Tl;dr- my coworker manipulates me. I'm a giver she takes. How do I unfurl myself from the interactions.?
She (I'll call her "Emily") is in a lower position at work than I, she in a service capacity and I am in a professional office capacity. Emily is AfroAmerican and I am white/asian. I took a liking to Emily from the beginning because she was approachable, bubbly, friendly, and kind. We shared interested in clothing and makeup. Also - humor. With time, I noticed that she seemed to request a lot of things from me either through subtle suggestions to be manipulative. Or, direct requests. Usually the former. I am a giver by nature. With time, I came to realize not only was she a taker but also and this is important, things I was sharing with her do not go undshared. I basically had to glean this from the fact that she tells me things about several of the other people in the office. I was slow to catch on. I realized had likely sharedsomething I had complained about about another service employee. I felt safe in sharing my complaint with her because she had disparaged this fellow employee and also complained about his work. Then like the day after I had shared with her my complaints, I saw her buddying up with him chewing the fat. At this time, I had to take a Stern stock and accounting of my position and realized it could be very dangerous her talking about me to staff. Apparently, she speaks with our second in charge and has told me a great great deal about her personal life and health matters. That's just one example.
So, it is at that time I basically decided to cut her off. A big part of it had to do with the fact that I would share a lot about my you know daily concerns with her on text messaging. She responded to almost none of them. I realize, she has less education than me.. but, she seems to be able to conceptualize and communicate when it's something of importance to her. Ergo, I realized it was pretty much a one-way street. I blocked herself she did something weird and passive aggressive and approached me to see if I would be interested in something and I had to unblock her to make it not an awkward communication moment. And of course, as a result - she realized I had blocked her before that moment. I pretty much haven't really communicated with her except for hello at the office and you know the occasional kind of shared conversation about things that are currently happening at the office that everyone needs to communicate about. But, today - - was different. Perhaps it was my mistake, I cracked open the door again by sending her a text message yesterday because I know she has hip surgery coming up soon and she was gone from work yesterday and I wasn't sure when the surgery was scheduled and I felt badly to not even be in communication at all at a time when she's going to be having major surgery. I guess I kind of feel like, her home life sucks with her husband and son. Her housing life sucks and I've been to her home it's not great. We're just in completely different worlds we come from different class so to speak structures. And I can't see that she's transcended her circumstances from what she came and it's understandable. So she wrote me back and said the surgery wasn't yesterday and said I was a good friend I had offered to help her you know complete her FMLA paperwork if she needed help because she had asked me about it previously and she was really bad at figuring out the details. So, fast forward today she ambushes me, tells me tomorrow is my birthday. I won't have my birthday celebrated by my husband or my son. Her mother I know has passed many years since. She goes on to say how we celebrate office birthdays and no one's ever done that for her and she wishes someone would do it. Then, she goes on to say that she doesn't want a cheesecake or this kind of cake or that kind of cake not a Frozen cake she specifically tells me what kind of goddamn cake she wants. And i, like a moron, fall for it hook line and sinker. I guess, I thought huh well there is truth in what she's saying we don't in include her in celebrations the way we do for a lot of the other staff because she doesn't actually work for our company she works for a service company. Wanting to avoid an awkward situation and wishing to have a peaceful work environment I guess I said I would make sure she got a cake. Thinking to myself, it only cost me a couple bucks for a mix cake and a couple bucks for some frosting. Bada being bad a bang how bad could it be. Then, I think crap what she talking about the way we celebrate the other coworkers? Oh, I realize she means we put streamers and signs balloons whatever on there cubicle. So, I spring into action I get some stuff delivered from the store balloons bowls she had told me she wanted cake and ice cream and she would cry if she didn't get those things. It was just the weirdest effing thing ever. And I just you melted at the idea like oh my God here's someone who doesn't have all these things and she's telling me and I'm feeling bad for her. And, I love doing those things for people. And she knows this. Previously, she tried to get me to have a party this month or next month she she was saying oh gosh we haven't had a party in a while and we should really do something. And I was quick to respond at that time I said great Emily why don't you plan that let me know. This time, I was unprepared and maybe I was vulnerable because I let her in to a little crack in my psyche because I felt a sense of sympathy maybe for her pending medical procedure. All of this is to say, I'm trying to figure out one, how to proceed in the future. Too, what is the psychological dynamic that is going on between she and i. I wish to understand what is it about her and what is it about I that makes this go forward. I'm thinking, mostly, it's because I have a manipulative narcissistic mother. I naturally respond to her manipulations easily because I care for my mother and.. she's my mother! I had realized my sensitivity to the b******* and manipulation and that's kind of why I cut things off with Emily.
So now, I had bought a cake because I was really tired and didn't want to make a cake and I thought hey okay this will be less stressful. Another co-worker, I'll call her ingrid volunteered to help me pay for the cake as she is a sucker like I am to people who need things.
So, how do I get out of this cycle moving forward, should I basically just not talk to this woman anymore except for very Kurt office interactions? Is she worthy of my sympathy? At any level?
She is psycho or she have feelings I mean? There have been times when I have told her a ton about myself and then she completely switches the subject like she didn't hear a single thing I said. Ostensibly, this is narcissistic behavior. She acts passive aggressive towards me. She tries to get me to do things for her I feel like she cracks open the door that's how we became friends in the first place she said she needed help with something and no one else would help her with it and she put in the sympathy statement and voila I ended up at her house helping her install a printer.
I don't know, I feel like such a sucker, and I don't want this behavior to continue but it's really really hard for me to just not interact with someone who has this kind of dynamic. She's she's borderline safe and friendly but then she's borderline scary ass dangerous manipulative gossiping passive aggressive. I'm almost afraid not to do s*** for her like what will she do? I mean she left something on my desk I didn't know who left it but I kind of deduced it was probably her. It was a wall sign you know the chief kind you might get at the dollar store? It's like plastic or ceramic I don't know what but I guess she had to hang on her wall and it shattered. She left on my desk taped together badly with some super glue. Later, she mentions that she had done so and told me I would be doing this for her she didn't really ask she said she knew how much I would like doing that since I loved craft projects.
I do not like fixing s*** for people it's a chore. I do it for the people in my life who I care about that do things for me. I had let it sit on my desk for several days because I was just irritated like, who the f*** do you think I am and why what I want to fix your crap for you? She was rude and passive aggressive with me at the office like wouldn't really greet me. So, that resulted in me taking it and putting in my car so that she would see there was some potential that I might be fixing it. I, have zero interest in fixing it. Also, it's really cheap. Why would anyone want to keep that?
The bigger issue is, of course, her repeated attempts to manipulate me in my sadly susceptibility to these attempts. It's so confusing. On the one hand she seems like such an innocuous person on the other hand she can make me spend a s*** ton of money in a short period of time just by suggesting some things to me. I bought a cake balloons decorations have them delivered all because I thought, "well this is terrible, she can't not have her birthday celebrated she needs to feel fit in and the class ism bothers me we have to try and make everyone feel equal."
Yes it's total bullshit. Yikes help me see reason. Just in writing this, I'm seeing how clear the pattern is: she'll compliment me she'll suck me into conversation, she'll ask for something or subtly suggest something that she needs or wants. Then she demands specifically a greater request than even began originally. I've even wondered if she's just gearing up to scam me in a much bigger way. This could be terrible.
I'm kind of feeling like just irritated about the whole thing to wear, I don't think I want to take the cake in tomorrow. I had bought ice cream bowls spoons you know party supplies. And I just realized, sitting here explaining it to you all: it makes no sense. I'm rewarding her for manipulating me. If I ever expect it to stop, I have to not follow through. With what I have promised or what she has asked me to do.

Hello anomaly investigators,
Welcome to the third and final check in of the Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel. It was a wild ride and these final chapters are where everything comes together. I've included a summary if you require it below.
Part 5
We’re back on the book tour where Gaspery is interviewing Olive. Olive recounts her experience of the incident- she felt like she was in two places at once. And then Gaspery warns her to leave Earth where she was supposed to die. She does so and every thought plays back in her head that she escaped death. The colony goes into lockdown and everyone is communicating with holograms. Then one day, she overhears a conversation happening in her backyard between Gaspery and Zoey. They were arguing and Gaspery say that he isn’t going to run away from the consequences. Later, Olive sees his name in an inmate list, sentenced to 20 years in a double homicide. She is still trying to grasp the fact that she narrowly escaped death.
Part 6
Zoey and Gaspery reunite in November 30, 2203, in Colony Two. Zoey knows about the breach and advises him, after Gaspery asks, to try solving the anomaly. She helps him get to the location and time of where Vincent Smith filmed it. He experiences it for himself and then travels back to where he left.
Zoey informs him that he is taken out of commission. He begs her to help him so he can get another layer of confirmation and she does, helping him get to 2 more destinations to meet Vincent and Edwin.
He gets the confirmation from Vincent. Then thinks of Mirella and what she told him about his fate in the future.
Part 7
He meets Edwin in 1918 and he is a depressed war hero without a foot. He gets the confirmation on recording from Edwin, then reveals who he is in hopes that Edwin won’t end up dying in an Asylum.
Gaspery decides to return to the Time Institute despite knowing that he could have taken off his tracker and stayed in 1918. He finds out that Edwin dies of the flu anyway. Ephrem knocks him out with a drug and then travels to the twentieth century where he is framed for a double homicide and where he meets Mirella. He ends up in prison where he scratches “No star burns forever” on the walls and ponders about his actions till date.
Part 8
Gaspery is 60 and transferred to the prison hospital due to heart issues. He reminisces about the past before Zoey appears and transports him to 2172 in Oaklahoma city where she sets him up at a farm and tells him she is employed by another organisation with a time machine.
Fearing that he would be identified by the Time Institute, he undergoes plastic surgery. When he wakes up, he finds that he recognises his new face. He learns how to play the violin from Talia. Talia tells him that she managed to escape to the far colonies with Zoey. He gets married to Talia. Talia passes away because of an aneurysm. Gaspery moves to the city with his dog, Odie.
In October 2195, Gaspery plays his violin in the airship terminal where Olive walks past and his past self appears, his first interview at the Time Institute. And that's when he senses that the stimulation is coming apart, as it detects 3 Gasperys - one in the forest, one playing the violin and one about to interview him. He can see the corrupted moment where a wave of darkness appears behind the younger Gaspery approaching him. And then everything was as it is supposed to be. And he realises then that it was him who caused the anomaly.
As he talks to Gaspery, following the script of what he remembers, he thinks about his current life. How he felt when Talia passed on, and his current daily life of walking and seeing everyone go somewhere while feeling that he had already moved too fast and gone too far.
I hope you all had a good time reading this one! Questions are in the comments as usual, see you there!

