Marshall's Cancer Updates

Back in Chicago Erstwhile: after researching the University of Michigan's clinical trial for treating advanced Stage IV non-small cell lung cancer:  Ramucirumab Plus Pembrolizumab vs Usual Care for Treatment of Stage IV or Recurrent Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Following Immunotherapy, Pragmatica-Lung Study, I finally decided to sign up for the study and start treatment in Ann Arbor. I  cleared all their protocols and scheduled the first session for December 19th. I'll still check in with Dr. H from time to time in Reed city to keep that link open. In mid-December, Dr. Q called me to tell me I've been randomized into the control group. This means that a computer has decided that I should be in the group that receives the standard care for 2nd line treatment for metastatic lung cancer after an unsuccessful first line treatment of chemotherapy (carboplatin) plus immunotherapy (atezolizumab). At least it's not a placebo. The experimental group, as opposed to the control grou...

The short version  For those whose impulse is "too long; didn't read" but still want to be in the loop, this section should get you caught up. I emailed a version of this to family members, so some of you may already be familiar with this information. I've joined the clinical trial at the University of Michigan's Rogel Cancer Center. Pre-trial scans (CT and MRI) over the last couple weeks all look good: no new brain metastases and little disease progression with bone mets and other lesions, which was surprising to me.  Over the next couple weeks, I will be sorted into Group A (control group/standard of care chemotherapy with Docetaxel) or Group B (experimental group/immunotherapy with Keytruda).  I should know right away which group I'm sorted into. I'll start infusions every 21 days beginning on December 19th for up to 2 years, or until the drugs become hypertoxic or stop being effective. -------------- The long version It's been one year since the fi...