Podcasts about taxotere

Vicki Wolf was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 37.  Ductal Carcinoma in SITU was successfully addressed with a lumpectomy.  However, Vicki was diagnosed with the same type of cancer just two years later.  Again, a lumpectomy.  When Vicki was 47, she was diagnosed with Invasive Ductal Carcinoma.  She survived that diagnosis but was again diagnosed with this type of breast when she was 58. That was in 2017.   Vicki survived, but not before undergoing a double mastectomy.  She now leads an active lifestyle and works as an advocate for men with breast cancer after her brother, Harvey Singer, was diagnosed.  They formed a non-profit, His Breast Cancer Awareness.

An ultrasound revealed a large mass in Melinda Bachini's liver, and that led to a diagnosis of cholangiocarcinoma, a form of bile duct cancer.  Doctors removed two thirds of her liver.  Unfortunately, her cancer returned three months.  Melinda was hoping to take part in a clinical trial, but when insurance wouldn't cover a clinical trial, settled for a chemotherapy regimen.  When the chemo didn't help but left her with a bunch of awful side effects, she decided to end the chemotherapy treatment and live as long as she could.  Then she and her husband found out about another opportunity for a clinical trial, pursued it, qualified for it.  The trial led to her achieving survivorship.

After Mark Kageyama was diagnosed with Stage IV prostate cancer, he learned the disease had spread to his bones and lungs.  Severely weakened and his weight dropping to 120 pounds, Mark combined chemotherapy and natural remedies to get the upper hand on cancer.  His weight has returned to 170, and his health is very close to its pre-diagnosis level.  This is his story.

This week Steve and Yvonne interview Jake Zimmerman of The Zimmerman Firm (http://zimmerman-firm.com/) and Genevieve Zimmerman of MeshBesher and Spence (https://www.meshbesher.com/).   Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here to Rate and Review   View/Download Trial Documents   Guest Bios: Jake Zimmerman Jake Zimmerman has litigated on behalf of plaintiffs whose total recoveries approach a billion dollars. Much of his practice focuses on intellectual property disputes, and on patent litigation and licensing in particular. He has also litigated high-stakes cases on behalf of personal injury plaintiffs and defendants. He was selected as a 2019 Attorney of the Year in Minnesota for his groundbreaking work on behalf of a parent whose son was killed at Sandy Hook. He was again selected as an Attorney of the Year in Minnesota in 2021 for his role in appeals from the Bair Hugger MDL litigation against 3M.  Jake graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Minnesota School of Law. He lives in Saint Paul, Minnesota with his wife, Genevieve, and two wonderful children. Read Full Bio Genevieve Zimmerman Genevieve presently serves as court-appointed Co-Lead Counsel for plaintiffs in MDL 2666: In re Bair Hugger Products Liability Litigation. Genevieve was trial counsel in the only bellwether trial. The Bair Hugger MDL includes claims brought by patients who allege the Bair Hugger patient warming system caused deep joint infections following total hip and total knee replacement surgeries. Genevieve is also Co-Lead Counsel for Plaintiffs in MDL 2775: In re Smith & Nephew Birmingham Hip Resurfacing Products Liability pending in the District of Maryland. The MDL includes claims brought on behalf of patients who required revision surgery as a result of defective BHR products. Plaintiffs have successfully defeated a motion to dismiss based on preemption and tried the first MDL bellwether case in July 2021. After a three-week trial, the jury agreed Smith & Nephew was negligent for its false or misleading communications to orthopedic surgeons. Since 2013, Genevieve has served as a court-appointed member of the Plaintiffs' Lead Counsel Committee for MDL 2441: In re Stryker Rejuvenate and ABGII Hip Implant Products Liability Litigation, and is also one of four attorneys appointed to the Settlement Committee for the Stryker MDL, which helped to negotiate a settlement in excess of $1.43 billion. Additionally, in May of 2019, Genevieve was appointed to the Plaintiff's Executive Committee of the 3M Combat earplug litigation MDL. She is one of 14 lawyers appointed by Judge Englehardt to MDL 2740, In re Taxotere, which includes claims brought by women who have suffered permanent baldness as a result of the use of Taxotere. She was court appointed to the PSC for the Biomet MDL in the Northern District of Louisiana, and helps patients suffering from hips made by Smith & Nephew, DePuy, Wright/MicroPort, and Zimmer. Genevieve's past work includes helping heart defibrillator patients after a Guidant recall in 2006. She represented patients who suffered serious injuries and death following the use of the recalled prescription drug Vioxx. She has assisted hundreds of clients in obtaining settlements for defective products including Yaz, transvaginal mesh, hernia mesh, Actos, to name a few. During 2007-2009, Genevieve spent nearly 75% of her time providing pro bono legal services to the survivors and families who lost loved ones as a result of the I-35W Bridge Collapse. The consortium was successful in obtaining recoveries exceeding $75 million. Genevieve serves the community through ongoing pro bono work where she has represented victims of domestic violence seeking to obtain court orders for protection, immigrants seeking to update immigration documents, and high school students seeking protection of their first amendment rights to equal access to school facilities. Genevieve is currently the immediate Past President of the Minnesota Association for Justice, having served on the Board of Governors since 2009, and was proud to receive the “Member of the Year” award in 2012, and the “Star” award in 2021. She is a past member of the Board of Governors for the American Association for Justice. Genevieve has been rated by SuperLawyers as a Super Lawyer since 2014. On a personal note, Genevieve volunteers and raises money for scholarship funds for her alma mater, St. Paul Central High School. In whatever free time she has left, she enjoys travel, skiing, recreational marathons, teaching her kids how to swing a hammer, shovel class five, and cheering for her Minnesota sports teams. Read Full Bio   Show Sponsors: Legal Technology Services - LegalTechService.com Digital Law Marketing - DigitalLawMarketing.com Harris Lowry Manton LLP - hlmlawfirm.com   Free Resources: Stages Of A Jury Trial - Part 1 Stages Of A Jury Trial - Part 2

