Blog Entry: June 1st, 2009

I'm just returning from the annual conference of the American Society of Clinical Oncology. The conference, drawing thousands of attendees from over 100 countries, provided an excellent showcase for all the latest discoveries and newest innovations in care. In fact, many of the scientific breakthroughs shared in educational sessions throughout the meeting will be subsequently broadcast through the media-on radio, television and on the web; the information learned will be used to help health care providers to adopt new standards of care for cancer patients. Hearing about several of breakthroughs first hand at the conference serves as a vivid reminder for me of just how important cancer clinical trials are in helping to make progress against cancer. It also reinforces the urgency that's needed in making more of the public-and cancer patients in particular-aware of the clinical trials as a viable option for first line treatment. Currently, it may take as long as 10 to 15 years to bring a new treatment approach to the point of approval and acceptance as a new standard of care. Imagine how much faster we could go in translating scientific discoveries into state of the art care for patients if more of the public understood cancer clinical trials and how they work; more primary care providers referred their patients to sites that provide cancer clinical trials; and more cancer research staff offered trial opportunities to eligible patients? I believe such an accelerated rate of progress is within reach. And with the continue engagement of all-community and patients, providers and researchers, enhanced awareness, access and participation in cancer clinical trials is possible.