FYI, this is a story COLLECTION. Lots of standalones technically. So, you can basically start to read at any chapter, no pre-read of the other chapters needed technically (other than maybe getting better descriptions of characters than: Adam Vir=human, Krill=antlike alien, Sunny=tall alien, Conn=telepathic alien). The numbers are (mostly) only for organization of posts and continuity.
OC Written by Charlie Stastarrfallknightrise,
Typed up and then posted here by me.
Proofreading and language check for some chapters by u/Finbar9800 u/BakeGullible9975 and u/Didnotseemecomein
Future Lore and fact check done by me.
Kinky! Uhhh I mean… freaky!
And the secret black market organ dealer Santa Claus strikes again!
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Breaking News
The Galaxy is left stunned after the events of late yesterday evening, when a single armed shooter appeared from the crowd and fired on UNSC leader and cultural icon Admiral Vir during a routine press conference given at UNSC headquarters Fort Harmony on the eastern Mericandian coast. Reports describe the event as happening midway through Admiral Vir's address as the single, hooded female pushed through the crowd and drew a handgun on the Admiral, firing once before fleeing into the crowd. She was apprehended by armed security agents only moments later as she tried to flee the scene. On scene witnesses report that an accompanying marine tackled Admiral Vir to the ground just as the shot was fired.
In a statement made early this morning by Admiral Vir he reports that, "Thanks to the brave actions of Corporal Angel Ramirez I am alive and unharmed." Corporal Angel Ramirez is a decorated veteran of the UNSC deep space division and served his first tour aboard the UNSC Enterprise on its maiden voyage. Since then, he has served under Admiral Vir on both the UNSC Harbinger and most recently the Omen, distinguishing himself in combat during the Burg war and the Kree engagement. Our sources report that Corporal Ramirez was once an up-and-coming champion in the Mericandian winter Olympic ice skating team before joining the marines.
Reports say that the corporal came out of surgery early this morning and is in stable but critical condition.
The only question remains is who would attempt an assasination on such a beloved cultural icon. More on that with our crime reporter Jim Shaw.
Thank you, Emily, early this morning we received reports from Fort harmony officials that the name and identity of the shooter is 37 year old Adrea Halen, member of a traditionalist leaning moderate group called “the Hunt Party”, who have condemned Admiral Vir in the past for his support of legalizing extrial relationships. President Hunt, leader of the hunt Party and CEO of Hunt Metals said in a statement today. "Our party had nothing to do with Ms. Halen's actions, while we disagree with Admiral Vir on some fundamentals of government, we would definitely never attempt to silence him through violence. At the end of the day Admiral Vir has done far more good than he has bad and no man deserves to die due to his political views. What Ms Halen has done is condemnable, and the party does not support her actions."
Further comment was withheld until a later date. As of yet police have been unable to determine if she acted alone or with the assistance of the group. Police chief Henry Winzer added in his statement today, "Ms. Halen has not, as of yet, divulged her motives behind the shooting, however based on preliminary evidence of the scene it seems as if these were the actions of a woman acting alone. Detectives have been unable to find any correspondence between her and a third party and even her husband had been out of the country for the past few months and was visiting one of the colonies, doing research on ancient Greek democracy."
Her motive remains, as of yet, unknown. There is evidence of a radicalized political view, since she did attempt and target Admiral Vir, and some of her personal social media content has been leaked to the public, reporting her dissatisfaction with joining the GA and her open disgust for extrial activities, especially in regards her oldest son, who was owning a bar in Missouri, Mericanda, until he was travelling off earth, and started a relationship with a Finnari, before moving to Noctropolis. We have since been unable to contact him. The only description we were able to get was his bright green hair with a certain hairstyle.
In the past Admiral Vir has been known as a great political proponent in favor of extrial relationships, and a non-isolationist views having once said that, "Cooperation and companionship with the GA will be the bedrock of human expansion into space." With the popularity of Admiral Vir as a cultural Icon, it can be said that his political views have been influential on the younger upcoming generations of today, while the older populace still remains wary of political involvement with extraterrestrial life. In oth-
Adam shut off the TV, sinking back into one of the stiff plastic chairs that adorned the hospital waiting room. His eyes felt grainy and dry, and his head ached dully behind his eyes. Off in the corner of the room, much of Ramirez's family lay asleep on the plastic chairs, including his father and others who had arrived late last night. They had fallen asleep after a nurse ventured in a few hours to go to let them know that he was stable and alive. Adam himself had not been able to sleep, thinking about his friend, replaying the moment over and over in his head wondering if there was something he could have done to prevent all of this from happening. But the more he thought the more he realized that it was probably unlikely. He might have been able to dive out of the way himself before the shot was fired, but Ramirez was already in motion before that.
He couldn't have seen it coming, no one could have, and no one did.
Ramirez had just been the fastest.
He sunk back into his chair miserably and stared at the wall. There were no windows in this room, the guard detail had insisted upon it in case someone else tried for his life.
It all seemed so strange to him.
Why would anyone want to kill him?
He knew the answer though, as much as he wanted to think he was just some nobody, he wasn't anymore. He was... a political figure, someone who could influence what happened in the galaxy and there were plenty of people who weren't bound to agree with him on a lot of things.
He just wondered why he hadn't seen this coming sooner.
His implant buzzed, and he looked down to see that his mother was calling.
Whoopsie!
She wasn't going to be happy that she was just hearing about this over the news, but he knew he needed to talk to her. He stood and made his way into the hallway, where a protection detail eyed him hawkishly.
Closing the door behind him, so as not to disturb its sleeping occupants, he answered the call, speaking out loud as the implants in his throat and ear picked up the sound,
"Hey, mom."
"Adam! Adam are you alright! I just saw the news."
"Yeah, yea I'm ok."
He took a deep breath,
"Sorry I didn't call. It's just been kinda hectic."
"And you're sure you're ok?"
"Yeah, I mean, I feel like shit, but I’m not the one with bullet wounds..."
He trailed off. There was silence for a moment,
”I'm so sorry sweetheart, how is Angel?"
"Doctors haven't given us all the details yet, but he's at least alive and survived surgery."
"Thank goodness... We owe that boy."
"I know, mom... I know."
Just then he heard voices off down the hall and turned to see Dr. Krill and Dr Katie approaching from the wings.
"Mom, I've gotta go, but I'll call you as soon as I can, Ok?"
"Ok."
She let him go and he hung up as the two doctors approached.
"How is he!?"
They motioned him into the room and he followed just as Ramirez's family members were waking up.
Adam hovered near the door not entirely sure if he was supposed to be there. Ramirez's mother sat up,
"Is he ok!?"
Dr. Katie and Dr Krill glanced at Adam. Adam realized with Dr. patient confidentiality, and it being family, he probably wasn't supposed to be here. He went to step outside, but Ramirez's abuela waved him back.
Ramirez Abuela and Dr Katie nodded.
The little alien stepped forward towards the family,
"I have both good and bad news."
The group waited with bated breath.
"The good news is that your son made it through surgery. He is stable and recovering in the ICU."
He glanced over at Katie,
"The bullet went in through his back, through his right kidney and perforated some of his liver. We were able to fix the tears but the kidney... Was not salvageable."
The family glanced back and forth between each other,
"That... That's not so bad though. He has two..."
Krill shifted slightly,
"Weeeell about that… that is the remarkable thing and also the bad news but... Your son only had one kidney. We wouldn't have noticed it were it not for our focused imaging, but it seems he has lived with this defect his entire life without complication."
Dr. Katie Cut in just then,
"Since he was born with the defect, his body compensated. The kidney that was destroyed was much larger than average..."
She trailed off.
The family members looked between each other,
"So... So, what does this mean?”
"We have him on dialysis right now, and he is going to need a kidney transplant."
Dr. Katie folded her hands,
"There are a few options, there is always the possibility of getting him a donor kidney or equally possible and more... Advisable would be to have a kidney grown for him using his own stem cells, that way we can grow him one like the one he lost, considering there is no way for us to give him two. If he were to get a donor kidney, he would have to undergo chronic gene therapy to avoid medications that would leave him immunocompromised. However, in that case he would need to be medically discharged. If we were to grow him a new kidney, he would be able to return to his post without being discharged, but the cost is... Admittedly much higher."
The family glanced between each other their faces pulled into grimaces.
Adam knew their financial situation. He had heard stories about Ramirez growing up and knew enough to know that his family had never been well off. They had been close, his childhood had been excellent, but they had never been rich. Affording either of those options was going to be a stretch.
"Well, we will have to talk about-"
”Grow the kidney!”
”What?”
"I'll pay for it."
The entire room turned to look at him.
"You-"
"I said I will pay for it. With the settlement for the court case, and/or the amount of money I get from my job I can pay for it. He saved my life this is the least I can do, please..."
His pleading was so plaintive that the family could hardly say no. He did have a point as well. Instead, he received an enthusiastic hug from Ramirez's younger sister who clasped her arms around him and nearly snapped him in half with her strength. She was an olympic boxer after all, so he wasn't surprised.
"Thank you thank you thank you!”
Dr. Katie looked at him with a pointed expression, but she didn't need to ask. He intended to pay for every last cent of Ramirez's treatment even if he had to fight his abuela for it. He wasn't entirely sure he'd win against her, but he would damn sure try if it meant doing something for his friend.
He owed him after all.
And even if he didn't Ramirez was his best friend. This wasn't about owing him, this was about doing anything for someone he cared about.
Dr. Krill shifted in his place,
"We will get the equipment ready and start later this week. I... would be honored to perform the operation. I will be upfront with you and say that I am the universe's foremost surgeon, but I would also be the first Alien to perform an organ transplant."
"I of course, you saved his life last night-"
They seemed almost in shock. Everything was being paid for and the universe most renowned surgeon was practically begging to do it.
The only way this could have been better is if their son hadn't been shot in the first place.
[…]
The steady beeping of the machine echoed around the room. Adam sat with one ankle crossed over a knee looking down at his implant and absently reading through that day's news report as a soft whirring came from the machine just to his right. He wasn't technically supposed to be here, but the doctors had made an exception for him and the family. On the other side of that a glass tube was busy growing an extra kidney. There was security outside the door and a doctor came in every few minutes to check on the kidney, and the man to which the kidney belonged.
Adam scrolled down.
There was a shifting just to his side, and with relief Adam looked up to find Ramirez stirring. The man tried to open his eyes but squinted against the light and groaned raising one IV tethered hand to block the light.
Adam leaned over resting a hand on his arm,
"Hey you're finally awake!"
Ramirez cracked an eye at him and groaned.
*”Oh god…”
”You were trying to cross the border, right? Walked right into that imperial ambush…”
”Urgh… Fuck off!”
"Wakey wakey eggs and bakey! Come on ya freak wake up."
Ramirez closed his eyes again,
"Why... When I wake up do I have to see your ugly ass!?”
Adam snorted,
"How sweet, freak."
”Oh sweet? Ill show you how sweet I can be…”
”Id like to see you try freak.”
"Freak? Have you looked at yourself lately?”
"At least I was born with all my kidneys."
Ramirez opened his eyes and frowned,
"What? Now I can’t follow…"
Adam smiled slightly,
"Turns out your dumbass has lived his entire life with only one kidney. Congratulations, you are a freak of nature."
"No shit, really? I had no idea."
"Oh, trust me neither had Krill, so the next Omen deployment will have to be scheduled a week later, since EVERYONE on the ship will now go through extensive tests to check if they have the right number of organs in the right sizes at the right places… All because of your single fat kidney… anyway the bullet sort of ruined it, when it penetrated you.”*
”Kinky.”
”Sigh…so yeah… you have to get a new one. Or you’re dead.”
He pointed across the room to the glass tube and its slowly growing kidney which was no bigger than a jellybean right at that moment.
Ramirez looked and frowned,
"Ew, gross... wait… who's paying for that, because I don't think the military covers transplants."
"It's taken care of."
"By who?"
"By someone."
"Someone who?"
"Someone who would rather remain unnamed."
Ramirez looked at him,
"It's you isn't it?”
”Maybe…”
”Awwww… you do love me after all! As a thank you I am sure I have something for you in pants as well, wink wink.”
”I hate you sometimes.”
”For real though, isn’t that too expensive?”
Adam sighed,
"You saved my life, so shut up and just let me buy you a new kidney. I owe you that much at least."
"Fine, fine."
There was a pause between them.
"I... thank you, for saving my-"
"Dude don't get all sappy and shit on me ok? You would have done it for me."
Adam went quiet, still wishing to thank his friend but knowing Ramirez would never accept it.
”As much as I like your company, why are you alone here? Is no one else caring that I’m hurt? Where is Mav? Where is my family?”
”Since you are stable your family went to a hotel close to the hospital, they should be here tomorrow morning again. As for Mav she went back to the ship and has shut herself into the chapel apparently, bit weird, but you know her, she doesn’t like earth much. Why you asking?”
Ramirez shifted to look at him,
"I need to kick her lazy ass for not being fast enough, because of her I had to jump in to save your sorry ass and paid with my kidney for it. Soooo uhhh, you know why they tried to kill you?"
Adam shrugged,
"Not really, the lady who did it has some political affiliations who don't tend to agree with me, but that connection doesn't seem to fit completely. Either that or she blames me for making her son an extrial in which case... That hardly makes sense either."
He shrugged,
"Either way she isn't talking, and now I can't go anywhere without five to six bodyguards spilling out my ass."
Ramirez snorted, eyes closing, breathing deeply.
"You feeling ok?"
"Yeah... I'm alright, just tired."
"Then go back to sleep ya big idiot. Maybe if you're a good boy santa will leave a kidney under your pillow."
Ramirez let off a weak huff,
"Didn't know santa was a black market organ dealer."
"Hey, this is christmas, now shut up and go to sleep."
Ramirez didn't argue with him beyond that point, and fell back asleep just as a nurse was coming to check on him.
Adam was relieved.
Ramirez was, hopefully, going to be ok.
Though what remained were far more questions than there were answers.
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Thanks for reading! As you saw in the title, this is a cross posted story written by starrfallknightrise and I'll just upload some of it here for you guys, if you are interested and want to read ahead, the original story-collection can be found on tumblr or wattpad to read for free. (link above this text under "OC:..." ) It is the Empyrean Iris story collection by starfallknightrise. Also, if you want to know more about the story collection i made an intro post about it, so feel free to check that out to see what other great characters to look forward to! (Link also above this text). I have no affiliations to the author; just thought I’d share some of the great stories you might enjoy a lot!
Obviously, I have Charlie’s permission to post this and for the people already knowing the stories, or starting to read them: If you follow the link and check out the story you will see some differences. I made some small (non-artistic) changes, mainly correcting writing mistakes, pronoun correction and some small additional info here and there of things which were not thought of/forgotten or even were added/changed in later stories (like the “USS->UNSC” prefix of Stabby, Chalar=/->Sunny etc). As well as some "biggemajor" changes in descriptions and info’s for the same stringency/continuity reason. That can be explained by the story collection being, well a story collection at the start with many standalone-stories just starring the same people, but later on it gets more to a stringent storyline with backstories and throwbacks. (For example Adam Vir has some HEAVY scars over his body, following his bones, which were not really talked about up till half the collection, where it says it covers his whole body and you find out via backflash that he had them the whole time and how he got them, they just weren't mentioned before. However, I would think a doctor would at least see these scars before that, especially since he gets analyzed, treated and goes shirtless/in T-shirts in some stories). So TLDR: Writing and some descriptions are slightly changed, with full OK from the author, since he himself did not bother to correct these things before.

