Sara's Garden ~ CLOSED
View allAll Photos Tagged chemotherapy
Hello all lovely Flickr friends.
Back after a month with my son, who has incurable cancer. The chemotherapy is helping for a while, and we have had wonderful days.
I'm having my next knee surgery in a few days, and during the painstaking rehabilitation I probably won't be able to be active on Flickr.
But I'm back in the spring again.
I submitted a series of images to the Fine Art Photography Awards 22 back when I was in the fug of chemotherapy, thankfully I am in a lighter place, for now, and this came as a nice surprise to be a runner up.
You can see all the winners here:
fineartphotoawards.com/winners-gallery/fapa-2021-2022/gra...
and my series here:
fineartphotoawards.com/winners-gallery/fapa-2021-2022/ama...
I was diagnosed with Stage 3c Ovarian cancer April 17th and started chemotherapy. I needed a way to work through everything and taking pictures helps. Listen to your bodies and get things checked out.
Much love to Coal for helping me through this and giving me a great hair cut!
F*ck Cancer
WW!
This is Berry Austin Frozen Yogurt here in Austin and founded by Kathy Steele with the encouragement and support of her family and friends.
While visiting her father in California who was undergoing chemotherapy, Kathy discovered that frozen yogurt with live/active cultures and healthy probiotics was not only something her father could eat during his treatments, but one he thoroughly enjoyed. Kathy developed a healthy addiction to frozen yogurt during her visit and returned to Austin excited about this new culinary find.
In the United States of America, we've created a situation already where too many people have had to work for a corporation in order to have health care. Even something simple as a broken bone can cost someone thousands of dollars out of pocket in this country. I've personally known colleagues who have literally worked until they dropped dead because, otherwise, they wouldn't be able to afford chemotherapy.
So, when corporations recently stepped up and said they would help pay for their employees to travel out of state for an abortion, the first impulse was to be "grateful that corporations were taking a stand," But, as in the corporations sponsoring the Pride parade, many of these corporations have supported anti-choice legislators. All this leads me to a few points....
1. Corporations won't save us. In most places in the world, profit is valued over people and even in countries outside the US where they have health care for all people, corporations have a very strong pull with the government and policy.
2. We should follow the money in terms of what corporations actually truly support and hold them accountable.
3. When you have to depend on a corporation for body autonomy, this is a very bad situation.
4. There will always be individuals in our country who are artists and do not work for a corporation. These are humans who should be celebrated not punished. If we want creative ideas and individual thought, we need to realize that body autonomy and health care should be provided to all citizens.
**All photos are copyrighted**
My father had been diagnosed with colon cancer about 13 months ago. He thought that he had a few months to live, but really wanted to take July off from chemotherapy and tried to fit in one too many chemo treatments. I was called by my mom to come home very early on Friday morning. The chemotherapy dropped my dad‘s white blood cell count very low and he had started to become infected with at least one bacterial infection. He was admitted to the ICU and I arrived early afternoon on Friday from Chicago to Rochester, New York. My mom and I spent three days in the ICU reading to him from Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy as well as playing his favorite songs and holding up old photos and describing them to him.He was not able to respond to us in any way, but every time we started talking to him, tears would roll down his eyes. As the last ditch effort. As the last stitch effort, we tried dialysis to keep him alive long enough for a white blood cell patch that he had used after the chemo treatment to get his white blood cell count up, which can take a while to work. However, this was not effective, and my dad would not have wanted to be put on full life support. My mom and I wrestled with what to do best to support his wishes and in the end, decided that it wasn’t going to be possible to keep him alive and for him to become conscious again or have a good quality of life. He died on Sunday night.
This experience has really made me very angry with our healthcare system. He never should’ve gotten that last chemo treatment, and although the doctor warned against it, the oncologist also did not explain to my dad how the risk of death was quite significant. My dad really really wanted to live even with all of the side effects he was going through. This is him with one of his cats, Frankenstein, a few years ago listening to music (taken by my mother, Valerie) Hopefully, they are now reunited in heaven.
If anybody does want to read the obituary for my dad, it can be found here;
harrisfuneralhome.com/tribute/details/5213/Crispin-Peters...
Hi everyone I commenced 3 months of chemotherapy yesterday.
