Cancer (see more articles like this)

When Audrey Dickinson, 42, told her three children she had breast cancer, the first question they asked her was if she would lose her hair. Thanks to a research study she is taking part in at the Florida Hospital Cancer Institute (FHCI), she was able to tell her children that she would not lose her hair. “It is such a blessing to be able to take part in this trial. For my children, losing my hair would have been an outward sign that mom is sick,” said Dickinson. “This treatment is allowing me to go on with life as usual and hold on to the hope that everything is going to be okay.”

Audrey Dickinson is taking part in a clinical research trial at the FHCI that includes a combination drug therapy of Herceptin and Bevacizumab. Although it’s only been a couple of weeks, Dickinson says she can already feel the lymph nodes on her neck are smaller. “This trial involves biological agents and no chemotherapy. If this proves to be effective, we will be able to offer patients effective therapy without the hair loss, nausea and vomiting, and other typical effects of cancer treatments," said Dr. Rebecca Moroose, medical director, Florida Hospital Cancer Institute.

The trial is part of a unique relationship (formed with the Florida Hospital Cancer Institute and UCLA) that provides local cancer patients with some of the most effective cancer treatments available in the world. The FHCI is one of 32 international sites that works with the Translational Oncology Research International (TORI) at UCLA in clinical research trials.

TORI at UCLA and the FHCI and are currently enrolling patients in six trials at Florida Hospital for patients with lung, breast and colorectal cancer. Many of the trials involve targeted therapy, which means that a medication or drug targets a specific pathway in the growth and development of a tumor. By attacking or blocking the targets, the therapy helps to fight the tumor itself.

Please contact Media Relations at (407) 303-8217 if you are interested in interviewing Audrey Dickinson or Dr. Moroose.