My Cancer My Call: Immunotherapy

Showing posts with label Immunotherapy. Show all posts

Monday, March 26, 2018

Lung Cancer Patient Given a Year to Live in Remission Thanks to Cuban Vaccine

Check out this article in Good News Network about how a Canadian woman with lung cancer and a year to live is now in remission thanks to a Cuban vaccine called CIMAvax.

Lung Cancer Patient Given a Year to Live in Remission Thanks to Cuban Vaccine

More on the vaccine CIMAvax here https://www.roswellpark.org/cancer-vaccine

About My Cancer

My Diagnosis - Stage IV Breast Cancer metastasized in bone; ER/PR Positive

My Journey: First breast cancer diagnosis June 2001. Bi-lateral mastectomy. Decided against chemo, radiation and tamoxifen. Cancer free for many years. 2013, after months of severe hip, back and rib pain with lots of treatments and no resolve, CT scan (June 2013) showed breast cancer metastasized in sacrum, spine, ribs and hip.

First 18 months of treatment with Letrozole and Zometa were relatively painless with few side effects. CA 27-29 markers got down to the 40s and remained in the 40s -50s for about a year. PET scan showed significant reduction of cancer and increasing rejuvenation of bone. That first picture of my bones was pretty frightening. They were surprised I could even walk. A year later that picture and my overall pain level was remarkably improved.

Late 2014, early 2015, CA-27-29 started to move up and PET scan showed some return of cancer. Switched Letrozole with Anastrozole and added Ibrance in Mar 2015. CA 27-29 came down initially but didn't stay there. Did four rounds of Ibrance with 2-3 week break between. CA 27-29 at 173 (late July 2015), plus significantly compromised immune system.