One of the key affects is sensitive finger tips making typing this difficult.
I will however continue to look in on your photos and comment and post as I can.
As I am very sensitive to cold new photos may be some way down the line.
Best wishes
David
Tufted Duck - Aythya Fuligula
Yeadon Tarn
As always I extend my sincere appreciation to all those who take the time to stop by and comment on my photos.
.
DSC_0478
I will be away tomorrow early morning to visit my daughter and Grandaughter and support my grandaughter through her next course of Chemotherapy.
Wishing all my Flickr friends all the best for the season and all the best for the new year.
For Sliders Sunday and 100x walks #85
I walked home from work the long way (about three miles or so) so I could get a look at the 'Daft as a Brush' decorations at their headquarters in Newcastle. Daft as a Brush Cancer Patient Care offers staffed custom-made vehicles to transport outpatients, free of charge, to and from Hospital who are undergoing Chemotherapy and/or Radiotherapy cancer treatment. They wanted to add a little cheer to the world by getting their decorations up straight after Halloween. It worked. HSS!
"The Garland"(in part)
The pride of ev’ry grove I chose
The violet sweet and lily fair,
The dappled pink and blushing rose,
To deck my charming Chloe’s hair!
At morn the nymph vouchsaf’d to place
Upon her brow the various wreath,
The flow’rs less blooming than her face,
Their scent less fragrant than her hair!
by Francis Hopkinson
~*
Today I regained my hair... the baldness challenge completed for me. In tribute, I salute those who have no choice in the matter, those undergoing chemotherapy, and other medical issues that cause baldness. But I do rejoice in having my "locks" back
~*DD
Je suis triste ce soir ....
Notre Amie Gaëtane est décédée le 25 avril 2022 d'un cancer généralisé.
Je savais qu'elle était très malade et que son opération en septembre 2021 n'avait pas donné les résultats escomptés et vu son âge avancé elle n'a pas souhaité recevoir des traitements par chimiothérapie. Elle m'a encore écrit le 14 mars dernier concernant l'administration de ses nombreux groupes et je pensais qu'elle aurait encore un peu de temps mais non ....
Je l'avais rencontrée lors de sa venue en Europe elle avait visité la Suisse et Lausanne ma ville en 2013, elle était avec sa nièce Josée.
Sa passion c'était la photo et de rencontrer des gens, elle était pleine de vitalité pour un tout petit bout de femme.
Nous ne t'oublierons pas Gaëtane, que ton repos soit doux.
Toutes mes condoléances à sa famille.
Les fleurs sont des Anémones pour elle.
www.flickr.com/photos/44436788@N03/51792850645/in/datepos...
----
I'm sad tonight........
Our friend Gaëtane died on April 25, 2022 from generalized cancer.
I knew that she was very ill and that her operation in September 2021 had not given the expected results and given her advanced age she did not wish to receive chemotherapy treatments. She wrote to me again on March 14th regarding the administration of her many groups and I thought she would still have some time but no....
I had met her when she came to Europe, she had visited Switzerland and my city of Lausanne in 2013, she was with her niece Josée.
Her passion was photography and meeting people, she was full of vitality for a tiny bit of a woman.
We will not forget you Gaëtane, may your rest be sweet.
My condolences to his family.
The flowers are Anemones for her.
www.flickr.com/photos/44436788@N03/51792850645/in/datepos...
“I love cats because I enjoy my home; and little by little, they become its visible soul.”
― Jean Cocteau
Anyone that loves me knows how much I love my little Lawrence.
When we met I was a volunteer in an animal shelter and between foster cats. I was asked to go to the sick cat room to pick someone to take home. He was a couple of months old maybe, tiny, scrawny, scabby, and snotty. It took months for him to recover and put on enough weight to be adopted, and by then I was so in love that instead of letting them post him for adoption I wrote them a check. He was already my shadow, my clown, my best little bean.
In early July, at only 7 years old, he was diagnosed with large cell lymphoma. I was told even with chemotherapy I would be lucky to have him another year. But we tried.
Last month after a short battle with this horrible cancer I kissed him and told him I loved him over and over as he faded in my arms. It's still surreal...I'm still processing it.
Years ago during a trip to Texas I picked up a beautiful clay Alebrije cat. I joked that when Lawrence passed I would put his remains in it.
