At last after a few months of being informed of new trials then not to meet the criteria I was getting a little down hearted. Then along comes another - yes I meet the criteria but I needed to have a little more measurable disease ( can you imagine hoping that your cancer grows a little 😧). Anyway it has grown a little since my last scan in March so thumbs up. Pending some more tests I will be starting the Octova trial within a couple of weeks😀😀. I just hope I am on the newer drug as it is a three arm trial .
Has anyone else started on this trial? I know it is very new.
Carolyn 🐶
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Lucidalil
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Hi Carolyn, it seems very hard to fit their criteria I am so pleased you have been able to. I will keep my fingers crossed for you. I can't say I have heard of this trial but let's hope they give you the 3 armed one & kick this cancer right up the pants. Good luck keep us up dated take care Cindyxx
Hi Carolyn - good to hear this. I have been offered two trials recently and Octova is my choice too. I was particularly pleased that it might allow access to the PARP inhibitor olaparib. This is approved for funding in Scotland for platinum sensitive people. I was terribly disappointed when that made it impossible for me. As you say though, let's just hope we get on the right arm! All the best Caroline x
Hi Carolyn. Hope all well with you. Have you started on the Octova trial yet? I'm still going through initial tests and scans but hopefully July it will be official! I've signed on the dotted line.
I started the trial really quickly, on June 5th I think. I was the first on it so the hospital said. I did post earlier that I ended up on weekly taxol - I could have put a bet on that lol . I have have 3 lots of taxol so far, then a week off . My next chemo is on Monday. So far so good I even tried the cold cap which is a doddle to what I used in 1999 so hopefully will keep some hair. The side effects aren't too bad touch wood , I have a MRI and ct scan booked for late July so I will find out if anything has changed since my baseline scans . Looking forward to the Olaparib after my Taxol as I have had olaparib before and you don't get many trials offering it again, you are fine as long as you haven't had it for 6 months prior to this trial😀😀
I hope you manage to get accepted, I think as long as you are in reasonable health you should be fine 😉.
Thanks for coming back to me, Carolyn. The run-up to the trial seems to be interminable. I've had blood tests now which actually showed a significant reduction in CA125 levels (need to ask about this one!) and am going for echocardiogram and CT scan on Tues. I'm feeling pretty OK but am terribly conscious of possible fluid build-up again. Much of it is in my mind I know.
I was told there are now 3 of us signed up to Octova, and I was the first in Scotland. Here's to the pioneers! Keep in touch.
Hi Caroline, big thumbs up for getting signed up👍👍 with your tests starting it must be starting soon .
I had to have my ecg done twice as it had to be within 7 days of the trial start . Once I had signed up I thought it would be a few days wait and they called as I was walking in the door when I arrived home from the hospital !,
Luckily I have never had a fluid build up so I can't comment on that, though my tummy bloats up but it is probably due to the severe bile acid malabsorption I have . Which doesn't help as you get the same side effects as a reaccurrence 🙈Lol.
In a way I am glad I got the baseline taxol as I prefer to have a chemo mop up then tablet maintenance. I had such a great result with olaparib before I can't wait to get back on it after the Taxol . I didn't get many side effects on it before headaches and a bit queasy on occasion but can't really remember so it can't be that bad lol. Mind you I wasn't aware what I was on before as it was a blind trial, I only got unblinded when my cancer returned as I was Ned when I started the solo (olaparib) trial in 2013. My reaccurrence came about 4 months after the trial finished.
Well I am having a chill before tomorrow's chemo, let's hope my picc line behaves , I have have trouble with it since it went in delaying my chemo for hours , but hey ho these things are sent to try us.
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