, might we consider joining the broader discussion about medical cannabis access and legality. It’s all well and good that legislation has been passed regarding access to medical cannabis but the reality is, few are able to access the scheme. My Oncologist and GP are both supportive of my cannabis use but told me it is difficult to access unless all other treatment options have been exhausted. I started using medical cannabis about four months ago. I was motivated to explore the treatment after talking with another cancer patient who was having outstanding relief from cannabis oil. I hit doc Google hard for a number of months, reading and researching all I could about medical grade cannabis. I learned about the different strains of cannabis, about CBD, THC & CBN and the many different cannabis and hemp products now available I also learned that there are people selling ‘medical cannabis’ that has no active ingredients. So, a reliable supplier is very important. I eventually discussed my thoughts about trying medical cannabis with my oncologist. He was supportive of my using it for pain management and asked where I planned to get it. The place I mentioned has been in the business for a long time and has a good reputation for supplying quality products. A lot of cancer patients in the region go there. I take cbd paste for pain management and cannabis oil in the hope that it will kill off the Mets in my bones (oncologist not as optimistic as me re the oil). I have had outstanding results in terms of pain management. I was taking Palexia SR150 mg twice a day and Panadol osteo three times a day. For those unfamiliar with Palexia, it is a strong opioid used for managing pain - it effectively numbs pain and your brain. I now only take cannabis extract to manage my pain and I feel so much better. My bloods are normal and the disease is stable; I have Mets in my bones but all my organs are now clear :) FYI - I am also taking Femara 2.5mg and Kisqali My health skyrocketed soon after starting this treatment. It seems the ulternative and conventional meds are working like a dream together. I look forward to reading your stories. If it might be useful I will write a summary of our experiences