mssmr,
Many time in my treatments I have ran into situations dealing with the medical community and my thought has been "easy for them if I die they still get to go on vacation". Even though most I deal with are more than wonderful I know the feeling of being not valued as a person. It is not a good one at all, and I am sorry with all that is going on you do not feel validated as a person.
As blc survivors we at times have to take our own destiny in our own hands and look for our own miracles. Let me say this about clinical trials they do offer options when there seems to be nothing left to try. But also know that the goal of a clinical trial is not to cure you but to gather information. Be careful what you get into, study and know the terms. A blind trial may mean you do not get the treatment but are part of the control group among other possibilities. Also the phase of the trial is very important many do not move beyond the first phase. That means it did not show enough promise to continue. The higher the phase of the trial the more potential it has to help you but even that is not assured. You are receiving two of the most promising drugs for blc around. If you have a way to do it you may wish to seak a second opinion. You may well hear that what you are doing is the best option at this time. That knowlege may make you feel much better about the path you are on. But there are clinical trial matching services out there if you feel strongly that is what you need. I will give you a link to one below it is for the American Cancer Society and you can search online or they will call you and help try to match you. Again I will remind you that before signing up for anything be very careful and do your research. I was part of a clinical trial and was given a much rosier picture than was really the case the numbers may be misleading if you do not know exactly how they arrived at them. Remember if they do not have people they can not do the trial and there is often big money at stake. Once again we have to be informed medical consumers a lot to ask when we are under such stress but a reality. If you have a helper like the one who found this site you may wish to ask them for help looking for what you feel you need.
www.cancer.org/docroot/ETO/ETO_6.asp
I am not someone that can give advise about mets and the in and outs and I hope some of the members of the forum have more to add. But I wanted you to know that someone today saw you as a person who has value.
I wish you great luck and the joy of being with your family.
Chin up and straight forward
Cynthia
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