Is the Reporting of Cancer Research Usually (or even mostly) Accurate?

The cancer information site, Cancer.Net has published information to help us everyday health care consumers to judge the sometimes spectacular sounding medical news. Medical news changes day by day and week by week. If you see terms like "breakthrough" or "life changing drug is discovered,"--be skeptical. The article and claims may be questioned or discredited a week or two from now. It is difficult to know what to believe and whether or not you should do something to take advantage of the "new" information.

How can you tell if medical news is accurate? That is the question. There are hundreds of news sources--newspapers, magazines, blogs, podcasts, and on and on. They very often provide spectacular, miraculous, and conflicting "facts and figures." Many of us are eager to believe that a "miracle" can happen. But before you fly off to a foreign country for treatment or spend thousands of dollars out of your own pocket, ask some questions and do your homework. 

Here are a few things you can ask or consider or do...

1   First of all, check with your doctor and medical team.
2   Find a link to the actual research study site (if there is one).
3   Was the research conducted on animals, humans, or by computer simulation?
4   Was the research reported by the New England Journal of Medicine or Journal of the American Medical Association or the National Cancer Institute? If so, it is more likely to be accurate.
5   Were the results based on extensive human Clinical Trials?
6   Have you considered participating in clinical trials to help get the best research results?
7   Check for FDA approval or the status of the approval process.
8   Does the article report information about risk? There is always risk.
9   Is there concrete evidence of an improved survival benefit?
10  Who stands to get rich if the treatment becomes widely available?
11  Does the research and reporting promise a "cure?" 
12  Does the reporting claim the treatment will help everybody with cancer? One size fits all is a highly unlikely outcome.
13  What specific cancer conditions reportedly will be affected by the treatment?
14  Is the reporting based  mostly on somebody's "Expert Opinion?" Beware.
15  Even compelling research evidence can take years before treatments become available to patients.

Be skeptical, do your homework, and look into available clinical trials in your areas of need and interest. Every FDA approved treatment started as a clinical trial. And many  clinical trials that seemed promising never proved effective enough to get FDA approval.




Post Text Here
To put a smile on your face see Larry's latest cartoon.
To learn more about clinical trials, take a look at our book.

(c) 2012 Tom Beer and Larry Axmaker

Are Cancer Clinical Trials becoming more successful?

First you’ll need to define ‘SUCCESS.’
 

According to numerous studies and reports, Cancer Clinical Trials have a very low success rate—somewhere in the 5% to 7% range of all trials that are proposed. This is from Phase 1 (or pre-phase 1) to eventual FDA approval. This is not so good except that without even that modest success rate many of us Cancer Survivors would not be surviving.

Success is often defined in terms of producing an actual positive impact in treating and managing cancer and increasing cancer survival. Check out the National Cancer Institute site for more details. 

So are Cancer Clinical Trials Getting More SUCCESSFUL? YES or NO? 

If SUCCESS means more experimental results leading to new and effective drugs—Then NO. (Success rates have not improved in recent years­­­­­­—they have actually decreased)

If SUCCESS means more people are volunteering to participate in trials—Also NO. (Some potentially successful trials never even get started due to lack of participants)

If SUCCESS means the trial stages and FDA approval procedures are progressing more quickly—Definitely NO. (Final FDA approval can take many years)

If SUCCESS means ‘affordable’ prescriptions for cancer patients—Still NO, you’ve got to be kidding (Some well-insured patients are not even able to afford the co-pays)

If SUCCESS means weeding out the least promising drugs in the early stages—Mostly YES. (Ineffective or dangerous drugs can be replaced with new, more promising experimental drugs)

If SUCCESS means there will be some effective new drugs approved for patients—YES, but at a rather slow pace.

Over the years we have encouraged our readers to volunteer for clinical trials when given the opportunity. Your participation could help you, others, and add to the cancer information base. Many different types of information can prove to be useful in the study of cancer.

For example, this author, now with Metastatic-late stage prostate cancer and in a Chemotherapy regimen, is still participating in several clinical trials including a study of  the effect of pain in cancer patients, how cancer affects quality of life, relationships, etc.

Cancer Clinical Trials information and data can be useful even when a particular trial is not successful in curing, treating, or managing cancer. For example, side-effects you experience may provide information to help others avoid or manage the same side-effects, allowing a promising trial to continue. 

Progress in the whole Cancer Clinical Trials world depends on multiple factors. You have the chance to influence some of these factors by participating in trials and surveys, sharing medical records, sharing your cancer experiences, and encouraging and supporting others. Keep on keeping on and never lose your sense of humor.

Post Text Here
To put a smile on your face see Larry's latest cartoon.
To learn more about clinical trials, take a look at our book.

(c) 2012 Tom Beer and Larry Axmaker