Iowa Cancer Consortium Creates Resource to Connect Iowans with Cancer Clinical Trials
CORALVILLE, IA – April 8, 2024 – Partners across the state are working together to ensure that there is one resource for Iowans to locate and find information about cancer clinical trials in the state. Clinical trials are research studies that identify the best ways to prevent, detect, and treat cancer. While many trials exist for a variety of cancer types and stages, it can be challenging for a patient or their care team to find the right one.
The Iowa Cancer Consortium’s webpage at www.canceriowa.org/clinicaltrials includes a comprehensive list of where to find cancer clinical trials in the state and where to learn more about the importance of trials. Health partners who collaborated on the project included Genesis Cancer Center in the Quad Cities, Hall-Perrine Cancer Center in Cedar Rapids, MercyOne Deming Cancer Center and UnityPoint Health – Blank Children’s Hospital in Des Moines, William R. Bliss Cancer Center in Ames, Mission Cancer + Blood statewide, and University of Iowa Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center in Iowa City.
Being faced with a cancer diagnosis and choosing treatment can be overwhelming. Cancer clinical trials often allow patients to access treatment that may not yet be part of the standard of care. When a person participates in a cancer clinical trial, they also contribute to knowledge about cancer that will benefit future generations. Other benefits may include closer monitoring by a healthcare team and potential cost savings. Iowans are encouraged to review the Consortium’s new resource and talk to their doctors about options for cancer clinical trials.
One Iowan who benefited from a cancer clinical trial is Jordan Hauck from Huxley, Iowa. Jordan was in his 20s when he found a lump in his armpit. Young and with no family history of cancer, he didn’t pay it much attention. But when the lump grew to about the size of a baseball in a matter of months, he went to the doctor. Unfortunately, the lump was cancerous and the cancer had spread to his liver and lungs. His doctor helped him look into clinical trials at the University of Iowa, and found one led by Mohammed Milhem, MBBS. Dr. Milhem diagnosed Jordan with stage 4 melanoma and began his treatment through the clinical trial, consisting of an oral medication and injections. After a year, Jordan was cancer-free. When his cancer came back in 2023, his treatment was a relatively new immunotherapy medication approved 2 years ago. This treatment, developed through clinical trials, was successful, and Jordan is cancer-free again. (Source: University of Iowa)
In addition to the website, the Iowa Cancer Consortium has created a social media message set so that anyone can share this resource and crucial information about cancer clinical trials. The message set can be downloaded at www.canceriowa.org/clinicaltrials.
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The Iowa Cancer Consortium is Iowa’s statewide comprehensive cancer control coalition. As a leader in cancer control, the Iowa Cancer Consortium offers the state’s cancer partners and advocates access to resources, expertise, and non-competitive collaboration across traditional boundaries for a bigger impact in cancer prevention, early detection, treatment, quality of life, and health equity. Learn more at www.canceriowa.org.