GinnysGirl

GinnysGirl's Recent CancerCompass Activity

• GinnysGirl has replied to a post on the message board

  I'm somewhat new to this, as my mother was only recently diagnosed also.  But I've thrown myself into learning as much as possible about this since her diagnosis.  I think the trouble with what you are asking is that there isn't any ONE "most aggressive successful" treatment.  The sad truth is that the "standard of care" is the same for a grade 1 as it is for a grade 4, and that is removal, radiation a...

  June 19 at 3:00 PM view post

• GinnysGirl has replied to a post on the message board

  A crossover arm means that if the patient is receiving a placebo on the clinical trial and regresses then they will automatically crossover and receive the vaccine. In the DCVax trial, it's 2:1- 2 people will get the vaccine for every 1 that gets a placebo- and the patient doesn't know which they are receiving but the doctor does. So they can know to switch the patient to the vaccine if needed.

  June 17 at 2:38 AM view post

• GinnysGirl has replied to a post on the message board

  Ahhh, gotcha. Thank you- I really want real people answers. I'm not stupid- I can read the research myself. Someday I will care about the science behind all this and the ultimate good for humanity. Right now I'm just trying to keep my Mother alive and capable for as long as I can. Forgive me if that makes me selfish, but I could care less about DCVax except for whether it's the right choice to keep my Mother her...

  June 16 at 4:22 PM view post

• GinnysGirl has replied to a post on the message board

  I'm glad I asked this! So, here is my understanding so correct me if you understand differently: My Mom does have the EGFR mutation which is why she qualifies for the CDX-110. It is my understanding that patients with that mutation have less favorable recurrence rates and life expectancies than patients without that mutation. Therefore, although both vaccines have similar overall recurrence and survival rates t...

  June 16 at 4:17 PM view post

• GinnysGirl has created a new message board discussion

  Hi all, We were notified today that Mom qualifies for both of these trials.  We spent about 4 hours at the oncologist's office asking questions and weighing the options.  It seems as though the CDX-110 would absolutely be the way to go IF it had the crossover arm and she would be guaranteed treatment if she regressed.  However, with the crossover guarantee the DCVax is pretty appealing.  I'm inte...

  June 16 at 4:43 AM view discussion

• GinnysGirl has replied to a post on the message board

  Siblingof, I actually misspoke on that.  She has her first appointment with the radiologist today but her treatments won't start until next week.  Part of the problem in our case is that my Mom ran a large, successful business and so the family has been thrown into not only caring for her but trying to run her business and household for her.  My father and brothers have basically had to care for the "...

  June 12 at 2:33 PM view post

• GinnysGirl has created a new message board discussion

  Hi All, My Mother was diagnosed with a Stage 4 GBM in her left temporal lobe on May 17, has surgery to remove on May 29th and will be beginning her radiation tomorrow at Wash U in STL.  She is 57 years old and amazingly strong, youthful and healthy prior to this.  She has been accepted into the DCVax trial.  We've started the high protien/ low sugar diet.  Mom has been VERY tired since this ...

  June 11 at 7:49 PM view discussion