Scans show no cancer at all...

oriontj

We went up to the U. of Chicago for the results of my husband's CT...he's still cancer free..I'm sure some of you heard the sigh of relief. I took with us pictures of us in Alaska and my husband with the grand kids in Maine...just go back from there a few weeks ago...and thanked her for the year....she said to thank the guy upstairs..she's on the top floor...I told we do every day.

When I asked her if this was a typical result in the clinical trial group, she said, yes it is...they are all doing well. The trial is still open and she's still recruiting for it though some are very leery about clincial trials.. And she said, that in the long year that has passed since his diagnosis...quite a bit of progress has been made and the staging for EC has completely changed...

I would say to anyone newly diagnosed to see what trials are available...and if there is one with Erbitux try as hard as you can to get it in...I feel it saved his life so far..

She also said, the longer you can go cancer free the greater the chances are something new will be found...the research is going ahead leaps and bounds. That has to be encouraging for those of us fighting the Beast.

We continue to thank God and pray for everyone on the board...every day.

orion

tb7

Wow! Great News!!
I am so pleased to hear of your treatment success! I tried to research the trial you referenced, but I could not find it in the trial listings for EC. I am wondering if a trial that University of Chicago already had underway was expanded to include EC cases. Can you let me know more? Erbitux looks to be mainly for head and neck cancers, as well as colon cancer. I would love to know more about the trial you pursued if you care to post any additional information.

My husband is in a different clinical trial through the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center at University Hospitals Case Medical Center, Ireland Cancer Center, Cleveland, OH. At the end of July, he had his first scan since completing the active phase of treatments in May. He enjoyed the same positive report, no cancer to be found!

His trial is testing whether or not the investigational drug ZACTIMA (Astra-Zeneca) can improve the efficacy of standard chemo treatments when added to those treatments. My husband received infusions of Docetaxel and Oxaliplatin over six treatment cycles. He also received ZACTIMA on a daily basis for the entire six cycles and, now that infusions are over, he continues to take ZACTIMA daily. We were nervous going for the first scan, but came away feeling really good . . . sounds like you felt the same way upon getting your results!!

Your husband’s doctor is right about new things happening and on the horizon for treatment. Let us all hope that new treatments will ultimately pave the way for conquering EC!

Again, it was great to see your news . . . hope you get a chance to celebrate!

Trisha

oriontj

tb7 said:

Wow! Great News!!
I am so pleased to hear of your treatment success! I tried to research the trial you referenced, but I could not find it in the trial listings for EC. I am wondering if a trial that University of Chicago already had underway was expanded to include EC cases. Can you let me know more? Erbitux looks to be mainly for head and neck cancers, as well as colon cancer. I would love to know more about the trial you pursued if you care to post any additional information.

My husband is in a different clinical trial through the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center at University Hospitals Case Medical Center, Ireland Cancer Center, Cleveland, OH. At the end of July, he had his first scan since completing the active phase of treatments in May. He enjoyed the same positive report, no cancer to be found!

His trial is testing whether or not the investigational drug ZACTIMA (Astra-Zeneca) can improve the efficacy of standard chemo treatments when added to those treatments. My husband received infusions of Docetaxel and Oxaliplatin over six treatment cycles. He also received ZACTIMA on a daily basis for the entire six cycles and, now that infusions are over, he continues to take ZACTIMA daily. We were nervous going for the first scan, but came away feeling really good . . . sounds like you felt the same way upon getting your results!!

Your husband’s doctor is right about new things happening and on the horizon for treatment. Let us all hope that new treatments will ultimately pave the way for conquering EC!

Again, it was great to see your news . . . hope you get a chance to celebrate!

Trisha

So far
Erbitux is approved for neck and colon cancer...so this trial is to get it approved for EC..He had Erbitux, Cisplatin and one other once a week for 6 weeks, then fluid infusion on Thursday and Friday...and radiation every day. It was a grueling 6 weeks but he has gained all his weight back and then some...is golfing and generally having a good time.

That trial doesn't show up at the U of C for whatever reason...but I'd sure ask if the Center anyone is going to has it or try to find it.

I'm so happy your husband is doing so well...get out and enjoy yourselves...that's our motto.

orion

Unknown

tb7 said:

Wow! Great News!!
I am so pleased to hear of your treatment success! I tried to research the trial you referenced, but I could not find it in the trial listings for EC. I am wondering if a trial that University of Chicago already had underway was expanded to include EC cases. Can you let me know more? Erbitux looks to be mainly for head and neck cancers, as well as colon cancer. I would love to know more about the trial you pursued if you care to post any additional information.

