| Are Cancer Clinical Trials right for me? |
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Are In almost all cases, initial therapy should be a state of the art plan including one or several of the following options: surgery, chemotherapy, radiation. However, there are some research protocols which are available right up front, and you should inquire about this also. Learn why, when, where and how.... However, in most cases,depending upon the tumor type, research medicines or therapies may be considered after the initial therapy and/or therapy after first recurrence fails. Research protocols are VERY specific about what types of tumors are included, their stage and what type of therapy has been given to date. It is never too early to inquire about research protocols and to look into where the options might take you. On the other hand you should know that research protocols open and close regularly when the desired number of patients on protocol has been reached. Therefore, a trial which is open today, may not be open tomorrow. INVESTIGATIONAL TREATMENT or CLINICAL TRIALS There are thousands of clinical trials available on any given day for various forms of Cancer. For gynecologic cancers alone, there are hundreds across the country, usually, but not always, at designated larger research centers. They are further broken down by type of trial and type of cancer that is targeted. These studies can be divided into three general types. In a Phase I trial a new treatment is being studied for the first time in humans, which has good laboratory and animal study evidence for efficacy. The primary purpose is to determine the dose levels that can be tolerated safely and side effects. Usually these are best suited for patients who have progression of their cancer despite use of all available standard therapy. The next step is a Phase II trial, in which the treatment is offered to patients who have a variety of cancer types. These patients also have cancer which is progressing despite all standard therapies. Phase II trials are used to determine if the treatment has any benefit for each particular type of cancer. If an agent/drug shows some good effect against a particular type of cancer, a Phase III study is initiated to see if the agent/drug is better than the known best treatment against that particular cancer. This requires something called "randomization", which means that the patient will get either the standard therapy or the experimental therapy determined by chance. This is equivalent to the flip of a coin, but more sophisticated techniques are used. The goal for randomization is to have each treatment arm (experimental and standard) contain the same number and sort of patients with respect to extent of disease, age, past treatment, etc. This is crucial, because if this scientifically rigorous study method shows that the experimental treatment is better, it becomes the new standard therapy. Thus good scientific practice and study design is absolutely essential so that we have the best possible therapy available to patients. So should you participate and when? Phase I trials have the most potential toxicity and side effects associated with them. But if everything else has failed, and you still want to give it a try, this offers a shot at the very newest drugs available. Phase II trials are the next in line and are a very reasonable alternative if standard therapy is not working very well, and you do not wish to risk the unknown levels of side effects inherent in Phase I trials. Phase III trials are made available when a very promising therapy (based on Phase I and Phase II information) is felt to be possibly better than the standard therapy. At the very least, when offered, it is felt that the Phase I and Phase II evidence suggests that the new agent/drug is not worse than the standard therapy. However, there is a risk that it might be worse. On the other hand, there is a good possibility that it might be better. It comes down to personal choice and a long risk/benefit discussion with your treating physician The best compilation of clinical trials on-line is via the National Cancer Institute's trials search engine |
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| Last Updated ( Monday, 11 February 2008 ) |
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Removing ovaries to be safe - good idea????
20:00 - 20.11.2008
Dear AllA while ago I posted asking if US could DX ovca at early stage, and got SO MANY wonderful replies, for which I was extremely grateful.I've now gone on to have some investigative work done, and a detailed TVS has shown that I have a cyst on my right ovary which is not functional, but is almost 50:50 either benign or borderline.There doesn't seem to be any invasion of the ovary tissue from the cyst, and it is poorly vascularised, both of which I believe are optimistic signs. I read (on an Internet search) that around 7% of borderline cysts progress to becoming malignant. However, because my husband has Stage IV kidney cancer and 'staying alive' is, right now, our main concern (!!!!), I am thinking of simply having a double oophrenectomy (sp?!) (I'm 55, and my bloods show I'm now perimenopausal, so my ovaries are due for retirement anyway!), and being done with it (I hope....!) I'm not clear whether suregery would include the fallopian tubes as well. Everything else in my pelvis is showing OK, so far as I understand. (Plus, no family history of ovca etc)Has anyone else been in a similar situation, and what was your decision, and your experience? My husband is worried at the thought of me having surgery (he had his kidney out this year, so knows abdominal surgery isn't a walk in the park!), though the TVS gynae says it could be done with keyhole.However, I also wonder whether it's best NOT to do keyhole, as is there not a risk that the ovary will rupture during removal, and then, if there IS any malignancy (or even proto-malignancy) in the cyst, that may get loose into my body and nest somewhere else!All information on this will be MOST gratefully received.I am very glad I did go ahead and get all this further checked out. I know US has its limitations, but even so, I think it's paid off this time by spotting 'something'.All the very, very best to all of you fighting ovca, and I hope, hope you win your battles.Julie.
