“I simply asked” – how Mr. K. found his trial
A personal account of the first conversation with the oncologist and the weeks that followed.
Mr. K. is 64, retired, and lives with his wife near Augsburg. Two years ago he was diagnosed with follicular lymphoma. When the disease returned after the first treatment, the question of the next steps came up.
“I didn't even know I was allowed to ask”
“My oncologist listed the options: another chemotherapy or an antibody therapy. Trials were not mentioned at first,” Mr. K. recalls. His daughter had found a trial on studiefinden.de that matched his situation. “I simply took the printout to the appointment and asked.”
The conversation
The oncologist knew the trial and contacted the trial site in Munich. Two weeks later Mr. K. was sitting in the informed-consent meeting. “It took more than an hour. I could ask everything, even the things I found embarrassing.”
The weeks after
Screening was followed by the go-ahead. Mr. K. has been taking part in the trial for four months and travels to Munich every three weeks. “It takes more effort than treatment close to home. But I feel well looked after, and I know exactly what is happening.”
His advice to others: “Asking costs nothing. And if the trial doesn't fit, you still had a good conversation.”
This information is not a substitute for a conversation with your doctor.