Fear pancreatic cancer oncologist may discontinue care

Have you asked your oncologist about clinical trials? In my experience, hospitals, at least, are very enthusiastic about enrolling patients in trials at their hospital. They get money from it. If the clinical trial was at a different hospital, then they might not be so excited.

The government website https://clinicaltrials.gov/ usually lists a coordinator or other contact person for each clinical trial, and sometimes a coordinator/contact for each site. If your primary oncologist isn't responding satisfactorily, and you can identify a specific trial of interest, you could try contacting a coordinator directly.

Oncologists might be slow referring you to trials for a variety of reasons (not always good reasons, imho...). One valid reason might be that you are stable on your current treatment and tolerating it well, and any trial could be a bigger risk than reward for your health. Another might be that the oncologist knows you don't qualify for any of the open trials. But if you have a specific trial to ask about, the oncologist should be able to discuss the appropriateness/pros/cons for your condition, and any relevant inclusion/exclusion criteria. No oncologist should ever drop you as a patient simply for asking!

At larger centers, I have seen oncologists so wrapped up in their own research they are not even aware of other trials going on at their own center, much less different/competing centers. Again, asking about a very specific trial or two helps narrow it down for them without requiring a ton of research.

I would suggest taking matters on yourselves. Maybe your relative should find a new doctor. It's your relative's body and money and his decision how his health care should be treated. The doctors don't control us or our actions even though they often try to. We pay them for their expertise and only for that. Possibly try and find another doctor at that same facility which seems to work well for your relative. If they ask why you changed doctors, just answer something mundane like you didn't feel comfortable with that particular doctor. Pray about it and God will lead you to the right doctor and the right decision.
I wish you the best and will say a prayer for you also.
PML

Keep in mind if you go into a trial you may get a placebo.

You're never going to get just a placebo in a cancer trial. Phase 1 and 2 trials usually don't have a control arm at all. The control arm in phase 3s (or phase 2 with control) is an appropriate SOC chemotherapy.

Ideally, you could get another opinion from an oncologist in another practice like the Inova Schar Cancer Institute. Or Virginia, Virginia cancer specialist. I was with Virginia cancer specialists for my whipper procedure. When the cancer return five years later, I felt I wasn’t getting enough information from the doctor or all considerations for treatment for being considered. So I went to the Inove Schar Institute for another opinion and eventually switched my oncologist permanently to them.
You shouldn’t feel like you’re trapped with one doctor, but I understand your situation. I would definitely ask for an opinion from another doctor at the same hospital. Obviously they work together and would know, but you could approach it from your current doctor with who else can I talk to here to get another opinion so they can collaborate and work as a team. Most big practices actually present patients cases at a weekly meeting with all the other oncologist to get additional opinions on what can be done. I hope this helps. God bless you. I hope you have a full recovery.🙏🏼💜🌈

I am sad to hear your story. My oncologist was the one who suggested looking outside for trials as his hospital didn’t have any suitable. I keep him updated on my progress and meet with him as needed for non-trial questions. There was no question of dropping me. I think it’s more important to find a trial than worry about keeping your oncologist. Good luck! My clinical trial PI, after 6 months, classified me as complete response and no evidence of cancer ( don’t know how long for but for now it’s great). I wish you the best.

So what Clinical trail are you on? You put PI but what is this? I am meeting with a Clinical trial Doctor on the 17th of March and would like to ask about your trial. Are you also doing chemo? Would love to know. Thanks for the information 👍

I am on a RAS inhibitor trial - revolution medicine 6236+9805. Sorry I wasn’t clear PI is principal investigator ie the person running the trial.

Thank you for the information. That is great that you are cancer free. I have seen some other people say they are that regiment. Any side affects with it. And are you only on it? Good Luck to you I wish you the best.