My audience is every person who is willing to read about genetic editing and human advances from a Christian worldview. The purpose of writing this is to inform any fellow readers about how genetic editing, human advancement, or trans-humism is against the word of God and makes a mockery out of the Bible.
To understand exactly what gene editing and human advancement are from a Christian worldview, we first must look at what God thinks about human editing. In the Bible, from the book of Genesis to Revelation, there are 58 verses that talk about our body and how God created us. While the Bible doesn’t exactly talk about gene editing or human advancements, by looking at and understanding the context of each verse, we are able to decipher that humans are not meant to be changed in the field of genetics because we were already created perfectly by the perfect creator.
1 Corinthians 15:38-39 ESV says,
“But God gives it a body as he has chosen, and to each kind of seed its own body. For not all flesh is the same, but there is one kind for humans, another for animals, another for birds, and another for fish.”
Our bodies are not designed to turn into anything else other than it’s ownself. Meaning that we are meant to be who we are meant to be. In today’s world, we can see that governments, big pharma companies, and radicalized organizations like the World Economic Forum are in support of advancing living organisms such as humans, animals, and plants genetically to “save the world.” But what is gene editing exactly? Gene editing is a method that lets scientists change the DNA of many organisms, including plants, bacteria, and animals. Editing DNA can lead to changes in physical traits like eye color and disease risk (NHGRI, 2019). In theory, if you can change the outcome of your physical appearance, change the way you have children, or change the way your body can no longer be sick, that would sound amazing. However, you could be destroying yourself in the way our species is supposed to live.
In general, the evolutionary theory of the socio-political transhuminist movement centers on genetic editing. To put it succinctly, the transhumanist movement aims to develop and apply technology in a way that will fundamentally alter humanity beyond its current physiology and limitations. This includes enhancing or amplifying innate abilities like intelligence and physical strength, creating bodies resistant to disease, extending lifespans, or preventing death entirely. Through genetic editing, radical companies, researchers, and scientists want to create the “ulitamate” being to lead the world into a new world where humans are now the rulers of the Earth instead of God.
Throughout the many years, conservative scientists, military generals, politicians, C.E.O.’s and many others have questioned the ethics of gene editing for quite some time, just like the United States Director of National Intelligence, James Clapper, addressed the threat of gene editing as a weapon of mass destruction (Regalado, 2016). However, on the eastern side of the world, contraversial billionaire Professor Karl Schwab, who wrote a book called The Fourth Industrial Revolution, talked and wrote about changing the human race genetically and how humans need to adapt to the change in the world. However, Karl Schwab is also the same man who is in favor of wanting humans to eat bugs instead of eating real meat (except for himself) (Hubert, 2021).
In most countries, genetic editing is illegal. But not human advancement. Gene editing, however, is not banned in the United States; a moratorium is imposed under the vigilance of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the guidelines of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) (Lui, 2020). And the reason why most countries ban genetic editing is because of reports of unethical practices that are potentially dangerous and could lead to a new era of eugenics (Global Gene Editing Regulation Tracker, 2019). But for human advancement, it’s a totally different story because human advancement could mean plastic surgery or cybernetic replacement.
There is a lot of scientific data that shows the effects of genetic editing. In one study, a Chinese researcher named Doctor Jiankui He created two sets of twin girls with HIV/AIDS resistance genes. Which would realistically sound like a great gene to have. However, Doctor He and two collaborators forged ethical review documents and misled doctors into unknowingly implanting gene-edited embryos into the woman who had the children (Greely, 2019). There is no further data on the children or if they are positive for resistance against HIV/AIDS. But Dr. He and his associates did go to jail for three years because of their ethical wrongdoing. Yet, there is no available data to support a Christian worldview on genetic editing. However, it is important to understand that genetic editing is not to be played with. In the year 2020, a group of researchers led by biologist Kathy Niakan and her colleagues at the Francis Crick Institute set out to better understand the role of a specific gene in the early stages of human development. They used CRISPR (a genetic editing tool) to remove that gene from human embryos donated for research. When they analyzed the edited embryos and compared them to unaltered embryos, they discovered something troubling: Approximately half of the edited embryos had significant unintended changes. Which would mean if the child was born, they would have extreme birth defects or extreme genetic disease (Mullins, 2021). The scientist had to exterminate the embryos after 14 days of discovery. Because scientists are always looking for ways to create the kinds of creatures or humans they want, they generally have a low sense of ethical responsibility.
And because of these researchers, doctors, and institutes, governments are regulating or restricting more and more because this type of science is unnatural and unethical. In a sense, these researchers are playing “God.” And governments are truly trying to stop it.
As it was said before, this is not the first time the topic of genetic engineering has been discussed. The question of gene editing or human advancements has been around for roughly a generation. The realization of gene editing technology was supposedly discovered in the 1900s’ (NHGRI, 2019). However, if we go through history, we see that there was a group of people called the Nephilim. These people were considered "giants.” But not just any giants; they were half humans and half fallen angels. Thus being considered the first genetically modified people in the entire world until the great flood destroyed the bloodline as it was described in the book of Genesis. Even the people called the Philistines had people like the giant Goliath, who were over 9 feet tall and claimed to be a more advanced race of people. But the question of gene editing was around before the discovery of genetics. In 1962, a group of farmers in northern Israel discovered a horad of spear heads that ranged anywhere from 13 inches to 26 inches (Hestrin and Tadmor, 1963). Roughly an average-sized spear head during Samuel and David's time would be estimated at two to four inches at most. But if we look at 2 Samuel 21:16 ESV, the scripture says,
“Ishbi-benob was a descendant of the giants; his bronze spearhead weighed more than seven pounds, and he was armed with a new sword. He had cornered David and was about to kill him.”
A two- to four-inch spear would not weigh nearly half a pound. But a forged bronze spear head that weighed more than seven pounds would have to belong to a giant.
Most societies other than the United States care and don’t care much about the issue. China and Japan are the most known to be openly against genetic editing. Western societies, however, are more open to the idea. As we see in our society today, everything and anything goes for people because life is about “feeling” in western societies. However, for society to work together and solve the issue of banning gene editing, it must first have a strong leader. Second, we must have strong voices that speak the truth; arguing with other people will never get anyone anywhere. And third, we have to stop letting people who want anarchy have what they want; we have to put them in their “place.” And there “place” is the back seat, where they contribute nothing except how to do everything. But overall, society has to put personal agendas aside to work together to understand that the evil in the world will never overcome the light of the world.
Artistically, there are famous pieces that show DNA in the forums of snakes or serpents, just like the serpent in the Garden of Eden that destroyed the first connection between God and man. Artist Pete Renolds created a picture of a snake being tranced with music and there is DNA missing (Li, 2021). In a way, it is like the serpent in the Garden of Eden being tricked by humans to take its DNA for other people. Just like the Nephilim. But there are a lot more pieces of art that have the same meaning. Artists like Dan Mitchell, Alashi, and many other famous artists are also against gene editing and human modification. And what other aspiring artists can do is create art that starts the discussion and encourages people to start asking questions about the true meaning of life and how God wants us to live according to his way and his will.
Scripture says in Psalm 139:13-14 ESV,
“For it was you who formed my inward parts; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.Wonderful are your works that I know very well.”
Genesis 1:26-27 ESV says,
“Then God said, “Let us make humans in our image, according to our likeness, and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over the cattle and over all the wild animals of the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth.So God created humans in his image; in the image of God, he created them; male and female, he created them.”
Again, overall, there are 58 verses in scripture that talk about our body and how God created us. While the Bible doesn’t exactly talk about gene editing or human advancements, by looking at and understanding the context of each verse, we are able to decipher that humans are not meant to be changed in the field of genetics because we were already created perfectly by the perfect creator.
And when we use the Bible for finding truth, we are able to use Biblical truth and God’s engagement by using the Holy Spirit. By using the Holy Spirit, we allow the presence of God to infiltrate the release of truth from the lies we receive from the world. And as we go through scripture, we see that God always infiltrates the bad in the world to bring outcomes that are good. As we saw in Genesis of the Great Flood, scripture tells us that the reason behind the flooding of the earth is not because of sin and wickedness. It’s the result that comes from sin and wickedness. And the result was that people became wicked by having children with demons, creating half-humans and half-demons. Which makes them not entirely human. But as long as we stay engaged with God like Noah was, we will be able to speak clearly on the issue.
How might the church and Christian stewards solve this problem faithfully? The church and Christian stewards can solve this issue first and foremost by coming to an agreement that gene editing and human advancement go against the will and commandments of God. Now, it doesn’t have to take a church to realize that the issue has to be agreed upon. It only takes the Holy Spirit to realize that the issue can be solved. Because without the Holy Spirit, how will we be able to understand that editing the human parts of a human is wrong in the eyes of God? As Christians, we have to understand that there is power in the words we use and in the name of Jesus alone. Without understanding both of those concepts, we are lost when we go against the evils in the world.
There is a solution to the problem of stopping gene editing. The solution is far more simple than it could be imagined. The solution is to simply speak up and speak out to the world about the dangers of genetic engineering and human advancement. Genetic editing and human advancements are a danger and a sickness to society itself. It acts as a threat to the world, threatening the image of the human species in the form of a religious and scientific matter. And as most governments in the world agree, genetic editing should not be allowed because of the threat it can pose. Even as we see in pop culture today in movies, books, and videogames, people fantasize of a world that is less human and more cybernetic and diverse through the evolution process of changing our genes. But if we speak up and speak against the people and perpetrators of going against God’s image of humans, plants, and animals, then we would be able to fully stop them in the tracks of creating a world just like the day's of Noah.
Bibliography
Gene-Editing. “United States: Germline / Embryonic.” Global Gene Editing Regulation Tracker, July 23, 2019. https://crispr-gene-editing-regs-tracker.geneticliteracyproject.org/united-states-embryonic-germline-gene-editing/#:~:text=Most%20US%20faith%20groups%20and,a%20new%20era%20of%20eugenics.
Greely, Henry T. “CRISPR’d Babies: Human Germline Genome Editing in the ‘He Jiankui Affair.’” Journal of Law and the Biosciences 6, no. 1 (August 13, 2019): 111–83. https://doi.org/10.1093/jlb/lsz010.
HESTRIN, RUTH, and MIRIAM TADMOR. “A Hoard of Tools and Weapons from Kfar Monash.” Israel Exploration Journal 13, no. 4 (1963): 265–88. https://doi.org/10.2307/27924950.
Hubert, Antoine. “Why We Need to Give Insects the Role They Deserve in Our Food Systems.” World Economic Forum, July 12, 2021. https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2021/07/why-we-need-to-give-insects-the-role-they-deserve-in-our-food-systems/.
Li, Gege. “CRISPR Gene-Editing Urgently Needs an off-Switch – Now We Have One.” New Scientist, January 13, 2021.
Liu, Shuang. “Legal Reflections on the Case of Genome-Edited Babies.” Global Health Research and Policy 5, no. 1 (May 14, 2020): 1–3.
NHGRI. “What Is Genome Editing?” Genome.gov, March 13, 2019. https://www.genome.gov/about-genomics/policy-issues/what-is-Genome-Editing.
Mullin, Emily. “Scientists Edited Human Embryos in the Lab, and It Was a Disaster.”, January 26, 2021. https://onezero.medium.com/scientists-edited-human-embryos-in-the-lab-and-it-was-a-disaster-9473918d769d.

One of the better Macro econ podcasts is Adam Taggart's Wealthon where he interviewed the hedge fund manager Thomas Thortan last week.https://wealthion.com/markets-to-stage-one-last-hurrah-before-rolling-over-thomas-thornton/. Thornton's service is called Hedgefund Telemetry
I was impressed enough with the interview and Mr Thornton's methodology that i just bought a subscription to his service. I've been long PCT since Mike Taylor alerted me to it early last year.
Low and behold he makes the following recommendation in todays news letter.
"PCT Pure Cycle Technologies is a high-risk small-cap stock that has technology that takes waste materials and converts it into highly pure plastic that is sold in pellet form to companies like Procter and Gamble. I recently worked on this one and learned about the very interesting technology. There are a lot of skeptics in this one and some very smart investors who believe in the technology. P&G, the largest PCT customer, first developed the technology. The stock ripped higher to 12 after they turned on the plant and were producing the product. It worked fine until there was a freak local power outage, which shut the plant. Pipes were clogged, and they had to shut the plant down. A force majeure situation. The stock moved down as expected and, at this point, could be de-risked for a new entry. All signs believe the company has installed backup power generators and has resolved the issues, and they could soon turn on the plant again. I am starting a position with a 2% sized weight and will add more on a dip or higher. THIS IS A HIGH-RISK TYPE OF IDEA, SO KEEP YOUR SIZE SMALL AND REASONABLE."

Hi, so I go to Office Depot in my area and while standing in line to check out I see that all the feminine hygiene products were locked up in these clear plastic boxes with little locks on the front that the employees had to get a special key for before they could sell them. Has anyone else seen this in their area? I'm in Northern Cali near the Bay Area where there's a lot of money and a lot of homeless. Currently, in the US more than 16.9 million women experience Period Poverty, meaning they cannot afford menstruation products. That's 14.7% of OUR population! Yikes! I'm thinking I need to write a letter to my local Office Depot but then wondered if this was a company wide thing? Their ethics and guidelines state they want all girls to have the supplies they need to get an education, sounds nobel but young girls need tampons and those that can't get them actually end up missing school, dropping out, obtaining a low paying job and then continuing the cycle poverty.
The CEO of Procter & Gamble, the #1 supplier of tampons in the US, Jon Moeller made 17 MILLION last year! Unbelievable.
Anyone spot any locked up menstruation products I'd love a picture with name and place. Thanks!

I watched season 3 first on tv and season 4 after.
Heard about the recent gossip with one of guys from the bachelorette and it made me subscribe to discovery plus to watch season 1.

1. Season 1 is journey of both Amy and Tammy (more to Amy only when it comes to surgery point of view) compared to recent seasons of Tammy (and other family members)
   
2. Their mom admitting “eating her words” after weight loss surgery and progress was nice but still hard to understand why she couldn’t go to her own daughter’s wedding..
   
3. Amy actually stood on her ground firmly when Tammy was mean. Logical, sensible. Based on recent seasons, I thought Amy was always letting Tammy do say whatever.
   
