However, with so many people working on cancer problems from so many angles, it can be a challenge to reach the patients who could benefit most. Tarin has been working with the hospital staffs to reorganize oncology service so that patients and physicians can call a single access number for help on any cancer-related problem or referral. The Oncology Access Team will also send information to the Clinical Trials Office regarding new patients who might be interested in participating in trials. Tarin has also reorganized the clinical research teams and clinical trials to focus on particular types of cancer, such as breast, prostate, lung, and melanoma. It is expected that this type of focus will facilitate the movement back and forth between researchers and clinicians, as well as making it easier to offer specialized expertise to the community.
Palliative care is an important aspect of clinical research getting more attention.
We believe that if the disease is a serious disease, as cancer is, we must not abandon the patient who may be incurable. We must continue to offer treatment, support, and relief of pain in adjusting to the inevitability of death and to research the best ways of doing that. The palliative care program includes research on pain, anxiety, and depression in both patients and their caregivers. The Cancer Center has drawn in, for the first time, members of the Psychiatry Department and the Pain Research Team in the Department of Anesthetics as part of this multidisciplinary effort. Others scientists are also being called upon.