Maryland's Health Matters - Upper Chesapeake - Fall 2013 - (Page 12)

from the physicians and nurses at the University of Maryland, and was comforted that they felt positive about her chances in the study, Draksler also had fears about being among the ﬁrst to try this treatment. Ultimately, it was her son who persuaded her to participate. “He said I would be a pioneer and that I could help people down the road,” she says. “I really liked the idea of that.” A SECOND CHANCE 12 MARYLAND’S HEALTH MATTERS HELPING TO ADVANCE CANCER RESEARCH One of the great beneﬁts of the Upper Chesapeake Health Patricia D. and M. Scot Kaufman Cancer Center’s affiliation with the University of Maryland Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Cancer Center is the local access to clinical trials. Choosing the best trial for you may seem difficult, but matching up the right trial with the right patient is in everyone’s best interest. Not all patients are the same, and not all studies are the same, either. If you are interested in participating in a clinical trial, you’ll need to do your homework and ask a lot of questions. Participating in a clinical trial is voluntary, and you can stop taking part in the study at any time, for any reason. The commitment to participating in a trial means more visits to the doctor, more blood work and more testing than might be required outside of a study—as well as frequent monitoring, which helps ensure patient safety. The beneﬁts are you are helping to advance INTERESTED IN PARTICIPATING IN A TRIAL? cancer research by being a Visit oncore.umm.edu/ test subject. Finally, many sip/SIPMain to learn more insurers cover the normal about what is available in costs of treatment in clini- current clinical trials. that you may have access to treatment that is not otherwise available and cal trials. ©2013 THINKSTOCK The chemotherapy and radiation regimen was strict and aggressive, but Draksler responded well to the treatment. “The RTOG protocol is very different from the standard treatment for this type of cancer. It is an aggressive and innovative form of treatment,” says Dr. Kwok. “Because the type of tumor that Draksler had is rare, this trial is not available at many cancer centers. The University of Maryland is able to offer this trial because it has a large, National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center.” Draksler followed a rigorous treatment schedule for nearly three months. “It was a difﬁcult process, but the doctors and nurses were excellent,” she says. “They were always warm and positive,” and encouraged her to take an active role in her care. She asked questions, kept detailed notes and learned the medical names of all of the medicine she was prescribed. It made her feel that she was gaining control of her life again. More than a year later, Draksler is cancer-free and back at work putting smiles on children’s faces. The cancerous tumor not only shrank, but it completely disappeared as well. While she is not actively receiving treatment, she will still have follow-up visits with Drs. Kwok and Rapoport for years to come. “I would tell anyone who has been asked to participate in a clinical trial to deﬁnitely consider it,” she says. “Don’t dismiss it. You get to play a role in defeating cancer and helping others, and that’s a great feeling.” Draksler looks forward to volunteering and sharing her story with cancer patients at the Patricia D. and M. Scot Kaufman Cancer Center at Upper Chesapeake Medical Center. http://oncore.umm.edu/sip/SIPMain http://oncore.umm.edu/sip/SIPMain

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Maryland's Health Matters - Upper Chesapeake - Fall 2013

Maryland's Health Matters - Upper Chesapeake - Fall 2013
Contents
A Healthy Start
Options After Mastectomy
Strength and Courage
A Winning Trial
At a Glance
Foundation Focus
News and Events

Maryland's Health Matters - Upper Chesapeake - Fall 2013