› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Bifidobacteria and Immunotherary
- This topic has 81 replies, 13 voices, and was last updated 10 years ago by
_Paul_.
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- February 14, 2016 at 1:32 am
After reading the links that were recently posted in the forum about the University of Chicago finding about gut bacteria in mice I started taking a probiotic that explicitly contains Bifidobacterium (this was the strain identified by the researchers that had such a profound impact on the metastatic mice).
According to the article (http://news.uchicago.edu/article/2015/11/06/gut-bacteria-can-dramatically-amplify-cancer-immunotherapy) "The combination of oral doses of the bacteria and injections with anti-PD-L1 antibody nearly abolished tumor outgrowth".
I have yet to ask my oncologist about this, whether its ok to take the probiotic, and there has not been a study yet on the effect on humans, but it just seems like such a potentially huge win for something so innocuous.
Have any of you sounded out your oncologists about taking the stuff?
– Paul
- Replies
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- February 14, 2016 at 3:51 am
The probiotic I take has 2 forms of the bifidobacterium, it definitely helps with my digestive system, and good to know it will help fight cancer too! I have not specifically asked my oncologist about this bacteria, I think I will ask her next week when I see her to hear what she has to say about it. She teaches at UCSF so she's always up to date on the latest research out there.
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- February 14, 2016 at 3:51 am
The probiotic I take has 2 forms of the bifidobacterium, it definitely helps with my digestive system, and good to know it will help fight cancer too! I have not specifically asked my oncologist about this bacteria, I think I will ask her next week when I see her to hear what she has to say about it. She teaches at UCSF so she's always up to date on the latest research out there.
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- February 14, 2016 at 3:51 am
The probiotic I take has 2 forms of the bifidobacterium, it definitely helps with my digestive system, and good to know it will help fight cancer too! I have not specifically asked my oncologist about this bacteria, I think I will ask her next week when I see her to hear what she has to say about it. She teaches at UCSF so she's always up to date on the latest research out there.
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- February 14, 2016 at 1:24 pm
Hey Paul,
Though I have never asked my onc specifically, I can't imagine that a probiotic would be contraindicated with any immunotherapy since none of them include any food restrictions. Here's a post that includes a link to the info you were addressing as well as discussion of a study looking at another possible benefit to knowing about the cooties in our gut!
Pass the kimchi and kefir! Happy Valentine's Day! Celeste
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- February 14, 2016 at 1:24 pm
Hey Paul,
Though I have never asked my onc specifically, I can't imagine that a probiotic would be contraindicated with any immunotherapy since none of them include any food restrictions. Here's a post that includes a link to the info you were addressing as well as discussion of a study looking at another possible benefit to knowing about the cooties in our gut!
Pass the kimchi and kefir! Happy Valentine's Day! Celeste
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- February 14, 2016 at 2:40 pm
Just think of the future for new Melanoma stage 4 patients where they take some blood , a tumor tissue sample(checking for Pd-1 status) and the patients pop to plan out the treatment! It will be interesting to see how they will design an approach for gut bacteria trials. Another advance that is being looked at is the actually melanoma tumor enzyme environment with IDO (changing the tumor micro-invironment) combined with Ipi. Thanks for sharing the article Paul !!! Ed
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- February 14, 2016 at 2:40 pm
Just think of the future for new Melanoma stage 4 patients where they take some blood , a tumor tissue sample(checking for Pd-1 status) and the patients pop to plan out the treatment! It will be interesting to see how they will design an approach for gut bacteria trials. Another advance that is being looked at is the actually melanoma tumor enzyme environment with IDO (changing the tumor micro-invironment) combined with Ipi. Thanks for sharing the article Paul !!! Ed
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- February 14, 2016 at 2:40 pm
Just think of the future for new Melanoma stage 4 patients where they take some blood , a tumor tissue sample(checking for Pd-1 status) and the patients pop to plan out the treatment! It will be interesting to see how they will design an approach for gut bacteria trials. Another advance that is being looked at is the actually melanoma tumor enzyme environment with IDO (changing the tumor micro-invironment) combined with Ipi. Thanks for sharing the article Paul !!! Ed
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- February 14, 2016 at 1:24 pm
Hey Paul,
Though I have never asked my onc specifically, I can't imagine that a probiotic would be contraindicated with any immunotherapy since none of them include any food restrictions. Here's a post that includes a link to the info you were addressing as well as discussion of a study looking at another possible benefit to knowing about the cooties in our gut!
