[JillaryJill]

I am considering one of 2 vaccine trials.
University of Washington, Arm 5, Her2 peptide vaccine plus 2000mcg Ampligen
and the Mayo Clinic MC1136, Phase 1 trial Multi-epitope Her-2/neu Peptide Vaccine with GM-CSF. I have read all the paperwork on both.
Here is what scares me. Both say if you participate and there are problems with your health caused by the trial, your insurance might not cover these problems. Wondering how you other ladies that participated in Vaccine trials feel about this? Did you contact your insurance company and tell them you were participating in a trial?

For the Mayo Clinic trial, the Vaccine includes, GM-CSF. They conduct echo's since this can effect the heart, and also they list as rare side effects Leukemia. I talked to MD Anderson and many of the trials that use GM-CSF only accept patients that have been done with Herceptin in 6 months for less. I do not qualify for any of those. Has anyone been part of a trial that used GM-CSF? If so what was your experience. I live in Illinois so Mayo is close to my home, although I have the resources to participate in the Seattle trial as well.

As you can see from my signature...I was Stage IIIc and I am 2 years and 4 months out. I really would like to be part of the advance of vaccines for all the women in my life that I love...but reading the fine print on a trial is scary. I have great overall health and a strong heart.

Can someone shed some light on your decision making process to partipate in a trial.