Living Proof Page #7

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And now I don't know what to do!

What do I do?

Well, to be honest, all of the other women

responded like I thought they would,

they improved, but your

cancer is gone, completely.

So, as for I would do,

just be grateful.

And by the way, you don't

have to come here anymore.

Except to say hello.

- Do you think she misses us?

- I know she does.

Just like we miss her.

- Can I put it on the tree?

- I was just going to ask.

- Merry Christmas.

- Merry Christmas.

- Merry Christmas.

- Merry Christmas.

Merry Christmas, mom.

Merry Christmas, sweetheart.

I'm sorry. After four years of remission,

your cancer is back.

The cancer has spread

to your lymph nodes and your liver.

You'll need to get your affairs in order.

Wow. People actually say that.

"Get your affairs in order."

How long do I have?

Four months, maybe five.

How about chemo?

You've run that course. I'm sorry.

You mean to tell me in this

world-class research hospital,

that's my only option?

How can that be?

Well, there is one possibility.

It's a Phase Three trial.

And, if approved, it will start soon,

but you have to be HER-2 positive.

- Am I?

- I don't know.

But we'll find out.

- Carl.

- My afternoon's all booked.

I'll make it fast. I just have a few ideas

about the trial design.

You've never designed a drug trial before.

No, but I know more about Herceptin

than anyone.

Yeah, thank you.

I've got this under control.

Come on, Carl. Please just hear me out.

To be honest, Denny,

I don't want or need your input.

Look. I am the one

who's been in the trenches,

trying to find the women that you need to

enroll in your mess of a trial

but I can't because your requirements

are too strict.

- In your opinion.

- It's not just me.

Ask your "thought leaders".

You are running Phase Three into the ground!

- We're done here.

- Okay.

- If we could just simplify...

- I said we're done!

When is the last time

you told a patient she was going to die?

Monica Stein. Cindy Lopez. Jane Hart.

Sarah, Joan, Linda.

Those are just the women that I had to tell

this week!

All of them are HER-2 positive and

all of them were excluded from the trial,

because they've all had one too many

courses of chemo!

Well, it shouldn't make a difference!

They should be eligible.

Is there room in there for two?

As long as you don't flip me over

like last time.

O ye, of little faith.

There. see?

I'm not a total clums.

It's over.

The trial's gonna fail.

- No, it's not.

- Yes it is.

Reinhart's design will see to that.

Twelve years.

Twelve years I've been fighting it for what?

Drug company that just wishes

I'd go away?

Promises I can't keep

to patients who are counting on me?

All the time I missed

with you and the kids.

All for nothing.

You're my long distance thriller

You know what you're gonna do?

You're gonna go to sleep

and you're gonna wake up

and you're gonna fight your fight

until you win.

That's who you are.

- Hello.

- It took a year and a half,

but we're back on track.

- Reinhart has been transferred.

- Wait, who's taking his place?

I don't know, but get this,

whoever it is has marching orders

to save the study.

Can you believe it? I'll call you later.

- Yes!

- Yeah, I'm calling to see

if I've been approved for the study.

My name is Ellie Jackson. No, I'll wait.

What do you mean no one's

looked at my paperwork?

You've had it for two months.

Yes, I know it's July,

but I'm not on vacation.

I have to be approved

before the study starts,

so that I can start on the first day.

Because I don't have that many days left.

Thank you.

Okay, I'll cut to the chase. We're

trying to save the Phase Three trial,

and we don't have enough participants

and we're hoping you can help.

Oh, so let's see, I could write a cover

letter and send out the information packets

to the 3,000 names on my roll index

in exchange for which you'll give me

and another breast cancer advocate

a say in the trial design.

Yes.

And compassionate access to the drug,

for the women who

do not qualify for the trial.

- We'd like to do that, but...

- No buts.

There are women out there with no

other medical options,

except for an experimental drug

which does seem to work,

but they can't have access to it.

And the FDA allows compassionate access

in Phase Three studies.

Even so, there's a very

limited amount of the drug available.

Make some more.

The tumor cell is sort of

blanketed by the HER-2.

If you would come up with kind of your top

three priorities, that would help.

NBCC:

National Breast Cancer Coalition

grassroots advocacy in action

There is no good slide.

I can't believe that.

Someone's calling. Let's go.

We gotta get more of these out. 16.

Hi I'm here for the Phase Three trial.

It took me all summer long,

but I just got approved.

Ellie Jackson. Welcome.

We're happy to have you,

except you're early.

I can just go get a cup of coffee.

No, I didn't mean today.

We don't start until next week.

- That'll be too late.

- It's just a week.

The trial was just approved.

We aren't ready yet. Come back next week.

I have been chasing people

and committees around this hospital

for three months

trying to get approved for this study,

to save my life.

And everytime I managed to

get somebody's attention,

they can't help me

because they're not ready.

They don't have my paperwork,

or they're moving, or they're on vacation,

or they're sitting at home waiting

for the cable guy.

I get it.

Life goes on. People have jobs.

Things happen.

Well, cancer happened to me.

And I'll be damned if I'm gonna die.

Not because there weren't

people here to help me,

but because they weren't ready.

I'm dying in front of you right now.

And if you have help to give me,

I need it now.

I need it right now!

Find Dr. Slamon.

Thank you.

Hi Ellie. Dr. Slamon.

- I'm sorry about the scene out there.

- Oh, don't apologize. Are you kidding?

Do you know how many fits I've had

to throw around here myself?

It's ridiculous.

Alright.

It's official.

You are the first subject in

Phase Three. Congratulations.

- Thank you, Dr. Slamon.

- No, Ellie.

Thank you. Carol's gonna be

in shortly, alright?

- Okay.

- Okay.

REVLON RUN/WALK

FOR WOMEN 1996

Congratulations, runners and walkers,

you are halfway there.

Revlon Run/Walk

Please visit the water tables

and we'll see you at the finish line.

HalfWay Mark

- Have you seen Lilly?

- I guess she's around here somewhere.

Dr. Slamon?

- Hi

- Hello

I just wanted to tell you thank you.

- Well, thank you.

- Thank you so much.

Dr. Slamon. Thank you for fighting for us.

- All these people know dad?

- Yeah and they're thanking him.

- For what?

- Helping them or someone they love.

Dr. Slamon, I just wanted to say thanks

for giving my mom more time.

- Who is your mom?

- Nicole Wilson.

Well I think I should be thanking you.

Your mother was the first.

We wouldn't be here without her.

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