IN YOUR CORNER FIGHTING CANCER
Clinical Research Professionals ( CRPs ) are responsible for coordinating , monitoring , and improving outcomes for patients who participate in clinical trials . They help patients navigate their cancer journey , making the process a lot easier . “ You really felt like someone was there fighting with you and for you every step of the way ,” as one patient described .
Care coordination , the way a patient ’ s medical care activities are organized , is often complex and involves numerous health providers , specialists , and care settings . CRPs play an integral role in cancer patients ’ care coordination experiences by being their point of contact , facilitating communication with other members of their care team , assisting with scheduling appointments , and coordinating office visits .
A study led by UH Cancer Center assistant researcher Izumi Okado , PhD , found that Hawai ‘ i cancer patients who were enrolled in therapeutic clinical trials , reported significantly more positive care coordination experiences which they attributed to the support provided by the CRPs . Patients who participated in this study often referred to CRPs as their “ care coordinators ,” illustrating the important role that CRPs play in their care .
DID YOU KNOW A MAMMOGRAM WAS ONCE A CLINICAL TRIAL ?
Before a mammogram became the standard of care for detecting breast cancer , it began as a clinical trial . Mammograms are low-dose X-rays of the breast tissue that can help find breast cancer at an early stage . They date back to the early 1900s when simple radiography was used to examine mastectomy specimens to identify the difference between cancerous and non-cancerous tumors in the breast . The work was revitalized decades later when scientists incorporated breast compression techniques to enhance image quality .
Since then , a series of clinical trials have been conducted , forming the foundation for mammography ’ s clinical use . One of the first large-scale clinical trials , began in 1963 by researchers Sam Shapiro , Philip Strax , and Louis Venet , and spanned over 20 years . Their research concluded that women between the ages of 40-64 , who received annual mammogram screening , were less likely to die from breast cancer than those who did not get mammograms regularly ; and provided evidence of the utility of mammograms for breast cancer prevention .
The development of digital imaging resulted in digital mammography in the late 1990s and , more recently , three-dimensional ( 3D ) digital breast tomosynthesis — a technological advance that captures multiple breast images using different angles .
Today , a mammogram is the gold standard for screening for early stage breast cancer . The American Cancer Society recommends annual mammograms for women 45 to 54 years of age and every other year for women 55 and older .
Looking to the future , UH Cancer Center researchers are working to improve breast cancer imaging technologies . John Shepherd , PhD , Interim Deputy Director and Chief Scientific Officer , leads a team of healthcare professionals to improve existing clinical practices that can help to increase the ability to detect breast lesions and classify them as invasive cancer while reducing the need for unnecessary biopsies .
CRPs are a vital part of the UH Cancer Center ’ s clinical trials team to ensure the best care for participants in clinical trials who contribute to advancing cancer outcomes for future generations .
6 INNOVATIONS | FALL 2022
PHOTO CREDIT : THE QUEEN ’ S HEALTH SYSTEM