L.A. Trial

We saw dr. Hamid today at the Angelas clinic in L.A. He basically agreed with Dr. hwu's diagnosis and treatment plan except he has an open trial for Cleve whereas the trial in Houston has been closed due to occupancy. So this is very good news. It is an expanded access trial for the B-RAF drug only. In Dr. Hamid's words, Cleve is salvageable and is hoping for a "home run" with this approach, meaning complete irradication. So the plan of action is to begin tests in order to confirm that he is a candidate for the study in about a week and a half. We will do a few rounds of the drug, excise the tumor, radiate the lesion in his sacrum and continue with the medication until it no longer is effective for him. When it no longer is effective or the tumor recurs we will develop a new plan of action. As to what that plan of action is, we don't know yet. Th doctor said that there will be treatment options in three months that are not available to us today. Cleve talked about survival rates with a stage IV cancer and the doctor said very confidently...we are going to change those statistics. This man was all about confidence and was very cut to the chase. So thus far, this is where we stand. We are finally getting into a study for treatment after six long weeks. And everybody agrees that we need to begin treatment as soon as possible. So, here we go...