Mike T. is not a man to take things lying down. Diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma in October 2011, it takes the disease in stride and refuses to let cancer take control of his life.
A firm believer in the power of positive thinking and affirmations, the surviving four years regularly says "the mongrel dirty" in his body to "get out and walk." While the threat has not Mike rid of the cancer, he remains positive and focused on a normal life.
We first learned about the journey of Mike with mesothelioma in 2013. Two and half years later, it is still strong. It has recently undergone a treatment effective chemotherapy to reduce tumor covering 0 percent of her right lung and a smaller tumor under his right arm.
Mike admits mesothelioma did not cause him to feel good or need medication. After coming through chemotherapy with nothing more than a couple of mouth ulcers, Mike said he looks and feels like everyone and considers himself a cancer patient ever.
maintaining a positive mindset
Mike works full time as a check-in agent to the budget of the Australian airline Jetstar and loves it. He is grateful for feeling so well and believes his positive attitude has a lot to do with it.
The love of his wife, family and dedicated support specialists Mesothelioma Dr Steve Vincent strengthens its positivity. Mike Vincent diagnosed with the disease, and it has been there for him since he broke the news.
"I can not thank this man enough," said Mike. "It is a brilliant doctor and be wonderful human being."
revolutionary clinical trial Immunotherapy
Soon long after Mike completed his chemotherapy, he received some good news.
Researchers conducting a clinical trial immunotherapy Vincent accepted the participation request was submitted for Mike. he was among 30 Australian mesothelioma patients chose to participate.
the trial, already successful in the treatment of melanoma, involves giving patients a vaccine containing dendritic cells harvested from their own blood. This type of vaccine is a vaccine known as autologous tumor cells. It is complex and expensive.
Dr. Edgar Engleman, medical director of the center Stanford transfusion, explains how the dendritic cells are used in vaccines against cancer.
clinical haematologist Dr Andrew Nichol led the trial in Brisbane over a period of 20 weeks. Participants receive the vaccine every two weeks.
Before the start of the test, a biopsy of the tumor and samples of its Mike dendritic cells were sent to a laboratory in Japan. Technicians are stimulated dendritic cells with specific antigens Mike to identify and kill cancer cells of mesothelioma in his body. The vaccine containing these programmed cells was sent to Brisbane for the clinical trial. Each trial participant underwent the same procedure
The researchers are testing the effectiveness of the vaccine with chemotherapy in various stages :. 10 trial participants received the vaccine before chemotherapy, 10 received during the sessions of chemotherapy and 10 take the post chemotherapy. Mike is in the last group
Best Birthday Present
Mike flew from Queensland to Brisbane for her first injection of vaccine against on 13 January -. On the day of his 62nd birthday. He believes the coincidence is a good sign.
The researchers injected the vaccine in the top layer of skin known as the epidermis, of his right leg. So far, Mike has no known side effects. He is excited and optimistic about the results.
"My programmed dendritic cells will be there fighting as the SAS (Special Air Service Regiment) to locate and kill cancer cells," he said. "I was shooting on all cylinders with a little to spare. I think it will settle down and I'll be there to see my grandchildren. "
Welcome, happiness and hope
Mike intends to continue to live as usual, working at Jetstar and spend every free moment with his wife and family on their property in Cairns in Queensland.
he is grateful for his good health and not take for granted. Mike protects his body as much as possible and has recently decided to stop practicing taekwondo. he fears the Korean martial arts movements can lead to an accidental blow to the chest, can aggravate his cancer.
Because Mike is an avid gardener, he gets all the exercise he needs mow lawns and trimming its many gardens. the backyard pool also provides him with gentle exercise and a chance to cool down at the end of the day.
He knows good nutrition plays a role important during and after cancer treatment, and look what he eats, but he admits he is not as strict with her diet as before
Mike will drink an occasional glass of wine -. . "Good medicine" that he described jokingly as he also leaves the guilty pleasure of Kentucky Fried Chicken and McDonald's.
His favorite greasy food :. potato scallop (A popular dish in Australia potato slices battered and fried)
"I sometimes have too much of them," Mike said. "But hey, life is meant to be enjoyed, and I do not want to have regrets when it is finally my time to go."
