Next week is my booster visit
 

Hello all,

Its a great holiday season for me. I am flying out to San Antonio for my GPII booster next week.

Thanksgiving marks 4 years since I was diagnosed. I continue enjoying life NED - I have much to be grateful for.

Re: Next week is my booster visit
 

good Luck lizbeth,and lets hope these vaccines make a difference.

Re: Next week is my booster visit
 

I'm thinking this is your last booster! Is this correct? I am very happy for you 'lizbeth.
Your vaccine buddy,
Sandra

Re: Next week is my booster visit
 

Hi, just read your post on the booster and that you were flying to San Antonio, well i was offered a clinical trail for reacurrance, and have not made a decision as of yet, I live here in SA. The booster that I was offered is call the E-75.

Re: Next week is my booster visit
 

Clinical trials. I have an oportunity to be in a clinical trial. I have lots of fears because it is outside of my comfort zone. I mean, what is the guarantee this actually works, and for how long? I mean isn't her2 positive a bad prognosis for outcomes?Candy

Re: Next week is my booster visit
 

Hi Candy,
I have actualy been involved in two trials. The first was a stage II trial involving adding lapatinib (Tykerb) to my Herceptin. The second was the EA 37 vaccine trial. Special permission had to be granted from Mayo for me to participate in the second.

Having said that, yes, HER2+ breast cancer is very aggressive and in the past had a very poor prognosis. With Herceptin and now other targeted antibodies and vaccines, people are living disease free much longer. The reason you cannot find data on this is those of us involved in trials and new treatments are making the statistics day by day. This information will not be availiable for several more years as data is collected.

Before I began my first trial I did read where trial participants fare better than those not in trials. The reasoning behind this was that these patients are followed more closely and therefore recieve treatment for recurrances in earlier stages. There are no guarantees but phase I trials establish if an agent actually works. Stage II trials are usually designed to determine safety and dosage. Stage III trials compare the effectiveness of the new treatment against standard treatment.

Everyone has to make their own decisions. However, I do advise you to ask many questions and read as much as you can before making that possible life extending decision.

Hugs,
Sandra

Re: Next week is my booster visit
 

When you make a decision about a clinical trial - its not just your experience, but the experience of women in the future that will be affected. The more that participate in a current trial, the faster the clinical trial will be completed. The greater opportunity for better treatments in the future with milder side effects.

I highly recommend the E75 trial and the AE37 or GP2 vaccine trial. There are other vaccines as well.

Gather the information, ask questions, enroll.

Re: Next week is my booster visit
 

Thanks for the happy post. I needed that this morning !