Pass the kimchi and kefir! Happy Valentine's Day! Celeste
-
- February 14, 2016 at 3:18 pm
Yes to this! Posted a different article on this in another thread a few days ago. Seems Bifidobacterium is the key and I found one that has 7 strains of it, total of 52 billion. My dad is taking it. He started Yervoy Friday.The brand I found is RENEW LIFE – ULTIMATE FLORA CRITICAL COLON BIFIDO MAX.
Here is another link regarding this.
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/11/151105143815.htm
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- February 14, 2016 at 3:18 pm
Yes to this! Posted a different article on this in another thread a few days ago. Seems Bifidobacterium is the key and I found one that has 7 strains of it, total of 52 billion. My dad is taking it. He started Yervoy Friday.The brand I found is RENEW LIFE – ULTIMATE FLORA CRITICAL COLON BIFIDO MAX.
Here is another link regarding this.
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/11/151105143815.htm
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- February 14, 2016 at 3:38 pm
Wow this looks like a great probiotic! I’ve been using Dr. Axe’s probiotic, which has 3 strains of bifidobacterium, but this one looks great! Thanks for the tip!And don’t forget to add in fermented foods. I’ve been making kefir with grains from Cultures for Health to use in my breakfast smoothie. It’s easy AND tasty!
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- February 14, 2016 at 3:38 pm
Wow this looks like a great probiotic! I’ve been using Dr. Axe’s probiotic, which has 3 strains of bifidobacterium, but this one looks great! Thanks for the tip!And don’t forget to add in fermented foods. I’ve been making kefir with grains from Cultures for Health to use in my breakfast smoothie. It’s easy AND tasty!
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- February 14, 2016 at 3:58 pm
Excellent about the homemade Kefir! My kids drink Lifeway PLAIN Kefir, but that is nothing compared to making your own.Also, fermenting veggies, or if that is too ambitious, sauerkraut (watch for the crappy kind with added sugar. I get “Bubbies” brand.)
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- February 14, 2016 at 3:58 pm
Excellent about the homemade Kefir! My kids drink Lifeway PLAIN Kefir, but that is nothing compared to making your own.Also, fermenting veggies, or if that is too ambitious, sauerkraut (watch for the crappy kind with added sugar. I get “Bubbies” brand.)
-
- February 14, 2016 at 3:58 pm
Excellent about the homemade Kefir! My kids drink Lifeway PLAIN Kefir, but that is nothing compared to making your own.Also, fermenting veggies, or if that is too ambitious, sauerkraut (watch for the crappy kind with added sugar. I get “Bubbies” brand.)
-
- February 14, 2016 at 3:38 pm
Wow this looks like a great probiotic! I’ve been using Dr. Axe’s probiotic, which has 3 strains of bifidobacterium, but this one looks great! Thanks for the tip!And don’t forget to add in fermented foods. I’ve been making kefir with grains from Cultures for Health to use in my breakfast smoothie. It’s easy AND tasty!
-
- February 14, 2016 at 3:46 pm
Sorry, meant to post this link….:) The other is a duplicate of Paul’s. -
- February 14, 2016 at 3:46 pm
Sorry, meant to post this link….:) The other is a duplicate of Paul’s. -
- February 14, 2016 at 11:26 pm
Thank you for posting that Annie. There is new information in this link that was not mentioned in the one I saw, namely that "The team found that two species—Bacteroides thetaiotamicron (B-theta, one of the most thoroughly studied gut microbes) and Bacteroides fragilis (B-frag, a potent anti-inflammatory bug)—managed to re-sensitize the mice to ipilimumab".
