Clinical Trials

[LemonDropsDreamToo]

If someone is offered a clinical trial what does this mean? I thought a trial would mean there isn’t anything that can be done and a trial would hope for the best? I hope someone can clarify x

[Alman1958]

I’m no expert but in our own awful experience clinical trials are offered under several conditions.

One is that the foundation genetic test has discovered a good genetic marker match better than standard treatment for the stage is diagnosed at — that is a good thing though the stage (1,2,3) of the trial make a big difference—have you asked about that?

Did she get a liquid biopsy or Foundation 1? The Foundation is often under used at lessor oncology centers or by general oncologists but they are expensive

More often the trial is offered due to the advancement or seriousness of the stage —staff 4 sadly has few choices

In this case it is a last resort and needs to be considered against your moms overall stamina and health — a trial can take the last vestige a person has

Sorry if this is grim information but I feel fortunate in this journey through hell with my beloved wife (a non smoker too) to have seen some of the US best oncologists for NSCLC

[KimGO2 Partner]

Hello LemonDropsDreamToo,

We are her for you and your entire family. Lung cancer diagnosis uses a staging criteria (stage 1 thru 4 disease).

Clinical trials are opportunities to receive potentially novel, experimental treatments that might not otherwise be accessible, and these trials are also differentiated into phases. The phases correspond to the ‘maturity’ of a newly discovered potential (and still experimental) treatment, as it progresses through its development and testing phases. Phase 1, for example, designates very early testing trials. While phase 4 designates trials that are in parallel or after a new treatment has received market approval.

Trial designs differ. Some may include placebo - some not. Some may require randomization into different possible experimental treatment groups within a protocol (a random assignment to a group, like the toss of a coin).

Patients and caregivers should discuss and ask questions of their physician and staff to understand well the phase of trial being offered, the design of the trial, how treatments are allocated, what the schedule of testing and clinic visits will be like, etc etc.

Please feel free to reach out to me anytime at [e-mail] or by calling 650-779-8286. Sending hugs to your mum and entire family.

Warmly,

Kim

[ThePurplePlace]

No! Not at all. There are several patients who staryed on clinical trials to begin with. I know many who did this with the immunotherapy drugs and some are even still on trials. If an oncologist feels that a particular trial may be the best possible treatment, that may be why they are suggesting it. I would definitely look into trials and at some point myself I know that's where I will go because I have exhausted many other avenues but had once been suggested for me early on and it was feasible that it would have worked while I would have jumped on it. Good luck.

[weisheke]

Dear LemonDropsDreamToo,

Clinical Trail is not at all last resort, many advanced treatments are offered as clinical trial before FDA approval. Each clinical trial is different, you and your doctor will need to decide what is best. My wife is on clinical trial at the moment and we believe we are on right course.

[Denzie Moderator Volunteer]

Many of the promising treatments need participants who are Chemo naive- in other words-not had any treatment. I have a dear friend who has survived 14 years with stage 4 and been on 3 clinical trials.