A Dose of Hope Amidst Uncertainty: The Healing Power of Clinical Trials

Alan’s journey with cancer began in 2020 after he noticed blood in his urine. And under the care of Lakeridge Health urologist Dr. Stephen Smith, Alan underwent several medical procedures to remove multiple tumours in his bladder.

Post-operation, with the support of a team of physicians including Dr. Smith, medical oncologist Dr. Pawel Zalewski, and radiation oncologist Dr. Wayne Koll, Alan received a personalized treatment plan that seemed to rid any existing cancer cells.

“I received exceptional care from everyone along the way,” said Alan. “It hasn’t been an easy journey, but everyone at Lakeridge Health has been wonderful.”

By the summer of 2023 during his six-month check-up, Alan received news that his bladder was clear of cancer. But at 12 months routine scans showed inflammation throughout his body. His cancer had spread.

“I didn’t have any pain and I had no idea that cancer was now in my lymph nodes, spine, collar bone, and femur,” said Alan. “I was told I had stage 4 cancer and that it was extensive and incurable.”

Alan prepared for the worst.

Then, a ray of hope in January 2024: Alan was offered the opportunity to take part in a new clinical trial at Lakeridge Health.

“I thought about it for a nano second and agreed,” said Alan. “I knew the importance of clinical trials and how crucial they are to bringing new treatments to patients like me.”

As it turned out, Alan was only the second patient at that time to take part in this trial – and the first to receive the medication. So, for the past three months, Alan has received a unique combination of treatments, including a new drug.

Alan is among nearly 200 patients each year who are participating in Lakeridge Health’s clinical trial program.

Currently, 130 active research studies are underway, spanning over 20 program areas. Remarkably, over 85 per cent of these studies are focused on clinical trials. This means that many patients, like Alan, have access to innovative and novel therapies, gaining first access when others may wait between two to ten years before a treatment becomes part of the standard of care.

At Lakeridge Health, the Research department, which oversees clinical trials, has become a well-oiled machine for working with academic and pharmaceutical partners to activate trials within three months. This quick activation period came out of Lakeridge Health’s streamlined study start-up approach and collaboration with other departments including pharmacy, diagnostic imaging, lab medicine, the R.S. McLaughlin Durham Regional Cancer Centre and the Research Ethics Board. As a result, Lakeridge Health is a “preferred site” for many pharmaceutical companies.

And for patients like Alan, this means earlier and quicker access to new therapies.

“Lakeridge Health is a community hospital with so much happening and going on!” said Marianna Papaleo, registered nurse (RN), and clinical trials nurse. “Our sponsors know that we’re a great site for running trials.”

In her more than 20 years as an RN, much of those in research, Marianna has seen her fair share of triumphs and setbacks.

“The best part of my role is the access to novel medications that are unavailable by other means, so knowing these treatments can improve a person’s quality and quantity of life is very rewarding,” said Marianna. “It's amazing talking to a patient who has defied the odds and is thriving in their current treatment regime, or with a patient in the follow up period, who after multiple years, is alive and stable in their disease journey. That’s what clinical trials can do, that’s what is so rewarding - knowing that we helped to get our patients to where they are in their cancer journey.”

If you ask Marianna, she will tell you that her work is focused on more than just advancing Lakeridge Health’s academic culture; it’s about transforming lives and offering hope when it’s needed most. She urges other clinicians to get involved in research.

“With so many trials available at Lakeridge Health, all you must do is ask!” said Marianna.

While it’s still too early to tell whether the treatment is working, results have shown great promise for Alan. And so, he’s cautiously optimistic.

“Cancer is devious – it can morph and mutate in your body,” said Alan. “I’m grateful that the Clinical Trials program at Lakeridge Health has made new cancer treatment possible.”