Studying Survivors

Much of the research on long-term and late effects has only occurred in the past five years, studying methods like yoga, diet modification and psychotherapy. But far more evidence-based studies on survivorship are needed, says Patricia Ganz, MD, an oncologist at UCLA’s Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, especially because so many physicians rely on studies to determine the best care for their patients.

“We need more research, more writing, more survivorship guidelines,” Dr. Ganz says. “We have research data on breast cancer more than any other disease, but we need it for other cancers too.” More than 500 studies have been conducted on breast cancer survivors, but only a handful have been done with other cancers, such as colon, prostate and brain. Researchers are also calling for more diversity in survivorship trials, including minorities and elderly patients.

Some survivorship studies currently recruiting patients include:

Acupuncture for Chronic Post-Chemotherapy Fatigue

Trial Sponsor: Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center

Contact: Kristofer Prepelica 212-639-4917

Cardiac Screening in Survivors of Hodgkin’s Disease Treated with Mediastinal Irradiation

Trial Sponsor: Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

Contact: Peter Mauch, MD 617-732-8421

Diet and Exercise Modification for Breast, Prostate or Colorectal Cancer Survivors (RENEW)

Trial Sponsor: Duke University Medical Center

Contact: Denise Snyder 877-239-1054

Examination of Energy and Immune Function in Breast Cancer Survivors

Trial Sponsor: Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center

Contact: Barbara Kahn 310-825-2520

Menopause and Meditation for Breast Cancer Survivors

Trial Sponsor: National Cancer Institute; University of Pittsburgh

Contact: Susan Cunningham 412-624-4597

Pycnogenol for the Treatment of Lymphedema

Trial Sponsor: University of Wisconsin

Contact: Paul Hutson 800-622-8922