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Abnormal cells after LEEP
20:00 - 19.11.2008
I had the leep procedure done in the end of march and I recently had an abnormal pap.Before i had this procedure I was told I could have some difficulties with having children in the future. Well I went in for a pap and she told me everything looks great and now I recieved my results back and it came back abnormal. For once in for all i thought maybe i could have children without worring..but now im going back in on monday and im 24 and i almost want to be selfish and have a child now before its to late and things just get worse. Has anyone experienced a leep and abnormal paps and have had children after?I never thought i would have to think about this at my age but not having children in the future years and waiting for it will kill me. someone please help me with a story of their own.Danny
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Cone Biopsy
20:00 - 16.11.2008
So the background info is that I had an abnormal pap in 2006, was diagnosed with HPV, and had a colposcopy in 2006 that showed low grade dysplasia. They wanted me to have 6 month paps and would watch and wait I suppose. From there, I wasn't impressed with my doctor and switched to a different clinic. I had my records from the previous clinic sent to this one so there wouldn't be any confusion as to what was going on or why I was so persistent to have a repap right then which was 6 months after my previous one. So, afterwards I recieved a lovely letter in the mail stating that the results were normal for my condition. I probably should have asked what exactly that meant. But, I was thrilled with the thought of not having another colpo. Six months later I was back again for another pap. Thinking the last one was "normal for my condition" I didn't freak out at all until I got the call saying I needed to schedule a colposcopy because there had been changes. I'm not really thrilled at this point where I have a month to anxiously wait to have my colpo. I had the colpo last week and it really wasn't as bad as the first. Not really any pain except when she took the biopsy. My Dr. was really good at explaining what she was doing etc. and drew me a picture of what she saw. So I freak out for a week waiting for the results. For some reason they didn't have my records from the previous clinic I went to and my Dr. wanted to look at them to make comparisons I suppose. I was able to track down my records but found out she didn't really need them at this point. I talked to the Dr. Friday night at around 6pm while I was driving in the rain and couldn't see a thing. Not the best time to chat since I was a little preoccupied with not driving off the road. What I got out of the conversation was that my results came back high grade and something about glands. She wants to do a cone biopsy and I have the option of either doing it in the office with the LEEP or the operating room with the laser. She did explain the difference between the two but I was so distracted with the rain and driving and the high grade and glands part that I can't remember the difference between the two. I talked to her nurse today which was no help at all. She said she was new and didn't have answers to any of my questions but would have someone call me tomorrow. So I guess my question is...what is the difference? What does high grade and glands mean? Do I have cancer? Will I ever be able to have children? I don't do well with things that aren't in my control and at this point I'm seriously freaking out. Any answers or suggestions? Sorry for the lengthy detail.
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mouth sores from Doxil
20:00 - 15.11.2008
I was just wondering if anyone has any cures that have worked for mouth sores from Doxil. My mom has them very bad. Her oncologist has given her varies treatments but nothing seems to work, not even the "magic mouthwash" My mom is a fighter, but this is really kicking her but. She started getting them with her 3rd treatment, were they were so bad that they even ran down her throat. Now on her 4th treatment she has them again, luckly not down her throat, but has them really bad, that she can barely even speak. Please help, she will pretty much try anything just to get rid of them.Sandra
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need advice
20:00 - 14.11.2008
I am recovering from a cone biopsy and scraping of cervix. I am 1 week post op. My wonderful MD called me on thursday 11-13-08 to let me know that my results from the biopsy came back and did show severe displasia of the cervix, which i knew, that was why we did the procedure. He also told me that the scraping that was done further inside my cervix also came back with displasia. So i am left with not many options. Eaither go for another cone, or have a hysterectomy. I think this has put me in a depression. I feel down, tired, and dont want to talk to anyone. I have one child and probably would not have had anymore, but it is tearing me up to have this taken away from me. I know i have to have it done. I feel like i am not worth anything anymore. thanks dancie
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Radiation or not
20:00 - 13.11.2008
I am post-op, a month ago I had a hysterectomy for cervical cancer 1a2, for my two week fallow up my doctor said that the tumor that was removed was bigger than what they thought and I might need radiation if it was bigger than 1/5 of an inch. My tumor was 3mm by 3.2mm before the surgery. I can not Imagine being much more. Does anyone know what is the cut off mesurement for not reciving anymore treatment after a hysterectomy?
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after chemo radiation
20:00 - 12.11.2008
hi! I had treatment of chemo radiation in July. Some side effects i am experiencing still are swelling of the abdomen/ lower back ache/ some spotting - i also started HRT but wonder if anyone else experienced these things ? i am due back to cancer agency next week for check up.
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Signet Ring Adenocarcinoma
20:00 - 12.11.2008
Hi, Any information on Signet Ring Abenocarcinoma ?
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scared
20:00 - 11.11.2008
Hi, I am a 23 year old female. Over the past month or so I've developed some symptoms that are concerning me...For the past 2 years or so, I've had very painful intercourse upon deep penetration - I get a shooting pain throughout my pelvis....then about 1 month go, I started to experience burning upon urination & increased frequency...I made an appointment to go see my family doctor (to rule out infection, etc) & get a pap, in between the time of scheduling my appointment & going to see my doctor, I developed a dull aching in my pelvis, mostly in the lower right quadrant. I tell him this informtion, he does a urine test, pregnancy test - all negative. during my pelvic examination, he presses down on my lower right quadrant, & it just about sends me off the bed, I had pushed down on my pelvis on my own standing up & didn't really have much discomfort. Over the next few days I've been experiencing lower back pain & shooting pain into my right groin area. The doctor's next suggestion is to go for a pelvic ultrasound....however, I have to wait until January for an appointment- in the meantime I am beside myself worrying I have cancer! I will note that my periods have remained normal, & I have had no abnormal bleeding
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Signet Ring Adenocarcinoma/Ovarian Cancer
20:00 - 11.11.2008
My BFF is 39 and was just diagnosed with Signet Ring Adenocarcinoma/Ovarian Cancer. Her first Chemo treatment is today.Does anyone have any experience with this type of Cancer or any suggestions that can help us better understand it?Any information would be really appreciated!Thanks,Juli




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