Clinical trials saved his life from incurable cancer

When Michael was first diagnosed with multiple myeloma, doctors told him it was incurable. For over six years, Michael went through chemotherapy and other treatment protocols that initially worked, but didn’t last over time. His mind went to dark places, but hope came to him in the form of a clinical trial. 

The results of the clinical trial were incredible—Michael was in remission for 18 months. And when the cancer came back, a second clinical trial kept the cancer in remission for the last two and a half years. “Today, I am in complete remission because of clinical trials,” he says. 

Clinical trials are critical to advancing new, breakthrough cancer treatments that can improve survival and quality of life for people like Michael, but not everyone has access to them. Approximately 20% of cancer clinical trials fail due to inadequate enrollment, and studies show that cost as well as length and frequency of travel to clinical trial sites are commonly cited by patients as barriers to trial participation. 

These cost barriers include medical costs not covered by insurance, such as deductibles, copays, and coinsurance. And when no local trials are available, patients must travel to distant trial sites, incurring non-medical costs from transportation, lodging, meals, and more. During his first clinical trial, Michael had to stay in the hospital for 10 days due to the length of his treatment. He was lucky that he could travel out of state for his trial and afford the additional costs, but not everyone is that fortunate.  

The Clinical Trial Modernization Act would make it easier for all people with cancer to participate in clinical trials by removing economic and geographic barriers. The legislation would allow sponsors to financially support trial participants for both medical and non-medical costs associated with trial participation. It would also facilitate remote participation by allowing sponsors to provide patients with digital health technology necessary for participation at no cost to the patient. 

The bill provisions align directly with patient needs: in a Survivor Views survey, 79% of cancer patients and survivors indicated they would be more likely to enroll in cancer clinical trials if a trial sponsor helped pay for travel and lodging, while 80% said they would be willing to use remote technologies and tools in a trial. 

When Michael was initially diagnosed, his first granddaughter had just been born. While undergoing treatment, Michael dreamed of someday holding her hand and walking her to the bus stop on her first day of kindergarten. Since then, Michael has seen the birth of four additional grandchildren. He’s still here because of the clinical trials he participated in. He strongly believes that everyone deserves the same chance at life-saving treatments that he was offered, no matter where they live or who they are. 

“It’s just the right thing to do,” Michael says. “Everyone deserves access to the same quality of care.”  

ACS CAN supports the Clinical Trial Modernization Act to ensure more patients—regardless of their economic means or geographic location—have a chance to enroll in clinical trials. Learn more about this issue.