We started Power when my dad was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, and I struggled to help him access the latest immunotherapy. Hopefully Power makes it simpler for you to explore promising new treatments, during what is probably a difficult time.
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Key Eligibility Criteria
81 Participants Needed
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170 Participants Needed
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80 Participants Needed
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40 Participants Needed
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50 Participants Needed
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575 Participants Needed
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20 Participants Needed
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12 Participants Needed
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105 Participants Needed
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500 Participants Needed
"I was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer three months ago, metastatic to my liver, and I have been receiving and responding well to chemotherapy. My blood work revealed that my tumor markers have gone from 2600 in the beginning to 173 as of now, even with the delay in treatment, they are not going up. CT Scans reveal they have been shrinking as well. However, chemo is seriously deteriorating my body. I have 4 more treatments to go in this 12 treatment cycle. I am just interested in learning about my other options, if any are available to me."
"My orthopedist recommended a half replacement of my right knee. I have had both hips replaced. Currently have arthritis in knee, shoulder, and thumb. I want to avoid surgery, and I'm open-minded about trying a trial before using surgery as a last resort."
"I've been struggling with ADHD and anxiety since I was 9 years old. I'm currently 30. I really don't like how numb the medications make me feel. And especially now, that I've lost my grandma and my aunt 8 days apart, my anxiety has been even worse. So I'm trying to find something new."
"I have dealt with voice and vocal fold issues related to paralysis for over 12 years. This problem has negatively impacted virtually every facet of my life. I am an otherwise healthy 48 year old married father of 3 living. My youngest daughter is 12 and has never heard my real voice. I am now having breathing issues related to the paralysis as well as trouble swallowing some liquids. In my research I have seen some recent trials focused on helping people like me."
"As a healthy volunteer, I like to participate in as many trials as I'm able to. It's a good way to help research and earn money."
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Each trial will compensate patients a different amount, but $50-100 for each visit is a fairly common range for Phase 2–4 trials (Phase 1 trials often pay substantially more). Further, most trials will cover the costs of a travel to-and-from the clinic.
After a researcher reviews your profile, they may choose to invite you in to a screening appointment, where they'll determine if you meet 100% of the eligibility requirements. If you do, you'll be sorted into one of the treatment groups, and receive your study drug. For some trials, there is a chance you'll receive a placebo. Across Achalasia trials 30% of clinical trials have a placebo. Typically, you'll be required to check-in with the clinic every month or so. The average trial length for Achalasia is 12 months.
Not all studies recruit healthy volunteers: usually, Phase 1 studies do. Participating as a healthy volunteer means you will go to a research facility several times over a few days or weeks to receive a dose of either the test treatment or a "placebo," which is a harmless substance that helps researchers compare results. You will have routine tests during these visits, and you'll be compensated for your time and travel, with the number of appointments and details varying by study.
The phase of a trial reveals what stage the drug is in to get approval for a specific condition. Phase 1 trials are the trials to collect safety data in humans. Phase 2 trials are those where the drug has some data showing safety in humans, but where further human data is needed on drug effectiveness. Phase 3 trials are in the final step before approval. The drug already has data showing both safety and effectiveness. As a general rule, Phase 3 trials are more promising than Phase 2, and Phase 2 trials are more promising than phase 1.
Clinical trials are almost always free to participants, and so do not require insurance. The only exception here are trials focused on cancer, because only a small part of the typical treatment plan is actually experimental. For these cancer trials, participants typically need insurance to cover all the non-experimental components.
Most recently, we added Botox vs. Pyloromyotomy for Esophageal Cancer Surgery, HRM, FLIP, and Prucalopride for Dysphagia and POEM-F for Achalasia to the Power online platform.
The main aim in achalasia is to loosen the tight muscle at the stomach entrance; today the most durable ways to do this are a minimally-invasive “muscle-cutting” operation—laparoscopic Heller myotomy with a small anti-reflux wrap—or its endoscopic cousin, POEM, both of which give long-lasting relief in 85-90 % of patients. Graded pneumatic (balloon) dilation remains a good non-surgical alternative when a myotomy is not available or a patient is unfit for anesthesia, while Botox injections or medicines are usually reserved for people who cannot undergo either of these approaches.
