Thread: 1/10 Was able to join my mom @sloan_kettering for visit w/oncologist to discuss next steps. #Metastatic #breastcancer progressed on 1st infusion drug attempted (4/5th line therapy). A #clinicaltrial was presented as an option.

2/10 She listened as the trial was explained to her. Asked good questions, decided this was the right thing for her at this point in time. I was sure to keep my mouth shut unless asked a direct question.

3/10 Fortunately, one of her questions was NOT "What should I do?" because I really wanted her to make the choice to attempt a different chemo, or consent to the trial. I didn't want her to feel pressured because of my advocacy which is highly focused on #clinicaltrials.

4/10 The trial is an interesting design and there is randomization 2:1 (2-investigational drug/1-chemo of choice by doctor). She will not know if she's accepted until her tissue is sent by MSK team to the study lab.

5/10 The research assistant who consented her for the trial was stellar. Explained everything clearly and made sure my mom understood what she was signing. I was highly impressed.

6/10 I had to explain: next part of her job-wait and let the staff @sloan_kettering do their job. I'm confident they will expedite getting her tissue sample to @DaiichiSankyoUS to determine if she meets eligibility criteria. Hopefully, they will do a quick analysis.

7/10 And I'm reminded of the very first bit of advice I was given by the doctor who did my biopsies in 2006. "The hardest part of this is the waiting." So, we will wait for tissue analysis before learning the next steps.

8/10 Onboarding patients isn't instantaneous. Maintaining the integrity of the trial is of utmost importance and she understands there is still a 33% chance she will be randomized to a different chemotherapy, not the investigational agent.

9/10 The hardest part for me? Explaining she would still be part of the trial even if she ends up in the arm that is "chemotherapy of the physician's choosing." If that happens, that's what would have happened anyway but she is adding to a body of knowledge, advancing science.

10/END And so we wait. My mom often jokes, "You've dragged me into your world." Today, she placed herself there without any dragging on my part. And tonight, I'm a proud daughter.