On the eve of her first chemotherapy infusion, Natasha hauls a pile of new prescriptions home and questions why so much harm must be done to be “healthy” again. After meeting her oncologist Dr. Chen, a specialist in HER-2 positive breast cancer, the clinical trial that originally sounded promising turned out not to be a good fit, leading to a much less invasive chemo recipe consisting of Taxotere, Carboplatin, Herceptin, and Perjeta spaced three weeks apart, but thankfully no need for Taxol. To save her hair from falling out, Natasha's dad graciously volunteers to cover the cost of cold caps (thanks Neil!) but the tradeoff is additional logistics, longer appointments on the chemo days, and no guarantee that it will work. Links Support the Breast Cancer Stories podcast https://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/donate Subscribe to our newsletter here: http://eepurl.com/hX12YD Other Links Support the Breast Cancer Stories podcast https://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/donate Subscribe to our newsletter here: http://eepurl.com/hX12YD About Breast Cancer Stories Breast Cancer Stories follows Natasha Curry, a palliative care nurse practitioner at San Francisco General Hospital, through her experience of going from being a nurse to a patient after being diagnosed with breast cancer. Natasha was in Malawi on a Doctors Without Borders mission in 2021 when her husband of 25 years announced in a text message that he was leaving. She returned home, fell into bed for a few weeks, and eventually pulled herself together and went back to work. A few months later when she discovered an almond-sized lump in her armpit, she did everything she tells her patients not to do and dismissed it, or wrote it off as a “fat lump." Months went by before Natasha finally got a mammogram, but radiology saw nothing in either breast. It was the armpit lump that caught their attention. Next step was an ultrasound, where the lump was clearly visible. One painful biopsy later, Natasha found out she had cancer; in one life-changing moment, the nurse became the patient. This podcast is about what happens when you have breast cancer, told in real time. Host and Executive Producer: Eva Sheie Co-Host: Kristen Vengler Editor and Audio Engineer: Daniel Croeser Theme Music: Them Highs and Lows, Bird of Figment (https://music.apple.com/us/artist/bird-of-figment/1434663902) Production Assistant: Mary Ellen Clarkson Cover Art Designer: Shawn Hiatt Breast Cancer Stories is a production of The Axis. (http://www.theaxis.io/) PROUDLY MADE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS

When Heidi Slansky survived Stage III breast cancer AND skin cancer, she wanted to come to the aid of female cancer survivors in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.  Inspired by slipping on boxing gloves and how they made her feel like she was truly fighting cancer, Heidi founded Cancer StrongHER.  Its mission is to help women physically and mentally by provided a forum to actively carry the fight through boxing fitness, tae kwon do, yoga and pilates.  At all times, the classes she offers are free of charge.  Those outside Dallas-Fort Worth can learn more about what Cancer StrongHER has to offer by checking out its website, www.cancerstrongher.org.

Rosalina and Shauna take you through the beginning stage of their chemotherapy treatments. This was recorded at the beginning of their chemotherapy journey of May/June 2021. They discuss conversations with their doctors about treatment plans and their struggle to cope with the reality of undergoing chemotherapy. They also explain their decisions and the reasons they chose to Cold Cap. Both Rosalina and Shauna decided to undergo chemotherapy, where Rosalina's treatment is Taxotere and Cyclophosphamide (TC), and Shauna's treatment is Adriamycin and Cyclophosphamide plus Taxol (AC-T).If you enjoy this episode, please share it with your friends. Help us reach more women by subscribing and rating us on Apple Podcast and Spotify.You can follow us on Instagram @TYFTSpodcast and email us at tyftspodcast@gmail.comResources below:Fast Mimicking Diet:-https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8190229/-DIY FMD https://www.quantifiedbob.com/fasting-mimicking-diet/-https://www.breastcancer.org/research-news/intermittent-fasting-may-help-cancer-treatments-work-better-https://www.aacr.org/about-the-aacr/newsroom/news-releases/fasting-mimicking-diet-is-safe-may-modulate-metabolism-and-boost-antitumor-immunity-in-cancer-patients/Chemotherapy:-(AC)https://breastcancernow.org/information-support/facing-breast-cancer/going-through-breast-cancer-treatment/chemotherapy/ac-chemotherapy-Taxotere https://breastcancernow.org/information-support/facing-breast-cancer/going-through-treatment-breast-cancer/chemotherapy/docetaxel-taxotere-Cold Cappinghttps://www.breastcancer.org/treatment/side_effects/hair-loss/cold-caps-scalp-cooling

Steph and Collin talk the actual "skinny" about Chemo treatment, like...Fear of chemo, and how it's not  exactly your "grandmother's chemo anymore."The effects of Steph's particular drug cocktail of Taxotere & Cytoxan, How to "pre-game" with steroids and benadryl.Neulasta your best friend and worst enemy. Whether or not to get a chemo port implanted in your chest And Cold Caps or Shaving?  To hair or not to hair, the debate rages.Plus all the things can that make a chemo treatment more pleasant ( if that's even possible).

