Noel started chemotherapy this morning at the California Cancer Center in Marin. She’s doing a clinical study called GOG-0262 (GOG stands for Gynecologic Oncology Group, which is a national research group affiliated with the National Cancer Institute) and was ‘randomized’ into a group that receives part of her chemo every week instead of every three weeks, which is the customary standard for her disease. Other than that, it is the same chemo drugs as the standard therapy. There is an additional but optional drug in the study called Avastin. You may have read about Avastin as it has been in the news lately. It’s made by Genentech (now owned by Roche), and they’ve been pushing to get it approved for as many forms of cancer treatment as possible. It seems to work well for some, but the FDA recently declined to approve it for breast cancer and last month they reported only mixed results of its effectiveness in two ovarian cancer studies. Overall it seemed to offer relatively little, even if it worked, so after weighing benefit versus toxicity, we decided not to include that in the study. The chemo runs for a full 18 weeks.
We are doing our best to take an integrative approach to this. Last week we had an 80 minute consultation with Dr. Donald Abrams who is head of the Integrative Oncology program at UCSF. His primary area of focus is nutrition and anti-inflammatory foods, and he just published a book, “Integrative Oncology,” which he co-authored with Andrew Weil (the doctor in Arizona with the big beard).
The book to start with, though, is probably “Anticancer” by David Servan-Schreiber. We actually had been eating pretty well – Annie gets vegetable hungry like few people I’ve ever known, and I’ve been eating a vegetarian lunch for several years – but we learned a lot from the meeting with Dr. Abrams. We also got some great materials, including recommendations for cookbooks and other resources (e.g., “Foods to Fight Cancer” and “The Cancer Fighting Kitchen”). I’m happy to share the information Dr. Abrams provided if you wish (just let me know). Anyway, the result is that we’re buying a bunch of different foods and eating even better now; I even cooked kale for the first time this week and it was great. Fortunately we have great resources here in the Bay Area, including a wonderful farmers market nearby.
Thanks to everyone for your support. It means a lot to her, especially as she enters this next phase.
Clark
noelstanton 
Hi Noel,
Good luck as you start this next trip in your journey. I am thinking of you and I hope very hard you will do swimmingly.
I am very interested in any of the nutritional information. Have to admit, I am not a lover of kale–but haven’t tried it cooked…
You are in my prayers every day.
Sammy
Thanks for the update. Good luck, Noel! And to all your family.
Thoughts & prayers, Kathy
We know the weeks ahead will be trying but you have all of our love and support as well as prayers for your total recovery.
All our best to you and your family.
Love Larry and Kathy
Best of luck with this phase of your recovery Noel. I miss you. Janet
Noel Anne,
Here are the books Ben consulted for optimum health during chemo & blood cell transplant 2 years ago. He’s doing very well now! Although most of his treatments were administered at Stanford and clinics in the South Bay, he did go to the California Cancer Center in Marin for one of the stages in preparation for the transplant and received top notch care.
Deep breaths! Carol
Anticancer: A New Way of Life by David Servan-Schreiber (excellent!)
American Cancer Society Complete Guide to Complementary & Alternative Cancer Therapies
Healing with Whole Foods
Life over Cancer by Keith L. Block
Clark and Noel-
Bravo for you! I think the integrative approach sounds great. I’m going to go get the book you recommended as a first start, because I think there’s really something to these ideas about cancer.
Thank you for continuing to send updates. We are all rooting for Noel. I know it’s not easy.
Love to both of you.
Molly
Noel your friends in San Diego are cheering you on, sending love and prayers to you and hoping that the next weeks go by quickly. I’ll watch for updates, thanks to you and Clark for keeping that current. Love to you both.
Carolyn
We are thinking of you constantly. We hope the Chemo does its job and that you have minimal side effects. We really appreciate the updates. Did you get the mac and cheese super recipe?
Love,
Kathy & Jack