Feist-Weiller Cancer Center receives $1.35 million grant
By: Nancy Cook
Updated: August 7, 2012
Feist-Weiller Cancer Center (FWCC) at LSU Health Shreveport has received a $1.35 million grant to continue clinical cancer research focused on providing access for minority and underserved populations.
This is a three-year renewal of the Minority Based Community Clinical Oncology Program (CCOP) funded by the National Cancer Institute.
Under the direction of FWCC Director Glenn Mills, MD, the grant provides access to cancer treatment and prevention trials and offers innovative trials for control of cancer related symptoms.
"We are proud to be funded for the eighth continuous year," Mills said. "This Minority CCOP grant has bought to LSU Health over $3.5 million allowing us to provide gold star treatment for all cancer patients. Our patients do not have to leave home to receive the best quality of care and outcomes."
This grant enables FWCC to operate the oncology research section, which employs a manager and 11 clinical research coordinators. They implement and manage over 40 pharmaceutical and cooperative group clinical trials giving cancer patients to have access to drugs and protocols which are still in developmental stages. These include treatments for most cancers -- breast, brain, colorectal, esophageal, hepatocellular, pancreas, lung, lymphoma, leukemia, sickle cell, multiple myeloma, prostate, kidney and head and neck.
FWCC also offers cancer prevention and control trials to patients. These trials give cancer patients an opportunity to help control side effects of chemotherapy, teach them how to control stress issues, or how to use diet and exercise to help them through their cancer journey.
In addition to funding the clinical research program at FWCC and EA Conway Medical Center, this grant enables FWCC to offer clinical trials to patients throughout southwest Louisiana through affiliation agreements with other cancer centers including Highland Clinic in Shreveport and in Natchitoches, Cabrini Cancer in Alexandria, Desoto Regional Health System in Mansfield, and at the Cancer Center of Acadiana in Lafayette.