Minority communities are underrepresented in healthcare leadership roles. By dismantling systemic barriers, the entire healthcare industry can benefit from talented professionals, scientists, and researchers from diverse backgrounds. To help with this effort, Dr. Frank Douglas discusses his project, Safe Haven Dialogues, which empowers individuals to push back against discriminatory environments and make impactful change. Plus, Kate speaks with Andrea Baer of Mended Hearts to mark American Heart Month and patient correspondent Carina Fuller shares her experiences encountering healthcare discrimination. Guest:Frank L. Douglas, Ph.D., M.D.Save Haven Dialogues LLCAn award-winning industry veteran with more than three decades of experience in healthcare, pharmaceuticals and entrepreneurship, Dr. Douglas has held leadership roles in both large and small biopharmaceutical companies. He led teams that were responsible for the development and marketing approval of many drugs, including Allegra, Lantus, Taxotere, and Actonel. Dr. Douglas has also held several academic positions. While at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Dr. Douglas was the Professor of the Practice in the MIT Sloan School of Management and also held similar appointments in the departments of Biology, Biological Engineering, and the Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology and was the founder and first executive director of the MIT Center for Biomedical Innovation. Dr. Douglas holds a BS in Chemistry from Lehigh University, Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry, and a M.D. from Cornell University. Links:Dr. Frank DouglasSafe Haven DialoguesMended HeartsAndrea BaerNursing Home Disclosures Taint Cuomo’s Pandemic PerformanceICER to Assess Two Treatments for Lupus Nephritis Patients Rising Concierge Patient Correspondent: Carina FullerNeed help?The successful patient is one who can get what they need when they need it. We all know insurance slows us down, so why not take matters into your own hands. Our Navigator is an online tool that allows you to search a massive network of health-related resources using your zip code so you get local results. Get proactive and become a more successful patient right now at PatientsRisingConcierge.orgHave a question or comment about the show, want to suggest a show topic or share your story as a patient correspondent?Drop us a line: podcast@patientsrising.orgThe views and opinions expressed herein are those of the guest(s)/ author(s) and do not reflect the official policy or position of Patients Rising.

