"It is what it is... keep smiling," the mantra of so many people fighting cancer. But, Wendy Allen is different from most... She is one of only 10 people in the country taking part in a clinical trial for breast cancer.
Wendy says, "Most of the time with breast cancer they can go in and take the tumors out, but since it had spread to my liver that was not an option."
Dr. Paul Richards with Blue Ridge Cancer Care knew of a treatment option that might help. A combination of IV chemo treatments at the office and daily chemo pills are both usually a last resort for treatment. New research is focusing on using them first instead.
Dr. Richards says, "If you can find the mechanism that turns it on and off... switches for it, you can keep it under control."
Wendy's willingness to participate in the clinical trial provides benefits for other patients in the future because it allows doctors to come up with dosing for this chemo combination.
She says, "It was kind of rough in the beginning. But I knew it was something I had to do if I wanted to stay around."
Dr. Richards says, "The trials offer people benefits but there are risks and so on with taking new medications."
For Wendy the risk has been worth it.
She says, "Today I am great. My tumors have shrunk. The last CT Scan showed that my tumor markers are below normal, which is unbelievable in itself."
Dr. Richards adds, "Without clinical trials we are stuck we never find out more information."
Hope for wendy and for others like her in the future.
Tonight at 202 Market in Downtown Roanoke a fundraiser is being held for Wendy to help with the medical bills that her insurance company will not cover because she is participating in this clinical trial. There is also a silent auction being held with items from dozens of local businesses. Several bands will also be playing. A ten dollar donation is requested at the door.
For more information about participating locally in this national clinical trial that involves a combination of abraxane and lapatinib you can call Blue Ridge Cancer Care at (540) 776-8660.
Link to more information about clinical trials for all forms of cancer from the National Cancer Institute
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