Clinical Trials - Penelope and Olympia

Hi All

I had a left breast multi focal carcinoma with axillary mets, grade 3 . I had neoadjuvant chemotherapy (3 FEC and 3 Tax) followed by surgery (Wide Local Excision) and axillary clearance. I am now 3 days of finishing 6 weeks of radiation and I am on Letrozole (anti-hormone) tablets. My oncologist advised me that due to my cancer being invasive I have a 50% chance of getting a secondary cancer.

He has recommended and put my name forward to undertake the PENELOPE clinical trial.  I have met with the medical team in Sydney re the trial who suggested I may also qualify for the OLYMPIA trial if I come back positive on my recent BRCA test.

Basically I am interested in talking to anyone one else who is on or heard of either of these clinical trials.  I am torn between just wanting to move on and get on with my life (no more medical stuff) and going on one of the trials in the hope it might improve my odds.  If I go on the trial I have to go back and forth to Sydney for a year and continue to be under medical surveillance including medical tests/scans etc (this may not be a bad thing, perhaps reassuring). It is a strange feeling to go from non stop medical supervision for 9 months to nothing more than 3-6 month oncology visits.

I appreciate any advice on this matter.

Thanks so much

Maree