So then I spent some time online trying to find an OTC product that contained one or both. But what I found is that the first is considered a pathogen, so its not something one would ingest(http://www.awetism.net/a-probiotic-can-ease-autism-symptoms-so-why-cant-you-buy-it/). And all I could find as a purchase option was some type of laboratory supply (https://catalog.hardydiagnostics.com/cp_prod/product/0319p-bacteroides-thetaiotaomicron-atcc-29741-duopak-kwik-stik-2-pack-with-built-in-hydrating-fluid-atcc-licensed-derivative-by-microbiologics-control-organisms—individuals and https://catalog.hardydiagnostics.com/cp_prod/product/0940p-bacteroides-fragilis-atcc-23745-duopak-kwik-stik-2-pack-with-built-in-hydrating-fluid-atcc-licensed-derivative-by-microbiologics-control-organisms—individuals).
So now the waters are a little murkier if the probiotics that are widely available, but don't contain the above two species, do actually provide some benefit. But given that the study was in mice to begin with its all pretty much speculation at this point anyway.
I did contact the UChicgo researcher via email (last night, he replied this morning, I am blown away by how helpful some professionals in this field are) about clinical trials for humans. This is the email thread:
Me:
"Hi Dr. Gajewski,
I found this University of Chicago news piece online and I am keenly interested in your research. Given that there is the potential for such a readily available thing as a probiotic to have such a huge positive impact on melanoma patients (of which I am one), especially those receiving immunotherapy, are there plans to conduct any human clinical trials or studies?
Is there any reason to believe that you may see the same effect with anti-PD-1 in addition to anti-PD-L1? I ask because the two FDA approved therapies for that pathway are both anti-PD-1 (Keytruda and Nivolumab) while the two anti-PD-L1 antibodies (http://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT01375842, http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01772004) and are still in clinical trial."
Dr. Gajewski‘s response:
"Thanks for your interest. Yes, we are working on sequencing the microbiota in our melanoma patients receiving anti-PD1, and are planning interventional clinical trials in the near future. So stay tuned."
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- February 14, 2016 at 11:26 pm
Thank you for posting that Annie. There is new information in this link that was not mentioned in the one I saw, namely that "The team found that two species—Bacteroides thetaiotamicron (B-theta, one of the most thoroughly studied gut microbes) and Bacteroides fragilis (B-frag, a potent anti-inflammatory bug)—managed to re-sensitize the mice to ipilimumab".
So then I spent some time online trying to find an OTC product that contained one or both. But what I found is that the first is considered a pathogen, so its not something one would ingest(http://www.awetism.net/a-probiotic-can-ease-autism-symptoms-so-why-cant-you-buy-it/). And all I could find as a purchase option was some type of laboratory supply (https://catalog.hardydiagnostics.com/cp_prod/product/0319p-bacteroides-thetaiotaomicron-atcc-29741-duopak-kwik-stik-2-pack-with-built-in-hydrating-fluid-atcc-licensed-derivative-by-microbiologics-control-organisms—individuals and https://catalog.hardydiagnostics.com/cp_prod/product/0940p-bacteroides-fragilis-atcc-23745-duopak-kwik-stik-2-pack-with-built-in-hydrating-fluid-atcc-licensed-derivative-by-microbiologics-control-organisms—individuals).
So now the waters are a little murkier if the probiotics that are widely available, but don't contain the above two species, do actually provide some benefit. But given that the study was in mice to begin with its all pretty much speculation at this point anyway.
I did contact the UChicgo researcher via email (last night, he replied this morning, I am blown away by how helpful some professionals in this field are) about clinical trials for humans. This is the email thread:
Me:
"Hi Dr. Gajewski,
I found this University of Chicago news piece online and I am keenly interested in your research. Given that there is the potential for such a readily available thing as a probiotic to have such a huge positive impact on melanoma patients (of which I am one), especially those receiving immunotherapy, are there plans to conduct any human clinical trials or studies?
Is there any reason to believe that you may see the same effect with anti-PD-1 in addition to anti-PD-L1? I ask because the two FDA approved therapies for that pathway are both anti-PD-1 (Keytruda and Nivolumab) while the two anti-PD-L1 antibodies (http://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT01375842, http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01772004) and are still in clinical trial."
