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Fox News
2 hours ago
- Fox News
Woman beats deadly brain cancer with investigational cell therapy: 'Truly amazing'
A New Jersey woman has been given a second chance at life, thanks to a new cancer therapy. Pamela Goldberger, 65, found out in 2023 that she had glioblastoma — a devastating diagnosis with an average survival of just 14 to 16 months, even with surgery. In an on-camera interview with Fox News Digital, Goldberger shared that her first symptoms were subtle, other than a severe bout of nausea — until one night at dinner, she used her fork as her knife and her knife as her fork. (See the video at the top of the article.) Goldberger went to the ER for neurological testing, including MRIs and a CAT scan, which revealed a brain tumor. "It's pretty devastating news to hear," she said. "I don't know what I thought was happening, but that wasn't it … Our world just stopped." "We have two little grandchildren, and [I thought] I was never going to have the opportunity to see them grow up. I think that's as devastating as it gets." Goldberger was admitted to the hospital and scheduled for brain surgery a few days later. Surgery is standard treatment for this highly invasive brain cancer, but the head of neurosurgery at Cooper University Hospital in Camden, New Jersey, offered Goldberger a different option. He invited Goldberger to consider joining a clinical trial for an individualized dendritic cell therapy that could help treat glioblastoma, and she agreed to participate. After the surgery, Goldberger began six weeks of chemotherapy and radiation, and then started six weeks of the investigational cell therapy a few weeks later. That process was followed by another year of chemo maintenance. Although the healing process was "very gradual," Goldberger said she started to feel like herself again once the oral chemotherapy ended. Now, 2-½ years after her diagnosis, she is alive, healthy and able to play tennis several times a week. Survival rates and treatments for glioblastoma have not changed in 20 years, according to Dr. Joseph Georges, a neurosurgeon at Banner University Hospital in Phoenix, Arizona, who led the clinical trial. "It's a highly mutated tumor and there are different cell populations for each patient," he told Fox News Digital. "And the tumor is also very good at silencing the body's immune system from attacking it." "It's pretty devastating news to hear … Our world just stopped." The new treatment primes the immune system to detect and kill the tumor cell by creating a vaccine directly from the patient's tumor, which is collected during surgery. "We're picking up all these various tumor cell types, and then we're teaching the immune system how to attack the tumor — even the small cells that evade surgical resection," Georges said. The treatment, which uses dendritic cells taken from patients, was administered to 16 people between 47 and 73 years old who were newly diagnosed with glioblastoma, including Goldberger. After undergoing chemo and radiation, the patients received three courses of the injection every two weeks, along with weekly injections of a pegylated interferon medication (a type of protein that helps regulate the immune system). The phase 1 clinical trial showed overall positive results, according to a press release from Diakonos Oncology, the group that developed the treatment, which is called DOC1021 (dubondencel). The researchers noted positive immune responses and improved survival after treatment. It was also found to be safe with minimal side effects, even at high doses. "At best, we hope to keep it stable and hope that we don't see it grow, but we are actually seeing tumors disappear for some of these people on their MRIs," Georges told Fox News Digital, which is "something you don't see in glioblastoma." "It's truly amazing." While Goldberger still has regular check-ins with her doctors, she reported that she's feeling "good" and enjoying spending time with her grandchildren, playing tennis, having lunch with friends, reading, shopping and traveling. "I'm living my best life right now, and I'm not restricted by not being able to do anything that I would want to do," she told Fox News Digital. For other glioblastoma patients, Goldberger recommends seeking out clinical trial opportunities if available and appropriate, and also urges them to take healing seriously. "I was a really good patient. I did everything my doctors told me to do," Goldberger said, noting that she walked every day, ate well and got plenty of sleep. "I surrounded myself with things that made me happy," she went on. "Spent a lot of time with my grandchildren and my family … and only did things that made me happy." "I think all those things, put together with having excellent medical care and this trial, is the reason [I'm alive]. And a lot of luck." Georges agreed that patients with recurring glioblastoma should look for clinical trials that may help. Diakonos Oncology announced on July 22 that the first patient has been dosed in the phase 2 clinical trial of DOC1021. Georges shared that the trial will be available at 20 sites around the country.
