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but it is encouraging that it yielded so quickly to treatment. We will have to see if President Carter survives 5 years cancer-free. At his age, anything is possible.

...much too early to say "cure" or "gone".

Fingers crossed he remains with no detectable cancer

with the nature of cancer cells to metastasize, using the term "cure" really is misleading. Still at age of 90, he probably will die from natural causes before cancer takes over.

which is great news! (It's the best news one can get when undergoing tx)

Long term remission is likely. Keytruda, developed by Merck, was first used in clinical trials for the type of cancer President Carter has/had. The lond term follow up with the subjects on the clinical trials have shown long term remission. Given his age he will more than likely eventually die from age related issues and not the cancer.

Given the number of people on DU despising big pharma they have been exceedingly quiet about President Carter's treatment.

were an average person with this condition would they have been able to afford the medication. Yes it is wonderful that President Carter is doing better, but this in no way absolves greedy pharmaceutical companies. And it remains a sad fact that those who can afford it get better treatment and it should not be that way. The best treatment such as the treatment that President Carter got should be available to everyone, not just a select few.

half the "R&D" cost to get a drug to market is tied up in marketing. The US is the only industrialized country that allows advertising of prescription medication to the public. That was a deal between Newt Gingrich, Speaker of the House, and President Clinton in 1994. I believe that is one of the biggest issues that has driven cost of Rx drugs up but health care costs in the US also contributes to the problem.

Unless we go to a single payer health care system it is going to be difficult to rein in costs of Rx drugs. As long as you have Republicans in charge of the House and Senate I don't think there will much change as far as regulation for pricing of Rx drugs in the US and going to a single payer system. I know in the case of Merck over 60% of clinical trials are conducted in the US. Because of medical cost structuring those clinical trials conducted in the US cost more than what is seen in the rest of the world which also adds to the cost of R&D. It is expensive to get a drug to market but we as consumers are also paying for all of those advertisements and the high cost of medical care in the US. I would love to see the regulations go back to pre-1994 with advertising in the US which was none. That would be a start. Then we can start reforming the health care system here but I believe that is an up hill battle given the current political climate in the US.

As far as Europe, Japan, Australia and some other countries who do regulate the price of drugs they end up not paying their fair share of the R&D costs as it stands now and it ends up in our lap.

It amazes me that people bitch about Rx drug pricing but they have no clue as to what the issues really are and have any real solutions to provide.

depressed. Maybe they are. Maybe they aren't. But antidepressants aren't something where patients should be influenced by ads.

and I don't think there should be any ads for Rx drugs. They are one of several corrupting forces on the whole process.

That's the per year cost that was quoted in one article - Carter did say he would continue to receive the infusions.

Interesting, this is a drug to boost the immune sytem to allow it to attack the cancer, different than the basis of chemo. This I what those who use many alternatives strive to do - I wonder what they based this drug on.

to turn off the immune system in specific ways so they are not seen as "foreign." What Keytrude and other PD1 and PD-L1 inhibitors do is turn off the cancer cell immune modulators that turn off the body's immune response to the cancer. This is done to a specific biochemical pathway with high specificity unlike "alternative" therapies which have not been rigorously tested or have no basis because no valid hypothesis can be made. This is why science is so cool!

That said the cost is high. I am sure President Carter's Medicare or supplemental insurance is not paying full price.

I know Merck spend a lot of money on this molecule from discovery to FDA approval but it would be nice to see the cost of new drugs to be lower. I have made comments in this thread to that effect with some specific ways to start to lower those costs.

Thanks for the thread, CountAllVotes.

I do appreciate it, believe me!

I hope whatever he was treated with is widely available.

reportedly rushed approval for patients with advanced melanoma, i.e., normally would die soon. I'm thinking of a couple of young people, early 20s and 30s, out in California who might have lived if they'd only gotten sick maybe a year later...

If there's even been a person who deserved a miracle cure, Carter is the one. I so love and admire him and Rosalynn. The world is a better place because of this. Hope he stays in remission.

All the long faces at faux news?

Some live to a ripe old age.

Best news I've had in awhile.

The guy is a tank. Great news nonetheless!

Way to go, Mr President. Keep on truckin'

a man in my SPOHNC (cancer support) group who was just diagnosed again exactly 21 years after his first bout with cancer.

I can't think of a happier note to see here right now.

I think I will close up and go do other things with that wonderful news and a big smile on my face.

Of all people I am so pleased he will be with us longer.

Hope he lives to 100+!