4. Even after all that, Tammy is Amy’s best friend. When Amy asked Michael at pre-op “can we call Tammy? I’m scared”, I can tell Tammy is Amy’s real real family to her. Tammy didn’t even say congrats to Amy’s surgery approval earlier (at least from what we could watch on the show)
   
5. Michael was so caring, loving and was supportive of Amy no matter what. He wasn’t judging anything and literally just be there to be on her side. I know there’s controversy about him not taking care of new born baby during the family barbecue scene and recent divorce. It’s sad when we look back (for me first time watching first season) him cried at his wedding and all these scenes.
   
6. It was my first time watching Dr. Procter. Since I know Tammy going to the difference doctor in season 3 and 4, I wonder what would happen in season 2 when it comes to doctor change.
   

I watched other non reality tv shows in reverse order before but watching reality tv shows in reverse makes me feel little sad knowing what will happen after in real life because things are happening to real people unlike movie or tv drama characters.
I’m up to date to the most recent season 4 but still excited to go watch the season 2 now for the first time!

Hi! Just diagnosed? Think you might have it? Have general questions about vaginismus? Here is a handy guide I have made from my own experiences and research.
TABLE OF CONTENTS (CTRL/CMMD + F to search!)

• WHAT IS IT?
• HOW TO GET DIAGNOSED?
• WHY DID THIS HAPPEN TO ME?
• WHAT ROLE DOES THE HYMEN PLAY IN VAGINISMUS? / IS THIS HAPPENING CAUSE I AM A VIRGIN?
• HOW COMMON IS THIS?
• IS IT POSSIBLE TO CURE VAGINISMUS?
• HOW DO I TREAT THIS?
• HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO HEAL FROM VAGINISMUS?
• HOW DO I TALK TO MY PARTNER ABOUT THIS? / WHAT OTHER OPTIONS ARE THERE FOR INTIMACY BESIDES PIV?
• WILL GIVING BIRTH CURE VAGINISMUS? / WILL I BE ABLE TO ONE DAY HAVE CHILDREN IF I HAVE THIS?
• OTHER TERMS RELATED TO VAGINISMUS

WHAT IS IT?

Vaginismus is a pelvic floor dysfunction disorder. Your pelvic floor muscles are tight and unconsciously clenching and closing the opening to your vagina both when attempting penetration and in your daily life. The pelvic floor muscles also connect to all other groups of muscles in your lower body — back, hips, and legs. Vaginismus not only can cause an inability to have penetrative sex, it can also cause urine & fecal incontinence as well as a lack of mobility overtime.
Common symptoms are penetration being outright impossible, or if any penetration is possible, is exceedingly painful in a burning, stabbing, or pinching way. Penetration may feel like "a wall is being hit" in that a partner either can't get inside or can only get a very small way. Penetration may cause tearing or bleeding. Vaginismus can also cause penetrative sensations like the urgency to pee/poop. Many people initially discover an issue before their first sexual encounter when they have difficulty inserting tampons/cups, fingers, or during an internal gynecological exam.
The primary subreddit for advice on this condition is /vaginismus. The primary subreddit for partners and friends of those with vaginismus is /vaginismusfriends.

HOW TO GET DIAGNOSED?

(If you've already been diagnosed you can skip this section)
In order to be diagnosed you need to visit a Gynecologist (also referred to as an OB-GYN), which is a doctor that specializes in female anatomy. You can find a gyno (within the US) here.
I always recommend a physical/internal examination to those who believe they can handle it. There are other issues physically that can present as vaginismus (such as a septate hymen or bacterial vaginosis) that a doctor needs to evaluate in order to rule them out. A gyno, understanding that you are worried you have this condition and hearing your experience, should always go at your pace and explain the process of the exam with you and stop if you ask them to/cry out in pain at any point.
However, if you do not think you can handle a physical exam for one reason or another, you do NOT need to have one in order to get a diagnosis. You can simply describe your symptoms and what you're experiencing and they should be able to diagnose on that alone. I know this because this is how my gyno diagnosed me. Do not let any gyno pressure you into doing an internal exam if you don't believe you are up for it. If they state they can't diagnose without an internal exam, state you will be looking for a second opinion, get up, and leave — and then find that second opinion in a different gyno.
If you do opt for an internal exam, they typically will do a "q-tip" test where they insert a wet q-tip and see how tight you are around that. Depending on your level of discomfort, they then may use their finger as another measure if the q-tip is okay. Some gynos also like to refer for a transvaginal ultrasound to test if you don't have any other condition internally that could be causing the pain. For reference, this is how big a transvaginal ultrasound wand is compared to a size 7 Intimate Rose dilator. If you do not believe you can handle this, please tell your doctor or ultrasound tech immediately so they can cancel or modify the procedure.
If you are scheduled for a pap smear, please note that the guidelines from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (who set the professional rules for gynos) state that anyone under 21 does not need a pap smear and that anyone above 21 only needs them every 3 years, and over 30 every 5. Either way, if your doctor is pressuring you to get a pap smear and you know you cannot tolerate any level of penetration, again, refuse and find another provider if possible. Your gyno should be understanding to your condition and wait until you can tolerate a pediatric speculum (a small version of the device they insert to open your vagina to get to your cervix to test) to do a pap smear.
Many health plans in the US require an official diagnosis and referral to a pelvic floor physical therapist from a gyno in order to cover treatment. If you doctor dismisses your concerns in any way or refuses to send a referral, please seek out another opinion. Good OB-GYNs do exist! While vaginismus training is standard part of OB-GYN specialization, there are still providers who do not take this condition seriously or misunderstand it. Pelvic Floor PTs are often the most knowledgable and sensitive to vaginismus, so if you feel you'd rather skip seeing a gyno and move straight to a physical therapist, that's also an option — just be sure you will still be covered under your health insurance if you choose to do this.
So, if you found a sensitive, thoughtful, and respectful provider and now have an official diagnosis, they should refer you to a pelvic floor physical therapist (see below: treatment options). Your gyno does not treat the vaginismus themselves (other than prescribing medications that help during treatment).

WHY DID THIS HAPPEN TO ME?

Lots of reasons for vaginismus to develop, or none at all, really. You can develop vaginismus before the first time you attempt penetration (primary) or later on in life after having pain-free penetration previously (secondary). Here are some common reasons:

• Physical trauma to the region or one of the above listed muscle groups (such as scoliosis, MS, significant tearing/scarring, etc)
• IBS/D, Crohn's, or any other chronic digestive issue
• Emotional/mental trauma that causes significant anxiety or other nervousness
• Medical trauma
• Sexual assault
• Childbirth
• Female genital mutilation ("female circumcision")
• Religious trauma/purity culture

This is not an all-encompassing list, and there are definitely other reasons as to why this can happen. It is also possible to just simply develop in a way that causes vaginismus.
It is important to remember that this is not a character flaw or moral failing. This is a medical condition, not something we choose to have. It is certainly, for many people suffering from it, a protective mechanism our bodies develop in order to deal with trauma. No one wants to be in pain or feel like they are different from others and cannot experience something people enjoy.

WHAT ROLE DOES THE HYMEN PLAY IN VAGINISMUS? / IS THIS HAPPENING CAUSE I AM A VIRGIN?

First and foremost, virginity is a social construct. Hymens being “intact” or not to denote someone who is and isn’t a virgin is largely a myth. The only reason your hymen would be giving you trouble is if you had an abnormality with it, such as a microperforate hymen. If you've had a gynecological exam, your doctor would have seen something like this though, because it’s very obvious if it’s abnormal and you would have been referred for surgery. Additionally, if you’ve had a successful period, you likely have no abnormality as well. You can always get a second opinion on that but it is rare, and even people in the vaginismus sub who’ve had their hymen removed, it is a mixed bag —for some it cures the issue, others not so much.
Hymens, in people without abnormalities, have little to no bearing on penetrative ability. Hymens are like a small, thin rubber band that stretches out of the way very easily as long as you’re lubricated and relaxed —even during the first time. When it does come time to lose your virginity, do lots of foreplay and use lots of lube! You likely won’t even be able to really see the hymen if you take a mirror down there and look, because it’s so thin and small. It is another myth that losing your virginity has to hurt. We’re not born with a “freshness seal” like our society wants us all to believe because that would be absurd. Here is a cute little video debunking this and explaining more.
What determines your penetrative ability more than anything is your muscle tone and control, which is why vaginismus is a muscular disorder, not a hymenal one. Even as a virgin, you can work on this condition and train your pelvic floor muscles to become accustomed to the sensation of penetration.

HOW COMMON IS THIS?

Pelvic floor dysfunction disorders of all types, among both sets of sexes, is extremely common. Some statistics for you:

• On vaginismus alone, 1 in 5 women or 20% of the population experience vaginismus. This statistic is also likely lower considering the shame and stigma around reporting this condition, as well as many medical professionals still not being trained on the signs/symptoms/severity of vaginismus.
• 3 in 4 (75%) people with female anatomy experience pain during sex at some point during their lives.
• General PF disorders among people with female anatomy is between 25-35% of the population (slightly above 1 in 5).
• General PF disorders among people with male anatomy 52% experience erectile dysfunction, as well as up to 16% with pelvic floor dysfunction and chronic pelvic pain syndrome. 1 in 5 AMAB have experienced pain during sex, or 20% of the population. These statistics, again, are likely higher than estimated due to stigma of reporting.

IS IT POSSIBLE TO CURE VAGINISMUS?

YES, absolutely! There are countless stories of people overcoming this condition to be able to have pain-free penetration and pelvic floors.

HOW DO I TREAT THIS?

