Personal update: Here comes clinical trial #2!

[scifiknitter]

Dear friends,

If you haven't seen me around much lately, it's because I've been very busy working on the EGFR Resisters project, plus I've enrolled in a clinical trial. I want to NYC last week for my initial consultation with Dr. Helena Yu at Memorial Sloan Kettering, and signed the informed consent form. Now comes 6 crazy weeks, full of doctor appointments, tests, plus a planned trip to Ohio to visit my brother and go to the cancergrace.org Targeted Therapies in Lung Cancer Patient Forum. My husband and I are back in NYC tomorrow so I can have a full battery of tests on Friday - MRI of brain, CT scans, echocardiogram, EKG, blood work, and eye examination. A link to the study is at the end of this post. It is combining Tarceva (erlotinib) and Mekinist (trametinib), a MEK inhibitor, and could be a good choice for my current unusual mutation status of having both EGFR and BRAF.

I am incredibly impressed with Dr. Yu and with MSKCC. So far every contact has been pleasant, and staff across all levels of the operation have been friendly and responsive.

I'll report back as I can, and plan to write a blog post about the conference in Ohio. It's being held at the Cleveland Clinic, so I'll get a peek at another excellent cancer center.

Anita

clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show...

[JeanE41]

My thoughts and prayers are with you. I hope your new treatment goes well for you with a minimum of side effects. Don't forget to knit. It keeps us sane during trying times. You can't do better than Sloan Kettering.

Jean

[scifiknitter Blogger in reply to JeanE41]

Jean,

I just cast on travel knitting for the trip, a pair of fingerless gloves in yarn I spun myself. You'll know I'm done for when I stop knitting. The other project I'm working on is a beaded sweater, and it is now too bulky to lug around with me.

Anita

[JeanE41 in reply to scifiknitter]

How did your socks turn out? You were working on a new pattern for your daughter.

[scifiknitter Blogger in reply to JeanE41]

They came out well, and fit my husband perfectly!

[MissyD1]

Sending you best wishes for your new treatment! Hope all goes well x

[scifiknitter Blogger in reply to MissyD1]

Thank you, Missy!

[FtB_Peggy]

Good luck, Anita. Thank you so much for doing the trial, and for sharing with us!!

[scifiknitter Blogger in reply to FtB_Peggy]

I'll keep the community informed. 🙂

[Denzie Moderator Volunteer]

This is just cool beyond words. Take care you don't wear yourself out too much. My regards to your hubby!

[scifiknitter Blogger in reply to Denzie]

We're keeping things as low stress as possible - driving only 4 hours, then taking the train to the city. There's a reasonably priced hotel in the same building as the doctor's offices, which also helps make things easy.

[PegD]

Excited to hear how this works for you! Sending best wishes.

[scifiknitter Blogger in reply to PegD]

Thank you!

[Faith17]

Dear Anita

Wishing you the very best outcome ever at MSK. I've heard It's one of the best hospital for cancer treatments. God bless you my prayers are with you🙏🌹

[scifiknitter Blogger in reply to Faith17]

Thank you!

[ThePurplePlace]

Wishing you the very best - safe travels !

~ Lissa

[scifiknitter Blogger in reply to ThePurplePlace]

Thank you!

[midtown711]

Best Wishes to you!!!

Brian