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Understanding the Importance of Clinical Trials for Cancer Patients

The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) is set to host a crucial webinar titled "Why Should I Consider a Clinical Trial?" This event aims to answer significant questions that cancer patients often have concerning clinical trials. Set to be available on March 17, 2025, this on-demand resource will provide essential information to help clarify why clinical trials are not just optional but vital to the future of cancer treatment.

The Role of Clinical Trials in Cancer Treatment

Clinical trials are instrumental in advancing medical knowledge and improving patient outcomes. Through this webinar, NCCN's experts will break down the complexities surrounding clinical trials, addressing common concerns. One of the challenges is that many potential participants are understandably confused about the objectives, benefits, and accessibility of these trials. The webinar will illuminate these aspects, helping to demystify the process.

A Voice of Experience

Among the speakers is Ann Fish-Steagall, RN, BSN, who serves as the Senior Vice President of Patient Services and Healthcare at LUNGevity. She emphasizes the foundational role that clinical trials have played in every standard cancer treatment available today. "Every treatment we utilize now has been discovered through scientific inquiry and the bravery of patients willing to participate in clinical trials," she states. This underscores the pivotal role patients play in enhancing cancer care.

Patrick Delaney, Executive Director of the NCCN Foundation, supports these sentiments, stating that many patients feel uncertain about how to pursue clinical trials. He aims for the webinar to empower individuals by dispelling myths and reducing any intimidation linked to enrolling in these trials. Delaney highlights that diverse participation is crucial to ensure new therapies are effective for all demographics, regardless of their background.

Key Questions Addressed

The upcoming session will tackle several critical questions:

• - What are the objectives of cancer clinical trials?
• - How do clinical trials fit into cancer treatment, including their risks and benefits?
• - What steps should one take to enroll in a clinical trial?

The discussion will be enriched by insights from Tiffany Colvin, the Senior Director of Clinical Research Programs at the Fred Hutch Cancer Center. She will focus on the commitment required by healthcare professionals involved in clinical trials across various sectors. "Collaboration is essential for us to provide the latest and most effective treatment options... we must strive for transparency, quality, safety, and integrity in our clinical trials," Colvin says. This commitment highlights the thorough oversight and support provided to patients during these trials.

This new on-demand webinar follows an engaging session held on February 28. Supported by prominent pharmaceutical companies like AstraZeneca and Daiichi Sankyo, NCCN is a proponent of clinical trials, highlighted in its evidence-based guidelines that inform cancer treatment globally. Each guideline underscores the importance of clinical trials and encourages their participation when applicable and available.

Accessing the Resources

For further details and access to the webinar, visit NCCN.org/patientwebinars. They also provide downloadable flyers containing essential information on cancer clinical trials, ensuring that patients and their caregivers have access to vital resources.

As the NCCN celebrates its 30th anniversary, it continues its mission to define and advance quality, effective, equitable, and accessible cancer care and prevention strategies. This commitment is reflected in their exhaustive and frequently updated guidelines, which stand as the recognized standard for clinical guidance and policy making in the realm of cancer management.

Moreover, the NCCN Foundation empowers cancer patients and their caregivers through its patient guidelines and other educational resources. Founded 15 years ago, it provides impartial expert guidance from leading cancer specialists. To support advancements in treatment, the foundation also funds promising young researchers at the forefront of cancer research.

For additional information about the NCCN Foundation, visit nccnfoundation.org.