Vogue
2 hours ago
- Vogue
Fermented Food Rewired My Gut (And My Life)
When it came to my gut, I did everything right—or so I thought. Working out five days a week, eating clean (high protein, low carb), always checking my fitness tracker. And on paper, I looked healthy. But still—something was off. I kept getting sick, had mysterious body aches, bloating, low immunity, and a fatigue that even eight hours of sleep couldn't fix. It felt like I was stuck in a loop—doing everything I was supposed to do, but seeing none of the results. That's when I started to realize that maybe the problem wasn't what I was doing, it was what I was ignoring. The problem was coming from my gut. Your microbiome, which lives inside your digestive system is a living, breathing ecosystem home to trillions of microbes that digest food, manufacture nutrients, regulate hormones, and fend off harmful bacteria. Ayurveda has always said it: nurture your gut and it'll take care of the rest. Modern science now echoes that wisdom, calling it the gut-brain axis. A term for the complex communication between your gut and brain through the nervous, endocrine, and immune systems. According to nutritionist and author Kavita Devgan, 'The gut is the command center of our entire well-being. It impacts everything: our mood, brain function, physical health, and even our ability to prevent lifestyle diseases.' So, if you've been feeling off lately—low energy, poor digestion, foggy focus—it might be worth checking in with your gut health. Chances are, you've already ticked the basics: more fibre, fewer processed foods, more water. But what if that's not enough? That's because true gut healing isn't just about what you cut out. It's also about what you add in. Fermented food, the unsung hero of gut health Yogurt, kimchi, kefir, sauerkraut—these aren't just flavor bombs or nostalgic side dishes. They're teeming with beneficial bacteria that help repopulate your gut microbiome. These bacteria do more than support digestion; they help rebuild your internal ecosystem, impacting everything from immunity to mental clarity. Fermentation is essentially a microbial makeover. The yeasts and bacteria break down sugars and carbs in food, making them easier to digest and supercharging their nutrient content. Instead of letting food rot, fermentation transforms it into something more bioavailable and beneficial.
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
This Habit Has Been Considered "Healthy" For A Long Time, But Now Some Longevity Experts Are Warning Against It
Getting 10,000 steps a day. Improving your VO2 max. Putting berries on your breakfast. What are the habits you embrace in an effort to live a long, healthy life? Certainly it's the routines we do regularly that impact our health the most. But there's one well-intentioned habit in particular that longevity experts say can actually take years off your life instead of adding more to it: eating too much animal-based protein. Thought a high-protein diet was a good thing? As doctors explain here, getting too much can backfire. Why Overemphasizing Protein Isn't Actually Healthy Related: Whey protein powder in a measuring scoop, protein shake in a glass and strawberry on pink table in sunlight Related: Before we get into why too much protein isn't good for longevity, it's important to note that the nutrient is absolutely important. Dr. Suzanne J. Ferree, who is double-board-certified in family medicine and anti-aging and regenerative medicine, told HuffPost that it's especially important to get enough as we age. 'The common theory is that we need to cut protein-rich foods as we age, but the research actually only supports this in younger people, not in those of us over 50,' Ferree said. Scientific research backs this up, showing that older adults need more protein than younger adults because our bodies naturally lose muscle as we age. So yes, protein is absolutely important. How much protein a person needs each day varies based on one's individual health and needs, but the Food and Drug Administration recommends aiming for 50 grams of protein a day as part of a 2,000-calorie diet. The problem is that many people are eating more protein than they need. On top of that, Americans are overconsuming a specific type of protein that isn't all that healthy. In general, there are two types of proteins: animal-based proteins and plant-based proteins. Research has shown that plant-based proteins are healthier than animal-based proteins. Unfortunately, Americans are consuming more of the latter than the former. 