Health Highlight

A New Hope

 

“You never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have”

                                                                        ~Cayla Mills

 

            I often don’t have a lot of positive thoughts or feelings towards the mainstream news media…not for several years because they seemingly only like to share horrid news that they can take advantage of to create public fear…it’s my own bias.  But I am a big boy and I am willing to give credit where credit is due and I would like to send out a thank you to the news program, 60 Minutes, for a positive story that they aired last night, a news piece that inspires hope…a new hope that could have a profound impact on all of humanity.

 

            Doctors at Duke University’s Cancer Center have found a promising treatment for a type of cancer called Glioblastoma, a fast growing brain tumor.  Once diagnosed with this type of cancer, most patients tend to pass in 6 to 12 months…this is the type of cancer that claimed my mother’s life.  Doctors have discovered a process by which introducing the Polio virus into the cancer patient seems to have a positive effect in helping to shrink and even break down the tumor.  In early trials some patients have seen almost up to a year more of high quality…and some are cancer free…for up to three years now.  The FDA has approved this trial process to continue on to the next stage of clinical investigation…and that is good news for all of us.  Right now the focus is on a particular type of brain cancer but there are promising signs of how this treatment process is working on other forms of cancer as well…like skin cancer, lung cancer and others.  Is this the early stages of finding a cure for cancer or is this just a really good treatment to help those afflicted with this terrible illness get better if only for a short while? 

 

            The doctors at Duke, the very same ones who treated my mother, are cautiously optimistic and curious about how the Polio virus is helping to kill cancer cells and further investigation is required.  We are years away from solid answers but as trials move forward, more and more people are being helped by this process and the hope is to get this technology out to other hospitals and cancer centers for further treatments and observations.  The more data that can be collected, the better understanding we will have in this fight against cancer.  I watched this program with mixed emotions because the topic is so close and personal to me.  Mixed emotions such joy for the families of the survivors, a feeling of awe as I listen to the science behind it all and sadness as I am reminded what I and so many others have lost over the years.  My hat is off to the good doctors of Duke’s Cancer Center, Dr. Freedman and Dr. DesJardian and a cast of thousands who care enough to do all they can to care for each of us.

 

            As always, thanks for reading.  If you have comments or questions, please feel free to email me at wmreid@bhcshealth.com or stop by our website bhcshealth.com to see what is going on with us here Best Home Care Services.  Cancer is a fight we must all deal with and we should all celebrate these first septs towards better care.  I hope everyone has a good week and take care of yourself and each other, we’re all in this together.

 

The link to the story:  http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/preview-breakthrough-status/

 

Wm Reid

Best Home Care Services

325 N Eastern Ave

Connersville, IN 47331

765-827-9833

wmreid@bhcshealth.com