Coalition of Cancer Cooperative Groups Features Lance Armstrong in Cancer Clinical Trials Newsweek Supplement
Posted on: Monday, 29 May 2006, 09:00 CDT
PHILADELPHIA, May 29 /PRNewswire/ -- As part of a national campaign to increase awareness of cancer clinical trials in the United States, the Coalition of Cooperative Cancer Groups has published "Knowledge is Power: Lance Armstrong Encourages Everyone to Learn about Cancer Clinical Trials" as a supplement to the June 5 national edition of Newsweek.
The eight-page Newsweek supplement discusses clinical trials and cutting edge cancer research, as well as the common myths and misconceptions that often prevent patients from enrolling in clinical trials.
Clinical trials are carefully monitored research studies designed to find new ways of preventing or treating cancer using new drugs, medical devices or procedures. Today's state-of-the-art treatments were developed and confirmed in clinical trials.
Currently, there are 4,970 clinical trials underway in the United States for the diagnosis, prevention, treatment, and management of symptoms for cancer, according to the National Institute of Health (NIH).(1) Of these studies, it is estimated that 3,200 pertain to the treatment of cancer.(2) The NIH also reports that 1,405 of these studies are being conducted through a National Cancer Institute sponsorship.
Only about 5 percent of cancer patients participate in clinical trials, according to the Coalition.(3)
"Cancer research is surging forward into a new age, but too few patients are aware that trial participation is an option as a part of their treatment," said Robert Comis, M.D., president and chairman of the Coalition. "Physicians and researchers need to encourage enrollment in clinical trials to drive continued progress in the fight against cancer."
The Newsweek supplement also includes profiles of seven cancer survivors, including Armstrong and the international singer and songwriter Anastacia, as well as patient advocacy group resources.
Kris Portera, a colon cancer survivor and one of the seven patients featured in the Newsweek supplement, decided to participate in a clinical trial when her colon cancer returned this past year. Kris felt clinical trial participation offered the best treatment option, regardless of whether she received the experimental therapy or not. "They tell you this may not work for you, but they also make it very clear that you are getting the gold standard in treatment options," said Kris Portera.
Some patients fear that enrolling in a cancer trial means they chance receiving no treatment at all, but the reality is that patients in clinical trials receive either the best treatment currently known for their cancer, or a new, and possibly more effective, therapy. Placebos are never used in place of treatment when an existing standard therapy exists. "The first thing that came to mind was that I was going to be used as a guinea pig," said Tracey Gardner, a breast cancer survivor. "However, I found that the clinical trial was about trying to find a better way for women to go through the difficulty of chemotherapy."
The supplement was underwritten by unrestricted educational grants from Amgen, Inc., Bristol-Myers Squibb, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and Pfizer, Inc.
To obtain free reprints and learn more about cancer clinical trials, visit http://www.cancertrialshelp.org/.
About the Coalition of Cancer Cooperative Groups
The Coalition of Cancer Cooperative Groups is a non-profit, charitable organization whose mission is to improve the quality of life and survival rate of cancer patients by increasing participation in cancer clinical trials.
(1) Clinicaltrials.gov, http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct/search;jsessionid=5DDD2D433E39586921086EFED87 D68EA?term=cancer&submit=Search
(2) NCI PDQ database.
(3) A Quantitative Survey of Public Attitudes toward Cancer Trials, 2000. Coalition of Cancer Cooperative Groups, Cancer Research Foundation of American, Cancer Leadership Council and Oncology Nursing Society.
Coalition of Cancer Cooperative Groups
CONTACT: Diane D. Colaizzi of the Coalition of Cancer CooperativeGroups, +1-202-744-4343, or dcolaizzi@CancerTrialsHelp.org
Web site: http://www.cancertrialshelp.org/
Source: PRNewswire
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