Dr. Gajewski‘s response:
"Thanks for your interest. Yes, we are working on sequencing the microbiota in our melanoma patients receiving anti-PD1, and are planning interventional clinical trials in the near future. So stay tuned."
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- February 15, 2016 at 12:08 am
Paul, I looked as well and. Could’t find anything on those two types. I have to read the article again but I think those kinds were just part of a bigger picture. Maybe the most potent, but I think any and all Bifidobacterium would be helpful. Like other articles stated as well. I really believe that the gut is, what they say, “the other brain”, so it would only make sense it would need to be nourished. -
- February 15, 2016 at 12:08 am
Paul, I looked as well and. Could’t find anything on those two types. I have to read the article again but I think those kinds were just part of a bigger picture. Maybe the most potent, but I think any and all Bifidobacterium would be helpful. Like other articles stated as well. I really believe that the gut is, what they say, “the other brain”, so it would only make sense it would need to be nourished. -
- February 16, 2016 at 2:40 pm
Well given that we can't get the two types mentioned in the article in OTC products designed for human consumption I think the brand you found may be the best as it contains so many different species of bifido. Hopefully one or more of them provide some level of T-cell activation in humans like the two studied do for mice.
So I just ordered some from Amazon. Thanks for the tip!
– Paul
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- February 16, 2016 at 2:40 pm
Well given that we can't get the two types mentioned in the article in OTC products designed for human consumption I think the brand you found may be the best as it contains so many different species of bifido. Hopefully one or more of them provide some level of T-cell activation in humans like the two studied do for mice.
So I just ordered some from Amazon. Thanks for the tip!
– Paul
-
- February 16, 2016 at 2:40 pm
Well given that we can't get the two types mentioned in the article in OTC products designed for human consumption I think the brand you found may be the best as it contains so many different species of bifido. Hopefully one or more of them provide some level of T-cell activation in humans like the two studied do for mice.
So I just ordered some from Amazon. Thanks for the tip!
– Paul
-
- February 15, 2016 at 12:08 am
Paul, I looked as well and. Could’t find anything on those two types. I have to read the article again but I think those kinds were just part of a bigger picture. Maybe the most potent, but I think any and all Bifidobacterium would be helpful. Like other articles stated as well. I really believe that the gut is, what they say, “the other brain”, so it would only make sense it would need to be nourished. -
- February 15, 2016 at 8:38 pm
Paul – Given your clear interest in this topic, it saddens me that you evidently missed it when I posted about it 3 months ago. Were you offline at that time? Or did I not summarize the article in a way that piqued your interest? I am concerned because I would hate to have people not read something of value to them because of the way I posted it.
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- February 15, 2016 at 8:38 pm
Paul – Given your clear interest in this topic, it saddens me that you evidently missed it when I posted about it 3 months ago. Were you offline at that time? Or did I not summarize the article in a way that piqued your interest? I am concerned because I would hate to have people not read something of value to them because of the way I posted it.
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- February 16, 2016 at 2:33 pm
Hi Maggie,
The very first thing I said was "After reading the links that were recently posted in the forum about the University of Chicago finding about gut bacteria in mice…". Yours may well have been the first, and I confess I don't have a very good memory. Sorry I did not acknowledge your post. Things roll around in my head for a while (apparently three months!) before popping out the front of my cerebral cortex ;-).
– Paul
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- February 16, 2016 at 2:33 pm
Hi Maggie,
The very first thing I said was "After reading the links that were recently posted in the forum about the University of Chicago finding about gut bacteria in mice…". Yours may well have been the first, and I confess I don't have a very good memory. Sorry I did not acknowledge your post. Things roll around in my head for a while (apparently three months!) before popping out the front of my cerebral cortex ;-).
– Paul
-
- February 16, 2016 at 2:33 pm
Hi Maggie,
The very first thing I said was "After reading the links that were recently posted in the forum about the University of Chicago finding about gut bacteria in mice…". Yours may well have been the first, and I confess I don't have a very good memory. Sorry I did not acknowledge your post. Things roll around in my head for a while (apparently three months!) before popping out the front of my cerebral cortex ;-).