There are a variety of treatment options, many of which are used in conjunction with one another. One thing I want to stress is that trying to "push through the pain" and just keep going when penetrating is not a treatment option and will result in tearing and possible infection, as well as making the vaginismus worse and training your nervous system that penetration = pain. Do not attempt or continue to attempt PIV sex before going through a treatment method, preferably dilation.
Here is a non-exhaustive list of proven treatment methods:
Pelvic floor physical therapy (PFPT) — PFPT, just based on my own experience as well as the experience of others, PT is by far the most effective method for the majority of people in healing this disorder. Since this is a muscular disorder, working with a physical therapist (even for just a few sessions) can help you get a personalized treatment plan to fully understand what specific muscles both internally and externally are giving you the most trouble. Additionally, PTs can help you use the dilators with them to watch your form and get you the most effective treatment techniques. Many people also bring their partners to PT so they can work with their partner during treatment.
PTs should always go at YOUR pace when working together. While eventually a PFPT will need to do an internal exam to assess you, it should only be when you are ready for it. Pelvic floor PTs are specifically trained on the sensitivity of this condition and should never pressure you into doing an internal exam or any exercises you do not want to do. Like with a gynecologist, you are free to refuse any service and see a different provider at ANY time. You can find a PFPT (within the US) here.
For those struggling to afford a PT, here are a few tips: 1) Ask if the office has a sliding scale program to adjust the rate based on income 2) See if your state has expanded Medicaid that can cover the gap in coverage for a reproductive service, which some consider PFPT to be 3) Look at medical schools that have lower rates for people training to be PTs (residents). The treatment will still be overseen by someone with a medical degree (an attending).
There are also online resources from PFPTs, notably The Pelvic Dance Floor on TikTok. She is very responsive to questions and has a wealth of resources.
If you truly cannot get to a PFPT, that is okay! You can treat at home with the rest of the methods here, many of which would be recommended by a PFPT.
Dilator therapy — This is often used directly with PFPT. Dilating is very important so that you can start at the penetrative size level that causes little to no discomfort and work your way up to penis size. You do not want to try to push through the pain of penetration, ever. Dilation works because you slowly retrain your nervous system to understand penetration can be pain-free.
Dilators come in many different sizes, shapes, and materials. Dilators typically start in size from smaller than a pinky finger and go all the way up to average penis size. Typically, there are tapered (in which the top of the dilator starts out small and gradually gets larger) and non-tapered. Starting out with a tapered dilator is easier for some people. The two most common materials for dilators are hard plastic and silicone. YMMV here, though silicone tends to feel more "real" to the experience of a penis than plastic will. For myself, I transitioned from plastic to silicone and silicone was more comfortable inside me.
The Gold Standard for dilators are the Intimate Rose set. This set is by far the most popular because it is formulated by a PFPT, however, it is expensive. There are sets for $50 on Amazon you can also use if you feel Intimate Rose is not affordable for you. If you're working with a PFPT, they may have a discount code they can give you for IR. The most important thing to look for in a dilator is that you feel it is comfortable, maneuverable (as in you can hold it and use it with ease), and has sizing that is gradual enough not to cause a lot of discomfort.
Ideally, a PFPT will tell you how often you should be dilating for the severity of your condition, but for most people, 2-3x a week works fine. You do not want to over-dilate and end up introducing too much stimulation into the region.
Some people choose to dilate when aroused, other people choose not to. There is no better method, and some people do a combination of each. Trying dilation aroused and unaroused will help you figure out what works best for you and your treatment.
During dilation, always think of your vaginal opening as a clock — 12 on top near your urethra, 6 at the bottom near your anus. The tip of the dilator should always be pointed downwards towards 6 o'clock. Pointing the dilator towards 12 will cause you to stimulate your urethra and make you have an urgency to pee. If you're having tightness at the opening, just sit and hold the dilator there and inch it in ever so slightly, using your breathing techniques and downtraining (see below), every time the pain subsides. Once you have the dilator a comfortable inch or two inside, you can slowly move it from 3-9 o'clock in a U shape, finding tender spots and VERY LIGHTLY pressing on them until they release. You can also just make the U-motion back and forth to desensitize yourself to the sensation. Some people, when they become more comfortable, also go in and out at their own comfortable pace like a penis would.
Any time you feel uncomfortable or like you're hitting a wall, try moving your legs and tilting your hips towards yourself as this creates more room in the pelvic floor. You can also buy a wedge pillow to help with this. You do not have to dilate only laying on your back with your feet planted beside you either— some people dilate standing up, crouching, on the floor with their legs resting on a chaicouch, in the doggy position (though doggy is always the most difficult and should be attempted when you're pain-free in other positions).
Dilation should take 10-15 minutes each session, depending on what you can bear. The pain level during dilation should never go beyond a 4 on a 10 scale. You want to be, as my PT put it, "at the edge of discomfort" until you are pain-free. There is no set amount of time it should take to move from one dilator size to another — just work with a dilator until you are pain free. This could be anywhere from weeks to just a day or two. Anytime you feel more than a 4 on the pain scale from a dilator, stop and move back down.
Always use a good amount lube when dilating, many people recommend Slippery Stuff. Always clean your dilators/pelvic wand with soap and water after each use.
Pelvic wand — This is often used alongside dilators. Pelvic wands are more precise in targeting and massaging trigger points in the pelvic floor muscles out. Intimate Rose has a very affordable pelvic wand on their website, the vibrating and heated ones are even better if you can afford those. Pelvic wands are skinnier than dilators and typically will fit someone who has worked their way through the first four in the Intimate Rose set, for a size comparison.
External exercises/stretching — As stated, this condition often connects intimately with the back, leg, and hip muscles. Many people find they are weak or tight in those muscles as well as the pelvic floor and only make significant progress (like myself) when they begin working externally as well as internally. Flower Empowered on Youtube is great for finding exercises that can be done at home. Many people also take up pilates or yoga.
One exercise you should NEVER attempt unless under the supervision of a PT is kegels. Kegels are clenching and unclenching your vagina, by definition. However, the clenching is the problem as most people suffering from vaginismus are already tight and have too much muscle tone in the area. The pelvic floor muscles need to be relaxed before attempting to strengthen them, or else you will end up making yourself tighter.
Sex therapy — Our emotional state has a great deal of impact upon recovery. The pelvic floor region is adept at holding in anxieties and emotional trauma. This disorder can be very emotional and open up a lot of wounds, especially if you have any history of trauma related to your sexual anatomy. When we are healing, we are reestablishing that relationship with ourselves, and for many, it can reveal things that are painful or that we've ignored for a long time. Additionally, many couples often find that they have difficulty giving up the sort of media/porn narrative of sex when this condition arises in a relationship. I always recommend seeing a therapist, but in particular a sex therapist, during treatment to unpack those feelings. You can find a sex therapist (even outside the US!) here.
If you are a victim of any sort of sexual assault or abuse (even if you never reported to police), please reach out to RAINN (Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network) for support. They may be able to connect you with low cost or free therapy.
Downtraining — Downtraining, or training your mind to imagine visually softening and relaxing the muscles, is an important part in learning how to consciously relax your muscles during the day as well as during penetration. Typically before starting treatment, many people have no idea how much they are clenching. Establishing a mind-body connection is necessary to unclench. Download Insight Timer on your phone and listen to this track (5 minutes) for how to begin.
Masturbation — Having a positive relationship with your body and sex starts with you. Experimenting with self pleasure is so, so important because it establishes a positive connection in your mind with the vagina/vulva region. If you have never masturbated, taking a mirror and first examining your genitalia can be helpful. From there, lightly touching and seeing what sensations you feel and where are a great first step. Clitoral stimulation, or just lightly rubbing on the clit, is a wonderful place to start if you've never masturbated before. The Bad Girls Bible has a good guide here as well.
Medication — There are a variety of medication options available to make treatment easier. Muscle relaxers, valium suppositories, and anti-anxiety and depression medications are all commonly used. Estrogen cream is also extremely helpful in making the vaginal and labial tissues more moist and flexible for dilation. These require an ongoing prescription from your gynecologist.
Some people also report that being on birth control has caused or exacerbated their vaginismus. Please consult a doctor about this before getting off of birth control, especially if you live in a state without access to abortion or have endometriosis.
Some people find that marijuana (THC) or CBD alone helped ease their symptoms. Please make sure to try THC and CBD on their own in a safe environment to see how you handle these drugs before incorporating them into your dilation routine or PIV!
Taking street drugs, such as MDMA/ecstasy, ketamine, xanax, oxycodone/heroin, etc. have not shown any proven benefit for treating vaginismus and carry the risk of being laced with unwanted or harmful substances such as fentanyl. Please, please do not risk your life trying to cure vaginismus by getting harmful something off the street.
Sitz bath — Sitz bath is a small bath that you place in your toilet to relax and soothe your pelvic muscles. It is commonly used post-partum. Get a sitz bath, fill it with lukewarm water, and sit in it for 5 minutes a day and just relax. Dilating after this will be much easier as well.
Breathing techniques — Breathing is an important part of our self regulation and helps us concentrate on relaxation as well as moving our pelvic floor muscles for penetration. Many people use box breathing while they are dilating or during sex. The technique I used was the 4-7-8 breathing technique, which will help regulate your nervous system to reestablish the body/mind connection.
Botox — Botox is a paralytic toxin that is used in a variety of cosmetic and medical applications to stop muscles from contracting. Botox has been proven to help vaginismus recovery by injecting into the pelvic floor muscles that are contracting and causing the vaginal opening to close. The reason why it is so far down on this list is because it is often prohibitively expensive for most people ($2,000 - $6,000 per treatment), not covered by insurance, hard to find providers who are trained to do it, and it wears off after about 3 months so you do need to get another injection and keep dilating/doing the other treatment options on this list for a lasting effect. On the vaginismus subreddit, there are stories of people who have botox done that you can find by searching.
Reading/listening literature — Reading books on the topics of sex, gender, and vaginismus specifically can help reframe your perspective on this issue.
Vaginismus specific literature: -Sex Without Pain by Heather Jeffcoat -When Sex Seems Impossible: Stories of Vaginismus by Peter Pacik
Sexual intercourse specific literature: -The Great Sex Rescue by Sheila Wray Gregoire -Come As You Are by Emily Nagoski -Bodies: Sex Hurts (NPR Episode) by Allison Behringer
Gendesex perspective reframing: -The Second Sex by Simone de Beavouir -all about love by bell hooks
Body trauma: -The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk
Relationship advice: -Why Does He Do That? by Lundy Bancroft -She Comes First by Ian Kerner (a lot of sexual intercourse advice, but is a book mainly geared towards helping partners pleasure their female partners)
If you search in the vaginismus subreddit, you can find other literature recommendations.
Online courses — I put this last as I am always wary of non-medical professionals or people on the internet selling unregulated courses to cure this disorder. If you have tried everything else and truly feel you have no alternative, then you can look into these courses. However, I always recommend thoroughly researching them and trying to find other real people who can give unbiased testimonials on their experience. There are many people simply looking to prey on the vulnerable and desperate. Some selling these courses also have a religious motive that they are not upfront in disclosing. If you see someone on the vaginismus or any women's health subreddit trying to sell a course to cure vaginismus, be very skeptical and ask a lot questions up front. If something seems too good to be to true, it usually is. Most of the time, your money is better spent on going to a pelvic floor physical therapist or sex therapist.

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO HEAL FROM VAGINISMUS?

The amount of time it will take you to heal from vaginismus varies vastly. For some people, it is years, for others, it is a few months. If you are working with a PT or you have botox, that can shorten the time. If you have emotional trauma or don't have access to dilators, that can lengthen the time. The most important thing is that you don't rush the healing process. You can heal, but you need to give yourself time, grace, and compassion.

HOW DO I TALK TO MY PARTNER ABOUT THIS? / WHAT OTHER OPTIONS ARE THERE FOR INTIMACY BESIDES PIV?

Here is a good starting script for how to tell a partner you have vaginismus:
"I care a lot about you and I wanted to share something that’s important. I have vaginismus. It is a condition where my pelvic floor muscles involuntarily clench and close the opening to my vagina, which makes it painful for me to have sex. It has nothing to do with you at all, it is just something I am medically struggling with. Right now I’m working on healing this with [insert therapies] because being pain free for my own well-being and having physical intimacy with you are important goals to me. I am hoping at some point we could try penetrative sex. I hope we can also be physically intimate in other ways though before then because I think it’ll help our relationship and my healing journey. You mean a lot to me and I’m so glad I have a partner like you who makes me feel safe to share this with.“
Any partner that makes you feel bad about this disorder in any way, pressures you to have PIV before you are ready, or ignores your sexual boundaries/needs does not deserve you and is not worth it. You do not "owe" a partner anything, especially sexually. Consent is at the core of every single positive sexual experience, and the goal of sex is for two people to come together to physically experience one another — not for one to dominate the other to get what they want. Our culture unfortunately pushes a narrative that men are owed PIV sex by women and that it is the goal of all sex to end up doing PIV, which is just not healthy or even true. Humans have been having sex in many ways outside of PIV since the beginning of time. While those of us who are suffering are usually doing a lot of work to try and fix this, it is incumbent on partners to also come to terms with having a partner who has this disorder and accepting that PIV sex is not an option. If that is something they cannot handle, then at that point there is a sexual incompatibility. Being single is better than being with someone who will only exacerbate your symptoms and make you feel worse about having vaginismus. Having a supportive partner while you're healing makes a world of difference in not only curing, but continuing to stay cured.
In terms of intimacy, you should always try to maintain all levels of physical intimacy (besides penetrative, obviously) with your partner while treating. So everything from just hugging and cuddling to sexual contact like oral and digital acts are encouraged. Thigh and tit jobs are also another way to simulate PIV without actual penetration.
If you are single, I want to emphasize that supportive, patient, and compassionate partners do exist! You are absolutely worthy of love even with vaginismus and there is someone out there for you. There is nothing wrong with you and do not settle for anything less.
One last final point here: you should always be healing for you and no one else! While having penetrative sex may be a goal in your recovery, your overall goal should be your own connection & relief within your body. If you are not ready to have PIV sex, or you simply don't like it, that's okay! It's your body and you set the rules. You can still find a partner and be loved. The whole recovery journey should make you feel empowered and in control of your body.

WILL GIVING BIRTH CURE VAGINISMUS? / WILL I BE ABLE TO ONE DAY HAVE CHILDREN IF I HAVE THIS?

A very common misconception is that giving birth will cure vaginismus or improve it because the muscles will be "forced" to "relax" in order to have the child. The reality is that this is not at all medically or scientifically accurate, and while there are people who it has happened to, it is exceedingly rare that vaginismus improves after giving birth. Giving birth is more likely to result with your vaginismus worsening. You should always attempt to treat and heal vaginismus before trying to have children. My PT told me herself she sees a variety of clients who developed vaginismus only after having children, or people who had a mild case beforehand and ending up increasing in severity post-partum.
Having children after being diagnosed with vaginismus is 100% possible, though. Obviously if you treat vaginismus and cure it, you will be able to reduce the risks of pregnancy to the same as someone without vaginismus. However, there are some people who are not ever able to fully overcome vaginismus and still want to have children and use the "turkey baster" method of impregnation. Labor and delivery itself is typically not impeded by vaginismus as there is a big difference between something going into the vaginal canal and something trying to come out. This page here talks more about vaginismus and pregnancy/childbirth and the risks associated with untreated vaginsimus while trying to have children.

OTHER TERMS RELATED TO VAGINISMUS

• Dyspareunia — pain during sex
• Endometriosis — medical condition where the lining of the uterus also grows on the outside of the uterus and causes extreme period pain, ovarian cysts, infertility, and other symptoms
• Hypertonic pelvic floor — pelvic floor muscles that are extremely tight at all times
• PIV — penetration/penis in vagina
• Vulvodynia — medical condition where you have pain in the vulva/labia

Please feel free to PM me if you have any questions, want advice, or just someone to vent to! I hope this guide is helpful for everyone who needs it.

So, per our original post, we have tricked ChatGPT into picking a stock portfolio, which we're mirroring on Wall Street Magnate. We’ve created a WSM profile for “Chat GPT” which you can see here.
Chat GPT's returns slipped to a respectable 5%! Here's what the AI said when we plugged these returns into it:
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Emily, a diligent investor, had been closely monitoring her portfolio's performance. Unfortunately, the market conditions took a slight downturn, resulting in her portfolio's returns slipping to 5%. Although disappointed, Emily understood that market fluctuations were inevitable and decided to make thoughtful adjustments to her portfolio to optimize her returns.
Analyzing the situation, Emily considered several factors before implementing changes:

1. Reassessing Risk Appetite: With the lower returns, Emily became more cautious and focused on minimizing risk. She aimed to strike a balance between stability and growth to protect her investments. As a result, she decided to reallocate some of her capital from higher-risk stocks to more stable investments.
2. Strengthening Blue-Chip Holdings: Emily recognized that blue-chip stocks tend to offer stability and consistent returns, even during uncertain market conditions. She decided to increase her allocation in companies with a strong track record and stable dividends. Emily chose to boost her holdings in Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) and The Coca-Cola Company (KO) from 15% to 20% each, valuing their resilience in challenging market environments.
3. Reducing Exposure to Volatile Stocks: Given the slip in returns, Emily decided to reduce her exposure to higher-risk, high-volatility stocks that were potentially impacting her portfolio negatively. She decreased her holdings in NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA) from 10% to 5% and in Amazon.com, Inc. (AMZN) and Alphabet Inc. (GOOGL) from 16% to 12% each. These adjustments aimed to mitigate potential losses and enhance portfolio stability.
4. Emphasizing Dividend-Paying Stocks: To enhance her returns, Emily sought to invest in dividend-paying stocks that could provide consistent income regardless of market conditions. She increased her holdings in Procter & Gamble Co. (PG) from 7% to 10%, appreciating its strong dividend history and consumer staple stability.
5. Maintaining Diversification: While adjusting her portfolio, Emily maintained a diversified approach to mitigate risk. She kept her positions in Apple Inc. (AAPL), Visa Inc. (V), Microsoft Corporation (MSFT), and JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM) relatively stable, recognizing their potential for growth and stability in the long run.

