Humble servant of the Nation

A humble human guinea pig on Keytruda trial

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Last night I went to bed early with a raging sore throat and a runny nose. If anything, those symptoms are a touch worse today. I’m not complaining. I’m actually very pleased.

Those little signs indicate my immune system is kicking in and it was kickstarted when I received my first dose of Keytruda (Pembrolizumab) yesterday afternoon at Westmead Hospital.

Keytruda is one of a limited range of new immuno-oncological drugs designed to firstly tear down the protective mechanisms that cancer cells develop and then supercharge the immune system to the point where the body itself can destroy cancer at a cellular level.

I’ve joked with friends that I might be soon seen in public wearing a cape and that I have already developed the superhuman powers of night hearing and communicating with cats.

Full column here.

111 Comments

  • Milton says:

    wtf I was certain I tipped the swans. Pissed and off but at least I’ve got 3/3 in the nrl. 2 freebie pints in the 2 weeks before last. Just living the dream….perhaps I should write a book?

    • Jack The Insider says:

      I had the same problem a few weeks ago. I think in my case it was because I hadn’t out in a margin so it says no tip.

  • Lou oTOD says:

    Travel advisory please. I am not taking lightly the tragedy of the latest terrorist attacks.

    Our past has seen trips in close proximity to the Madrid train bombings, London train and bus bombings, Bali bombings, Japanese and Californian earthquakes, and a Queensland cyclone.

    We are due to go to Barcelona in three weeks, then Portugal where fires have already ravaged the landscape, then Morocco and back to southern Spain.

    I am not sure whether to be afraid of terrorists, or whether they should be afraid of me.

    • Boadicea says:

      I’m in France 10 days from now too Lou, but I reckon one can’t let them call the shots. F#@k em.

    • Milton says:

      Go anywhere, Lou it is all a matter of (bad) luck I think. Being alert and a bit of common sense goes a long way too. I’ll probably go being hit by an asteroid whilst sitting on the throne trying to finish Cervantes!

    • Penny. says:

      We’re a bit the same Lou. It started with the terrible fires in Canberra happening after we had left my brothers farm a few days before. Went to Indonesia to work and the bombings happened in Jakarta. Left not long before the tsunami. We were in Lebanon when Rafik Hariri was asassinated just outside the HSBC bank which just happened to be our bank. We had been at the same restaurant in Marrakech shortly before the bomb was planted there. Not so serious we were staying at Cape Gloucester in Queensland last year when quite a powerful earthquake shook the whole area. Friends always ask us to alert them where we will be so they can go in the opposite direction. Have fun in Spain, Portugal and Morocco though and don’t forget to sample some of the fabulous Moroccan wine

  • The Outsider says:

    Good luck, Jack. I hope the treatment regime goes well.

    The main reason we’re here in Canada right now is because of the wife’s mother’s health had her knee replaced yesterday and the wife will stay on for a while to look after her. Her mother’s not handling the medication well, so far.

    It’s family and friends that really count at these times.

  • BASSMAN says:

    Great to see you are responding to treatment and a positive update is always welcomed by your fans. I was next to a bloke in Tispotal who had your problem. They modelled him a new bladder from his gut and he went home before I did, a happy man. I was in for 11days with hi temp which 6 Drs could not diagnose. My old boss (80yrs) had the same operation as the bloke next to me. The operation was a success (Westmead Tispotal) but he died of an infection. And you ARE courageous son. Don’t say dat. This is fairly invasive stuff over a quite some time now.

    Old muso’s remedy for throat Bald:-

    1. Mixture of apple cider vinegar/ginger/honey/lemon

    2. Salt water gargle

    Do all this every hour. The young bride has your throat….cleared it up

    Presently, Rabbits are thrashing Mad Barnaby’s team so the house is a riot here! Trouble is Souths are too late. Doing what they did larst year…winning their larst 5 games. Waste of time/energy. Might just save Madge though.

  • Silent But Deadly says:

    Looks like smelling our farts may cure cancer Jack. Worth a whiff or 6.
    https://www.theguardian.com/science/brain-flapping/2014/jul/14/silent-not-deadly-how-farts-cure-diseases

  • Gryzly says:

    This reminder seems rather trite in light of the column but here goes, this is a football tip reminder.

    • Jack The Insider says:

      No, it isn’t. Thanks to all for your fine comments but it is time to get your tips in. I’m in and for the EPL as well.

  • JackSprat says:

    Hope all goes well Jack

    There are a bucket load of such products in the pipeline and I agree with you – current medical practice for Cancer will be viewed the same way as we view “bleeding” today in the future.

    I have a few bucks invested in Viralytics – their product might well be used for different types of cancer – but nothing like you have invested in Keytruda.

  • Milton says:

    Your GP has turned you into a GP!
    Go well big Jack.

  • Henry Blofeld says:

    Well done Mr Insider, I think you are on a winner myself from what you tell us about this new wonder drug, Keytruda. “Balls to the Wind” as they say and from us to you very best wishes. Hope it doesn’t interfere with you having your evening “tipple”?

  • Tracy says:

    Please, no red underpants over your trousers.
    You’d have a great take off in Sydney today, blowing a gale.
    Anyway much hugs and kick the C’s arse.

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