Cancer

Free

E-newsletter

Subscribe to Housecall

Our weekly general interest
e-newsletter keeps you up to date on a wide variety of health topics.

• June 21, 2012 2:07 p.m.

  This post is for Tim and others who are looking for clinical trials at Mayo Clinic Cancer Center. On this page, go up to the Resources Tab and click onto this page, toward the bottom of the Resources listings is a header for Treatments and Drugs, here you will find a link to the Cancer Clinical Trials on Mayoclinic.org.

  - Sheryl Ness

• June 21, 2012 12:46 a.m.

  I am writing on behalf of Amara, who has had a diagnosis of Triple Negative Breast Cancer. Amara is doing chemo, and her cancer has spread to her lymph nodes and brain. She is having a second set of brain tumors removed through a gamma knife procedure. Amara and her husband live in Southern California. I am from the midwest, and my mom said she heard of some type of experimental clinical trial cancer drug, which somehow gets at the cancer cells, offered by the Mayo Clinic and that is having some reported success. Who can Amara or her husband Dave and/or her team contact to find out more about this specific clinical trial, whether or not she would be eligible, and just more info. If you can email directly with some links or additional info - I am a friend of Amara and Dave. I am asking my mom to follow-up from her end. I'm not sure how to negotiate this website or what google search terms I should use. Please point my nose in the right direction. THANK YOU!

  - Tim

• January 14, 2012 10:29 p.m.

  I have recurrent colon cancer after having colon resection and some chemotheraphy. I am wondering about clinical trials for my type of recurrent cancer.

  - henri

• November 6, 2011 4:08 p.m.

  My husband, 52 next week, has metastatic melanoma in his kidney, lung, and near spine. Undergoing oral chemo every month. Had radiation to ease pain in back, now pain in abdomen. Dr not very positive about outcome. I know there is supposedly no cure...but does anyone know of anything to try? Also not a candidate for B-raf gene therapy. We need success.

  - Anne

• September 10, 2011 12:16 a.m.

  My 73 yr old dad has metastatic prostate cancer. He is currently in hospital as cancer has spread to his bones and he cannot walk because of the pain in his legs caused by spinal compression. I understand that the cancer has also infiltrated into the bone marrow and who knows where else by now. Two weeks ago he had a radiation treatment for pain relief and has since been on a ton of pain killers. Over the past few days, he has been hallucinating like crazy. Yesterday he had black tarry stools and they have now stopped the pain killers altogether and he is only on fluids and pantoloc. His hemoglobin count is low and they are giving him two units of blood. Today he slept quite a bit, was no longer hallucinating and not complaining so much about pain. His blood pressure today was around 80/60. Can someone tell me what i can expect and when? In all other respects, he has led a healthy lifestyle, however the last time he went for a checkup was about 15 years ago. Also, do you think he would be a candidate for clinical trials involving viral therapy? Is it too late for him?

  - Mary

• August 28, 2011 9:19 a.m.

  Marianne,I am sorry to hear about your dad's cancer. It sounds as if you have done so much to try to help him in the best possible ways. I am not sure what clinical trial he was enrolled in for treatment in Perth, but we do have a treatment trial at Mayo Clinic, see this link http://www.mayoclinic.org/mesothelioma/clintrials.html It is possible to also call for more information on this trial in Scottsdale, Arizona: Helen Ross, MD 480-301-4976 and Heidi Kogut 480-301-4976

  - Sheryl

• August 26, 2011 7:23 a.m.

  my dad has mesothelioma. i am looking at the possibility of flying him to the mayo clinic ( we live in perth , western australia, australia )in some hope of a miracle life postpoment... i know that a cure is unheard of - but i dont want to give up without trying everything - he has had chemo and a trial drug for 6 months but since he has stopped, the meso has spread faster than ever - now in his abdomen - causing massive swelling. I need any information / advice as we are getting nothing..... please help if possible

  - marianne

• May 23, 2011 5:18 p.m.

  Are there any successful clinical trials for pancreatic cancer, we haven't had any results with chemo, gemcitibine. Our dr. Isn't being at all positive. We need hope and success.

  - Gord

• September 9, 2010 10:37 p.m.

  Has anyone tried the Japanese treatment calledGene P63 and if so with what results.

  - Mary

• August 11, 2010 1:48 p.m.

  This post is in response to John. Research and evidenced-based practice are not anecdotal; it is scientific and that is what our treatment recommendations for people with cancer are based on. We are constantly learning what works best for each cancer type and each person based on research and clinical trials. Certainly a mix of anecdotal evidence is needed along with the science to create the personalized care that is important to be as successful as possible with treatment and outcomes.

  - Sheryl

• August 9, 2010 12:37 p.m.

  I'm an activist on what every American should understand about their health care. It is currently estimated that 8 out of 10 doctors recommendations are anecdotal--- not scientifically-based. Congress has passed new laws on health care reform to include billions to create personal electronic medical records for every individual on every disease. Both Presidents Bush & Obama have issued statements that all citizens should have electronic medical records from birth to death that can be used to collect health outcomes research on "what works best" on every disease.

  - John

• August 6, 2010 11:18 a.m.

  I have stage 4 colon cancer, since I started with kemo I have had great sucess as my C.E.A. # went from 360 down to 7. My question, is my DR. feels that at this time 1 1/2 years going to a trial would not be good as im haveing sucess with the current kemo im taking,is this advice correct.

  - xavier

• August 5, 2010 3:20 p.m.

  I advise anyone considering being involved in a clinical research trial to first do their own research or designate someone you trust to do this for you. Keep internet inquiries to medical based sites as well. Understand everything, arrange a separate meeting with your medical team, and be prepared with a list of questions. My team was wonderful and I am looking forward to remission results from the current trial I am involved. Most importantly, keep your chin up and remain positive - and be thankful for other folks who have dedicated their health to trials so that researchers can further medical knowledge. Best of all, most trials allow one to withdraw from a trial for whatever reason if they wish to cease that course of treatment.

  - JM