1. Are there any side effects to the therapy?
A. Some patients report a transient, tired, feeling usually in the afternoon. Since the therapy kills tumor cells, the dead cells are passed through the body by way of the liver. When the liver becomes overburdened, it can become inflamed and impair function. The liver converts glycogen to dextrose - a substance that provides energy to the body. A reduction in this substance can cause a feeling of tiredness and muscle fatigue. Patients with bone lesions may experience some transient pain resulting from cytolysis (cell death) of cancerous bone. This is frequently accompanied by complement induced edema (fluid accumulation) in the tissue surrounding the tumor kill. Patients with active tumors may also experience transient pain and edema when tumor cells are killed. In both cases, mild analgesics can be prescribed to mediate any therapy-associated pain. These are the only side effects reported by some patients. The therapy does not, therefore, disrupt the daily routine of most patients.
2. When the liver becomes inflamed because of tumor kill, what can be done?
A. After a continuous period of very high tumor kill, a low dose systemic anti-inflammatory like Prednisone (corticosteriod) may be prescribed for a few days. At the same time, the amount of deblocking protein factor may be reduced to mediate tumor kill until the liver is restored to normal function.
3. Can I drink alcohol beverages while on the therapy?
A. An occasional drink will do no harm as long as there is no liver involvement (cancer). Even small amounts of alcohol can, however, exacerbate the problem of liver swelling discussed in the previous question. The clinic physicians would prefer that patients seriously curtail alcoholic beverages or abstain altogether.
4. Can I smoke?
A. The use of tobacco is the greatest single cause of preventable disease. If a patient is a smoker, they are urged to stop when they begin therapy. If there is lung involvement, (cancer) the patient must have "kicked the habit" as a prerequisite to clinic acceptance.
5. Should I be on a special diet?
A. Your doctor will discuss dietary recommendations on during your visits.
6. What vitamin supplements should I be taking?
A. Your doctor will discuss supplements to take for your specific needs. These supplements can include vitamins, minerals, and herbal and biological preparations.
7. Does ITL help everyone with cancer?
A. There are approximately 180 different diseases classified as "cancer". Many of these respond to immune modulation therapies. Some do not. Further, when disease becomes diffuse, it can overwhelm the immune system and adversely affect therapy outcome. Patients who recently received extensive immuno-suppressive therapies such as chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy will typically demonstrate a slower response to ITL.
8. How long will I be at the Clinic?
A. You should plan on being a clinic patient (outpatient only) for between 3 and 12 weeks depending on the progress made under therapy. Immune indicators and trends are stored in the computer for each patient. This data, combined with trends established for conventional cancer markers, provide ITL physicians with data essential to a prudent discharge decision. A home maintenance program will be provided to the patient upon discharge.
9. How frequently should I return to the ITL Clinic?
A. Most patients return to the clinic for a 2-week monitoring period every 4 to 6 months. If, however, a patient contracts a serious immune depressing, viral or bacterial infection (e.g. flu) that patient should return as soon as possible. Telephone the ITL physician when in doubt.
10. Can I take other therapies while on ITL?
A. Before starting or continuing other therapies, check with a member of the ITL medical staff. If the therapy tends to be Synergistic, (additive) to the immune modulation provided by ITL, it may be approved. However, one should be made aware that a positive response in the face of multiple therapies leaves you and your physician with the obvious dilemma of trying to determine which therapy was responsible and should, therefore, be continued.
