Hairpiece

One of those Internet treasures. Check out the hair and the lip synching.

Shakin' and bakin' cancer cells to death

Unlike normal cells, cancer cells don't have an off switch and ignore the brain's efforts to trigger apoptosis, or cell death. Over the past few months, I've seen/read two reports of people using metals that bond to the cancer cells. Radio waves or a magnetic fields are then used to kill the cancer cells leaving the healthy cells unaffected. Could this be the future of cancer therapy? Here's a bit on both developments.

Last October, 60 Minutes ran a story about a man named John Kanzius. Suffering from leukemia, Kanzius built a radio wave machine he hoped would destroy cancer cells without chemotherapy. The main idea is to inject a cancer patient with gold nanoparticles, expose the patient to radio waves and cook the cancer cells to death. Unfortunately, Kazius lost his battle with leukemia, but created much excitement among cancer researchers. Here are three links to Kanzius' machine from various news programs:

• Kanzius Story Part 1
• Kanzius Story Part 2
• Kanzius Story Part 3 

Science Daily recently ran a story about using gold and metal microdiscs connected to brain cancer-seeking antibodies. These nanoparticles bond to cancer cells, and when exposed to a magnetic field they cause the cells to oscillate. This shaking triggers apoptosis and the cancer cells die. Although human trials are still years away, this is a promising therapy. To read the article, click here.

Both of these potential treatments are a huge improvement from chemo and other existing therapies. As my family doctor would put it, it's using a BB gun to kill a mouse, instead of using an atom bomb. The possible lack of side effects is greatly encouraging.

I leave you with the following video, from Iceland's Sigur Ros. It's a few years old (and you can tell by the fact it's the Craig Kilborn show), but it's amazing. Enjoy.

Another Results Day

Good news to share. My blood tests were fine and the skeletal survey showed no lesions. My oncologist said the disease could remain indolent for years. I will still need a set of blood tests every 2 months, another set every 4, and another skeletal survey in a year. Should things change I will start treatment, which will most likely be a stem cell transplant. Although I am relieved,  am also very aware the disease could progress at any time. And that begs the question...

I wonder what flips the switch from having an indolent myeloma to needing treatment? What triggers this progression? How does my body "know" keep this disease dormant? According to my oncologist, I cannot control the disease's progression and should just live a normal life. However, I am not convinced the disease is beyond my control. 

My strategy - thinking positive, lowering stress, making better food choices (something I struggle with), taking vitamin D and curcumin supplements, and "willing" my body to kill the myeloma cells. The former might sound goofy, but hey, it's free and can't do any harm. Besides, when dealing with a disease that at times makes me feel helpless, it's empowering, and somewhat similar to meditation. Since I have very high iron levels, I've been advised to skip multivitamins. He's still unsure of what's causing the retention of iron, but believes it's due to the myeloma.

Thanks to all of you for your kind emails, and to fellow MM patients, keep on fighting. More effective therapies are just around the corner.

Rockin' Birds

In about an hour from the time I write this I leave for the next results appointment. It's a strange feeling, knowing in just a few hours I'll either receive great news or hear that the disease has progressed and I'll need to start treatment. Of course, I am hoping for the best.

Until I post more later today, thought I would share the following video I saw on Boing Boing.



Ah, internets... is there anything you don't have?

Anticancer Nanomedicines

Yeesh. I should update this thing more often. On the myeloma side of life, I have a skeletal survey on January 19th and a results appointment on the 25th, after which I will share the news. Thankfully for all cancer patients, the pace of progress in treatment options is staggering. Case in point - anticancer nanomedicines, a way of delivering chemotherapy more effectively, precisely and in higher dosage without affecting surrounding tissue. I'm unsure how this particular therapy could help myeloma patients, since our cancer tends to be spread and not localized, but still - one advance leads to another, which is always promising. 

In dealing with this disease, Myeloma Canada has been an excellent resource and source of support. They've recently added a feature called Myeloma Connection, where patients submit their videos about dealing with the disease. Click here to visit the website and view the videos. The also feature a webcast on Understanding and Managing Side Effects.

This post's pop culture moment features John Lydon's appearance on Judge Judy in 1997. Sure, it's dated but still great fun to watch. Don't know the guy (I know my readers vary greatly)? He was once known as Johnny Rotten, singer of the Sex Pistols, singer of PiL and later a host of various tv efforts. Love him or hate him, he's a true individual.

Meeeeeerry Christmas!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all readers my blog. If you celebrate any other holidays and observances, best wishes to you as well. May the coming year bring much health, happiness to you and yours, and better treatments for multiple myeloma and other cancers. Let's hope for a cure while we're at it. On a personal note, my next results appointment is in late January, preceded by my 3rd skeletal survey to date, so I'll have news about that in a few weeks.

Ok... I can't wait any longer. I have to share this wonderful site, along the lines of Awkward Family Photos. Ladies and gents, here is Sketchy Santas. Ohhhhh baby, there are some good ones here.

Shatner and Palin

Perfect follow-up to my last post. William Shatner appeared on the Tonight Show to do a "dramatic reading" from Palin's Going Rogue book. Then to Shatner's Surprise, Palin appeared to read from his autiobiography "Up Till Now". Made for an amusing Tonight Show moment.