Study Suggests Some Cancers May Go Away

NY Times ^ | November 25, 2008 | GINA KOLATA

[neverdem]

Cancer researchers have known for years that it was possible in rare cases for some cancers to go away on their own. There were occasional instances of melanomas and kidney cancers that just vanished. And neuroblastoma, a very rare childhood tumor, can go away without treatment.

But these were mostly seen as oddities — an unusual pediatric cancer that might not bear on common cancers of adults, a smattering of case reports of spontaneous cures. And since almost every cancer that is detected is treated, it seemed impossible even to ask what would happen if cancers were left alone.

Now, though, researchers say they have found a situation in Norway that has let them ask that question about breast cancer. And their new study, to be published Tuesday in The Archives of Internal Medicine, suggests that even invasive cancers may sometimes go away without treatment and in larger numbers than anyone ever believed.

At the moment, the finding has no practical applications because no one knows whether a detected cancer will disappear or continue to spread or kill.

And some experts remain unconvinced.

“Their simplification of a complicated issue is both overreaching and alarming,” said Robert A. Smith, director of breast cancer screening at the American Cancer Society.

But others, including Robert M. Kaplan, the chairman of the department of health services at the School of Public Health at the University of California, Los Angeles, are persuaded by the analysis. The implications are potentially enormous, Dr. Kaplan said.

If the results are replicated, he said, it could eventually be possible for some women to opt for so-called watchful waiting, monitoring a tumor in their breast to see whether it grows. “People have never thought that way about breast cancer,” he added.

Dr. Kaplan and his colleague, Dr. Franz Porzsolt, an...

[neverdem]

GINA KOLATA usually writes better than this. I'll have to read the original article.

The Natural History of Invasive Breast Cancers Detected by Screening Mammography It's a FReebie.

Incidence refers to the rate that is annual numbers of new patients with a particular diagnosis.

Prevalence rate refers to the numbers in the whole population at any time with a particular diagnosis.

[Mr Ramsbotham]

Once they diagnose it, you’re done for.

[napscoordinator]

I have often wondered if they had a cure for all cancers, would they let the public know or keep the money trail going. Cancer is big money and I am not confident that the powers that be would even be honest about having a cure. I would hope they would but I guess I have become skeptical in my old age.

[SouthDixie]

impossible even to ask what would happen if cancers were left alone.

I highly recommend reading the history of Nurse Rene M. Caisse. She obtained the formula of an herbal tonic, in the 1920's, from Ojibway Indians. The AMA did everything to thwart her efforts, as she was curing people with cancer, doctors had deemed incurable. The tonic is called Essiac, Ms Rene's name spelled backwards.

[ardara]

Prayer works! God is good!

[cripplecreek]

My dog had cancer in her leg that attacks the sheath around the nerves and blood vessels. He removed what he could but couldn’t get it all and said that he expected it to return within 6 months. He called it a very aggressive cancer that returned on 95% of the cases and that I could take her for radiation therapy in Ann Arbor (for $10,000) or have the leg amputated. I brought her home expecting to take her back to get rid of the leg but it’s been 5 years with no return of the cancer.

[syriacus]

A “Good Morning” ping.

[Melinda in TN]

A man my husband knows was diagnosed with cancer. He went down to Mexico and ate something for a period of time and he’s cancer free today. That was five years ago. I don’t know what he ate but it was some kind of plant that grows down there.

[patj]

Some of the comments here really surprise me. I always think of Freepers as much smarter than most.

I have been dealing with cancer for over 10 years and that anyone would think that doctors know how to cure it and don't is ridiculous. Everyone reacts differently, so no one treatment works for everyone. Some are cured some are not, that doesn't mean that the doctor is to blame. In my years of chemo I've met many people receiving chemo of different combos delivered in different protocols.

Luckily, new treatments are being discovered and research continues. My treatment for cancer differs greatly from my mother's 25 years ago. Heck, my treatment now differs from when I started. Seven months ago we were planning my funeral, enter another new treatment, now we are going to celebrate my third annual "last Christmas".

[cripplecreek]

There’s no magical cure for cancer but research into alternatives has played a big part in creating better cancer treatments. When my dog had the cancer the vet suggested diet alternatives that he said showed promise in fighting cancer. It’s been almost 5 years with no return and she likes cottage cheese with a little flaxseed oil anyway.

