At PHEN’s Boston Prostate Cancer Community Rally, Director of Clinical Trials and Patient Education Dr. Keith Crawford hosted a panel discussion about the importance of clinical trial participation among African American men.
The panelists for this discussion included:
- Charles “Chuck” Christian, PHEN Ambassador
- Alicia Morgans, MD, MPH, FASCO, Director of Adult Survivorship Program, Dana Farber Cancer Institute
- Cassandra Smith, MBA, Director of Health Equity, Amgen
- Sherman Womack, PHEN Ambassador
“Advocacy does its work on behalf of patients. The community is critically important,” said Ms. Cassandra Smith. “I’m very passionate about the role clinical research plays in disease care and management. It’s often overlooked, especially in communities of color. It’s a place where you can get cutting-edge care and access to cutting-edge science before it’s available. It ensures the medications that are about to be put on the market actually work in your body.”
Dr. Morgans emphasized the importance of participating in clinical trials since it is essential to learn that the medications and treatments used for prostate cancer care will work for everyone. It’s vital to see whether cutting-edge medications will work for communities of color.
Mr. Womack, a prostate cancer survivor, shared his patient story, how he underwent prostatectomy surgery, and his experience in a clinical trial. He is currently looking to begin a new trial. Mr. Christian also shared the story of his prostate cancer journey. His journey led him to a clinical trial in Europe that saved his life. Lastly, the panelists answered audience questions.