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—————————————————————————— The Metro Minnesota Community Clinical Oncology Program (MMCCOP) is a non-profit research program sponsored by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and participating community hospitals and clinics. This program provides people in our community access to the newest therapy available for cancer treatment, symptom management and cancer prevention. Currently, there are 50 CCOP programs and 13 Minority Based programs in 35 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. The MMCCOP began with a consortium of seven community hospitals who were successful in receiving one of the first NCI-funded CCOP grants in 1983. Since its inception in 1983, the MMCCOP has linked community cancer specialists, primary care physicians and other health care professionals to NCI-approved research studies, called clinical trials. In our community, over 200 patients per year are enrolled in NCI sponsored treatment studies and an average of 300 patients per year participate in NCI cancer prevention and symptom management studies through the MMCCOP. The MMCCOP has been nationally recognized for our program’s community support and sustained achievements in clinical trials. Currently the consortium includes twelve community hospitals and clinics with more than 100 Physicians participating in MMCCOP studies:
Benefits of the MMCCOP Cancer clinical trials are the way we make progress against cancer. Physicians participating with the MMCCOP have access to the newest advances in cancer research. Advances in the prevention and treatment of cancer and controlling the side effects of cancer treatment depend on information gained from well conducted national clinical trials. Improvements in survival and prevention for many types of cancer are due to the widespread acceptance of treatment advances confirmed in clinical trials. Over 80 percent of patients with cancer are treated in community hospitals. MMCCOP provides support for physicians in this consortium of community hospitals and clinics to enter patients on to clinical trials and reduces the need for patients to travel to other institutions outside of their community to receive care. Clinical trials provide patients with additional treatment options as well as affording potential benefits to future patients. In addition, the MMCCOP provides the opportunity for high-risk individuals to participate in cancer prevention studies. Reasons Why People Take Part in Clinical Trials
What You Can Do Knowledge gained through research is essential to finding answers to some of the many questions we have about cancer. Many of the advances in cancer treatment and survival and improvements in cancer prevention were first found to be effective in clinical trials. We invite you to help us in the progress against cancer through your participation in a clinical trial. The success of this research is made possible through the combined efforts of many individuals. Research Opportunities: Cancer Treatment There are many clinical trials ongoing for the treatment of most types of cancer. Your physician and the research staff can provide you with more information on studies currently available for your type and stage of cancer. Symptom Management There are a variety of studies looking at ways to better control or prevent the symptoms of cancer or the side effects of cancer treatment. Examples include studies to prevent or reduce nausea and vomiting, studies to treat and improve symptoms of fatigue and loss of appetite and studies to control symptoms that affect quality of life such as hot flashes. Your physician and the research staff can answer any questions you have about what studies are currently available. Cancer Prevention There are also studies that try to find ways to prevent certain types of cancer from developing and to better understand the reasons why some people are at higher risk for developing cancer.
If you would like further information about the MMCCOP or any of the research opportunities available to you, ask your physician, or call the Metro-Minnesota CCOP office at: (952) 993-1517
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