He will be joined by John Shaw, a 41-year-old Westport resident with leukemia who has been participating in a cancer clinical trial at the MD Anderson Medical Center in Houston, Tex. The program will be held in the Noble Auditorium at 6:30 pm and is cosponsored by the Fairfield County Chapter of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and Greenwich Hospital.

An estimated 1.2 million Americans will be diagnosed with cancer this year with 15,000 new cases in Connecticut. Clinical trials are research studies of potential effective treatments being tested to see whether a new treatment is better than the standard therapy. The trials not only provide participants with a promising new treatment they otherwise could not get, but they play a vital role in advancing medical knowledge.

“People today are better off because of those who underwent treatment in clinical trials before them,” explained Dr Rosenberg.

Although medical progress is continually made through clinical trials, only three to five percent of people with cancer are enrolled in them. Lack of information, inadequate insurance coverage, and longstanding myths prevent many people from considering clinical trials as a viable treatment option. Great strides are being made to reverse this trend so that maximum benefits can be achieved from these research studies.

 Attendees at the seminar at Greenwich Hospital will be provided with an overview of the clinical research process. Information will be given to assist patients and their families in identifying and understanding clinical trials and knowing when it is right for them.

 Mr Shaw was first diagnosed with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) during a routine physical on New Year’s Eve in 1998. He has been receiving treatment locally at the Wittingham Cancer Center at Norwalk Hospital. “Since my diagnosis with leukemia, I have been coping best by trying to have a sense of humor. Humor was always important to me, but it is even more so now,” said Mr Shaw. “I depend on my friendships, spirituality, and family support. This experience has helped me with my perception of what is important in life.”

For more information about the seminar on April 8 or to make a reservation, contact Phyllis Osterman, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society patient services manager, at 203-967-8326 or log on to www.leukemia-lymphoma.org.