St. Joseph's Hospital in Tampa Fl. Fred J. Woods Radiation Therapy Center 813-870-4160 St. Joseph's Hospital Cancer Institute
 
Investigational Trials
St. Joseph’s Hospital one of only a handful of hospitals in Florida participating in the National Cancer Institute’s community outreach program the Clinical Trials Support Unit or CTSU. Recent changes in the medical marketplace have resulted in a shift of cancer patients and cancer doctors away from University treatment centers. Continuity of care is especially important when dealing with serious illness such as cancer. And, for most patients quality cancer treatment can be delivered close to home via collaboration between your oncologist and your family physician

Our participation in the CTSU program allows us to offer our patients many of the investigational cancer treatments that were formerly only available at University Research Centers. Through this program, we have access to novel technologies and drug therapies. Patients have the opportunity to be part of selected studies being conducted by national cooperative groups.  A few examples appear below:

  • National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project
  • Southwest Oncology Group
  • Children’s Oncology Group
  • Eastern Cooperative Oncology group
  • Radiation Therapy Oncology Group
  • Cancer and Leukemia Group B

For more information and an updated list of currently open studies at our Tampa hospital, contact Cancer HelpLine at 813-870-4123

Cancer hospital Tampa FLScientists commonly conduct clinical trials when they have reason to believe that a new treatment may be superior to an existing one. There are three phases of clinical trials. The first, is called a Phase I trial. Phase I studies test treatments that are very new to be sure that they are safe. In some cases, they involve treatments which have never been tested in humans before. At St. Joseph’s Cancer Institute, we do not conduct Phase I trials.

After a new treatment has been found to be safe, it is subjected to a Phase II study. In Phase II, doctors enroll patients with multiple different types of cancer and try to see which patients are helped. By belonging to the CTSU, we can obtain Phase II drugs for qualifying patients from the National Cancer Institute.

Once a new treatment has been found to be safe and effective, a Phase III trial is performed to compare the new treatment to the older, established treatment. Often, this requires large numbers of patients and the results may not be available for years. Patients may be randomized which means that a computer will decide if they receive the investigational treatment, or the standard treatment.

Things to ask your doctor if you are considering a clinical trial:
  • What is the current standard treatment and how is the new treatment different?
  • What risks are expected
  • What kinds of patients are most likely to benefit?
  • What will be expected of me during the trial?
  • Will my insurance cover the costs of the new treatment?
  • Will I have to change doctors or travel to be a part of this trial?
  • Whom do I call if I have questions for side effects? Taking part in a clinical trial is voluntary. Your doctor will explain all the features of the trial to you and you will be asked to sign an informed consent. You may withdraw from a clinical trial at any time if you decide the treatment is not right for you

Oncology Questions? Email Us! Oncores@netzero.net | Click Here to Schedule an appointment

Call the Cancer Help Line! 813-870-4123

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