Bravo
Well-Known Member
- Aug 27, 2004
- 5,822
- 15
About two years ago, my brother-in-law was diagnosed with kidney cancer. I had never heard of it and quickly learned that it is pretty brutal.
I got online and was determined to find the best place in the US for treatment. I discovered that the annual Kidney Cancer Conference was being held in Chicago the following month. I signed up to go - as he was facing surgery to have his kidney removed and would be in recovery at the time of the conference.
The surgeons were able to remove his kidney through a scope and did not have to do an "open procedure" so he recovered pretty quickly and he went to Chicago with me. He began treatment before we left and it really drained him though.
At the opening of the conference, which was conducted completely by physicians, they showed a powerpoint presentation on survivability. The average patient survived 10 (ten) months! Fecking brutal.
One of the things that makes the disease so fatal is that it simply does not respond at all to traditional cancer treatments such a chemotherapy and radiation. No effect.
In any event, he began immunotherapy - which has a success rate of 8%. Yup this was the best available treatment with a single digit success rate. Other than that - death.
He responded to the immunotherapy for about nine months and we were hopeful. Had a good quality of life.
Then his body stopped responding to the immunotherapy. The cancer started growing.
I saw him in the hospital lately. On 54 yo - he looks like hell.
Really brings me back to earth...
I got online and was determined to find the best place in the US for treatment. I discovered that the annual Kidney Cancer Conference was being held in Chicago the following month. I signed up to go - as he was facing surgery to have his kidney removed and would be in recovery at the time of the conference.
The surgeons were able to remove his kidney through a scope and did not have to do an "open procedure" so he recovered pretty quickly and he went to Chicago with me. He began treatment before we left and it really drained him though.
At the opening of the conference, which was conducted completely by physicians, they showed a powerpoint presentation on survivability. The average patient survived 10 (ten) months! Fecking brutal.
One of the things that makes the disease so fatal is that it simply does not respond at all to traditional cancer treatments such a chemotherapy and radiation. No effect.
In any event, he began immunotherapy - which has a success rate of 8%. Yup this was the best available treatment with a single digit success rate. Other than that - death.
He responded to the immunotherapy for about nine months and we were hopeful. Had a good quality of life.
Then his body stopped responding to the immunotherapy. The cancer started growing.
I saw him in the hospital lately. On 54 yo - he looks like hell.
Really brings me back to earth...