UPDATE

[Walter]

Finished radiation therapy this morning and met with Oncologist guy to discuss next move.
He's suggesting immunotherapy rather than chemo, which if just fine by me as chemo is just basically poisoning your whole body in hopes that the first thing that dies is the cancer.
Immunotherapy kicks my own immune system up a notch and turns it into Rambo, where my own body wants to kill anything that even looks suspicious. Downside is that sometimes it goes after legit cells, but it will be monitored closely.

Here's the part that is stunning, however.
I am to undergo 12 injections, spaced 3 weeks apart.

Each injection costs....wait for it....$50,000.

[Deleted]

Mar 6, 2020 18:00:57 GMT -5 Walter said:

Finished radiation therapy this morning and met with Oncologist guy to discuss next move.
He's suggesting immunotherapy rather than chemo, which if just fine by me as chemo is just basically poisoning your whole body in hopes that the first thing that dies is the cancer.
Immunotherapy kicks my own immune system up a notch and turns it into Rambo, where my own body wants to kill anything that even looks suspicious. Downside is that sometimes it goes after legit cells, but it will be monitored closely.

Here's the part that is stunning, however.
I am to undergo 12 injections, spaced 3 weeks apart.

Each injection costs....wait for it....$50,000.

Sorry to hear that.

But I have to ask .......... are those injections even available in countries with socialist medicine?

I looked it up, and immunotherapy can damage your other vital organs, and your body can become immune to it, making it useless.

www.webmd.com/cancer/immunotherapy-risks-benefits#2

"It can harm organs and systems. Some of these drugs can cause your immune system to attack organs like your heart, liver, lungs, kidneys, or intestines.
It isn’t a quick fix. In some cases, immunotherapy takes longer to work than other treatments. Your cancer may not go away quickly.
It doesn’t work for everyone. Right now, immunotherapy works for less than half the people who try it. Many people only have a partial response. This means your tumor could stop growing or get smaller, but it doesn’t go away. Doctors aren’t sure yet why immunotherapy helps only some people.
Your body could get used to it. Over time, immunotherapy may stop having an effect on your cancer cells. This means that even if it works at first, your tumor could start to grow again."

If it were me, I think I'd say "no."

[oujour76]

Mar 6, 2020 18:00:57 GMT -5 Walter said:

Finished radiation therapy this morning and met with Oncologist guy to discuss next move.
He's suggesting immunotherapy rather than chemo, which if just fine by me as chemo is just basically poisoning your whole body in hopes that the first thing that dies is the cancer.
Immunotherapy kicks my own immune system up a notch and turns it into Rambo, where my own body wants to kill anything that even looks suspicious. Downside is that sometimes it goes after legit cells, but it will be monitored closely.

Here's the part that is stunning, however.
I am to undergo 12 injections, spaced 3 weeks apart.

Each injection costs....wait for it....$50,000.

Holy shit.

[Deleted]

Damn, Walt... Still praying for you buddy, but you don't have to pay the entire $50,000 I hope! In my case I'd have to come up with the first $6,500 if that course of therapy is even covered under my policy.

[Walter]

Mar 6, 2020 18:45:25 GMT -5 @muttthemaster said:

Mar 6, 2020 18:00:57 GMT -5 Walter said:

Finished radiation therapy this morning and met with Oncologist guy to discuss next move.
He's suggesting immunotherapy rather than chemo, which if just fine by me as chemo is just basically poisoning your whole body in hopes that the first thing that dies is the cancer.
Immunotherapy kicks my own immune system up a notch and turns it into Rambo, where my own body wants to kill anything that even looks suspicious. Downside is that sometimes it goes after legit cells, but it will be monitored closely.

Here's the part that is stunning, however.
I am to undergo 12 injections, spaced 3 weeks apart.

Each injection costs....wait for it....$50,000.

Sorry to hear that.

But I have to ask .......... are those injections even available in countries with socialist medicine?

