Trying to figure out which clinical trial fits my situation - peritoneal stage II

Man, that's smart thinking about getting all your docs together. I kept mine in a folder too and the docs definitely noticed when I showed up organized like that. I'd say call Cleveland Clinic back and ask them straight up which trials they actually have spots in right now, cause half the stuff on that website is full or not even running anymore from what I've heard.

This is such a smart approach. The fact that you're reading your pathology report and tracking biomarkers tells me you're thinking like a clinician, which honestly helps. I do the same thing with my dad's records, though it took me a minute to separate "nurse practitioner brain" from "daughter brain" when reviewing his own scans.

On the inclusion criteria question, yes, you need to actually match the pathology descriptors they list, not just "peritoneal mesothelioma." They'll specify histology (epithelioid vs sarcomatoid vs biphasic), whether they want treatment-naive patients specifically, sometimes even things like baseline organ function or performance status. Your pathology report should have all that language. If it doesn't, ask your oncologist to clarify which specific features matter for the trials they mentioned.

Geography does matter practically speaking, some trials have more flexibility with telemedicine follow-ups now, others require in-person visits on specific schedules. That's a real logistics question worth asking upfront because treatment compliance is part of their data.

ClinicalTrials.gov is honestly the main database but you can also ask your oncologist directly about mesothelioma-specific trials they know about that might not be listed yet, or check if Cleveland Clinic has their own trial information page. And no, you're not locked in. You can typically withdraw, though obviously there's a conversation about why and what makes sense medically.

The fact that you're documenting everything is genuinely helpful for any trial coordinator reviewing your baseline, so you're already doing the right thing. Good luck with this decision.

Got diagnosed June 2025 after a routine VA screening, had my pleurectomy in August so I'm coming at this from the pleural side not peritoneal like you. But the trial question came up for us too before surgery and here's what I learned.

On the pathology thing, that report is your baseline document. Take it to every appointment. When the trial coordinator walks through inclusion criteria they're gonna reference specific cell types and staging markers, and your pathology report is literally the proof you meet those markers or you don't. Cleveland Clinic's gonna have their own specialists who can translate that report for you in the context of their specific trials, that's part of what you're paying for.

Geography matters more than you'd think. I'm Norfolk based and we looked at options up in Baltimore and DC. The reality is you're gonna be doing imaging follow-ups, lab work, maybe hospitalization if something goes sideways. Living close to the trial site isn't just convenience, it affects your ability to actually complete the protocol. Some trials understand that and coordinate with local providers. Some don't.

ClinicalTrials.gov is the main one but your VA hospital if you use it should have a clinical trial navigator. They helped us find stuff that wasn't broadly advertised. Also ask Cleveland Clinic directly if they have any trials they're running that aren't listed yet or are in early recruitment phases.

Most trials have exit criteria but it's not like you can just bounce whenever. You'd need to discuss that upfront with the trial team. Usually there's a process. We went straight to surgery instead of trial so I can't tell you firsthand how that conversation goes but it's something to negotiate before you sign on.

The documentation you're keeping is smart. Have it organized and bring it all.

Joe and I went through something similar with his immunotherapy, and honestly the travel piece ended up mattering more than we expected - not just the distance but coordinating scans and follow-ups became a whole thing. Definitely worth asking Cleveland Clinic if they can handle monitoring even if the trial's somewhere else.