Magrit clinical trial

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I was wondering if anyone has any experience with clinical trials. My oncologist is encouraging me to participate in the Magrit clinical trial. This trial is for an immunization to fight a protein that is believed to make non small cell lung cancer more aggressive. Right now I am cancer free (diagnosed Jan. 2010). If I participate in the trial I may or may not receive any benefit from the medications and I may or may not have serious side effects from the medication. So far all my decisions about this diagnosis have been very difficult to make. Of course if I could predict the future all of this would be so easy. But of course I can't, so every decision I make could mean life or death. How do you make these decisions?

stayingcalm

If it were me
I would jump at the opportunity! I was in a clinical trial a couple of years ago - they treat you very carefully and monitor you very well to make sure nothing bad is happening. Find out what the side effects are (don't sign the papers until they tell you..actually it probably tells you in the papers) and try to determine whether you can handle them.

I had NO side effects from my trial drug except for a numbness around the mouth for a day after treatment. I went every week for a 4hr infusion.

I don't have the papers any more, but I'm pretty sure you can opt out if you feel you need to

Deb

Glenna M

stayingcalm said:

If it were me
I would jump at the opportunity! I was in a clinical trial a couple of years ago - they treat you very carefully and monitor you very well to make sure nothing bad is happening. Find out what the side effects are (don't sign the papers until they tell you..actually it probably tells you in the papers) and try to determine whether you can handle them.

I had NO side effects from my trial drug except for a numbness around the mouth for a day after treatment. I went every week for a 4hr infusion.

I don't have the papers any more, but I'm pretty sure you can opt out if you feel you need to

Deb

Agree with Deb
I agree with Deb, I would feel privileged to participate in a clinical trial. If I could in any way help future cancer patients by participating in a trial I would feel that I was possibly helping their chances of survival or even better, a cure.

Naturally you want to know about the possible side effects and whether or not you could opt out. I say go for it, but that's just my opinion. I wouldn't want you to do something that makes you uncomfortable.

Good luck with your decision.

Glenna

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Glenna M said:

Agree with Deb
I agree with Deb, I would feel privileged to participate in a clinical trial. If I could in any way help future cancer patients by participating in a trial I would feel that I was possibly helping their chances of survival or even better, a cure.

Naturally you want to know about the possible side effects and whether or not you could opt out. I say go for it, but that's just my opinion. I wouldn't want you to do something that makes you uncomfortable.

Good luck with your decision.

Glenna

trial
Thank you Deb and Glenna for sharing your opinions. Right now I am strongly leaning toward particating in the trial. I can opt out at any time and the information I have been given says that the side effects have been very minimal in the phase I and II trials. Who knows, this may be something that can help all of us in the future. I think I just needed someone else to tell me that it's O.K. to try.

Thanks,

Kim