July 2020 - SCOR - Southeast Clinical Oncology Research Consortium

Cancer Clinical Trials Bring Options to Patients

July 21, 2020/in Cancer, Cancer Clinical Trial, Clinical Research, Clinical Trial

Researchers in the NCI Community Oncology Research Program (NCORP) describe how the program makes it easier for people from diverse settings to enroll in cancer clinical trials. “The NCORP really brings a lot of clinical trial options to patients that really not have that opportunity to be part of a clinical trial. A lot of our patients may not have the means to travel to a large academic institution to get care.” Click HERE to find cancer clinical trials in your community.

From National Cancer Institute

Addressing Fears about Cancer Clinical Research

July 16, 2020/in Clinical Research, Clinical Trial, Disparities, NCI, NCORP

Understandably, many who are diagnosed with cancer are overwhelmed with fear for their health and for what the future may hold. However, understanding the fears around cancer research studies can help bring modern treatment approaches to high-need, high-risk groups in their own communities. In this short video, Raymond U. Osarogiagbon, M.D, principal investigator of the Baptist Memorial Health Care/Mid-South Minority Underserved NCORP, tells about reaching out and taking the time to help one cancer patient and her family understand why a clinical trial might be the best care option. Find more information about cancer clinical trials in your community HERE.

Source: www.ncorp.cancer.gov

Getting Cancer Clinical Trials in the Community

July 16, 2020/in Cancer, Cancer Care Delivery Research, Cancer Clinical Trial, Clinical Research, Clinical Trial, Disparities, NCI, NCORP, Research

The NCI Community Oncology Research Program (NCORP) is a national network that brings cancer clinical trials and care delivery studies to people in their own communities. NCORP is comprised of 7 research bases and 46 community sites, of which SCOR is one. SCOR has affiliated hospitals and clinics located in 6 states across the Southeast – Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. In this short video, researchers in the NCI Community Oncology Research Program (NCORP) describe this national network and how it brings clinical trials to diverse populations in their own communities.

Source: ncorp.cancer.gov

Participating in a Clinical Trial for Rare Cancer

July 14, 2020/in Uncategorized

photo of nurse showing child and mom file about rare cancer — When you are diagnosed with a rare cancer, you and your family may think about joining a clinical trial or study. Much of what scientists have learned about cancer has come from rare cancer patients sharing their experience and tissue. You can help future rare cancer patients by helping researchers today.

A clinical trial may give you access to a new drug. It may also be a chance to see doctors that are world experts in your rare cancer. Clinical trials that test a new treatment are often called intervention trials. Clinical trials that learn more about the rare cancer without trying to treat it may be called natural history studies.

Clinical trials for common cancer may fill up quickly, but clinical trials for rare cancers can take much longer to complete. Sometimes drugs for rare cancers cannot be tested properly because there aren’t enough people with the rare tumor to join the trial. When you have a rare tumor, you can make a big difference by joining a study.

Where to Learn More About Participating in a Rare Cancer Clinical Trial

You may have mixed feelings or have a lot of questions about taking part in a clinical trial. It may help to know what to expect. The National Cancer Institute has resources to help you understand what you can expect.

You should know that joining a clinical trial is your choice. You are in control and can drop out of the trial if you feel it is not right for you. You should also understand that there are systems to protect your privacy and your safety. The trial doctors and nurses are happy to answer your questions to help you know if the trial is the right choice for you.

Source: www.cancer.gov

New cancer care center opens in Marion

July 13, 2020/in Asheville, Clinical Research, Clinical Trial, Community Based Cancer Care, Marion, NCORP

From www.McDowellNews.com
July 13, 2020

Messino Cancer Centers new location in Marion, NC offers access to cancer clinical trials SOR

The new Marion location for Messino Cancer Centers has three physicians (clockwise) Drs. Martin Palmeri, Charles Bryan and Brent Skiver. Messino Cancer Centers opened its Marion, NC location in March.

Starting in March, Marion has a new center for the treatment of cancer where patients can receive the care they need closer to home.

Messino Cancer Centers opened its Marion location in March at 1860 Sugar Hill Road, Suite A. The new center for Marion is housed in a former doctor’s office building not far from Mission Hospital McDowell.

Founded by Dr. Michael Messino in Asheville, Messino Cancer Centers (MCC) provides treatment for adult patients diagnosed with all types of cancer and blood disorders.

“Messino Cancer Centers is grounded in the Western North Carolina region and devoted to providing personalized care of the highest quality to patients in community settings, close to where they live and work and where their loved ones are close by,” reads the Website. “We are proud of our 30-year history of providing the highest quality cancer treatment that is based on research and focused on the whole person.

Messino started his medical oncology practice in 1990 with the goal of providing “quality cancer care with compassion and kindness and in consideration of the whole patient as a unique individual.” In the later years, he expanded his practice to include medical oncologists and advanced practitioners serving patients throughout western North Carolina, including the rural areas surrounding Asheville.

Messino Cancer Centers has 14 physicians who treat cancer and blood disorders in six locations: Asheville, Brevard, Franklin, Spruce Pine, Sylva and now Marion. In addition to chemotherapy, patients have access to clinical trials, oncolytic pharmacy, pathology, lab services, care management support and financial counseling under one roof,

The new Marion location has three physicians (Drs. Martin Palmeri, Charles Bryan and Brent Skiver) and one nurse practitioner (Donna Gibson). Palmeri, a native of Mills River, is board certified in hematology and medical oncology. Bryan is board certified medical oncology and board eligible in hematology. Skiver is board certified in internal medicine, oncology and hematology.

In addition, the Marion location has three staff members in the front office, a financial counselor, infusion room nurses, a pharmacy technician, a laboratory technician and intake nurses.

He added this new location allows patients in the Foothills to get the care they need closer to home without having to drive to Asheville. That is especially helpful when a patient and the family are dealing with such a stressful experience like cancer.

“It takes a lot of financial and emotional stress off the patients,” he said. “It’s a blessing to work in a community like McDowell. We want our patients to know they come first.”

With the COVID-19 pandemic, patients have their temperatures taken and go through the necessary procedures with the staff for the safety of everyone concerned.

Palmeri said one of the things he and his colleagues are working on is providing treatment from clinical trials. These are new and innovative ways of caring for cancer patients. While there is no guarantee that these trials will be successful, they have been proven to be some of the most effective ways to help patients who are facing this dreadful disease.

“The area of cancer treatment is growing and developing rapidly,” he said to The McDowell News. “New drugs to treat cancer are coming out at breakneck speed.”

Messino Cancer Centers are not affiliated with a hospital or a health care system. “Messino Cancer Centers is now part of the American Oncology Network, our focus is to help preserve and protect the sustainability of community oncology so patients have high quality cancer care close to where they live,” said Lori Kagan, spokeswoman for the American Oncology Network.

For more information, visit www.messinocancercenters.com