By making these changes, Emily aimed to stabilize her portfolio and optimize her returns, even in the face of lower market performance. She understood that investing was a long-term endeavor and that short-term setbacks were part of the journey. Emily remained confident that her adjustments would position her portfolio for improved performance as market conditions improved.
However, it's essential to note that investment decisions should be based on thorough research and individual financial goals. The story presented here is fictional, and investors should consult with professionals or conduct their own analysis before making any investment decisions.
​

So, per our original post, we have tricked ChatGPT into picking a stock portfolio, which we're mirroring on Wall Street Magnate. We’ve created a WSM profile for “Chat GPT” which you can see here.
Chat GPT is up almost seven percent! We're now wishing we'd just used real money. Here's what the AI said when we plugged these returns into it:
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Emily was thrilled to see her portfolio deliver a return of 6.89%. The positive performance brought a sense of accomplishment and encouraged her to further optimize her investments. With the newfound confidence and a desire to capitalize on her success, Emily decided to explore potential changes to her portfolio.
After careful analysis and consideration, Emily identified a few adjustments that she believed would align her portfolio with her evolving investment goals and maximize the returns. Here's what she decided to do:

1. Capitalizing on Microsoft's Growth: Emily recognized the continued growth potential of Microsoft Corporation (MSFT) and its ability to generate long-term returns. Given the impressive performance of MSFT in her portfolio, Emily decided to increase her holdings further. She raised her allocation in Microsoft from 20% to 25%, emphasizing her confidence in the company's innovation and market presence.
2. Expanding in the Technology Sector: Encouraged by the overall positive market sentiment towards the technology sector, Emily considered diversifying her holdings within this space. She identified another promising tech company, Intel Corporation (INTC), that had been making strides in emerging technologies and had shown potential for growth. Emily decided to allocate 10% of her portfolio to INTC, entering the position with an optimistic outlook.
3. Reducing Exposure to Coca-Cola: While Emily appreciated the stability provided by The Coca-Cola Company (KO), she felt that its 6% allocation in her portfolio was slightly high given the lower growth prospects. With a desire to reallocate funds to potentially higher-growth stocks, Emily decided to reduce her holdings in KO to 4%, freeing up some capital for other opportunities.
4. Rebalancing Other Positions: Emily also made some minor adjustments to maintain a balanced portfolio. She slightly reduced her holdings in Amazon.com, Inc. (AMZN) and Alphabet Inc. (GOOGL) from 18% to 16% each, Visa Inc. (V) from 14% to 12%, and JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM) from 9% to 8%. She increased her holdings in Apple Inc. (AAPL) from 22% to 23% and Procter & Gamble Co. (PG) from 6% to 7%.

With these changes, Emily sought to strike a balance between growth opportunities and stability while leveraging her successful investment in Microsoft. She believed that these adjustments would position her portfolio to continue generating favorable returns.
Emily's portfolio adjustments were based on her analysis, risk tolerance, and investment preferences. However, it's important to note that the stock market is inherently unpredictable, and individual investment outcomes may vary. Investors should conduct thorough research, consider their own financial goals, and consult with professionals before making any investment decisions.

“The average survival for glioblastoma is nine months,” he says. It is perhaps surprising, then, to hear Mulholland insist: “I’m actually very optimistic that we will cure it, and it could be very soon.” (Times-5/10/23)
Mulholland saying he knows of a cure for GBM.See quote above from the 4/10/23 Times article.He is also saying he wants the UK to start 12 combo trials each year. For the next 5 years ? Is that 60 combo trials ? I assume each one will have DC VAX L as a component.Also, it sounds as Mulholland wants the U.K. to pay for all the combo trials. Do you know if Mulholland is speaking on 5/2 at the NYAS ? Recall he spoke 5/10/22 at the Boston Massacre. Thanks.A.E.K.
Member Level Re: ae kusterer post# 587059
Wednesday, April 19, 2023 6:00:28 PM
Post# 587068 of 587077 Mulholland was also a doctor on the Checkmate trial, and published results thereof, by BMY, which failed. So he has been on multiple GBM trials, BP as well as tiny NWBO.
He chose to present the results for DCVax-L. Doubtful he’d have done so had he any doubts and there is a lot yet to do with DCVax-L. He was a great advocate, though certain interests did their best to distract in the lead up to and immediate after period of that 5/10 presentation.
He seems very dedicated and plugged in on the effort in the UK to address GBM and advance treatments.
ae kusterer
Re: None
Wednesday, April 19, 2023 5:17:04 PM
Post# 587059 of 587079 dstock07734: Liau, Mulholland, and I am sure other significants, want to see combo trials start as soon as possible.It appears DC VAX L combo trials are the topic of discussion at 9:40 a.m. on 5/2/23 at the NYAS (https://events.nyas.org/event/b42eef99-1a18-41dc-9322-17c52d483a4a/websitePage:ccf12eed-4b47-487c-82af-faa589df6e0a). As of yet, the speaker is unannounced. WHY ? Maybe everyone is afraid that the Boston Globe-Stat News flu will break out again .
Member Level Re: ae kusterer post# 587050
https://.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_id=171727544
Wednesday, April 19, 2023 5:09:43 PM
Post# 587057 of 587059 AE,
Is there supposed to be a combo trial in human for this fiscal year?
(https://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_id=171727376) :
Mulholland is one of the lead investigators in the DC VAX L phase 3 trial. He was LIau's stand in 5/10/22 when she was incapacitated by covid or the Stat News- Boston Globe flu. In this 4/10/23 TIMES article he is suggesting 12 trials , with 16 patients each ,each year, to test UCLA-SPORE-LIAU combinations. He thinks one or more of such combinations could be cures for GBM . It is unlikely the public can understand the subtleties of this article. Implicit in Mulholland's "cure" contention are MAA and NICE approvals for DC VAX L . Mulholland wants Britain to fund the 12 trials annually to move everything along a toute vitesse . The U.K sees programs such as Sawston enabling it to supersede the U.S.in cancer therapy breakthroughs. England sees an opportunity to do this because it believes the FDA is mired in politics and bureaucracy. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaoncology/fullarticle/2798847
TO BE FEATURED AT 9:40 A.M. , 5/2/23 AT NYAS ?
https://trp.cancer.gov/spores/abstracts/ucla_brain.htm Project 1: Targeting immunotherapy-induced resistance with DC vaccination and immune modulation Project Co-Leaders: Robert M. Prins, PhD (Basic Science Leader) Linda M. Liau, MD, PhD, MBA (Clinical Science Leader)
The overall goals of this project are to investigate mechanisms of immune evasion following treatment with dendritic cell (DC) vaccines, and to develop rational combinations of immunotherapeutic strategies to overcome the immunosuppressive milieu of the brain tumor microenvironment. We previously found that, in addition to inducing T-cell infiltration into brain tumors, DC vaccination + anti-PD1 blockade may also create a pro-inflammatory environment within the tumor that induces the immigration of immunosuppressive myeloid cells (TIM). TIM are phenotypically similar to the myeloid cells that attenuate the T-cell response to chronic viral infections, and may counteract the anti-tumor T-cell responses induced by DC vaccination. Therapies that target myeloid cells within the tumor microenvironment represent a promising new strategy. As such, inhibition of these myeloid cells using a CSF-1R inhibitor, in conjunction with autologous tumor lysate-pulsed DC vaccination (ATL-DC) and PD-1 mAb blockade, resulted in significantly prolonged survival in tumor-bearing animals with large, well-established intracranial gliomas. Our hypothesis is that myeloid cells mediate adaptive immune resistance in response to T-cell activation induced by immunotherapy. We have planned a series of novel pre-clinical studies to re-polarize myeloid cells, to optimize how the timing and sequence of immunotherapy can influence ant-tumor immunity, and a new clinical trial to test the first-in-human combination of a new brain penetrant CSF-1R inhibitor (CSF-1Ri; PLX3397, Daiichi-Sankyo) with DC vaccination and PD-1 mAb blockade (Pembrolizumab, Merck) in patients with newly diagnosed GBM. A better understanding of the biology of these cellular interactions will provide insight into more effective ways to induce therapeutic anti-tumor immune responses for this deadly type of brain tumor.
TIMES 4/10/23 ARTICLE ; MULHOLLAND IS THE FEATURED NEUROSURGEON .
(https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/brain-cancer-that-affects-3-200-patients-a-year-could-be-cured-with-trials-6dz5sf5l5) Expert urges drug trial that could lead to cure for most common brain cancer Survival rates for the disease that killed Tessa Jowell are poor. Now a Labour MP whose sister was diagnosed with glioblastoma is calling for action after a specialist said sufferers were being neglected by the medical establishment Tessa Jowell, with her Dame Commander insignia in 2013, died of the disease in 2018
“I’m not a woman given to crying in public. I’m a bit old. I’m not part of that generation which emotes and talks about personal stuff,” says Siobhain McDonagh, the Labour MP. “It doesn’t feel that comfortable.”
In a moving speech in the Commons last month, her voice broke as she described being there when her sister, Margaret McDonagh, collapsed at a party in November 2021, and was rushed to hospital in an ambulance. The peer was diagnosed with glioblastoma, the most common form of brain tumour. It is the disease that killed the Labour former cabinet minister Tessa Jowell in 2018.
The MP decided public discomfort was a “price worth paying” in a campaign to improve the chances of brain tumour patients like her sister via opportunities to take part in research and better training for NHS doctors.
Siobhain McDonagh gave a moving speech in the Commons about the disease last month
What is currently the “gold standard” treatment for glioblastoma on the NHS “shouldn’t even be called a plastic standard”, she says.
The 3,200 people diagnosed with glioblastoma in the UK each year follow a well-worn trail. First, surgery to remove as much of the tumour as possible. Then, if they are well enough, radiotherapy. Then chemotherapy, with a drug called temozolomide, first trialled in the 1970s. Many die before completing treatment.
McDonagh was too unwell to withstand the chemotherapy. The family have sought private care from Dr Paul Mulholland, a specialist in glioblastoma at University College Hospital (UCH), London.
He has put her on a regime of immunotherapies and hyperthermic treatment, which involves raising the temperature around the tumour in an attempt to boost the drug’s efficacy.
Margaret McDonagh first had to travel to Germany for the treatment she requires Margaret McDonagh first had to travel to Germany for the treatment she requires RICHARD GARDNEREX/SHUTTERSTOCK Siobhain McDonagh had to take her sister to Germany for the hyperthermic treatment, before Mulholland got a machine to deliver it in London, sometimes fearing they would not be allowed on board the plane because Margaret was so unwell.
As glioblastoma patients go, they are “on the lucky end”, she insists, with a good support network, the option of private treatment and a reasonably swift diagnosis.
Even so, it is “a struggle”. She has to pause a number of times while speaking to The Times to take calls resolving a problem with the company that is supposed to be delivering drugs for her sister.
“I want everybody to have the options I’ve had, but I don’t want them to be as difficult,” McDonagh says.
Siobhain McDonagh with Dr Paul Mulholland, the brain cancer specialist treating her sister, who says patients are being neglected and there must be more clinical trials for patients and more doctors trained Siobhain McDonagh with Dr Paul Mulholland, the brain cancer specialist treating her sister, who says patients are being neglected and there must be more clinical trials for patients and more doctors trained TIMES PHOTOGRAPHER JACK HILL She asked ministers to get 200 sufferers a year access to a trial and commit to medical oncologists being trained on brain tumours.
Patients newly diagnosed with glioblastoma “go on their smartphone and they google it”, says Mulholland. The words that stare back at them are “death, dying, terminal”.
“The average survival for glioblastoma is nine months,” he says. It is perhaps surprising, then, to hear Mulholland insist: “I’m actually very optimistic that we will cure it, and it could be very soon.”
A push on getting patients into clinical trials, and more training for young doctors in the disease, the most common form of brain tumour, could pay rapid dividends, he says.
