You may not realize it, but there are several types of breast cancer. Some breast cancer types have well-established treatment protocols that have proven to work effectively for many patients. There can be room for improvement on these, however. One area of focus for breast cancer research is looking at possible new combinations of therapies and treatment plans using FDA-approved medicines and procedures.
Some types of breast cancer have fewer well-defined treatment options including triple-negative breast cancer. Extensive research is being done through clinical trials to identify a potential treatment standard that can work for more people with triple-negative breast cancer.
Compass Oncology’s cancer specialists participate in breast cancer research in our offices in hopes of being able to find and provide new treatments to our patients. This research brings new hope for breast cancer patients today through new treatment options, and potentially new and better way to care for future breast cancer patients.
What Types of Breast Cancer Research Trials are Available?
Before a new breast cancer treatment is introduced to patients across the country, certain FDA (Federal Drug Administration) requirements must be met to show that the cancer treatment is effective and safe, and to determine the right amount and timing of the doses. Additionally, Compass Oncology also studies cancer medicines that are FDA approved for other types of cancers but also show promise for treating breast cancer.
If the new cancer treatment can be proven safe and effective for the types of patients the trial has targeted then the FDA will be able to approve it for use among all patients in the U.S. with the same type of cancer.
View a complete list of all of the trials available through Compass Oncology.
Is a Breast Cancer Clinical Trial Right for Me?
If your oncologist thinks you would be a good fit for one of the breast cancer research trials they will ask you to meet with a clinical research nurse at one of the Compass Oncology locations to review the trial’s selection criteria, which vary for each researched treatment.
Treatments being researched by the breast cancer specialists at Compass Oncology have already been proven safe for humans. However, every patient that volunteers to participate in a breast cancer trial is carefully monitored by our cancer research specialists at our offices to determine the effectiveness of the treatment. They will also carefully monitor each trial participant for side effects. If they find that a treatment isn’t working for a patient on a clinical trial the research team will meet to determine if a different treatment option is available that has the potential to be more effective.
It’s our hope that the clinical trial results will make a helpful impact and then ultimately provide new, successful, FDA-approved treatment options for breast cancer.
Breast Cancer Clinical Trials & Research Available in Portland-Vancouver
At Compass Oncology, we are involved with more clinical trials than any other cancer treatment facility in the Portland-Vancouver area. At any given time, we have more than 70 active trials; not only for breast cancer but also for lung cancer, prostate cancer, ovarian cancer, and many more. Continuing to provide our community with access to promising new therapies which may become tomorrow's gold standard remains a top priority at Compass Oncology. For more information on participating in a trial or if you would like to learn more about our other clinical trials, please ask your breast cancer doctor.
View a complete list of all of the trials available through Compass Oncology.
