Clinical Trials

Devasted
Devasted Member Posts: 185
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
We are meeting with an onc. next week to discuss clinical trials. Does anyone have any experience with clinical trials?

Thanks

Comments

  • amcp
    amcp Member Posts: 251 Member
    Phase one clinical trials
    My husband has been on three phase one clinical trials. He goes to Vanderbilt for the trials. He is stage 4...no more surgeries and no more chemo left to try...all that is left is clinical trials phase one. Even though there was slim hope that a phase one would help...he figured it might help someone else in the future. The first one was pill form and we had to go to Nashville every week. After a couple of months, they do a scan and found cancer continuing to grow so he was removed. Waited 6 weeks and then started another clinical trial. Spent first night in hospital monitoring the new meds. It was an IV form. We still had to go back weekly for tests and followup. He again had a scan and cancer still growing so he was removed. The last clinical trial phase one was also pill form. It really made him feel terrible ...had to go weekly again and again cancer continued to grow and spread so he was recently removed. He is now weak and they are hoping he will regain his enough strength to do another trial. If you have any questions, feel free to ask. Keeping you in our thoughts and prayers.
    Anna
  • Devasted
    Devasted Member Posts: 185
    amcp said:

    Phase one clinical trials
    My husband has been on three phase one clinical trials. He goes to Vanderbilt for the trials. He is stage 4...no more surgeries and no more chemo left to try...all that is left is clinical trials phase one. Even though there was slim hope that a phase one would help...he figured it might help someone else in the future. The first one was pill form and we had to go to Nashville every week. After a couple of months, they do a scan and found cancer continuing to grow so he was removed. Waited 6 weeks and then started another clinical trial. Spent first night in hospital monitoring the new meds. It was an IV form. We still had to go back weekly for tests and followup. He again had a scan and cancer still growing so he was removed. The last clinical trial phase one was also pill form. It really made him feel terrible ...had to go weekly again and again cancer continued to grow and spread so he was recently removed. He is now weak and they are hoping he will regain his enough strength to do another trial. If you have any questions, feel free to ask. Keeping you in our thoughts and prayers.
    Anna

    Thanks so much for your post
    I'm so sorry to hear about your husband, this is a heartbreaking diease. Thank you so much for sharing your experience. I can't tell you how much it helps.

    My husband was dx'd June 2009 with stage 4 rectal cancer, with mets to liver. Had 6 weeks radiation and xeloda. Next Folfox and Avastin for 6 months, the tumors did not shrink but everything remained stable. He had Portal Vein Emobolization in April, scheduled for liver resection in June. Before resection, they did lap. and found mets on diaphragm. Aborted surgery. He just completed Irr. and Erbutix for 9 treatments. From CT Scan Cancer doesn't appear to have spread, but the tumors in liver are growing. Mets on diaphragm didn't show up on CT Scan before scheduled surgery. The onc. here is sending us to Chapel Hill next week for a clinical trial consultation. My husband is 51 and had no other health problems until this...

    I will be thinking of you and your husband, and you all are in my thoughts and prayers, too.
  • luv3jay
    luv3jay Member Posts: 533 Member
    Hey. I was just on a phase
    Hey. I was just on a phase II trial but mets to lungs grew. I'm starting a phase I trial on Tuesday of lapatinib with folfiri. I'm very hopeful. Lapatinib is fda approved for breast cancer and we're hopeful for good results with colorectal. I'll continue to pray for your families.

    Sheri
  • herdizziness
    herdizziness Member Posts: 3,624 Member
    amcp said:

    Phase one clinical trials
    My husband has been on three phase one clinical trials. He goes to Vanderbilt for the trials. He is stage 4...no more surgeries and no more chemo left to try...all that is left is clinical trials phase one. Even though there was slim hope that a phase one would help...he figured it might help someone else in the future. The first one was pill form and we had to go to Nashville every week. After a couple of months, they do a scan and found cancer continuing to grow so he was removed. Waited 6 weeks and then started another clinical trial. Spent first night in hospital monitoring the new meds. It was an IV form. We still had to go back weekly for tests and followup. He again had a scan and cancer still growing so he was removed. The last clinical trial phase one was also pill form. It really made him feel terrible ...had to go weekly again and again cancer continued to grow and spread so he was recently removed. He is now weak and they are hoping he will regain his enough strength to do another trial. If you have any questions, feel free to ask. Keeping you in our thoughts and prayers.
    Anna

    My Dear
    Oh Anna, for your husband's and your strength to keep trying, I admire you both so much.
    Please pass on to him, my gratitude in his strength to keep attempting these trials, giving hope for future generations.
    I cannot express well enough, my grief at his pain and weakness, praying for his continued strength and fortitude.
    My love, my prayers, my thoughts with you both.
    Winter Marie
  • chicoturner
    chicoturner Member Posts: 282
    Hi, I am dx stage 4 cc with
    Hi, I am dx stage 4 cc with mets to lungs. I am on Phase 1 trial at UCSF. I started it about 2 1/2 months ago taking Gleevec (originally for lukemma) Cyclophoshamide (an old stand by chemo) both in pill form and Avastin - through my port. My scans in July showed stable, not growth. My understanding is I can stay on this as long as there is not growth over 20%. Fortunately I have no side affects and actually feel really well. I travel to SF every 2 weeks for check-up and treatment. The doc there said our hope is to stay healthy until something better comes along. Best wishes to you. Jean
  • herdizziness
    herdizziness Member Posts: 3,624 Member

    Hi, I am dx stage 4 cc with
    Hi, I am dx stage 4 cc with mets to lungs. I am on Phase 1 trial at UCSF. I started it about 2 1/2 months ago taking Gleevec (originally for lukemma) Cyclophoshamide (an old stand by chemo) both in pill form and Avastin - through my port. My scans in July showed stable, not growth. My understanding is I can stay on this as long as there is not growth over 20%. Fortunately I have no side affects and actually feel really well. I travel to SF every 2 weeks for check-up and treatment. The doc there said our hope is to stay healthy until something better comes along. Best wishes to you. Jean

    what part of cali are you
    what part of cali are you from?
  • chicoturner
    chicoturner Member Posts: 282
    Hi, I think you mean me... I
    Hi, I think you mean me... I live in Chico, which is about 85 miles north of Sac. It is about a 3 1/2 drive each way, but, as I say I am happy to do it as I have not other options right now. Where are you? Jean
  • herdizziness
    herdizziness Member Posts: 3,624 Member

    Hi, I think you mean me... I
    Hi, I think you mean me... I live in Chico, which is about 85 miles north of Sac. It is about a 3 1/2 drive each way, but, as I say I am happy to do it as I have not other options right now. Where are you? Jean

    Santa Cruz, a bit closer to
    Santa Cruz, a bit closer to SF then you I'm thinking!!! My brother-in-law lived in Chico, went to college there, he did.