Yeah. He's in there.
Ornament with a Touch of Snow, on a Lilac Bush, Winter Afternoon, Colorado, 5F/-15C
Remembering my husband, Randolph C. Robinson, MD, DDS, a Craniofacial Surgeon who provided humanitarian free facial reconstructive surgeries for many patients.
Without warning, he was diagnosed with late-stage cancer. We were both shocked and saddened with this news.
But like a knowledgeable surgeon (who already knew his chances for survival were slim), he stated he likely had only six months to live. And almost six months later to the day, after he fought valiantly through several rounds of chemotherapy, painful procedures, and a complex surgery, he suddenly passed away. It was from a pulmonary embolus (blood clot to his lung).
I miss my soulmate dearly, but must now move forward in life, "Seeing through a glass, darkly, knowing [only] in part . . . " what to do.
I am determined to carry on his legacy of serving others with great needs; bringing joy and hope to their lives and their loved ones however I can.
- GHR, RN (I worked as a Cardiac and Critical Care Nurse, then ran a humanitarian non-profit organization coordinating/traveling with teams to provide free facial surgeries for nearly 1,300 patients abroad and in the US.)
My husband’s 3 year cancer checkup - still cancer free! He had stage 3 Lymphoma all through him. He couldn’t walk, his voice was faint, and he had lost 70 pounds by the time the chemotherapy started. He had six regular chemo treatments, and three week long stays for brain chemo treatments in the hospital. Staph infection from hospital iv, so 2 and a half weeks of daily visits to the drip center to get rid of that infection, and had to have his lungs drained. The Lord was with us as we went through it all. He gave us our sense of humor in times of pain. We thought The Lord was going to take him home in the beginning. Richard is a walking miracle. We are here to share of the Lord’s goodness and mercy! I pray if you don’t know Jesus as your Lord and Savior, that you ask Him to make himself known to you in faith. I gave Him my heart at 11 years old and He has blessed my life! People may let you down, but the Lord never will!❤️
From my urban shots, a place to get delicious sandwiches, although I use to avoid fast food.
I wish you all a happy day! I am recovering from an eye surgery, both eyes. They weren't working as before, probably because of my chemotherapy. Probably also signs of aging. :)))
Happens to everyone....and still... life goes on.
Carpe Diem ❤️
You don’t want to miss The Crystal Heart Festival! This annual event celebrates the magical, anime princesses and girl power. The Hair Fair runs from now until July 16th. As always, portions of the Hair Fair proceeds benefit Wigs For Kids. For over 30 years, Wigs for Kids has been providing Hair Replacement Systems and support for children who have lost their hair due to chemotherapy, radiation therapy, Alopecia, Trichotillomania.....
Read the rest and grab all the designer and event info on Threads & Tuneage
It's been a while since I played around with a photo in Topaz Studio 2. This patch of Argentina anserina or "Silverweed" does its best to invade our garden, we do our best to keep it in the field. Original photo slid quite a lot for Slider Sunday (best viewed large) HSS!
Thanks again for your support, prayers & get well messages for Martin. He's just finished a 5 day intense course of radiotherapy which has hopefully shrunk the larger of 2 lung tumours & the secondary spinal tumour. Next is an appointment with the Medical Oncologsist to get recent CT scan/genone sequencing results & figure out a schedule of chemotherapy. A long road of treatment ahead I'm sure but we are feeling positive & he is well in himself.
Photo 26/10, my 100 x photos this year will be of foliage: so woodland scenes, individual trees, wild/garden plants and fallen leaves 🍁🌿🍀🌳
Was crouching low and staring at the floor. Noticed how how the ceiling light was casting a bit of glow like a lunar eclipse around my shadow. Being as I am bald from my chemotherapy treatments this image on the floor I thought I wonder if I can capture this... lol, I won't try to explain how it came to be I was staring at the floor like this... let's just say that I do not have a pot to p*$$ in...lol...
If you are so inclined please check out my gofund page fundraiser gofund.me/54C633A4 or email me leamiller1964@live to confirm details to help!
She is doing well after the third chemotherapy session. She lost part of her whiskers though (this is a January photo when she had all her whiskers). We hope to save her.
