Clinical Trial Inside Gouge??

July 18, 2006 6:59 PM

Clinical Trial Filter: My stepfather was diagnosed with colon cancer today.

We're swinging into gear... my mom is a nurse, so she's familiar with what's encountered and what the implications are - but we're trying to gather information on clinical trials.

I've educated myself VERY quickly with the government sites and forums for clinical trial searches (gotta love Google), but I thought I'd ask the Green if anyone had any inside info on some trials that may be coming up???

Thanks

posted by matty to health & fitness (7 comments total)

I don't know of any specific trials, but my stepmother was recently diagnosed with cancer and is coming out to NYC to meet with the doctors at Sloan-Kettering about a trial. Sloan-Kettering is one of the best cancer treatement facilities in the world, and they have a really great website that you can use to search for trials.

Even if you don't find one that your stepfather would be a perfect fit for, you might find one in the same ballpark. You can contact the doctor and s/he might be able to tell you about similar studies that he might be a good fit for.

Good luck.
posted by Gamblor at 7:32 PM on July 18, 2006

Matty- where are you and your stepfather located? A good website to start is the National Comprehensive Cancer Center network. Hopefully there is one near you. Each of those sites will probably have an online listing of open trials, usually listed by type or site of cancer. A lot of University-affiliated hospitals will also have clinical trials.

If your stepfather is not already being seen at one of these centers, find out about getting a second opinion there. Often those centers will happily see a patient in consultation and make a recommendation as to how to proceed, and/or see if he would be eligible for any cinical trials.

Also check out the websites of the Cooperative groups:
Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group
Coalition of Cancer Cooperative Groups

As far as upcoming trials, the best person to ask is your stepdad's doctor (or a doctor at a Comprehensive Cancer Center or University-affiliated center). He/she will know what's available currently, what trials are upcoming, and how long it might before those trials will start accruing. Also, ask whether trials are funded by the NIH. If so, it may be that your dad's insurance (if he has any) is required to cover the costs of treatment and tests related to the trial.

Good luck to you and your family.
posted by sarahnade at 7:59 PM on July 18, 2006

THANK YOU for the info so far...

I am in DC, but my Stepdad and Mom are in Montana.
posted by matty at 8:53 PM on July 18, 2006

You may have already seen these, but Clinicaltrials.gov lists more than 100 colorectal neoplasms trials that are either recruiting now or will be soon. That page should link to detailed info on each trial as well. Best of luck to your stepafather and the rest of the family.
posted by cosmicbandito at 9:03 PM on July 18, 2006

damn html. that should have been Clinicaltrials.gov lists more than 100 colorectal neoplasms trials.
posted by cosmicbandito at 9:05 PM on July 18, 2006

The American Cancer Society has good info on clinical trials

They have a matching service too. I would guess this is the same info that your other sources draw on but you never know.

Don't know of any specific ones
posted by kookoobirdz at 10:08 PM on July 18, 2006

Forgot to mention, ACS has lots of other great info on colorectal cancer. Particularly helpful might be the Treatment Decision Tool. But start at the beginning and see all the stuff they've got - everything from preparing for treatment to treatment centers to treatment itself to coping to caregiving to pain management to nutrition to living with cancer to connecting with the survivor community etc etc etc.

Sending good vibes your way.
posted by kookoobirdz at 10:14 PM on July 18, 2006