Clinical Trial

peterhw
peterhw Member Posts: 69
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
Hi Everyone. It has been a long time since my last post. I do check in all the time to read your posts. Just an update on my treatment plan. After 12 Folfox+Avastin and 12 Folfiri+Avastin, the scan shows a mixed result. The nodules in my lung are stable. The biggest one is 9mm. The lesions in my liver show some shrinkage, but didn't go away. My onc thinks I should start looking for clinical trial. I have been to UPMC, Sloan, Georgetown and Johns Hopkins for second opinion. All drs, except Hopkins, suggest I continue chemo. They all said that I should do chemo till the end. But I really want to be more aggressive in dealing with cancer. Fortunately Hopkins has a clinical trial that looks very promising. It is a phase 1b/2 trial of AMG655 and AMG479. Both are biological antibodies that target certain pathway in the cancer cell. I have the first infusion on 10/15. So far so good. No side effect at all. Next week will be the second infusion and then a CT Scan to see the result. It is a two year trial, so still a long way to go. If the trial does not work for me, I will go back to the standard chemo. Te drs at Hopkins are great. I have decided to move my treatment there. I will keep you guy posted no matter what.

Peter

Comments

  • Buzzard
    Buzzard Member Posts: 3,043 Member
    Peter.....
    Remember, there are different meds and treatments coming out everyday, they just need to get through testing. also a surprising new twist with the interferon and lovastin that a Dr is self treating with and having great sucess...Its out there Peter, keep the chin up and eyes open, you'll find it...Good luck Bud, and keep us posted...Clift
  • geotina
    geotina Member Posts: 2,111 Member
    Chin Up
    Best of luck to you in this clinical trial. I don't have much more to offer. I do look forward to you keeping us posted on your journey with this clinical trial and will watch for your posts and any information you can offer. Remember, one day at a time and one treatment at a time. Good luck.
  • sfmarie
    sfmarie Member Posts: 602
    Peter
    Saying prayers this clinical trial will work for you. Marie
  • Paula G.
    Paula G. Member Posts: 596
    Good luck
    Keep us informed Peter. Best of luck to you. Paula G.
  • Fight for my love
    Fight for my love Member Posts: 1,522 Member
    Hi Peter,I have been reading
    Hi Peter,I have been reading your blog at yahoo.I am so happy that you joined the clinical trial and you are doing well.I know you did lots of reseach about the trial and it is really promising.I hope the clinical trial can bring you to NED.

    Thank you very much for your support to me when I posted message on this board for the first time.That really means a lot to me because back then I just arrived the U.S for a very short term.My hubby is doing well.Since we take one day at a time,it looks like everything is falling into places.My hubby had great response to chemo and radiation before surgery,the tumor shrank over 90%;the surgery was done successfully by one of the top surgeons in NH;the pathology report came out great down staging him from stage2 to stage1.We don't want to leave any chance to this beast to be back,so my husband will start chemo at the beginning of Nov.

    Please come here to post often.I will still read your blog for sure.I told my hubby your story.He says you are a very good example and inspiration for him and you are a tough guy.I hope everything will go very well with you.Best luck and best wishes to you with the clinical trial.Take care.
  • Mchapp
    Mchapp Member Posts: 95
    HOPE lodge at Hopkins
    Peter -
    there is an awesome HOPE LODGE (housing for families having treatment at Hopkins) that is owned and operated by ACS....please use this free service if you are traveling or need overnights...you can call 1-800-ACS-2345 to get info for the Hope Lodge -
    I am a grad from Hopkins and you are correct - it is a awesome place the the care is excellent!
  • nudgie
    nudgie Member Posts: 1,478 Member
    I am crossing
    my fingers and praying that this clinical trail will work for you :)
  • robinvan
    robinvan Member Posts: 1,012
    Hi Peter
    Thanks for posting the update on your clinical trials. I hope they have positive results for you. I hadn't heard of either of them.

