clinical trials..

in my opinion trials are not necessarily your friend..depending upon the phase-(1,2,3,4..) they are primarily looking for guinea pigs to determine maximum tolerable dose.
I suppose that without trials, there would be no progress, but there hasn't been much progress..once we are stage IV, we essentially have "nothing to lose" so your Dr can suggest a trial because it could be more promising than anything else in his/her arsenal. pessimistic? yes, but you will receive other opinions, mine likely being the most negative, thereby giving you a framework in which to make your decision.
I think your doctor needs to tell you what other options you have, and what exactly the trial is trying to prove, and what stages mean. bud

Hi Jeanette,

I am so sorry to hear about your "recurrance". I would listen to you oncologist but would also seek out a second opinion with an ocologist at a major cancer center. Google Comprehensive Cancer Centers if you are not already being treated by one. I have to ask when was your last CT scan?

The best thing that can happen with a second opinion is the new docs completely agree with your current docs. The worst thing is you get some other options which in my opionion is great.

I wish you the best of luck and please keep us posted.

Lisa P.

I agree with the others so far. Ask, ask, ask, as many questions as you can. My opinion will probally come off more optimistic than the others. My life was saved because I entered a clinical trial. 2nd opinions and even 3rd opinions are always a good idea. Twice I have heard the words 'nothing we can do'. The first time a second opinion at a major cancer treatment center gave me a chance, which worked. The second time I entered a clinical trial and was one of the lucky ones. However my clinical was not involving drugs, it was a procedural clinical to reduce pain that had an outside chance at extending my life. That was in 2002 and I was given 12 months.
So my opinion is don't just enter a clinical to try something, but if you find one that fits your situation then investigate it thoroughly.
Good Luck, my thoughts and prayers will be with you.
Mike

one thing you must understand is that regardless of what they are testing, drug or other experimental treatment procedure, there is a document-(cannot recall the name)which states the ingredients, procedures, etc. This document is secret-(because of competition) and will not be shared with anyone-not even your doctor. They will provide you with a less detailed summary which reveals very little.
Being stage IV, I would participate in a trial, but probably not before other treatment options were exausted. I would seek a 2nd opinion from a major cancer center that is involved in both conventional and alternative trials, such as M.D. Anderson.

Hi Jeanette-

My husband is Stage IV, in a clinical trial that is currently evaluating whether Erbitux is more effective on it's own or combined with Avastin. Since they are both FDA approved drugs, he's not really a guinea pig. Avastin is approved as first-line treatment, so it's sort of the standard. (He ended up on the Avastin arm of the trial, so it turns out he's not getting Erbitux at all!)

All that being said, the reason we agreed to the trial is for future colon cancer patients, but more selfishly, to hopefully benefit our kids at some point. Jim's in a Phase III trial.

You have to decide if the trial is right for you. (As everyone else said.) Find out every single detail. Make sure you'll be getting at least the standard of care. Get a second opinion. Find out what Phase the trial is in and why they recommend it. And find out whether your doctor's office receives any money for the trial. Ours didn't, and truthfully I felt a little funny asking, but hey, it's your life.

Best of luck to you. There are many people who participate in trials and they are providing serious medical benefits to others. Whether or not you decide to do the trial you absolutely have to do what you are most comfortable with.

Kate