I looked it up, and immunotherapy can damage your other vital organs, and your body can become immune to it, making it useless.

www.webmd.com/cancer/immunotherapy-risks-benefits#2

"It can harm organs and systems. Some of these drugs can cause your immune system to attack organs like your heart, liver, lungs, kidneys, or intestines.
It isn’t a quick fix. In some cases, immunotherapy takes longer to work than other treatments. Your cancer may not go away quickly.
It doesn’t work for everyone. Right now, immunotherapy works for less than half the people who try it. Many people only have a partial response. This means your tumor could stop growing or get smaller, but it doesn’t go away. Doctors aren’t sure yet why immunotherapy helps only some people.
Your body could get used to it. Over time, immunotherapy may stop having an effect on your cancer cells. This means that even if it works at first, your tumor could start to grow again."

If it were me, I think I'd say "no."

According to Onco guy, this is not a sure thing, but the thing is, chemo remains a fallback option if it doesn't work, so it seems like a reasonable risk to take. The side effects occur in roughly 5-6% of patients and is why it needs to be monitored very closely and can be shut down if necessary without too much harm being done. I'm going in for a 90-minute seminar about all the stuff that I need to worry about, monitor and be aware of next week.

[Walter]

Mar 6, 2020 19:37:01 GMT -5 @kelliers said:

Damn, Walt... Still praying for you buddy, but you don't have to pay the entire $50,000 I hope! In my case I'd have to come up with the first $6,500 if that course of therapy is even covered under my policy.

Medicare, my man....Medicare.
I thank all of you for your continued donations to my well-being.
Keep working!!

[Deleted]

Mar 6, 2020 20:25:33 GMT -5 Walter said:

Mar 6, 2020 18:45:25 GMT -5 @muttthemaster said:

Sorry to hear that.

But I have to ask .......... are those injections even available in countries with socialist medicine?

I looked it up, and immunotherapy can damage your other vital organs, and your body can become immune to it, making it useless.

www.webmd.com/cancer/immunotherapy-risks-benefits#2

"It can harm organs and systems. Some of these drugs can cause your immune system to attack organs like your heart, liver, lungs, kidneys, or intestines.
It isn’t a quick fix. In some cases, immunotherapy takes longer to work than other treatments. Your cancer may not go away quickly.
It doesn’t work for everyone. Right now, immunotherapy works for less than half the people who try it. Many people only have a partial response. This means your tumor could stop growing or get smaller, but it doesn’t go away. Doctors aren’t sure yet why immunotherapy helps only some people.
Your body could get used to it. Over time, immunotherapy may stop having an effect on your cancer cells. This means that even if it works at first, your tumor could start to grow again."

If it were me, I think I'd say "no."

According to Onco guy, this is not a sure thing, but the thing is, chemo remains a fallback option if it doesn't work, so it seems like a reasonable risk to take. The side effects occur in roughly 5-6% of patients and is why it needs to be monitored very closely and can be shut down if necessary without too much harm being done. I'm going in for a 90-minute seminar about all the stuff that I need to worry about, monitor and be aware of next week.

Best of luck with whatever decision you reach.

I am certainly in no position, nor do I have the expertise, to advise you.

When you mentioned the price, I just decided to learn a bit more about it.

AFTER you recover we'll get into the politics of it.

[Deleted]

Mar 6, 2020 20:27:09 GMT -5 Walter said:

Mar 6, 2020 19:37:01 GMT -5 @kelliers said:

Damn, Walt... Still praying for you buddy, but you don't have to pay the entire $50,000 I hope! In my case I'd have to come up with the first $6,500 if that course of therapy is even covered under my policy.

Medicare, my man....Medicare.
I thank all of you for your continued donations to my well-being.
Keep working!!

If you are paying taxes, you are paying for it, too.

I refuse to hold a real job.  I have become a CWG convert.

[Deleted]

Mar 6, 2020 20:27:09 GMT -5 Walter said:

Mar 6, 2020 19:37:01 GMT -5 @kelliers said:

Damn, Walt... Still praying for you buddy, but you don't have to pay the entire $50,000 I hope! In my case I'd have to come up with the first $6,500 if that course of therapy is even covered under my policy.

Medicare, my man....Medicare.
I thank all of you for your continued donations to my well-being.
Keep working!!

Oh that's right. I still have 2-1/2 years to go. HEAL !!!

[mscott59]

Mar 6, 2020 18:00:57 GMT -5 Walter said:

Finished radiation therapy this morning and met with Oncologist guy to discuss next move.
He's suggesting immunotherapy rather than chemo, which if just fine by me as chemo is just basically poisoning your whole body in hopes that the first thing that dies is the cancer.
Immunotherapy kicks my own immune system up a notch and turns it into Rambo, where my own body wants to kill anything that even looks suspicious. Downside is that sometimes it goes after legit cells, but it will be monitored closely.

