Research and Cancer Care
Research is a driving force in advancements for cancer and a large part of Comprehensive Cancer Centers’ services in the community. With research, certain cancers once considered untreatable are now treatable. Cancers that once had no drugs for treatment, now have many options, due to research. The next generation of cancer therapies that will soon become commonplace are now in trial phases, with more than 170 of these new research efforts done right here in Southern Nevada by Comprehensive.
May is National Cancer Research Month, and research centers like Comprehensive Cancer are excited to raise awareness about the cancer research and its benefits. This combination of cancer care with access to cancer research is a key differentiator between Comprehensive and other local cancer treatment practices.
What’s Clinical Research Done by Comprehensive Cancer Centers?
Clinical research is the process of getting a new drug to patients that’s in a stage of review by the FDA. These drugs are used for patients who may not have other options, either due to their type of cancer, or if drugs they’re being given do not work, or have stopped working.
Taking part in a clinical research studies or trials can give patients quicker access to these new therapies, which could potentially be better than current treatment. Patients of Comprehensive who participate in clinic research have often been patients who have been given little chance of survival by other oncology practices, but who have lived, and are living many years past those once difficult diagnoses.
Being part of clinical research is made easier by the team assigned to a patient who’s being given a new therapy. There is plenty of time to ask as many questions as one might have, before the new treatment starts, as well as the entire time through to conclusion. This is important to help look out for any side effects, as well as close monitoring of a patient’s progress. Extra testing and thorough detail benefit patients and researchers, who are looking to make these new drugs available to everyone, not just those going through research.
Perhaps most important of all, is that any patient involved in clinical research may withdraw from that treatment at any time. The patient is in full control.
Why Would Patients Want to Get Involved in Clinical Research?
The primary benefit is that patients, who get involved in clinical research, are most often out of the standard of care treatment options. Many patients seen by Comprehensive for clinical research come from other practices where they might have run out of an effective treatment plan. These patients are not satisfied with these conclusions, and come to Comprehensive Cancer for a second opinion to continue to explore all treatment options available.
Additionally, being part of clinical research is something people do, selflessly, to expand the collective knowledge of cancer treatment. Information gathered during clinical research is meticulously examined and shared to help better understand cancers. Everyone who gets cancer is different and no case is the same. The more data gathered and reviewed; the closer cancer treatment gets to knowing options for care for those with physical similarities.
How Does Someone Get Involved in Clinical Research for Cancer?
Comprehensive Cancer usually has approximately 170 clinical research studies ongoing. The practice works with partners that have national affiliations with The US Oncology Network, UCLA, Community Clinical Oncology Program funded by NIH and various pharmaceutical companies to conduct new trials. Your Comprehensive Cancer Centers medical oncologist will work closely with you to determine and present potential options.
Will I Get a Placebo If I’m Involved in Clinical Research for Cancer Treatment?
Placebos, or sugar pills, are never used in a research study if an existing standard therapy is available. Patients who enroll in clinical research studies receive either the best-known treatment or a new and potentially more effective cancer therapy.
How Do I Get Started?
Physicians at Comprehensive Cancer Centers provide clinical research options to patients, with all treatments done in Southern Nevada. To schedule a consultation with Comprehensive to see if there are trials that may be right for you, please call 702-952-3350.
The content is this post is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.