Clinical trials are the basis of modern medicine.  Through a series of phases, clinical trials strive to find more effective treatments with fewer side effects.  For men with limited options, clinical trials can be a great way to access the newest treatments; however, choosing the right clinical trial can be difficult.  This episode discusses pros and cons of participation, how patients can benefit, and addresses some common concerns and misconceptions.  Dr. Scholz: [00:03] We’re guiding you to treatment success and avoiding prostate cancer pitfalls. I’m your host, Dr. Mark Scholz. Liz: [00:09] And I’m your cohost, Liz Graves. Dr. Scholz: [00:13] Welcome to the PROSTATE PROS podcast. Liz: [00:17] Clinical trials are the root basis for modern medicine and they’re vital for the development of new treatments. This episode, we’re going to talk about pros and cons of clinical trials, who can benefit, which clinical trials to be most excited about. We’ll also address some concerns patients might have about participating. Dr. Scholz: [00:37] Yeah, I mean, clinical trials are how doctors decide what to do for patients. But today we’re going to talk more about how patients can extract a benefit from participating in a clinical trial. Some medicines are only available on clinical trials, they’re not FDA approved yet and trying to make a determination if you, specifically, would benefit by being in a clinical trial, getting an investigational drug is what this podcast today is about. Liz: [01:05] So which type of patients in prostate cancer are looking for clinical trials? Dr. Scholz: [01:11] It’s really important as has been emphasized many times in the past, that there are different types of prostate cancer. We call them stages or five different stages of prostate cancer and clinical trials are usually being performed in people with advanced metastatic prostate cancer, more often the type of cancer that is not responding to traditional medicines. Liz: [01:34] So these are patients who have limited options left and clinical trials can allow them access to the newest treatments. Dr. Scholz: [01:42] Exactly. The problem with doing clinical trials is that there are always disadvantages. If there are other FDA approved medications that have been already shown to prolong life why wouldn’t patients use those first, especially since they are typically covered by most types of insurance? Liz: [02:05] I think one concern people have is that clinical trials are either not covered by insurance or they’re expensive. Is this true? Dr. Scholz: [02:12] Actually no, most of the time, clinical trials will provide the medications free of charge. I think the disadvantages of clinical trials are that they’re somewhat cumbersome, there’s a lot of paperwork, and it’s very formalized. So people are treated in a very uniform fashion, there’s less room for creativity and adjustment of doses and things like that. There’s a major inconvenience to clinical trials. Then of course the way that the medicine is used or whether or not there is a potential for getting placebos, these things can also be a disadvantage for patients who are participating in clinical trials. Liz: [02:50] I think one other thing I was looking at clinicaltrials.gov to find the list of what’s happening in prostate cancer. A lot of the eligibility criteria is really strict, so I think that can be kind of a limiting factor as well. Dr. Scholz: [03:05] Yeah, that’s a very good point. If people don’t meet the criteria, then they can’t enter into the trial. I think it’s challenging for patients to parse out, do they have the eligibility criteria that will qualify them? It’s not easy to read these trials and it’s not like you can learn a trial and now you understand trials, every trial has its own unique design. So the patients that are going to be able to utilize the vast industrial, investigational complex are those that can get online, read trials, and understand the eligibility criteria to determine if they would fit into that trial. So it’s a shame to waste a lot of time, understanding the pros and cons of a trial only later to learn that you don’t qualify. Maybe you’ve had one too many rounds of chemotherapy or some other factor that kicks you out. The typical problem is that these trials are not flexible. Because you’re a nice guy they’re not going to give you a card to get into the trial. You must fit the criteria. Liz: [04:10] So clinical trials are another reason that you should be knowledgeable about your health and maybe have copies of your medical records. You can reference those to see if you can fit into a trial. How do patients decide if this is even something they want to pursue? Dr. Scholz: [04:26] Well, as you mentioned previously, Elizabeth, the patients that have good options and there’s thankfully a number of good options for men with advanced prostate cancer now probably should go with those first. But it’s always good to have a backup plan. Many treatments will not work indefinitely and when things are going well, it’s good to be looking into what you would do if the treatment you’re using right now stops working. Your doctor may have a clear plan and it may make perfect sense with drugs that are already FDA approved, if he hems and haws and says, “I don’t know exactly what the next step would be,” perhaps now it’s time to start looking into whether you would be eligible for some of the different clinical trials that are out there. Liz: [05:12] So we’re talking about men who have limited options. On an earlier episode, we talked about off-label therapy and some of these clinical trial drugs can also be used in an off-label way. How do we decide if patients should go the clinical trial route, or if they should get the drug off-label? Dr. Scholz: [05:32] It may have to do the cost. Sometimes the clinical trial will cover the cost of these expensive medications or maybe convenience. It’s more convenient to simply have your doctor prescribe a medication, which he can legally do using his own judgment. If it’s FDA approved somewhere for another cancer, perhaps. This brings up the whole subject, which we’ve covered in the past of genetic testing as a way to determine if an off-label medication might fit for a patient, who’s got limited options otherwise. Liz: [06:08] So whether someone’s using the drug in an off-label way, or they’re on a clinical trial will you be checking their PSAs and just making sure their side effects are kept in check? Dr. Scholz: [06:20] Precisely. The issue is with any treatment for men with advanced prostate cancers is we really want results. The type of people that are going into clinical trials have often tried a few different things and they’ve stopped working. So we don’t have time to dilly dally around. We need results. That usually means a decline in PSA once the treatment has started, or if people are having some bone pain that the bone pain goes away, some clear evidence for benefit. This seems kind of obvious, but it surprises me sometimes that patients will patiently wait on a medicine, even though the PSA is steadily rising month after month, when really it’s time to move on, if after two or three months there isn’t evidence for a response. Liz: [07:00] That’s actually something I learned while researching this is that patients can stop clinical trials at any time, if they’re not responding, or if they’re having bad side effects, you’re not locked in to the clinical trial. Dr. Scholz: [07:13] Yeah. Excellent point, because even though this is research, ultimately ethics demands that patients be treated in a fashion that’s going to benefit them and not leave them worse off than they started before. Liz: [07:27] So there are different phases of clinical trials and each has kind of a different set of requirements. Can we start talking about phase I trials? Dr. Scholz: [07:36] Yeah. So phase I, II, III, and sometimes even phase IV. Phase I is a brand new medication, so new, no one knows what the proper dosage is. The only way to learn is by giving steadily increasing, incremental amounts to different patients to see, at what point did they start developing side effects? So patients that are participating in phase I trials typically are, I would guess more desperate because there’s no proof yet that it’s going to work in humans. There’s probably been studies in animals, or other factors that indicate possible benefit, but phase I trials are