New Clinical Trial

Went to the Cancer Agency and saw Karen today. The CT-Scan showed new tumours growing in my groin and my markers are slowly rising, so we are now on Plan B. I stop taking the Arimedex immediately and will replace it with Exemestane (Aromasin):

Exemestane is an oral steroidal aromatase
inhibitor currently indicated for
adjuvant treatment of hormone receptor-
positive breast cancer in postmenopausal
women and for advanced breast
cancer in postmenopausal women
whose disease has progressed following
treatment with tamoxifen."

I was also invited to join a clinical trial:
Amgen Protocol No. 20060362 - An International, Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled, Phase 2 Study of AMG 479 with Exemestane or Fulvestrant in Postmenopausal Women with Hormone Receptor Positive Locally Advanced or Metastatic Breast Cancer

Cancer cells become dysregulated via
multiple mechanisms, some of which
are related to cell proliferation. Interest
has been focused on developing novel
targeted agents that can restore cellular
functions involved in regulating
cell growth. Recent data suggest that
increased insulin-like growth factor-1
(IGF-1) signaling mediates cancer-cell
proliferation, reduces apoptosis, and correlates
with a higher incidence and progression
of several common cancers. A
number of agents are in various phases
of development that bind to, and target,
IGF-1 receptor (IGF-1R) and inhibit
these signaling pathways that promote
tumor progression, growth, and survival.
AMG 479, an investigational fully
human monoclonal antibody in earlystage
development by Amgen, is directed
against IGF-1R.

I took away 20 pages to digest. I am pretty sure that I will agree to the trial. The side effects aren't too bad (the top 3 are fatigue, rash, low platelets). The only problem might be my veins. The Exemestane is a daily pill but the AMG 479 (or the placebo) is by intravenous every 2 weeks. There are also a lot of blood tests. I might need a port-a-cath installed. Chemo is still a possibility but there are a few other things to try first.

I'll return to the Agency on Thursday to meet with the trial nurse and sign the documents. I'll then get a calendar of appointments so I can get on with other things. Looks like any holidays will have to be short ones.

Came home for a bit and then went to the last meeting of the VESTA Status of Women Committee. We then went to Stella's Tap and Tapas Bar on Commercial for dinner - excellent!

On the way home I made a bathroom stop at Matt's. Visited with Andrea and the girls until he got home from work at 8:00. Stressful time for him. Sharron is in St. Paul's with clots in both lungs. She'll be there for a week and they are doing a biopsy to check a suspicious node. Matt & Andrea have also sold their apartment and have put an offer on a townhouse in Port Moody!

Then stopped to visit Pru and we went over the trial papers. Always nice to have others agree when you have such an important decision to make.