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05-04-2010, 02:30 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 260
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Vaccine Participants - Check In
Through searching for old threads, I've read on this site that quite a few of us have participated in clinical trials for various breast cancer vaccines. I just recently enrolled in a vaccine trial at the University of Washington and I was curious as to how everyone is doing post-vaccine trial.
If you participated in a vaccine trial, would you mind sharing an update of how you are doing now and what your experience with the vaccine was like (i.e. Did you suffer any side effects? Is your disease stable? In remission? Progressing?). Any other anecdotal information you'd like to share is also welcome.
Thank you in advance for sharing! I know several people here are considering joining vaccine trials so hopefully this information would be helpful to them as well.
__________________
4/17/08: Dx Stage IV at age 30 - extensive mets to liver, lungs, and bones. Er/Pr-, Her2+++
April 08-Aug 08:Taxotere, Cytoxan, Herceptin, Zometa - complete response!
Sept 08-Dec 08: Herceptin +Zometa for maintenance.
Jan 09-April 09: Brain mets. Add Tykerb. Watch and wait.
April 09: Gamma Knife 10 brain mets, add Xeloda.
Sept 09: Gamma Knife to 1 brain met.
Nov 09- April 10: Lung progression, add Gemzar to Herceptin, Zometa.
May 10- Sept 10: HER2 Vaccine Trial
Sept 10: Add Tykerb for more brain mets.
Oct 10: Gamma Knife to 7 brain mets.
Dec 10: Switch from Zometa to Denosumab.
Jan 11: Gamma Knife to 3 brain mets.
March 11: Gemzar/Herceptin for lung/bone progression.
April 11: More brain mets - Intrathecal Herceptin
June 11: Ixempra/Herceptin for lung, soft tissue progression.
Aug 11: Gamma Knife
Sep 11: Abraxane/Herceptin
Future: NED
Send me a PM if you'd like to follow my journey on Caringbridge.
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05-04-2010, 08:03 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 41
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Re: Vaccine Participants - Check In
I participated in the UW vaccine trial. Finished my sixth visit about 1 1/2 months ago. Not aware of any side effects from the vaccine. Have side effects from Herception, but they have been the same since before the trial.
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05-04-2010, 08:37 PM
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#3
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Webmaster
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Home of the "Flying Tomato"
Carlsbad, CA
Posts: 2,036
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Re: Vaccine Participants - Check In
Courtney,
Should you speak to Drs. Disis or Salazar, please say hello to them from Christine and Joe..We'll see them at ASCO.
Regards
Joe
__________________
A Proud webmaster to the internet's most informed, educated, COMPASSIONATE and caring group of breast cancer survivors.
Illegitimi non carborundum
My Album
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05-05-2010, 06:20 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 57
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Re: Vaccine Participants - Check In
Hi Courtney,
I participated in a U of Wash vaccine trial (Peptide/Phase II) from January 2007-July 2007. I was stage IV liver mets, but NED at the time of the trial. I stayed NED until March of 2009 with a single liver tumor. After a brief run on navelbine and a resection; back to NED again for now. I met "fullofbeans" while in Seattle. She is still NED and posts often on this site.
I had no side affects at all from the vaccine; aside from a little jet lag. (I came from Wash. DC to Seattle). However, the original tetnus vaccine hurt a lot (I know, what's with that?!) Dr. Salazar and Dr. Disis were awesome! Doreen and "Becks" are amazing. Even though I didn't get my miracle, the experience was wonderful. It gave me the most precious gift a cancer patient can get...hope. I'll never know if the vaccine bought me more time, but i can tell you i am doing great now and continue to live on that hope from every new development out there.
I wish you all the best,
Missy
__________________
Missy W.
Diagnosed 1/06; Her-2, er/pr+
lumpectomy
4 Rounds A/C
tiny area of interest in liver - watching
12 rounds of Taxol w/ Herceptin
tiny area cleared - Stage IV (because area responded to chemo)
Herceptin weekly
27 rounds radiation
NED 8/06
10/06 oopherectomy
Arimidex
1/07-7/07 Vaccine Trial - UW Seattle
3/09 liver met back
3/09 Navelbine, Herceptin Aromasin
6/09 Liver Resection
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05-05-2010, 09:30 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,526
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Re: Vaccine Participants - Check In
Hi everyone
I am hoping to travel to the States for a bc vaccine once I have sifted through the ones that are available and the ones that I am eligible for!