dose finding trials. If you are planning on going into a phase I trial, you really want to ask the investigator, have they tested it in other people yet? Are there any signs that it’s causing benefit and have they started to see any side effects? For safety reasons they usually have to start at a very low dose, or if you’re the first patient to go onto a phase I trial, there’s a good chance that the dosage will be too small to benefit you. Liz: [08:41] After a phase I trial is completed and successful. Then next comes phase II. Dr. Scholz: [08:48] Phase II trials are for patients who are going to be getting a drug that in a phase I trial was shown to be somewhat effective and also not excessively toxic. So the advantages of a phase II trial are that people will be getting the proper dosage of the medicine. It’ll be with a medicine that we think has activity. Another good thing is that everybody gets the medicine. As we move on to talk about phase III trials, we get into the whole issue of placebos. Liz: [09:18] Okay. So phase III trials grow a little bit larger and you’re either comparing the new drug to the standard treatment, or they’re randomized with placebos, as you just said. Dr. Scholz: [09:29] So phase III trials are usually pretty exciting because the phase II trials showed a benefit and phase III is necessary for the FDA to approve a drug for legal use in the United States. Therefore the medicine that’s being used is very likely to be helpful. The problem of course, is the risk of getting randomized to a placebo. That is obviously a concern. Sometimes they randomize people two-to-one. So your chances of getting the real drug are two-thirds. The chances for getting the placebo is one-third also, if you embark upon one of these trials and there’s a known set of side effects with the investigational drug, you can sometimes discern if you are getting the real drug or not, because the placebo patients aren’t getting any side effects whatsoever. If there’s a response, clearly you’re getting the real drug. So patients do have the option of stopping the trial, if when they’re taking the placebo, they feel they’re receiving no benefit. Liz: [10:31] A lot of the apprehension around clinical trials comes from this idea of getting the placebo. And as Dr. Scholz just mentioned, this likelihood really only increases in the phase III trials. How do you talk about this with your patients? If you have someone coming to you saying “Dr. Scholz, I really want to participate in this phase III trial, but there’s a chance I’m getting the placebo?” Dr. Scholz: [10:54] Like any other treatment decision we’re looking at risk benefit ratios, we’re looking at what other options do we have? What is the chance at some other second or third line treatment option is going to benefit versus the investigational drug? Sometimes these investigational drugs come into phase III with tremendous optimism. There’s a medication called Lutetium-177 that has just recently completed phase III trials. But in the phase II trials, 30, 40, 50% of patients were responding to this with very few side effects. So there was no doubt that this medication was beneficial. And of course one’s best hope is that you get the medication rather than be randomized to the placebo. But other phase III trials were not so certain that the drugs are effective. Those obviously are less attractive. Liz: [11:45] All the medications that are used today, like Taxotere, abiraterone have all been through these phases of clinical trials, but there are a number of medications that never made it into the medical world because they failed at these clinical trials. Dr. Scholz: [12:02] I would say that for every medication, FDA approved that we have in prostate cancer, there’ve been five, ten, or fifteen clinical trials that were just as optimistic and hopeful, but did not show a survival advantage when they were tested thoroughly in phase III trials. We mentioned this because there’s often a false sense that if it’s in a clinical trial, it’s new and improved and it’s going to be better than what’s on the market already. I think that is becoming more common. I think medical research is improving every year and the hit rate on these drug designs is getting to be quite good, but patients need to be careful that just because it’s in a clinical trial, doesn’t mean that it’s going to turn into an effective drug. Liz: [12:49] So our office does clinical trials. How are you deciding which one of these seem like they will actually help your patients versus which ones you’re just going to pass on? Dr. Scholz: [13:01] I remember when a drug trial looking at high-dose vitamin D in combination with Taxotere was put on a phase III study and there was so much excitement because all the phase II trials look so good and everyone is already excited about vitamin D, but unfortunately it did not pan out. The high doses of vitamin D with Taxotere gave somewhat lower response rates than the patients who got Taxotere alone. Liz: [13:31] There are also phase IV trials, which are observational trials, looking to learn more about the drug after it’s already on the market. Dr. Scholz: [13:40] So the types of questions that pharmaceutical companies ask are in a larger number of patients, once it gets on the market, thousands of people will be undergoing therapy. Are there other rare side effects, for example, that need to be tested for? And the idea is that further experience with how the drug behaves in a larger population could be useful. Liz: [14:05] If you’d like to see what clinical trials we’re conducting at our office, visit prostateoncology.com. Which current prostate cancer trials are you paying particular attention to? Dr. Scholz: [14:18] Right now, most of the excitement is around immunotherapy. People have heard about these medications, President Carter had an amazing miraculous response to a medicine called KEYTRUDA, which stimulates the immune system. There are three phase III trials looking at KEYTRUDA in various combinations for men with prostate cancer. There’s also some work being done by Amgen, which tries to garner people’s T-cells to attack cancer directly. They use a bi-specific monoclonal antibody to attract the army cells of the immune system, the T-cells, closer to the tumor to kill off the cancer. Some of the early phase II trials look pretty exciting. The whole field of immunology is so hopeful. We know that we’re only at the beginning and if we can develop this technology and harness it, it’s going to benefit a lot of people. Liz: [15:15] There are so many clinical trials that it’s often hard for doctors to keep up with them all. So this responsibility falls on the patient’s shoulders. Clinicaltrials.gov is a great place that’s organized, and you can find information there and then bring that information and have a conversation with your doctor. Dr. Scholz: [15:35] If you understand your stage, you can look at the eligibility criteria and only be looking at the trials that would fit your profile. Also, you know what limitations you have. Can you travel to a different town? Are you willing to go through the hoops that are necessary and the inconveniences to get into a clinical trial? Once you select some potential candidates, your physician can help you decide if it’s really a practical approach. Liz: [16:04] One last thing to note is we’ve talked about how biased the industry is and unfortunately clinical trials are no different. Dr. Scholz: [16:13] So the industry of clinical trials is heavily funded by the pharmaceutical companies. I’m extremely grateful for these wonderful new medicines that these companies put in my tool chest to help patients with. But there’s a tremendous urgency to get patients involved in clinical trials. They’re very expensive to run. You as a patient have to be careful that you’re not being hurried into a trial that really doesn’t benefit you. There’s always that potential that any warm body may fit. And if you are a savvy shopper, you can take advantage of these wonderful new drugs. But, if you’re not careful, it is possible for you to end up receiving medications that are very unlikely to help. Liz: [16:56] As always, it’s important to stay empowered and be proactive about your prostate health. We’ll keep you updated on the subject as more clinical trials emerge. Thank you for listening. Remember to email any questions or topics to podcast@prostateoncology.com.

