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.

Tawkin' With Sarah Palin Fans

As a Canadian, I was relieved when Obama became President of the USA. It was a relief to have intelligence and awareness back in the White House, after too many years of Bush. But wait, as a Canadian, is this any of my business? You're darn tootin' it is. The USA has massive influence on the world stage, is our neighbour and trading partner, and major gaffes aside, it is a force for good in this world, all things considered (not including Iraq and Afghanistan). When McCain ran with Palin, I couldn't help but think, "oh no, here we go again", but voters spoke. Loudly. Whew.

Uh oh... look over yonder. Here comes Sarah Palin. Again. This lady is a somewhat more refined version of Bush, at least where ideologies are concerned. Yet they have so much in common - a disturbing lack of awareness or foreign policy, of management and did I mention awareness? There is a slim chance she may become the next President. She has supporters, who don't seem to know (or care) that she is an intellectual lightweight, covering her ignorance with America this and jobs that... which brings me to this video.

The people at New Left Media recently interviewed regular American folks at a Palin book signing. The interviewers asked open-ended questions to many people, and probe a bit to see if they have anything to back up their statements or beliefs. Like Palin during the Katie Couric interview and others, most of them don't, apart from "I'm an Amercian" or some anti-socialism comment (when cornered, play the pride, freedom and paranoid card). Many believe that Palin has the qualities and spirit of a great leader, capable of offering so much to the people of the USA. She does, if that means comedy.

Now I love people. All kinds of people. But votes of ignorance can be dangerous when folks see something that just isn't there. As for Palin, I'm sure she's a great person, a loving mother and a good soul. As a leader, she has much to be proud of... however, in my book, a truly smart individual would recognize that she is simply not up to the challenges posed by the presidency, and not even consider the position, else this becomes an example of the Peter Principle.

Without further ado (and ranting), here's the video.



And so ends my first armchair political blog post.