Drug resistence testing

Has anyone had a drug resistence test? And did it work favorably?

I am going to be doing it tomorrow and am quite nervous about it. A lesion is going to be taken and tested to see what chemos will not work.  There's no guarantee that the chemo will work but it will show what chemos don't work.

It's an Oncotech test.

[medresc]

it depends on your body and cancer.  the testing takes the cells and exposes them to different chemotherapies and combinations to find what will work best.  so this is good for the time and date before any new or next chemotherapy.  after that your cells can adapt and you may need to be tested again; they can explain this

another option was mentioned in the november edition of life extension foundations (lef.org) magazine.  it is the International Strategic Cancer Alliance 610-628-3419 and offer a free consultation, however you must be willing to travel to location(s) that will provide services

[rmarie]

They tested my tumor with my recurrance and it was cool to see the report.  It showed all the different chemos that are used in OVCA and indicated which ones mine was sensitive too.  That is how I ended up on doxil and carbo I was sensitive to both and there was a study about them in combination.  I also know I am sensitive to topetecan, so that is probably in reserve.  It makes sense that they give us ones that will work against our tumors and not just against our bodies.  I found it to be comforting.  That being said, they didn't make a special trip in to get the tumor.  Are they doing a laparsocpe or needle biopsy?  

Good luck to you, I will be sending you positive energy.  Thanks for the info on the conferece.  

[nyc lady]

Helen - I didn't read this until after the meeting....I wish I would have known, I want to hear more about this.  I think that the theory behind it makes a lot of sense.  Good luck and I will be thinking about you.

Pam

[freshair]

I'm up cause I know sleep will be difficult tonite thinking about the procedure tomorrow. I hate to say--I have a lesion on the vaginal wall they are removing.  

Pam--I found better things to talk about at the meeting!  :)

We'll have to encourage women on this forum to do this testing when having their operations.

[Kimchi]

Have no heard of this and will ask my onc about having one done too cause I can no longer handle the Carbo and will have to change meds.  Wouldn't it make sense to have each OC patient be tested before playing the game of trial and error with meds?? Why waste all that valuable time by subjecting patients to drugs that may not work?
Will be sending you positive energy tomorrow... Keep us posted how it went and the results.

[freshair]

I'll know the results in 10 days and will post. I was put out totally yesterday. Thank God for anesthesia. Just a little discomfort. The anxiety before the procedure was worse.

How are you doing Kimchee? Are you finished with the chemo?  You need a break.

[kismetfarm]

that sounds like a great idea be interested to know your results

Glad it went well (and the anxiety is over now :-) )

[Tybear]

I inquired with my oncologist about his (I believe it's called Mick Assay testing) He's not 100% sold on it...I though, feel like it makes so much sense. I read a study done about my type of cancer (MPSC) and in the one study they did, it showed that my type of cancer was most resistant to Taxol, Carbo and Topetocan and least resistant to Gemzar, Etopiside and another one (I can't remember...) Go figure. Makes you wonder if I should have ever been put on Taxol/Carbo at all. I contacted one company though, near me, and they said they won't test my type of Ovarian Cancer...not sure why. I think this testing is more used in recurrence situations, and I know it costs a fair amount of money, but I figure, what have you got to lose....
Good luck,
Becky

[Kimchi]

Just finished carbo/taxo number 12 but had bad reaction to the carbo again...so this is the last of this combo and on to new meds (after getting results of next CT scan)...I am planning a nice break, going to India mid Nov, going to see the sights and try to get some other tests done like this drug resistence test done, PET scan and anything else I can think of before I leave.  Looking forward to this trip and break!!!
How are you doing with your new meds? it's been what 2 cycles so far?

[SimplyStar]

Talked this over with Leslee and her Hubby tonight at the party, they are very interested in finding out more about this test, why take something if it won't work. Mayo is going to do a vaccine clinical soon, will also be looking at that.  After reading alot of these studies I am thinking the second surgery for a recurrance might be one of the best avenues to follow. Unless it is seeded.