This page includes links to all the resources on clinical cancer trials contained within this site. We encourage you to use this information to help MCC member and partner organizations promote clinical cancer trials awareness and accomplish the MCC Clinical Trials Maintenance Project for 2009-2015.
Michigan Working Group to Improve Cancer Outcomes
In an innovative move to open access for Michigan cancer patients to cancer clinical trials, one MCC member, the Michigan Society of Hematology and Oncology, convened a unique coalition of patient advocate groups, employers, insurance companies, and the representation of health care providers of clinical trials from both the academic and community outpatient setting to address this barrier.
In a precedent-setting agreement, all 25 members of the Michigan Association of Health Plans agreed to work to increase participation in select cancer-related clinical trials by making payment for services within this context predictable. All member health plans stated a willingness to provide coverage for the routine care costs of patient participation in approved clinical trials.
Michigan Cancer Survivorship Resource Guide (revised June 2011)
One of the Michigan Cancer Consortium’s current goals is to increase Michigan cancer survivors’ awareness of, and access to, survivorship resources and services. The Michigan Cancer Survivorship Resource Guide can help people diagnosed with cancer, their families, and loved ones find assistance and support. The information, originally in Adobe Acrobat PDF format, has been converted to a searchable database. The Resource Guide database is organized by counties and can be used by both providers and cancer survivors to find resources and support services.
The following presentation was prepared for Michigan Cancer Consortium use and was presented to the MCC Board of Directors during the Board's April 21, 2004 meeting. (Please Note: Reproduction of this presentation in its entirety is permitted. If a portion of the presentation is used or any of slides are altered, all logos and references must be removed.)
Video: "Real Answers, Real Options, Real Miracles...Right Here in West Michigan" (developed by Grand Rapids Clinical Oncology Program, Patient Advisory Board for Clinical Research; 15 minutes and 51 seconds) http://vimeo.com/13375792
This video provides helpful and inspiring information for people who have been diagnosed (or know someone who has been diagnosed) with cancer. It reveals, through the personal stories of several cancer survivors, why cancer clinical trials are an important treatment option for patients to consider. Although the video was produced for use in West Michigan, its message will prove helpful for all those affected by cancer.
ClinicalTrials.gov www.clinicaltrials.gov
ClinicalTrials.gov provides regularly updated information about federally and privately supported clinical research in human volunteers. ClinicalTrials.gov gives you information about a trial's purpose, who may participate, locations, and phone numbers for more details. The information provided on ClinicalTrials.gov should be used in conjunction with advice from health care professionals.
National Cancer Institute (NCI) — Types of Cancer www.cancer.gov/cancer_information/cancer_type
Here you can find information about detection, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of many types of cancer.
NCI — Clinical Trials www.cancer.gov/clinical_trials
The clinical trials home page is the gateway to a variety of information from the NCI. Topics include finding clinical trials, recent developments, clinical trial results, educational resources, and more.
NCI — How to Find a Cancer Treatment Trial www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials/finding/treatment-trial-guide
This guide will help you to: gather the information you need to begin your search for a clinical trial; identify sources of clinical trial listings; learn about clinical trials that may be of benefit to you; and ask questions that will help you decide whether or not to participate in a particular trial. It is not intended to provide medical advice. You, your health care team, and your loved ones are in the best position to decide whether a clinical trial is right for you.
NCI Clinical Trials Search Page www.cancer.gov/search/clinicaltrials
This NCI feature allows users to find cancer clinical trials by searching the NCI PDQ database of trials. Users can choose from four search criteria: 1) type of cancer; 2) stage/subtype of cancer; 3) type of trial; and 4) location of trial.
NCI Fact Sheet — "11 Things to Know About Cancer Prevention Trials"
Here, you can access "11 Things to Know About Cancer Prevention Trials," an electronic fact sheet with links to additional information.
NCI Fact Sheet — "10 Things to Know About Cancer Treatment Trials"
Here, you can access "10 Things to Know About Cancer Treatment Trials," an electronic fact sheet with links to additional information.
NCI Publications Locator https://cissecure.nci.nih.gov/ncipubs
By choosing the "Clinical Trials" option at this site, you will see the clinical trial-related NCI publications that are available, with a description of each and the option to view the publication online. The site includes publications for health professionals and patients, all of which can be ordered free online.
NCI Research Resources http://resresources.nci.nih.gov
The NCI Research Resources web site is integral to NCI’s commitment to provide basic, clinical and epidemiological researchers with tools and resources to facilitate cancer research. These NCI-developed products and services are available without extensive negotiations or intellectual property issues. The NCI Research Resources web site was developed to better enable access to these resources and to promote their use by members of the scientific community.