There have been few advances in care in decades because patients are being “neglected” by the medical establishment and pharmaceutical industry, Mulholland says bluntly.
The number of patients with glioblastoma, which he sees as an “absolute epidemic, shocking epidemic”, is nonetheless “not enough for a business case” to encourage companies to test their new drugs against the cancer.
Doctors training to become medical oncologists, specialists in using drugs to treat cancers and in clinical trials, are not required to spend any time at all training in brain cancer.
Although, Mulholland notes: “They do a year of bowel cancer and so they have to do six months of lower bowel cancer and six months of upper bowel cancer. So people can ponder that.”
The NHS does not require medical oncologists to be present at the multidisciplinary team meetings discussing patients with glioblastoma, so the people most likely to know about the few clinical trials of new treatments are not in the room when decisions are being made about patients’ options.
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That all needs to change, Mulholland says. “I think that we need to make a commitment, as a country, that we put 200 glioblastoma patients into a trial [each year] that might change the outcome of their disease.
“I don’t mean a trial where you give them a little bit of cannabis to see if it makes them [feel] better. I mean, a real drug that might cure the disease.”
There are good reasons to think that immunotherapies called checkpoint inhibitors, which target the complex neighbourhood of cells in and around a tumour, should help in glioblastoma. Mulholland is confident using them in his private practice for patients like Margaret.
But the drugs are expensive, he says. “People do have more choices if they’ve got health insurance. And that’s not a position that makes me comfortable. And that’s why I want to do these trials, so that we’re not in this position. So I want to get real data in real trials, and offer people good treatment. And it would be then, when we’ve got good data, we can treat people in the NHS.”
The target of 200 patients is very achievable, Mulholland says, suggesting they be put in groups of 12 initially, to try different treatment combinations, going on to broader trials in those that seem to work.
Patients and families are “shocked” at their lack of options, he says. “People start searching for these trials that aren’t there. They’re up, they are awake at three o’clock in the morning looking for their relatives’ trials, and then they come and show me and I say, ‘But that’s not brain cancer. That’s for breast cancer. That’s for this, that for that . . .’
“I know what’s there. They really are looking for the needle in the haystack. There are very, very few trial opportunities for patients.”
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Mulholland recently ran a trial of immunotherapy in 119 glioblastoma patients at UCH, the results of which will be announced at an American Society for Clinical Oncology conference in Chicago this year. But The National Brain Appeal charity had to step in to provide funding because he could not get it elsewhere.
He is now recruiting for a new trial. It aims to try immunotherapy before surgery, and so requires patients to come forward very soon after diagnosis. Interested people should ask their doctors and nurses to contact his team at UCH.
“If you want a different survival [rate], you’re going to have to do something different,” Mullholland says. “You can’t just keep repeating the same thing.”
COMMENTS:
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Recommended A Smith 10 APRIL, 2023
This article is shocking. Where are the comments from NHS England and NICE? Both of them have questions to answer.
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Share A Collins 10 APRIL, 2023
Please can the subeditor for this article have a good think about whether the headline is appropriate. To me, it seems to sensationalise the piece. The story in the body of the text is that Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) is still a rotten diagnosis with an average prognosis of 9 months of poor healt...
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Share Chris Bolton 10 APRIL, 2023
This headline is typical of The Times. Headlines are designed to encourage people to read the article, and the headline writer doesn't seem to care whether they're accurate. There's no point getting people to read the article if they then stop subscribing to the paper.
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Share S harris 10 APRIL, 2023
The lack of research into this cancer is shocking.
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Share Richard Smith 10 APRIL, 2023
A good friend of mine died of this in his early 50's. He had surgery which seemed to slow it down for a while, and then immunotherapy, but it came back a few months later.
The stats are absolutely awful. I remember telling a work colleague at the time I found out about his diagnosis and his reply w...
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Share Jimmy P 10 APRIL, 2023
The headline is a little misleading, there is little to suggest that trials can cure glioblastoma, at least in the short or medium term. Also misleading to suggest that immune checkpoint inhibitors are the answer - while v effective in melanoma, renal cell carcinoma, some lung cancer - they are of ...
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Share Sahra Durnford 10 APRIL, 2023
Agree. Reads more like an advertorial for expensive treatments with limited and unproven efficacy.
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Share Emily Chatwin 10 APRIL, 2023
This is the disease that killed my Aunt when she was in her 40',s and my father in his early 70's, so I devoured this article the headline with its "could be cured with trials" is an absolute journalistic disgrace.
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Share L I Shigaev 10 APRIL, 2023
I am sorry for your loss, thank you for sharing.
As for this piece, in particular the headline, I feel as though I have gone through a similar emotional journey to you as I went from headline through the article. I’m feeling quite low now, with my hope having been dashed
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Share Mick Mahon 10 APRIL, 2023
Read this click bait article thinking it was going to describe new treatments to cure this evil thing that brutalised & took the love of my life before her 50th birthday. Why would ToL publish such a shabby hopeful headline then go on to confirm there is no new glioblastoma multiform treatment and ...
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Share N Lancaster 10 APRIL, 2023
My sister died of it in 2019. She was always hopeful of finding an alternative "treatment" to what she got. It only prolonged her discomfort.
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Share Alan Mowle 10 APRIL, 2023
The problem is really, really skilled Doctors. The treatment Dr.Mullholand used with the hyperthermic approach, is delicate and time consuming and needs the right machine to increase the temperature around the cancer tissue, and get an enhanced anti-cancer response from the immunotherapy drugs. Tim...
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Share Anne Chitnis 10 APRIL, 2023
My son died in the seventies from “a deep and silent” brain tumour, aged seven years old. It doesn’t seem to me that treatment has advanced at all since then. As for other cancers, such as breast cancer or prostate cancer, the research goes where the money is. We all have a father, perhaps vuln...
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Share Rob Parkes 10 APRIL, 2023
Where should one put research funds?
Into rare tumours that affect very few people or common problems that affect and would benefit large numbers.
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1 reply James Robinson 10 APRIL, 2023
There are well over a 100 different forms of brain tumour - some benign and curable, some benign but dangerous and some cancerous that could spread. They disproportionately affect younger people and children, but research expenditure is shocking and the treatment often brutal.
I really hope the opt...
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Share H D Lewis 10 APRIL, 2023
Another area of shame for the UK. But will resources be put into this?
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Share Rob Parkes 10 APRIL, 2023
Research is done world wide so it is not 'just down to the UK' to solve it.
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Recommend (2)
Share Nicolas Crowhurstt 10 APRIL, 2023
Why is it that the ad in the article saying first symptoms of a brain tumour has absolutely nothing about a brain tumour?
Does the Times even check what it's ads say?
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Share Norman Goldner 10 APRIL, 2023
we are getting closer and closer to better treatments and then cures for cancer. Development of the mRNA vaccine for COVID opened up new research routes that will lead to new treatments, which hopefully will be here by the end of the decade.
Thank you to the scientists who are making this possible. ...
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Share Michael Lingard 10 APRIL, 2023
We must remember that most research is funded by the pharmaceutical companies and that they rank as the most profitable companies on the stock exchange. There has to be a better way of funding medical research than what is likely to be the most profitable new drug when other therapeutic approaches ...
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Share Ann Jackson 10 APRIL, 2023
Please G-d
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Share Patrick Moffat 11 APRIL, 2023
I don’t mean a trial where you give them a little bit of cannabis to see if it makes them [feel] better. I mean, a real drug that might cure the disease.
This appears to be a snide and somewhat disingenuous reference to a trial overseen by Professor Susan Short, chief oncologist at Leeds university....
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Share N Morris 10 APRIL, 2023
Nothing much for ocular melanoma either. Prognosis after mets to liver? Six months
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Share Virginia Crook 10 APRIL, 2023
Please, Times, why do I have to keep “signing up to post” when I’ve been doing it since 2019!
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Share Katherine Barnes 11 APRIL, 2023
I agree it’s quite distressing to read that there could be a cure I’ve just lost my husband to glioblastoma. But yes to more research and clinical trials please so people have longer and more hope.
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Share Ryan Meade 11 APRIL, 2023
My best friend passed away from a Glioblastoma tumour in 2014 at the age of 27. He got 4 years after his diagnosis mostly thanks to Dr Charlie Teo agreeing to do his surgery for free so soon after his diagnosis. Thoughts go out to anyone to have had friends or family succumb to this awful disease a...
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Share Hugh Duncan 10 APRIL, 2023
I was a Labour party member in SW19 in the 1980s and used to know both Margaret and Siobhan - Both great and friendly people.
Greatly sad to hear of Margaret's condition.
I'm surprised though that Siobhan has managed to keep her plain normality (and her attractiveness if one is allowed to say that...
Mick Mahon 10 APRIL, 2023 Read this click bait article thinking it was going to describe new treatments to cure this evil thing that brutalised & took the love of my life before her 50th birthday. Why would ToL publish such a shabby hopeful headline then go on to confirm there is no new glioblastoma multiform treatment and no new hope in the near or long term future! The sad fact is that nothing has changed - that should have been the headline! The treatment remains the same as it’s always been - cut, nuke, poison the tumour and repeat until the patient can endure no more. The treatment compounding the debilitating pain & grim misery of being turned into a vegetable by the brutal medical assault on the brain and body during the short few weeks / months of a living hell!
COMMENTS:
Jimmy P 10 APRIL, 2023 The headline is a little misleading, there is little to suggest that trials can cure glioblastoma, at least in the short or medium term. Also misleading to suggest that immune checkpoint inhibitors are the answer - while v effective in melanoma, renal cell carcinoma, some lung cancer - they are of modest benefit in other cancers. As for therapeutic hyperthermia etc available in Germany, little robust data to support their use. While there is research in GBM, clearly it is dwarfed by that in breast cancer, prostate cancer. Not sure how that can be redressed.
That all needs to change, Mulholland says. “I think that we need to make a commitment, as a country, that we put 200 glioblastoma patients into a trial [each year] that might change the outcome of their disease.
“The average survival for glioblastoma is nine months,” he says. It is perhaps surprising, then, to hear Mulholland insist: “I’m actually very optimistic that we will cure it, and it could be very soon.”
"Expert urges drug trial that could lead to cure for most common brain cancer."
"The target of 200 patients is very achievable, Mulholland says, suggesting they be put in groups of 12 initially, to try different treatment combinations, going on to broader trials in those that seem to work."