I would also value any info to help with the decision.It appears that there are vaccines that specifically target her 2 and others that target other cancer cell proteins such as OFA.
I read some earlier posts about some trials only taking patients with specific immune responses but am struggling to understand what terms like HLA mean?
Cheers Ellie
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05-05-2010, 11:30 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 35
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Re: Vaccine Participants - Check In
Hi Courtney - I was in a vaccine trial at UW from 1/2004-10/2004. I had no side effects and really enjoyed interacting with Dr. Disis (mainly) and occasionally with Dr. Salazar. I did annual follow-ups for 5 years and now I'm still in their database but it is all just a pleasant memory.
I live a 3 hour train ride south of Seattle so it was no big deal to travel there every 3 weeks while in the main part of the trial. My sons were at UW and I loved getting to know the city.
-Marianne
__________________
4/2002 Diagnosed @ age 47: 1.8cm, 1+ve node (of 27)
Her2+++, ER-/PR-; 9/9 on Bloom-Rich. scale. "Poor prognosis" written after every result on my path. report!
ACx4, Taxolx4, finished 10/2002 and then 37 rads.
2004 - Clinical trial (vaccine) @ UW, Seattle
2007 - clinical trial Tykerb (on placebo?)
So far, so good!
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05-06-2010, 06:53 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 492
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Re: Vaccine Participants - Check In
Another UW DNA plasmid vaccine trialer here, 01/07- 10/07
Stage IIIA at diagnosis, NED for almost 5 years now (knock on wood)
__________________
Are we there yet?
Dx 10/05 IDC, multi-focal, triple +, 5 nodes+
MRM, 4 DD A/C, 12 weekly taxol + herceptin
rads concurrent with taxol/herceptin
finished herceptin 01/08
ooph, Arimidex, bilateral DIEP reconstruction
NED
Univ. of WA, Seattle vaccine trial '07
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05-17-2010, 11:37 AM
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#8
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Member
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Birmingham, Alabama
Posts: 21
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Re: Vaccine Participants - Check In
Hi Courtney-
I participated in the Peptide Based Vaccine Trial (Phase II) at UW. I took my final vaccine last May, so I am now a year out from the study. I have remained NED and am a little over two and half years out from inital Stage IV diagnosis. I have not had any side effects from the vaccine that I am aware of.
Suzanne
__________________
Dx 8-24-2007
Stage IV with mets to liver
ER +/PR- HER2 +++
10 months TCH completed 5-08
Ooph 1-08
Bilateral Mastectomy 07-08
Currently on Herceptin and Aromasin
NED since 1-08
UW Vaccine Trial completed 5-09
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05-17-2010, 05:33 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Sunny San Diego
Posts: 2,214
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Re: Vaccine Participants - Check In
Finishing the six monthly injections in the:
"Prospective, Randomized, Single-blinded, Multi-Center, Phase II trial of the Her2/neu Peptide GPII + GM-CSF Vaccine vs GM-CSF alone in HLA-A2+ or the Modified Her2/neu Peptide AE37 + GM-CSF Vaccine vs GM-CSF alone in HLA-A2- Node positive and high risk Node negative Breast Cancer patients to prevent recurrence.
I'm in the GP2 arm and SandraGA is starting the AE37 arm.
I'm doing fantastic. There are short term side effects like headache and flu-like symptoms. After chemo it is like a walk in the park.
__________________
Diagnosed 2007
Stage IIb Invasive Ductal Carcinoma, Pagets, 3 of 15 positive nodes
Traditional Treatment: Mastectomy and Axillary Node Dissection followed by Taxotere, 6 treatments and 1 year of Herceptin, no radiation
Former Chemo Ninja "Takizi Zukuchiri"
Additional treatments:
GP2 vaccine, San Antonio Med Ctr
Prescriptive Exercise for Cancer Patients
ENERGY Study, UCSD La Jolla
Reconstruction: TRAM flap, partial loss, Revision
The content of my posts are meant for informational purposes only. The medical information is intended for general information only and should not be used in any way to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease
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