    What is your BLOG address on Yahoo. I would like to visit you there.

    Rob; in Vancouver

    "A Cancer Journal" www.rob-pollock.blogspot.com
  • peterhw
    peterhw Member Posts: 69
    Mchapp said:

    HOPE lodge at Hopkins
    Peter -
    there is an awesome HOPE LODGE (housing for families having treatment at Hopkins) that is owned and operated by ACS....please use this free service if you are traveling or need overnights...you can call 1-800-ACS-2345 to get info for the Hope Lodge -
    I am a grad from Hopkins and you are correct - it is a awesome place the the care is excellent!

    Thanks
    That is great. I definitely will look into that. I live in northern VA, about two hours away from Hopkins. Right now I drive there for treatment. But in the future I may need to stay there for a few more days for testing.

    Peter
  • peterhw
    peterhw Member Posts: 69

    Hi Peter,I have been reading
    Hi Peter,I have been reading your blog at yahoo.I am so happy that you joined the clinical trial and you are doing well.I know you did lots of reseach about the trial and it is really promising.I hope the clinical trial can bring you to NED.

    Thank you very much for your support to me when I posted message on this board for the first time.That really means a lot to me because back then I just arrived the U.S for a very short term.My hubby is doing well.Since we take one day at a time,it looks like everything is falling into places.My hubby had great response to chemo and radiation before surgery,the tumor shrank over 90%;the surgery was done successfully by one of the top surgeons in NH;the pathology report came out great down staging him from stage2 to stage1.We don't want to leave any chance to this beast to be back,so my husband will start chemo at the beginning of Nov.

    Please come here to post often.I will still read your blog for sure.I told my hubby your story.He says you are a very good example and inspiration for him and you are a tough guy.I hope everything will go very well with you.Best luck and best wishes to you with the clinical trial.Take care.

    So happy to hear that
    I am so happy to hear that your husband is doing well. He is one lucky guy to have you by his side. I am sure he will not have any problem with chemo.

    Peter
  • peterhw
    peterhw Member Posts: 69
    robinvan said:

    Hi Peter
    Thanks for posting the update on your clinical trials. I hope they have positive results for you. I hadn't heard of either of them.

    What is your BLOG address on Yahoo. I would like to visit you there.

    Rob; in Vancouver

    "A Cancer Journal" www.rob-pollock.blogspot.com

    Hi Rob
    AMG655 is an antibody that binds to the "death receptor" of cancer cell and induces apoptosis (self destruction) in cancer cell. AMG479 is an inhibitor that blocks IGF (Insulin-like Growth Factor)in cancer cell to stop the growth. Both are made by Amgen. There are a lot of drugs under clinical trial that target IGF and apoptosis for different cancer. I really hope they work.

    My blog is http://tw.myblog.yahoo.com/hsiminwu
    It is in Chinese. The main audience are my friends, family as well as cancer fighters in Taiwan. We have an online group very similar to CSN.

    Peter
  • robinvan
    robinvan Member Posts: 1,012
    peterhw said:

    Hi Rob
    AMG655 is an antibody that binds to the "death receptor" of cancer cell and induces apoptosis (self destruction) in cancer cell. AMG479 is an inhibitor that blocks IGF (Insulin-like Growth Factor)in cancer cell to stop the growth. Both are made by Amgen. There are a lot of drugs under clinical trial that target IGF and apoptosis for different cancer. I really hope they work.

    My blog is http://tw.myblog.yahoo.com/hsiminwu
    It is in Chinese. The main audience are my friends, family as well as cancer fighters in Taiwan. We have an online group very similar to CSN.

    Peter

    Sounds Promising
    The clinical trials sound promising. I do so hope they work as well. Thank you so much for being one to try them out!

    I did visit your blog. Google did a fairly good job of translating it for me. I loved your pictures and see you did a 5K run in September. Good on ya!

    Be well... Rob; in Vancouver