– Paul
-
- February 15, 2016 at 8:38 pm
Paul – Given your clear interest in this topic, it saddens me that you evidently missed it when I posted about it 3 months ago. Were you offline at that time? Or did I not summarize the article in a way that piqued your interest? I am concerned because I would hate to have people not read something of value to them because of the way I posted it.
-
- February 14, 2016 at 11:26 pm
Thank you for posting that Annie. There is new information in this link that was not mentioned in the one I saw, namely that "The team found that two species—Bacteroides thetaiotamicron (B-theta, one of the most thoroughly studied gut microbes) and Bacteroides fragilis (B-frag, a potent anti-inflammatory bug)—managed to re-sensitize the mice to ipilimumab".
So then I spent some time online trying to find an OTC product that contained one or both. But what I found is that the first is considered a pathogen, so its not something one would ingest(http://www.awetism.net/a-probiotic-can-ease-autism-symptoms-so-why-cant-you-buy-it/). And all I could find as a purchase option was some type of laboratory supply (https://catalog.hardydiagnostics.com/cp_prod/product/0319p-bacteroides-thetaiotaomicron-atcc-29741-duopak-kwik-stik-2-pack-with-built-in-hydrating-fluid-atcc-licensed-derivative-by-microbiologics-control-organisms—individuals and https://catalog.hardydiagnostics.com/cp_prod/product/0940p-bacteroides-fragilis-atcc-23745-duopak-kwik-stik-2-pack-with-built-in-hydrating-fluid-atcc-licensed-derivative-by-microbiologics-control-organisms—individuals).
So now the waters are a little murkier if the probiotics that are widely available, but don't contain the above two species, do actually provide some benefit. But given that the study was in mice to begin with its all pretty much speculation at this point anyway.
I did contact the UChicgo researcher via email (last night, he replied this morning, I am blown away by how helpful some professionals in this field are) about clinical trials for humans. This is the email thread:
Me:
"Hi Dr. Gajewski,
I found this University of Chicago news piece online and I am keenly interested in your research. Given that there is the potential for such a readily available thing as a probiotic to have such a huge positive impact on melanoma patients (of which I am one), especially those receiving immunotherapy, are there plans to conduct any human clinical trials or studies?
Is there any reason to believe that you may see the same effect with anti-PD-1 in addition to anti-PD-L1? I ask because the two FDA approved therapies for that pathway are both anti-PD-1 (Keytruda and Nivolumab) while the two anti-PD-L1 antibodies (http://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT01375842, http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01772004) and are still in clinical trial."
Dr. Gajewski‘s response:
"Thanks for your interest. Yes, we are working on sequencing the microbiota in our melanoma patients receiving anti-PD1, and are planning interventional clinical trials in the near future. So stay tuned."
-
- February 14, 2016 at 3:46 pm
Sorry, meant to post this link….:) The other is a duplicate of Paul’s.
-
- February 14, 2016 at 3:18 pm
Yes to this! Posted a different article on this in another thread a few days ago. Seems Bifidobacterium is the key and I found one that has 7 strains of it, total of 52 billion. My dad is taking it. He started Yervoy Friday.The brand I found is RENEW LIFE – ULTIMATE FLORA CRITICAL COLON BIFIDO MAX.
Here is another link regarding this.
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/11/151105143815.htm
-
- February 14, 2016 at 3:52 pm
I can't speak to probiotics, but I think there's a UChicago doc who believes there is a difference in response rates among coastal states versus the inside of the US and he believes it may be diet related. That is to say, certain foods aid certain gut bacteria. It's interesting stuff and very crazy to think that the future of skin cancer treatment is based on immunotherapy and potentially fecal matter transplants. Just amazing stuff.
