Hi Everyone,
I usually stick to science here on Colon Talk - but I am a Stage IV patient too in the background...
Since I know many people here on the board, I wanted to update you on my treatment plan decision made yesterday.
Even though standard of care is still available to me, I decided between my slow growth rate and my fantastic overall health (I ran 10k on Sunday without losing my breath, multiple lung tumors be damned!) that I would try for an immunotherapy trial. My melanoma precludes me from almost all company-sponsored trials but the NIH is a bit more flexible. So I had tried to get into the "Sleen NIH TIL" trial - but they require tumors at least 1.5 cm large in an easily surgically accessible position - and none of my tumors met that criteria... so the trial was a no-go for me (at least for now).
So I'll be starting up irinotecan (
Update: FOLFIRI) soon. I've had it before (although it has been awhile) - so I know the side effects... But I honestly do think there is a great chance it will slap my tumors up side the head and shrink them down - giving MSS-CRC immunotherapy trials more time to advance - and my melanoma trial exclusion also more time to go away!
You know me, I'm a writer at heart - so here is my take on the science & feelings of the decision on my blog, for anyone interested:
http://adventuresinlivingterminallyoptimistic.com/2015/10/27/its-a-marathon-not-a-sprint/I was proud to give a shout-out to the CT hero Belle! Without naming her, Sleen as well!
Cheers,
-DK
6/4/2012 Dx Stage 3C CRC @ 40 yo. MSS, KRAS-WT, BRAF-WT, p53-mut
7/12 FOLFOX/FOLFIRI
2/13 NED!
8/13 Enlarged lymphs - Stable
10/14 Stage IV. Lung & Lymph mets. 5-FU+bev
3/15 Cetuximab
11/15 FOLFIRI + bev
11/16 Signs of FOLFIRI resistance (Lymph mets)
1/17 Palliative radiation for resistant mets
2/17 FOLFIRI + bev + Maraviroc (off-label)
3/17 FOLFIRI + Erbitux + Maraviroc (off-label)
MSS-CRC Clinical Trial Finder: http://trialfinder.fightcrc.org/2016 Colondar 2.0 ModelDK37 Science Posts List