Clinical Trial Coordinators Help Navigate the Cancer Journey

Clinical Trials are a huge part of every cancer patients journey. Some patients decide to participate in clinical trials and some don't, but as a trial coordinator, part of my job is to identify which patients are eligible for trials. Right now, we have over 74 trials available to our patients. We evaluate every new cancer patient to see is there a trial that fits them. Once an appropriate trial is identified, our physician will discuss it with the patient find out if it's the right fit. If it is the right fit for them, then the coordinators step in to help with the next part of their journey.

CHI Health St. Francis Cancer Treatment Center is able to offer to our patients a unique benefit.  When you take part in a clinical trial, you are assigned a nurse that specifically works with you. That nurse becomes your navigator, helping you to coordinate appointments and to identify symptoms you may be experiencing. The nurse navigator is that bridge between the physician, the chemotherapy, your oral therapy and your other providers to really make your journey as seamless as possible.

What Does Participating in a Clinical Trial Involve?

Participating in a clinical trial may mean you have to see the physician more often or you might have a few more tests than normal, but this is to monitor you closely, ensuring your safety and making sure your treatment is effective.

The clinical trial coordinator identifies when to make changes and communicates that to the physician so that they can address any needs that you have.

There is actually a higher level of patient satisfaction when a patient participates in a clinical trial that's because you get that one on one personal care. that it's really the attention to detail and knowing what's going on with you and making things as easy as possible for you while you're going through your treatment.

Does Every Clinical Trial Require Treatment?

Not every clinical trial requires treatment. Sometimes clinical trials may evaluate how well you handle symptoms or it may evaluate the financial impact Cancer Care has on you. The trial may just be a survey asking about your quality of life while you are undergoing treatment, so really there's a huge variety of what trials entail.

If you have any questions about what Cancer Clinical Trials we have available, be sure to check our website.