Sun Special Report: The Trial of Their Lives
March 4, 2009
Peggy Murphy, 58, dies of breast cancer
Peggy Murphy, whose tireless fight against advanced breast cancer through traditional means and an experimental vaccine trial at Johns Hopkins was chronicled in a Baltimore Sun series last fall, died yesterday. She was 58.
February 15, 2009
Inspired by vaccine trial, cancer patient gives back
A patient in an experimental breast cancer vaccine trial, one that was the subject of a series in The Baltimore Sun, has raised more than $14,000 to go toward that research. She presented the check Friday to the doctor overseeing the study.
October 12, 2008
First of six chapters
The trial of their lives
A Hopkins doctor's vaccine offers a hope of survival for four women with terminal breast cancer
Photo gallery: The trial of their lives
Graphic: Combating metastatic breast cancer
More information: What the vaccine does
October 13, 2008
Second of six chapters
Elusive cure
For nearly a decade, Dr. Leisha Emens has been driven to develop a vaccine to stop breast cancer
Video: Hopkins doctor on quest to develop vaccine
Photo gallery: Dr. Emens' vaccine trials at Hopkins
October 14, 2008
Third of six chapters
It's not working
Peggy Murphy put her faith in an experimental breast cancer vaccine, only to be let down
Video: Murphy talks about her recurrence of breast cancer
Photo gallery: Peggy Murphy's journey
October 15, 2008
Fourth of six chapters
The job of getting well
Mom endures cancer treatment in hopes daughter won't have to do the same
Video: Darby Steadman sees the potential for more life in the breast cancer vaccine trial
Photo gallery: Steadman endures cancer treatments
October 16, 2008
Fifth of six chapters
'Leisha's Girls' come together
Breast cancer patients want more information than doctor can provide
Video: Susan Marangi talks about terminal cancer and the vaccine trial
Photo gallery: Susan Marangi's journey
October 17, 2008
Last of six chapters
Moving on, fighting on
Patients sustained by hope; doctor readies next study of cancer vaccine
Video: Annie Siple's search for alternatives to chemotherapy brings her to vaccine study
Photo gallery: Annie Siple's journey
Reporter Stephanie Desmon and photographer Chiaki Kawajiri spent the past six months following the lives of four women enrolled in a trial of an experimental breast cancer vaccine, and the Johns Hopkins oncologist who oversees it. They witnessed virtually all of the scenes, and have first-hand accounts of the others. Desmon spent many hours interviewing Dr. Leisha Emens over multiple occasions, as well as visiting her lab, watching her give talks about her research and accompanying her to a gym to prepare for a mountain-climbing trip. Other events were reconstructed through interviews with patients, co-workers, family members and experts in the field of cancer immunology.
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