Research progresses slowly but steadily to eradicate cancer

The American John Ryan overcame lung cancer, one of the few patients to whom immunotherapy has brought healing. The experience offers insight advantages and disadvantages of this technique in which the pharmaceutical sector invests heavily.

In June 2013, doctors estimated that the old nuclear reactors, celebrating its 74th anniversary in July, would only live 18 months. "I am happy because I was able to participate in all these celebrations," said Ryan, who attended the graduation of his three university children and will attend the wedding of his girl this summer.

But it was not so easy with other patients to meet this retiree in the hospital waiting rooms. "I lost a lot of friends in five years," he says.

Doctors focus on two major treatments for cancer treatment. The goal of chemotherapy is to eliminate tumor cells, but the effect is so toxic that it also attacks healthy cells, causing many side effects, from diarrhea to nausea and to the ## 147 ## Loss of hair and weight.

John Ryan underwent this treatment in 2013 but did not rule out the tumor that he suffered.

As for immunotherapy, it helps the immune system monitor and eliminate cancer cells.

John Rayne, having completed his chemotherapy and suffered severe pain that prevented him from moving without a wheelchair, was able to participate at the end of 2013 in a clinical trial of Nevirolab (Obedivo), which is injected intravenously. in the arteries every two weeks, per month, in its state.

The tumor quickly receded and after 104 injections the side effects were limited to scabies in the skin.

John, who has regained his natural weight, says, "Immunotherapy helps me maintain a very good quality of life."

But a tumor recently appeared in his right lung was treated by radiotherapy.

Some cancer survivors remain conservative about new therapies after their hopes have been repeatedly disappointed.

But many see immunotherapy as an achievement that can make a difference. There are currently 800 clinical trials on this type of treatment and 30 drugs are under development, according to Otis Brulee, medical director of the American Society for Cancer.

Julie Bramer, the doctor who followed John, relies on immunotherapy with a third of his patients initially. Johns Hopkins Hospital is supervised in Baltimore, where John receives care for numerous clinical trials.

The recovery of a few handfuls of satisfaction, like John Ryan, for a period of exceptional interest extends to doctors. It is estimated that only 10 to 15 percent of these people, according to center director William Nelson. Recovery periods typically range from one and a half to two years.

Chemotherapy and radiotherapy still represent the vast majority of treatment options. But in recent years, several clinical trials and strong cancer studies have been conducted because it has shown that patients can be better treated without resorting to this type of symptom.

In the case of prostate cancer, scientists found that promoting early diagnosis was counter-productive and that many tumors were eliminated without exacerbating these side effects.

For bad cancer, a study published in June raised the eyebrows of doctors. She concluded that it is possible to dispense with chemotherapy after tumor removal for tens of thousands of women each year. Just treat them with hormones.

In addition, genetic badyzes have become more accurate and quick to diagnose tumors. The Johns Hopkins Center has a genome lab that helps doctors tailor treatments to patients, not members.

Some cancers, however, are not as concerned with this progression as with brain cancer.

But in many cases, such as bad, colon, rectum, prostate and lung cancer, research is progressing "slowly but steadily," says Dr. Nelson.

John Ryan said, "I do not want to die of another cause, not lung cancer."