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12-15-2004, 05:53 PM

2 trials are for women dx'd with bc who have not had recurrence:

I am a participant in both trials.

First Trial - Early Detection of Ovarian Cancer - This is for women with a sister or mother who has also been diagnosed with bc, and either that relative or the trial participant has to have been diagnosed prior to menopause. Such women are believed to be at somewhat higher risk for developing ovarian cancer. The trial really is doing 2 things; participants have an annual transvaginal ultrasound to look for any signs of cancer, and also have quarterly blood draws. The ultrasound is to try to see whether frequent ultrasounds are reasonably helpful to try to identify women who get this disease and find it earlier than it usually is being caught now, since ovarian cancer is usually found at later stages when it is harder to deal with. The blood draws are done to try to come up with a better marker test than the CA-125 that is used now, which is not as good as we would like it to be. I am participating so that there will be more and better information for women, especially women who have already experienced bc. I also benefit because the ultrasounds are free and it is one more way to protect myself against cancer.

Second Trial - Use of low-dose testosterone for patients who have had bc - This is for women who have had a loss of libido due to treatment for breast cancer. It is a cross-over study. I am participating in this study because most providers ignore this problem as if it has no importance at all or does not exist (even though it is quite common). If libido didn't have much importance then no one would recognize the name Viagra....

I hope that the results of these studies will improve women's lives.

12-15-2004, 05:53 PM	#1
_AlaskaAngel_ Guest Posts: n/a	2 trials are for women dx'd with bc who have not had recurrence: I am a participant in both trials. First Trial - Early Detection of Ovarian Cancer - This is for women with a sister or mother who has also been diagnosed with bc, and either that relative or the trial participant has to have been diagnosed prior to menopause. Such women are believed to be at somewhat higher risk for developing ovarian cancer. The trial really is doing 2 things; participants have an annual transvaginal ultrasound to look for any signs of cancer, and also have quarterly blood draws. The ultrasound is to try to see whether frequent ultrasounds are reasonably helpful to try to identify women who get this disease and find it earlier than it usually is being caught now, since ovarian cancer is usually found at later stages when it is harder to deal with. The blood draws are done to try to come up with a better marker test than the CA-125 that is used now, which is not as good as we would like it to be. I am participating so that there will be more and better information for women, especially women who have already experienced bc. I also benefit because the ultrasounds are free and it is one more way to protect myself against cancer. Second Trial - Use of low-dose testosterone for patients who have had bc - This is for women who have had a loss of libido due to treatment for breast cancer. It is a cross-over study. I am participating in this study because most providers ignore this problem as if it has no importance at all or does not exist (even though it is quite common). If libido didn't have much importance then no one would recognize the name Viagra.... I hope that the results of these studies will improve women's lives.