Achalasia is a benign swallowing disorder, not a cancer. Because food can stagnate and inflame the esophagus, long-standing achalasia raises the risk of esophageal cancer several-fold, but the absolute chance remains low (well under 1% for most people). After about 10 years of disease, talk with your gastroenterologist about periodic endoscopy and seek prompt evaluation if swallowing suddenly worsens, you lose weight, or notice bleeding.
Achalasia usually advances slowly: in large studies patients had symptoms for roughly 4 – 5 years before they became severe enough to seek care, and the esophagus often dilates little by little over that time. That said, about 1 in 5 patients report noticeably worse swallowing within a few months, so the pace can occasionally be quicker. Because treatment (balloon dilation, surgical or endoscopic myotomy) can stop further damage, it is best to be evaluated and treated as soon as persistent trouble swallowing solids or liquids appears.
Achalasia itself is a chronic (usually lifelong) condition, but it is only labeled a “permanent disability” if, even after appropriate treatment, your swallowing problems are severe enough to stop you from doing gainful work. Disability agencies look at how much weight you’ve lost, how often food or liquid gets stuck, and whether repeated procedures still leave you unable to maintain nutrition or perform job tasks; some patients qualify, others do not. If symptoms remain significant after therapy, keep detailed medical records and discuss a formal disability evaluation with your gastroenterologist and a benefits specialist.
Skip foods that are hard to chew or dry out quickly—think tough red meat, bread crusts, rice, nuts, raw fibrous vegetables, sticky peanut butter, and carbonated or very hot/cold drinks that can spasm the esophagus—because they are more likely to get stuck when the swallowing muscle is weak. Aim instead for soft, moist choices (well-cooked chicken or fish without bones, oatmeal, smoothies, soups) and keep everything well-sauced or blended; test new foods in small bites and adjust with professional guidance, since each person’s “do-not-eat” list is a little different.
Think of achalasia care in two layers: everyday tactics and specialist treatment. Day to day, eat 5–6 small, soft meals, wash each bite down with liquid, stay upright for an hour after eating, and sleep on an incline to curb night-time regurgitation. Long-term relief usually requires a gastroenterologist to stretch (pneumatic dilation), inject Botox, or cut the tight muscle through POEM or laparoscopic Heller myotomy—procedures that resolve swallowing problems for most people; ask for evaluation if you have weight loss, chest pain, or food coming back up.
Achalasia symptoms flare when something makes it even harder for food or liquid to pass through the tight lower esophageal sphincter. In practical terms, that often means very dry or tough foods (stringy meat, crusty bread, raw hard vegetables), large or hurried bites, carbonated drinks, very hot or icy liquids, alcohol, and lying down or bending soon after eating—all of which either stick, swell with gas, or increase pressure in the esophagus. Keeping portions small, adding moisture or blending foods, eating slowly while upright, and noting personal triggers in a diary can help you tailor a diet that minimises discomfort; discuss persistent problems with your doctor or dietitian.
Doctors gauge achalasia severity with the Eckardt score: trouble swallowing, regurgitation, chest pain, and weight loss are each rated 0 (none) to 3 (severe) and summed for a total of 0–12. A score of 0–2 signals remission, 3–6 indicates active but moderate disease, and above 6 reflects severe disease; after any treatment, clinicians look for a total ≤ 3 to call it a success. Because it is quick and symptom-based, this score is the standard yard-stick for deciding whether further tests or another procedure is needed.
Achalasia very rarely disappears on its own—the nerves that open the valve to your stomach are permanently damaged—so the condition is considered lifelong. The encouraging news is that procedures such as pneumatic (balloon) dilation, surgical or endoscopic myotomy (Heller or POEM), and even Botox can relax that valve and keep swallowing comfortable for 80-95 % of patients for many years, and they can be repeated if symptoms creep back.
A scarred or truly narrowed esophagus can only be widened by a doctor during an endoscopic dilation, but you can make swallowing easier at home by strengthening the throat muscles and calming irritation. Under the guidance of a speech-language pathologist, exercises such as the “effortful swallow” (hard swallow of a small sip, 10 times, 2-3 sets daily) plus upright eating, small bites, and good reflux control often reduce the feeling of food sticking. If you have sudden worsening, weight loss, or food gets stuck, skip the exercises and seek medical care right away.