Guest guest Posted February 24, 2004 Report Share Posted February 24, 2004 Unfortunately,this is not new news-or unique to Erbitux.If you read the actual clinical trial result data for any chemo drug you will find that the " significant improvements " in progression time or over- all survival time are often only a few weeks or months. BUT,each of these new drugs have and will work more effectively for some individuals and you just never know, you or your family member may be one of the lucky ones.You have to decide if the risk is worth the possible outcome. Also,if the quality of life is improved,even without extension, it is well worth it.And, the chances of being here to try something else that may be better or may work for you improve with every month.It's what allows all of us to have Hope. You're right,the Moss reports are not a profit gimmick,they just make data available in an easier format.You can obtain the same info for free by reading the clinical trial results on the cancer.gov or national cancer intitute websites(the sites are linked) Keep your chin up!!! > Interesting about Erbitux's weaknesses. Is Avastin going to be > better? Why go through the hell of side effects for an extran month > and a half? Doesn't look like Dr. Moss has a commercial agenda other > than his own books. Hopefuly oncologists will shake out a effective > use of Erbitux as they administer it to patients. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 24, 2004 Report Share Posted February 24, 2004 Unfortunately,this is not new news-or unique to Erbitux.If you read the actual clinical trial result data for any chemo drug you will find that the " significant improvements " in progression time or over- all survival time are often only a few weeks or months. BUT,each of these new drugs have and will work more effectively for some individuals and you just never know, you or your family member may be one of the lucky ones.You have to decide if the risk is worth the possible outcome. Also,if the quality of life is improved,even without extension, it is well worth it.And, the chances of being here to try something else that may be better or may work for you improve with every month.It's what allows all of us to have Hope. You're right,the Moss reports are not a profit gimmick,they just make data available in an easier format.You can obtain the same info for free by reading the clinical trial results on the cancer.gov or national cancer intitute websites(the sites are linked) Keep your chin up!!! > Interesting about Erbitux's weaknesses. Is Avastin going to be > better? Why go through the hell of side effects for an extran month > and a half? Doesn't look like Dr. Moss has a commercial agenda other > than his own books. Hopefuly oncologists will shake out a effective > use of Erbitux as they administer it to patients. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 27, 2004 Report Share Posted February 27, 2004 An example of material available to the general public.Today's newspaper reported that the FDA had approved AVASTIN as a treatment for colorectal cancer. It is not a cure,it helps prolong life,as much as five months to three years in some in- stances.We were part of an initial clinical trial that in the beginning yielded tremendous results. Livert mets all but disappeared. Then some 6 months later they reappeared,larger and more widespread. Still the initial results,combined with chemo- therapy were indeed positive. You,and your oncologist have to decide whether the risks outweigh the benefits or whether,it might be the only option available. It is exactly as printed,not a cure,results vary by indivuals,stage or progression of the diesase and other medical conditions existing at the same time. Sometimes those conducting the studies get carried away but then that tempers as time and nature define the inevitable. I truly believe that someday,somewhere,somehow there will be a cure. Whether it will be bio-engineered,the result of automated and computerized technology,or the culmination of may efforts on several different fronts. There will always be controversy,people will disagree as to why some results occurred and why they were only temporary. research is not an exact science and like snowflakes each of us has out own genetic phisiology. Just some thoughts from ' been there,done that.' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 28, 2004 Report Share Posted February 28, 2004 Nick- Thank you for being part of the clinical trial. I hear that only a small number of people are ever evaluated for clinical trials, even though especially the Phase 2 trials are the only way to get access to very new promising treatments, in addition to the routine " gold standard " treatment. Although I have unexpectedly been doing well on just oxaliplatin/ Xeloda, I was not eligble for the clinical trials for EGF or VEGF inhibitors when my tumor was rapidly progressing 9 mth ago and my oncologist was pessimistic that I would respond again to oxaliplatin. My oncologist (who participated in the Avastin trials) has been anxious to have access to it again for patients like me who may need it in the near future. Your participation and sucess with it has opened some new options for others of us in this fight. Thank you, Kris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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