Heidi insists on her share of the newspaper. I try to read it first as she fiercely claims her right of free expression. (Rest assured, she isn‘t focused on U.S. politics alone. She rips the Brazilian and the Chinese head of state to pieces, too. And our local mayor. She's a smart girl.)
Anyway, sadly Heidi isn't a spring kitten anymore, and apart from issues like what I call kitty Parkinson's (some neurological disorder that gives her a sort of tremor from time to time) and an early stadium of chronic renal disease she started developing a tumor on her lower back last winter. We had it removed and it turned out to be fibrosarcoma, which is essentially cancer. It usually doesn't metastasize, but it's hard/impossible to completely get rid of. It just keeps coming back, and you can't keep cutting skin out of a relatively small animal's back. I opted against chemotherapy as I feel that's not something you do to a living being that doesn't understand what they're suffering for. Our vet suggested trying homeopathy, and since there's not much else we can do that's what we're trying. A specialist worked out a treatment plan for us, and we started it last Tuesday after removing the tumor yet again (which is really tricky now, because the skin is so bow-taut on her back now, that a few stitches came off :-(( ). It comes down to some sort of part-time job to slip her antibiotics, pain-killers, renal medicine and two to five homeopathic remedies. Let's just say she's getting used to vast amounts of daily treats.
Her back looks like one of Dr Frankenstein's creations at the moment, but for now she doesn't seem overly bothered by it. I fear we can't win this, but we won't give up that easily.
Quick update ..... Trev is on his third chemotherapy tomorrow for pancreas cancer (Sat 18th Jan 2020). He is doing ok, but still another 9 to go before his next scan! Hes had a few blips but he is doing good!
iphone image
The words comes from a wonderful poem by Julia Darling called Chemotherapy.
I am currently suffering from the dreaded Covid so when this sunset presented to me I could not resist. I'm staying home for a bit as you would expect but should be fine by next week.
Despite all the craziness going on then, the cancer was the easy part, actually... here I hold a beautiful bouquet, given to me from a lovely lady that I couldn't tell where I actually was and what was actually happening, that broke my heart... but you pick up the pieces and carry on as best as you can, God carried me through!
Double portrait of a couple struggling with cancer. Outdoors, contre-jour, and reflector used. It makes a difference wether we have cancer, or the cancer having us. Us owning the cancer does not make it disappear, but it gives us more opportunities to defend our humanity as long as we can.
He spent 4 1/2 days at the vet hospital, 3 days were spent in the ICU. He has been diagnosed with immune mediated encephalitis and has had a 12 hour chemotherapy IV drip to reduce the inflammation in his brain. He has to take steroids and anti-epileptic meds daily for a few months and will be seeing the neurologist again in 4 weeks to check his progress. ❤️
Another shot from last year's trip to New Mexico. My new vision is wonderful and I had so hoped to get back into my photography. Only life had other plans.
Recently I was diagnosed with early stage cancer but because of its metastatic nature I am having to go through a year of chemotherapy, surgery, radiation, antibodies, endocrine therapy.
While the treatment course is rough, the prognosis is pretty good. I'm strong and have a positive attitude. It's too early to say if I will have any artistic energy in 2020, but I will certainly have time to view your beautiful works!
I noticed this beautiful ivy clad barn on a walk along the lanes near our holiday cottage in Hereford. I think the plant hugging the gate is honeysuckle but I might be wrong HGGT!
A quick update: Martin is making good progress & was well enough to have chemotherapy today. My heartfelt thanks to all my wonderful friends for your messages of support, prayers & good wishes.
Photo 44/100 : my 100x photos this year will be of foliage, so woodland scenes, individual trees, wild/garden plants & fallen leaves 🍁🌿🍀🌳
A quick update to say Martin starts radiotherapy treatment tomorrow, chemotherapy will come afterwards. He's feeling well in himself - he's just about to mow the lawns, albeit with occasional bench breaks & cups of tea. My heartfelt thanks to all my wonderful Flickr friends. Your continued support, prayers & good wishes really do mean the world to me as we embark on this difficult journey.
I visit the John F Kennedy Arboretum near New Ross quite regularly so I have decided to take a photo each month (from approximately the same spot) to document the subtle changes in this huge Magnolia tree during the year. According to the metal plaque on the tree the species is Magnolia campbellii 'mollicomata'.