Here's the part that is stunning, however.
I am to undergo 12 injections, spaced 3 weeks apart.

Each injection costs....wait for it....$50,000.

wow. hoping healing comes soon, walt.

[roxalot]

Mar 6, 2020 20:27:09 GMT -5 Walter said:

Mar 6, 2020 19:37:01 GMT -5 @kelliers said:

Damn, Walt... Still praying for you buddy, but you don't have to pay the entire $50,000 I hope! In my case I'd have to come up with the first $6,500 if that course of therapy is even covered under my policy.

Medicare, my man....Medicare.
I thank for your continued donations to my well-being.
Keep working!!

'The will to live'.. yet another gift from our Creator.

[oldgraylady57]

Mar 6, 2020 18:00:57 GMT -5 Walter said:

Finished radiation therapy this morning and met with Oncologist guy to discuss next move.
He's suggesting immunotherapy rather than chemo, which if just fine by me as chemo is just basically poisoning your whole body in hopes that the first thing that dies is the cancer.
Immunotherapy kicks my own immune system up a notch and turns it into Rambo, where my own body wants to kill anything that even looks suspicious. Downside is that sometimes it goes after legit cells, but it will be monitored closely.

Here's the part that is stunning, however.
I am to undergo 12 injections, spaced 3 weeks apart.

Each injection costs....wait for it....$50,000.

Good luck Walt. I hope whatever treatment you decide to have will be successful with few harmful side effects.

[oldgraylady57]

Mar 6, 2020 18:00:57 GMT -5 Walter said:

Finished radiation therapy this morning and met with Oncologist guy to discuss next move.
He's suggesting immunotherapy rather than chemo, which if just fine by me as chemo is just basically poisoning your whole body in hopes that the first thing that dies is the cancer.
Immunotherapy kicks my own immune system up a notch and turns it into Rambo, where my own body wants to kill anything that even looks suspicious. Downside is that sometimes it goes after legit cells, but it will be monitored closely.

Here's the part that is stunning, however.
I am to undergo 12 injections, spaced 3 weeks apart.

Each injection costs....wait for it....$50,000.

Good luck Walt. I hope whatever treatment you decide to have will be successful with few harmful side effects.

[DrSchadenfreude]

Mar 6, 2020 18:00:57 GMT -5 Walter said:

Finished radiation therapy this morning and met with Oncologist guy to discuss next move.
He's suggesting immunotherapy rather than chemo, which if just fine by me as chemo is just basically poisoning your whole body in hopes that the first thing that dies is the cancer.
Immunotherapy kicks my own immune system up a notch and turns it into Rambo, where my own body wants to kill anything that even looks suspicious. Downside is that sometimes it goes after legit cells, but it will be monitored closely.

Here's the part that is stunning, however.
I am to undergo 12 injections, spaced 3 weeks apart.

Each injection costs....wait for it....$50,000.

My former office partner of many years was diagnosed with widely metastatic, Stage IV colon cancer several years ago.  I thought he was a goner.

He was treated with expensive mono-clonal antibody injections.

Alan is alive and well today-- skiing, traveling, and taking art classes!

[Walter]

Mar 8, 2020 11:29:52 GMT -5 DrSchadenfreude said:

Mar 6, 2020 18:00:57 GMT -5 Walter said:

Finished radiation therapy this morning and met with Oncologist guy to discuss next move.
He's suggesting immunotherapy rather than chemo, which if just fine by me as chemo is just basically poisoning your whole body in hopes that the first thing that dies is the cancer.
Immunotherapy kicks my own immune system up a notch and turns it into Rambo, where my own body wants to kill anything that even looks suspicious. Downside is that sometimes it goes after legit cells, but it will be monitored closely.

Here's the part that is stunning, however.
I am to undergo 12 injections, spaced 3 weeks apart.

Each injection costs....wait for it....$50,000.

My former office partner of many years was diagnosed with widely metastatic, Stage IV colon cancer several years ago.  I thought he was a goner.

He was treated with expensive mono-clonal antibody injections.

Alan is alive and well today-- skiing, traveling, and taking art classes!

That's the stuff I wanna hear!!
Woohoo!