TRICARE beneficiaries helped in NCI caner prevention, treatment clinical trials Published June 23, 2008 By Patricia Opong-Brown TRICARE public affairs division FALLS CHURCH, Va. -- When retired combat veteran, Sergeant Major Michael Adams was diagnosed with prostate cancer two years ago, he did not know about the Department of Defense (DoD) and National Cancer Institute (NCI) cancer clinical trials. He learned about it through research on the internet to help win the fight against his disease. Over 25,000 cancer patients enroll in NCI treatment clinical trials each year. "Everyone should be educated about cancer clinical trials when they're diagnosed because there are promising advances in research out there today," said Kay Beck, RN, a clinical trials coordinator. "Clinical trials are not a last-ditch effort." An interagency agreement between the DoD and the NCI provides TRICARE beneficiaries more options for cancer care and including greater access to the latest advances in cancer prevention and treatment through clinical trials. Beck authorizes and manages adult and pediatric patients with common cancers such as breast cancer to rare ones such as Glioblastoma, a type of brain tumor. Adams talked with Beck to begin the evaluation and treatment process. Beck assisted Adams to find a clinical trial site at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York State, the closest treatment site to his home. "This program saved my life," he said. "When I first started and met the surgeon at Sloan-Kettering, he realized the severity of my diagnosis and literally cleared his schedule to make me his next patient." During participation in cancer clinical trials, patients receive treatment at one of over 2,000 sites that participate in NCI-sponsored studies including Military Treatment Facilities (MTFs), civilian providers and comprehensive cancer centers. "A preauthorization from a regional TRICARE contractor is required," said Beck. Costs for screening tests to determine clinical trial eligibility, and the associated costs of participation in cancer clinical trials are covered for TRICARE beneficiaries. Family members of active duty personnel, as well as TRICARE-eligible retired service members and their families, may participate in trials at MTFs or in civilian health care settings. Active duty members may participate in NCI-sponsored clinical trials at MTFs. "It's fantastic for TRICARE to cover cancer clinical trials as a benefit," said Adams. "I highly recommend other military personnel and their families participate in them." TRICARE-eligible cancer patients are involved in NCI-sponsored Phase II and Phase III cancer clinical trials as well as cancer prevention trials. Phase II trials typically study the effectiveness of new drugs or therapies against a specific type of cancer. Phase III trials compare new treatments to existing therapies. In cancer prevention trials, patients take medications or supplements or participate in certain activities that doctors believe will lower their cancer risk. For more information about cancer clinical trials, TRICARE beneficiaries should speak with their oncologist. To learn more about DoD/NCI clinical trials agreement, link to www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/NCI/TRICARE. For information on TRICARE cancer clinical trials benefit and authorization, beneficiaries should contact their TRICARE Cancer Clinical Trials Coordinator: TRICARE North Region: 1-800-395-7821 TRICARE South Region: 1-800-444-5445 TRICARE West Region: 1-866-427-6610 TRICARE for Life, Wisconsin Physicians Services, 1-608-301-3243 Contact the National Cancer Institute's Cancer Information Service toll-free at 1-800-4-CANCER (800-422-6237)/TTY 1-800-332-8615 or visit www.cancer.gov for information on prevention, screening, clinical trials and cancer or to order free patient education material.