It doesn't look impressive, but back in the dark ages (early 60's), when
I was in medical school, childhood leukemia was a uniformly fatal
disease with rather short survival, and progress was measured in a few
weeks different average survival in a trial group.  Now, there is a high
rate of apparent cure -- 30 years of survival with no evidence of
disease -- in such cases.

Marvin wrote  << average survival time for trial volunteers
increased from 3 months to 6 months....they're trying now to make a big deal
of this..That only leaves the two Brisbane scientists working on immunotherapy
who
still expect to get results.  Immunotherapy is not proving to be very
successful except for melinoma!>>

Well, it is a start.  My thoughts are that it is initially successful but then
the cancer cells further mutate which is kind of what happens with different
viruses.  It seems like one would need regular vaccinations--kind of like
getting a yearly flu shot.  However, one would need to have the vaccines made
from their own cells.  There is still the potential for it to work, though, but
that might not be the only way that this can be controlled.  I think another of
the newer approaches is to attack the cell from different pathways.  If I
recall correctly there are at least 5 and probably more different pathways.  I
am trying to do that with the medication cocktail I am taking.  The aromatase
inhibitor is for ER+  The Herceptin, which I am no longer on but wonder if  I
should be on, was for Her2+  I am taking Celebex which is a cox2 (an enzyme
inhibitor and believe that is for the inflammation pathway.  I am also taking
Doxycycline which is for the SPARC pathway (" secreted protein acidic and rich
in cysteine)/BM40/Osteonectin is a matricellular protein with multiple effects
on cell behaviour. In vitro, its major known functions are anti-adhesive and
anti-proliferative, and it is associated with tissue remodelling and cancer in
vivo. SPARC is overexpressed in many cancers, including breast cancer, and the
effects of SPARC seem to be cell type-specific.")
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov:80/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&li
st_uids=12500936&dopt=Abstract
I am also taking a statin drug for the high cholesterol I developed which may
be due to the aromatase inhibitor.  However, the statin drug seems to come at
the cell from an even different pathway.
"Most recently, Khandan Keyomarsi, Ph.D., associate professor of experimental
radiation oncology at the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center in
Houston, demonstrated that, in addition to lowering cholesterol by blocking the
synthesis of a key enzyme, statins have an anticancer effect by acting through
a second, completely separate mechanism: the proteasome. Often called the
cell’s "garbage disposal," the proteasome is an enzyme complex that exists in
all cells and is important in degrading proteins that control the cell cycle. "
Journal of the National Cancer Institute, Vol. 95, No. 12, 844-846, June 18,
2003
2003 Oxford University Press
In additiion I was also put on a thyroid drug last year because I became
hypothyroid.  However, I have reduced the amount of that and am still testing
toward the almost 'hyperthyroid' side.  I have read mixed reviews as to whether
or not it is better to be hyperthyroid or hypothyroid with cancer.
Any way, I feel that I needed to do something to further help control this
beast.  I hope what I am doing is working.  One of my 2nd opinion oncologists
teased me about being my own dr--but then asked me if he could write any
prescriptions.  It was his suggestion that I add the statin drug.   This was
the oncologist that confirmed my fears as I began to better understand my
pathology report--it was 'bad' news.  It took me about 21 mos. since my
diagnosis to understand.  I had a combination of different rare things going on
that were not in my favor.
Anyway, my latest blood test _done this past Monday)showed that my CEA was 1.6
and since I started the statin drug my CA 27-29, although still normal (29)
dropped to 16 point something or other.
In addition, my alkaline phosphatase level which had been slowly rising since
my diagnoses began steadily decreasing since I went on the Doxycycline and had
2 Zometa infusions (at dosage for osteoporosis prevention) and is now 63.
There are still some things going on that I am concerned about, but do hope
that what I am doing is helping things in my favor.  If I could I would stop
taking everything--would love to be medication free but don't think that is
going to happen any time soon.  BTW, for the most part I am feeling quite
good--except for the pain from  the spinal and shoulder issues.  I am concerned
about the possibility of spinal mets but think that what I am taking is helping
keep that under control for the time being.
I have also added CoQ 10 and tumeric--both of which valid research studies
suggest may also help--but am not taking those at as high doses as is
recommended--just one time/day at the moment.  I am more skeptical about these
since they are dietary supplements.  Although I get them from a guaranteed
source, the idea of adding them still has me a little uneasy (my own personal
prejudice).
There is also the issue of combining all this stuff together which needs to be
considered.  So far, from what I have gathered, at least the use of the
combined med's (not sure of supplements but think they might do same) seems to
have at the least an additive, if not synergistic effect.  We shall see...

"

I'd say that DOUBLING the survival time IS a big deal.