October 4, 2016 recap of oncology visit

There is not much new information to report. But there are some tweaks. I will begin treatment on Oct. 18. and it will last for an entire year of 12 full months. I will also have between 3 to 6 weeks of daily (sans weekends) radiation.

I signed up for a target drug trial with a target drug called Kadcyla. It is mixed with another target drug Herceptin to make a big drug cocktail administered through an IV. Studies and other trials over the last 10 years have shown that these drugs have few side effects and can lessen overall treatment.

The trial for Kadcyla is throughout the USA. There are only 500 stage 1 HER2 Positive patients who can be in this study. There are only 20 spots left and I am one of the spots. The trial is not a blind study, but of the 500 patients eligible, 75% will be chosen for the trial and 25% will get the standard care protocol of just Herceptin and a chemo drug Taxol. I will know which variation I get on or just before 10/18.

Variation #1: I am chosen for the Kadcyla cocktail. Benefits include less side effects and fewer treatments. The infusions are given every three weeks. 

Variation #2: I am not selected for the Kadcyla cocktail and have the standard protocol of Herceptin and Taxol. Under this variation, I will receive weekly infusions for the first 12 weeks, then taxol is removed but weekly Herceptin continues for the year. Taxol will make me lose my hair, so that's a drag...

With both variations, there will be up to 6 weeks of daily radiation( except on weekends). Infusion treatments continue through the time of the radiation, 

With my stellar cancer free surgery and pathology, I asked what if I had no treatment? The HER2 protein cancers have a high probability of turning up somewhere else in the body... somewhere around 30% chance in 5 years. So that seemed like a not-so-good option for me. With treatment the chances of recurring cancer seem to be 5% or lower. So sign me up!

So that's it. I'm not big on probability and statistics but with 20 slots left I'm hoping the 25% of those that didn't get Kadcyla have already been taken in the 480 and that all that is left is the mega cocktail. 

Wish me luck.