[KeyWest]

My Law of the Survivor is: Only the living give testimonials,.

That hit me strongly when I researched options to treat my Malignant Melanoma five years ago. I was amazed at the literally thousands of “cures” for cancer on websites. Most were selling things to cure it and all had glowing testimonials from those who were cured.

I knew some people who decided to go with holistic treatments and all died. And it dawned on me that the dead cannot let you know that the treatment did not work. Only those for whom the treatment worked could speak (assuming they were telling the truth).

I am a beekeeper. I found an anecdotal correlation between stinging myself for arthritis (which does work) and the control of the Melanoma. With my background in science, I saw that there is a correlation between the immune system, bee stings and the fact that Melanoma is treated by boosting the immune system. Also, there was another beekeeper, who is a patient of my dermatologist, who had exactly the same results- bee stings and MM in check. I always said to people that my findings were anecdotal because it was not backed by any good studies. But I easily could have been a tout for bee stings as a cure for Malignant Melanoma.Instead I noted that there seemed to be some correlation and that was the immune system.

Recently, Aussie scientists found that about 25% of those who have Malignant Melanoma which spreads to the lymph nodes, as mine did, survive because of their genetic makeup. The rest die.So much for anecdotal evidence of bee stings and it being a way to control Melanoma.Science is more dispassionate and cruel. I had no magic bullet. The stings may have helped my own system along and made it work better (interferon helps in about 10% of MM cases by boosting the immune system but kills your thyroid gland. Which is why I opted for bee stings- save my thyroid and still boost my immune system). But the real reason I survived is I picked the right parents.

[penelopesire]

Perhaps the NYT is just doing the ‘prep work’ for the coming Obama/Democrat socialized healthcare...which will eventually end in people not getting treatment.
Now they can say: ‘not all cancers need treatment’...so your ‘application’ for treatment has been denied.

God Help Our Country!

[Bluebird Singing]

I think you hit the nail on the head, penelope.

[pollyg107]

I hope your treatment continues to be successful. I don’t know you, but I pray every day for all those afflicted with cancer, so I’m praying for you, too.

[spectre]

Come on now...we're all going to get the same Medical care as Congress. Nothing to worry about.

/s

[TSgt]

God bless you both. My uncle who is like a father to me is currently fighting Cancer of the Unknown Primary or CUP. He was given 6 months to live in September.

It hit home for me the first time I went with him to a chemo treatment. The patients were all upbeat and my uncle joked as his treatment was administered.

Everyone should spend a day at a chemo clinic. There would be far fewer depressed people since more would be appreciative of their good health.

[SouthDixie]

The four main herbs that make up Essiac are Burdock Root, Slippery Elm Inner Bark, Sheep Sorrel and Indian Rhubarb Root.

I tip my hat off to you and your journey, may God hold you in the palm of his hand.
I had, ( I dislike saying 'had' because she's still alive in my mind ) a friend, whom passed recently of cancer.
'They' gave her 6 months, she lived virtually, on a diet of carrots, exceeding 3 years the prognosis, in a lovely hue of orange.

[2 Kool 2 Be 4-Gotten]

I have often wondered if they had a cure for all cancers, would they let the public know or keep the money trail going. Cancer is big money and I am not confident that the powers that be would even be honest about having a cure. I would hope they would but I guess I have become skeptical in my old age.

---

One of the more absurd statements I’ve read recently.

[cripplecreek]

We should never overlook or rely too heavily on the old traditional tribal and folk remedies. Native Americans drank willow bark tea for headaches and ate spiderwebs for asthma. As it turns out that willow is a natural source of the active ingredient in aspirin and spiderwebs contain a form of antihistamine.

There’s folk medicine and there’s voodoo. Now if you’ll excuse me I have to hag a black cat in a tree on the west side of the church so I can sleep crosswise on a fresh grave to cure my hemorrhoids.

[spectre]

Mike, you are so right about the people we meet taking Chemo. It's a very humbling yet uplifting experience.

At the same time, I have witnessed patients who have only the basic coverage NOT prescribed a $100 anti nausea pill, which is extremely vital.

And, I have witnessed patients handing over their own anti-nausea pills to those far less fortunate. There's a whole lot of love in that Chemo room...

sw