In my dad’s case, clinical trial participation improved his prognosis and prolonged his life. He was initially given less than a year to live, but made it to over three additional years here with us.
During that time, he enjoyed the company of relatives and friends, listened to his favorite jazz and classical music, and witnessed several milestones in my life. I am so grateful for the time that he was granted, as I pivoted away from law school and into clinical psychology graduate studies. I made the intentional choice to spend my life helping others achieve their highest level of health and continue to focus on ensuring that every person impacted by cancer and other illnesses has access to the services that they want and need.
We must educate the Black and African American community about clinical trials not only from a place of expertise, but also with the intent of doing no harm and having that patient’s best possible outcomes as part of our calculus. We must also teach patients about the variety and types of clinical trials that exist. While treatment trials are often thought of when we mention clinical research, there are screening trials, prevention trials, behavioral trials, quality-of-life trials, and other options that allow us to not only contribute to research but also potentially benefit from its findings.
The Cancer Support Community (CSC) and other patient advocacy groups have free resources available to patients who might be considering a clinical trial, including ones specially tailored for those communities that have been historically under-resourced and medically underserved. I serve as the producer of CSC’s docuseries, “Justified Medical Mistrust: Acknowledging the Past to Change the Future”, which features Black medical doctors and past cancer clinical trial participants from the Black community to help patients and their loved ones make an informed and empowered decision about whether a clinical trial might be an option for them.
In leading this project, I have often kept my dad’s experience and questions at the forefront of my mind. “What would dad think about this? Would he be convinced or compelled to take action?”
I also think about him when planning new programs and initiatives, such as our Increasing Diversity and Equity through Advocacy Leadership (IDEAL) Ambassadors program. Through IDEAL, cancer patients like my dad and loved ones will learn about legislative and policy issues that directly and indirectly affect their cancer care, and become advocates by using their voice at state and federal levels. My Haitian immigrant dad would have been proud to partake in our country’s political process in a way that was personal to him, and I am eager to see the impact of our work as this project is launched this year.
It is my sincere hope and vision that Black and African-American cancer patients and their loved ones consider participation in clinical trials as part of their treatment options from the moment that they receive a cancer diagnosis. I desire that we confidently advocate for clinical trial participation opportunities so that we can consider all options and make informed decisions about our care. Without our participation and inclusion in clinical research, the drugs and treatments being developed might not actually help improve our quality of life or prolong it, as researchers will not have the opportunity to see how we specifically respond to these treatments. If you are interested in more information and where to start, please visit the Cancer Support Community’s Health Equity resources.
For more information on clinical trials and how to find one for yourself or a loved one, explore BlackDoctor.org’s Clinical Trial Resource Center.
Audrey Davis, LPC, PM-LPC serves as the Senior Director, Health Equity at the Cancer Support Community, a nonprofit that uplifts and strengthens people impacted by cancer by providing support, fostering compassionate communities, and breaking down barriers to care through education, research, and advocacy.