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StephN · 10-05-2005, 01:30 PM

Good afternoon Hope -
Glad your news is at least mixed and NOT showing that you are doing worse. You have had so much to endure this past year. I hope you are feeling better other than the Abraxane effects.

When I joined a clinical trial for hard-to-treat mets it was a trial where we all got the Taxol and navelbine and it was to define the tolerated dose - phase II.

My mets had come so fast and furiously that I really had no other choice for treatment at that time. Until I failed this trial we did not want to try Gemzar which was also in trial then. Turned out that I did not need to go there, as the blast of drugs that I took worked on my mets.

It WAS very scary, but I had NO time to think about it. I was diagnosed with the mets and was presented with the trial within the same hour. One hour later I was up in infusion suite GETTING the drugs, as well as my first loading dose of Herceptin. It was more like getting swept off my feet.

Not really until the next day did the whole thing set in. But, I got such super support from my family and friends as the news travelled. The prayers were sent up but I had no idea what would happen to me.
I also had appts the following two days for futher evaluation - a bone scan then a brain MRI. As I "passed" those without significant findings, I felt a little better that the disease was contained to my liver and only starting into my bones. With a clear brain scan I could stay on the trial and give those drugs a chance to work.

The rest is history and I am still NED. It was not easy to tolerate those strong drugs, and I was very weak for quite a while. But, the fight was in me and still is.
So keep your shield polished and your sword sharp - you will make it.

10-05-2005, 01:30 PM	#5
StephN Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Misty woods of WA State Posts: 4,128	Trials are scary but can be life-saving Good afternoon Hope - Glad your news is at least mixed and NOT showing that you are doing worse. You have had so much to endure this past year. I hope you are feeling better other than the Abraxane effects. When I joined a clinical trial for hard-to-treat mets it was a trial where we all got the Taxol and navelbine and it was to define the tolerated dose - phase II. My mets had come so fast and furiously that I really had no other choice for treatment at that time. Until I failed this trial we did not want to try Gemzar which was also in trial then. Turned out that I did not need to go there, as the blast of drugs that I took worked on my mets. It WAS very scary, but I had NO time to think about it. I was diagnosed with the mets and was presented with the trial within the same hour. One hour later I was up in infusion suite GETTING the drugs, as well as my first loading dose of Herceptin. It was more like getting swept off my feet. Not really until the next day did the whole thing set in. But, I got such super support from my family and friends as the news travelled. The prayers were sent up but I had no idea what would happen to me. I also had appts the following two days for futher evaluation - a bone scan then a brain MRI. As I "passed" those without significant findings, I felt a little better that the disease was contained to my liver and only starting into my bones. With a clear brain scan I could stay on the trial and give those drugs a chance to work. The rest is history and I am still NED. It was not easy to tolerate those strong drugs, and I was very weak for quite a while. But, the fight was in me and still is. So keep your shield polished and your sword sharp - you will make it.