Successful Clinical Trials at National Institutes of Health

adventureswithcancer

Hello all,

First time posting for me. I normally post on another site. I just found out about this forum and want to make sure that you have heard about clinical trials at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, MD. One of those trials cured me of my stage 4 breast cancer. I was treated with Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocytes (TIL) at NIH last year. My cancer has since dissolved away and I am living life again cancer-free. They had other trials too. I recommend searching for breast cancer trials at NIH. After your initial visit, they pay for everything. So, please investigate these clinical trials and apply if you qualify. If you aren't sure, the intake nurses are very helpful. I see that Bestbird posts on this site. So, maybe you all have heard of this trial and others. Below is the link to the trial that I was on.

Good luck to everyone on this journey.

https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01174121?te...

Moderators

That's amazing information, and we are so excited to hear about the positive results you had to this trial. Indeed, it is a very good idea to look at the National Cancer NCI-Supported Clinical Trials

Bestbird

Adventures, so nice to see your post on this Forum! And thank you for the reminder about NIH clinical trials.

adventureswithcancer and I have corresponded for quite some time on another mbc forum called Inspire. And I've had the pleasure of meeting her and some of her family when she came to Utah a little while back! Her story is indeed remarkable...

Despite her numerous and quite varied treatments, nothing seemed to work for very long. As a last-ditch possibility, she enrolled in an immunotherapy clinical trial which her loved ones and friends hoped would be somewhat effective - at least for a little while. Over time, it was clear that her tumors were receding (as corroborated both by touch [some tumors were close to the surface of her chest], and by scans). At present, they are pretty much gone!

It's my understanding that, unfortunately, not everyone on the same trial fared as well. Yet adventures' story is both inspiring and an indication that, with the right treatment (and admittedly finding it is currently hit-or-miss) the seemingly impossible becomes possible.

Cure-ious

So exciting, Adventures! What breast cancer subtype did you have (ER+? HER2 status?), and how many treatments did you get? Were there side effects from the TIL injections or the Keytruda? Thanks for the info!

JFL

Adventures, I am so happy for you!!!

One of my friends on this board (scrunchthecat) let me know about you so I went over to Inspire to read about your experience. I would like to do the trial you did. She mentioned you are also in Florida. I am in Miami Beach. I haven't failed a chemo yet which is the only requirement I do not meet based on initial requirements. I did see on Inspire that another woman passed away on the trial, although it sounded like she may have been in bad shape from mets/treatments before she began the trial. I have heard that it is best to do immunotherapy when the immune system is stronger (if feasible). Do you know how others with BC mets have fared on this trial?

Please keep us posted. Your story gives us all hope!