'A common mistake is the overemphasis on consuming a high-protein diet, particularly one rich in animal-based proteins, with the belief that it is essential for longevity and muscle preservation. Many people assume that the more protein they consume, the healthier they will be, leading to an overconsumption of animal products like meat, dairy and eggs,' said Dr. Monisha Bhanote, a quintuple-board-certified physician and longevity expert. Most Americans are eating about 100 grams of protein a day, double the recommended amount. According to a Dietary Guidelines for Americans report, 75% of Americans meet or exceed the recommendation for meat, poultry and eggs. Bhanote says this is exactly what can take years off one's life. Related: 'Excessive consumption of animal-based proteins can actually accelerate aging and undermine cellular health, contrary to popular belief,' she said. She explained that the biggest reasons for this come down to two harmful compounds: advanced glycation end products (AGEs) and trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO). 'AGEs are harmful compounds that form when proteins or fats combine with sugar in the bloodstream,' Bhanote said. She explained that animal-based foods — especially if they are grilled, fried or roasted — are high in AGEs. Research shows that these compounds can accumulate in your tissues and, over time, can lead to oxidative stress and inflammation, which are key drivers of cellular aging. 'AGEs damage proteins, DNA and other vital cellular structures, accelerating the aging process and contributing to chronic diseases like diabetes, cardiovascular disease and Alzheimer's,' Bhanote said. What about TMAO? Bhanote explained that elevated levels of TMAO have been linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases, including atherosclerosis, heart attack and stroke — all of which obviously are not good for longevity. 'TMAO promotes the accumulation of cholesterol in the arteries and impairs the body's ability to remove it, leading to inflammation and further damage to the cardiovascular system. This not only compromises heart health but also affects overall cellular function and longevity,' Bhanote said. Related to the mistake many people make of overemphasizing protein in their diet, Raghav Sehgal, a Ph.D. student and Gruber fellow at Yale University whose research focuses on human aging, told HuffPost that one common mistake people make when it comes to longevity is focusing on 'miracle diets' promising fast results. The biggie that's relevant here: the ketogenic diet, which prioritizes fat and protein while minimizing carbohydrates. For many people doing keto, meat and eggs are hero foods; however, as previously explained, eating too many animal products can take years off your life. How To Use Protein To Work For You, Not Against You Related: So, how should we approach protein with an eye toward longevity? Bhanote and Sehgal are of the same mind about this: Eat more protein-rich plants and fish. While fish certainly isn't a plant, it is thought of differently than animal-based proteins because it has a completely different nutritional makeup than meat, and scientific research has repeatedly shown benefits to human health when consumed regularly. Eating fish regularly has been associated with reducing the risk of premature death by 12%. Sehgal explained that plant-based proteins (such as beans, lentils, chickpeas, soy, nuts and seeds) are loaded with antioxidants, fiber and nutrients that keep our hearts healthy, reduce inflammation and lower the risk of chronic diseases. 'These foods are naturally low in AGEs and do not contribute to TMAO production, making them much gentler on your cells and overall health,' Bhanote added. Scientific studies show that having a diet that prioritizes plant-based proteins lowers the risk of mortality associated with cardiovascular disease and other causes. In other words, replacing animal proteins with plant proteins can add years to your life. While most Americans meet or exceed the protein recommendation for meat, poultry and eggs, 90% of Americans aren't meeting the recommended guidelines for seafood. Sehgal told HuffPost that seafood high in protein and unsaturated fats supports brain health, promotes hormone balance and helps fight inflammation — all of which contribute to longevity. Again, no one is disputing that protein is important. It's crucial to get enough and, as Ferree pointed out, it's especially important to get enough as we age. But other nutrients are important too, which is why Sehgal said the best diet for longevity is a balanced one that includes a wide variety of nutrient-rich foods. The benefit of eating a balanced diet full of plants certainly isn't revolutionary news, but it is backed up by many scientific studies. When it comes to longevity — and health in general — science-backed wins out over trendy and new. This article originally appeared on HuffPost. Also in Goodful: Also in Goodful: Also in Goodful:
