An Aggressive New Line of Treatment?

The Marsden have been looking for methods of treatment that may be of benefit for me.

In my first phase of treatment I received the drug bevacizumab, which is better known under its trade name of Avastin.  This is one of the drugs that the government has banned the NHS from using because of cost.  It has been most prevalent in the treatment of metastatic breast cancer.  The drug is available via clinical trials, which is how I benefited from it.

When I received Avastin I received it with other chemotherapy drugs and  my eating improved immediately and considerably.  This is something that did not repeat itself when I later repeated some of the chemotherapy drugs without the Avastin.  Nothing about my case is conclusive but Avastin is known for tumour shrinkage.  In my case it was used to try and shrink the tumour in advance of surgery.

So, what have the Marsden come up with?  They have identified a drug trial in which they are yet to take part.  It is for the drug Ramucirumab, which is from the same family as the bevacizumab drug.  Strictly speaking these drugs are not chemotherapy drugs rather they are targeted drugs which work by attempting inhibit the tumour receptors that are responsible for getting the tumour's blood supply.

The aim of the treatment is curative rather it would be an attempt to slow or inhibit the tumour's growth.

The study that I will be participating in will be a "double blind" study.  Fifty percent of patients receive a placebo and fifty percent receive the drug.  It is called a double blind study because neither the patient nor the doctor knows who receives which whilst the study is in progress.

I will attend screening on Tuesday, 14th December.  I will then have a CT scan and MUGA (heart) scan on Wednesday 15th and will then receive treatment on Tuesday, 21st December. Treatment will then be every two weeks.

One of the benefits of taking part in the trial is that I will receive CT scans which will show the progression of the disease.  Of course, that could be considered to be a benefit or a hindrance depending on the view point.

The attached article from earlier in the blog shows how the "cousin" drug bevacizumab aims to work
http://thebookofsilence.blogspot.com/2010/03/trial-drug-bevacizumab-avastin.html