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Therese B. Bevers, M.D., Associate Professor, Department of Clinical Cancer Prevention |
For many years, the number one killer of Americans was heart disease. However, with heart disease–related deaths declining—attributable, at least in part, to improved prevention strategies—cancer now holds the dubious distinction of being the number one killer of Americans.
Clinical trials are critical to helping us identify not only better treatments but also preventive strategies. As a result of two decades of advances in the science of cancer prevention, our ability to detect cancer at ever earlier stages, including at the molecular level, means we can now identify—and even treat—some precancers, instead of waiting for the full-blown disease to develop. Clinical trials in cancer prevention hold out the promise that we might one day be able to identify a person’s cancer risk profile at an early age and prescribe individually tailored risk-reduction strategies that may prevent the development of the disease. If we are to do this, however, we must encourage many more people to take part in cancer prevention trials.
Currently, only 3% of eligible adults are enrolled in any cancer clinical trials, but primary care physicians have enormous power to change that when it comes to prevention trials. They hold tremendous persuasive powers for getting patients involved because patients care about what their doctors have to say. Physicians are also key to ongoing participant compliance because patients need the support of their doctors to deal with possible side effects and remain involved in the trial.
Enrolling in prevention clinical trials benefits not only patients but also primary physicians. Prevention trials typically provide risk assessment for a specific type of cancer, which allows patients, and their doctors, to learn about risks and management options. Furthermore, primary physicians can be certain that patients on clinical trials are being monitored very closely, often by experts in the field, for development of the disease. Finally, physicians can be assured that patients have access to the newest and best cancer prevention interventions and treatments—often long before they become commercially available.
Overall, involvement in prevention clinical trials is critical if we are to reduce the number of cancer-related deaths in America. Primary care physicians can play an important role in encouraging patients to become involved in cancer prevention clinical trials. Such encouragement and resulting participation will not only help reduce the number of cancer-related deaths in America but also ultimately help us develop ways to put an end to cancer before it begins.
For more information on this topic or for questions about M. D. Anderson’s treatments, programs, or services, call askMDAnderson at (877) MDA-6789.
Other articles in OncoLog, June 2005 issue:
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