I got a letter today from the Royal Marsden. They've asked if i would take part in a clinical trial they're conducting
It involves being vaccinated against the Epstein Barr Virus (glandula fever). This is because they think EBV may be one of the causes of undifferentiated Nasopharyngeal Ca and apparently i fit the criteria perfectly!
I'm a little nervous a) because it involves me taking the train and tube. I'm still a bit weak and wobbly and dnt go out for more than an hour so London and back will be a challange. & b) i get anticipation sickness when i have "things done to me" now. Blame the chemo *lol*
Bt still, if i can help with progress in some way then great! & it might even help prevent reccourance?!
So i'm off on thursday
The other half INSISTS on coming to make sure they don't do anything that might cause the cancer to return
Anyone else done anything similar? I'm a little nervous about it all.
Thanks Michelle

I would ask for some more info before going ahead with this, ask Dr Vinod what he thinks ?

Hello Chelle

The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is consistently associated with Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma(NPC). In collaboration with the Johns Hopkins Oncology Center and the University of Birmingham CRC Institute of Cancer Studies, with funding from the National Cancer Institute (USA) and the Cancer Research Campaign (UK), the Department of Clinical Oncology of the Chinese University of Hong Kong have initiated trials of novel immunotherapeutic approaches in the treatment of patients with NPC. The first of these has been completed and preliminary results have been reported.

Cancer Research UK Institute for Cancer Studies are working on the immune response to Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), a herpesvirus linked to several human tumours1-13. Their aim is to develop immune-based therapies for such malignancies and their principal focus is on nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), one of the most common cancers in China. Link: Immunotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Do ask your consultant or clinical trials person for more information about why, risks and benefits, and preliminary results.

Best wishes
Vinod

Thank you Dr. Joshi... you're always helpoful!
& i think you're right Garance. I want to make an informed decision.
I'll let you know how it goes.
Michelle

Ok, back from London and i'm exhausted! I don't think the underground was designed with me in mind*lol & i lost my shoe on the stairs in McDonalds, while i was trying to sneak to the loo! Grr stupid numb feet!
The trial involves taking the small pox vaccine (MVA) and encoding it with EBV.
It's a phase 1 trial. And it means a commitment of going for 3 vaccines (1 every 3 weeks) So far they've started it on 4 people - and 1 lady said she felt like she'd been hit by a bus!!
First of all i'm giving them consent to look at my biopsy tissue to see if EBV is present. That gives me more time to think.
Benefits - potentialy it could help stop it coming back.
But they don't know if the vaccine is strong enough. People in other phases will be given a higher dose.
It's a type of Gene Therapy that can have a knock on effect if i ever have babies.
Right now i'm just not sure what to do!
Lets see what the tissue results are i guess.
Michelle