A virologist who grew cancer-killing viruses in her own lab and injected them into her tumour has been cancer-free for four years (techfixated.com)

submitted 2 weeks ago by remington@beehaw.org to c/science@beehaw.org

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[-] nocturne@slrpnk.net 47 points 2 weeks ago

[It was] a study involving a single participant.

It is the most limited form of evidence in medicine.

One person, one outcome, no control group, no way to separate the effect of the viruses from the many other variables that influence the course of any individual cancer.

Halassy’s cancer may have responded to the viral injections precisely as the data suggest.

It may also have been on a trajectory that would have allowed surgical removal regardless.

There is no way to know, and this is not a technicality.

[-] Allero@lemmy.today 29 points 2 weeks ago

Absolutely. It highlights a curious direction of study, but doesn't in itself prove anything. It might also be dangerous.

[-] Mihies@programming.dev 14 points 2 weeks ago

But still worth properly exploring, right.

[-] SaveTheTuaHawk@lemmy.ca 6 points 2 weeks ago

Researchers have been developing oncolytic viruses for 25 years. Until 2025 when most of the world's cancer research was ended by Trump.

[-] LincolnsDogFido@lemmy.zip 2 points 2 weeks ago

Nah. Cancer said prove it and her next shot rimmed out so the game is still going.

[-] SaveTheTuaHawk@lemmy.ca 2 points 2 weeks ago

About 5% of cancers spontaneously remit because the immune response is suddenly activated. It was coincident.

[-] Allero@lemmy.today 6 points 2 weeks ago

It very much could be. But we need more data to prove it one way or another.

[-] reksas@sopuli.xyz 5 points 2 weeks ago

it would give good starting point for proper research though

[-] melsaskca@lemmy.ca 4 points 2 weeks ago

People should always use all of the research methodologies at their disposal. I totally agree with your analysis, while also giving possible credence to the fact this might be true for that individual.

[-] SaveTheTuaHawk@lemmy.ca 1 points 2 weeks ago

And of course, the huge assumption she is telling the truth.

[-] grranibal@lemmy.zip 13 points 2 weeks ago

There is a zombie movie/game that starts like this right?

[-] orhtej2@eviltoast.org 14 points 2 weeks ago

I Am Legend, based on a novelthat used bacteria as the offending pathogen.

[-] jay2@beehaw.org 12 points 2 weeks ago

I've had something similar happen to me.

Last year, I was removing some old trees on our plateau. I was tired. Exhausted even. I had been clearing trees and verge for 12 hours. I was nearing completion. I was walking down a steep hill briskly, my hands over loaded with branches and logs. It was mostly dark by then. Well past twilight. I did not see the trees top laying on the ground as I walked past it. I only realized it was still there as I walked directly into it.

I remember the confusion as I stepped backwards, but the stick did not want to let go, and I heard the branches rattle. I knew right away it was going to be bad, and it was. It's topmost tip entered my left eye socket. The tip of the branch started at about 1/4" [6.3mm] diameter. It went between my eyeball and my top eyelid near the corner with my nose and penetrated to about 1" [25.4mm].

I couldn't keep it open for a few days from light sensitivity, and the scratched tissues left me constantly weepy. I had to wear sunglasses 24/7 for a few days. It turned all purple and looked kinda nasty.

But then, I healed up and my vision returned. And then it kept returning. The kicker was that my left eye, which had been a bit blurry for many decades, has now returned to nearly perfect. It's better than my right eye for sure, which has never been the case as long as I can remember.

So, in keeping with the trend of unexpected cures, I can attest that if you want to make your vision better, give yourself some good old fashioned eye trauma by walking headlong into a sharp pointy stick.

Or don't. Maybe don't. For gods sake, please don't.

True story though.