Accessing clinical trials is a minefield: firstly, you need to find a trial that you are eligible for, which can include factors such as your cancer sub-type, the receptors you carry or don’t carry, and the treatment lines you already received or haven’t received. Secondly, once you have identified a trial that you might be eligible for you then need a hospital that is running that trial.
I am currently being treated for lobular, triple negative, metastatic breast cancer at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham. It’s a very large hospital with a dedicated Cancer Centre but for some reason, which I haven’t got to the bottom of, they are only running two clinical trials for breast cancer, which, compared to other major cancer centres, is negligible. As I don’t meet the criteria for the either of the trials at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, I decided to look further afield.
I know the advice when seeking a clinical trial is to talk to your consultant and to let them know that you are happy to travel, however, I am always very aware of how my consultant is pressed for time as she is only given fifteen minutes per appointment. I have a very good relationship with my consultant, and she never makes me feel rushed, however, I am conscious that it is very difficult for her to keep on top of all the trials that are happening around the country and to match these with her extensive list of patients.
Therefore, I decided to seek a second opinion from The Royal Marsden Hospital where they are involved in numerous breast cancer trials. It tuns out that this was a good decision: there is a trial called PAveMenT, which is aimed at AR+ triple negative metastatic breast cancer patients who have had at least one prior line of chemotherapy for advanced disease, but no more than two prior lines of chemotherapy. I met all of these criteria, but the only outstanding issue was if my cancer was AR+. The Royal Marsden requested samples of my original tumour, and it tested positive for AR+.
For me this was such good news as I only have one more treatment option left when my current chemo stops working. Now I have another potential treatment option.
OPTIONS are something that every cancer patient is looking for. There are still a few hurdles to overcome: I can’t start the trial until my current chemo stops working and the trial recruitment date ends in July 2025; I have had a brain met which has been treated and is currently under control but if I develop further brain mets it might exclude me from the trial; I need to be fit enough to travel to the Marsden every two weeks for treatment. However, knowing that a clinical trial is within reach was a major boost to my morale.
Who Really Cares?
I would highly recommend advocating for yourself if you are interested in participating in a trial. I chose the route of a second opinion but there are other resources available if you want to do some initial research.
METUPUK has a full database of clinical trials taken from all the recommended clinical trial data bases but this one is specific for metastatic breast cancer.
Clinical trials – METUPUK
Make Seconds Count runs a Patient Advocacy Service where you can speak to a specialist to see if there are any trial which you might be eligible for https://make2ndscount.co.uk/support/pta
Helen Thomas