What do men do when they have no other options? What if they don’t like the side effects? Mainstream, standard of care medicine may not always have the answer. Using off-label therapies can allow men with prostate cancer to find new ways to manage their cancer. PROSTATE PROS talks about unapproved use for approved drugsContinue reading

For many people, chemotherapy conjures up thoughts of debilitating sickness and end of the line therapy. Today this is no longer the case. With advancements in modern medicine, side effects from chemotherapy can be easily managed and reduced. Chemotherapy treats metastatic disease and prevents relapse in men with prostate cancer. This episode of PROSTATE PROSContinue reading

Prior to Aventria, David held several commercial leadership roles, including Head of Oncology Marketing at Genentech and VP Strategic Marketing at Schering AG, specializing in commercializing oncology and specialty products. He was also instrumental in the commercialization of Taxotere, Fludara, Herceptin, and Rituxan. Paul has extensive experience leading successful market access commercialization strategies of specialty pharmaceuticals throughout their life cycles, including several landmark oncology products and other specialty therapeutics. Paul is a former Vice President of Payer Marketing with Bayer and former Vice President and Head of Oncology Managed Markets and Market Access at Novartis Pharmaceuticals. He is an RPh and a graduate of Rutgers University's Ernest Mario College of Pharmacy. 00:00 The trends affecting market access to oncology. 02:00 Innovations in oncology. 02:20 Immuno-oncology. 03:50 How treatment has improved with these oncology innovations. 05:45 The implications of patients getting access to these new treatment options. 07:20 Answering 3 questions around these oncology innovations. 10:05 Outcomes-based contracts and biomarker testing. 11:30 Risk-based contracts. 12:15 Indication-based pricing 14:45 “How do we make access to novel specialty drugs more affordable for the actual patient.” - Paul Pochtar 17:50 How various biomarkers fit in together. 18:15 Determining what biomarkers are relevant. 19:00 Pathways and guidelines being derived from Real World Evidence. 20:45 “There's no standardized approach.” - David Guy 23:40 How a pathway gets used. 29:35 Alternative payment models. 30:15 “As we look for a solution, it's not one entity that has the answer.” - Paul 30:45 Innovation, cost challenge, decision-making process. 32:38 “The elephant in the room is the co-pay burdens.” - David 32:57 Why is a co-pay applicable for a cancer patient? 33:33 Andrew Schorr of Patient Power - EP145.

Currently SVP of Oncology and Specialty Market Programs at Aventria Health Group.  Formerly was  CCO at Favrille, VP Strategic Marketing at Schering AG and Head of Oncology Marketing at Genentech; was instrumental in the commercialization of Taxotere, Fludara, Herceptin, and Rituxan 00:00 New Oncology Breakthroughs. 02:35 Extending survival time to stabilizing curves that could extend to future cures. 03:50 The average cost of a new Oncology product is more than $100,000 for annual cost of treatment. 04:15 “The question is how, as a Health System, we're going to be able to manage that.” 04:30 What Payers are doing to afford these new Oncology Breakthroughs. 04:50 Creating Pathways and Incentivizing Providers to use these Pathways. 05:20 The difference between a Pharmacy Benefit and a Medical Benefit. 05:50 “Buy and Bill.” 06:30 The potential for Providers to make a significant portion of their income from purchasing more expensive products. 07:00 Medicare's adopted average selling price & demonstration project for Buy and Bill. 07:50 How Bundled Payments is affecting the cost of Oncology. 09:00 The Oncology Care Model and shifting to an Episodic Care Model. 09:50 The Evidence-Based approach to treating patients. 10:15 NCCN Guidelines. 11:00 “As long as the Pathways reflect the Gold Standard.” 11:50 Payers are trying to get more consistent care, rather than trying to limit the cost of care. 12:15 Laws requiring Payers to cover Oncology treatment. 14:00 The importance for Manufacturers to communicate and demonstrate the value of their medication. 15:00 Creating a Step Approach. 16:20 Change in the future allowing Medicare negotiate prices with manufacturers. 17:50 David's advice for Pharmaceutical manufacturers. 18:15 Value-Based Contracting. 18:40 Risk-Sharing Program. 19:20 Paying by the Pill vs. Paying by the Value Medication Delivers. 19:40 A more Value-Based Reimbursement system. 20:00 You can find out more at AventriaHealth.com.

Dr. Jack West, Swedish Cancer Institute, reviews the choices for a first-line chemotherapy regimen based on a squamous histology.

Dr. Jack West, Swedish Cancer Institute, reviews the choices for a first-line chemotherapy regimen based on a squamous histology.

Dr. Jack West, Swedish Cancer Institute, reviews the choices for a first-line chemotherapy regimen based on a squamous histology.

Dr. Jack West, Swedish Cancer Institute, addresses the issue of choosing a first-line chemotherapy regimen based on an adenocarcinoma histology.

Dr. Jack West, Swedish Cancer Institute, addresses the issue of choosing a first-line chemotherapy regimen based on an adenocarcinoma histology.

Dr. Jack West, Swedish Cancer Institute, addresses the issue of choosing a first-line chemotherapy regimen based on an adenocarcinoma histology.

Dr. Jack West, Swedish Cancer Institute, identifies the platinum-based chemotherapy doublet as the backbone of first-line treatment for the majority of NSCLC patients.

Dr. Jack West, Swedish Cancer Institute, identifies the platinum-based chemotherapy doublet as the backbone of first-line treatment for the majority of NSCLC patients.

Dr. Jack West, Swedish Cancer Institute, identifies the platinum-based chemotherapy doublet as the backbone of first-line treatment for the majority of NSCLC patients.

