HJBR Sep/Oct 2020

22 SEP / OCT 2020 I  HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF BATON ROUGE THE RIGHT TO TRY specifically for oncology therapeutics, and allows sites to have a single point of contact with oncology staff at the FDA. The team at Project Facilitate helps sites throughout the application process, and are available to answer questions about the process of ob- taining compassionate use approval. Com- passionate use and Project Facilitate were designed to help sites get the therapeutics needed to successfully treat patients who have run out of traditional options. Are you seeing promising results at your facility for either Right to Try or expanded access/compassionate use? Zatarain As an oncologist, I am often faced with serious cancers in young patients that may not respond to traditional approved therapies. These pathways have allowed several of my patients to obtain medications prior to FDA approval, which in some cases have stabilized Stage 4 or metastatic can- cer for more than two years with preserved quality of life on oral targeted therapies. Mary Bird Perkins-Our Lady of the Lake Cancer Center is continuing to investigate the Right to Try movement in addition to expanded access programs in order to bring leading-edge therapies, in addition to clini- cal trials, to the region.time was challenging for all of us. Finding that support from one another is critical to maintaining optimal mental health. What resources would a physician use to stay up to date on Right toTry and expand- ed access/compassionate use options and successes? Zatarain Clinicaltrials.gov is an excellent resource for physicians to learn about cur- rent clinical trials available, and accruing patients nationwide. In addition, many non- FDA approved therapeutics and their initial clinical trial results are discussed at national society meetings year round, and may give physicians a glimpse of an up and coming promising therapeutic. FDA.gov has physi- cian resources on “How to Request Single Patient Expanded Access/Compassionate Use”. Righttotry.org has information for pa- tients and their families to educate them on their options. Knox We are really fortunate that physicians like Dr. Zatarain are constantly scouring re- sources to find the best solutions for their patients. How do you know when it is time to stop the race and let the inevitable progress? Zatarain It can be quite difficult for the phy- sician, patient, and patient family to deter- mine when is the right time to discontinue cancer therapies. As a physician, I constantly remindmyself of an age old doctrine inmed- icine—“First do no harm.” If I believe that a therapy is apt to cause more harm than ben- efit, I honestly explain to my patient that I do not recommend that we continue with cancer treatment. I remind the patient that we will still continue our care, but that it may instead transition to a focus on comfort care to reduce symptoms. In your experience, does this usually come from the patient or the physician first? Zatarain Every patient experience is their own individual journey. Many patients wait for their physician to give permission to dis- continue cancer therapies. Other patients come to their visit with direct input to give permission to their physician to discontinue cancer therapies. I continue to be humbled to help patients and families find peace in their individual story. n “Terminal patients have the right to take the path less traveled in pursuit of hope. I’m hopeful that expanding access to possible treatments and cures continues to save lives.” -U.S. Senator John N. Kennedy Co-sponsor of Right to Try Act