For many underserved communities, fear and misinformation are significant barriers to accessing advanced medical care, particularly clinical trials. The Interfaith Health Network (IHN) and its partners are focused on providing transparent education to overcome these issues.
One of the most persistent myths, especially in cancer treatment, is the fear of receiving a placebo. As Ms. Tamara Atkins, MBA, Director, Oncology Patient Solutions & Alliances at Pfizer, explained during the Interfaith Health Network & Community Clinical Trials Summit (May 15-16) in Middleburg, Virginia: “There is no such thing as placebo in cancer clinical trials. It would be unethical.” Instead, patients receive either the best available standard treatment or a new treatment being studied, which must already have shown the potential to be even better.
The data we collect through the IHN Health & Wellness Survey directly supports programs that ensure “all of the diverse communities are represented” in these vital trials. We’ve seen the powerful results—even for late-stage diagnoses, as Ms. Atkins confirmed: “I’ve seen so many people have positive results on clinical trials at stage four who have exceeded [their prognosis] by even a decade.” By working together, we can empower communities with knowledge and access to these potentially life-extending options.