My husband is in a different clinical trial through the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center at University Hospitals Case Medical Center, Ireland Cancer Center, Cleveland, OH. At the end of July, he had his first scan since completing the active phase of treatments in May. He enjoyed the same positive report, no cancer to be found!

His trial is testing whether or not the investigational drug ZACTIMA (Astra-Zeneca) can improve the efficacy of standard chemo treatments when added to those treatments. My husband received infusions of Docetaxel and Oxaliplatin over six treatment cycles. He also received ZACTIMA on a daily basis for the entire six cycles and, now that infusions are over, he continues to take ZACTIMA daily. We were nervous going for the first scan, but came away feeling really good . . . sounds like you felt the same way upon getting your results!!

Your husband’s doctor is right about new things happening and on the horizon for treatment. Let us all hope that new treatments will ultimately pave the way for conquering EC!

Again, it was great to see your news . . . hope you get a chance to celebrate!

Trisha

This comment has been removed by the Moderator

sal314

Awesome News!
Orion,
Your post is so encouraging! My father is at a standstill at the moment. He was diagnosed in March stage 4 with liver mets. He did radiation and about 4 rounds of chemo. He has now stopped chemo and the doctors told him he's done because his body is not responding as it should and his bonemarrow and cbc counts are way too low to continue.

There is something he, my mom and myself feel is not right with his diagnosis. He went to a second doctor and she thought it wasn't espohageal cancer to begin with! She seems to think it's Thyroid related. His onocologist thinks the other doctor's diagnosis is crazy and my mom was fighting him to get more pathology done. The oncologist reluctantly agreed to do another staining of tissue and recheck it, but told my mom even if the results came back differenttly he wouldn't believe it!! What's that about??

Anyway, we live right outside Chicago and I was wondering how you felt about the medical care UIC has given you? My parents are thinking of going to either Sloan-Kettering or MD Anderson, but I'm wondering if UIC wouldn't be just as good and it's so close. J

Just wondering about what you thought about the doctors and level of care there.

So happy your results are so good!

Thanks,
Sally

tb7

unknown said:

This comment has been removed by the Moderator

Thanks, William!
Thanks for all the input, William! I am definitely interested in all positive results associated with clinical trials. My husband continues to be treated and monitored within the clinical trial at Case. We are, so far, happy with our experience there . . . no need at the present to go for any other new treatments. We are just keeping our antennae up in case the future brings another recurrence. Hopefully, we will experience a long-term remission and not need to move to another trial. I am excited for Orion and the similar results her husband achieved with a totally different experimental treatment. As more of us try different treatments, we will add to the survival options that EC patients have down the road.

You are to be commended for your amazing contributions and the time you spend dedicated to this site. You and so many others are such an incredible resource! I am sure I am not alone in thanking you for all your efforts . . .

Trisha

oriontj

sal314 said:

Awesome News!
Orion,
Your post is so encouraging! My father is at a standstill at the moment. He was diagnosed in March stage 4 with liver mets. He did radiation and about 4 rounds of chemo. He has now stopped chemo and the doctors told him he's done because his body is not responding as it should and his bonemarrow and cbc counts are way too low to continue.

There is something he, my mom and myself feel is not right with his diagnosis. He went to a second doctor and she thought it wasn't espohageal cancer to begin with! She seems to think it's Thyroid related. His onocologist thinks the other doctor's diagnosis is crazy and my mom was fighting him to get more pathology done. The oncologist reluctantly agreed to do another staining of tissue and recheck it, but told my mom even if the results came back differenttly he wouldn't believe it!! What's that about??

Anyway, we live right outside Chicago and I was wondering how you felt about the medical care UIC has given you? My parents are thinking of going to either Sloan-Kettering or MD Anderson, but I'm wondering if UIC wouldn't be just as good and it's so close. J

Just wondering about what you thought about the doctors and level of care there.

So happy your results are so good!

Thanks,
Sally

The U of Chicago is a great teaching hospital
Everyone was wonderful there from our oncologist to the nurses and doctors in the infusion room and the radiation specialists...he had both an oncologist and oncology radiation dr.

His oncologist always read the CT scans...during her residency the doctor she was under insisted she learned so she didn't have to rely on the radiatologist...

His clincial trial was a blessing....the protocol book is inches thick and one of them was he could not have had previous chemotherapy. I do remember that.

It sure wouldn't hurt to schedule and second opinion and since you're close by and it is a top rate hospital why not?

orion