This is the album which will feature 12 images by the end of 2022 www.flickr.com/photos/juliek1967/albums/72177720295726328
The car park was fairly empty when I took this photo as the arboretum was just opening at 10am. When my friend & I returned from walking up Slieve Coillte 90 mins later, it was packed. Not much change from my June photo, the tree is looking green & lush in the summer sunshine HTmT & HGGT!
Photo 25/100 my 100 x photos this year will be of foliage: so woodland scenes, individual trees, wild/garden plants and fallen leaves 🍁🌿🍀🌳
...to my sister, Bridget, who is not having a very happy ending to her year. She was diagnosed this week with stage 1 breast cancer and is scheduled for surgery next Friday. She will find out at that time the full extent of the disease and if she will need radiation or chemotherapy. Since I will be off work next week, I plan to stay with her for moral support until after her surgery.
For Saturday Self Challenge: Bokeh
Explored 12/31/16
Thank you all so very much for your kind words of encouragement, my friends. It is especially reassuring that some of you have been through a similar experience and overcame it; thank you so much for the strength your words give me so that I can help my sister remain strong enough to beat this horrible disease!
I have updated you a little on why we are both a little absent here on Flickr! But for those that don't know i will put a link in the comment section below.
This photo was taken on Saturday 18th January 2020 during Trev's "third" chemotherapy session at Christie's Manchester, for treatment of inoperable Pancreatic Cancer.
Trev has had some unusual side effects on this session ( severe arm and hand cramps and slurred speech) so a change to his drug infusion is under review! On his second session he had again the slurred speech but he struggled to get his breath.
Even though the brilliance of chemotherapy can give you more time or even rid cancer in some cases, it also comes with its own risks.
Fingers crossed for his next session xxx
Trev is in a much better place than some cancer sufferers and for that we thank our lucky stars everyday xxx
Link below ..........
These three benches, none of them matching, are all at the South Entrance of City Hospital in Nottingham, the one that I use when going for chemotherapy.
I’ll try catching up with all my Flickr friends soon. I’ve been pretty busy and a little fatigued. I recently started chemotherapy, having two rounds of it so far for ovarian cancer. This is my first recurrence for ovarian cancer, which I was first diagnosed with in 2011. The doctors were able to determine it is ovarian cancer, not stomach cancer, in my abdominal area by the type of cancer cells. They said the stomach area looks fine. Please keep me and my family in your thoughts and prayers.
We have now returned from a stay on the Lincolnshire coast…
Some good news, some bad but the world keeps on turning.
My friend had his life saving surgery on Wednesday the tumour was successfully removed from his kidney. He says he is just happy to be alive at the moment despite being in great pain. Not three hours after receiving that news I had news of a relative by marriage who had been told the lump in her breast was cancer and they have to work out a plan of action which starts with chemotherapy before the removal…she has two little girls aged 1 and 3 and a long fight ahead. I waited to watch the latest on Ukraine before uploading a photo and in every single one of these desperate situations I can do nothing that involves waving a magic wand but do what I can like the rest of us I imagine…….
My heart is full of love and if love cured all ills none of these things would be happening…..but I shall continue to take photos and now I’m back where there is WiFi I have started to try to catch up..not everyone yet but I’m trying..Sue xx
Sign/Sculpture on the door of the workshop of the Artist Pierre Prévost
Shot in Belcastel - Aveyron - France -
This one is more funny than mine :
May be you've seen that I wasn't posting in all groups since about Xmas !!!
The reason is that I have pain in my chest & all my body since this date . Real pain !!!
Now, after having a scan on thursday, I know the reason :
Cancer of the lungs with metastasis in the left lung and the liver .
I've to check with a chest specialist to start a treatment (chemotherapy), but my doctor has told me on Friday : "if it was in 2005, I just told you go 2 months on holidays & take all the good times you can !!!"
It's not really a good news !!!
Anyway, I'll try to stay & post as long as possible !!!
I know that it is not really your cup of tea, but it's good to be able to talk, because i can tell you a secret : I'm down, really down !!!
Btw : Thank you for all your comments, favs & awards on my photos since 2010 !!!
Keep on posting & share your beautiful photos & creations !!!
I am back in Maidenhead, a long way from home, with my best friend Steve.
