Hope is a word especially meaningful to cancer patients. Paducah oncologist William Conkright, M.D., said hope comes in many forms.

For years, he has offered cancer patients hope through treatments and therapies. Now he’s extending hope to those who have failed first-line cancer treatment by offering clinical trials. The studies benefit not only individual cancer patients, but also medical science in general, he said.

“Participating in clinical trials opens many doors of opportunity,” said Dr. Conkright. “We learn how to use drugs—new and current—to treat conditions more effectively. Discovering treatments with fewer side effects, greater cure rates and multidisciplinary uses are advantages to participating in these studies.”

Dr. Conkright and his colleagues at Purchase Cancer Group, P.S.C., have participated in clinical cancer trials for many months.

Oncologist Charles Winkler, M.D., said many participants have tried other treatments without success. “When traditional therapy doesn’t seem to be working,” he said, “often they are very willing and eager to try a new approach.”

The oncologists choose clinical trials that address the region’s specific health needs, including head and neck, breast, lung, colorectal and renal cell cancers.

“In all cases, the ultimate goal is to give patients a better life,” said Dr. Conkright, “either by finding a cure or learning how to effectively manage their disease.”

Dr. Conkright said the future of cancer treatment lies in targeted therapy, where cancer tumors and proteins are specifically treated with fewer side effects. “We’re trying to convert cancer from an acute disease to a chronic disease,” said Dr. Conkright. “Just as diseases such as diabetes are life-long manageable diseases, this research through clinical trials helps us toward the same goal for cancer. Combining the science of medicine with the science of research offers exciting and promising possibilities.”

Western Baptist Hospital’s cancer program recently received the American College of Surgeons’ Commission on Cancer 2007 Outstanding Achievement Award. The award is given only to the top 15 percent of all programs surveyed nationally, ranking the hospital’s program among the top 66 in the country. Only two Kentucky hospitals received the award. For a free copy of Western Baptist’s annual Oncology Report, or to learn more about cancer care services, phone Baptist Health Line at (270) 575-2918.