Hi @copingatround2, I'm tagging @jixs and @cmshyf, who have mentioned having the PALB2 mutation to join this discussion.

I can understand your hesitancy about taking part in a clinical trial. It is certainly a personal choice. There can be advantages and disadvantages to clinical trials. Here are a few things to consider off the top of my head:

- A trial may involve more appointments, follow-ups, questionnaires. Some people appreciate the extra touch points, for others that may be a burden depending on travel or mobility.
- Later phases of a treatment trials are blinded, randomized control studies which means you will be randomly selected to receive the standard proven treatment of care or the treatment protocol being studied. You won't know which you'll be receiving. But you will get treatment not a placebo in cancer trials.
- Sometimes a trial offers a treatment option when no other options are available.

Here's more information from Mayo Clinic
- Clinical trials: A significant part of cancer care https://cancerblog.mayoclinic.org/2024/05/07/clinical-trials-a-significant-part-of-cancer-care/

Have you decided whether to have chemo or not? How are you doing?