Annual Report 2018 | Page 22

“ Tese trials are very important because breast cancer is a signifcant issue in Hawai ‘ i . Racial and ethnic minority groups are severely under-represented in breast cancer clinical trials in the rest of the United States , so participation of patients from Hawai ‘ i is doubly important .”

- RANDALL HOLCOMBE , UH CANCER CENTER DIRECTOR

THE ABC TRIAL

Aspirin for Breast Cancer Trial

Te ABC trial is an NCI-sponsored national clinical trial provided locally by the UH Cancer Center to determine if the addition of daily aspirin for fve years will decrease the likelihood of cancer returning post-treatment for breast cancer patients who are at signifcant risk of recurrence despite completing all standard treatments .

“ Tere is signifcant data to support the potential benefts of aspirin in breast cancer survivors . Aspirin is inexpensive and widely available , so this treatment could be used worldwide to improve breast cancer outcomes ,” said Jessica Rhee , MD , UH Cancer Center ’ s Clinical Trials Ofce medical director .

DIGITAL MAMMOGRAPHY

BREAST CANCER CLINICAL TRIAL

Tomosynthesis Mammographic Imaging

Screening Trial ( TMIST )

Tomosynthesis , also known as 3-D mammography , was FDA approved in 2012 and is becoming more widely used in the United States . However , 2-D mammography has been the standard method for

breast cancer screening since 2005 . Te TMIST trial compares the two diferent mammography technologies to determine which is better at detecting breast cancers , and more impactful in reducing breast cancer deaths .

“ After helplessly watching my mother ’ s own cancer

struggle , I decided to participate in the TMIST clinical trial during my regularly scheduled mammogram at the Queen ’ s Women ’ s Health Center . It was only a few questions and a blood test . I felt happy to help because not enough people are taking advantage of this opportunity to be part of a clinical trial sponsored by the National Cancer Institute and provided here as fruit of the partnership between Te Queen ’ s Medical Center and the University of Hawai ‘ i Cancer Center ,” said Cathy Morris , TMIST clinical trial participant .

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