Why should you consider a clinical trial?

Some scientists in San Antonio working for the drug company GlaxoSmithKline have been doing research on a new biologic treatment regimen for metastatic breast cancer, and say that their findings show "substantially" improved survival rates for women receiving their new combination of agents. You can check out the (moderately scientific) article here.

The American Cancer Society reported in an article last year that cancer deaths are down across the country. They reported that the decrease is a result of improved early-detection, and better treatments. Both of these encouraging reports can be used to support the case for clinical trials as a way to beat cancer. Advances are made every day in the treatment of cancer due to the dedicated work of researchers all over the world performing clinical trials and the patients who choose to participate in them. Unfortunately, clinical trials are often misunderstood by patients and are sometimes avoided due to a number of misconceptions.


Many people believe that if they participate in a clinical trial, they may not receive any "real" medication at all, but only a placebo, thereby leaving their illness untreated. This is not the case! The basic "standard of care" is always administered, and the trial usually involves adding additional medications or other forms of treatment to that standard.

There is also a common perception that if a patient agrees to participate in a clinical trial, it's because there are no other options available. In other words - it's their last hope. While in some cases there are trials that are aimed at treating patients who have tried everything else, that is certainly not the only reason to look into participating. Many trials focus on patients who have had no other treatment at all in order to test medications that would, if approved, become a first-defense drug. They might increase the effectiveness of the current standard of care, or replace it altogether because it is found to produce a better effect. Either way, it's exciting to think of being a part of that kind of discovery.

Another major concern many patients have is that being part of a clinical trial is more expensive than standard treatment, and won't be covered by insurance. As you can imagine, finding more effective drugs to treat a disease like cancer is in everyone's best interest - even the insurance companies. The faster and more completely a drug can rid a patient of cancer, the smaller the medical claim will be. Many private insurance companies do cover admission to a clinical trial. If you are interested in signing up for one, don't hesitate to contact your insurance administrator as soon as you can to find out if you have that benefit available to you.

Finally, many people are afraid that they can't participate in a clinical trial without having to travel, thereby creating a huge financial burden on their family. A recent local study found that the average person living in Northwest Arkansas who was interested in participating in a clinical trial would spend approximately $26,000 a year to do so. (Based on travel to Little Rock) Participation in a trial can be challenging, but it can also be the best chance for recovery for a particular patient's cancer. For this reason, Hope Cancer Resources has a Registered Nurse on staff managing clinical trials right here in Northwest Arkansas.

We believe strongly that cancer research holds the key to a cure, and we are doing what we can to make that cure a reality. The trials we manage are mainly gynecological in nature, but if you have another type of cancer, we can help you with the questions you may have, and help you make decisions about trials in other locations. It's possible that the research department at Highland's Oncology Group may be able to screen you for one of their trials if we don't have a match. Our social workers would also be happy to discuss the financial strains that participation may cause and see if we can help you with some of those concerns as well.

Don't assume that clinical trials are not available to you or to a loved one. Ask questions! Ask your doctor, ask our staff... we'll be happy to help you in any way we can as you make the journey through cancer treatment.

Economic Impact (Part Two)

Raise your hand if you've heard the term "clinical trials". Okay, now keep your hand up if you aren't really sure what they are or what the purpose of them is. There are a lot of hands still in the air!

There is a lot of talk in journals and on websites that keep up with cancer research that mentions clinical trials. When a patient is starting to head down the road of treatment, it's one of the options that could be presented by their oncologist... but what does it mean to join a trial? Where are they located? And, most important for some patients - how much will it cost?

Clinical trials are available for virtually every type or stage of cancer diagnosis. To be accepted into a trial means that there is active research being conducted on your specific cancer type, stage of development, or treatment plan. Sometimes they are set up to test a new combination of medications, and other times they are more unique, like the one currently being conducted at UAMS where women's tears are being captured and tested for proteins that may point to the development of breast cancer.

Many patients see trials as a "last resort" option, only to be looked into when traditional treatments don't provide the desired recovery results. But more and more cancer clinics are putting together staff who can do the research and management that is necessary to develop and manage top-notch clinical trials program on a local level, providing access from the very beginning of a treatment plan.

At HOPE, Inc. we have a licensed RN on staff who manages twelve clinical trials for the patients referred to us by oncologists at Highland's Oncology Group in Fayetteville and Bentonville. Since these trials are managed and performed here in NW Arkansas, our patients are able to benefit from cutting-edge research and still sleep in their own beds at night.

Not having to travel to a distant medical facility like MD Anderson in Houston or the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota is not only emotionally beneficial for our patients, but it takes a potentially HUGE burden off of their budget. Recently, we calculated the estimated cost of participating in a clinical trial at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock, Arkansas and came up with the following:

Mileage Expenses: $.585 (IRS rate) x 400 miles = $234 x min. of 25 trips = $5,850

Lodging/Meals for a three day stay: $136 (IRS Per Diem Rate) x 75 (3 days per trip) = $10,200

3 days lost wages (24 total hours) = 431.76 x 25 trips = $10,794
(based on average household median income for Arkansas: $37,420 = $17.99 per hour)

Total Annual Expense Per Patient: $26,844

Remember, this is only calculating the costs for a trial conducted three hours away, and doesn't even include the cost to a caregiver for their time off work, food, and lodging on the trip. Then there are the regular medications and treatments and doctors' visits required to maintain the standard of care...

Now you can see what one of our patients meant when she recently told us that her first thought upon receiving her diagnosis of colon cancer was "I can't afford to have cancer."

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