Living Proof Page #6

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Yeah, the breast cancer community is

very tightened, and so they talk.

- Off the record, it's going well.

- So, there will be a Phase Two?

Off the record, yes.

Oh good. Before you start

planning Phase Three, call me.

You're gonna need a perspective

that those scientists

who haven't been through that cancer

meltdown have themselves.

Thank you, Fran. I will call you.

So, I bought this to boost

our immune systems.

You mix it once a day, in hot water.

And you drink it down. Just like tea.

- What is it?

- Dried seahorses.

- Sally is late again. - Forget the cancer.

This will kill me right here.

I know I'm always joking with you,

but I swear to God, your tumor has shrunk.

- It has, hasn't it?

- It is.

- Let me see.

- Look.

My God. It shrunk!

Now Tina, I know you didn't have time

to leave the hospital

and go find some seahorses.

What is this?

I mean that came out of

the back of a dog. It did.

Sally passed away this morning.

Not from the drug,

but as a result of her advanced cancer.

Carol will be in to get you started.

- I'm alright.

- It wasn't your fault.

Her death? No.

- What happens next though that's all me.

- What tell you?

I put them all in one room,

so they wouldn't feel alone.

Now they'll know when one of them dies.

Great planning.

- You couldn't have known.

- But I should have.

Every single one of them has stage 4 cancer.

Some of them are lucky to be alive.

I chose the room, the chairs, the program.

I just spent so much time

trying to get it right.

You didn't know. Next time you will.

Tell that to the women

who are looking at the empty chair.

Kate! Turn down the music.

What are you doing here?

I was in the neighbourhood,

thought I'd fall by see if

you wanna go to Vegas this weekend.

And while we're there,

get married.

- Ellie.

- Josh.

I told you, marriage

is about happily ever after

- And I don't know that that applies to me.

- Maybe the cancer's gone.

Not the cancer, my cancer.

And yes, it's gone,

- But it can come back.

- If it does, we'll deal with it.

I love you baby,

but I can't marry you.

- Do you really mean that?

- But it doesn't change anything.

For you. Me, I want a future.

No matter how long that might be.

I know it's bad news,

or you would have told me on the phone.

Well actually, the news is good.

Your response to the Herceptin is

more successful

than I ever thought possible.

It not only stopped your tumor

from growing, Barbara,

it made it disappear.

- My tumor is gone?

- Your tumor's gone.

Now, you still have cancer

but this is an exceptional result,

amazing even.

Sorry, I...

I was expecting the worst.

Well, it's nice to get some

good news for a change.

Yeah.

Now here's where we are,

we're almost done with Phase One

and I'm inviting you

to continue treatment in Phase Two.

- Whatever you say I'm there.

- Good.

Now you're gonna have to sit tight

for about 6 weeks until we begin.

- But I'll still be getting my Herceptin?

- No.

I can't give it outside of the study.

That's FDA rules. We

have to apply to begin Phase Two.

Don't worry now. It's just a formality.

But if my tumor comes back?

If it does, I don't think it's gonna grow

fast enough to be a danger.

And once you start the Herceptin again,

it'll shrink. It'll be fine.

I have to ask you not to tell the others.

Not all of them are gonna be

continuing to Phase Two.

- Who's not coming?

- I need to tell them first.

Yeah

Yeah, of course.

Fresh from my garden.

Echinacea, for colds.

- Works like a charm.

- Thank you.

I know I'm here for my official results,

I already know.

- Dr. Slamon, I feel so much stronger.

- You are doing better.

But?

I'm sorry, Tina.

You won't be moving on to Phase Two.

Not moving on?

But you said last week

I was improving.

And you are.

But for the study, for its ultimate success,

I've been given a set of

standards by the FDA.

I need to narrow the group down

to the ones who are having the most

clear and measurable response.

That's me. Sir, I've gained weight and

I'm not in pain at all anymore.

- You can see that.

- I know that.

But the goal, and we talked about this,

has been to get Herceptin approved.

Now, in my heart,

I want you to continue, Tina.

But in Science,

it comes down to the numbers.

And for the next phase,

and I'm sorry but, your numbers

they're not high enough.

Please, please Dr. Slamon.

I have three children and a husband.

Look, we'll pay whatever it costs

and nobody has to know.

I wish I could do that.

I can't.

I've never begged for anything in my life.

But I'm begging you, doctor, for my life.

I'm sorry, for you

for your family, I'm sorry.

Sorry. How many...

How many lucky ones?

Five.

Well, I am happy for them.

Thank you doctor.

- How could you do that?

- It's part of my job.

You just sent her home to die.

That's how it works.

- That's not fair.

- No it's not.

- That's not right.

- It's not a question of right or wrong.

I don't think I can do this anymore.

But we will.

We have to stop meeting like this.

- Fran, what are you doing here?

- Oh, I was speaking to a group of nurses.

And you? Oh yeah that's right. You work.

Hey, you were supposed to

call me about Phase Three.

And I will, as soon as

I hear that we're moving on.

- We just finished Phase Two.

- Six months ago.

Told you. I'm watching. I'm listening.

Trust me.

When I get the go-ahead, I will call you.

I don't wanna be notified.

I wanna be involved.

- I hear you loud and clear.

- Okay. Call.

- Do we have a deal?

- We have a deal.

- Call!

- I will.

I called you five times.

When are you gonna call me back?

When I had an answer.

You just called me yesterday.

Yeah, and last week,

and the week before that,

the month before that

and five months before that!

When are we gonna start Phase Three?

When Reinhart is done designing it

and when the board decides to pay for it,

- Which at this point is not a sure thing.

- That is ridiculous.

Herceptin works.

We proved it in Phase One and Phase Two.

Why do I sound like a broken record here?

Yes, Denny, One and Two were successful,

but we still have not proven anything!

That is what Phase Three is for.

Acceptable clinical proof.

- That's my point!

- Don't yell at me!

Then get the board off its overly cautious

ass and get us the go-ahead.

You know what, don't lecture me either.

I'm not lecturing you, Blake.

For crying out loud, how many times

do we have to go through this? I have...

Barbara and Dean are waiting.

Sorry I'm late.

I feel good.

Please don't tell me I'm not.

You're cancer-free.

What?

There's not one sign of cancer in your body.

- None.

- How?

Part of it is the Herceptin.

The rest, I don't know.

- But the cancer is still there...

- Barbara...

- It only takes one cell.

- You're cancer-free.

I read the results myself

and I made them retest.

Cancer-free.

Cancer-free.

Free of cancer!

Cancer-free!

I wanted to hear those words

and I never thought I was

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