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- February 14, 2016 at 3:52 pm
I can't speak to probiotics, but I think there's a UChicago doc who believes there is a difference in response rates among coastal states versus the inside of the US and he believes it may be diet related. That is to say, certain foods aid certain gut bacteria. It's interesting stuff and very crazy to think that the future of skin cancer treatment is based on immunotherapy and potentially fecal matter transplants. Just amazing stuff.
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- February 14, 2016 at 4:02 pm
Interesting point that the differences in response within the country might be diet related. I can see coastal areas being more into eating non processed, whole foods which will make a difference in your gut bacteria. -
- February 14, 2016 at 4:02 pm
Interesting point that the differences in response within the country might be diet related. I can see coastal areas being more into eating non processed, whole foods which will make a difference in your gut bacteria. -
- February 14, 2016 at 4:02 pm
Interesting point that the differences in response within the country might be diet related. I can see coastal areas being more into eating non processed, whole foods which will make a difference in your gut bacteria. -
- February 14, 2016 at 7:14 pm
Here it is
Like I said, I think it's responses, but your point is noted.
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- February 14, 2016 at 7:14 pm
Here it is
Like I said, I think it's responses, but your point is noted.
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- February 14, 2016 at 7:14 pm
Here it is
Like I said, I think it's responses, but your point is noted.
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- February 14, 2016 at 3:52 pm
I can't speak to probiotics, but I think there's a UChicago doc who believes there is a difference in response rates among coastal states versus the inside of the US and he believes it may be diet related. That is to say, certain foods aid certain gut bacteria. It's interesting stuff and very crazy to think that the future of skin cancer treatment is based on immunotherapy and potentially fecal matter transplants. Just amazing stuff.
-
- February 14, 2016 at 5:40 pm
Im taking Digestive Advantage. It says BC Bacillus coagulans GBI-30, 6086. Is this the bacteria that I would need with immunotherapy that everyone in this thread is taking. Thanks Greg
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- February 14, 2016 at 10:05 pm
Bifidobacterium is what you want to look for, it would say that on the bottle if it has some in it. I take Phillips Colon Health and it has 2 forms of it.
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- February 14, 2016 at 10:05 pm
Bifidobacterium is what you want to look for, it would say that on the bottle if it has some in it. I take Phillips Colon Health and it has 2 forms of it.
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- February 14, 2016 at 10:05 pm
Bifidobacterium is what you want to look for, it would say that on the bottle if it has some in it. I take Phillips Colon Health and it has 2 forms of it.
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- February 14, 2016 at 9:23 pm
GIven that much of your immune system is based in your gut i dont think it is suprising that probiotics might jet propel some of the immunotherapy treatments.
It didnt work for me however. I was taking home made kefir and high quality probiotic daily but still had no repsonse to keytruda and in fact had huge disease increase so it is not necessarily a magic bullet.
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- February 14, 2016 at 9:23 pm
GIven that much of your immune system is based in your gut i dont think it is suprising that probiotics might jet propel some of the immunotherapy treatments.
It didnt work for me however. I was taking home made kefir and high quality probiotic daily but still had no repsonse to keytruda and in fact had huge disease increase so it is not necessarily a magic bullet.
-
- February 14, 2016 at 9:23 pm
GIven that much of your immune system is based in your gut i dont think it is suprising that probiotics might jet propel some of the immunotherapy treatments.
It didnt work for me however. I was taking home made kefir and high quality probiotic daily but still had no repsonse to keytruda and in fact had huge disease increase so it is not necessarily a magic bullet.
-
- February 15, 2016 at 2:01 pm
It appears that we are all reading the same things.
My response to the gut bacteria issue is that there is comfort in being able to "do" something positive. I do think that intrinsically there is somthing to this – it all centers around the immune system.
Best wishes to all.
Mary
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- February 15, 2016 at 2:01 pm
It appears that we are all reading the same things.
My response to the gut bacteria issue is that there is comfort in being able to "do" something positive. I do think that intrinsically there is somthing to this – it all centers around the immune system.
Best wishes to all.
Mary
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- February 15, 2016 at 2:01 pm
It appears that we are all reading the same things.
My response to the gut bacteria issue is that there is comfort in being able to "do" something positive. I do think that intrinsically there is somthing to this – it all centers around the immune system.