He is housebound at present and has just finished his fourth of six chemotherapy sessions. He only has a one bedroom apartment, so I am staying in a hotel in the town. This is its car park.
As he can't go out, I go and spend all day with him, and then only see the outside at this car park really. What I'm trying to say is, I am posting this a day late and it's this car park again for my shot for Saturday. And, given I'll be driving back all day Sunday, probably it'll be my shot on that day too before I set off!
Biologists identify targets for new pancreatic cancer treatments
Their study yielded hundreds of “cryptic” peptides that are found only on pancreatic tumor cells and could be targeted by vaccines or engineered T cells.
Anne Trafton | MIT News
Publication Date: May 8, 2025
Researchers from MIT and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute have discovered that a class of peptides expressed in pancreatic cancer cells could be a promising target for T-cell therapies and other approaches that attack pancreatic tumors.
Known as cryptic peptides, these molecules are produced from sequences in the genome that were not thought to encode proteins. Such peptides can also be found in some healthy cells, but in this study, the researchers identified about 500 that appear to be found only in pancreatic tumors.
The researchers also showed they could generate T cells targeting those peptides. Those T cells were able to attack pancreatic tumor organoids derived from patient cells, and they significantly slowed down tumor growth in a study of mice.
“Pancreas cancer is one of the most challenging cancers to treat. This study identifies an unexpected vulnerability in pancreas cancer cells that we may be able to exploit therapeutically,” says Tyler Jacks, the David H. Koch Professor of Biology at MIT and a member of the Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research.
Jacks and William Freed-Pastor, a physician-scientist in the Hale Family Center for Pancreatic Cancer Research at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and an assistant professor at Harvard Medical School, are the senior authors of the study, which appears today in Science. Zackery Ely PhD ’22 and Zachary Kulstad, a former research technician at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Koch Institute, are the lead authors of the paper.
Cryptic peptides
Pancreatic cancer has one of the lowest survival rates of any cancer — about 10 percent of patients survive for five years after their diagnosis.
Most pancreatic cancer patients receive a combination of surgery, radiation treatment, and chemotherapy. Immunotherapy treatments such as checkpoint blockade inhibitors, which are designed to help stimulate the body’s own T cells to attack tumor cells, are usually not effective against pancreatic tumors. However, therapies that deploy T cells engineered to attack tumors have shown promise in clinical trials.
These therapies involve programming the T-cell receptor (TCR) of T cells to recognize a specific peptide, or antigen, found on tumor cells. There are many efforts underway to identify the most effective targets, and researchers have found some promising antigens that consist of mutated proteins that often show up when pancreatic cancer genomes are sequenced.
In the new study, the MIT and Dana-Farber team wanted to extend that search into tissue samples from patients with pancreatic cancer, using immunopeptidomics — a strategy that involves extracting the peptides presented on a cell surface and then identifying the peptides using mass spectrometry.
Using tumor samples from about a dozen patients, the researchers created organoids — three-dimensional growths that partially replicate the structure of the pancreas. The immunopeptidomics analysis, which was led by Jennifer Abelin and Steven Carr at the Broad Institute, found that the majority of novel antigens found in the tumor organoids were cryptic antigens. Cryptic peptides have been seen in other types of tumors, but this is the first time they have been found in pancreatic tumors.
Each tumor expressed an average of about 250 cryptic peptides, and in total, the researchers identified about 1,700 cryptic peptides.
“Once we started getting the data back, it just became clear that this was by far the most abundant novel class of antigens, and so that’s what we wound up focusing on,” Ely says.
The researchers then performed an analysis of healthy tissues to see if any of these cryptic peptides were found in normal cells. They found that about two-thirds of them were also found in at least one type of healthy tissue, leaving about 500 that appeared to be restricted to pancreatic cancer cells.
“Those are the ones that we think could be very good targets for future immunotherapies,” Freed-Pastor says.
Programmed T cells
To test whether these antigens might hold potential as targets for T-cell-based treatments, the researchers exposed about 30 of the cancer-specific antigens to immature T cells and found that 12 of them could generate large populations of T cells targeting those antigens.
The researchers then engineered a new population of T cells to express those T-cell receptors. These engineered T cells were able to destroy organoids grown from patient-derived pancreatic tumor cells. Additionally, when the researchers implanted the organoids into mice and then treated them with the engineered T cells, tumor growth was significantly slowed.
