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Boceprevir Trial failed
Just to let some of you know that I have been on the Boceprevir trial for 5 months and I did not clear the virus. I quit as a result of the fact I was unable to get to undetectable limits in a time frame that I thought would achieve SVR. My last blood test came up at around 60 VL with only a 30 point drop from the month before. So it just goes to show you that no matter what you take. This ain't no wonder drug but I still think it helps more people than it hurts. I suffered headaches, Muscle aches, coughing from the interferon, fatigue and rashes just to name a few side effects. My doctor says I will have to wait until 2011 to try and treatment again.
I am sorry if that came across that way. I didn't mean to imply that I should have gotten your slot because you "failed" treatment. I just meant that I would have liked to have had the chance to get 'a slot' at taking the Boceprevir in that trial. I, personally, hate to use that term "failed" when it comes to describing having to stop TX. Maybe you aren't aware that I've had that unfortunate end of my 10 treatments without ever having gained an 'undetected' status. So, right now, I'm in a waiting mode for anything that will come up to give me another chance at viral clearance. But, I'm not just spending all my time sitting around thinking about the Hep C and whining about not clearing. I'm out living my life, enjoying this time that I have off of treatment. For some reason, I guess I was under the impression that you were just dropping out of the trial of your own choice and not that you were dropped from the trial, or that you had 'failed'. I totally apologize and I hope that you will forgive my remark.
Susan400
Susan400
If you can't get into the study which is closed now then maybe you should wait until 2011 when you can get these drugs.
As to taking my slot comment you made. One never really knows if you get into this trial that you will actually be provided with the real Boceprevir or the Placebo. The reality is that you could join the study and only receive the Soc treatment. I was in this study group for 17 weeks and was still getting detectable levels of viral load. I quit because of the detectable levels and the toll it was taking on my body after being on treatment for 17 weeks. My treatment failed and had I stayed on treatment for even longer, which would have taken a greater toll on my body then I might have still failed because the longer it takes to get to undetectable levels the lower your chances of clearing the virus. I think I gave adequate time to reach undetectable levels and just did not get to where I need to be in the right time frame. Had I reached the undetectable levels of VL. I would have continued in the program for several more months to obtain SVR. But for you to tell me you should have got my slot because my slot failed. Know one knows who's going to fail or who's going to succeed. One also does not know if they are going to get the real drug or not. The fact that I failed does not mean that you should have got my slot. The fact of the matter is that maybe you would have failed too. Does that mean that someone else you have got your slot? It's the wrong thing to say to someone and I hope you see my point of view. I would not say this to someone who just came off of a failed treatment.
As to taking my slot comment you made. One never really knows if you get into this trial that you will actually be provided with the real Boceprevir or the Placebo. The reality is that you could join the study and only receive the Soc treatment. I was in this study group for 17 weeks and was still getting detectable levels of viral load. I quit because of the detectable levels and the toll it was taking on my body after being on treatment for 17 weeks. My treatment failed and had I stayed on treatment for even longer, which would have taken a greater toll on my body then I might have still failed because the longer it takes to get to undetectable levels the lower your chances of clearing the virus. I think I gave adequate time to reach undetectable levels and just did not get to where I need to be in the right time frame. Had I reached the undetectable levels of VL. I would have continued in the program for several more months to obtain SVR. But for you to tell me you should have got my slot because my slot failed. Know one knows who's going to fail or who's going to succeed. One also does not know if they are going to get the real drug or not. The fact that I failed does not mean that you should have got my slot. The fact of the matter is that maybe you would have failed too. Does that mean that someone else you have got your slot? It's the wrong thing to say to someone and I hope you see my point of view. I would not say this to someone who just came off of a failed treatment.
I don't think they can give me the rollover because I have already stopped treatment. I will have to wait until 2011 to treat again. I could have stayed in the program but even my doctors were getting to a point where they were concerned about whether or not I would obtain undetectable levels of VL. I would have had to stay in the program for another 8 weeks before I could have gone into the rollover and that is only if I was getting the placebo and not the Boceprevir. Had I actually been getting the Boceprevir then they would have just stopped treatment right then and there. The problem is that it drags out the treatment time and forces the patient to take the drugs longer than required because you are not getting the real drug Boceprevir. I don't like the idea that they use the SOC treatment as an arm of the Boceprevir program because they already know what the data is on that and repeating the same study over and over again just doesn't make sense. If people are willing to take the Boceprevir than they should give them the best chance possible and treat right away with the Boceprevir as opposed to making some patients wait until week 28. When I spoke to my doctor about this issue he told me the FDA makes them do this.
Gosh, Keith, that's too bad, but from a personal perspective, I've give just about anything to be eligible to be in that trial and I wasn't allowed to be in it! It's too bad that they didn't give me your slot! ......
Take care of yourself with your regroup and with your waiting time.
Susan400
Take care of yourself with your regroup and with your waiting time.
Susan400
Is there any chance they will still take you for the rollover? (This is assuming that you were getting the placebo.)
IF you were getting the real thing you wouldn't be able to tx again with these pi's
That is a little promising - since it does sound like you were not getting the real BOC at least there is a good chance that you will succeed next time when it's not a trial and you do actually get it.
I think you were wise to stop now and wait for another day and a better chance. Why go through all the hell and beat your body up even more right now for low odds when certainly they will be better next time.
Smart man.
That is a little promising - since it does sound like you were not getting the real BOC at least there is a good chance that you will succeed next time when it's not a trial and you do actually get it.
I think you were wise to stop now and wait for another day and a better chance. Why go through all the hell and beat your body up even more right now for low odds when certainly they will be better next time.
Smart man.
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