Geraldine “Gerry” Greaves is being treated with a new drug that targets ovarian cancer, even though the 81-year-old retired nurse from Goodyear no longer has ovaries.
She had her ovaries removed nearly three decades ago as part of a full hysterectomy to address previous non-cancerous health conditions.
Still, following her diagnosis 8 years ago of primary peritoneal carcinoma — cancer of the abdominal cavity — she has been treated as if she had ovarian cancer.
After her cancer progressed on a previous clinical trial drug, she recently entered another clinical trial of a first-in-human experimental drug called DCSZ11. The drug’s effect is to enhance immune cell infiltration of the tumor, and to inhibit tumor cell proliferation. The Research Institute is one of only 12 sites studying the drug’s safety and effectiveness.
For Gerry, DCSZ11 is giving her the energy to do more things around the house without the upset stomach, fatigue and other negative side effects of her previous drug trial. Her cancer had spread to both lungs, right kidney and lump on lower right ribcage.
‘I’m not losing my hair or anything’
“This one doesn’t seem to have any side effects. I’m not losing my hair or anything,” said Gerry, who worked for 43 years as a Director of Operating Room Services in Massachusetts, Operating Room Nursing Director in Rhode Island and — in her last decade before retirement — as a Perioperative Nurse Educator for a Phoenix-area hospital. “I just hope that it slows the growth of my cancer.”
Gerry said she has no illusions of a cure; she is just grateful that she’s been able to live with her cancer as long as she has. Under the guidance of Frank Tsai, M.D., an Institute cancer investigator, she is hoping this new clinical trial is able to extend her life even more.
She moved to Phoenix with her husband, Charles, in 1998, in part because there is no snow. And they moved to the west Valley community of Goodyear after she retired in 2008 to be closer to friends. She was diagnosed with cancer in 2016 and had surgery to remove tumors in 2016 and 2018. In 2021, after her cancer spread, she was referred by Mike Janicek, M.D., her gynecological oncologist, to Dr. Tsai and soon began her first clinical trial.
‘My care has been excellent’
As a long-time nurse, Gerry knows a thing or two about the profession.
“My care has been excellent,” she says of Dr. Tsai, the nurse practitioners, nurses and staff at the Institute. “They’re friendly. They’re always upbeat. They’re very helpful. They’ll do anything that I ask them to do for me. I don’t think I could ask for better care. They’re all very helpful; very knowledgeable.”
She counsels other patients considering clinical trials to ask a lot of questions, thoroughly read consent forms, and make sure they understand all of the tests and procedures ahead of time: “You need to ask questions and understand everything that is going to be expected of you.”
After nearly two and a half years visiting the Institute, Gerry says, “It feels familiar. I think that helps. Everybody’s friendly, and kind and welcoming. I feel comfortable with their care.” And like the bar on the old Cheers show, “Everybody knows my name.”
