More than one million people are diagnosed with cancer each year. The sooner cancer is found and treatment begins, the better a patient's chance are of a cure. To help develop new treatments and find new cures for cancer, doctors and researches look to clinical trials for answers.

What Are Clinical Trials?
Clinical trials are cancer research studies that test new treatments for cancer patients. Clinical trials are extremely important in discovering new techniques to fight cancer. "Patient participation in clinical trials is critical to advancing knowledge about cancer," said Roseann Barrett, Ph.D., RN. "Studies are done with cancer patients to find out whether promising approaches to cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment are safe and effective." A clinical trial is one of the final stages of a long and careful cancer research process. Many people being treated for cancer are now living longer because of progress made through clinical trials.

Working With Dana-Farber/Partners CancerCare
Before new cancer drugs and treatments can be used for all cancer patients, they must go through extensive and monitored research. The Oncology Center at St. Joseph Hospital works closely with Dana-Farber/Partners CancerCare, which represents the combined resources of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital, to bring the latest clinical trials to cancer patients.

"By blending the research strength Dana-Farber/Partners CancerCare, with the family-centered, easily accessible environment of The Oncology Center, we enhance our cancer care," said Peter B. Davis, FACHE, President/CEO of St. Joseph Hospital. The Oncology Center currently has clinical trials open for lung, ovarian, and breast cancer.

Who Can Take Part in Clinical Trials?
"The decision to take part in a clinical trial is a personal one," said Kimberley Leets, RN, OCN, CHPN, Oncology Program Director at St. Joseph Hospital. "It depends on many factors, including the benefits and risks of the study, what the person hopes to achieve by taking part, and other personal preferences." While there is no right or wrong choice, knowing all you can about clinical trials in general can help you feel more at ease with your decision.

The Oncology Center's clinical trial program is overseen by an Institution Review Board with legal, science, ethical, and clinical expertise. Patients are carefully selected and screened based on each trial's criteria.

To find out if you are eligible for a particular study or if you would like to know more about clinical trials or the trials available at The Oncology Center at St. Joseph Hospital call Roseann Barrett at 882-3000 ext. 66454.