Healthy Living Newsletter
Engaging Hope
Mercy Hospital expands access to Prevention, Treatment and Quality of Life Clinical Cancer Research Trials
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Hope can be a powerful element in the treatment of cancer. Hope, coupled with access to cutting-edge cancer treatment, can lead to the cancer cures of the future.
Local cancer patients now have greater access to clinical cancer research trials, encouraging hope and advancing the cancer cures of tomorrow through the Mercy Regional Cancer Center.
Mercy Hospital has joined the Michigan Cancer Research Consortium (MCRC); a Community Clinical Oncology Program (CCOP). This competitive, peer-review, comprehensive clinical trials grant program is limited to medical centers, such as Mercy Hospital, that have met the highest standards of excellence in conducting cancer research trials.
One of only 50 CCOPs in the United States, the MCRC is administrated by St. Joseph’s Mercy Hospital Ann Arbor.
Through the MCRC and its sponsor, the National Cancer Institute (NCI), more than 100 cancer treatment, prevention and quality of life clinical trials are now available to patients throughout the region. To fully understand the intensity of the services offered, it’s important to note that the MCRC’s main affiliation is with Mayo Clinic Cancer Center.
MCRC-CCOP activities are under the direction of Timothy Cox, MD, Blue Water Oncology, PC, who serves as Mercy Hospital’s Principal Investigator.
In addition to Dr. Cox, many local cancer specialists also participate in the MCRC-CCOP as lead investigators. Local lead investigators include:
- Samir Alsawah, MD, Huron Medical Center, PC
- Kanu Dalal, MD, Mercy Regional Cancer Center
- Youssef Hanna, MD, Huron Medical Center, PC
- Anup Lal, MD, Blue Water Oncology, PC
- Homeira McDonald, MD, Mercy Hospital
“This is a terrific opportunity for both cancer patients and care providers throughout the community,” explains Dr. Cox. “Mercy Hospital’s affiliation provides patients access to hundreds of national clinical trials and local specialists — the important vehicle to provide these services on a community level, regardless of where a cancer patient was diagnosed.”
In addition to the resources of the Mayo Clinic Cancer Center, linkage to St. Joseph Mercy Hospital Ann Arbor and its team of experienced professionals, local clinical trials are coordinated at the Mercy Regional Cancer Center through a dedicated, Certified Clinical Oncology Nurse and Professional Karen O’Donnell, RN, OCN, CCRP.
Karen has been providing coordination for local clinic research trials since 2004.
“The MCRC provides access to some of the most sophisticated cancer information and research imaginable,” continues Dr. Cox. “Providing streamlined coordination for both patients and specialists through the expertise of Karen will offer seamless provision of services to meet everyone’s needs.”
Understanding Clinical Cancer Research Trials
“Clinical cancer research trials can be confusing for cancer patients, their families and loved-ones,” explains Karen O’Donnell, RN, OCN, CCRP. “Many people think that these trials are only available for patients who are in the last phases of cancer treatment with little hope left, or that they serve as some type of guinea pig for cancer research. That simply isn’t the case.
“Many patients who participate in clinical trials have decided to look for prevention trials to reduce reoccurrence of cancer,” Karen explains. “When available, prevention trials allow patients access to medication that might reduce risk of developing certain types of cancer.
“Some want to help find cures for cancer and are interested in obtaining access to the latest medications that are cutting-edge and have shown promise,” she continues, “but are not yet approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
“While still others want to help enhance their own quality of life while undergoing cancer treatment as well as the quality of life of future cancer patients,” she says.
“Another myth that individuals often refer to is the cost of participating in clinical cancer research trials,” Karen explains.
“Many think that these trials aren’t covered by insurance. In fact, in most cases, they are. Currently, there is an agreement with all 25 members of the Michigan Association of Health Plans to help advance cancer research by providing routine patient care of participation,” she says. “Patients are often delighted by the amount of screening, treatment and prevention services available to them while participating in a clinical trial.
“What’s more,” she continues, “while under the supervision of a clinical cancer trial, all of a patient’s health concerns and issues are monitored and addressed. For example, we don’t simply want to know if a prevention, treatment or quality of life protocol works; we want to know if it affects other systems in the body — the cardiac and nervous systems, thyroid, etc. So, patients receive routine health care services while engaged in a clinical cancer research trial.”
Since Mercy Hospital’s acceptance by the MCRC in January 2008, four local patients have been enrolled in five clinical trials. “Two of the patients are enrolled in treatment trials, one in a quality of life trial and another patient is enrolled in both a quality of life and treatment trial,” explains Karen. “Our success shows the dedication and trust local oncologists have in the program.”
Youssef Hanna, MD, of Huron Medical Center, PC, agrees. As a local oncologist, he, along with Kanu Dalal, MD, enrolled the first patient in a MCRC trial.
“Mercy Hospital’s affiliation with the MCRC has made it easier for us to enroll patients,” explains Dr. Hanna. “This program is excellent. Clinical trials provide many opportunities. It is how the medical profession learns in an ethical manner and provides services equal to the standards of care while creating better treatment. This benefits all cancer patients and I hope to enroll as many patients as possible who are interested in advancing cancer care.”
If you have been diagnosed with cancer and are interested in advancing cancer prevention, treatment and quality of life, talk to your doctor; or contact Karen O’Donnell directly to obtain more information. She can be reached at (810) 984-1185.
For more information regarding clinical cancer research trials, visit the Cancer Care section of this website.
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