Can you Switch Clinical Trials?

Has anyone switched from one clinical trial to another -- perhaps at a different cancer center?

It looks like that can be done -- although most commonly I see the second clinical trial is for "second line" chemo regimens -- less aggressive chemo with fewer side effects and lower expectations for disease response.

My father in law is on a pretty aggressive regimen now: chemo every two weeks, with the 7th round of chemo next week. We asked to change to a 3 week schedule, but there's not much flexibility with the clinical trial. They can postpone now and then for medical necessity but not for basic quality of life issues like fatigue.

Side effects for my FIL were initially quite mild, but now his fatigue is only starting to lift a couple of days before it's time to go back for the next round. Peripheral neuropathy (cold sensitivity / tingling in his fingers) is also getting worse.

One thought is to do 2 more rounds of chemo until the next scheduled CT. Based on the results of that CT, maybe drop out of the trial for a chemo holiday. 4-5 weeks later maybe he could sater start up chemo outside of a trial or try to get on a new trial, maybe at a cancer center closer to home.

Thoughts / experiences?

Comments

  • Wpturner05
    Wpturner05 Member Posts: 114
    You may leave a trial AT ANY
    You may leave a trial AT ANY TIME. You are not required to stay in. Your limitation to entering into another trial would be your previous treatments. Some allow no previous chemo where some allow as many as 3 lines of treatment. There is also limitations surrounding current health and previous health history. It takes time and research to understand the trials. Have you been on clinicaltrials.gov?
  • This comment has been removed by the Moderator