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HOA is dedicated to finding new and more effective treatments for cancer through clinical research. Since 1986, HOA has participated in the National Cancer Institute Community Clinical Oncology Program (CCOP). We are one of only 50 such participants in the United States. Our patients therefore can benefit from clinical trials of state-of-the-art cancer treatments that are unavailable anywhere else in upstate NY. (The closest CCOP participants are located in Long Island and Pennsylvania.) |
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are clinical trials important?Clinical trials directly contribute to fight against cancer. If a new treatment proves effective in a study, it may become a standard treatment that can help many patients. Many of today's most effective standard treatments are based on studies. Second, patients who participate may be helped personally by the treatment(s) they receive. They get up-to-date care from cancer experts, and they receive either a test treatment or the best available standard treatment for their cancer. In the past, clinical trials were sometimes seen as a last resort for people who had no other treatment choices. Today, patients with common cancers often choose to receive their first treatment through a clinical trial. |