Northwestern Medicine launches research study to lead in enhanced lung cancer care
HUNTLEY – It was announced on Aug. 19 that a researcher from the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center is partnering with an oncologist at Northwestern Medicine to “improve health outcomes for lung cancer survivors in some rural Illinois communities,” stated a press release.
Such health outcomes will hopefully enhance lung cancer care in Huntley, according to Michelle Green, a media relations manager for Northwestern Medicine.
The study is called the “CENTRAL Project” which is headed by principal investigator Marquita W. Lewis-Thames.
Lewis-Thames is scheduling interviews with lung cancer survivors and their caregivers to provide insight into their long-term care plans.
She hopes that by gathering information from these individuals, researchers will be able to support strategies to help suburban and rural lung cancer survivors receive the follow-up care they need.
Interview participants must be 18 years or older, must reside in a rural community, and need to have completed active cancer treatment.
“Rural residents know something is not right about cancer in their community, and answers are sometimes hard to come by,” Lewis-Thames said. “It can be difficult for rural patients to return to a cancer center for additional care and follow-up visits. We want to talk to people who have completed lung cancer treatment and get a full understanding of their supportive care needs so we can develop programs and services that help them stay healthier longer.”
Dr. Alan Wan, a medical oncologist at Northwestern Medicine Huntley Hospital, stated that cancer survivorship plans help patients and their physicians communicate better.
“A survivorship care plan includes information about a patient’s treatment, follow-up tests, and other members of their medical care team,” Wan said. “It’s an important part of a patient’s long-term health, but sometimes patients do not fully understand the importance of adhering to their follow-up care plan. This study will help us find ways to make ongoing cancer care easy and more accessible to patients who live in McHenry County.”
Lung cancer survivors can take part in interviews via telephone or in-person. Two interview formats are being conducted: as an individual and as part of a focus group.
Interviews will typically last anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour and each participant will receive at least a $20 incentive.
In-person interviews will adhere to all recommended COVID-19 protocols to ensure the safety of everyone involved.
According to the American Cancer Society, lung cancer is the second most common cancer in both men and women. The organization estimates that about 131,880 deaths occurred from lung cancer this year alone.
The American Cancer Society also states that lung cancer makes up almost 25% of all cancer deaths. Even more alarming is that more people die of lung cancer than colon, breast, and prostate cancers combined.
Northwestern Medicine encourages patients with lung cancer or caregivers of someone with lung cancer to call 312-503-1986 or email [email protected] to find out if they are qualified for the study.