This is the first time that anyone has demonstrated the use of T cells targeting cryptic peptides to kill pancreatic tumor cells. Even though the tumors were not completely eradicated, the results are promising, and it is possible that the T-cells’ killing power could be strengthened in future work, the researchers say.
Freed-Pastor’s lab is also beginning to work on a vaccine targeting some of the cryptic antigens, which could help stimulate patients’ T cells to attack tumors expressing those antigens. Such a vaccine could include a collection of the antigens identified in this study, including those frequently found in multiple patients.
This study could also help researchers in designing other types of therapy, such as T cell engagers — antibodies that bind an antigen on one side and T cells on the other, which allows them to redirect any T cell to kill tumor cells.
Any potential vaccine or T cell therapy is likely a few years away from being tested in patients, the researchers say.
The research was funded in part by the Hale Family Center for Pancreatic Cancer Research, the Lustgarten Foundation, Stand Up To Cancer, the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, the Burroughs Wellcome Fund, a Conquer Cancer Young Investigator Award, the National Institutes of Health, and the National Cancer Institute.
This picture was taken in Blue Ridge, Georgia at our cabin. Jill and Bella make a wonderful team. If you're not familiar with the pug breed, they are wonderful pets. ...As many of you know, Jill is my daughter who was diagnosed with brain cancer when she was 3 years old. Since this picture has been taken, Jill's health has taken a turn for the worse. We are now looking at a recurrence, but not sure at this point. Her doctors are scanning her brain and spine every 3 months to see what is taking place. We are remaining optimistic and praying for God's intervention. After all, He is the Great Physician!
This image was taken by Sara of an Amaryllis we gave her when she discovered she had cancer again. I asked her if I could "play" with the image so it's my edit. I believe it lifted her spirits a bit. She undergoes her second chemotherapy infusion on Tuesday. Please send positive thoughts her way. Love to all.
A photo from last year as I haven't been able to get out and about much due to tiredness caused by chemotherapy. I've sold half a dozen copies of this particular photo in my recent fundraising for Macmillan nurses and soon it will also be on a wall in Basingstoke hospital, where my life was saved just over three months ago.
A quick update for those of my Flickrfriends who are interested. Through the sale of a selection of my photos, all of which have been on Flickr and most on the BBC weather bulletins, and proceeds from the garden party, the total raised in the last two months is approaching £8,250. I will be presenting a cheque for this amount to Macmillan at the Causeway Hospital on Wednesday, where I have been asked to launch the new Cancer Pod (a walk-in information centre).
Thank you, my Flickrfriends, who have been with me on this journey, and who turned up en masse at the garden party. Thank you also to Geoff Maskell, the BBC weatherman, who also attended it. Finally, thank you my other Flickrfriends who have supported me with your encouraging and compassionate messages - it means a lot to know that people care.
He hasn’t eaten much in the last few days. The vet thinks it was nausea from the chemotherapy. A few days of anti-nausea medication may have helped. Honestly, it’s hard to tell what is causing him problems because he’s got so much going on. I’m just glad to see him eating again.
Every 3 month I have to get checked by x rays and blood samples. Been through 4 bigger surgeries and chemotherapy since 2012: colon shortened, liver operated twice in 2014 and in March 8th, the cancer had spread to the left lung.
Look who’s allowed to roam freely about the house again! Exploring every nook & cranny, looking for mischief 😌. He had his first dose of chemotherapy this morning. He’ll have 1 dose/ month for 5 months. Even with the chemo, the Oncologist says she expects that he’ll live about 9 months, with a good quality of life if all goes well.
“For every beauty there is an eye somewhere to see it.
For every truth there is an ear somewhere to hear it.
For every love there is a heart somewhere to receive it.”
~ Ivan Panin ~
Monday morning Frank was admitted to the hospital for his stem cell transplantation
Yesterday and today are Chemo days. Thursday will be a recovery day.
On Friday the stemcells will be transplanted.
Expectations are that the 2nd week in hospital will be the most difficult for him as he will most probably be suffering all kinds of side effects of the severe chemotherapy and his resistance level will be nil.
Hopefully he will recover soon ... and return home within 3 weeks.