There are nearly 12 million people in America who have survived cancer and countless more who have avoided it and thanks to clinical trials, doctors and researchers have come a long way in finding effective treatments but more folks are always needed to help make a difference.
For years researchers have been looking for ways to cure to cancer and thanks to clinical trials, they've gotten closer than ever.
"The treatments we have today, are based on clinical trials we've run in the past," said Troy Kimsey, Director of Surgical Oncology at Phoebe Cancer Center.
Currently there are 40 active studies at the Phoebe Cancer center where researchers look at possible treatment options for those with various forms of cancer.
"A lot of the patients enrolled is because they want to find a better treatment of find an overall cure," said Kimsey.
Some studies have proven to be very effective.
"In some studies there is quite a turnaround in how that patient's outcome was," said Kimsey.
But fears or misconceptions hold some people back.
‘Oh you are going to use me as an experiment, you hear oh I am going to be a guinea pig," said Kimsey.
Less than five percent of adult cancer patients are enrolled in Clinical studies, but officials are hoping to change that. They say education is key to gathering participants.
"Yes you are going to be receiving care and you are going to be receiving treatment but what that treatment is dependent on the study," said Steven Ziemba, Director of Clinical Research.
Most of the studies Phoebe participates in are Phase 3 that means they've already been declared safe and effective. The next step is deciding whether it will be marketed towards standard care.
"Yes some studies are going to be merely taking a pill once a day but perhaps that's being done through the standard of care chemo that's being done by an iv," said Ziemba.
Participation helps the community as well.
"When you talk about benefiting the community, it's really just early access to potentially new treatments," said Ziemba.
Now, there is a new website that makes it easier for folks in Georgia looking for clinical trials to participate in.
"It takes years for these studies to answer the questions is this treatment indeed better," said Ziemba.
And thanks to past participants we've come a very long way.
There are currently 582 active clinical cancer trials in Georgia.
You can find a list of those trials by clicking here
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