Need help with understanding how clinical trials work

Hello All,

I am trying to understand how clinical trials work. My cousin who was diagnosed with stage 4 ovarian cancer over 4 years ago has had every possible approved medication and unfortunately non have worked. There is a trial which we were hoping she would sign-up for, but she was late and the trial stopped recruiting a couple of weeks ago.

Does any one know if there is a way to get into a trial which is no longer recruiting?

Your help will be greatly appreciated.
Thank you and god bless.

Hi, did you ask your gyn/onc. I was in a clinical trial of Avastin but had to discontinue it after my ca-125 started to go up. You really don't know if your getting the real stuff or not. Try calling or go online to the American Cancer Society they may be able to help you or John Hopkins.

Sending your Mom extra prayers,

Hugs and Prayers, Terry

Hi,

Thanks for the information. The oncologists office just said that they can't do anything, I was wondering if there is any way to get into a clinical trial that is no longer recruiting patients.... the one I am interested in for my cousin is Phase II, so everyone gets the medication.

By the way my mom was on Avastin for Lung cancer and it didn't work on her either. My cousin, the one that I am doing the research for took Avastin, it did help with OV cancer, but she had all the worst side effects especially the ones related to her lungs, so she had to stop. My mom on the other hand had no side effects. No one knows...

Bests and Cheers

Each clinical trail has its own set of criteria.  I just finished a clinical trail that was not affectibe for me.  You can probably find information on cinical trails by asking your doctor.  Oh, by the way I had to get out of the trail as the drug did not work.  I was getting the drug and not the placebo.  I did try the Avastin but declined on it because I was more concerned with the harshness of its type of sid effects, particularly the one where ones colon could rupture.  Now I am on Gemzar and tacatere.  It is all trail and error and this is how I deal with it.  Keep up the hope and fight the fight.  Read as much as you can.  Hang in there.

Deb