The future of cancer care is happening right now through clinical research, and patients in Hampton Roads have front-row access to these groundbreaking treatments at Virginia Oncology Associates (VOA).
 
Wendi Gobhardt, Director of Research Operations, and Chris Morris, Clinical Research Manager, reveal how clinical trials work and why they matter. With backgrounds deeply rooted in cancer care, Wendi, an oncology nurse, and Chris motivated by personal loss to breast cancer, bring both professional expertise and heartfelt commitment to advancing cancer treatments.
 
The conversation breaks the clinical trial process, explaining how treatments progress through phases from initial safety testing to becoming standard of care. Contrary to the "guinea pig" misconception, patients in trials often receive more attentive monitoring and what VOA calls "concierge service" throughout their treatment journey. With 64 active trials covering breast cancer, blood cancers, prostate cancer, and more, VOA offers local access to treatments that previously required travel to distant medical centers.
 
Most exciting are the advancements these trials enable, personalized medicine targeting specific molecular characteristics of tumors, innovative radiopharmaceuticals delivering radiation through IV administration rather than external beams, and cellular therapies like CAR-T are transforming outcomes for patients who previously had limited options.
 
For those considering participation, the experts offer practical advice: thoroughly review consent documents, ask lots of questions, bring family to appointments as "extra ears," and understand all available options. Every patient who participates not only potentially benefits themselves but contributes valuable data that helps future generations. 

Resources

https://clinicaltrials.gov/ 

https://www.nih.gov/health-information/nih-clinical-research-trials-you 

https://www.virginiacancer.com/clinical-trials 

https://www.scri.com/ 

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Cancer Care Connections is the official podcast of Virginia Oncology Associates. For more information, visit us at VirginiaCancer.com. or find us on Facebook or Instagram at Virginia Oncology Associates.