This was originally an email written to my family and friends on the date above. I decided to make these public in the event they may be helpful to someone in the future who is embarking on a similar journey to mine.
Hi Everyone,
Our schedule for meeting with MD Anderson actually got moved up a bit; we met with them in Houston a week ago rather than at the beginning of this week (as originally planned). They had an interesting phase 1 trial in the “expansion stage” (it’s showing good results so they make it available in more locations and try it on additional types of cancer) that I was a candidate for. We also discussed the phase 2 trial available here at the University of Colorado Cancer Center.
Ultimately they recommended, and we have decided to go ahead with, the phase 2 trial here in Colorado. The details are here for anyone curious about the study drug:
http://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT01915472
Basically I will have antibodies that want to go after my cancer cells injected into me. The CU folks have had patients on this drug for a little while now (some as long as 10 months) and have seen some good success with it. I hope I will be one of their success stories.
The main side effects seem to be fatigue and a loss of all (or the rest of..) my hair. Oh well.
I have started the process of qualifying for the trial and if all goes well I will be starting on Dec 15th. That’s about as soon as I’m eligible after a 28 day “washout” period (not taking any other cancer drugs). The schedule goes like this: for 2 weeks I will be getting an infusion twice a week (on Monday and Thursday); then I take the 3rd week off. Lather, rinse, repeat.
So now I just need to get through the next couple of weeks sans-treatment, and need things to go well so that I’m accepted into the trial. Thanks in advance for all Good Thoughts, etc. you can send our way.
I hope you all have a great Thanksgiving!
This post is part of the thread: Cancer – an ongoing story on this site. View the thread timeline for more context on this post.