to have had the researcher at one of the 2 centers running this trial as my "2nd opinion" doctor! When I stepped onto the recurrence roller coaster, I sent her an email and specifically asked if there were any trials appropriate; she had just started this one in December and had actually mentioned it to me on my previous visit in January. With my background she felt this (Tykerb/Avastin) trial would be a good opportunity for me.
In another bit of serendipity, I actually had an appointment set up with her later that week that they had scheduled back in January but not told me about! So it all happend so quickly by things miraculously falling into place.
The key for me, in this case, was having direct access to the research doctor.
However, I also regularly search for trials which sound promising for me "if and when" something happens. The info for these always has the contact number for the trial researcher - and if you are interested in a specific trial, I think you would get a response by contacting this person. After all, it is their job and their goal to get people into these trials. In the past I have brought these to my regular oncologist to get his impression if this would/would not be appropriate for me first. So you could "help" your oncologist find trials that would be good, then have him/her "help" you make the contact.
For the Tykerb/Avastin trial, I think it is only at UCSF and MSK in New York. There are lots of other trials with Tykerb, though and the easiest way I've found to locat them specifically is through the GSK search from the Her2support website! I go there from the main page/index/clinical trials. You can also get into the NHI clinical trials site from there. Here is the link to the NIH trials for Tykerb:
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct/sea...inib%2C+breast
Good luck with locating a trial that suits you - your community onc actually has the same philosophy as my rockstar 2nd opinion onc - work through targeted therapies and minimize the "chemo" as much as you can. This lets you stay healthy for the fight! Keep on him, he probably has his hands full and you want to stay on the top of his "to do" list!
Much love
Chris