Shirley Ledlie wrote her memoir, Naked in the Wind -Chemo, Hair loss, and Deceit as a result of an unexpected battle she had to fight. She was diagnosed with breast cancer at 47 and won the battle against the disease. BUT, after her treatment ended Shirley found herself in another seven-year battle with doctors and a drug company. Shirley Ledlie had an unstoppable determination to win her conflict as she uncovered the truth about a little-known side-effect of a cancer treatment drug, Taxotere.   Shirley's memoir is about lies, betrayal and how she became part of a dirty little secret.  It has affected hundreds of women all over the world and is still going on today.  Whistleblowers, irrational behavior and some madness -- it is all in her memoir.  It is humorous and inspiring in part and also desperate in others. Shirley's Motto:  If we could see the miracle of a single flower clearly, our whole life would change.

A Japanese study of squamous cell carcinoma showed value in nedaplatin vs cisplatin/Taxotere (docetaxel). But with differences in how Asian versus Caucasian patients metabolize chemotherapy, can we presume this benefit would exist for everyone?

A Japanese study of squamous cell carcinoma showed value in nedaplatin vs cisplatin/Taxotere (docetaxel). But with differences in how Asian versus Caucasian patients metabolize chemotherapy, can we presume this benefit would exist for everyone?

A Japanese study of squamous cell carcinoma showed value in nedaplatin vs cisplatin/Taxotere (docetaxel). But with differences in how Asian versus Caucasian patients metabolize chemotherapy, can we presume this benefit would exist for everyone?

Novel immunotherapy agent atezolizumab (MPDL3280A) looks superior to Taxotere (docetaxel) in a study, specifically for patients with PD-L1. What are the implications of multiple agents with similar mechanisms of action in the same clinical settings?

Novel immunotherapy agent atezolizumab (MPDL3280A) looks superior to Taxotere (docetaxel) in a study, specifically for patients with PD-L1. What are the implications of multiple agents with similar mechanisms of action in the same clinical settings?

Novel immunotherapy agent atezolizumab (MPDL3280A) looks superior to Taxotere (docetaxel) in a study, specifically for patients with PD-L1. What are the implications of multiple agents with similar mechanisms of action in the same clinical settings?

The immune checkpoint inhibitor Opdivo (nivolumab) shows better efficacy than Taxotere (docetaxel) for advanced non-squamous NSCLC, but this was seen only in patients with PD-L1 protein expression on their tumor. Should we be using this as a biomarker?

The immune checkpoint inhibitor Opdivo (nivolumab) shows better efficacy than Taxotere (docetaxel) for advanced non-squamous NSCLC, but this was seen only in patients with PD-L1 protein expression on their tumor. Should we be using this as a biomarker?

The immune checkpoint inhibitor Opdivo (nivolumab) shows better efficacy than Taxotere (docetaxel) for advanced non-squamous NSCLC, but this was seen only in patients with PD-L1 protein expression on their tumor. Should we be using this as a biomarker?

Research released at the 2015 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting showed great promise for squamous cell lung cancer patients taking the immunotherapy drug Opdivo (nivolumab). But can we predict which patients will do well on it?

Research released at the 2015 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting showed great promise for squamous cell lung cancer patients taking the immunotherapy drug Opdivo (nivolumab). But can we predict which patients will do well on it?

Research released at the 2015 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting showed great promise for squamous cell lung cancer patients taking the immunotherapy drug Opdivo (nivolumab). But can we predict which patients will do well on it?

The REVEL trial studied 1,200 non-small cell lung cancer patients to see if the drug Cyramza (ramucirumab) improved overall surival. The doctors had mixed feelings about the results.

The REVEL trial studied 1,200 non-small cell lung cancer patients to see if the drug Cyramza (ramucirumab) improved overall surival. The doctors had mixed feelings about the results.

The REVEL trial studied 1,200 non-small cell lung cancer patients to see if the drug Cyramza (ramucirumab) improved overall surival. The doctors had mixed feelings about the results.

Dr. David Gerber, University of Texas-Southwestern, reviews the results of the PROSE study of the Veristrat serum proteomics test to predict benefit of chemo or EGFR inhibitor for second line treatment of advanced lung cancer.

Dr. David Gerber, University of Texas-Southwestern, reviews the results of the PROSE study of the Veristrat serum proteomics test to predict benefit of chemo or EGFR inhibitor for second line treatment of advanced lung cancer.

Dr. David Gerber, University of Texas-Southwestern, reviews the results of the PROSE study of the Veristrat serum proteomics test to predict benefit of chemo or EGFR inhibitor for second line treatment of advanced lung cancer.

Dr. David Gerber, University of Texas-Southwestern, reviews the results of the PROSE study of the Veristrat serum proteomics test to predict benefit of chemo or EGFR inhibitor for second line treatment of advanced lung cancer.

Dr. David Gerber, University of Texas-Southwestern, reviews the results of the PROSE study of the Veristrat serum proteomics test to predict benefit of chemo or EGFR inhibitor for second line treatment of advanced lung cancer.

Dr. David Gerber, University of Texas-Southwestern, reviews the results of the PROSE study of the Veristrat serum proteomics test to predict benefit of chemo or EGFR inhibitor for second line treatment of advanced lung cancer.