Mulholland is one of the lead investigators in the DC VAX L phase 3 trial. He was LIau's stand in 5/10/22 when she was in capacitated by covid or the Stat News- Boston Globe flu. In this 4/10/23 TIMES article he is suggesting 16 trials , with 12 patients each , to test UCLA-SPORE-LIAU combinations. He thinks one or more of such combinations could be cures for GBM . There is no way the public can understand the subtleties of this article. Implicit in Mulholland's "cure" contention are MAA and NICE approvals for DC VAX L . Mulholland wants Britain to fund the 16 trials to move everything along a toute vitesse . The U.K sees programs such as Sawston enabling it to supersede the U.S.in cancer therapy breakthroughs. England sees an opportunity to do this because it believes the FDA is mired in politics and bureaucracy. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaoncology/fullarticle/2798847
TO BE FEATURED AT 9:40 A.M. , 5/2/23 AT NYAS ?
https://trp.cancer.gov/spores/abstracts/ucla_brain.htm Project 1: Targeting immunotherapy-induced resistance with DC vaccination and immune modulation Project Co-Leaders: Robert M. Prins, PhD (Basic Science Leader) Linda M. Liau, MD, PhD, MBA (Clinical Science Leader)
The overall goals of this project are to investigate mechanisms of immune evasion following treatment with dendritic cell (DC) vaccines, and to develop rational combinations of immunotherapeutic strategies to overcome the immunosuppressive milieu of the brain tumor microenvironment. We previously found that, in addition to inducing T-cell infiltration into brain tumors, DC vaccination + anti-PD1 blockade may also create a pro-inflammatory environment within the tumor that induces the immigration of immunosuppressive myeloid cells (TIM). TIM are phenotypically similar to the myeloid cells that attenuate the T-cell response to chronic viral infections, and may counteract the anti-tumor T-cell responses induced by DC vaccination. Therapies that target myeloid cells within the tumor microenvironment represent a promising new strategy. As such, inhibition of these myeloid cells using a CSF-1R inhibitor, in conjunction with autologous tumor lysate-pulsed DC vaccination (ATL-DC) and PD-1 mAb blockade, resulted in significantly prolonged survival in tumor-bearing animals with large, well-established intracranial gliomas. Our hypothesis is that myeloid cells mediate adaptive immune resistance in response to T-cell activation induced by immunotherapy. We have planned a series of novel pre-clinical studies to re-polarize myeloid cells, to optimize how the timing and sequence of immunotherapy can influence ant-tumor immunity, and a new clinical trial to test the first-in-human combination of a new brain penetrant CSF-1R inhibitor (CSF-1Ri; PLX3397, Daiichi-Sankyo) with DC vaccination and PD-1 mAb blockade (Pembrolizumab, Merck) in patients with newly diagnosed GBM. A better understanding of the biology of these cellular interactions will provide insight into more effective ways to induce therapeutic anti-tumor immune responses for this deadly type of brain tumor.
TIMES 4/10/23 ARTICLE ; MULHOLLAND IS THE FEATURED NEUROSURGEON .
(https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/brain-cancer-that-affects-3-200-patients-a-year-could-be-cured-with-trials-6dz5sf5l5) Expert urges drug trial that could lead to cure for most common brain cancer Survival rates for the disease that killed Tessa Jowell are poor. Now a Labour MP whose sister was diagnosed with glioblastoma is calling for action after a specialist said sufferers were being neglected by the medical establishment Tessa Jowell, with her Dame Commander insignia in 2013, died of the disease in 2018
“I’m not a woman given to crying in public. I’m a bit old. I’m not part of that generation which emotes and talks about personal stuff,” says Siobhain McDonagh, the Labour MP. “It doesn’t feel that comfortable.”
In a moving speech in the Commons last month, her voice broke as she described being there when her sister, Margaret McDonagh, collapsed at a party in November 2021, and was rushed to hospital in an ambulance. The peer was diagnosed with glioblastoma, the most common form of brain tumour. It is the disease that killed the Labour former cabinet minister Tessa Jowell in 2018.
The MP decided public discomfort was a “price worth paying” in a campaign to improve the chances of brain tumour patients like her sister via opportunities to take part in research and better training for NHS doctors.
Siobhain McDonagh gave a moving speech in the Commons about the disease last month
What is currently the “gold standard” treatment for glioblastoma on the NHS “shouldn’t even be called a plastic standard”, she says.
The 3,200 people diagnosed with glioblastoma in the UK each year follow a well-worn trail. First, surgery to remove as much of the tumour as possible. Then, if they are well enough, radiotherapy. Then chemotherapy, with a drug called temozolomide, first trialled in the 1970s. Many die before completing treatment.
McDonagh was too unwell to withstand the chemotherapy. The family have sought private care from Dr Paul Mulholland, a specialist in glioblastoma at University College Hospital (UCH), London.
He has put her on a regime of immunotherapies and hyperthermic treatment, which involves raising the temperature around the tumour in an attempt to boost the drug’s efficacy.
Margaret McDonagh first had to travel to Germany for the treatment she requires Margaret McDonagh first had to travel to Germany for the treatment she requires RICHARD GARDNEREX/SHUTTERSTOCK Siobhain McDonagh had to take her sister to Germany for the hyperthermic treatment, before Mulholland got a machine to deliver it in London, sometimes fearing they would not be allowed on board the plane because Margaret was so unwell.
As glioblastoma patients go, they are “on the lucky end”, she insists, with a good support network, the option of private treatment and a reasonably swift diagnosis.
Even so, it is “a struggle”. She has to pause a number of times while speaking to The Times to take calls resolving a problem with the company that is supposed to be delivering drugs for her sister.
“I want everybody to have the options I’ve had, but I don’t want them to be as difficult,” McDonagh says.
Siobhain McDonagh with Dr Paul Mulholland, the brain cancer specialist treating her sister, who says patients are being neglected and there must be more clinical trials for patients and more doctors trained Siobhain McDonagh with Dr Paul Mulholland, the brain cancer specialist treating her sister, who says patients are being neglected and there must be more clinical trials for patients and more doctors trained TIMES PHOTOGRAPHER JACK HILL She asked ministers to get 200 sufferers a year access to a trial and commit to medical oncologists being trained on brain tumours.
Patients newly diagnosed with glioblastoma “go on their smartphone and they google it”, says Mulholland. The words that stare back at them are “death, dying, terminal”.
“The average survival for glioblastoma is nine months,” he says. It is perhaps surprising, then, to hear Mulholland insist: “I’m actually very optimistic that we will cure it, and it could be very soon.”
A push on getting patients into clinical trials, and more training for young doctors in the disease, the most common form of brain tumour, could pay rapid dividends, he says.
There have been few advances in care in decades because patients are being “neglected” by the medical establishment and pharmaceutical industry, Mulholland says bluntly.
The number of patients with glioblastoma, which he sees as an “absolute epidemic, shocking epidemic”, is nonetheless “not enough for a business case” to encourage companies to test their new drugs against the cancer.
Doctors training to become medical oncologists, specialists in using drugs to treat cancers and in clinical trials, are not required to spend any time at all training in brain cancer.
Although, Mulholland notes: “They do a year of bowel cancer and so they have to do six months of lower bowel cancer and six months of upper bowel cancer. So people can ponder that.”
The NHS does not require medical oncologists to be present at the multidisciplinary team meetings discussing patients with glioblastoma, so the people most likely to know about the few clinical trials of new treatments are not in the room when decisions are being made about patients’ options.
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That all needs to change, Mulholland says. “I think that we need to make a commitment, as a country, that we put 200 glioblastoma patients into a trial [each year] that might change the outcome of their disease.
“I don’t mean a trial where you give them a little bit of cannabis to see if it makes them [feel] better. I mean, a real drug that might cure the disease.”
There are good reasons to think that immunotherapies called checkpoint inhibitors, which target the complex neighbourhood of cells in and around a tumour, should help in glioblastoma. Mulholland is confident using them in his private practice for patients like Margaret.
But the drugs are expensive, he says. “People do have more choices if they’ve got health insurance. And that’s not a position that makes me comfortable. And that’s why I want to do these trials, so that we’re not in this position. So I want to get real data in real trials, and offer people good treatment. And it would be then, when we’ve got good data, we can treat people in the NHS.”
The target of 200 patients is very achievable, Mulholland says, suggesting they be put in groups of 12 initially, to try different treatment combinations, going on to broader trials in those that seem to work.
Patients and families are “shocked” at their lack of options, he says. “People start searching for these trials that aren’t there. They’re up, they are awake at three o’clock in the morning looking for their relatives’ trials, and then they come and show me and I say, ‘But that’s not brain cancer. That’s for breast cancer. That’s for this, that for that . . .’
“I know what’s there. They really are looking for the needle in the haystack. There are very, very few trial opportunities for patients.”
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Mulholland recently ran a trial of immunotherapy in 119 glioblastoma patients at UCH, the results of which will be announced at an American Society for Clinical Oncology conference in Chicago this year. But The National Brain Appeal charity had to step in to provide funding because he could not get it elsewhere.
He is now recruiting for a new trial. It aims to try immunotherapy before surgery, and so requires patients to come forward very soon after diagnosis. Interested people should ask their doctors and nurses to contact his team at UCH.
“If you want a different survival [rate], you’re going to have to do something different,” Mullholland says. “You can’t just keep repeating the same thing.”
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Recommended A Smith 10 APRIL, 2023
This article is shocking. Where are the comments from NHS England and NICE? Both of them have questions to answer.
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Recommend (60)
Share A Collins 10 APRIL, 2023
Please can the subeditor for this article have a good think about whether the headline is appropriate. To me, it seems to sensationalise the piece. The story in the body of the text is that Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) is still a rotten diagnosis with an average prognosis of 9 months of poor healt...
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Share Chris Bolton 10 APRIL, 2023
This headline is typical of The Times. Headlines are designed to encourage people to read the article, and the headline writer doesn't seem to care whether they're accurate. There's no point getting people to read the article if they then stop subscribing to the paper.
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Share S harris 10 APRIL, 2023
The lack of research into this cancer is shocking.
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Recommend (35)
Share Richard Smith 10 APRIL, 2023
A good friend of mine died of this in his early 50's. He had surgery which seemed to slow it down for a while, and then immunotherapy, but it came back a few months later.
The stats are absolutely awful. I remember telling a work colleague at the time I found out about his diagnosis and his reply w...
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Reply
Recommend (25)
Share Jimmy P 10 APRIL, 2023
The headline is a little misleading, there is little to suggest that trials can cure glioblastoma, at least in the short or medium term. Also misleading to suggest that immune checkpoint inhibitors are the answer - while v effective in melanoma, renal cell carcinoma, some lung cancer - they are of ...
See more
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Recommend (24)
Share Sahra Durnford 10 APRIL, 2023
Agree. Reads more like an advertorial for expensive treatments with limited and unproven efficacy.
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Recommend (7)
Share Emily Chatwin 10 APRIL, 2023
This is the disease that killed my Aunt when she was in her 40',s and my father in his early 70's, so I devoured this article the headline with its "could be cured with trials" is an absolute journalistic disgrace.
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Recommend (17)
Share L I Shigaev 10 APRIL, 2023
I am sorry for your loss, thank you for sharing.
As for this piece, in particular the headline, I feel as though I have gone through a similar emotional journey to you as I went from headline through the article. I’m feeling quite low now, with my hope having been dashed
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Recommend (4)
Share Mick Mahon 10 APRIL, 2023
Read this click bait article thinking it was going to describe new treatments to cure this evil thing that brutalised & took the love of my life before her 50th birthday. Why would ToL publish such a shabby hopeful headline then go on to confirm there is no new glioblastoma multiform treatment and ...
See more
Reply
Recommend (12)
Share N Lancaster 10 APRIL, 2023
My sister died of it in 2019. She was always hopeful of finding an alternative "treatment" to what she got. It only prolonged her discomfort.
Reply
Recommended (0)
Share Alan Mowle 10 APRIL, 2023
The problem is really, really skilled Doctors. The treatment Dr.Mullholand used with the hyperthermic approach, is delicate and time consuming and needs the right machine to increase the temperature around the cancer tissue, and get an enhanced anti-cancer response from the immunotherapy drugs. Tim...
See more
Reply
Recommend (12)
Share Anne Chitnis 10 APRIL, 2023
My son died in the seventies from “a deep and silent” brain tumour, aged seven years old. It doesn’t seem to me that treatment has advanced at all since then. As for other cancers, such as breast cancer or prostate cancer, the research goes where the money is. We all have a father, perhaps vuln...
See more
Reply
Recommend (9)
Share Rob Parkes 10 APRIL, 2023
Where should one put research funds?
Into rare tumours that affect very few people or common problems that affect and would benefit large numbers.
Reply
Recommend (2)
Share
1 reply James Robinson 10 APRIL, 2023
There are well over a 100 different forms of brain tumour - some benign and curable, some benign but dangerous and some cancerous that could spread. They disproportionately affect younger people and children, but research expenditure is shocking and the treatment often brutal.
I really hope the opt...
See more
Reply
Recommend (6)
Share H D Lewis 10 APRIL, 2023
Another area of shame for the UK. But will resources be put into this?
Reply
Recommend (5)
Share Rob Parkes 10 APRIL, 2023
Research is done world wide so it is not 'just down to the UK' to solve it.
Reply
Recommend (2)
Share Nicolas Crowhurstt 10 APRIL, 2023
Why is it that the ad in the article saying first symptoms of a brain tumour has absolutely nothing about a brain tumour?
Does the Times even check what it's ads say?
Reply
Recommend (4)
Share Norman Goldner 10 APRIL, 2023
we are getting closer and closer to better treatments and then cures for cancer. Development of the mRNA vaccine for COVID opened up new research routes that will lead to new treatments, which hopefully will be here by the end of the decade.
Thank you to the scientists who are making this possible. ...
See more
Reply
Recommend (3)
Share Michael Lingard 10 APRIL, 2023
We must remember that most research is funded by the pharmaceutical companies and that they rank as the most profitable companies on the stock exchange. There has to be a better way of funding medical research than what is likely to be the most profitable new drug when other therapeutic approaches ...
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Share Ann Jackson 10 APRIL, 2023
Please G-d
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Recommend (1)
Share Patrick Moffat 11 APRIL, 2023
I don’t mean a trial where you give them a little bit of cannabis to see if it makes them [feel] better. I mean, a real drug that might cure the disease.
This appears to be a snide and somewhat disingenuous reference to a trial overseen by Professor Susan Short, chief oncologist at Leeds university....
See more
Reply
Recommend (1)
Share N Morris 10 APRIL, 2023
Nothing much for ocular melanoma either. Prognosis after mets to liver? Six months
Reply
Recommend (1)
Share Virginia Crook 10 APRIL, 2023
Please, Times, why do I have to keep “signing up to post” when I’ve been doing it since 2019!
Reply
Recommend (1)
Share Katherine Barnes 11 APRIL, 2023
I agree it’s quite distressing to read that there could be a cure I’ve just lost my husband to glioblastoma. But yes to more research and clinical trials please so people have longer and more hope.
Reply
Recommend (1)
Share Ryan Meade 11 APRIL, 2023
My best friend passed away from a Glioblastoma tumour in 2014 at the age of 27. He got 4 years after his diagnosis mostly thanks to Dr Charlie Teo agreeing to do his surgery for free so soon after his diagnosis. Thoughts go out to anyone to have had friends or family succumb to this awful disease a...
See more
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Recommended (0)
Share Hugh Duncan 10 APRIL, 2023
I was a Labour party member in SW19 in the 1980s and used to know both Margaret and Siobhan - Both great and friendly people.
Greatly sad to hear of Margaret's condition.
I'm surprised though that Siobhan has managed to keep her plain normality (and her attractiveness if one is allowed to say that...
Mick Mahon 10 APRIL, 2023 Read this click bait article thinking it was going to describe new treatments to cure this evil thing that brutalised & took the love of my life before her 50th birthday. Why would ToL publish such a shabby hopeful headline then go on to confirm there is no new glioblastoma multiform treatment and no new hope in the near or long term future! The sad fact is that nothing has changed - that should have been the headline! The treatment remains the same as it’s always been - cut, nuke, poison the tumour and repeat until the patient can endure no more. The treatment compounding the debilitating pain & grim misery of being turned into a vegetable by the brutal medical assault on the brain and body during the short few weeks / months of a living hell!
COMMENTS:
Jimmy P 10 APRIL, 2023 The headline is a little misleading, there is little to suggest that trials can cure glioblastoma, at least in the short or medium term. Also misleading to suggest that immune checkpoint inhibitors are the answer - while v effective in melanoma, renal cell carcinoma, some lung cancer - they are of modest benefit in other cancers. As for therapeutic hyperthermia etc available in Germany, little robust data to support their use. While there is research in GBM, clearly it is dwarfed by that in breast cancer, prostate cancer. Not sure how that can be redressed.
That all needs to change, Mulholland says. “I think that we need to make a commitment, as a country, that we put 200 glioblastoma patients into a trial [each year] that might change the outcome of their disease.
“The average survival for glioblastoma is nine months,” he says. It is perhaps surprising, then, to hear Mulholland insist: “I’m actually very optimistic that we will cure it, and it could be very soon.”
"Expert urges drug trial that could lead to cure for most common brain cancer."
"The target of 200 patients is very achievable, Mulholland says, suggesting they be put in groups of 12 initially, to try different treatment combinations, going on to broader trials in those that seem to work."📷 2 Likes Share Reply/Post Keep Last Read More Next 10 Prev NextNWBONorthwest Biotherapeutics Inc (QB)0.53 -0.0217 (-3.93%)Volume:1,752,095Day Range:0.53 - 0.569Bid:0.53Ask:0.535Last Trade Time:2:54:56 PM EDTTotal Trades:509

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I’m not against having plastic surgery at all. Each to their own. I personally wouldn’t get implants because of breast implant illness but after multiple pregnancies I get why someone would want them.
Emilie seemed pretty flat chested before and these implants to me have made minimal difference. If you going to spend the money and have the surgery why not go a bit bigger? I know it’s a risk choosing the size but 235cc really is on the way smaller end especially considering she had nothing to work with .
I personally would be so disappointed with the result that I can’t help but wonder if she is?