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Eric,
I understand what you are saying and clinical trials are very important to help find a cure. With that being said, I entered a clinical trial when originally diagnosed with her2+++ in hopes of getting herceptin. Unfortunately, there are no guarantees you will be selected to receive the herceptin, which was my case (a computer randomly selects which arm of the trial you will be in). Initially I was very disappointed but also I knew if my cancer progressed Herceptin would be available to me. That has happened with mets to the liver. After being on weekly taxol/carboplatin/herceptin treatments for 11 weeks my tumors have all but disappeared which is amazing. At any rate, I was investigating the vaccine trials out of Seattle before my recurrance was discovered. The only unknown factor which one needs to consider is if participation in this particular trial with the specific vaccine being used would prevent future used of or somehow alter the effectiveness of Herceptin. No one can really answer that yet. In my case the recurrance was found before I could make a decision. One should always understand entering a clinical trial should be approached with the attitude you are helping those who get this in the future and with any luck you may benefit in the deal - there are no guarantees of the outcome but I think it is worth it and will do it again if the right opportunity presents itself. On another note, my friend started treatment on the two week regimen as your wife is on and too had a very difficult time with it. As I understand the dosage is the same one would get every 3 weeks and having been on that regimen it is tough. She made it through and is doing well. There are some very compelling studies that indicate this regimen works out better than the 3 week deal. I hope she can hang in there, take one treatment at a time, and by the time she reaches radiation it will be a piece of cake. Best of luck to you and your wife.
Kitty
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