Best wishes to all.
Mary
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- February 16, 2016 at 5:37 pm
Hi Paul,
Very interesting topic and thanks for posting. BTW: We both were being treated by Dr. Margolin until she left:( now with I with Dr. Lee and also ready for TIL at SCCA if the need arises !) I'm a bit of a mystery there, as to why my disease has not developed accordingly, despite my lack of treatments. I believe 100 percent is due to my (biological) elevated immune system (strong auto immune tendencies in my fathers family) and my continued regimen of the Budwig diet. The diet which focuses on the combination of organic cottage cheese combined with flax oil, fermented vegetables (sauerkraut) and proper oils in the diet. As long as I'm doing this diet combination my digestive tract is in order but stop it and all symptoms return. I agree with Mary, that intrinsically there is something to it, although we may not have a complete understanding. I've shared this with my doctors and other melanoma patients but mostly have received negative opinions regarding this regimen, but I don't listen….I know it's helping me regardless of what others say. The other areas it has improved for me are, arthritis, dry skin, dry eyes and a general overall well being and I always feel more protected as I endure these countless scans! Just my two cents for something I feel I'm on the right track with!
Congrats on the good news you posted, continued wishes for NED status! Sorry about your diabetes diagnosis, seems we've all got battle wounds (I with lymphedema) but very thankful for my present day status of NED!
Hoping to meet up with you and others this year, at the SCCA symposium, not yet sure when that is?
Swanee
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- February 16, 2016 at 5:37 pm
Hi Paul,
Very interesting topic and thanks for posting. BTW: We both were being treated by Dr. Margolin until she left:( now with I with Dr. Lee and also ready for TIL at SCCA if the need arises !) I'm a bit of a mystery there, as to why my disease has not developed accordingly, despite my lack of treatments. I believe 100 percent is due to my (biological) elevated immune system (strong auto immune tendencies in my fathers family) and my continued regimen of the Budwig diet. The diet which focuses on the combination of organic cottage cheese combined with flax oil, fermented vegetables (sauerkraut) and proper oils in the diet. As long as I'm doing this diet combination my digestive tract is in order but stop it and all symptoms return. I agree with Mary, that intrinsically there is something to it, although we may not have a complete understanding. I've shared this with my doctors and other melanoma patients but mostly have received negative opinions regarding this regimen, but I don't listen….I know it's helping me regardless of what others say. The other areas it has improved for me are, arthritis, dry skin, dry eyes and a general overall well being and I always feel more protected as I endure these countless scans! Just my two cents for something I feel I'm on the right track with!
Congrats on the good news you posted, continued wishes for NED status! Sorry about your diabetes diagnosis, seems we've all got battle wounds (I with lymphedema) but very thankful for my present day status of NED!
Hoping to meet up with you and others this year, at the SCCA symposium, not yet sure when that is?
Swanee
-
- February 17, 2016 at 4:49 am
Unfortunately the vast majority of doctors are completely anti any alternative treatments. In fact most that i have met are almost hostile.
I used the budwig mixture for a couple of years. It certainly is geat for digestive and cardiac health and might have some effect on the melanoma. It didnt stop me from progressing but it doesnt mean that it doesnt work for other people.
I am sure there are lots of things out there that might possibly work against melanoma but it is hard to know which are scams and which might work and of course it is a race against the clock for most of us so while you are trying one thing you might be missing out on something really good.
The new drugs make things a bit easier as they at least offer some hope for late stage melanoma patients. If these drugs werent around i wouldnt even bother with mainstream treatments other than palliative as they really didnt have anything much other than interferon and IL2 until recently.
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- February 17, 2016 at 4:49 am
Unfortunately the vast majority of doctors are completely anti any alternative treatments. In fact most that i have met are almost hostile.
I used the budwig mixture for a couple of years. It certainly is geat for digestive and cardiac health and might have some effect on the melanoma. It didnt stop me from progressing but it doesnt mean that it doesnt work for other people.
