Clinical Trials- Is it worth going through, or are you just a guinea pig?

Question

My mom has colon cancer, she just had a non-reversable colostemy. The cancer has spread to her liver, lungs and lymph nodes. The doc said that 3 weeks ago, he would not have recommended treatment- but the new clinical trials that JUST came out are very promising. She's 57.

Answer 1

You need to find out what stage of clinical trials are involved.
Stage one trials simply test whether or not a drug or chemical can even be tolerated without causing direct harm. Stage 2 clinical trials usually test several dosages of a drug or compound to test safety profiles and whether or not there is any obvious clinical response. Stage 3 trials are conducted to test efficacy, in other words whether the drug or compound yields increased life expectancy or potential cure. If a stage 3 trial involves having lots of side effects or infections but with no hope of a cure for only 2 weeks longer life, then maybe this choice is not a wise decision. However, if a cure or many months of having the cancer controlled are a strong possibility, then the trial might be worthwhile. Some of the new treatment regimens have very low side effect profiles and some can be quite difficult. You and your mother have some serious research and talking to do before you have enough info to make an informed decision.

http://www.centerwatch.com/patient/backgrnd.html

http://www.fda.gov/oashi/cancer/pdart.html

Answer 2

Right, you might not like what I am about to say, but it is the truth and it does hold some hope.

Clinical trials for cancer are held using people who have not much hope with treatments that are already available. And your mom seems to have ha the best treatment that she can.
There are two ways of lookign at clinical trials. One in that it is a last chance saloon for people who have no other option, and tehy are trying the last chance they have, and if it works they fantastic, if it doesn't, then what happens was gonna happen anyway.
The other option, is that cancer is at present a life limiting disease, it does kill and nobody can deny that. Going into a clinical trial can and will, help people in the future, even if it is only to show that treatment X doesn't work so there is no point in spending all that money trying.

Now, from what ur doc says "it's very promising" then he seems to hold out hope for your mom. From the people I've seen in clinical trials, they are not treated like lab rats, but like any other patient, just their vitals are monitored more closely and such. Your mom will be given every chance of survival she can.

Ultimatly the choice is up to ur mom, as hard as that may be for u to grasp. Does she want to go on fighting?

I hope it works out well for you and you find comfort at this time.

Answer 3

Of course she is a guinea pig, but the promise implied is that there just might be a cure here. Doctors are notorious for NOT KNOWING what side effects a medicine may have. Doctors are dependent on Detail Men from the pharmaceutical companies to teach them about the new medicines. So take the Doctor's recommendation with a grain of salt. You research the medicine yourself. That is doable. I do it all the time. Doctors like to believe they are in charge. Nonsense. My body, I am in charge. If the doctor does not like it, switch doctors. They have no gripe; they kill enough patients as it is. Now the first thing I would do is to strengthen your mom's immune system. Look up the diet that Ann Fromm used in her battle against cancer. We are talking about a lot of raw vegetable juicing. That way you are putting into your mom live vitamins, minerals and enzymes. Then research all successful cancer treatments. If that medicine the doctor recommended really sounds good, it may be worth the risk because your mom is in need of a miracle very soon. Good luck.

Answer 4

It is true that clinical trials are sort of guinea pig affairs, but they have to be tried some way to know whether they will work.

I'd say if a person has low chances anyway and it helps, GREAT! If they have low chances anyway and it doesn't, most likely it won't hurt them.

It probably would not be a good thing for a healthy person to do the clinical trials if there were anything in them that could make them sick.

If your doctor recommends them, he must believe they are good. If your mom tries them, I hope they work for her. And if she doesn't try them, I still hope and pray she gets better. It must be a really hard call to make. So sorry.

Answer 5

Only your mom can decide that. It sounds like this treatment trial may be a good option. When cancer metastasizes it becomes very agressive and very ugly. My father in law passed away due to cancer, and there was nothing he would not endure to try and beat it. He was a fighter. Do realize, that if its a blind trial (means some pts get the correct meds and others get placebos) I would not do it. Only procede if you know she will be treated with the trial correctly. With cancer they should be testing to see how well someone reacts so hopefully they wouldnt use a placebo. I do hope the best for your mother. She is in my heart and prayers!

Answer 6

My sympathies--that's really young. The answer to both of your questions is "yes."

At this point, she has little to lose, but she may help save others. And who knows? It might even help.

My one concern is the physical cost--I lost my dad 2 yrs ago to colon cancer that spread the same way. It looked hopeless, but he opted for a last round of chemo hoping for a miracle. All it did was rob him of the last few months that he might have enjoyed.

Get fully informed about the likely side effects, and then your mom will have to decide if she can afford it--and I'm not referring to money. At 57, she has a good chance of recovering her strength even if it doesn't halt or slow the cancer, but time becomes awfully precious in these circumstance.

Answer 7

I'm sorry to hear about your mom.
Did the doctor tell your mom that the cancer is terminal or untreatable? If the cancer is terminal, what does she have to lose? I say go for it.
However, there's no way to tell if she's getting the new treatment, the treatment-as-usual, or a placebo.
You can look into it. Before signing up for a clinical study, they have you (or your mom) sign an informed consent that summarizes all the risks to the study. You can ask a lot of questions.

Answer 8

I'm sorry about your mum.

Your mum is the only one that can make that decision - there are sometimes risks with clinical trials and it's up to your mum to ask as many questions as she can. It is always best to have another person with her that can ask questions too, as she may not have thought of some.

Whatever decision she makes she will need support from the family. She may feel too ill to bother with any more medical interference.

Medical trials do help others - they may not sometimes help the person taking part but the doctors learn from them.

I send your family my prayers

Answer 9

The whole purpose of a clinical trial is to be a guinea pig. That's how treatments and medications are tested and it takes a brave, unselfish person to put themselves through all of that, especially if their condition is terminal or they are very, very ill. My hat is off to anyone who is willing to help out the next person who has a condition, whether they reap any benefit themselves, or not. I say never give up hope......and best of luck to your mom.

Answer 10

I want to send you my deepest sympathy! Cancer is a terror in this day and age! With George Bush vetoing stem cell research bill today; I wonder who will benefit from keeping us in the stone age! He is worse than the Catholic Church at Reformation!
Please check a website that may offer help and comfort to your mom. www.herbalhealer.com.
We are all guinea pigs under the Bush administration! Most important talk to your mom about what she wants to do. Not everyone wants to fight for life. death can be a beautiful release for some, but try to be supportive and talk to a spiritual adviser about this! Talk to other cancer patients and see what they say. Now time to research and help your mom put her affairs in order. May God Bless You!