NCI — Understanding Clinical Cancer Trials www.cancer.gov/clinical_trials/understanding
At this site, you can find answers to common questions about clinical trials. Topics include: What is a clinical trial?; Should I take part in a clinical trial?; How do I take part in a clinical trial?; and How is a clinical trial planned and carried out? Links to additional resources are provided.
American Association for Cancer Education (AACE) www.aaceonline.com
The AACE fosters cancer education by individuals throughout the world who, either due to professional obligations or personal interest, are involved in cancer education. The association provides a forum for health-related professionals concerned with the study and improvement of cancer education at the undergraduate, graduate, continuing professional, and paraprofessional levels. Active members include physicians, dentists, nurses, health educators, social workers, occupational therapists, and other professionals interested in cancer education. Cancer education efforts are related to prevention, early detection, treatment, and rehabilitation.
American Cancer Society (ACS) www.cancer.org
The American Cancer Society is dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by saving lives, diminishing suffering, and preventing cancer through research, education, advocacy, and service. Founded in 1913 and with national headquarters in Atlanta, the Society has 14 regional divisions and local offices in 3,400 communities, involving millions of volunteers across the United States.
ACS — Clinical Trials: State Laws Regarding Insurance Coverage
Because of the difficulties that patients sometimes face with coverage for clinical trials, more and more states are passing legislation or bills that require health insurance companies to provide coverage for clinical trials. This page provides the most current information available regarding such legislation.
ACS — Emerging Med Clinical Trials Matching Service
This free Clinical Trial Matching and Referral Service is made available to American Cancer Society visitors through a collaboration with EmergingMed. Simply fill out one questionnaire and within seconds, you'll know if your profile matches any clinical trials in the system. The EmergingMed database contains more than 3,000 clinical trials for treatment, prevention, and early detection of cancer.
CancerCare www.cancercare.org (English) www.cancercare.org/espanol (Spanish)
CancerCare is a national non-profit organization that provides free professional support services to anyone affected by cancer: people with cancer, caregivers, children, loved ones, and the bereaved. The site features resources for people with cancer and their caregivers (including counseling, educational programs, information and referrals, and financial needs resources), as well as cancer care professionals and members of the media. Users may choose between English- and Spanish-language site pages.
C-Change www.c-changetogether.org/
C-Change is comprised of the nation's key cancer leaders from government, business and nonprofit sectors. These cancer leaders share the vision of a future where cancer is prevented, detected early, and cured or managed successfully as a chronic illness. The mission of C-Change is to leverage the combined expertise and resources of its members to eliminate cancer as a (major) public health problem at the earliest possible time.
Coalition of National Cancer Cooperative Groups Inc. (CNCCG) http://cancertrialshelp.org
The CNCCG is the nation's premiere network of cancer clinical trials specialists. Members include: cooperative groups; cancer centers; academic medical centers; community hospitals; physicians practices; and patient advocate groups. The Coalition offers a variety of programs and information for physicians, payers, patient advocate groups, and patients designed to improve the clinical trials process. Resources for patients include The Clinical Trial ABCs introductory guide, glossary of important terms, and questions to ask your doctor when considering a trial. Resources for health professionals include TrialCheck, an interactive tool for screening patients for cancer clinical trials. Other educational and support services also are available. Check out the informative and useful inserts that appeared in Newsweek during May 2001. Both "Cancer Clinical Trials: Are They Right for You?" and "Cancer Clinical Trials: Myth vs. Reality" can be downloaded, or reprints can be ordered online.
The Summit Series on Cancer Clinical Trials www.cancersummit.org
The purpose of the Summit Series on Cancer Clinical Trials is to provide a platform for all stakeholders in the clinical cancer research enterprise to come together to express what each sees as positive and negative aspects in the existing system and to suggest ways in which it can be made better. The hope is that by building a more responsive and efficient system, trial enrollment will increase, permitting faster development of advances in cancer treatment, prevention, control, and symptom management. Read about sponsors, participating groups, and results, and find associated documents that include summaries of Summit meetings.
The Wellness Community www.thewellnesscommunity.org/
The Wellness Community is a national non-profit organization dedicated to providing free emotional support, education and hope for people with cancer and their loved ones. The cornerstone of The Wellness Community is the “Patient Active Concept,” which encompasses the belief that patients who actively participate with their physicians and medical team in their fight for recovery can improve the quality of their lives and may enhance the possibility of their recovery. The site's Virtual Wellness Community offers cancer information, free, professionally moderated support groups in real-time for people with cancer and their caregivers (including teens), and a host of other resources for consumers and professionals. It also hosts physician and nurse lectures, nutritional workshops, mind-body programs, and other services. Both the site's resources and the online support groups are available in English and in Spanish.
Promoting Clinical Trials Awareness Month
Resources to help you promote Clinical Trials Awareness Month (observed in February) are available through the Michigan Cancer Consortium Monthly Theme Calendar.
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(revised June 2011) 