Clinical trials and Georgetown Univ.

Joeswife
Joeswife Member Posts: 2
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
Hi there,
I'm new to the site and would love to hear from anyone who has experience or information on clinical trials. My husband, Joe, was diagnosed w/ cancer in Oct 2003. At the time, he had a lemon sized tumor removed along with 13 lymph nodes - 9 were cancerous. It had not yet spread to other organs. He went through FolFox treatment until mid June of 2004 and all appeared to be ok. He went for a routine follow up CT scan in late Oct 2004 and the cancer had spread to his liver and both lungs. He then started Irinotecan (I'm sure that's misspelled), Erbitux and attempted Xeloda. He was unable to tolerate the Xeloda, but continued weekly with the others. He became extremely week and had many complications which interfered with his chemo treatments. Everything he was given had a side effect and the medication for that would cause another side effect-I've never seen so many medicine bottles in my life. His most recent CT scan has shown that the nodules in his lungs have gotten a bit larger. His Dr is starting him back on FolFox and adding Avastin, but his Dr wants him to see a colon cancer specialist at Georgetown Univ. to see if there are any experimental drugs or clinical trials he can become a part of. His Dr feels that we're running out of options here.
Also, does anyone have an opinion on or experience with Vitamin B17 (or Laetrile Therapy)?
Thanks, Barb

Comments

  • Betsydoglover
    Betsydoglover Member Posts: 1,248 Member
    #2
    Barb -

    If you haven't already done so, you should look at the National Cancer Institute Clinical Trial Page at http://www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials.

    There are a number of colon cancer clinical trials going on - all aimed at different things - if you find anything that seems even remotely related to your husband's current condition, you should print it off and show it to his doctor. The principle investigator is listed and also local contacts in different parts of the country, so if his doctor is not responsive you could try directly contacting those physicians for more information.

    Hope this helps.

    Betsy
  • Betsydoglover
    Betsydoglover Member Posts: 1,248 Member
    #3
    Betsydoglover said:

    Barb -

    If you haven't already done so, you should look at the National Cancer Institute Clinical Trial Page at http://www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials.

    There are a number of colon cancer clinical trials going on - all aimed at different things - if you find anything that seems even remotely related to your husband's current condition, you should print it off and show it to his doctor. The principle investigator is listed and also local contacts in different parts of the country, so if his doctor is not responsive you could try directly contacting those physicians for more information.

    Hope this helps.

    Betsy

    Barb, and here is the URL for the clinical trials at Lombardi Cancer Center at Georgetown.

    Betsy
  • Betsydoglover
    Betsydoglover Member Posts: 1,248 Member
    #4
    Betsydoglover said:

    Barb, and here is the URL for the clinical trials at Lombardi Cancer Center at Georgetown.

    Betsy

    And here really is the URL:

    http://lombardi.georgetown.edu/clinicalprotocols/index.cfm?diseaseID=0
  • chellesandell
    chellesandell Member Posts: 12
    #5
    My Mom was recently diagnosed as Stage IV rectal cancer and when Surgeon opened her for emergency Colostomy has said cancer spread to all female organs. Everyone here is so supportive so ask any questions and continue reading thru past posts. Mom's good friend had breast cancer 10 years ago and backed out of surgery. Went to Ohio or somewhere to meet with DR. who specialized in Laetrile and B17. She never had chemo or treatment and lives by this diet and supplements/juice and has no cancer as of today. The book she gave us is 'Alive and Well' by Philip E. Binzel, Jr., M.D., and the publisher is American Media PO Box 4646, Westlake Village, CA 91359. If you can't order from them check with Amazon.com maybe they can get it. Mom's friend says she eats mostly raw fruit and veggies and no red meat. I'm not sure how to get Laetrile, haven't gotten that far yet...let me know if you find out anything. Mom's going to go thru with her treatment and surgery but will do this for health to fight against chemo/radiation effects. Her friend eats the kernals out of the pits of all fruits like peach and apricots, she also eats the apple seeds and raspberries. She said they (kernals)are bitter but swears by this method. Good Luck and our prayers are with you!!
    Chelle
  • HowardJ
    HowardJ Member Posts: 474
    #6
    Hi and welcome,

    Three good web sites are: ClinicalTrials.gov, CenterWatch.com, and EmergingMed.com. EmergingMed can be located via the ACS home page.
    Howard
  • dbirch
    dbirch Member Posts: 1
    #7
    chellesandell said:

    My Mom was recently diagnosed as Stage IV rectal cancer and when Surgeon opened her for emergency Colostomy has said cancer spread to all female organs. Everyone here is so supportive so ask any questions and continue reading thru past posts. Mom's good friend had breast cancer 10 years ago and backed out of surgery. Went to Ohio or somewhere to meet with DR. who specialized in Laetrile and B17. She never had chemo or treatment and lives by this diet and supplements/juice and has no cancer as of today. The book she gave us is 'Alive and Well' by Philip E. Binzel, Jr., M.D., and the publisher is American Media PO Box 4646, Westlake Village, CA 91359. If you can't order from them check with Amazon.com maybe they can get it. Mom's friend says she eats mostly raw fruit and veggies and no red meat. I'm not sure how to get Laetrile, haven't gotten that far yet...let me know if you find out anything. Mom's going to go thru with her treatment and surgery but will do this for health to fight against chemo/radiation effects. Her friend eats the kernals out of the pits of all fruits like peach and apricots, she also eats the apple seeds and raspberries. She said they (kernals)are bitter but swears by this method. Good Luck and our prayers are with you!!
    Chelle

    Chelle,
    Did you know that apple seeds, peach pits, etc. have trace amounts of arsenic in them? If you eat a large amount, it could be lethal!

    DB
  • ccartwri
    ccartwri Member Posts: 82
    #8
    I am in a clinical trial for rectal cancer at NCI at NIH in Bethesda, MD and I feel I am getting very good care from the docs there. I also saw an oncologist named John Marshall at Lombardi at Georgetown and paid out of pocket for it as I have Kaiser HMO but he was excellent. Who is the colon cancer specialist???.
    Claudia

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