Clinical Trial - MPDL3280A + bevacizumab (avastin)

As some of may know from my previous posts I am a long term kidney cancer survivor. In 1990 I lost my left kidney to RCC. That was followed by 14 good years. During this time I was getting regular check ups. During a check up in 2004 a mass was found on my right kidney. I was sent to UCLA where a partial nephrectomy was done. This time 10 good years except for a bout with prostate cancer in 2007. In August of this year a small mass was found in the lower pole of what is left of my right kidney. Once again I was sent to UCLA. This was followed by the discovery of mets to the right hip bone, two ribs and my right tibia. To make a long story shorter I will jump ahead and skip all the tests and scans I have been going through. Yesterday, 12/4/14, I started the trial mentioned in the subject above. Every three weeks I will be infused with the study durg MPDL3280A and Avastin. At this time they are just keeping an eye on the tumor in the kidney.  As time goes on I will report on the scan results, side effects, etc.  As of today I feel fine. In fact if I had not gone in for my yearly check up I would not even know that the cancer had retruned except for some hip pain which was orginally thought to be arthritis.

This forum has helped be deal with this ordeal and I appreciate all here.

Wishing you all the best.

firedude21 

p.s. - I am very lucky to have the awesome support of my wife, daughter and son. My wife and daughter have both driven me the two hundred plus miles to UCLA numerous times. I am a lucky man.