Healthy Living Newsletter
Advanced Breast Cancer Prevention Study
Now available locally
 Breast cancer is a terrifying illness, but many local women rise to the challenge of not only surviving breast cancer but participating in clinical research trials designed to prevent the disease for decades to come.
If you’re a breast cancer patient, you now have the opportunity to participate in a new clinical study designed to determine if extending hormonal therapy beyond five years affects the recurrence of breast cancer.
“This study is extremely important,” explains Timothy Cox, MD, a leading area medical oncologist with Blue Water Oncology, PC. “Based on previous clinical cancer trials, we know that breast cancer patients who receive five years of hormonal therapy after diagnosis and treatment, have less chance of the disease recurring. But we don’t know if extending the hormonal therapy beyond five years will further decrease the risk of recurring disease.”
Breast Cancer patients in the Blue Water Area have access to this research study through Blue Water Oncology, PC, and Dr. Timothy Cox. The study is being sponsored by The National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project (NSABP) and plans to enroll 3,840 patients nationally. Dr. Cox is a local principal investigator for NSABP and encourages area breast cancer patients to consider this important clinical study for the reduction of breast cancer recurrence.
The Mercy Regional Cancer Center and its Institutional Review Board (IRB) reviews and approves NSABP research studies. The IRB membership includes scientific and non-scientific members and is dedicated to the integrity of research goals and objectives as well as protecting the rights of all patients.
“Assuring that the process to enroll study participants includes informed consent on behalf of patients is a major responsibility of the IRB,” explains Gail McIntyre, MD, JD, Vice President of Medical Affairs at Mercy Hospital and Chair of the Mercy IRB. “Anyone participating in a research protocol has a right to understand the pros and cons of participation. The IRB reviews the informed consent document for each patient enrolled in a Mercy IRB approved study.”
Breast cancer patients who have completed five years of hormonal therapy with Arimidex, Femara or Aromasin; or two years of Tamoxifen, followed by Arimidex, Femara or Aromasin are eligible to participate in the study. Patients participating in the study will be randomized to receive the current standard of care (five years of hormonal therapy); or an additional five years of therapy with Femara.
“The NSABP is the oldest, largest, and arguably best known breast and colorectal cancer research group in the world,” concludes Dr. Cox. “The group conducts large scale clinical trials designed to improve the treatment and prevention of both breast and bowel cancers. We are pleased to offer access to this impressive clinical trial through the NSABP on a local basis.”
The NSABP was established in 1958, and has been funded throughout its history by the National Cancer Institute (NCI). It is headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. NSABP membership includes nearly 200 nucleus institutions and an additional 300 satellite centers, located throughout the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico.
Many of these member institutions are university hospitals or large comprehensive cancer centers, but the majority are community-based institutions such as the Mercy Regional Cancer Center. This allows patients to have access to state-of-the-art cancer research studies without the burdens or costs of travel to large hospitals. They are able to receive their care closer to home with the support of family and friends. More than 3,000 physicians, nurses and other medical professionals conduct NSABP treatment and prevention studies, within the context of serving as institutions or satellite centers.
For more information about this important study or other clinical research trials currently available in the community, please contact the office of Blue Water Oncology, PC, at (810) 985-1670.
For more information about the Mercy Regional Cancer Center, visit the cancer care section of this website.
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