I'm a cancer survivor, too. Mine was prostate and detected early, fortunately. My mother succumbed to brain cancer 23 years ago. She was the same age I am now. Mortality's a bitch, ain't it?

You're an inspiration to us all, Jimmy. Keep on keepin' on!

Wow...that made me tear up.

Thanks for sharing this, CountAllVotes.

K&R

I want him to live for ever.

video somewhere as he talked about some experimental treatment he was receiving and that he was doing much better early on. I wonder what that treatment was. He was working on a HH project during the interview a couple weeks ago, sorry I don't have a link, I don't remember exactly where I saw that.

Doesn't mean it's a cure-all, but any successful treatment regimen is worth knowing about.

How wonderful. I just don't think he's done yet--not at all.

I wish him many more years of doing good things.

Modern medicine — not miracles — gets all the credit, at least from me, though some say the two are not necessarily mutually exclusive.

Either way, this is awesome news.

Rock on, Mr. President!

as Carter got, with the same "modern medicine" in their corner.

I don't believe in fairytales.

Or fairy tales, by your definition.

Did not expect that at his age.

Cause that's a fucking miracle.

I think that two events are necessary to become a saint.

He beat cancer once (miracle #1) and again at the age of 91 (miracle #2!).

what she thinks was said. I have lived too long with people saying one thing and another person interpreting it to mean something else.

Unfortunately, the key word is NEW cancer.

It goes into remission. And you can never be sure that it won't come back.

or kill cancer cells that are often not all killed off. But you go, Pres. Carter! One of the good guys.

Thank you for posting it, CountAllVotes, thank fate, Carter's will, his doctors, his strong and abiding faith for helping it to happen.

May his remaining years be full and satisfying and happy.

Vive la Jimmy Carter

he was treated with, Keytruda by Merck (a big pharma company), this outcome was fully expected. It was science and modern medicine that saved him, not some god.

The thing about drugs like Keytruda, a PD1 inhibitor, because of our current understanding of the immune system scientist have been able to develop this class and other classes of immune modulators for the benefit of humankind. Religion is not as effective when it comes to science and medicine.

God bless Jimmie and Roslyn. Two OUTSTANDING AMERICANS!! WE LOVE YOU BOTH!!

We're all lucky our lives overlap with that of such a human being.

stay well Jimmy.

builds home for the poor, kicks cancer's ass. The ex president I would actually like to meet and drink a cup of coffee with (or sweet tea- he is from Georgia after all )

We love you Jimmy.

If anyone had it, it was going to be Jimmy Carter!

Let's hope for the best.

I can only rec it once

who love him. I'm amazed by the science and his faith in his treatment and God.

Who knows, maybe that helps?! I'm pretty sure having a purposeful life and many people who love you doesn't hurt, either.

Speaking of which -- I love this guy. Best former president EVER.

He is such an amazing person! I was so happy to hear this!!

I'm so happy, this is the BEST news. He's such a good man. A man who needs more time on earth... or the earth needs more time with this man. If I was religious, I'd say my prayers were answered. I wished him/sent him healing and peace and I feel like my wishes have been fulfilled. May he have much more time with us.

I feel grateful and happy.

While other ex-Presidents charged millions for speeches, Carter traveled the globe volunteering to oversee elections. When other ex-Presidents spent their days "fattening the coffers," and hobnobbing with corporate giants, Carter built homes for the homeless.

A National Treasure he is.

Current treatment protocols can at best destroy the active cancer to a level that is undetectable by current testing. This doesn't even mean the patient is cancer free. Which is why periodic testing is usually called for.

That said, I am thrilled for President Carter and his family / friends. He's an incredible asset to the human race.

look at Carter, a true friend of the people and the world. Let us not let what we cannot do stop us from doing what we can. Carter spoke out against the oligarchy, and Bernie does too. Listen to these men ,one deeply religious, one not so much and join with Bernie to fight for the people. The truth is out , and it does not bode well for I told Wall Street to cut it out Hillary. God Bless Carter and Bernie for their honesty. I pray for Carter.

It's bad news if you might benefit from, say, hypertrophy. It's good news if you'd rather not see, say, a tumor grow quickly.

In any event, I hope President Carter has good years ahead.

I've heard in a while. Carter is high on my most admired list.

our prayers and thoughts continue to be with you, president carter.

Wasn't aware they could excise liver portions and then use chemo

A much under-rated national treasure!

I can't wait to see him at Bernie's inauguration.