Re: Participation in experimental treatments

From: eveline (evelinep_at_infinet.com)
Date: 03/06/05

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    Date: Sat, 5 Mar 2005 21:31:22 -0500

    "Steph" <steph@vancouver.island> wrote in message
    news:fEtWd.579638$Xk.177999@pd7tw3no...
    >
    > "eveline" <evelinep@infinet.com> wrote in message
    > news:112ko1c8tk1i8de@corp.supernews.com...
    > >
    > > "Steph" <steph@vancouver.island> wrote in message
    > > news:HIrWd.580581$6l.160688@pd7tw2no...
    > >>
    > >> "eveline" <evelinep@infinet.com> wrote in message
    > >> news:112k6bi7efm4mba@corp.supernews.com...
    > >> >
    > >> > "eveline" <evelinep@infinet.com> wrote in message
    > >> > news:112d3n63uv9am74@corp.supernews.com...
    > >> >> participation in cancer trials offers benefits. People with
    advanced
    > >> > cancer
    > >> >> who try experimental treatments are helped more than previously
    > > thought,
    > >> >> according to a comprehensive look at government-sponsered tests over
    a
    > >> >> decade.
    > >> >> http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7067692
    > >> >
    > >> > In the above studies, in 3% the cancers disappeared, 8% had
    substantial
    > >> > shrinkage, 34% had some shrinkage or stabilized.
    > >> > 14% had at least one serious side effect.
    > >> > From my reading it seems overall 11% were helped and in some cases
    27%
    > >> > were
    > >> > better off.
    > >> > Each person would need to evaluate their circumstance and make an
    > > informed
    > >> > decision - after asking losts of questions. This would be after
    trying
    > >> > other recommended treatments, without adequated results, I would
    think.
    > >> >
    > >> > My spouse was in a drug trial for acute asthma that periodicly
    > > accelerated
    > >> > to status asthmaticus - a very dangerous scenario. He was in acute
    > >> > distress
    > >> > during the trial, as he seemed to get the placebo. The drug he
    > >> > received
    > >> > after the early phase of the trial ended really made the difference
    and
    > > he
    > >> > was soon free of the intense attacks.
    > >> >
    > >> > I would think in the cancer trials, you would want to be sure to
    > >> > receive
    > >> > the
    > >> > drug - not the placebo.
    > >>
    > >> That's entirely wrong.
    > >> The whole point of a placebo controlled trial is that it isn't known
    > > whether
    > >> the new therapy is better (or worse) than placebo.
    > >
    > >>>>>>>>>
    > > Well I am not an expert and don't claim to be, but my research indicates
    > > that because of ethical concerns, only a few trials use no treatment
    > > placebos.
    > >
    > > Some trials have equally plausable treatments so have no control arm.
    > > It would be unethical not to be using some treatment. The patient
    should
    > > know up front if they might be the one getting a no treatment placebo.
    > > That's the reason the patient should ask questions.
    > >
    > > There are usually two arms of treatment with the new drug as one arm and
    a
    > > conventional treatment as the other. Some trials use two new drugs.
    One
    > > with more potency and maybe more side effects than the other.
    > >
    > > Some trials have several arms of treatment.
    > > That leaves the patient with more guessing about what drug they might
    get.
    > > I am just saying the patient should ask questions and be informed and
    then
    > > decide for themselves .
    > >
    > > I have a lot of concerns here. Another daughter is being tested for
    > > endometrial cancer.
    > >
    > > eveline
    > >
    >
    > The whole point of randomised double blind trials is that any bias is
    > minimised. If either the patients or researchers know who is getting what,
    > the trial is flawed.
    > In any trial, if one arm is known to be better than the other(s) the trial
    > would not be allowed by an ethics committee.
    <<<<<<<
    I realize most are randomized and double blind trials with USUALLY some type
    of control arm, but doctors can differ about which drug is the best or more
    effective.
    As long as the choice of the better one is uncertain, there is no ethics
    problem.

    The patient can't know what drug he/she is put on, as that would invalidate
    the results.
    However he or she has the right to know the selection of drugs offered and
    their merit.
    As the patient will be getting one of those. I would want to know the
    selection.

    Thanks for your input.
    eveline
    >
    >

  • Next message: elgoog: "Re: Passive smoking killing thousands"

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