Anybody Got a Magic 8-Ball??? Tough Decisions - Update 2 of 3

Some of you might be wondering how/why I made the decision to enroll in a clinical trial (study) versus going with traditional chemo options.  In this blog I will explain the process that I went through to make this decision.  But first, I think we need to go back to the beginning and those first treatment decisions made.  I've also added some photos of Nathan for your viewing pleasure :)

Initial Diagnosis Treatment Decisions

Nathan - Pre 15 inch Hair Donation

When I was first diagnosed the treatment decisions were a little more clear cut.  You see, at that time we were able to use the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Guidelines to really guide the way.  The NCCN Guidelines are a comprehensive set of guidelines detailing the sequential management decisions and interventions that currently apply to 97 percent of cancers affecting patients in the United States and are the recognized standard for clinical direction and policy in cancer care.  At that time my oncologist explained the treatment options and we opted for a first line treatment based on these guidelines - radiation and low dose chemo.

When Things Go Sideways....

Nathan - Post Hair Donation "COVID Hair Cut"

Unfortunately, when it was discovered that the original cancer had spread to my right ovary (which is not typical for cervical cancer), we could no longer use the NCCN Guidelines solely to guide treatment decisions.  Instead, my oncologist at the time had to improvise and suggested that we do real deal chemo (not the low dose stuff we did initially) with Avastin for 9 cycles and then another 9 cycles of Avastin alone (I made it to 8 cycles when I had the bowel perforation that resulted in the colostomy).  So even at that time in 2018 we were already going "off the beaten path" so to speak.

Why do a Clinical Trial (study) versus Chemo?

When I was diagnosed with recurrence earlier this year, my oncologist explained that the treatment options included traditional chemo (different agents than what we used before) or a clinical trial.  

In order to understand why I chose to do a clinical trial it is important to understand the following:

• To be eligible for a clinical trial you must meet certain criteria and many times there are limits to the number of different therapies you have had in the past.  So if I try a second line of traditional chemo for this recurrence, I may not be eligible for certain clinical trials.  
• Enrollment in a specific clinical trial may close once they enroll the specific number of patients they need.  Therefore, you can't necessarily bank on a clinical trial being open in the future.
• Traditional chemo will always be there as a treatment option.  Depending on how things go, if clinical trials don't work for me I may still be able to do traditional chemo at a later point.
• As a research pharmacist that cares for cancer patients every day I know the value that clinical trials provide.  Participation in a clinical trial is contributing to science and the discoveries of future treatment options 

  

  #TRUTH
  

Because of the considerations above, I decided to move forward with the clinical trial options.  Update 3 will have info on the most recent developments on which clinical trial we are currently scoping out!!

#OneGoal

#EndCancer