Marrow Masters

Must Knows about Life-Saving Clinical Trials for Patients and Loved Ones

Episode Summary

Clinical trials save lives, yet only approximately 5% of adult oncology patients participate in available clinical trials. Oncology clinical trials are designed to improve the care and treatment of cancer patients. Neena Kennedy, BSN, RN, OCN, Clinical Trials Nurse Navigator for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society will share her expertise. In oncology, most clinical trials focus on new drugs and targeted therapies. We will dispel myths and empower you to consider this life-saving research.

Episode Notes

The aim of a clinical trial is to safely, and in a controlled manner, study a brand new therapy, perhaps a drug, new drug combination, targeted therapy or medical device that hasn't been seen before. We might also be testing an already approved drug but for a different indication or disease.

Sometimes a trial is designed to compare a new treatment with a standard treatment to find out which one is more effective or has fewer side effects, or maybe it's just looking at quality of life. Scientists may ask: Is this NEW treatment easier for patients to deal with such as a new pill versus going to an infusion center for an IV infusion? This could be a clinical trial. 

The information in this podcast should not be construed as medical advice. Please consult with your health care provider regarding your medical decisions and treatment. The listed resources are not intended to be endorsements.

For more information, on clinical trials, visit LLS's Clinical Trials Support Center: https://www.lls.org/support/information-specialists/clinical-trial-support-center-ctsc

Here you will find a link to the referral form to submit to the Clinical Trial Support Center nurses to start the referral/trial search process at LLS.

You can also speak to one of their Information Resource Center Specialists about many other issues (financial, disease education, diet, etc) and they can help determine if a clinical trial is the right next step and help fill out the referral with you.

Information Resource Center: https://www.lls.org/support/information-specialists/

Phone: 800-955-4572 (M-F 9am to 9pm EST)

Chat live online (M-F 10am – 7pm ET) or email with any other questions: infocenter@lls.org.

For more from the National Bone Marrow Transplant Link, visit us online at nbmtlink.org or call us at 800-546-5268.

This season of Marrow Masters is sponsored by the nbmtLINK, Jazz Pharmaceuticals and The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

nbmtLINK website: https://www.nbmtlink.org/