Phew!

As I said last time, I was due to be enrolled on the monoclonal anti-body trial on 25 July, but when I went to "be consented" they said my platelets were too low to be entered into the trial.

"Oh bother", I thought.

Every clinical trial has strict protocols so it has a good chance of giving meaningful information and, of course, does no harm. Usually they specify that candidates have platelets of at least 100, mine were 88. In fact, this trial had set a limit of 75, but nonetheless the registrar who was to take my consent wanted to check with his boss and also wondered why my platelets were low. He said we'd try again on 30 July - the day designated for full pre-trial screening and we'd hope they were up!

One of my more anxious 5-day periods ensued. Why were my platelets low? - no pleasing hypotheses to be found. If I couldn't get on the trial then what? Chemo? But my platelets are low, so blasting every cell with chemo-poison doesn't sound like a great option. Anyway, 30 July came and my platelets were 110. Consent forms signed (including volunteering for a biopsy - whoopee), seven blood samples taken, ECG, usual vitals, a physical exam and good chat with another registrar and off to a local-ish private hospital for an echocardiogram. Essentially, it's an ultrasound of the heart to test it's OK and to provide a baseline because CP-751,871 has in some cases adversely affected the heart. Good news - and for those of you who can read ultrasounds there's a movie below - I'm not going to die of heart failure!

So, I have my dates - lots of them - for the 28 day cycle trial with a first infusion on 12 August, with lots of interim testing and some hope that my fast-growing cancer cells might find they have a fight on their hands. A good day and some more coming up with the whole family. Life is good!

Paul