This was triggered by the cig03 response to my versed tribute to my friend's special relationship with his ever supportive wife - see my contribution to "a poem by JamesValvis".
I read the profile of cig03 and can appreciate her anxiety about the unfolding drama that is her misfortune to face. So please don't lose heart my friend because the pace of change in recent times is something to behold. I provide an example of one such source of optimism. There are others - it is just a question of how many corners we need to negotiate before we reach another goal.
The illustrious T – Cell a pointer to the future of cancer treatment
Although discovered over half a century ago it is only in recent years that what is often termed “specialised helper to B cells” known as T cells have assumed greater prominence in the battle to find successful ways to overcome the menace of cancer.
The foundations of cancer treatment were previously surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy; augmented by targeted drugs. The approval by the US Food and Drug Administration in 2017 allowed T cell therapy to be used on B-cell lymphoma patients who had relapsed after at least two kinds of other treatments.
Since that time treatment opportunities have widened and there are several UK centres able to provide T cell therapy for lymphoma and leukaemia. It involves taking white blood cells (T cells) from the patient and reprogramming them so that they able to target cancer cells.
The future
Up to now T cell therapy has been aimed at blood cancers, but there are those confident enough to predict that solid tumours could also be subjected to this type of treatment; indeed, a BBC report in January of this year reported on a discovery by scientists at Cardiff University that identified a part of our immune system that could successfully treat prostate, breast, lung and other cancers according to lab tests.
The Cardiff team discovered a T-cell and its associated receptor that could find and kill a wide range of cancerous cells in the lab including lung, skin, blood, colon, breast, bone, prostate, ovarian, kidney and cervical cancer cells.
Crucially, normal tissues were untouched.
Perhaps we shall learn more about the progress of this potential breakthrough in due course. I will certainly try to keep abreast of developments.
Hi
I'm just 'tagging' clg03 so that she will see this response to her post in another thread.
It's great that you've taken the time to post this as it offers hope for anyone with cancer.
Take care x
"Never regret a day in your life, good days give you happiness, bad days give you experience"
No problem 
"Never regret a day in your life, good days give you happiness, bad days give you experience"
