Bio
Tonight in Medical Rounds…Breast Cancer Clinical Trials are paving the way for patients to try new forms of treatments that can help doctors test alternative ways to diagnose and treat this disease.
To tell us about some of these novel treatments is Dr. Wylie Hosmer, Medical Director of the Breast Program at the Hartford HealthCare Cancer Institute at the Hospital of Central Connecticut in New Britain…Good evening Dr. Hosmer.
Good evening!
Q. Hartford HealthCare was the charter member of the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Alliance…this allows patients here in Connecticut access to hundreds of clinical trials close to home. Tell us about some of these new approaches to treatment…
A. Major advances have been made with the use of immunotherapy treatments, targeted therapies, and also with more intelligent use of current therapies. The goal of clinical research has been to improve outcomes for patients with cancer while minimizing side effects and toxicity of treatment.
Q. Tell us about “Precision Medicine” and how you are able to target cancer more precisely with fewer side effects and less toxicity…
A. It is now possible to do a detailed genetic evaluation of an individual cancer to identify potential weak spots in the cancer as compared to healthy tissue in the body. In many cases, we have drugs available that target only these specific molecular abnormalities or weak spots and therefore spare side effects to the patient.
Q. How does a patient know if they are eligible to participate in a clinical trial?
A. The most important step is to express interest and discuss clinical trials with your physician. Your physician should be able to identify appropriate clinical trials available both locally as well as at more distant sites in the region. The NIH also has a website clinicaltrials.gov that list every clinical trial in the country.
Q. While research has come a long way in the treatment of breast cancer…early detection remains critical in giving patients a fighting chance…
A. Yes, screenings are so important to detecting breast cancer early enough. Mammogram remains the standard screening tool and is recommended for women by all major cancer societies. Ideally, a cancer caught at an earlier time point can help to spare the need for chemotherapy and more aggressive treatment approaches.
Thank you, Dr. Hosmer for sharing this valuable information with our viewers this evening.
There is a free community education event, “The Fifth Annual James Massi Lecture – What’s New in Breast Cancer Treatment” happening on October 9th at 6 p.m. in New Britain. To register call, 1-855-HHC-HERE.
In the meantime, Dr. Hosmer is ready to answer your questions right now on the Hartford Hospital Facebook page.
Dr. Wylie D. Hosmer completed his undergraduate education at Bates College in Lewiston, Maine where he graduated cum laude and was honored with induction into Phi Beta Kappa and Sigma Xi Honorary Research Society.
Prior to his matriculation at the Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons, Dr. Hosmer pursued research activities at the University of California San Francisco in the Department of Internal Medicine.
Dr. Hosmer completed a residency in Internal Medicine and a fellowship in Hematology and Oncology at the University of California Los Angeles.
He was a recipient of the esteemed Fellowship Teaching Award which is presented annually to a single fellow at the institution to honor dedication to medical education.
At UCLA, Dr. Hosmer helped translate laboratory based research findings into clinical trials evaluating novel treatments in lung and pancreas cancer.
He has published a number of professional and scientific articles.
Insurance Accepted*
Aetna, Anthem, BCBS Medicare, Cigna Healthcare, Colonial Cooperative Care, Community Health Network of Connecticut, Inc., Connecticare, Connecticare Commercial, Connecticare Medicare, Corvel, Coventry, Essence Healthcare, Evercare, First Health Group Corp., Focus, Harvard Pilgrim, Health Connecticut, Health Direct, Health New England, Healthy Connecticut, HMC/ Northeast Healthcare, Medspan Commercial, Medspan Medicare, Multiplan, Northeast Health Direct, One Health Plan/ Great-West Healthcare, Oxford Health Plans, Prime Health Services, Private Health Care Systems, Inc., Senior Whole Health, United Healthcare, WellCare of Connecticut, Inc.