I am sure there are lots of things out there that might possibly work against melanoma but it is hard to know which are scams and which might work and of course it is a race against the clock for most of us so while you are trying one thing you might be missing out on something really good.
The new drugs make things a bit easier as they at least offer some hope for late stage melanoma patients. If these drugs werent around i wouldnt even bother with mainstream treatments other than palliative as they really didnt have anything much other than interferon and IL2 until recently.
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- February 17, 2016 at 4:49 am
Unfortunately the vast majority of doctors are completely anti any alternative treatments. In fact most that i have met are almost hostile.
I used the budwig mixture for a couple of years. It certainly is geat for digestive and cardiac health and might have some effect on the melanoma. It didnt stop me from progressing but it doesnt mean that it doesnt work for other people.
I am sure there are lots of things out there that might possibly work against melanoma but it is hard to know which are scams and which might work and of course it is a race against the clock for most of us so while you are trying one thing you might be missing out on something really good.
The new drugs make things a bit easier as they at least offer some hope for late stage melanoma patients. If these drugs werent around i wouldnt even bother with mainstream treatments other than palliative as they really didnt have anything much other than interferon and IL2 until recently.
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- February 17, 2016 at 5:13 am
Hi Linda!
I sent you an email ages ago now but maybe it went to your spam filter.
Maybe your diet is keeping your microbiota in good health. There are so many variables and so many unknowns but its great that you are keeping it at bay with such a beneficial diet.
The diabetes is no big thing compared to the alternative. I will take that any day! (Sorry about your lymphadema).
I have not heard a peep about the symposium, and I don't see it on the MRF calendar. I will ask Dr. Thompson when I see him tomorrow.
– Paul
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- February 17, 2016 at 5:13 am
Hi Linda!
I sent you an email ages ago now but maybe it went to your spam filter.
Maybe your diet is keeping your microbiota in good health. There are so many variables and so many unknowns but its great that you are keeping it at bay with such a beneficial diet.
The diabetes is no big thing compared to the alternative. I will take that any day! (Sorry about your lymphadema).
I have not heard a peep about the symposium, and I don't see it on the MRF calendar. I will ask Dr. Thompson when I see him tomorrow.
– Paul
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- February 17, 2016 at 5:13 am
Hi Linda!
I sent you an email ages ago now but maybe it went to your spam filter.
Maybe your diet is keeping your microbiota in good health. There are so many variables and so many unknowns but its great that you are keeping it at bay with such a beneficial diet.
The diabetes is no big thing compared to the alternative. I will take that any day! (Sorry about your lymphadema).
I have not heard a peep about the symposium, and I don't see it on the MRF calendar. I will ask Dr. Thompson when I see him tomorrow.
– Paul
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- February 16, 2016 at 5:37 pm
Hi Paul,
Very interesting topic and thanks for posting. BTW: We both were being treated by Dr. Margolin until she left:( now with I with Dr. Lee and also ready for TIL at SCCA if the need arises !) I'm a bit of a mystery there, as to why my disease has not developed accordingly, despite my lack of treatments. I believe 100 percent is due to my (biological) elevated immune system (strong auto immune tendencies in my fathers family) and my continued regimen of the Budwig diet. The diet which focuses on the combination of organic cottage cheese combined with flax oil, fermented vegetables (sauerkraut) and proper oils in the diet. As long as I'm doing this diet combination my digestive tract is in order but stop it and all symptoms return. I agree with Mary, that intrinsically there is something to it, although we may not have a complete understanding. I've shared this with my doctors and other melanoma patients but mostly have received negative opinions regarding this regimen, but I don't listen….I know it's helping me regardless of what others say. The other areas it has improved for me are, arthritis, dry skin, dry eyes and a general overall well being and I always feel more protected as I endure these countless scans! Just my two cents for something I feel I'm on the right track with!
Congrats on the good news you posted, continued wishes for NED status! Sorry about your diabetes diagnosis, seems we've all got battle wounds (I with lymphedema) but very thankful for my present day status of NED!
Hoping to meet up with you and others this year, at the SCCA symposium, not yet sure when that is?
Swanee
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