Peptide Receptor Radionuclide Therapy: Current Status and Future Perspectives- click title for link to article

In researching the many presentations of Dr Richard Baum and his Bad Berka staff relative to PRRT therapy and results, I am attaching another article entitled:
"Peptide Receptor Radionuclide Therapy: Current Status and Future Perspectives"
Professor Dr. Richard P. Baum
Dept. of Nuclear Medicine / PET−CT Center
Zentralklinik Bad Berka, Germany
info@rpbaum.de
Nuclear Medicine

This is the ppt presentation from the Singapore conference from 2008. This is the ppt covers Gallium scans, PRRT and other related topics. Its PRICELESS!

There is tremendous amount of information to help in gathering information and, if appropriate, deciding on next steps. This therapy I have started, one kidney and all, since May 2009. My comments and observations are from a perspective of someone who has done the following since 2002
1) surgeries- 3 of them, all major! 2003, 2004, 2004 (reference 2-4 blog entries for disease details, interventions, md's and hospitals used, and as Ms Pelosi would say "and everything else")!
2) RFA in liver 2004-right nephrectomy, removal on gall bladder, lymph node removal. All done while working (took vacation time).
3) RAD001 and LAR 001- clinical trial-a mammalian target of rapamycin, or mTOR, is a protein kinase that regulates cell growth, cell proliferation, cell motility and cell survival, as well as protein synthesis. 2 years.
4) Pazopanib 800mg and LAR30- clinical trial- targets vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR), platelet derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR) and c-kit, key proteins that help with the growth of new blood vessels in the body. ^[4] This process, known as angiogenesis, plays a critical role in the growth and spread of tumors. ^[5]. 1.6 yrs.
5) I have been seen, treated or worked with some of the best US MD's and PA's since 2002.
6) I have developed a passion and knowledge for this disease in order to ensure I am making the correct choices with respect to treatment. I have spent ever increasing time since the first pathology report in march of 2002 learning, talking to others, attending conferences on subject and overall displacing my life in order to have the greatest chance of survival through gaining knowledge, understanding, learning from MD's & others. Net, through fate and survival instincts i have become pretty damn competent in this disease. That said, one needs an expert, competent, medical carcinoid on your team to survive thus disease. I have also a good opinion- first and second hand- on the options one has in choosing an MD, their primary focus area - strengths and opportunities, and facilities and technology used. I don't know them all, esp, western USA, Canada or Europe, but I have gotten second hand info and read on the web about there services. (BTW, carcinoid foundation has a great web page which outlines MD;s from around the world practicing and specializing in carcinoid cancer, Its a wonderful tool to use when considering selecting a carcinoid MD. the web link is:

http://www.carcinoid.org/pcf/specialists.shtml

Why do I write about me and my sordid past? Read below:

I now am going through PRRT therapy LU177, doing the first treatment May 25, 2009.

This, in my opinion, is the most promising therapy I have seen associated for the treatment, and management of my neuroendocrine carcinoma tumors (*everyone is different so ensure MD alignment for your case).

I want to share this information as this therapy is not approved in the United States of America, and one needs to travel to Europe- Rotterdam, Uppsala, Basel, and parts unknown (this treatment is also offered in Australia and other countries.)


TO BE CLEAR, I STILL HAVE EDEMA BUT NOT HAS MUCH AS I USED TO HAVE. I HAD A 5 LBS WEIGHT GAIN YESTERDAY BETWEEN DAY AND NIGHT WHEN I HAD MY FEET ELEVATED. NOT YET AM I OK!

To be clear, I have advanced cancer, mets throughout my body- inoperable tumors surrounding the aorta, moderate to advanced kidney disease, tumors though out except lungs and brain thank god.
This therapy, although one hopes for a miracle, will not cure me of my disease (maybe!?!?). But it should "buy me time, quality time, with the treatment not being worse than the benefits, and letting me get off of a number of serious medicines I was taking in the past.

This therapy has yet to be approved in the USA and there are few clinical trials of significance, Molecular Insight being the exception http://www.molecularinsight.com/pipeline.aspx) and TERCICA Inc. (http://www.tercica.com/). with this most promising therapy.

For those of us living in the USA ,on disability and at the mercy of insurance companies, which is akin to Christians thrown to the lions, with a serious, life and death medical condition, it is a DAMN CRIME this treatment is not available in the US.

There are a number of theories as to why this lifesaving, proven, safe and high quality, relatively inexpensive (NOTE= it has yet to come to against USA based pricing yet!), life saving treatment, not available in the US?

However, if you have this disease, and are interested in the treatment, I want to present the options, as much as I know, I have experienced through my treatment and from information from the Internet.

And from someone who has been through the cycle in this disease, I very impressed with the MD's, facilities, staff, technology and treatment options offered in the clinic. I am sure others have similar stories from other sites.
IF YOU SEND ME YOUR EXPERIENCE TO MY EMAIL, I WILL POST IT! SO PLEASE, THE MORE INFORMATION THE BETTER SINCE THIS WILL EMPOWER PATIENTS!
SHARE YOUR STORY AND CENTER, HELP OTHERS AND ME!

I hope this information helps you in understanding this treatment better and makes you question as to why this therapy is not available in this country-- A COUNTRY that sent man to the moon in 1969!~ has a Mars rover plowing around Mars for years and testing the soil, and a country where science, medicine and doctors are rated very high--- we controlled HIV in few short tears-- did you see Magic on TV the other day-- and are still struggling, although with some victories, in the "war on cancer" (I guess like the "war on drugs" thing)!

However, to receive PRRT treatment, one needs to travel out of country, pay in cash, unless you can get your insurance to cover the treatment.

Thank God for progressive countries, and bright, independent risk takers in Europe, or my life would be very difficult (if at all).
This is not a knock on US MD's. They do a wonderful job, some of the most brilliant people on earth and a lot I understand are trying to get this treatment and technology here in the states.

One of the differences I can see between countries is our medical system - socialized versus private health care. Does that make a difference? Below are a presentation and a study on PRRT and PET Gallium study for your perusal. You have to copy paste on your browser.

http://www.sgh-nmu.org/documents/day4-8th_march/Baum-PRRT.pdf

http://www.ualberta.ca/~csps/JPPS10_2/19/19.pdf

Finally, found a link for the city of Bad Berka, which includes everything- hotels, things to do, spas (that is what they are know for), etc.

http://www.bad-berka.de/index.php?id=168&L=1

Good to review if you are planning a visit and want to try out a relaxing spa while there....
I am going to try next time...."when in Rome..." Bad Berka is known for its SPAS.

Also, if while there, and you try something out that is worthwhile- place to stay, eat, spas, etc.--please SHARE IT WITH ME SO I CAN POST IT. I WILL DO IT ANONYMOUSLY IF DESIRED. YOU CAN WRITE ON BLOG AND PRESS ANONYMOUS AND YOUR FREE AND CLEAR. ALSO, YOU CAN WRITE ME AT GMAIL ADDRESS GIVEN IN BLOG.

Stay healthy and happy and in love!