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Has anyone particpated in a clinical trial of RealBuild? My mom just started the trial. Is is a protein that is already found in all cells of the body and it takes part in the production of proteins. It has been shown to stimulate the production of platelets.
The platelet counts often drop dramtically when chemo is given. Lowered platelets can lead to bleeding and infection.
I have not heard of this trial but my husband is scheduled to participate in a trial at UAB, Birmingham, AL involving RX-0201 which blocks the production of Akt, a protein kinase, which plays a key role in cancer progression. We have an appointment Thursday morning and I should know more about the trial then.
Betty,
By any chance is Dr. Bignen (I think thats how you spell his name) overseeing your case? My mom was being treated at UAB by him and his panel. He wanted to take the "Let's see what happens" approach to my mother in regards to the Xeloda. He performed her surgery in May of 05. Her margins were good after the surgery. She was on Xeloda and radiation for preventative measures. While on this treatment through Dec. 05 she developed three new spots on her liver. They just wanted to keep her on the Xeloda.
Since then, we had gone for a second opinion at the Cancer Treatment Centers of America. All they could say about her treatment from UAB was "Oh My!" She is now on a different treatment at CTCA and her liver numbers are improving.
Have you gone for a 2nd opinion?
My prayers and thoughts are with you.
Favia
Sam's surgeon was Dr. Selwyn Vickers, his oncologist is Dr. James Posey and Dr. Fiveash is the radiation oncologist. At the very beginning, his radiation oncologist was Dr. Russo but she has left UAB. Believe me, I have wished a thousand times that we had gone to M.D. Anderson at the beginning. However, I really don't know if things would have turned out any differently. If you will pull up Sam's blog (johnsonal.blogspot.com), you will see that he had the chemo regimen of Gemzar and Oxaliplatin which is what most of the cancer centers recommend. It just didn't work on Sam. He has had radiation, Xeloda, Gemzar alone and then Gemzar/Oxaliplatin. The only thing that really seems to slow things down is the radiation. His liver ablation has remained stable and has actually had some shrinkage; its the mets to the lungs that are just out of control - 12 in one lung and 10 in the other and the internal mammary nodule. When he was first diagnosed in September, 2004, there were just two little tiny nodules that showed up on the CT. UAB felt confident that the tumor was confined to the left lobe of the liver but apparently it had already started to spread. Dr. Vickers was in contact with Mayo Clinic after his surgery about a transplant but Dr. Gores at Mayo said it would not do any good. I just have to believe that whatever happens is in God's plan but I do pray all day and all night for a miracle. I know that it is possible and I just have to believe that this new trial he is entering is it. As Dr. Posey put it, there is just not a chemo out there that has a long track record; I think some work for a while but then become ineffective. We are going to Birmingham tomorrow and I will post the results of the visit on our blog.
Thanks for your respone; this web site is so comforting - makes you feel like you are not alone in this battle.
Betty,
My Mom and I have the same feelings about God's plan. Miracles are happening everyday.
I will pray for you and Sam. I will pray for comfort, guidance and that he show himself to you and let you know he is there and understands.
favia
About like always - very slow and more waiting. They have now decided to pull the liver biopsy from his surgery last January, 2005 to see if the tumor expresses this epidermal growth factor. If it does, they are going to treat him with Camptosar and add either Herceptin or Erbitux. Dr. Posey has a patient from Macon, GA that is taking Herceptin and is really doing well (over 4 years). He even had her on a special television program last week; I guess it was a promotional for UAB - I wish I had known about it. The trial that we anticipated entering was full and it will be a while before we can enroll in it. Right now he is at home with a bug that is going around with about 102 temp. - feels really bad. With all of the lungs mets that he has, I am really worried about pneumonia. Sam is a very goal oriented person and he was trying so hard not to miss any work but he had to give in today. I'll give him some extra TLC and have him back up in no time. My best to you and your Mom.
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