Dr. Jared Weiss from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill reviews the rationale for induction chemotherapy before surgery for head and neck cancer and highlights the early work that led to the emergence of the TPF regimen in this setting.

Dr. Jared Weiss from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill reviews the rationale for induction chemotherapy before surgery for head and neck cancer and highlights the early work that led to the emergence of the TPF regimen in this setting.

Dr. Jared Weiss from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill reviews the rationale for induction chemotherapy before surgery for head and neck cancer and highlights the early work that led to the emergence of the TPF regimen in this setting.

Dr. Jared Weiss from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill reviews the rationale for induction chemotherapy before surgery for head and neck cancer and highlights the early work that led to the emergence of the TPF regimen in this setting.

Dr. Jared Weiss from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill reviews the rationale for induction chemotherapy before surgery for head and neck cancer and highlights the early work that led to the emergence of the TPF regimen in this setting.

Dr. Jared Weiss from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill reviews the rationale for induction chemotherapy before surgery for head and neck cancer and highlights the early work that led to the emergence of the TPF regimen in this setting.

Dr. Nate Pennell from Cleveland Clinic reviews the LUME Lung-1 trial presented by Reck at ASCO 2013, of Taxotere with or without nindetanib (BIBF-1120), an anti-angiogenic multikinase inhibitor, in advanced NSCLC.

Dr. Nate Pennell from Cleveland Clinic reviews the LUME Lung-1 trial presented by Reck at ASCO 2013, of Taxotere with or without nindetanib (BIBF-1120), an anti-angiogenic multikinase inhibitor, in advanced NSCLC.

Drs. Mary Pinder, Nate Pennell, and Jack West discuss the results presented at ASCO 2013 of the GALAXY-1 trial of the HSP90 inhibitor ganetespib combined with Taxotere (docetaxel) as second line therapy for advanced NSCLC.

Dr. Nate Pennell from Cleveland Clinic reviews the LUME Lung-1 trial presented by Reck at ASCO 2013, of Taxotere with or without nindetanib (BIBF-1120), an anti-angiogenic multikinase inhibitor, in advanced NSCLC.

Drs. Mary Pinder, Nate Pennell, and Jack West discuss the results presented at ASCO 2013 of the GALAXY-1 trial of the HSP90 inhibitor ganetespib combined with Taxotere (docetaxel) as second line therapy for advanced NSCLC.

Drs. Mary Pinder, Nate Pennell, and Jack West discuss the results presented at ASCO 2013 of the GALAXY-1 trial of the HSP90 inhibitor ganetespib combined with Taxotere (docetaxel) as second line therapy for advanced NSCLC.

Dr. Jack West reviews the encouraging results with selumetinib, a MEK inhibitor, in combination with chemotherapy for patients with advanced NSCLC and a KRAS mutation, the most common molecular marker seen in lung cancer. 

Dr. Gerard Silvestri, pulmonologist from Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) in Charleston, reviews the subject of pneumonitis (inflamation of the lung tissue) induced by chemotherapy commonly used for treating lung cancer.

Dr. Gerard Silvestri, pulmonologist from Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) in Charleston, reviews the subject of pneumonitis (inflamation of the lung tissue) induced by chemotherapy commonly used for treating lung cancer.

Dr. Joel Neal reviews the favorable results with chemo combined with the novel targeted therapy selumetinib, a MEK inhibitor, in KRAS mutatino-positive patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Dr. Joel Neal reviews the favorable results with chemo combined with the novel targeted therapy selumetinib, a MEK inhibitor, in KRAS mutatino-positive patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Dr. Mark Socinski from University of Pittsburgh summarizes and critiques the TAILOR trial of Taxotere (docetaxel) vs. Tarceva (erlotinib) in EGFR wild type advanced NSCLC.

Dr. Mark Socinski from University of Pittsburgh summarizes and critiques the TAILOR trial of Taxotere (docetaxel) vs. Tarceva (erlotinib) in EGFR wild type advanced NSCLC.

Case discussion with Drs. Tom Hensing of in Chicago and David Jackman in Boston, discussing practical issues around molecular marker testing and recommended treatments for first line and maintenance therapy for a patient with advanced squamous cell NSCLC.

Case discussion with Drs. Tom Hensing of in Chicago and David Jackman in Boston, discussing practical issues around molecular marker testing and recommended treatments for first line and maintenance therapy for a patient with advanced squamous cell NSCLC.

Dr. Mark Socinski, medical oncologist and leader of the Thoracic Oncology Program at Univ. of North Carolina, answers questions about what treatments to recommend after first line therapy for advanced NSCLC and when they should be pursued.

Dr. Mark Socinski, medical oncologist and leader of the Thoracic Oncology Program at Univ. of North Carolina, answers questions about what treatments to recommend after first line therapy for advanced NSCLC and when they should be pursued.

Dr. Mark Socinski, medical oncologist and leader of the Thoracic Oncology Program at Univ. of North Carolina, summarizes the evidence and presents a current approach to managing treatment of advanced NSCLC after first line therapy.

Dr. Mark Socinski, medical oncologist and leader of the Thoracic Oncology Program at Univ. of North Carolina, summarizes the evidence and presents a current approach to managing treatment of advanced NSCLC after first line therapy.

This slide presentation by medical oncologist and lung cancer expert Dr. Jack West describes the emerging data about the controversial aspects of timing the transition from first line to second line chemotherapy for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).