New Breakthrough for Melanoma

[tednlou2]

I saw this on NBC Nightly News tonight.  I know it isn't HIV news and research; however, I thought since HIVers are afflicted by many cancers, I thought it was important.  And, we never know what treatments for one thing may help something else.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032619/ns/nightly_news#37531610

[Inchlingblue]

Wow, this sounds amazing. The drug, Ipilimumab, is described and "the first in a new class of targeted T-cell antibodies, with potential applications for other cancers as well."

It's considered a monoclonal antibody; the same as PRO 140, which shows promise in the treatment of HIV.

LINK:

http://www.businessweek.com/lifestyle/content/healthday/639870.html

[Miss Philicia]

Ted's up late!

[tednlou2]

I've had melanoma on my mind since I saw a story on the CBS Evening News a couple years ago.  The story is about a soldier who had melanoma.  He and his family wanted the news crew to witness what happened to him.  He was so beautiful and I cannot get the image of what he looked like when he died out of my head.  I often think about him.

Below is the link to the story.  It is disturbing how he looks, so be warned.  I'm NOT posting this to be sensational.  He and his family wanted people to see what that cancer can do.  The news crew were there when he died.  It was as if he was holding out for them to show up.  I thought about him when I read the news about new treatments for melanoma.  Again, this is disturbing.  I didn't even watch the story again before posting.  Once was enough.

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=4890716n&tag=mncol;lst;2 

[edfu]

Yes, it is disturbing, and his case is very upsetting.  His appearance reminds me so much of many of the AIDS-related deaths I witnessed in the early 1980s in NYC.   

[Inchlingblue]

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=4890716n&tag=mncol;lst;2 

Wow.

I was under the impression that death from melanoma happened by way of organ failure long before such excessive wasting occurred.